Category Archives: Crafts

Twinkle Star Blanket

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Whether baby is out and about or ready for a nap, this beautiful crocheted star blanket will keep your precious little one warm and cozy.

Materials

  • Pink worsted-weight yarn, 28 oz.

Tools

  • Crochet hook, size 5 (3.75mm)
  • Yarn needle

Basic Supplies

scissors

Abbreviations

ch = chain
dc = double crochet
rep = repeat
rnd(s) = round(s)
sk = skip
sl st = slip stitch
sp(s) = space(s)
st = stitch

Directions

Medallion

1. Ch 8, sl st to form ring.

2. Rnd 1: Ch 3, 2 dc in ring. (Ch 2, 3 dc in ring) five times. Ch 2 , sl st in top of ch-3.

3. Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc. (Ch 2, dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2, dc in next 3 dc) around. End with sl st in top of ch-3.

4. Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc. *(Ch 2, dc in next sp) twice; ch 2, dc in next 3 dc. Rep from * around. End with sl st in top of ch-3.

5. Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc. *(Ch 2, dc in next sp) three times; ch 2, dc in next 3 dc. Rep from * around. End with sl st in top of ch-3.

6. Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc. *2 dc in next sp, (ch 2, dc in next sp) twice. Ch 2, 2 dc in next sp, dc in next 3 sps. Rep from * around. End with sl st in top of ch-3.

7. Rnd 6: Ch 3, dc in next 4 dc. *2 dc in next sp. Ch 2, dc in next sp, ch 2, 2 dc in next sp. Dc in next 7 sps. Rep from * around. End with sl st in top of ch-3.

8. Rnd 7: Ch 3, dc in next 6 dc. *2 dc in next sp, ch 2, 2 dc in next sp; dc in next 11 dc. Repeat from * around. End with sl st in top of ch-3.

9. Rnd 8: Ch 3, dc in next 8 dc. *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next sp; dc in next 15 dc. Rep from * around. End with sl st in top of ch-3.

10. Rnd 9: Ch 5, skip 2 dc, dc in next dc. (Ch 2, sk 2 dc, dc in next dc) twice. *Ch 2, dc in ch-2 sp; ch 2, dc in same sp. (Ch 2, sk 2 dc, dc in next dc) six times. Rep from * around. End with sl st in third st of ch-5. Fasten off.

Joining Medallions

1. Join medallions on 9th round. (Note: Medallion in-progress is A; medallion being joined is B). Work Rnd 9 to first corner.

2. Dc in ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in corresponding sp on B; ch 1, ch in same ch-2 sp on A.

3. *Ch 1, sc in next sp on B, ch 1, sc in next sp on A. Continue from * across to corner and join as for first corner. Continue Rnd 9 around.

Joining Multiple Medallions

1. When joining to more than one medallion, work corners as follows: Dc in ch-2 sp on A, ch 1, sc in corresponding sp on B; ch 1, sc in corresponding sp on third medallion; ch 1, dc in same ch-2 sp on A. Continue joining to adjacent side of third medallion and work across.

2. To complete afghan, join 27 medallions: five in Row 1, six in Row 2, five in Row 3, six in Row 4, and five in Row 5. Do not fasten off after finishing Rnd 9 of last medallion.

Edging

1. Row 1: Ch 6, (dc in next dc, ch 3) to corner. Work dc, ch 2, dc in ch-2 sp, (ch 3, dc in next dc) along side. Where medallions are joined at corners, work dc in dc before join, ch 1, dc in dc following join, and continue ( ).

2. Row 2: Ch 5, dc in next dc. (Ch 2, dc in next dc) around. Work corners as for Row 1. In sp above medallion joins, work dc in dc before ch-1 sp, ch 3, dc in ch-1 sp, ch 3, dc in next dc. Continue around. Fasten off.

3. Use yarn needle to weave in all ends

by Darlene Polachic

Wishing You Happiness Card

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Create this elegant, embossed greeting to express graduation or wedding wishes.

Materials

  • White cardstock
  • Brown button
  • Cream embroidery floss

Tools

  • Sizzix BIGkick or Big Shot Die-Cutting System or Texture Boutique Embossing System
  • Sizzix Textured Impressions Doily & Lace Embossing Folder Set
  • Stampin’ Up! Heard from the Heart Stamp Set
  • Rubber brayer
  • Ink pads: dark brown, aqua, metallic gold
  • Paper adhesive

Basic Supplies

paper trimmer, scissors, craft knife, ruler, pencil, stamp cleaner

Directions

STEP 1

Make 5-1/2”x4-1/4” white top-fold card; set aside.

