Hi all,
Just a couple of things for those of you who use paint in your crafting. I mentioned egg cartons to the beaders and small item people for sorting and storage. They would also make good paint wells and are disposable or you can wash them out and reuse. Yogurt containers, (I like the wide mouth type, Greek) and if you cleaned out k-cups make good paint bowls.
Hope to have a Fall recipe for you next week! Comfort food season is almost upon us!
Enjoy! 
Hi all,
Was cleaning up my work table and found some beads that needed to be sorted, but had no plastic boxes with dividers. As luck would have it there were some empty eggs cartons in the pantry and these worked out just fine for sorting all those little beads! Now I would not turn them upside-down unless you really like sorting small little things. 
I would suggest a piece of foam or batting to hold stuff to their individual wells and some painter’s tape to help keep the carton from popping open. The cartons can probably be used for any small craft or sewing items (ex. butttons and fasteners). Until next time!
Enjoy! 
Happy New Year everyone!
Found this project online at http://www.allfreesewing.com. They have many home projects that use scraps and old items that are no longer useful in their present state.
This Folded Star Mat caught my attention because it looks like quilting and can be done by those of us that are not exactly the most patient of souls.
In the first picture you will see one of the mats in progress. This more for illustration and to say it will look pretty good when finished.
The next is my first try as a completed mat.
A fun project, though it does use a fair amount of material per color (about 1 fat quarter for the quilters or about a quarter of a yard for the rest of us). Following are the instructions I got from www.allfreesewing.com and www.aspoonfullofsugardesigns.com.
Folded Star Patchwork is a bit like fabric origami. The pattern is created from folding and layering different fabrics. This technique was common in the 1980’s and is making a comeback. It is a very simple and effective technique and looks great using modern fabrics. It uses lots of fabric so it a great stash buster project!
We think the star design looks very festive. It would be perfect for little table mats or placemats for your Christmas decorating.
If you would like to try this technique, we have written a few steps to guide you. Our Folded Star Mat measures 10 inches in diameter.
Fabrics and Materials:
5 Fat quarters of quilting cotton (inner layers of the star, backing)
1/2 yard (0.4 m) of quilting cotton (polka dot – outer layer of star)
1 yard (1 meter) bias binding
Firm fusible interfacing
Fabric Credit: We used 5 Fat Quarters from the Wallflowers range from Windham Fabrics for this project.
Cut Fabrics
Tip: I cut the 5 inch circles using the circle die on our Go Baby Fabric Cutter.
1. Fold the interfacing circle in half, then into quarters, and then into eighths. Use a marking pen to highlight the fold lines.
2. For the fabric circles. fold them all in half with the right side facing outwards, and press. Bring the outside points down to the center and press. (Refer to Photo of grey circles)
3. For the fabric squares, fold in half, and press. Bring the outside points down to the center front and press to form triangles. (Refer to Photo of Polka Dot Triangles).
4. Centre Row: Open up one of the circles and place it in the center of the interfacing, matching up the fold lines. Place the remaining 4 triangles with the points meeting in the center, lining up the guide lines. Tack the points together. Tack the outer edge in place.
5. Second Row: place the 8 triangles 3/4 inch from the center points, being careful to line up with the fold lines on the interfacing. Tack the points and outer edge in place.
6. Third and Fourth Row: Repeat step 5 for next two rows but placing the points 1/2 inch from the previous row.
7. For the outside Row, repeat using the polka dot triangles.
8. Trim the outside of the mat so that it forms a circle that is 10 inches in diameter, using the interfacing as a guide. Turn the mat so that the interfacing is facing upwards. Layer a fat quarter over the interfacing with the right side facing upwards. Press in place so that it fuses to the interfacing. Trim the backing to the 10 inch circle. Stitch bias binding in place following manufacturer’s directions.
Enjoy! 
In my Back to Work post I mentioned plastic creamer bottles as the base for a number of projects.
In the first picture you will see some of the bits and pieces I used to create a tabletop Autumn Lady.
Notice the plastic bottle. For added weight I filled the bottom about ½ inch deep with molding plaster, available at craft stores such as JoAnn’s, Michael’s, etc. Let it dry completely before attaching head or you can end up with a moldy mess inside.
I used the furry wired material for the arms, it gives flexibility for posing the figure. I also changed the foliage to an Autumn theme. The coat was an interesting challenge, as most of this was done on the fly.
I will try to get more step-by-step photos for future versions. I am working on an old-fashioned Santa and a blue-themed tabletop angel for next year’s decorations. They will be in some of the future posts.
Here are two shots of the finished product.
Be careful with the glue gun, this is close work and your fingers get really close to the hot tip.
I hope this gives some of you some new ideas for those old bottles.
Until next time. Enjoy!! 
Have you ever wondered what to do with some of the plastic containers you are always throwing away? As a coffee drinker I have a lot of creamer bottles filling up my trash bin. Some are shaped just right for cute décor items for the holidays. I have taken some odds and ends, a smooth creamer bottle and one of a 4-pack of square topped yogurt to make a snowman for Christmas.
Using the glue gun was touchy, as the plastic can melt if the tip hits on the surface, but if you work quickly it will be fine.
The angel was made with a plastic cone shaped drink cup, a doily, ping–pong ball, and old jewelry. I got the balls at a dollar store. Again, be careful with the hot glue.
There are all kinds of neat things just laying around waiting to be discovered.
Until next time
Notions and Nibbles 