By Craft Trends Contributor, Gillian from the blog Dried Figs and Wooden Spools. Check out our Craft Trends board on Pinterest!

As design blog readers will no doubt know, the beginning of the year comes with not only resolutions and de-holidaying the house, it also comes with a color. A Pantone color of the year to be precise. Each year the art marker company declares a color or colors that will dominate, or at least show up regularly, in the years color schemes. 2012, it seems, it the year of Tangerine Tango, and it’s already everywhere.

Oranges have been making quite a comeback in the past few years, both in the design and the craft worlds and it’s the perfect color to help transition from winter to spring, especially in your crafting.

These citrus toned pom-poms scream warmer weather and look almost good enough to eat. String them into a bunting or gather them up like a bouquet to add a pop of color to your house.

This painted chandelier is nothing short of fantastic and as simple as a can of spray paint and a cast of light fixture. Check out the tutorial for the project.

Create your perfect shade of bright orange yarn with a summer staple! Kool Aid makes an excellent dye for natural fibers and mixing flavors results in a myriad of colors and shades.

Check out our Craft Trends Pinboard for some more Tangerine Tango ideas and tell us what you’ll be using the shade for this crafting year.

By Crafts-a lot Contributor, Mable who is an avid reader of craft blogs & magazines and has aspirations to improve her crafting skills. Join Mable on Facebook to socialize and share with other crafters!

A perfect Sunday morning for me would be a steaming cup of coffee and watching “Sewing with Nancy”. Another personal favorite of mine is “The Joy of Painting” with Bob Ross. I grew up with PBS. Watching their shows gets my creative ideas going and I always get inspired to create. So I was very excited when I was asked to participate in the Nancy Zieman Blog Tour!

I have used Trace N Create Templates before to make a purse, so I was super excited when Nancy designed a template to make tablet keepers. The Clover Trace N Create Tablet Keepers Template allows you to make the perfect size keeper for your tablet or paper pad. As you can tell from the photo below, the template allows you to customize your keeper for your perfect size. It also has markings so you can add the elastic pieces to hold the tablet and strap to close the keeper.

The instructions provided are clear and easy to read. Also provided are stiff plastic sheets for the front and back cover of the keeper. The sheets can be cut to be sized down. You can also buy the Pre Cut Tablet Keeper Shapers separately to make more tablet keepers.

 My finished Tablet Keeper for my MOTOROLA XOOM Android Tablet!

Blog Tour Details

Each weekday, for 20 days in January, be sure to visit the guest blogger’s site to see their Tablet Keeper creation.

January 3            Nancy Zieman                   http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog

January 4            Amy Ellis                            http://amyscreativeside.com/

January 5            Sharon Pernes                    http://craizeecorner.blogspot.com/

January 6            Vicki Christensen              http://www.sewinspiredblog.com/

January 9            Joan Hawley                       http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/blog/

January 10            Pat Sloan                           http://patsloan.typepad.com/

January 11            Eileen Roche                     http://dzgns.com/blog/

January 12            Liz Hicks                           http://blogerisms.blogspot.com/

January 13            Fran Ortmeyer                 http://cloverusa.wordpress.com/

January 16            Ilene Miller                       http://happyvalleyprimitives.blogspot.com/

January 17            Julie Herman                   http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

January 18            Jenny Gabriel                  http://www.sewvacoutletblog.com/

January 19            Natalia Bonner                http://www.piecenquilt.blogspot.com/

January 20            Frieda Anderson             http://friestyle.blogspot.com/

January 23            Cindy Cloward                 http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/blog/

January 24            Beckie Hansen                 http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog

January 25            Amy Webb                         http://www.amylouwhosews.com/

January 26            Allie Robertson                http://thinkcrafts.com/ (That’s us!)

January 27            Mary Mulari                       http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog

January 30            Laura Wasilowski            http://artfabrik.blogspot.com/

January 31            Carol Porter                        http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog

 In addition to the blog tour, Clover is giving away an AMAZING prize package! Check out their site for details!

