Self Made Craft

If you want to learn a new skill or start a new hobby then the best way to do this is by enrolling in a class, workshop or course. When it comes to making cards this is no exception. Many people these days want to learn all about card making but don't know where to start. If this is you then why don't you consider trying to find a local card making class or club?

Taking a class will help you to meet other people who are in the same place as you as are well as teaching you all the skills that you need to pursue a card making hobby. You will have lots of fun in the process and end up with a portfolio of handmade cards that you can be proud of.

Many card making workshops will be of quite fluid format where you can just turn up and have a go. Materials are usually provided and you can expect to pay a modest fee for a place on a course. There will usually be lots of example of pre-made cards that you can use as inspiration or a theme to work from. For example one week's theme may be 'cards for men' and the following week 'cards with butterfly motifs' and so on. This will help you to learn how to create cards for people of different ages and interests. Each week may also have a different technique for example 'decoupage' may be on week one and 'quilling' on week two and so on.

As the materials are provided you won't have to buy a lot of expensive card craft supplies to get started. You can pop along and see if you enjoy yourself or if you display any natural flair for this type of craft. If you decide that card making is not for you then you will not be out of pocket or lumbered with materials cluttering up your home.

Most card classes will include refreshments of some kind, possibly drinks and cakes. This will give you a chance to socialise with those in the card making workshop and get to know them a bit better. The length of time that these sorts of classes run for really depends on what is being taught and who is teaching it. On average a course will last for a couple of hours but they can sometimes go for a whole day.

If you are crafty and are looking to start card making then why not try out some card making classes today!

It really does start out innocently enough. Perhaps you learn to knit or crochet - or begin simply by sewing a few garments for yourself, or your children.

Some artlessly begin with a simple needlework 'notion', or it could initially and quite naively evolve from a small patchwork project. Others will be seduced into scrap-booking, or the joys of jewellery-making. There are a multitude of crafty choices out there today - more than you could dream about or even begin to imagine.

No matter your choice, the outcome is frighteningly similar - in fact, almost 'mirror image' for each and every victim. Slowly, but insidiously, craft materials/tools/patterns- begin to invade your spare room. And then 'just a corner' in the bedroom, or behind the lounge suite, or behind doors - everywhere! Maybe it starts with a shelf in a cupboard, or part of a bookshelf for the initial few craft magazines.

Red Alert! Crafty concoctions are creeping through your home, filling every available space. You know how Nature doesn't like a vacuum and always tries to fill it as quickly as possible? Well-ll-ll...what can I tell you? Do NOT say you weren't warned. When every nook and cranny is filled, it's time to start to get just a little concerned. (Mainly because you will have to restrict your buying for a while, until you can make or find more space!)

It's OK to actually DO your craftworking on the Kitchen table, and the Dining table, and the top of your chest freezer, and the folding table - BUT - you must leave room for eating...somewhere! You will find your family get just a little 'stroppy' otherwise. It's hard...but you just must multi-task even harder and better than ever before (if you are a woman...AND a mother... this will be your basic 'second nature'). Come on...you CAN do it!

It's also OK to spend a small fortune on your crafty 'necessities' - but please keep just a little money aside for such luxuries as food and toothpaste and toilet paper, for instance. Once again, you could find a distinct lack of understanding exhibited by your family if these areas show evidence of neglect...or even non-existence!

And another thing. DO try to be home from the shops before tea-time (after all, there's always late-night shopping at least once a week - in some stores, every night of the week! Oh-h-h-h!!).

Try to stay calm as the majority of the buying public continue to purchase 'cheap imported items that are ALL handcrafted' (well-ll-ll...?) - for quarter (or less) of the price you paid just for the actual materials to make your precious handmade treasures. You must keep believing that out there, somewhere, are the 'real', genuinely discerning buyers who understand the love and care; the craftsmanship and attention to detail, that is woven into every handmade item.

I know about the Law of Attraction and how the things you want the most can be drawn to you by the power of thought and concentration on self-persuasion, but I wonder...could reverse psychology work, in this instance? I'm visualising maybe a 'Home Beautiful' type treatment of all these 'work' areas...you know what I mean? Huge, shiny clear areas with nothing out of place...where all is pristine and gleaming and always at the ready to be 'on show'.

And the 'lady of the house' is ALWAYS ready for the camera, also. Dressed beautifully in a 'lounging' or chic and casually thrown together outfit, and of course, perfectly 'made up' in both face and hair...she is usually depicted gently and artistically restyling the already magnificent flower arrangement, atop the smoky glass and amazing black 'underbelly' coffee table.

