4 Fantastic Things You Can Do for Clothes with a Sewing Machine

One of the best things about owning a sewing machine is that you can customize your clothes and experiment right in the comfort of your own home. Got some extra stash of fabric and a flair for creativity? Make yourself a lovely dress! Or if you have clothes you haven’t worn for some time because they are either not flattering or no longer fit, why not transform them into something new?

If you’re into sewing or you feel like it’s time to invest in a sewing machine, this post will definitely give you some fantastic ideas for your next DIY fashion project. Here are 4 things you can do to upcycle your clothing:

Add lace to jean shorts. Rather than throwing away your distressed jeans, upcycle them into jeans shorts with some lace for embellishment. Adding some lace is a clever way to revamp your old jeans. Sew the lace fabric at the bottom of your shorts or at the back pockets. You can also use the lace to patch up any rips or tears on your jeans.

Make some fabric inserts for your sweater. This is one of the easiest ways to refashion an old sweater. It’s also a fix for sweaters that are too small. If you want to lengthen a small sweater, simply cut the bottom part of it at the back and sew some fabric for an additional detail. Inserting fabric on a short shirt is a nice way to revamp it as well. Cut it in half and sew the fabric at the middle part.

Make a hoodie for your clothes. Pinterest is one big place to find free patterns and inspiration for your next hoodie project. There are so many styles of hoodies available and you can do it not just on jackets but also on short sleeves or sweatshirts. This is a convenient way to prepare for the cold weather rather than buying new clothes.

Create a maxidress out of an old sheet. Who says you have to buy fabric when sewing a full-length maxi dress? When you have vintage sheets you no longer use, recreate it into a chic maxi dress that is totally comfy and flowy. There are lots of vintage sheets offered at the thrift store. The best part is that you don’t need the advanced skills to do this one. If you’re a beginner, go for a non-complicated pattern. In this case, an “easy tee” pattern would be the best option.

Before starting your DIY fashion project, check if your machine can handle the basics such as inserting zippers and variable sized stitches. What are the best sewing machine for making clothes? If you are looking for spacious workspace, consider ones that have an extra wide table. When you have the penchant for stitches, invest in a multipurpose machine that comes with built-in stitch patterns.

Sewing can be an addictive hobby so keep in mind that your machine should be user-friendly and at the same time, can handle some really good projects.

Getting to Know the Contractors You Are Working with Well

A smart homeowner is willing to take the time to learn more about the contractor they’re going to be working with when remodeling their home. This is because home remodels are extremely expensive and require a large investment of both energy and time on the part of the homeowner. It does not matter if the homeowner is looking to remodel their kitchen, their bathroom, or a small section of their home. The contractor who they are working with is going to be in their home constantly and is going to have close interaction with them for an extended period of time. So the better the contractor and the homeowner get along and the more the homeowner knows about the contractor up front, the better the end results will be.

One of the first things a homeowner wants to know about the contractors they hire is how much experience they have had. Obviously, a newer contractor with less experience is going to take longer to complete a project and may use more materials to do the same job as opposed to a contractor who has years of experience on the job. Of course, this is not mean that just because a contractor has been in business for an extended period of time that they are going to do a better job than someone just starting out, but there is wisdom in learning about how much experience a potential contractor has.

It is always better to work for contractor who has a brick and mortar building as opposed to one that only appears on the Internet. This is because if a contractor has a brick and mortar building in the community, you know that they are not just a fly-by-night company that is there to do a little bit of work and then leave.

It is also good to look at other jobs that a contractor has done. A good contractor will be able to give you references of jobs they have done that have turned out well and also references of jobs that have not turned out quite as well. It’s good to talk to customers who interact with a potential contractor when everything went smoothly, and it’s also good to talk to customers who have worked with contractors where things did not turn out as expected. Talking to both of these individuals will give you a good idea of what type of person you are going to be working with.

Tropical Dinner Party DIY Palm Frond Balloons and Centerpiece Ideas

Palm Fronds and Bon Bons Tropical Dinner Party for Balloon Time
DIY Projects, Styling + Text by Studio DIY
Photos by Mary Costa

We’re taking a classic tropical theme and turning it on it’s head! We kept the palm trees and pineapples, but added balloons, cocktails and an elegant color palette to make this theme appropriate for all your summer dinner parties. A “Palm Fronds & Bon Bons” bash is the perfect way to show everyone that balloons and luaus can be modern and sophisticated, too.

DIY Palm Frond Balloons

Who knew you could “decoupage” balloons? We added a fun palm print to plain white balloons with photos of palm fronds and spray adhesive.

Supplies:

Free Printable Palm Leaves (Download here!)
Tissue Paper (That matches your balloons) 8.5” x 11” Cardstock
Inkjet Printer
Masking Tape
Latex Balloons (We used a mix of 11” and 17” balloons)
Balloon Time Helium Tank
Ribbon or String

Cut out several rectangles of tissue paper, about 8” by 10". Tape one of the rectangles (glossy side of the tissue paper DOWN) to a piece of cardstock with masking tape on the top and bottom of the paper (see photo). Feed this through your printer to print the palm leaves, one sheet at a time, onto the tissue paper. Be sure you are feeding the paper through the printer the right way (each printer is different) so that the image prints onto the tissue paper. Remove cardstock and let dry for about 10 minutes while you continue printing additional images.

Cut out the leaves. This doesn’t have to be perfect as the tissue will blend in with the balloon, just a rough cut around the perimeter works.

Inflate balloons with helium and tie with string or fishing line.

Spray the back of each leaf with spray adhesive and let dry slightly until tacky. Adhere the image to the balloon, tacky side down and smooth over with your fingers. Repeat with as many images as desired.

DIY Dinner Party Balloon Centerpiece

If you need an easy way to add a statement to your dinner table, create a balloon centerpiece! This is a great alternative (or addition!) to flowers and adds just as much color, depth and drama.

