Craft Projects

Monday, March 09, 2015

Turning Kid Type Crafts Into Beautiful Home Designs

Kids are great inspirations for arts and crafts. Not only do they love to create masterpieces and have grown-ups ooh and aah over their skills, but parents themselves love to see what beautiful artwork they will take home next. The issue arises, however, when you have collected so much arts and crafts pieces that you don't know where to put them. Here are some great ideas for arts and crafts projects that you can create with your kids that will be able to fit in any décor of any room.

Origami

Origami is not only mess free but beautiful and relatively easy to make. Origami, the Japanese art of folding paper, is great for adults and kids to do together. There are lots of resources at the library and on the internet that can teach you how to make origami. After you have made them, you can set them on a table, mantle or window sill. It's easy to find the supplies for origami since all it really requires is paper. Using a variety of colored paper is a great option and you can color coordinate them to go with your room. Also, if your décor is lacking color, you can use this as a way to incorporate punches of color. You can even suspend them to the ceiling using with string.

Silhouettes

Creating silhouettes is a traditional and fun craft. You can showcase members of your family without using photographs. You can make wall art by framing your silhouettes in vintage frames. The only supplies you will need are fabric, cardboard, construction paper, wrapping paper or old magazines. Whatever you think is suitable, it doesn't matter because it is completely adaptable. Even the way you go about creating the silhouettes is customizable as you can cut out photos or trace shadows.

Nature Print Paper

This is definitely easy and fun. Buy a pack of Nature Print Paper and create beautiful nature-inspired art. Take the time to teach your young ones about nature and enjoy a day at the beach or park with them. Collect leaves, feathers, stones, sea shells or whatever you like to add to this work of art. You can hang them anywhere in the house and create a wall collage of them. The great thing is, you can do this a few times per year and rotate the art pieces every season.

Abstract Canvas Art

This requires no real artistic skill. It's abstract so anything goes. What a fabulous way to get the kids involved! Buy a big canvas and let them go crazy. The bigger the canvas the more like art it will look. You can match the colors with the color scheme of your room. Just get some acrylic paint, paint brushes, sponges, tissue paper and more.

Graphic Prints

A modern home design feature is graphic prints. You don't have to spend a lot of money when you and your kids can design your own. Allow them to choose the colors for the project but you should decide on the compositional changes so that it looks professionally done.

Jewelry Making Resources

DIY Beading Club - A membership site dedicated to jewelry making and beading.
More info here

Wire Crochet Tutorials - In these Ebook and Video Tutorials, you will find everything you need from the beginning, clearly explaining step by step, with pictures and graphics.
More info here

Sunday, March 08, 2015

Making Wedding Cards

Most of us consider wedding as one of the important part of our lives. It is that one special day when we finally get our happily ever after with the one that we truly love. It is a wonderful culmination of our long and tedious search for that one true love. In the same way, a wedding also signifies a brand new beginning to a new chapter in our lives. It is the beginning of new challenges that comes with having a family of our own.

Most of us only get to be married once; this is why they are doing everything in their capacity to make it as memorable and special. Some are spending more than the usual just to assure that they would have the kind of wedding that they have always been dreaming of ever since they were a little kid. Normally, it would take a year or so to thoroughly prepare for a wedding. Wedding preparations entail a lot of time, money and effort on the part of the couple.

How about on our part, as guest? What can we do to make their wedding even more memorable and special? Sure, we are happy for them and the fact that we spared some of our precious time to grace this occasion is wonderful. We also took time, effort and money to get them a special gift that they could use to start a family of their own. Do you think all of those are enough? Have you ever thought that you could actually do more than that?

One of the things that we can do to make our loved-ones big day even more special is to make them a personalized wedding card.

Although there are many wedding cards available in our favorite book or card store, none of it could still beat the value of a handmade and personalized wedding card. In making a wedding card, we could freely express how much we are happy for them not only in our own words but also in the very design of the wedding card. We could decide on the color of the card, the cover design (and the materials that you would be using to make it) and the overall aura of the card.

The wedding card that you are about to make could symbolize every little thing that you cherish about your friendship. It could even include some subtle hints on the special things that you guys shared. For instance, you could even include one of your favorite photos with your friend in that personalized wedding card. Also, a personalized wedding card does not cost much but it would surely mean a lot for the newly wed couple.

Jewelry Making Resources

Thursday, March 05, 2015

Handmade Ideas For Birthday Cards

Choosing the right birthday cards for your loved ones have always been one of the most difficult things to do. There are so many choices available in the market that we usually get confused on what to choose and what not to choose. In most cases, we look out for a very special card for this great occasion, but nothing fits our set criteria. You'll probably look out for a card with a great message and a sparking design and format. The best way to do this is to implement some homemade ideas blended with your unique creativity. Always remember nothing can be more precious than a personalized birthday card. Handmade cards give a special personal touch and keep reminding the recipient of your love and efforts packaged in the card.

Hobbies And Interest Of The Birthday Boy Or Girl

While you are brainstorming on ideas for birthday cards, the first thing that you have to do is to find out the hobbies and interests of the birthday boy or girl. This is very important, as you have to keep the message and theme in accordance to this information. In the beginning, you may find it very difficult to come up with an idea, but when you prepare a list of what they like and what they dislike, it will make the task very easy for you. You will automatically get to know that how you have to go about it.

Do Some Research

If you are still not sure on how to create happy birthday cards, you need to do some research. You can do your research on the Internet. Search for the birthday cards based on a specific hobby or interest. You will find a lot of ideas there. You can now either choose an idea as it is or you can blend different ideas to make your own unique idea. Alternatively, you can also visit some specialized hobby shops.

Try Something New

Whatever you do, it should be something new. After all, getting the same kind of cards every year doesn't excite anyone much. Therefore, it is very important for you to come up with a special idea, each year. If you cannot think of anything else on how to make the card unique and different, focus on adding humor to it. Nothing can beat humor. Humor doesn't get old. So, the easiest way is to try giving funny birthday cards. But, make sure that the cards are truly funny enough to tickle the bones of the recipient.

