Midday Escapades: Good Karma & Gift Giving :)

Midday Escapades: Good Karma & Gift Giving :) A post about homemade gifts, written for my other blog. I was feeling crafty today. Enjoy.

Make money doing what you love... Being creative!

It's Arts & Crafts Time «  http://shar.es/udKt2 via @sharethis

Coloring Chick: Coloring Print Out Pages

Coloring Chick: Coloring Print Out Pages: Where should you start when searching for coloring pages for free?

This blog is also run by me... I just started posting, so there is not much content yet, but will be a resource for free coloring pages that you can print out - for all ages. (Adults too!) I wanted to share some of the ones I run across because I get bored with the same coloring books sometimes and like to switch it up with my printouts from the internet.

Feel free to comment and leave some of your own freebie links... on either blog.

More NEW STUFF COMING VERY SOON!! :)

Duct tape pens

Ucreate: Washi Tape Pen Tutorial by Candle Lit Life



Very cool detailed tutorial on making your own customized bic pens! Shows step by step how to make unique pens out of colorful/patterned duct tape and bic pens. Now you will know exactly who keeps taking all your pens!

Get great deals on bic pens and all your office supply needs here.

Crafting with Clothing

Crafting with Clothing -  DIY Fashion 

 From: The Do It Yourself Fashion Blog Dare to DIY in English: DIY dress: Pollock Impulse

 I found this nifty technique - add a "paint splatter" design onto a dress.

 

 You can use this technique on other clothing items as well to make an plain boring t-shirt or pair of jeans come alive again... trendy too :)

Rock Paint / Handy Art Fabric Paint Sparkle Kit-- Rock Paint / Handy  Fabric Paint Bucket Kit

Building Popsicle Stick Houses - Popsicle Stick Craft Tips

How to Build a House Out of Popsicle Sticks

For about ten dollars, you and your friends can entertain yourself to no end with a box of craft sticks and some glue. It may look like childs play, but once you start your first popsicle stick creation, you will realize the possibilites are endless. This is some art that deserves appreciation.

Make a box or a building, a barn or even a replica of your own home... perfectly sided with windows and a roof. All it takes is some supplies and some creativity and you will be amazed how much fun popsicle stick crafts can be.

Here's some tips to help you along the way...

• Buy a decent size box of craft sticks. Wal-Mart has them for around five dollars for a box of 1,000. Believe me you will use more popsicle sticks than you would think.

• You can buy all one size, but you can try using different sizes.

• You can also try cutting the sticks and sanding the edges to add extra detail to you popsicle stick creation.

• Be careful cutting the popsicle sticks... a junior hack saw works well and can be bought for around four dollars at any home improvement store.

• Scissors also work to cut the popsicle sticks, but can be tough if the blades are dull.

• Hot glue guns work wonders to glue together the pieces because the glue holds the popsicle sticks together fairly well and the glue dries quickly.

• Use a vice clamp or similar clamping device to hold corners or other awkward pieces together while the glue dries.

• Superglue works... but you will end up using a lot and it can prove to be a hassle more than a help if you get any on your skin... the hot glue comes off your skin much easier :)

• Acrylic paints work great if you want to add some color to your finished popsicle stick masterpiece. Go through your tool box and I'm sure you find bits and pieces to add that extra detail to make your artwork really stand out.

• Easy on the hot glue! It gets messy looking if you have glue leaking out everywhere. A little dot will hold better than a big glob will anyways.

• Don't give up, you will feel so satisfied when you are finished. Display in your room and you will see how amazed your friends are of your creation.

Here are a few examples of different houses built out of popsicle sticks...

Made by some of my crafty friends - I built the snack box to be the oddball of the group :)

Extreme popsicle house building... And I thought we had too much time on our hands!



Charles Leonard Wood Craft Sticks "People-Shaped Wood Craft Sticks Dog & Cat Wood Craft Sticks

You're never too old to color...

Coloring books - Not Just For The Kids Anymore!

