6 Amazing Wedding Websites You Don’t Know About

April 14, 2014 by AllFreeDIYWeddings 1 Comment

Brides-to-be, listen up because I’m about to reveal some serious insider information. While other soon-to-be-married ladies are emptying their bank accounts and pulling their hair out, you’ll be grinning from ear to ear and throwing your head back with satisfied laughter. I’m here to introduce the most coveted secrets for making wedding planning a walk through the park. With this knowledge, you’ll avoid bridezilla mode and actually enjoy wedding planning.

Sure, you can visit those go-to, popular wedding sites for gorgeous, inspirational photos, but what about functional sites that actively help in the planning process? These ultra-useful websites may not be all over Pinterest, but they’re all over your budget, keeping it in check. Some of these sites purely assist in keeping costs down by tracking your progress, while others are resources to find low-cost options, including dresses, decorations, and invitations. You will be shocked at how much further you can stretch your budget thanks to these incredible sites.

1. Postable.com – Your hand will thank you for finding this awesome site, and if you were planning on hiring a calligrapher, your wallet will thank you. Collect all of your guests’ addresses in a genius way (they fill them in!), and then watch the envelopes address themselves. With endless fonts to choose from, your invitations will still look exactly as you pictured them.

2. AllFreeDIYWeddings.com – DIY brides and non-DIY brides alike will adore this frugal approach to wedding planning. The volume of DIY ideas ensures that you will find just what you are looking for. If you’re not DIY-ing your wedding, the site still offers invaluable advice and key insights from experts.

3. PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com – Wear the dress of your dreams without paying the price tag of nightmares. This uber-convenient site allows ex-brides to make money by selling their old dresses and allows new brides to save money with reasonably priced designer gowns. The site also sells accessories and bridesmaids dresses, turning your hunt into a simple search. *You can even set an alert if you’re looking for a specific dress!*

4. Wedding-Recycle.com – Here’s the real money saver. This site offers absolutely everything you can think of from decor to boutonnieres. What makes it really unique (and awesome!) is that you can sort the listings by color, so your wedding color scheme is safe for the keeping. Once your big day is over, log back on to sell your items!

5. IDoCam.com – Save some serious dough by allowing guests to be your videographers. IDoCam will send you high-definition cameras to get up close and personal on your big day, and then they’ll edit the footage for you. Additionally, the raw footage will be viewable online for family and friends, whereas a professional videographer would only provide you with one copy. You’re sure to get more intimate, fun, and personal moments on film when your friends and family are operating the camera.

6. Newlywish.com – Forget creating a registry at three different stores for cookware you don’t actually want. This site provides convenience and some seriously cool gifts. Besides the typical kitchenware and houseware items, Newlywish also allows you to add “experience” gifts to your registry like cooking classes, concerts, and dance classes. In addition, you can set up honeymoon funds, accounts for a gym membership, and more actually useful gifts. Get what you really want with this totally clever concept.

Have you run into a too-good-to-be-true wedding website that other brides should know about?

How to Write a Quilt Tutorial

March 25, 2014 by FaveQuilts 2 Comments

You love tutorials. We love tutorials. Everybody loves quilt tutorials! The internet is an incredible resource for free, step-by-step instruction on how to do … well, pretty much anything. But not all tutorials for how to make a quilt are created equal. There’s nothing more frustrating than a beautiful quilt with an unclear or sub-par quilt pattern tutorial.

As a curator and self-declared experts in the art of hunting down high-quality tutorials for our readers, we’ve noticed a few trends and and criteria that we like to look for when we’re trying to find the best tutorials. So, with no further ado, here are just a few things to keep mind as you’re writing your quilt tutorial! Give your blog its best chance to get noticed.

1. Include a materials list.

This is one of the most important pieces of tutorial, but it’s something that a lot of bloggers overlook. It is so important that you remember to include a list of the materials needed in order to make a quilt block or full quilt. This includes the size of the finished quilt and any special notes about the materials (if you used a specific type of fabric or pre-cuts, etc), so that your readers can go into the quilt making process fully prepared.

Here’s a great example of a materials list from our Garden District Picnic Quilt.

