Archive for December, 2007

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Tips for better stick for vinyl lettering

Monday, December 31st, 2007

One of the hottest crafting ideas right now is vinyl lettering.  There are so many ways to use these letters that the options are endless.  But sometimes it can seem like they are not made to last.

How you apply the vinyl lettering will make a big difference in how long it lasts.  There are some great tips that you can use to make sure that you your letters are going to stick good and long.  They will apply to most vinyl lettering, if they don’t then the instructions will state otherwise.

 Wherever you have chosen to put your vinyl lettering, make sure that it is dust free.  Take the time to dust it, even it you don’t think there is any dust.  If you use a chemical cleaner to dust, make sure that you have given it enough time to dry thoroughly.  Dust is one of the leading reasons that vinyl lettering doesn’t stay stuck.
 Get rid of the air bubbles underneath.  When you lay down the lettering you should make sure that you have gotten all of the bubble spots out.  Some great tools for doing these are a squeegee or a flat edged board.  They can be pressed down and run along the lettering to make it flat along the surface.  Your hands will work if you can’t find anything else, but if you have the right tools then your letters will definitely stick better.
 Make sure that you read and understand all of the directions before you begin.  Your lettering should have come with directions on how to do it the right way, instead of reading them as you go along, read all of them before you start and know what you are going to be expected to do.  This will help ensure that you have all of the right tools on hand before you begin so that you don’t have to stop in the middle to get something that you need.
 The temperature in which you stick the lettering makes a big difference.  If you are doing them outside or inside, the temperature is a big factor.  Make sure that it is not really hot, if it is too hot then the letters will be too sticky to stay put.  They might also warp funny and not stick on how you want them too.  If you are sticking the letters when it is too cold then you will find that they have trouble sticking and staying.  You will also find that the letters will expand and when they warm up they will be stuck on different than you had set them.
 Check the surface that they are meant for.  Some vinyl lettering is meant for any surface, but others are made for specific surfaces.  If you are trying to stick it on the wrong surface then the stick won’t last very long.  Most vinyl lettering can’t stick to plastic, the texture makes it hard to create a tight seal, but there are some that are specific for plastic.
 This might sound crazy, but check the spelling before you put anything on permanently.  If you get it on your wall or on the board and notice a misspelled word, then you are going to have some problems.  Sticking the vinyl letters, even if you do it wrong, will be impossible to get up cleanly right away.  If you stick something crooked or with an error then you are going to be stuck with it like that.  Be very careful when sticking your letters, you have to get it right the first time.

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Going on a shop-hop, what you ought to know

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

A shop hop is a great way to inspire the artist in you. It is a wonderful way to visit shops that you may not get to on a regular basis and see the quilts that are being created. The shops involved often stock the most interesting fabrics and quilting materials possible. Many times these shops work extremely hard to offer quilting prizes. When you attend a shop hop, you will find not only interesting quilts and fabrics but there are also demonstrations and don’t forget the many prizes that are given away. A shop hop is also a great way of meeting other quilters, getting advice and just having fun. When going on a shop hop, it is best to plan at least a day to experience all that a shop hop has to offer. Be sure to plan a route before attending so you do not miss a thing. For more information about shop hops in your area, contact participating shops.

