May 24, 2012
Gillian
closeAuthor: Gillian
Name: Gillian Grimm
Site: http://driedfigsandwoodenspools.blogspot.com/
About: Gillian Grimm lives in Charlottesville, Virginia where she balances writing, cooking and crafts with eight chickens, two kids, a dog, a cat and a husband. As the daughter of a Journalist, she grew up all over the United States, switching schools, towns and newspapers every few years and loved every minute of it! She now works as a freelance writer, primarily in the craft industry but with a few forays into travel writing, narrative non-fiction and educational matters. Gillian was recently published in the literary journal the “The Northville Review”. You can find more of Gillian’s work at “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.See Authors Posts (152)
Crafts, Home Decor, Projects, Techniques and Mediums, Trends
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By Craft Trends Contributor, Gillian from the blog Dried Figs and Wooden Spools. Check out our Craft Trends board on Pinterest!
Chevron! It’s everywhere! Have you noticed? From DIY painted rugs to trays to clothes, the classic chevron print is back in a big way. And there are so many places to use it! Clothing, furniture, accessories, it’s crisp lines and classic style make it adaptable to so many applications, and because of its simplicity, it’s perfect for the DIY diva.
I love the color pop that this chevron coat hook brings to the wall.
Click photo for the Chevron Wall Hook Tutorial
Remember these? I think it’s time to teach my kids the art of friendship bracelet making.
- Click photo for the Modern DIY Bracelets Tutorial
And this chair cushion couldn’t be easier. This look is easily achieved by using the friendship bracelet knot technique.
Click photo for the Chevron Chair Cushion Tutorial
Check out more Chevron Style on our Craft Trends Pinboard. How would you use it?
May 2, 2012
GilliancloseAuthor: Gillian
Name: Gillian Grimm
Site: http://driedfigsandwoodenspools.blogspot.com/
About: Gillian Grimm lives in Charlottesville, Virginia where she balances writing, cooking and crafts with eight chickens, two kids, a dog, a cat and a husband. As the daughter of a Journalist, she grew up all over the United States, switching schools, towns and newspapers every few years and loved every minute of it! She now works as a freelance writer, primarily in the craft industry but with a few forays into travel writing, narrative non-fiction and educational matters. Gillian was recently published in the literary journal the “The Northville Review”. You can find more of Gillian’s work at “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.See Authors Posts (152)
Crafts, Trends
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By Craft Trends Contributor, Gillian from the blog Dried Figs and Wooden Spools. Check out our Craft Trends board on Pinterest!
Washi tape. Have you tried it? Have you tried it? Well if you haven’t you should because frankly, it’s pretty awesome. These vibrantly printed Japanese masking tapes have been making the rounds for a while now and as the availability and range of prints has grown their craft applications have exploded.
Mix solid colored or craft paper and washi tape to create uniquely wrapped gifts.
Boring clips? A few inches of tape and a minute or two can transform them into something beautiful.
Or perhaps you’d like to give your computer a washi makeover?
The possibilities are endless. Check out our Craft Trends Board on Pinterest for more Washi Tape ideas.
What will you washi?
April 24, 2012
GilliancloseAuthor: Gillian
Name: Gillian Grimm
Site: http://driedfigsandwoodenspools.blogspot.com/
About: Gillian Grimm lives in Charlottesville, Virginia where she balances writing, cooking and crafts with eight chickens, two kids, a dog, a cat and a husband. As the daughter of a Journalist, she grew up all over the United States, switching schools, towns and newspapers every few years and loved every minute of it! She now works as a freelance writer, primarily in the craft industry but with a few forays into travel writing, narrative non-fiction and educational matters. Gillian was recently published in the literary journal the “The Northville Review”. You can find more of Gillian’s work at “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.See Authors Posts (152)
Crafts, Projects, Techniques and Mediums, Trends
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By Craft Trends Contributor, Gillian from the blog Dried Figs and Wooden Spools. Check out our Craft Trends board on Pinterest!
