How to Make Beautiful Religious Arts and Crafts

By Mary Amos

 

Religious arts & crafts
Religious arts & crafts allow artisans and crafters the opportunity to showcase the symbols of their faith, and the opportunity to craft an expression of their faith into tangible form. In this manner, religious arts & crafts provide a way for the faithful to proudly acknowledge their beliefs, and profess their love for their god or gods. Religious arts & crafts usually do this by referring to their religion's main textual tenants or predominant symbols.
Which religions use arts & crafts to express belief?
Religious arts & crafts, as commonly thought of in western society, is concerned primarily with Christianity. For this reason, the common symbols of Christianity - the cross, fish and loaves, angels, Jesus Christ, etc. - are commonly incorporated into American arts & crafts. Another popular theme is to incorporate scripture quotations. Of course, Christianity does not have a monopoly on religious arts & crafts; arts & crafts are well known within the Jewish tradition, for instance. Jewish arts & crafts typically focus on the most widespread symbols of Judaism, and include the Star of David, menorahs, and other icons of the belief. Jewish sayings are also frequently featured on Jewish arts & crafts.
Ideas for religious arts & crafts
Religious arts & crafts are designed to serve as decoration for one's home, office, vehicle, or church. Although religious features could be showcased in virtually any type of arts & crafts, these are some popular ideas for religious arts & crafts used for decoration:
1. Beaded Crafts: With a set of beads and string, pipe cleaners or safety pins, the devotee can create cute, creative religious arts & crafts. The possibilities for these crafts are almost endless, and are great for the whole family. These beaded crafts can be designed as jewelry, decorations, and other adornments. Virtually any religious symbol is possible with this versatile craft idea, from the Star of David to the Shroud of Turin.
2. Paint Your Own: Try to let your creative side out and paint your religious items for decoration and display or even for use in a religious service. Special ceramic paints are great to use for painting, decorating, and personalizing ceramic crosses, angels, and even scenes from the Bible. Personalize these paintings with names, birthdays, and scripture to make wonderful personalized gifts.
3. Cross Stitch & Embroidery: While it may take more skill and expertise, with a bit of practice most devotees can become experts and creating needlework arts & crafts. Religious needlework is especially noteworthy as it can combine both graphical images of crosses, angels, doves, and Bible scenes, as well as scripture, Bible verses, and other words of inspiration. Some more popular options for religious arts & crafts using cross stitch and embroidery include religious pillows and Bible covers.
4. Stained Glass Arts & Suncatchers: Stained glass art is popular for religious arts & crafts since stained glass is usually associated with churches and places of worship. This does not mean that you need to be a church to afford stained glass art. Far from it, inexpensive stained glass kits are readily available in most hobby and craft stores, and can be used by those without any previous experience.
5. Ornaments & Window Hangers: Ornaments and window hangers are often quite simple to create - in the absence of specialized skills, all you need is some imagination and a dash of creativity. Ornaments may be designed specifically for the Christmas season, or may be year-round crafts that can be hung anywhere, even from your rearview mirror. Look on the Internet for some fun ideas for religious ornaments, hangers, and other crafts.
6. Handmade Jewelry: Most religious people will happily wear the symbols of their faith as a personal reminder of their faith and devotion. Handmade religious jewelry is very popular, and can include anything from resin angel earrings to homemade metal crucifixes. Brooches, necklaces, and bracelets are also very popular, and while they are generally designed for women, men are becoming increasingly comfortable wearing fine handmade crucifix necklaces.
Looking for resources for making religious arts & crafts
Many arts & crafts shows will feature quite a bit of religious crafts and artwork. While there are rarely shows designed specifically for this niche market, a very high percentage of artisans & crafters feature work that includes a religious focus. If you are not able to attend any shows, do not give up hope. When looking for other ideas for religious arts & crafts, head to your local Christian bookstore or specialty shop. These stores will almost always maintain special sections dedicated to arts & crafts supplies of a religious nature. These stores also typically have arts & crafts ready for purchase and gift giving. If you are more adventurous, go to a hobby and arts & crafts store and convert a secular hobby kit into a testament of your faith.

Mary Amos loves arts and crafts and has been creating beautiful projects for years. See her exciting new ideas for religious arts and crafts at Religious Arts and Crafts, and be sure to visit Arts and Crafts for more fun projects !

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Amos

Crafting With Kids in 30 Minutes or Less

By Jennifer Johnson

 

