8 Craft Trends for 2019

January 24, 2019 by FaveCrafts Leave a Comment

Craft trends for 2019 should make their way into your projects and home decor this year. You have 11 more months to make sure you’re on trend! After attending the 78th annual Creativation show in Phoenix, we’ve come away with some thrilling new projects and old favorites to try in 2019.

Macrame

Macrame was trending at the 2018 Creativation Show and it made its reappearance at this year’s event as well. Wall hangings and plant hangers were abundant at yarn company booths across the show floor.

(We created a roundup of 11 Macrame Plant Hanger Tutorials inspired by this trending craft! Check it out.)

Uniquely Beautiful Dream Catchers

In a similar vein, dream catchers sprouted up at the show this year, complete with pom poms and doilies embedded!

Dream catchers spotted at the Darice booth.

Yarn Crafts without Knitting or Crochet

Knitting and crochet are popular at the show every year; these are two crafts that aren’t going away any time soon. However, this year yarn companies released new loop yarn that allows fiber enthusiasts to make knit projects without any tools—just use your fingers!

Bernat’s new Alize Blanket-EZ yarn, featuring unique loops. Learn how to make the EZ textures blanket here.

P.S. Explore more yarn crafts in our collection of 55 Yarn Crafts without Knitting.

Succulents Are Never Leaving Us

Succulents, air planters, terrariums, oh my! These striking plants are as popular as ever, emerging in scrapbooking lines, paper crafts, and more.

A snapshot from the new Greenhouse line by Kaisercraft.

Dogs Wearing Glasses, and Corgis in General

I saw at least three dogs wearing glasses, or rather, images of dogs in glasses, on the show floor. They were spotted in embroidery kits, heat-transfer vinyl, diamond art kits, and more. Time for nerdy cute style!

This glasses-and-bowtie adorned Hug a Pug image was spotted at the Diamond Dotz booth, among many other sparkly creations!

This glasses wearing pup was spotted at the Fabric Editions booth.

Related: my Dad happened to text me this photo of our family dog, Mocha, while I was at the show.

Diamond Art

MAKE WAY for the most exciting, sparkly new craft that was showcased this year! Diamond art kits by companies like Diamond Dotz and Leisure Arts are like embroidery or paint-by-number with flatback gemstones for the prettiest canvases. Check out these examples:

Similar to Diamond Art, other takes on painting by number appeared at the show. One of my favorite booths was StickTogether, which invites people to craft together with large scale sticker kits! Sometimes keeping your hands busy with an activity or goal serves as the perfect ice breaker when gathering people together. At the show, they had passersby add stickers to this image. By Day 3, the image was complete:

Marbling and Geodes

Unique paint pouring methods, sealers, and more were popular at paint manufacturer booths throughout the show.

Featuring FolkArt paint at the Plaid booth, these are some of the incredible creations showcased using these techniques.

Vinyl

Last but not least, vinyl was popular across crafting genres at the show. There were entire company booths dedicated to vinyl, and many fabric companies as well as paper crafts and die cutting brands featured crafts with vinyl. We’ve seen a number of them show up in our User Submitted Articles as well, so this trend is definitely on the rise!

What craft trends will you follow in 2019?

Trending Crafts from Creativation 2018

January 31, 2018 by FaveCrafts 5 Comments

Every year we adore seeing new craft trends at the Creativation show. It’s wonderful to get an insider’s look at what new projects and motifs are up and coming! We love sharing what’s new with our readers. Here are some of the popular trending crafts from Creativation 2018.

Trending Crafts

Birds of Paradise, especially Toucans

Toucans and other tropical birds were everywhere at Creativation this year! There was a cute toucan make and take, and I saw toucan paper, fabric, and other crafts with toucans at the show.

Just finished making this precious toucan with @fabriceditions ❤ #creativation2018 #toucan #birdsofparadise

A post shared by FaveCrafts (@favecrafts) on Jan 22, 2018 at 12:36pm PST

Flamingos and Pineapples

Speaking of birds of paradise, flamingos are still hip. In fact, flamingo crafts were everywhere at the show! If you’re pairing flamingos and pineapples, you’re especially on trend.

Flamingo Crafts:

Letterboards

See that beautiful “how about them pineapples” photo above? That text is written on a letterboard, and letterboards were everywhere.

Cacti

At first we thought we were seeing so many cacti because Creativation is held in Arizona, but as it turns out, the humble cactus is trending. Perhaps cactus is the new succulent?

Cactus Crafts:

Hygge Crafts

Hygge became hip in 2016 and it continues to be popular! Red Heart released a new line of hygge yarns, and comfy and cozy products were abundant.

Check out our collection of 27 Hygge Crafts.

Pom Poms

It’s true: pom poms are here to stay. There was plenty of pom pom rick rack, ribbon, and other pom pom details on knit and crocheted projects. The Craft Yarn Council made pom poms at their booth this year, too.

Explore our eBook of pom pom and tassel ideas: 5 Easy Tassel Crafts and DIY Pom Pom Projects.

