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Archive for September, 2007

What are computer crafts for kids?

Friday, September 14th, 2007

In this day and age when technology is such a part of our lives, it seems that virtually everything has gone online or can be done by computer. Crafts are no different. Today, computer crafts are increasing in popularity as more and more people-kids included- are turning to their computers to create crafts.

What are computer crafts?
Basically, computer crafts are created using desktop publishing software and skills. You can create a number of things with the right software, such as photo albums, scrapbooks, decorations, templates for craft toys, tags, posters, and even transfer your art into a quilt something that can be worn.

Kids can do computer crafts as well. Children today have grown up around computers and as a result, are sometimes even more adept at learning software and navigating through the internet than adults are!

Computer crafts for kids
In order to do computer crafts, obviously you will need a computer and a printer. The following are some ideas for computer crafts kids will enjoy:

Picture collage
This is a collage of photographs scanned into your computer and then printed out that can be used for a number of things.

Materials
Pictures of family, friends, pets, landscapes, etc.
Scissors
Glue
Access to a color copy machine, scanner, or color printer

Directions
Assemble the collage of pictures and then scan it into your computer. Or, you can take it to a color copier and make copies there. These typically cost about $1 each at most copy places.
Once you’ve made the collage, there are a number of things you can do with it. You can put them in a plastic frame and place magnet backing on it, then put it in your locker. Or, make a smaller copy and wrap it around a plastic juice can and use as a pencil holder. Slip the collage into a 3-ring binder as a personalized cover.

Tie-dye graphics bookmark
You can make tie-dye graphics on your computer and then turn them into a number of crafts, including bookmarks or anything else you would like tie dye on.

Materials
Scanner
Piece of cloth or napkin with tie-dye patterns
Heavy paper for printer, like cardstock

Directions:
1. Scan the piece of cloth or napkin and use it as a background for your bookmarks. (Note: you should save your scanned file in the .bmp [bitmap] format so that most painting software can open it)
2. Use your painting program to open the tie-dye graphic file you have saved. Then minimize the picture for the moment.
3. Without leaving the painting program, open a clip art program and select the picture you want to put on the first graphic. (this is optional; if you want to have a bookmark that is strictly tie-dye, you don’t have to add pictures)
4. Use your mouse to select an area from the clip art picture. From the toolbar, copy the selected part.
5. Click on the reduced picture’s maximize button (the square one next to the minimize button) and return it to its normal size. Now, from the toolbar, select "Edit" then "Paste". The selected clip art is added to the first picture.

Computer crafts are growing in popularity as more people are using their computers for every day and creative tasks. You and your kids can make a number of computer crafts

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Where to find other cross-stitchers and embroiders to swap patterns with

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007

Now that you are a master at cross stitch and embroidery or you have just finished up using all of your personal patterns you might be wondering where you can go to find people to swap patterns with. This is actually a very common custom and people are more than willing to swap patterns with others, just because it gives them something new to work with as well. But the problem isn’t swapping the patterns with people, but trying to figure out where you can go to swap both embroidery and cross stitch patterns.

Here are some tips for where to find other cross-stitchers and embroiderers to swap patterns with.

Tip one:
One of the best place to find other cross-stitchers and embroiders is at your local fabric stores or craft stores. Many of these stores have bulletin boards or classes that you can take to work on your needlepoint skills. With the bulletin boards you can post notices or fliers asking for people to swap patterns with you, or you can read notices that other people have put up. With the classes you can meet new people just by being social and ask them if they would be interested in swapping patterns with you. Some craft stores might even have a program that allows you to swap patterns, but you would have to turn over your patterns to gain access to any new ones.

Tip two:
Another great place that you can go to find people to swap patterns with is your family and friends. Many times you will have friends and family members who enjoy cross-stitching and they are a great resource for finding new patterns to work with. And they might even know of other people who would be willing to swap patterns with you.

Tip three:
You can also go to a craft fair or boutique to find people to swap patterns with. Craft shows feature all sorts of crafts and include many people who do needlepoint. But with craft shows you might not find any vendors who are willing to swap patterns, since they use their patterns for money. But you can perhaps buy an item or two to gain a new pattern or you can meet other people who share your interest.

