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Crafty Topics
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Discover what you can make with luxurious alpaca fleece. Hand felting instructions and projects. Needle felting 3 D characters.
http://owning-alpaca.com/felting-wool.html
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Crafty Tip
If you have a thin spot in your felt, use a felting needle to fill in with dry fleece. Wet felt the area and you will never be able to tell that the fleece was added.
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Free crochet patterns for adult and childrens apparel and accessories. All of the patterns on my site are my original creations. I truly enjoy making hat patterns and feel confident there's a crochet hat pattern for every member of the family. New free crochet patterns are added as they are developed with the newest patterns on top.
http://patbythehook.blogdrive.com/
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Crafty Tip
Using a smaller or larger crochet hook will allow you to change the size of the finished item if it's a bit too big or too small.
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Free vintage crochet doily patterns. Several hundred complete patterns from Coats & Clarks', the American Thread Company, Anchor and too many others to count. This collection of patterns from the 1930s - 1960s has something for even the pickiest of crochet artists.
http://www.angelfire.com/folk/celtwich/Doilies.html
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Crafty Tip
Many of the crochet threads and needle manufacturers mentioned in these vintage crochet patterns are no longer available. If you need to make any substitutions, make sure to use a crochet needle appropriate for the thread you are using - the label of the thread should guide you on what size crochet needle to use with your doilies.
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Those new Clorox Bleach pens can do double duty. A local news site shares a fun project to decorate a pair of jeans using a bleach pen and a bit of creativity.
http://www.azcentral.com
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Crafty Tip
The Clorox Bleach Pen works magic on all kinds of household items, such as sheet sets, pillow coverings, tablecloths, placemats, jackets, notebooks, backpacks, canvas shoes, Christmas stockings, scarves, T-shirts and hats. For a more far-out look, add spray-on fabric paint over the bleached areas to add color to the lightened areas.
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This simple project is one of a series of crafty projects offered by a local television station. This project uses two fringed placemats to make a cute purse.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/1679178/detail.html
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Crafty Tip
Your local dollar store, Dollar General, or other discount store is the best place to find inexpensive placemats for this project.
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Take well-loved dolls and make them look new again. Marilyn has used her talents to take thrift store dollies, rehab them and give them to charities for distribution to children at Christmas. She shares over 20 years of experience on how to turn these discarded dolls into someone's new friend. Learn how to recondition the doll, fix the hair, and make clothes and accessories for them. Also included are numerous tips on finding supplies at low or discounted prices.
http://www.savethedolls.org/
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Crafty Tip
Some stuffed dolls have cloth "shoes" sewn on as part of the body. If they cannot be cleaned, I have covered them by making a kind of sock out of colored knit fabric. Just slip it on over the old cover, turn down the raw edge at the top and hand sew it to the doll. Sew or glue on lace around the top making it look like the trim on a fancy sock.
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Seaside Quilts is a woman-owned business and all quilts are 100% handmade in the USA. Our quilts are fun and funky - perfect for today's mom. Each quilt is guaranteed to be unique; one of a kind. They are great for baby showers, first birthdays, godparent and grandparents’ gifts. Our toddler and youth-sized quilts are perfect for day care nap time. These quilts are made with love, in a smoke-free environment with a personal touch, ready to make any ‘crabby’ baby happy!
http://www.seasidequilts.com
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Crafty Tip
I always keep current quilting projects in labeled gallon sized ziplock bags. This keeps all of my quilt pieces together in one place so nothing gets lost. I also store all of my 6 1/2 inch blocks in ziplocks so they are easily accessible for making a quick quilt.
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This website is devoted to the art/craft of découpage. There are free instructions and advice for you to learn more about this fascinating and rewarding hobby. Learn how to decoupage on virtually any surface.
http://www.decoupage-online.com/
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Crafty Tip
While découpage is a scissor-oriented craft and purists will tell you must cut out, it is OK to use paper punches, quilling strips and stickers to embellish your work. It is NOT advisable to use these for competition work because it is most often against the rules. Check the rules first. But as far as gifts or sale items are concerned, use them if you want.
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Share tips and techniques on beading and jewelry making in our forum. Forum members share information on making and using beads, selling handmade items in the UK, UK craft and bead fairs, and rate beading suppliers.
http://ukbeaders.forumup.org/
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Crafty Tip
Save all your silver and gold scraps from your wire wrapping projects. When you've collected a handful of mistakes and trimmings, you can turn them in to a jeweler, or mail them off, and they pay you for your scraps.
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More than simple rag dolls, this fabulous collection of free cloth doll patterns has something for everyone. An eclectic mix of pins, collectible and fantasy dolls. With names like "Bildgewater Bedbug", "Mama Uglioni", and "Captain Underpants" you know you're going to find something to stir your creative muse. Site includes a list of charities looking for cloth dolls. Dollmaker's Journey also offers for sale many dollmaking supplies and designer doll and doll clothing patterns.
http://dollmakersjourney.com/freepatterns.html
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Crafty Tip
If you really mess up the face, just make another face on the other side of the doll and cover your mistake with hair.
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