Melissa & Doug Friendship Stamp Set

The Melissa & Doug Friendship Stamp Set would make a very attractive and fun gift for a special child in your life. The set includes nine wooden stamps with different images, ranging from hearts, flowers, balloons, teddy bears and butterflies that can be used to create lovely pieces of art.

In addition to the stamps, there are five colored pencils and two pads of washable ink in pink and blue. I love the look of the wooden box the set comes in. It has a see-through lid and has different compartments to keep the stamp supplies easily organized. I am sure that your child will treasure this box and its contents and will create lots of beautiful artwork.

Overall, I think this would make a fantastic and well-appreciated gift, for any child. It is recommended for children age 4 and up.

Let's have a look at what others, actually using the  Melissa & Doug Friendship Stamp Set  has to say about it:

This is what Benjamin M. Hoyt has to say:

I bought this for my niece for Christmas and it was an immediate hit. I like the simple but useful packaging and the terrific price. My niece wasn't supposed to open the packaging on gifts until she got back home (to avoid messes at Grandma's house), but we found her hiding behind the tree coloring with her new stamp set! She's very happy with it, and the box it came with means she hasn't lost all of the pieces.

And this is what Granny B thinks of the product:

Bought this for my homeschooled granddaughters who are 4 and 6, and they love to do crafts as well. They are having fun with it and learning too!

Here is what K. Cornette has to say:

This was purchased as a gift for a 7-year old and I thought it was an adorable set, sturdy and will certainly last for years to come!

For more ideas for crafts for kids you can also have a look at Mosaic Ideas For Beginners. For a kit that will keep your little girl busy for long have a look at Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter.

Salt Dough Recipes and Craft Ideas

It’s amazing how many people think some crafts are only for certain times of the year. Take salt dough crafts, for instance. Many people think you can only make them during Christmas. Using these salt dough recipes, you can make a variety of crafts for any time of the year.

For a few very good ideas you can have a look at Salt Dough Just 3 Ingredients More Than 100 Projects and Salt Dough Sculpture Creativity Series. In these you will find many more ideas for your salt dough creations.

There are a number of crafters who use salt dough to create wonderful Christmas ornaments which are three-dimensional and normally painted. You may have seen angels, candy canes, or snowmen and not realized what they were made of.

Salt dough is an easy craft medium to work with. The recipe is:

• 1 cup of fine salt
• 2 cups of flour
• 3/4 to 1 cup of lukewarm water (more or less water may be needed depending upon the humidity)

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Add the water, a little at a time, and stir until a large ball has formed. Take the ball out of the bowl and knead it on a lightly floured surface. Continue to knead the mixture until you’re satisfied with the texture.

If the dough is too tacky, add more flour/salt in the same proportions. Dry dough may require a little more water. For a more ‘rustic’ feel to the dough, use a coarse salt. This recipe will create white dough which will keep for several days in a tightly closed plastic bag. Color the dough by adding instant coffee, cocoa, or curry powder. Adding a drop of vanilla extract will produce a wonderful smell as well as act as a mold inhibitor.

Use cookie cutters, pizza cutters, rolling pins, or garlic presses to create the different elements of your ornaments. You can also make freehand designs by making the dough into ropes which can shaped into wreaths or braids. Roll the dough into balls of various sizes to create little animals, people, or abstract designs. The only limit you have is your artistic ability and your imagination.

Make a bouquet of flowers for Mom on Mother’s day out of salt dough. How about a miniature golf club and balls for the golf enthusiast in the family? You can even use salt dough to create wonderful, artsy jewelry if you want to. Be sure to place a hair pin or ornament hanger on any ornaments you intend to be displayed. If you’re making jewelry, poke a hole in the ornament before you bake it so you can put a piece of ribbon through it.

Easy Ways to Make Your Own Christmas Wrapping Paper

Have you looked at the price of wrapping paper lately? It is highway robbery what they’re charging for it these days. If your budget can’t afford the added expense this year, try some of these easy ways to make your own Christmas wrapping paper.

Of course it is much easier if you use pre-made wrapping paper to wrap your gifts rather than making your own. But if you’ve taken time to choose just the right gift, it can be nice to put it in paper which is just as personal as the gift. That is another reason other than expense to consider making your own Christmas wrapping paper.

