Patterns for Living ~ A Jesus Christ Original

Thanks to Gayenelle Wakely who shared this with me!

$ Priceless                                             All Sizes

Material Required:
A life (young or old) filled with determination, will power, and the Spirit of God.  Synthetic material not recommended.

Notions Needed:
Elasticity                               Interfacing
Variety                                   Lip Zipper
Sense of Humor                   Backbone Stiffening

Measurements:
How wide is your understanding?
How long is your patience?
How deep is your love?                          Galatians 5:22-23

Pattern Instructions:
Step 1 ~ Pattern for Adjustment
"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God."
~ Colossians 1:10
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
~ John 3:30

Step 2 ~ Planning the Layout
"Let all things be done decently and in order."
~ I Corinthians 14:40
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."
~ Matthew 6:33

Step 3 ~ Instructions for Cutting
Cut all the unkind criticism, gossip, and fault finding.
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you..."
~ Ephesians 4:31

Step 4 ~ Seam Allowance
Give others the benefit of the doubt.
"And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
~ Galatians 6:9-10

Step 5 ~ Pressing
It is necessary to press after each step.
"I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
~ Philippians 3:14

Step 6 ~ Putting Together
"Add to your faith virtue; to virtue knowledge; to knowledge temperance; to temperance patience; to patience godliness; to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love."
~ II Peter 1:5-7

Step 7 ~ Insertion
Join in some joy and laughter.
"A merry heart doeth good like medicine."
~ Proverbs 17:22
"Yes, happy is that people whose God is the Lord."
~ Psalm 144:15

Step 8 ~ Ruffling
Don't get ruffled.  There's none called for in this pattern!
"Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."
~ I Peter 5:7

Step 9 ~ Zipper (Lips)
"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips."
~ Psalm 141:3
(Translation of above)  "Lord, fill my mouth with proper stuff, and nudge me when I've said enough."

Step 10 ~ Facing (the Task)
"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."
~ Philippians 4:13
"In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works."
~ Titus 2:7

Step 11 ~ Finishing Details
"I have finished my course; I have kept the faith."
~ II Timothy 4:7
"Be thou faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
~ Revelation 2:10

Leather iPhone® Purse Tutorial

Let’s be honest, that phone in your back pocket isn’t doing your {backside} any favors :). Why not make an easy and cute leather iPhone® purse carrier? Perfect for holding your phone, a key, and a little bit of cash or credit cards. 

Read more.

Faux Fur-Lined Tartan Poncho

I've been loving the fact that ponchos of all types are back again and have been wanting one for myself in a fun plaid. What could be better than a cozy wool tartan poncho wrapped around your shoulders? Read more.

Beautiful Ornaments from Empty Thread Spools

Tutorial of the Cutest Spool Ornaments Ever!
http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/2014/11/tutorial-liberty-of-london-fabric.html

For more Spool Ornaments:
http://quiltingdigest.com/fabric-thread-on-spools-make-pretty-ornaments/

Sewing and Crafts Tutorials

Thanks to Debbie Klinect in Florida for this link!

  http://blog.betzwhite.com/p/tutorials.html

Repurpose (Place Mats)

Used with Permission by April Dawn White Frayed cuffs and thread bare knees are all that remain of my children's denim jeans. I carefully slipped the blade of the seam ripper under the thread and lifted the blade. After cutting the stiches, I removed a back pocket from a pair of blue jeans.  During this project, I repurposed the worn out jeans into funky denim place mats. Any salvageable part was cut away and assembled into something new. What once was a back pocket is now a utensil and napkin holder. From the tattered jeans, I created four distinct place mats. Each denim place mat has a unique backing and binding fabric to represent the personalities of our family members. On my daughter's placemat I repositioned a crocheted pocket and covered the back with pink and red heart and star material. As I reworked the fabric, Genesis 50:20 came to mind: "But God intended it for good." As the youngest in the family, Joseph was teased and despised by his older brothers. Their hatred for Joseph was so great, they sold him into slavery. Decades later, Joseph held a prominent place in the king's court. The same brothers, who sold him off, later stood before Joseph begging for assistance. Joseph had every right to turn them away. Instead he said, "You planned evil against me, but God used those same plans for good" (Genesis 50:20, MSG).   I love the phrase "but God used those same plans for good." Those same plans, not different plans, the very same plans -- for good! I stopped sewing to offer praise! I began to examine those areas of my life that once were painful. Now I can see God was using those same plans for good.    Praise God that He is the ultimate recycler! He was reducing, reusing, and recycling long before our generation. He wants to reduce our burdens, reuse our trials to help others, and recycle areas to bring us good and to bring Him glory!   "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) Connect with me: Email redchairmoments@gmail.com Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RedChairMoments Twitter http://www.twitter.com/RedChairMoments Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/redchairmoments/

