2008 February | Craft Test Dummies

Make Your Own Bubble Mailers

29. February 2008

I was “stumbling” today – newest obsession/timekiller – and I ran across 27 things, a site with a tutorial for making your own bubble mailers. Just brilliant! And easy, too. All you need is cardstock, decorative paper, bubble wrap, and some rubber cement. These may come in handy with my RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness) [...]

Happy Leap Day – Frog Art Celebration

29. February 2008

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Happy Leap Day! What better way to celebrate then with some great froggy art….. (I’m thinking of you, Diane!) Jennifer Strachan does frogs in mosaic tile….Roman Sock does them in crochet… You can make them out of origami… or make frog beads, like Renee Beads. or out of beads, like on ArtsyFartsy… Jangling Jack does [...]

Crafty-Goat’s Weigh in on Studio by Sculpey Clay

29. February 2008

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I was visiting some of my favorite blogs, and I was reading Crafty Goat’s Notes and her “revised” take on the Studio by Sculpey Clays. She’s finding that right out of the package, it’s too soft….and some of her older clay (the first batch sent out by polyform to be tested by PC artists) is [...]

Sew on Thursday….Review of Craft Apple Mini Patchfolio Pattern

28. February 2008

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So, ok, originally the poem said, “MEND on Wednesday,” but what the heck. I pulled out my Mini Patchfolio pattern from Craft Apple, and got to work. The first dilemma was picking fabric. Yes, I have a 5-drawer chest filled with fabric in my sewing room. But upon closer inspection, I seem to have a [...]

Trendy Totes by Tasha Toth

27. February 2008

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See, it’s not just me. There is a local teen-ager here in the greater Cleveland, OH area that is making and selling her own line of tote bags! She makes hers out of oilcloth, and sells them at craft shows and some local shops. HELLO??!!! How great is this? And she’s using some of her [...]

Metal Leaf, Alcohol Inks, and Polymer Clay

27. February 2008

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Only 3 ingredients, but OH! What an outcome! My arty friend Jenna came with her daughter yesterday for a play date, and we couldn’t help ourselves in a little clay demo, too. The kids were rapidly decompensating, so we only had time to make a sheet of clay: I took this photo without flash so [...]

My First Hollow Polymer Clay Bead

26. February 2008

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So I took 2 cabs that I formed over the lightbulb, sanded them, then baked them together using TLS and my embossing gun. The result? My first hollow bead! I’m disappointed that I can still see the seam. Maybe a little alcohol ink over it to cover it a bit? Hmmm. More to experiment with…. [...]

More Recycled Necktie Crafts – Necktie Daisies!

25. February 2008

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Well, I sent off my Necktie Bags today to my CPS Group swap hostess today, and wouldn’t cha know, I ran across another necktie craft!! These are super cute, and kind of fall in with my yo-yo obsession, too. The tutorial was found on Craftster, and the idea is simple: take the small points from [...]

Mini Patchfolio from Craft Apple

25. February 2008

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So I guess I’m on a bit of a sewing bender right now…. I ran across Craft Apple‘s blog, and couldn’t resist checking out her shop. I found these oh-so-cute portfolios, one for grown ups and one for kids….plus there’s a mini brag-book. I just had to get it, and whoo-hoo! It came today. Don’t [...]

Button Tote From Martha Stewart

25. February 2008

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Not that I’m on a kick or anything, but I ran across this cute button tote today at Martha Stewart Crafts. She give the directions for making the tote and then covering it with buttons, either by gluing or stitching. I had another idea. (Don’t I always?) Why not cover up a give-away tote – [...]

Market Tote from JoAnn’s

24. February 2008

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I was checking out my Sunday JoAnn’s circular when I noticed this Market Bag Tote and Coupon Holder. It’s promoted as a “green” alternative to plastic shopping bags, and it’s super-cute to boot. And I have enough fabric stashed away to make enough for every shopper in northeast Ohio. But I digress. Anyhoo, I dug [...]

Fun with Foil: Polymer Clay Cabs in Progress

24. February 2008

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I’ve been playing with a new technique and developing a class for Grand River Beads. My new beady-friend Maryann and I were scheming to come up with a new 2-part class. I’ll teach PC faces, cabs, and buttons in the AM, and she’ll teach us how to whip them into fabulous bead-embroidered pins in the [...]

Lake Farm Park Quilt Show

22. February 2008

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….and speaking of field trips I have to schedule, the Lake Farm Park Quilt Show is going on right now, through March 9th. I’ve gone every year for the past 7. Always a good time. This year, since I have some child care, I’m planning on just going by myself so I can really take [...]

For the Insomniacs – Directory of Craft Blogs at Blogflux

21. February 2008

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Ok, so I’m sure that there are a bunch of blog directories out there. I’m just not aware of them!! But I ran across Blog Flux quite by accident today, and found a whole directory of crafting blogs! Hooray! Something to do the next time I’m up at 3 AM with a migraine! If you’d [...]

Cleveland Sewing and Quilt: The Countdown Begins!

21. February 2008

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Oh, what little things make my heart go pitter-pat! One of them is the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo, coming up at the end of March. It’s on the tail end of spring break, and I’m taking at least 2 whole days to go and play. Ever since my dear friend Nicole left town- what, [...]