By Noreen Doll. Now you don't have to throw used ribbon away. Here's a quick way to straighten wrinkled ribbon. You can make a wrinkled ribbon look like new. Simply heat your curling iron to a low setting. You don't want it too hot! After the curling iron is heated, test it on the end of the ribbon you want to straighten. If the curling iron is too hot, … [Read more...] about Quick Way to Straighten Wrinkled Ribbon
General Craft Tips
How to Dry Paint Quickly
By Noreen Doll. One way to dry paint quickly is to set your project outside on a warm sunny day. But if you are crafting at night, when it's windy, or when you don't have good weather, you need to find another way. I've discovered that a hair dryer works beautifully to speed my projects along when I'm waiting for paint or Mod Podge to dry. I don't have a lot … [Read more...] about How to Dry Paint Quickly
Frugal Cutting Tip
By Noreen Doll. Here's a frugal cutting tip that will help you conserve your supplies. When creating, kids have a tendency to plop their template right down in the middle of that big lovely sheet of paper or craft foam. By the time they've cut from the edge over to the shape, and then cut around the shape, the big lovely sheet of paper is pretty much unusable … [Read more...] about Frugal Cutting Tip
Tiny Hole Punch Tip
By Noreen Doll. Here's a great tiny hole punch tip for when you want to make a neat small hole without tearing the paper. This tip is really handy when you want to add a brad to your project, and you need a small hole for the point of the brad to push through. It would also be perfect to punch small holes in paper or card stock to which you want to tie a … [Read more...] about Tiny Hole Punch Tip
How to Print a Sturdier Template
By Noreen Doll. Have you ever tried to trace around a paper template? The edges are so flimsy your pencil slides under or over, and makes a mess. Here's an easy way to print a sturdier template. Cut a manilla folder in half, and then cut one side to 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches, so it will fit through your printer. Lay the cut manilla folder page on top of the … [Read more...] about How to Print a Sturdier Template
How to Turn a Soda Can into a Flat Sheet of Aluminum
There are lots of great crafts you can make from aluminum cans. And the colorful logos on the cans add to the finished project. For most projects you need to first turn a soda can into a flat sheet of aluminum. When I'm cutting aluminum cans, I like to wear a kevlar glove on the hand holding the can to prevent cuts. The can edges are really sharp when … [Read more...] about How to Turn a Soda Can into a Flat Sheet of Aluminum
How to Blow an Egg
By Noreen Doll. There are lots of Easter crafts that need a blown egg shell. Try this easy way to blow an egg. Supplies. Eggs Fork or Pin Toothpick Bowl Egg Carton to Hold Blown Eggs How to Blow an Egg. 1. To prepare the eggs for blowing, first wash the egg in soapy water and rinse it. Pat it dry with a paper towel. 2. Then make a … [Read more...] about How to Blow an Egg
How to Cut Holes in the Middle of Something
By Noreen Doll. I make lots of projects that require holes in the middle where they are hard to cut. Here is an easy way to cut holes in the middle of something. If the item is soft and flexible and bends easily, cut the hole like this. Fold the item in half so you can see half of the hole on either side. Using sharp scissors, cut a small slit in the … [Read more...] about How to Cut Holes in the Middle of Something
Sharpen Decorative Edge Scissors
By Noreen Doll. Decorative edge scissors are fun to use, and they leave pretty edges on paper projects. A good tip for using the scissors is to not cut quite all the way to the tip when you are cutting. Stop a short distance from the end and then realign the scissors to continue cutting. Cutting all the way to the end can cause the paper to tear instead of … [Read more...] about Sharpen Decorative Edge Scissors
How to Prevent Cord Ends from Fraying While You Work
By Noreen Doll. Do you ever try to thread ribbon or twine through a punched hole only to have the end fray and spread in all directions? One clever remedy I've discovered is to put a drop or two of white glue on my finger tip and then stick the end of the twine in the glue and rub the glue all over the end. Twist the end of the twine in the direction that … [Read more...] about How to Prevent Cord Ends from Fraying While You Work
Embroidery Thread Bobbin from a Milk Jug
By Noreen Doll. I had a little bit of plastic left around the opening of the milk jug and I wanted to be able to use it, because I challenged myself to use as much of the jug as I could. I noticed the plastic was just the right size for embroidery thread bobbins. So I used a bobbin I already had as a pattern, and traced the bobbins around the opening. And … [Read more...] about Embroidery Thread Bobbin from a Milk Jug
Speed Dry a Painted or Decoupage Project
By Noreen Doll. When I craft I have a hard time waiting for paint, glue or Mod Podge to dry. So I figured out a way to speed dry my projects. I have an old hair dryer that is too hot on one setting and too slow on the other setting for drying hair. But it's perfect for drying my crafts quickly. When I use the dryer on the high setting, I hold it about a foot away … [Read more...] about Speed Dry a Painted or Decoupage Project