Supplies:

Latex Balloons (We used a mix of 11” and 17” balloons)
Balloon Time Helium Tank
Fishing Line
Balloon Weights (We used mini pineapples from the grocery store!)
Scissors

First determine how long you’re table will be. To ensure you have one cohesive centerpiece, you’ll want to place clusters of balloons about 12­-18” a part. After you know how many clusters you'll need, start inflating balloons with helium. We had one 17" and five 11" balloons per cluster.

Tie each balloon with fishing line and tie clusters, as desired, to your balloon weights. Place the weights down the center of your table and adjust or fill in balloons as necessary.

Tropical Party Lounge + Treats

Change up a typical dessert bar and incorporate your sips and sweets into a lounge area at your party. We arranged plates of different chocolates, truffles and bon bons on a coffee table in-front of lounge furniture, making for an intimate post-dinner treat! Make a couple extra clusters of balloons and use them as decor flanking each side of the seating area. To take the tropical theme even further, pick up various palm leaves at your local floral supply or garden center and use them as decor on the tables. Happy Luauing!

Disclosure: This is a guest post by Balloon Time. You can connect with Balloon Time on Facebook.

How to Refurbish and Refinish Old Furniture - Infographic

Hubby and I love scouring yard sales and flea markets for old pieces of furniture, particularly furniture that is made out of wood and from the 1950's and 1960's. If you ask us, those old piece are better made than many of the cheapo junk you find out in the marketplace today.

Fix.com just launched this DIY guide to prepping, painting, and protecting wood furniture that I wanted to share with all of you today. I love DIY Infographics like this one! You can see it properly sized by visiting their web site. Great tips and tricks for all of us to enjoy.

Source: Fix.com

Tips and Tricks to Hang a Photo - Infographic

When it comes to hanging, arranging and grouping photos, I am a complete novice! Matter of fact, I get really nervous when I change things around in my home or get something new that needs to be hung up. Home decorating is just not my thing but I do try to do my best.

When you walk through our home you will see a ton of photographs hanging on the wall. Some are prints that we have framed, others are in photo memory boxes, some are printed on canvas and so forth. We love seeing our beloved family and friends hanging on our walls and sitting on our shelves. Do you?

Well today, I have a great infographic to share with all of you from the great folks over at Shutterfly and it takes the mystery out of hanging up your photos. Great tips and tricks for sure!

This infographic is provided to you by Shutterfly, the leading online provider of photo books, cards and Wall Art.

So, tell me...what did you learn from reading all of that? Do you have some tips and tricks that you would like to share with me and my blog readers? If so, feel free to leave them below in my blog's comment form. Thanks!

7 Crafty Ways to Use Leftover Christmas Gift Wrapping Paper

The Christmas holiday is now over and instead of throwing away all of that used gift wrap and scrap pieces of your holiday wrap...its time to put them to some good crafty use!

I am a frugal crafter and every year I bag up that torn gift wrap and toss it all into a bag with my small scrap piece. Then throughout the winter when I am stuck inside...I get into my bag and make some new crafty items for the next holiday season.

Here are 7 craft project ideas that you can do to use up all of that Christmas gift wrapping paper instead of tossing it away!

* Homemade Bookmarks - Takes those scraps and turn them into holiday bookmarks! Cut from cardboard or cardstock rectangular shapes that measure 1 3/4" by 6" in length. Use a hole puncher and punch a hole on one end. Cut the paper to measure the width and length of the cardstock and glue one piece onto each side. Use yarn or ribbon and thread through the hole to make a bow or tassel.

* Decoupage Vase - Save old clear glass vases and jars. Rip the scraps into odd shapes measuring no large than 3" in size. Use decoupage and adhere them to the outside of a glass vase or jar. Let dry and then cover with a top coat of the decoupage medium, let dry for 24 full hours. You now have a holiday vase or container for next year! If using jars, save the lids and use them for gifts in a jar!

* Gift Tags - From cardboard or cardstock cut pieces that measure 4" in size. Cut from gift wrap a piece that measures 4" in size. Use quick drying glue and a foam brush to adhere the paper to one side of the cardstock. Let dry. Fold the square in half or using a scoring tool to score it down the center, fold. Use a hole punch to turn it into a gift tag. Use scraps of ribbon or yarn through the hole so you can attach your new tags to package boxes or onto gift bags.

* Gift Bags - Purchase solid color gift bags at your local party supply store. Cut shapes and designs out of your scrap gift wrap and glue it onto the bags using a quick drying glue and a foam brush. Let dry for several hours. You can place your design just on the front of the bag or continue it around all four sides.

* Cardboard Boxes - Save all of your small and medium sized boxes along with their lids. Cut shapes and/or designs out of the gift wrap and glue them onto all sides and the lid of the box in a pleasing design using quick drying glue and a foam brush. Let dry. You now have pretty gift boxes for next year all ready to go!

* Tall Glass Candle Holders - Recycle or buy clear glass cylinder candle holders at your local dollar store. Use decoupage medium and a foam brush to glue on shapes, designs and patterns from the gift wrap onto the glass candle holder. Let dry. Use the decoupage medium to add a top coat across your design and let dry for 24 hours. You now have pretty holiday candle holders for next year.

* Scrapbooking & Cardmaking - Purchase a bottle of archival mist and lightly mist your scraps of Christmas gift wrapping paper. Let dry for 24 hours. You can now cut up those scraps and use them safely in your scrapbooks or use them in your cardmaking to make scrapbook layouts or new holiday cards.

Hope you enjoy these project ideas! If you have any other frugal craft project ideas or Trash to Treasure craft project ideas that you want to share with me and my readers, please feel free to leave me a comment below & I will contact you. Enjoy!

Home Business Selling Handmade Crafts - 5 Steps to Success

You CAN sell your handmade crafts. A simple home business is possible. Follow the five steps below and watch your craft sales soar.

