Lightbulb Hot Air Balloon

I saw these light bulb crafts where they are turned into hot air balloons. I thought they looked really spectacular and decided to try a similar craft.











Materials Needed:

•  a ruler
• a light bulb
• metal wire
• chain
• beads

Step 1:  Wait until a light bulb goes out and save it. I played with creating a design using permanent marker but in the end decided to use a plain bulb.

 Step 2: Using the wire create two 1.5" rings.










These rings will be used on the top of the bulb and on the bottom.

Step 3: Take one of the rings and attach lengths of chain of equal sizes across from each other as shown in the picture.

Step 4: Attach second ring to chain so it rest at the bottom of the bulb. Allow extra chain to hang down to have something to attach the basket to.

 Step 5: Attach the basket to the end of the chains. To learn how to make this basket please click here.








Step 6: Decorate as desire.

Toliet Paper Roll Faces

Art By French Artist Junior Fritz Jacquet

Jaquet uses toilet paper rolls to create these wonderful expressive faces. He folds and shapes them until a face is revealed. This technique is heavily inspired by the technique used in origami. This is such a unique and creative idea i had to try it out for myself.

What i used to create:

• toilet paper rolls
• water
• paint
• clear coat of some kind

Art by Cassandra Hora

Step one: Use up toilet paper until you are left with a empty roll

Step two: Dampen toilet paper roll with water

Step three: Fold and bend roll until you get a face

Step four: Let dry

Step five: Paint and clear coat 

Here is a video of me attempting to make Toilet Paper Faces:

I was so disappointed in how mine turned out I did not do the last two step but please don't let that stop you.

Happy Crafting!

T-shirt Rug

To make a T-shirt rug first you need T-shirt yarn. You can get this one of two ways: First you can go to the local craft store and buy some or Second if you are more adventurous you can make your own. If you want to make your own you can click here to learn how.

Things you will need:

• T-shirt yarn (I used 5 L- XL t-shirts to make a small rug)
• A Large Crochet Hook ( I used a 10mm hook)
• A stitch marker

The pattern for the rug is very simple and a beginner crocheter can easily do this project. The project is done in a spiral.

To begin the rug create a magic ring and crochet 6 hdc into the ring.

Row one: In the top of the first hdc start the next round. 2 HDC in each stitch.  (I use the stitch marker to help me keep track of when to start new row)

Row two:  *1 HDC in next stitch, 2 HDC in next stitch, repeat from *

Row three:  *1 HDC in next 2 stitches, 2 HDC in next stitch, repeat from *
 

Row four: * 1 HDC in next 3 stitch, 2 HDC in next stitch, repeat from *

Row five: * 1 HDC in next 4 stitches, 2 HDC in next stitch, repeat from *

To continue this pattern all you need to do is increase the 1 HDC. So for the next row you would do 5 HDC before doing the 2HDC in the next stitch.


Because t-shirt yarn is stretchy and different  t-shirts have its own differrent level of stretchy-ness you may find that the rug will either curl or ruffle. If you find the rug curling up, you need more stitches in the round.  If the rug is beginning to ruffle, you can either take it apart and not increase as many stitches, or do a round with no increases, sort of to bound the problem.

Also tried to alternate the increases begin to keep a circle shape.  I’ve noticed that if I increased in the same spot each round, the rug ended up with a odd, uneven shape instead of a circle.

When you run out of a particular shirt, tie it to the next shirt with a small knot and keep going.

When you’ve come to your desired size, or to the end of your t-shirt stockpile, pull the end through the last loop and pull tight.  Then weave in your ends.


Hopefully this quick t-shirt rug tutorial was helpful.

Happy Crafting!

How to Make T-shirt Yarn

In this post I will give you instructions on how to make yarn using old t-shirts. This is a great project about reusing old and turning it into new. As an artist I have plenty of old t-shirt with paint stains or just stains in general. But instead of throwing out the old t-shirts I try to be a little Earth friendly and find a second use for them.

For this project you will need:

• old t shirts
• straight pins
• a good pair of fabric scissors
• a ruler
• grease pencil/ pencil/ or something to mark the fabric with

Step 1: Gather all Materials 

Step 2: Place t-shirt flat on a surface 

Step 3: Cut away the end boarder of the t-shirt and horizontally right below the sleeves

Step 4: Fold and pin t-shirt in half leaving a 1in. space at the top. 

Step 5: Measure .5in. along folded edge. Or if you want a thicker yarn you can measure a larger width strip.









Step 6: Cut strips along the .5in mark but not into the 1in space. 

Finished to the end.

Step 7: Unfold the t-shirt so the 1in allowance looks as shown. I have marked the cutting lines in the photo. You are pretty much cutting diagonally to the opposite .5in strip. 

This should create a long continuous strip of fabric

Step 8: In order to turn the strip into yarn you will need pull the strip gently. If you pull to hard the strip could break.

This should turn the flat strip into a more tubular looking strip.

Step 9: Roll yarn into ball and begin your crochet project

Recycle Magazine Bowl

So this being my first craft blog it's going to be mainly a simple video. However i will work to write out instructions for the crafts in the future.

This craft is how to turn magazines or glossy advertisements into a bowl. For this project you will need:

• old magazines/ glossy advertisements
• Craft Glue
• scissors or x-acto knife
• ruler
• pencil/ pen

http://youtu.be/GbbrE0ss2fE


Steps in making the bowl:

1. Cut the paper into about 2 in strips
2.  Fold strips lengthwise
3.  Fold strips so ends are folded into the middle
4.  Glue one side of one strip and roll into spiral
5. Attach one end of a strip to the end of the spiraled.
6. Continue this until desired size base

Your fingers will get sticky!