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Crafts/Questions
| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
| Keepsakes | 11/7/2011 | Sheila M. Krueger |
| Q: Our family went to Lake Michigan on vacation together. While there, we collected sand, rocks and ... A: Check your local craft store (Michael's, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's, etc) and look for a plastic container ... | ||
| plate | 4/1/2011 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I am trying to find a kit or idea on how to make offering plates with children in church school. ... A: I'm thinking that you could purchase some colourful paper plates. You can by them at the Dollorama ... | ||
| plate | 4/1/2011 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I am trying to find a kit or idea on how to make offering plates with children in church school. ... A: Could you, perhaps, be a little more detailed in what you wish to accomplish? If you could let me ... | ||
| Thank You. | 3/28/2011 | Thomas |
| Q: Thomas, Please forgive me for having to thank you in this window which I know is intended for ... A: Arthur, this is fine. I have to reply so the machine does not believe there is a question hanging. ... | ||
| Feedback Link. (?) | 3/28/2011 | Thomas |
| Q: I have not found a link at/on this site which will allow me to rate your response to my question ... A: Arthur, right at the bottom of your answer are two boxes shown in the attached image. Click one ... | ||
| Mother-of-pearl inlay blanks. | 3/27/2011 | Thomas |
| Q: I am a hobbiest wood worker and am teaching myself how to inlay MOP in my work. Recently I bought ... A: Arthur, mother-of-pearl is relatively easy to polish. First you need to remove the deep scratches ... | ||
| SEALING PHOTOGRAPHS FOR DECOUPAGE | 12/19/2010 | Sheila M. Krueger |
| Q: I am making a Memory Box for my boyfriend as a gift. I want to use photos and memorabilia from trips ... A: Kathy: If you are using copies of the photos, then I don't know that you need to worry TOO much ... | ||
| polish mother of pearl shell | 8/10/2010 | Thomas |
| Q: I have some mother of pearl shells, how do I get rid of the black rind and make it shine like the ... A: The sand paper is needed to remove the rough stuff and get to a surface smooth enough to polish. ... | ||
| license plate | 6/23/2010 | MaryAnn F. Kohl |
| Q: I have an old (like 2 years, not antique) Arkansas Razorbacks Vanity plate that has just been ... A: I saw a cool idea at a street fair... the people had made book covers out of license plates. Here is ... | ||
| epoxy and jewelry | 5/21/2010 | Thomas |
| Q: I am a gemologist, and now make jewelry for several websites. With a college degree in chemistry ... A: Lloyd. I am snowed with questions having left a couple for tonight. Yours is first. Frankly, I am ... | ||
| What kind of glue | 4/22/2010 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I'm making my own center piecs for my wedding and i was wondering what kind of glue should i use? ... A: I have used a hot glue gun many times for what you are looking to make. In fact, my daughter got ... | ||
| Mask making | 2/5/2010 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I was wondering if you could give me some ideas. I'm currently making a mask. I used my brothers ... A: There is a substance that we attempted to use to make molds for candles. I can't remember the name ... | ||
| paint | 8/15/2009 | MaryAnn F. Kohl |
| Q: as a kid in the 60's I remember collecting bottles and painting them with different colored paint ... A: I think you had to buy a special paint that had a crackle effect. Perhaps "Michaels" or "Joanne's" ... | ||
| Cleaning mother-of-pearl beads | 8/12/2009 | Thomas |
| Q: I have a double strand of mother-of-pearl beads that have lost their shine. Is there some way to ... A: Janet, I appreciate the question. I also appreciate nice mother-of-pearl and many of the ... | ||
| making a graduation shadow box | 7/16/2009 | Sheila M. Krueger |
| Q: Good Morning....My youngest Son recently graduated with a Master's of Arts in Criminology. I'm ... A: Joyce: Congratulations to you and your son! What a great career he has ahead of him! My suggestion ... | ||
| Candels | 4/30/2009 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: please help me find some candles with beads i want to buy one for a pezzie A: You are looking for candles with beads on them? I have seen these in craft stores that take things ... | ||