Here are some of the different types of quilts you may find while attending a shop hop:
- Album quilt: This is a quilt that is assembled from individual blocks, which are each designed and/or executed by a different person. Album blocks are appliquéd or pieced, or even both and are quite often stitched into a quilt by group to present to a public figure to commemorate a special occasion. Special markers are commonly used to sign and date the blocks.
- Baltimore Album quilt: This is a quilt that is similar to the album style quilt. It is named for quilts made in Eastern Maryland between 1844 and 1855. The quilts made during this time featured ornate appliqué and embroidery blocks.
- Bargello quilt: This is a quilt that is made up of off-set squares of color in a rising or falling pattern. Different strips of fabric are sewn together and then cut into smaller segments and then pieced together in a way that features geometric patterns in the design.
- Charm quilt: This is a quilt created using "block" units that are all the same shape and size but all different fabrics. The pieces are usually small, most commonly 2" or less.
- Memory quilt: This is a quilt created using blocks to commemorate an occasion. Common themes used in a memory quilt include; wedding, retirement, and birthday. The individual quilt blocks can be made up of signature blocks, direct printed photo blocks, theme related blocks, and more.
- Miniature quilt: This quilt is made on much smaller scale than a full sized quilt. The blocks are usually two to three inches in size. Paper piecing is a common method used for miniature quilts.
- Postage Stamp quilt: This type of quilt is similar to a charm quilt. This style of quilting is when all of the pieces in the quilt are approximately the size of a postage stamp.
- Sampler quilt: This quilt top is created using blocks that are each a different design or style. This is a popular style quilt for beginners because it gives experience in many different quilt block pattern styles.
- Scrap quilt: This quilt is generally created using many different fabrics. Quite often, scraps of fabric left over from other quilting projects are used.
- Stained Glass quilt: This is a style of quilting that is meant to resemble a stained glass window pane. Pieces of glass are joined together with some kind of leading, which is often copper. The pieces are usually vibrant hand dyed or batik fabrics.
- Summer quilt: This is a quilt made of only a quilt top and backing. There is usually no batting used in this type of quilt, which is commonly used in the hot summer months.

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Using old wire hangers to create works of art

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

There are endless possibilities for using old wire hangers if you are a crafter.  Here are just a few of the ideas to get your imagination going.

 Wreath- You can use a wire hanger simply as a mold for the wreath or you can use many wire hangers wrapped together as the wreath.  Whatever you do it can be great for any time of year.  You could make many different wreaths or make one that can be changed for each season, that depends on the time and hangers you have to work with.
 Dream catcher- Your kids will love to use yarn to make a dream catcher.  You can make the hanger round and then let the kids make their dream catchers with their favorite colors.  You can add feathers or beads throughout the yarn for a great affect.  You might also use some metallic looking yarn so that it catches light and looks awesome.
 Mobile- Every kid makes a hanger mobile in school, but making them at home can be so much more fun.  You can choose your favorite coloring book pictures to cut out or even make one with pictures of your family.  Whatever you make it will be fun for the kids to hang up in their room and share with their friends.
 Plant hanger- Use an old wire hanger to breathe new life into a boring potted plant.  Use the wire to hang it up, whether outside or in.  You can manipulate the hanger into a design around the pot or simply wrap it around so that it can hang up.
 Roaster- Kids love roasting marshmallows over the fire, use your old hangers for your roasting sticks!  Kids can make it on their own and will love using something that they have made to make their own dinner (or dessert!).  You can inexpensively have enough for the whole family to use up camping or in the back yard.
 Bubble blower- Homemade bubbles are a great outdoor activity.  But sometimes those small bubble blowers that come with the bubbles just aren’t good enough.  You can take old wire hangers and make bigger bubble blowers and cool shaped bubbles.  Let the kids bend the hanger into cool shapes, making sure that they are tight so the bubbles will form.  If you are making big blowers then you can make a big bowl of bubbles using dish soap.
 Snakes- For those that like to sew, hangers can be used as the skeleton of a snake.  Kids will love to help you stuff the snake and then play with it.  The snake’s body will be rigid and able to be manipulated into different slithering positions.
 Costumes- Have you ever tried to make your child into a pumpkin but just couldn’t get them to be round and plump?  Consider using a wire hanger as the skeletal frame for your pumpkin.  It will give it some stability and keep it in the shape you want it.
 Reindeer- Christmas seems to bring out the crafters in all of us.  You have to be creative in the gifts that you give to your friends and neighbors.  Use your old hangers and other craft materials that you have lying around to make adorable reindeer.  The materials are very open, you can use anything that you can come up with to make your reindeer very jolly.
 Piñata- When your homemade piñata just won’t hold its shape, use a wire hanger as a frame for it.  This will help it hold together until it isn’t supposed to anymore.  It will give you a much easier time in making and decorating your masterpiece.

