Posts tagged ‘craft tips’

April 10, 2012

So You’re New To Crafting: Tips for Beginner Crafters

Do you see things at craft shows or boutiques and say to yourself, “I could make that.” Are you addicted to Pinterest or craft blogs, where you see projects you envision yourself recreating? If you answered yes to both questions then you probably should take a crack at crafting. Now it can always be a little intimidating at first when you begin a new hobby, but one of the best things about crafting is that you learn by making mistakes. Below are some tips to keep in mind if you’re new to crafting.

Practice Makes Perfect

Being new to anything means, that you will have a learning curve to face. Crafting is a skill that you will have to nurture in order to see any improvement. Now there are some people who have a natural born talent for crafting, but if that’s not you don’t worry it just means you are going to have to practice. The old saying, practice makes perfect, is so true when it comes to crafting. As a newbie you are trying out new supplies, techniques, and projects. Lighten up on yourself, and enjoy learning the art of crafting.

Try Several Things

The craft industry is comprised of various different types of craft categories. From painting, scrapbooking, to knitting, there are so many different ways to craft. If you’re new to crafting, it would be best to try your hand at a lot of different things. See what comes natural to you, or interests you the most. You may be surprised that you enjoy a particular type of craft, more than you expected.

Don’t Get Discouraged

Accept this fact, you will mess up. This is not to scare you or to be harsh it is simply the truth. Even people who have been crafting for years mess up from time to time. Making mistakes are all apart of the process, and the experience of crafting. No one is perfect at everything, and it would be foolish to hold yourself to such a standard. When you do make a craft mistake look at as a lesson and either learn from it, or try to correct it. Pick one of these options as opposed to quitting.

Learn From Others

If you have friends or family members that craft, look to them as your craft mentor. They can give you helpful tips and tricks, in order to improve your skills. If you don’t know anyone near to you who crafts, luckily there is the Internet. There are tons of craft blogs online, and many of these blogs offer step-by-step instructions on how to create a project. Some blogs even include a supply-shopping list. Use them as motivators, and teachers to learn from when crafting.

Know Where To Shop

Entering a new hobby means buying new supplies. If you desire to be a crafter, you will no doubt need several supplies. Don’t be afraid to shop around, at different stores, and see who carries what. If you live in a small town, you can visit your local craft store. If you live closer to or in a larger city check out Michaels, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts, or A.C. Moore. Many larger craft stores are great at offering coupons, that you can receive either through the mail or via email.

November 26, 2011

Join Cathie and Steve at Michaels this Cyber Monday

In case you did not get out to shop on Black Friday, don’t worry there is still Cyber Monday! For all you crafters Michaels is letting you get in on something very special this Cyber Monday. We are so thrilled to announce that Cathie and Steve will be live at Michaels.com! Cathie and Steve will be showcasing new Mod Podge, FolkArt, Stencils, Dimensional Magic projects, and more. Below is a peak of some of the projects Cathie and Steve will show you how to make. Be sure to log on and join in the fun!
11.28.11
Painted Wine Glasses & Table Settings
Noon Eastern
11:00 am Central
10:00 am Mountain
9:00 am Pacific

Pendant Jewelry and Gift Boxes
2:00 pm Eastern
1:00 pm Central
Noon Mountain
11:00 am Pacific
August 4, 2011

Teaching Thursday: Tips and Hints for Crakle Projects

I used to be afraid of Crackle Medium, I’ll admit it.  It seemed so intimidating!  But practice makes perfect, and I’m here to tell you that it’s one of the easiest faux finishes around, and it makes your projects look beautiful, too!

Crackling is an effect that makes things look aged, antiqued, and without the years of wind and weather it takes to make it naturally, it makes it easy!  You can use Crackle Medium with just one color, or two, it’s really the user’s choice.  I love to use it with two colors, as I appreciate the contrast of the colors and usually take forever to make my color choices unless I’ve picked a palette beforehand.

After basecoating your project, you just brush Folk Art Crackle Medium on top of the dry surface.  And, here’s a little secret; you can stop here with the Crackle if you want to, but I like to make sure I let the Crackle coat dry completely and apply a second coat, a bit thicker than the first, on top!  I found that when I did this, my cracks were more defined.

You can apply the top coat to a surface using a number of different methods.  You can apply the paint very thick or just brush it on to get different types of cracks.  Generally, a thick topcoat creates bigger cracks, and a thin topcoat creates smaller cracks.  The style of brush you use will make the effect different, too.

Here, I used a thick top coat, applied with a sponge brush.  I brushed the paint on unevenly, crossing my strokes while keeping my brush loaded with paint between every stroke.  You don’t ever want to brush over a stroke as this will pull the top coat away from the Crackle Medium and make an ugly mark.

The results are large, beautiful cracks heading in different directions.

You can also apply the paint in the same way with a brush.  Here, I laid down a light coat of Wicker White over a Deep Ocean Blue base-coat to show you how beautiful a darker color is under a light one.

The results here are great, too.  As you can see, with the lighter top coat, you can see more of the darker base-coated color, which is just a different look from the one above.  It’s your choice which one to use.

Here is an example of using a brush for the top coat, with even strokes all heading in the same direction.

You can use Crackle Medium on just about any surface you choose, except glass and plastics.  Furniture is especially lovely when it’s aged, I think.  You can also be adventurous and try it out on a wall or two at home, if you’re so inclined!

But my biggest tip would be to play with it awhile before you commit to your project.  Try out the different methods shown here, or create your own, but definitely don’t pass by the Crackle Medium the next time you see it on your craft store shelf.  Pick it up and try it!  It’s a great way to add new dimension to your craft projects!