Craft Blog

Knowing the best type of paint to use for crafting can be helpful when you are trying to decide how to paint your craft.  Believe it or not, there are specific paints you can buy for certain crafting projects.  Some paints are used for painting glass, others are used for wood painting, and there are others that have been designed for specific purposes.  Finding the right type of paint for your craft project is very important.  If you choose the wrong type of paint, it can completely ruin your craft project.  The type of paint you use with your craft project, will largely depend on the type of project you are working on.  Here is some basic information on some different types of paints you can use for different craft projects.

Acrylic Paints
Acrylic paints have been around and used since about the 1960’s and have become popular because they are extremely versatile.  They are made from water and an acrylic binder that forms a hard clear film as the water evaporates.  This is what gives acrylic its great look.  Once they dry, they are resistant to water and are unlikely to crack.  It can be painted over once it has dried thoroughly without doing anything to the previous color already painted on.  Acrylics can be used on woods, Masonite, and even canvas.  Depending on your project, check with someone who works at the craft store to make sure that acrylic paint is the best kind of paint to use with your crafting project. 

Fabric Paints
This is quite obvious what these paints might be used for; fabrics.  If you are planning on tackling a craft project using fabric and are thinking about painting it, then go to your local craft store and ask them where to find fabric paints.  These are specifically designed for painting onto fabrics so they will not just wash out or run when they are put into the washer and dryer.  You can buy fabric ballpoint and brush paints which allow you to do brush painting, stencil painting, and even fabric stamping.  You can now even buy fabric paints that are adaptable in allowing you to work with woods and ceramics.  These are called cameo fabric paints.  Designed naturally for fabrics, but have the versatility of being used with other types of pr

Glass Paints
If you are tackling a stained glass project and want to paint the glass your best bet for paints are translucent or opaque.  It all depends on whether or not you want to see through the paint or not.  Most opaque colors will not allow you to see through the color, whereas translucent paints will allow you to see through them, and (if it is a window) allow a lot of the natural light in.

Painting on Wood
There are a lot of different options when it comes to painting wood crafts.  You can go to a local hardware/ household items store such as Lowe’s or Home Depot and ask someone in the paint department what would be best for your craft.  You can choose paints that will let the true grain of the wood show through, which adds uniqueness to your craft, or you can pick paint that will completely cover the wood.  They have wood paints that are better for touch ups, and then you can always find polyurethane to protect the finished product.

There is a lot to consider when it comes to paints and crafts.  First decide what your craft will be, and then decide what paint to look for.

Best places to get crafting patterns. There are hundreds and thousands of great crafting patterns out there. Though, where do you find these great patterns? Well here is some information that will help.

You can find great crafting patterns all over. You can look at your local craft stores, in crafting magazines, and in books at your local craft store or library. However, it can be easier than that even. You can find many of the great patterns for crafting right from your home computer. That is as long as you can connect to the Internet. Here are some awesome sites you can check out to get the patterns you are looking for.

 http://www.artcraftmarketing.com/craftbusiness.htm

This site has links to many other sites that have great patterns. It will make it easier to look for patterns you would not have found otherwise. The reason this makes it so much easier is because it is under one listing on the web. Here are some great sites you can get to for crafting patterns from this site.

http://www.countryroadcrafts.com/ars/list1.html
http://usa.ultimatetopsites.com/bin/topsite.cgi?therustyrooster&cat=general&ID=256

There are also many more through these sites that make getting patterns faster and more aggressive. Your search will be more successful knowing where to go.

 http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=f4e92d2f63d09d0cf28f1086665eae50;www

This site has links, patterns, forums and much more. The site is set up with easily to read and understand options for searching and learning. There is also good support for problem solving for crafting.

 http://www.etsy.com/

This is basically an online mall or store that offers products for crafting, patterns, and even completed crafts. You can find about anything you are looking for already made, or the information for them to be created by you at this site.

 http://blog.makezine.com/

This is an online magazine that offers patterns, crafting ideas and much more. You will find that along with this magazine there are others you can check out that have basically the same ideas. Here is another link to another web magazine. http://blog.craftzine.com/