While many parents are daunted by the idea of tackling craft projects alone with their kids, with little effort, even the least creative parent will find crafting to be an easy, relaxing activity. With a few materials from around the home and some basic supplies, you too will be producing quick and easy crafts with your kids. By keeping these few simple tips in mind, you can literally create countless crafts with your children without having to break a sweat or make a mess.
Keep it Simple
Toy and craft stores sell fancy, expensive crafting materials and kits. While these can be fun and shouldn't be overlooked, they aren't necessary for creative, fun projects. Construction paper, glue, scissors, scrap fabric, non-toxic paints, crayons, and markers are sufficient for thousands of potential crafts, especially when combined with discarded household items or backyard treasures.
Recycle and Reuse
Save empty milk jugs, paper towel rolls, bottle caps, old wrapping paper and greeting cards, and other various boxes and containers for crafts. A plastic storage bin or large cardboard box can make a perfect storage receptacle for these items, which can be saved for a rainy day craft. Not only are these items ideal craft materials, but crafting with these items will teach your kids about the importance of recycling and reuse in a very tangible context. Include in your stash old newspapers to use for protecting your craft table and other surfaces.
File It
You don't need to buy expensive books or subscribe to magazines to get a constant flow of ideas for crafting. Web sites, newspapers, library books, pre-school newsletters and more can provide you with hundreds of great crafting ideas. Clip, print, or copy to create a file of ideas for a rainy day. You can pre-screen for quick and easy craft ideas, and also use these articles as a guideline for items to store and save.
Be Selective
If you are looking for something quick and easy, reject craft ideas that are a twelve-step program or have a materials list longer than your weekly grocery receipt. Don't go out of your way to tackle a craft for which you do not already have the necessary materials, and only use non-toxic, washable paints and inks. If you are not the adventurous sort, you might look for craft directions that include patterns or pictures you can cut out for reference.
Style and Blow Dry
Allowing an item to dry naturally is a perfect time for taking a break from crafting, but if you are under time constraints, such as at a birthday party or scout meeting, use blow dryers to speed up the drying of paint or glue. Craft projects will dry in a fraction of the time with applied air and heat, and usually drying to the touch will suffice for moving on to the next step of a project.
Keep it Clean
By far one of the most frustrating aspects that keeps parents from crafting is the potential mess. Mess can be minimized by always remembering to protect your crafting surfaces generously with newspaper. When you are done crafting, just pick up, and toss. Using water-based paints, inks, and glues will make washing a snap, and manufacturers produce plenty of easily washable markers, paints, and other materials commercially. And if you are following the advice of being selective, you can always reject projects that include mess if clean-up is not in the cards. Origami, pipe-cleaner sculpting, and watercolors are a few examples of low or no-mess crafts.
Have Fun
Remember, crafting with your kids is about exploring creativity and having fun. You expect produce the perfect, flawless product. Professional photographs of crafts usually are taken in ideal lighting and made exclusively by adults, with the discarding of several less-than-perfect attempts. Don't feel that your product has to look like a picture in a magazine - to your child, it's a special work of art.
There is little that is more rewarding than crafting with your children. You are creating not only an opportunity for your child to express his creativity, but you giving him special time with you you. You are creating not only fun and whimsical items, but precious memories for your family that you will cherish for the rest of your lives.

Jennifer Johnson is a mother of two and a contributing editor of http://www.kideas.com/ - a site where parents can find plenty of free craft ideas, activities, printable coloring pages and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Johnson

Crafts For Kids To Do - The Best Way Of Having All The Crafts You Need

By Magriet Du Plessis

 

I think the first question we have to ask ourselves is, why are you looking for crafts for kids to do?
There may be many reason why you are looking for crafts for kids to do. Let's have a look at some of these reasons may be:

1. Summer is coming and you know you will have to have lots of activities to keep the kids occupied.
2. You simply cannot think of crafts any more and need some new ideas.
3. The crafts you do find, are difficult to do and you cannot print any of it.
4. All the crafts do not have enough pictures to make it easy for you to see what the completed craft should look like.
5. It takes hours of searching the net before you have crafts suitable for the stage of you kid's development. Time you could have spent doing the crafts.
6. All the crafts for kids to do, that you do find, use specialized supplies that you do not have in the house at all times. You have to go and buy supplies before you can start crafting with the kids.
7. You want to save money by using crafts activities to help your kids make gifts for family and friends.
8. You want to spend quality time with you kids doing crafts.
9. You are looking for activities to lure your kids away from the television.
10. You are homeschooling your kids and you are looking for ways to improve your kids small motor skills.
11. You are homeschooling and you are looking for ways to help with your kid's concentration span.
12. You are aware of the fact that crafts improve your kids self confidence.
13. You are looking for ways to teach the kids perseverance and know that crafts are an ideal medium to do just that.
14. You are a play group leader and are running out of crafts.
15. You are a kindergarten teacher and just cannot think of new crafts any more.
16. You can not always find crafts that are appropriate for all the holidays.

Well now the next question is where you can find all these crafts for kids to do. I think the very best way is to buy an e-book with lots of printable crafts in it. With an e-book you can simply print the crafts you need and start crafting without having to look for crafts for hours.
The reason I recommend an e-book, and not a printed one, is because it is easy to print the crafts you need. If you buy a printed book you have to draw the templates or you have to make photo copies. This obviously increases the cost of doing crafts. So, with a printed crafts book it is not always possible to do crafts on the spur of the moment but with an e-book you can simply print the craft you want to do and start crafting.
So, I think if you always want to have crafts for kids to do, on short notice, a kid's crafts e-book is the best. It is well worth the time to look for a good crafts e-book as it will save you lots of time in the future.