By Cardmaking & Scrapbook Layout Contributor, Peg from the blog Peg’s Crafting Corner.

Q. Is there a way to write on dark cardstock?

A. A good way to get your journaling to show on dark colored cardstock is by using a gel pen.  White, pastel, metallic or neon, often referred to as fluorescent, inks show up well.  They are archival safe, waterproof and permanent to prevent bleeding through the paper.  The ink smoothly flows onto the paper and dries quickly.  Some pens are made with glitter in the ink to give an added sparkle to your writing.  They can, also, be used for doodling, drawing in items such as the center of a flower or to create a pattern on your dark cardstock and don’t forget if it already has a pattern that you can use the pen to highlight it and make it pop out even more.

Q. Are there scrapbooking/card making products that are recycled?

A. There are many products that are made from recycled items and can be recycled themselves such as paper scraps.  One easy way to find out the endless choices is by searching the word, “recycled” at CreateForLess. You will be able to find anything from paper to flowers and more there that have been made through recycling.  There are even books such as “Pulp Fiction” by Mark Montano at CreateFor Less that will help inspire you to recycle items found around your home into craft projects. 

Q. My ink pad seems dry.  Is there anything I can do about it?

A. A good way to keep your ink pads from seeming dry is to store them upside down when not in use. This allows the ink to flow to the top of the pad instead of settling into the bottom.  Make sure that the caps are always on tightly and closing the ink pad up right after use will help to keep them from drying out, too.   If the ink pad is older or has been used a lot you may need to purchase a new one.  There are some, such as Distress Inks by Ranger, that allow you to purchase a bottle of ink, known as a re-inker, to give life back to your ink pad by adding a few drops to the pad.  When purchasing these be sure to match the name of the re-inker to the name on the ink pad. 

 Q. Is there any easy way to get my punch lined up? 

 An easy way to make sure your punch is lined up is by flipping it over and working from the bottom until you are used to the punch and how it is lined up.  One way that I have found handy is to put the paper in while looking at the bottom of the punch making sure the edge of the paper is even with the metal open area so that it punches right to the edge of the paper.

Next, you can either line up the pattern looking at the bottom of the punch or flip it over and line it up with the pattern on the top, making sure that the last punched edge is still inside the punch.  If it looks like the picture on the right where you see half of the punched area you need to move it into the punch so that it continues to punch all of the areas. 

Q. Is there a good way to get glitter to stick on my cards and layouts?

This is one thing that can be frustrating to many, but there are some simple ways to keep the glitter on your project.  A glue pen, such as the Quickie Glue Pen by Sakura, allows you to place a line of glue exactly where you want it and while the glue is still wet apply the glitter.  Once dry it creates a permanent bond.  Another great way to adhere glitter to a large area is by using a sheet of adhesive from your Xyron machine.  Simply run your paper through your machine with the side down that you want to apply the glitter to and adhere the adhesive.  Remove it from the machine, flip it over and cover with the glitter.  You will now have a large glittery area to create on.  You can, also, follow these steps and then use a punch to punch out glittered embellishments or letters.  For an area that is too large to use a glue pen and too small to use your Xyron, try a double sided tape.  They come in many different widths to fit your project.  All you need to do is adhere one side of the tape to your project and remove the protective coating on the top side of the tape and pour your glitter on and it will stick.  These are really easy ways to add that glittery bling to your projects!

By Craft Trends Contributor, Gillian from the blog Dried Figs and Wooden Spools. Check out our Craft Trends board on Pinterest!

When I was eighteen years old, a family friend gave me a hand crocheted doily as a graduation gift. And I didn’t get it. It was beautiful, of course, but a doily? What would I use a doily for? Well, I get it now. The humble and old-fashion doily has made a big comeback, both in the craft world and in the realms of fashion and interior design, which is good news for you, my little crafters, because you can whip those doilies that great Aunt Agnes made you out of the closet at last and put them to good use.

The Doily Lamp

I’d like to think that this is where doilies made their initial comeback since this project has been cropping up on craft blogs for a while now. With a myriad of tutorials and examples out there, you’re sure to find one you like.