Note that this list includes the size of the finished quilt, a rough idea of how long the quilt will take, and a brief explanation of what fabrics were used as well as a special note about measurement particularities. It may seem like you’re giving too much information, but always err on the side of too much, rather than too little. Better to be over-prepared than under-prepared!

2. Don’t assume your readers are as skilled as you are.

It’s easy to forget that quilters of all skill levels and experience may be reading your tutorial, but don’t assume your readers will automatically know what you mean when you say something like, “Now just bind your quilt and you’re finished!”

You are, of course, not obligated to explain (for example) how to bind a quilt every time you post a tutorial, but if you have done so in the past, make sure to link that segment of the tutorial to the more in-depth explanation. Remember that every blogger and teacher brings their own special experiences and techniques to the process, and maybe your insider information will be the final key to helping a novice unlock the secrets of binding without ending up in tears, swearing an oath never to quilt again.

The best tutorials are the ones that take special care to explain specifics and techniques — especially if you have a special way of doing it! Tammie from CraftyTammie has a great tutorial on Adding Zippers the Lazy Way that is a great, fresh look at one of the trickiest parts of sewing.

3. Take lots of photos during the process.

This is always true, but especially when you’re describing a tricky process. Don’t be afraid to have more than one photo per step! The truth is that you may never be able to explain quite as well as a picture can, and of course a little of both is best. A great technique for this is to explain the steps in words and then show a series of photos that demonstrates what you’ve just said. A great example is the Four Hour Lasagna Quilt from Stacey at the Tilted Quilt. She describes the steps of how to piece her jelly roll quilt pattern and then includes demonstrative photos:

It’s helpful to your readers to be able to read the tutorial and then see the steps as you’ve described them. So don’t scrimp on photographs!

4. TAKE GOOD PHOTOS!

The quality of your photos is hugely important to the quality of your quilt tutorial. Keep in mind factors like light, clarity, and photo size when you are making your tutorial. Make sure that your photographs have plenty of light and are of high resolution. Presentation is half the battle! You could have the best tutorial for how to make a quilt in the whole world, but if you have low-resolution, dark photographs you’ll lose readers at first glance. Here are a few great examples:

See how nice the photographs for these tutorials look? Don’t you just want to click on them, even if you aren’t quite sure what some of them are for? That’s the photo quality you want in your tutorial. Luckily for you, the cameras on things like iPads and smartphones are getting better and better, so if you don’t have a fancy camera you don’t necessarily have to buy one. Just do the best you can!

5. Always tag accordingly.

This is one of the best pieces of advice that we can give you. If you don’t have a designated “Tutorials” page, be sure that you have tagged all your tutorials as “tutorials”! It may seem like a tiny detail, but if there isn’t an easy way to find and navigate your tutorials, they’ll get buried in your blog and never see the light of day. If we can’t find it, we can’t feature it. So be sure that all your posts are tagged with consistent, intuitive, easy-to-guess tags (“quilt tutorial” is a good example, or “my tutorials” if you don’t want to limit yourself).

Have you ever made a quilt tutorial?

PSST! Don’t forget to check out Quilting Happiness, the amazing feel-good quilt book that we’re giving away right now on FaveQuilts! According to Quilting Happiness, the key to finding joy in your quilting lies in getting to know yourself and your creative tendencies. Co-authors Diane Gilleland and Christina Lane hope to help you accomplish this through a variety of quilting projects, full-color illustrations, and personal reflections on quilting. You’ll also learn original techniques for backing and finishing as well as some new stitches.

What are you waiting for? Enter to win today!

Don’t Make these Mistakes! 6 Must-See Quilting Tips

January 11, 2014 by FaveQuilts Leave a Comment

Hey quilters!

Or maybe you aren’t quilters. You may, in fact, be brand new to quilting. A more accurate salutation may be,

Hey, new quilters!

Hey, people who have never quilted before!