Magriet has lots of kids crafts at Fun Kid Crafts, Magriet also has really fun Bible Crafts at Bible Crafts For Kids. If you are still looking for even more kids crafts you can Visit Here! and see Magriet's site about kids crafts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Magriet_Du_Plessis

Arts & crafts with kids!

There are countless reasons why it is a great idea to do arts and crafts with your kids. For one, working on arts & crafts helps to hone children's creativity. Arts and crafts can also help promote teamwork and sharing, as well as offering the perfect opportunity to bond and find new common interests. Arts and crafts also allow kids to openly express themselves, even at very young ages. Nonetheless, despite all these positives, the best reason for getting your kids involved in arts and crafts is that it is fun! If you are panicking that you will not know how to guide your child through their first craft, there is no need to worry; there are plenty of arts and crafts ideas for all ages from pre-schoolers up through teenage artists.
Best practices for doing arts & crafts with kids
1. Don't ask "What is it?" when you are befuddled as to the identity of your kid's final creation. Just ask your kid to tell you more about their art or craft, and let them explain how they see their creation.
2. There will be a mess. There is nothing you can do about it. As soon as you make that realization, the whole experience will be far more enjoyable. Indeed, sometimes it is even important to make a mess. Take that knowledge to plan ahead. Get a large clear workspace for your kids, and give them the opportunity to be creative without having to worry about getting paint on your new Persian rug
2. Making arts and crafts is supposed to be about using your imagination. For this reason, try not to show your kids a completed craft as an example. Instead, let your kids learn to interpret the instructions as they wish in order to truly be creative. This will also give your kids a good lesson on the best ways to follow and adapt instructions.
4. Making arts and crafts requires a lot of focus. For this reason, it is best to get your kids to calm down a bit before placing them in front of glue and scissors.
Basic supplies for making arts & crafts with kids
Just like your kitchen pantry, a kid's craft drawer should have a few staples. While you may need something more specific for special crafts, for the most part you will be able to get by with the following list: kid-friendly paint, scissors, crayons, etc. It's also a good idea to keep a drawer stocked with construction paper, beads, glitter, paint brushes, glue sticks, and the ever popular "wiggly eyes."
The education benefit of arts & crafts
Arts and crafts can be used to apply hands-on learning to any subject. Using crafts this way helps kids think more in-depth about the subject of their artwork or craft projects. Virtually any subject matter can be taught using arts & crafts with a little creativity. For instance, if you are learning about world geography, you could have the kids make a tissue paper globe.
Learn about holidays, history, and any other topic your kids should study. Even math can be enriched through arts and crafts. Remember that school isn't the only place kids should be learning; your kids will be much more willing and excited to learn if you make learning fun with interactive arts and crafts projects.
Some ideas for kids' arts & crafts
Kids' arts and crafts can be quick and simple to keep the attention of on-the-go toddlers. They can also be sophisticated and complex for older kids who are up to a challenge. To get an idea of the scope of arts and crafts projects out there, take a trip to your local arts and crafts store or teacher's supply shop. These stores will have pre-designed craft kits, including jewelry art, painting kits, and other craft ideas. Each kit will come with instructions and all of the materials you require.
Another good idea, once you have gained some experience, is to walk arts and craft stores to shop for kids' art ideas. Here are some ideas: try straw painting, where kids can create arts and crafts by blowing paint through a straw onto a poster board or construction paper; or let your kids dip marbles in paint and roll them across the painting surface for a messy (but fun!) painting project. If you are looking for something a bit less messy then try pipe cleaner art. This is a great craft because kids of all ages can join in. Young children can use their imaginations to create simple objects out of pipe cleaners. Older kids may enjoy incorporating other supplies such as beads into pipe cleaner art.

Mary Amos loves arts and crafts and has been creating amazing projects for kids and families for years. See her exciting new ideas at Arts and Crafts with Kids, and be sure to visit Arts and Crafts for more fun projects!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Amos

Non- allergy cat

I am allergic to cats but really adore

cats, particularly the fluffy ones that almost asphyxiate me. So, I solved my dilemma and have this little dude who I call Gallileo, one of the original scientists, hanging out in the lounge room.

Revamping

What woman doesn't love a handbag? Thi

s one had long been my favorite but after a few years of use lacked some pizzazz. I happened to be in my favorite craft shop, hanging about, when I spotted this lace that looked like it belonged on my handbag. A few minutes later and I was a on my way home with a mission in mind. Some craft glue, sizzors, a rainy day. I was in heaven and this is again, my new favorite handbag.

