Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Craft Trends Contributor, Trent Jaxon.

Red Heart Boutique Changes

Hello again crafters! Let’s talk yarn! Knitting is one of my favorite activities. And ever since “The Great Yarn Comeback of 2001″ knit, crochet and stitchery crafts have really kept pace with today’s fashions.

2011 will continue this great trend. Yarn manufacturers are getting more innovative than ever in bringing us products that look and feel great and make knitting a breeze.

Sugar N’ Cream yarn is the gold standard when it comes to 100% cotton. These yarns combine softness, durability and great colors that make them good for everything from baby clothes to pot holders and dish scrubbers. This year we have their new Scents line. This fun yarn is also a dose of aromatherapy for the crafter using it. As you work with the yarn a light fragrance is released. Sugar N’ Cream chose smells that are calming and relaxing. Sure to make even the worst dropped stitches stress free!

Red Heart, the leader in yarn crafts has come out with a plethora of new lines in the last year for all styles. Their new Boutique lines are my favorite. Boutique Swirls are wonderfully soft variegated yarns with just a touch of lash that create projects that feel great against your skin while still knitting up easily. Boutique Changes is a truly awesome product! This yarn combines acrylic, wool, alpaca and even metallic yarns to help you create projects that look great and of course trendy. The yarns transition perfectly so while your project looks like you have used 5 different yarns it has actually only been a single skein!

Besides these wonderful specialty yarns there are also some great new classic yarns. Sugar N’ Cream has some awesome new variegated colors as does Red Heart in both their Super Saver and Classic Lines. And for those kid and baby projects make you check out the Soft line and both the Pomp-a-Doodle and Spark-a-Doodle lines.

I hope you all have a (knit) and pearly week! Until next time crafters,

Keep it Trenty!

By Craft Trends Contributor, Trent Jaxon.

Hello Again!

It’s time for CHA Sneak Peek Round 2. This time I will be sharing with you all of the hottest products coming out for Scrapbooking and Paper Crafting. It gets its own separate post because there was an abundance of great new products at this show. It’s going to be an awesome year for Paper and Scrap!

Lets start from the “bottom and work our way up” shall we? PAPER!

We saw some great new collections from K&Co, Bo Bunny, and Imaginesce. Die Cuts With a View had a couple of new lines outs. The one that got the most buzz at the show was their “Immortal Love” collection. That’s right crafters vampire themed paper. Sure to have the inner tween girl in you just aflutter. The only questions I have is whose team are you on? Team Notion or Team Belle (my two puppies)?

DCWV Immortal Love coming soon to CreateForLess!

Paper Accents has some great new products that debuted at the show. Their new One Sheet Wonder and Detail blending papers are perfect for your inks and Copic Markers and their felted Chalkable cardstock was great. I also really liked their new Denim and Stonewash jeans textured papers. Their most popular new line is Glitz. This is a superior line of glitter cardstock. It is low odor, low rub-off and it can easily be used with most hand punches and die-cut machines. It is available in 18 fantastic colors in both 12×12 and 8.5×11. Get some today!

Working our way up lets talk about inks and other liquid mediums. Ranger has released a new line of Distressed Stains by Tim Holtz. This line offers a fast and easy way to cover a large area with distress color and they are fully compatible with all of your regular distress inking products.

Tattered Angels is a new addition for CreateForLess. Their Glimmer Mist, Glimmer Glam and Glimmer Glaze are all great products. This versatile line makes it easy to add just a hint of sparkle up to a rich dimensional bling on all of your projects.

We also saw some great new line additions from Colorbox Inks, ClearSnap Smooch and Glitter Shakers.

Now lets get some embellishments on those pages and cards! EK Success has a plethora of great new stickers. The most popular line at the show was their line of Cabochon Dimensional Stickers. They look great and are an easy way to add depth.

Tim Holtz Ideaology brings us some awesome new metal, glass and acrylic embellishments. Great for all projects these will especially appeal to those of you that enjoy steam punk themes.

Jenni Bowlin brings us a great slice of vintage Americana. Her chipboard shapes were amazing as were all her embellishments and kits.

We also saw some amazing new lines from Bo Bunny, Imaginisce, K&Co, and Stampendous. The best part is you can find all of these wonderful products at CreateForLess!

By Craft Trends Contributor, Trent Jaxon.

Hello Crafters! I am fresh off the plane from the Craft and Hobby Associations Winter Tradeshow. This is probably the biggest show of the year for craft retailers and it is chock full of new products being released in 2011. I am excited for what the year has in store for us: Great New Products!

As the show is for retailers and those in the trade only, I am happy to put my craft ninja skills to work for you. This is your exclusive sneak peak at what is coming out this year to make your craft projects even more glorious.

Beading was huge at the show this year. My favorite collection was a hot new line called Sweet Beads by EWC. They will bring a combination of class and bling to all your projects. Look for them at CreateForLess in March.

John Bead released some new colors in their seed bead line. They are available now so go pick some up!