STEP 2

Cut 3”x4-1/4” white cardstock panel.

STEP 3

Using metallic gold ink, ink recessed side of Lace embossing folder. Carefully place cardstock panel cut in Step 2 onto inked surface. Close folder and follow manufacturer’s instructions to run folder through machine; remove cardstock and let dry. Immediately clean embossing folder with stamp cleaner.

STEP 4

Ink brayer with aqua ink; gently roll brayer over raised surface on cardstock panel and let dry. Clean brayer.

STEP 5

Adhere embossed panel to card ½” from left edge.

STEP 6

Stamp dark brown sentiment onto white cardstock. Trim sentiment to 5” long and adhere to card, aligning right edges.

STEP 7

Cut tiny slit in card fold 1” from left edge using craft knife. Insert embroidery floss through hole and wrap around card twice, running floss through button; cut and adhere end inside card.

Tip

  • For another look, emboss pearlescent white cardstock panel and adhere to card base for tone-on-tone texture.

by Debi Adams for Sizzix (www.sizzix.com)

One Design = Many Projects

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Once I get started making a project, I seem to always have a lot of excess “stuff’ on my desk. If I am making elements for a card or cutting up felt for a project, I usually end up with pieces cut out that are all ready to use – but they are more than I need for this particular project. I have learned over the years that stopping at the end of a project is the wrong place to stop. Now I finish when I have used the materials on hand. That way I not only stretch my creativity to find new uses for the project or materials, but I also end up with embellishments and items ready made for future projects. Sometimes, as a bonus, I end up with multiple finished projects all from a single idea – some for me to use and some to give as gifts.

This is what happened with the “great mushroom project.” I was playing around with AMACO Cloud Clay which is an air-dry clay that comes in great colors, mixes well with itself and with acrylic paints, and  is great to work with. I was thinking miniatures as I love making cute and tiny things.

I was thinking earrings at the time, and with the clay colors laid out in front of me, the red, white, and green were demanding my attention. I immediately thought about mushrooms with white stalks, red tops dotted with white dots, and green grass around the base. The project makes for really cute earrings. Here’s what you need:

  • AMACO Cloud Clay: Red, White, Green (This is a great project for the Assortment Pack which includes 1 oz. each of Green, Red, White and Blue clay.)
  • Scissors
  • Non-stick work surface
  • Acrylic roller
  • Ranger Glossy Accents (optional)
  • Earring findings: headpins, jump rings, earring wires, tools

To make the mushrooms, pinch off pieces of Red, White, and Green clay and work each color in your hand to soften and condition it. I like to pull the clay out to a longish piece, fold it in half and in half again, and then repeat. In a few seconds, it is smooth, warm and pliable.

Roll some White clay into a teardrop for the stem of the mushrooms. Roll a sphere of Red for the tops, flatten it a bit and push onto the mushroom stem. While these pieces are drying a bit, roll some Green clay flat using an acrylic roller. It needs to be pretty thin – set it aside to dry.

Pinch tiny seed-size pieces of White clay and roll into balls. Press on the top of the mushrooms.

Once the Green clay is dry enough to handle – this will take a few minutes – cut it into a strip of grass using the scissors. Wrap the grass around the base of the mushroom. If the clay is having problems sticking to itself, dampen it with a little water and it will stick tight.

Once the pieces are dry, you can push a headpin vertically through each mushroom from bottom to top, wrap the end into a loop, and attach an earring wire using a jump ring.

So far so good, but why stop at one set of earrings? Once you’ve made a couple of extra sets for gifts, it’s time to think outside the box. I upped the ante to make a pencil topper. Simply make a larger-size mushroom – or two side by side – and push the piece onto the top of a regular pencil and leave to dry.

To make this pencil topper more robust, coat it with Ranger Glossy Accents – this is a glue as well as a glossy cover coat and it helps not only to protect the piece but also to stick it firmly to the top of the pencil. I also like to use Glossy Accents on the earrings too so they last really well and it also gives them a great shine.

I made a few extra mushrooms to sit around on my desk – you never know when they might come in handy. And I finished off with this “oh so cute” tic-tac-toe game board in green and white – complete with mushroom playing pieces in red and purple.