Multicrafting Goes Global: A Craft Industry Analysis

The Craft and Hobby Association in 2011 released results of research into the U.S. Craft and Hobby Industry. You may be surprised to learn that crafter and hobbyists contribution towards this industries net worth is approximately $29 billion, double the $14 billion first reported by Craft Organization Directors Association (CODA) in 2001. A surprising figure to emerge from this research (even to us avid crafters) is that over half of U.S. households acknowledged engaging in a craft activity at least once per year.
When we unpack that $29 billion net worth figure we get a clearer picture of who loves their hobby. Woodworking was the front runner in the top 10 craft sectors by spend coming in at $3.32 billion with 16.8 million individuals engaging in this activity. I myself have some lovely bookends purchased at a local Sunday market that have clearly been lovingly produced by one such woodworker.
These days every industry engages in analytics and who wouldn’t want to have a picture of their client base so savvy marketing campaigns can bring a little more of that dollar value their way. And what an impressive dollar value it is. The artists among us, thought to be 21.1 million households, spent $2.6 billion on our passion. The jewellery making and beading craft accounted for $2.3 billion with 14.7 million people crafting earrings, necklaces, bracelets and broaches. Over eighteen million households engaged in Scrap Booking and other paper crafts spending $3.3 billion preserving family memories and turning photos into family heirlooms. The crocheting hobby injected $1.062 billion into the industry via 17.4 million strong crochet fans. That’s a lot of towels getting topped.

With speculation that the global financial crisis is responsible for providing this boost for the craft industry Hobby Lobby’s Eileen Liffick attributed an increase of people attending craft shops or online craft sites looking for ways to create craft for their families without spending a lot of money to the current economic conditions.
“Not only are people saving money, they’re making it. We have many people selling these items making extra money”.
What was previously a much loved hobby is now a means of saving the family money. “People are looking to create something special, something homemade. They want to help others save money, while making a little extra for themselves”.

Despite the impact of large scale business successful craft businesses are popping up everywhere seeking to share in the crafting industries net worth of $29 million. Crafting is a convenient work from home business and respected cottage industry. Approximately 81.2% of total craft industry operators in Canada are estimated to be businesses without paid-employees (non-employers) in 2011.

Peartree Solutions produced a report on the profile of the Canadian craft industry (2003) highlighting that Canadian craft, recognized internationally for its quality and distinctive character, was at the time considered to be a growing and vibrant collection of individual craft persons, studios, enterprises, media guilds, public and private galleries, retail and wholesale shows, and organizations. The industry in 2001 had generated $727 million in economic activity which including over $100 million in exports.
At the time of this research there were approximately 14,048 craft studios operating in Canada, where 22,597 people were employed. Ten percent of those surveyed had craft revenues in excess of $120,000. The net craft income (or earnings) of full time craft professionals averaged $17,300 in 2001, while the top ten percent earned net income of $49,000 or more.

Southern hemisphere crafters are every bit as enthusiastic about their hobby. Australia has less than one fifth of the population of U.S. however managed to spend an estimated $250 million on art and craft materials in 2009-2010. These figures are not a true representation of the Australian craft industry however as the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) define a hobby as an activity that was undertaken only for oneself or for family or friends, that is, the output was not for general consumption. If the item produced was to sell then this would be considered a work involvement and not measured in the hobby category. The ABS survey showed that in 2007 there were 2.1 million people aged 15 years and over in Australia who were involved in Art and craft as a hobby activity only.

Prize money from craft competitions can be quite lucrative for the hobbyist. A winner of an award for embroidery in 2009 beat the pool of 24 finalists from 24 countries selected from 330 applicants, and took home $10 000.

Craft industry statistics clearly show that with over half of U.S. households engaging in a craft activity, many, many people experience that unequal feeling of satisfaction that comes from creating something beautiful. Nothing is as self-soothing as those stolen hours immersed in the craft you adore.

Find this article at Multicrafting.com”

