8 Craft Trends for 2019

January 24, 2019 by FaveCrafts 2 Comments

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?

7 Controversial Craft Questions You Should Answer

November 26, 2014 by FaveCrafts 2 Comments

We want to know what you think! That’s what we are all about at FaveCrafts.com – talking to the community (you) about your “fave” crafts. Now is your chance to see what your fellow crafters think about these topics so we can learn a little bit more about each other!

This is probably the hottest question out there and I would love to see who “wins” in this poll! Knitters, be sure to check out AllFreeKnitting.com for the best selection of free knitting patterns. Crocheters have it made in the shade with AllFreeCrochet.com AND AllFreeCrochetAfghanPatterns.com. You can never have too much crochet. and of course, we have our fair share of free crochet and knitting patterns too.

Knitting or Crochet?

Let the rivalry begin! We already know that y’all love Christmas (AllFreeChristmasCrafts.com was created for a reason), but I bet there are a lot of Halloween fans out there as well…

Crafting for Christmas or Halloween?

I didn’t give you an option for “Neither” because there’s just no avoiding either of these. Pick your crafty “poison!”

Sequins or Glitter?

Want to dress up your pooch? Your cat tolerates a knitted sweater? We would love to know.

Crafting for Cats or Dogs?

It’s all the rage on Pinterest, but do YOU like it?

Arm Knitting?

Have you mastered the art of saving toilet paper rolls and making beautiful crafts? Tell us what you think.

Toilet Paper Roll Crafts?

This chilly weather has prompted this question (and maybe since I’m already making my third cowl/infinity scarf this week…)

Which do you prefer to make?

So how do you feel about our polls? Surprised by any of the results? Any suggestions for more questions to ask you all?

SNAP! Conference 2014: Unbelievable Products and Tons of New Friends

May 5, 2014 by AllFreeKidsCrafts Leave a Comment

If you regularly keep up with the FaveCrafts blog, you’ve already seen a few of our posts about the amazing SNAP! Conference in Salt Lake City, but those were only a preview. The time has officially come for us to tell you all about our adventure at the SNAP! Conference! When the editors of FaveCrafts and AllFreeKidsCrafts flew out to Utah, we knew we were going to connect with a ton of people, but we had no idea we would have so much fun in the process.

What is SNAP!, you may ask? The SNAP! Conference can best be described as a creative haven for DIY bloggers to come learn new things, ignite their inspiration, and make long-lasting friendships as they laugh and smile their way through classes, seminars, 50+ company sponsor booths, and entertainment. To say that SNAP! is a big deal would be an understatement; this year’s conference saw over 500 attendees from 46 states and 4 countries! To visually track where everyone came from, SNAP! set up this awesome map for bloggers to pin their business cards. This was the board at the beginning of the conference- it was completely covered by the time we left!

We found another map in the FloraCraft booth, and we were totally surprised when we went to mark FaveCrafts on the map…the board wasn’t made of wood, it was made of styrofoam!

As the editor of AllFreeKidsCrafts, I’m always on the lookout for fantastic new kids’ craft products, so I was incredibly excited to swing by Hasbro’s booth at the SNAP! Conference to check out the latest from PlayDoh. While I was there, I got to try out the new DohVinci line, which allows kids to create detailed artistic creations; think PlayDoh meets kid-friendly 3D printing. DohVinci won’t be officially released for a few more months, so I was thrilled that I got the chance to take it for a rest run. It turns out that using the styling tool is really similar to using a hot glue gun, so it’s easy to control. Once I had gotten the hang of it, I got to decorate a tile for the DohVinci art installation at SNAP!

If you ask me, the coolest sponsor booth award goes to Cricut, who turned their space into a fabulous science lab. I had never experienced the magic of a Cricut machine before, so I was amazed to discover that it can be used on all kinds of materials, even leather! Cricut even showed us how to turn paper into custom jewelry. Yes, you read that correctly: paper jewelry. In just a few simple steps, we walked away with gorgeous molecule necklaces that looked like they were actually made of metal, ready to spread the word about the wonders of paper.

Another awesome sponsor we chatted with was Duck Brand, who introduced us to their brand new glow-in-the-dark duct tape sheets and Duck Glitter® Crafting Tapes. If you’re anything like me, you know that using glitter can mean asking for trouble, but the amazing thing about the Duck Brand tape is that the glitter doesn’t come loose- it’s every crafter’s dream! We spent more time with Duck Brand during their 80’s Prom night, where we got to witness the epitome of duct tape brilliance. Tons of SNAP! bloggers had created 80’s-inspired outfits and accessories for the affair, and Duck Brand even displayed outfits that had been worn to actual high school proms. Who knew duct tape could be so high fashion?

