Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

The polls are closed, the votes have been counted and it’s time to announce the winners of the 2012 Crafties Award Winners. In the spirit of Award season, CreateForLess is having our Ceremony right here at Think Crafts.

It’s time to announce the winners of the 2012 Crafties Awards, voted on by CreateForLess customers! And to celebrate, they’re all on sale this week at CreateForLess! Even the nominees! This time we’re featuring our Best Adhesive Nominees.

And the Craftie for Best Adhesive goes to….

Aleene’s Tacky Glue is our reigning champ!

Here’s what ‘Mr Tacky’ from Aleene’s said during their acceptance speech:

“I can’t believe I won again. I’m starting to feel like the Titanic of the Craftie Awards! I’d like to thank all my loyal crafty fans who relentlessly use me day in and day out! I’m so humbled that I can be a source of strength and reliability for your craft projects. I’m truly the luckiest guy in the world, it’s my fans that have the true hearts of GOLD!” 

The voters had a lot to say about their favorite Adhesive:

“Best Adhesives are ALL of Aleene’s Glues, Aleene’s Industrial Super Gel Adhesive Pen!! I’m a card maker & need all the really good adhesives. They’re very affordable & very useful.”

“I only use Aleene’s Tacky Glue”.

“Best Adhesive – Aleene’s Tacky Glue (LOVE THIS STUFF)”

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

Q1. How can I use stencils and templates on my pages?

A1. There are many ways to use these on a layout. They can be laid on the paper so the design can be traced with a marker. When used with an ink pad the image is transferred onto the paper by pressing the ink into the crevices. By using a light box the image can be embossed onto the page with an embossing tool to create a raised impression.

 Q2. What’s the difference in die cut machines?

A2. There are only a few major differences in machines and which one you purchase greatly depends on what you want to do with it. Some of them are electronic and require the use of cartridges (carts) Others are used with electronic design cards ( sd cards) or can be hooked up to a computer to obtain additional images and others are manually operated through the use of a hand crank. These require the use of dies to cut the image. These machines will also emboss the item you have cut out. Many of them will cut various items such as paper, chipboard and even fabric.

Q3. My ink smears when I color my stamped image. Do I have the wrong markers or pencils?

A3. Once your ink has become permanent what you use to color the image can be anything of your choice. The most important key to good stamping and coloring is to choose the right ink. Dye inks are good as they dry quickly. Stazon Inks are good to use because they work on pretty much every surface.

Q4. What are the sizes for layouts?

A4. While it is a matter of preference, the basic layout sizes include 8 x 8″ and 12 x 12″. Some choose to do an 8 ½” x 11″ layout. There aren’t any “right choices” in what size you decide to do, but it helps in choosing to keep in mind the amount of time you want to spend on the layout (remember the bigger the layout the more it will need on it and the more time you will spend). If you have done a lot of one size, create a different one for a change. You may not like part of the paper design so cut it off! This will create a smaller paper for you to use and get rid of what it is you don’t like. That’s ok! Remember it’s all up to you.

 Q5. There are so many tools out how do I decide what to buy?

A5. For me, I have a rule of thumb when I’m looking to buy something…I must be able to come up with 2 ideas for using it first. It doesn’t mean I won’t purchase it; it just means that I have to have those ideas first. If I can’t come up with those ideas I look online to see how others are using the tool.

I am a multi media artist who is self taught! I have always enjoyed all things vintage and my style of jewelry gives me a chance to show this off. From the materials I use to the grunged up photos it allows me to create my own world. My digital work allows me to create what is in my imagination. Images and colors come to life in my compositions. Welcome to my world!

You are invited to join me on my blog at Lisa’s Urban Nostalgia and take a look at my Etsy shop!

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”!

I’m Lee, but often known as leethal around the web; I’m a maker of things, doer of stuff living in Portland, Oregon, with a main focus on designing original hand-knit accessories. I spend my time writing, designing, making, teaching, spinning, photographing, brainstorming, and creating. With a background in photography and art, and a love of color, puzzles, and experimentation, I bring all these elements into my creative work, as well as into my blog, do stuff!

I am currently combining my loves of recycled yarn making, knit accessory design, and music, into an ebook called Remixed. With 8 patterns, all designed with tons of versatility, making them great for unique yarns, this massive collection will include a wealth of knowledge I have accumulated over years of recycled yarn-making.

Specializing in inventive knit design, craft projects using recycled materials, yarn making, craft writing, and photography, I have created my website, leethal.net, to be a resource full of patterns, tutorials, inspiration, and ideas!

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!

Twice a year the Craft & Hobby Association Conference & Trade Show (CHA) is held to discuss, what else, crafts! During the conference we get to see the new products manufacturers have been developing and get a sneak peek of the new designs and ideas. Industry experts come together to discuss trends and promotion of the craft industry. I like seeing all the incredible booths and displays!

At CHA we met the Crochet Dude and Tim Holtz! And our CreateForLess team had dinner with Mark Montano! Mark Montano! He delighted us with us entertaining stories and awesome craft ideas! Can’t wait for your next book Mark!

The Best Booth Award went to the DieCuts with a View & Blue Moon Beads!

The peacock is made with DCWV paper, glitter and lots of glue!

This display was made completely out of Blue Moon Beads.

I want to make this beaded waterfall for my bathroom! Check out more of the DCWV & Blue Moon Beads booth here.

An exciting part was the appearance by Tori Spelling! She is working with Darice on her jewelry making line {Styled} by Tori Spelling. What I loved about this new product line is you can make your own custom jewelry without needing tools or pliers.

You can mix and match the chains, pendants and beads to create and re-create your own designs.

Check out this video to see more of Tori’s designs!

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!