Step #1 - PASSION. Passion drives a person. Passion shines through in your work. Passion keeps you keeping on when all others have given up. You don't just like making your craft. You have a fire-in-the-belly passion. You love making this craft so much that you can't stop making it no matter what.

If you don't have passion for your handmade craft, don't make it for selling. Without passion you will give up on your home business and craft too soon. You will produce an item of so-so quality and you will learn to hate this craft and be unhappy. And THAT will show in your work. Have PASSION for your handmade craft or don't sell.

Step #2 - QUALITY. Not just good quality, but superb quality. Take your craft a step farther. Make it better than the rest. People recognize quality and will pay more. Sure they'll buy the cheap ones, but they will be disappointed and buy quality the next time. It may cost more to produce but what you gain in reputation is well worth the extra money.

If you want your home business in it for the long haul, reputation is EVERYTHING! Soon a handmade craft with your name on it will command better prices than any others similar to it. Nothing beats QUALITY.

Step #3 - UNIQUENESS. You are a unique individual and your handmade craft should have a little touch of your personality. Study the work of top artists in your craft to see their uniqueness and you will find a way to add your style. Never do exactly what others are doing. Don't make it so different that "bizarre" comes to mind when they see your craft because most people don't want weird. Just add your own curve here, or a different color there, make it brighter or darker, etc.

Are you a happy person? Studious? Meticulous? What part of you goes into your work? Find a way to let people know it's your creation. Make your home business and craft stand out with UNIQUENESS.

Step #4 - TARGETING. Research, research, research until you identify and understand your target market. This is the hardest step but once you know your customers, you will save yourself a lot of time and grief. People, who are not interested in your craft, are not going to buy.

Millions of people search eBay and you can look there to see if your craft item sells. But don't get discouraged if you don't see it there. Lots of items sell well offline but not online. And bargain hunters abound on eBay. You might not get a fair price for your handmade craft item. Use eBay as a marketing research tool. It's great for testing the waters and sometimes you actually get a great price for your craft.Search out that target market at every opportunity. Your local community probably has more opportunities than you could ever imagine for your home business. TARGETING makes selling so much easier.

Step #5 - PERSISTENCE. Be relentless. If you do the first four steps, persistence will pay off. Always keep moving forward. Learn more about your craft than anyone else (passion really keeps you going here) and keep searching for those targeted customers.

Persevere through rejections. Learn from them, adjust, and make steady progress. This is why passion is step #1 for your home business to succeed. If your passion wanes, your persistence will, too. Without PERSISTENCE, selling your handmade craft will be a very short term endeavor.

Now that you have Passion, Quality, Uniqueness, Targeting, and Persistence for your home business, you can start counting the money from the sale of your handmade craft. Good luck and happy crafting.

Debby McCandless produces handmade craft items for sale from alpaca fleece from alpacas raised on her farm. She has learned what it takes to make a home business of handmade crafts work. Visit her website http://www.owning-alpaca.com.

Duct Tape Decor: New Fall Looks with Easy & Affordable Craft Ideas from Country Woman

As the trees change hue this autumn, it’s the perfect season to turn over a new leaf when it comes to your home goods and accessories.

No need to spend a fortune on this fall makeover. Country Woman magazine has unwrapped some excellent ideas for an easy, innovative Duct Tape Craft Party. We’re not talking about those boring, gray tape rolls—an array of today’s brightly colored, vivid patterned duct tape as well as newer Japanese paper tape (washi) and fabric tape is all you’ll need to update everything from your picture frames to your glasses.

Here’s how to craft this party that’s sure to stick in your guests’ memories:

·         Have each friend bring several rolls of tape, along with an object to revive. You provide more tape, rulers (for measuring), scissors, an X-acto knife, disposable gloves, and a table or other clean, flat surface to work on. 

·         Before you get started, take pictures of each guest and their item. That way you’ll have something to compare the “after” shots of your guests’ completed duct tape crafts to.

• Set the mood with the right music and play songs like “Stuck Like Glue” by Sugarland, “Let’s Stick Together” by Bryan Ferry and “Stuck on You” by Elvis Presley.

• Keep up the theme with your party treats! Try delicious, slightly sticky snacks like Honey-Glazed Snack Mix, Confetti Caramel Corn, Banana Sticky Buns or Rhubarb Sticky Buns.

• And of course the crafts:
• Easy Embellished Frame: Updating your picture frames has never been easier. Simply add a variety of colored tapes to give them a brand new look!
• Mirror Makeover: Add patterned tape to a mirror’s frame to give it a stylish, seemingly textured façade.
• Glammed up Glasses: More fun than glass charms, washi tape lets you individualize your cups for any occasion.
• Fashionable, Wallet-Friendly Purse: Use duct tape as the “fabric” for a bright and sturdy purse. 

You can find these ideas and more by visiting http://www.countrywomanmagazine.com/food-entertaining/entertaining/duct-tape-crafts-party-ideas/ We would like to thank Country Woman Magazine for sharing these crafty ideas with our Passionate About Crafting blog readers. Enjoy!

Making Money With a Home Crafts Business - Article

Thinking of starting a home crafts business? Handmade crafts have grown in popularity because people want something different and special. Here are some great tips and ideas about turning your hobby, creativity or interest into a profitable home based business.

What home crafts are popular?
How do you know if your craft is popular and will sell? Do some research and find out. What are the best selling crafts on websites that sell handmade crafts? Visit local craft stores and find out which crafts are in demand. Go to local craft fairs and investigate which craft displays are generating the most interest. Our research has shown that homemade candles are one of the most popular home crafts business. Consider that almost 80 percent of US households use candles and they are consumable products that customers keep buying and you can see that there is a definite demand for this craft. Making candles is simple and fun and there are limitless ideas for making your candles special. Homemade greeting cards are another growth industry with 7 billion greeting cards sold each year in the US alone. People are looking for something different when selecting a greeting card and handmade greeting cards are both special and unique.

