Best Blogger Crafts of 2014

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At the Craft and Hobby Trade Show in January, we hosted a networking event with some of the best craft bloggers. At this event, we announced that we would be hosting a huge blogger contest in search of the best crafts of 2014 and they all had a chance at winning a cash prize. Well, we had 39 bloggers take us up on the challenge and enter the contest.

Best Blogger Crafts 2014

If you voted and helped us pick the winners, thank you so much!
We are now so excited to announce the big winners in this blogger challenge:

GRAND PRIZE $1000
Michele Kovack from Thoughts of a Card Making Scrapbooker

SECOND PLACE $500
Jaime Maraia from Crochet Dynamite

THIRD PLACE $250
Catherine Pooler from CatherinePooler.com

 

Visit all of the amazing bloggers and check out their craft projects with free tutorials on FaveCrafts.

Amy Latta – Monogram Jewelry Box and Statement Necklace

Angie Holden – 3D Mixed Media Canvas

Betsy Burnett – Finger Knitting Headband

Carmen Flores Tanis – Rhinestone Valentine Hearts Favor Boxes, Beautiful Blue Birdhouses, In a Pinch Sewing Kit

Carolina Moore – Beautiful Handmade Flower Bouquet

Catherine Pooler – You are my Favorite Handmade Card

Cristin Frank – DIY Clay Ombre House Numbers

Dinah Wulf – DIY Mod Podgeable Necklace & Ring

Divya N – Little Birdy Rose House, Spring Bling Necklace

Gloria Uhler – Daring DIY Wall Sconce

Helen Bradley – Stenciled Zipper Pouch

Jaime Maraia – Quirky Crochet Handbag

Jonathan Fong – Moroccan Palace Dollhouse

Kara Gunza – Mod Podge Letter Art

Kazan Clark – Pretty in Pink Chevron Picture Frame

Keri Sallee – Fly Free…Create Freely DIY Picture Frame

Kerry Goulder – DIY Duck Tape Doll House and Accessories

Laura Kelly – DIY Wall Message Flower

Laura Russell – Cat in the Hat Boutique Hair Bow

Maria Del Pinto – Eclectic Style Fascinator

Marilyn Gossett – Shabby Bookmark Wedding Favors

Marjolaine Walker – Classic Clay Necklace, Down To Earth Gift Bag, Where Flowers Bloom Canvas

Mary Kathryn Vaughn Precious Crochet Dress and Blanket

Megan Daves – Grateful For You Handmade Card

Melony Bradley – Scrappy Flower Chalkboard

Michele Kovack – Retro Muffin Tin Altered Frame

Michelle Brown Mixed Media Pennant Banner, Decorated Notebook

Michelle Frae Cummings – Painted Garden Pots

Pauline Molinari – Upcycled Denim Shorts Chore Chart

Rita Barakat – Love,Laugh, Share-Mixed Media Canvas, Stunning Decorative Mask

Sara Carns – Altered Vintage iPhone Case

Stacey Williams – DIY Magnetic Chalkboard and Dry Erase Board

Stefanie Girard – For the love of Bling Zipper Bracelet

Susan Dougill – Creative Inspiration Board, All Year Round Bunting

Suzanne Cannon – You Are Amazing Card

Tammy Tutterow – Upcylced Chalkboard Plaque

Tara Nehil – No Sew Fabric Flowers

Tresa Edmunds – Quilt Inspired Bib Necklace

Victoria Grant – Chalkboard Spring Banner

A special thanks to our sponsors of the CHA Blogger Event and this contest: Coats & Clark, Darice, Design Masters, Elmers, Fiskars, I Love To Create, Krylon, Leisure Arts, Lion Brand, Plaid, Polyform, Rit Dye, ShurTech – Duck Brand, Simplicity, Sizzix.

Craft & Hobby Show 2014 Wrap Up & Giveaway

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We hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage of the Craft and Hobby Trade Show 2014. All the sneak peeks at new products that will be hitting your stores in 2014 are so fun. We even have a fun little giveaway at the bottom and you can win a ton of new products.

In case you missed any of our CHA Winter 2014 posts:

New Yarn Trends 

A look at the Mixed Media Trend & Paper Flowers

Our CHA Blogger Event

New Nautical Trend for 2014

And we have so many blogger friends who have also covered the show and their experiences. If you have blogged about the CHA Winter Show, please add your link below. And be sure to visit all these blogs and tell them FaveCrafts sent you.

FaveCrafts Blog Giveaway

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate all the new products that will be available this year, we thought it would be fun to give away a CHA swag bag to one lucky reader! If you would love to win all the new products that we gave to the bloggers at our CHA Blogger Event, read on and find out how to enter!

CHA Swag Bag Giveaway

 

To enter, all you need to do is comment below and let us know:

What craft product do you wish was available?
What is your dream product?

