Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

 Pretty Little Potholders by Lark Books

Potholders are just fun and make a great gift for any occasion.  This book has over 30 projects that range from quick and easy to a little more detailed.  The book includes great instructions for all the sewing techniques used including embroidery, yo-yos, quilting, and beading.  Most projects have a retro look and feel, but with different fabric selection can be changed to meet your personal taste and style.  I enjoyed the pot handle cozy and the yo-yo potholder.  This is a fun book with great illustrations, photographs, and step-by-step instructions. 

I enjoyed combining yo-yos with quilting for this set of potholders.

I’m hopelessly addicted to needlepunch or punchneedle (I’m not really sure which term to use!). I don’t always have time to make a project from a kit or punch a complex design so I came up with an easy way to get my needlepunch dose without having to concentrate too hard!

I use needlepunch as a background for jewelry pendants!  I use miniature frames and variegated floss; I’ll needlepunch the frame shape (measure the inside area of the frame) as a background.  Once done, I apply fray stop around the edge of the design, apply to the back of the design (remember when doing needlepunch you are working the back of the design). Once the fray stop has dried, I cut out the background. The fray stopping adhesive keeps the raw ends of the floss from unraveling.  I add a cute button, bead, or charm to the background. If needed I mat the design onto light cardboard and insert into the frame. 

The photo above shows an example of a pendant set done with a fish, turtle, and seahorse bead!  Ocean and sea life are my favorite themes for needlepunch and many of my crafting projects.

I’ve loved books since I was a child.  My mother read to me all the time and my favorite books were always by Dr. Suess.  My mother kidded me as an adult about how she wasn’t really reading to me after the 100th time I requested Horton Hears A Who — she had the book memorized!  When I learned to read the library became my home away from home.  Books allowed me to travel to far away places, see exotic animals, and learn about nature.  Reading allows me to keep my childhood wonder and imagination.

Thus, Think Crafts!, must have a Book Club!  We can get together the first day of every month and share our favorite books and authors.  I might even throw in a magazine here and there.  There is a magazine for almost every hobby, passion, and subject.  I hope you join me often for the Think Crafts! Book Club.  Keep reading, you have a chance to win this book.

Featured Title: Trim The Tree published by Annie’s Attic

This books features 35 crochet ornaments with whimsical and Victorian themes.  The instructions are easy to follow, you have full color photos, and each ornament lists the skill level needed to complete.  The projects are colorful, fun, and worthy of any Christmas tree.  Many projects are quick to make so the ornaments would make perfect holiday gifts.

Think Crafts! Blue Ribbon Book Award

Would you like to win this book?

Be the first person to e-mail me at Maria@thinkcrafts.com and this book will be yours.  I will reply back to the first e-mailer requesting a mailing address.  Please don’t post any personal information on Think Crafts!

This contest is closed, the winner has been shipped the book. Thanks to everyone who e-mailed in!

Calling this meeting to order… Welcome to the first meeting of the Think Crafts! Kit Club where we talk about kits we’ve enjoyed! And each month one lucky club member will win the kit of the month!  See below for details…

There is nothing better in life than a great crafting kit!  Because of my love of kits I’ve decided to hold a monthly club meeting just for us kit junkies.  Kits are a great way to learn a new craft or technique.  Kits can also be perfect for taking on a long car trip or vacation. And kits make great gifts for family and friends!

Please feel free to post a comment or tell us about a kit you’ve enjoyed.   I don’t have many photos for our first club meeting, but please keep coming back as I hope to be able to add more visuals and maybe even a video or two!

Colonial I Felt Creative Felt By Number Kit

When this kit arrived, I ripped it open and started immediately.  I’m a felt fanatic and I loved the wonderful colors of the roving.  The kit is very complete with roving, two felting needles, design transfers, and excellent instructions.  The Colonial Needle Co. was a real leader in bringing back this traditional craft in a hip and innovative way.

You are given the design transfers (left) and the actual size felt by number pattern to match.

You can make 4 different mini stocking: snowman and star, bell, poinsettia, and holly.  You transfer the pattern onto fabric (acrylic or wool fabrics are recommended) or onto a sweatshirt, hat, or even a guest towel!  The instruction booklet gives you plenty of ideas.  The felting instructions are easy to follow so no worries if you are a beginner.  I’ve been felting for almost 4 years now and I learned quite a few new things including how to get rid of needle marks on the finished design (a spritz of water to the back and a little ironing!).

I really liked that the kit included the felting needles.  I usually have some handy, but it’s nice to start a project with a fresh sharp felting needle.  A foam board is included to work on.  Another big bonus in using this kit is that I can use the transfer designs several times.

Kit includes all the roving shown, plus the foam board and 2 felting needles.

I highly recommend this kit to anyone who wants to give felting a try without investing in all the supplies needed separately (it can add up!).  I also recommend this kit to anyone who enjoys felting and wants a specific project to make.  It’s a real time saver. You can easily adapt the patterns to create ornaments, a pretty touch to a sweatshirt, or as a pin!

