FaveCrafts

1000s of free craft projects, home decor ideas and DIY tips

December FaveCrafts Radio: Yarn Talk!

by

If there’s one thing we’ve noticed about you, our readers, is that many, many of you love yarn! Whether it’s to crochet with, to knit with, or just to craft with, you guys love it! So we just wanted to let everyone know that we’re paying attention and to keep you all happy we’re bringing you an all yarn episode of FaveCrafts Radio in December!

This month we’ll sit down and chat with Michael Sellick from The Crochet Crowd, Vickie Howell, Drew Emborsky aka The Crochet Dude about all their best yarn tips! So if you love to knit or crochet, you’ll definitely want to tune in on Tuesday December 11th at 11am EST to hear these three chat it up about their techniques, tips, and frustration solutions. But remember, just like every episode of FaveCrafts Radio, you can call in with your own questions to ask our craftlebrities! Have you been working on pattern that won’t stay flat? Have you been struggling with decreasing or increasing? Beginner or advanced, call at any point during our show and ask any yarn related questions that have been on your mind!

Put it in your calendars because this is going to be one fun show! Remember  just dial 646-200-4435  on December 11th from 11am to 12pm EST to have a chat with our yarn experts. 

November FaveCrafts Radio: The Amazing Men of Craft!

by

It seem like we just had a radio show doesn’t it? Well time flies when you’re having fun and soon it’ll be time for a brand new episode of FaveCrafts Radio! And this one just might be our best one yet! Why you ask? Well because this month we’re talking to The Amazing Men of Craft!

 

Are you excited yet? How often do you get to sit down and chat about crafting with the boys? This month’s episode will focus on holiday crafting because as much as you think you still have plenty of time until Christmas, it’ll be here faster than you can blink! We’ll sit down and chat with Jonathon Fong of Style with a Smile, Steven Brown of Glitterville, Drew Emborsky aka The Crochet Dude, and Mark Montano about Thanksgiving table settings, Christmas decorating, and party ideas! You’ll also get call in  and ask them your own questions!

These crafty men have loads to share with us! Not only will they be sharing their crafty knowledge with all of us and catching us up on what they’ve been up to, but all of the guests have craft books and products out so you can expect lots of giveaways! This is definitely one show you won’t want to miss.

So join us on November 13th at 11am EST to hear all the great ideas we come up with! Oh, don’t forget, you can call in and ask your own questions too! Just dial 646-200-4435 during the show and ask our guests anything that comes to mind!

Have you already started crafting for the holidays?

October FaveCrafts Radio Winner

by

And we’ve wrapped up another fun edition of FaveCrafts radio! This time we talked about crafting with kids and came up with some great ideas!

FaveCrafts Radio October Flyer with Bios 400px FaveCrafts October Radio Wrap Up!

If you missed it, you can listen to the archived edition right below!

If you read the wrap up you knew we were running a little contest after the show aired for a copy of Marisa’s book, Crazy-Cool Duct Tape Projects. Well the contest is up and we picked a winner! Drum roll please…..

The winner of an advance copy of Crazy-Cool Duct Tape Projects is…..

Virginia Tippen who said “Without a book/pattern to go by, grandsons and I made bookmarks for thier library book. So with a book/pattern to go by we would try them all.”  Well you’ll get your chance Virginia!

Thanks to everyone who listened and participated and we look forward to having you join us for next month’s edition of FaveCrafts Radio on November 13th at 11 am EST!

 

FaveCrafts October Radio Wrap Up!

by

Talking about kids crafts is nothing but fun always right? Well it was especially fun chatting with three kids crafting experts and getting new ideas for what to do with your kids was even more fun!

FaveCrafts Radio October Flyer with Bios 400px October FaveCrafts Radio: Lets Talk Kids Crafts!

If you missed it, you can listen to the archived edition right below!

Listen to internet radio with FaveCrafts on Blog Talk Radio

 

First up was Candie Cooper! She’s known for her work with jewelry, but she loves crafting with kids and with that bubbly personality we know she’s great at it! Here are the highlights from our chat with her:

Candie’s favorite crafts to make with kids: Decoupaging and metal working if you’ve got a big group of boys that you want to keep busy! Sound scary to you? Candie gives some great tips on getting your 3rd graders crafting with metal and holding on to all their limbs.