Tip four:
Another great place to find people to swap patterns with is in a needlepoint class at your local adult school. You can also post notices at adult schools that let people know that you are interested in swapping patterns. You can also look in the local newspapers to see if anybody is interested in swapping patterns. Another great place to look for people interested in swapping patterns is on the bulletin board at your local library or in numerous craft magazines. Both regular craft magazines and magazines that are dedicated to cross stitching and embroidering will have want ads or information about swapping patterns.

Tip five:
One of the best places to find people to swap cross stitch patterns with is to join a cross stitch club, which you can do in your local community or through an online group. You can also do the same thing for embroidery. These clubs will give you unlimited access to other crafters who share your enjoyment of cross stitching and embroidering. Not only can you join clubs, but you can also join discussion groups or websites online that will give you access to people who are willing to swap patterns, not to mention access to numerous message boards where you can post the fact that you are looking to swap patterns.

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Tips for making your paper crafts last a lifetime

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007

Are you the type of person who enjoys making paper crafts? Do you make paper crafts to sell? Do you make paper crafts to give out as gifts for special occasions? Or are you the type of person who enjoys decorating your home with paper crafts that you have made? If you answered yes to any of the questions above you might have run into the problem that your paper crafts don’t last as long as other decorations. One major problem that people are experiencing whether they are decorating their house or making things to sell is that their paper crafts or their other crafts with paper accents are deteriorating faster than they would like. If this has happened to you the good news is that there are ways to help make your paper crafts last longer than average, maybe even as long as your lifetime.

Here are some tips on how to make your paper crafts last longer.

Tip one:
One of the ways that you can make your paper crafts last a lifetime is to use acid free paper for your paper craft projects. Everybody knows that over time normal paper can deteriorate or turn yellow, not to mention it can also affect the objects that are surrounding the paper, such as photos. The reason that this happens is that the acids that are inside the paper start to cause things to break down over time. The good news is that over time we have developed acid free paper which helps to save the colors of your paper, as well as prevent it from breaking down.

Tip two:
Another thing that you can do to help make your paper crafts last longer is after making the project you can paint it with a glue and water mix. To make this mix you will need to mix two cups of glue to one part of water and lightly coat your paper craft. This will increase the durability of the paper so it won’t lose its shape. You might have to reapply the glue and water mix as time goes on.

Tip three:
Everybody knows that over time paper will fade in sunlight, how fast it fades depends on how exposed it is to the sun. So a great way to help preserve the colors of the paper is to not place paper crafts in direct sunlight, such as hanging paper crafts in windows or placing them on window sills.

Tip four:
Another great tip to help make your paper crafts last longer is to use an acrylic spray after you have finished the project. This spray works similar to the glue and water mixture that was mentioned above, except that the spray works better for painted surfaces. In fact if you have painted the paper you don’t want to use the glue and water mixture because you can cause the colors in the paint to run. You can also use varnish instead of the acrylic spray, but with the varnish you will have to paint it on rather than spray it on.

Tip five:
Since your paper crafts are not always on display another way to help them last a lifetime is to properly store them. When storing your paper crafts you are going to want to store them in a room that provides a stable humidity and temperature, you don’t want to expose any kind of paper to extreme temperatures, whether high or low. Basically the best place to store these paper crafts is on the main floor of your home next to an inside wall, but you also want to keep the place relatively free from light. You also want to store them in a plastic box that is made up of polyester or polyethylene.

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Different ways to scrapbook

Sunday, September 9th, 2007

What are different ways to scrapbook? Whether you are creating a festive holiday scene for your scrapbook page, or if you are simply adding some color to a rather drab page of pictures. There are different scrapbooking ideas that can help your scrapbooks come out truly unique.

Starting with the type of paper you use. The type of paper, with different pictures, colors, shapes etc, will create a very unique way of telling your families stories to the future generations.