Once I saw a photo of a film star, beautifully draped on a leather lounge, 'working' on her tapestry, on the set of her latest film...between 'shoots'. No extra threads or needles or scissors were in evidence. No pattern or graph or instructions. No hold-all bag at her feet. Huh? What is wrong with this picture? Surely it must be a little faulty dreaming on my part? I think I may be lo-sing con-cen-tra-tion!!

Uh-oh...my visualisation just clouded over. Something rattled my chain of thought! On TV, the words of a commercial somehow transcended my romantic reverie. There's a 40% off sale on all Craft items at that famous craft store - for 2 days only. Oh-h-h-h! Sorry...have to run....Bye!

© 2011 Christine Larsen All Rights Reserved Worldwide

And here are just a FEW of my favourite crafts...that I also try to sell -

ChristineCrafteeCreations

CdCraftee's Cosmos

Learning how to make candles from scratch can be very rewarding and a lot of fun! When you finish your first candle project, you'll wonder why you waited so long to explore this wonderful craft. Below are a few tips to help make your candle making projects a success.

The first step in any candle making project is setting up the workstation properly. Like a good cook, you should have everything you need at your finger tips before you begin. As a precaution (and a time-saver when cleaning up), I like to use waxed paper to cover my entire countertop where I'll be working. This will protect your work surface and will help catch spilled wax for later use. You might consider multiple layers of paper if your countertop is made of wood or stone that could absorb melted wax. A flat work surface is important, so avoid bulky towels or other materials that can wrinkle. You want your candle wax to be level as your pour it into a mold or container.

Another good tip for preparing your workstation -- cover your stove top and drip pans (under the flame or electric heating element on your stove top) with aluminum foil. This may sound like a lot of trouble, but you'll thank yourself when it's time to clean up, especially when you are just starting out and you spill a bit of melted wax on your stove. Clean up is easy!

Next, assemble all of the items you plan to use during your candle making project, such as containers, molds, wicks, fragrances, and dyes. All of these items should be within your reach and near your heat source before melting the wax. There are several ways to melt wax, but I recommend using a double boiler and a melting pot.

No need to buy a 'double boiler' set. Just use two pots, one slightly smaller than the other, and place one inside the other. The larger pot holds the water that warms the smaller pot containing the wax. I like using my older pots for melting wax. Yard sales are a great place to find pots for this purpose. These will become your 'candle making' pots.

The melting pot can be found at your craft store, or you can use any small pot as long as it has a handle that doesn't get hot (like a wooden handle) and a spout for easy pouring.

If you don't use all of the melted wax, just pour it into a pan lined with waxed paper and let it cool. The hardened wax will release easily from the waxed paper and can be stored for later use... and no clean up! A helpful hint for you beginners-- don't let any melted wax go down your sink drain. That's an expensive plumbing bill.

And it goes without saying, always be safe when working with melted wax. A fire extinguisher should be close by, and keeping baking soda near the workstation is highly recommended. You should never pour water on a wax fire. Either use a fire extinguisher or pour baking soda on the flame. A pot of melted wax should never be left unattended, and the temperature of the wax should be closely monitored. The temperature of the wax should never exceed 275°F.

Children often enjoy watching and participating in candle making projects. Just make sure they are at a safe distance from the workstation when wax is being poured. And the same goes for curious pets. With careful preparation and a little practice, you'll have many successful candle making projects.

Click here to learn more about setting up your first candle making project, as well as many more tips and guidelines on how to make candles at home.

When you home crochet these scatter rugs yourself, you can make them in the colors of your own choosing provided the yarn is the right weight. That is just one of the many advantages of home crocheting your own rugs.

I find that my rugs that I crocheted myself are easy to launder and look fantastic when they come out of the washer.

By the way, have you ever noticed that the scatter rugs that you purchase seem to slide around making you wonder about the safety of using them?

With homemade scatter rugs, you can purchase some adhesives inexpensively from your local stores, for example, Wal Mart that you can stitch on the bottom of either homemade rugs or purchased rugs to make them stay in place and ease your mind where safety is concerned.

As I have often said, when you are crocheting a rug, you will need concentration and I would also recommend a color scheme in mind when you start this project. These projects tend to take time to make, and I don't know about you, but I tend to try to get it right the first time so that I have a greater sense of accomplishment when I finish the project.