The Doily Lamp

The Doily Table Runner

Romantic and yet, at the same time, very modern, this table runner is made up of a jumble of different doilies. So simple. So dramatic. So doable!

The Doily Table Runner

The GIANT doily

I would learn to crochet just to make this for my bedroom floor. Comfy and cozy, this oversized doily is a fun play on the original barely there lace creation.

The GIANT Doily

The Paper Doily

Let’s not forget the mass produced version of our lace friend, the paper doily. Oh so cheap and oh so versatile, paper doilies should be a staple in any crafters cupboard. Wrap them around gifts, use them as envelopes, pretty up a card, hang them as a banner, or fold them as a snowflake. So many craftertunities, so little time.

Altered Paper DoiliesDoily Invitations

 Press them in, glue them up, sew them on.

Some of the best doily related crafts have them displayed in unusual places. Roll a doily into dough, Mod Podge it onto a plate, paint it onto a canvas or sew it onto a sweater. Think outside the doily here and you never know what you might come up with!

Decoupaging with doilies

Doily Wall Art

By Craft Celebrity Mark Montano, from the blog Mark Montano’s Big Ass Blog.

I have made paper ball ornaments for years, but this year I decided we had to kick it up a notch and try something different. I created this project using items from CreateForLess.com and my home printer. You can use any image you want. I think photos would be a terrific option, too!

You’ll need:

• 1 sheet of cardstock with a printed image
• 8″ medium gauge wire
• Needle nose pliers
• Scissors or swing arm paper cutter
• Beads and sequins (2 of each for each ornament)
• 10″ of ribbon
• 1 drinking straw
• Large safety pin or needle
• Pin cushion (optional)

Here’s how:

1. Copy your image on your cardstock.

2. Cut your image in 6″ x 3/4″ wide strips as you see in the photo. Make sure to keep them in order!

3. You will need 16 6″x 3/4″ strips so use the excess paper to make plain strips if you don’t have enough strips with your printed image.

4. With your safety pin, poke a hole on each end of each strip 1/4″ up from the edge and right in the center (making sure you keep them in order).

5. Bend a loop on the end of your wire and string a bead and then a sequin.

6. With your printed strips facing down toward the loop and sequin, place one end of the strips in order on the wire and then thread on your straw.

7. This is the most important step! Starting from the bottom strip (the strip that is touching the sequin) and working your way up to the top strip, thread your strips over the straw.

8. When you’ve worked your way to the last strip, thread on your sequin and another bead and create another loop. Thread your ribbon through the loop and hang!

By Cardmaking & Scrapbook Layout Contributor, Peg from the blog Peg’s Crafting Corner.

Q. What is the difference between acrylic and cling stamps?

A. Acrylic stamps, also known as clear stamps, are made of a clear polymer that is flexible which allows them to be placed on plastic sheets for easy storage. Since they do not come with a handle like a wood mounted stamp does a reusable acrylic block is needed to use this type of stamp. The image has been etched on and die cut closely so they are the easiest to use as you can see through them to know exactly where you are placing your image. Cling stamps are rubber stamps without the wooden block. They have been trimmed around and a piece of cling vinyl has been placed on the foam mount to attach to the stamp where normally the wood block would be. This vinyl which is very sticky sticks to the acrylic block allowing it to be the handle of the stamp and can be removed after used. These stamps are the actual size of the image which allows for easier placement on your projects.

Q. What is a scoring board?

A. Scoring (or score) board is used to create a grooved line into the paper (score line) which helps in getting a crisp, clean fold. They are a handy tool for card makers to get a clean fold of a card and also can be used for creating the folds in handmade envelopes and boxes, as well as, other projects.

Q. What is fussy cutting in paper crafting?

A. A lot of people know this term from quilting, but it has also spread into paper crafting. There are two ways of doing a fussy cut. One is when you use scissors or a craft knife to cut closely around the edge of a particular image; a stamped image for instance. The second way, which may not be thought of as often, is when you use a die and die cut machine to make a cut around an image in a piece of patterned paper.