I give this kit a five glue gun salute!

 
Would you like to win this Felt By Numbers kit?
Be the first person to e-mail me at Maria@thinkcrafts.com and this Felt By Numbers kit will be yours.  I will reply back to the first e-mailer requesting a mailing address.  Please don’t post any personal information on Think Crafts!

This contest is closed, the winner has been shipped the kit. Thanks to everyone who e-mailed in!

Many years ago I tried needlepunching.  It was okay, but I didn’t really like the materials used.  A few months ago at the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) trade show I saw some beautiful needlepunched designs.  At first I didn’t even realize the pieces were needlepunch!  I like going to the CHA show because I get a sneak peek at what manufacturers are working on and get to see a lot of cool new supplies, patterns, books, and tools. 

The new generation of needlepunch is softer in look and feel.  Most designers are using flosses instead of yarn threads and the results are just awesome.  Plus when I first tried needlepunch the projects were mainly for framed wall decorations and now we are seeing needlepunch done for clothing, accessories, jewelry, and home accents like lampshades and pillows.

Floss used for needlepunch

This traditional craft was first recorded as done by ancient Egyptians, but its Russian roots get the most attention, with an interesting history with a branch of the Russian Orthodox Church called the Old Believers who lived quietly and developed the art for the embellishment of clothing.  Needlepunching is also called punchneedle and punch needle embroidery.

This time around I’m enjoying the slightly repetitive nature of this craft.  I especially love working with variegated flosses making backgrounds (the areas you fill around the main design).  Flosses now come in such cool flavors like linen, satin, metallic, brights, pastels, and every color in between.  I haven’t decided on my favorite punchneedle tool yet.  It’s a close tie between the Clover Punchneedle Embroidery Stitching Tool and the Cameo Products Ultra Punch Tool.  For now, I’m quite happy punching away!

Materials

Needle Punch Tool and threader

Floss, cloth and pattern or Kit

Tight fitting hoop

How To

1. If using a purchase kit, you pattern has already been transferred to the cloth.  If not using a kit or pre-printed pattern, you’ll have to transfer a pattern to your cloth.  Unlike other types of needlearts, the needle punch pattern is at the back (or printed on the back) of the cloth.  So you are working the back of the finished piece, not the front of it.  The loops you’ll be creating for the design with your needle punch tool will be the front of the design.
2. Thread your needle punch.
   • The instructions of the design will let you know if you are using a single thread of the floss or you might be using 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 threads.  Floss is usually 6 strands of individual threads twisted together.  You may need to separate the threads.
   • Needle punches vary.  Some come with different needle heads (small for a single thread, medium for 2-3 threads, large for 4+ threads or even yarn) while others are just a standard needle head that can’t be changed, adjusted, or removed.  Some needle punches allow you to change the length of the punch (thus letting you have short or longer loops of thread to the front of the pattern).  All these options are just personal choices for you to make as you learn the craft.  A standard needle punch may be best for the beginner as well as purchasing a simple kit.
   • Follow the threading instructions that come with your needle punch tool.  First you’ll thread the needle (you must use a threader that usually comes with the needle punch), and then you’ll thread the eye of the needle.
3. Place cloth or fabric in hoop.  Make sure the fabric is wrinkle and crease free and is tightly stretched in the hoop.
4. Begin to punch.  Leave a 1-2″ tail of floss as you begin.  Place needle tip to cloth or fabric and press down gently, bring needle back up to fabric, move just a bit and punch back down again.  Repeat Steps 2-3 until that color or area is done.  Remember to leave a 1-2″ tail as you end a thread too.
5. Finish.  Once done you will prep the design for finishing.  Instructions are generally given in a kit.

 Materials

Felting Needle

Roving

Cushion or Felting Cushion

How To

Example will be a simple felt ball sized to about 1″ to make a felt bead.

1. Pull tufts of roving and start forming a small ball.  Continue to roll the ball with small tufts of roving until it’s just a little bigger than you want the finished ball to be.
2. Carefully begin to softly punch the ball with your felting needle.  Be careful, felting needles are very sharp with barbed bodies.  You only need to push the needle in about ½”.  You can do this while the ball is in one hand, felting with the other hand or place ball onto a cushion and felt it while holding it in place.  Keep moving the ball so you felt all sides.  You’ll see and feel it getting firmer and harder.  Continue until ball is firm.
3. This is the basic technique of needle felting.  You can shape the roving into just about any shape and felt it.  For a doll you might make the head, body, arms, and legs.  Then you’ll attach the pieces together by felting them… punching the felting needle into the 2 layers to form a bond.  Wool fibers have “hooks” and by agitating the hooks (by needle or water) the hooks bond permanently.
4. One of the best ways to learn about felting is to purchase a kit or book!