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April - May 1999
Published by
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Internet Visions Company
Hi Fellow Crafters, Thank you for reading the Crafty Visions Newsletter. I hope you find this issue full of fun crafts and useful information. After you enjoy our newsletter we would like to invite you to visit other parts of our online arts and crafts community - World Wide Visions. We have recently upgraded the Crafty Links Mall which is a free place for craft related web sites to list their addresses and a great place for crafters to find new and exciting sites. Other parts of the online community include Crafty College (online classes) and The Doll Net. Also please take the time to visit some of our member sites including ones that contribute to this newsletter such as The Bluebonnet Crafters and Sisters and Daughters. And also don't forget to visit my Free "Virtual" Hand Crafted Note Cards site (Cards by Laurieann). Have fun! Sincerely, PS If you want a condensed copy of this newsletter e-mailed to you, send a request to cvapr_may99@wwvisions.com. And, if you have not subscribed to this newsletter, please fill out our on-line subscribe form as well as check out past issues of The Crafty Visions Newsletter.  Seasonal
Crafts
by Bluebonnet Crafters
Spring Basket Materials:
Apply craft glue to the bottom of the Styrofoam and center it in the basket. You may need to trim the Styrofoam to be sure it is just below the lip of the basket. Place glue on top of the Styrofoam and cover completely with moss. Arrange the tallest flower stem in the center of the basket standing straight up and graduate your flowers toward the left side filling in that half of the basket in a curve from the top to the basket edge. Place a single large flower at the basket rim left of center. Offset in the front right place your figurine or stuffed animal (a rabbit was used in the example). Allow some of the remaining flowers to go to the right of the decoration around in front and hang over the edge of the basket. Use the picture as your guide for placement of the flowers. This can be used as a centerpiece or as a decorative accent throughout
the spring season.
Tapestry Pocket
Materials:
Remove the wire from each side of the tapestry ribbon leaving the overcast stitching intact. Using the embroidery floss satin stitch across both raw edges of the tapestry ribbon. Fold up 3" and stitch both sides to form a pocket. Fold down the top 2" forming the flap. Arrange your charm and three ribbon roses as shown in the picture. Using a Lazy Daisy stitch add green ribbon leaves around the flowers.
Glue or stitch the beads randomly on the pocket flap. Add the pin back
centered toward the top back of the pocket. This makes a nice gift or a
place to carry a spare key or change for yourself.
Provided by Fran
Materials:
Place the 2 1/4" piece of print right sides together with the 2 1/4" piece of muslin and sew around leaving an opening to turn. Use a 1/4" seam allowance. Clip the corners and turn the piece right sides out and press. Repeat this step with the 3 1/2" by 2 1/4" print and muslin pieces. Line the bottom of the smaller piece with the bottom of the larger Muslin sides together. Tuck in one 2 1/2" piece of ribbon on each side for the arms and the 2 pieces of 3 1/2" ribbon at the bottom for legs. Sew around the three matched sides leaving the doll open at the top. Make a single knot in the end of each ribbon to represent the dolls hand and feet. Fold the top edge of the longer piece down and press. Sew the button centered on the flap (see picture) and add the features. Glue some hair on your doll and allow to dry. Tuck a tea bag into the pocket and she is ready to go. This little doll makes a great small gift for someone far away as you can send her in a card with an invitation to have tea with you. Fran OlCheyenne@aol.com
# 1. When you need a small clamp to hold paper projects where a clothespin is too big and an alligator clamp leaves marks head for your nearest office supply store and pick up some of the little spring loaded clips used to hold name tags at business meetings. They are inexpensive and don't mark your project. # 2. Put vaseline on the tip of your glue nozzle, this will end the strings # 3. Follow this link to find out the correct glue to use when joining two surfaces. Go to: http://www.thistothat.com/index.shtml
Our
Featured Artist.....Fran Namotka
Email: Email: Fran
Fran had lived in Rhode Island most of her life. Eight years ago she, her husband and two spoiled dogs moved to the beautiful Smokey Mountains of Western North Carolina looking for a slower and simpler life. Because of her love of Native American culture they purchased their home near the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Fran has been a crafter for 30 years trying most crafts her favorite remains dollmaking. Although she tries many things she always reverts to the dolls. Fran thinks this may seem strange since as a child she did not play with dolls or even particularly like them. As a professional crafter she did craft shows in Rhode Island where her focus was on country crafts and dolls since this was what sold. She would rather have made Native American crafts but had no market for them. Fran Namotka designed a Victorian Collar and Cuff set which she submitted to one of the national crochet magazines. It was accepted for publication and they wrote an article about her to go with the design. This proved to be a very popular feature. On moving to North Carolina she became a stay at home crafter and was able at last to make her Native American crafts. She has been very successful with these crafts as a wholesaler to shops in Cherokee and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Eight years after the move the Native American crafts have tended to pall and she has gone back to making dolls. Fran says she loves the fun dolls like those by epb and Sally Lampi. She has also done some art dolls and makes jewelry from Fimo. Fran has learned most of her crafting from books. She has never taken any classes, just purchases a book and then learns through trial and error. She claims "I am never afraid to experiment and I love being creative . . . I see art in everything!!" Her advice to new crafters would be "never be afraid to try anything. I have learned if you want to do something YOU CAN DO IT!!! You must always keep a positive attitude and have confidence in yourself." The Tea Bag Doll that Fran has allowed us to publish was made for a craft fair where they were very popular. She tells us this would be a great bazaar craft and would also work as a small inclusion gift to someone far away inviting them to have a cup of tea with you.
