Around the World with 80 Artists: An Interview with the Author

August 4, 2016 by FaveCrafts

Crafting traditions can be found across the world. No matter where you live there is sure to be a tradition of creating and crafting. Creativity and art have the ability to bring people together and inspire harmony. This very tradition was the driving force behind the upcoming collection, Around the World in 80 Artists.

This collection of projects from international artists and designers was compiled by Mahe Zehra Husain of the Creative Art Academy as a way to celebrate diversity in art as well as raise money for the Malala Fund to educate girls around the world. This book contains 80 projects from 80 artists from 22 different countries across the world. This project highlights a love for creativity as something that holds us together. To help fun this project, check out the kickstarter fund here.

Tell us a bit about your project (Around the World in 80 Artists) and what inspired you to create it.

I was so tired of seeing sad stories in my Facebook news feed, it seemed as if the world was falling apart over small differences in color, religion and lifestyle. The crafting community was so different in comparison. There was such a feeling of friendship and appreciation among the artists I knew, I felt it was super important to highlight that positive and show the world that creativity can hold us together.

Your book focuses on projects from around the world. What crafting traditions inspire you?

I am influenced by my South Asian heritage. I love bright colors and mixed media and am known to incorporate a lot of bright fabrics in my work.

Out of the 80 projects in your book, which projects are your favorites?

That’s a hard question! I am super into watercolors and coloring pages and so I really like the tutorial I am sharing with you and I also love the coloring pages included in the book.

Can you tell us a bit about your process for this project? What sort of challenges did you face?

It was hard to get 80 artists together but Facebook helped me a lot there. I set up a group and invited a few artists I knew and then they started inviting others they admired and so slowly we made our way to 80 artists from 22 countries.

If you could only craft with 3 materials for the rest of your life, what three would you choose?

Paper, Glue and Scissors

What country or region do you take crafting inspiration from?

On the Road Again: 27 Easy Travel Activities and Crafts for Summer Vacation

May 26, 2016 by AllFreeKidsCrafts

Oh, summer road trips. Long hours spent on the road, fun trips to amusement parks and sightseeing stops, my sister and I fighting in the backseat…nothing says summer vacation more than a family road trip. If your family will be hitting the road this summer or even flying to an adventurous location, I’ve decided to create a list of awesome boredom busters to give your kids some entertainment during those endless hours in the backseat. So buckle up, because I guarantee this list of travel activities will keep your kids occupied during traffic jams or long lines at the airport.

This list of crazy amazing summer crafts for kids contains not only exciting travel games, but free printable activity sheets, easy art projects, and ways to keep your kids (and car) organized. Most importantly, I’ve included a list of relatively mess-free snacks that are travel-friendly, so that your kids won’t be asking you to stop at every McDonald’s you pass. This list of travel activities is literally everything you could ask for!

I’d love to hear how you keep your kids entertained during summer vacation below in the comments, whether you have DIY craft ideas, fun and easy snack recipes, or organization tips. Here’s wishing your family happy traveling!

On the Road Again: 27 Easy Travel Activities and Crafts for Summer Vacation

Kid-Approved DIY Travel Games

Kids and parents will love this collection of vintage-inspired crafts!

Roadtrip State Countdown
Super Convenient Travel Checkers – Small on Space!
Tic-Tac-Toe To Go
Vintage Vacation Travel Games – Brand New!
Roadtrip Behavior Clips

Free Printable Activity Sheets

Be sure to check out all of these awesome free coloring pages!

Printable Road Trip Activities
Road Trip Bingo Free Printable – A Travel Classic!
Mandala Free Coloring Pages
Jungle Animal Coloring Pages to Print – A Roadtrip Must-Have!
Friendly Owls Free Coloring Page
Free Printable Farm Animals Game

Organization Ideas

Tons of great ideas for keeping your kids and your backseat organized!

Summer Vacation Snack Packs – Brand New!
Travel Bucket Kids’ Craft
Kid’s Roadtrip Activity Binders – Perfect for Organizing Their Art!
Travel Treasure Trove
Sovenir Altoid Tins – Great for Kids on the Go!
Out & About Travel Art Box

Easy Art Projects for Kids

The perfect way to keep kids entertained during long flights!

