CREATIVE CRAFTING

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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.

How can I make my normal clay sparkle like pearl clays? This is one techniques I found on the Internet and I love it.   It is so easy and much less expensive.

To achieve pearl looking clay is to mix a bit of sparkly eye shadow into your clay (or glaze). You have it around the house and you can create all sorts of dazzling colors of clay. You might want to wear gloves when mixing it, unless you want glittery hands for the rest of the day.

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!

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.

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.

I take a piece of scrap clay (always save your scraps), and lay a flatten piece of it onto the texture I want to copy making sure it gets into all the groves and crevices. Make sure the clay is not too thin or it will fall apart on you.   I then carefully remove the clay and put it in the oven for the recommended time.  When it comes out I have made a template for textures.

When it comes time to use it, it works the same way as a template you will buy.  Although sometimes if you are not careful the template texture will not be well defined;  so make sure when making the template that you press firmly.

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!

Once you are sure about the manufacturers instructions and have the right equipment to melt the wax you are ready to start on your first candle.  Candle making is not hard, so don’t let it intimidate you.  Decide how many candles you want to make.  For every pound of soy wax  melted you should get about sixteen ounces of liquid wax.  To decide how much wax to use you will need to know how much liquid your mold or container will hold.  All you need to do is take some water and fill the container to the level of the candle, now pour the water from the container into a measuring cup this should tell you how many ounces of wax you will need.  Dry this container thoroughly.

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.

It is important for you as a parent to talk to your children about the coming holidays, why we celebrate them, how they are celebrated differently by different cultures. Try reading children stories about the holidays. A few excellent choices are:Thanksgiving Is… The Pumpkin Book Santa Who? By Gail Gibbons

by Sharilyn Miller

Polymer clay is one of the most versatile craft mediums available to the modern artist. It’s easy to work with, appropriate for all age groups (with adult supervision), available in a rainbow of hues (including a sumptuous array of metallic and pearlescent colors), and can be used to make a wide variety of art-to-wear accessories, jewelry pieces, and embellishments. Before you begin using polymer clay for the first time, there are a few things that you should know.

CHOOSING & STORING POLYMER CLAY
Polymer clays are marketed under so many different brand names—Fimo, Super Sculpey, and Premo, to name a few—and in such a wide variety of colors that choosing your clay for the first time can be a challenge.

My personal favorite is Premo, a Sculpey product, because it’s more malleable that other clays and is available in so many beautiful metallic and pearlescent colors. Some artists prefer Fimo or Fimo Soft to Premo because they like working with stiffer clay. And many clay artists start out with the economical Super Sculpey or Sculpey III.

It’s best to experiment with small packets of different brands of clay until you find one that meets your needs. Polymer clays are sold in most art & craft stores, many art-supply stores catering to fine artists, and online. To find an online source, go to www.google.com and type in the keywords “polymer clay.”

Most experience scrapbookers know what Digital Scrapbooking is, but there are still pockets of us who did not know.  We knew what digital meant, and we knew about scrapbooking, but combining the two just never occured to some of us.

As you know digital scrapbooking is using your computer and a software program to save your memories for yourself and generations to come.  You download your photos either from your digital camera or from a scanner.  I downloaded a free version of Fusion Foto to see if it were something I would like to do, and if I could come up with anything that resembled a scrapbook page.  I have to say I have never done scrapbooking of any sort, I have watched it done and have been fascinated.  I never thought I could do as I am challenged artistically in most things.  I am happy to say, I didn’t do bad.  I wish I could show you, but the free version of Fusion Foto, saves with watermarks all over the pictures.  But I am still having fun learning, and will purchase the complete program soon.  Then you will be able to see my masterpieces!

Instead of using store bought papers and embellishments you can go online and download tons of ideas, papers, embellishments, kits.  The supply seems endless.  You use your phote editing software much the same way that you would with paper.  I find it less messy, less expensive, and more fun.  But then I like playing around the with computer programs or I would not be doing what I am doing.