THRIFT STORE MAKEOVER - VINTAGE TRUNK

Before

When I first showed this cute little trunk to John at the thrift store, he looked at me like I had lost my mind. I don't really blame him.  I mean, I enjoy the Twilight series as much as the next person - well, maybe not as much as some people (like the kind of person who would use this trunk, as is, to decorate their home).  But I love vintage style trunks, and with a price tag of $3, I told John to have a little faith in me, and promised him he would like it in the end.  I think I've fulfilled my promise.

I started by removing the hardware with a screwdriver.  The leather strips I left on.  Then I cut fabric to roughly the right size to cover a side and wrap over the top and bottom.  I covered that side of the trunk with Modge Podge, and smoothed the fabric over it.  Then I pushed the edges of the fabric under the leather strips with a flat head screwdriver.  I repeated this on all sides, and then replaced the hardware.  To cover the raw edges of the fabric on the inside and bottom, I glued in some black ribbon. 

Cost breakdown:  $3 for the trunk, $2 for the fabric (about 1/3 yard), and $1 for the ribbon, for a grand total of $6! 

Approximate time to craft*: 3 hours
Approximate cost for supplies*: $6
*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.

HANDMADE GIFT IDEA #12

 

The kit rolls up into this cute little bundle.

As my son so joyfully reminded us this morning - only 6 days left until Christmas!  If you still have a couple hard to shop for people on your list, here is an easy and thoughtful idea:  a portable emergency kit.  The tutorial I found on Pinterest (thank you Pinterest!), and I've included a link to it below.  It went together very quickly, and I had everything I needed right at home (huge bonus).  This kit I made for my sister who is in college.  I filled it with things that a cute college girl might find very useful: hand sanitizer, chap stick, lip gloss, Kleenex, band-aids, cash, lotion, gum, and chocolate (seriously, I probably should have just filled the whole thing with chocolate).  You could adapt this idea for a mom with a new baby (fill it with baby essentials), or first aid essentials for just about anyone (great teacher idea too!).  As you are picking what to fill it with, my only tip is to think FLAT.  I originally had a whole pack of gum, and a bigger bottle of hand sanitizer, and I just couldn't get it to roll right.  This idea seems so versatile and useful - let me know what other ideas you have for filling these babies up!

Resources: Positively Splendid First-Aid Kit Roll Tutorial
Skills required: easy sewing
Approximate time to craft*: 1 hour  
Approximate cost for supplies*: $5-$10
*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.

SAFARI ADVENTURE

Children just love exploring and adventures! In fact, every day our son begs us to do something “new” – I guess we’re not exciting enough for him! But what is more exciting than an African Safari?!

Treat your child to a Safari Adventure that can be enjoyed again and again. This Print and Play Felt Figure set includes: 1 explorer boy, 1 explorer girl, 1 canteen, 1 camera, 1 pair of binoculars, 1 jeep, 2 crocodiles, 2 hippos, 2 giraffes, 2 zebras, 2 elephants, 2 tortoises, 2 flamingos, 2 monkeys, 2 meerkats, 3 birds, 2 ostriches, 2 rhinos, 2 gazelles, 2 snakes, 2 lions, 2 cheetahs, and 1 tree.

Each figure is drawn by hand, and then digitally colored for vibrant colors. Just print the figures out onto iron-on transfer paper, iron onto felt, and cut out. It’s so easy, you might just decide to make a set for every kid you know!

Resources: www.copycrafts.etsy.com
Skills required: ironing and cutting
Approximate time to craft*: 1 hour
Approximate cost for supplies*: $10
*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.

A PIRATE'S LIFE

Ahoy! Avast! And ARGHHHHH!

This Print and Play Felt Figure set has everything they need to set out on the high seas for the adventure of a life time! Follow the map to dig for treasure, do some swashbuckling, maybe even get stranded on a desert island. . . This set includes: a pirate ship, 1 deserted island, 1 row boat, 1 treasure chest, 3 waves, 4 pirates, 1 treasure map, 1 apple barrel, 1 canon, 1 set of canon balls, 2 shovels, and 4 swords .

Each figure is drawn by hand, and then digitally colored for vibrant colors. Just print the figures out onto iron-on transfer paper, iron onto felt, and cut out. It’s so easy, you might just decide to make a set for every kid you know!

Resources: www.copycrafts.etsy.com
Skills required: ironing and cutting
Approximate time to craft*: 1 hour
Approximate cost for supplies*: $8
*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.

FUN FELT BOARDS

The perfect learning tool for play time, preschool, or home school!

