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happyheart wrote:I'm for sure trying the windchimes! THANKS! If you use fishing line to hang the items, be sure to buy a brand that is NOT made to break apart over time. Berkley's brand FIRELINE is an excellent choice. I use their different weights in most of my beading projects.  Many of the other brands are now made to decompose over time because of fisherman loosing the line quite often. Safer for nature and waterways. Thrift stores are an excellent place to find a surplus in flatware. Many different patterns and such. (Ah, I see this part has been covered a bit.)
N2Beadz
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Very cool tips! THANKS! Early Saturday AM, before it gets crowded and hot, I'm out to A C M and the thrift shop to hit it BIG!
HAPPYHEART
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N2BEADZ wrote: If you use fishing line to hang the items, be sure to buy a brand that is NOT made to break apart over time. Berkley's brand FIRELINE is an excellent choice. I use their different weights in most of my beading projects. Many of the other brands are now made to decompose over time because of fisherman loosing the line quite often. Safer for nature and waterways. Thrift stores are an excellent place to find a surplus in flatware. Many different patterns and such. (Ah, I see this part has been covered a bit.) Thanks for the info...I would have for sure bought the wrong kind.
Self proclaimed "Serial Crafter" I scrap, bake, decorate, make cards, crochet, cross stitch, love photography, quilt, embroider, needlepoint, and HOST: Card Making Challenge - Ongoing, Spring Potholder Swap, Think SPRING Scrap Swap, Spring Cleaning Scrap Round Robin COME JOIN THE FUN! Proud Navy Wife, Homeschool mom of 4, Wilton Method Instructor, Certified Red Heart Ambassador, DMC Mentor, and CERTIFIED Fiskateer #5624.
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These are some really great ideas. One year we decorated boxes and filled them with all occasion cards and stamps for my grandmothers. They didn't really want more stuff, but they both liked sending out cards to others and weren't always able to get out to the store and the post office.
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I just thought of something a friend of mine made last year for a bunch of people that turned out really neat. She asked people to save attractive wine bottles for her. She rinsed them out really well, then put a string of white lights in the bottle and decorated the bottle opening with greenery, grapes, Christmas picks, etc. The cord for the bottle ran down the back to be plugged in. They were really pretty.
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I have not done this but I have seen bottles recycled by making hummingbird feeders. They are so pretty and I love my "hummies" anyway.
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I used to have a Victorian house (many moons ago) the sun hit the porch all day long ruling out hanging baskets. I went to AC Moore and Dollar Stores and bought related items to create windchimes. For instance one had a miniture watering can in the center and from it miniture gardening tools. One was silverware and another was birdhouses, just whatever I could find that would make a themed windchime.
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KarenJo wrote:I just thought of something a friend of mine made last year for a bunch of people that turned out really neat. She asked people to save attractive wine bottles for her. She rinsed them out really well, then put a string of white lights in the bottle and decorated the bottle opening with greenery, grapes, Christmas picks, etc. The cord for the bottle ran down the back to be plugged in. They were really pretty. NICE!
Self proclaimed "Serial Crafter" I scrap, bake, decorate, make cards, crochet, cross stitch, love photography, quilt, embroider, needlepoint, and HOST: Card Making Challenge - Ongoing, Spring Potholder Swap, Think SPRING Scrap Swap, Spring Cleaning Scrap Round Robin COME JOIN THE FUN! Proud Navy Wife, Homeschool mom of 4, Wilton Method Instructor, Certified Red Heart Ambassador, DMC Mentor, and CERTIFIED Fiskateer #5624.
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neednanap wrote:I used to have a Victorian house (many moons ago) the sun hit the porch all day long ruling out hanging baskets. I went to AC Moore and Dollar Stores and bought related items to create windchimes. For instance one had a miniture watering can in the center and from it miniture gardening tools. One was silverware and another was birdhouses, just whatever I could find that would make a themed windchime. I have no place to hang them, a tornado came throught this spring and leveled all my trees...but I am thinking of people I can send them to!
Self proclaimed "Serial Crafter" I scrap, bake, decorate, make cards, crochet, cross stitch, love photography, quilt, embroider, needlepoint, and HOST: Card Making Challenge - Ongoing, Spring Potholder Swap, Think SPRING Scrap Swap, Spring Cleaning Scrap Round Robin COME JOIN THE FUN! Proud Navy Wife, Homeschool mom of 4, Wilton Method Instructor, Certified Red Heart Ambassador, DMC Mentor, and CERTIFIED Fiskateer #5624.
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Domestic Diva wrote:I have not done this but I have seen bottles recycled by making hummingbird feeders. They are so pretty and I love my "hummies" anyway. Wonder hou you do that?...
Self proclaimed "Serial Crafter" I scrap, bake, decorate, make cards, crochet, cross stitch, love photography, quilt, embroider, needlepoint, and HOST: Card Making Challenge - Ongoing, Spring Potholder Swap, Think SPRING Scrap Swap, Spring Cleaning Scrap Round Robin COME JOIN THE FUN! Proud Navy Wife, Homeschool mom of 4, Wilton Method Instructor, Certified Red Heart Ambassador, DMC Mentor, and CERTIFIED Fiskateer #5624.