Easy FIx for Draft Under Your Door!

by Mary Westmoreland - Used by permission

Instructions: Measure width of door. Cut a piece of fabric that length plus 1" for 1/2 "seam allowance on each end and about 5" wide (depending on how big of a gap you have under your door).   Fold with wrong sides together lengthwise and serge leaving one end open. Fill with dried pinto beans and sew end closed.

Electric Cord Covers

Contributed by Mary Westmoreland,
mom of the new Editor of Heart to Heart, Michelle Gill
Tutorial videos on www.rebornjoy.com under the sewing tab

Do you hate seeing your ugly cords attached to your lamps?  Here is a simple way to help them blend in with your decor.

1.  Measure length of cord.
2.  Cut piece of fabric 3 times that length.  Width should be wide enough to wrap around the plug with 1/2" seam allowance.
3.  Hem ends with a 1/2" seam allowance.
4.  Sew with right sides together along the length of fabric.
5.  Turn right side out and feed the cord through it.

How to Make your Own Terry Cleaning Cloths

by Lois Breneman - 2014

I don't even call these cleaning cloths "rags," because they are so nice to use - no holes and very durable.  Using thin, worn towels (without holes), I cut each bath towel into 8 sections.  

After rounding the corners by trimming, I zigzag each one, non-stop, all around the rounded edges with my sewing machine, assembly line style, without cutting the thread until they are all sewn.  

Old hand towels, dish towels and washcloths work too.  Fluff them in the dryer to remove the lint before using them as cleaning cloths.  

When laundering them, I skip the fabric softener so they are more absorbent.  We are still using cleaning cloths that used to be towels received as wedding gifts 45 years ago!  If you don't have worn towels yet, check at yard sales, Salvation Army, and Goodwill.

After laundering the cleaning cloths, I simply fold mine in half and stack them in bathrooms, the laundry room, and the hall closet for cleaning.

Sewing with Young Children

by Lois Breneman - 2013 - Heart to Heart

(Photos included)

Sewing is becoming a lost art, but there is much on the internet that it would be easy enough to learn on your own by watching you tube videos.  Pinterest has also presented many opportunities for learning how to sew, and I hope many of you will take advantage of learning and passing on those skills to the next generations.

When our grandchildren were much younger, we made small pillows together.  I'd sew a machine embroidery design of their choice on their pillow front with the child on my lap, letting them push the buttons. They'd also sit on my lap as I sewed the seams.  They would turn the pillow right-side out, punch out the corners, and stuff it with fiberfill, and I taught them how to sew the opening shut.

It's a "dream-come-true" for me that my young granddaughter wants to learn how to sew and is so enthusiastic about it!  I usually take my sewing machine when we visit our long-distant children's families, so I can do their mending and other projects in my spare time.  When we visited our daughter's family last winter, as we were coming in the house for hugs, I bent down to give Ryan Elizabeth a hug, and she yelled with excitement, "Are we going to SEW, Grammie?"  Of course, I loved her enthusiasm in wanting to learn how to sew!

That week I taught Ryan at the age of five how to make beanbags, and she learned how to do a very neat whip stitch by hand, reinforcing the stitches with knots now and then.  She made two more pillows, helped me to make burp pads for baby gifts, and loved sewing buttons on a piece of fabric by hand. 

           
Sewing projects done with Ryan sitting on my lap:

Stuffing black beans into beanbags with a spoon

  Ryan turning a burp pad right-side-out

 Pillow with pink, purple & blue varigated circles

Ryan stuffing a heart-shaped pillow that we made together

She was so proud of her finished heart-shaped pillow!

Before we drove a long distance to visit our daughter's family at the end of July, Ryan had already gathered some mending for me that needed done - doll clothes, a huge Scooby Doo whose backside seam was coming apart, and a few other items.

During our week's visit, I taught our two oldest grandchildren how to make their own pillowcases that will match the quilts I'm making for them.  Justin, 10, already has his quilt, and Ryan Elizabeth, who just turned 6, will have hers later this year.  They did a great job on their pillowcases, doing all the sewing themselves.  There were only a few times we had to back up and redo a seam that got wavy.  I cut, pressed and gave them instructions, and I was so proud of them for the work they each did!