Includes the pattern for both travel and full size felt boards. The travel size is perfect for individual play, long car rides, doctor’s offices, or church. Just Velcro the sides closed, slip the felt pieces inside, and you’re ready to roam. The full size is large enough for at least two children to play together. Perfect for play time at home, or preschools. It folds flat for easy storage.

Resources: www.copycrafts.etsy.com
Skills required: easy machine & hand sewing
Approximate time to craft*: 3 hours each
Approximate cost for supplies*: $10 each
*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.

FISH TOWELS

Hooded bath towels are a great way for keeping babies and toddlers warm after a bath. With this pattern you can transform any bath towel into either a fish or shark to wrap up in. This pattern is designed to be very quick and easy, and you'll have a really cute towel to wrap up your little swimmer in no time!
Resources: www.copycrafts.etsy.com
Skills required: easy machine and hand sewing
Approximate time to craft*: 2 hours each
Approximate cost for supplies*: $10 each
*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.

HANDMADE GIFT IDEA #10

Felt boards are a great way to disguise learning as fun. This travel felt board lets them take the fun on the road. Just slide the felt pieces inside the board and they're ready to roam! Perfect for car trips, church, and doctor's offices. It also makes a perpetual gift - give the board one year, and give new felt figure sets on subsequent occasions.
 
Resources: felt board and felt figure patterns available at www.copycrafts.etsy.com
Skills required: easy machine and hand sewing
Approximate time to craft*: 4 hours
Approximate cost for supplies*: $10 
*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.

HANDMADE GIFT IDEA #6

Ask any mom who's ever used a hooded bath towel for their child, and they will tell you they are great! There is nothing better for keeping a kid warm after a bath. These "Fish Towels" are a great twist on the classic hooded towel. Why not make it a complete gift set with matching "Fish Cloths"? Both the towels and the wash cloths are fast and easy to make, and they are extra charming when given together!

Resources: Fish Towel pattern - www.copycrafts.etsy.com, Fish Cloth pattern - www.copycrafts.etsy.com
Skills required: towels - easy machine and hand sewing, wash cloths - easy knitting
Approximate time to craft*: towels - 1 hour each, wash cloths - 2 hours each
Approximate cost for supplies*: towels - $10 each, wash cloths - $1 each*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.

HANDMADE GIFT IDEA #5

Our son's great-grandpa is an incredible wood-worker, so we were very excited when he gave these beautiful wooden blocks to our son for his first birthday. Made from the odds and ends of various projects, they were cut into rectangles, sanded down, and rubbed with oil. Our son loves to stack them high and knock them down (typical kid).

Skills required: easy woodworking
Approximate time to craft*: 2 hours
Approximate cost for supplies*: $10*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.

HANDMADE GIFT IDEA #4

A beautiful handmade scarf is a great gift for winter birthdays and Christmas. First, find some nice soft yarn like the merino wool pictured here. Then pick a pattern that suits the recipient. The pattern for the scarf pictured came from Rodale's Visual Encyclopedia of Needlecrafts. There are also tons of free scarf patterns on the internet that range in style from funky, to classic, to romantic, to fun. With a little bit of thought, you'll be sure to make something that will warm their heart for years to come.

Resources: Rodale's Visual Encyclopedia of Needlecrafts
Skills required: easy-advanced knitting, or easy-advanced crochet
Approximate time to craft*: 10 hours
Approximate cost for supplies*: $7*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.

MY FAN CLUB

This quiet book has everything a baby could want from a toy - textures, red/black/white patterns, and the faces of their favorite people! One of our easiest quiet books, it's great for any day, but absolutely perfect as a first Valentine's Day gift.

Resources: www.copycrafts.etsy.com
Skills required: intermediate machine sewing, easy embroidery
Approximate time to craft*: 16 hours
Approximate cost for supplies*: $10*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.

HANDMADE GIFT IDEA #1

Looking for something beyond the basic for a special baby girl? Try sewing this dress from Laura Ashley for McCall's Patterns (Pattern #M4424 - trust us, you have to see the back of this dress to understand just how cute it is). Then make it extra special by adding a sweet crocheted hem to the bottom. We used the "Dish and Spoon" edge from CopyCrafts' "Nursery Favorites" ePattern. Prepare and crochet the hem the same way you would a blanket or burp cloth. The result - a dress that is almost as adorable as the baby!

Resources: www.copycrafts.etsy.com, www.mccall.com
Skills required: easy sewing, easy crochet
Approximate time to craft*: 10 hours
Approximate cost for supplies*: $10
*Please remember that these are just approximations. CopyCrafts makes no guarantee of their accuracy.