Next time you’re crafting, challenge yourself to think out of the box – what else can you do with your design and your supplies? Pieces of paper left over from a scrapbook page can be affixed to a tag for gift giving or used on a card. Clay designs can be used for all sorts of purposes and extra pieces from a jewelry project look great dangling from a mini scrapbook or made into a barrette.

by Helen Bradley (www.craftinggoodness.com)

Ruby Rock-It Kinda Krafty Winner!

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Alice Golden here with you to announce the lucky winner of the new Kinda Krafty Collection from Ruby Rock-It. This prize includes an assortment of their fun printed papers, as well as some terrific embellishments.

To be entered in the contest, all you had to do was leave a comment on my 5/7 blog post describing your ideal Mother’s Day celebration. From breakfast in bed, to time with family, to time locked away in your craft room, it sounds like you celebrated in style.

This lucky winner will be adding some style to her creative time with this fabulous and fun collection. The winner, as chosen by Random.org, is: Karen Ladd.

Karen told us that her ideal Mother’s Day celebration would be “sleeping in late and then getting my favorite dinner of crispy fried chicken and a strawberry custard cake for dessert!”

Congratulations, Karen! I will be contacting you by email for your mailing address.

Until next time, Happy Krafting!

Alice Golden from Golden Moments (www.alicegolden.typepad.com)

Welcome Friends Garden Sign

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Look closely! Use an old chair seat to create this welcome sign, or any sign, for your garden!

Materials

  • Vintage chair seat or wooden plaque, 15” square
  • DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paints: Lamp Black, Cadmium Yellow, Warm White, Olive Green, Leaf Green, Salem Blue, Sapphire

Tools

  • Stencils: floral vine of choice; lowercase alphabet, 1-1/2” tall
  • DecoArt Americana Gel Stain: wood stain of choice
  • Royal & Langnickel Paintbrushes: Crafter’s Choice Stencil, Series 1⁄4”, 3⁄8”, 1⁄2”; Golden Taklon Liner, Series 595, #1
  • Drill and drill bits
  • Sisal rope

Basic Supplies

sandpaper, soft cloth, paintbrush, newspaper (to cover work surface)

Directions

STEP 1

If using vintage chair seat, remove old finish and sand. Apply stain to seat or plaque; wipe with soft cloth.

STEP 2

Stencil “welcome friends” with Lamp Black; shade top right side of letters Warm White. Let dry.

STEP 3

Stencil vines and flowers across top left and bottom right side of sign. Add additional vines and flowers as needed. Stencil leaves and vines Olive Green; shade undersides Warm White. Stencil flowers Salem Blue; shade centers Sapphire. Stencil dots in centers Cadmium Yellow. Use liner brush to paint Leaf Green vein through leaf centers. Let dry.

STEP 4

Drill two holes in top of sign. Insert two sisal rope lengths through holes and knot ends at top.

by Mary Ayres

Beaded Safety Pin Jean Charms

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Kids can express their personality while adding a bit of flair to their wardrobe with these fun-and-easy safety pin charms.

Materials

  • Darice 2-1/4” safety pin: gold or silver
  • Gold or silver charm of choice
  • Large beads

Directions

 (Note: Materials listed are for one charm.)

STEP 1

Open safety pin.

 STEP 2

Add beads and charms as desired.

STEP 3

Attach charm onto belt loop.

by Chris Malone

Garden Flowers Towel

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Invite your garden indoors with this dancing flower tea towel made from linen and homespun fabric.

Materials

  • Natural linen fabric, 20”x25”
  • Homespun fabric: green, 5-1⁄2”x19-1⁄2”; scraps (flowers), five prints/colors
  • Embroidery floss: green, colors to match flower fabric
  • Flat buttons to coordinate with flower fabric, five

Tools

  • Sewing machine and matching thread
  • Embroidery needle
  • Iron and pressing surface
  • Therm O Web HeatnBond Lite Iron-On Adhesive

Basic Supplies

scissors, pencil, ruler, transfer paper

Directions

STEP 1

Turn long sides and one short side of linen rectangle under 1⁄4”. Turn edges under 1⁄4” again. To hem, machine stitch close to edges.

STEP 2

With right sides facing, sew one long edge of green rectangle to raw edge of linen rectangle, 1⁄4” from edge. Turn remaining edges of green rectangle under 1⁄4”. Fold green rectangle so long turned edge is even with seam at bottom of linen rectangle. (Note: Right side of fabric should be facing outward.) Hand sew turned edges to bottom edge of towel.

