So since Hawaii is known for their quilts, what trip to the Big Island would be complete without a trip to a local Quilt Shop. (By the way, if you’d like to see my trip to the craft store & scrapbooking store and/or the bead shop, just click those links too.) The aforementioned quilt shop […]
December 8, 2014
Craft Trends: 2015 Color of the Year “Marsala” Named by Pantone
Earlier my crafty colleague Abby reported on thing Spring Colors named by Pantone for 2015. Since then, there has been a lot of speculation about which color would win the title of “Color of the Year.” Pantone has just announced that Marsala has won the honors. Described as, “A TASTEFUL HUE:” Much like the fortified […]
December 7, 2014
Create and Craft TV to Debut in America
One of the things that I loved about visiting the UK is that the have this great live shopping channel dedicated to crafts, www.CreateAndCraft.TV. It’s a 24-hour channel, and you can watch the presentations which are longer and less hurried than the segments on HSN. Instead of having a frantic 5-7 minutes per item and then rushing […]
December 5, 2014
How to Use Fiskars Fuse Letterpress Plates in a Sizzix Bigshot
This question came in as a comment on my review of the Fiskars Fuse: Hi Jenny I picked up some small Fiskars expansion pack shapes with the view to using them to emboss using the Sizzix Big Shot. Got nervous when trying to work out what shims to use. Have you tired them this way? I […]
December 3, 2014
Simon Says Stamp Card Kit for Dec 2014 & CARDS!
You all know I like the Simon Says Stamp Card Kit Club…happy fan and subscriber, no freebies here! So here is what I got in the kit AND what I made! (So far, of course!) Which do you like best? I need to get another batch to send out to Operation Write Home…
December 3, 2014
Review: Bead Buddy One-Step Crimper Tool
Jewelry-making can go one of two ways- sublime or sophomoric. And the difference between the two is often craftsmanship: the design aside, either it’s well-make or it…well, isn’t. Crimp beads are one of those ways you can tell the difference- a well-made crimp looks professional, and a poorly-make one looks like it’s been chewed by […]
December 2, 2014
Ranger Ink – Wendy Vecchi – New Archival Ink Colors
Hello crafters! Today I want to introduce to you the six newest colors from Ranger Ink designer, Wendy Vecchi, in her Archival Ink line. We have already done a full review of Archival Inks on Craft Test Dummies that you can see here. There are now 12 colors total in Wendy’s Archival ink line, and […]
December 1, 2014
Crafty Field Trip- Hawaii, Part 2 (BEADS!)
As I mentioned before in Part 1 of the Crafty Field Trip Hawaii series, I often have a junior partner in crafty crime- my nine-year old daughter Bailey. We had scoured the Kona Coffee Festival booths that were loaded with locally-made jewelry, and she really wanted to buy some pieces for her friends. As you […]
November 26, 2014
Trend Report for 2014-2015 – Home Decor
Predicting upcoming trends is a fun game for me and I have been creating trend reports in the home decor sector for the Craft and Hobby Association for the past four years. Due to the slow growth of the economy, the shrinking of the world due to the internet and the prevalence of […]
November 25, 2014
Craft Room Confessional: Obsession with Binder Rings
OK, crafty friends! Usually I take the time between Christmas and New Year to reorganize and sort out my craft space, but this year I’m getting started early. I’ve bee thinning and purging as well as reorganizing what’s left to make it more visable and hopefully then USABLE. Right now I have a craft […]
November 24, 2014
Crafty Field Trip: Hawaii (Part 1)
As some of you know, I LOVE to travel. Seriously love it. And I often am not picky at all about where I go, as long as I get to see the sights and eat the food….and visit a few craft stores or handmade markets along the way! This month our whole family took a […]
November 21, 2014
Craft Product Review: Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe Gloss
This Mod Podge Dishwasher Safe Gloss is a new formula in a line of recent releases. It is only available in a gloss finish. It can be used to decoupage and seal decorations onto glass, cermaic, and metal pieces. These pieces are then “top-rack dishwasher safe”. There are some special instructions for multiple coats, applying decorations, […]
November 20, 2014
Hands On Crafts For Kids: Dyed T-Shirts (HOC1706 )
Hooray! Another segment for Hands One Crafts for Kids has gone live! In this one, you can see a really creative way to tie-dye t-shirts using common household items to make a pattern! I bet you could come up with some other fun designs, too! I’d love to hear from you!