Sometimes, you may not find a good idea based on the hobbies of the person. In that case, a good way is to focus your ideas around the job or profession of the person. For example, if he/she is a doctor, you may consider giving the birthday cards a medical touch and feeling - but in a funny and humorous way.

Jewelry Making Resources

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Homemade Soap Making Methods

There are several different soap making processes that will allow you to easily make homemade soap products.

The first soap making method is cold process soap making. This process requires a scale, a large stainless steel pot, measuring cups, kitchen thermometers, rubber gloves, mold, cardboard, plastic bags, olive oil, coconut oil, shortening, lye, distilled water, and fragrances. The cold process gets its name from the general low temperatures that are used to mill this type of soap.

In addition to cold process methods, hot process soap making methods are also available. This process is named for its boiling pot method of soap milling. For this type of homemade soap making you will need palm oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, shea butter, castor oil, sodium hydroxide, water, borax, soap molds, stainless steel pot, stirring stick or spoon, plastic wrap.

If you have soap scraps that you would like to rework into a new bar of soap then you can use a handmilled soap making method called soap rebatching. To do this you will need soap scraps, a mold, a grater, fragrance, dyes, and other additives.

The best type of soap base for this type of soaping making is a cold process soap. To start with you will want to grate your soap into fine particles. Then place all of your shavings into a glass bowl that can be placed in a double boiler. As the double boiler heats up you will need to stir your grated soap pieces. Add in your vegetable oils and fragrances at this point, making sure that everything is incorporated. Break up soap clumps that form. Continue to cook until the soap reaches the string stage. At this point the soap will thicken rapidly. Remove the pot from the heat source quickly add in fragrances, coloring, herbs, and optional items in that order. Spoon into molds and allow it to cure.

The final way to make handcrafted soap is to use the melt and pour soap making method. Out of all of the soap making methods this is perhaps the easiest for novice soap makers. It involves simply melting a soap base in a double boiler, adding in fragrance and dyes, and then placing the soap mixture into a mold. This is the soap making method that most soap making do-it-yourself kits will use.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

African Crafts to Make

There are a great many African crafts to make a huge range of wonderful items. You can make anything from a rain stick to batik printed clothing. The joy of many African arts is that they require little or specialist equipment as they have evolved from using just the natural products that were available. The crafts generally produced wonderful and brightly colored items which are both practical and useful. Patchworks can be made using the typically African fabrics which are now quite easy to get hold of and many items can be transformed using beadwork in the traditional African styles.

A great way of sourcing African crafts to make is through the internet. Now that the internet is available to the majority of us, it is easy to use a search engine to find websites that information regarding the local African crafts. Some are more detailed than others and will need some traditional materials, but many can be undertaken easily and inexpensively.

Batik dying is one of the really authentic African crafts to make. You will need to refer to either a website or a book for information on how to create the designs and achieve the effect. It involves the use of wax and dyes and the end results are colorful and vibrant textiles which can be used for any number of purposes. You could even transform a piece of clothing that you already own with a batik design. This is a great way to rejuvenate some of your wardrobe. As I mentioned, you will need to either read up on the process or perhaps you could find a class at your local college. Art colleges or groups may have a class that you could join to learn this wonderful African style of fabric painting.

You will also find that bead work and jewellery making features highly on the list of African crafts to make. Beads are easy to buy from your local craft stores and are usually inexpensive. Again you will need to do some research to find out what designs and styles of jewellery are traditional in Africa. You will be able to discover quite a lot on the internet but do not restrict your searches just to craft websites. Have a look at a range of African sites and also try to look at as many pictures as possible of African jewellery and how it is traditionally worn. You will then have an idea of what it is that makes a piece look African. Try to copy the designs that you see both in shapes and colours. This way you will be making pieces that are unique to yourself but have a huge African influence.

There are many African crafts to make at home and also in a craft circle. Far more than it is possible to mention here. Keep your eyes open for styles and designs and if at all possible make contact with an African artist or craft worker for some genuine traditional tips.

Jewelry Making Resources

Stained Glass Windows Brighten Any Home

When creating a stained glass window the design may begin as a drawing, a painting, a photograph or any other kind of graphic artwork. The design needs to be simple and bold.

Once you are happy with the design you can start work on the stained glass window.

Nothing is better or creates character like a stained glass window, it is elegant and it adds sophistication to your home, the light that is produced is soft and is diffused into your home and creates a soothing atmosphere.

It's a good idea to make two copies of the pattern so that you can use one copy to cut the templates and the other copy to place on the work piece to see how it fits. You can cut some costs if someone can donate their old cutters to you, but even if you need to go out and purchase some stained glass cutters they are usually a pretty reasonable price.

Creating stained glass there are many techniques that can be used. When creating the classic stained glass window, there are many pieces of color glasses, you will need to cut each piece so they fit together, then you will need to take lead, brass or copper and use it as a buffer between the glass.

Rub the lead lines and get them well coated with the chemical on the cotton. Take an old rag and polish the lead lines very vigorously. To create an illusion of a lead line you need to do it on both sides of the glass.

Sometimes, a piece of stained glass will lose its original brightness and color that the lead lines once had. The blackness or copper of the patina will dull and you find that over time there will be a buildup of some type of corrosion and it usually appears around the edges of the lead. Most manufactures use lead as the bonding material because it is flexible to use and it last for a very long time.

Lead is used and stripped into predetermined shapes so that they can be fitted between then the pieces of glass.

As you get some experience under your belt you can acquire more tools and accessories as deemed necessary by you- the master craftsman. If you do your homework earlier on before diving in with both feet, you will find that some of the tools you use will continue to be used by you for many, many years to come. These tools help assist an individual in marking, cutting, smoothing, and soldering the glass. To make stained glass, you will first need to get the tools and materials ready.

Some people use stained glass making as a hobby and other times the hobby becomes a business. Stained glass windows are becoming very popular again and many people want these colorful windows in their home to brighten and bring good cheer. Many people bring the stained glass windows into their homes by purchasing lamp shades that are stained glass. One of the most popular stained glass lamps is Tiffany.

