Bike Box… Mailbox?

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This mailbox turned bike basket is so charming, it practically deserves its own address. A standard aluminum letter box is lightweight, fits gracefully over the rear tire, and provides a generous amount of storage for the goods you pick up on spins around town. The door’s latch keeps it securely closed so your items won’t slide out, even if there are a few bumps in the road.

Mount this carrier, which fits a lot more than just letters, on a flat rear bike rack.

Tools and Materials

  • Drill
  • Mailbox, by Gibraltar Industries
  • 6 plastic zip ties
  • Bike, M8 bike in Chartreuse
  • Rear bike rack, in Chartreuse

Mailbox Bike Basket How-To

  1. Drill 6 pairs of holes, centered and evenly spaced, into bottom of mailbox (space holes within each pair about an inch apart). Thread 1 zip tie through each pair of holes.
  2. Place mailbox on bike rack, and use the zip ties to secure it in place. The plastic ties are durable and weatherproof, and will withstand the elements.

Memorial Day/4th Of July Star Banner

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Fly the nation’s colors on the Fourth with this jaunty string of stars. For each ornament, cut a four-pointed star from solid-color card stock and two from patterned origami paper. Use a glue stick to sandwich the card-stock star between the decorative ones, right sides facing out; stagger the tips to create an eight-pointed star. Machine-stitch through one axis of a big red star; sew 4 inches beyond its tip, or lift foot and pull out 4 inches of thread, then pick up again at the tip of a blue star. Repeat, alternating between colors.

Posies Made From Tissue Paper

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1. Layer 5-by-15-inch sheets of tissue paper, alternating colors. Make 1-inch-wide accordion folds.

2. Wrap 1 end of a pipe cleaner around the center of the folded paper, and twist to secure. Round the edges of the folded paper with scissors.

3. Fan out folds, and gently pull apart each layer of tissue paper to create petals.

Daffodil Crepe Paper Flowers

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Tools and Materials

  • Daffodil template
  • Florist crepe paper
  • Paper clips
  • Scissors
  • Pinking shears
  • 18-gauge paper-wrapped floral wire
  • Floral tape
  • Fabri-Tac adhesive
  • 20-gauge plain floral wire

Crepe Paper Daffodil How-To
1. Download daffodil template, enlarge 200 percent, print, and cut out.

2. With paper clips, secure each element of the template to an appropriate shade of crepe paper, aligning the arrows with the grain of the paper. Cut out with scissors in the quantity indicated and trim top of trumpet piece with pinking shears.

3. To create stem, wrap together three 18-inch pieces of 18-gauge paper-wrapped floral wire with floral tape.

4. To create the bulbous bottom portion of the trumpet, place thumbs and forefingers together in the center of the trumpet piece, 3 inches from the bottom. Applying light pressure and moving outward, pull toward either edge, stretching the crepe paper as you go.

5. Run a bead of Fabri-Tac adhesive down one long edge of the trumpet, and bring edges together to make a cylinder.

6. Fold and pinch bottom of cylinder to top of stem, and secure in place with floral tape.

7. Insert hand into cylinder, and use fingers to shape the base of the trumpet.

8. Stretch pinked edge of trumpet against the grain of the crepe paper, and curl down with fingers.

9. Evenly space three petals around the base of the trumpet and secure in place with floral tape. Repeat with the remaining three petals.

10. With floral tape, attach each leaf to a 15-inch length of 20-gauge plain floral wire. Use more floral tape to secure each leaf to the daffodil stem.

PATTERN:

Tomato Sewing Pincushions

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1. Cut a rectangle of fabric on the bias that’s twice as long as it is wide (the largest we made was 3 1/4 inches in diameter and required a 10-by-5-inch piece).With fabric facing right side up, fold in half as shown, and join ends with a 1/4-inch seam. Sew a running stitch around the top edge; tightly pull thread to cinch fabric, and secure with stitches.

2. Turn pouch right side out. Stuff with batting (cotton batting is firmer than polyester). Sew a running stitch around the open end; pull thread to cinch fabric. Tack shut with a few stitches and knot. To flatten, double-thread a cording needle with crochet thread and pull it through the “core” a few times. Mimic a tomato’s fluted details by wrapping the thread around the cushion and back through the core several times. Knot thread at top to finish.

3. For heirloom tomatoes, cut a circle of fabric (the largest we made was 3 1/2 inches in diameter and required a 10-inch-diameter circle). With fabric wrong side up, sew a running stitch around perimeter. Place batting in center of fabric, and gather into a pouch. Stuff with more batting, pull thread to cinch, and tack with stitches. Flatten cushion and apply details as in step 2.

4. For tops, photocopy template, enlarging or reducing as desired; cut out. Trace template onto green felt with a disappearing-ink pen; cut out. Using a single-threaded needle, sew a loop onto top. Glue top to tomato.

Note: To sew cherry-tomato pincushions, start with swatches of fabric that are 2 3/4 by 4 3/4 inches. Follow steps 1 and 2 below, but don’t flatten cushion or add fluted details. For tops, cut symmetrical, six-pointed stars from green felt. Add loops, and attach them as in step 4.