Q. I want to use the cards I received on my layout, but how do I do that?

A. You can add a re-sealable bag to your layout and then add embellishments to the outside that match the theme of your layout or you can create a pocket out of cardstock or scrapbook paper by cutting it to a size to fit the widths and heights of the cards with an additional 1/2” added to these measurements on the sides and bottom to score and fold towards the layout which allows it to be attached to the scrapbook page. Both ways allow your cards to stay intact and removable to read again and again.

Q. Any ideas where I can find some inspiration?

 A. A great place to start is the Think Crafts blog, but you may also be interested in the great books that CreateForLess carries.

I am Gary Burns, better known as Wiz, the Tree Wizard. I have been carving since 1971 and am self-taught. I put myself through college and had no money for Christmas gifts. Buying a mail order jig saw from Finger Hut I started experimenting. I haven’t stopped experimenting for 40 years now.

I sell almost everything I carve on my Etsy shop, The Tree Wizard. You can look at my blog, TreeWiz and my Facebook. Come by and see what I have goin’ on! There is something new all of the time.

Interested in being a “Featured Crafter”? We want to hear from our crafty friends about what they like to create. Share with us what you put your energy into, whether it is your passion, your business, or simply something you enjoy doing. Do you have your own blog, Etsy store or craft products? Tell us about it!

Click here to submit a “Featured Crafter”!

DIY Geek Coasters on Mod Podge Rocks!

I am a 34-year-old transplant from Seattle living in Atlanta, Georgia. I was born from creative genes, so I’m carrying on the tradition. I have been knitting for 18 years, sewing for longer and decoupaging for just a few. I do all of these things on a daily basis, or at least as much as I can. In addition to Mod Podge, I love the color blue, dogs, reading, cold weather, funny movies, road rallies, yogurt, garden gnomes, sock monkeys, running, tattoos, being outdoors, buttons, snuggling and apparently blogging. Who knew I would love it this much?

My favorite thing about Mod Podge Rocks! is that I get to bring lots of ideas and inspiration together in one place – making everyone who is featured here an authority! I started this blog because when I was trying to find decoupage inspiration, I had to go to a lot of different places to get it. I thought, “what if it could all just be in one place?” I don’t just complain people – I make it happen!

Interested in being a “Featured Crafter”? We want to hear from our crafty friends about what they like to create. Share with us what you put your energy into, whether it is your passion, your business, or simply something you enjoy doing. Do you have your own blog, Etsy store or craft products? Tell us about it!

Click here to submit a “Featured Crafter”!

By Guest Bloggers Melissa + Kellie, from the blogIcing Designs.

We are really excited about “Fairy Week” all week on our blog! We have some really special DIY projects to share with you and a super sweet “Fairies Fairies Everywhere” party! Glittery fairy wings, perfect of course, for all of your little fairy party guests. These are super simple to make and look so adorable on.

Materials:

• Scissors
• Hot glue gun/glue
• 1 sheet of 12″x12″ glittered scrapbook paper
• Felt piece cut to approximately 3 1/4″ long x 2 1/4″ wide
• Tulle
• Silk flower clip or any decoration you would like
• Ribbon

1. Create the shape wing that you desire…draw and cut it out to create a pattern.

2. Fold paper in half…trace wing shape pattern onto paper and cut out. You will now have two wings.

3. With glittered side down, place wings about 1 1/2- 2 inches apart.

4. Glue felt piece in between wings to connect them together.

5. Using an X-acto knife, scissors or hole punch, place one slit just above the top edge of your felt piece and one slit just below the bottom edge of your felt piece.

6. Cut two pieces of ribbon about 24″ or long enough to tie into a bow over your little one’s shoulder .

7. Thread ribbon through the slits so ends come out on the non-glittered side of the paper.

8. Tie tulle into a bow and hot glue it onto the middle of your felt piece, glittered side up.

9. Clip or glue a flower or any other decoration you wish in the middle of your tulle bow and your wings are ready for your little fairy!