While we did love chatting with all of the awesome conference sponsors and making new friends, one of the best parts of SNAP was finally meeting some of the fabulous bloggers we work with! We sat in on the Our Best Bites session and chatted with Kate and Sara…

…met Angie from The Country Chic Cottage and Carolina from 30 Minute Crafts….

…posed with Kim from A Girl and a Glue Gun…

…and got our 80’s prom on with Alexa from The Swell Life!

We could probably write a novel and still not cover all the fascinating parts of SNAP!, but we had to share the coolest craft supplies (and the coolest new friends!) we discovered while we were away!

What’s the coolest craft supply in your stash?

Go Blended Bracelet Crazy! 30 Stackable Bracelets to Make

January 20, 2014 by AllFreeJewelryMaking 3 Comments

DIY bracelets are so fun and easy to make. Do you ever have a hard time picking just one to wear? I know I do! That is why I am loving the layered bracelet trend. Do you want to get this blended bracelet look? Well, you are in luck! AllFreeJewelryMaking has made a list of some of our very best bracelet patterns that are perfect for layering.

Get this trendy look with Have an Arm Party! 30 Stackable Bracelets to Make. This collection features homemade bracelets with a variety of colors and designs. From wrap bracelets to macrame tutorials to hemp bracelet patterns, you are sure to find the right bracelets for you. Creating your own bracelets is a great way to get started making your own DIY jewelry. It is also a fabulous way to freshen up your skills, if you an experienced jewelry maker. So, no matter what your skill level, find a few patterns you love and get started making these trendy bracelet pieces.

Wrap Bracelet Patterns

Wrap bracelets are easy to make and super stylish when stacked with other bracelets or worn alone. These Irish Linen Wrap Bracelets are fabulous because you can make them in a ton of different colors and they are simple, yet pretty. Here are a few more examples of wrap bracelets in this collection.

Macrame Bracelet Patterns

Macrame bracelets are easily accessible and take very few supplies to make. So, it’s no wonder these DIY bracelets, like these Jeweled Macrame Bracelets, are so popular. Find more marvelous macrame bracelets here.

String Bracelet Patterns

If you love working with seed beads, there is no question that Dazzling Double Color Seed Bead Bracelets are meant for you. String bracelets are one of the simplest jewelry making tasks you can take on. There is no excuse for not trying one of these easy homemade bracelets. Check out this collection for more simple string bracelets.

Braided Hemp Bracelet Patterns

Rushing to the beach and can’t find anything to pair with your new swimsuit? We have a solution! This Ten Minute Braided Bracelet and other hemp bracelet patterns are perfect for the hot weather months. Don’t long for summer though, you can make these fantastic, easy DIY bracelets all year round. Visit our collection page to find more ways to get the hemp look.

Still haven’t found the right bracelet look for you? Never fear, we have some more stackable bracelet patterns for you. Plus, don’t forget to check out AllFreeJewelryMaking for all the latest trendy bracelet patterns.

Do you love the layered bracelet look?

Spring Forward 2014: 12 Spring Fashion Patterns featuring Peplum

January 4, 2014 by AllFreeSewing 1 Comment

Peplum is a popular trend that resurfaced a few years ago. Even though it isn’t exactly “new,” it still manages to top the trend reports season after season. The best thing about peplum is that it’s very versatile; you can have peplum tops and tanks, peplum skirts, and even peplum dresses. If you’re so inclined, you can even find peplum-style jackets and coats! The reason for its popularity is that it’s a style that can look good on anyone! The peplum flare can be more or less structured, so depending on how much extra flare you want to add to your silhouette, you can find something that fits. Because of its versatility and flattering fit, we at AllFreeSewing dub Peplum as the top trend of 2014.

Peplum can be tough to pull off, true, but only if you don’t know how to make it work for you. If you want to give yourself an exaggerated silhouette and hips, a more structured and more flared cut is your best bet. If you don’t want that extra fabric jutting out, you can still rock the trend. There’s a gathered peplum cut that doesn’t flare as much and simply flows around your midsection. If you’re hesitant to try the trend, go for that style. Once you’re a little more comfortable, you can venture out into the more extravagant pieces.