Homemade soap is another profitable home crafts business. It is simple and inexpensive to make handmade soaps and you can have fun creating beautiful soaps. The demand for handmade soap is growing all the time as people become more aware of the advantages of natural, chemical-free products. A home based gift basket business has great potential. This is one of the fastest growing businesses of the decade. Making and selling gift baskets is a good way of earning income at home.

How do I price my homemade crafts?
This is one of the most important aspects of a successful home crafts business. It is essential to get the pricing right so that you are neither undercharging or making your craft unaffordable. It is vital that you carefully research what similar products are selling for. Go to local stores that stock these crafts and check the prices. Visit craft fairs and farmers markets and see how your craft is priced. Go online and investigate the prices for similar crafts. Make sure you take your costs and overheads into consideration when setting your prices. You need to have a reasonable profit margin in order to make money.

How do I market and sell my homemade crafts?
Craft fairs are a good place to start selling your product. Find out which are the most popular local craft fairs and farmers markets and rent a booth to sell your crafts. Visit local gift stores and ask to sell your product on consignment through the store. Host a home party where guests can buy your crafts. Team up with friends who have a different home crafts business and set up a home party together. Market your homemade product to gift basket companies or make your own gift baskets using your products. Put together some promotional material and visit local businesses who can use your craft for client gifts. There are so many ways to market your crafts and with energy and determination you can have a successful home crafts business.

Enjoy using your creativity and imagination while making money from home. Find out more about starting your own home crafts businesses with the practical guides at Work at Home Crafts

Julia Derby has many years experience working in small business development. She left formal employment to be a work at home mom and has successfully started and developed a number of home businesses. Her free website My Home Business Ideas provides good ideas and practical advice for people who want to start a home based business and enjoy all the benefits of making money at home.

Scrapbooking - Simple Solutions for Avoiding Scrappers Block

Have you ever sat staring at a pile of photos and scrapbooking supplies and wondered what now? If so, you could be suffering from scrapper’s block. I have put together some simple solutions for avoiding scrapper’s block.

One cause of scrapper’s block is too many photos. You are feeling overwhelmed because you have a stack of photos, you are so far behind you just don’t know where to start. One way to overcome this, is to sort through your photos. Divide them into events, people, themes or however you like to scrap. Store in a photo safe box in their divided sections. Now concentrate on one set of photos. From this set, choose the ones you want to work with first. Whether you want to highlight one or work with several. Don’t worry about the stack you have stored away. Concentrate on the ones right in front of you and start chipping away at this one event. If you tend to use the same papers and embellishments for each event then you are ahead of the game. Finish your first layout from your selected photos and quickly move on to the next while the supplies are already out and ready to use.

Another form of scrapper’s block comes from poor quality photos. You have some photos that are out of focus, too far away, over/under developed or perhaps a busy background. However, you want to scrap them because it is all you have of that event/memory and you want to remember it. Stop complaining about the poor quality photo! Remember why you are scrapping to begin with. Do you scrap to showcase your professional photography skills? (if so, you are on your own here) Highlight the journaling and really tell the story there. You can also crop the photo and make the best use of it you can. Perhaps play around with the photo in your photo editing program, crop and enlarge and concentrate on a facial feature. Try sepia tones or black and white, you never know what might happen to that otherwise “bad” photo.

Ok, so now you have great photos but the wrong supplies. The colors and styles of paper you have on hand are just not right. Well, you can take your photos with you to the scrapbook store and buy what you need, shop online in the comfort of your home, or how about creating it. Do you have some old outdated paper lying around? Try sanding it down, then rub an ink pad over it and give it a new look. You now have a new distressed look, the color you need and some new supplies on hand. You can also try painting brads, label holders and other embellishments to get the color you need. Cover slide mounts, mini frames, chipboard with patterned paper to coordinate with your layout and supplies on hand. These are just a few ideas, get creative! Of course you can always set the photos aside until you have the funds needed to go shopping.

Try something new. Try a new technique, buy some new supplies, just play for awhile with no real “end” in mind. Use it on a small project such as a card. Get out the “cobwebs” and get the creativity flowing, then perhaps you will be inspired and ready to scrap.

Do you become intimidated by browsing through online galleries or flipping through magazines by the gorgeous talent out there? Don’t let this block you! First of all, it is your scrapbook. Express yourself, your style, your family-that is what needs to be remembered. Besides who says you can’t scraplift? If you see a layout you really like, scraplift it! It may not be exact anyway if you don’t have the exact supplies, but it will get you started on something you like. Just don’t use the layout in a contest. And I would suggest giving credit where credit is due if posting in a public venue.

Perfectionism. Do you get caught up in creating the perfect layout? You want your layout to look like you spent hours on it, perfecting it, the colors blend, the design flows. But it doesn’t have to be perfect. Remember your why. Why do you scrapbook? Focus on that. We can easily get caught up in the “perfect layout” and forget why we scrapbook to begin with. Remember your whys. By remembering why you scrapbook the problem with scrapper’s block will vanish and your new layout is now perfect. Enjoy preserving your memories!

Need more answers to your scrapbooking questions? Dawn Stegall provides 102 of them at http://102ScrapbookingIdeas.com

Cardmaking Tips for Beginners

When it comes to making your own handcrafted greeting cards, note cards and gift enclosure cards at home, you will need to go out and purchase some supplies and tools and this handy shopping checklist will help you get started. Some of the items listed on the checklist are "must haves" and others are "optional". When shopping, purchase what most important items first and then stock up on supplies when your craft store is running a good sale.