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Using chip board to create great crafts

Friday, December 28th, 2007

Chip board, the new craze in the crafting business.  You can create some very cute craft projects using chipboard.  So what is it you ask?  Chipboard is basically the thin hard-pressed cardboard you see as cereal boxes or many other dry goods.  It’s what they use to keep things from bending.  It’s very cheap, and easy to come by.  Thus using chip board to create great crafts has become the newest craze in the arts and craft business.  To give you a better on the uses of chip board, let me give a few examples of how you can use it to create some really great crafts.

How to use Chip board
If you can think of it, you can probably do it with chip board.  After you have acquired some chip board one of the things you can do with it is paint it.  Some companies make paint specifically designed for painting chip board.  These paints usually have less water so will not saturate your paper or make it warp, and are generally acid free (which makes it great for scrapbooking).  If you don’t want to pay the big bucks for the stuff you buy at the scrapbook stores, acrylic paint will work just as good.  Once you’ve painted it you can use it with ribbons, stamps,

Creating great craft ideas
There are a number of different ways you can use chip board so here are a few ideas:
 Create your own embellishments- You can use chip board to make some great embellishments in scrapbooks, cards, or any type of paper project you are doing.  Because it is extremely cheap you don’t have to worry about making mistakes and having to spend a fortune on re-doing the page, or starting over with a new card.  They make your creations really stand out.
 Add dimension- using chip board can really add depth to crafting project.  You can cut chip board to whatever shapes you want and place them behind letters, words, or pictures to create a "pop" on your paper. 
 Create your own alphabet- who knew that you could create such cute looking alphabet letters at such a cheap price.  By simply stamping letters onto cardstock you can then attach them to the chipboard and create your own sayings.  You can use any font you want (purchased of course), and any colors.
 Making gift tags- simply make your tag, attach it to the chip board, and add any embellishments such as ribbon, letters. Etc.  It’s really that simple.
 Mini Albums

Some Ideas on just using Chip board
Here are some fun and creative things you can do to make your chip board more exiting to look at and use.
 Use colored ribbon to design words on your chip board
 If you want to make your chip board look shiny just cover it with versamark ink and apply a UTEE heat setting.  The UTEE comes in different colors and also clear.
 Attach fabric or ribbon to your chip board using xyron spray adhesive.  You can also use this spray to attach objects such as shells, or small rocks.
 You can use glue dots (purchased at any craft of scrapbook store) to attach any sort of button you like.  You can cover the entire board, or just use them as embellishments.  Denim and velvet look great on chip board.
 You can use eyelets, and brads to decorate your chip board.  Just be sure that the chip board itself is not too thick or you will have a hard time getting them through. 
 Use embossing glitter if you like that look.  Regular glitter tends to get really messy on chip board.
 A metallic look can be achieved with your chip board by using leafing pens. 
 Create collages right on the chip board using photos and stickers.  Just trim off the excess and it looks great.

Hopefully this will get you started on using chipboard to create great crafts.  Once you try it, you’ll never turn back.  It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it’s fun.  You can’t beat that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tips for selling crafts online

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

Knowing how to sell crafts online is one of the key components of a successful approach to marketing and selling your homemade crafts. Here are some tips to help you learn how you can sell crafts online and make a profit doing so.

Thousands of crafters have discovered the Internet as a great way to sell their crafts and to supplement their crafting business. Using the Internet to sell crafts can be a great tool and a great opportunity. However, a number of people who make and sell crafts are missing out on a great business opportunity with the Internet, either because they aren’t using the Internet at all, or because they aren’t using the Internet at all.

Let’s start with people who aren’t using the Internet at all. Here are some ways that you can use the Internet successfully to sell your crafts online.

1. Set up your own website.

A website is a fantastic place where people can learn all about your different products that you have to offer. A website is a place where new customers can find out about you. A website is also a fantastic place for old customers to find out about your new products. Old customers can also reorder products through your website.

Make sure that your website is designed well. If you don’t know anything about website design, then you should think about hiring a professional. The upfront cost will be recouped through the profits that you will win.

When you set up a website, buy a domain name that will be easy for people to think of. Don’t find some freeware site that assigns you a random web address that’s full of numbers. Instead, purchase a domain name that has your company’s name in it, or your name in it.