Candie’s suggestions for holiday crafts with kids: Wreaths! There’s a lot of versatility with wreath making.

How to modify adult craft ideas for children: Letting kids take the reigns on some projects and let their imaginations run free.

Kid crafting tips: Stay organized and keep supplies limited, otherwise crafty chaos can take over really quickly.

Candie has a show called Hands on Crafts for Kids that airs on PBS! Check it out for even more educational kids crafts ideas.  She’s also got a new jewelry making book out called Necklaceology. 

 

Our next guest was Marisa Pawelko – The Modern Surrealist. She has a background in furniture design but now works in crafting and upcycling colorful goodies! Check out what she had to say:

Marisa’s favorite craft products to use with kids: Velcro and Styrofoam forms.

Best ways to keep clean with kids crafting: Save cardboard boxes to use as work surfaces or stick to things that are less messy like the Styrofoam forms. Also a kid safe scissor like the Scissor Mouse is absolutely essential.

Why crafting with kids is fun: They are full of imagination and invent fun new things.

Marisa is coming out with a brand new book next month all about duct tape crafts! Look for Crazy-Cool Duct Tape Projects to preorder your copy today! 

 

Last but not least, we chatted with Breanna Newbill from Dollar Store Mom! She’s all about crafting on a budget and she loves cooking up delicious recipes as well as creating fun crafts for kids. Here are some tidbits she gave us:

How to craft on a budget: Be very careful with the materials that you pick out and make use of all the great supplies you can find in the Dollar Store.

Favorite kids craft ideas: Let the kids run wild with their imagination by just putting supplies out on a table.

Where to start crafting with kids: Number 1 tip? Ask them. Talk to them about what they want to do. They will come up with the most entertaining projects themselves.

Breanna works on Dollar Store Mom and tries to be the best mom she can be on a budget – don’t we all? Check out her site for fun crafting ideas for kids that don’t break the bank.

If you want more ideas, check out our friends at AllFreeKidsCrafts.com for tutorials and inspiration!

FaveCrafts Radio Giveaway!

FC Blog Giveaway Logo FaveCrafts Radio September Recap!

To enter to win the advanced copy of Marisa’s book, Crazy-Cool Duct Tape Projects, just tell us what you would make out of duct tape in the comments below!

 

Contest Rules:

  •     Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
  •     One comment/entry per person.
  •     Contest closes October 14, 2012 at 11:59p CST.
  •     Please tell us what you would make with Duct Tape in the comments in order to be entered.
  •     Winners will be posted on this blog Monday, October 15th and notified by email

When’s the next show you ask? November 13th at 11 am EST. See you there!

October FaveCrafts Radio: Let’s Talk Kids Crafts!

by

Need ideas for keeping your kids busy when winter break comes up? Still need help deciding what costume you’re making for your kids this year? If you answered yes to both of these then you should join us Tuesday the 9th at 11 am EST on FaveCrafts Radio where we’ll be talking kid’s crafts for an hour with some very special guests!

We’ve called in our crew of kids crafting experts to sit down and chat with us all about crafts that your kids will love to make with you! We’re also going to ask them for adorable Halloween costume ideas for kids in case you haven’t pinned down what the kiddos are going to be this year. And everyone knows that a handmade costume out does store-bought any day ;). We’ll be chatting with Candie Cooper from Craft4Kids, Marisa Pawelko – The Modern Surrealist, and Breanna Newbill from Dollar Store Mom! These lovely ladies will be weighing in their expertise to give us some great ideas on kids crafts to keep little hands busy when they’re not in school or on weekends. Besides, don’t you always need fun ideas for activities you can do with your kids or grandkids?

So join us on October 9th at 11am EST to hear all the great ideas we come up with! Oh, I forgot to mention, you can call in and ask your own questions too! Just dial 646-200-4435 during the show and ask our guests anything that comes to mind! In the meantime, you can browse for ideas from our friends at AllFreeKidsCrafts.com!

Giveaways!

