Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

Congratulations to Pauliane S. from Saint Petersburg, FL who was randomly selected as our “New Year’s Craft Resolutions” Winner! Pauliane will receive a $100 gift card to CreateForLess to get everything on her wish list!

Pauliane’s Craft Resolution was…

My Craft resolution for 2013 is to finally start making jewelry and bags with all of the supplies I’ve accumulated over the past 7 years. I plan on donating them to organizations that help women get back on their feet, so I’ll be helping them look stylish and feel confident carrying one of a kind items.

Here are some of our other favorite entries:

Wilma M. from Birmingham, AL…

Organize, organize, organize. So much for living in a jumbled craft room. I’ve started many projects only to be distracted by another idea. I’ve resolved to stay focused – to complete ongoing projects before I start anything new. So many crafts and so little time …. what a motto.

Laurie W. from Sheridan, NY…

My goal is to have the perfect sewing/craft room, so I can finish many projects that I have started; from 3 quilts and a bunch of quilting kits, a bunch of beading kits and then to do a scrapbook project too. My room is too small for all these projects and need organization bad!

Susan W. from Six Mile, SC…

Divide and conquer – I have been a crafter for 40+ years and this is the year I go through all my books, patterns and supplies and put same with same – bells with bells, paints with paints, needles with needles, patterns with patterns, books with books – no more looking for 3 hours for everything I need for a project.

A big thank you from everyone at CreateForLess to all of our entrants! Enter this month’s contest:  2013 Crafties and vote for your favorite craft supplies to win a $100 Gift Certificate!

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.

Make a name tag for every cowboy and cowgirl attending your western themed party. They’re a fabulous take on a sheriff’s badge and will be sure to become a keepsake for all of the children attending!

What You’ll Need:

• Aqua & Pink Cardstock
• Gold Cardstock
• Miniature Doilies
• Scissors
• Hot Glue
• Faux Pearls
• Pin Backings
• White Marker

Gather up these supplies and then head over to Celebrations.com for the easy to follow instructions.

By Card Making & Scrapbooking Contributor

Peg Rounds

What better way to show your love than through hugs and kisses?  Send some love and kisses to your Valentine this year with this fun circular side step card.

Read the Directions After the Jump…

Read the rest…

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!

Do you have an interest in machine embroidery but haven’t a clue how to get started? This is the book you need to get your custom machine stitching underway. The book starts from one of the hardest parts– finding the right machine. It goes through, step by step each feature that embroidery machines have, and how you can benefit from them. As you add features, the price goes up, so you can learn what features the machine you can afford has. From there, learn about the basic supplies that you will need to get to stitching. This way, you can leave the craft store confident that you’ve gotten everything you need.

After you’ve learned about the tools you need, Machine Embroidery in 6 Easy Lessons takes you through the step-by-step process of designing, placing, and stitching your pattern. It quickly becomes obvious that each lesson in the book is crucial to making your machine embroidery the way you want. Each tip and trick will save you a lot of heartache and issues in the future. There is even a lesson on how to properly hoop your fabric so that the design ends up exactly where you want it! It comes with industry standards for placement of embroidery, and tips for making sure your hard work ends up looking fabulous.

One of my favorite things about this book is the 12 point checklist written in the back. It’s a perfect reference tool for machine embroiderers,  no matter how experienced you are. Instead of flipping through the book every time, you’ll only have to look at one page and know that you’re completing every step. The book also comes with handy machine embroidery tools including an angle finder, centering ruler, target ruler, and target stickers. The book teaches you how to use each and what they do.

If you’re even considering learning to machine embroider, take a look at Machine Embroidery in 6 Easy Lessons. Stop by on tomorrow for your chance to win an autographed copy!

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.

These hats couldn’t be easier to make, and your boys will love them! You can make enough for your kids and their friends in an afternoon to give away as party favors. They will be the talk of the neighborhood!

What You Will Need: 

• Knit or Fleece Hat
• Felt
• Spike Template
• Scissors
• Iron
• Sewing Machine or Needle/Thread
• No Sew Fabric Glue

Gather up these supplies and then head over to Celebrations.com for the easy to follow instructions.

By Guest Blogger Cara

I bought these earrings last summer while on a road trip with a friend. They’re made of redwood and have what must be a nonstandard sized post – because the backs are impossible to replace. Everything is too big. needless to say, I lost one and haven’t been able to wear them everyday. Pretty heartbreaking.

To remedy the situation, I’ve made a few new pairs. They’re not redwood, but I think I might prefer the fine grain Douglas Fir look. And they could always be stained…

One lucky winner is getting a beautiful floral stack from Santa this year!! Congratulations to… Amber, who wins the Fresh Floral Stack!!

The winning answer to ”What is the #1 item on your wish list?“ is…

“A single serve coffeemaker. And because I often do my own Christmas shopping for my husband, it’s already wrapped under the tree! ”

Congrats again to Amber!

Every Friday we’ll post a giveaway on Think Crafts and all you have to do is comment on the blog post answering the question of the week.  Check back on Friday for your chance to win!!