I saw this paper chandelier at the Winter Craft & Hobby Association conference and have been waiting (not very patiently, I’M EXICTED) for DCWV to post a tutorial. It’s Here!

Allie @ CreateForLess

By DCWV Diary

Immortal Love Stack Chandelier

I realized that I have never given you a template or tutorial for one of our most talked about projects at CHA in January! The 3D Chandelier! I think it would be SO fun to make one of these for Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas to hang in the entry of your house or above the table! Don’t you think??

Dots, Stripes & Plaids Stack Chandelier

Here are the instructions and THIS is where you can download the template. It is a little more intense of a project but as you can see, the results are incredible! Let me know if you tackle it! I want to see pictures!

Products:

• DCWV: Immortal Love Stack or The Dots, Plaids and Stripes 12×12 Premium Stack
• DCWV Chandelier Template PDF
• 24″x36″ Black foam board with black foam core
• Ribbon or rope to hang chandelier in desired length (at least 24” long)
• 1″x12″ piece of pipe
• Drill (needed to put hole through pipe)
• Bolt and nut set
• Assorted beads
• Assorted fibers
• Scissors
• Papercrafting adhesive
• Craft knife
• Glue Gun
• Pencil

Instructions:

Cut out template. Adhere 6 different prints to foam board and turn over. Trace template pattern onto back of foam board 6 different times, making sure that each print is used only once, and cut out.

Before adhering foam core pieces to the pipe, drill a small hole in the center of the pipe through one side, and directly across to the other. Insert a bolt through the 2 holes, and secure it in place with a nut.

Adhere foam board shapes directly to the piece of pipe with hot glue.

Embellish chandelier by adding ribbons, fibers, beads and bows.

About a year ago I started writing the “Creative Compulsive” blog, because…well, I tend to create compulsively. I hold a degree in costume design, which is an excellent career choice for the creative compulsive, but I have not worked in theater for years. Now, I have two children who stay very “creatively” dressed and have really fun Halloween costumes!

I currently teach sewing classes on an Army Post in Vicenza, Italy. I absolutely love teaching classes. This time of year my focus is on Halloween costumes. I teach a series of 4 Halloween sewing classes: Super Capes and Masks, Fairy Wings and No-Sew Tutus, Animal Hats and Tails, and a Halloween Candy Bag class. I have so much fun making samples to hang in the Arts Center window! I am currently working on a whole ladybug series to add to each class. The classes allow me an excellent opportunity to be creative and nurture creativity in others.

My crafting interests are not limited to the sewing arts. I also enjoy painting, drawing, gardening, cooking, and on occasion knitting or crocheting. Recently, I have been doing some collaborative artwork with my husband. Always, always a million projects started, and a million more floating around, just waiting for the opportunity to materialize.

Interested in being a “Featured Crafter”? We want to hear from our crafty friends about what they like to create. Share with us what you put your energy into, whether it is your passion, your business, or simply something you enjoy doing. Do you have your own blog, Etsy store or craft products? Tell us about it!

Click here to submit a “Featured Crafter”!

By Crafts-a lot Contributor, Mable who is an avid reader of craft blogs & magazines and has aspirations to improve her crafting skills. Join Mable on Facebook to socialize and share with other crafters!

Like most people we all have our daily websites we visit - Facebook, Gmail, a news site, and Think Crafts (right?!). Looking through my internet browser’s bookmarks most of the other sites I visit are for recipes, craft ideas, household tips, shopping, blogs, cute photos and more. One day when I saw my co-worker using Pinterest, I knew my time spent on the internet would be forever changed!

My Pin Boards

Pinterest in my own words is a photo version of your bookmarks and favorite web pages you’ve visited. You create pin boards with categories of interest. Like mine are: Event ideas, Things I want to Try, For the Home, Sewing, My Style and many more. In the ‘Things I want to Try’ category I have recipes, craft techniques, quilting photos and a few spray painting ideas. You choose what photo on the web page you like and that is what’s saved on your pin board, including the URL link to visit the site again.

