A friend and I have the task of planning a craft project for women to do at an upcoming retreat held by our local church. The limitations: relatively quick, cheap, doesn't rely on electrical outlets or long glue drying time, doesn't take up much space, doesn't require any special expertise, and I guess, isn't Satanic. Got any ideas? Have you tried any projects in a group?Here's the leading contender: Paper booklets with a pocket. I revised the template from this post at Curbly to be easier on your printer and have a curved pocket. You can download the revised template, print it at 100% on 8.5" x 11" cardstock, cut it out, and trace it onto fancy thick paper. Watch this video from Paper Design to see how to assemble the booklet.
I used cardstock for the cover, 3 sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 copy paper (cut in half to make 6 sheets for the interior), and colored embroidery thread for tying.
(Thank you to Curbly and Paper Design for the help!)
FYI, the video is no longer available.
ReplyDeleteErin, I clicked the link to check after your comment appeared and it worked for me just now. Not sure what to make of this.
ReplyDeleteIt worked for me, too. Maybe there were just too many people trying to view it at once when Erin tried it.
ReplyDeleteGood to know. Thanks for the report, Mum!
ReplyDeleteAnytime! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI REALLY wish your little orange pods were made into fabric.
ReplyDeleteSo cute, I love it. My mom and I volunteer at a senior center and do crafts with them. This would be a great lesson for us to try with them because we're in the same boat, less than an hour to do the craft, tiny budget, and no long glue times or glue guns!! Thanks for sharing -- love your blog.
ReplyDeleteI love this! I'm going to have to try it... and I might even go big and try to add a tab to the back that folds over for a little velcro-dot closure action. Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great idea. It can be used to keep their notes from Bible studies or from the retreat teachings. I might make some for a group of women that we are helping plant a church with.
ReplyDeleteOoo, Sarah, you are living dangerously! That's CRAZY! Heh heh.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cute!
ReplyDeleteTurning the orange pods into fabric is genuis. Can you talk to J. Caroline about that? Please??
ReplyDeletethose are cute! On a recent retreat our gals made quilt squares, ironed white muslin on freezer paper & they drew (traced) pictures with fabric markers & wrote their favorite bible verses. I'm going to sew them all into a quilt to hang at our gatherings
ReplyDeleteAt a recent church activity we took photos and modge-podged them on a canvas frame of the same size. You can sand down the edges. It makes it look like the picture was printed on the canvas. It does take about 20 minutes to dry; maybe a little longer if you do a huge picture.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever made accordion photo books? They are really fun and easy to make. They also make great gifts. Here is a tutorial:
ReplyDeletehttp://ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/archive/2004/sharing_stations/pdf/55b.pdf
I'm so at a loss for a paper project that is not Satanic! Thank goodness you found one!
ReplyDeleteYou can use www.jujups.com to create the designs for this project. Its easy to use and free
ReplyDeleteOh, Jess, I'm SO relieved you're leaving the Satanic crafts at home!
ReplyDeleteThe "not Satanic" part made me laugh out loud!
ReplyDeleteYou could also come up with some sort of greeting card, or a set of greeting cards that they could make.
ReplyDeleteoh you could make greeting cards out of old calendars (glue stick dries quick)
ReplyDeleteor
making boxes! I think its a blast and its quick and very few supplies needed
heres a post with how-to pictures:
http://www.leahglass.com/EtsySkillShare
I really like those folders.
ReplyDeletealso, maybe those gorgeous button flower cards you made a while back? or your fabric window cards?
Or maybe those cute envelope accordion booklet thingies over on MarthaStewart. If memory serves, those go together with book binders tape.
Oh my gosh, so many good non-Satanic ideas that my head is going to explode. (Or maybe turn around 360 degrees like in The Exorcist.) Thanks so much, guys!
ReplyDeleteColorful Life, I will try! I want some too!
How about bookmarks either cloth covered or done with fancy paper.
ReplyDeleteThese are a great gift idea too! I'm thinking a sweet note (or gift certificate?) inside the pockets... also would be good for sending out yearly Christmas cards with updates on the family and kids (or in my case, furry pets) with photos inside!
ReplyDeleteThis looks a lovely idea. By the way, I love your fabrics and prints...
ReplyDeleteLove this! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOkay, that "isn't satanic" comment had me laughing for like an hour...great project. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNo one is prepared for the fact that Satan is a master crafter.
ReplyDelete(not that I would know!) :-)
cute idea
ReplyDeletecute idea
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the new orange MacBook...
ReplyDeletehttp://chooseyourcolor.com/?lid=CYC_21_Soran41useF&add_offerid=191719&addomain=ileadztracker.com&addomain_id=8#
We just had a mother-daughter night at our church...the craft was a simple beaded bracelet using 1 mm thick Stretch Magic cord (anything smaller seems too flimsy). The only special knowledge required was how to knot the cord when we were done.
ReplyDeleteThe ladies leading the craft made up packets of beads, and we got to choose the color we wanted. The packets contained 8 foiled glass beads (puffed coin/disk type), 8 clear acrylic beads (round faceted type), and 16 small floral spacer beads. I recommend increasing the numbers to 10/10/20 for ladies who desire a larger bracelet.
The only other supply needed was a medium square of felt for each person to string beads on.
I think this is really cool.
ReplyDeletelove it. easy, nothing complicated about it. by kind of project. i would think a group of women would have no problem doing it, just having enough scoring and cutting supplies available.
ReplyDeleteI've loved your blog for a long time now, (I'm obsessed with all things paper) and wanted to invite you to stop in and sign up for my giveaway! http://thingswithwingsartjournal.blogspot.com
Jill
Paper Prayers
Thanks for the template! I can't wait to make some!!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome. Thinking I might use these for my upcoming wedding for little programs at the church (in the pocket we'll put a little direction card to remind people how to get to the reception site). I'll definitely have to assemble some of my girlfriends to help make it happen. Love this, thanks!
ReplyDeletethis is a great blog, great collection of work and ideas.
ReplyDeleteJess,
ReplyDeleteEsther and the whole retreat crew thank you for a great craft activity. Awesome that you can reach out to your friends on the world wide interweb for ideas. Esther sure got it right when she asked you guys, she doesn't even read your blog...yet.
Please check out my blog
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cantstopmakingthings.com/
This is what I am attempting to do - make professional looking crafts with minimal skills and inexpensive materials. I have over 20 posts with many, many more to come.
You should check out the blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.oneprettything.com
which lists crafts from all over the web. It's like a craft index for the web. It's a very cool site. Unfortunately, it's also a complete time-suck.
This is gorgeous - I love the fact your projects are always both inspiring and so beautifully made.
ReplyDeleteIf you're still looking for extra ideas, maybe this one?
http://tinyurl.com/bcmini
Low-cost, low-tack, low-Satan.
Having just been to a retreat with crafts involved, I think your booklet idea is the best I've seen. Go for it! I think everyone will love it--
ReplyDeleteHey Girl.. I've missed you! I've been crazy busy with my teeny tiny little life and not making my favorite design rounds..
ReplyDeleteLove the paper holder ! I actually need some ideas for my 'church' group.. so it's funny you are in the same boat!
thanks for the orange fix..ahhh I needed that.!
these are great..
ReplyDeletei used to work at a shelter for battered women, and we did this project with them: first, they smashed old plates with hammers and then glued the pieces to flower pots and grouted them to make great mosaics. it was supposed to be sort of therapeutic for them- like a metaphor for taking something broken and making something beautiful. plus, it was quick, easy, & cheap.
ReplyDelete