Easy Crafts For the Home

If you find that you have some time on your hands and you are tired of looking at the television, what not try some easy crafts for the home. There is a huge variety of items that can be made easily and cheaply and you could transform your home with cushion covers, lampshades etc. You could certainly revitalise some of your old and tired items of furniture with some simple craft ideas.

If you have any experience of needlework then you will be more than able to make some lovely cushion covers from remnants of material from fabric stores. Even if you have no experience at all there are many easy crafts for the home which, although needlework based, require little or no expertise.

Alternatively, perhaps you could learn a new art such as cross stitch or embroidery. You will find a great number of starter kits available at your local craft store which will give you all the guidance that you could need to get you going.

Do not make the mistake of choosing a project that is too complex and time consuming for your first venture. If something is too daunting and going to take a long time, you may not finish it and you could end up losing interest. You are better off finding a small project to get you started.

Hand stitched quilts can be lovely, traditional, yet easy crafts for the home. Bed covers and quilted items will always look comforting and will set off any room beautifully. If you do not want to launch into a major item such as a bed cover, perhaps a cushion cover or pillow slip would be a good starter. Material can either be bought in bundles of complimentary colors from most craft stores or you could buy small amounts as remnants. Make sure, however, that you have purchased enough to complete your project.

Lamp shades can easily be made by pleating chiffon. For this you will need to buy a lampshade frame from a store. Wrap this with ribbon so that you have something to stitch the chiffon to and then carefully pleat the fabric and secure it to the frame. These give a lovely classical and elegant look and can be finished with any of the huge range of lace and trimmings that are available in craft stores. Easy crafts for the home, such as these, can look very impressive if you take your time and finish them off neatly.

If you look on the internet you will be able to find websites that will give you lots of ideas for easy crafts for the home. Many of them will also give you details of where to buy products and materials and some will even be able to supply all that you need. It is a wonderful way to spend your time and you will soon be making some low cost and beautiful items. Perhaps you will even end up going into business and selling your handiwork.

Jewelry Making Resources

Inexpensive Spring Crafts

Those who enjoy making crafts often like the craft making process so much because they have the satisfaction of being able to make something unique without having to spend a lot of money. Most, if not all crafts, can be made less expensively than if you were to buy a similar craft that was manufactured by some business. Many avid crafters find enjoyment in all of the money that they save by collecting raw materials and creating crafts themselves. There are millions and millions of inexpensive craft ideas and chances are that you have a few of those ideas in your head right now. Put that imagination of yours to good use and start thinking of an inexpensive spring craft that you can make today!

Melting Snowman

One of the signs that spring is here is the obvious change in the weather. The snow melts and the weather gets warmer. Why not make a craft that plays off of this idea of changing seasons, by making a melting snowman. Making a melting snowman is easy. All that you need are some small twigs, a black marker, glue, white paper and a couple of cotton balls. Take two cotton balls and gently stretch them so that they are a little bit more flat. Glue the two cotton balls in top of one another. For the base, cut out a piece of paper in a random circular pattern (it should look like melted snow). Glue on the base.

Decorate the melting figure as you would a traditional snowman. On the top cotton ball, give the melting snowman eyes and a mouth by using your black marker. Break the twig down into two small arms and glue those in place. Display your melting snowman in the window or wherever else you feel he will be most appreciated.

Foil Family

Spring time is also a time when you start thinking about how you can entertain kids who may be itching to go outside but are forced indoors on a rainy day. Taking household materials, like tin foil, and using them to make something new and unexpected is an inexpensive way to celebrate spring. Making foil people is easy. Simply use the foil to form the various parts of the body and then assemble your fold people together, or you can use a sequence of different layers to gradually build your foil people from the inside out. Be creative with how you dress your foil people. You can also pose your foil people and have them act out a favorite scene. For example, you can have the football enthusiast in your family make a foil football player in a running position, clutching the football and running for the goal line. Use your imagination and the possibilities are endless.

Paper Dolls

If you have a pair of scissors, some colored paper and some markers, you can make paper dolls. Little girls love the traditional paper doll making crafts. All that you do to start is form the body of a little paper person and then trace out appropriately sized paper clothes that can then be used as clothing. To incorporate the boys in this craft, have the paper dolls wear costumes or sports gear. Maybe your child really likes dogs. In this case you can make a paper dog and make paper hats, a cape, and a suit for that paper dog. Do not feel limited to making only a little girl's doll, you can use paper to create virtually any thing! Hopefully these simple and inexpensive craft ideas have given you some things to think about and you can now be more confident that no matter what your budget is, there is a spring craft waiting to be made.

Jewelry Making Resources

How to Find Craft Shows That Are Ideal For You

If you want to start selling your craft items at local craft fairs, it's a good idea to find out which shows are a good fit for you.

To find fairs in your neighbourhood area that will be a good fit for your particular craft items, you might start with shows you've attended as a shopper, ones that are within an hour or so of your home and shows where other vendors have exhibited.

You won' t always know if the show has the same values as you until you check it out for yourself, so taking the word of other vendors may not always be the best way to go, but if you've known the vendor a while and you trust their judgement, the shows they speak highly of may actually be the first places to investigate.

If you're a member of a craft guild or organization or subscribe to a trade journal, you may be able to get hold of show suggestions there. Numerous websites contain lists of local and national shows with their respective contact information.

You should also visit some of the craft forums where you can ask other crafters for some consensus on the best shows.

When you visit the websites to get more background, watch for FAQ areas where the craft fair lists useful information that vendors should know.

If there isn't a website and you call the promoter or organizer instead, have the following questions nearby:

* How many booth or table spaces are available?

* How are the spaces assigned?

* What kinds of crafts are allowed?

* Is electricity available?

* If so, is there an additional charge for it?

* Will tables and chairs be provided?

* What was the previous show's attendance?

* What is the expected attendance for the upcoming event?