Cardmaking Tools:

Paper Trimmer or (Exacto Knife and Cutting Pad, made for scrapbooking)
Straight Edge Scissors (made for paper crafting)
Decorative Edge Scissors (we recommend at least two)
Eyelet Setter
1/8" and 1/4" Hole Punchers
Metal Edge Clear Ruler

Cardmaking Supplies:

* Blank Cardstock Cards w/envelopes (or make your own from cardstock)
* Self-Adhesive Stickers
* Adhesive (glue dots, glue sticks, self-adhesive foam dots & squares)
* (optional) Glitter Glue w/Fine Tip Nozzle (great for adding sparkle accents to your designs)
* Scrapbooking Paper and Cardstock (solids and prints)
* Ribbons, Ric Rac Trim and Fibers (various colors and prints)
* 3-Dimensional Embellishments (tiny charms, beads, sequins, tiny buttons, silk & paper flowers, etc.)
* Brads and Eyelets (if using eyelets you will need to purchase an eyelet setter tool)
* Rub-On or Self-Adhesive Wording, Phrases and Letters
* Rubber Stamps, Clear Stamps and Ink Pads (if you can afford it, purchase rubber stamp cleaner too)
* Scrapbooking Chalks: Primary Colors, Pastel Colors and Applicators
* Multi-Pack of Fine Tip and Medium Tip Scrapbooking Markers and Pens

Once you purchase your supplies, you will want to organize them and store them in plastic bins or on shelves in your designated crafting area. As you get more involved in cardmaking you should consider purchasing a die-cut machine so that you can make and cut out your own words, letters and embellishments. Purchasing a die-cut machine is a big investment and the decision to purchase one shouldn't be made lightly. However, if you stick to this crafting medium and want to expand your cardmaking abilities, we feel it is a good investment to make.

When you first start to make your own greeting cards, you will want to start off with quick and easy designs. As you get more experience you can try making harder and more time consuming designs. The more cards you make the better you get at making them. You can look through books and magazines for inspiration on design styles or check out the internet online. Happy Cardmaking!

4 Tips for Creating the Mood to Scrapbook

I love to scrapbook and even though I love this crafting medium...I have to be "in-the-mood" to do it. In the past...I found that if I was forcing myself to sit down and scrapbook, most of the time I was not pleased with my work. It felt rushed and uncreative when I would review the scrapbook pages that I had made.

Recently I took a 3 month break from scrapbooking and realized that I was simply burned out and I wasn't creating a creative mood when I sat down to do it. Now that I have realized that...I am once again enjoying this craft.

I would imagine that every crafter is different but for me...I find that I do my best creative work when I added mood lighting, sunshine and some soft enjoyable music. In addition, I reorganized my craft room so that I wouldn't get frustrated with trying to find the items that I needed.

Here is what I did:

1. I added some beautiful scented battery-operated candles throughout my craft room. I chose battery-operated ones because I didn't want to worry about fires. If I am being creative in the evening or during the night I will turn them on.

2. I moved my craft table & desk and they now sit right in front of a large window in the room. I can now open up the blinds and let the sunshine in while I work. You would be amazed at how energized you will feel when you move your main creative area in front of a large window. While I am scrapbooking, I can look out into the back yards and see nature at it's best.

3. I decided to ditch my iPod and go with a small portable CD player and now play music while I am in there crafting. I used to keep a small TV in there but removed it as I would often get distracted with it on while crafting. For me...music works much better!

4. Finally, I went out and invested in a good comfortable & orthopedic correct office chair that can be adjusted to my individual comfort needs. While this chair cost me $150.00 it was well worth every penny! Now when I sit in there to craft, I don't get an aching back, neck, shoulders or leg cramps! I can now sit longer and I am definitely more comfortable.

Well there you have it...my top 4 tips on how to create a better environment in your craft room to help bring out your creative side in comfort!

8 Creative Ways to Store your Knitting & Crocheting Yarns

For those who are passionate about knitting and crocheting, you already know how important it is to properly store all of your yarns and supplies. When thinking about storage options, you need to think about the room you will be storing them in, the amount of space you have to work with and what kind of storage item you are looking for.

Here are some creative ways you can store all of your knitting and crocheting supplies.

1. Canvas Laundry Bags - Look for washable bags with a drawstring closure to place all of your yarn in. If you have a lot of yarn...buy several in a variety of colors to color-code your yarn storage.

2. Plastic Linen Storage Bags - Every time you purchase new comforters or bed linens, save those clear plastic bags with zipper closures and use those to store your supplies in. What is really nice about these bags is that you can see what is inside them and they slip easily underneath your bed or in a closet if you are limited on storage space.

3. Plastic Storage Totes - A variety of plastic manufacturers make plastic storage totes (Rubbermaid is one of them) which are good for storing your knitting & crocheting supplies in if you have a lot of storage space to work with. Although this should not be your first storage choice option...it is an option to consider.

4. Over-the-Door Shoe Storage Bag - Have you all seen those shoe storage bags that fit over a closet door or on the back of a door? If you have a lot of little yarn balls or work with small amounts of baby yarn...these shoe organizers could be a storage option for you. With that said, most will not hold large, full-size yarn skeins, so keep that in mind when considering one for your storage options.

5. Laundry Baskets - These are an inexpensive storage option but when using laundry baskets it is important to toss something over the top of them to keep animals and dust out! A folded up throw blanket, garbage bag, etc. will be needed to over-the-top of the laundry basket to keep your yarns looking nice and bug-free.

6. Children's Toy Boxes - If your children are all grown up or if you can pick up a toy box at a local yard sale...an empty toy box works well for storing all of your crocheting and knitting supplies in...including yarn! If you invest in a wooden one, you could use it for extra seating in your home (like a bench) which gives it dual function and it can enhance your home's décor.

7. Storage Ottomans - If you are limited on space or what an option that works with your home's décor...a small or medium-sized storage ottoman is the way to go. These ottomans can double as extra seating or as a coffee table too!

8. Canvas Tote Bags - If you only keep enough yarn and supplies on hand to make one single project at a time consider purchasing a large canvas tote bag to store your project and supplies in. These tote bags are great for those of you who like to take your projects with you when you travel.

Purchasing yarn is an investment and you want to properly keep your yarn clean, dry, out of direct sunlight and well organized. Take in consideration the amount of yarn you have, the area (place) in where you will be storing it and how much money you have to spend on your storage option. Once you know these answers, you can select the perfect storage option for your needs.