November 18, 2014
Five Holiday Projects Featuring Krylon Spraypaint! (Vlog Hop)
Hey, Crafty Friends! As many of you know, I love to make YouTube videos and sharing great crafts and projects with you is one of my passions. This season, I’ve teamed up with Krylon and some amazing video creators to bring you even MORE crafty happiness! We’ve put together a little “video blog hop” or Vlog […]
November 17, 2014
Epson LabelWorks Printable Ribbon Kit
Disclosure: I received this product for review purposes. My opinions are honest and my own and based on my first-hand experience with it. I was not compensated for writing about it, but if you click an affiliate link and purchase one of your own, I will receive a small percentage of the purchase price. Thank […]
November 14, 2014
Acorn Crafts Round Up
Earlier this week I shared a tutorial for an acorn ornament…. ….. I kind of fell in love with acorns all over again. It doesn’t matter if it LOOKS like an acorn, is MADE from acorns, or has a PICTURE of an acorn- I’m loving it! So I put together a list of some awesome Acorn Crafts you […]
November 12, 2014
“Surprise” Acorn Ornaments or Gift Boxes
Today I have a great tutorial for you! It’s not yet Thanksgiving so I’m not “completely” in holiday mode yet.. but I AM thinking about hostess gifts and decorations that would work for Thanksgiving, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah OR Christmas. (That’s a tough order to fill, right?) Well, these acorn ornaments are that “shabby glamorous” look […]
November 10, 2014
Surface Makeover Glue by Coats & Clark
Every now and then you meet a glue that makes you see things in a whole new light. This is the case with Coat N Create or Surface Makeover Glue. First- a quick disclaimer: I got my samples of this glue last January at CHA 2014. And I’m loving this stuff! But I can’t find it […]
November 7, 2014
Simon Says Stamp Card Kit November 2014
Hey Crafty Friends! After missing a few months of the Simon Says Stamp Card Kit Club, I’m BACK! I really liked these fun, retro colors and I knew that the bunnies would be a big hit. By the way, if you have any questions about the Kit Club itself, check out the FAQ here. I’m […]
November 6, 2014
Pantone Spring 2015: En Plein Air
I’m a fashion and craft blogger and I love staying on top of color trends for the various things that I make. Pantone’s Spring 2015 color story is “En Plein Air”, playing off of nature and calmness. There is a nice mix of cool, warm, and neutral colors that can be used together. The women’s colors are inspired […]
November 5, 2014
Chameleon ColorTones Alcohol Markers
I first saw the Chameleon ColorTones markers at CHA 2014 last January- and after a long wait, they are finally coming to America! (They’ve been available in the UK for awhile now.) I do love a good alcohol marker- they are a “secret weapon” in the craft room- and I was excited to give these a […]
November 3, 2014
Craft Haul: Stampin’ UP Holiday 2014 and Cards!
Eek! Halloween just ended…which means that Holiday crafting is in full swing! For those of us who make our own Holiday Cards, it’s time to get cracking. For me, that means doing some playing experimenting with different designs to see which one will actually “make the cut” and become the holiday card for the season. […]
October 31, 2014
Trends: Quilt Market 2014: Digital Die Cutting
After years in the crafting industry and going to the CHA tradeshows, I’m used to seeing die-cutting everywhere. I was really surprised, though, to see digital die-cutting and the way it’s taken over the sewing and quilting industry! I knew that the Brother ScanNCut actually debuted at Quilt Market last year and that it had […]
October 30, 2014
International Quilt Market, Houston 2014: Overview
This year I decided that CraftTestDummies needed to branch out a little and attend more trade shows. After all, I started off quilting the year I turned thirty. I still love to sew and do art quilting, and I know a lot of our readers here also sew or quilt. That was all the justification […]
October 28, 2014
Episode of Scrapbook Soup Live: 404
Hey Crafty Friends! This week another episode of Scrapbook Soup in which I appeared has gone live online. This will be available to view in it’s entirety from October 24- 31, 2014. It says that I’m there to talk about technology, but we actually talk about mixed media and the growth process of creativity!! Take […]
October 27, 2014
Craft Countdown with Heather Mann
Today I have a great Craft Countdown with a blogger that is the mastermind behind Dollar Store Crafts. Meet Heather Mann! Heather has been hard at work this past year on her first book- CraftFail! Based on the website of the same name, CraftFail takes a good-natured look at crafts that go horribly wrong. All […]
October 24, 2014
Teal Pumpkin Project
Hey Crafty Friends! For those of you who celebrate Halloween, can I ask a crafty favor of you? Make one more craft- a Teal Pumpkin. Did you know that 1 in 13 children has a food allergy? That’s a LOT of trick-or-treaters who are getting a whole lot of nothing in their candy bags. […]
October 23, 2014
New Bottle Design from Aleene’s & Thoughts on Product Design
HEY! Do you love Tacky Glue? Yeah, me too. But sometimes it’s a bit of a pain when you are ready to glue something and you have to wait and wait for the glue to get down to the nozzle. (Remember that old ketchup commercial?? “An-ti-ci-pa-aaa-shun!” Just like that.) Well, now the folks at Aleene’s […]
October 21, 2014
Martha Stewart Crafts Deluxe Scoring Board and Paper Trimmer
A while back I got a request from a YouTube fan asking me to compare the Martha Stewart Crafts Deluxe Scoring Board and Paper Trimmer to another scoring/trimming tool. So of course I thought I should give this combo tool a once-over to see how it works. Let’s take a look. At first blush, it’s […]
October 20, 2014
Does Duck Tape Scents Really Smell?
Earlier last month we got some of the new Duck Tape Scents in here at CTD WHQ. Of course, my kids junior assistants were super-interested in them… so I figured, let’s ask THEM if they smells are good and/or accurate. Take a look at this video we shot: I think it’s worthy of not that […]
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December 9, 2014
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