If you have never quilted before, then you are in the perfect place to begin. Everybody has to start somewhere, which is why we have here at FaveQuilts a beautiful collection of 6 YouTube Quilting Videos for Beginners. You won’t believe the tips and tricks that can save you some serious quilter’s heartbreak. For example, have you ever used a rotary cutter before? You will literally never want to use scissors again, and here’s a video tutorial that will show you just how easy and fabulous rotary cutting is:

If you want to learn how to quilt efficiently (and who doesn’t?) you must check out this video for How to Chain Piece for Faster Quilting. Most quilters use chain piecing for quickly stitching fabrics together for a quilt top. Save time and energy when you follow the tips outlined in this video.

Additionally, when you check out this collection, you will learn the dramatic difference between ironing and pressing. Don’t make a rookie mistake like ironing your quilt blocks! Find out why when you see this quilting video:

For more basic quilting tips for beginners, be sure to check out our additional video tutorials in 6 YouTube Quilting Videos for Beginners. From basic skills to more specific techniques, these quilting tips will take you from novice to expert in no time at all.

BONUS: Get inspired to start quilting today with some of the most popular free quilt patterns for beginners! These totally basic designs look gorgeous, and they’re so easy to make! Work your way up to our expert patterns when you first start with an easy quilt pattern for beginners.

What is your quilting skill level?

How to Organize Your Home: DIY Storage Ideas

December 25, 2013 by FaveCrafts 3 Comments

Storage Station with PVC Cubbies It’s amazing how big messes just . . . happen. One minute your kitchen is sparkly clean, and the next, every single pot, pan, and utensil is piled in your kitchen sink. One minute your craft room looks shiny and new, and the next, paper scraps and yarn seem to have exploded in a whirlwind of crafty catastrophe. You can apply this to any room in your home, and this problem seems to particularly abound right after the holidays have passed. Perhaps your family room exists under mountains of pine needles and gift wrap. You get the idea.

There are an abundance of ideas all over FaveCrafts, AllFreeHolidayCrafts, and many more of our relevant craft sites that will teach you how to store your stuff! Organize your craft room, closet, and every other space in your home with any or all of these DIY storage ideas.

Bathroom Organization Ideas

Makeup has a tendency to just end up everywhere. Suddenly your white bathroom counters are black and pink with exploded eye shadow and blush. Powder is everywhere. These ideas for storing makeup and other bathroom essentials will keep your private space neat and organized. You’ll never be embarrassed when guests see your bathroom with these DIY storage ideas.

How to Organize your Kitchen

These kitchen ideas are the best. Organize your food, your shelves, your veggies, your life. These kitchen storage ideas are sure to keep your food from being hidden in the far reaches of the pantry, and you can even organize your utensils and grocery lists, too!

Living Room Decorating Ideas

Magazines and newspapers tend to expand and cover every couch, end table, and the entire floor space of your living room. Make any of these beautiful magazine organizers, and while you’re at it, organize your home with various boxes and bins that are stylish and functional.

How to Organize your Bedroom

Decorate in a practical way with these fantastic storage ideas. These organizational tips will teach you how to organize your home and keep your bedroom belongings in places you may actually remember! Organize your jewelry, socks, CDs, and pretty much anything else you keep in your bedroom. These ideas are great for kids’ bedrooms, too!

Craft Room Organization Ideas

Last but certainly, certainly not least, get that craft room organized. Just imagine a craft room without some form of order. Here is what it would look like: glitter. Glitter everywhere. Do you want an explosion of little odds and ends? Of course not. Organize your craft room with a crafty solution! These DIY storage ideas will be a life saver.

What room is the hardest for you to keep organized?

How to Buy a Sewing Machine: Choosing Your New Best Friend

November 29, 2013 by AllFreeSewing 13 Comments

So you want to buy a sewing machine. The options are endless—so endless, in fact, that buying a sewing machine can be incredibly intimidating, especially for beginners. More experienced sewists may have a better idea of what they’re looking for, as previous sewing machines may have had features that they liked or would prefer to do without. But for beginning sewists, buying a sewing machine is totally overwhelming.

Well, have no fear! We at AllFreeSewing are here to help. If you’re a beginner sewist out to buy your first sewing machine, keep these simple tips in mind and the whole process will be fuss free.

Home Machine or Industrial?

