Art-C Groove Tool Review and Demo

September 13, 2016

Art C Groove Tool Review and Demo

Today I’m hopping back on the review bandwagon with a look at the Art-C Groove tool! This is a mixed-media motorized tool that allows you to paint, sand, and apply media with just a quick swish of the wrist. Here’s how it’s described: The Groove is the first tool specifically designed for crafters to ink, sand, stencil and distress on a wide variety of surfaces. It is portable, light-weight & cordless. For this review, I demonstrated and tried out the […]

New Back-to-School Craft for Kids- Tie-Dye Notebooks!

September 12, 2016

Make a plain notebook COOL with this faux tie-dye technique using tissue paper!

Here in New York City, my kids JUST went back to school- we are a full three weeks behind some of our friends! But it’s still in that “back to school” zone, right? So I wanted to share this craft and video I designed for my friends at Creativity for Kids on their Just add imagination channel– a “tie-dye” style notebook. Wanna know a secret? This journal is actually for ME. Ever since I was a kid I loved back-to-school. […]

Crafty Field Trip: Manus X Machina at The Met NYC

September 7, 2016

Every now and then you need to stop and smell the roses- or pause and contemplate art. I did just that over TWO days at The Met in NYC. As a new New Yorker, I get free admission for a year with my New York ID and I plan to take full advantage! So for my first trips, I bee-lined to the Manus X Machina exhibit which closed Labor Day weekend 2016. From the press release: “Fashion and technology are […]

Mixed Media Fun: Shaving Cream Paint Demo

August 5, 2016

DIY Shaving Cream Paint for Mixed Media Art

Hey Crafty Friends! Let’s have some messy fun today and create shaving cream paint! I know that usually it’s used with the kids for finger painting, but you can take it to a whole ‘nother level by using stencils and a heat gun to create layers of translucent color and freckled textures. I have this video for you- I was originally an hour-long Periscope. (By the way, you don’t need the Periscope app to watch anymore- you can see […]

New Craft Studio: Part 2: Ceramcoat Chalk Paint Spinner Makeover

August 4, 2016

Ceramcoat Chalk Paint Makeover

As part of my move here to #NYC (you can read a bit about that here) I’m setting up my new studio. I did bring a few pieces with me, including my slatwall spinner. But it was in sore need of a makeover! So I used Ceramcoat Chalk Paint to give it a facelift! (Disclosure: Plaid sent me the paint, but I’m sharing this because I used it and I loved it. I was not compensated for this post.) One […]

NYC Michael’s Craft Haul- July 2016

August 3, 2016

CRAFT HAUL TIME!! So as I’m getting used to my new neighborhood, I had to make a trip to my “local” Michael’s store! Luckily, I do have a craft store within walking distance. (It’s 30 blocks, but that’s still walking distance in Manhattan!) Anyway, I don’t have all of the choices I had in Ohio (which included Tuesday Morning, Dollar Tree, Pat Catan’s, JoAnn’s AND Michaels) but I do feel lucky to have Michael’s on hand. I did a Periscope on […]

Recycled Drink Lid Jellyfish Craft

August 2, 2016

Jelly fish craft using recycled materials

As some of you may know, I have a *thing* for jellyfish- I love to watch them swim and float, and the seem pretty magical to me. Consequently, they pop up in crafts I do! This particular jellyfish craft features recycled materials (bubble or dome style drink tops), along with our old standbys bubble wrap and chenielle stems. Now this is a craft I created for Faber-Castell’s kid’s channel on YouTube. I make videos for them monthly, but my name […]

New New Yorker, New Craft Studio (Part One)!

August 1, 2016

Follow me in my journey as a become a new New Yorker, set up my craft room and studio, and make the best of a very small space!

Wow! It feels like forever since I’ve posted- and truly, it’s been over 2 weeks and that’s the longest I’ve ever gone without posting since I started CraftTestDummies in 2008. But in those 2 weeks, we have packed up our home in Ohio, loaded a huge truck and schlepped it all to Manhattan. So I’m going to share with you my journey in becoming a New Yorker…but maybe even more importantly, I’m going to share with you my journey in […]

July 2016 Update- I’m MOVING!