* What kinds of people does the show seem to attract?

* What kind of promotion is done before the show?

* Will vendors receive some promotional materials?

* Will the exhibit be juried?

* If so, what are the entry and jury fees?

* How quickly are applicants notified that they're accepted?

* What happens if it rains or snows?

A qualified host should have this information or should be able to get back to you with it in a relatively short period of time.

The best organizers are selective about who they allow at their shows based on unique, original quality products and appealing displays. Good hosts also want a evenly matched number of classifications of crafts.

Participating in a Craft Show is Fun

If your family and friends praise the results of your crafting, then perhaps you can sell your projects for extra money at a craft show. There are many benefits to investing in a stall at either a local show or a large exhibition. Besides turning your hobby into an income, you can also meet other crafters who share your interests. In this article, we'll show you have to get involved with craft shows and talk about some of the pitfalls you should avoid.

A wide variety of craft fairs and markets take place regularly in most communities, from small local events to monthly and regional fairs. There are also large annual national events aimed at consumer craft buyers who purchase products for retailers. Participating in an art and craft fair allows you to market your products to a wide customer base. Selling your products at this kind of show instead of a flea market also gives you an edge because people attending have a specific interest in the beauty and uniqueness of homemade products.

One way to stand out at a craft show is to do a live demonstration. Set up a few of your raw materials and share the techniques for your particular craft. When potential customers see the skill of your work and the love that you put into your product, they will be more likely to make a purchase.

Also, people standing around your booth watching your demonstration will draw the curiosity of people passing by. Before you know it, you'll have a crowd of shoppers around your booth. Be sure that you're friendly and are willing to answer questions. Personality will help to sell your product and possibly build up a clientele who will buy regularly.

Although participating in a craft show is fun, don't forget that it is also a business and there are details that you should understand. Firstly, be very clear about the size of your space and where it is located. You don't want to end up in an obscure corner with little customer traffic. You should also know whether tables and chairs are included in your fee. If not, make sure you get folding tables and chairs that are suited to the space.

Most craft shows last for about 8 hours, so bring snacks and drinks in a cooler with you. To keep business flowing smoothly, bring a supply of coins and small bills with you. Making customers wait while you scrounge for change is a bad idea. Use a vanity pouch or a money bag tied around your waist or designate a family member or trusted friend to be your cashier for the day. It's best to have someone with you so that there is someone to hold down the fort during bathroom breaks.

There are many advantages to taking part in a craft show. Not only is it a chance to make extra money, but getting to be with other artistic souls can be really enjoyable. As you network, you'll find that the crafters community is one that is fun, creative and tight knit. Who knows? You may stumble upon new ideas for your special projects or even discover a new craft that you love just as much.

Article Source: Participating in a Craft Show is Fun

Friday, February 20, 2015

Arts and Crafts Idea

Crafters are able to come up with arts and crafts ideas from items that many people might consider junk! Arts and crafts ideas can be found in baby food jars, paper bags, shoe boxes, cds, and egg cartons among other items easily found around the home. When you come up with arts and crafts ideas from things you have in your home, you save money on having to purchase supplies from the craft store, and you are helping the environment by recycling.

Shoe boxes are the culprits of many arts and crafts ideas! You can create dioramas, doll houses, and box guitars. The arts and crafts ideas using shoe boxes are virtually endless- limited only by your imagination. You can also use shoe boxes for more traditional means, and create decorative storage boxes for your favorite things, momentos or other objects.

CD's are also great items to encourage arts and crafts ideas. They are perfectly round, and give off a wonderful shine when light hits them. The little hole in the center is perfect for stringing twine or chain through, in order to create hanging arts and crafts. Ideas include Christmas ornaments, candle holders, dreamcatchers, photo frames, clocks and magnets. Start with a CD you don't need (like the ones you get in the mail from advertisers, or a CD that has too many scratches to work properly) and see just how many arts and crafts ideas the little shiny circle can generate!

Clear thirty five millimeter film canisters can cause many arts and crafts ideas. With a little mirrored paper board (available at a craft store), plastic wrap and cake sprinkles you can make a miniature kaleidoscope. Drill a small hole in the bottom of the film canister. Fold the mirrored paper board into a triangle shape that will fit inside the canister, and tape it inside. Place several cake sprinkles in the lid of the canister and cover with a piece of plastic wrap, taped into place. Pop the cap back onto the canister. When you look through the hole at the bottom of the canister and turn the film canister in your hand, the sprinkles will create shapes against the mirrored kaleidoscope. How is that for unique arts and crafts ideas!

Arts and crafts ideas can come from anywhere. You can recycle your empty jelly jars and make beach scenes in a jar, a time capsule, or a candle holder.

Common household items often invoke many arts and crafts ideas. Just think outside the box, and you might surprise yourself with how many arts and crafts ideas you come up with!

Jewelry Making Resources

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

How Can I Create A Good Frame For My Stained Glass Panel?

Well that is a very good question. You can create some very unique frames for your completed stained glass panels by taking old cabinet doors and making frames out of them.

Where can you find old doors?
You can go to the local cabinet makers and ask them what they do with the old door they remove from a remodelling project and see if they will give them to you. I have had good success with this. Also go to Lowe's, Home Depot, Sears, or any home remodelling store and ask their installers what they do with the old doors. Many will be glad to give them to you.

Measure your stained glass panel and try to find a door your panel will fit into. When measuring take into account you will need inside measurement (on the door) a 1/4 to 1/2 inch smaller both width and height than your stained glass panel. This will allow for setting the panel into the frame.

Once you get the door, remove the centre panel by cutting it out. There are many different types of centre panels but you can usually figure out the easiest way to remove them by looking how they are constructed.

Once you have the centre panel removed, create a rabbit cut around the opening to fit your panel into. Install your panel into the opening and secure it like you would in any other frame.

What is nice about this is if you get your hands on doors that match your present cabinets, you can have a beautiful stained glass cabinet door or doors on your own cabinets for a great price.