The first decision you’ll have to make as you set out to choose your new sewing machine is whether you want a home or heavy duty sewing machine. I know it can be tempting to fall for all the bells and whistles that industrial sewing machines offer, but be honest with yourself: are you going to need it? How often do you plan to sew? If this is a machine that you’ll be using almost every day, or if you’ll be making items to sell, it may be worth the price to buy an industrial machine, as they tend to deliver a bit of a neater stitch and are often much faster than home machines. Keep in mind, however, that industrial machines are exponentially more expensive than home machines—they can come with a price tag of up to $2000.

To compare, good home machines generally cost between $200-$600, depending on how many features and extras the machine has. For a beginner sewist who plans to use her machine a few times a week, these machines are going to be a great fit. They are far more portable than industrial machines and tend to be a bit simpler to use.

Another thing you need to ask yourself is: What type of projects do you want to tackle? Home machines are built to handle a large variety of sewing tasks, from quilting to tailoring, whereas some industrial machines are a bit more specialized. This is, of course, not always the case, and you can certainly find industrial machines that are able to sew the kinds of projects you’re making. But it is something to keep in mind.

Sight, Sound, Touch

The very first thing you want to do when you’re looking at sewing machines is, well, sew something. Pay attention to the sights and sounds that the machine makes as you’re using it. Does the motor sputter or kick? Does it sound like there’s something grinding or bumping? You want your stitching to run as smoothly as possible, and one of the best ways to tell whether or not your motor has an issue is just to listen to it. A nice, single-tone hum usually indicates that all is well “under the hood.”

Now, look at the stitches that you’ve made. Are they even? If your stitches vary in length (for example, if one stitch is twice as long as the next) then that means your machine is skipping a stitch, which will cause endless headaches and problems down the road. So be sure that each stitch is the same length. Turn the fabric over—do the stitches look the same on the back as they do in the front? Ideally, you don’t want to be able to tell which side of the fabric is meant to be the “visible” side (at least, not by the stitches).

Sewing machines are complex beasts, so be sure that you thoroughly understand the way that your potential new sewing machine works before you invest. Do you want a front-loading bobbin, which yields a bit of a smoother stitch, or a drop-in, which is a bit easier to load and manage? Is the machine easy to thread, or is the process so complicated that it will put you off your projects before you even begin?

One detail that a lot of people don’t take into consideration is the weight of the machine itself. Many companies are replacing the heavy metal parts with a lighter plastic, making machines more portable and cheaper. This is great for our wallets, but can become an issue if you’re working with particularly heavy fabric. Are you planning to sew any kind of drapery or heavily weighted fabric? If this is the case, be sure you get a machine with a bit of weight to it; after all, you want the fabric to move during the sewing process, not the machine!

Finally, check the pedal. Not only do you want to make sure that it’s comfortable and easy to use, but also that it’s an actual foot pedals. Some sewing machines, particularly antiques, use the knee to control the speed. If you’re a beginner sewist, I don’t recommend this particular feature. They can be a bit tricky to get used to, and you’re better off just sticking with the trusty foot pedal.

The 3 Keys

Whatever else you decide to do, there are three key features that you should double, triple, and quadruple check that your sewing machine has:

A straight stitch. This is the stitch that you will use most often, on almost every project. I can’t imagine that you’d find a machine without it, but still, double check! The symbols for stitch patterns are universal across all machines, and the one for the straight stitch looks like this:
A zigzag stitch. You’ll use this stitch often when quilting or sewing a bit heavier fabric. You can also use the zigzag stitch to sew button holes (I’ve often found it preferable to using the actual button-hole setting). That symbol looks like this:
Most importantly, because there are machines which don’t include this feature, make sure your machine can backstitch! Backwards stitching is so helpful, especially when you want to end a stitch with a really sturdy knot. Unfortunately, this symbol isn’t necessarily universal, and not all machines have it, so you’ll want to check with the company to make sure that the machine is capable of stitching backwards.

+ Bonus:

This symbol is the symbol for a stretch stitch:

This is a useful feature to have, but totally unnecessary; you can use a straight stitch and be totally fine. Don’t let it make or break your decision, but if it comes down to two machines and one has the feature while the other doesn’t, it can be a handy tool.

So there you go, sewists! You have all the information you need to buy a sewing machine. Good luck, and have fun!

