CREATIVE CRAFTING

Archive for the ‘CreateForLess’ Category

Polymer clay can be used in a wide variety of craft projects. Use polymer clay to make embellishments for scrapbooking projects, elements for jewelry making, miniature items for dollhouses, toppers for handmade cards and a wide range of other items.

Unlike other clay mediums, polymer clay requires very little in the way of special tools and most people will have the basics at home. Once you have progressed past the basics then one or two additional tools are worth purchasing. One of these is a pasta machine. A standard domestic pasta machine is suitable. You do not have to purchase anything fancy.

As a polymer clay tool a pasta machine will prove to be very useful and can be used in a variety of ways. Condition polymer clay, roll even, flat sheets of polymer clay, different decorative polymer clay techniques can all be obtained through the use of a pasta machine.

Polymer clay fed through the pasta machine squeezes the clay between two rollers and produces a flat sheet. Pasta makers can be adjusted to bring the rollers closer together or move them further apart thereby allowing you to control the thickness of your sheets.

The ways that a pasta machine can be used include:

• Conditioning polymer clay – The action of running the polymer clay through the pasta machine several times produces more pliable polymer clay. Start by working the clay through the largest setting on the rollers as the clay becomes fully conditioned you can adjust the setting to a smaller width.

This shadow box decoration is a wonderful holiday craft for the whole family.  It is easier than you might think and a wonderful keepsake.

Use small ornaments and Christmas figures to make a Christmas scene, with shifting snow, in a shadow box. This would be a nice activity to do with your children – let them play with the figures until they create a pleasing arrangement, then help them to glue everything in place.

You Will Need

• shadow box – at least 1½ inches deep (available at craft stores or dollar stores)
• assorted Christmas figures and small decorations
• optional: alphabet blocks
• strong craft glue or glue gun and glue sticks
• crystal snow or fine artificial snow

Project Instructions:

Remove the back of the shadow box and set aside.

Collect an assortment of Christmas figures and decorations and, working from the back, start to play with different arrangements until you create a Christmas scene that you like when seen from the front.

Begin gluing in the various pieces. If you’re using alpabet blocks, as we did, make sure they either sit firmly against the glass, or have enough clearance to prevent fake snow from getting trapped in front of them. Some possible short letter combinations for the alphabet blocks include NOEL, XMAS, SNOW, ANGEL or JOY.

Make sure all the pieces are glued in firmly; you don’t want them coming adrift after the shadow box is filled with snow and assembled. Let the glue dry.

It doesn’t seem that long ago that my children were young. I was never a skilled crafter but what I like to call a “crafter wanna be”. In a lot of respects I am still not a skilled crafter. So what does this have to do with the subject at hand? Let me explain.

Some parents are skilled crafters. Others are doing well to cut paper in a reasonably straight line. No matter which group you fall into, crafting with your kids can be beneficial for all involved.

Few things bring families together like crafting. Here are some of the good things that come out of crafting with your kids.

• Crafting builds creativity. Developing minds need a creative outlet, and crafting provides the opportunity for kids to use their imaginations. It helps them learn to solve problems, and it could lay the groundwork for a lifetime of interest in art. For parents, getting creative can help reduce stress and promote using the brain in ways that we don’t have a reason to use it every day.

• * Crafting teaches kids to follow directions. This seems like a very basic skill, but we all know adults who can’t seem to follow directions. When kids craft, they learn the consequences of not following directions when their projects do not turn out as expected. This instills in them the importance of doing things the right way the first time.

Check out what’s happening at CreateForLess this month. May 2 was National Scrapbooking Day, but they are celebrating all month long with these great promotions…

It’s a celebration of scrapbooking this month at CreateForLess. Our Scrapbooking Sale is featuring some of our most popular scrapbooking supplies at great low prices. Sale items change weekly – this week we’re featuring scrapbooking albums, then adhesives, punches and Bazzill Cardstock. This is the perfect promotion to add to your scrapbooking section, especially if you’re already promoting National Scrapbooking Day.

Shop, Crop and Save at the CreateForLess Scrapbooking Sale.

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.