Arts & crafts for holidays and special occasions

Are you looking for a great way to spend quality time celebrating with family and friends? Then creating arts & crafts for holidays and special occasions may be exactly what you are looking for. When you make arts and crafts with friends and family, you will not just have the beautiful objects to keep with you, but the memories made while creating these arts & crafts. Every year when you pull out these homemade treasures, you'll be reminded of those wonderful memories.
Of course, you are probably concerned that you could not possibly make anything that remotely resembles a treasure! Fortunately, it is not necessary to be an artist or expert in order to make high-quality arts & crafts. The best decorations are often simple crafts that you have only put time and effort into. It is the personal touch and thought that will make these simple crafts so meaningful and loved by the recipients. If you need some help in crafting your creations, there are countless resources available both online and in local craft stores to provide ideas for high-quality arts & crafts for holidays and special occasions.
Making Christmas arts & crafts for kids
More families create handmade treasures together during the Christmas holiday season than any other time of year. Indeed, many families base their holiday traditions on creating homemade ornaments each year. This is great for families with small children; as they grow, they'll be able to look back over the years and see their own growth in their ornaments.
The most popular holiday arts and crafts for children and families to make together at Christmas include cotton ball snowmen, construction paper reindeer antlers, candy cane reindeers, and of course the timeless edible gingerbread house. Another fun idea for children is to make Christmas countdown calendars.
Making Christmas arts & crafts as gifts
The most meaningful gifts you can give are those that are homemade. This can be helpful during the holiday season, when extra cash can be tight and the stores are swarming with shoppers. Also, make some arts & crafts ahead of time and keep them handy in case of unexpected guests. Popular arts & crafts during the Christmas season include photo books & scrapbooks, beaded ornaments, decorated candle jars, brooches & other handmade jewelry.
Arts & crafts for other holidays
While the above discussion has focused on Christmas, the end of December is by no means the only time of the year when people will create special holiday-focused arts & crafts. Other holidays that present excellent opportunities for creativity include Mother's Day, Father's Day, Easter, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Independence Day, and St. Patrick's Day. Special occasions that offer excellent opportunities for arts & crafts include birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, and other "milestones." While expensive gifts are often appreciated, it is frequently the handmade crafts that are remembered and cherished long after the special day.
And with each season, the home crafter is presented with a great opportunity to create seasonally-appropriate crafts. To give your crafts a seasonal glow, read the following advice. In the fall, make crafts that emphasize the vibrant orange, reds, and yellows of autumn, or those that feature apples, pumpkins, squash, and other fall fruits. Winter crafts obviously focus on the holiday season and snowfall. Light blues and whites are great craft colors for the winter. When spring finally arrives after a long winter, try using flowers as the focal point of most crafts, and rely on pastels and bright colors. In the summertime, highlight patriotism and the laid-back style of the season. Red, white, and blue will never fail you in this special season.
Where can you find arts and crafts ideas for the holidays?
The best place to get ideas for special occasion and holiday arts & crafts are arts & crafts shows. Arts & crafts shows can be found in cities and towns across America, particularly in the fall and winter. Strolling through these quaint shows can provide plenty of ideas for crafts and art for holidays and special occasions, and if you talk to the artisans themselves, you might pick up some pointers and techniques. In the summer and fall, festivals will still include interesting seasonal crafts, and can provide great ideas for your own creativity.
If you can't make it out to an arts & crafts fair, just retreat to the Internet and browse around the huge collections of holiday arts and craft designs. Or get out of the house and browse your local craft and hobby store. If you are really stuck, even looking at raw materials may trigger craft ideas. If not, these stores usually will carry books and magazines specifically tailored to holiday and special occasions crafts and art. (Most major bookstores will also carry these books).

Mary Amos loves arts and crafts and has been creating amazing holiday gifts and projects for years. See her exciting new ideas at Holiday Crafts [http://www.holidaycraftsweb.com], and be sure to visit Arts and Crafts for more arts and crafts fun!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Amos

Christmas has more meaning than shopping for material things to impress family and friends. You're not really sure they will even like what you buy and you're spending money for the items when you can't really afford to. Making gifts including Christmas Cards put the joy back into Christmas. It's so much fun putting cutting things out, sticking things on, trying to think of what to write that doesn't sound corney. You're not making your own cards, you're missing out.

Find this project at Multicrafting.com

Finger Bling

Spotted these cute buttons at the craft

shop and wondered if they would make some nice bling if I glued them to a ring base. I had some ring bases at home that would do just nicely. I used a blooming great file I found in the garage to even off the bottom so they would sit nicely on the ring bases and kazam!!! Finger bling.

They were so easy to make I am not even sure they can be called crafting. The yellow sunflower used to be an earring.

Evolution

Remember the days when we made toilet roll holders? I remember making the lace covered ones that hung on the back of the door collecting dust and fading in the sun. Back when I lived in a place that had sun in the little room. A review of the evolution of the toilet roll holder wouldn’t find that men or children had suddenly discovered how to change and dispose of the roll but I can still believe in miracles. My review would involve a full circle, the handmade traditional model, the store brought little beach shack, the stainless steel shiny one with little finger prints all over it and now this… the denim shirt sleeve from a top no longer worn, a bit of lace and a couple of toilet rolls.

Halloween can still happen.

Halloween Party Games and Craft Ideas For Children
by: Clare Swindlehurst



Kids love to dress up as their favourite characters at Halloween, but these days you might not feel comfortable letting them out and about to go Trick or Treating. Why not do something a little different this year and let your kids invite their friends over for a Halloween Party? They can all get dressed up and enjoy some spooky fun in the safety of your home.

Here are some ideas for party games and Halloween craft activities to keep them entertained.

Halloween party games

1. The not so spooky Halloween parade

The little ones will want to show off their costumes so put on some mussy and have the kids put on a Halloween costume parade. Get them to do their best dance moves to the music and ensure the adults whoop, cheer, and look suitable spooked!

2. The Trick or Treat bonanza

Cut up some paper strips and on half of them write the word "treat", on the others write out a number of tricks, such as "hop on one leg", "growl like a lion" or "sing their favourite song".

Put all of the paper pieces into a hat or a pillowcase and hide some sweets and candies around the room.

At the party ask each child to draw a piece of paper from the hat. They then have to perform the trick or search for the treats.

Halloween craft ideas

When the kids have run off all their energy on the party games have them sit around the table for some quiet craft time. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Not so spooky Halloween mask making

Have a supply of white paper plates, glue, ribbons, felt pens and other craft items ready and ask the kids to make their own masks. They can design them to be as fun or as spooky as they like.

When everyone is done with their creations pierce a hole in each side of the plate and attach a piece of elastic so the kids can wear their masks, and pose for a group photograph!