2. Use email to your advantage.

Email lists are a fantastic way to contact people who are interested in your products. Whenever you are selling at a trade show or at a craft store, have a mailing list available for people to sign up on. Ask for their name, their address, their city, their state, their zip code, and an email address. Even if you only sign out a hard copy snail mail newsletter once a year, having states and cities can help you send out regional emails.

Send out your emails about every couple months. Send people updates on your products. Let them know about any special deals or discounts that are going on. When you are visiting a trade show in a particular area, then you can send out emails to people in that region.

3. Use other people’s websites.

Ask other crafters to add links to your website on their own website. Also advertise on other people’s sites and on the sites of major magazines and forums.

Common mistakes that people make with the Internet
Even when people have websites and use the Internet, a lot of the time they make mistakes with what they do. Here are some common mistakes that people make when they try to sell crafts online.

1. Badly designed websites.

Many times, people design poor websites. Their websites are too bloated with too many graphics and sensory overload. This takes the website a long time to load and is confusing for people to navigate. They’re going to leave before it happens.

2. Lack of contact information.
Do you have your phone number, your fax number, your toll free number, your email address, and your mailing address on your website? Otherwise people won’t be able to contact you. Have the information on every page of your website, easy to find and easy to see.

3. Inability to order online.
If people are looking at crafts online, they are going to want to be able to purchase your crafts online. If they can’t buy online, then they’re going to go somewhere else where they can.

 

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Tips for finding your scrapbook style

Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

Starting out scrapbooking can be intimidating. There are many options to choose from. Finding your own scrapbook style may seem impossible. When starting to scrapbook it is best to remember that not all albums or even pages will turn out the same. There is no right way or wrong way to do a scrapbook. Your style should be as unique as you are.

Themes are a great way to start out for beginning scrapbookers. Possible themes could be favorite characters like Winnie the Pooh, Precious Moments, or artists like Mary Engelbreit. You can even use favorite games as a theme like Monopoly or Life throughout the album. Special events such as weddings, or births are always a great way to start out. Whatever theme you choose it should continue through the whole album. Choosing different themes for different albums can become a great personal style. Themed albums can help reduce all the choices out  there making it easier to find a personal style.

Style is a set of characteristics that classify layouts into a specific category. When trying to find your scrapbook style, look around your house. What types of colors are on your walls and floors? How do you display your wall hangings? What characteristics are common among your house? Is there a lot of country? New age? Romance? All this can be put into your scrapbook style. Your scrapbook will truly reflect your personality.

 If you are still unsure where to start there are about five general categories of scrapbook styles. All of them with their own complexities and range of work. Here are the basic five with a brief description.

Classic or Traditional:
These are great for beginners. Classice pages are usually done in darker, solid colors. There is little embellishments and lines are straight. Journaling on these pages is usually exact and to the point. Photos are rarely matted.

Contemporary:
These albums are bold and modern. They are generally for the more advanced scrapbookers. They use the newest products in different ways. Colors are bold with different patterns. Journaling is extensive and can tell the whole story.

Romantic:
These types of albums can be easy or hard. Colors are soft and torn. The albume has more of a feminine feel. Embellishments would include lace and buttons. Journaling is very personal.

Playful or Whimsical:
This is where your personal style can really show up. This style has coordinating bright color papers with patterned papers and embellishments. This can focus on the photos themselves and the pages built around the photo. Journaling is short yet funny or touching.

Naturalistic or Artistic:
These types of albums can be adjusted to your level of skill. The colors are very natural greens, blues, and browns. Natural fibers can be used as embellishments. Journaling can be seen as quotes or words that are weaved throughout your pictures.

Your personal style may reflect many of these in only one album. Do what feels comfortable but also try out new ways. As your skill level improves you will see a distinct style that is all your own.
 
    
    

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The essential list for beginning scrapbookers

Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

Other supplies that can become essential at some point in your scrapbooking are:
1.Paper trimmer-This makes trimming photos and papers easier and you get a straighter line.
2. Embellishments- This can be anything extra you add to your album besides the photos. Stickers, buttons, ribbons, eyelets are just a few embellisments that can be added.
3. Idea books- These will give you ideas for your own books. There are so many different ways to scrapbook that a new book or magazine is a great idea.
4. Die cutting machines-These make it easier to add letters in matching paper to your pages. They come in more then just the alphabet and there are many different designs available.
5. Circle or oval cutter- This will help you cut a better circle and make the pages of your album look great.

