Crafty Gypsies & their Gypsy Crafts

"Gypsies are nomadic people found all over the world. Gypsy groups travel in caravans, setting up camp when they can find a place to rest. They are often very skilled crafters who are good with their hands, as one way they may make a living is by selling crafts. Also, since gypsies are often poor, they learn to be creative and make due with what they have. Gypsy crafts are fun to make, for yourself or as gifts, and have an exotic flair." By Mackenzie Wright, eHow Contributor 

Gypsy Lanterns

• Collect some glass bell jars or jelly jars. Get some scrap fabric that is light weight, such as a lightweight cotton or silk.
• Measure around the jar with a tape measure. Divide the number by four, and add one. The number you calculate is how wide your fabric strips should be.
• Measure the length of your jar. Add three--this is the length your fabric strips should be. When you cut the fabric strips, taper the bottom three inches into points.
• Place two strips on top of each other with the wrong sides together. Stitch down one side, about ½ inch from the edge, from the top to the point.
• Place the other two strips on top of each other, wrong sides together. Stitch down one side, about ½ inch, from the edge, from top to point.
• Stitch the two pieces together, wrong sides facing each other. This will create a sleeve for the jar. Slip the jar into the sleeve. Use a hot glue gun to attach the fabric to the top outside rim of the jar.
• Wrap 20-gauge wire around the top of the jar rim securely. Use needle-nose pliers to bend back the ends of the wires to create hooks and hook them together.
• Take a six- to eight-inch strip of wire and create a handle. Make two hooks at the ends with your pliers and hook them on the wire around the jar mouth. Place a candle in your gypsy lantern, light it and hang it.

Beaded Bangle Bracelet

• Hold your hand as you would if you were putting on a tight bracelet. Measure around the widest part of your hand with a tape measure. Add 1/4 inch to the measurement. Cut a strip of 14-gauge wire to that size.
• Take a round aluminum can. Wrap your wire around it to give it a curve. Use a rubber or plastic and tap the wire around the can to help it maintain the shape.
• Take a needle nose pliers and bend back the end of the wire on one side like a small hook. String stylish beads on your wire.

Give Mom Flowers That Will Never Wilt

Mothers Day and flowers go together like peanut butter and jelly... ooey gooey peanut butter and jelly that Mom spends the better part of the day cleaning up after the wee ones have manhandled half the house with sticky hands.  While floral blooms are always beautiful and appreciated, sadly, they eventually droop and must go bye-bye.  Why not give Mom flowers she can keep for ages, and actually use?

Behold the flower pen!  You can gift it in a neat little pen-holder pot, and Mom will most likely think of you every time she uses it to write yet another check on your behalf.

Supplies: 

• Flowers (Cut down the stems ahead of time with some wire cutters or garden pruning shears; the flowers should be 8″ – 10″ or so)
• 3″ terra cotta flower pots
• Floral tape
• Coffee beans
• Ballpoint pens (without their caps)
• Optional: paint & paint brush for the flower pots (the pots shown here have been painted white)

Directions:

Be sure to cover up the bottom of your pot from the inside so that none of the beans escape.  This is easily done with either tape or paper

Line up the pen with the flower, leaving the tip of the pen just a little lower than the flower stem. Begin taping with a strip of floral tape, starting near the tip of the pen and moving up.

Floral tape is stretchy, so stretch it a little as you are wrapping it around the pen and flower, and wrap the two tightly. Keep wrapping all the way until you get to the top of the pen – be sure to cover up the end of it with the tape.

Once you are done taping your flower pens, insert them into the pots and you are done. You can do one pen per pot, or put several pens in one pot. Both options look pretty. You might also add some leaves or other decorations.

[source: CharlottesFancy.com]