Thrifty&Swifty Gifties part 4

Oops, this post was supposed to go up on Wednesday. Sorry.

Okay, this is a photo frame idea that uses old paperback books...you could do this with a hardback book, too, if you wanted to. If you are an altered book fiend already you have probably done this cutting technique.

It would be fun to put photos of friends in books that pertain to their tastes and interests. You could also mount these, open, on a wall in a group.

Image and the full project idea are from the blog CraftyPod. Go read and subscribe to the blog.

If you wonder what the heck altered books are then go here. And go to Panopolie for Altered Book Club.

Thrifty-Swifty Gifties 3

This week's gift idea is from Cut-Out-And-Keep, a great project-sharing web site that I love.

The idea is to use wire plant baskets as forms for a paper lantern. This one is made with craft paper (think brown paper shopping bags!) You could also use Decopatch paper or a fancy paper like this Midori Green Lace Paper. I would finish my project with a nice coat of Aquapro varnish to make it more durable and keep the colors bright.

Find the original project directions at Cut-Out-And-Keep right here.

Thrifty&Swifty Gifties part 2

Do you know any knitters? I do, and I am always impressed by the way they whip out a knitting project anytime, anywhere. Beading and jewelry making may not seem as portable but they can be if you have a neat wrap to put your project and the needed tools into. Full-sized jewelry totes with every bead under the sun are too much to keep in your bag for whenever, but this reusable sandwich wrap project from Betz White has got me thinking. She has this project in her lovely book, Sewing Green and right here on CraftStylish. The sandwich wrap is lined with waterproof fabric to keep the sandwich mess inside and the nice fabric outside. The hook-and-loop Velcro holds it together.

Imagine replacing the lining with a bead mat cut to size and maybe even a piece of stiff cardboard or plastic. Viola, you could keep your tools, a coil of wire, a tube or baggie of beads and that 42 inch rosary chain your sister-in-law has been asking you to finish right inside. Close it up tight and throw it in your tote bag. The next time the knitters pull out a hat or socks just coyly open your Project Wrap and get to work. That'll show 'em.

These would be easiest to make a few at a time and then you could give them to your crafty friends. Or me.

Do you want fabric to cover your crafty wraps? Visit Betz' etsy shop for some lovely prints. I have some and the colors are more beautiful in person.

Thrifty&Swifty Gifties

Hello and welcome to a new blog feature. Every Wednesday I will share an inexpensive gift idea that somehow doesn't make you look cheap. No one likes to look cheap. I am going to focus on the useful gifts. Yes, earrings are lovely and inexpensive and can look very spendy all wrapped in a pretty box with corresponding ribbons but that's too obvious. Cheap and useful, that's harder.

This week I want to share a great post from a blog I'd love to hate but just can't. Cathie Filian is one of the big names, TV show, lotsa books, the whole package but she also does blog posts for things like Barbie couches. Eat that, Martha!

So, go visit Cathie's blog and you can read how to make these tricky silver storage bags. She's advocating them for your silverware and tea sets but we crafty beadfreaks and metalfreaks know that a nice silver storage bag to keep coils of wire in would be sooo swanky to break out at the next craft night. Imagine having different bags for each gauge of wire. Imagine the look on your craft pal's face when you whip up a few for her, embroidered or silk-screened or just stamped with her fav gauges.

cathie filian: make your own silver storage bags

The bags pictured are from Cathie's blog.