Sure, the coloring books available in most stores may be a little to easy and kiddie for anyone over the age of twelve. but my Mom introduced me to Dover Publishers five or so years ago. She always included a set of colored pencils with each coloring book. At first, I colored half a page and it ended up on my shelf. A year later I finally got the urge to color and was challenged to finish a picture. My first one took me a week and a half to finish, but I did it and it was so gratifying. And haven't stopped since. Dover makes coloring books for both children and adults. Their geometric shape books and unique scenery pictures are the favorites among my friends. Not only is it fun, but it is also a great stress reliever... if you enjoy it it is very relaxing.

Here are some of the books Dover Publications offers - for more and to sign up for their mailing list (you will get free samples weekly!) visit their website. 

These coloring books are what reintroduced me to the wonderful world of arts and crafts - I've never been the best artist, but I still can create a masterpiece full of color. But if you really want to get crafty, try creating your own masterpiece and draw and color your own pictures - colored pencil art is quickly becoming popular in the artist community!

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Have you checked out our photoblog on tumblr? If not, why not take a look? It's full of arts and crafts themed images from all over the web! Let us know what you think or post a link to your tumblr for us to check out!

Father's Day ideas and offers!

Homemade gift ideas for Father's Day. Show him your creative craft side.. and get the coupon code for a FREE greeting card sent directly to him (not an e-card). Here's the trick to save money and still show him you care!

Styled - Tori Spelling gets creative (update!)

Inspired by Tori Spelling, Styled by YOU. 

After checking out the craft supplies at Jo Ann's I headed to the project portal and saw one of my favorite celebrity crafter spotlight. I had to post a few photos from the editorial, but check it out for yourself as well!.

BONUS: 

* * Learn how to create this necklace designed by Tori Spelling! * *

Preview her new STYLED collection on youtube.com

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nYzxMPL7Jmg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

She means business. 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rzMYwXJ-M-s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It's no wonder why JoAnn Fabric is proud to showcase Tori Spelling's beautiful accessories. They represent creative yet affordable crafts and craft supplies for all the bargain hunters out there. And best of all she gives away her secrets so you can make these beautiful pieces on your own and look amazing wearing them!

If you haven't already signed up on the website for updates, here's another way to get those savings you need.. take a peak at the currents sales flyers and you can save even more! Don't forget your printable coupons either. Your savings potential is amazing when you are armed with free coupons!

Don't miss out! See ways you can save and hopefully you didn't miss out on this one: MASSIVE SALE!! The summers hot internet trends at unbeatable prices!

The savings are endless, I'm sure you see that by now, so what are you waiting for? 

Don't forget to get your daily entry in to win every craft chick's best friend...

Crafting contests - reminder:

Win a four piece Halsteadbead plier set! 

Contest ends June 4, 2012. You can enter once daily, so return often to improve your chances of winning!

And remember linking to their contest page gets you an extra vote! 

Reference the original post here and enter to win a great set of pliers. 

              The come in handy with all the wire I've been working lately...

                             especially since mine are the Walmart dollar bin special edition ;)

More creative craft ideas are on their way... Did you ever wonder what you could do with the small piece of colored pencil  you end up with? I'll show you tomorrow. This idea is too awesome to miss.

(Subscribe to the feed and you will never miss another post!)

Save money on your craft supplies with exclusive JoAnn's Fabric coupons

Sometimes you have to get creative to afford the materials for a new craft product.

 Always check online for special in-store savings and coupons before shopping at your favorite craft supplier. One of my favorites, JoAnne's Fabrics has some great offers for both online and in-store shopping. Check out their free printable coupons for yourself. No matter what your craft needs, you are sure to leaving smiling as you hurry home to start your new craft project! Make sure you sign up for their mailing list on the website by becoming a community member in their special members only section, my Jo-Ann. You will get regular updates and special members only discounts.

And for the students out there, you save every day with your student discount card. Qualified high school and college students are eligible to receive two money-saving coupons, valid in-store and online, and a 10% discount on every purchase, every day.