STEP 3

Fuse 2” iron-on adhesive square to back of each flower fabric. Cut two 1-1⁄2”, and one 1-1⁄4”, 1-3⁄8”, and 1-3⁄4” circles from fused fabrics. Print and cut out pattern. (Note: The blue word “pattern” is a link. To access this pattern, select the link, then download and print pattern.) Remove backing from circles. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to fuse circles to towel front.

STEP 4

Use two strands of coordinating-color floss to blanket stitch around flowers. Transfer stems and leaves. Use two strands green to embroider stem stitch on stems and leaves and to sew buttons to flower centers.

by Mary Ayres

Great Finds Friday: Zoom Mess-Free Glitter

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Welcome to Great Finds Friday! Today, I want to introduce you to an incredibly sparkly, absolutely mess-free glitter option from Zoom Creative Products called Coloring Glitter. Available in a gorgeous palette of 16 colors, each Coloring Glitter kit includes one 3-1/4”x8-1/4” sheet of GlitterFast glitter and one 3-1/4”x8-1/4” sheet of DoubleStick double-sided tape. Here are three cards I created recently using Coloring Glitter. Normally, I wouldn’t shoot photos in bright, overhead sunlight, but I wanted you to be able to really see the sparkle!

For the Happiness Always Card at top left, I die cut double-sided adhesive using one of the new Thinlits Damask & Scallop Borders dies from Sizzix. I also die cut the butterfly from the Sizzix Originals Butterflies & Rings die from double-sided adhesive. I applied the border to cream cardstock and the butterfly directly to the card, removed the top liner, and then simply pressed Desert Sand Coloring Glitter over the adhesive. Burnish firmly with your fingers, then slowly peel away the glitter sheet to reveal the sparkling, detailed design. This glitter will never come off on your fingers or other surfaces, which is fantastic! Here’s a close-up shot:

I must mention that I didn’t use the included double-sided adhesive; I used something else I had on-hand, and the results weren’t as precise as they would have been with Zoom’s adhesive. Zoom’s DoubleStick adhesive sheets can be die cut, punched, or hand-cut.  I recommend you use the tape sheet in the kit, but other types of adhesive will work, too. You’ll just need to experiment like I did for the Embrace Life Card shown at top right in the main photo. I applied a line of Aleene’s Tacky Tape Runner down the left side of the card, and then pressed the Cinnamon Coloring Glitter sheet over the adhesive. Next, I applied a line of Aleene’s Tacky Line Roll adhesive on each side of the Cinnamon strip, and then pressed Victorian Pink Coloring Glitter over them. Here’s a close-up shot:

For the Hi Card, I applied adhesive letter stickers to my card, and then pressed Fantastic Fuchsia Coloring Glitter over them. Have you ever seen anything sparkle so much? Wait until you try it for yourself! Here’s a close-up shot:

I used four of the Coloring Glitter kits for my cards — Desert Sand, Fantastic Fuchsia, Victorian Pink, and Cinnamon —but you can see from this photo that I only used a small portion of the glittering sheets. Every little bit of glitter can be pressed from the sheet onto adhesive on all kinds of creative projects. No mess, no waste, no drying time, no worries!

WIN your own Coloring Glitter Kit! Zoom Creative Products has generously offered a complete set of the made-in-the-USA Coloring Glitter kits to be split among four lucky winners! Each winner will receive four individual kits to try. Each kit retails for $3.99. Products can be purchased online at www.zoomcreativeproducts.com or www.joann.com. To win, please leave a comment on this blog post telling me why you love glitter! Winners will be announced in the next Great Finds Friday post on May 24th.

WIN more glitter! In addition, Zoom Creative Products has also offered four StickPiction Magical Glitter Craft Kits for kids to four additional winners. Here’s a photo of the Space is the Place kit. Other kits feature jungle animals, transportation, and sea creatures; each kit retails for $9.99. Leave a comment on this blog post to be entered to win.

SAVE, too! Zoom Creative Products is offering Crafts ‘n things readers an exclusive 50% discount on any order purchased with them through June 30th! When you place your order at www.zoomcreativeproducts.com, enter coupon code cnt and hit “apply” to get the discount. I’ll be ordering a few of the Island Blue kits, shown here, for my summertime cards and scrap layouts. Sparkling waves, indeed!