Article written by Shelly Hill.

Stocking a Child's Rainy Day Arts & Crafts Activity Box

A few weeks ago I went out to my local craft supply store to purchase a whole bunch of crafting supplies that would be appropriate for a 4 year old child. My little grand daughter is finally at the age that she wants to sit down and make a variety of arts & crafts projects with me and I needed to stock up on supplies.

Here is a checklist of the basic arts & craft supplies that I purchased. I feel that all of these supplies are appropriate for preschooler's and should be in their craft supplies box. Just by having all of these supplies on hand, you can make a wide variety of craft projects...many of which are listed here on my blog in the Kid's Crafts category.

Your Shopping Checklist

1 Medium-Sized Plastic Storage Box
Construction Paper
Safety Scissors for Kids
Felt Sheets (we selected 10 different colors)
All-Purpose Craft Glue (dries clear)
Water Paints with Paint Brush
1 Pack of Magnets
Wooden Craft Sticks (look like popsicle sticks)
4 Packs of Plastic Beads
3 Bottles of Glitter Glue
Large Box of Crayons
1 Pack of Markers (wash-off style)
4 Packs of Stickers (on clearance for .50 cents a pack)
1 Pack of Printed Scrapbooking Paper (on clearance for $2.00 for 30 sheets)
1 Pack of Colored Gel Pens (clearance for $1.00)
1 Ink Pad
4 Small Rubber Stamps (2 flowers, 1 heart and a frog - clearance .50 cents each)
1 Pack of Pipe Cleaners (various colors in one pack)
1 Pack of 20 Plastic Buttons (for crafting)
8 Sheets of Crafting Foam (in primary colors - 4 sheets for $1.00)
1 Pack of Wiggle Eyes (8 sets of eyes for $1.00)
1 Bunch of Small-Sized Artificial Flowers (on clearance for .50 cents)
3 Rolls of Ribbon (.50 cents a roll)

There were a few other things that I also picked up for her arts & crafts activity box, but the list above is the majority of it. I spent under $50.00 and wanted to have all of these supplies on-hand so that I can keep her busy this summer, especially on those rainy days when she gets bored.


Just by having all of those supplies in the activity box, you can make dozens and dozens of projects! You can add to that box all kinds of things that you have laying around your house like - additional buttons, plastic bottle caps from soda bottles, fabric scraps, clean popsicle sticks, left-over computer printer paper, baby food jars, empty coffee cans, plastic containers, tissue paper, left-over gift wrap scraps and all kinds of other items!

The next time your kids get bored and need something to do...you will be prepared and ready to go! Enjoy!

Homemade Baby Shower Gift Ideas That You Can Make!

Heading to a baby shower this Spring? Looking for a few homemade baby shower gift ideas? Well, we have some for you today! If you crochet, knit, sew or just love general crafting, you should be able to gather a few gift ideas from the list below. Enjoy!

1. If you knit or crochet you can purchase a few skeins of yarn and make the mom-to-be a new baby blanket. If you know the design and/or colors of the baby's nursery, we do recommend you work one up to go along with the nursery theme. When it doubt, stick with the tradition white, mint green or yellow. In addition to the baby blanket, you could knit or crochet a baby sweater, bib, hat or a few pairs of baby booties.

2. If you enjoy sewing you could make many new things for the new baby. Mom's always appreciate baby quilts, baby bibs, burp pads, changing pads, diaper stackers, diaper bags, tote bags and other items that a baby needs regularly. If you are pressed for time and have a limited budget you could make a few burp pads for only a few bucks.

3. All new moms love to display photos of the new baby so head to your local craft store and purchase a few blank picture frames. Head on over to their craft supplies aisle and pick up some baby themed supplies, a glue gun and some glue sticks. Once home you can hot glue a lot of different baby themed items around the picture frame and give it to the new mom.

4. If you are pretty crafty you could whip up some new nursery decorations for the baby's new room. Moms love hanging new baby theme'd items on the walls, sitting new items on shelves, bookcases and dresser tops. Most moms pick out a color scheme and theme for their baby's nursery so try to work within that style. Wall hangings, mini quilts, homemade stuffed animals, baby blocks, teddy bears, etc. all make nice homemade baby shower gifts.

How to Start A Scrapbooking Business

Have people commented on what great scrapbook or memory pages you make? Do they ask your opinion on what they should do with their pictures? If you have answered yes to either of these questions, you may want to consider a scrapbooking home based business. People are realizing how important their memories from a wedding, birthday, vacation, or just everyday life are. Having their photos and other important memories sitting in a drawer isn’t a very satisfying feeling. Creating lasting, beautiful scrapbooks is a calling, but it isn’t for everyone.

Starting a scrapbooking business is a great way to use your talents and earn some extra money.

How Do I Start a Scrapbooking Business?

The first step to starting your business is to making a portfolio. Gather all of your best scrapbook and memory book pages together, and compile them. This will give your prospective clients something great to look at when they are considering your work. Once you’ve done that, the next step is to find clients.

You may want to consider signing up as a consultant with a scrapbook supply company as well. To ensure that your scrapbooking business is profitable, you will need to purchase your supplies at discounted or wholesale prices. Creating unique, quality scrapbook pages will require a variety of supplies including stickers, paper, embellishments, etc… Make sure that you always have a wide variety on hand to help create fantastic scrapbook pages.

How Do I Find Clients?

The first step to finding clients is to let people know about your new business. Tell all of your friends and family and encourage them to let others know as well. Consider writing and submitting a press release online and in your local community. You can also do a bit of simple advertising. Make a cute flier, and stick it up on the bulletin board at your supermarket, church, or art store. Once you have a few clients, you might want to consider giving discounts if they refer someone, or coupons for a discount off their next order.

How Do I Expand My Business?