2. The great Halloween loot collection

Kids love to take loot bags home from parties so let them decorate their own bags. You'll need the same craft supplies as for the mask making, but this time they'll need brown paper bags to decorate.

When the decorating is complete let the children go back to playing and fill the loot bags with candy and Halloween themed treats, when the party is over they can take their loot bags home.

About The Author

Hosting a Halloween party in the safety of your own home is a great way for young children to take part in the festivities. Check out these great toddlers Halloween costumes to make sure they look great at the party; Dora the Explorer fans will love Boots the Monkey outfit at http://toddlershalloweencostumesideas.com/

Bling

My priorities don’t lend themselves to e

xpensive jewelry despite my desire to own precious stones delicately crafted into exquisite pieces. This means that I have to make my own. I am just a little satisfied with this piece that came in at less that $50 and took less than an hour.

Craft. Staying Sane Online.

Your frustration level is never again going to be so high that steam flows from your ears and you’re looking frantically on the keyboard for the slap button.

I am going to share with you the strategy that I and other women from around the world use to transform disorganisation and chaos into orderly.  Real women who actually have time to relax, enjoy playing with their children or hanging out with friends without feeling guilty about the unfinished budget, bills that need to be payed online, bank transfers to make, gifts to organise, emails to send, defragging the computer, backing up files, uploading photos to face book, the list goes on.

Women are no longer afraid to go into their study scared off by the huge pile of chores still waiting despite attempting to get them done time after time often to walk away in frustration because of the time it takes to get one small thing completed.    

Before stumbling upon this strategy I used to dread heading to the study and would put of my obligations as long as I could.  Eventually my pile of chores would topple over and I had to pull my head out of the sand.  I tried and tried but I couldn’t invoke the magic Genie. 

I needed to get past my resentment towards the obligations and responsibilities holding a household together and making it function brought into my already busy life. 

As soon as I realised my error I made a correction and straight away turned what were previously frustrating delays into moments I now treasure.  One look at all the tasks I had to organize, and I was overwhelmed. My computer skills weren’t the best and I wasn’t sure where to start. So I didn’t start, I just procrastinated. I had to turn this part of my life around so I applied the strategy and turned my life into organized enjoyment instead of out of control chaos with this simple strategy. Since I fell upon this strategy my productivity has gone through the roof.

I’m embarrassed to say I was a computer rage-er.  Waiting on downloads, system loads, backups, file transfers at times had me so angry, bad language would flow from my mouth.  Things not under my control delaying me from my free time could get me into an absolute fury and frequently I would give up and leave those chores to pile up for another day delivering a mortal blow to my productivity. It meant another day of commitments on the back of my mind.  Another step away from achieving that ‘me time’, that ‘in their Zen Zone’ look I envied on other women.   

It's a fact – waiting takes to long.  Engaging in something enjoyable while waiting on download time, upload time, Island time, anything else taking up your time gives you back your time.  Believe it or not, having something to do while we wait is the sole purpose of mirrors in foyers and lifts.  

My strategy to overcome the frustrations I had experienced with online wait time was to craft beautiful creations.   You maybe surprised of how much craft material you have already at home.  Crafts make good gifts. Crafts items can be made from materials around the home, office, or perhaps a purchase of a few inexpensive materials will morph into a few quality gifts.  I believe the rise of craft clubs and the amount of women I see on public transport knitting or crocheting backs up my bold claims.  Happy people are immersed in creating craft.  Nothing is as self-soothing as those stolen hours immersed in the craft you adore.  The unexpected benefit I discovered is that when crafting, the frustrations of online delays are less likely to see you walk away from the computer throwing your arms in the air.  With the right projects, you can achieve what you set out to do online and craft a beautiful creation at the same time. 

htt://www.multicrafting.com

Crafting –Ready, Steady, Go.

Crafts make good gifts. Crafts items can be made from materials around the home, office, or perhaps a purchase of a few inexpensive materials will morph into a few quality gifts. Crafts made from the effort that comes from your own hand rather than store brought sends a deep message of love from the heart. 

You maybe surprised of how much craft material you have already at home. 

Perhaps the last week or so has seen you turn the wardrobes upside down saving unused clothing to use for your craft projects.  Well done!  Cleaning out wardrobes is always one of the often-delayed chores.  Instead of giving them to goodwill (although that’s also a nice thing to do) I cut off the useful bits and recycle into a gift.

Those jumpers no longer worn can be felted to make a coffee cozy and also to decorate hats, bags, tea cozies.  Nothing will go wasted with some instructions and a few projects in mind. 

Now that you have bits and bobs to use for your craft projects the question becomes how best and where to store them so they don’t just become another source of mess.

I made a craft equipment bag made from an old jumper that I no longer wore.  After felting the jumper made from mostly wool, I hand stitched pockets to store my craft tools around the outside then added a long handle so I could hang it on the doorknob in my study. 

You wouldn’t believe how easy it was to create.

One of the best craft gadgets ever invented is the row counter.  A row counter sits on the end of a knitting or crochet needle and helps keep track of where you are in the pattern.  So when you get distracted it’s easy to pick up where you left off when you come back to your project.   Row counters are an invaluable friend and can be purchased from any craft or department store. 