My Pins

If you’re new to Pinterest, you can request an invite here. Once your account is set up, you add a “Pin It” app to your toolbar. Click here for more instructions about setup from Pinterst. Once your account is set up you will be amazed… You follow other pinners and see what they liked and what they pinned. Seeing other pins, you get so many ideas. Try it, type in cardmaking, pesto recipes, duvet covers, floral arranging, pillows or whatever you’re looking for to get ideas on anything, or everything!

Creative, Easy-Going, Christian mother of 2 boys (23,13) I love to make a variety paper crafts, mixed media art, and experimenting with unusual combinations on cards, tags, scrapbook layouts and journals. I also enjoy crochet, some sewing,embroidery and vintage everything from wall hangings to lace. My style is eclectic from vintage shabby chic to whimsical mixed media.

Papercraft blog for 1 year have 217 followers.

Scrapbook News & Review Published-2x

Featured on Online Magazine Whimsical Musings

Top 3 Ginger Gem from Gingersnap Creations-2x

Top 3 Shopping Our Stash

Winner at MPS Studio

Interested in being a “Featured Crafter”? We want to hear from our crafty friends about what they like to create. Share with us what you put your energy into, whether it is your passion, your business, or simply something you enjoy doing. Do you have your own blog, Etsy store or craft products? Tell us about it!

Click here to submit a “Featured Crafter”!

Hi, there! My name is Anastacia, and I am a crochet designer. I started crocheting when I was just a teen, and have been hooked ever since (pun intended). I have been designing many years now, but really became serious about it a year ago. I design mainly lace, especially shawls & scarves, but have also designed hats, fingerless gloves, cowls, and anything else that catches my fancy! I write a regular blog, filled with my crafts & an occasional book review, because as everyone knows, crafters love to read!

Interested in being a “Featured Crafter”? We want to hear from our crafty friends about what they like to create. Share with us what you put your energy into, whether it is your passion, your business, or simply something you enjoy doing. Do you have your own blog, Etsy store or craft products? Tell us about it!

Click here to submit a “Featured Crafter”!

What makes me unique? I guess you could say I am a “think-outside-the-box” creator. I love recycling and repurposing. My absolute favorite projects are my Roadkill Rescue projects. That is the term I have dubbed when I find some curbside castaway and turn it into beautiful and usable decor.

When I began blogging 3 1/2 years ago at Infarrantly Creative I never would have guessed that I would someday inspire people to create. Nothing brings me more delight then when one of my readers emails me a picture of something they made because I inspired them.

Join me at Infarrantly Creative.

Interested in being a “Featured Crafter”? We want to hear from our crafty friends about what they like to create. Share with us what you put your energy into, whether it is your passion, your business, or simply something you enjoy doing. Do you have your own blog, Etsy store or craft products? Tell us about it!

Click here to submit a “Featured Crafter”!

By Guest Bloggers Melissa + Kellie, from the blog “Icing Designs”.

We just love these tissue paper flower cupcake picks, they are so pretty and dainty and can be made in any color combination. We also love that they can be clustered on a cake or placed individually on cupcakes for a beautiful, festive presentation!

Materials:

• Tissue paper, any color you wish
• Scissors
• Flat top wooden picks
• Hot glue gun/glue
• 1/8″ wide ribbon

Layer 6-8 sheets of tissue paper. Cut out a 2×2″ square. Fold the squares into quarters. Hold the folded tissue at the folded point.

Starting on one side, cut around to make a petal shape, being careful not to cut too close to the point. You can make your petals pointed, rounded, or any shape you wish!

Unfold the tissue and layer the flower shapes on top of each other, staggering the petals.

Poke a hole in the middle of the stacked flower. I have this wonderful little punch that makes a tiny hole, but a pin or even the end of the pick will do just fine. Slide the pick into the hole, leaving room at the top of the pick.

Place a dot of hot glue onto the end of the pick and let it drip down a bit.

Squeeze all of the layers of the tissue flower from the bottom and hold for 10 seconds or so.

Fluff and carefully separate the layers.