They like others are set up for easy reading, searching and information from other crafters that can be very helpful in your crafting plans.

 http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter07/index.html

This is a site for knitters. You can find amazing ideas, patterns for knitting at this site. It is great because the pictures make it easy to see what you are looking for. There are many benefits from joining this site. So simply take some time to view the knitting options for you.

 http://www.crochetme.com/

This site is similar as the knitting site above. The site offers the information that you need for crocheting. There are patterns, ideas and even support for question you may have. Members place items on these sites and have the opportunity to use the site to gain growth in their crocheting projects.

 http://www.instructables.com/

This is a site that has more one on one instruction than most any other. Patterns are great, but if you cannot understand the instructions, you may find this site helpful.

 http://www.free-stencilingpatterns.com/stencils/?hop=0

This site is great for stencil patterns. The fun part about this is that you can get some really great ideas for your home, and much more. They are great stencils that are easy to use.

These are only a few of the great places to get good crafting patterns and much more. The Internet has so many sites and places for patterns it would take a lifetime to see them all. But, these seem to be some of the best places to look. Be prepared to view and learn.

Yarn is typically used for knitting or crocheting, and determining the best kind of yarn to use for crafting sometimes depends on what you will be making.  It can be extremely intimidating walking into a craft or yarn store and try to decide what yarn you need for your craft project.  The easiest way to decide what is the best type of yarn to use will be in determining what you are making with it. 

Making a checklist will help simplify the process of finding the best type of yarn.  Ask yourself the following questions:
 Are you using the yarn to make something that will be worn?
 Will what you are making be worn inside or outside? (This will help determine whether or not it needs to be heavy or light weight)
 Is it for the summertime or wintertime?
 Will it need to go through the laundry often?
Answering these questions will help you decide what the best yarn type is for your project.  Now that you know the answer to these questions, all you need is the knowledge about different types of yarns.

There are many different varieties of yarns you will find in the store.  The three most basic ones are Cotton, Wool, and Synthetic.  These three will fit the needs of just about any project you are tackling.  Let’s take a look at each one to help you determine the best kind of yarn to use for your crafting needs.

Cotton Yarn
Cotton yarn is fairly lightweight, breathes easily, and is therefore great during the spring and summertime.  They make for great sweaters; short or long sleeved.  It’s is relatively easy to wash so makes for great home décor and also kid stuff.  Some examples may be dishcloths, pot holders, and socks.  One drawback of cotton yarn is that it does not have a lot of stretch to it, so once worn in a sweater or such it can lead to stretched out cuffs and even arm lengths. 

Wool Yarn
When one thinks of wool, they think of warm fuzzies right?  You are right; wool and other similar animal fibers are meant to be worn during cool to cold weather because they are quite warm.  It will stretch and usually return to its original shape quite easily.  It is also a great insulator.  It also needs to be laundered separately by hand and cannot undergo sharp temperature changes or it begins to felt.  Felting is when the fibers mat together resulting in massive shrinking and much thicker fabric.  Angora and Alpaca yarns are even warmer than regular wools, but are softer and lighter in weight.  If you are making vests and sweaters this is the best kind of yarn to use.  This is also the best type of yarn to use when making hats and gloves or anything you want to wear outside during very cold weather.  Wool and nylon together also make great wear for making warm things that you want to stretch and return back to its shape. 

Synthetic Yarn
This type of yarn is made from acrylic and will generally be warmer than cotton but not really that comfortable to wear.  Because it absorbs little, perspiration will stay directly on your skin.  The good things about synthetic wools are that they usually will not shrink and they hold their color well.  You can also wash synthetic fiber in the washer and dry it in the dryer which makes it extremely easy to care for. 

There are of course other types of yarn to choose from, but these are the most widely used and the best choices for making clothes and home décor.  It will depend also on what you like.  If it feels good to you, then you might just want to try it out.

Some of the most beautiful pieces of art in the crafting world have been made out of wood.  Which wood you ask?  Well, there are many different choices of wood when it comes to crafting.  You will need a little more information of the different types of wood you can use for crafting. 