No matter what essential you have you can always add more. Scrap booking continues to grow. There are new styles coming up all the time. Add to your inventory as time and budget allows.

Meta description: The essential list for beginning scrapbookers
Keywords: Scrapbooks for beginners, beginning scrapbooking list, essential scrapbook items
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With scrapbooking growing so fast there are lots of product out there to choose from. When looking at the scrapbook aisle or even a scrapbook store you may not know where to begin. There are many supplies but there are essentials that a beginning scrapbooker needs.

1. An album: This is one of the most essential items. You can not have a scrapbook if you don’t have an album. Albums are available in many shapes and sizes. Whatever one you chose for your product should go well with the theme you have in mind. The pages should be acid free. The binding is best if you can add or remove pages. These can be post bound albums or even 3 ring binders.
2. Refill Pages: It is a good idea that once you have your album to buy extra pages for that particular album. This can be an essential because refills are not a standard size. If you buy some extra refills along with your album you can save time searching for the right size. Manufacturers are also different you may have the right size but the color or texture may be off a little.
3. Sharp Scissors: Dull scissors just don’t do a good job. Sharp scissors make a nice even cut and won’t damage the photos or paper. These scissors should be kept with your Scrapbooking supplies and only used for scrapbooking. This will keep them sharp and you’ll know where they are. This is one area where you might want to spend more money. Get a pair of scissors that fit comfortably in your hand and you can easily maneuver.
4. Adhesives:  This is what you use to keep the photos and other embellishments in place on your album pages. There are many different kinds of scrapbook friendly adhesives. There are glue dots or tape dots, gluesticks or tape that are specifically for scrapbooking. You’ll need to find one that works best for you and your needs. Mainly you’ll want one that works well with both cardstock and photos.
5. Papers and Cardstock: These are used for backgrounds or mounting your photos. They can be colored or patterned but should go with the colors you want accented in your photos. Scrapbook stores sell sheets individually or in books. The books go well if you have a full theme for your scrapbook. Individual sheets are great when you want something specific. Single sheets are also great when you want different looks on every page, like in a family album. Cardstock can be bought in full books with color coordinating patterns or colors that go well together. Cardstock is used for layering or mounting photos on.
6. Pens: Journaling is a big part of your scrapbook and so pens become essential. The pens should be acid free, permanent and most need to have a fine tip. This makes it easier to write. Some pens come with fine tip and a thicker tip on the other end. What type you get depends on what type of journaling you want to do. Scrap booking pens are best but if you use other pens make sure they are acid free and don’t bleed through your pages. Pens can also be bought in sets or individually.

Those are the basic essential for a beginning scrapbooker. The supplies give you a place to put the photos and to start with layouts. Once you have the basic essentials then you can add other supplies when time or budget allows.

Other supplies that can become essential at some point in your scrapbooking are:
1.Paper trimmer-This makes trimming photos and papers easier and you get a straighter line.
2. Embellishments- This can be anything extra you add to your album besides the photos. Stickers, buttons, ribbons, eyelets are just a few embellisments that can be added.
3. Idea books- These will give you ideas for your own books. There are so many different ways to scrapbook that a new book or magazine is a great idea.
4. Die cutting machines-These make it easier to add letters in matching paper to your pages. They come in more then just the alphabet and there are many different designs available.
5. Circle or oval cutter- This will help you cut a better circle and make the pages of your album look great.

No matter what essential you have you can always add more. Scrap booking continues to grow. There are new styles coming up all the time. Add to your inventory as time and budget allows.

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A beginners guide to quilting

Tuesday, December 25th, 2007

There are many reasons to start quilting. Quilting can not only give you personal enjoyment and satisfaction but a quilt can be a work of art that tells a story. A quilt is also a great way of giving to those in need in your community. You can give quilts to the homeless or children in foster care, lap quilts for senior citizens or baby quilts for crisis pregnancy centers are all ways that this hobby can help those in need and change someone’s life.

