Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Vicky, who is a dedicated card maker and crafter who loves making unique gifts and cards. 

I have been a dedicated card maker for many years and I always try to stay on trend with my card making. The rise of shabby chic in the last few years, not only in card making but in all sorts of home crafts, has been great and only continues to grow. I think that it is so popular because it has a warm, handmade and homely feel to it and it is also very feminine. There are a couple of things that define the shabby chic style and I’d like to take a quick look at them.

Floral Patterns

Pastel colors and petite prints make up a great part of shabby chic design. Popular colors include dusty blues and pinks with a hint of green and also lilacs and browns.

Phrases

Happy phrases are emblazoned on to a lot of shabby chic style house ware and decoration. Quotes about love, joy and laughter are painted on to signs and then distressed to look a little antique. You can also get a lot of personalized unique gifts in this style or simply have a go at making them yourself. Things like felt love hearts with names embroidered on to them, painted door signs with welcoming messages and frames covered with ribbon and buttons.

I decided to make some shabby chic themed birthday cards and this blue one with flowers was one of my favorite. Here’s how I made it:

1. Firstly I found a piece of scrapbooking paper that fitted in with my theme. It was from an 8×8 pack. I covered the front of my square card in glue, stuck the paper on and then trimmed around the edges.

2. Next I took a piece of textured white card and made the strip across the middle of the card. I used the ‘Victorian’ edge on my guillotine to cut along the edges. I then attached this to my card with glue.

3. Next I used my small flower craft punch to cut out 5 small pink flowers. I pushed a flower shaped brad in a darker pink through the middle and attached it to the card with foam pads so that they stuck out.

4. Finally I used a rub-on transfer to add a greeting.

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Spending time with family and friends is one of the best things about the holidays. Although it’s important to always tell loved ones how grateful you are for them, during Christmas is an especially great time to do so. This year, consider making personal note party favors for each guest at your dinner party. They take little time to create and are incredibly inexpensive.

What you’ll need:

• Any Christmas book
• White paper
• Glitter glue
• Ribbon
• Mod Podge
• Flat back rhinestones (optional)

Step 1. Choose your background material. I used a broken and worn down book of vintage Christmas music, but other options include Christmas story books or cookbooks. Each page you use should be double-sided.

Step 2. Cut the white paper into rectangles that are proportionate to the background paper. Write your personal notes on each one, then use Mod Podge to glue it to the center of the background paper.

Step 3. Use glitter glue to decorate the outer edges of the party favor. I did a red bow on the top, small red dot on the bottom and green wavy lines along the edges. You can also attach flat back rhinestones depending on how heavy the paper is. Let the party favors dry overnight before moving onto the next step. Test the glue by lightly tapping it with your finger to make sure it’s completely dry.

Step 4. Roll up the party favors and secure each one with a ribbon.

To distribute them to guests, place the party favors on the plates at the table or put them in a decorative basket and give them out as the guests arrive or leave.

On the twelve day of Christmas my crafty friends gave to me…

$50 CreateForLess Gift Certificate!

Looking for a gift, but don’t know exactly what to get your favorite crafter? You can’t go wrong with a CreateForLess gift card! Send them on a CreateForLess shopping spree with our convenient email gift certificates. With over 60,000 craft, scrapbooking, sewing supplies and more, CreateForLess has something for everyone.

Every day until Christmas, we’ll post a new giveaway on Think Crafts.  To enter to win, simply comment on the blog post with the word of the day. We’ll pick the winner randomly and contact them via email. Deadline is midnight tonight and the winner will be announced the next day on Facebook. One entry per person please.

Word of the Day: Merry Christmas!

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By Sewing Contributor Jessica, from the blog Life Sew Good. 

Rag wreaths have been done since…well, I don’t know how long. Here’s one I couldn’t resist though! After seeing one similar on Etsy last year, I had to try making my own. It’s simple, quick and inexpensive.

You’ll need:

• ½ to ¾ yd. fleece (your choice of color—I used cream)
• Scrap of coordinating colored fleece
• Wire hanger
• Scissors
• Measuring tape/ruler

Cut fleece into 2″ x 4″ pieces. Stretch your hanger into a circle, then twist the top into a loop so you have a way to hang it.

Begin tying your pieces of fleece onto your hanger.

Make sure to push pieces close together. You want to tie as many on as possible so you get a full looking wreath.

Take your coordinating piece of fleece and make a bow around the top, or be creative and decorate however you wish! This could be part of great table centerpiece.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my crafty friends gave to me…

Martha Stewart Punches All Over Aspen Flurry Pattern!

Use the Martha Stewart All Over Aspen Flurry Pattern punch in the center, edge or anywhere on the page. Punch multiple times in a row or grid to achieve a patterned effect. Each punched image is a scattering of snowflake of different sizes with small stars. Base has printed pattern that allows you to line up the punches for perfect placement. Image measures about 1.5″ square.

Every day until Christmas, we’ll post a new giveaway on Think Crafts.  To enter to win, simply comment on the blog post with the word of the day. We’ll pick the winner randomly and contact them via email. Deadline is midnight tonight and the winner will be announced the next day on Facebook. One entry per person please.

Word of the Day: Mistletoe

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By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

I love homemade ornaments; I think they really add personality to a Christmas tree. This year, make use of vintage paper materials by making ornaments out of them. You’ll save a huge amount of money, prevent paper from going into the landfill, and make sparkly personalized items for yourself or loved ones.

What you’ll need:

• Vintage music sheet
• Snowflake template
• Colored cardstock
• Scissors or craft knife
• Small hole punch
• Mod Podge
• Ribbon
• Glitter glue

Step 1. Choose a snowflake template. Cookie cutters work well. There are a variety to choose from whether you want something simple or one a little more elaborate.

Step 2. Use Mod Podge to adhere the sheet of vintage Christmas music onto cardstock. Depending on the size of the ornaments you’d like to make and the size of the sheet music, you’ll likely be able to make at least two ornaments out of each sheet of music. Give it at least an hour to dry before moving onto the next step.

Step 3. Print the snowflake template on the cardstock side, not on the paper side. Ink sometimes has a tendency to blur or bleed a bit on vintage paper, which typically doesn’t happen on cardstock.

Step 3. Either using scissors or a craft knife, cut out the snowflake shape. For the more elaborate designs, I recommend you use a craft knife as it’s much easier to maneuver than scissors.

Step 4. Punch a hole into a top section of the snowflake, then cover the ornament with glitter glue. I used green because of the green music print on the paper. Give the ornaments at least two hours to dry.

Step 5. Tie a matching ribbon through the hole.

On the tenth day of Christmas my crafty friends gave to me…

G.E. Designs Fast & Furious Holiday Book!

The Fast & Furious Holiday Book has 16 projects that include table runners, placemats, wall quilts, stockings, a tree skirt, fun decorations, ornaments, and even candy/treat bags for any occasions. Seasons and holidays included Winter, Valentine’s Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Every day until Christmas, we’ll post a new giveaway on Think Crafts.  To enter to win, simply comment on the blog post with the word of the day. We’ll pick the winner randomly and contact them via email. Deadline is midnight tonight and the winner will be announced the next day on Facebook. One entry per person please.

Word of the Day: Candy Cane

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