I was obsessed with shrinky dinks as a kid, OBSESSED. They were magical and fun and the only bad thing about them was that I could use up a whole pack in about twenty minutes. So the idea of full sheets of shrink plastic, the DIY possibilities for grown up projects has me absolutely giddy with excitement. Check out some of these amazing ideas for what used to be just for kids.
Custom buttons! I can think of so many projects where these would be the finishing touch!
Rings? Who knew? How cool!
And this beautiful necklace – it’s hard to believe that’s just markers and shrink plastic, right? Incredible!
The kids can still have fun with it too. I love this idea of making play money with the kids out of shrink plastic. Fantastic.
Check out these and more at our craft trends board and let us know what you would do set loose with a few sheets of shrink plastic!
photos via: scissorpaperwok.com, curbly.com, lillybeanmarket.blogspot.com
April 8, 2012
GilliancloseAuthor: Gillian
Name: Gillian Grimm
Site: http://driedfigsandwoodenspools.blogspot.com/
About: Gillian Grimm lives in Charlottesville, Virginia where she balances writing, cooking and crafts with eight chickens, two kids, a dog, a cat and a husband. As the daughter of a Journalist, she grew up all over the United States, switching schools, towns and newspapers every few years and loved every minute of it! She now works as a freelance writer, primarily in the craft industry but with a few forays into travel writing, narrative non-fiction and educational matters. Gillian was recently published in the literary journal the “The Northville Review”. You can find more of Gillian’s work at “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.See Authors Posts (152)
Craft Professionals, Crafts, Kid's Crafts, Mother's Day, Paper Crafts, Projects, Trends
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By Craft Trends Contributor, Gillian from the blog Dried Figs and Wooden Spools. Check out our Craft Trends board on Pinterest!
When I was little (really little) my kindergarten teacher helped the kids in my class to make the requisite hand print and poem art for our parents and it hung in our house the whole time I was growing up. It’s there now, actually, right along side matching ones for my brother and now my own kids. And that classic handprint piece is always going to be a cherished childhood artifact. But handprints can be so much more than just handprints. So put on your apron, dig out the tempera paint and get ready to paint up some little fingers.
Would you like to have a fish?
Or maybe a lobster?
How about a whole rainbow of hands for a teacher? Butterflies, catterpillers, flowers, you can build a whole garden of handprint art.
Want more ideas? Check out our craft trends pinboard for more handprint art and send us some of your ideas!
April 1, 2012
GilliancloseAuthor: Gillian
Name: Gillian Grimm
Site: http://driedfigsandwoodenspools.blogspot.com/
About: Gillian Grimm lives in Charlottesville, Virginia where she balances writing, cooking and crafts with eight chickens, two kids, a dog, a cat and a husband. As the daughter of a Journalist, she grew up all over the United States, switching schools, towns and newspapers every few years and loved every minute of it! She now works as a freelance writer, primarily in the craft industry but with a few forays into travel writing, narrative non-fiction and educational matters. Gillian was recently published in the literary journal the “The Northville Review”. You can find more of Gillian’s work at “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.See Authors Posts (152)
Crafts, Easter, Green Crafting, Holidays, Home Decor, Projects, Seasons, Spring, Trends
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By Craft Trends Contributor, Gillian from the blog Dried Figs and Wooden Spools. Check out our Craft Trends board on Pinterest!
I am well aware that there are large numbers of (perhaps misguided) folks out there that don’t like the taste of Peeps. For me, spring just isn’t spring until I’ve roasted a few over my stove, but for those who might like some non eating uses for the marshmallow treats (and for those of us that can’t get enough) here are some fun little peep projects for your spring delight.
Peeps Wreaths! I wouldn’t recommend them for outdoors as that might get….messy, but for inside? Awesome.
Too colorful? How about this one?
I love these bunting and their reuse of paint chips!
A Peep Tree! Who can resist?(the Peeps Sushi is pretty funny too!)