| using gold leaf on candles | 3/30/2009 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I am decorating an Easter Candle for use in our church. It is 51% bee's wax. Is it possible to use ... A: In relation to your question regarding the application of gold leaf on your candle: You can apply ... | ||
| Aromatic cedar wood | 3/29/2009 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: Do you know of a way to make small chips of aromatic cedar release its aroma. Is there a solution I ... A: Lorin: In answer to your question on strengthening the aroma from cedar chips: No. There is nothing ... | ||
| Fabric Transfer paper | 3/11/2009 | Valerie Randall |
| Q: I just purchased fabric transfer paper by Avery. It states that it is for Inkjet printers. I ... A: I don't know enough about it, so I simply Googled "Fabric transfer paper Laserjet" and many options ... | ||
| Scrapbook for a school team | 3/3/2009 | Sheila M. Krueger |
| Q: I hope you might be able to give me some pointers on the big scrapbook project that I took on just a ... A: Patty; How about selecting a couple of photos (or even a selection of them) and having a copy of it ... | ||
| Gift wrapping paper | 2/16/2009 | Valerie Randall |
| Q: I want to design wrapping paper to sell. I have design ideas but don't know how to start. I'm not ... A: Just because you can design doesn't mean you should start a business without some realistic research ... | ||
| bean bags | 2/2/2009 | MaryAnn F. Kohl |
| Q: I don't know if this is in your area of expertise but please help me. My brother's birthday is this ... A: A beanbag has to be heavy enough to toss and have some "heft"....so beans and rice are excellent ... | ||
| Glueing candles | 12/18/2008 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I have a beautiful wax dragon that broke into various pieces. I have tried all the various bonding ... A: There is a "candle mending tool" available at this website: addedtouch.com. I'm not sure what it is ... | ||
| Glueing candles | 12/17/2008 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I have a beautiful wax dragon that broke into various pieces. I have tried all the various bonding ... A: In order to be of assistance, I need to know what kind of wax it is made from. Certain "waxes" ... | ||
| photo/fabric repair | 11/26/2008 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I just received a quilt with photo transfers as blocks. There are a few of them that are starting ... A: The first thing to try is getting the pieces as flat as possible. Maybe try putting a heavy ... | ||
| Bazaars | 11/17/2008 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I was delighted to read your profile as it appears we have done a lot of the same things. My ... A: There is something that I make for presents or to sell. It is a candle holder that is relatively ... | ||
| Fixing a ceramix candle holder | 11/11/2008 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I've got a yankee candle holder that was recently broken--all the pieces fit back together very ... A: If the jar is not a gift you particularly prize, it is wiser to chuck it than to fix it. You can ... | ||
| Candles | 10/27/2008 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I have 2 questions. Firstly, do you know how to make a coil or rope candle with beeswax? You can ... A: In answer to your question one about rope candles: I have made a few of these, but they are ... | ||
| milk bottle plastic caps | 9/14/2008 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I have been collecting milk bottle caps for years after seeing a cute caterpillar made with them in ... A: Nancy: Although I have tried diligently to find a complete answer for your query, I can only offer a ... | ||
| mother of pearl shells | 8/30/2008 | Thomas |
| Q: I am a novice at this type of craft. I have recently returned home from a wonderful vaction on Cape ... A: Charlene, I am back. Technically, mother-of-pearl is a certain type of shell created by an oyster ... | ||
| wax carving for jewelry | 8/8/2008 | Thomas |
| Q: I am a hobbyist. Trying to work wax for jewelry for casting. Mostly ring work right now. My ... A: Ken, actually I cannot tell you rpm for the tools. I use a flexshaft and foot petal and guessing rpm ... | ||
| wax carving for jewelry | 8/7/2008 | Thomas |
| Q: I am a hobbyist. Trying to work wax for jewelry for casting. Mostly ring work right now. My ... A: Ken. I will try to give you a nudge in the right direction working with wax. Wax is generally hand ... | ||