Tie ribbon underneath the flower, to help keep it in place. If you choose you could even create a two toned flower by using two different colors of tissue paper.

FIDM Graduate, Olivia Stackhouse has a deep passion for creativity and uniqueness. Through her life travels and love for life, art & music she had been inspired to create the Lazy Leopard brand. In 2005, Olivia graduated with a degree in Merchandise Marketing. After spending several years working in the corporate world, she longed for a perfect blend of work and creating, then turning her life long dream into reality, Lazy Leopard was born.

Lazy Leopard is a brand that embraces the idea of old world sophistication and self expression. It is made for lifestyles, not just seasons. Each of the accessory pieces are ALL handmade with LOVE and sold on the Etsy shop,  Lazy Leopard. The driving force behind the brand is life, art and music.

Interested in being a “Featured Crafter”? We want to hear from our crafty friends about what they like to create. Share with us what you put your energy into, whether it is your passion, your business, or simply something you enjoy doing. Do you have your own blog, Etsy store or craft products? Tell us about it!

Click here to submit a “Featured Crafter”!

By Guest Blogger, Mariano Pastor from the blog “Via U! Photography Blog”.

A window and a piece of cardboard is all you’ll need to take pictures of silver jewelry with brilliant, even tones.

Move a table as close to a window as you can.

Make sure that the top of the table is a higher than the window sill.

Tape a piece of tracing paper to the window. Sunny or cloudy skies, the paper will make light coming in to be even and soft. Hang the paper so it goes down below the table.

When using white paper as a background put something white underneath to avoid the table coming through making it look dark.

I used a 2′ x 2′ piece of foam board to bounce back light from the window, you can use anything that stands upright without bending. A piece of cardboard covered with sheets of white paper will work great.

Light will reflect from the white card and from the white surface as well.

Silver is like a mirror, it shows whatever is around. The light and white paper will reflect on the metal making it look light and shiny. Pendant, a courtesy of Roxy’s Jewelry.

If you pull the white card away from the window it will create a dark area that will also reflect on the jewelry.

Different tones of silver make a picture have more depth. You may like the way it looks, or you may not. If you prefer the silver to have even tones make sure that the card is flashed against the window.

However, if you do want your background to have a gradation of tones try replacing the white card with a black one. Blocking the light will create a shadow with a clear edge.

Then you can play placing your jewelry where the background shifts from light to dark to see what happens.

Every other week we post a new product photography tutorial showing how to take at home the pictures we create at the Via U! studio.

I make personalized embroidered baby pillows and blankets. It all started as gifts for friends and family. Then one day someone called to place an order after seeing my gift at a baby shower and the rest is history.

Interested in being a “Featured Crafter”? We want to hear from our crafty friends about what they like to create. Share with us what you put your energy into, whether it is your passion, your business, or simply something you enjoy doing. Do you have your own blog, Etsy store or craft products? Tell us about it!

Click here to submit a “Featured Crafter”!

By Guest Blogger Jeremy Fordham.

“The Drab Age is over. Color is coming into its own again. Until very recently people were literally scared out of their wits by color. Perhaps this was a hangover from our Puritan ancestors. But whatever the reason, brown, grays and neutrals were the only shades considered ‘safe.’ Now we know that lovely, clear colors have a vital effect on our mental happiness. Modern doctors and psychiatrists are convinced of this!”

The words of famous interior designer, Dorothy Draper, crystallize the idea that colors affect us, changing and influencing our moods as we encounter them in daily life. Yet, why does yellow seem cheerful and green seem restful? Why does a tango dancer hold a vibrant, red rose in his or her teeth and not a white one? Why do some colors clash while others work together in harmony?

The fine arts form an academic field full of depth and exploration into the psychology of color theory. Many Ph.D. programs in this realm have produced artistic leaders in the design field, all of whom will tell you that color harmony is rooted in a psychological interpretation of color –and that colors have warm and cool temperatures, mainly based on what we associate with them.

For instance, yellow, red and orange are considered to be warm colors because they remind us of the warmth of sunlight or the coals of a campfire.

