Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Tool Time Tuesday...Fun Pool Noodle Crafts

Welcome to another edition of Tool Time Tuesday. Today, I'll be showing you 3 projects I made with pool noodles. You know, those long styrofoam tubes that kids use to play and float with in the pool.

We went to the Dollar Tree this past weekend and I saw all the noodles in a box. My first thought...I don't have a pool, but I'm buying these for Tool Time. For one dollar? Who could resist.

I rounded the corner with 2 noodles in hand to find my husband and daughter wondering why the heck I was buying pool noodles. I told them I want to slice the noodles into segments and do a Tool Time with them. I thought pincushions and Kelsie and hubby both said "napkin rings"!!

Tah Dah...

pool noodle crafts


pool noodle crafts

This is such an easy product to work with...I'm sure there's more we can do with it. I have one more idea too.


Here's the noodle. They are about 4 feet long.

pool noodle crafts

They also come in different shapes. This is a flower and what really attracted me to the noodle. It's so cute.

pool noodle crafts

The teal blue was pretty too.

pool noodle crafts

This was just a circle shape.

pool noodle crafts

It's made of a softer, pliable styrofoam, so it's very easy to cut with a regular steak knife and doesn't shred and flake like floral styrofoam.

pool noodle crafts

The center hole works great for napkin rings.

pool noodle crafts

Great for summer picnics.

Paper plates, plastic utensils and noodle napkin rings!! Makes that paper plate look "fancy".

pool noodle crafts

This orange napkin is cloth, so the hole is large enough to accommodate fabric.

pool noodle crafts


pool noodle crafts

It's also perfect for a paper napkin with the plastic utensil inside the napkin.

Have these all made up in a basket for a summer party!!

pool noodle crafts


pool noodle crafts

The pincushion is easy to attach any where with a set of adhesive velcro dots.

pool noodle crafts

You can make these for sewing groups, quilting bees or quilt guild events. Include pins in the flowers, so they'll know what they are.

I cut them about 3/4 inch wide and the noodle is 48 inches long, so you can get 64 pincushions for $1.00!!

pool noodle crafts

This was a last minute idea. I stood there thinking what else I could use the hole for...

A little design flower behind a drawer pull. So cute for a little girl's dresser in her room.

pool noodle crafts

Just place it behind the knob, then screw it in.

pool noodle crafts

Just not a little girl's room...maybe a big girl's sewing room next to her orange funnel scissor holder. Lol

Looks like the black eyed susan flower.

pool noodle crafts


I think orange is my "go to" color lately.

"Orange" you glad I bought the pool noodle!! (sorry, I couldn't resist)

Happy Tuesday,
~Karen~

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25 comments:

  1. I love pool noodles! I roll up my seasonal wallhangings on them and also my applique-in-progress projects and my strips of binding. Hadn't purchased the flower-shaped ones but now I will. Thanks Karen!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The napkin rings are so cute! lol

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love this idea! Thanks for thinking of it and sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. One of mr guild members has covered on with muslin and the rolls her quilt on them. Got a bigger quilts she takes two or more of them to match the width and makes a muslin draw syring bag to store them in.

    Thanks for your great ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the ideas you have come up with for using a pool noodle. I especially love the napkin rings.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So cute!. I wonder if you cut the flower shape from the center hole to the outer edge, you could open it up and wrap it around your phone and tablet charger cords. I think it would work. But I want to sew cute little pouches too.

    Thanks for sharing.
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  7. I use them for making stencils for paint you can also cut them and core some out of the inside for wrapping cords, wrapping paper and other objects that unravel. Love your site tool time Tuesdays are great....
    Have A Very Very Blessed Day...

    ReplyDelete
  8. I can't believe I just read this post. I was in the dollar store yesterday and stood staring at the noodles, thinking h'mmm what could you do with these things? Now I'm not sure if they had the cute little flower shape, but I think it deserves another trip to see.
    fabulous ideas you come up with, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. how fun! did you velcro the back of the pin cushion?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Such cute ideas! I've never seen the flowered ones but now I need to keep an eye out. Orange is my favorite color and I love the drawer pulls - just adorable. I know this isn't sewing related, but for your readers with small children they make a great door stop so little fingers don't get pinched. http://dianamattoni.com/blog/inexpensive-toddler-proof-door-stopper

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love pool noodles, but I don't have a pool either. Great ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was in the dollar store last weekend - looking for pool noodles but they didn't have them yet. I like them to roll finished quilt blocks so they don't get creases before I'm ready to assemble the top.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You never cease to amaze me with your creative ideas! Dollar Tree here I come :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. So cute. Love the napkin rings!

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  15. Oh my gosh... LOVE the napkin rings!!! Great Idea!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love pool noodles, they get used for everything BUT the pool! I have been using them to store boots in my costume shop for years. It keeps them standing tall. I saw that on Pinterest the other day and giggled.

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  17. I sure am as I think I will use this idea for our closing guild party in June. Great for center pieces or give away!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love the napkin rings with the fork and spoon already inside. Cute for a cookout/party. I was thinking you could string some together to make a party decoration. You could alternate round and flower or all the same. Endless possibilities.
    Better get to the dollar store before we all buy them up. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  19. You always come up with the most amazing ideas! My brain could never come up with that. Thanks for sharing everything with us all the time. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have a pool and it is almost warm enough, so I need to head to dollar tree tonight and see if they have any noodles. They never last more than a year with pool use, they start to disintegrate. Dollar tree is alot cheaper than Wally World or pool store.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great ideas...thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I store my Christmas quilts on pool noodles, tied with string. No folds that way. Just lay them down, one on top of the other (I have quite a few now) and carefully roll them up on the noodle. Easy to store.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Pool noodle "Spotting" has replaced my "Beer Ball Spotting Re-use List" --remember beer balls??? LOL

    We use them for a LOT of things--we zip-tied them on the uprights of the kids trampoline to prevent them getting wonked into after one kid got smacked.