| Hair removal from plastic doll face | 8/1/2008 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: I have a Santa Claus fact with beard, that I would like to make a mold of. Any suggestions as to ... A: Clip the "hair" from the face of the doll as closely as possible. Then, you might try using a hair ... | ||
| freelance craft work | 7/29/2008 | Valerie Randall |
| Q: I am a fledgling craft designer (pen and wash images) and have so far managed a book "Hand Painted ... A: No commercial experience need not be a stumbling block, you have to start somewhere. I looked at ... | ||
| Unity Candles | 7/15/2008 | Nanetta Bananto |
| Q: I have decided to buy plan unity candles for my wedding and decorate them myself. I was wondering ... A: I suggest Sticky Wax. It is an adhesive used for candles, holding miniatures, etc. The link is ... | ||
| photomount cards | 6/21/2008 | Sheila M. Krueger |
| Q: I am located in Ireland, and the print sizes are abour 6x4. Hope that helps a bit more :) NK A: NK: My best suggestion (being in US and not familiar with suppliers where you live) would be: ... | ||
| Candle Adhesive | 5/18/2008 | Dodie Casey |
| Q: We are looking for a product that will adhere glass crystals to the sides of soy candles. Any ... A: Soy "wax" may be different. However, when working with beeswax, simply heating up the part of the ... | ||
| shadow box display | 4/30/2008 | Sheila M. Krueger |
| Q: I have a 9"x9" shadow box wooden frame. I want to decorate it with my dog Jen's belongings. I have ... A: Ingrid: What a beautiful tribute to your loyal friend! Like your acid-free scrapbook items and ... | ||
| Translucent Clay | 3/19/2008 | Nanetta Bananto |
| Q: I'm completely frustrated, I was making some miniature lemons for my dollhouse and the translucent ... A: First of all, get an oven thermometer and test your oven temperature. I use a convection oven and ... | ||
| Handmade cards and Personalized tags | 3/10/2008 | Valerie Randall |
| Q: I want to make some professional looking but handcrafted looking cards. Also, I want to make ... A: I'll suggest going to Scrap Girls at www.scrapgirls.com. There you can find card templates and many ... | ||
Answers by Expert:
Dodie Casey
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am able to answer questions regarding: ceramics, beeswax candles, cleaning things from other things, working with wood/pinecones/etc. in the making of centre pieces & wall hangings. I also have a Christmas Village that is approximately 60 square feet in area & takes, at this time, 3 days to assemble for the Christmas Season, but only one day to take down. I also am a great baker & cake/cookie/cupcake decorator (I made my own wedding cake, my sister's for her 25th wedding anniversary, & for two of my friends weddings) & chocolate user for fancy stuff. I have done some small quilting projects & am starting something known as a "Farm Quilt". It requires taking pictures of people, animals & farm buildings on the farm you are using for a model. These pics are then transfered onto the quilt & "quilted" into it. Great fun! Great Family Heirlooms! I know a little about bisque, but more about ceramics. I also do sewing pictures. No, I do not do needle point. The pics are drawn & then various stitches are used to create a three-dimentional appearance.
Experience
I have made many presents for others--Christmas, Birthdays, etc. Also, I sold crafts for several years. I have also worked with 4-h-ers for several years as a craft leader, goat leader, woodsman coach, & photography. Now, a friend & I have a business (more hers than mine:) making several varieties of pure beeswax candles. Not the cheepy ones you buy in the dollar store. We go through several hundred pounds of high-grade beeswax every year. It is more a natural, life-styles choice than just candles for burning. They are all natural in style although they take on various shapes as we learn more about versatility.
Organizations
I am still a 4-H leader in crafts & gardening. "The Garden Bee" is the name of my friend's company. You can view it at www.thegardenbee.com on her website, should you so desire. Also, I have recently retired after 16 years of directing our Church Choir.
Education/Credentials
I have a BSc in Psychology/Computer Sciences. As well, I have taken a couple of courses in ceramics & basic painting which have come in very handy over the years when doing various things with students & friends.
Awards and Honors
Absolutely none, unless you count the numberous children & adults who have shown their gratitude for the teaching/coaching/helping/providing that I have done over the years.
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