Bracelets........Finally

So, finally, I am going to show you how to make a high-quality homemade bracelet. For this project, you will need1 10" Piece of Tigertail Wire

4 Crimping Beads

1 Lobster Claw Clasp

1 Jump Ring

Scissors

Pliers

Assorted Beads

Here are the directions in print, or you can listen to the recording at the bottom.

Take your 10 inch piece of tigertail wireand string on 2 crimping beads. Then, string on your jump ring and double tigertail wire back through the crimping beads. Crimp with Pliers. Next, string on assorted beads that you like in a nice fashion, or a pattern, if you so desire. String on 2 more crimping beads, and then your lobster claw clasp. Double your tigertail wire back through the crimping beads, and then crimp the crimping beads with pliers. Now you are ready to wear your bracelet!

Why are they called fat quarters: Answered!

So, remember my theory about how those pieces of fabric came to be known as fat quarters?

Well, I got an answer from a friend:

A fat quarter is cut differently than a regular fourth yard of fabric, and is slightly bigger, hence the name "Fat Quarter."

Afterwords, an anonymous reader commented that Jean Wells (Author and owner of the Stitchin' Post quilt shop in Sisters, Oregon) claims that she invented the term 30+ years ago.

Well, hope this solves your curiosity and that you also enjoyed the comical theory in my former post.

Today's Random Thoughts

Well, I haven't done anything crafti recently, here are today's random thoughts:

I love the laptop that I got for my birthday yesterday!!!

The middle school is awesome.

Wal-Mart is cool.

Always craft creatively!!

Mp3 Player Cases

If you ever try to sew an Mp3 Player or Ipod case, good luck to you. We have been trying for 2 days now and still have not finished a single one. But, maybe you will find a better pattern for one. For anybody who has a pattern out of quilts and more magazine, when you are sewing the corners, if you find the directions a bit confusing, like we did, you may want to refer to the Eleanor Burns show aired on August 7, 2008. She shows you exactly what to do. Well, hope this helped! Always craft creatively!

Locker Bulletin Boards

Did you ever think that having a bulletin board in your locker would be helpful? Well, so did I, so I made a mini bulletin board to hang in my locker this year. Do you think you know how I made it? Well, if you do, scroll down to find out if you're right, and if you don't, scroll down to find out



Materials:

• 1 piece of thick cardboard


• 1 piece of patterned paper


• a stapler


• stickers (optional)


• calligraphy equipment (optional)

You take the patterned paper and place it face down on your work space. Place the cardboard face down over top of the paper. Fold the paper back over the edges of the cardboard and staple in place. Flip it over so it is face up. You can either leave it as it is, or embellish. When I did mine, I put the name of the person at the top. Say I was making it for a girl named Amber. At the top, I wrote Amber's locker at the top in calligraphy and placed smiley face stickers that matched the paper on either side of the calligraphy. Hope this helped you! Always craft creatively!

Tips For The Crafter

If you ever decide that you want to make your own school gym bag, or any bag for that matter, be careful when buying interfacing. Make sure that it is not too short. I am telling you this from experience. Also, if you're making something out of mohair yarn, and think you can just use a yarn that is similar, think again! Someone I know made this mistake and the similar yarn was too fuzzy for her project. Always craft creatively!

Duct Tape Beads.......Not A Good Idea

Have you ever tried to make a bead out of duct tape? Well, I have. I do not recommend it. All it does is waste duct tape and your time and make your bead hole maker sticky. So, what do you make beads out of? If you want to make one-of-a-kind beads that don't make anything sticky, I suggest making your beads out of wool roving. 1 ounce can make about thirty beads. You just wet a small amount of it in warm, soapy water, and roll into a ball. Then, let dry for a few seconds, and stick a needle, pin, kabob skewer, or something along those lines, depending on how big you want your hole to be, into the middle of the bead, and let dry overnight, or until completely dry. You can also use a blow dryer for quicker drying time.