Ryan (just turned 6) sewing her pillowcase with the foot pedal raised up on a 15" high box

This is the pillowcase Ryan Elizabeth (6) sewed to match the quilt I'm making for her.  She sewed a pretty decorative stitch in pink, using a thick decorative thread.  The main part of her pillowcase is green, and the other colors were added to the open end.  The mint green butterfly print matches a dress I made for her 6th birthday (shown at the end of this article).

                      
Justin (10), posing with the quilt I finished for him in June.  I plan to make an heirloom quilt for each of the grandchildren.  He loves it, and keeps it hanging down (folded) from his upper bunk.

Justin sewed this pillowcase to match his quilt. I chose the fabric, cut, and pressed it, while Justin did all the sewing.  The main part is orange, and the yellow, green, and blue fabrics form a decoration at the open end.

Ryan Elizabeth and Justin's pillowcases in which they each did all the sewing!

This is a link with an excellent tutorial on sewing pillowcases: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/quick-sewing-projects/sewing-with-kidssew-an-easy-pillowcase/

Ryan is still too small to reach the foot pedal of a sewing machine, so I raised it up off the floor about 15 inches with a box, and she had the time of her life sewing with me for a week in August.  It was such fun to see her concentration and enthusiasm as she learned how to sew straight seams by herself, while I cut, pressed, or did something else nearby.   

She also helped me sew 45 drawstring bags - some for her birthday party guests later in the week, some for her teachers, and lots for her to keep.  She learned how to guide the edge of the presser foot along the edge of the fabric for straight seams.  She inserted drawstrings around the top of the bags using a large safety pin as well.  It took us two days of sticking with the job to get so many bags sewn, but I never had to ask her to keep on working.  She's a determined little girl and as we worked hard with me on the second day, even though she was getting tired, she told me, "I'm going to stick with this until it's done!"  And she did!

Here are most of the drawstring totebags that Ryan and I made.  We also made several more using the pink fabric with cats that was leftover from the sides of her mini quilt (shown below).

                
She's sewing the hem at the top of a bag where the drawstring will be inserted.

                              
Foot pedal raised up on a 15" tall box so she could reach it to sew by herself!

                                     
Closeup of her sewing the top hem

Such concentration!

I love the look of wonder on her face as she sews ...

  
... and such concentration!

She has such a desire to learn how to sew, and you can be sure her grandma just loves it!

My daughter shared with me today how one of Ryan's teachers said that she just loves the drawstring totebag that Ryan gave her and my daughter told her Ryan had made it herself with her grandma!

After cutting the fabric for Ryan's large quilt at home, I had lots of skinny strips left over, so she and I made a mini quilt (about the size of a lap quilt) with some cute "kitty" fabric sewn on the sides.  She sewed together more than half of the strips by herself!  I was surprised she would stick with it that long!  But that was a much bigger project than a six year old can handle, along with all of our other projects, so I finished the rest of the quilt for her.  The quilt back has a darling whimsical frog print to go with the colors of the quilt top.  I brought it home to sew on a purple binding, and will give it to her soon - the next time we see each other.

Ryan did an excellent job of sewing most of the skinny quilt strips together; then I finished it.

The back of Ryan's mini quilt with such adorable and colorful whimsical frogs

While together we made this cupcake and strawberry eclair from felt, and stuffed them both.   The cupcake, frosting and strawberry topping were glued on, while the pom pom cherry was sewn on so it would stay more secure.

In the future I'd like to help Ryan Elizabeth put various hand sewing samples into a "Sewing Notebook," to help her remember each sewing technique, and to be able to use them throughout life.  The blind stitch for hemming will be one of those hand sewing stitches, so she can hem her own clothes when needed.  I'd love to add photos of all her sewing projects to the notebook as well.   We also did yo-yo's and flower hair bands at the beach in June. 

Ryan and I have lots more plans of sewing together!  This is definitely one of the joys the Lord has given to me in being a Grammie!

Below are three dresses I made for Ryan's birthday, using the same pattern, with the purple dress having cap sleeves and buttons on the front.  Both of these fabrics will be in her large quilt that I'm making for her.  The dresses are both fully lined, with a zipper in the back, but very easy to make.  She has room in them to grow.  We all know how little girls love to twirl in these full skirts, and Ryan is no exception!  Some day I can imagine she will be sewing some of her own clothes!

