Jun 18
2009I have a guide book and crochet needles and yarn…. I will crochet darnit! LOL I can chain on and do a single crochet, but that’s about the sum of my crochet knowledge up to this point. I have a crochenit as well, bought that several years ago and made some dishcloths that weer all crooked as heck LOL
Hopefully I’ll have better luck this time around.
May 22
2009This is the first video in a series for the new site I just launched last week Twitter Signature Styles.
In this video we just take a quick walk through of how to generate your very own twitter signature style to use on blogs, forums, message boards, and just about anywhere on the web.
If you’re on Twitter, please check it out. Happy twittering! 
May 01
2009Let’s face it, unless a child is taken to the store to pick out a gift for Mom for Mother’s Day, the only hope they have of giving a gift is to make it themselves. The following are gift ideas that children can make this Mother’s Day:
Mothers love cards from their children, especially if they’re handmade. It doesn’t matter if the card is a simple piece of paper folded and colored, as long as it’s from her child. Any mother will cherish it. There are places you can go online to find a Mother’s Day card template, but that won’t matter as much as a mother knowing that her child has spent the time and effort to create the card just for her.
Of course, she’ll want to display the card for some time after her day has passed. What better way to help her do that than by making a seashell magnet for her to post the card on the refrigerator. Make a couple so that she can hang several items at once. All it takes is a dad willing to help with the hot glue gun, a few seashells, some small pieces of ribbon or dried flowers, and some round magnets. Glue the magnets and ribbon onto the seashells and allow them to cool. Pack them in a small basket and they’re ready to give to Mom.
Moms enjoy displaying photos of their kids, so what could be better than finding a favorite photo and creating a home-made frame to place it in? Find a CD case and cut two pieces of scrapbook or construction paper large enough to fit snugly on the inside of the CD case. Carefully cut a shape out of the center of the square to place the photo. Decorate the paper before gluing the photo in place. Put each piece of paper into the case and cover the back of the photo to keep it from falling out. Glue the back of the paper into the case. You can also put decorations on the frame itself.
What mom wouldn’t love a coupon book for Mother’s Day? Write out coupons for “One free hug”, “Good for one foot massage”, “Control of the remote for one evening”, or “One undisturbed afternoon nap”. Your child can come up with ideas of their own. Make the coupons about 3” x 8 1/2” with a pretty cover and staple them together. This gift is meant to be returned, so don’t be surprised if she redeems them quickly.
Bookmarks are another item that most moms would probably enjoy. All this gift takes is some ribbon a little larger than a standard book, some fabric pens, and a little bit of patience. Personalize them and Mom will like them even more.
The ultimate home-made gift a child can give their mom, with help from Dad, is breakfast in bed complete with a flower in a vase. This gift may take a little more time than some of the other suggestions, but Mom is sure to love it and those that prepared it for making her feel so special.
The gifts a child can make for Mother’s Day are really limited by their own imagination, creativity, and ability. Having Dad or an older sibling help will ensure the younger child is being safe during the creation process. Whatever your child chooses to make and give, as long as it is made with love, it’s sure to be a big hit.
Apr 29
2009
Most of the time we pay very little attention to rocks. But for crafters, they present all kinds of possibilities. An attractive rock makes a splendid adornment for the right project. Rocks are also great for kids’ crafts, because just painting and decorating them can be lots of fun.
With a little imagination, a rock can be turned into any number of things. You can paint it up and add googly eyes to create a pet rock. You can decorate a large rock and use it as a paperweight. You can even make little people and animals out of them. Who knew rocks could be so versatile?
Choosing a Rock for Your Project
For most projects, smooth rocks are the best. These can be difficult to find, but a good place to look is in a creek or river if there is one nearby. The flowing water smooths stones naturally over time. You can find both large and small rocks in bodies of water.
Rough, jagged rocks can also work for some projects. They are more difficult to paint evenly than smooth rocks, but this adds to their charm. Small jagged rocks may also be glued onto smooth ones as “body parts” or accents for some projects.
If you plan to paint the entire rock, color won’t be an issue. But some rocks come in beautiful colors that do not require painting. These are much rarer than your usual gray or brown rocks, so finding one is a real treat.
Working with Rocks
The first thing to do when crafting with rocks is to clean them thoroughly. Take care to remove all dirt so that paint and glue will stay put. For jagged or unusually shaped rocks, you might need to use a small, stiff brush to make sure it’s nice and clean.