Do we ever let you down with giveaways? I thought not. We’re not only doing a giveaway wrap up after the show, but we’re also giving away a prize pack of $60 worth of craft books from Fox Chapel Publishing to one lucky listener! So be sure to listen in and sign into the chat feature beneath the radio show to be entered into the giveaway!

What’s your favorite craft to do with your kids?

FaveCrafts Radio – September Recap!

by

Happy September! We just finished up talking with some wonderful crafty ladies about home decorating and easy DIY home decor crafts. I walked away with some great ideas for my own apartment, if you didn’t listen in you should listen to the recap and walk away with some ideas of your own.

 

FaveCrafts Radio September Flyer with Bios 400px September FaveCrafts Radio Show: Simple Home Decor

If you couldn’t listen in this month, make sure you tune in to the archives!

Listen to internet radio with FaveCrafts on Blog Talk Radio

This month we chatted with Amanda Formaro and Shalana Frisby who gave us some really amazing tips for decorating your living space. Especially since both Shalana and our Host Amy Anderson had just moved into new spaces that needed lots of decorating.

The easiest ways to spruce up your home is through making your own wall art and pillows! You can buy wood cheaply from Home Depot or pick up things from thrift stores and flea markets to put up on the walls. Pillows are so easy to make and change up too and they give any room a brand new feel without too much cost or work. What great and simple ideas!

Shalana loves to go room by room when decorating her home! What a cute idea! Each space can be it’s own separate getaway. She also loves up-cycling. Reusing items that you already have in the house is a great way to give something a fresh feeling without breaking the bank.

So we wanted to know about DIY home decor on a budget. The answer? Thrifting of course! Amanda told us that some fun pieces picked up from the thrift store and a can of spray paint can create a perfectly fun and kitschy wall statement. Amanda is a big lover of wall art, and let me tell you, she’s got me convinced too! Recycling and re-purposing is the best and cheapest way to decorate your home.

Amy told us that she never finds anything good at the thrift store. Amanda’s advice is to visit them more frequently because they get donations all the time and stuff rotates out, so you’ll always be able to find something new. Think of times when people are doing a lot of cleaning and donating – spring and fall.

We had a fun reader question from Jessica from Mad In Crafts. She asked “How difficult is it to hand those heavy signs on the wall?” Some suggestions we got were saw tooth hangers, picture hanging kits, and wire hanging kits.

Of course we got on the topic of IKEA because, you know, IKEA is awesome when it comes to cheap, ready-made home decor. We started chatting about IKEA Hackers, which is another fun blog with ideas for how you can make your furniture items your own for cheap! And really, who doesn’t like cheap?

Necessary tools for the home decor fan? Spray paint and a really good glue. And I have to agree.

We chatted with Amanda about styles and trends. Guess what’s in? Mocha and coffee colors. How perfect for fall! But Amanda made a good point, if you were following the colors trends every year, you’d be changing your walls all the time! A better idea? Try finding some old vases and using glass paint to change up the colors or making some new colored throw pillows. Accent pieces are the perfect thing you need for changing an entire room without having to paint the walls.

Shalana was our color expert and told us about using  shades of grey for more modern looking home decor. If you’re thinking ahead because you’re decorating now, the Spring 2013 color trends are pastels and brights!

That’s only some of what we chatted about. We also talked about wallpaper, using wallpaper as wall part, supplies for getting your home decor crafting inspirations started, and decorating with kids in the home!

Mod Podge Prize Pack!

FC Blog Giveaway Logo July FaveCrafts Radio Wrap up!

To enter to win the prize pack you’ll have to listen to the September edition of the radio show to get the “secret question” to answer in the comments section. It’s that easy! How can you not want an awesome sampler prize pack from Mod Podge? The prize includes our host Amy’s new book all about Mod Podge along with a huge sampler set. You know you want it! As our editorial director claims “The book is awesome!” and she’s right!

 

ModPodgeRocks1 July FaveCrafts Radio Wrap up!

 

Contest Rules:

  •     Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
  •     One comment/entry per person.
  •     Contest closes September 15, 2012 at 11:59p CST.
  •     Please enter the super secret password from the radio show in the comments in order to be entered.
  •     Winners will be posted on this blog Monday, September 17th and notified by email

When’s the next show you ask? October 9th at 11 am EST. See you there!

