Crafts can be fun if you like working with your hands. I do several different types, I sew, quilt, crochet and paper mache. Even with crafts I find ways to save a few pennies. Not only that if I can make it, I don’t have to buy it, saves more money.

Sewing in itself is fun; making clothing that fits just you and is just your style. Picking out the fabric and the pattern can take a long time, but I find it challenging and satisfying. You can alter patterns to make the garment unique. Yes, it takes some time, but look at the results. The most important thing is to have your body measurements correct. The pattern books will tell you how to do this.

If you want a project that you can make from scraps or for very little investment (of either time or money) go see my friends at Sewing From Home for some great suggestions.

Crocheting for me is relaxing. Some people find it difficult, because they cannot relax with the hook and the yarn. Mostly it just takes practice. I taught my daughter-in-law how to do it and she was as tense as anyone I have ever seen. Now she goes at it with a passion. She has not graduated from the afghan stage, but she will.

I make sweaters and get lots of compliments on them. All of my friends that have babies or grandchildren like the baby sweater and booties that I make for them. Reading the pattern is the most difficult, once you figure that out it is easy.

My quilting is my passion. I have made each of my children a quilt and some of my grandchildren. I am not a purist, meaning that all my quilts are not all cotton; I use any fabric that suits my fancy. I have mixed cotton and cotton/poly.

I also do not wash my fabrics first and I am told that is what you should do. I wash my quilt when it is finished and have never had a shrinkage problem. I also work up my own patterns and designs; it is more fun that way.

You can turn just about any fabric into a quilt. We moved into an old house and up in the attic I found a box of wool pleated skirts. I took all the skirts apart and mixed the fabric with old jeans that my children had outgrown. It turned out beautiful, and very warm.

What to do with a set of sheets that you are not happy with? I had a set that the bottom fitted sheet "pilled"; you know the little rough balls that form. The only thing to do was to iron the sheet; I am certainly not going to do that! I took the bottom sheet and cut it up and mixed it with corresponding fabric for the quilt top and used the top sheet for the lining. Worked out great!! I have a lot of nice comments on it as well.

Most people go out and buy unbleached muslin to line their quilts and that is fine, you can certainly do that. I go to the thrift stores and look for king size top sheets that are in good shape and use these to line my quilts. Much more economical. Generally you can pick one up for just a couple of dollars. I do try to find plain colors or white/cream. But if the top of my quilt is in blue, then blue is fine.

Paper Mache is fun to do and you can make a lot of different items. One year I made Christmas ornaments. Simply took a balloon and blew it up to the size I wanted and proceeded to cover it with paper and glue. I just used newspaper and Elmer’s white glue diluted with some water. When they were dry, I punctured the balloon and painted and decorated them with beads, lace and sequins.

You could cover them with fabric also, and then you don’t have to paint them, just let the fabric show through. Christmas Fabric would be great to use. They are so cute and a conversation piece.

You can make jewelry as well; at least you can make the beads to be strung into jewelry. Cut your fabric or your paper into triangles, soak a little in the diluted glue and roll around a straw. The little straws that bars or nightclubs use are the best. You do not need a large hole unless you are stringing on leather or large twine. Very fast and easy. By cutting different size triangle gives you different sizes of beads.

Another quick and easy craft and using fabric scraps is to make a bowl to use for napkins on a table (not for food), or to give as a gift. Take any bowl that you have and cover it with a plastic wrap (one that clings) Turn it upside down on a piece of cardboard covered with a piece of plastic. Cut your fabric into 2 inch squares coordinate your colors if you want or do it with different colors. Use the white glue diluted with water, place a square of fabric in the glue for only a few seconds, don’t completely saturate.

Start at the rim and place the fabric squares on the diagonal. This forms points around the rim. Place the fabric right side up. Make sure you cover every inch of the bowl by overlapping the fabric. When this is dry, remove it from the bowl and turn over so you can do the inside. Using the same method and starting with the rim place your fabric squares on, making sure to cover every inch of the bowl. Let dry and decorate the outside of the rim with rick-rack, beads, or whatever. Adorable!!

Are you looking for stress relief? Without drugs or medication? Have you ever thought about crafts? In fact, doing a craft is a prescription for good health. And more importantly you don’t need to be good at the craft to benefit!

Crafts can be any hand made project that you take pleasure in doing - it could be painting, needle work, knitting, home decoration, wood work. Medical studies have shown that there are physical and psychological benefits from having an active interest in crafting.

Hobbies and crafts provide a distraction from the pressures and stresses of everyday life. When you're engaged in your craft project your mind is concentrating on the project, this stops you thinking about everyday problems.

There is a tremendous feeling of satisfaction when you have completed a craft project. The final piece is all your own work. It is good to have something tangible, something that you can hold and admire.

Crafts are an intellectual activity which helps to keep your brain healthy. You can exercise your brain as you enjoy your craft. A win-win situation!

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