Plus! After you’ve selected your sewing machine, don’t forget to enter the AllFreeSewing and charmedLiebling giveaway to win a free purse pattern! Enter here once a day, every day until December 9th!

Did we miss anything? Do you have any questions or tips?

Planning a Winter Wedding? 5 Tips for Making the Most of the Holiday Season

November 25, 2013 by AllFreeDIYWeddings 1 Comment

For brides with November 2014-February 2015 dates, winter 2013 brides needing last-minute ideas, and dreamers who love looking at wedding ideas, here are five tips to make your winter wedding a wonderland. Despite the affinity for summer weddings, I find a certain dreaminess in snowfall, hot chocolate, and cuddling. The romanticism of winter provides the perfect backdrop for a happily ever after; these ideas will fill in the foreground. Wedding planner Beverly Farrell shares how to make your frosted fantasy come to life:

Romantic sleigh rides, snuggling by a roaring fire, sipping mulled cider — there’s something magical about the holidays, making them an extra special time to get married. According to the TheWeddingReport.com, nearly 10 percent of weddings took place in the winter months of 2010. If you’re planning on tying the knot during the holiday season, these five tips will help make your winter wedding truly the most wonderful time of the year.

1. Consider Mother Nature to be your guest of honor

If you don’t take Mother Nature into consideration as you’re planning your wedding, she can end up being the worst possible kind of wedding crasher. Make sure you have a contingency plan for inclement weather including an indoor venue with ample heating. Keep in mind some guests may not be able to attend due to inclement weather. In that case, using an app such as Ustream allows you to stream your wedding live online so family and friends can still watch the ceremony.

2. Embrace the spirit of the season

You can save quite a bit of money on decorations if you’re willing to go with the holiday flow. Churches and other popular venues such as hotels and convention centers are usually already decked out in their holiday finest. However, if you’re trying to avoid Christmas cliches, event planner Matthew Robbins suggests combining classic ivory or elegant white with metallic tones such as pewter, copper or antique gold. Don’t forget to add plenty of candlelight!

3. Take advantage of Cyber Monday deals

“Cyber Monday” and “wedding planning” are not normally two phrases found anywhere near each other. However, Macy’s and other high-end department stores offer unique promotions that can help you cross certain items off your wedding shopping list, such as your going away outfit and accessories or jewelry to complement your wedding finery. The best part is you can visit their site to get deep discounts without setting foot outside your home or fighting against crowds.

4. Ask for vendor discounts

Because winter is considered an off season for many wedding vendors such as photographers, videographers, caterers and DJs, ask for discounts. You may be surprised at just how much you can save. The one exception to this rule is florists. Most traditional wedding flowers are out of season, so if you’re not happy with holly, poinsettias, or a lot of evergreen, you may wind up paying higher prices than you would during spring or summer.

5. Play with your food

Holiday weddings are the best time to get really creative and have fun with your food. Warming food and beverages are perfect for warding off cold temps. Try some of these festive ideas for your reception:

A hot chocolate bar. Provide a variety of fun toppings and garnishes such as marshmallows, crushed peppermint candy or chocolate shavings.
A s’mores bar. Small fuel cans (the kind caterers use) are perfect for roasting marshmallows. Just add chocolate and graham cracker squares.
Mini comfort food. Stick-to-your-ribs foods such as homemade mac and cheese or meatloaf are tasty comfort foods that tend to lie in your stomach like lead. However, downsize these familiar faves into bite-size pieces for the perfect cold weather appetizer. Give desserts the same treatment with mini pumpkin and pecan pies.

Beverly Farrell is a party planner for weddings and events. She started her own business in a cabin in the woods.

For more winter wedding inspiration, check out 19 DIY Ideas for a winter wedding.

In what season is/was your wedding? If you’re not there yet, in what season would you like your wedding to be?

Encourage Creativity: The 5 Best Apps for Kids

August 20, 2013 by AllFreeKidsCrafts Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Megan Gilligan and Katherine Sutton of AppCertain.

Read our review of AppCertain!

