Happy Birthday Think Crafts!

CreateForLess Team 1 Comment
Happy Anniversary Think Crafts!

Happy Birthday Think Crafts!

Thanks to all of you who read Think Crafts!

Think Crafts is turning 1 year old today! It wouldn’t be a Birthday Celebration without presents! The 13th person to email us at info@thinkcrafts.com and tell us what blog post was their favorite, will receive this K&CO Birthday Scrapbook kit!

We really loved having all of our guest bloggers and blog contributors this year. They helped make Think Crafts a unique place where people can come together to share their creative passions, plus get the latest trends, project ideas, tips and techniques. 

Come join the fun!

Interested in Guest Blogging?

Got a project idea you would like to share? A craft tip to tell us about? Then sign up to be a Think Crafts Guest Blogger!  

Think Crafts blog posts are written by a wide variety of craft experts, from creative moms and scrapbookers to craft professionals and designers.  We cover a broad range of craft categories, including paper crafts, sewing, quilting, kid’s crafts, needlearts, jewelry making and more. Our blog topics typically include craft projects, tips, ideas or products.  This is a great opportunity for you to write and share anything craft related. 

If you are interested, simply email us at info@thinkcrafts.com with your blog post title, text and attach any pictures.  We will let you know if your post was approved or not, and when it will be posted on Think Crafts.  Please also contact us if you have any questions or would like further information regarding guest blogging.  We look forward to hearing your ideas!

We reserve the right to edit a post. Not all blog submissions will be posted on ThinkCrafts.com. Submission of an entry grants CreateForLess permission to use the submitted content for promotional purposes.

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Don’t Cry over Spilled Glue

Contests, CreateForLess Team 1 Comment

I am the marketing assistant at CreateForLess and I really enjoyed reading (and laughing!) at some of the submissions in our latest drawing. So in honor of our Craft Bloopers Drawing, I thought some of our readers might be in need of some ideas and tips for clean-up and removal for these craft mishaps. I searched the web and interviewed crafters to find ideas and products to easily remove glue.

What a Mess!

Glue Removal

We’ve all been there – knocked over the glue, dropped the glue, used too much glue… Here’s a list of common household items that will safely, and easily remove glue from a hard surface such as floors, tables, walls and counters. Please test in an unnoticeable area first to make sure there will be no damage to the surface.

  • Rubbing Alcohol – Dissolves glue to the point it should wipe off
  • Vegetable Oil or Peanut Butter – Put a little bit on a clean rag, and allow it to sit on the stain, wipe away with soap and water
  • Vinegar, Mayonnaise, Nail Polish Remover, Margarine, Baby Oil, – Soak rag with any of these and allow the rag to sit on the stain for a while (even overnight)
  • Baking Soda & Water Paste – Rub the paste gently into the glue, then wipe off with a warm, wet cloth
  • WD-40 – Allow to sit for 5 minutes, then wipe up

Just soak any of these on a cotton pad or apply a dab on area:

  • Toothpaste
  • Hair Spray
  • Windex
  • Lighter Fluid
  • Paint Thinner
  • Goo Gone
  • Furniture Polish
  • Hand Lotion

Removing Glue Stains on Fabric

Glue – To remove a glue stain, soak a rag in a small amount of mild laundry detergent mixed with water. Allow rag to sit on the stain. Soak another rag in a small amount of ammonia and water. Remove the first rag, cover with the second. Repeat as necessary.

Super Glue – Soak cotton pad in acetone nail polish remover, then dab the stain and let it sit. Scrape off any loose glue (a dull knife will work) then repeat as necessary. Do not put fabric in the dryer until stain is removed. Putting it in the dryer will allow the super glue stain to set.

Rubber Cement – Avoid wiping and smearing the glue. Scrape off glue with a dull edge then spray area with stain remover. When washing use hottest water that won’t damage the fabric.

If all else fails, try Glue Remover. Check back next time for tips for avoiding craft blooper messes!

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Craft Bloopers Drawing Winner

Contests, CreateForLess Team 4 Comments

Congratulations to Andrea B. from Lamar, MO, who was randomly chosen as the winner of our Craft Bloopers Drawing and a $100 CreateForLess Shopping spree! Andrea’s Craft Blooper was…

“A friend and I had organized a scrapbooking day to benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. We called our event the ‘Crop for a Cure’. I was working on a small thank you card for one of our sponsors of the event. I had all the right papers, and stamps and inks, even embellishments.