Properties of Timber Wood
Each type of timber has unique qualities and properties from being clean (which is great for food preparation) to being durable without the need for chemical treatments.  Each kind of timber can be used to make furniture and different kinds of crafts. 

Ash
Ash wood is a highly grained creamy wood.  It is popular for the way it looks, but also for its strength and ease in working with.  This is the best and most ideal wood to use if you are crafting furniture projects.  It is one of the toughest timbers because of its flexibility to withstand pressure and splintering.  It was traditionally used for making weapons such as spears.  Today it is most widely used in making sports equipment, chairs and cabinetry, or tool handles.  Another great aspect about Ash is that it can be bent without breaking or loosing its natural strength. 

Beech Wood
Beach wood has a brilliant appearance, is hard wearing, and is also odorless.  It is a very popular timber to work with because it is heavy, strong, and has many different color variations within it.  It is ideally used in places where you prepare food as it is clean and odorless.  It also works great for crafting children’s toys, tableware, plates and bowls.  It is very easy to work with and can be cut in any direction; across the grain at any angle.   If your crafting project will include any of these previously mentioned things, then you will want to consider using beech wood to make your craft. 

Birch Wood
Birch wood produces a fine textured, very versatile uniform appearance.  It has been given the same rating in strength as oak wood, which is strong and dense.  Because it is so versatile it can be used in just about anything you want to make.  Furniture, ornaments, tableware, etc.  If you want to make several different kinds of crafts but do not want to hassle with buying several different kinds of woods, then birch wood may be the best kind of wood to use for your wood crafts.

Oak Wood
Oak is an extremely durable wood that can be used for indoor and outdoor use.  It has been used in countless number of construction projects, and yet is great for indoor flooring.  It can also be great for furniture crafting because there is no maintenance required, and will not take to cuts, scratches, or burns easily.  You might want to consider using oak for your craft project if are making toys, or items that children will have access to. 

Lime Wood
Trees that are made of Lime wood are known as "Trees with a thousand uses."  They are extremely versatile and can be used in making household items to some types of weapons.  It has many properties that allow it to be used for carving crafts.  It can be carved easily with intricate details, or used with less detail and larger artistic carvings. 

Sycamore and Maple
Sycamore and Maple woods have excellent working properties.  They can be cut in any directions and produce a brilliant finish.  It can be bent and stained with ease which allows its uses to range from musical instruments, to fine furniture.  Because of its clean, non-tainting properties it can also be used for such things as tableware, bread boards, etc. 

Now that you have a better understanding of the types of wood that are out there to choose from, you can choose your craft, and then find the best kind of wood to use for your wood craft projects.

Making crafts with kids can sometimes end up in wasteful paper and stickers that just end up in the garbage.  This doesn’t have to be the case though.  You can find some useful kid crafts that can be useful to you and them.  You just need to know what kind of crafts to make and what to do with them.  The secret to making a useful crafs is knowing what you are going to use them for.  You can’t just make crafts just to make them.  They have to serve a purpose.  Here are some ideas on making useful kid crafts.

Serving a purpose
There are many different kinds of crafts kids can make today and they all serve different purpose.  Some kid crafts are made simply for decoration.  These are the kind they make and then you place on your fridge, or put on your shelf for some time and then it gets thrown in the garbage.  Other kid crafts can actually have a purpose in making.  For example, some children love playing with puppets.  So why not show them how to make their own puppets.  They are using their creativity, and they then can play with their own hand made craft.  Some kid craft projects are made with the idea in mind that they will be giving them away as a present.  These types of crafts may take a little more time to make, but definitely serve a good purpose.  One example of this type of craft may be gift cards.  You can make and use gift cards for practically anything.  They’re usually cheaper than buying a card, end up being more creative and fun, and offer a real sense of personality to your gift.  Whatever you or your child decide to make as their craft, always remember to keep your purpose in mind.  This will help keep you away from the crafts that just get thrown away or take up space.  And we all know which ones those are.

Useful kid Craft ideas
The following are some great ideas to use with your kids in making some useful kid crafts.  This is just to get you started; there are endless possibilities in making useful crafts with your child.  You just need to get in touch with your creative side.