• 40% off any one regular-priced fabric
• 40% off any one regular-priced item
• 10% off total purchase discount card

So make sure you get your kids one and they will really shine with that next school project using the craft supplies your coupons helped them get. Great idea for rewarding them when they do the chores or get a good grade on that hard math test! Take them to JoAnn's for all their creative craft ideas, because remember, they save EVERY DAY with the student discount card. 

Celebrities get Creative with Crafts

Celebrities go CRAZY for Crafts

Show us their creative sides 

ELLE's June 2012 isssue featured a small article on a fellow craft/blog enthusiast, Erica Domesek. She runs a crafting blog called P.S. -- I made that. She has a unique disposition to her and her style is perfect. It's a mixture of modern trends mixed with a cool vintage vibe and color. 

Go check out the rest of her amazing collections!

She has her own jewelry line, Belle & Jax, to showcase her characteristic pieces, but admits that she loves helping other make something beautiful out of nothing with her many creative crafts projects. 

The article also reveals TLC's latest reality-tv contest, Craft Wars. Erica will be one of the judges on the show, along side host Tori Spelling. 

Huffposttv describes the new series quite well, saying that "'Craft Wars' continues to re-define crafting as something extremely modern -- this is not your grandmother's crocheting," Amy Winter, GM of TLC, said in a statement. "At its core, the series celebrates the creative sprit, which will resonate with TLC's audience."

Also worth mentioning is Tori's new DIY jewelry line out in time just for her Craft Wars debut. 

Everything looks so amazing! She appeals to the common retail market and she does it well. Her pieces look upscale, but you wouldn't know because she is not overcharging for her product - remaining competitive has sure paid off for her!

Creative Crafts - Create Birds Nest Necklace

(More) Crafts with wire!
Birds Nest Necklace

I can't wait to try and create one of these!

Materials:

• Your choice of wire
• Assorted beads
• Plyers

Directions: see original website below.

• Thanks Sarah Ortega: diy {bird nest necklace} for this awesome craft project!

Create Crafty Rings!

Cool Crafts Ideas: Make your own fashion rings

Two new crafts to try out!

The newest addition to your craft techniques is to learn is working with wire. It gives beaded jewlery that extra touch and is so fashionable all on it's own.


Wire Heart Ring

Materials:
20 gauge wire
Round nose and cutting pliers


Directions:
(Click the photo for directions with details pictures from the author's blog)

• Cut a piece of wire apprx. 5 inches.
• Shape the wire on a glue stick or lip balm.
• Now you have a 'U' shape.
• Bend the left side with your round nose pliers just a bit above where the ring will hit the top of your finger.
• Make a larger bend using your round nose pliers.
• Repeat for the other side.
• Using your round nose pliers, connect the left side of the wire to the base with a small loop.  You want to make sure it's tight and cut any excess wire so it won't snag on your finger or clothing.
• This is the side connected to the ring portion.  The ring portion is the large circle part on the top left.  Repeat for the other side by pulling the wire end up to the left and connecting. 
• Your heart is shaped. Flatten down so it lies on top of your finger.  You may have to wrangle the heart shape a bit to your liking.  Clip any excess wire.

Thanks Maize Hutton!

Turn your favorite magazine clip outs into tomorrow's latest trend.


Resin Rings

Materials:

1. Blank Ring trays 

2. A resin or epoxy sealer. 3. Heavyweight Gloss photo paper
4. Inkjet Printer5. Photos, patterned paper, or other desired images6. Display tray
7. Mod podge 
8. Paint brush9. Scissors10. Krylon Matte clear spray 

Directions:

This one is a little more in depth. Get the details.

Enter to Win the HalsteadBead.com 4-Piece Pliers Set!

Crafting Accessories - Enter to win some for FREE!

Ideal plier set for beading or general jewelry making. These pliers are affordable and durable tools for your studio. Retail at $19 - Enter for a chance to win this set for FREE!