Last but not least…

Llamas

Llamas abounded at the show this year! They were on cards, printed on paper, embroidered for home decor, and sewn into cute little plushies.

I made a llama! #makeandtake #creativation2018 #fuijifilmafci2018

A post shared by FaveCrafts (@favecrafts) on Jan 21, 2018 at 9:59am PST

Llama Crafts:

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What trend are you most excited about for 2018?

In Case You Missed It: Top 20 Crafts from Creativation 2017

May 30, 2017 by FaveCrafts 1 Comment

Every year we attend Creativation, the Craft and Hobby Association’s annual trade show. We network, learn about the latest trends, and afterwards we put on our favorite crafts from Creativation contest. Our bloggers make innovative projects using the new products they received at our annual networking event for a chance to win a cash prize!

This year, we selected 20 finalists based on certain criteria. Ingenuity while using the sponsor product, well-written instructions, and high quality photos were among the qualifiers. And it was so challenging to narrow down the entries, but we’re confident you’ll enjoy the projects you see in this list of finalists.

Be sure to scroll down to see the three winners from our Best Blogger Contest 2017!

Top 20 Crafts from Creativation

Blogger Contest 2017 Winners!

Third Prize

Rustic Chic Love Chicken Wire Frame

By: Betsy Burnett from aimhappy.blogspot.com

Second Prize

Nuvo Drop Butterfly DIY Card

By: Justine Hovey from justinehovey.com

First Prize

Hope and Love Altered Planner

By: Irit Shalom from iritshalom.blogspot.co.il

Find an abundance of trending new craft ideas at FaveCrafts.com.

Which is your favorite craft from Creativation 2017?

Creativation Craft Trends for 2017!

January 30, 2017 by FaveCrafts Leave a Comment

Every year, we from FaveCrafts attend the Craft and Hobby Association’s trade show in January. This year, rebranded as Creativation and held in Phoenix, AZ, we had a lovely time making new connections, meeting up with folks we already work with, and of course, spotting trends. Below, check out 5 Craft Trends for 2017. We loved what we were seeing at the show, and we’re so excited for what the year has in store!

Craft Trends for 2017

Metallics, Especially Copper

Isn’t this display from Richard Garay just stunning? This collection features the silver and gold of anniversaries, and copper is also trending. In fact, Krylon’s color of the year is copper. Metallics add such a lovely touch to any project, don’t they? That shimmer just reels you in!

Richard Garay Display at Creativation 2017

Metallic Tutorials

Rustic Glamour Mason Jars

Copper Foil Coasters

Metallic Duct Tape DIY Candles – seriously gorgeous

Marble

Marble is such a unique look, and the swirling designs blending colors that work well together really make marble an eclectic yet elegant option. From papers and notebooks printed with marble designs like the ones below from Kaisercraft, to splatter painting techniques and more, this look is still trendy for 2017.

Marble Tutorials

Faux Marble Tray

Paper Marbling

Marbled DIY Mugs – fabulous gift idea!

Outer Space

I’m madly in love with this card. It’s a slider card and the earth goes around the sun! So lovely. Any kind of galaxy and outer space themed projects are trendy for 2017.

Outer Space Projects

Out of This World Coloring Pages

Space Mini Journal

Reach for the Stars Birthday Card

Tea Parties, Magnolias, and Cherry Blossoms

Flowers are always trending, but two that stood out to us were magnolias and cherry blossoms! The touch of Japan as well as hints of the South made their way into this year’s Creativation show.

These magnolias from Heidi Swapp were a stunning display (notice those metallics??), and who doesn’t love a good tea party? These feminine accents should make their way into your crafting in 2017.

Magnolia Centerpiece

Beyond Easy Cherry Blossoms

No Sew Tea Cup Pin Cushion

Not Just Cats . . . Dogs, Too

Cat prints and projects are so popular with FaveCrafters and with the crafting industry at large! But what about dogs?? This year, many crafting companies released dog-themed papers and products. Dare I say . . . dogs are the new cats for 2017.

Popular Dog Crafts

Dog Sweater Crochet Pattern

How to a Make Dog Bed

“My Best Friend” Photo Frame

What else is trending for 2017? Let us know in the comments!

Best Blogger Craft 2016 Announcement

April 8, 2016 by FaveCrafts 1 Comment

Every year, we here at Prime Publishing LLC and FaveCrafts.com throw a blogger party at the CHA Mega Show. This event is open exclusively to bloggers in the industry and allows the best of the best to mingle with some of their favorite companies, allowing them to make crafting connections that can last for a very long time! To celebrate, we host the Best Blogger Craft Contest every year where bloggers who attended then create prizes from the samples they receive from the companies! After this, we vote on these stunning projects.

This contest ended April 6, 2016. So, we’re here to present the winners!

Without further ado, our Best Blogger Contest Winners for 2016!

First Place

The Powertex and Foil Ballerina from Roberta Birnbaum

Second Place

Shabby Chic DIY Scrapbook from Cathy Parlitsis

Third Place

Life and Live DIY Canvas from Irit Shalom

Check out the rest of our entries in our list of the Best Blogger Crafts 2016 and stay tuned for an eBook featuring all of these stunning new craft project ideas.

