What do you get when you cross a twist-up crayon and watercolor paints? A GEL CRAYON from Faber-Castell! These “crayons” are very soft and creamy- like a lipstick- and they are water-soluable, too. So it’s a two-fer. Here’s how they are described on the website: Budding artists ages 3+ love to experiment by drawing on different surfaces. Gel crayons are a great way of drawing on large surfaces, with their soft stroke and bright colors. Super soft and buttery Gel […]
Archives for March 2015
DIY Travel Accessories Tutorial
Thanks again to Fairfield World for sponsoring content on CTD. Please visit their site for more product information and free projects! As I was preparing my post about Poly Pellets and Micro Beads for Fairfield World, I got inspired to get out my machine and make a few things. I had a pair of my daughter’s old leggings and knew that the knit fabric would be great to recycle – so I created a travel neck pillow AND a stress/sleeping […]
Stuff It! Micro Beads or Poly-Pellets?
Howdy Crafty Friends! Today I’m here with a little “the more you know” moment courtesy of Fairfield World. We’ve teamed up to help you pick the best stuffing for your project, as well as to introduce you to two of their products- Poly-Fil Micro Beads and Poly-Pellets Stuffing Beads. So let’s just dive right in! First, let’s take a look at….well, how they LOOK. Micro Beads are white, super teeny, and a little squishy. Pellets are twice as large, clear, […]
Guide to Metallic Pens and Glitter Pens from JetPens.com
I was clicking through the internet neighborhood the other day looking for some glitter pens…and quite by accident stumbled upon this post- “Guide to Metallic & Glitter Ink Pens and Markers” on JetPens.com. OH MY SPARKLY STARS- so much good information! In this comprehensive post, they cover what is the difference between metallic and glitter inks, writing samples of a slew of different pens on white and black papers, and even color charts for the different brands. If you have […]
Crafty Field Trip to Melbourne, pt 1: Kikki K!
While I was traveling in Melbourne, I found a Kikki K shop and wandered in. I’d been seeing a lot of planners online and was interested in them… so I treated myself! The shop was lovely, too. I finally cracked it open when I got home. I made a little video of unboxing and initial set up….
New CHA Product- Stick With It Palette
One of the things that I love about going to the CHA show is walking down the new vendor aisle. New products from new companies, all hoping to make a difference in the crafting industry- well, that’s pretty cool. And one of the products that caught my eye was the Stick With It Palette. Here’s how it’s described on the website: The Stick With It® cosmetic palette is the ONLY magnet-free palette on the market and quickly becoming the premier tool […]
CHA 2015 – Tim Holtz Idea-ology Booth Tour
Every CHA I cannot wait to go and visit the Tim Holtz idea-ology booth; It reminds me of visiting my great-grandmother’s house when I was little with vintage goodies hiding in every nook and cranny. She had one of those big, bronze cash register with the giant buttons, hundreds of spools of thread lined up in rainbow formation and large room partitions that had postcards, stickers, and other memorabilia from her extensive travels. What Tim and his creative team of […]
Melbourne Trip 2015- Art & Architecture
I love love love to travel…and taking in the public art and architecture is a BIG part of my travel experience. Just taking these new sights in really influences my art and craft design sensibilities. In this 4-minute video, I share with you the highlights of my week in Melbourne, Australia, focusing on old architecture, NEW architecture, public art, and GRAFFITI! Take a peek: So…my broad takeaways of Melbourne: It’s a very “European” city- lots of foreign speakers, travelers […]
CHA 2015 – Heidi Swapp Booth and Minc Video
If you are a regular reader of Craft Test Dummies, you know that I am a HUGE fan of Heidi Swapp. Heidi has a been a fixture in the paper crafting industry for over a decade and has always been a never-ending source of inspiration for me. Her products always trigger my creative side and prove to be incredibly versatile. This year at CHA, Heidi did not disappoint as we got to see a plethora of new products! Check out […]
CHA 2015 – Beadalon 3D Bracelet Jig
Hey crafters! This year at CHA Beadalon took home the award the Top Product of the show for their brand new 3D wire bracelet jig. You can make all kinds of fun bracelets with this clever tool! I can imagine this being a must-have tool for any and all jewelry makers and beaders, from beginner’s to seasoned veterans. Take a look at our video demo below from the show and let us know if you have any questions! […]
Review: Speed Sew / Dritz Liquid Stitch Fabric Mender
I love my sewing machine, but sometimes you need a quick fix or a convenient no-sew project. I was approached by the makers of Speed Sew (out of Canada) to give it a go- so I was absolutely game. They provided the product for this review. From the website: Credibility: Speed-Sew has been on the market over 45 years. Once you start using Speed-Sew you will continue to love Speed-Sew. Longevity: Speed-Sew has an amazing shelf life. You have no risk in buying 2, […]
Mod Melter Versus Hot Glue Gun- A Comparison
Since yesterday I reviewed the Mod Melter, I thought it would be helpful for you to see a comparison of my favorite hot glue gun, the AdTech Hybrid, and the Mod Melter- in action! Enjoy this video I have for you, and I’d love to hear your comments!
Mod Podge Mod Melter by Plaid
Disclosure: sample provided for review, but all opinions are my own and based on my first-hand experience with the product. Back at the CHA show in January 2015, the Plaid booth was all abuzz with Cathie and Steve and their new tool for the Mod Podge line, the Mod Melter. The Mod Melter dovetails with their other products, specifically the Mod Melts and Mod Molds– which we’ve reviewed on here already. So let’s dive in! From Plaid: The Mod Melter […]
CHA 2015 Debut – Ken Oliver Crafts
This year at CHA seasoned designer and crafter, Ken Oliver, debuted his very own line of paper products and stamps at the show. Ken has four new paper lines as well as color bursts, stamp pegz and click-it stamp pads. We were fortunate enough to have Ken show us some of these new fabulous products in a few video demos. Take a look at the videos and some of the booth candy let us know what you think! We […]
The Best Glue For Polymer Clay? Results From TheBlueBottleTree.com
As a polymer clayer, there are so many things to know and learn- and this is information that I’ve asked myself- what is the best glue for polymer clay? The answer is- well, it depends! What you are gluing to it, is the clay raw or baked, and what is the final piece being used for? Lucky for us, Ginger Davis Allman of TheBlueBottleTree.com has come up with a comprehensive list of adhesives, joins, and solutions! This is an excellent […]
Kid’s Sewing Kits by Jennifer Jangles
Last fall at the International Quilt Market I ran across one of the most colorful, festive and HAPPY booths- Jennifer Jangles. It drew me right in. And I’ve got a daughter who is crafty…so I wondered if some of these kits might be a good fit. Jennifer was gracious enough to send me home with a few. Since we’ve been deluged with snow days lately, it was the perfect time to crack open and kit and get my daughter going. […]
Travel Crafting Kit Round-Up & Trip to Oz
If you’ve been here a while, you know I LOVE to travel. It doesn’t really even matter where- in my home state, across the country, North America, Europe.. well, I just love to go and see this beautiful earth of ours! Last October I took my first honest-to-goodness trip to Europe (Italy) to visit our AFS daughter and celebrate her 18th birthday. And then in November we went to Hawaii. But now… I’m heading down under to Australia! This will be my first visit […]