I was happily assembling each piece (between various event interruptions) and then came time to write my message inside the card. I was drawing each word out in a beautiful curly script. Each letter fell into place: ‘Thank You for Supporting the Cr…’ but then; the swirl of my ‘o’ in the word ‘crop’ turned down instead of up and suddenly I was thanking people not for their support of an enjoyable day of scrapbooking, but for a crass bodily function that apparently had mythical healing powers. My friends will never let me forget the day they attended the ‘Crap for a Cure’.” 

After our giggles subsided, we thought we would share more Craft Bloopers Stories!  

“My biggest craft blooper happened about 20 years ago when, as a novice sewer, I was attempting to make a pair of loose fitting wide-legged pants. I somehow inverted one pant leg so that the hem of the pants ended up at the waist. I ripped it out and tried again. Lo and behold I repeated the mistake. So I ripped it out and tried once more. Again it was upside down. Ever the optimist I tried once more and finally succeeded!! We all learn from our mistakes, I guess I’m just a slow learner! :)
P.S. I’ve progressed to sewing Bridal gowns and window treatments”.

Roma M. from Missouri City, TX

“I handmade all my Christmas cards one year, completed all of them. When I began addressing the cards and signing my name on the inside, I noticed I had done this one completely upside down on the inside. Well I mailed it to a friend who was sure I made perfect cards. I included the post script by saying “just another one of my bloopers”.

Lillian K. from Durango, CO.

“I was making a box out of cardstock to put a handmade necklace and earrings in for a friend. I was so proud of myself–it was a first effort and it looked beautiful. When I finished it, I was showing it off to my sister and bragging about how easy it was to make. OOPS! When I went to put the jewelry in it, I discovered that I truly had done a good job on it and glued it together securely–on all sides! I forgot to leave one side open! Oh well, back to the drawing board!”

Jennifer S. from Wantagh, NY.

“I was anxious to welcome to my new step father to the family and since he was an accomplished violinist and a music lover I thought a cross stitch picture would be perfect. I found just the right kit and stitched away. Horrors — half way through I discovered I was stitching the vertical picture on the horizontal axis of the aida! Careful – and panicked – measuring assured me that I had JUST enough fabic to complete the picture. Whew!

I finished the picture, had it framed and presented it. He was delighted. I was delighted — until my mother pointed out that the violin – centerpiece of the picture – had no strings! I had forgotten that last detail! The picture hangs in their living room in a place of honor — and still has no strings. It is a SILENT accolade to my future – and now present – step dad.”

Becky H. from Chicago, IL

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CreateForLess on Facebook

Crafts, CreateForLess Team No Comments

CreateForLess just joined the popular social networking site Facebook. On Facebook you can connect with other crafters, stay in touch with friends and join groups like Quilter Friends, Scrapbook Lovers, Addicted to Knitting, and Extreme Crafting. Look for our friend Mable Craftsalot! Click here to join Facebook!

Become a fan of CreateForLess and get updates on sales, promotions and contests sent right to your Facebook account. We also have a news feed from our blog so you will never miss a blog post from Think Crafts!

CreateForLess on Facebook

CreateForLess

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Recycled Craft Ideas Drawing

Crafts, CreateForLess Team, Green Crafting, Holidays & Seasons, Projects No Comments

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, CreateForLess is celebrating by giving you a chance to win!  Do you have a great craft project idea using recycled materials?  It can be using anything from household items, such as CD’s and bottles to natural materials like rocks and sea shells.

My recycled craft idea is making picture mats out of wallpaper, or use it to add color and shapes to a scrapbook layout. Other ideas with wallpaper are lining a drawer, covering a bulletin board, or make decorative placemats. From a step by step craft project to a helpful craft tip, let’s see your ideas! Get creative with recycled stuff and you could win a $100 CreateForLess shopping spree! 

Limited to one entry per person.  Drawing deadline is May 4, 2009.  The winner will be randomly chosen and will receive a $100 CreateForLess e-gift certificate.  After the drawing ends, some of our favorite ideas submitted will be showcased on CreateForLess.com.  Submission of an entry into this drawing grants CreateForLess permission to use the submitted content for promotional purposes. 

Click here to enter your Recycled Craft Idea.

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National Craft Month Drawing Craft Tips

Crafts, CreateForLess Team No Comments

Congratulations to Gail W from Parrish, FL who was randomly chosen as the winner of our National Craft Month Drawing! She will receive a $100 CreateForLess shopping spree.