How can we use technology like iPad apps to stimulate kids’ creativity and encourage it? There are many apps that enlist a child’s creative thinking while they use them. Here are our top five picks for apps that encourage kids to be creative on their own, not just in the digital world of a mobile device!

Foldify

This is an awesome app that lets you color in different shape templates on your iPad. The unique part of this app is the feature that allows you to print your custom design on a regular sheet of paper, cut it out, and construct a real life object that you designed on your iPad.

Kids’ Crafts

Enjoy a wide selection of arts and crafts activities that clearly state the goals and outcomes for the children. It is very helpful that each activity includes an organized list of materials available for purchase and needed to complete each project. You can browse by new activities, gift ideas and seasonal crafts. Visit often since new activities are constantly being added!

Dorling Kindersley’s Kids’ Crafts

The New York Times featured this app in their App Smart section. It is based on DK’s award-winning activity books and contains three interactive activities for the iPad along with hands-on tasks allowing access to knitting, sewing, and drawing off the screen. It strikes the perfect balance between quick-fix fun and games while inspiring children to get creative at home.

On-screen crafts:

Scrap bags: Design your own scrap bag on-screen or use it to try out a new design that you can create in the real world!
Cross-stitch: Tap on a pattern, your choice of yarn, and a type of stitch to start creating. You can even use a blank canvas to design your own cross-stitch from scratch.

How-to off-screen activities:

Pirate Pete: Make your own pirate friend who’s full of beans!
Rainy day doodles: You won’t believe what you can do with a doodle! This activity shows you all the different types of patterns you can make with a set of felt tip pens.

Lazoo: Squiggles!

Fun drawing app for smaller children with unique animation features. You simply pick a scene (there are 12 ready-made scenes + blank canvas + an option to choose a picture from the device). Then listen to the instructions (the goal is to draw squiggles complementing the picture, e.g. add ‘squiggly’ wool to the sheep or waves in the sea). Just press the go button to see a simple animation involving the objects in the scene and the user-made squiggles (e.g. spaghetti swirling on the plate).

The app also includes a short animated movie with the main characters and a mini book with simple interactive elements. The bonus points include excellent concept, great graphics, easy operation, spoken and visual instructions. The painting tools are excellent and easy to use. There is also an option to save and share the pictures.

Martha Stewart Craft Studio

The app comes with four themed bundles: Everyday, Birthday Party, Doily Lace, and Nature. You can add on to the fun by purchasing bundles of punches, papers, stickers, and glitter, featuring seasonal and occasional motifs: Elegant Celebrations, Spring, Outdoors, Vacation Adventure, and Summer Fun.

This easy-to-use app allows you to personalize cards, invitations, thank-you notes, scrapbook pages, keepsake, and more. Browse through an array of colored and patterned “paper” backgrounds, import your own photos, and embellish your work with an abundance of stickers, stamps, glitter, textured borders, fonts, and punches. Tap to share your works of art with family and friends. So versatile, it’s the only digital crafting tool you’ll need!

What is your favorite kids’ app?

Sewing Nightmares: Try Some Tips to Conquer Your Sewing Fears

June 8, 2013 by AllFreeSewing 1 Comment

AllFreeSewing asked you on Facebook what your biggest sewing nightmares were, and the answers were horrifying. What was really astounding was that most of you had actually realized your sewing nightmares. Reports of electricity outages, ill-fitted wedding attire, and even fingers caught in the sewing machine made us cringe. We thought we’d offer up some tips to prepare you for future nightmares. Hopefully you’ll never have to use them, but just in case…

Sewing with Children

This tip from one of our designers most likely resonates with a lot of you. Whether you were the victim of your sewing machine or have feared it for most of your life, here’s a tip. Prevent any damage inflicted by the dreadful sewing machine onto your children.

Terrible Threading

Who among us doesn’t loathe threading? If you like it then you should volunteer your services to other sewists out there. Try out this sewing tip to tackle those threads. This is a great tip for beginner sewers.

Loss of Electricity

You’re not going to like this answer; but when you loose electricity and you’ve got a deadline to meet, it’s time to hit the fabric old-school style. Grab a thimble because hand sewing is your best bet for sewing success. Luckily, we have some much loved hand sewing advice for you.