I bought the dress pattern at JoAnn Fabrics - a "See and Sew" pattern from the rotating pattern racks - B5443 which includes sizes 2-3-4-5.  It has two different views - a two-tiered dress and a three-tiered dress.  Over a year ago I made the two-tiered dress in size 5 for Ryan, so when I made the two new dresses shown below (with three layers in the skirt), I added on to the pattern to make a size 7.
 

 A year later, I made her these two new dresses, enlarging the pattern as I cut them out.

This is the quilt I made for Ryan Elizabeth in her favorite colors (mine too).  It a bargello quilt design like I used for her brother's quilt (above), but rather than positioning the blocks diagonally, I used a zig-zag design, which I really like.  If you look very carefully, you might be able to see fabric from her green and purple butterfly dresses in her quilt.  Since there are at least four butterfly fabrics in her quilt, I named the quilt, "Butterfly Kisses."

The quilting was done by machine.  I stitched-in-the-ditch down each row between the blocks and borders.  Freehand quilting was done on the wide purple border, after I drew the swirly design with a water soluble ink pen, made for sewing.

In the summer of 2014, as I presented this gift to her, Ryan Elizabeth's big brother, Justin, led her, blindfolded, into the guest bedroom where I had her new quilt laid out on the bed.  This is Ryan's face when she first saw it finished!  Very happy indeed!

 The quilt backing is made from a beautiful watercolor print, comprising of all the colors in the top of the quilt.  It was perfect for this quilt top!  Last of all I cut the dark purple binding on the bias (2 1/2"), sewed it together, ironed it in half, and sewed it on the quilt by machine, folded it to the back, then finished it off all around the quilt by hand.  A label was sewn onto the back by hand, displaying the name of the quilt, Ryan Elizabeth's name, my name, and the date.

                                     

Ryan posing happily with her new queen-size heirloom quilt,
truly a labor of love for my precious granddaughter!

Jeans Pot Holders

www.favecrafts.com

Turn the seat of an old pair of jeans into potholders. The jean pockets, already ready for slipping in your hands, make this sewing project a breeze.

1. Find a pair of old jeans. Perhaps you have an unsightly hole that is beyond mending like me?
    
2. Cut two 10 inch squares around each pocket, with the pocket as close to the center of the square as possible.
    
3. Cut out two 10 inch squares in fabric to match the denim squares.
    
4. For the insulation layer, use two layers of thick wool batting cut to equal squares, or use several layers of denim squares cut from the jean legs.
    
5. For each potholder, assemble the three square layers of denim, insulation, fabric. Align the insulation squares with the fabric square, with the wrong side of the fabric touching the insulation. Pin in place. Align this pinned piece with the denim square, with the right side of the denim touching the fabric piece. Pin in place.
    
6. With a ½ inch seam allowance, stitch three sides of each pot holder.
    
7. Turn inside out and press. Top stitch the remaining side closed. Repeat for other potholder.

Happy baking with your homemade potholders!

Opa Bears

by Mary Fenzel Abramski - http://things2dob4dying.wordpress.com/ - Used by permission

When you have someone special in your life to die, it's hard to know what to do with their clothes.  Do you just throw them out?  Donate them?  What do you do with them?

After my daddy died, I had a friend ask for one of his shirts.  Daddy always wore flannel shirts with Khaki's.  I was not sure what she was going to do with the shirt but I knew it was in good hands and that she would return it back in good condition.  What I did not know is that she would turn the shirt into what is now called in our family an "Opa Bear.”

When I got my Opa Bear back I was so happy.  It was nice to have something from my father that I could give to my daughter that was usable.  Her Opa Bear has been in her bed since the day she was born!  When I see the Bear it reminds me of a lot of good memories and I'm able to share those stories with my daughter about her Opa.

Because I thought that this was such a fantastic idea, I wanted all of Daddy's grand-kids to have an Opa Bear.  I asked my mom if I could have Daddy's shirts.  Christmas of 2007 I made all the grand-kids their Opa Bears.  They LOVED them!

Since then, I have updated the pattern and have made several Opa Bears for friends/family who want to have something special to pass down from a loved one.