Another point I want to make is that sometimes, purchased scatter rugs only come in one varying size of the same shape (or almost the same shape), whereas if you crochet your own rugs, you can make them any shape you want. For example, my kitchen sink is kind of on a 45 degree angle - good luck finding a rug for that corner. This is one of the many reasons I decided to make my own rugs. Now, with me making my own rugs, I can make these rugs fit into that corner comfortably and in the right colors. With the added adhesive that I sew on the bottom of this rug, I never have to worry about anyone slipping due to the rug. It washes beautifully and lasts a long time (if you use the right weight of wool)!

I have also found that the new scatter rugs that are purchased don't all have fringes for that "finished look". If you make your own rug, it is very simple to attach a fringe to the sides of your crocheted rug for that "finished look" and a real sense of pride and accomplishment!

Do you have to block home crocheted rugs? Let's just answer that question this way: I never have - they look fantastic and as a rug, with the weight, I don't find it necessary to block that rug!

However, as in all home crocheted items, the exact gauge is essential for the correct rug size. I also like to work in the loose ends as I am crocheting the rug for that "professional look". Both of these things are not hard to do if you want to have a great looking rug in your own colors!

With all of the above in mind, I ask you - "Would you like a rug in your own colors, your own shape and size, made with your own hands?"

Are you going to crochet a scatter rug for your home or apartment?

There is a wealth of information to be found at http://learningeasycrochet.com/.

Not only is there information, but it supplies encouragement as well.

When you get stuck, as we all do sometimes, leave a question in the comment box and you will get an answer within 24 hours.

When you sign up for a membership, you will receive a crochet pattern of your choice along with the help you may need to complete that project!

In the members area, you will shown "how to" and much more along with tips and tricks to speed up your progress.

Check it out today!

The Brother XL-3750 Convertible 35-Stitch Free-Arm Sewing Machine with Quilting Features is a very excellently priced machine that is great for both advanced sewers and quilting hobbyists.

This lightweight sewing machine offers a flatbed or free-arm operation as well as extra features that are perfectly suited for quilting. It has an automatic needle threader as well as a drop in bobbin with automatic bobbin winding. It also includes a quilting table as well as other accessories including a cloth case and integrated handle for quick and easy transport.

Brother XL-3750 Convertible 35-Stitch Free-Arm Sewing Machine Features

· Lightweight Construction
· Integrated Carry Handle
· Cloth Case Included
· Perfect for hobbyists

The Reviews

With over 50 positive reviews on Amazon.com (out of 59) and good marks on the Consumer Reports website we feel very confident in recommending the Brother XL-3750 Convertible 35-Stitch Free-Arm Sewing Machine to our readers.

Many reviewers have mentioned that they had been recommended this machine by experienced seamstresses as a great machine to learn on. In general there are quite a few first timers who have purchased this unit and they all have great things to say about how easy it is to get started with.

There have also been some more experienced seamstresses review the unit and most have purchased it as a backup for their more expensive machines.

Many quilters have commented that this is an excellent machine as well. They have said that it makes piecing together their quilts very easily and that the machine has lots of power to handle multiple layers of fabric.

There are some negative comments about thread tension however it seems like this may be some sort of manufacturers defect for a small number of people because many have said that after using the manual to setup the Brother they have had no problems whatsoever. It is apparently VERY important to make sure that the bobbin is turning counter clockwise, this is most likely the cause of the majority of thread tension issues according to one reviewer who spoke with Brother customer service on the phone.

People are also very happy with all the included features of this sewing machine which truly do out compete other units in this price range. Users have commented that the button holder works great and is a real time saver as well.

Based on the excellent reputation and many positive reviews, we would highly recommend the Brother XL-3750 Convertible 35-Stitch Free-Arm Sewing Machine.

Thinking of making your Hobby into a home business
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Calligraphy is a craft and an art form which involves writing letters and shapes that are visually attractive. Many people view calligraphy as a hobby but it can be taken to the next level and turned into a profession. One of the most important items in Chinese or Japanese calligraphy is the calligraphy brush itself and as with pens, there are many different variations.

When you choose a calligraphy brush it needs to be one that suits your style and meets all of your needs. Basically a calligraphy brush should have 4 main features;

A round body - A round body makes for comfortable, easy gripping right the way round the brush, which in turn makes it easier to control your strokesEven length hairs - The hairs within the brush need to all be of the same length, placed consistently along the brush, without any stray hairs sticking out randomly.Create a fine line - You should be able to use the brush to create a fine line, otherwise known as pointing, besides making thicker strokesCombination of hairs - Ideally a good brush should have a balance of soft and hard hairs which makes it easier for the calligraphist to create the shapes and curves of his letters and produce a high quality piece of art work.