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How to choose beads for jewelry

Saturday, September 8th, 2007

Now that you have decided to make jewelry out of beads you are going to encounter the problem of picking the right kind of beads to use. The reason why this can be so hard is that there are so many different types of beads available. One of the best things to remember when you are picking out beads for jewelry is that you are going to want to make sure you pick the right kind of bead for the project you are working on. Like beads there are a lot of different types of jewelry and what you use for your jewelry will depend largely on what you are going to be making.

After you have figured out what you are going to make and what kind of beads you are going to use you are going to want to take a close look at the beads you are using. When looking at the beads you are going to want to make sure that there are no defects in the beads. If there are any kinds of flaws in the beads you are going to want to discard that bead. You can either throw it in the trash or you can save it for something else, such as crafts or art. Another thing you want to consider when choosing beads for jewelry is the materials that are the color combinations you are going to be using. If you are going to be using a variety of colors you are going to want to make sure that all of the colors are the same. One way to make sure that the colors are the same shades is to buy your beads from the same manufacturing; this will also help ensure the quality of your beads. Using beads from different manufactures usually means that the shade of color you are using is not going to match exactly to another because of the different processes involved in making the beads.

Here are some tips to help you choose the right beads for making jewelry.

Tip one:
If you are going to be making earrings you are gong to want to choose either glass or plastic beads. You are going to want to stick with smaller sized beads, but this doesn’t mean you can’t use larger beads, you just don’t want to use the largest beads there are. If you are using different sized beads you should stack the beads with the largest on the bottom and work your way up to the smallest.

Tip two:
If you are going to be making kids jewelry you are probably going to be using mostly plastic beads. Most of the plastic beads are referred to as seed beads. They come in a variety of different colors and sizes, but because they are made of plastic they have a higher chance of being flawed. If you are making it as a project with your child you can still use the flawed beads, but if you are making the jewelry to sell you don’t want to use flawed beads.

Tip three:
When making necklaces you want to be sure to use beads that complement each other. If you are using different sizes be sure that they work well together. One of the best things to do is to lay your beads out in the pattern you are going to use for the necklace to be sure that they work. Most necklaces are usually made out of glass beads or crystal beads.

Regardless of what you are making when it comes to choosing beads for jewelry you want to make sure you choose the best beads for your project. There are even special beads being sold called ethnic beads that are designed to make jewelry that is used for ceremonial purposes, such as tribal dances, rosaries, etc.

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Ideas for crafting with kids

Friday, September 7th, 2007

Now that school is out, if you’re looking for a way to keep the kids occupied, crafts are the ideal activity for children in many ways. They encourage creativity, keep them busy, and can be learning experiences at the same time.

Crafting with your kids is also a fun way to spend time together. If you’d like to begin crafting with kids, keep in mind the following ideas:

Take age into consideration. Before you begin choosing craft ideas for kids, it’s important to keep in mind the age you will be doing crafts with. For example, if you’re doing crafts with preschoolers, you don’t want to have them do crafts that require a lot of intricate folds and cuts or a lot of complicated steps.
Supervise. Crafts are often fun and easy, but you should still supervise younger children when it comes to crafting. Scissors, super glue, and other materials needed can be harmful. You also want to keep an eye on things to prevent messes.
Keep materials on hand. You never know when a rainy day is going to pop up, so it’s a good idea to have crafting materials on hand. These are inexpensive and can be purchased at most stores. Some crafts require special materials, but for the most part, glue, scissors, markers, crayons, construction paper, yarn, and perhaps some glitter, pipe cleaners, felt, and craft eyes are really all you need to make a wide variety of crafts for kids of all ages.
Be on the lookout for craft ideas. Young children will be entertained with very simple crafts, but it’s still a good idea to be on the lookout for craft ideas for kids. You can find entire books in library with ideas, as well as online or in craft stores.

Crafts to do with kids
The following are a few fun craft ideas you can do with kids of any age:

Finger puppets
These cute puppets use kids’ fingers for legs. Put on a puppet show when you’re done making them.

Materials:
Cardstock or thick construction paper
Scissors
Markers or crayons
Materials such as craft eyes, felt, etc. for decorating the face

Directions
1. On the paper, print out or create a puppet template. This could be an animal or just an oval shape.
2. Cut out the puppet shape, making finger holes at the bottom.
3. Decorate with crayons, markers, and other materials.

