In a large family it seems there's never enough time to craft, never enough extra money to craft and never enough room to craft. Between jobs and school activities, sports, plays and church we're on the run all the time. Every spare penny gets sucked up by the "Mom-I-need-----" genie. Rooms are full of kids and their accessories, clothing and friends, and their stuff seems to overflow to the kitchen table, especially during "school project" times. So what's a crafty mom of a large family to do?
Use Denim
The one thing moms seem to have in abundance is denim. Whether from outgrown jeans or torn ones, recycled denim offers a great material for a wide variety of craft projects. Below are a few to get you started.
Denim Bear
Using a teddy bear pattern and denim, make a casual, comfortable bear. Any scraps that don't make it as part of the outside of the bear can become some of the stuffing!
Denim Paper
Cut scrap jeans into strips, with the grain of the fabric. Clip into smaller pieces and drop into a craft-only blender. Add water and a bit of white glue. Blend for several seconds.
Pour into cookie cutters placed on a folded towel that has been covered with several paper towels (to absorb moisture). Push the denim pulp as evenly as possible into the molds. Thickness will depend on intended use; thicker denim paper ca be used as fashion pins or barrettes, thinner paper is great for scrap booking. Continue to press water from pulp and allow to dry (several hours). Ease from the mold.
Doll wig: Great for those Dolls who've been a Little Over-Loved
Cut denim into strips about ½” wide, the desired length for doll hair. Set aside.
Wrap the dolls head with plastic wrap to form the base of the wig. Beginning at the bottom, put a layer of thick craft glue along the plastic wrap. Press denim strips into glue and allow to set. Move on to next row up. As you near the top, consider how you want the doll's hair "parted" and glue the denim accordingly.
Allow the denim to completely dry. Carefully remove the plastic wrap from the doll's head and cut away excess plastic. The wig can be glued t the doll's head or kept as an interchangeable hair piece.
Denim Desk Set: A Nice, Homemade Father's Day Gift
Collect and clean (thoroughly!) a tuna can, a vegetable can and a soup can. You'll also need a length of narrow rope, a hot glue gun and glue stick and thick craft glue. Cut denim to fit exactly around each can, adding 2” to the height of each piece. Use a thin layer of the craft glue to carefully attach the fabric to each can, matching bottom to bottom and folding the extra 2” into the ca to give it a nice top. With hot glue, attach the rope trim around the bottom, down the seam and on the opposite side of the can to form two side seams. Present to Dad to hold pens, scissors and miscellaneous items and paper clips.
Denim-Backed Picnic Blanket : A Durable, Inexpensive Project
Cut denim into blocks of the desired size (I made mine 6”x9”). Keep in a basket or box until you have the number of blocks required to make your blanket. This will vary depending on the size of the finished piece. Sew blocks together, leaving a ¼” seam allowance. Use a flat flannel sheet as the blanket top. With right sides together, sew the edges of the blanket together, leaving enough open on one side to turn. Hand stitch the remaining edge together. Use the "tie" method to connect the blanket front and back.
Denim picnic pillows - perfect for laying around and watching the clouds or stars
Cut the leg of a pair of outgrown jeans. Turn right sides together and set the cut end shut (leaving the hemmed jean bottom open). Turn fabric right side out, stuff and sew the opening closed. Decorate with lace, rick-rack, etc. to match the picnic blanket.
Denim pockets - these lend themselves to a whole bunch of ideas!
Denim Pocket Picnic Set: To Continue with the Theme
Cut a pocket and several 12” x 2”strips (one for each picnic attendee) from a pair of discarded jeans. Trim the pocket closely. Run a zig-zag stitch around the denim strips. Place napkins in the pocket. Tie plastic ware in sets with the denim strips.
Pocket Purse: A Quick Gift for your Cutie
Cut a pocket from a pair of jeans, leaving a 2” flap at the top of the pocket. Trim closely around the edge of the pocket. Turn the flap under (to the wrong side of the denim) and stitch with a straight seam to form a casing. Insert a dowel rod into the casing and sew shut. Crochet a purse strap onto the pocket.
Pocket Note Holder
Cut a pocket from a pair of jeans, leaving a 2” flap at the top of the pocket. Trim closely around the edge of the pocket. Turn the flap under (to the back of the jeans) and stitch. Use thick craft glue to attach a piece of sheet magnet (available in craft department) to the back of the pocket. Decorate with paints, yo-yos, rick-rack, etc. Place a small note pad and pen in the pocket and place it on the refrigerator door.
Pocket alien: The Bottom of the Pocket Becomes the Top of this Cute Little Alien
Cut a pocket from a pair of jeans, leaving a 6” flap at the top of the pocket. Cut two more pieces of denim, 6-1/2” x the width of the pocket. Trim closely around the edge of the pocket. Lightly stuff the pocket, insert the two denim pieces into the pocket about ½” and sew the pocket opening shut. Cut the flap and two pieces of denim into "legs" about 1” wide each. Decorate the aliens face using fabric paints, google eyes, chenille stems for antenna, etc.