Craft Wars: Interview with Nikki McGonigal

by

I can’t think of a better way to get ready to watch Craft Wars tonight than to meet one of the contestants! The FaveCrafts team would like you to meet Nikki McGonigal, from Nikki, In Stitches! We interviewed her about her crafting style and what it was like to craft with cameras all around. There are two episodes this week, 8pm EST and 11pm EST, so be sure to watch the second one to see Nikki.

Nikki McGonigal

Who is your partner on the show?
My partner in Craft Wars crime is Jen from Passion-For-Parties.com. The minute I found out I would need to bring someone with me, I instantly thought of Jen. She is the perfect compliment to my crafting style and techniques. Together, I knew we could tackle anything they threw at us.

How would you describe your crafting style?
My crafting style is classic, with a modern twist. My favorite projects are simple, basic ideas that have been around forever, but with my fresh ideas thrown in. I think that’s what makes them favorites with my readers, too. They can see their foundation and it reminds them of a project they may have seen their mother or grandmother do, but they also appreciate and enjoy how it’s been reworked to fit today’s styles and trends.

What was running through your mind when you started the competition?
Oh my goodness…you don’t want to know what was going through my mind when we got started! Everything from “where do we even start” to “ugh, I should have worn a cuter outfit!” But in all seriousness, I just kept thinking that I wanted to have a finished project. I knew I would be so disappointed in myself, and the judges would have a field day on me, if I didn’t put a complete piece in front of them.

Was it hard to handle the pressure?
I’d like to say no, but let’s be honest. Crafting with a camera crew in your face and a gigantic red clock counting down to zero on the wall would be hard to handle for anyone. I think Jen and I handled it the best we could. And really, you’d be surprised at how you just kind of kick into an extra gear when the going gets tough.

Nikki McGonigal on Craft Wars

Photo courtesy of TLC

What crafting tool was your lifesaver?
I lost track of how many hot glue gun glue sticks we went through! And we definitely showed off our skills with the power tools! Like I said, we really tried to show a variety of techniques, so we didn’t rely solely on any one tool. But, the Michael’s craft closet was amazing, and I wish I could have stayed in there for days playing with all that was in there!

What was your favorite part of the show?
The end! But not because it was over! My favorite part of the show was the end because I couldn’t have been prouder of the work that Jen and I put out there. I think viewers will be inspired by what we made and want to recreate our work at home. And for me, considering that’s exactly what I do on NikkiInStitches.com, that was my goal. I wanted to craft pieces that viewers would not only love, but watch and say “I can make that. I’m going to make that!” And I think we did just that.

Nikki McGonigal on Craft Wars
Photo courtesy of TLC

What did you learn from being on Craft Wars?
I learned that everyone crafts so differently. Everyone works at different paces. Everyone sees supplies differently and naturally gravitates towards very different styles. I also learned that everyone judges crafts differently. Even though the judges didn’t love everything I put out there, I appreciate all of their criticism. It’s helped me see my work differently now, and I feel like my projects and tutorials have improved since being on the show.

Do you have any advice for crafters out there?
My advice for crafters is to stay true to your style and what you love to create, and don’t be afraid to try something new. I did both on Craft Wars. I stayed true to what I love and my style. And I tried something very new by putting myself out there on the show. I couldn’t be happier with the entire experience. The crew, the judges, and the other contestants were some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Jen was the best partner I ever could have asked for. And just the experience of being on reality TV has been so much fun!

Want to learn more about Nikki? Be sure to go to www.nikkiinstitches.com.

Can’t get enough of Craft Wars? You can read all our interviews with past contestants and listen to this month’s FaveCrafts Radio Show below for behind the scenes secrets you can’t get anywhere else!

Listen to internet radio with FaveCrafts on Blog Talk Radio

Are you watching Craft Wars? What has been your favorite challenge so far?

August FaveCrafts Radio Wrap Up!

by

Today was the day! Did you miss it? No worries, you can still listen to our super fun Craft wars edition of FaveCrafts Radio in the archives. We talked to Craft Wars vets Lisa Fulmer, Andrea Currie, Margot Potter, and Angela Daniels!