Egg carton tulips
Make a bouquet of tulips with your kids with this easy craft.

Materials:
Eggshells (or foam egg cartons sections)
Green pipe cleaners
Paint and markers
Hot glue

Directions
1. Gently clean eggshell halves and let them dry. For an easier craft with more durable flowers (this is better for younger children), use foam egg carton sections, cutting carton sections to look like a tulip.
2. Decorate the shells to look like tulips, using the paint. Let the paint dry overnight. Once the paint has dried completely, add details to the tulips using markers if desired.
3. Twirl one end of a green pipe cleaner into a spiral shape
4. Glue the spiral to the tulip

Crafting with kids is a fun way to spend time with them and keep them entertained. There are many ideas for crafting with kids that will be enjoyable for everyone.

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Where to find free cross-stitch patterns

Wednesday, September 5th, 2007

If you are the type of person who enjoys doing cross-stitch for a hobby or as a relaxation technique you are most likely on the look out for new cross-stitch patterns. Some of your best resources to find cross-stitch patterns are through magazine subscriptions, there are numerous magazines that are dedicated to the world of cross-stitch, or you can attend cross-stitch classes for a small registration fee. But if you don’t want to spend money on obtaining cross-stitch patterns the good news is that there are ways to get the ideas for free.

Here are some tips on where to find free cross-stitch patterns.

Tip one:
One of the best places to find cross-stitch patterns for free is online through the use of search engines. The internet is a great resource when it comes to looking for any type of cross-stitch pattern. There are numerous websites that offer free cross-stitch patterns for every level of cross-stitch, whether you are a beginner or an expert. All you need to do to find these websites is to type in "free cross-stitch patterns" into a search engine and you will get back thousands of results. Some websites might require you to register with their website for free (meaning no paid dues or memberships) in order to access their information, but it could be worth it.

Tip two:
Another way to get free cross stitching patterns is to draw the patterns yourself. But in order to draw the patterns your self you are going to need to have some drawing abilities and you are going to need to know a lot about cross stitching patterns. If you can’t draw but know somebody who can you can have them draw you the pictures that you want and turn it into a cross stitch pattern. You can also take pictures that you find in books or magazines and turn them into patterns as well. Also depending on how good you are you can also free hand your own creations when it comes to cross stitching.

Tip three:
Another great place to find free cross-stitch patterns is at your local fabric or craft stores. Many times they will have fliers that offer classes (sometimes these classes are for free) that will teach you how to cross-stitch or provide lessons for learning a new cross-stitch technique and these classes most of the time will provide you with free patterns. Or you can find other people to talk to inside the stores who are as interested in cross-stitch as you are and you can exchange patterns, you can also do this with family members who are interested in cross-stitch. Often times craft stores will put out a calendar that offers a list of the classes that they will be having that month, and some of them include free instructions. But keep in mind that not all of your craft or fabric stores will do this. In addition to classes many craft and fabric stores will also offer free patterns at the register, they tend to be easier patterns but you never know what you can find.

Tip five:
If you don’t currently have a subscription to a crafting (these will sometimes include cross-stitch patterns so don’t count them out) or cross-stitch magazines you can still find out what is inside the issue. One of the best places to go to read and look at magazines thoroughly is the library; they will even let you photocopy the pages you need. But the best thing about libraries is in addition to the magazines they also carry numerous books on the subject. Libraries will also carry books that include patterns for cross-stitch; the pattern books will be available for a variety of different levels. You can also find books at the library that teach you the different tips and tricks on cross-stitch.

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The latest trends in paper crafting

Tuesday, September 4th, 2007

Are you having a hard time keeping up with the latest trends in paper crafting? Do you enjoy knowing what the in thing to do is? If paper crafting is a hobby of yours you might want to know what the latest trends are so that you are not left behind.

Here are some of the latest trends in paper crafting.