If you would like to see pictures of the Opa Bears, please visit my blog at http://things2dob4dying.wordpress.com/

Free Online Sewing Classes

 

If you already sew or would like to learn how, these links show step-by-step instructions.  For the first link, just click on the picture of the project you're interested in.  Happy Sewing! 

www.sewingrepublic.com

Sew Fundamental Classes

Project - Hanging Fabric Organizer 

 

Miracle Blanket for Infants

This is a swaddling wrap for infants.  It helps them sleep really well, so it's a great gift for tired moms too!  Thanks to Meagan DeLong in North Carolina for this wonderful information!   Be sure to click on the miracle wrap website to see how to wrap up your sweet baby for a good restful sleep!  This reminds me of the phrase, "Snug as a bug in a rug!"

I looked it up online and it seemed like people are making Miracle Blankets with a stretchy material.  I think Jersey Knit would work well.  I've used it to make a moby-style wrap before it and it works great for that.  Other people online mentioned using muslin, a woven knit, or crinkle gauze.  We got our moby wrap at Babies R Us and I'll bet you can find it at other baby stores as well.  

Hope this is helpful,

Meagan

You will need:

24" of 60" wide stretchy knit fabric


You will cut your 24" of fabric into these pieces:
Main Body: 14” wide x 22” long (stretchy along 22" length)
Pouch: 14” wide x 12” long (stretchy along 12" length)
Arm Wraps: 8” wide x 12” long (stretchy along 8" width)
Longer Side Wrap: 10” wide x 36” long (stretchy along 36" length)
Shorter Side Wrap: 10” wide x 21” long (stretchy along 21" length)

Here is an online tutorial I found; click on the pictures for the directions.

*One seamstress mentioned that she used this tutorial but "changed the direction of the stretch in the tutorial. The stretch now should go across the 8" width instead of down the 12" length. This should help contain those little wigglers better."

Click on the miracle wrap website to see exactly how it works!

Sewing Baby Bibs

Thanks to Debbie Klinect in Florida for sending these practical links!

Use onesies to make baby bibs: http://www.themotherhuddle.com/tutorialrepurposed-onsies-and-t-shirts-my-favorite-no-sew-b ib/

Lots of ideas on saving: http://themotherhuddle.com/sewing-on-a-budget/

Tips and Tidbits

Sewing and Crafts Tutorials ~
Thanks to Debbie Klinect in Florida for this link! http://blog.betzwhite.com/p/tutorials.html 

"I Spy" Mat ~ A cute craft for parents and grandparents to do with children! Looks easy and would be a great idea for traveling with kiddos. ~ /www.icanteachmychild.com/2010/12 /easy-gift-for-kids-i-spy-mat.html 
Thanks to Barb Campbell in Mississippi for this tip!

Mark Your Calendars for September 30 ~ Thanks to 
Debbie Klinect in Florida for this information!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9VT_NBIVfs&feature=
player_embedded   
Four  men, one calling: To serve and protect. When tragedy 
strikes home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, 
their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Protecting the 
streets is second nature. Raising their children in a 
God-honoring way?  That's courageous.    
In Theaters September 30.   For more information visit: 
http://www.courageousthemovie.com 

Dust Busters -- Make Cleaning a Breeze

(c) Copyright 2008, Sarah J. Doyle.  All Rights Reserved.  Used by permission

Spring cleaning is a "must", so it is always nice to have a few short cuts to get the cleaning done a little faster in order to get back to the sewing room! The cleaning and dusting will no longer be a chore if you have an assortment of "dust busters" available to assist you with the cleaning.

Take an old terry cloth towel that is no longer being used and cut a strip the length of the towel and 2 1/2 inches wide. Sew the strip with 1/4" seams and turn right side out. This strip easily slides onto a yardstick, which can be used to slide under the refrigerator, washer and dryer for quick cleaning. The strip can then be thrown into the washer to clean and save for the next time.

That same old towel can be cut into the shape of your dust mop, then add about 4 inches all around. Turn under a hem and run elastic through it. Slip the terry cloth "cover" over the dust mop and use that for getting the spider webs from the corners in the garage, or reaching areas that are hard to get to. And, as before, when finished, throw the cover into the washer to clean for the next time.

For a "broom duster" sew two old hand towels on three sides, leaving one end open. Sew elastic around the open end (elastic from discarded panty hose is just about the right size). This cover will slip over a broom to use for dusting in those hard to reach places. Once again, when finished simply throw it in the washer and dryer to clean it for the next time.

