Think Crafts by CreateForLess

By General Crafts Contributor Michelle

Using pallets in crafting and home decorating is all the rage these days.  Add a whimsical touch to your decor with these cute and handy pallet coasters made from popsicle sticks.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

• Popsicle craft sticks-each individual pallet coaster uses 16 sticks.
• Wire cutters, utility knife, craft saw, etc.-something to cut your popsicle sticks with.
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue gun sticks
• Brown acrylic craft paint
• Paint brush
• Printed images to transfer to your coasters as decoration. (I used free French typographic images from The Graphics Fairy
• A #2 Pencil
• Ultra fine tip permanent marker
• Clear waterproof sealer spray
• Carbon transfer paper (optional)

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It’s Monday again and time to give away our fabulous prize! Congratulations to… Kim! Stitch away with your brand new prize pack!

Our lucky winner will receive 6 packs of aida cloth, 4 stitching patterns, and 2 boxes of yarn!

The winning answer to “Where is your favorite place to find craft inspiration?” is…

“Inspiration is all around me !! All I have to do is look at a new tool I bought& want to try out or see a bird on a ledge and want to make a bird house the imagination is a wonderful thing !”

Every Friday we’ll post a giveaway on Think Crafts and all you have to do is comment on the blog post answering the question of the week.  Check back on Friday for your chance to win!!

By Kid’s Crafts Contributor Stephanie, from the Blog A Geek in Glasses.

This is a fun project using nature. Create a unique pendant using a polymer clay and leaf of sage. It’s fun for kids to use one item to make it look like another. Using the backside of a sage leaf to press into the clay creates a feather-like imprint.

Supplies:

• Polymer Clay
• Fresh Sage leaf
• Paint

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By Guest Blogger Tina from the blog Crafted Living

As the Writer, Photographer, and Creator of Crafted Living, Tina gives step by step tutorials for creative cardmaking, recipes, and inspiration for living crafty.

To be honest, sometimes a gift card is the best gift you can give.  Why not put your creative spin on it and make the gift card holder to house the gift card.  You need the following tools and supplies to create this project:

• various punches
• patterned paper
• cardstock
• adhesive
• 3/8″ mini Velcro dots
• corner rounder

Cut a piece of cardstock to 3.5″ x 8.5″ (you can make three gift card holders from one sheet of 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock).  Score cardstock on one end at 2″ and the other end at 2.5″.  Use corner rounder to round the corners on the 2″ end.  Cut three pieces of patterned paper at: 3.25″ x 1.75″, 3.25″ x 2.25″ and 3.25″ x 3.75″.  Use the corner rounder to round the corners of one end of the smallest piece of paper.  Run adhesive along the side edges of the 2.25″ end of the cardstock to make the pocket.  Adhere the patterned paper to the outside of the gift card holder.  Attach the Velcro dot to the flap for closure.  Punch out the decorative emblem and attach to the pocket.

I was inspired by this pin on Pinterest and made it my own.  Now, you have the option to present your gift card with flair.  Happy paper crafting!

By Card Making & Scrapbooking Contributor

Peg Rounds

Peg’s Crafting Corner

Do I really need a scoring board ?

A: It is a really handy tool to have not only to get a good score line on card bases, but to also use for marking score lines in such projects as gift boxes and baskets. They are a great tool to create embossed lines in things like photo mats, too.

Is there another use for a scrapbook photo album since I don’t scrapbook?

A: They make great organizational items. For example, use a sheet of acetate to place your acrylic stamps on and then slide the sheets into the pages of the scrapbook album to store them all together. Use them to, also, store sheets of stickers or loose ones in. Keep the projects that you are working on in them, too. They are very handy to have even if you aren’t a scrapbooker.

I’ve seen cards with round corners. How are they made?

A:  There are many types of punches that CreateForLess carries that create rounded corners.  Some will punch a fancy corner while others are made just to leave a rounded edge.  They are a nice look for handmade cards.

What is a good way to store my markers?

1. A: The most important thing is to keep them laying down so that the ink does not flow to either end. This will help keep them ready to use.  Pen trays are a great way to accomplish this.

I have seen cardstock that is has been embossed and there’s another color showing through on the cardstock. How is that done?

A: A great way to achieve this look is by using a sandable cardstock such as Coredinations. It can be sanded before being embossed or the raised surface can be lightly sanded for a totally different look.

I received an email from Polly last week that sounded like a really fun challenge and a great post to share! Here it is:

Help!  Any ideas for a background to display lighted crafts at a craft show?

Now, I’m assuming that the biggest issue you are facing comes from ugly cords showing when you display your crafts. Depending on the type of craft you’re displaying, (whether it’s hung, or a small item on a surface), you’re going to need some different things. The first thing that came to mind for me was a pegboard like this one:

Open House – Design Files

It’s a very easy material to work with and allows you to attach hangers or shelves, depending on what you need. If the peg holes are too small to slip the cord through, just drill a bigger hole and you’re good to go! You can also decorate your peg board with some yarn in a cross stitch pattern:

Painted Cross Stitch Peg Board – Makezine

You could also hide your cords by attaching them to a lattice like this:

Booth Ideas for Craft Shows – Booth Kitchen Pic

Hang your projects directly from the lattice, or set up some shelves in front of it. You can paint it whatever color you like, and put some black fabric or paper behind it to make your lighted crafts pop!

If you want to go a little more rustic, run to a local grocery store or shipping plant and ask if they have a few extra pallets you can take. Connect them together with a few screws and you’re good to go!

Pallet Wall – If I Weren’t So Lazy

You can easily slip the cords behind the slats to get them out of sight. This would be really cool painted with chalkboard paint to give you a nice dark background and a unique way to display your prices!

My final idea is perfect if you need something that can easily be transported in a small space. I think this would work best for hanging items, and would need to have some sort of wall or surface to hang your items on behind the background

Shabby Chic Backdrop

You can use vintage sheets in whatever color matches your booth. The strips can be pushed in any direction to hide your cords while letting your crafts shine.

I hope one of these ideas works out for you, Polly! Do you have any suggestions? Give us a comment, we’d love to hear what you think!

If you have a craft question, I would love to find an answer! Send an email to info@thinkcrafts.com!

Happy Friday! It’s time to give away another fabulous prize! This week’s winner will receive a stitching prize pack!

Our lucky winner will receive 6 packs of aida cloth, 4 stitching patterns, and 2 boxes of yarn!

Every Friday we’ll post a giveaway on Think Crafts and all you have to do is comment on the blog post answering the question of the week. We’ll pick the winners and contact them via email. Deadline is midnight tonight and the winner will be announced Monday. One entry per person please.

Question of the week: Where is your favorite place to find craft inspiration?

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