When painting rocks, acrylics work the best. It sticks to rocks very well and has a glossy sheen. Tempera
If you’re gluing rocks together or gluing on embellishments, cement glue provides the best hold. But it also has very strong fumes, so it should only be used in a well-ventilated area by an adult. There are other types of glue that are safe for kids that will work, but the finished product will not be as durable.
Rock crafts are very inexpensive and lots of fun for kids. They’re also educational, because they challenge the mind to take abstract objects and turn them into something recognizable. So the next time your child wants to make something, sit down with a pile of rocks together and let your imaginations run free.
Apr 16
2009Recycling is good for the environment. It reduces the amount of trash in landfills and saves natural resources. And for crafters, recycled items can make great supplies for projects. Empty containers, worn out clothes, old greeting cards and other items that usually end up in the trash present a wealth of crafting opportunities.
Papier Mache
Papier mache is a craft that requires recycled materials. Newspaper is cut into strips and dipped into paste to create piñatas and other works of art. It’s a little messy, but it’s very easy to do. This is one of my favorites even though it can be messy and sticky! Being messy is half the fun of crafting 
To make the paste, bring 2 cups of water to a boil and add a mixture of 1/2 cup of flour and 2 cups of cold water. Bring to a boil again, remove from heat and stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar. Let cool.
Newspaper strips are usually dipped into the paste and applied to an inflated balloon. When the balloon is covered, it is hung up to dry. Once dry, the balloon is popped and embellishments are added to finish the project.
Candle Holders
It’s easy to make candle holders out of empty baby food jars. All you have to do is remove the label and decorate as you please. Use decoupage, paint, ribbon, gems and other items. Add a tea light or votive candle, and you have a beautiful, thoughtful and inexpensive gift.
Maracas
Kids love stuff that makes noise, so this is a great craft for them. Just put some dried beans in a clean used paper or plastic cup. Use enough to make some noise but not so many that they do not have room to move around. Glue the mouth of another cup to the mouth of the first cup and let dry. Decorate if desired.
Gift and Storage Boxes
Old shoe boxes can be transformed into beautiful gift or storage boxes. Just use some contact paper to cover them up. Decorate with rubber stamps, paint, ribbon and other embellishments. These can be used to store photos and other keepsakes, used to present gifts, or given as gifts themselves.
Pencil Holders
You can make a pencil holder out of a number of recycled materials. Tin cans with the tops removed are nice and sturdy. Plastic, styrofoam and paper cups also work well, but may not last as long. The cardboard tubes found in the middle of tissue rolls can even work if you cover one end of them with a flat piece of cardboard.
Recycled items can be used to make lovely crafts to keep or give as gifts. They’re good for the budget and for the environment. The next time you need craft supplies, take a look at the things you’ve been tossing out. You might find that you already have what you need! Be creative and most of all, have fun! That’s what it’s really all about.
Apr 07
2009In recent years, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of making soap. Although soap is readily available in stores, a growing number of do-it-yourselfers are learning about soap making. Some like to create soaps in pretty shapes and heavenly scents, while others like being able to control the ingredients to prevent overdrying or allergic reactions.
The two most popular methods of soap making are cold process and melt and pour. Which one is best? That depends primarily on your reasons for making your own soap.
The melt and pour method is the easiest way to make soap. It requires very little mixing of ingredients and few supplies. In its simplest form, melt and pour soap requires little more than melting and pouring.
To make melt and pour soap, you use soap base. This is a simple, uncolored and unscented premade soap that comes in large bars. You’ll have to cut off the amount you need, and melt it using either the microwave or a double boiler. You can then add fragrance, coloring and additional ingredients before pouring it into a mold and allowing it to harden.
Melt and pour soap can be customized somewhat, but it doesn’t give you complete control over your ingredients. Some types of soap base might not be suitable for those with certain allergies and sensitivities. But what it lacks in versatility, it makes up for in ease and safety of production. It’s also ready to use immediately, although it will harden more if left to dry for a week.
Making cold process soap is somewhat harder than making the melt and pour variety. It requires more ingredients and more complex techniques. But using the cold process method allows complete control over the soap’s ingredients.
The three basic ingredients for cold process soap are water, lye and fat. The fat can be obtained from animal sources or vegetable oils. In general, the harder the fat, the better soap it will make.
One of the reasons that fewer people make cold process soap than melt and pour soap is the fact that lye is a very dangerous substance. It’s very important not to get lye on your skin when making soap, and you must use containers and utensils that are reserved exclusively for your soap-making projects. It can eat through metals and damage surfaces. And if not mixed properly, lye can explode.