Airplane Doodle Books – Great for Long Flights!
Storytelling Spinner
Preschool Travel Activity Book – Perfect for Younger Kids!
Collaborative Accordion Picture Books
Lovely Puppy Puppet

Yummy Mess-Free Snack Ideas

A deliciously healthy alternative to junk food!

Roadmap Cookie Tube – A Cool Way to Store Snacks!
Edible Lego Men
Summertime Sunshine Flip Flop Cookies
Yummy Ladybug Healthy Snack – Adorable and Healthy!
DIY Rainbow Candy Dots

How do you keep your kids entertained during summer road trips? Leave a comment below!

What You (Almost) Forgot to Bring: Sewing Purses, Organizers, and More for Travel

July 14, 2014 by AllFreeSewing

Warning: This post contains incredibly helpful information and sewing tutorials.

You were supposed to leave 12 minutes ago for the airport, but you know you’re forgetting something. Your keys? Chargers? ID? What is it??

There just isn’t time to think about it anymore. Boldly you yell at everyone to get in the car, scoop the dazed 4 year-old off the floor, and head out.

Settled at your gate with your group of nomads, a heart-sinking realization sets in that you forgot everything.

Don’t worry! It was just a dream. To prevent yourself from forgetting those personal and family essentials, we’ve created a list of items that you definitely need. Best of all, they’re all simple sewing projects that you’ll enjoy making immensely. How do we know? Come on, you’re on a sewing blog; we’re one in the same. Take a trip with us by browsing through these tutorials on sewing purses, organizers, and more gear for traveling. You’ll be surprised at how incredibly useful each of these free sewing projects is.

Sewing Purses, Pouches, and Toiletry Holders

Sewing Project Ideas for Parents

Necessities to Sew if You’re Camping

How to Sew Helpful Accessories if you Lose Everything All the Time

Sewing Tutorials for the Luggage-less Traveler

Additional Items You Always Forget

Tell us:

Did we forget something? Hopefully not, but if you thought of an item on this list that wasn’t mentioned, tell us what it is!

Make it Personal: Monogrammed Gifts for Family and Friends

April 11, 2014 by AllFreeChristmasCrafts

There’s something charming about monograms. Personalization is practical and comforting to people, whether they be newlyweds, homeowners, or little girls and boys. It’s fun to see your name or initials on items you use daily, like a favorite coffee mug or pillow case. Plus, it’s so easy to keep track of monogrammed accessories. At AllFreeChristmasCrafts, we’re always looking for great gift ideas for the loved ones on your list. We have a nice collection of monogram crafts on our site, but there are tons of ideas out there. Check out a few of our favorites.

DIY Wedding Gifts

Spring and summer are the most popular seasons for weddings, and often those invitations come with a hefty price tag. If the items on the registry are out of your price range, or if you find yourself scrambling for gift ideas, consider making a monogrammed gift for the happy couple. You can tastefully display the first letter of the couple’s surname on ceramics, such as these Personalized Mugs and Dishes. For a quirky and useful present, etch the couple’s last name on the bottom of a casserole dish, and there will never be confusion over which dish belongs to whom at family dinners.

If you happen to be the bride-to-be, you can put together personalized treats for your bridesmaids or wedding guests. These Chalkboard Wine Glass Bottoms will delight your bridesmaids, plus they will give you an excuse to stop by for a glass of something sweet when you return from your honeymoon.

And what about those lovely folks who came to help you celebrate? Fill these Monogrammed Treat Containers with mints, chocolates, and other tiny treats for your guests. Family and friends will appreciate these favors, which double as mementos, long after the candy is gone.

Monogram Gifts for Women Who Wander

These traveler-friendly crafts are great for people who are always on the go. For instance, most travelers rely on caffeine to keep them energized, which is where this Personalized Travel Mug comes in. It’s reusable, easy to clean, and has your name written all over it–literally! Another fabulous and inexpensive gift is this Personalized Lip Balm. Cute and convenient, you can wear your lip balm around your neck when you make this fun craft. It’s especially great for scatterbrained people like yours truly. You can also make yourself or a loved one a personalized gift idea like this Monogram Sachet. Stow this darling craft in your suitcase so that every time you open it you’ll catch a lovely scent. If you’re traveling with a large group and storage space is limited, you can’t beat this Travel Pillow Case. The monogram will prevent any packing or unpacking mix-ups. Even if you can’t sleep in your own bed, your head will feel at home.