Winter is a time when clothing is packed away and summer clothes brought out from storage to take their place in the closet.  I always find myself sneezing for a couple of hours after slipping into a jumper that hasn’t been worn for a good few months.  I could take the time to air the garments but an even better idea is to store a lavender scented sachet in the space bag along with the jumpers.  That way when I pull them out they have that beautiful scent I adore. 

Scrapbooking has become a craze and for a very good reason.  Scrapbooks are a collection of clippings, photos, and mementos of people we love and experiences we have enjoyed. Putting together old memories preserves the history of a family and scrapbooking helps us to store up history for the family members we don’t have yet.  By collating the photo’s we love we can show new coming relatives what type of person we are and some of our favourite memories are captured an immortalized. 

New Multicrafting.com Competition

Winter will be here sooner than we think.  Get prepared with this Foux Fur hot water bottle cover.

WIN: This Animal Print Hot Water Bottle Cover

Yes, that's right, we're giving away this Sensational Animal Print Hot Water Bottle Cover. Enter Hot Water Bottle Cover competition into the email header. Simply email the answer to the following question with your name and email to alena@multicrafting.com.au. Multi-crafting ideas are designed so you can create while you are ________________________ ___________? One entry per person. This COMPETITION can be transferred so you can forward this email onto friends, colleagues and family so they can take advantage of it and enter the competition too.

Offer Expires: 30 September 2011

http//www.multicrafting.com

Which craft is right for you?

Which Craft is Right for Me?
by: Emma Snow



Diana discovered the joy of pottery after suffering a terrible divorce. Taking a seat at the wheel with a lump of clay, she felt an immediate release. Her mind cleared and her heart rate slowed down. She was able to relax in a way she hadn’t for weeks. “Better than therapy—and medication!” she happily reported to her doctor after her first day at a community education class, where she went on to make friends with fellow potters, further enriching her life.

For Kris it was counted cross-stitch. The repetitive motion of the needle passing up and down through crisp cloth put her in a near-meditative state, the way yoga does for some. In this state Kris was able to work out solutions to her daily challenges. “It was like the ideas dropped into my mind out of the sky,” she told a close friend.

Shawn found furniture restoration to be wonderfully soothing after a stressful day at the office. The raw scent of wood loosened him up, and he was surprised how satisfying it was to sit down at a table he had restored himself.

Such is the world of DIY. Discovering the right craft for your personality and temperament can be a reward that transforms your life.

The crafting world is as wide and diverse as a tropical rainforest. Each crafting activity has unique benefits and challenges. You could spend your entire life just trying out different crafts. While this may be fun, it can be expensive and frustrating. Should you desire to narrow your search down, this article will act as your guide by investigating the world of crafts as they fit into five spectrums. If one activity doesn’t suit you, take heart. Crafting is for everyone—you are bound to find that perfect match.

1. Short-term projects vs. long-term projects.

Do you have a need for immediate gratification? If you do, you might prefer cake decorating, ceramics, candle-making, lotions-n-potions, or cut-n-paste projects (scrapbooking, collage, and decoupage), which deliver results relatively quickly. Conversely, if you are known to possess the patience of Job, needlecrafts and quilting may be your thing. (Although quilting by machine cuts down the time dramatically). If you like long-term projects, pottery and gardening are also excellent choices, since they involve several steps.

2. Fastidiousness vs. playfulness/ looseness

Needlecrafts, baking, and jewelry-making require a meticulous and careful eye, whereas cooking, gardening and cut-n-paste projects are more appropriate for the playful type. Keep in mind that many activities can go either way or are best for those who can balance a bit of each quality.

3. Planner by nature vs. spontaneous to the core

If you don’t mind doing a little math, counted cross-stitch, knitting, and crochet are great activities. Needlecrafts, quilting and sewing also require planning and pattern-reading. If all this sounds too boring or frustrating and you prefer to jump headlong into projects as soon as you feel an urge, cut-n-paste, candle-making, ceramics, or pottery may be a better fit.

4. Space available

Do you affectionately call your apartment a cupboard? If you need an activity that takes up little space or can be cleaned up in a jiffy, yarn and needlecrafts can be tucked away in a basket or a drawer. Baking and cake decorating use what you probably already have in your kitchen, and jewelry only needs a modest tackle-box with little compartments for beads and tools. But perhaps you have a room or a whole basement where a hobby could take up a permanent residence? Pottery is such a hobby. If you quilt by hand you will need a room where a fairly large frame can be set up (unless you only want to do baby quilts). A table for laying out and cutting patterns is required for sewing, and most people don’t appreciate having to lug out the machine every time you want to work on a project. (However, it can be done.) Lotions-n-potions, and candle and soap making can be done in the kitchen as long as precautions are taken, but ideally they need a separate space, since you are using dangerous chemicals that you don’t want to accidentally mix with food. Gardening is ideal if you have a nice-sized yard, but many green-thumbed apartment dwellers find cultivating the space around their windows, on their patio, or even potted indoor plants a satisfying diversion. Don’t lose heart if you don’t have space for an activity that interests you—just sign up for a community class!