FaveCrafts Radio August Flyer with Bios 400px August FaveCrafts Radio is Coming up!

Andrea Currie and Lisa Fulmer won their episode of Craft Wars, Margot Potter is best known for her amazing jewelry projects, and Angela Daniels‘ episode aired tonight after the show! Below are just some of the questions we covered in the show with paraphrased answers. If you want to know the full answers, you’ll have to tune in and listen to the archive!

Listen to internet radio with FaveCrafts on Blog Talk Radio

First question: What’s your favorite part of the show?

– Having a team of little clean up elves.

Margot you seem to keep your cool, did you get scared or nervous?

– The camera part doesn’t scare me because I was on live tv for years, but it is nerve racking to work in such a restricted schedule. But it was fun, I’d do it again in a heart beat!

Tell us about the audition process.

-When you do beautiful things take beautiful pictures of it! Having a little bit of bubble in your personality helps as well. You have to learn how to sell yourself a little bit.

Twitter question: I’m a huge fan of Angela Daniels (the Guilty Crafter). Did it feel less guilty being around other crafters?

-No, it didn’t! I maybe even felt more guilty. I was totally guilt-ridden the whole time.

Lisa, was there a lot of pressure being the assistant? 

– It was totally an honor. The pressure was there because I really wanted to help Andrea shine. It was certainly exciting. It was just the best roller-coaster ride ever!

Margot, when Tori was coming up to you and asking questions, was it hard to focus?

– It was awkward! I was so distracted by so many things I had to focus on that I barely noticed she had been standing there. It was very weird have to stop in the middle of what you’re doing and have a conversation like that.

 Do you think you have to be established in the craft industry to make it on the show?

– No, I don’t think so. You just have to show you have some crafty chops. I think the key is to be bigger than you actually are, so be a little over the top. Be you, just be you magnified.

How are you feeling about your show tonight Angela?

– I am so nervous! A bunch of my friends and I are getting together and watching it on a big screen and I’m humiliated already! A lot of them have never seen what I can do and the first experience they’re getting is me crafting in a panicked state.

Angela, is it hard to take such criticism from the judges?

– I tend to be pretty critical of my own self, so there’s rarely anything that anyone can say to me that I haven’t already told myself. It was a little cringe-worthy, but I knew what was going to happen when I went up there to get judged.

Andrea, tell us a little bit about the process of coming up with your idea on the fly.

– I think a lot of the crafters drew on things we’ve made in the past. I’m also really inspired by Anthropologie so I knew I was going to draw inspiration from that.

Watching the shows, is there any episode that you thought you would have done great in?

– I know there were episodes that I was glad I wasn’t on! Although I think I would have done well on the Pet Shop episode.

Margot, you ended up designing a Christmas tree. Where do you go with it when you realize that somewhere in the challenge you start doing something that another crafter is also doing?

– Well I think it’s all about the journey, so in the end those two trees could not have been more different.

Angela, how did you decide what to wear?

– Oh my gosh, I sweated over this! Patty and I spent endless phone calls and text messages giving and getting opinions. I thought about wearing cute vintage prom dresses, but I am super craft accident prone that we decided to go with something super plain.

Andrea and Lisa, is there an unlimited supply of craft challenge materials?

– It is NOT unlimited supply. You have to go and grab what you see and what you think is going to be the best for your project. It was a lot of pressure to find what you thought was cute and make sure you had enough of them because the other contests would grab them up too.

– There were times I was looking for felt or paper, but there was no more!

Andrea, what was it like having the helpers?

– They were great! You did have to have some strong leadership abilities to tell them what they needed to do, but they were very helpful. What was unfortunate was that Lisa wasn’t really allowed to tell them what to do, which was unfortunate because she’s got such good leadership skills.

Margot, if you HAD to pick another contestant that was on the show, who and why?

– Ooo I definitely would have to pick Angela Daniels because I think we’d rock the house!

Angela, did the Craft Wars vets get an in depth tour of the Micheal’s closet ahead of time?

– No. When the time starts, the time starts. I actually kept finding things in the closet and thinking “Oh I could really use that!” I actually did go into my local Micheal’s ahead of time.

Andrea and Lisa, how are you going to spend the money?