Before you begin, there is some basic quilting information that may be helpful. There are a number of different types of quilts, but a quilt generally consists of three layers. The first layer is the top, which may be created in several different ways. Some of these ways include patchwork piecing and appliqué. The quilt top can be created also by piecing together scraps of fabric left over from other projects, household items or pieces of clothing. You can also purchase fabric specifically to be used for the top layer of your quilt.
Using quilt blocks is another way of creating the top. Quilt blocks are individual sections of patchwork that are put together in a particular pattern. The blocks are sewn together to complete the quilt top. There are a variety of different patterns available for the beginner to those with more experience and skill.
The next layer is the batting. This is the insulation that adds warmth and body to the quilt. There are several kinds of batting available depending on the amount of warmth that is wanted, price range and type of quilt.
The final layer, which completes the quilt and brings it all together is the backing. The backing can be a whole piece of fabric or it can be two or more pieces of the same fabric sewn together, depending on the size of the quilt. A whole piece of fabric is generally all that a smaller quilt requires, but a larger quilting project often requires two or more pieces of the same fabric sewn together to complete the project.
When the top layer is ready, and the batting and backing are cut to size, all three layers are then layered together. To hold them together during the quilting process these layers must be basted. The stitching that is used to bind the three layers together is generally decorative and often follows a pattern. This can be done by hand or machine.

When choosing a first time quilting project, it is a good idea to choose a project that is simple and small. Some good beginner projects include baby quilts, lap quilts, doll quilts, pillows, and wall hangings. Quilts are generally constructed using 100% cotton fabrics and threads. Cotton fabric is generally easier to work with, it holds a crease well and is available in wide variety of colors. You can find packages of fabric that are color-coordinated and pre-cut for quilters at your local quilting shop. Use batting that is thinner, such as Warm & Natural and Warm & White. This is because it is less difficult to quilt and maneuver.

Be sure to use accurate rulers for measuring and use curved safety pins when pinning. Curved safety pins will make pinning your quilt much easier.

Always use ¼" seams and be sure to keep the seams uniform. A ¼" quilting foot is a useful and very handy tool to have. Also, always press the current piece and then move to the next step. And seams should be ironed towards the darker material.

Keep in mind, quilting is a hobby in which anyone can learn. It can be a wonderful way to relax while creating something beautiful.

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The essential list for beginning scrapbookers

Tuesday, December 25th, 2007

With scrapbooking growing so fast there are lots of product out there to choose from. When looking at the scrapbook aisle or even a scrapbook store you may not know where to begin. There are many supplies but there are essentials that a beginning scrapbooker needs.

1. An album: This is one of the most essential items. You can not have a scrapbook if you don’t have an album. Albums are available in many shapes and sizes. Whatever one you chose for your product should go well with the theme you have in mind. The pages should be acid free. The binding is best if you can add or remove pages. These can be post bound albums or even 3 ring binders.
2. Refill Pages: It is a good idea that once you have your album to buy extra pages for that particular album. This can be an essential because refills are not a standard size. If you buy some extra refills along with your album you can save time searching for the right size. Manufacturers are also different you may have the right size but the color or texture may be off a little.
3. Sharp Scissors: Dull scissors just don’t do a good job. Sharp scissors make a nice even cut and won’t damage the photos or paper. These scissors should be kept with your Scrapbooking supplies and only used for scrapbooking. This will keep them sharp and you’ll know where they are. This is one area where you might want to spend more money. Get a pair of scissors that fit comfortably in your hand and you can easily maneuver.
4. Adhesives:  This is what you use to keep the photos and other embellishments in place on your album pages. There are many different kinds of scrapbook friendly adhesives. There are glue dots or tape dots, gluesticks or tape that are specifically for scrapbooking. You’ll need to find one that works best for you and your needs. Mainly you’ll want one that works well with both cardstock and photos.
5. Papers and Cardstock: These are used for backgrounds or mounting your photos. They can be colored or patterned but should go with the colors you want accented in your photos. Scrapbook stores sell sheets individually or in books. The books go well if you have a full theme for your scrapbook. Individual sheets are great when you want something specific. Single sheets are also great when you want different looks on every page, like in a family album. Cardstock can be bought in full books with color coordinating patterns or colors that go well together. Cardstock is used for layering or mounting photos on.
6. Pens: Journaling is a big part of your scrapbook and so pens become essential. The pens should be acid free, permanent and most need to have a fine tip. This makes it easier to write. Some pens come with fine tip and a thicker tip on the other end. What type you get depends on what type of journaling you want to do. Scrap booking pens are best but if you use other pens make sure they are acid free and don’t bleed through your pages. Pens can also be bought in sets or individually.

