Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

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

Celebrity Craft Professional Mark Montano’s latest book the Big-Ass Book of Bling is full of enough projects to cover you in bling from head to toe! You can learn how to make these fun brooches and so much more! Visit our friend Mark Montano’s website and Youtube Channel for even more crafty and DIY bling ideas!

OK, after creating 150 projects for the Big-Ass Book of Bling, I just didn’t know what else to name these.  My brain is whirling around right now and Whirly Brooches was the only thing I could come up with.  It happens.

YOU’LL NEED

• Leather or vinyl scraps in different matching colors
• Lumiere acrylic paints in pearl turquoise,  green, and gold
• Small paintbrush
• E-6000 glue
• Hot glue gun
• Pin backs
• Pearls in different sizes
• 14” Leather lacing

Read the rest…

By Home Decor Contributor Jennifer from Brave New Home.

I really had my heart set on some swing arm pendant lamps for the bedroom but I couldn’t bring myself to pay upwards of 200 bucks for a pair of lights.  Ikea to the rescue!

At $15 per lamp (including the bulb—can’t beat that deal!) I knew I could find a way to bring some elegance to lamp shade.  I picked out a lattice wallpaper from the samples I had ordered from Farrow and Ball.

I started by removing the existing lamp shade fabric then creating a template out of newspaper before cutting into my wallpaper.  I used double sided tape for the whole project.  I wanted something less permanent because I think ultimately I’ll end up mod podging some fabric to the shades.

After cutting my wallpaper and taping it to the plastic shade, I painted the ribbon I had saved from the original lamp shade covering.  It finished up the edges nicely and added some welcomed contrast.

Before putting the new lamp shades on, I moved the lights above our headboard instead of keeping them on the sides.  Not only was the move one of utility but I think it leaves more space to create a soft vignette on the two night stands.

After I had the lamps in place, I used white duct tape to cover the cord (I keep finding reasons why I love our white walls!).

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

No one wants to stop their creativity because they can’t find supplies! Craft storage isn’t always easy. It’s difficult to clean up during a project, or after one is complete. Craft spaces can become disaster areas full of scraps, materials, tools, and unfinished objects that can hinder our creativity because of a lack of space. I’m always at my most creative when I’m working in an organized space. I can clearly see what supplies I have on hand and everything has a fresh “clean slate” feel that I love. Here are some wonderful craft storage tips I’ve found that are so easy and lovely, you’ll be inspired to keep your craft space clean!

via Better Homes and Gardens

Use a wire shower rack to hold craft supplies. They are very inexpensive and each rack can hold supplies for a different type of craft. You can use the hooks to hold ribbons, tapes, or tools like scissors.

via Scraproom

Keep glitter in spice containers to easily see colors and shake onto your projects. Add a spice rack into the mix and you have instant and lovely glitter storage!

via Sew Many Ways

Utilize unused space with ribbon storage on tension rods between table legs. They’ll be easily accessible, out of the way, and free up precious storage space!

via Better Homes and Gardens

Instead of stacking your scrapbook paper, try hanging it. You’ll have much better visuals, and you’ll be able to easily and quickly scan for the paper that you need.

via Paper Pursuits

Make some magnetic closet doors to hold your metal dies. You’ll be able to see each and every one all at once for inspiration. Clean up would be so easy too!

via Oh, Fransson!

Turn a TV tray into a pressing table. It will easily fold away behind your sewing table when you’re not using it, but it’s still easy to grab and close at hand.

Do you already have an organized craft room, or will these tips not even put a dent on the disaster that is your craft space? CreateForLess wants to see! We’re giving away a $100 Gift Certificate to the best and worst craft rooms. Show us your space and win!

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

Our friend Mark Montano is full of amazing crafty ideas for your home and yourself. Create this elegant print from contact paper, spray paint, and canvas! You can go for an understated look or bold colors to match your interior design. For more creative DIYs, check out the “Make Your Mark” videos on Mark’s YouTube Channel.

Take an 8″ diameter plate and lightly trace IN PENCIL interlocking circles in a grid on a 20″x 20″ square of creme or white fabric as shown.  IMPORTANT! In order for you to see the design I used a Sharpie, but use a pencil and lightly trace your design.

Cut out (in contact paper) the shapes you want to remain white.

Peel and stick them to your fabric

Spray paint your fabric and when dry, remove the contact paper.

By Home Decor Contributor Typhanie, from TP Design.

I’ve always been told that being organized is one of the key ingredients to having a happy and healthy home. In fact, my own motto is “A place for everything, so everything can return to its place”. Keeping with that theme, I came up with this very colorful project to help keep a busy pantry or cupboard organized. If you have kids, this is a great project to include them in. They can have their very own color jar to label their snacks and candy with. Hope you guys give this project a try…Happy Organizing Everyone!

Quick Review: This was my first time using DecoArt Clear Chalkboard Paint. I’ve done a lot of projects that involve the use of chalkboard paint so I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was to find that there was a clear chalkboard paint option. A million and one projects came to mind when I first got this product. I finally decided to use it on this chalkboard lid project I’ve wanted to do for some time now since I wanted to see how it would hold up on a metal surface and how it would hold up under everyday use. I’m happy to say I’m impressed. It rolls on smoothly and dries fast. I’ve made my own colored chalkboard paint before, so trust when I say this is a much better (and less messy) option.

Materials Needed:

• Desired paint color
• Spray on Primer
• Mason jar with lid
• DecoArt Clear Chalkboard Paint

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By General Crafts Contributor Erin from the blog Lovesome.

Here’s a quick project to spruce up your computer desk! We’ve been using the same old mouse pad for years, it’s starting to peel and I’ve never been too crazy about it. So I decided to experiment a little and see if I could make my own. I love how it turned out and can’t wait to share all the details with you!

So let’s get started, shall we? You will need:

• a sheet or roll of cork 
• craft paint (I used acrylic)
• small paintbrush
• plate, bowl or old mouse pad for tracing
• scissors or Exacto knife

Read the rest…

By Card Making & Scrapbooking Contributor

Peg Rounds

From Peg’s Crafting Corner

Q:  I used the wrong re-inker on my ink pad.  Is it ruined?

A:  No, it’s not ruined.  Wash it out with warm water and let it dry completely and then re-ink it with the correct color.

 Q: What is the difference in tapes that are used in the Scotch Tape Glider?

A:  The Acid Free tape is used by those who do scrapbooking because it is acid free making it safe for photos.  The General Purpose tape is used by card makers and those who do other types of paper projects.

Q: Can I use markers on stamps?

A:  Yes.  Make sure that they are water soluble markers so they wash off easily.  The stamp may be left discolored, but that is okay.  When using them, be sure to use the side of the marker for a better and easier coverage.

Q: What are mists used for?

A:  They can be used for many things such as creating a colored background or a patterned paper.  Use them with stencils for a new type of image.

Q: What type of glue should I use on chipboard?

A:  There are several brands of glue and even adhesives that are good to use on chipboard pieces.  Mono Tombow Glue and Martha Stewart’s Ballpoint Tip Glue are two good choices.  Double sided tape works well, too.  For larger pieces, I would recommend Mod Podge or Aleene’s Tacky Glue for a stronger hold.