Creative Crafting

Archive for the ‘Articles’ Category

It isn’t often I am overwhelmed by the vast scope of someone’s artistic talent.  I live in a household of talented individuals. So when I went to check out my favorite flicker page, that I haven’t seen in months, I was very overwhelmed and proud of the accomplishments of this lovely young woman, who also happens to be my daughter.

Our children are our greatest gifts.  I hope you enjoy  looking at these one of kind artwork as much as I did.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23205417@N03/

Share this:

The arts provide a language that is universal and helps to bring more coherent meaning to our world. They foster individuality, freedom and self-expression; the very ideals on which our nation is built.  Nurturing an artistic passion in our children is critical to their future. The arts provide children with opportunities to develop creativity, to learn the tools of communication, and to discover multiple solutions to problems.   They educate children about their feelings, not just their analytical thought processes. Enhance the life of a child by promoting, encouraging, and creating opportunities in and around the arts.”

This was a short article written in a local paper about a art festival being held in one of the local communities.   I reprint it here to remind all of us how important art is in the education of our children.   Too many schools throughout our country are eliminating art and music from their curriculums due to the economy.

How to get rid of fingerprints on your finished product…

Your fingerprint is messing up your finished piece. Nothing is more depressing than seeing those marks and knowing that you put them there. However, there are a few techniques to get rid of this little problem.

Gloves can be very helpful. They not only prevent fingerprints but they also keep the clay cleaner. Keep a box next to your workstation.

Keep a small bowl of water on hand. Dip your fingertips into it and smooth the clay gently, this will get rid of some of the fingerprints.

Take a cotton swab or Q-tip and dip it in rubbing alcohol. Then take the damp cotton swab and rub it gently over the clay. This will also grab some dirt. Be very careful when you do this however, as too much rubbing alcohol will cause the structure of the clay to break down and your piece will lose its shape. Or smearing of different colors can occur, so be very careful on the amount you put onto the clay surface.

Did you know that March is National Crafts Month? Well I didn’t realize it until I opened my email a little while ago and read the announcement from Create for Less. Then I went to check out what they had for sale (because they always seem to have everything I could need or want) and the sales going on over there are awesome!

But don’t take my word for it…go see for yourself!

Share this:

When its cold out there’s no better time to stay indoors and craft the day away.

Brand-tastic Sale

This month our featured promotion is the Brand-tastic Sale. Each week we’ll feature a different must-have brand, with extra savings on our entire selection. Brands that will be on sale are Sculpey clay, Clover crochet and knitting needles, Gingher scissors and K&Co scrapbooking items. These are all top selling brands, which mean top commissions for your site this month.

Share this:

My husband who is a retired Clay Model Maker for one of the auto industries gave me this idea for making the brick patterns on the side of my miniature houses.  He also gave me the idea to make miniatures.  Great idea!

Making your own texturizing tools is easy.  Although there are many templates you can purchase (I have some on this site) that make this job even easier, you can make your own.  If you don’t have the money or just want to experiment to see if you even like Polymer Clay then make your own.

I am sure somewhere in your house either on one of your child’s toys or a decoration you have texture.  I use a house the kids bought me years ago for a Christmas Village to get most of my textures.

Making soy candles is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, plus if you have never made a candle it is a new experience.  Enjoy and indulge yourself in this endeavor.  However, there are a few things you should know and you should take precautions.

First:  All soy wax is not the same.  Depending on the manufacturers temperature requirements will determine how your candle turns out.  Follow manufacturers directions for temperature.

Second:  If you plan on using electronic equipment to melt the wax, it won’t work and in fact can be quite dangerous not only for your equipment but for yourself.  It is like oil and water…they don’t mix!

Crafting helps children explore holidays, birthdays, and other events in their lifes with little or no costs. Pick activities that are age appropriate for the child, but don’t think because your child is three and the age on the craft says for a five year old that they can’t do it. Children thrive on simple projects as it gives them an opportunity to work independently and to create something of their “own”. It might not be picture perfect, but they will be proud of it nonetheless. So be sure and display their crafts for all to see.

One of the more important things I learned in working with my children and crafts was that if I let them do projects around a theme (Thanksgiving, for instance) they gained a better understanding of what the holiday was all about.