Sherri's Helpful Hints

Beautiful Crafts to Make

Floral Ice Bowl craft
2 freezer-proof glass or aluminum bowls of the same shape, one about 2 inches smaller than the other
Water
Assorted edible flowers
Scotch tape

Pour 1 inch of water into the larger bowl. Place the bowl in the freezer, making sure it is standing perfectly flat. When the water has frozen remove the bowl from the freezer. Place the smaller bowl inside the larger one resting on the ice. Tape the bowls together using Scotch tape to make sure they don't shift. Pour water into the gap between the two bowls. Have it come halfway up the side.

Stick the edible flowers into the water all the way around the perimeter of the bowl. Use a pencil or skewer to push the flowers down if necessary. Place the bowls in the freezer again, until the water has frozen. Remove the bowls and add another layer of water so it reaches the top. Freeze again.

When the ice bowl is frozen solid, remove the bowls from the freezer. Remove the tape. Try to separate the bowls. If necessary, run under tepid water just until the bowls release. Place the ice bowl back into the freezer until needed.

Serve the bowl on a chilled glass plate or tray to catch drips.

You can try this concept with foil confetti, herbs or slices of citrus fruit.

Fragrant Silk Gift Sachets craft
Source: Craft By Linda Lee, owner, The Sewing Workshop

Silk organza
Metallic silk organza
Scissors
Iron
Chalk
Chalk marker
Cable-twisted rayon thread
Straight pins
Potpourri

Begin by tearing the silk organza into two square pieces. Tear the metallic silk organza into two smaller squares. Iron the edges of all pieces.

Stack the smaller squares onto the larger squares. Use a chalk marker and chalk to draw a vertical line down the center of the smaller silk organza square. Use the chalk marker to draw a horizontal line crossing the vertical one. Brush away chalk lines.

Tie a knot - which will become part of the design - in the end of rayon thread. Handstitch vertical and horizontal lines on metallic square. Leave edges unsewn.

Fill each of the four pockets that have been created with potpourri.

Tip: Pin the pockets shut after filling to hold them closed while sewing edges. Sew edges closed.

Heart-Shaped Box craft
Index or card stock (for small boxes)
Poster board (for larger boxes)
Wrapping paper or fabric
Scissors
White or tacky glue
Spray adhesive or hot glue gun for trim

Keep in mind that heart-shaped boxes take an extraordinary amount of patience!

Cut out one heart for the base of the box. Cut another heart 1/8-inch to 1/2-inch smaller than the base heart. This will be the lid.

Cut a band about two inches longer than the circumference of the smaller heart. Make the band as wide as you want the box to be tall. In other words, if the circumference of the smaller heart is 12 inches, and you want the box to be four inches tall, cut a 14 inch long x 4 inch wide band.

Cut another band 14 inches long x 1 inch wide. This will be attached to the lid as the cover for the box.

At this point, you can cover the base heart, bands and lid with fabric or paper. If you want to decorate the plain white heart box, then just go ahead with making the box.

Starting at the top center of the smaller heart, guide and shape the narrow band around the curve and down to the point. Make a sharp bend where the point will go, then shape the band around the other side of the heart. At the top center of the heart, make another sharp bend, and trim the excess 1/4 inch beyond this second bend. This creates the overlap to glue the band together. Glue the band together.

Starting at the top center of the smaller heart, but slightly inside the rim of the heart because the lid needs to fit over this wider band, guide and shape the wide band around the curve and down to the point. Make a sharp bend where the point will go, then shape the band around the other side of the heart. At the top center of the heart, make another sharp bend, and trim the excess 1/4 inch beyond this second bend. This, again, creates the overlap to glue the band together. Glue the band together.

Using a pin, lay a thin line of glue along the top edge of the narrow band, and attach it to the smaller heart (lid).

Using a pin, lay a thin line of glue along the top edge of the wider band, and attach it to the larger heart (base) by centering it over the base.

You can decorate the heart-shaped box with a satin ribbon bow, lace, flowers, paint, faux gems, etc.

Heirloom Picture Frame craft
Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

Wooden picture frame
Sandpaper
Tack cloth
Liquid crackling medium
Acrylic paint in a dark color (for the base coat)
Acrylic paint in a light color (for the top coat
Paintbrushes
Antiquing medium (or diluted brown paint)
Lint-free rag (optional)

Sand the frame until all traces of any old finish are removed and the wood is smooth. Remove the sanding dust with a tack cloth.

Paint the frame using the dark acrylic paint. Apply one or two coats for complete coverage, and let the base coat dry.

Apply the crackling medium in long, smooth, even strokes. If you happen to miss a spot, immediately touch up only that spot. It's natural for streaks and uneven spots to develop as the medium dries.

Add the top coat of paint after the crackling medium has dried completely. Again, use long, even strokes. (Don't go back and paint over areas you've already covered or the paint won't develop cracks.) You'll see the cracks appear in the direction of your brushstrokes.

To further age the finish, you can apply antiquing medium (or diluted brown paint), if you like. Wait until the light top coat of paint is dry, then brush on the antiquing medium. Immediately remove the excess with a lint-free rag, and let the medium dry.

No Sew Appliquéd Tablecloth and Napkins craft
Cotton fabric to make size tablecloth cloth desired and 12- or 14-inch napkins
Applique fabric
Paper backed fusible webbing
2 packages fusible webbing tape
Beads or embellishments as desired
Scissors

Wash, dry (using no fabric softener) and press fabrics. Cut fabric to desired width and length of tablecloth. Cut out napkins.

Press under 1/4 inch along edges of napkins. Lay wrong side up. Lay tape, paper side up, along pressed edges of fabric. Lightly glide iron across paper for one or two seconds. Do not remove paper backing. Turn pressed edge over another 1/4 inch and press in place. Unfold pressed edge and remove paper backing. Refold and fuse with iron.

Fuse sheets of paper-backed webbing, paper side up, onto wrong side of applique fabric. Allow to cool. Cut out motifs and remove paper backing. Arrange appliques along edges of tablecloth, overlapping them slightly to create a continuous line. Be sure applique fabric is completely on top tablecloth fabric and not sticking over an edge. Fuse in place.

Trim edges slightly inside appliqued area, cutting through both applique and tablecloth fabric.

Add a single motif to napkin. Follow previous directions for fusing in place.

Add beads or other embellishments to motif.