 

OFFICIAL RULES FOR CONTEST

  • There is a maximum of one entry per person. The entry will be based upon a comment left on this blog post. Duplicate comments will be deleted and are not tallied.
  • Winner will be selected at random from the comments on this blog post.
  • Winner will be contacted by the email address provided.
  • You have until January 31st 2014 at 11:59p EST to leave your comment below. Comments posted after that will not be counted.
  • Contest open to anyone 18+ in US and/or Canada.

Behind the Scenes at Our CHA Blogger Event

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More than a week later, bloggers are still singing the praises of our Blogger Event at the Craft and Hobby Association’s Winter Trade Show in Anaheim, CA. This was a chance for bloggers to step away from the computer and meet manufacturers and other craft industry representatives face-to-face. One blogger in particular, Maria Del Pinto, was struck by the networking possibilities provided at the event. In addition to speaking with representatives, Del Pinto was able to preview new products and discover exclusive details about items she already loves.

In a post on her blog Keep Calm and Craft On, Del Pinto recaps her experiences meeting craft celebrities and product representatives. For her, the event was important because, “it was a chance to ask each company some questions regarding particular products and product lines. I also wanted to find out what products they would be releasing in 2014, as well as to speak to some of their product designers.” That night, Del Pinto met brand reps from Elmers, Plaid Fiskars and more. She was able to preview new products and discover items that fit her interests. For example, she was able to meet with Sculpey representatives to discuss kids projects – it would be so hard to have this kind of casual conversation online!

For a peek inside the exclusive event and  the scoop on more brand previews, check out Craft & Hobby Show 2014: Prime Publishing CHA Blogger Networking Event.

 

For more coverage of our CHA Blogger Event, check out:

CHA 2014 Trends: Flowers, Mixed Media and Paper Quilling

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Hey, paper crafters! After a marvelous excursion to the winter 2014 CHA Show, we at AllFreePaperCrafts are back with the latest scoop in beautiful paper crafting. While DIY paper flowers, mixed media crafts, and paper quilling patterns are endlessly popular with the average paper crafter, we have great new snapshots of inspiration for you! Catch the latest trends in flower making, mixed media, and even paper quilling. Get gorgeous with glitter, craft dies and more when you make paper flowers. Go vintage with your fabulous mixed media projects. Go wild—literally!—with your paper quilling. The inspiration might even last you until CHA 2015, when we’ll be back with more trends and more ideas.

DIY Paper Flowers

While paper flowers are always a go-to paper craft embellishment, the abundance of blooms could not have been more prominent during this winter CHA show! Check out these marvelous creations from the design team at Heartfelt Creations. Can you count the number of flowers?

Heartfelt Creations DIY Paper Flowers

Meanwhile, say hello to this gorgeous doily with a floral print. How can you create this beautiful floral design? Using a new die from Prima Marketing Inc!

Prima International Doily Flower Dies

Even these winter cards from Ecstasy Crafts embrace floral elements. Can you say snow flowers?

Ecstasy Crafts Card Display

Mixed Media Art

Prima had an utterly marvelous collection of mixed media products and artwork. Take a look at these new products and the finished creations. The altered bike frame is particularly fabulous, and the floral journal cover adds a touch of steampunk to a dimensional paper project.

Prima Mixed Media Display

These gorgeous frames, also from Prima, caught my eye. Travel papers and embellishments were hot hot HOT at CHA this year! Whether you’re already planning your spring break vacation or you still need to document a fabulous European excursion from the previous summer, these vintage travel themed products were popular across the show.

Prima Mixed Media Frames

This gorgeous pet shop project by Laura Denison was spotted at the Bo Bunny booth. Gorgeous architecture and beautiful handiwork, this would make a great piece of home decor for any pet lover.

Pet Shop Craft at Bobunny

Meanwhile, these products alone from DCWV should inspire any mixed media crafter, adding elements like cork, cardboard and fabric to your newest paper projects:

Mixed Media Materials from DCWV

Paper Quilling Ideas

Speaking of DCWV, these gorgeous displays were spotted outside their booth. Would you have the patience to make this paper quilling display? While many paper crafters find quilling to be a challenging technique, most paper crafters agree that the results are absolutely gorgeous. Many of these flowers were made from just a few basic shapes. Amaze your loved ones when you too create fabulous paper quilling projects.

Paper Quilling at DCWV

Though this large DCWV display wasn’t made with quilling paper, how fun would it be to make a miniature version with standard-width quilling strips? This tiger might even be easier to create because no coils are involved. How about this for a beginner project?

Tiger Display seen at DCWV

If you love some of the paper quilling ideas you’ve just seen, be sure to check out Tina from Quilled Creations as she demos the beehive technique:

 

Paper Quilling: love it or hate it?