There are several different types of hair that are widely used in a calligraphy brush. Goat's hair is white and highly absorbent, so is ideal for creating thick brush strokes. A lot of calligraphers like to use this brush when writing a standard script. Wolf's hair is brown and much stiffer than goat's hair. It's a type of brush that is useful for writing small script and very fine detailed work. Many calligraphers like to use a mixture of sheep and wolf hairs in their work. A good calligrapher likes to own as many brushes as he can, and the best way to find out what suits your particular style, is simply to experiment with different combinations.

Generally speaking calligraphy brushes are supplied sealed in glue which is to prevent damage to the brush head. The glue needs to be removed before using the brush and this can be done by gently dipping the brush into a jar of water or holding under a gentle stream of warm water.

Calligraphy brushes are delicate items and need to be handled and treated with care. A high quality brush can last a considerable time if looked after properly but if neglected, they can quickly lose their shape.

To look after your brushes properly you should always rinse them immediately after use, before they have a chance to dry out. Wipe off any excess paint with a lint free cloth before holding them under a gently running tap of lukewarm water. One of the main reasons that a brush will no longer form a fine line or point is a build up of paint residues in the base of the brush head and the metal strip or ferrule that holds the hairs in place.

You can wash your brushes with a mild soap, lathering the brush in the palm of your hand and then rinsing off. A larger brush may be easier to clean by rubbing the bristles gently between your thumb and index finger to help rinse it. Repeat this wash and rinse cycle until the water runs clear. Ensure that the base of the brush head is clean from any build up of paint. You may find that some inks stain the bristles, but don't worry, this won't affect the performance of your brush. Finally, reshape the brush head and dry the handle, and leave it standing in a holder to dry.

Always take the time to carefully wash your brushes once you have finished your work for the day. This ensures that they do the job which is required of them and you can produce some stunning pieces of art work.

Celia Harper has been writing calligraphy for over thirty years and maintains that anyone, male or female, young or old, can learn to calligraphy and enjoy the relaxation and satisfaction that this hobby affords. She has also put together a totally FREE e-book which is packed full of useful hints and tips to encourage the beginner to get started. Grab your free gift now.

To decorate an ordinary tote is a big project for those who want to be extraordinary in fashion. A unique tote is the best way to present your own tastes and styles. It is quite exciting and intriguing to create a new one by some special ideas. They are also the thoughtful presents for loved ones on special events. Usually a tote in light color is the perfect model for decorating, because fabric paints cannot show up on dark colors very well. Now, check out the following information to decorate your tote.

Tip 1: Things you need

What you will need is fabric tote bag, needle, thread, cardboard, waxed paper, transfer paper, chalk, brush and embellishments like appliques, buttons and bowknot. You could prepare everything you like to decorate your tote.

Tip 2: Preparations

The tote needs to be washed before recreating. Don't use fabric softener while washing it and allow the tote to dry completely. Cover a piece of cardboard with a waxed paper and then put it into the tote. It is to prevent the paint from leaking into the bag.

Tip 3: Design the style

This procedure is the most important thing in making a striking tote. You could trace any design in chalk on the bag. Chalk could be wiped away easily if you want to redesign the icon. You can also imitate some latest fashion designs and reinterpret them by your own imagination. That would be another splendid model to show your style. For example, you can draw stars, flowers, your favorite cartoon character and your name, etc. Plus, you could utilize transfer paper to transfer your drawings. It can be placed over the tote and then a piece of paper could be put over it. The most significant thing is that you shouldn't make the paper and the tote moved, or it would cause a mistake on the painting.

Tip 4: Paint your designs.

After drawing the outline of your design, it is time to paint it with fabric paints. A soft brush is available or a paint tube is also versatile. In order to prevent smearing, the best way is to allow one part to dry before starting to paint another part.

Tip 5: Sew on the decorative accessories.

It is advisable to sew on buttons, bowknot and beads after the painting is completely dry. Probably it will cost you 24 to 48 hours.

Micheal is a freelance writer who has written many articles on various themes. She likes to share her knowledge with her readers and provide them with the best information on various topics. She also likes to write about fashion hats and luxury handbags. You can visit the websites to get many latest fashion trends. More tote bags are available on online stores.