Her helpful craft tip was… 

“I’m awash in craft magazines and ideas I’ve made copies of from the internet. Once a year I go through all my magazines tearing out the ideas I think I’ll do and sort copies. Then I organize them by craft, i.e scrapbooking, knitting, etc. putting a colored paper divider between them. Then I sort by topic, i.e. pets, birthdays, shawls, etc. and put dividers between those. Finally I take the stack to my local Staples store and have them comb bind it. I can tear out the pages to go to a scrap or knitting group. I feel accomplished as the book of ideas gets thinner”. 

Here’s some more of our favorite craft tips submitted by customers. Thanks to everyone who entered!

“When I am using my Cricut, in order to save wear and tear on my mats and to make the most of every sheet of paper, use this tip…make extras of the letters or shapes that you use the most. Then, later when I am scrappin’, I can pull out the extras and complete most pages. Saves time and there’s no waste!”
Jo M.
Barberton, OH

“Working with the new slice machine I like using spray adhesive. No drying time. Tim Holtz distress inks, I use the white paper that comes with the page protectors and make my own pages by, wrinkling the paper and rubbing the ink pad over the paper, spritz it with a little water, and then I iron the page. Turns out really cool, try using different inks on one page”.
Robin M.
Prescott Valley, AZ

“Favorite Craft Tip: Taking time to organize…I know some might dread the horror of organizing that craft room but once it is done everything is easily accessible and can make your craft projects go a whole lot quicker! Favorite Organization idea…taking old cereal boxes and turning them into magazine file organizers. Cut and Cover with fabric or fun paper”.
Debbie A.
Starkville, MS

“Scrapbooking – When you are doing a mosaic, run your picture through a Xyron Sticker Maker first. Then cut the picture into 1 inch strips with a paper cutter instead of a blade, and then cut your picture into 1 inch squares. Peel the paper off the back and stick on your sheet. This makes making a mosaic easy. Happy Scrapbooking!”
Susan W.
Stockbridge, GA

“Any quilting tip is always welcome. But my favorite is, when cutting for a large quilt stack as many pieces of material as you can on top of each other and using the 65mm rotary cutter, you will be able to cut a lot of pieces all at one time. This saves a lot of time, as well as your arm and the cutter blade”.
Lynette B.
Butler, PA

“I use floss threaders to thread yarn through needles and beads. Makes the job much easier than anything else I’ve tried and they are quite inexpensive and flexible”.
Marilyn G.
Hixson, TN

“When using embossing powders, before stamping your image to emboss, wipe your paper with a used dryer sheet to keep the static off of your paper, thus being able to keep the embossing powder on your stamped image instead of all over the page, when you shake the extra embossing powder off”.
Heather S.
Atwater, OH

“When I get ready to start a new project I often make a (very) rough sketch to get an idea of the materials that I will need and use it to make a list of everything I am going to need. Then I go “shopping” in my stash of materials–fabric, glue, paint–whatever I need for that project. I put everything into a clear plastic shoe box, or if the project is big I use a sweater box. I add the items I purchased at the store and keep everything together until the project is completely done. Then I take a picture and add it to my sketch for a permanent record of my creativity.”
Nancy S.
Phoenix, AZ

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Fun with Shrink Plastic! on AM Northwest

Crafts, CreateForLess Team, Kid's Crafts No Comments

Two weeks in a row CreateForLess products have appeared on television! This week our products were featured on AM Northwest for a “Fun with Shrink Plastic” by Shelia Rufener. This fun craft project is great for kids to do over spring break. The segment showed how easy it is to use shrink plastic to make colorful and shiney designs for keychains, necklaces and more.

 

Supplies Used for the Shrink Plastic Project:

Grafix White 8 1/2″ x 11″ Ink Jet Shrink Film
Dual-Point Paint Markers
Dual-point Permanent Markers 
Top Boss Tinted Embossing Stamp Pad
Melt Art UTEE (Ultra thick embossing enamel) powder
EK Success dual-temperature Coloriser heat tool

AM Northwest is our local morning news show here in Portland, OR, on KATU our local ABC affiliate. AM Northwest reports on topics of interest to the NW residents, such as home & garden, recipes, and crafts and is hosted by Helen Raptis and Dave Anderson. Shelia Rufener is the craft expert for AM Northwest. Shelia is a professional TV demonstrator for the craft and hobby industry. She has worked for craft manufacturers writing books and magazine articles, and demonstrated their products on TV. Her craft projects have also appeared on The Carol Duvall Show and The Creative Life. For more craft ideas from Shelia, visit her website.

To view the “Fun with Shrink Plastic” segment, click here.

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