Try to make the paper fit the person the gift is for. If your son loves cars, you can find a car rubber stamp to use. Your niece may enjoy horses so you could use either horses or horse shoes as the theme for her paper. You don’t, however, want to match the paper to the gift. You want the gift to be a surprise and the paper could give it away.

Most wrapping paper has pictures in a repeated pattern. Another option would be to use a single picture and repeat it occasionally. Alternatively, you may not have any pictures on your wrapping paper at all.

Choose the size of paper you’ll need to wrap most gifts. Normally you can get wrapping paper that is at least three feet wide and ten or more yards long. This might not be possible with homemade paper. However, if you can find thin white butcher or craft paper, you may be able to get as much paper as if you bought it.

Use rubber stamps and colored ink to put the pattern on the paper. Potato and leaf stamping are other ways to get patterns on the paper. When you make your own Christmas wrapping paper, you know each one will be as unique as the recipient.

If you’d rather not use up that much time, you can also use found items around your home. Some options include using pages from the local newspaper for books; the comic section could be something you would use to wrap a child’s present or you can also use pieces of fabric if the gift would warrant it. Use yarn, raffia or fabric ribbons instead of the ones you can get at the store.

Small gifts might be the best choice for Christmas paper you make on your own. They don’t require as much paper and it would take less time to make different papers. These are some easy ways to make your own Christmas wrapping paper which you may want to try this year.

Of course, you can also make handmade cards to go with your gifts and you handmade gift wrapping. For you, making silk painted cards may be a good idea. Have a look at How To Make Silk Painted Cards Personalized Greeting Cards and for your kid you can have a look at lets Let's Have A Look At A Fun Crafts Kit: Make Your Own Cards

Bucilla Santa Poinsettia Tree StockingKit

Bucilla Christmas Felt Kits Stocking Santa Poinsettia Tree  Buy This Amazing Kit Form Amazon Today And Save 26%!

Go to my Hubpage Felt-Applique-Stocking and see many more of the stockings available from Amazon

Are you planning to surprise a loved one with a handmade stocking this Christmas? The Bucilla Christmas Felt Kit includes all the essential craft bits to make a beautiful red colored stocking with Santa decorating a poinsettia tree. It comes with stamped felt, cotton floss, sequins, beads and needles. The instructions are very detailed and easy to follow. I also like the decoration tips to make each stocking unique and personal.

As a piece of advice, don’t try and make this stocking the day before Christmas. It will take some time, but the outcome is worth it. And what could be nicer than spending the pre-Christmas season creating a beautiful stocking for a special person.

When finished, this great stocking is about 18inches long and will look gorgeous hanging on the chimney ready to be filled with exciting surprises.

Go to my Hubpage Felt-Applique-Stocking and see lots more of felt applique stockings you can order from Amazon

Go To Amazon Now And Save Yourself 26%! Bucilla Santa Poinsettia Tree Stocking Kit

Craft Shows 101

If you think Silk Painting Is Fun, you may end up with more articles than you know what to do with. This is when you should start thinking about crafts shows. To help you, here is some information about craft shows.

Depending upon how far you’re willing to travel, you could probably find a craft show nearly every weekend. Perhaps you’ve thought about selling some of the crafts you enjoy making. Read on to find out more.

Before you decide to do your first craft show it’s important to learn about them. One of the best ways is to attend as many as you can. Pay attention to what types of crafts are being sold and which crafts are selling well by watching what people are carrying. Then take time to chat with several vendors. Most will be willing to talk with you if they aren’t inundated with people at their booth.

You’ll want to do some research into the craft show you’re considering. Find out what type of crafts are typically sold. Are there other vendors who will sell the same thing you make? Will the craft show be indoors or outdoors? These are all questions you’ll want to consider along with the cost, how big an area you will have, and if there is a similar vendor whether they will be set up close to you.

Obviously having a good selection of crafts for people to choose from is important. Plan to take more than you think you will need just in case your crafts sell like gang busters. This will keep you from selling out and sitting at the booth with nothing to show. Of course, depending upon what your craft is, you may also want to keep some items set aside and take special orders for those.