– Well I’m splitting it with Lisa and using it to help grow my business, because you know it’s expensive to start a business.

Does it feel funny or awkward to have the judges and cameras watching you the whole time?

– We were so tunnel vision that I didn’t even realize that they were sitting there watching us the whole time. It was awkward when you finally came up for air and realized they were there.

Margot, I know there are some people that are hating on Craft Wars.

– I see we need crafting back on TV so if this is not your flavor of crafty ice cream, it will open the doors for lots of other flavors of crafty ice cream.

Want to know what Angela Daniels said about her episode that airs tonight? You’ll just have to listen in. We had so much fun talking to all the Craft Wars vets and getting to know the show a little better. Thank you to all our lovely guests!

FC Blog Giveaway Logo CHA Trend Report: Nuts for Neon + Swag Bag Giveaway!

We pulled together a real Craft Wars style prize from our “prize vault” for our loyal listeners! It’s a great mix of craft supplies that you can use to make anything you’d like. We’d love to see the challenge you put yourself to and what you can come up with in this prize box – craft wars style! Entering could not be easier. Just give us a comment below with the super secret word given in the radio show.

Contest Rules:

  •     Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
  •     One comment/entry per person.
  •     Contest closes August 19, 2012 at 11:59p CST.
  •     Please enter the super secret password from the radio show in the comments in order to be entered.
  •     Winners will be posted on this blog Monday, August 20th and notified by email

Thanks all! Hope to see you next month, September 11th, for another great show!

 

August FaveCrafts Radio: The Craft Wars Edition!

by

If you love crafting and craft shows, you’ve probably already hard of the new Tori Spelling hosted show Craft Wars. Well we have a special treat for fans on this month’s edition of FaveCrafts Radio. Our guests this month will include Craft Wars alumns!

We’ll be talking to Craft Wars vets Lisa Fulmer, Andrea Currie, Margot Potter, and Angela Daniels! Angela’s episode airs the same day as our broadcast so you’ll be able to get the inside scoop before anyone else! Hear them talk about their experiences on the show, the pressures of crafting with limited materials and time, and how life has been for them after the show. The best part? You can call in and ask all your Craft Wars questions live! 

You read that right! We’re having another live caller show. Just tune in on August 14th at 11am EST and call 646-200-4435 to have your questions answered live by our Craft Wars stars!

Even if you don’t watch Craft Wars it’s a great chance to ask some crafty celebrities how they do all they do. And if you are a fan, you can ask about all the details of the episodes and how hard it was working under that tremendous amount of pressure. We also already have interviews up from Margot Potter and Lisa Fulmer and Andrea Currie!

margotpotter 2 Craft Wars: Interview with Margot Potter!     craftwarsblog Craft Wars Interview with Winners Andrea and Lisa!

Have you watched Craft Wars yet? What do you think of the show?

July FaveCrafts Radio Wrap-up!

by

We answered your questions! I can’t believe you missed it! We gathered a panel of crafty question answering experts to take your calls, Facebook questions, and tweets and oh boy were there some good ones.

FaveCrafts Radio July Flyer June FaveCrafts Radio: We Answer Your Questions!

Haley Pierson-Cox from The Zen of Making,Vicki O’Dell, The Creative Goddess, and Jenny Barnett-Rohrs from Craft Test Dummies made up our panel and they were fantastic! We were a little all over the place today, but here’s a quick run down of some of the questions and quick answers.

If you missed the show, no worries, you can listen to it online anytime, right here!

Question Number 1: Laura asked “What is the one crafting product that you simply cannot live without?” 

Simone: “Paper, paper, and more paper.”

Haley: Loves the Clover Seams Right for all her sewing projects!

Jenny: Her go-to is dry adhesive, which is usually a tape runner.

Vicki: Well, she’s all over the place, but she says her go-to is a good reliable Sharpie marker! Sometimes the simplest items are the most important.

Amy: Besides ModPodge, Amy loves acrylic craft paint!

 

Question Number 2: Chanel asked “What is the best way of sewing interfacing or bating into a purse?”

Haley suggested using fusible interfacing because it fuses right into the fabric and you can work with it as one piece.

