Posted on: Thursday, November 25, 2004
Put junk-mail CDs to constructive use
By Kathy Antoniotti
Knight Ridder News Service
I was standing in the checkout line at a local craft store recently when I noticed the lady in front of me had a shopping cart filled with basic supplies for the kinds of crafts kids like to make. I made that assumption anyway, and said to her, "It looks like some lucky child is going to get a very nice gift."
"My granddaughter is coming for a visit and she just loves to do crafts," she responded with a smile. Feathers, pompoms, craft foam and felt, white craft glue and a large clear plastic box to hold them all neatly — what a smart grandma she is, I thought.
Those are some of the basic necessities that I keep in my craft cupboard, too. But Laura Torres, best-selling author of "Best Friends Forever!: 199 Projects to Make and Share," suggests you also collect empty candy tins, mismatched socks, clear contact paper and interesting bottles to make some of the projects featured in her book .
Another unusual twist separating this craft book from others is that the projects are done best when two or more friends make them together.
Discover how to be trendy in a section chock-full of projects that teach you how to decorate and share clothing items that are purchased in pairs. Working together, you and a friend can decorate shoelaces, (skate) boarding gloves, socks and flip-flops. After you swap one of them with each other, your accessories will only match when the two of you are together.
The book also features games to make and play and great ideas for sleepovers. The pajama pant swap is wild and the book includes simple sewing instructions to complete the project. Transform thumb tacks on your bulletin board to make a personal statement with tiny pieces of tile and make and share "fuzzy dudes" with some embroidery floss and googly eyes.
Published by Workman Publishing Company, "Best Friends Forever!" contains full-color illustrations and complete directions for each craft. The book retails at $13.95 and is available at most book stores or online at Amazon.com.
I made a suncatcher with directions from the book. It uses plain silver compact discs and features photos of you and your BFF (or brother and sister) together. Because the holiday season is right around the corner, I thought they might make a great gift idea to be used as ornaments to give special aunts and uncles for Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. The instructions have been modified slightly for that purpose.
Supplies you will need:
Cut your photos in a circle to fit over the center of the plain side of the CD. Attach with double-stick tape or a tacky glue.
Hide the cut edge by making a decorative frame around the picture with fabric paint. Write the name of each person in the photo with fabric paint. Embellish with more paint and rhinestones, if you'd like. Set aside to dry.
Repeat with the second CD.
Knot the ends of an 8-inch section of fishing line to make a loop.
When the CDs are completely dry, glue them together back to back with the knot of the fishing line sandwiched between them at the top. Let dry.
