Leaf silhouettes

Use real leaves to create dramatic silhouettes for notebook covers, storage tins etc. Press leaves on to sticky-backed plastic (the sort you use to cover books). Spray paint on the sticky side of the plastic, leave to dry then remove the leaves. You can use wrapping paper or old wallpaper as a backing - simply glue the sticky-backed plastic onto this backing. Dramatic effects ahoy!

From The Family Circle Book of Crafts, 1980.

Slytherin House Knitting Club

You've probably noticed that nestled among all the vintage knitting larks that I post on my blog, there's been a fair amount of Harry Potter-related knitting nonsense. Well, I've decided to move all of the Harry Potter postings to a magical blog of their own, the Slytherin House Knitting Club. This is where you can keep up with all of my Harry Potter hand-knitted dolls and maybe pick up a few knitting lessons from Severus Snape if he's in the mood.

Just finished this Lucius Malfoy doll, hope you like him, and hope you bookmark both Knit For Victory and the Slytherin House Knitting Club!

Recycled plastic bag envelope

This masterpiece of engineering is a mailing envelope which transforms into a tote bag - instructions on how to make it are here on the Etsy blog.

You can make it out of plastic fabric, or why not try making your own fabric out of plastic bags for a complete recycled craft experience. Making plastic bag fabric is easy, the final result is strong and really useful for bags, baby bibs, purses. I made a wonderful bag this way, about 5 years ago and as soon as I find it, I'll post a picture: it's gone into that cupboard upstairs that leads to Narnia...

Kids in the pub

I initially thought that these two schoolkids were standing behind the bar in a pub, showing off their 4 ply acrylic round-necked school pullovers. But no, at second glance they appear to be in the middle of some sort of chemistry lesson.

I suppose the irony is that they are actually trying to alchemically create the secret recipe for WKD Blue Alcopops, which they are then going to bottle and flog behind the bike sheds at break time. It's all terribly Grange Hill.

More cushions

More cushions from the Family Circle Book of Crafts - patchwork ones, this time. If you've never patchworked before, a cushion is a good place to start. The cushion on the bottom row, second from the left, is made out of four simple striped squares - make a plain backing for your cushion and you'll be done in no time. Or you'll be done in about three years, if your sewing is anything like mine.

Family Circle cushions

Here's an inspiring spread of cushion ideas from the Family Circle Book of Crafts (1980). I particularly like the fruity cushions, made from zingy canvas fabric with applique shapes. Imagine a whole row of orange slices on a brown 1970s sofa...

The busy paisley-style cushions could be made from up-cycled chair cover fabric or other vintage fabric finds. Not too convinced by that tie-dye beanbag though; it looks like someone's had an accident with a mocha coffee or three.