Would you use Peeps in your spring decor? Check out more ideas on our Craft Trends Boards.
March 12, 2012
GilliancloseAuthor: Gillian
Name: Gillian Grimm
Site: http://driedfigsandwoodenspools.blogspot.com/
About: Gillian Grimm lives in Charlottesville, Virginia where she balances writing, cooking and crafts with eight chickens, two kids, a dog, a cat and a husband. As the daughter of a Journalist, she grew up all over the United States, switching schools, towns and newspapers every few years and loved every minute of it! She now works as a freelance writer, primarily in the craft industry but with a few forays into travel writing, narrative non-fiction and educational matters. Gillian was recently published in the literary journal the “The Northville Review”. You can find more of Gillian’s work at “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.See Authors Posts (152)
Crafts, Green Crafting, Home Decor, Projects, Techniques and Mediums, Trends
2 Comments
By Craft Trends Contributor, Gillian from the blog Dried Figs and Wooden Spools. Check out our Craft Trends board on Pinterest!
Once upon a time, my best friend decided to make herself a whole set of dishes at a paint your own pottery place. It was a great idea and in the end, she had a truly one of a kind table full of dishes but it took a long time to complete. Which was understandable, because back then, going in and painting, and then waiting for the store to glaze and fire the piece was really the only way, unless you had your own personal kiln at home. Now a days, however, there are other options, the best of which, in my opinion, are the new ceramic pens that, once baked, turn plain dishes into one of a kind treasures which are dishwasher safe and will last a lifetime (or until you drop them!) I’m currently working my way through a set of thrifted white coffee mugs myself and now that I’m in the swing, I think I may move onto plates as well.
Available in lots of colors, ceramic pens look like your run of the mill paint pen but the paint can be set permanently and simply with a few minutes in the oven. This means that anything that can stand the oven can be decorated to your hearts content. The possibilities are endless!
I love love love these tea cups with their drawn doily saucers.
And how fun are these postcard mugs?
Personalized mugs, an excellent gift idea and also great way to cut down on the washing up, no more loosing your mug and having to get a new one!
But you don’t have to stop with dishes. These mason jars would look great lined up on a shelf with bulk ingredients in them, wouldn’t they?
Check out our pinboard for more ideas and send in your photos of your own ceramic pen projects!
February 28, 2012
GilliancloseAuthor: Gillian
Name: Gillian Grimm
Site: http://driedfigsandwoodenspools.blogspot.com/
About: Gillian Grimm lives in Charlottesville, Virginia where she balances writing, cooking and crafts with eight chickens, two kids, a dog, a cat and a husband. As the daughter of a Journalist, she grew up all over the United States, switching schools, towns and newspapers every few years and loved every minute of it! She now works as a freelance writer, primarily in the craft industry but with a few forays into travel writing, narrative non-fiction and educational matters. Gillian was recently published in the literary journal the “The Northville Review”. You can find more of Gillian’s work at “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.See Authors Posts (152)
Crafts, Projects, Techniques and Mediums, Trends
2 Comments
By Craft Trends Contributor, Gillian from the blog Dried Figs and Wooden Spools. Check out our Craft Trends board on Pinterest!
For a long, long time, acrylic felt was just what was available to crafters, and in many applications, it’s still a good choice. But now that wool felt is more readily available again, and in so many beautiful colors, it’s everywhere in the craft world.
Sturdier and more versatile, wool felt can be used in applications where more wear will take place or a firmer material is required. It can also be felted further, similar to knitted wool, to create a thick material with a more organic look. It’s also softer to the touch and nicer to work with.
These felt baby slippers are simply adorable, not to mention useful.
Ornaments! Even though the Christmas has come and gone, felt ornaments can be made for all seasons (they are especially cozy for the Christmas tree though!)
As handy as it is simple, these baskets beg to be made in bulk. Craft storage anyone?
Feeling inspired? Check out our Craft Trends Board for more ideas and then tell us what YOU would do with a few squares of wool felt.