If you want to expand your scrapbook home business, consider teaching others how to scrapbook. You can set up classes and teach them how to preserve their own memories and make them look great at the same time. Just imagine how much fun it would be to get together with a group of people and share your experience, while making a profit.

Making a scrapbook or a memory book is something that will last a lifetime with proper care. When you advertise your scrapbooking home business to prospective clients, let them know that their photos and memories will last a lifetime with your help. It should be your passion to save those photographs that are jumbled in a drawer somewhere, and create lasting memories for your clients.

If you have the talent and passion for creating beautiful scrapbook pages, you definitely should consider a scrapbooking business.

Mindy Benkert is a successful business owner devoted to helping others find their Perfect Business! Visit her website for the latest
Creative Business Ideas today!

15 Creative Ideas: Recycling Holiday Greeting Cards

During the Holiday and Christmas Seasons, we all get an abundance of Holiday Greeting Cards. Once the holiday has passed, what do you do with them? Don't throw them away!

I have 15 creative ideas to share with you, on how you can recycle and reuse those Greeting Cards.

1. Holiday Place Card Settings. Cut down your greeting card to a 4" high by 3" wide size. Fold and score the card in the center, making a 'tent' shape. You can write the guests name inside the card.

2. Postcards. Cut the back off. Use the front side as a postcard.

3. Beverage Coasters. Cut your card to a 4" square size. You now have disposable beverage coasters for your next party. If you would like permanent coasters, seal the design in clear contact paper.

4. Refrigerator Magnets. Cut out pretty designs from the front. Seal the design with clear contact paper. Glue a small magnet on the back.

5. Coat and Sweater Pins. Cut out some small pretty designs from your cards. Glue a 1" pin closure onto the back.

6. Recipe Cards. Cut down your card to measure 3"x 5" in size. Write your favorite holiday recipes on the blank backside. You can hand them out at your holiday party or at your cookie exchange party.

7. Wall Decorations. You can mat and frame your greeting cards.

8. Scrapbooking and Cardmaking. To make your items archival safe, lightly spray them with Archival Mist.

9. Bookmarks. Cut your card to a 1 1/2" by 7" size. Use a hole punch to punch a hole near the top edge. Attach a ribbon or tassel through the hole.

10. Gift Bag and Package Tags. Cut down to a 1" by 3" size. Hole punch a hole in the left upper corner so that you can attach the tag to the package with ribbon.

11. Tree Ornaments. Cut out 3" and 4" diameter designs. Hole punch a hole near the top center. Use ribbon to make a hanger.

12. Jar Lid Toppers. If you are making gift mixes to give as Holiday gifts, cut out a circle design to fit the top of your jar lid. Glue to the jar lid using all-purpose crafting glue or a scrapbooking glue stick.

13. Holiday Placemats. Cut a sheet of poster board to desired placement length. Glue card fronts onto poster board. Seal both sides of poster board with clear contact paper.

14. Charm Tags. Cut out 2" diameter circles. Hole punch a hole near the to center edge. Using a key chain finding, insert chain through hole. Instant way to dress up your purse, backpack, and key chains for the holidays.

15. CD/DVD Jewel Case Covers. Dress up those holiday self-made DVDs and CDs by making your own jewel case covers. Cut down greeting cards to fit inside the case, using the case as a template.

I hope these 15 crafty ideas have inspired your own creative ideas. Remember, Don't throw them away. It's time to Recycle and Reuse those greeting cards!

Article Written by Shelly Hill ~ Owner of Passionate About Crafting Blog.

How to Price Your Scrapbook Layouts for Maximum Profits

When figuring out how to price your scrapbooks, DO NOT under value your work. Besides your time, cost of supplies, revisions, etc. don't forget your talent. Remember, your creativity and what makes your service unique is valuable. Another thing to consider is if you price your work higher, clients will equate it with quality. Whether or not that is true, it is a common perception. On the flip side, cheap=cheap.

Theme Pricing
Theme pricing can be done in several ways. You can charge per album, per page, or per spread. Theme scrapbooks can be individualized for a specific person or event. You can charge per basic album and then charge additional for extra pages.

Charging Per Side
Charging per side is one way to increase your revenue. Set up some basic prices and then allow your clients to add additional pages for an additional price. The more artistic and professional the page, the more you can charge.

Charging Per Style
Offer different styles from a more basic page to a page that contains more embellishments and techniques. Adding more embellishments requires a higher cost, while technique requires more time. Some clients may prefer a simpler album or one that puts the focus on the photos. While another client may like the "artistic" approach with more added.

The Importance of Interviews
Conducting interviews with your clients before you give them a price is very important. You should have a feel for the kind of person who is receiving the scrapbook. Asking in-depth questions will help you understand your client and their wants better. You don't want to charge a set price and many revisions later are still trying to please your client. These revisions cost time and money and your profits just went out the window.

Key Questions
Interview questions should include things such as room for additional keepsakes, design ideas, layout preferences, and any extras the client wants. By discussing all of these things upfront, you are less likely to have to make changes later on. For best results create a questionaire to be filled out by your client or you asking them, for better results.

Little Things That Can Make A Difference
Paying attention to details can make a difference in the quality of your work and in your profits. Double-check spellings, dates, etc. Recognize your clients likes and dislikes when they are looking at your sample album. If they don't like a particular color, embellishment, style or technique, make note of it and don't include in their album.

How Generic Layouts Can Help You
Generic layouts can help you in many ways. They can be sold individually; provide a blank slate for your client; and help you in your pricing strategy. Probably the most beneficial is generic layouts will cut back on time needed to create and therefore increase your hourly profit margin.

Custom Scrapbooks
Custom scrapbooks allow you to create extremely personal gifts. When custom scrapbooks are used along with basic theme albums, the customer can see that the possibilities are endless.

What Makes Your Service Different from All the Rest?
Highlighting unique qualities about your service will set yourself apart from your competitors. Offer quality work and customer support and then set your prices to reflect this. Remember, people believe in the saying, you get what you pay for.