Blue Moon hit the nail on the head with 3 new Lines. Fairy Tale is both whimsical and trendy. Fashion Findings is big and bold. Art Glass is amazingly beautiful and truly looks like it was hand blown by a master glass worker. Look for these lines to be released starting within the next few weeks and into April.

Beadalon has released some new findings to beef up their line. As with all of their products they are high quality and look great. Their sister company, Artistic Wire has come out with a new line of Chain Mail products. This finger intensive craft is making a resurgence and for those looking for a good challenge that will leave you with a gorgeous result this is the way to go.

DecoArt has updated their line of painting products this year. Glamour Dust is their line of glitter paint. The paint is easily workable and you can decide how much glitter you want through using multiple layerings. Gloss Enamels is a great line of versatile quick drying glass paints available in both regular and dimensional varieties.

Delta has “gone green”. Their new soy products are sure to be a hit. These paints and stains are low V.O.C., low odor and are free of many of the chemicals in regular acrylic paints. They are able to do all of this without sacrificing quality. The paints themselves are available in a variety of great colors and the stains are perfect for all of your wood products and due to their green qualities are easy to work with in your craft room.

A great way to use all of these paints is to craft with premade paper mache’ products. We have some great new items from Craft Pedlars including ornaments, frames, picks, mail boxes and various containers and boxes. The best part is you won’t find a wider selection or better price on these items than at CreateForLess!

We saw a ton of new product in the scrapbooking world crafters! So much in fact that it will have to wait for a separate post.

So until then my friends get to beading, chain mailing and painting and make your world just a little more creative. And remember to always…..Keep it Trenty!

By Craft Trends Contributor, Trent Jaxon.

Brrrrr Crafters! It’s cold outside. My motto has always been: when the weather decides to let it snow, let it snow, let it snow that means it’s time to sew, time to sew, time to sew!

2011 is bringing us some great things for the textile inclined. For starters there is some amazing fabric out there. But I will save that for a different time. Let’s look at some hot new notions and threads that will totally kick your haberdashery.

Let’s start with cutting. There is a great new ruler from Sullivan’s that is edged with a diamond grit paper. This awesome new innovation sharpens your rotary blade while you cut. It’s a great and easy way to make the most out of your blades. Couple that with a needle sharpening mat from USA Sharpeners and you are going to get a huge bang for your buck.

Next, on to quilt tools. As a new generation of quilters is expanding their skills, things like English Paper Piecing are coming back to the forefront. This more advanced skill can be made easier using precut shapes. Paper Pieces has stepped forward to provide a great line of products to help you. Expect to see more tools and supplies like these for your more advanced projects including free motion quilting and hand appliqué.

There are always a ton of embellishments out there but there are a couple of continuing trends to look at. The first is buttons. Expect to see colorful buttons on everything from clothes to home décor to quilts. Buttons Galore has been a great resource for these bold pieces of fabric flare. They have some new color combinations to take a look at. For more traditional buttons Blumenthal just did a re-release of their slimline button series. They have condensed and reorganized their offering to include just the most popular sizes and colors to make shopping for that perfect match, that much easier.

The next are pre-made embellishments. A brand, new product line to see are the new Sew On Soft Touches embellishments from Dritz. They have both jewels and premade fabric embellishments. These are a great and quick way to add a little touch of awesome to your projects.

If you want to make your own bit of awesome check out the new Flower Frill templates from Clover. These are a great addition to their already established line of embellishment templates.

As you can see this is going to be a great year for sewing! I am excited to see what the rest of the year has in store. And stay tuned as next time we will be looking at this year’s hottest new fabrics to use with all of these wonderful notions. Until then…

Keep It Trenty!

By Craft Trends Contributor, Trent Jaxon.

If you would like to have your questions answered by a true craft insider just send an email “To Trent” at info@thinkcrafts.com.

1. I have been using this fusible interfacing, labeled “For Light to Mediumweight Fabric” and I need more, but cannot find it. Is the product “Fusible Interfacing Feather/Mid” the same product and/or same weight? I am halfway through a project and need to match the interfacing I have already been using. Thank you for any assistance.

Yes, it should be the same weight of interfacing. However many interfacings can be used with light to medium weight fabrics so it might be a bit of trial and error to find the right one. While all interfacings in a “category” are the same (light, medium, heavy) the product can be slightly different among the different brands out there. A good tip before you start a project is to cut out a two inch square of the interfacing and write the brand, product name, and weigh on it. This way you can find an exact match if you run out. It’s also great for down the road if you want to use it on a different project. You can just flip through your homemade “swatch” to find the right product.

2. I sprayed some Oregon grape stems with the semi gloss Design Master paint which you can use on florals. Is this safe to put on my Christmas tree? I have put springs throughout my tree. I am a bit concerned because of the heat from the lights, will this possibly cause a fire???

