Crafts Articles
Step Up To Memories A Craft Project For Parents And Kids
(category: Crafts, Word count: 319)
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If you've been looking for a creative art project to do with the kids, look no further! I recently did a fun project with my daughter and thought I'd share the how-to for other parents who are looking for ways to keep their kids busy and creative all while making something useful for around the home!
What You'll Need
A wooden step ladder
Spray paint (your choice of color)
Sponges (either cut into shapes of your choice or pre-purchased in shapes)
Letter Stencils (of your child's name)
Craft Paint (your choice of colors)
Newspaper (the older the better)
Smock or old clothing for you and your child
Now you're ready to start creating. A little preparation is needed before bringing your child into the project. Take the step ladder outside and put it on the newspaper and spray paint it, covering the entire step ladder thoroughly. Let it dry overnight and you'll be ready to bring your child into the project the next day!
Bring the painted ladder to your work area (outside is recommended). Work with your child to sponge paint the shapes onto the ladder in the colors of your choice. Let it dry thoroughly.
Next, help your child stencil their name(s) onto the ladder. I'd recommend doing it on the side, and not the top, as the top will take a bit of wear if you plan to let your child use it. If it is to be a decoration for the porch of your child's room, putting the name on top will be ok if you choose to do so. Let it dry.
Your child now has a ladder, personally designed by them, to use. Put it in the corner of their room and through their favorite stuffed animal or trophies or photographs on top. You can also use the ladder as d
Jazz Up Your Scrapbooks With Embellishments
(category: Crafts, Word count: 434)
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Do you want to learn to create lasting and memorable keepsakes that show your unique and personal artistic skill? Scrapbooking is a fantastic craft that allows your creative side to go wild. You can do so much more than just placing photographs in an album. Not only do you have your one-of-a-kind photos to work with, but also you can assemble your scrapbooks with virtually an unlimited array of embellishments to jazz them up. Adding embellishments to your scrapbooks will most certainly add interest, dimension and color, making your album distinctively yours.
What is meant by embellishments? Embellishments are much more than just paper. They can be made from various materials like plastic, wood, cloth and metal. There are many embellishments you can purchase. Several of these are charms, brads, ribbons, eyelets, buttons, beads, feathers, fibers, hemp or jute cord and tags. In addition to the commercial products you buy, you can add personal items relating to the theme of the scrapbook; such as a train, concert or Broadway play ticket. You can make use of party invitations, snippets of wrapping paper from gifts and even the confetti. For a scrapbook with a travel theme, try using a map of the location where you vacationed.
Embellishments can be attached using glue dots, which are extremely strong and great for sticking even heavy embellishments to album pages. Tear off the size you need and place the embellishment on top of the glue dot. Apply it with a little pressure for a couple of seconds. Also, you can utilize a glue pen or double-sided tape, which works well too. You may also wish to sew certain embellishments onto the page with embroidery floss and colored or invisible thread whichever meets your need. There are even colored staples that can attach your embellishments to the page.
While you are trying to add the perfect touch to those pages, remember to use embellishments sensibly. Do not lose sight of the fact that the photographs are the main focus of the page. Embellishments should only be used as an accent to compliment your photos. You do not want the embellishments to take center stage or make your layout look too crowded.
The varied selection of embellishments will set your pages apart from plain and boring photo albums. Instead of just putting photos on a page, with the application of embellishments, you will get those creative juices flowing. You now know just some of the embellishments that are available to use and its time for you to jazz up those scrapbooks.
3 Little Known Tips For Shopping For Craft Supplies Online
(category: Crafts, Word count: 395)
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Let me ask you a question. Did you ever think that the internet would become so powerful and pervasive, that even craft supplies would turn into big business online? Neither did I. But it's true. You can actually find just about any type of craft supplies that you are looking for if you look hard enough through the different search engines (or your local retail store). However, there are a few big sites that you might want to peruse the next time you are considering buying craft supplies.
