Craft Test Dummies

Although I have enjoyed knitting for many years, I have never really ventured beyond the basic dishcloth.   Fair Isle knitting has always intrigued me, but I’ve never been brave enough to give it a try.  Its intricate patterns are intimidating at best.  Lynne Watterson’s craft book, The Very Easy Guide ot Fair Isle Knitting  […]

I was given a copy of Stuffed Animals from Concept to Construction by Abigail Patner Glassenberg to review. This 192 page book has patterns and instructions for making 16 different stuffed animals, including a fish, bumblebee, elephant, lion, cat, teddy bear, monkey, and hippo. It also includes 52 lessons on the designing and creation of […]

Today’s review is of a sewing h0w-to book, “Zodiac Felties” by Sarah Skeate.  This book provides patterns and instructions for creating felt plush figures representing the twelve signs of the zodiac, plus Mars, Venus, the sun and moon. Each figure is created using small scraps of felt, embroidery floss, and beads, and then lightly stuffed. […]

The Craft-a-Day book takes you on a journey of 365 simple and inexpensive crafts to create. The crafts are categorized into 52 themed weeks. The beginning of each week has templates for you to trace for that week’s projects. The projects are simple, most taking 30 minutes or less to create. Some, such as the […]

One of my favorite things about crochet is how quickly a project can take shape—especially if you’re using taller stitches. Because crochet projects can be much closer to instant-gratification than knitting, you’ll often find me with a hook in my hand instead of needles. The only problem is, since crochet projects generally require more yarn […]

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, […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

I love making jewelry. And a good book really helps inspire the creative process! Such is the case with Necklaceology: How to Make Chokers, Lariats, Ropes & More by Candie Cooper.   The first think I need to disclose is that I know Candie personally and think she’s a great gal. But my personal relationship with her […]

Making Fabric Jewelry by Marthe Le Van From the back of the book: Every day we dress ourselves in wonderful fabrics, so why not accessorize with them, too? The designers in Making Fabric Jewelry mined their imaginations to create spectacular, innovative fabric accessories. Dive into your stash and reuse remnants and scraps to create a […]

Today our Guest Star on CraftTestDummies is Tammy Doyle. We welcome her as a guest star, and we’re so glad she’s here! Text from book: “Bring the magic of a fresh snowfall into your own home with this gorgeous collection of crocheted snowflakes. Spend an hour making an ornament or two, or take a weekend […]

  Book Review: 30 Minute Necklaces by Marthe Le Van   From the back of the book: Ready to be beguiled? Intrigued? Energized? The super stylish  necklace designs in this book will capture your undivided attention for the 30 minutes it takes to complete them. Got wire? Of course! How about leftover copper sheet, beads, […]

Who remembers the original Shrinky Dinks? Ahhh the ’70′s. Just so ya know I didn’t have the Glow in the Dark Shrinky Dinks. Lame. I know. And yes, I realize that I’m showing my age when I remember the ’70′s so darn well.       Book Review: Shrink! Shrank! Shrunk! by Kathy Sheldon   […]

Book Review: 30 Minute Earrings by Marthe Le Van   From the back of the book: The earring designs in this book will WOW you, INSPIRE you, and MOTIVATE you to drop everything else for 30 minutes and create a pair of SUPER STYLISH earrings. Beyond the obvious (gorgeous) rewards, each project will help you […]

Last year when I attended the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo here in Cleveland, I saw a lot of the same-old-same-old. However, there is one booth- one designer, really- who speaks to me year after year. I love Laura Murray Designs and her focus on surface design. (She’s where I first learned about foiling on […]

I LURVE me some Halloween. I’m not sure if it’s the flirting with the dark side, the spooky fun, the costume, or my general fascination with the macabre, but I do love it. So when I was offered a copy of Glitterville’s Handmade Halloween: A Glittered Guide for Whimsical Crafting! by Stephen Brown, I was all like, […]

  Book Review: 30 Minute Bracelets by Marthe Le Van From the back of the book: Do bracelets make you HAPPY? Are you PASSIONATE about cuffs? Wouldn’t you LOVE more bangles? Good thing it takes just 30 MINUTES to make each of the FABULOUSLY FASHIONABLE projects in this book!       30 Minute Bracelets […]

As I mentioned the other day when I did my “book reports” on Beaded Jewelry, I have certainly had an influx of amazing eye-candy in the form of books lately. Today I want to share two more books on the theme of “rings” : Ring a Day: 700 Photos from a 365 Day Jewelry Challenge and Showcase […]

You can imagine that I get a lot of book solicitations from publishers- but only now and then will I get them from the actual AUTHOR. Such was the case with the The Collage Workbook: How to Get Started and Stay Inspired This was interesting to me because while collage is VERY hot in mixed-media […]

Lately, I’ve had a LOT of eye candy hit CTD WHQ- including an influx of beautiful books on beaded jewelry. A few of them are just inspirational, coffee-table style books, and one is SO FAR out of my league I couldn’t do it justice. So since we are in back-to-school mode here, I thought it […]

Happy Friday, crafty peeps! Today I’ve got a fun giveaway for you! My pal Amy Anderson just published her first book, “Mod Podge Rocks Decoupage Your World” and I’ve got a copy just for one lucky reader! And the cool part? She’s going to SIGN it! (OH, and yes, there will also be a cool […]

  I always love when I get new jewelry making books to review. Back when I lived in New Mexico I took a geology class and I’ve been fascinated with gemstones, fossils and other “rocks” ever since. When I saw Beading with Gemstones by Valérie MacCarthy I was excited for the chance to get to […]

This may come as a surprise to you but… I’m not much of a doodler. I think I was, when I was younger, but somewhere along the line I lost my doodle. I’ve been thinking about how I might get it back. It seems that it would fit so well with some of the things […]

I have to admit that “Chains Chains Chains: 25 Necklaces, Bracelets and Earrings” by Joanna Gollberg and Nathalie Mornu sat on my TO BE REVIEWED shelf for a little while. Basically because I was afraid that the projects might be too hard. I mean, I’d never MADE my own chain before. Now I just feel […]

Inspired Remnants, Curious Dreams  Mixed-Media Projects in Epoxy Clay by Kerin Gale is a book that features Epoxy Clay, as you may have guessed. I have to tell you, when I received the Apoxie Sculpt Epoxy Clay (read the full review of that product by clicking the link) from Jenny along with the book. I […]

    A Bounty of Bead and Wire Earrings by Nathalie Mornu is full of 50 fun, fast jewelry projects. In the introduction Nathalie says that your face is the first thing people notice about you so why not dress it up with pretty earrings. Makes perfect sense to me! A Bounty of Bead and […]

I had a few minutes to chat with fellow CHA Designer Rebekah Meier this past January at the CHA Winter Show and found out that she had a new book coming out. When I found out it was about fabric collage I offered to review it for her here on CTD. How could I resist […]

One of my favorite annual crafty field trips is to the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo, held locally at the Cleveland I-X Center. Beside the fact that it’s held really close to my birthday each year, it gives me the opportunity to catch up with some sewing friends, check out trends, and maybe even try […]

  Diane Fitzgerald’s Favorite Beading Projects from Lark Jewelry and Beading A few things you might want to know about this book: Hard cover – lays flat for easy reference 126 pages Diane Fitzgerald’s Favorite Beading Projects includes 24 projects There is a project gallery at the end of the book for further inspiration The […]