Use up scrap fabric to make pot holders

Got scraps? Make pot holders.

Everyone needs pot holders. They make great gifts and they also are fabulous to sell at the 4-H Store on Sunday of the Cochise County Fair. Here is a great way to use fabric scraps to make an extra item to exhibit and sell. instructions

Pretty, pretty pens!

Did you make the clay beads that were posted previously? If you liked making beads, then here is a great back to school project. Make pretty pens with polymer clay. Use the same materials as before, just find a simple pen (maybe one from a hotel or get a whole pack and make a bunch) and get busy creating one of a kind pens. You will always know which pen is yours! instructions

Make a Magic Pillow Case

Need an easy sewing project that takes hardly any time at all? Make a pillow case. This pattern is super simple and can be made in less than 30 minutes. Check out these instructions

Make a quick table runner!

Using a small amount of fabric as well as a small amount of time, you can create a simple table runner for holidays or every day. See the directions here

Getting Ready to Can

Are you starting to see fruits and vegetables in the store or in your garden and want to preserve some for later? Do you know whether to use a water bath or pressure canning method? This publication can help you identify whether you have high or low acid foods and how to preserve those safely. Boiling Water Bath methods

Easy Quilted Pot Holders

Sewing and Quilting are very similar, but quilting is distinguished by the sewing together of multiple layers. An easy, beginner project is the sewing of pot holders. In an hour or so, you can have something that you can immediately start using! Follow these instructions for a simple start to an easy project. pot holders

How much do you know about photography?

The photography project is constantly changing as technology advances digital cameras. However, do you know some of the basic terminology that is used in both traditional as well as digital photography?

What is "depth of field" and how do you accomplish it? Check out this site and learn about this great technique that is sure to hone  your photographer's eye. learn about depth of field

Clay Pot Animals

There are all kinds of arts and crafts ideas available for meetings. This activity makes adorable clay pot animals. make the animals

One Hour Sewing Project

Here is another example of a sewing project that can be completed in one 4-H meeting. It is a simple apron that can be made from a fat quarter and 1/2 yard of coordinating fabric. apron tutorial

Needle case

Need a quick and easy sewing project. This one can be done in two hours or less. Go to: http://www.schlosserdesigns.com/2011/05/tutorial-tuesday-needle-notebook/ for all of the instructions. We made these at the Get it Done Clinic last year. They are super easy!

Simple wooden bench

Need a simple woodworking project? How about a bench? This one has a curved seat, but can be left straight. this site has photos and instructions: http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/main/pdf/bench30.pdf

Braided Bracelet

When we do camp, one of the favorite activities is braiding plastic cord.  Here is a simple bracelet set of instructions. http://www.needlepointers.com/displaypage.aspx?ArticleID=30888&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.scoubiguide.co.uk%2fbutterfly.html

Photography -- outdoor lighting tips

There are some great tips from professional photographers on the internet. Nigel Barker is known for his work on America's Top Model. In this video he talks about using outdoor lighting for shots and how to get it to work for you. video

Fondant

Fondant has become increasingly popular in cake decorating. However, it is a very different process covering a cake in fondant compared to buttercream icing.
This brief video starts with some basics of handling fondant: rolling fondant

Crocheted Dish Cloth

Learning to crochet is easy. If I can do it, anyone can. Dish cloth patterns are great beginner projects. They don't take a lot of yarn and they go together quickly.

Try this one. It is a simple Granny Square.
Materials:

• Yarn: Lily Sugar’n Cream 4 Ply (Solids 2.5 oz / 70.9 g / Ombres 2 oz / 56.7 g)

Main Color (MC) 1 ball Solids or Ombres
Contrast A 1 ball Solids or Ombres

• Crochet Hook: 6.00 mm crochet hook (U.S. J or 10)

Instructions:

Note: Ch 5 at beg of each rnd counts as 1 dc and ch 2 sp throughout.
With MC, ch 4, join with ss.
Base rnd: Ch 5. (3 dc. Ch 2) 3 times in ring. 2 dc in ring. Ss in 3rd ch of beg ch 5. Break MC.
Rnd 1: With A, ss in next ch. Ch 5. 3 dc in same sp. *Ch 1. Miss next 3 dc. (3 dc. Ch 2. 3 dc) in next sp (corner made). Rep from * twice more. Ch 1. Miss next 3 dc. 2 dc in ch 2 sp from beg of rnd. Ss in 3rd ch of beg ch 5. Break A.
Rnd 2: With MC, ss in next ch. Ch 5. 3 dc in same sp. *Ch 1. Miss next 3 dc. 3 dc in next sp. Ch 1. Miss next 3 dc.** (3 dc. Ch 2. 3 dc) in next sp (corner made).* Rep from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once. 2 dc in ch 2 sp from beg of rnd. Ss in 3rd ch of beg ch 5. Break MC.
Rnd 3: With A, ss in next ch. Ch 5. (Ch 1. Miss next 3 dc. 3 dc in next sp) to corner. Ch 1. Miss next 3 dc.** (3 dc. Ch 2. 3 dc) in corner sp.* Rep from * to * twice more, then from * to ** once. 2 dc in ch 2 sp from beg of rnd. Ss in 3rd ch of beg ch 5. Break A.
Rnds 4 - 11: As 3rd rnd alt MC with A as illustrated.

What about arts and crafts?

Are you familiar with polymer clay? There are several brands, but for limitless projects, I recommend finding some colors at a craft store (I found mine at Michaels). Youtube.com has lots of tutorials to help you get started with beads, canes, and small sculptures. A very simple tiny pig tutorial is given here: itty bitty piggy

 This clay must be baked once it is sculpted into its desired shape. Our club made beads. You can make any kind of bead you want from solid, to marbled, to what is called millefiori. how to do

Tired of the same old thing?

Have you done the same thing year after year for a particular building project? This blog is designed for leaders and members of building projects to share ideas and rejuvenate each other.


As a leader, I find it is always hard to find a project that doesn't take too much time to complete. Complicated projects mean that we can lose interest in it before we finish it. Here is a simple, no sew fleece blanket that is a great starter project for clothing and textiles. no sewing, really!