Saturday, February 07, 2015

Some Tips For The Knitting Starters

If you love knitting sweaters, leg warmers, cuffed slippers and socks for yourself and other family members, then you should not wait anymore and start designing clothes from your imagination. There are so many patterns to choose from. But first of all, you have to pick some beautiful colored yarns.

You can choose a pattern or two in order to make things more interesting. Knitting is all about doing experiments, especially when designing clothes for babies because everything looks good on them. There is no need to worry because the starting is always full of mistakes, so the maximum you can do is make less mistakes. You don't have to compete with anybody, not your neighbor or any brother and sister. Start slowly and be careful while making the patterns. By spending an adequate amount of time on knitting will increase your speed and then, you can compete with all others.

There are many different types of skills required in knitting, but it all depends upon the requirement of the person for whom knitting is done. Children do the knitting also, but they only make manger with the wool. We all have done knitting in our lives and made adorable things like mangers, slipper socks and other free knitting patterns. Some of us have also made cuffed slippers, leg warmers and socks at some age of their lives.

There is no need to feel hesitant if you are starting it for the first time because everybody starts from trash, rest all depend on the talent of the person and how much hard work he or she has done in that particular work. You will have to concentrate in order to learn the procedure, but once you learn it, then there is no one stopping you. There is no need to feel intimidated because it is just a matter of time before you learn everything related to knitting.

If you have to become a knitpro, then you have to be a quick learner. When you are starting to knit, then you should mix and match a variety of beautiful hand-dyed yarns in order to find the right combination. You will definitely create your own beautiful masterpiece. I know that there are many cool ideas running through your mind right now, so why don't you pick up the needles and some oddments of yarn and knit the exact same thing that is in your imagination right now. You can knit an adorable rainbow baby from the free patterns. You can mix different yarns to make something, warm and cozy in the chilly winters.

If you want to make slippers, then you can make a couple of knit patterns using the worsted weight yarn because it is quite easy to make slippers from that yarn. If you are a bit tentative about knitting, then you can take some knitting classes and learn how to knit properly. These classes will surely help brush up your skills.

There are many quick refresher courses available on the internet to get you going with the process. You can simply follow the instructions provided by them and start knitting yourself. Knitting always starts as a hobby, but it is up to an individual that, whether he/she just wants to carry on this as hobby or want to make some money through it as well.

There are many companies that sell woolen stuff and the best thing about those stores is that their owners started knitting as a hobby, but then they realized that they are highly proficient in this work. Where there is a will, there is a way, and that's what exactly happened to them. They found the way and started their own businesses.

About the Author:
Little Houndales Knits is a family run business that was established in 2007. The owner of the company got the idea after she was diagnosed with a serious illness and had to leave her career in dentistry. She got the idea whilst she was talking her Husband and Brother some lunch, as they worked on a farm. She soon had a stall supplying proper wool knitters, around the country. They know supply yarns from some of the biggest names in the industry, as well as supplying their own range. You can visit their website at http://littlehoundalesknits.com

Article Source: Some Tips For The Knitting Starters

Craft Shows - Finding a Craft Show to Sell At

You can make good extra money selling your handmade jewelry and crafts at local art shows and festivals. Start near where you live, grab an artsy friend and get started promoting your business and crafts today. Learn to create eye-catching, colorful, lightweight displays that will make craft show selling a breeze.

Start in your home town. Sign yourself up for a local craft show or festival. Pick a craft show with a booth fee that is under $100.

Ideally, you should pick a fall show or craft festival. Fall festivals and pre-Christmas craft shows are extremely lucrative because buyers are searching for handmade gifts. If you make quality pieces, you have the potential to do very well selling in December shows.

Juried craft shows require an application to assess whether the quality of your work fits the type of show. Vendors are screened by a jury (which can be one person like the craft show organizer or a group of people on the board or committee) to make sure that the artwork is appropriate for the particular type of show. In some cases, juried shows limit the number of crafters in each category.

Handmade jewelry is an extremely popular category. Jewelry making encompasses a wide range of materials. Although each designer may make a different types or style of jewelry such as leather bracelets or spoon rings, buyers and show promoters like to see a wide range of artwork. You will be competing for spots with seasoned crafters and new jewelry artists. Your application for a juried show must captivate the jury. Submit only high quality photos. Often applications require a written section which includes a description of your work as well as photos of your craft show booth setup and artwork.

Non-juried shows usually have lower booth fees. Booth fees are based on art/craft show quality. Small shows that are not juried generally attract fewer customers. Paying high booth fees does not guarantee that you will make more money, it can mean the organizer has spent money advertising the show. If the booth fee is very high, say $500 or $1000 and up, you can expect excellent show promotion and larger crowds. Ask other experienced vendors which shows they recommend.

When you are first starting out, you will probably want to select a non-juried craft show. These "craft" shows often allow sellers of Pampered Chef and Mary Kay as well as individual artists. You can ask the promoter if that's the case. Some organizers are eager to book as many vendors as possible and do not care if work is handmade. This can be discouraging as an artist but the most important factor when starting out is simply to gain exposure. Put yourself out there. As you gain experience, you can evaluate the type of shows and focus on the shows that you enjoyed most and eliminate ones that were not profitable.

Local churches often hold craft shows on weekends. That is a great way to gain local exposure and test the market. I suggest you avoid flea market sales unless you can price your work dirt cheap. Table fees at flea markets are super low. But buyers are not looking for handcrafted designs. They want cheap goods. It is possible that there are better flea markets in your area that would be worth checking out. Farmer's markets are another venue worth checking out. Some are very selective. They may not allow jewelry making unless you can show that you use only materials which you produce.

When I sold my jewelry in Traveler's Rest, SC, I met another artist who made high end wooden furniture he sold out of a booth at the Barnyard Flea Market. He had a booth with a roll-up garage door so he was able to store and lock his furniture up at the end of the show. That might be handy if your booth set-up requires large fixtures. Scout the market first and ask artists about their sales.

