Craft Test Dummies

I’ve enjoyed the Martha Stewart Crafts line for a while now- the tools, paints, and papercrafting items are all on my “faves” lists. But now there is something completely new- a line of jewelry crafting items created by Plaid Enterprises and available at Michael’s Stores. The first of our series of reviews will be on [...]

Earlier this month I received a box of goodies from the folks at Plaid, the makers of the NEW Martha Stewart Crafts Jewelry line. It’s got tools, components, enameling supplies, glazes- WOW. So much good stuff! I just had to make you a video & show you! Stay tuned- there will be multiple product reviews [...]

I was sent the brand new glass chalkboard paint from DecoArt to try out.  I was excited to jump into it after the failure I had on glass when testing the Americana Clear Chalkboard Coating.   I started with the information on the DecoArt website about this Americana Glass Chalkboard Paint: Glass Chalkboard Paint makes [...]

Resin has always been on my list of intimidating crafts. I’m also incredibly lazy. Mix two bottles together? I ain’t got time for that! So I’ve avoided the stuff, even though I love the way resin jewelry looks. But I had a great first experience with Envirotex Jewelry Resin, and I’m no longer afraid (Cue [...]

It’s a well-established fact that I do like shimmery, shiny things. So when I heard that there was a new glittery brush-type pen…well, I had to get them, right? (I picked them up at a LSS while I was on vacation, so it counts as a souvenir, too!) Meet the Wink of Stella Brush Glitter [...]

Most crafters are also DIY-friendly folks. I personally like to paint furniture and accessories to upcycle them, and so when the friendly folks at Color-Glide Pro reached out to ask me to try and review their painting tubes, I thought it would be a good fit.     The Color-Glide Pro is a brushless painting [...]

I admit it, I have never, ever tie dyed anything before.  It’s always seemed messy and a little daunting to me.  My oldest daughter Emma picked up this Tie Dye kit by Creativity for Kids (which is owned by CTD favorite, Faber-Castell) up at the local Target with some of her allowance money.  I kind [...]

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU!!! Ok, I wait all year to say that! So today, in honor of “Star Wars Day” (May 4) I’m sharing a super-cool and cute book for Star Wars fans of all ages! It’s The Star Wars Craft Book by Bonnie Burton, and this book has got it all- recycle crafts, [...]

Today I want to give you a little introduction to a craft company that might be new to you: docrafts! I first saw products in the UK-based docrafts Creativity magazine, which I purchase at Barnes and Noble. Then, when I visited the UK over the past couple of years I saw some of their fun [...]

Are you like me when it comes to scrapbooking?  Over-obsessing over every embellishment, color choice and photo placement?  Does it take you two days to finish a page?  Do you sometimes NEVER finish a layout?  Well the fabulous May Flaum comes to our rescue with, “Fashionably Fast: Ten Strategies for stylish, speedy scrapbook pages.”  This [...]

Stamp pads are a wonderful, marvelous thing. Every paper crafter needs to have at least FOUR different stamp pads in their crafty toolbox. But there is always a question so which stamp pad works best for which jobs. So today, we’re taking a closer look at VersaFine Stamp Pads by Tsukineko!     From the [...]

Decoart sent me a wide selection of their Patio Paint to try out.  Perfect for this time of year don’t ya think?  First a little from the Decoart website about the product.   Product Description: Patio Paint is permanent, weather-resistant acrylic paint for outdoor decorating on concrete, wood, and terra cotta. Patio Paint is formulated [...]

Today we are playing with Faber-Castell’s Crafter Crayons.  These are part of their Design-Memory-Craft division that is geared towards using high-quality art products in mixed media and paper crafts.  So, these aren’t your average crayola’s!  According to Faber-Castell, “Paper Crafter Crayons™ are highly-pigmented wax crayons that can be used on all types of crafting surfaces.” [...]

Since winter CHA, I’ve been working my way through the list of new products from Clover USA, and I’ve finally arrived at the simple, handy Pin ‘n Stow. The Pin ‘n Stow is exactly what it looks like: an adjustable magnetic bracelet that’s made to hold pins while you’re sewing, quilting, or doing appliqué work. [...]

