No, really, I do. I got a ping from The Lean Remodeler and S/He even suggested I submit my (horriblymessyanembarrassmenttomyfamily) studio to win a $5,000 re-do. It’s THAT BAD. (And I don’t even know this person. Really.) So, in the name of authenticity, here is a video tour of CraftTestDummies Studios: And some stills of the studio: So, if this were a perfect “dream” studio, I could replace all of my rickety conference tables with built-in cabinets and nice countertop […]
Archives for April 2010
Mother’s Day Project on CraftsUnleashed & Thoughts on Infertility
Just wanted to let y’all know that I posted a Mother’s Day project on CraftsUnleashed today. Here’s how I describe it on CU: The basket base of this craft was designed and featured in Martha Stewart Living Magazine in April, 210, page 160. I just decided that it needed to “kicked up a notch” by personalizing it with photos. And my good friend and decor expert Stacy was the one who thought to use the fan pulls in a non-traditional […]
Craft Product Review: Cloud Clay by Amaco- part 1
Many of you faithful readers know that I love polymer clay and am excited to try out all of the different brands on the market. So when Amaco offered to send me samples of “Cloud Clay,” I thought, “FUN!” and told them to bring it on. First, a bit about Cloud Clay is not polymer clay, but rather an air-dry variety. It’s also VERY light and has a foamy feel…but we’ll get to all that in a minute. Here’s how […]
CraftTestDummies Named in Top Ten Craft Blogs
Ok, not to blow my own horn here…but, well….TOOT! TOOT! I got a Google Alert this weekend that someone had linked to CTD, and so I had to check it out. It seems that Barb Webb of AssociatedContent.com wrote an article on the top 10 Craft Blogs to follow, and yours truly made the cut. Here’s what she said about CraftTestDummies.com: “Craft Test Dummies doles out candid reviews of new craft products plus offers an amazing amount of eco-friendly craft […]
Five Tips for “Greener” Crafting
Since today is Earth Day, I thought I’d share some tips to incorporate more “green” into your crafts. No, not money- although you are bound to SAVE some money with them- but rather ways of making your craft space and projects a little more eco-friendly! Add recycling containers into your craft space. It sounds goofy, but I go through a TON of paper scraps- and just tossed them! (duh!) So I set up a box just for paper scraps to […]
Cricut + Vinyl = Upcycled Bike Helmet
When you have a kid, there is a zone in which “cool” trumps “safe”- so when it was time to replace my son’s bike helmet, I KNEW it had better be cool, or else he just wouldn’t wear it. Sadly, the safest one was plain white. (Lame-O!) So we had to jazz it up, STAT. With my Cricut, 2 colors of vinyl, and my Indie Arts cart, we hooked that bad boy up and now it’s SAH-WEET! So, you can […]
Recycled Can Brooches on CraftsUnleashed!
When it comes to recycled crafts, I really kinda can’t help myself. I’ve got a bit of the magpie in me- I’m attracted to shiny things and I’m always trying to figure out how to use the little bits and bobs that attract me and reuse them into something fabulous. So now I’m using my Cuttlebug like a crazy person. (Watch out- if you’re in my house, the minute you are done with your soda I will snatch it from […]
Recycled Coffee Filter Flowers
Yeah, I know this one is kinda an “oldie-but-a-goodie,” but I had such a good time making them today that I thought I’d share it here, too…just to remind you how much fun you can have with the garbage you generate! My recycled objects were all collected after breakfast: 5 or 6 coffee filters (per flower) egg carton (yields 12) cereal box Plus you’ll need some not-so-recycled objects, one each per flower: bamboo skewers chenielle stems button for the center […]
Recycled Necktie Coffee Cozies
Little known fact: my #1 search term that brings people to my blog is “Necktie Crafts.” Really. And I don’t know WHY I have such a fascination for old neckties…but well, I do. And here’s another craft to get you scouring your grandpa’s closet and thrift stores! These coffee cuffs are also a NO-SEW project- hurray! You can whip up a slew of these in a 1/2 hour or less…and all you need is neckties, Fabri-Tac, and a few embellishments. […]
Recycling Your Plastic Eggs
Well, here we are, Easter is over, and now we have copious amounts of those annoying plastic Easter eggs. (Well, actually we’re down a few because Ginger the cock-a-poo has discovered their charms!) But anyway, even if you don’t have scads on hand, they’re on sale everywhere for cheap, cheap, cheap! So here’s a coupla good reasons to get crafty with ’em! Make your own Egg Rattle Snake complete with rattler! If you’ve got a dremel or drill handy, this […]
Recycled Domino Craft on CraftsUnleashed
As many of you know, I’m the Editor over at www.CraftsUnleashed.com, the blog that ‘s sponsored by ConsumerCrafts. I got to post one of my favorite crafts over there, altered dominoes. I love reusing game pieces, and you only need a few supplies- some alcohol inks, a black ink pad, and stamps, plus some paper glaze for a top coat! You can turn your little mini works of art into magnets, pins, pendents, or small components for larger altered art […]
Review: Craft Apps for the iPad: FamilyFun Craft Finder
So if you read my post yesterday, you know that I’m the owner of a brand-spanking new iPad; so today I’m going to review the as-of-yet- only craft application for the iPad, the FamilyFun Craft Finder by Disney. The good news is that if you are an early adopter, this clever app is free for the downloading. It’s also easy to use and lovely to look at, if a little thin as far as content goes. But at the price […]
3 Reasons Tech-Savvy Crafters Will Want an iPad
I’m not sure if I consider myself a gadget geek, but I do try and keep up with technology. After all, I espouse the joy of hand-made and community, but do so via social media. Consequently, I felt it was necessary to take one for the team (ahem) and be an early adopter of the iPad, and share my thoughts on how the iPad will affect the world of crafters and crafiting. First of all, let me say that I’m […]