There’s no better time than right now to jump on board the peplum trend. Whether you already have a few pieces or you’ve been waiting for the right time to try it out, there are plenty of ways to sew your own version. We’ve pulled some of our favorite patterns and tutorials for you to try, so check them out!

Peplum Tops

We’re also so thrilled that we’ve stumbled across some amazing peplum top tutorials online:

Peplum Dresses and Skirts

Origami Peplum Refashion from Life is Beautiful!
Ruffled Peplum Skirt
Snap Peplum Skirt from Tasha Delrae
Side Peplum Skirt from A Pair & a Spare

Plus! Peplum Belt Tutorial!

This great DIY Peplum Belt is from the lovely Natalia Oh!

What do you think of the peplum trend?

Trends for 2014: 7 DIY Jewelry Projects to Make

December 9, 2013 by AllFreeJewelryMaking 3 Comments

One of the best things about the end of the calendar year is waiting in anticipation for what the new year will bring. Wishes and goals are common this time of year, but learning about and seeing new trends is always the most exciting experience of the season, especially when it comes to trending jewelry styles. As most jewelry fans know, accessories can be expensive. Just a simple necklace, a couple of cute bracelets, a bold ring or two, or a few pairs of earrings can easily add anywhere from $25 to $50 at a minimum to your shopping expenses. It’s always better when you can find knockoff designs for less. You should never have to choose between staying on trend or spending all the money you have, and now you don’t have to.

AllFreeJewelryMaking has compiled a list of Trends for 2014: 7 DIY Jewelry Projects that will allow you to be on point with your style, but spend much less than you would in stores. These DIY jewelry ideas are easy, budget-friendly, and stylish. Whether you are new to making your own accessories or a seasoned homemade jewelry creator, make it your goal this coming year to make these trendy DIY projects.

Want to know a secret you don’t have to keep? Lock and key necklaces and bracelets, and even earrings, are definitely in style. You can go for bold metallic pieces like the Rodarte look, or stick with a subtler touch, and create your own Braided Padlock Bracelet.

Though it may seem like spring is far away, the fashion world from Miori to Mathon is already abuzz about pieces featuring birds, bees, and butterflies. If you want a noteworthy piece that follows this trend, this Buzzworthy Bee Cuff is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Link yourself up with this fun chain necklace trend. With this 5 Minute Gold Necklace, you can create a shimmering necklace in a flash, and save a fortune compared to splurging for a Valentino chain design.

Be on the lookout for seed bead fringe or delicate metal chains on earrings or necklaces. Make a stunning homemade necklace like this DIY Beaded Fringe Necklace or a Jazz Age Torque Necklace, or create gorgeous DIY earrings like these Seed Bead Tassel Earrings.

Nature-inspired jewelry like this Oscar de la Renta piece has an elegant feel; but you can get this lovely look for less by crafting your own Good as Gold 3-Level Necklace or an Autumn Leaves Necklace.

Pins and brooches are a great way to add color and dimension to any ensemble. Add them to your wardrobe this season by starting with this stunning Beaded Satin Flower Brooch.

Still looking for the right jewelry piece for your collection? Be sure to visit AllFreeJewelryMaking for more trendy DIY jewelry projects throughout the year!

Which trend are you looking forward to seeing in 2014?

Hot Trends at Winter CHA!

February 7, 2012 by FaveCrafts 2 Comments

As some of you may already be aware, a group of our editors went to the CHA convention last week and I was lucky enough to be part of that group! We were representing FaveCrafts, but editors from AllFreeBeadedJewelry, AllFreeKniting, and FaveQuilts were there. The few days we were there were definitely a whirlwind, but we saw so much exciting stuff that’s coming out and will be at your local craft stores in the coming months. I wanted to share with you guys something that I saw as a huge trend in paper crafting so that you can get just as excited as I did! Oh yea, and keep reading for a special surprise.

Get those “take me to the moon” puns ready because hot air balloons were just about the hottest thing in the paper booths. And they were adorable! Don’t believe me? Let me show you what I mean.

These pretty pastel ones from Basic Grey were definitely my favorite. I love the vintage, old-world feel they give off. I will definitely be picking up some of these when they finally hit the store.

How about these fun and colorful prints from Hambly Screen Prints? The picture on the right is of a paper print they have coming out. I think it would also make a super cute fabric print too.