5. Available funds for expenses

Each craft has a range of what you could pay for the activity, depending on your taste and willingness. If you are picky about using only hand-dyed, organically grown 100% wool yarn, you are going to pay a lot more than someone who works with an acrylic yarn available at the closest Woolworth’s. It is a good idea when just starting out to borrow someone else’s equipment, or use inexpensive supplies until you know it is an activity you are going to stick with. Then you can slowly replace your supplies with quality items that you appreciate. On average, pottery and sewing require more expensive equipment to begin, while you can garden, cross-stitch, or cut-n-paste on a shoestring budget. Yarn crafts are the cheapest activities to try, since they don’t require a lot of expensive equipment to start. Again, a class might be the best investment for the more expensive hobbies.

If you still aren't sure which craft is right for you, talk to other crafters about why they enjoy their craft. Ask if you can join them one day to see if it is something that appeals to you. Be patient with yourself as you begin each new activity--nothing kills the excitement of trying something new more than impossibly high expectations. Don't worry--as you continue, your skills will improve. You will also know better which activities suit you best.



About The Author

Emma Snow is a creator at Craft Kits http://www.craft-kits.net leading portals for crafts and creative individuals.

Top 7 Benefits of Joining a Craft Group

By Melody Jones

 

We've been experiencing a craft renaissance in recent years. More than ever, crafters are pursuing a wide variety of crafts, have easy access to high quality materials, and realize the benefits of making crafts part of their lives.
For many, making craft projects is a solitary activity, often enjoyed as a stress-reducer, a way to make handmade gifts, and because it's fun. But the current crafting renaissance has sparked new groups all over the United States, giving people a way to enjoy their hobbies in a social atmosphere.
Groups are available for nearly every type of craft including knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking (often called crops), cross stitch, quilting, beading, general crafts, and more. A quick Internet search in your area should reveal local groups as well as crafting retreats, cruises, and seminars.
Groups range in size and scope, from small senior groups at local churches to large multi-age gatherings in metro areas, from a tight focus on one type of craft to those that celebrate crafting in every form. Participants enjoy a variety of benefits.
Benefits of Craft Groups

1. Camaraderie and friendship. Working on craft projects in a group setting allows a natural flow of conversation about techniques or problems, but just as often about everyday struggles and triumphs. Friendships are easily developed. Craft groups also travel to fairs and classes together.
2. Space to work. Even for those who have their own craft rooms, being able to set up shop in a large area with spacious work surfaces makes it easier to complete projects and to socialize.
3. Community service. Craft groups often take on local community service projects as a way to give to others. One of the more well-known efforts is to crochet or knit blankets for children and infants in hospitals.
4. Improve skills and knowledge. A group environment is a great way to learn new skills in your chosen craft, and to get help with problem areas. Veteran crafters love to share knowledge and are happy to help.
5. Get projects done. For those who love crafting, but don't always complete the projects they start, a craft group provides the environment, encouragement, and consistency to do just that.
6. Expert craft teachers. Some craft groups are able to recruit expert instructors to teach intermediate and advanced techniques.
7. Access to training materials. Larger craft groups often keep a library of books, manuals, and videos that anybody can use to improve crafting skills.

The benefits of joining a craft group are amazing. If you need help with a technique, want to meet other crafters, or need consistency to complete your projects, a group may be the perfect fit. If joining a monthly craft group doesn't work with your schedule, there are many annual crafting group events to choose from that provide numerous benefits as well. Do an Internet search to find the perfect group for you.

If you love to make crafts, but can't seem to find time, find your craft supplies, find your budget, or find your way to crafty fulfillment, read Melody Jones' "The Craft Lover's Success Guide: Simple Ways to Nurture Your Creativity and Actually Finish Your Projects" available at http://www.mycraftebooks.com/. All customers receive a free ebook "Simple Craft Projects to Get You Started."
Not only will you learn key steps for finding time, you'll also learn how to organize your craft supplies and stay organized even if you are a pack rat, how to craft on a budget, ways to find new craft project ideas and inspiration, and resources and ideas for learning new crafts. And - it's fun!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melody_Jones

New Babies

We all have friends that have a baby at some time.

Cute little helpless things they are. Waiting for mommy or daddy to come along so they can reward them with their best smile.

And who wouldn't smile back when their baby is dressing in these baby uggs and matching hat.

http://www.multicrafting.com/

The boutique yarns available now are just perfect for creating the most lovable and snuggable items.   Yes snuggable is a word. I just invented it. 
After knitting the bonnet and uggs I sent these to my friend, the babies mother, she couldn't wait to see her baby looking cute as a button in her new baby uggs.

The adventures of the Hat

http://multicrafting.com/The past weekend saw me flying all over the place to spend a weekend with friends in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney Australia.  If you have been following on twitter you would know that I knitted a hat for the occasion and decorated the hat with a flower made from an old jumper I had felted.

I was so grateful for the hat because it was winter in high altitude and raining to boot so that hat did a great job of keeping me warm.

Take a look at the hat's mountain adventure.