AllFreeCrafts Newsletter July 2008 |
| New Craft Projects at AFC |
July 23, 2008 |
AllFreeCrafts News:
Free Crafts, Craft Projects and Patterns
 It's July, and the selection of fresh herbs at local grocery stores and farmer's markets is delightful. Choose your favorites, then try one of our herbal crafts or recipes; we have several to choose from, from herb-flavored sun tea, broiled marjoram tomatoes and lavender sweet bread, to herbal facial toners and hair rinses, plus eight different recipes for lavender water.
Also, as mid-summer approaches, busy moms and caregivers often seek things for the kids to do. You'll find some inexpensive, creative ideas in our summer crafts for kids.
To wrap things up, so to speak, check out news of the latest annual Gift Wrapping Contest from ScotchBrand.
Fun with Herbs
Many herbs are ready for harvesting now
- here's a few fun ways to use them in recipes and crafts.
 Sun Tea with Herbs
How to steep your own sun tea and flavor it with your favorite herbs.
  Use up your mint, and other garden herbs, to make Traditional English Mint Sauce, Mint Jelly, Herbal Vinegars, or Flavored Vinegars and Oils.
 Parsley Dill Herb Dip Mix
An easy herbal sachet which makes a great seasoned dip for vegetables or crackers. Package it in the corner of a sandwich bag to make a small cone-shaped gift; perfect to tuck in a basket of cheese and crackers.
Broiled Marjoram Tomatoes
2 large tomatoes
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh, chopped marjoram leaves
1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Cut tomatoes in half width-wise and drizzle with red wine vinegar. Sprinkle with marjoram, parmesan, salt and pepper. Place tomatoes on foil-lined pan. Grill under high heat until cheese is golden brown.
Lavender Sweet Bread
3/4 cup milk
2-1/2 tbsps fresh lavender leaves, finely chopped
6 tbsps butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat the oven to 325° F.
Add milk to a small saucepan, stir in lavender and heat to a simmer. Remove from heat and set aside.
Cream butter and sugar in a medium bowl. Beat in egg until batter is light and fluffy. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture, alternating with milk and lavender. Pour in greased, floured loaf pan. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into top of loaf comes out clean. Cool in the pan, on a wire rack.
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 Lavender Water
Eight recipes to make lavender water for use as cologne, facial spritz, air freshener, linen spray and more.
Lavender Fan
Turn long lavender stems into a lavender fan woven with delicate ribbons.
Lavender Wands and Bottles
Old-fashioned lavender wands or lavender bottles make great small gifts, or use yourself in place of sachets.
 Rose Water Facial Toner
Gentle, but slightly astringent, facial toner recipe made from a rose petal infusion, glycerin and witch hazel.
Peppermint Facial Toner
Steep ¼ cup fresh peppermint leaves, lightly chopped, in one cup of boiling water; let cool, then strain. Add 3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar; stir well. Store in fridge; use within three weeks. Use a cotton pad to gently apply toner to face after cleansing.
Chamomile Hair Potions
Use strong chamomile tea, strained through a coffee filter, as a hair rinse to add shine and highlights to blonde or light-brown hair. Substitute red wine for the water in the tea, for brown hair with red highlights. Reapply after each shampoo. Hint: dry hair with old towels to avoid staining your best linens.Make a chamomile vinegar hair rinse by adding two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to two cups of strong chamomile tea. Apply lukewarm rinse to hair after shampooing. If you make larger batches, store unused rinse in the fridge.
 Preserving Herbs
Learn how to make the most of your outdoor herb harvest.
See more herbal craft ideas in our Nature Crafts section. |
Summer Crafts for Kids
Summertime activities and crafts for kids and the young at heart.
Bubble Solution
1/4 cup Dawn or Joy dishwashing liquid3/4 cup water5 drops of glycerin
Mix all ingredients and use for blowing bubbles. Experiment with different kinds of bubble blowers - try bending a piece of coat hanger wire into a small circle, triangle or square with a handle, or raid the cutlery draw and try blowing bubbles through a potato masher, slotted spoon, apple corer, or plastic straw.
 Ant Habitat
View the way that ants work underground by building your own glass-sided ant farm.
 Fun, Frugal Summer Activities
Ten low-cost ideas for summer fun.
Seashell Shadow Box |  20 Toys You Don't Have to Buy
Beat the boredom blues by making your own creative toys and make-believe props.
 Girl's Diary
Make a colorful diary cover from craft foam, print the inside diary pages; tie together with ribbons.
 Paper Kites
Learn how to make one-page paper kites that fly like a dream.
 Tulle Scrunchie
Tie back your summer ponytail in an easy, airy tulle scrunchie.
 Holiday Bracelets
Easy holiday bracelets to make from craft fun foam. |
Crafty Grab Bag
Popular craft projects and patterns from around the site.
 Vine Wreath
Trim overgrown vines in your yard, then use the long tendrils to make vine wreaths. |  Peg Bag
Easy clothespin bag to sew from a tea towel. |
 Winged Pig
Can pigs really fly? This crocheted pig has the wings to try! |
 Canning Jar Wedding Candles
Gather up that old potpourri and spray it silver to fill a canning jar; top with a votive candle. |
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