Crafts To Do During Covid Restrictions

[Teche]

I'm a scrapbooker and make greeting cards and gift tags. I run metal dies and cardstock through a Bigshot machine, stamp images on the die cuts, and attach them to the cards. Most of the cards and gift tags are donated to teachers, shut-ins, etc. For the shut-ins, I usually attach postage stamps to the envelopes. Come to think of it, we’re all shut-ins. It’s good therapy for me.

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I wish our library would do crafts for adults but they just seem completely focused on the kids. We only have book clubs... I find the online books and online groups harder to follow along... Good for your library!

All of the little libraries around me are doing this now. I think we may even be getting a little competitive with each other. ;-)

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I'm a scrapbooker and make greeting cards and gift tags. I run metal dies and cardstock through a Bigshot machine, stamp images on the die cuts, and attach them to the cards. Most of the cards and gift tags are donated to teachers, shut-ins, etc. For the shut-ins, I usually attach postage stamps to the envelopes. Come to think of it, we’re all shut-ins. It’s good therapy for me.

What's the difference between this and a cricut? My life would be so much easier if I didn't have to cut felt and card stock. But I'm not sure a machine is affordable for us.

 

[PayrollNerd]

My adult craft bag program has done really well. I'm very excited. Some days we may only get 7 or 8 patrons, yet 20 of them have taken these home this week. I'm pretty sure it's about a quarter of our adult patrons who have come in. We are definitely going to continue this program.

I am not surprised. I bet the adults learn a craft / skill and share it with someone else, like an older grandchild if their quarantining together. Maybe tell family on a zoom meeting. Post it on their FB page. It’s so good to keep them engaged.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Stitching right along....

Quilt top is assembled. I will assemble the backing tomorrow. Then I can baste together the top, batting and backing.

Seahorse template is made and I am tracing it onto the big squares. The markings come off with a hot iron.

 

[Panhypopit]

What's the difference between this and a cricut? My life would be so much easier if I didn't have to cut felt and card stock. But I'm not sure a machine is affordable for us.

Cricut is an electric machine, can be big, and is expensive. But it does a lot of stuff from t shirts to cut fabric and more, and most craft stores carry the line. The sizzix products come in different sizes but are more economical and can use metal patterns to pop out a shape by rolling it over with some acrylic plates. If you can find the shapes you want, it works well. It can also cut leather if you get the right cutters. It is also popular. Sizzix is a gateway to cricut imho.

 

[Laughing]

What's the difference between this and a cricut? My life would be so much easier if I didn't have to cut felt and card stock. But I'm not sure a machine is affordable for us.

Maybe write the company, or a retailer, and explain how your community will benefit from their tool, if one could be provided? Anyone in your building good at writing grants, even small ones?

Does your library have a Facebook page? Maybe post, and ask if someone has an unused machine that they are willing to donate? A receipt in 2020 for their taxes?

Our community has a Freebies/trader Facebook page, but I've never tried it.

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[Panhypopit]

I saw sizzix products at Thursday afternoon all the time... but now that store is gone...
Another product is “silhouette” which i think is similar to cricut, but has less features. I would hunt Craigslist and shopping forums, after you select the product that works for you.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Quilt update! I’m on the home stretch now.

I finished the machine quilting around each seahorse and each block. On the blocks without a seahorse, I traced my template and stitched the outline. On the back, it is tone on tone, meaning yellow fabric and yellow thread.

Next is to add hanging loops. I have to look up how to do them without stitching over the seahorse faces.

I may have enough of the blue dot fabric for binding. The plan was yellow binding but I don’t think there’s enough left.

 

[MsJosie]

Quilt update! I’m on the home stretch now.

I finished the machine quilting around each seahorse and each block. On the blocks without a seahorse, I traced my template and stitched the outline. On the back, it is tone on tone, meaning yellow fabric and yellow thread.

Next is to add hanging loops. I have to look up how to do them without stitching over the seahorse faces.

I may have enough of the blue dot fabric for binding. The plan was yellow binding but I don’t think there’s enough left.

I love the quilt! It’s beautiful. Someone very lucky will just love it!

I use to quilt for many years. I worked in a quilt store, had a long arm and business.....made many quilts and then got sick. I have not made a quilt in 15 years! My friend is helping me put together a quilt for my son and DIL. I have all the signature blocks of guests from their wedding. My friend is appliquéing the center with a bouquet of flowers that were at the wedding, yellow tulips. Then I will set the signature blocks round the center. I will have someone else quilt it. My older son said he will help me cut the material....with a rotary. He said he is okay using that but not a glue gun. He burned himself real bad helping me with a craft project and refuses to use glue guns! He makes me laugh.

I hope I can post my son and DIL quilt here one day. Now I think I will start at the first post and read everything in this forum!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[PayrollNerd]

I love the quilt! It’s beautiful. Someone very lucky will just love it!

I use to quilt for many years. I worked in a quilt store, had a long arm and business.....made many quilts and then got sick. I have not made a quilt in 15 years! My friend is helping me put together a quilt for my son and DIL. I have all the signature blocks of guests from their wedding. My friend is appliquéing the center with a bouquet of flowers that were at the wedding, yellow tulips. Then I will set the signature blocks round the center. I will have someone else quilt it. My older son said he will help me cut the material....with a rotary. He said he is okay using that but not a glue gun. He burned himself real bad helping me with a craft project and refuses to use glue guns! He makes me laugh.