Editor Note: Diane has several free doll patterns available. You can find these and other free patterns on The Doll Net - http://TheDollNet.com
Crafty
Kids.....
Beaded Heart Provided by Cousin Corporation of America
Materials: 
Instructions: 1. Slip beads onto stem as in ill. # 1. Start with an 8mm faceted bead, when you reach the center slip on two 8mm beads, then continue the same pattern. 2. Criss-cross the ends of the stem through an 8mm bead, then twist ends of stem so that beads fit snugly together. Trim all excess stem. 3. Form beads into a heart shape. 4. Cut 12' lame cord. Fold the cord in half. Glue the folded end between two heart rhinestones. When the glue has set, tie the rhinestone hearts onto the beaded heart. (See photo). 5. To hang the finished ornament tie a 12" piece of lame to the heart.
Danny Dragonfly
Materials: 
Instructions: 1. Cut 4 pieces of tulle netting, making sure each piece is large enough to cover each teardrop. Glue the tulle netting to teardrops 3, 4, 5 and 6. Let dry thoroughly. Paint these teardrops, which are the wings, silver on both sides. Let dry. 2. Paint 2 medium teardrops, pieces 1 and 2, red. Paint both sides. Let dry. Paint last teardrop piece 7, black. Paint all small ovals, pieces 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, red. Paint the 2 small circles, red and the medium circle, piece 14, black. 3. Following Fig.1 lay out on a flat surface, teardrops 1, 2, and small oval, 8. Glue piece 2 to end of piece 1. Glue piece 9 to end of piece 2 and front of piece 8. 4. Trim wings with scissors. Glue wings, pieces 4, 5, and 6, netting side up, to piece 1 as shown in Fig. 2. Let dry. Glue piece 7 over the wings. Let dry. Glue piece 10 to end of piece 8. 5. Turn dragonfly over, glue piece 13 to end of piece 10. Next, glue piece 11 and 12 over pieces 9 and 10 as shown in Fig. 2 6. Glue 2 small circles at "X's" shown in the drawing. Glue the two moving eyes onto the circles. 7. Using a small brush, # 1 round, and black paint, paint small stripes down the dragonfly's body. Paint red dots on piece # 7. This is easy to do if you put a small puddle of red paint on a paper plate and dip the handle end of the brush in the paint and dot onto the dragonfly body. Let dry. 9. Coat the body with Aleene's Premium Coat Enhancers, Satin Varnish, and let dry. Picture Frame This project can be made using a recycled wooden picture frame or make a cardboard picture frame by cutting an area out of the center of a cardboard rectangle to accommodate your picture. Materials: Prepare your picture frame by arranging canceled stamps, postmarks and shipping labels to cover in a design pleasing to you. With the water based varnish pick up each individual piece, apply varnish, place the piece in place and varnish over the top until you have anchored all the parts in place. Allow to dry and place another complete coat of water based varnish over the entire picture frame. Allow to dry. Place a second complete coat to be sure all your stamps, etc. are completely sealed. Option: 1. Instead of using the stamps, etc. old world maps or gift wrap can be used following the above instructions. Option: 2. After the two complete coats of water based varnish have
dried thoroughly you can glue any of the optional embellishments in place.