Even though cold process soap making is more difficult, those who want to control the ingredients used prefer it. They can create soaps using a variety of recipes, and they can tailor their soaps to the user’s skin type.
Melt and pour soap is a good way to get started in soap making, and it allows some flexibility in the finished product. But if you want your soap to be unique or have a specific combination of ingredients, it will be worth your while to learn how to make cold process soap. Either method can be used to produce beautiful, sweet smelling soaps for yourself, to give as gifts, or to sell.
Apr 07
2009For those who craft for a living (or to make some extra money), craft shows can be very profitable. They put your creations in front of a targeted audience, and they give you the opportunity to interact with potential customers and answer their questions. It’s important to take plenty of products with you, because at a good show they will go faster than you think!
Another great thing about craft shows is that they are great places to get custom orders. They allow customers to take a close look at your work, and if they are impressed but want something different, they might ask you do make something special for them. It’s important to be prepared for this.
Custom orders are wonderful, but if you’re not careful, you might end up overbooking yourself. It is crucial to know how many projects you can realistically do, and how long it will take you to do them. If you take on too much, you could fall behind quickly. Here are some tips to help prevent this:
* Determine how long it takes you to do a simple project. If you truly have no idea, start timing yourself. You’ll need to know this in order to accurately estimate how many projects you can do in a given time frame.
* Take into account any extra work that will be required for a custom order. If a customer requests something that will require a great deal of extra effort or materials, we will usually consider that when quoting a price. But we need to make it a point not to forget to consider it when setting a time frame for the project, too.
* Set limits regarding what you will and will not do on custom orders. Some requests might require expertise that you do not possess, and others might take up more time than you’re willing to spend on a project. Sometimes it pays to say no.
* Give yourself a little extra time for each project. You never know when there might be a delay in getting the materials you need, or when something else might come up and put you behind. It’s better to give yourself a little too much time than not enough.
* Remember that you have a life outside of crafting. When the orders are coming in, it can be tempting to book ourselves solid and not leave any time to do other things. But if we let ourselves get burned out, our work will suffer. Make sure you leave yourself room to take a day off every now and then.
For some crafters, custom orders make up a large portion of their business. But it’s important not to let them take over your life. You need to make sure you have adequate time to do your non-custom work. Doing custom work can be a feat of scheduling, but if you schedule properly, you won’t have to dread it.
Apr 06
2009By Tammy Embrich
It’s that time of year again when daffodils will soon be in bloom, trees will be budding, and a lot of folks will be anxious to get out and work in their flower beds. It’s called spring! And with spring comes the Easter bunny. An exciting and fun time for both kids and parents.
My all-time favorite Easter candy were those marshmallow peeps. Every spring (to this day), I indulge in a package or two. I love them so.
There are lots of fun activities for kids on this special spring holiday. Go beyond egg decorating and help your little ones decorate cute things for the house. Maybe some homemade crayola pictures to display in the windows or perhaps create an Easter tree. Egg relays are a lot of fun as well. You know the game with the egg and the spoon where teams are paired up and the winners are the ones who carries the eggs from point A to point B? This game can be mixed with children and parents for even more fun!
Cookie decorating can be a fun activity too. Bake the cookies ahead of time and make them in all shapes. Egg shaped, bunny shaped, or anything you wish. Make sure you have plenty of pastel food coloring for the frosting along with lots of sprinkles. Another cool idea…have your kids help you prepare the Easter meal. Put a special, homemade apron on them and they will feel like a real chef. It’s pretty much tradition to prepare a ham for the meal. But what can you make as side dishes and desserts?
Let’s explore a couple of ideas…
Easter Cupcakes
Ingredients
(for basic cake recipe-about 12 cupcakes)
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup self rising flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbs milk
2 large eggs
12 Easter-themed cupcake liners
frosting
food coloring
sprinkles
cupcake or muffin pan
small chocolate bunnies
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. With a wooden spoon, mix the butter and sugar together until smooth, ( about 2 min). Add the eggs and milk and stir thoroughly.
Gently fold in the flour and mix until completely blended. Divide the batter evenly into the cupcake liners. Place the pan of cupcakes on a shelf just above the center for 15 minutes.
After cooled, frost the cupcakes in the color of your choice. The kids will have fun decorating the cupcakes with the sprinkles and the chocolate bunnies.