Some craft shows are so successful that they have waiting lists for future years. This is a really good sign. Why? Returning vendors indicate quality craft shows and good money making potential for artists. Listen to feedback from other artists when planning your craft show schedule.

Seasoned artists plan their show schedules many months in advance and always notify their buyers through emails or postcards. Start a mailing list and let your customers know your schedule by sending out emails on a regular basis. That is the key to good sales. That way, even if a particular show is slow, you will have guaranteed sales. You may ask customers who have placed custom orders to meet you at a show. That can lead to more sales once they see what else you have created. Craft shows are very popular.

My first craft show (as a seller) was the Cotton Ginning Days Festival in Dallas, NC. My friend Candace asked me to join her and split the booth rent. For the three day event, the booth rent was very cheap. It was $30 for a 10 by 10 booth in a horse stall. Those three days taught me a lot about what to pack, what to expect and which items sold the best. The days were very long and sales were decent for my jewelry considering I didn't have a huge inventory. Candace's fabric crafts did not sell at all because she had priced her work extremely high and the show was not an art gallery. Buyers wanted inexpensive goods like $5 and $10 birdhouses. She was extremely disappointed with her sales. I, on the other hand, was eager to create new pieces and sign up for my next event.

Start with a one day show. Craft shows require lots of physical work and long hours of standing on your feet. You will be very tired at the end of the day. Three days of selling crafts is a lot of time that could be spent marketing your work to shops, teaching classes or working your day job to fund your passion.

Nowadays, I've got a lot more sales experience and would have asked more questions before doing the first craft show. What type of crowds will there be? How many other jewelry artists are signed up? What is the average price point?

Bring About $60 in Small Bills and Change With You.
Be prepared to make change for customers. Write down how much change you start with and record sales as you go so you will know how much money you made during the show. Keeping good records is a must in business. You need to know which items sell best and how profitable each show is.

Keep Your Money Box Stored Out Of Sight
Use a cigar box or apple crate to hide your cash box. If you like, you can wear a money bag on your waist or keep your money in an apron pocket.

Be Friendly
Greet customers with a smile and let them know you can answer questions but don't talk too much. Customers like to shop in peace.

Answer Questions
As a vendor, you will get all kinds of questions, even stupid ones. Be nice. Keep your sense of humor. Most people are genuinely interested in what you make. They want to know about the process. Indulge them. Let them see you working on your designs if possible.

Be Available
If you are so engrossed in your book or playing on your phone, you may be sending a "Stay Away" message to potential buyers. You may not even be aware of the message you're sending. Practice smiling at people you meet. Tell others about the type of work you create. Show them what you're currently working on. You don't have to spend every second talking to customers or potential customers, but be available in case they have questions. You are your own best salesperson. Yes, you can get a bite to eat or sneak off for a bathroom break, but do it before the crowds hit or when the show dies down.

Stage a Demonstration
If you can, plan ahead and set aside a time for demonstrating one of your techniques. I use antique and vintage buttons in my jewelry making and love to show others how I create my button bracelets. Make signs so people know what you will be doing and when you will demonstrating your craft.

Have a Raffle
This is a great way to grow your mailing list. Require folks to fill out their contact information and add them to your email list so you can let them know about future events. People love the idea of winning something for free. Offer a great necklace or matching necklace and earring set if buyers enter your drawing.

Share Booth Space With Another Artist Whenever Possible.
It helps to have someone to talk to when sales are slow. If you need a break or want to get a bite to eat, it's great to be able to step away from your booth for a while. If the show requires a tent, it helps to have a friend to help unload the vehicle and set up the tent.

Artists Are Helpful People.
Whenever I am by myself struggling to get my tent set up, I always get other artists who offer to help me out. You will be very surprised how generous folks are. I've done lots of shows on my own and have had no problem asking another artist to keep an eye on my booth for a minute. I'd much rather have an extra set of hands to help set up my tent, unpack the car and set up displays, and help pack it all up at the end of the day.

Check out more tips at http://www.womensclothingjeansreviews.com to learn more about promoting your work.

Article Source: Craft Shows - Finding a Craft Show to Sell At

Thursday, January 29, 2015

DIY - Stained Glass

Stained glass is fabulous, that is a fact. It can add a lot of luxury and charm to your home.

Learning how to make it is not that difficult and you will see how in the following lines.

How To Do It Yourself.

As you have read stain glass production is a hard thing and you cannot do it at home. However there is an alternative that will allow you to make wonderful stained glass pieces.

The first thing you will need is the pattern. There are many patterns available in the internet so just spend some time and find the one you like the most.

Once you have your pattern number it and cut it apart. As you ca see stained glass is made of various small colored glass pieces so the pattern should correspond to this idea.

The cut and numbered pattern is than traced onto the glass. Use glass of different colors for ach part of the pattern. Break the pattern into pieces and foil them together. When all pieces have been foiled, place them into the assembly jig.

The next step is to solder the pieces together. It is important that you solder all foiled joints to create the metal web that holds the glass pieces. Use solder and soldering iron and fill carefully all joints.

In fact your stained glass project is finished. All you need to do is to clean it using water and a soft cloth. You can also add an ancient look by applying some patina solution after the cleaning.

Fake Stained Glass.

If the above sounds too complicated or you do not have the time and the tools to achieve it, try some fake stained glass projects. You can get some glass and pint it with glass paints to achieve the look of original stained glass.

You can buy glass paints from every craft shop. Usually they come along several stained glass patterns. If you do not like the patterns provided search for new ones in the internet.

Working with glass paints is not that difficult. All paint glass sets come along a transparent foil that you can place over the pattern and trace it. After the paints are completely dry you should peel of the pattern and stick it to the glass.

Another option is to cut the pattern and trace it on the glass. Than you can pain straight over the glass.

About the Author:
Keith Londrie II is the Webmaster of http://www.stained-glass-info.info/ A website that specializes in providing information that you can research on the internet. Visit http://www.stained-glass-info.info/ now!

Article Source: DIY - Stained Glass

Easy Stained Glass Projects

There are many products that feature stained glass. However it is fun to create your own objects with stained glass. They will be unique and you will spend some time having fun and expressing your personality.