Trend one:
Mini albums are currently one of the hottest trends in paper crafts. One of the reasons for this is the thought of completing a large scrapbook can be rather overwhelming, so to help take off the pressure people started doing albums based on certain events. This trend led to more people becoming involved in scrapbooking than ever. And the best thing is you can do a mini album with or without photographs. Some of the more popular mini albums are brag books for grandparents (mostly Grandmas), graduation albums full of quotes from friends and neighbors, bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, etc.

Trend two:
To some of us this trend might sound a little weird, but one of the current trends in paper crafting is our pets. In our world today pets are starting to take a front seat, and for many people pets have replaced children, so why shouldn’t we make them a huge part of our lives by recording information about them. People have started making fancy books to record their pets shots or the create scrapbooks to record their dog’s performances in dog shows, etc.

Trend three:
Ribbon is another popular trend in paper crafting. It used to be that ribbons were only used for wrapping packages, but now a day all kinds of crafts can be embellished with a bow or rather than using paper you can use ribbons. Because of this latest trend you can find ribbons in all shape and sizes, you can also find them in a large variety of colors (similar to a crayon box), you can even find ribbons that are patterned. But the stuff doesn’t stop there with more and more people using ribbons in there crafts you can find ribbon irons and special glue that is designed strictly for ribbons.

Trend four:
Most of you have probably heard the term "bling" on occasion, especially if you have teenage children, but some of you might not be familiar with what "bling" is. "Bling" basically means more sparkle, flash or pizzazz. In some people’s opinion you can never have to much sparkle so they have started adding all sorts of things to dress up their paper crafts. People who use "bling" tend to use more glitter, jewels, beads, metallic paint or ink, etc all to dress up their paper crafts.

Trend five:
Another trend in paper crafting is the use of geometrics, which is the use of shapes. The most popular shape that is being used currently is circles. You can find circles on most any project. Circles are being used as parts of backgrounds, as elements, the main part of the project, etc. Other popular shapes include squares, triangles, rectangles, and ovals. You can find that these shapes are being used the same way that circles are, but circles are more popular because they are usually used for the symbol of life.

Trend six:
Another popular trend in the world of paper crafting is chipboard. When people first started using chipboard it only came in its natural color, soon after it became popular it was also available in white. But today you can find chipboard available in almost any color you can think of. If you can’t find the exact color that you are looking for you can still alter the chipboard to your tastes by using chalks, paints, inks or a combination of those items. You can also cover your chipboard using paper or fabrics. One of the most popular uses of chipboard is chipboard alphabets that are larger in size (5" or larger) for monograms. You can either buy chipboard sheets and die cut or own or buy pre-made chipboard shapes or letters.

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What materials are needed to crochet

Saturday, September 1st, 2007

If you’re just beginning to learn how to crochet, you may be wondering what kinds of costs are associated with this hobby. Crochet can be a lot of fun and, if done wisely, can even be fairly inexpensive. But if you’re just starting out you probably need to know a little bit about crochet and what materials are needed. So keep reading and learn!

Crochet is a process of creating fabric to make shapes or clothing from yarn or thread. Crocheting is similar to knitting as it consists of pulling loops of yarn through other loops. It differs from knitting in that only one loop is active at one time, and that a crochet hook is used instead of two needles.

Here’s how crochet is done: crocheted fabric is begun by placing a slip-knot loop on the end of the hook, pulling another loop through the first loop, and repeating this process to create a chain of a suitable length. The chain is either turned and worked in rows, or joined to the beginning of the row with a slip stitch and worked in circles, or rounds. Rounds can also be created by working many stitches into a single loop. Stitches are made by pulling one or more loops through each loop of the chain. At any one time at the end of a stitch, there is only one loop left on the hook.

The first thing you’ll need to begin your new hobby of crochet is some type of crochet hook. Crochet hooks come in many types and sizes. Steel crochet hooks range from 3.5 to 0.75 millimeters in the size of the hook, or from 00 to 14 in American sizing. These hooks are used for fine crochet work. Aluminum or plastic crochet hooks are available from 2.5 to 19 millimeters in hook size, or from B to S in American sizing. Some of the more popular crochet hooks are made by Boye and Susan Bates. There are many artisan-made hooks, too, most hand-turned of wood, sometimes decorated with semi-precious stones or beads. These crochet hooks will all vary in prices, ranging from only a few dollars for aluminum or plastic hooks, to over twenty-five.