I hope I can post my son and DIL quilt here one day. Now I think I will start at the first post and read everything in this forum!

Thanks for sharing!

For me it’s been the opposite. I always wanted more time to quilt when I was raising my girls, working, taking care of my own yard, etc. Then I was diagnosed with cancer that isn’t curable. I am in a drug study that is keeping me stable tho.

Now I can’t work and feel like some days, I have too much time on my hands. I’m keeping busy with the quilting I’ve always wanted to do. Plus occasional sewing projects, masks, baby items.

I love that your son is helping you. What wonderful memories you two are making. I’d love to see your progress and cheer you on. What colors are you using?

 

[Deleted member 158085]

I just ordered two hot glue guns for our library to be able to check out to people. Yay!

Had a volunteer come in and slice paper for the next craft. We're just about ready for January's.

 

[PayrollNerd]

About to cross the finish line with this one! I need to stitch down the channel on the back. Their plan is to hang this once the baby is older. I’ve never known a child to give up their “ blankie” but if that’s what they want, I’ll do it.

I’m happy with the bubble / dot print binding. It gives it a nice frame. I still need to sign and date it.

I have 2 seahorse blocks left and I’m thinking a changing pad. Then maybe a little pillow with the remaining scraps. I’ll have to see what comes to mind when I lay out the extra pieces.

 

[Panhypopit]

Adorable! I would hang it and not use it as a blanket

 

[weepingangel]

Looks fantastic ! I really like it with the blue binding.
yahhhh none of my kids blankies would have been suitable for hanging. Lol. Just too many milk/spit up stains. I do still have a few of them though. In a box.
Eta random thought maybe a framed keepsake with some of the extra bits? (I recently had a grand plan to make shadowboxes for each of the kids with a few of their baby items)

About to cross the finish line with this one! I need to stitch down the channel on the back. Their plan is to hang this once the baby is older. I’ve never known a child to give up their “ blankie” but if that’s what they want, I’ll do it.

I’m happy with the bubble / dot print binding. It gives it a nice frame. I still need to sign and date it.

I have 2 seahorse blocks left and I’m thinking a changing pad. Then maybe a little pillow with the remaining scraps. I’ll have to see what comes to mind when I lay out the extra pieces.

 

[Laughing]

About to cross the finish line with this one! I need to stitch down the channel on the back. Their plan is to hang this once the baby is older. I’ve never known a child to give up their “ blankie” but if that’s what they want, I’ll do it.

I’m happy with the bubble / dot print binding. It gives it a nice frame. I still need to sign and date it.

I have 2 seahorse blocks left and I’m thinking a changing pad. Then maybe a little pillow with the remaining scraps. I’ll have to see what comes to mind when I lay out the extra pieces.

Could these two seahorses become pockets on a tote bag, diaper stacker, or hang-on-the-wall storage pockets?

Just keeping you busy LOL!

The seahorses are amazing BTW!

 

[PayrollNerd]

Could these two seahorses become pockets on a tote bag, diaper stacker, or hang-on-the-wall storage pockets?

Just keeping you busy LOL!

The seahorses are amazing BTW!

That is a cute idea. The 2 remaining seahorse blocks are 12” so they’d be too big. (See photo) When I make a baby quilt, I always add extras that were not asked for or, like in this case, ordered. Whatever I make is always a surprise.

My preference is always a small pillow. Nearly every baby I’ve ever sewed for needs a nursery school blanket for nap time. So I make a pillow to match. That way everyone knows who it belongs to. I also think it’s gross to make a small child lie on a icky sticky dirty rubber mat too but that’s just me. (I know they wipe them but still.)

So, all the babies & toddlers in my bubble get a blankie and pillow. The Moms are over the moon happy and love that I make them so big. This quilt is about 44” x 58” plenty big for naps and lots of fun draping over chairs, etc.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Looks fantastic ! I really like it with the blue binding.
yahhhh none of my kids blankies would have been suitable for hanging. Lol. Just too many milk/spit up stains. I do still have a few of them though. In a box.
Eta random thought maybe a framed keepsake with some of the extra bits? (I recently had a grand plan to make shadowboxes for each of the kids with a few of their baby items)

I’ll send any leftover fabric with them if they want it.

I also thought about doing a shadow box for my 2 girls. But they’re science type career women. They both say they’re not having kids which doesn't bother me in the least. On the Czech side of my family, there are a ton of women who have careers and did not have children. On the English side, most had 1-2 kids. Our house seems to be more Czech orientated I guess.

I will leave a stack of baby quilts and things for them anyway. Just in case after I’m gone, they do decide to have kids. If not, they can gift them to others.

 

[anneg]

About to cross the finish line with this one! I need to stitch down the channel on the back. Their plan is to hang this once the baby is older. I’ve never known a child to give up their “ blankie” but if that’s what they want, I’ll do it.

I’m happy with the bubble / dot print binding. It gives it a nice frame. I still need to sign and date it.

I have 2 seahorse blocks left and I’m thinking a changing pad. Then maybe a little pillow with the remaining scraps. I’ll have to see what comes to mind when I lay out the extra pieces.

I love everything about this quilt!

 

[Wild Rose]

If you give out glad bags of white sand, a plastic fork, some smooth stones and some bottoms of plastic containers, you can hand out little zen gardens they can make and rake.