52. Mini Herb Kits

MATERIAL

Mini Terra cotta pots
Patio paint (optional)
Potting soil
mini cello bags
Herb seeds
Kraft paper coin envelopes
Paper mache box or other container
Assorted rubber stamps, paints, etc.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Paint the pots if you like or you can take a permanent marker and write the name of the herb around the rim.
   
2. Fill mini paper, or clear candy bags with enough potting soil to fill all the pots in the kit.
   
3. Decorate coin envelopes, fill with assorted seeds, seal, then label.
   
   tip: use mini return address labels, printed with name of herb in packet, to seal envelope.
   
   
4. place ingredients into a decorated paper mache box. Old tins, recycled boxes, even old lunch boxes, would also make nice containers for the mini garden

resource: off beat living

The Herbal Kitchen: Cooking with Fragrance and Flavor
	The secret to transforming easy dishes into extraordinary meals? Fresh herbs. In The Herbal Kitchen, IACP award-winning cookbook author and acclaimed Herbfarm Restaurant chef Jerry Traunfeld presents simple dishes using herbs straight from the market, windowsill, or garden. was $34.95 now $23.07 | Buy Now

49. Felt Sewing Book

MATERIALS

One 5 x 7 1/2" piece of Heavy felt
button
Three, 4 3/4 x 7 1/4" pieces of Lightweight felt
needle & thread

Sewing kit items
extra buttons
needles
pins

INSTRUCTIONS

When clothes need mending, reach for this book—its felt pages are designed to keep sewing supplies organized. Devote one page to extra buttons that come with garments, one to pins, and another to needles (pre-threaded with your most-used colors).


1. To make the cover, cut a piece of heavy felt into a 5-by-7 1/2-inch rectangle. Sew a button halfway up one short end, 1/4 inch in from edge. Make the tab closure by cutting a 1 1/2-by 2-inch strip of heavy felt, rounding it at one end. Sew the straight end of the tab to the end of the cover opposite the button, halfway up the cover and 1/8 inch in from the edge; make a slit in the rounded end of tab to serve as a buttonhole.
   
   
2. For the pages, cut three 4 3/4-by-7 1/4-inch pieces of lightweight felt. Fold each page in half, and iron along the crease. Open the cover, and center the opened pages on top. Close book, and use a blanket stitch to bind cover with pages, 1/2 inch in from folded edge.
   
   
3. To make the blanket-stitch binding, you’ll need an upholstery needle and embroidery floss. Hold the book in your lap with the fold at your waist, and start in the left-hand corner: Draw floss out through the fold from inside the book. Insert needle down into fabric, 1/2 inch up from fold, 3/8 inch in from edge; bring it out at the edge, as shown, keeping the floss loop under the needle. (See illustration below.) Continue stitching, working from left to right, until book is bound.
   

   

Source: Martha Stewart

5. Mending Jar

Not just for jelly, these petite canning jars are cleverly transformed into organizers for mending necessities -- such as buttons, needles, and thread.

MATERIALS

Pencil
4-ounce canning jar with lid and band
3 x 3-inch pieces of 1-inch-thick foam
Scissors
Thread and needle
5-inch circle of calico fabric
2 x 2-inch pieces of felt
Pinking shears
Thick white crafts glue
2-1/2 x 1-1/4-inch piece of card stock paper
Felt scraps
Items to fill jar, such as buttons, needles, thread, thimble, safety pins, etc.
18 inches of 1/8-inch-wide satin ribbon
Sew-through button
1/2-inch gold sewing charm

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Trace the widest part of the band circle onto foam; cut out. Using thread, gather the outside edge of the calico circle. Place the circle of foam onto the top of the lid. Add the calico circle, pulling the gathers tight on the underside, and allowing a 3/4-inch opening. Cut a 1-1/2-inch circle of felt with pinking shears.
   
   
2. Glue the felt over the gathered fabric on the underside of the lid. Smooth the calico over the foam, pushing the foam away slightly at the lid edge. Add the band.
   
   
3. To make the thread and needle holder, cut card stock paper on the long sides using pinking shears. On one short side, stitch a piece of felt that is pinked on all sides and slightly larger than the card stock. Allow 3/8 inch of felt to fold over the end of the card stock.
   
   
4. Machine-stitch across one end of the felt, securing the card stock.
   
   
5. Wrap an assortment of thread on the card stock. Add safety pins at the stitched edge. Insert two needles under the thread into stitched edge.
   
   
6. Fill the jar with desired sewing notions. Tie the ribbon around the jar rim. Thread a button and a gold charm onto the ribbon. Tie the ribbon ends into a bow.

from Better Homes & Gardens

4. Sewing Basket

This sewing basket, complete with painted scissors, offers a personalized set of tools.

MATERIALS

Scissors with bright plastic handles
Rubbing alcohol
Disposable plate
Paint for plastic, such as Plaid, in desired colors
Paintbrushes
Sewing supplies
Small basket
Natural shredded paper

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Wipe scissors handles with rubbing alcohol. Put a small dot of each paint color on a plate. Use colors that blend well together and complement the color of the handles. Decide where you want to place the designs.
   
2. To make daisies, dip just the tip of the paintbrush into paint. Lightly touch the paint to the handle surface, making a tiny oval petal. Continue making petals in a circle, leaving the center open. Using white, highlight each petal. Make a tiny dot in the center using a different color of paint.
   
3. Paint the stems and leaves using green highlighted with yellow. Allow the paint to dry for 48 hours before use. Arrange other sewing supplies around the scissors in shredded paper.

from Better Homes & Gardens