 

Amy asked Jenny how to use water-color markers. Her advice was to color as you would normally and then go in after with a water brush or wet brush and brush it over to give it a cool water color effect. This technique works for water color markers, water color pencils, etc.

 

Question Number 3: Suzy asked “Naturally I’m curious about what to except from the CHA trade show. Anything note-worthy?”

Vicki: There are a lot of different companies that give sneak peeks right about now. Checking the company sites will let you see all the sneak peeks they’re releasing to get people excited for the show.

Jenny: Jenny tries to not really check out the sneak peeks, because she likes approaching the show with fresh eyes. Which is a great way to show up at the show and get excited!

 

Question Number 4: Amy asked “Do you have any suggestions of how to incorporate mixed-media into something that’s more of an experimentation project” 

Vicki: Go to your favorite craft store and buy something from one corner of the store and another thing from a different corner of the store, then put it together you’ve created mixed media! So if you buy some scrapbook paper and some wire and jewelry bits to make one item, you’ve created mixed media.

 

Question Number 5: Jackie asked “I’ve knitted 24 5-inch stockings for an advent calendar but I need to put the numbers 1-24 on them. Chain over stitching does not work. Any suggestions please?”

Haley: Depends on the style you want to keep. Sewing on little felt numbers would be a cute way to add them. You can also use the mending method. Take the color yarn you want and then hand stitch right over the knit stitches you’ve already made so it looks a little like color work, but it’s actually a method of embroidery.

 

Question Number 6: “How do you use glues like Mod Podge with inkjet printed photos.”

Amy: Mod Podge will smear the inks, but you can spray the picture with sealant and let it dry before you Mod Podge. Also, this method has not been tested by Amy, you can freeze the photo for 12 hours before putting on the Mod Podge.

 

Question Number 7: “Where do you get your pictures printed?”

Vicki: She prints hers right at home because she’s got three different kinds of printers and two scanners. Lucky lady!

Jenny: Usually prints at home because she’s the type of gal whose inspiration hits at 2 am.

Haley: Does not do a whole lot of printing, but prefers printing at home.

 

Question Number 8: “How do you reverse a crochet pattern so that the alphabet will come out in the correct left to right order? How do you read the graph.”

Haley: If the graph appears correct, then you might be entering your stitches on the incorrect side. If you’re looking at the graph you are going to start left to right, the second row of stitches you are going to read right to left.

 

Question Number 9: Simone (who is scared by jewelry) asked “What is the easiest project that I could start with if I wanted to make a piece of jewelry?”

Vicki: Has a project called the “World’s Easiest Necklace” on her blog, that take very little time and very little expertise!

 

Question Number 9: Joan asked “What type of glue should I use when attaching wooden letters to a Mod Podge surface.”

Jenny: You can actually use more Mod Podge! Because wood is porous it’ll stick to the already Mod Podge surface.

 

Question Number 10: Amy asked “What is a good way for someone to get started for someone who has never crafted before?”

Jenny: Do some research! YouTube videos and online tutorials are perfect for that. Once you know what you want to do, you have to build your basic tool kit to get started. Knowing what you are interested in creating, will help you pick the right type of products to get started. This is also the key to avoiding craft fails.

 

Phew! That was quiet a bit huh? I didn’t get to cover everything though, so to make sure you didn’t miss anything don’t forget to listen in the archives for all the crafty knowledge.

Mod Podge Prize Pack!

FC Blog Giveaway Logo June FaveCrafts Radio Wrap Up!

To enter to win the prize pack you’ll have to listen to the July edition of the radio show to get the “secret word” to enter in the comments section. It’s that easy! How can you not want an awesome sampler prize pack from Mod Podge? The prize includes Amy’s new book all about Mod Podge along with a huge sampler set of all the different kinds of Mod Podge.

 

 

Contest Rules:

  •     Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
  •     One comment/entry per person.
  •     Contest closes July 13, 2012 at 11:59p CST.
  •     Please enter the super secret password from the radio show in the comments in order to be entered.
  •     Winners will be posted on this blog Monday, July 16th and notified by email

Thanks all! Hope to see you next month, August 14th, for another great show!

Crochet

Jewelry

Knitting

Paper

Sewing

Thrifty