1) Amazon. Amazon has recently (during the last few years) expanded their reach into the far corners of the internet. By this, I, of course, am referring to the fact that a lot of online merchants sell through Amazon.com's website. If you are searching for 'leather craft supplies,' Amazon might not have what you are looking for in stock. However, Amazon might have a partner retailer who sells their leather craft supplies and lists their goods on Amazon. Consider Amazon like a giant retail search engine that lists items from all sorts of different companies besides themselves.
2) Ebay. Ebay is a great place to find close out merchadise. By this, I mean that companies go bankrupt and have fire sales. A lot of these sales have moved online and therefore you might be able to get a really good deal on some merchandise that is being auctioned off on the world's biggest auction site.
3) Retailers' own websites. Many of the well known craft sites like Michael's have their own websites. These sites often have great bargains on merchandise that's also found in their retail stores. However, even these retailers need to occasionally close out some big lots of merchandise. The web is a perfect place to do exactly that. With no real overhead costs (besides the website's operation), many of these big retailers will use the web to move a large amount of product really quick. Of course, the retailer needs a mail order, or store pickup, set up to do this, but most do. Check your local retailer's website, you might be surprise.
There is a lot more to craft supplies' shopping than first meets the eye. Learn all about how to shop for crafts, there is an entire world waiting for you online.
Scented Candles And Their Soothing Power
(category: Crafts, Word count: 448)
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Are you sick and tired of thinking of the perfect gift to give to your friends on their birthdays? Maybe you want to give something a lot more personalized aside from your homey but boring batches of chocolate chip cookies. You hate the thought of giving out generic gifts because you also very much abhor receiving run-of-the-mill gifts that go straight in your basement. It's high time you learn some do-it-yourself potential gift items that truly make the recipients feel honored to have you as a friend. One time, while I was out shopping, I came across this quaint specialty shop downtown which sells exquisite how-to book on scented candles. The hard-bound book, which include materials for trial, is fairly cheap so I immediately purchased it and went home delighted. The first batch of candles I made wasn't exactly perfect but was good enough to display at my room.
If you're the kind of person who likes romantic candlelight dinner dates or whose idea of relaxation involves quiet reading time by the nook, then the scented ones are for you. These candles come in variety of shapes, sizes and yes, scents that can surely fascinate anyone. Not only are these scented accessories a beauty to behold, they also have the ability to soothe you after a tiring day at work. One has the option to perfume these wax-made products using either synthetic fragrance or essential oils. Both smell terrific but the latter produce more aromatic scents that can generally ease stress. Essential oils, originating from barks and stems of certain plants and flowers like jasmine, lavender, cedar wood, calendula, and lemon grass, lend unique vibrancy and authentic sensuality to a candle. Fragrance oils, on the other hand, are less expensive but also very appealing.
Do scented candles really have certain health benefits or do they also have negative effects on your body? Actually, there are particular kinds or methods of producing candles which are thought of as harmful. Candle experts agree that wicks that are made from metal are dangerous because they often cause lead poisoning and air pollution. Always make sure you purchase a candle made from paper, hemp, or cotton wicks as they are more health and nature-friendly. Beeswax and soy varieties are also safer to use instead of paraffin. When buying questionable products, meticulously ask the vendor about the candle's method of preparation or the ingredients used. Make sure the ones you buy don't have chemical additives. Better yet, do your own ration of the candle. Through personally sourcing the materials and preparing them yourself, you can be assured you're using and giving your loved ones only the best.
Beaded Lanyards Quasi Jewelry
(category: Crafts, Word count: 309)
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The typical lanyard is a length of basic rope, wire, or cloth that is designed to secure a small object. They are often purchased in large quantities and are fairly inexpensive. Many employees wear lanyards around their neck to secure identification badges while on the job.
Beaded lanyards can be as basic as an inexpensive metallic, beaded chain. They can be ordered through most typical lanyard suppliers and feature a variety of hardware attachments to secure small objects. These lanyards are often in several different lengths and an array of colors.
Other beaded lanyards are quite unique and are referred to by some as jewelry. They are designed by skilled artisans and can be extremely expensive depending upon the type of materials used. The cost of a beaded lanyard depends on the type of beads and wire used in its design. Beaded lanyard patterns may consist of colorful patterns of seed beads, glass beads, crystals, or even gemstones.