What type of crafts do you like to personalize?

Impeccable Taste: 5 Best Holiday Party Food and Craft Combos

November 23, 2013 by AllFreeSewing

It’s coming on Christmas, which means your December calendar is quickly filling up with holiday party invites. It can be exhausting trying to come up with a fun new idea for every Christmas gathering. At a certain point, we all want to give in to the call of store-bought Christmas cookies in a tin we brought from home so we can pass them off as our own. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Make the social merry-go-round fun this year with these amazing and easy food and craft combos that are sure to have you at the top of everyone’s guest list. From pies to themed dresses, these are your new Christmas party go-tos.

An Old Favorite

The Christmas casserole is a key staple of any holiday potluck, and each guest has their own family recipe. Try something a little different this year with the Soupless Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole, which is guaranteed to please. This recipe is perfect for parties because you can leave portion sizes up to each partygoer. No need to meticulously cut out pieces—just let everyone scoop as much as they want! Plus, green bean dishes complement almost every other flavor, so your casserole will taste excellent with whatever other dishes guests bring. Cart your dish from your kitchen to the party in this awesome upcycled Placemat Casserole Carrier, which will keep your cooking at the perfect temperature until it’s time to eat!

An Eye on the Waistline

Everyone struggles with weight gain during the holidays. How could they not, with all those delicious desserts at the tips of their fingers? Do your loved ones a favor this Christmas with the Skinny Eggnog Pie. This scrumptious dessert cuts out some of the fat and calories without losing a bit of the taste. Fellow party guests won’t believe that this is a “lite” dessert! Keep your pie looking magazine-cover ready in the Casserole and Pie Carrier, which will protect all your hard work from being jostled or ruined in the car. Choose a Christmas fabric to give this carrier an extra holiday boost!

30 Gingerbread Men (and a Lady)

This Little Miss Gingerbread Dress is too cute for words, and will be absolutely adorable paired with some delicious gingerbread cookies! The outfit is surprisingly easy to put together, and can be made the weekend before its party debut. Even better, the Cut Out Gingerbread Cookies are dairy, egg, and gluten free! You’ll be everyone’s favorite party guest with this considerate treat.

Looks Great, Tastes Better

Be careful with the Dreamy Gingerbread Cheesecake — you might have other party guests forgetting about the spirit of Christmas to fight one another over the last piece of this mouth-watering dessert. This cheesecake is a fun twist on usual gingerbread desserts, and even gives an upgrade to regular cheesecake! A slice of this dessert is the perfect way to finish off a potluck meal. And with the 20 Minute Festive Christmas Cake Frill, your dessert can look as good as it tastes! In less than half an hour, you can whip up some bunting and a little frill to make your dish stand out from the crowd.

Cute Enough to Eat

This easy-breezy DIY Applique Onesie is just the ticket for a baby this Christmas. The applique takes no time at all to make, but will have your baby looking so cute and festive while remaining comfortable and warm. Couple that killer outfit with these tree-shaped Classic Christmas Spritz Cookies and you can bet that you’ll have the best dressed plus-one in the room.

What’s your go-to holiday potluck dish?

Terrific Travel Quilts for this Year’s Summer Vacation

July 3, 2013 by FaveQuilts

While you and the kids were frantically stuffing your suitcases with sunblock, sandals, and swimsuits, the editors at FaveQuilts were compiling a list of our most helpful travel quilts to organize your summer travels. Whether you are jetting off to tropical beaches or packing up the car for a weekend camping trip, these handy children’s quilted tote bags, fabric clutches, and cozy bed rolls are creative ways to make this year’s summer vacation less stressful for parents and more fun for the kids.

Crazy Quilt Ipod Case — Stuck in the car with cranky teenagers? Give them this Crazy Quilt Ipod Case to remind them of how “cool” you really are. This travel quilt project is a great way to use up your scrap fabrics and make a colorful crazy quilt pattern case to protect an Ipod on the go.

Play Anywhere Toy Car Carrier — Create this Play Anywhere Toy Car Carrier to keep your little guys entertained while waiting during your flight’s layover. Although kid’s quilt patterns for boys are hard to come by, this nifty quilted project pouch will delight your son and keep his toys organized.