Tea Sandwiches Ingredients: Remove the crust from the bread. Spread bread with butter. Place thin peeled cucumber slices, cover with a second slice of lightly buttered bread and cut in triangles. Spread bread with softened cream cheese. Place a second slice of bread on top, spread with strawberry jam, add a third slice of bread and cut in four thin fingers. Spread a slice of bread with mustard, add a slice of ham and add a second slice of bread. Using your cookie cutter cut flower shapes out of the sandwich (the extra can be used for snacks). Arrange the sandwiches on a serving plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving time. Cookie Cutter Flower Magnet Materials: Sprinkle cornstarch on waxed paper covered surface. Place the cornstarch dough and roll to approximately 1/8" thickness. Using the cookie cutter dipped in loose cornstarch cut out the shapes of the flower and place them on a rack to air dry at least overnight. Note: If the humidity is high it may take longer than overnight to dry thoroughly. If you did not add food coloring as you made the dough paint the flowers now and allow them to dry. Glue a magnet to the back and they are ready to give as a gift or use yourself. Cornstarch Dough This dough is similar to the bread dough but easier for children to manage and work with and it dries a bright white making a very good surface for painting. The amounts are not exact so you may need to add more glue or cornstarch to achieve the consistency of a rolled cookie dough. In the zipper type bag place 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and one tablespoon of a medium thick white craft glue. Zip the bag expressing most of the air and knead through the bag until the cornstarch has all been incorporated and it forms a ball. It is during the kneading portion that you may need to add a little more cornstarch or glue depending on how sticky your dough is. Knead until smooth. May take approximately 5 minutes. Father's Day Sloppy Joes Ingredients: 1 lb. ground hamburger (or chuck or round) meat
Instructions: Crumble ground meat in a skillet and brown. Drain if necessary. Add condensed soup only and stir and simmer until hot. Spoon on hamburger buns. Add pickle or vegetable stick garnish. Serve with chips for a quick and easy Father's Day celebration. Magnet Note Holders
Materials When dying just a few clips mix the Rit dye following directions on the bottle or dissolve drink mix in one cup of very hot water in a saucepan. Add your clothespins and wooden shapes to the dye bath stirring occasionally until they reach the color you desire. Remember the wooden pieces will dry slightly lighter than the wet color. Glue the wooden shapes to one leg of the clothespin and allow to dry. When dry you can add embellishments as you like or clever sayings or if for family members write each ones name on the wooden shape. If you wish you may glue a strong magnet to the back arranging them on the refrigerator with one for each family member to hold notes, permission slips, etc. These make cute party favors, placecards or bazaar sellers. Sewing Kit
Materials: Blank 3" X 5" card
Instructions: Along the 5" side fold in 1-1/2" and crease. Fold the left side toward the center so it is 1/4" from the folded edge. Fold the felt in half placing the folded edge under the 1-1/2" fold. Take the 2" X 1" piece of cardboard and place notches opposite each other along the 1" edge and wrap a yard of each color thread between two notches. Place this with the 2" side down into the fold of the felt. Staple through all layers of card and felt 1/8" from the fold. It may be necessary to place two to three staples along that line. This will form a matchbook type cover with two leaves of felt and thread holder card. Place the needles and pins into the felt Use safety pins to hold the buttons. Decorate the outside of the cover as you please. These make cute tuck in gifts or bazaar sellers. Option: In place of the sewing kit, using the same instructions but replacing the felt and thread holders with pieces of paper, these make small note pads to carry in your purse. If you use post-it paper you have a note that can be stuck to something as well. Decorated Storage Containers Materials:
Clean new paint cans, your choice of size
Instructions: We are going to decorate the outside of the cans either to match where you will use them or themed by what will be stored within them so collect your gift wrap, napkins, pictures, etc. with this in mind. New paint cans (with or without lids) can be purchased inexpensively at the paint store. Or you can recycle any tin box, container you have at home. A more uniform look is achieved by tearing the paper rather than cutting although it should be trimmed flat at the top and bottom of the can. Paint a small area of your can with the water based varnish. Place the torn pieces of paper into the varnish and smooth using the handle of your paint brush or a wooden stick working from the center to the edge of each piece to remove air bubbles and wrinkles. When you have completely covered the can paint several coats of the
water based varnish allowing it to dry thoroughly between coats. You can
embellish the can using any of the metallic pens.
Reader
Round-up
Some of our readers are trying to round-up
the answers to the following questions:
The question that I would like to ask is,
do you are
Hello Laurieann, Can you please give me
some advise on making a
I am looking for older Paula Vaughn and
Mary Englebreit X-stitch patterns.
I am looking for instructions to make those
cute canning jars filled with
Hello, What is a "ladder" stitch.
Please submit your questions to laurieann@ivisions.com
 Contributors:e-mail: bluebonnet@BluebonnetVillage.com URL: http://www.BluebonnetVillage.com e-mail: OlCheyenne@aol.com e-mail: Diane@SistersAndDaughters.com URL: http://SistersAndDaughters.com
You can still read all our
old issues, just click on HERE!
Please contact us with your questions, suggests, or submissions! |
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Letter
From Laurieann