Stained Glass Mosaic.

Stained glass mosaics are stand alone art pieces. They can add charm to your home. In fact it is quite simple to do one by yourself. All you need is a pattern, stained glass chips and glass glue and grout.

Get a stained glass patterns book or search the internet to find the pattern for your mosaic. Transfer the pattern over the surface you will use for the mosaic. If you will use a round surface such as a vase you will need smaller stained glass chips. Than glue them over the surface.

Once all of the chips are glued apply the grout. If you need to color it add a bi of acrylic paint to reach the desired color. Fill all gasps with grout and let dry. The final step is to clean the ready mosaic with a soft cloth.

Stained Glass Mirror Frame.

Crafting a stained glass mirror frame is similar to making a stained glass mosaic. You will need the same materials as well. The tricky part is in choosing a pattern suitable for a frame like project. You can make a full frame on the mirror edges or just enhance the corners.

If the mirror you will work on is on the wall you better take it down and place it on a flat surface. This will ease your work while applying the stained glass chips and gluing them over the mirror.

Follow the steps above and let dry for at least 24 hours before hanging the mirror on the wall again.

Stained Glass Lamp.

A side table lamp or a bed table lamp will look gorgeous if it is made of stained glass. Craft one yourself or revamp your old lamp in this famous tiffany style.

If you have an old bedside lamp remove the old shades and cut suitable glass pieces to replace them. Than glue colored glass pieces over the new glass shades in the desired pattern. It is better to larger pieces so that the grout is less allowing maximum light to pass through.

You can also craft a stained glass chandelier using stained glass pieces. Glue them over small glass pieces to create cute small patterns and hang them on the old glass pieces places. This will give new life to your own chandelier and add subtle luxury to your room.

There are much more easy projects you can do for yourself of as gifts for your loved ones. You can craft a stained glass jewellery box, a stained glass lunch box or even a stained glass dog bowl. Use your imagination and let your artistic side express itself.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Craft Projects – Top 25 Uses for Your Ribbon

Whether you have ribbon left over from Christmas, have just accumulated spools and spools from your scrap booking projects, or have a secret addiction to buying cute ribbon, there is a way for you to put it to good use!

Ribbon is a fairly inexpensive craft item, making it easy to get carried away. Every time you visit your local craft store there are new styles, colors and sizes to choose from. Instead of letting your ribbon addiction take over your life, let it take over your crafts by trying out these 25 ways to use your ribbon.

25 Ways to Use Your Ribbon

1. Stamp on plain colored ribbon to create a completely new and personalized look.
2. Create ribbon flowers and attach your "petals" with a button or rhinestone in the centre.
3. Tie ribbon in bows and put on your home made cards.
4. Tie spools around gift boxes and packages as a fancy decoration.
5. Use ribbon to personalize the bottom of a lampshade. Tie around the base with a bow to match your space.
6. Embellish your ribbon with buttons and tie around your wrist as a bracelet.
7. Spice up your ponytail by wrapping it with a ribbon bow or use it as a headband to coordinate with your outfit.
8. Tie ribbon around a vase to create a playful piece.
9. Add ribbon around the base of a cake to create an elegant and classy finish.
10. Tie leftover ribbon pieces on the rings of a spiral notebook.
11. Weave together strips of ribbon to create one-of-a-kind place mats for your kitchen table.
12. Frame your photos with coordinating or contrasting ribbon.
13. Thread through card stock and tie in a loop to create a personalized gift tag.
14. Tie ribbon around jars in your kitchen to create a personalized and practical decoration.
15. Sew ribbon on the edges of your pillow cases and bed sheets to match your bedroom.
16. Hang a long piece of ribbon and use it to store and showcase your earrings and hair barrettes.
17. Tie back your curtains with coordinating ribbon to let in extra light and to add a decorative touch.
18. String your ribbon with beads to create a home-made necklace.
19. Tie different ribbons into bows and use to decorate your Christmas tree instead of ornaments.
20. Cut a strip of ribbon to create a cute bookmark for your favourite novel.
21. Use thick ribbon as a belt to coordinate with any outfit.
22. Tie around the binding of a scrapbook or photo album to personalize it.
23. Tie ribbon around napkins to create inexpensive napkin holders for your next party.
24. Use as inexpensive embellishments on your favourite scrap booking pages.
25. Make your own French ribbon board to showcase your photos and keepsakes.

After you've implemented all these great ideas to use your ribbon, it should free up some space in your craft room for some new spools. Guess it's time to go shopping at your nearest craft store again!

About the Author
Kington is an expert in the field of ribbon for crafts and has written various articles on that. To know more craft ribbon.

Article Source: Craft Projects – Top 25 Uses for Your Ribbon

Ideas for DIY Craft Projects

Crafting is one of the popular hobbies to have. Basically everyone can do it as long as they have the proper materials, time, and effort in making a project a success. There are also many ideas to try for DIY craft projects. What are the reasons why many love crafting as their hobby? Simple, crafting brings a rewarding feeling to the hobbyist especially after a project is done. There are many ways by which a project can be designed, customized, and colored – all according to the preferences of the person owning the craft. The hard part is the creation phase, but the fun stage is when a person lets out their creativity to express themselves in their crafted work. To start, here are some of the suggested craft ideas for beginners.

An Idea Board

The Idea Board is an amazing suggestion for a craft that can also function as an instant stress-buster slash room décor. This can be done by using a cork board then placing it into a wooden frame. Once that is done, the crafter can paint the frame into any color they like. The bulk of the work in accomplishing the board comes from sticking various photos, mementos, and cutesy items in the cork. Basically anything that gives one a great nice feeling and idea is welcome. Some suggestions include posting photos of friends, family, pets, and even travel dream destinations. Other stuff like movie tickets, jewelry, and book titles can also be added to the board for inspiration.