Don’t worry, I found something for those of you that love stamping out there too! This cute vintage set from 7 Gypsies has a pretty detailed hot air balloon, but so many other good things too!

This pretty printed paper is from Quick Quotes. This is actually just one corner of the paper, the whole thing is pretty, but I was of course drawn to the hot air balloon. They have some really great stuff coming out this year!

We didn’t want you guys to feel left out so we grabbed as much stuff as we could get our hands on and have created a little giveaway for you! One lucky winner will walk away with a swag bag full of crafting goodies and samples! Check out this blog post to find out how to enter.

So what do you think? Do you love the hot air balloon trend? What would you make with these prints?

Craft Trends at CHA

July 25, 2011 by FaveCrafts 6 Comments

The FaveCrafts team was at the Craft and Hobby Association’s Summer Conference and Trade Show last week, and we had a blast! I saw so many new and innovative craft products (some of which we’ll be giving away to you guys this year!) and met some up-and-coming craft designers. My favorite part of the show was checking out the creative booths and decorations that all of the different manufacturers had set up. I noticed a lot of trends among the booths as well.

The first trend I noticed was the prevalence of the Ikea Ung Drill frame (which I also have in my room at home!). Somehow I didn’t manage to take a picture of it at the show, but I saw it at 3 or 4 different booths! Here it is at the Hambly Screen Prints booth–I found this photo on their blog:

I saw a lot of faux flowers made from tissue paper…

…coffee filters…

…paper…

…and cupcake liners! (these are from Martha Stewart. I’m drooling with excitement!)

I also saw a cool wreath from what looked like cupcake liners or maybe coffee filters from Canvas Corp:

And of course lots of pinwheels! These are from Canvas Corp as well. (Psst: you can make pinwheel hair clips with this tutorial):

You can’t write a post on craft trends without including mustaches! Hambly Screen Prints had mustache scrapbooking paper:

Hambly also had washi tape! Can you tell I loved their booth the most?

A lot of the booths had handmade garlands too, which got my wedding gears turning.

Speaking of weddings,wouldn’t these rose pomanders from the Sizzix booth look so elegant at a wedding?

The Martha Stewart set-up at the EK Success booth also had some adorable wedding crafts. I love the escort card with the teeny tiny tissue fringe.

And here’s the whole Martha area:

See those paper rosette decorations in the photo? Those were also all over the show floor! And for good reason–they’re so pretty and whimsical! This is probably my favorite photo of the bunch, from the My Mind’s Eye booth. We stopped over just to check out their awesome booth decorations!

I’ll be posting more about what I saw at the CHA trade show, so stay tuned! In the meantime, which of these is your favorite craft trend? Which are you sick of seeing?

Link Love: Embroidery Hoop Art

May 26, 2011 by FaveCrafts Leave a Comment

You know I love a good craft trend, so here’s a CRAFT TREND ALERT that I’ve been meaning to share with you: embroidery hoops on display as art! That’s right, people–the hoops themselves are being used along with whatever is inside them. These ain’t your grandma’s embroidery hoops…or maybe they are!

Birdie Embroidery Hoops from Little Birdie Secrets
Hoop Art Picture Displays from Take Heart
Scrap Fabric Embroidery Hoop from Under the Sycamore
Camera Hoop Art from Luzia Pimpinella
Embroidered Table Numbers from Weddingbee
Mixed Media Weather Hoops from A Bit of Pilli Pilli
Embroidery Hoop Wedding Decor from Love and Lavender
Obi Sue Kenobi from The Trouble with Crafting
Stitched Messes from Little Dear Tracks

FaveCrafts 365 Octopus Alert!

May 3, 2011 by Maria Leave a Comment

I think an octopus might have been messing with my microphone during the making of this video! I almost scrubbed it as a blooper, but then decided that we are friends and you’ll get a laugh out of the octopus voice that takes over!

Do you enjoy machine embroidery? I’ve got 4 great friends who are very generous with me and I just love the gifts they make! I’d love to here what motifs you are using!

And check out this Yarn Octopus

If you need yarn you should visit CutRateCrafts.com for some great prices and wonderful selection!

7 Controversial Craft Questions You Should Answer

So how do you feel about our polls? Surprised by any of the results? Any suggestions for more questions to ask you all?

SNAP! Conference 2014: Unbelievable Products and Tons of New Friends

What’s the coolest craft supply in your stash?