The most popular beaded lanyards are used to secure eyeglasses or sunglasses around the neck. They attach to the temples of the glasses, allowing them to hang around the neck when not in use. These exquisite neck lanyards are often referred to as eyeglass necklaces or eyeglass holders. They are a fashionable way to keep track of an item that can be easily misplaced or damaged. Beaded lanyards allow the wearer the freedom to easily put on and remove glasses frequently throughout the day.
Many bead artisans also offer jewelry pieces to coordinate with beaded lanyards. The beaded lanyard patterns are often duplicated in a bracelet, anklet, or pair of earrings.
One drawback of the beaded lanyard is that they are often fragile. They may look elegant but also may not have the durability of a nylon or cotton lanyard when worn frequently.
Design Your Electrical Lamp
(category: Crafts, Word count: 106)
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We've got a little theme going: designs formed from their mechanical parts. The Electrical Lamp, by designer Tommy Dykes, is made from an old electrical cable which runs from outlet to electrical bulb, with the body molded around a used wine bottle. The eco-lamp comes with a super-efficient electrical bulb that provides up to 50,000 hours of light (which they calculate at 27 years at a rate of 5hrs/day).
The coolest part about the Lead Lamp is that the website essentially offers DIY instructions for making your own lamp with a cord from an old household appliance, with diagrams and step-by-step details
Making Rubber Stamps Using Liquid Polymer
(category: Crafts, Word count: 681)
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If you are interested in making rubber stamps and have investigated other rubber stamp making methods you should seriously consider polymer stamp production as a serious option.
What are Polymers?
Tiny molecules strung in long repeating chains form polymers. Why the chemistry lesson? Well for one thing, your body is made of them. DNA - the genetic blueprint that defines people and other living things - is a polymer. Proteins and starches in the foods we eat, the wheels on our skateboards, and even the tyres on our bikes and cars are polymers. In fact, we are surrounded by polymers every day, everywhere we go. Polymers also form one of our recyclables, which is good for the environment.
Polymer Curing - How stamps are made with chemistry!
In polymer chemistry and process engineering, curing refers to the toughening or hardening of a polymer material by the cross-linking of polymer chains; this is brought about by chemical additives, ultraviolet radiation or heat. Rubber stamp polymer is supplied as a liquid and is cured using ultraviolet radiation. Although natural sunlight can cure polymer, liquid stamp polymer requires precise exposure to UV light to make rubber stamps.
Polymer in a bag
The most exciting development of recent is a new innovation where polymer is injected into a flat rectangular sealed bag; this new product does away with backing sheets, foam tape and coverlay film normally required for stamp production. Processing times are reduced by about 50% when using these new bags; this reduced labour cost negates the extra cost of the bagged product. The bags are available in a range of sizes to suit production demand. Polymer in a bag has also eliminated the problem of air bubbles during processing; this common objection to polymer stamp making has now been overcome.
The Polymer Rubber Stamp Market
You have two distinct markets for rubber stamps. The first is the traditional business stamp market where stamps are affixed to handles and self inking units.
The second market growing rapidly is the craft industry; craft stamps are affixed to wooden or clear acrylic blocks and are used for card making and scrapbooking. Craft stamps such as an artist's range of stamps that follow a theme are traditionally made using the vulcanizing process due to it being more suited to mass production of the same stamp. Nowadays card makers want custom designs and clear see through stamps of which polymer is making some significant inroads. It is not economical to offer custom made stamps using the vulcanising process as plates need to be made up each time designs change.
Polymer 'Jellies'
Be aware that some polymer stamps called 'jellies' are being sold to the craft industry, these polymer stamps adhere to an acrylic block without adhesives due to the back of the stamp being sticky after processing. In theory this works well, the problems are that the back of the stamp can pick up dirt and that distortion of the stamp can occur. In some cases the stamp can tear easily as it has no structural backing.