When doing a thorough house cleaning, it is easier to do one job throughout the house, such as cleaning the fans in every room at the same time. Next you might dust and polish the furniture throughout the house, etc. By taking care of the cleaning "item by item", the only cleaning supplies needed are those for that particular job, rather than loading yourself down with all the cleaning supplies in the house and dragging them from room to room.

About the Author:
Sarah J. Doyle is author of over 25 sewing, craft and how-to books, as well as author of online pattern making, sewing and craft classes. Visit http://SewWithSarah.com for information on books, classes, newsletters and the latest hints and tips and http://PatternsThatFitYou.com/FrDusterCl.htm for other dust buster ideas and pictures.

Note from Lois: With so many disposables these days, adding up to additional cost, these ideas are refreshing.  I'm a firm believer of making terry cloth cleaning cloths from old towels, and using a minimal amount of paper towels and other disposables.  Terry cloth works better for most jobs anyway.  One regular sized bath towel makes eight cleaning cloths, which can be zig-zagged on the sewing machine, after the corners are curved so you are able to continue sewing around all four sides, non-stop.  After laundering these cloths, simply folding them in half before stacking them, will save valuable time.

Time and Money-Saving Tips

The Time Keeper, a spiral bound daily planner designed by a stay-at-home mom, can be a tool for you to find joy in a well-kept life.  Each weekly page includes space for daily entries, menu planning, and a "To Do" list.  Spiral bound for your convenience, this planner also includes monthly pages with project lists, a page to jot down gift ideas for family and friends, an organizer pocket, and several pages for personal ideas and notes.  You may contact Starla Krieder for details at 717-933-54-82 or timekeeper@emypeople.net.                             
                                                               

Cut Your Family's Hair rather than always having them go to the barber or beauty shop.  You can save several thousand of dollars!  I figured it out once and our family's savings came to over $2,000 during the time our children were in the home.  Have a friend show you how or check out books from the library on how to do it.

 

Learn How to Sew the Basics ~ One definite way to save money is to learn how to sew. Sewing classes are available, but if a friend enjoys sewing, ask if she might teach you in exchange for your teaching her a skill you enjoy.  In order to sew on buttons, and sew some hems, you don't need a machine.  A sewing machine that sews a straight and zig-zag stitches is quite inexpensive, and you can find a good used machine for even less.  Knowing how to mend clothes, towels, sheets, etc. will extend the use of many items.  What do you do when you have a ripped seam, the way clothes are sewn with such long stitches? Making simple curtains, pillowcases, and other items in the style and color you need is certainly a plus in sewing.  You may find that you enjoy it so much that you'll want to do much more!

 

End of the Season Plants ~ At the end of the growing season many plant nurseries greatly discount their plants and shrubs or even toss some out.  You may want to check to see if they want to get rid of anything, especially if you have a green thumb and are able to nurse an ailing pant back to health.

 

Card Making Supplies ~ Paint stores as well as Home Depot and Lowe's discontinue their paint color cards.  Those little cards work great for hand embossing, crimping or cut-outs in making greeting cards.  Ask when the color cards will be discontinued, and be on the look-out.  They also make great gift tags.  Just punch a hole in the corner and tie them on a package.

 

Beautifully Framed Pictures can be hanging on your walls for a low price by using a nice calendar.  I've really been enjoying a calendar this year from the Christian book store of darling children.  I was thinking last week how nice those pictures would look in frames, with matting.  Since calendars follow a theme, you could have a group of pictures following a theme - not necessarily twelve though!  For the look of an oil painting, glue the picture to a sturdy flat cardboard back, lay a piece of cheesecloth (found in the canning section of grocery stores) over the calendar picture, and paint a thin coat of clear shellac over the top.  Then mat and frame the picture.  Buy mats and frames at a craft shop, where they have great discounts.

 

Framed Puzzle Pictures on the wall can be a wonderful memory for your family, especially if all the family had worked on that puzzle together.  Simply paint a thin coat of shellac over the top before framing.  At the beach our daughter found a puzzle with three sections, consisting of tiny puzzle pieces for the adults, medium sized pieces for medium sized children, and large pieces for the youngest children.  It's being worked on right now, spread out on their dining room table, but we might need to visit them to help finish it!  Pawpaw is really good at puzzles.  He inherited that from his mother!

 

Repair Scratched Furniture by using a can of wax shoe polish that matches the furniture.  Rub the polish into the scratch, let it set for a few minutes, and buff lightly with a soft cloth.  Depending how bad the scratch is, it may not completely cover it, but it will diminish the scratch.