Family’s Favorite Potato Salad
Ingredients
2 lb small red potatoes, unpeeled
6 eggs
3 celery stalks
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
For Dressing:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
1 green onion, including the tender green tops, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Boil the potatoes and eggs. I always put them in the fridge overnight to prevent the potato salad from turning out mushy. Peel the potatoes and the eggs and cut into small chunks and toss them into a large bowl. Add the celery and red onion and toss briefly to mix. Set aside.
For Dressing: In a small bowl and using a fork, stir together the mayonnaise, mustard seeds, green onion, parsley, dry mustard, salt and pepper, mixing well. Pour the dressing over the potato and egg mixture and mix well.
For best flavor, cover and chill for up to 2 hours before serving. Sprinkle the parsley over the top and serve.
Extra Family Activity
With today’s global economic conditions…there are many children and families in need. Why not make up some special baskets that you can donate? This is something that kids can help with as well. You will be putting smiles on many faces. Share the joy of giving this Easter.
Article Written By Tammy Embrich
You can find more articles by Tammy at Parenting Articles
Tammy also offers free work at home job leads, free business tips, free work at home articles, and more work at home resources at Work At Home Forums.
Mar 29
2009
Pin cushions fascinate me, because they can be so different from one another. You can really use just about anything for a pin cushion. Some folks make a complete hobby out of just making and collecting pin cushions!
This particular one caught my eye this weekend. I guess it’s the geeky gadget girl in me that wants to come out to play. Definitely way more fun that boring old tomato shaped pin cushion your grandmother had next to her sewing machine
This pin cushion (and lots of other fun little pincushions) are available in pinpinns shop on etsy!
Mar 09
2009Fimo clay is one of my favorite things to play around with when I’m feeling crafty, and it can be used to create a wide variety of crafts. Skilled sculptors can use it to make beautiful figurines, intricate jewelry and much more. But there are plenty of great projects that beginners can do, too. If you’re looking to get started with clay, here are five easy projects to choose from:
1. Magnets - Magnets are good projects to get started with because you can make them somewhat flat. This leaves less of a chance for error.
You can use a pasta machine or a roller to make flat pieces to use for your magnet. One flat piece can be used for the base, and you can cut shapes or letters out of other colors and place them on top of it. Self-adhesive magnets can be attached to the back after baking, or you can glue a magnet on with a hot glue gun.
2. Beads - It’s quite easy to make beads out of Fimo clay. This is probably the most popular thing made from fimo right now. The hard part is making them uniform. But the slight differences in size and shape will add character to the jewelry you make with them.
To make a round bead, simply roll a small amount of clay around in a circle on a flat surface until a ball is formed. Then poke a toothpick through it (if you plan to string the beads) and bake. You can make an oval bead by forming a ball and then rolling it back and forth a few times. Other shapes will require a little more work.
3. Rings - It’s a cinch to make rings out of clay. All you have to do is make a strip of clay of the desired width and thickness, make a loop that will fit around your finger, and bake. You can also add beads or smaller strips of different colors to it if you like.
4. Christmas ornaments - If you have some Christmas cookie cutters that you do not use to make cookies, you can easily make Fimo clay ornaments. Simply roll out some clay to the desired thickness, cut the shape out with the cookie cutter, and decorate with strips and beads of different colors. Punch a hole at the top for hanging and bake.
5. Vases - You might think that it would be very difficult to make a vase out of clay, but it doesn’t have to be. Using a pasta machine, you can make sheets of clay that you can use to cover old glassware, transforming it into a lovely new vase. These make beautiful home décor, as well as great, inexpensive gifts.
Some crafters are intimidated by clay because it is a three-dimensional medium. Easy projects such as these can help you get your feet wet, letting you get a feel for clay before you move on to more complex pieces.
Anyone interested in the popular and adaptable medium of polymer clay will delight in the colorful projects found in Step-by-Step Polymer Clay in a Day. Crafters will welcome Emma Ralph’s affordable and beautiful gift ideas, ideas that include wine glass charmers, a millefiore trinket box, stylish napkin rings, clay and metal earrings, colorful pens, and a delicate lattice bowl.
With a comprehensive techniques section, which presents such essential techniques as canework, blending, texture, and filligree, along with a creative gallery of projects and project variations, beginners and experienced crafters alike will appreciate the inspiration found in this dynamic and easy-to-follow guide.
About the Author
Emma Ralph is a member of the British Polymer Clay Guild. Her work has been exhibited at guild events and in their newsletter. She lives in Coulsdon, Surrey, England.
