Simple ideas that don’t require fancy tools or expensive materials include beaded key chains, friendship and name bracelets, necklaces, and bookmarks. For each of these projects, pony beads are the perfect option because they are economical and easy to find at your local bead or craft store. Personalized key chains can be created with just a bag of alphabet beads, a key ring and thick cotton cording or plastic lacing. With just a spool of stretch string, kids can also very easily create friendship or name bracelets. Beads offer variety in shapes, sizes and colors, so that children can create an array of unique designs and never get bored. Stretch cord is perfect because it is easy to knot (using a surgeon’s knot is recommended).

Bookmarks can be easily created by adding beads or charms to the ends of a piece of cording. The cording is placed between the pages and the beaded ends dangle from the outer edges of the book.

For simple, yet professional looking jewelry, use a crimp tool with flexible beading wire and crimp beads. Use the tool to attach clasps to necklaces and bracelets. This technique can be used with single strand and multi-strand pieces. Instructions can usually by found on the packaging of any quality crimp tool.

For more advanced projects, macramé techniques can be used to create beaded friendship bracelets or hemp bracelets. Kids can get creative by using a variety of beads and cording. Embroidery floss and hemp are available in many colors and will provide endless possibilities when combined with beads.

Beading projects are perfect for summer, weekends and rainy days. Kids will have fun creating jewelry they can wear and give as gifts. Bead crafts can be done as a pair, a group or individually.

To get started, visit your local bead shop for expert advice on basic supplies and techniques. You can also find project ideas and additional resources on the internet or at your local library or bookstore.

Do you need dried flowers urgently without having to wait for weeks? What if, after waiting for weeks, the flowers you have dried are not as beautiful as they were when fresh, or you find out that they do not work all that well with your project? It could also be possible that by the time the flowers have dried and you realize that they do look beautiful, they are no longer available?

Gone are the days when you have to wait for weeks to dry flowers to be used for your craft projects or even as keepsakes. This could be a real dampener, especially if fresh flowers are likely to be available only for a few weeks. It is also quite likely that some flowers may not look as good dried as when they were fresh.

The Large Microwave Flower Press is just the right gadget for your pressing needs. It can dry a wide range of flowers, fauna and leaves in a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the power of the microwave and the type of flower being pressed. Since each flower has a different texture and different levels of moisture, you will have to use trial and error to achieve the results you desire. Some flowers may get burnt easily and some may require extensive heating in portions where they are thicker and in that case the outer edges may require extra protection to survive the excess heat, One thing good about the Flower Press is that it retains the original color of the flower to the maximum extent possible, which results in beautiful dried flowers.

Pressed Dried Flowers can be used in a variety of crafts including Greeting Cards, Scrapbook Pages, pictures, bookmarks and even to decorate candles, soaps, menus etc. The Microwave Flower Press can not only be used by you if you are keen on crafts, it also makes for a unique gift idea for someone you love, who is interested in the arts. It is also a great gift for the young ones as well as the elders in your family.

To create a porcelain doll bonnet, first determine the size of your doll head. Once you have the size you will need materials. You can use wire to mould your bonnet if it is less than 10 inches. You can use any type of material you choose to make your bonnet, including batiste.

The materials you will need are 6 inches of fabric (white), such as the batiste. You will need a couple of edge laces, say around 2 1/2 yards and 1/2 inches of lace edge. Gather 36 inches of smooth craft wire. You will need 28 inches of dual side rayon fabric, such as satin ribbons and a set of wire cutters, and pliers with a long muzzle. Once you gather your materials, you can start your methods in creating your bonnet.

You will need art paper to create your patterns. Once you finish you will carve two sou’ westers: (i.e. bonnets) you should have two rows of lace, which one is on top and the other. Once you have your patterns make a wavy edge forming the scallop near the lace edge and continue to the middle of your bonnet. Stitch together the right side and form a straight-line stitch to lace the edges in order and to connect to the edges of the neck and the edges at the top. To show lace when the bonnet is turned, the lace should jut out over your seams at the finish of your hat.

Now, use your lining and place it over your sou’ wester and begin stitching it collectively over the prior stitch lines to the edges of the neck and edge of the crown. Leave open your ends, turn your bonnet at the inner recesses, and out so that the lace shows at the crown edges and neck, and then press.

Use your pattern and stitch along the lines. You want to create a cover for the wire. Next, sew one more edge of lace underneath the hat on the left side and continue to the right. Stitch in the direction of your line and cover near the edges of your crown. Stitch your wavy lines at the crown into the lace and continue to the outer edges.

Now you will need to cut the ends of your hat. Use your wire cutters and cut along the lines of your wire so that it fits 11 inches of the edges of your crown. The last edge of your crown will need 8 1/2 inches of wire. The center should be 7 1/2 inches and the edges of the neck should be 7 inches. About 1/4 inch, curve the ends of your wire. Next, weave your wire into the covers evenly at one finish of your untreated edges. Bend the wire 1/4 inch with your pliers and another quarter over until the wire is secured. Pull up your fabric at the edges of the crown, including the other crown edge and add your wire to the center and at the edges of the neck wire.

The wire will extend to the other finish area, which you will need to trim the curved ends once you check to make sure that the area is balance. You want to avoid allowing the wire to ride to the cover. Next, bend the wires 1/4 inch twice and secure your ends. You want to even your decorative fabric edgings, which once your bonnet is completed you can trim your ribbon, creating dual 14 inch lengthwise cuts and fix your ribbon to the side of the hat. If you would like additional designs, such as the rose-shaped badge (Rosette) you will need to use rose grubs and embroider them onto the ribbons.