Tip for making self closeing serviette holders
Its that time of year again when we get ready to dress the table for the feast. I have just seen a lovely project by a cutie for self closing serviette holders and thought to pass on a way of makeing them and so saveing money.
you will need some empty soda / water bottles. Not the big ones (these can be used to dress a bottle of wine by folowing the instructions below ) but the smaller type. If you can find the ones that have bands around them then so much the better but if not then no big problem.
Here is what to do. measure up the straight side of a bottle and divide it into 1.5 segments useing a permanent pen. put "marching ant" lines all around the bottle at these marks so you can follow along with sharp scissors later,
Carefully cut off the top and bottom of the bottle and then cut up the one side.
you will now have a tube with a cut down it, this will allow you to get scissors in and follow the lines to create plastic bands.
The bands can be covered by makeing a tube of fabric. 3.5 wide folded in half and with right sides faceing, sew raw edge seam with scant 0.25 edge. turn to right side out and press flat with the seam in center. This should be wide enough to allow the plastic strip to pass through it snuggly
Neaten the raw edges and then simply add any decoration at the center of the band with a glue gun. Of course if you are clever you could embroider the design onto the fabric before its folded to create the tube. Be sure to press the tube fabric before enclosing the plastic strip.
WHAT MORE IDEAS?
OK create FSL and stand them up on the band. No time to embroider? Get the children involved by allowing them to use a cool glue gun to attach silk flowers and beads but do not be surprised if a few of the holders disapear and re apear on the wrists of the teens who will love these to make a fashion statment. you can of course use them to dress up a bottle of wine or even hold a placename.How about a scarf holder.
have fun. annie in the UK
*4u!
Hugs,
Jacqueline †
dont' forget those curtain tie backs just be sure to put a cord at the ends to hold them tight in place. festive drape curtain holders with sprigs of holly glued on, or even wrapped around a candle. Get the children involved and let their imagination fire up and explode on those dark evenings. annie in the uk
just thought of another use for the soda bottles.
wind socks. cut a band from the pop bottle and then measure the circumferance and add enough for a seam allowance, make a tube about 18 inch long and then fold the top of the fabric tube over the band and staple in place, cut long tails in the oposite end of he tube. make four holes through the fabric and plastic rim at equal distance apart and thread cord through and knot at the center of them then simply add a sting to act as a kite holder and fasten to a pole. if it blows too high then simply add a metal washer to one dise of the hoop this will hold it down a little but not stop it blowing in the wind.
be creative and use some white nylon and let the children loose with the sharpies and draw what they wnt onto it. makes great ghosts for Haloween
ANNIE IN THE UK
did you know that if yo cut top and bottom form a plastic bottle and then place it around the cucumber or similar plant when its first put. you push the tube into the soil around the plant about three inches. this stops any water getting to the stem and rotting it and also deters the slugs from chewing the plant, simply water and feed in the normal way outside the protective tube.
annie