Ever wanted to add oomph to your fabric?  How about a quick and easy way to stiffen fabric with no ironing required?  Phoomph for fabric might just be for you.  I was sent some Phoomph to run through the CTD wringer so lets put it to the test.  Here is what the Coats and Clark [...]

Mod Podge One-Step Crackle Medium I am so excited to be giving you my very first review here on CTD and I’m elated to be a part of this amazing team. Hi everyone, Erika Taylor here today with a review of the Mod Podge one-Step Crackle Medium. Being a medium junkie, when I received this [...]

  Every great once in a while I see something online and I think, “that is super cute” and I have to make it. Even if it’s not within the usual realm of my work. I mean, who says I have to stick with mixed media and jewelry making EVERY day? So when my Facebook [...]

It took me 33 years to make a paper crane without crying. Succeeding at origami requires both patience and precision, two skills that are not my forte. It also requires clear instruction, something that can be rare in the origami world. Ever try to use one of the patterns on the paper package? Inscrutable! Frustrating. [...]

I love all of the new formulas of Mod Podge and being able to run them through the wringer.  The fabric Mod Podge formula was no exception.  I was eager to dive into my bottle and really see what the benefits of this product are. The manufacturer’s website had this to say about the product: [...]

Some of you may remember back at Winter CHA 2013 I picked Basic Grey’s new chipboard albums as one of my top product picks.  (Go take a look!)  I even mentioned that Knee Highs & Bow Ties are two of my favorite paper lines that debuted.  Both collections are very similar but Knee Highs is [...]

You remember I reviewed the Fiskars Fuse Creativity System last fall- and I found it to be an amazing and sturdy machine. The only question in my mind at that time was “when are they going to come out with larger dies?” After all, the machine is massive and could take much larger dies that [...]

This is a question I was asking myself when representatives at TopHatter.com approached me and asked me to take a look at their auction website. Unlike other auction sites, this one is LIVE- that means, you must be present and online to bid and win. It’s a fast-paced, fun way to bid on handmade items, [...]

At CHA this winter, Clover USA had a ton of exciting new products, but Nancy’s Hobo Tote Collection Trace ‘n Create Bag Template was definitely one of my favorites. For me, working on this review couldn’t have come at a better time. My current handbags were all starting to look pretty rough, and I really [...]

Having good cutting tools and paper trimmers are essential for any paper crafter.  And sometimes we need tools for big jobs and sometimes we need them for small projects and sometimes we need something to take with us on our travels.  Today we are going to take a look at the X-ACTO Designer 9″ Guillotine [...]

I love digital die-cutting- the intricacy of the shapes, the ease of use, and the sheer number of designs available are what seals it for me. And despite my years of digital die-cutting experience, I’ve never used or reviewed a Silhouette America machine! Come into a whole new world with me… First, let’s take a [...]

The perks of being on Team CTD include getting to try out fancy new toys.  You thought this review was about a simple pair of scissors?  Yes they are scissors but they are so much more.  The Fiskars Cuts+More Scissors are multipurpose scissors that will help you to perform a variety of jobs around the [...]

Sometimes glitter gets a bad reputation. Often referred to as “the herpes of the craft world,” once you let glitter into your life, it likes to stay forever. But who says that’s a bad thing? Glitter is bright, bold, funky, and easy to use, and Momtaz Begum-Hossain’s 101+ Things to do with Glitter offers a [...]

Do you avoid hand-writing or lettering in your journals or scrapbook pages because your writing goes up- or downhill? I do. And I’ve recently learned that while I “eyeball” alot, my eyes don’t seem to be on the level either! So I really enjoyed testing out the SliderWriter, a laser-level tool for calligraphers, paper crafters, [...]

Today I have the third installment of the Envelope Punch Board Saga. As you may recall, the Envelope Punch Board by We R Memory Keepers took CHA by storm and generated quite the buzz. I then got to take one home to test out. At that time I discovered that there were some measurements that [...]

“Make new friends, but keep the old; One is silver and the other gold.”  I was definitely singing this Girl Scout song while reviewing the new Jacquard Pinata metallic alcohol inks.  We previously reviewed their regular alcohol inks here, so go over there to get a little bit of a information if you are new [...]