Finally, a quick announcement! As chosen by Random.org, here are the winners of the three new craft books reviewed in my last Good Finds Friday post on April 26th:

Linda Basile won Adventures in PomPom Land: 25 Cute Projects Made from Handmade Pompoms by Myko Diann Bocek, Lark Crafts (www.larkcrafts.com), ISBN: 978-1-4547-0386-0

Marianne S. won Doodle Stitching: Embroidery & Beyond by Aimee Ray, Lark Crafts (www.larkcrafts.com), ISBN: 978-1-4547-0363-1.

Carla Hundley won Crochet One-Skein Wonders: 101 Projects from Crocheters Around the World edited by Judith Durant & Edie Eckman, Storey Publishing (www.storey.com), ISBN: 978-1-61212-042-3.

Linda, Marianne, and Carla, I will contact you with prize information.

Happy Crafting! And Happy Mother’s Day to all the crafty moms out there!

Dawn Gehring, Crafts ‘n things Editorial Staff

Mother’s Day Butterfly Card

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

Butterflies are a symbol of good things to come, so make sure this one lands in Mom’s mailbox this Mother’s Day.

Materials

  • Cardstock: cream, pink, light blue
  • Crystal adhesive gem

Tools

  • PSA Essentials Peel & Stick Stamp Sets: Cupcake, Topiary
  • PSA Essentials Stamper Body and Black Ink Cartridge
  • Die-cutting system and Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles SM Dies
  • Brown ink pad
  • Markers: pink, green, light blue
  • Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents
  • Adhesives: paper adhesive, foam dots

Basic Supplies

paper trimmer, ruler, pencil, sponge dauber

Directions

STEP 1

Make 3-1/2”x5” light blue side-fold card; sponge edges with brown ink.

STEP 2

Cut smaller cream cardstock panel, sponge edges with brown ink, and adhere to card.

STEP 3

Stamp butterfly and dot circle image from Cupcake set onto cream cardstock. Color image with markers and die cut into small circle. Die cut larger pink cardstock circle. Sponge edges of both circles with brown ink; adhere circles together. Adhere butterfly motif to card with foam dots.

STEP 4

Stamp black sentiment in center of card as shown; adhere gem as shown.

STEP 5

Carefully coat butterfly image with Glossy Accents; let dry.

Tip

  • For a little more sparkle, highlight the butterfly’s wings with glitter glue instead of Glossy Accents.

by Vera Winters Yates for PSA Essentials (www.psastampcamp.blogspot.com)

Iris Vase

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Crafts ’n things Craft of the Day

 

At first glance, you might think this is a rusted-metal vase, but it’s actually made from flexible polymer clay! The technique is easy and you’ll love the results. With Mother’s Day less than a week away, this would make a great last-minute gift for Mom.

Materials

  • Glass vase, 6” tall
  • Kato Polyclay Oven-bake Polymer Clay, 3 oz. blocks: Blue, Green, Copper
  • Iris stencil or stencil of choice

Tools

  • Craf-T Products, Inc. Metallic Rub-On Color Kit #1, Blue
  • Clay accessories: slicing blade, six-sided ruler, craft knife, clay-dedicated pasta machine
  • 3M Scoth-Brite Multi-Purpose Scour Pad

Basic Supplies

parchment-lined baking sheet or ceramic tile, oven

Directions

STEP 1

Mix together two 10mm sections each of Blue, Green, and Copper, following manufacturer’s instructions to measure and condition. Condition six 10mm sections of Copper.

STEP 2

Roll mixture and copper into separate logs. Roll and twist logs together, roll into a ball, then roll into log again. Twist log and roll into ball again. Flatten ball and run through pasta machine on thickest setting. Run clay through pasta machine on #2 setting. Gently stretch sheet so it is the same width as rollers on machine. Run through machine several times, beginning with highest setting (#1) and reducing until #6 setting is reached.

STEP 3

With more attractive side facing out, fold clay in half and run through machine several times until desired color mixture is achieved. Cut one end of sheet even. Cover vase; trim excess at overlaps. Smooth seam. Trim excess clay.

STEP 4

Position stencil on vase, aligning bottom stencil edge with bottom edge of vase. Use craft knife to cut out clay; carefully remove cut-out sections. Remove stencil and reposition so top edges are aligned. Cut out and remove clay in same way. Repeat to create one additional iris between first two.

STEP 5

Press scour pad onto clay for texture. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to randomly apply rub-on cream to vase. Bake on parchment-lined baking sheet or ceramic tile at 275° for 30 minutes; let cool in oven.

by Gail Ritchey