 

 

 

Craft Inspiration: Latest Trends in Sewing and Fabric from CHA 2014

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AllFreeSewing was thrilled to explore the Craft and Hobby Association Show in Anaheim this year. With all of the new products, amazing bloggers, and eye-catching displays set up it was more than a little difficult to keep our focus. Regardless of our enthusiasm we still managed to get the scoop on what the latest trends are for sewing and fabric.

Simplicity Felting

So, what’s on the radar for all things crafty? We saw a lot of attention this year towards time-saving products and fine materials. Color will also have a huge presence in your 2014 projects, so get ready for something fabulous. Products from Simplicity, Green Sneakers, Crystal Ninja, Camelot Fabrics, and more reminded us that new crafting techniques are always available.

Ribbon Reigns

Ribbons are all the rage this year. At the May Arts Ribbon booth tons of ribbons flaunted various colors and designs. Of course these notions can be used on any kind of craft, but as hems and embellishments they’re perfect.

May Arts Ribbon

May Arts Ribbon Dress

We even came across The Ribbon Print Company’s amazing custom printing machine. With this innovation you can print your own personal ribbons for your business or personal crafts. The software allows for printing more than just letters.

The Ribbon Print Company

Color Statements

In Plushi

AllFreeSewing editors noticed no shortage of color at CHA. Starting with the 100% wool fruits and veggies at the Barefoot Fibers stand, we saw bursts of color everywhere.

Barefoot Fibers Fruit

Therm-O-Web provided astounding shocks of color in their designer displays. Whether in the form of an owl or plush sewing machine, color was everywhere you looked.

Therm-O-Web Owl

 

Clothing That Counts

If you’re going to put the time into sewing your own wardrobe, make sure the fabric matches your efforts. Bright and bold looks kept catching our attention. These projects weren’t just for the kids. Besides Barefoot Fabric’s cute coats and The McCall Company’s darling dresses, we saw color creeping into adultware too.

Barefoot Fibers Coats
McCalls Kids

The McCall Pattern Company wowed us with their designs. As a giant in the sewing community we knew they’d have fabulous finds, but our jaws dropped when this Vogue Badgley Mischka glittered under the CHA lights. If you’re on the lookout for patterns that can handle bolds, go for classic designs that will flatter your figure.

 Vogue Badgley MischkaMcCalls Jacket and Skirt

 

Innovation Without the Headache

Seriously one of the coolest innovations at CHA was Ann Butler’s line of stamps. If you don’t have the time or money to devote to an entire quilt, you can simply stamp your art to give the effect of a quilt! After it’s pressed this ink doesn’t wash away!

Ann Butler Stamped Quilt
Ann Butler Stamped Pillow

What has the sewing and paper crafters excited is Brother’s new Scan n’ Cut machine. Instead of struggling with fussy cutting you can indulge in your favorite shapes and delicate letters without picking up a pair of scissors or a razor blade.

Brohter Scan N Cut

 At Clover we fawned over this new Iron Safe. The materials for your projects can now be protected with this simple guard.

Clover Iron Safe

We had so much fun exploring everything new to the crafting community. A BIG thanks to all of the lovely companies and bloggers for their time during the show. We’re already counting down for next year!

 The McCall Pattern Company

Camelot Chalkboard Fabric

 

Making Friends at our 2014 CHA Blogger Event!

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Hey crafters! For anyone who isn’t familiar, the Craft and Hobby Association puts on a giant winter trade show every year. Manufacturers, buyers, press, exhibitors, and more have the opportunity to network over the course of a four-day weekend. This year, the team at Prime Publishing (our company that hosts FaveCrafts, AllFreePaperCrafts, and 26 other cooking and crafting websites) not only attended the trade show, but we put on our second annual blogger and company networking event!

CHA 2014 Blogger Networking Event from FaveCrafts

(Click any of the photos to view a larger version)

The event itself took some preparation from team Prime Publishing. Perhaps the most important part was making mustache props for our beauteous photo booth:
CHA 2014 Blogger Event with FaveCrafts

Chris-Photo-Booth

Just kidding. This was absolutely not the most important part of preparing for the event, but it was necessary and good fun! We used our office Silhouette machine. . . .Making Mustaches with the Silhouette

. . . . and we produced these gorgeous creations, one type of mustache for each of the sponsors:Making Mustaches for the Blogger Event

The event opened with a mini cocktail hour (more like a cocktail fifteen minutes). Each blogger got free drinks and free food!CHA 2014 Blogger Event with FaveCrafts

The bloggers then filed inside the ballroom and filled their plates with hors d’oeuvres:CHA 2014 Blogger Event with FaveCrafts

  Simone Collins, the director of the craft sites as well as our social media director, gave a brief opening talk that introduced all of the sponsors and explained the speed-dating style that this event would take on. FaveCrafts, AllFreeCrochet, and each sponsor had a table, and the bloggers moved to the various tables each time a bell was rung. It was a great way for everyone to meet everyone!IMG_0089