Next, you’ll need some yarn or thread to start off with. There are five classifications of crochet thread. They are: super fine (sock, baby and fingering yarn); fine (baby and sport yarn); light (light worsted and DK yarn); medium (worsted, afghan and Aran yarn); bulky (chunky, craft and rug yarn); or super bulky (roving and bulky yarn). Each type has its own weight or thickness with roving and bulky yarn being the heaviest. These types of yarn will also vary in prices, from only a few dollars a skein, to well over fifteen and even more. Luckily, you can often find great sales on yarn that will bring the cost significantly lower. And if you’re just starting out, you will want to start with a simple yarn like light or medium that isn’t too fine and isn’t too heavy.

Finally, you will eventually need a pattern for whatever it is you want to make. If you’re just starting out, you may want to keep it simple by making scarves or blankets that only require you to make a rectangular shape (no pattern needed). But eventually you’ll want to move on to hats or sweaters or bags and then you’ll need a pattern. Patterns vary greatly in price. They can be found online for free or purchased in your local handicraft store. Be creative and look for ways to save money in crochet by finding free patterns, buying yarn on sale, and using a middle-grade crochet hook.

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Mistakes to avoid when crocheting

Saturday, September 1st, 2007

If you’re just starting to learn to crochet, you should know that there are a few common mistakes that almost everyone makes. Luckily, there are ways to avoid them, if you know what to look for. So this article will inform you of a few of the mistakes to avoid when crocheting, and hopefully will help you rectify them.

Tension: Of all the mistakes beginners make, one of the most common is obtaining even tension in their crochet work. This stems from the fact that the beginner is doing something new and different. That is stressful! And when we are stressed, what do we do? We tighten our muscles. We tighten the muscles in our shoulders, our neck, ultimately our arms and hands. When our hands become tense and tight we grip the crochet hook and yarn with a death grip and have a hard time loosening up. So when you’re learning to crochet, try to remain relaxed and loose. Also try to pay attention to how tightly or loosely you are stitching, and then try to continue that tension throughout.

Not counting stitches: As basic as it sounds, this is a common mistake. You really do have to count stitches as you go until you are sure you know where to place all of your stitches.

Being afraid to rip out: This is a big problem with some people. They feel that they have worked so hard on something that they HATE to rip out any work. Don’t be afraid to rip out your errors. It may be painful to do it now, but in the long run when you’re looking back at your finished product, it will really make a difference.

Uneven edges: This comes from a combination of errors. Usually not counting and making sure you are completing enough stitches in a row, and secondly from not knowing where to place your last stitch. Just try to pay attention better.

Being afraid to learn a new stitch: Now this is a little silly, but it happens. If you’re afraid to work a new stitch on a new project, get out that old discarded yarn, something that is disposable but useable. Then practice your new stitch. Even if you make mistakes at the beginning, it won’t matte because you’re just practicing and you can, if you decide to, just throw out your practice cloth when you’re finished.

Ending off correctly: This is a common mistake in beginners, so it is not surprising. After your last stitch is complete, pull up a loop, clip the thread/yarn and pull the end through the loop. Cinch down tightly but not to the point of "puckering" your finish. Thread a tapestry needle with tail, the choice of needle size will depend on the medium used. Weave the needle through the base of stitches in the last round/row, weaving through the stitches, splitting the fibers if possible. Make sure it doesn’t show on the right side. Skip a thread, then weave back in the opposite direction. You only need to weave in either direction for approx. an inch or less. Clip end and stretch your work so the end slips inside and disappears.

Use safety pins: Some people just don’t seem to realize how great safety pins can be when you’re crocheting. They can help when making a long foundation chain, by placing a safety pin in after a designated number of stitches to keep count easily. You use them when working afghans or similar patterns, by placing a safety pin after a designated number of rows to keep track easily. You can also use them to mark where corner increases are made to avoid mistakes. Or finally, when you’re finished working, you can place a safety pin in the last stitch worked to keep your stitches intact.