What Sets Your Product Apart from Others Like It?
Make your products stand out to your customers. Tell and show your customers how your items will solve a problem or make life easier for them. Consider offering a little something extra to really stand out and provide excellent customer service.

The above tips will have you confidently pricing your work for maximum profits. Don't undervalue your work. Set a price you feel comfortable with and stick with it!

Dawn Stegall is dedicated to helping you succeed with your scrapbooking business. You can find more scrapbook business tips along with a free eCourse and scrapbook business roadmap at http://www.ScrapbookBusinessTips.com.

How To Clean Acrylic Stamps & Stamping Blocks

For decades the only type of stamps you could purchase as a crafter were the cumbersome rubber stamps. Even though rubber stamps have their place in the crafts market, most crafter's and scrapbookers are using the new and modern clear acrylic stamps with their crafting projects.

The acrylic stamps and acrylic stamping blocks will last a crafter many years if they are properly taken care of it. Today, let's take a look at how you should be cleaning them and how you should be storing them.

Cleaning Acrylic Stamps & Acrylic Stamping Blocks:

When cleaning inks off of acrylic stamps it is best to purchase a cleaning product that is made specifically for acrylic stamps. You do not want to use household cleaning products to clean your stamps as those products are too harsh and can cause damage to your stamps.

Many different companies make acrylic stamp cleaners and while their ingredients may differ, all basically work the same way. You will want to clean your acrylic stamps while they are still on your acrylic stamping block and immediately after you are done using them. If you let the ink dry on the stamp, they will be harder to clean.

Apply the liquid cleaner onto the stamp and then use a soft cotton cloth or microfiber cloth to rub the liquid into the stamp. Once the ink has been removed, use another damp cloth to remove any residue and light towel dry. Do not use any scrubbing brushes to remove stubborn ink stains as those brushes can cause scratched and damage your stamps.

If your acrylic stamp is losing some of it's stickiness, apply 1 to 2 drops of liquid dish soap onto a dampened cotton cloth and wipe the cloth over the acrylic stamp. This will help your stamp to get it's sticky properties back.

The acrylic stamp block can be cleaned with acrylic stamp cleaner or you can clean with it with some mild liquid dishwashing soap. Once it has been cleaned, towel dry or air dry before putting it away.

Storing Acrylic Stamps and Acrylic Stamping Blocks:

Crafter's all seem to have different ways of storing their acrylic stamps and you can find a variety of products out in the marketplace to make it easier. For me personally, I have a big photo storage box and place all of my acrylic stamps inside it in packages that are designed to hold them. I them label them and alphabetize them for easy storage. You can also purchase 3-ring binders, storage bins, plastic envelopes, etc. that are made for acrylic stamp storage. Before putting your stamps away, always make sure they are completely dry.

The best way I have found to store acrylic stamping blocks in is a plastic mesh basket that I keep sitting on my craft shelf. I can easily see my different sized and shaped blocks inside it and get them out quickly and easily. Do not store your blocks in moisture-rich environments and protect them from extreme temperatures.

Learn to Crochet - Hook and Yarn Choice

Learn to Crochet - Hook and Yarn Choice
By Fiona J Sloss

Learning to crochet can be a remarkably simple process once you have taken the first step and selected your yarn and hook. This simple guide will start you off on the right track with straight forward advice on selecting the best yarns and hooks for learning to crochet.

Most important, is to choose a crochet or knitting yarn that you'll enjoy working with. When you're just learning to crochet, a DK (double knit or worsted in American terminology) weight cotton yarn in a light colour is recommended by most crochet experts. This yarn will be smooth to work with and will create loops and stitches that you will be able to see clearly. Cotton fibre holds the stitches well, doesn't tend to stretch and is relatively easy to block and finish once you have finished your crochet project. As well as pure cotton, there are great ranges of mixed yarns, particularly cotton and bamboo. Try something like King Cole Bamboo Cotton DK which comes in a great range of colours, has a smooth surface and isn't prone to splitting. For a slightly finer weight yarn (4ply or sportweight), the DMC Natura Cotton range is recommended.

Once you have really developed your crochet skills, experiment with the finer crochet threads if you like to work on delicate lace projects. There is a whole host of crochet specific yarns on the market, but you can crochet with anything yarn-like, even strips of old plastic bags, garden twine, wire or fabric! (For these kinds of "yarn", a plastic or aluminium hook should be used. Anything made of natural material such as wood or bamboo is unlikely to be strong enough for the job.)

After choosing your crochet yarn, you will need a crochet hook. Crochet hooks range in size from 0.5mm to 25mm and beyond. They come in a variety of materials from plastic, to steel, to bamboo and rose wood. A good place to start that will keep your initial outlay to a minimum while you are learning is the Pony Crochet Hook range; but if you want to treat yourself, then the colourful wooden Knit Pro Crochet Hooks are a delight to work with.

For DK (worsted) yarn, choose a 4mm hook while you are learning to crochet. As you gain in experience, you can try different hook sizes to change the tension of your work. You can also check the band from the ball of yarn that you are planning on using. Often, it will show the recommended knitting needle sizes only, but as a general rule, the yarn will crochet up well in a hook size which is 0.5mm smaller than the recommended knitting needles. By way of example, the band on the King Cole Bamboo Cotton DK recommends using 4mm knitting needles. So if we subtract 0.5mm from 4mm, we get to the 3.5mm crochet hook.

When you're starting out, the only other things you will probably need are a good pair of sharp scissors, a tape measure and a making up needle. Once you get going, there's a whole range of other tools including stitch markers, row counters, blocking pins and knitting clips, but save investing in those until you know crochet is something you're going to pursue as a hobby.

You can keep up with all my latest projects, beginners' crochet instruction and adventures as a new mum on my blog at http://fionajayne.blogspot.co.uk/ or visit us at http://www.mariashaberdashery.co.uk for all of your knitting, crochet and sewing needs.