At the other end of the spectrum, blue, green and violet are considered cool because they remind us of the depths of the ocean, the green of trees and wildflowers in spring. These objects have been present in the environment since man arrived on the planet, and the response to color is an ancient part of us.

Color also evokes mood, possibly because of the way we physically react to light. Red is thought to create a sensual, passionate mood. When exposed to red light, heart rate and blood pressure increase, causing physical excitement and sometimes rage. An office painted red tends to increase tension in the workplace, but also productivity. Conversely, blue light reduces heart rate, blood pressure and respiration, creating a sense of calm, relaxation and rest. Thus, blue is commonly used in doctor’s office waiting rooms for this very reason. It also stands to reason that a combination of red (danger) and blue (calm) would not result in a harmonious experience for a nervous patient.

Cultural connotations also come into play when considering the psychology of color, sometimes outright and sometimes on a subliminal level. In China, red symbolizes good luck. Elsewhere, black means evil and red means danger. Similarly, in Egypt, yellow means prosperity, while it is often the symbolic color of cowardice in the Western world. Blue is sacred in Islam and Christianity, but for different reasons. When asked why a particular color has a particular meaning, people from different cultures often have no answer other than “it’s always been that way”.

The intensity of color also has an emotional effect. For instance, lavender and deep purple are two different shades of violet. Painting a room in pastel lavender gives a light, airy effect, while walls of deep purple are intense and dramatic. Pink and rose are both shades of red, but pink is dainty while rose is sensual. It would also seem that mixing too many different intensities of different colors would send enough mixed signals to make a person flee a room.

Even fashion trends affect what colors mean to us. For centuries, black was considered the color of mourning, death and negativity in the Western world. However Coco Chanel changed all that when she introduced the “little black dress” in 1920. Suddenly, black was sexy, elegant and seductive. To this day, women look for the perfect little black dress for their wardrobe, wearing it with different accessories until it wears out. Likewise, when a new fashion trend highlights a different color, it’s often called “the new black.”

If black can be combined with any color to create a harmonious effect, why can’t purple or orange or sky blue? Color harmony can be achieved in several ways. The basic color wheel is red, orange yellow, green, blue and violet. Thus, first and foremost, colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel can be used in a color scheme. Different saturations of a single color create a monochromatic color scheme that can be harmonious. Secondly, an analogous color scheme combines three adjacent colors on the wheel. For instance, one can design a room in red, orange and yellow or yellow, green and blue. A third way to create a harmonious scheme is to use colors that are opposite each other on the wheel. Red and green, or violet and yellow are two examples of color opposites. This type of color combination has the highest contrast and most dramatic effect.

Too much of a good thing, however, can lead to a room, outfit or painting that triggers headaches instead of pleasure. Too many dramatic colors overwhelm the eye. Top interior designer Van Day Truex notes, “The easiest approach to any strong color is to use a lot of it, thus unifying a room. However, beware of too many strong colors unless you happen to like living on a battlefield.” On the other hand, too many pastels or neutrals make a design seem flat and uninspired.

Color harmony can also be defined as different colors with similar tones that converge without high contrast. For instance, architect Frank Lloyd Wright used color palettes drawn from the landscapes surrounding his famous residences. One of his most noteworthy buildings, Samara, illustrates Wright’s use of rust, green, turquoise and red, to bring the outdoor colors inside, creating harmony with nature.

Interestingly, product designers and marketers often utilize color psychology when creating packaging and advertising for their products. Focus groups have shown that red foods are perceived as sweeter than foods of any other color. Icy blues and silvers often denote frozen foods, while green is often used for “healthy” foods. Orange is used in the packaging of laundry detergent because orange is perceived as fresh, invigorating and clean. Would orange juice sell as well if it were packaged in bright blue cartons? Probably not!

The color spectrum has been with us since Sir Isaac Newton learned to refract light with a prism, and the turning color wheel shows us how to organize colors in harmony. Impressionist painter Claude Monet once said, “Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” A basic appreciation of color theory and its psychology helps ensure color schemes that avoid discord and enhance our lives.