Special thanks to our 2016 Sponsors:

Yarnspirations 2. Plaid 3. Sizzix 4. Simplicity Creative Group 5. Leisure Arts 6. Sakura 7. Premier Yarns 6. FloraCraft 7. Fairfield World 8. Design Master 9. Testors 10. Create and Craft 10. Therm O Web 11. Beadalon 12. Snap

The Coolest Booths at the Summer CHA Show!

July 19, 2012 by AllFreeSewing 14 Comments

This week team FaveCrafts was lucky enough to attend the CHA trade show right in our hometown of Chicago. CHA (The Craft and Hobby Association) trade show brings out tons of craft companies, manufacturers, bloggers, designers, etc. We were there to explore the new merchandise, pick up on the latest craft trends and of course mix and mingle with all kinds of awesome crafty people!

Trust me, there was no shortage of inspiration or creativity on the show floor. As I explored I thought it would be super fun to take photos of some of the coolest booths I came across to share with all of you. Don’t get me wrong, each crafty booth had something pretty cool to offer but there were a few standouts that truly demanded attention.

There was no missing the DCWV Inc. booth. Besides the fact that it was directly in front of the show floor, their booth was decked out in total Halloween decor. I loved how they used greens, purples and pinks for their display instead of strictly sticking to the traditional orange and black.

I strolled past the i Love to Create booth and couldn’t help but notice the awesome Tutu’s in the “window” display. The photo barely does this booth justice. There were so many pretty things to look at. The set up definitely reminded me of window shopping on Michigan Ave. in downtown Chicago. What woman doesn’t love to window shop?

Remember when you were a kid and you’d visit a candy store and become completely immersed in the colors, sights and sounds of it all? I’d like to personally thank Doodlebug Design for momentarily bringing me back to my childhood. Their booth was bright, colorful and cheerful not unlike a candy shop.

Where do I begin with this one? The mixed media dress contest held in the center of the show floor and hosted by the CHA Craft Fusion was a visual highlight for me. You wouldn’t believe what some of these dresses were made out of! Above are just a few examples.

The summer CHA show offered innovative ideas, the opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones. I wanted to share a bit of my experience with you.

Have you ever attended a craft show? What is your favorite thing about craft shows?

Craft and Hobby Association Convention: We’ll be there, will you?

July 16, 2012 by FaveCrafts 4 Comments

It’s that wonderful time of year again where we here at FaveCrafts get to attend the CHA Trade Show! It’s so much fun every time we go and the Chicago show is extra special because it’s so close to our offices that all of the editors here at Team FaveCrafts get to attend!

Source

If you aren’t familiar with the Craft and Hobby Association, you should definitely check them out. They are around to help out business of all sizes. If you are a member and this will be your first trade show, don’t worry! Check out these articles from our friends at Creative Income Blog on Trade Show Tips, they’ll help you prepare for what to expect.

For the winter show, we can only send a handful of people to cover the whole floor, so we don’t have a ton of time to hang out and connect with you all. That is not the case in the summer show. We want to meet you!

Our very own editorial director, Simone Collins, will be spending some time in the iLovetoCreate booth on Tuesday from noon to 1:30 in the afternoon. If you have some free time around then, stop on by and say hi!

As always, be on the look out for our re-cap posts! We’ll be covering all the hottest crafting trends coming for next season as well as the coolest booths from the show and new technology being presented at the show. You definitely won’t want to miss out on that!

Will you be attending the show? Let us know in the comments!

Summer CHA and Plastic Bag Dresses?

July 26, 2011 by FaveCrafts 3 Comments

Just last week was the summer’s CHA show, also known as the Craft and Hobby Association at the Rosemont Convention Center. As usual, there were so many different things to see. A lot of the show consisted of paper crafts and scrapbooking, which of course has some really neat projects to make. I, being the editor of AllFreeCrochet, was a bit disappointed when I didn’t see many crochet items. I think I knew that going into it, but it would have been neat to see all the new yarns and colors out there.

Any way there was a really neat display in the middle of the showroom floor full of amazing dresses made out of different materials. These weren’t your ordinary dresses, but dresses made out of paper and bags; some were fabric. My favorite dress was the Recycled Prom dress by Candice Windham. This was the neatest type of dress I had ever seen. I kept staring at it and touching it to make sure that’s what it was made out of, yep recycled plastic bags. Candace took plastic grocery bags and turned them into ruffles and a bodice for a prom dress. She then painted the bags to make it look nice and added some embellishments for one of the coolest-looking dresses ever! There were some other unique dresses as well!

If only I could make something like that for myself….AND have the guts to actually wear it somewhere. It reminds me of those competitions high schoolers have with original prom dresses. The gum wrapper dress springs to mind. These people are super talented and I just think it’s the coolest thing ever to come up with such great creations.

Check out the other trends that were at this summer’s CHA.