It may! We all know that spray paint is flammable but unfortunately I don’t know the flash point temperature of this particular product. That being said most of the ornaments we use have some type of flammable coating on them and assuming you use a live tree it too can burn. I think you are safe for now but as a precaution I would make sure that none of the sprigs are placed in direct contact with a light bulb and the paint is completely dry/cured before putting them up.

3. I have cards that are exactly 3.5 x 5, and I’d like to know if the envelope itself is 3.5 x 5 (so the card inside must be LESS than 3.5 x 5) or if the envelope is made for 3.5 x 5 cards (and therefore just large enough for my cards).

Great question! The envelopes at CreateForLess should do the trick as our envelope sizes are listed by the size of card that they will fit not the actual envelope size. That being said if you are planning on putting large embellishments on your cards you might consider going up a size.

4. I was just curious how thick these tin sheets are, if you could just give me a basic idea? What are they used for?

I could pull out my calipers but I don’t own any. So my best description is they are slightly thicker thank the bottom of a cookie sheet. As far as their use? You tell me dear crafter! I have seen them used to make magnet boards, calendars, wall hangings, centerpiece bottoms, accent table tops, custom backsplashes, picture frames, serving trays, abstract art……

5. Can I spray paint my couch?

Yes you could. And I am sure your dry cleaner will appreciate all the extra business you will be sending their way!

By Craft Trends Contributor, Trent Jaxon.

Greetings Crafters! Christmas is officially over, but thank goodness for leftovers!  Are you like me and have multiple giant totes and drawers, filled with bunch of leftover craft supplies? I have a whole section of my craft room that acts as a storage space for all my fabric scrap, ribbon remnants and partially cut pieces of cardstock. Figuring out a way to use all of those wonderful portions of craft can be a challenge. There is even an entire market within the craft industry of designers and companies coming up with projects and products to help you use all of those loved partial pieces of treasure.

One of the newest and most cost effective ways of putting that stash to work is through wall hanging home décor.  The two hottest items out on the market right now are pennants and tiles.

Chipboard Pennants and Tiles from Paper Accents come in a variety of sizes and styles.  They are great for covering with cardstock, fabric and paint. You can embellish them with just about anything and you can create a personal piece of wall art for any occasion. The precut holes make joining them easy and ensure that each piece hangs evenly every time.   Make a vertically hanging tile set with your favorite inspirational sayings to hang in the kitchen. Or how about creating a custom Birthday message for a party that the guest of honor can take with them. The possibilities are endless!

These products are at an amazing everyday price point and with the additional savings you get from CreateForLess the cost of owning one of the hottest items on the crafting market right now is just a click away! So lets get crafting and put all those leftovers to good use!

 Keep it Trenty! 

If you would like to have your questions answered by a true craft insider just send and email “To Trent” at info@thinkcrafts.com.

By Craft Trends Contributor, Trent Jaxon.

Hello Crafters! Or in this case I should say hello friends and family of crafters!

The reason being is this week I want to talk with you about some awesome gifts for the crafter in your life. I must confess that my Christmas Gift this year was amazing. A brand, spanking, new sewing machine. It does just about everything and is one of the best gifts I have ever received. And if you are wondering, the answer is yes, I fully believe in giving gifts early. Especially one this awesome!

The easiest thing to remember when giving an awesome crafting gift is “good tools”! A great new tool is something that every crafter loves to have and a gift that they will remember for a very long time.

For the paper crafter in your life take a look at a new die cutting machine. Provo Cuttlebug, Making Memories Slice, Spellbinders Wizard and Grand Calibur and a whole host of products from Sizzix are all great products and each has different features and benefits to meet the needs of every type of crafter. Don’t forget to get that person started with a few great dies as well.

If die cutters are out, every paper crafter could use a new punch. Martha Stewart just came out with a whole host of new and amazing paper punches. Stick a few of them in a nice basket and create your own “gift set” for that special crafter in your life.

In fabric you can’t go wrong with some high end shears. Gingher is at a class all of its own when it comes to fabric cutting. If like me that crafter already has a normal set look at the yearly “Designer Series” that they put out. Also, Gingher has an amazing 45mm rotary cutter that is as elegant as it is functional.

Fabric die cutting has also become popular this year. The expert company in this realm is AccuQuilt. Their machine and dies make accurate fabric cutting a breeze.

If tools aren’t a good choice the next best bet is storage and organization. There are great options out there from multiple companies and with the easy search and browsing options at CreateForLess.com you are sure to find the perfect gift in no time.

My final great option is great for the last minute shopper or the crafter that has everything. A CreateForLess.com gift certificate!  That way the crafter in your life can pick out exactly what they need and use that extra everyday savings to get a few things they just plain want as well. They are available in any amount (orders over $100 get free economy shipping!) so pick one up today.

So there you have it crafters, my picks on some of the best crafting gifts you can get this year. As most of you that read this are crafters yourself feel free to email. FaceBook, print, mail, fax copy and paste and distribute this column freely. Subtlety always takes a back seat when it comes to crafting!

Keep It Trenty!

Trent