Inaccessibility to Sewing Supplies

Some of our sewers are at this very moment unable to access their sewing supplies. This could be because of a move or because of no room. We feel for you. Put these organizational tips to use when you do get that fabric out of your storage unit. Hang in there!

Making Doll’s Clothes

Grandmas out there, the only true way you won’t have to do this tedious sewing project is by hiding your sewing abilities from your grandchildren. However, if you are stuck in a bind and need to make the apple of your eye some itsy-bitsy clothing, we have some doll’s clothes on our site.

Adding a Zipper to a Project

We were surprised to see that some of you feared adding a zipper to a project. Admittedly, a lot of us used to fear that too, but thanks to some crafty advice that fear is conquered. Check out these tutorials that tackle the toothy zipper once and for all.

Stepping on Needles

Ouch. Nothing hurts more than the startling rediscovery of a long lost needle…in your foot. Try out this sewing tip for preventing needle injuries and keep you and your family happy.

Some of you were afraid of losing inspiration for your sewing projects. We can easily help you there; if you visit our site you’ll never be at a loss for projects ideas. Remember to check out our tips and tricks section on AllFreeSewing for sewing safety advice. Also see our Facebook page to find our post about Sewing Nightmares and see specific stories from your fellow sewers.

What’s the best sewing advice you’ve ever received?

Turn Your Creative Hobby Into Income

June 1, 2013 by CreativeIncome Leave a Comment

You love crafting – we all do – but have you ever thought about selling your handmade goods for a little pocket money? At the very least, you could clear out some clutter and make a little extra cash to spend on more craft supplies!

Don’t worry if this sounds like something you’d love to do but have no idea how to get started. We here at FaveCrafts have spent a lot of time writing, researching, and collecting tips from people who love to sell their handmade crafts and put it all in one easy place.

Creative Income Blog is where we post brand new articles weekly for creative business owners and hobbyists. You’ll find tips on selling at craft fairs, selling online, how to price your crafts to you don’t end up loosing money, and even tips on photographing your products and how to start your own blog!

We also have a weekly email newsletter that will show up straight in your inbox with craft business tips and tricks so that you can start making that pocket money to support your craft supply habit (it’s okay, we suffer from that addiction too).

Have you ever tried selling the crafts you’ve made?

Relaxation Secrets: Spa Day at Home

May 28, 2013 by AllFreeKidsCrafts 1 Comment

School is almost over, which means that the kids will be home for much longer periods of time. This can get stressful, unless you think of a brilliant idea (or AllFreeKidsCrafts does)…

Relax with the kids at home by designating it spa day. I know that it’s rare to see “relax” and “kids” in the same sentence, but it’s there, and it’s real. While it might be hard to get away and have a true spa day, involve the kids, and it’ll be just as fun and relaxing. Plus, if you teach them to enjoy the art of relaxation in the process, you’re that much better off.

The mini Madonnas will get a kick out of applying face masks, making their own body scrubs, and softening up their lips with homemade products. Don’t be afraid to involve the boys (young and old); they’ll enjoy a day of crafting and relaxing just as much!

…And if you have a birthday coming up, slip this list of relaxing crafts to your kids and kindly suggest that they would make a nice present.

Homemade Beauty Secrets

There’s no reason to spend thousands of dollars on spa treatments when you can spice up your natural beauty at home. Kids will have a blast mixing ingredients together to create a completely different product. Homemade beauty secrets are hard to come by, but when you find a solid list, like this, you won’t let it go. You’ll hear plenty of requests for a repeat after the first spa day has come to a close.

Homemade Sugar Scrubs

Nothing is more relaxing than applying a scrub made from sweet-smelling sugar. Kids will absolutely adore these fun scrubs, and this is one time where you don’t have to worry about using too much sugar. Instead of its usual hyperactive effect, these homemade sugar scrubs will have a calming effect on you and your spamates.

Relax at Home

When your home is filled with screaming children, it’s hard to ever imagine that that very same space can be relaxing. Those doubts will be dispelled with the first stir of calming ingredients. Your house will smell like heaven, and your children will be acting like little angels, proving that your home can be a safe haven of relaxation.

What is your go-to method for relaxing the kids?