Travel Jewelry Clutch — If you’re traveling to a fancy wedding, use this cute Travel Jewelry Clutch to protect all of your valuable jewelry. For added interest, pick your own fun and flashy fabric to make this useful quilted purse project extra glamorous.

DIY Bed Roll — Nothing is worse than a sleepy, cranky child on vacation. Save yourself from dealing with tears and tantrums by quilting this travel nap mat for your child. This awesome DIY quilted nap mat is super easy to store and is especially great for overnight car rides.

Fat Quarter Gypsy Bag – If your craft workspace is overflowing with fat quarters, consider this spacious patchwork quilt tote bag as your next quilted overnight bag. Feel free to use the multiple pockets of this Fat Quarter Gypsy Bag to store toiletries, clothes, and anything else you might need while out of town!

Ready to Go Sewing Caddy— Traveling with loose quilt supplies in your bag is messy and dangerous. What is a vacationing quilter to do? Quilt yourself a mini quilt organizer of course! Use scrap fat quarters to make this Ready To Go Sewing Caddy and finally organize all your needles and fabrics inside of this fantastic small quilt project.

A Walk in the Woods Mini Tote — Let your child bring along their favorite classic fairytale with this precious children’s quilted tote bag. The rich red fabric and happy storybook nine patch pattern are sure to be a hit amongst little girls in need of a little courage during their first time at sleep-away camp.

Thanks to your hard work on these small quilt projects, the kids are organized, the quilted bag is packed, and the Ipod is secure. That means it’s finally time to enjoy the summer sunshine and relax on vacation.

Where will you take your travel quilt this summer?

This Week on Cool2Craft TV – Around the World

June 24, 2012 by Tiffany

This week, the Cool2Craft design team is sharing around the world inspired ideas! Watch your favorite crafters create super cool projects and join in the live on-line chat. Join EcoHeidi Borchers, Tiffany Windsor, Candace Jedrowicz, Linda Peterson, and Savannah Starr for this week’s online episode.

EcoHeidi Borchers is creating a Travel Journal with the vintage Aleene’s Look of Copper Enamel technique, Tiffany Windsor is crafting a Tick Tock Stenciled Clock, Savannah Starr is making a Collaged Water Jug Bank, Candace Jedrowicz is creating Gypsy Bracelets and Linda Peterson is crafting Animal Print Safari Earrings.

It’s easy to watch the Cool2Craft TV Channel right from your computer. Monday June 25, 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!

Watch live streaming video from cool2craft at livestream.com

FaveCrafts 365 The Sights, The Sounds

May 22, 2011 by Maria

You don’t have to be on a tropical island to let what surrounds you inspire you! Close your eyes once a day and take a mini vacation without leaving your home. Spend 5 minutes enjoying whatever your imagination can come up with! Maybe you’d like to be climbing a mountain, picking wild strawberries in a meadow of daisies, or watching the sunrise from the porch of your dream home. If we exercise our imagination we might not lose any weight, but we will be more creative. Enjoy my vision of a great daydream…

Here are some projects for your imagination:

Bobble Scarf and Hat done with a crochet hook

Pink Passion Earrings are so eye catching!

Beachy Scrapbook Page to keep the memory going

And here’s to you!

FaveCrafts 365 Still on Vacation, Some Island Crafts to Inspire You

May 19, 2011 by Maria

I’m still on vacation, but wanted to share some island crafts to inspire you! This video notes which are the most popular island crafts, plus the variety of techniques and styles. Usually you’ll find crafts that have inexpensive supplies, use local naturals, and are focused on either keepsake or gift giving (you can’t come back from vacation without gifts for all your friends!).

What items do you usually pick up as keepsakes or gifts when you take a vacation? Do you look for handmade crafts?

Don’t miss tomorrow’s slide show of coconut inspired handmade crafts!

FaveCrafts 365 Gone Scuba Diving! But Crafting is on my Mind!

May 18, 2011 by Maria

I’m on vacation in sunny Bonaire, but the folks at FaveCrafts.com are still working away bringing you new projects, blog posts, videos, and more. No matter where I travel I always see, make, and buy crafts! It’s in our blood isn’t it?

Enjoy this slide show of some of the sites of Bonaire and some island crafting!