July 14, 2016

Hey crafty friends! I know it’s been unusually quiet here at CraftTestDummies….and on my YouTube channel, too. I have some good reasons for being preoccupied. So just when I think I’ve got my life kinda under control, I get a curveball and POOF- my life goes all “PLOT TWIST” on me. About three weeks ago, my husband (who has been working in NYC for the past year and commuting weekly) and I had a text convo that went something like […]

Craft Stores and Handmade Goodness in Europe!

July 2, 2016

In June I spent just over a week going on tour with the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony. My son plays the baritone sax and was slated to play 5 concerts throughout Germany, The Netherlands (Holland) and Austria. Like any good parent, I decided to tag along. We had a lovely time bonding, and I got to see countries I’ve never been to before. And being me (because of course, I am) I had to seek out some crafty places- both […]

Musings on Health Benefits of Crafting and the “Art Tribe”

June 22, 2016

Craft Room Confessional: the benefits of crafting and "art tribe"

Earlier this summer I was asked to write and article for Craft Industry Today (a magazine published by the Craft and Hobby Association) on the benefits of crafting. As a former music therapist, I am well versed in the benefits of creative endeavors, so I happily accepted the task. I did a day’s worth of research, cranked out a 1700+ word article, and submitted it. Later that day, I was having a Periscope chat and the topic came up. What […]

Intro and Demo of Ken Oliver Crafts Liquid Metals Liquid Watercolors

June 20, 2016

Ken Oliver Crafts Liquid Metals Liquid Watercolors introduction and demo.

As I mentioned in this haul video, I picked up some of the Ken Oliver Crafts Liquid Metals (shimmering liquid watercolor paints) at my local stamp store- and I was eager to try them out! Originally I thought they were powders, like the rest of his line, but-NO! So I did a Periscope to check them out. The original Periscope was over an hour long, but I’ve edited it down here to the best 15 minutes. In the video, you’ll […]

Air Brush Puzzle Project with Testors AirBrainz System!

June 13, 2016

Puzzle Card using the AirBrainz Air Brush System!

Today I have a cool post today, sponsored by our friends at Testors! If you remember, I while back I reviewed the AirBrainz Air brush system, and I really liked it! It was easy to use, the paint was quick to dry, and it was super-fun. Anyway, today I’m going to show you how to make a Puzzle Card using the AirBrainz system and…wait for it… CRAFT STICKS! All you need (these are an Amazon.com affiliate links if you are interested in […]

Craft Haul-in’ at my Local Stamp Store

June 11, 2016

Craft Haul Video

Sometimes you just feel like you need some new supplies to kick your creativity into gear- and last month I recharged my creative juices by doing some Craft Haul’in at my local stamp store, STAMPLISTIC. I did a Periscope sharing my hauls, which I’ve now edited a bit and put on YouTube for everyone. The first my “new” purchases– And this next one are my “used” goodies! I kind of overspent, but I’m happy with the things I […]

Alcohol Marker Comparison!

June 8, 2016

Epic alcohol-maker comparison- 5 Brands!

There are so many brands of alcohol markers on the scene now- it’s hard to know which ones are the “best” for you! So I took to Periscope and did an epic 1 1/2 hour live demo to test out some of the major brands- Copic, Spectrum Noir, Prismacolor, Letraset ProMarkers, and even Faber-Castell Pitt Markers, (Yeah, I know those aren’t really alcohol markers, but what the heck! (disclosure: some links below may be affiliate links.) Today I’m looking at […]

Intro to Shimmering Watercolor Paints!

June 6, 2016

Craft Test Dummies compares 5 different brands of shimmering watercolors on three different kinds of paper so you can pick the right product for your projects!

Shimmering watercolor paints are pretty, shiny, and easy to use- just add water, right? But there are quite a few brands out there at WILDY different price points. So one evening I did an epic Periscope (you can watch the replays here even if you don’t have a smartphone or want to watch live) and my stalwart gang of Art Scopers and I did some testing. I broke down the hour-long session into two reasonable videos- the first part, about 8 minutes […]

Handmade Arts and Crafts at Hessler Street Fair

June 3, 2016

It’s Street Fair season in NE Ohio- that means fun food, music, and HANDMADE arts and crafts! I took a trip to the Hessler Street Fair in University Circle, Ohio, and got a henna tattoo as well as buying some handmade art.Take a look! Do you like street festivals? Did you ever participate in them as a seller? I’d love to hear your stories!!!

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