For the next hour, bloggers networked with companies and we got to meet bloggers who already work on FaveCrafts and other Prime Publishing sites! It was a great way for bloggers to put a face to an email address!CHA 2014 Blogger Event with FaveCrafts

CHA 2014 Blogger Event with FaveCrafts

CHA 2014 Blogger Event with FaveCrafts

At the end of the event, the sponsors were extremely generous to supply not one, not two, not three, but FOUR swag bags to each individual blogger! The amount of swag literally filled this table:

CHA 2014 Blogger Event with FaveCrafts

 

And the bloggers needed to carry it all like this:

CHA 2014 Blogger Event with FaveCrafts

All in all, it was a HUGE success and we can’t thank our sponsors enough!

Coats & Clark

Darice

Design Masters

Elmers

Fiskars

I Love To Create

Krylon

Leisure Arts

Lion Brand

Plaid

Polyform

Rit Dye

ShurTech – Duck Brand

Simplicity

Sizzix

 

What would you make with all that swag?

 

Follow Our CHA Coverage All Weekend Long

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We’re so excited to fly away to sunny California and attend the Craft and Hobby Association‘s Winter Trade Show in Anaheim, CA! Follow along with the action on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Follow along with the hastag #CHAShow so you don’t miss anything.

Also, be sure to check back all weekend for sneak peeks of all the new craft products for 2014!

While we can’t wait to check out the cool new products and say hi to some of our favorite crafters, we’re really looking forward to our exclusive Blogger Event on Saturday, January 11th! At this time, an exclusive group of bloggers and craft company representatives will have the chance to meet and mingle. We’ll be posting from the event using the hashtag #CHANetworking, so be sure to check back all day with fun updates!

The bloggers in attendance will also go home with an amazing goody bag featuring products from the following brands:

What would you make if you received a CHA goody bag at our Blogger Event?

CHA Swag Bag Giveaway Winner Announced!

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Last month team FaveCrafts left the cold Chicago weather behind and headed out to sunny California for the winter Craft and Hobby Association show!  We saw popular trends, including Sports Crafts and Spring Crafts, and we even gathered some awesome product for our 2013 SWAG Bag giveaway!

In order to be entered to win the giveaway, readers had to answer the following question:  “What new craft do you plan on learning in 2013?”  We picked a winner at random and the winner is…

Karen!  Karen said, “I plan on learning to make my own homemade beauty products, like lip balm, maybe hand creams.”  Congrats, Karen!

 

Thanks to all who participated in this contest…and don’t forget to check out or site giveaways for even MORE chances to win!

SWAG Bag Giveaway from CHA!

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Team FaveCrafts left the cold Chicago weather behind and headed out to sunny California over the weekend for the winter Craft and Hobby Association show!  We have plenty of blog posts coming about the show, including what was trending at CHA so you can have a preview of what will be hitting the craft stores soon, but in the meantime–

The great part about attending CHA is collecting all the awesome SWAG for our loyal and crafty readers!  And, as luck would have it, we have a whole bag full of crafty goodies that we can’t wait to share with one lucky winner!

swag-bag-giveaway

There’s TONS of stuff in our SWAG bag, including yarn, stamps, and brand new products that are unlike anything on the market today.  This is a great collection of products that will make you feel like you were right there at the show with us!

Wanna win this amazing collection of brand new products?

Leave a comment below and answer our question to be entered to win.  You have until January 31st to enter, so get your comment posted today to ensure that you’re in the running to win this exclusive one-of-a-kind SWAG bag from CHA!

 

Giveaway Rules:

  • Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
  • One comment/entry per person per blog post.
  • Contest closes January 31st at 11:59p CST.
  • Leave a comment on this blog post to be entered to win.
  • Winners will be posted on FaveCraftsBlog.com and notified by email.

 

Leave a comment by answering this question and you’ll be registered to win our CHA SWAG Bag Giveaway:

“What new craft do you plan on learning in 2013?”

CraftFusion CHA Summer 2012 – Cool2Craft TV

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CraftFusion CHA Summer 2012 - Cool2Craft TV

We’re excited to invite you to join us for Monday’s Cool2Craft TV.  Our Cool2Craft special reporter, Lisa Fulmer, tours 10 booths to bring you our special CHA Summer 2012 episode featuring the coolest ideas, products and tools! Featuring Art Clay World, FloraCraft, USArtQuest, ImpressArt, KellyCraft, Stampendous, Rhinestone Genie, Little Darlings Rubber Stamps, Tombow and Westcott Scissors.

It’s easy to watch the Cool2Craft TV Channel right from your computer. Monday August 13, 2012 at 9 am Pacific/ 10 am Mountain/ 11 am Central/ noon Eastern. Watch craft demos and join in the live chat at showtime at Cool2Craft.com. See you Monday!