Paint Chip Chain Links for Fall Decor

Need to add a little fall decor but don't have much time or money?

This is a fast, easy and super cheap craft.  Use fall color paint chips to create a chain link to loop anywhere you need a little fall pizazz.

1. I chose green and brown multi color chips from past painting projects to make this one.

2. Fold the strip in half (so both sides have paint chips rather than words).

3. Bring ends together.  Hold and staple - just one staple is plenty.

4. Fold next strip.  Insert into first loop.  Complete step 3.

Repeat step 4 until your chain is the length you want.  Hang to create a fall display or decorate for a party in a pinch!

Tombstone Bunting

The first time I saw the Creative Memories Tag Maker, I thought - hmm... tombstones! and Halloween Fun.  I've made several scrapbook borders for Halloween Scrapbook Pages using the tool but today I made a Tombstone Bunting.

When I'm done with a painting project, I stash away my paint chip samples.  I'm never sure what I will do with them but these days EVERYONE has the same idea and paint chips are indispensable in the craft world.  Today I went for the pile of GREYs.

Don't have a Tag Maker? CLICK HERE TO SEE AND BUY the Tag Maker.

This project is VERY easy.  Here's what to do.

First, turn the tag maker upside down and insert a paint chip.  I've used single color chips as well as multi-color chips.  Squeeze the maker and out pops a tombstone.

Next, use your creativity to create funny or frightful epitaphs for your tombstones.  I also adorned mine with R.I.P. and cross symbols and fake dates.  If you need a little help in the epitaph department, just google "funny epitaphs" or "Halloween Tombstone sayings" and you get a slew of pages full of creative lists to use.  I drew on my paint chips with Sharpie Markers.  I tried a few in silver, but black seemed to show up the best.

Line up your tombstones and begin to string them.  I used a heavy duty weight black thread and the smallest needle that could poke a small hole but that had an eye big enough to fit the thread through.  The biggest stitch of thread is behind the tombstone. 

Once all the pieces have been added, lay the long strand of tags/tombs out on the floor and slide them so that they are evenly spaced.  Create even thread extending from both ends of the bunting.

Hang or suspend your bunting for all to see!

Easy - Fun.  Give it a try.

Crochet Tools Case

Need a great place to keep the little tools you use for crochet?  What could be better than a little Crocheted Tools Case?  Try this!

Are you a beginner at crochet?  This project will be perfect for you.  When I was brand new at crochet I had a lot of trouble finding useful projects that were simple to make.  This one will be no trouble.

However, if you are a more advanced crafter, you can add more difficult variations that make the project more challenging.

FIRST... you will need the following: 

• worsted weight yarn (I used the cheapest type I had on hand - RED HEART 100% acrylic).  Beginners can choose a varigated skein to add lots of color without having to know how to change color yarn.
• optional worsted weight contrasting color yarn for whipstitching details
• large needle (to weave in ends and whip stitch sides)
• scissors
• size K crochet hook (6.5mm)
• measuring tape or ruler
• button
• pearl cotton
• embroidery needle

Here's how:

Create a foundation row of chain stitches (22 stitches).  Add one additional chain as a turning chain.  Turn your work.

Single crochet to the end of the row.  Chain 1 to turn.  (count to make sure you have 22 single crochets).

Continue making rows of 22 stitch single crochet until your piece measures ~14" in length.  (the width should be about 8 inches depending on how loose or tight you crochet) Finish off.

Lay your crocheted piece wrong side up.  (don't know which side is right or wrong?  look at your beginning tail string.  if it's to the left it's right side up if the beginning tail string is to the right it's wrong side up)  Fold the bottom part up about 5 inches.  Pin the both sides of the folded pieces together using T-Pins.

Thread a large dull needle with either your coordinating yarn (my example uses red cotton worsted weight) or the same yarn.  Starting at a either bottom fold, whipstitch the two sides together.  Here's a link for more info about doing the whipstitch with crochet.

Continue whipstitching over the top of the piece and then down the other side.  End your whipstitch yarn inside of your pouch.  The whipstitching can add a decorative detail to your piece.

Next, find a button that will fit through one of the single crochet stiches in your piece.  I just found an old button in my craft box.  Fold down the top of your tool pouch.  Use a T-Pin to mark the best location to sew a button onto the folded pouch.  Use embroidery floss or pearl cotton and an appropriate hand sewing needle to stitch the button onto the crochet pouch.  Tie off the knot on the inside of the pouch.

Slightly stretch one of the crochet stitches on the flap of your tool pouch in a place where the flap will naturally align with your button.  After buttoning and unbuttoning your pouch flap a few times, the hole will be easier to use.

I made a removable felt pocket insert for my pouch.  The felt pocket insert is optional.  If you just want to use the pouch without the felt pocket, add your crochet tools to the pouch.

Here are some tools that I like to use inside my pouch:  crochet hooks, scissors, tape measure, row counter, etc...

I also like to use the crocheted area under the flap to hook my stitch markers, T-Pins and large eye needle.

If you'd like to make the removable felt pocket, here's how:

Cut a piece of felt to 8"X7"  (I used red craft felt which is very cheap - you can also use a wool blend felt which is stronger and softer or a piece of a felted sweater). The photo below shows the felt before I trimmed it to size.

Fold the felt in half so it's 7" wide and 4" high.

Use an appropriate embroidery needle and a piece of pearl cotton thread to stitch a running stitch 1/4" from each side.  I made a loop stitch go over both the top and the bottom of each side.  End your stitch on the outside with a knot and trim it close.

Because I used craft felt which tends to stretch and pull, I made a blanket stitch across the top of each side of the pocket insert.  The blanket stitch also adds a decorative detail.  Here is a link explaining how to do a blanket stitch from futuregirl.  Use coordinating or contrasting color of thread for the blanket stitch.

NOW, your pocket is complete.  Because I wanted to store pointed scissors and small-ish crochet hooks in my tool pouch, I added the felt insert so those items wouldn't poke through the crochet stitching.

Are you a more advanced crocheter?  Consider changing colors while crocheting your pouch to create stripes or other designs.

If you make a crocheted tool pouch - post a photo of it on the Fly the Coop Crafts Facebook Page! I'd love to see your creations!