A Simple Study Desk

The study desk is one of the easiest DIY craft projects to do. One can make it from scratch or simply use an old wooden table to make one. If making from scratch, the crafter must purchase wood and build the table according to the plan. Since making the desk from an old piece of furniture, the only things needed to do is to repaint it and design the face. Adding personal photos and letter designs in the desk can customize and give the furniture item a unique personalized look.

An Accessories Holder

This craft idea is a must-have for both boys and girls who have a lot of jewelry or accessories to store. Besides from being a useful craft idea, the accessories holder can organize watches, earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelet bands to keep them from clumping and tangling with each other. This can be done by buying separate boards and installing different hooks and pins into them. This way, the owner can hang necklaces and other accessories in a clean and orderly manner. Designing the board with paint and other mementos can also jazz up the holder in no time.

A DIY Lamp

Want to have an artsy night lamp? By simply cutting down thin colored paper and adding a bulb inside, one can already have an instant lamp to use at night and to serve as an easy DIY craft projects. One can even design it by pasting cute stuff onto the colored paper, or simple cutting down stars or shapes into the shade. When one lights up the lamp, stars and other shapes will show through as shadows in the walls of the room.

About the Author
Are you looking for more information on DIY craft projects? Visit http://www.furniturecraftideas.com/ today!

Article Source: Ideas for DIY Craft Projects

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Simple Jewelry Making Techniques

There are tons of sorts of jewelry making and it's definitely becoming very hot, and here we present some simple jewelry making techniques.

Threading beads onto yarn or wire is the most general sort of jewelry making, though the employment of cotton and more complex wire knitting and weaving is beginning to become a favourite hobby.

The kind of designs you can create is all down to your imagination and it's best to start off with something simple and practice simple techniques first before tackling a piece that is more complex.

Visit some bead shops or craft shops and research the expenses and the sort of tools you want to start.

There might be local groups you might join or maybe classes, some craft shops have workshops where you can go and learn some simple techniques to get you moving.

Find out about the sort of wires available, there are various gauges twenty gauge is perhaps the most used, but 18-22 gauge is also good. It is important to recollect the weight of your beads, the wire must be powerful enough to support them. Get some practice wire and play with it, make loops and practice using your pliers.

There are many sorts of wire and its necessary to select the right one for your project twisted wire though you can learn how to twist it yourself; coloured plastic wire, square wire this is something else to use when making earrings and also coloured metal wire.

These are all reasonably simple jewelry making techniques. To learn some basic jewelry making techniques is to first practice some wire-bending talents and basic links and remember have patience! Jump rings are used to joint short links and the tip here is to open the wire from side to side, don't pull it straight apart as this may weaken the wire.

Bead loop links are used to switch patterns make a loop at one end of the wire, put on the quantity of beads you need (one or two), then make another loop against the bead, trim any additional wire and ensure you tighten the openings in the loops after you have attached the links. Twisted wire loop/bead links is a simple alternative of the loop/bead link.

Bend one end of the wire at a ninety degree angle with chain nose pliers, then with round nose pliers take the wire near to the bend and wrap the wire round the jaw of the pliers. Remove and put them within the loop and with the other hand wrap the wire at right angles at the base of the loop a couple of times.

Put on one or more beads and do the same at the other end. Cut any additional wire and stick to links with a jump ring or put the loop of a joining link onto a new loop. When you know the simple jewelry making techniques it will not be long before you are making some lovely pieces.

You'll find you'll get so much delight from making jewelry, as the opportunities are limitless and there are such a lot of varieties and colours of beads your eyes will light up like Christmas trees when hunting for beads for your jewelry pieces.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Metal Work in Jewellery Making? No - Just Bead It!

While working with beads is an easy and enjoyable hobby that anyone can get into, some get frustrated with the same pieces all day.

Beading takes time, and patience to make something truly beautiful, and oftentimes, you might find yourself frustrated and wanting to try something else.

Jewellery makers who have been at this a long time have advanced from working with beads to working with metal, and you might find yourself tempted to try it. However, metal working is time-consuming, costly, and can end in disaster very easily.

If you find yourself bored with your usual beading fare, why not try something new-new beads, or new patterns?

There are always more beads to use when crafting jewellery. Glass beads, the most common type of bead used in jewellery making, have several different types and styles alone, from the sparkly lead crystal, to the elegant lampworked beads, or the simple cut and pressed style. If you are bored with glass beads, there are still many others you haven't tried.

Instead of the usual seed bead, you could try Japanese beads, which are more uniform in size and shape, and have larger holes for easier beading. Czech beads are similar to Japanese beads, but come in more doughnut-sized shapes. They are more ideal for bead embroidery rather than jewellery however. Delica beads are larger, with a smoother finish than seed beads, however, they are more expensive, and are best saved for special projects.

Bugle beads are fun if you are planning on making something requiring a fringe. Sometimes the edges can be sharp and can cut the thread if it is thin, making it more of a challenge. They can be found in a multitude of colors, twists, and finishes, making it easy to find some that match up to the color and theme of your project.

You can find shaped beads in almost any color, size, and material-using beads in shapes like stars, hexagons, triangles, or etched shapes can add a bit of flair to any piece of jewellery you are making. Shaped beads are best used sparingly, in between plain beads, in order to give off the best look.

If you want to add a bit of elegance and sparkle to your jewellery, a faceted bead is your best bet. Many faceted beads are made from glass or stones, making them look like precious gemstones. They are most often used as accents to jewellery, and are generally quite small.

At the highest end of artsy beads are dichroic beads, which are made of glass with colored metal fused to the outside, allowing them to shine in different colors depending upon the angle of the viewer. Because they are so expensive, it is best not to buy too many, and to save them for a special project.

With different beads in hand, it's time to find a new project. The best place to look for more bead designs is on the internet-several bead enthusiasts put up newer designs and ideas quite frequently. So instead of being bored with your current jewellery, get online, buy some new beads, and then find an exciting new design to get working on!

Metal work can be time consuming and very expensive and this article details why you should stick with bead projects. Learn more about beads from Cooksongold.

Article Source: Metal Work in Jewellery Making? No - Just Bead It!