The development of a clear silicone mat has solved this problem, InstaGrip is a very thin mat that has 'cling' properties and clings to both the acrylic block and the plastic back of the stamp, if it loses it's cling properties due to a dust build up you just rinse it under water. see www.instastamp.com.au/instagrip.php
So where is the polymer stamp industry heading?
Business stamping seems to be just as strong as it always has been, with the introduction of the bagged polymer many more manufacturers will be offering polymer stamps due to the bag's labour saving benefits and the lower entry cost for polymer processing equipment.
The craft stamp industry will see much more polymer in the future for much the same reasons. The demand for custom made stamps through services such as stampsearch.com.au where you can select craft artwork online and then have that image made into a stamp will help the polymer stamp industry making craft stamps develop in a positive manner.
Where To Find The Best Bookbinding Materials
(category: Crafts, Word count: 520)
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Whether you've just started your first book binding project, or have a few under your belt already, chances are you're always looking for new places to find the best book binding materials to make your projects unique and durable. Here are a few places you may want to look, no matter what your budget.
Your local craft supply store is a great place to look for book binding materials, since you'll have find ways to creatively decorate your book covers as well. And, after you've done the foundational work of making sure that your book is sturdy and durable, you can use some of the materials that you'll find in a craft store to add finishing touches to the book that only you can create. You can find the cords/rope that you'll need to actually bind the books at a craft store, and you may even find leather binding materials to give your book a professional look and feel.
Checking out your local bookstore is also a great idea when you're searching for book binding materials. You can pick up books that will give you instructions on how to bind books of any size, and if you purchase the book, you can always refer back to it when you want to start working on a new book binding project. Book titles you may want to look for include Bookbinding: A Beginner's Manual ( by John Ashman), The Craft of Bookbinding (by Manly Banister), and Bookbinding and the Care of Books (by Douglas Cockrell). These books and books with similar titles can also be found at your local library.
You can also check out your local print shops or copy supply stores to find book binding materials that you can use. Office supply stores are great for finding ideas on how to bind smaller books, and you may even be able to get certain supplies at a discount if you buy in bulk. Checking with publishing companies in your area is also a great idea, because you'll be able to get tips on how to bind your books, and how to use the most affordable materials to do it.
Of course, there are plenty of places online to find bookbinding materials, but it's best to know where to look for the materials that will make your books the best they can possibly be. In addition to the right binding materials, you'll also need binding needles, which are usually between $7-$13, and can be found at some craft stores, or at sites like www.artistsupplies.com. The Web can also give you lots of useful information on how to authentically bind your books to give them a Renaissance or Gothic look, as well as ways to make your books last longer, even when you bind them yourself. Once you find how which resources work best for you when it comes to bookbinding, you'll definitely want to use your talent for more books in your home (i.e. photo albums, journals), and you may even begin to give your bound books as gifts to friends. Good luck!
A Brief History Of Quilting
(category: Crafts, Word count: 287)
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The art of quilting is not something new to this world, it has been around for centuries, but still there is no confirmation about the exact origin. According to the historians is that the history of quilting, piecing and applique was widely used for clothing and decorating stuff at home in ancient times. There is a common belief that quilting originated in China and Egypt at the same time. The oldest quilted garment found till now dates back to somewhere around 3400 BC.
Back in the 11th century, the crusaders picked up a type of quilting from the Middle East and brought it back to Europe. During that time, quilted piece of cloth was used by the Knights to give them extra cushion under their armor.
The Romans were the pioneers in introducing quilted bedding, which was used as mattress. Europeans got hold with this idea and they stuffed sack between two-combined mattress. It was in the 15th century when the Europeans found quilting as a necessity when they were troubled by cold winds in the winter season.
The very first quilts were made of few layers of cloth that was attached together with running stitches. Quilt Frames came into existence as it was difficult to stitch many layers of cloth together. Europeans, blessed with these frames started to create quilts that were more decorative, more finely stitched.
19th century marked a great period of quilting in Europe and America. People in villages would come together and make one or more quilts in an afternoon. Women were very pleased with this as they could come out of the boundaries of their home and could contribute in doing something useful.
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