 Placemats-  Everyone would agree that when kids eat they make a mess right?  Well here is a fun craft for your child to make and eat on.  You can buy plain cut placemats usually at the dollar store and let them go at it.  Give them markers, crayons, stickers, or whatever they want to decorate.  Then when they’re done you won’t feel like this is an unuseful craft.  Every time they eat they can use it; every time they use the markers or paint at the table they can use them.  These are a great way to keep a mess to a minimum. 
 Puppets-  Kids love pretend play and making puppets is a great way to monopolize their creativity.  You can make anything from finger puppets, to paper and popsicle stick puppets; sock puppets, and hand puppets.  Kids love to play with them so you don’t feel like you’re wasting paper or glue.
 Magnets-  You can find magnets with a peel and stick back at any craft store which makes this craft fun, easy, and useful.  You can make magnets using your child’s picture; you can have them draw pictures and stick magnets on the back so they can be useful in holding things up on the refridgerator or magnet boards.  You can be as detailed as you like. 
 Holiday crafts-  Many holiday crafts can also make great gifts for teachers, and family members.  Holiday crafts can range anywhere from pot and picture holders, to hanging ornaments.

As you can see there are a number of different ways in making useful kid crafts.  Try some of these fun ideas and see how well they get used in your home. 
 

Pinking shears are a great tool for any crafter to own. These scissors cut in zigzag pattern to create decorative edges on fabric or paper, adding interest to whatever you’re using them for.

While pinking shears can be used on both fabric and paper, though most crafters agree that it is best to use them only on fabric because paper can dull the scissors quickly.  Since pinking shears can be expensive, it is a better idea to buy scissors specifically made for cutting paper, which can be purchased at any scrapbooking store.  By using pinking shears exclusively on fabric, the blade will stay sharper much longer and will make more precise cuts.

When using pinking shears, keep in mind that they handle differently from regular scissors. The scissors should be held straight when cutting fabric – otherwise, the fabric could snag and tear. Don’t move the scissors forward in the fabric; instead, make one clean cut, completely open the scissors, move the blades along the fabric, and then align the blades so that the notches match the previous cut.  Completely opening and closing the blades is the key to getting a neat, clean-cut edge.

It is often easier to cut more than one layer of fabric at a time since one layer can be kind of flimsy and harder to handing while pinking. Instead, use two or three pieces of fabric at a time.  However, doing more than that isn’t suggested because it can be difficult to cut and the results might not be as even, since the many layers of fabric may catch and rip. Be careful when you cut any fabric in layers because it could make the blades go out of alignment. If something feels too thick, even if it is just two layers, do each layer separately.

Another thing to consider when pinking fabric is what kind of fabric you’re using.  If you’re using a heavier material you may not want to cut more than one layer at a time because it is be harder to make clean, even cuts through thick layers of material.  On the other hand, try not to pink material that isn’t tightly woven because it will most likely result in an uneven zigzag and could look sloppy. If you want to try cutting a fabric that is more delicate, try putting it on top of a heavier fabric and cut them at the same time.

Pinking shears are a great for adding an interesting touch to your sewing, but they are also a practical tool. Pinking shears are especially helpful when using fabric that has a tendency to fray, like satin. The zigzag pattern keeps the threads in the fabric in place better than if it were cut with regular, straight scissors. On tightly woven, non-fraying fabrics, like fleece, cutting with pinking shears works as a seam finish.

If, for some reason, your pinking shears become dull, there are ways to sharpen them.  One way to sharpen them is to get a piece of aluminum foil, fold it a few times, and then cut through the foil with the entire blade a few times. Or, you can cut through sandpaper (again, cutting with the entire blade), but make sure that it is extra-fine sandpaper; anything coarser will scratch and damage the blades more.

If either at-home sharpening method doesn’t work, get your shears professionally sharpened. Another smart idea is to ask the employees at fabric stores about how they keep their scissors in the best condition. Since they are cutting all day, they may have some insider tips on how to get the most out of their scissors.

Pinking shears are an important element to your sewing box. When used correctly and cared for, your pinking shears will last for many, many sewing projects.