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I made these about twelve years ago. I made them for family and neighbors. They went over so well that the following year I sold them. The Hubby made me a tall pvc pole with arms to display them on during the holidays. I stuck a For Sale sign on them and I couldn't keep up with the orders that first year. I was making these until 2:00am each morning. I used the multi-color flashing lights that have patterns to them. Purchased them the year before during the after Christmas sales at about 75% off.
http://www.born2haunt.com/lightball01.html
N2Beadz
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N2BeadZ - Those are cool. They would be great hanging inside the windows of my apt. And they could be altered for Halloween.. orange lights! Thanks for sharing. 
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Great ideas! Got some real goodies in mind for Christmas gifts and pre-Christmas gifts this year! Keep them coming, they are ALL good!
HAPPYHEART
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On the subject of the windchimes made from silverware, what do you use to hang them from? I am thinking a 5 or 6 inch macrame ring? Give me some input here...I bought some silver spoons at the thrift store today--20cents each--wow--and hubby says he will drill them for me (or i can really--he got me my own drill a few years ago so i could do my own thing and not bug him all the time LOL)
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cinnamon wrote:N2BeadZ - Those are cool. They would be great hanging inside the windows of my apt. And they could be altered for Halloween.. orange lights! Thanks for sharing. Yes, I have orange, purple, and a combo of orange and purple for holloween. I also have red ones and pink ones for Valentines Day. Easter calls for green, pinks, purples and blues. 4th of July, Memorial Day, and Presidents day I have red, clear, and blue lights. You can really go wild with this crafty light ball. I use to really be into decorating my yard for everything. My son is 14 now and I've just lost my need to do it so much. I bet I have about 40 different finished ones in my attic.
N2Beadz
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deeann wrote:On the subject of the windchimes made from silverware, what do you use to hang them from? I am thinking a 5 or 6 inch macrame ring? Give me some input here...I bought some silver spoons at the thrift store today--20cents each--wow--and hubby says he will drill them for me (or i can really--he got me my own drill a few years ago so i could do my own thing and not bug him all the time LOL) Here's some help... http://www.craftygal.com/archives/401/table401.htmhttp://www.essortment.com/hobbies/windchimessilv_sbnm.htmhttp://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_metal/article/0,,diy_13766_5256214,00.htmlhttp://www.thriftyfun.com/tf515101.tip.htmlJust an idea, look at the one on the right of this page... http://pelymar.com/index.htmlHere's some other directions that may help you... http://www.ehow.com/how_15098_make-silverware-wind.htmlThis pic is sort of neat and different... http://www.greatgreengoods.com/2007/05/22/recycled-silverware-wind-chimes/
N2Beadz
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I love the holiday-light-ball thing! am thinking prom...we are doing it old-school style in the gym this year...
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deeann wrote:On the subject of the windchimes made from silverware, what do you use to hang them from? I am thinking a 5 or 6 inch macrame ring? Give me some input here...I bought some silver spoons at the thrift store today--20cents each--wow--and hubby says he will drill them for me (or i can really--he got me my own drill a few years ago so i could do my own thing and not bug him all the time LOL) When I used to make them, I used swivils, you will find them in the same section as the fishing line. They have a loop on one end and a clip of sorts on the other. Made to swivel so as not to tangle your line and lure. Work great for helping to keep your chimes from tangling. You can also use a collection of keys and hang them as well. Here is another gift idea. Have you ever seen the cowboy boot birdhouses? Cut a two holes, one large enough for the bird and a smaller one below that you can insert a glued stick into. Put a wooden block into the top and hang or glue the top closed and hang from the boot straps. Any type of boot works here, including ski boots. JAT (just a thought)
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neednanap wrote:Here is another gift idea. Have you ever seen the cowboy boot birdhouses? Cut a two holes, one large enough for the bird and a smaller one below that you can insert a glued stick into. Put a wooden block into the top and hang or glue the top closed and hang from the boot straps. Any type of boot works here, including ski boots. JAT (just a thought) I can honestly say I have NEVER heard of that!
Self proclaimed "Serial Crafter" I scrap, bake, decorate, make cards, crochet, cross stitch, love photography, quilt, embroider, needlepoint, and HOST: Card Making Challenge - Ongoing, Spring Potholder Swap, Think SPRING Scrap Swap, Spring Cleaning Scrap Round Robin COME JOIN THE FUN! Proud Navy Wife, Homeschool mom of 4, Wilton Method Instructor, Certified Red Heart Ambassador, DMC Mentor, and CERTIFIED Fiskateer #5624.
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The windchimes made out of the silver pitcher ~ OMG I've been trying to decide what to do with my mother's old and somewhat worn silverplate stuff ~ stuff goes back 75 years now and I'll never use it but am reluctant to part with it but it takes up SPACE ~ this is too cool for words and now I can use it and APPRECIATE it too! And my kids and grandkids will get a kick out of it!
This forum is unbelievable . . . thank you all so, so much for the great ideas I keep getting!
HAPPYHEART
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