    Also for the back of the porch swing to keep it from damaging the house

    Use them for slip cover "holders" between the back of the couch and the underside of the cushions--on top of the slip cover where it goes under the moveable cushions--jam it in there to hold the excess fabric---some slip covers come with thin versions of those but they don't hold and cost a LOT to replace!

    Use to place over a rope or chain strung on posts to mark out your driveway or if you have a path you don't want tresspassed on.

    Place over the chain for the kids swings to prevent finger pinches and make it easier for the real little ones to grip.

    Cut a slice off one and slit lengthwise and place over the edge of your door to prevent lil fingers from getting mashed--easy to put up and take down

    Zip-tie to the cross bars of kids bikes to prevent them from going face forward into that annoying cross bar!

    Cover any metal edge--either slide on via the slit method or use hot glue or other fastener-to keep things from rolling off the edge or protect from sharp areas---also good for glass coffee table when kids are small--don't use perm glue for that one!

    For the "flower" or hollow ones--cut a slice off and glue to the end of your broom or rake or other handles to prevent making marks on the wall and to provide a non-slip area--nothing worse than having the broom or other tool on the floor!!!

    One I am thinking of after our last winter's reflector stakes were a dismal fail---using the stiffer ones and running the wire thru the center for a little more stability--leave the end of the wire long enough to pound in the ground. Might just keep these visible for the plow man so he doesn't HIT things!

    I have seen them used over the wire or rope ties for new trees to alert people to NOT trip on them--also on TENT ropes!

    I also use these cut in sections--the stiffer ones--for foot props in the car. Either under my foot --helps keep leg flexed and not cramp--or under my knee. As some one with handicapping foot and leg "issues" these have been amazing.

    Use on the sides of your wagon (lawn mower or kids!) slit lengthwise to keep the edges from getting dented and rusty.

    Slide a slit section onto your garden hose where it "bends" the most and kinks and shuts off the flow of water so you have to walk entirely around the house because your annoying house was only built with ONE outdoor faucet---you know what I mean!!!---to prevent the grandkids ears from hearning DranMa say some choice words--just use some zip-ties or elec tape to hold on that SPOT. Also prevents hose rubbing on edges of landscape bricks or timbers and rocks etc.

    We have a pool--right now it is upside down over the not installed hot tub. Somehow we have no actual TOYS for the pool--gee wonder where they WENT????

    ReplyDelete
  24. Pool noodle "Spotting" has replaced my "Beer Ball Spotting Re-use List" --remember beer balls??? LOL

    We use them for a LOT of things--we zip-tied them on the uprights of the kids trampoline to prevent them getting wonked into after one kid got smacked.

    Also for the back of the porch swing to keep it from damaging the house

    Use them for slip cover "holders" between the back of the couch and the underside of the cushions--on top of the slip cover where it goes under the moveable cushions--jam it in there to hold the excess fabric---some slip covers come with thin versions of those but they don't hold and cost a LOT to replace!

    Use to place over a rope or chain strung on posts to mark out your driveway or if you have a path you don't want tresspassed on.

    Place over the chain for the kids swings to prevent finger pinches and make it easier for the real little ones to grip.

    Cut a slice off one and slit lengthwise and place over the edge of your door to prevent lil fingers from getting mashed--easy to put up and take down

    Zip-tie to the cross bars of kids bikes to prevent them from going face forward into that annoying cross bar!

    Cover any metal edge--either slide on via the slit method or use hot glue or other fastener-to keep things from rolling off the edge or protect from sharp areas---also good for glass coffee table when kids are small--don't use perm glue for that one!

    For the "flower" or hollow ones--cut a slice off and glue to the end of your broom or rake or other handles to prevent making marks on the wall and to provide a non-slip area--nothing worse than having the broom or other tool on the floor!!!

    One I am thinking of after our last winter's reflector stakes were a dismal fail---using the stiffer ones and running the wire thru the center for a little more stability--leave the end of the wire long enough to pound in the ground. Might just keep these visible for the plow man so he doesn't HIT things!

    I have seen them used over the wire or rope ties for new trees to alert people to NOT trip on them--also on TENT ropes!

    I also use these cut in sections--the stiffer ones--for foot props in the car. Either under my foot --helps keep leg flexed and not cramp--or under my knee. As some one with handicapping foot and leg "issues" these have been amazing.

    Use on the sides of your wagon (lawn mower or kids!) slit lengthwise to keep the edges from getting dented and rusty.

    Slide a slit section onto your garden hose where it "bends" the most and kinks and shuts off the flow of water so you have to walk entirely around the house because your annoying house was only built with ONE outdoor faucet---you know what I mean!!!---to prevent the grandkids ears from hearning DranMa say some choice words--just use some zip-ties or elec tape to hold on that SPOT. Also prevents hose rubbing on edges of landscape bricks or timbers and rocks etc.

    We have a pool--right now it is upside down over the not installed hot tub. Somehow we have no actual TOYS for the pool--gee wonder where they WENT????

    ReplyDelete

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