Those are the basic essential for a beginning scrapbooker. The supplies give you a place to put the photos and to start with layouts. Once you have the basic essentials then you can add other supplies when time or budget allows.

Other supplies that can become essential at some point in your scrapbooking are:
1.Paper trimmer-This makes trimming photos and papers easier and you get a straighter line.
2. Embellishments- This can be anything extra you add to your album besides the photos. Stickers, buttons, ribbons, eyelets are just a few embellisments that can be added.
3. Idea books- These will give you ideas for your own books. There are so many different ways to scrapbook that a new book or magazine is a great idea.
4. Die cutting machines-These make it easier to add letters in matching paper to your pages. They come in more then just the alphabet and there are many different designs available.
5. Circle or oval cutter- This will help you cut a better circle and make the pages of your album look great.

No matter what essential you have you can always add more. Scrap booking continues to grow. There are new styles coming up all the time. Add to your inventory as time and budget allows.

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Great crafts kids can do on a rainy day

Monday, December 24th, 2007

When you can’t send the kids outside to play all day, you need something else to occupy their time.  Sometimes finding things to keep the kids busy for more than 5 minutes can be a really tough task.

Here are some ideas of crafts that the kids can do that will keep them busy for more than just a few minutes.  Some of them are great for the kids to do on their own, others require some aid from a parent.

Crafts with parents help

 Recycled Crayons- find the old broken crayon pieces and melt them over low heat in a saucepan.  Make sure that you remove the paper!  When they are melted you can pour them into cookie cutters to harden.  Now the kids have new crayons that they want to use or you have a great gift for their friends!
 Sand bottles- you can find colored crafting sand at any craft store.  Buy several different colors and some fun shaped bottles.  With or without a funnel you can help each kid pour the colors that they want into their bottles in layers.  The colors can be mixed or left in layers for awesome designs.
 Fun recipes- cooking with your kids can be a great learning experience for them.  You can pick a favorite cookie recipe and work on it together or simply let them help you with the sandwiches for lunch.  Whatever you do it will help them become more independent and learn to love cooking!

On their own

 Molding clay- Letting the kids loose with clay is a great way to let them express themselves as well as keep them entertained.  You can have them play with it for a while and put it away or you can let them create something to keep.  Clay can be used in any season: during the summer you can have them make a picture frame for a vacation picture, make Christmas ornaments for the tree, or even make a pot to plant a spring flower.
 Scrapbook- If you are a scrapbooker, then you know how often your kids want to help you.  Find an old phonebook and take the time to glue about every three pages together.  This becomes your kid’s scrapbook that they can work on beside you.  Give them your scraps, markers, glue, and anything else that you want them to use and let them go to work.  This saves your pages and supplies while satisfying their desire to help you scrapbook.

What you will need

Here are some ideas for things to have on hand for those rainy days.  These can be kept where the kids have ready access to them or they can be put up for you to get them out when you want them out.  This list is no where near complete, but it should spark some good ideas for you to add to your kids’ craft supplies.

 Beads, jewels and glitter
 Yarn, ribbon, wire and string
 Tissue paper, construction paper and cardstock
 Felt, foam and fabric
 Seeds, paint, paintbrushes and shoeboxes
 Old bottles, coloring books and molding clay
 Crayons, markers and colored pencils

If you don’t feel like you are very artistic or crafty, then take this chance to learn with your kids.  Find ideas that are easy and take the time to do them with your kids.  This also gives you some quality time with your kids to grow together.  Don’t limit yourself, give crafts a try, even if you feel like your kids projects seem to turn out better than yours.

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