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Crafty Topics
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sandandart.com is a website which offers amazing sand art bottles from Petra Jordan featuring camels, mountains and other desert inspired designs. Petra is an ancient city in Jordan and is where these artists obtain the beautifully colored sand they use in their sand art.
http://www.sandandart.com/sand-art-home.html
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Crafty Tip
When making sand art, arrange the granules of sand slowly. The most important thing is to compact the sand and not allow air between the granules which can spoil the shape by any slight shaking of the bottle.
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EnMart is the exclusive U.S. commercial distributor for Iris Machine Embroidery Thread. Available in polyester and rayon and in 300 vibrant colors, this thread is strong and durable. EnMart also offers Iris Dazzling Metallics, a smooth running metallic thread. EnMart also sells a variety of other sewing supplies and pre-made patches.
http://store.myenmart.com/Category12
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Crafty Tip
When using metallic thread, it is always wise to use a needle made especially for embroidering with metallic thread. These needles have a larger eye and are designed not to fray or pull thread. It also helps to slow down the speed of your machine slightly. This can help you avoid thread breaks and loops.
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Ancient relics and cultures inspire my wall sculptures and my contemporary take on African and Aztec masks.
http://jaybehrle.etsy.com
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Crafty Tip
To create an ancient look for your masks and wall sculptures, use lightweight wood panels for the base of each wall piece. Alter several of them by distressing the surface with a chainsaw, or fire or by layering silica and paints on the wood to mimic the patina and wear of a vintage piece.
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My name is Lynn and I am a jewellery designer and creator. I've been designing and creating jewelry for 10 years now and it is my absolute passion. I'm from Québec city and now living in Montreal.
Over the years, my designs have evolved from basic beading to wire wrapping, casting, and metal work. I’ve started exploring new techniques and am enjoying incorporating different styles and mediums into my work.
My designs are presently in various boutiques in the Montreal area.
http://www.lesbijouxcrealune.etsy.com
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Crafty Tip
How to antique your sterling silver with an egg!
Boil an egg; chop it up and place it in a baggie with your silver for a few hours or until the silver has darkened to your liking. The sulfur in the egg yolk causes the reaction.
It will turn yellow and purple bluish, then greyish blackish. Wash off the silver with water and soap, then rinse.
Your jewellery or wire has turned black! This is a good thing. Just shine it up with some steel wool and/ or a polishing cloth. This technique is not very cost-effective.
This crafter has generously provided two additional tips which are displayed on this listing's details page.
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Informative article from an Extension Floriculture Specialist at Clemson University including the various methods of drying flowers and leaves. Information includes suggested plants for each method and in some cases includes the pitfalls of a particular method. Even includes tips on water drying.
http://www.clemson.edu
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Crafty Tip
When air drying flowers, place them in a dark place. The darkness will help preserve the original color of the flowers.
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Helping make your house a home with beautiful quilted reversible table runners, table toppers, placemats, and lap throws. We also specialize in custom embroidery for both business and personal use.
http://www.bluebirdcountrycrafts.com
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Crafty Tip
When storing your threaded bobbin keep it with the spool of thread it matches by sliding a Q-tip into the center hole of the spool of thread then slide the bobbin over the Q-tip. Your threads and matching bobbin will always be together keeping you organized for faster sewing.
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Berrie makes Waldorf Dolls and other natural toys. She shares her life, her latest creations and some of her doll-making secrets on her doll making blog.
http://moonchildhandworkstudio.blogspot.com
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Crafty Tip
To make a solid head in a stuffed doll, roll a strip of wool tightly like you would wind a ball of yarn. Make the ball larger than you want your head to be and then take a flat piece of square batting and cover the ball evenly gathering all of the edges together to form the neck of the doll. Take your stockinette tube and put it inside out. Slide it over the stuffing like you might put put on a sock turning it right side out as you go.
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Lakeside Pottery School and Studio's website is a wonderful educational resource. Run by a husband and wife team, they offer classes for everyone from young children to advanced potters in their studio in Stamford, CT. Their website has dozens of great pottery tips and instructions. Be sure to check out the super cute hedgehog tutorial.
http://www.lakesidepottery.com/Pages/Tips.html
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Crafty Tip
You are likely to get a spiral crack up the side of your pot during firing if you put a thick layer of glaze on the inside and no glaze or a thin layer of glaze on the outside.
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With over 4,000 new posts a day, Wet Canvas is perhaps the largest and most active art forum on the Internet. Share ideas with other artists or spend hours reading the many articles, either way visual artists at all levels are bound to return again and again to this huge resource for artists.
http://www.wetcanvas.com
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Crafty Tip
Beginning acrylic painters can save some money as they learn their craft by purchasing student-grade paints. However, do not confuse craft acrylics with true student-grade paints as they are formulated in very different ways and will not prepare you for working with high quality professional-grade acrylic paint.
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With a new challenge posted every Tuesday night, our rubber stamping challenge blog offers a sketch each week for inspiration and allows submissions to be in the form of cards, LO's, altered art, ATC's etc. Come join in the fun and win great prizes from one of our great paper crafts sponsors.
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com
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Crafty Tip
When attaching ribbon to a card, the best thing to use is a cheap and cheerful glue stick ie Pritt. Dab it along the back of the ribbon and then adhere to your card. You wont get any lumps or lines and it lies nice and flat.
Owners of a Cricut machine or a die cut machine with letter dies can make a great alternative to chipboard letters but just cutting 5 or 6 letters out of thin card and sticking them together
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