Since you’re considering selling items at a crafts show, it’s a pretty good bet you already have a good number of items to sell. If your craft making does not need special equipment, be sure to take more supplies with you so you can make more during a lull in traffic. This will also ensure you have more of your crafts if they start running low.

How do you know what will sell? That’s a tough question to answer. Make items which you enjoy making and which people show an interest in. Ask friends and family for their honest opinions about your crafts. You can also ask them what would make the items better.

Find craft shows by looking in newspapers or on bulletin boards at local libraries, grocery stores, or recreation centers. Calling the local Chamber of Commerce or craft stores is another option. There are also a number of websites such as festivalnet.com and craftmasternews.com which list crafts fairs and festivals all across the country.

After you’ve made umpteen million (maybe that’s a slight exaggeration) of your craft, you’ll want to price them so they sell but still give you a profit. Consider the cost of your materials, how long it took you to make them, and overheads. This is your wholesale amount. Double this amount to reach your retail cost, which is what you’ll charge. By doubling your wholesale cost, you give yourself a little wiggle room if the show you’re at has several vendors with similar items.

There’s so much to know about setting up at a craft show and this article barely scratches the surface. Your best source of information is other crafters who have made the craft show circuit in your area. Most crafters are eager to share their knowledge and will be able to guide you in your desire to sell your crafts.

Thanksgiving Table Decorations Ideas

When Thanksgiving rolls around, most people focus on the food on the table. Here's how to make the meal even more special by having a beautifully decorated table even before the food is added.

Thanksgiving was originally a time to celebrate a bountiful harvest. With that idea in mind, you can create thanksgiving table decorations with natural autumn colors. There are so many ways to decorate using natural items – crafts using pinecones, such as pinecone turkey crafts. You can do crafts using fruits, vegetables, leaves and twigs. Here are a few to consider.

Start out with a rich jewel-toned tablecloth. A deep red, golden yellow or orange tablecloth will make a wonderful backdrop for the place settings. Add contrasting colored cloth napkins if you have them. Create napkin rings out of beads and silk leaves. Glue a couple of acorns onto the napkin ring.

If you have enough dishes to do so, stack the main dinner plate on top of a golden charger. This will dress the table up considerably, especially if you use gold-toned decorations elsewhere on the table. If you don’t have other gold-toned items for the table, try to find candlesticks which are gold-toned or small vases to place flowers in.

Beeswax candles of varying heights can be added to the table. You can put the candles on a mirror for added interest. These can be placed at opposite ends of the table so you have enough room for a centerpiece. Spread cranberries or glass marbles on the mirrors to break up the reflection of the candle.

The centerpiece can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Try to keep the centerpiece on the short side since people will be seated at the table. You want your centerpiece to allow you to have a conversation with the person across from you. Of course, if you love a tall, dramatic centerpiece you can always remove it before the food arrives.

Find large fall leaves and wash them. Then carefully write each person’s name on the leaf with metallic markers. These will be used as place cards. If you’re not sure about using leaves, you can also find small gourds or pears to lean the place cards against. Use raffia to tie the name card to the gourd or pear. Another idea is to find small picture frames and place a picture of each person in the frame. These can then be used in lieu of place cards.

Thanksgiving table decoration ideas don’t have to be elaborate to be beautiful. Think about the things you enjoy most about the fall and incorporate those ideas into your decorations. You’ll be proud of your efforts to supply your family with a beautiful table and delicious food.

Acorn Craft Ideas

Let’s get a hand count. How many people have oak trees in their yard? Do you also have an abundance of acorns? These acorn craft ideas will give you something to do with all those acorns the squirrels miss when the colder months creep up on them.

Acorns can be used in a number of fall and winter crafts. With Thanksgiving coming up soon, you can use acorns to help decorate your holiday table. You can also create garlands and other items to decorate your home.

1. An ‘Acorny’ Family (You can also have a look at Acorn People - Kid's Thanksgiving Crafts)

Gather up a bunch of acorns from your yard or a nearby park. Try to pick up only the acorns with the tops still on them. You can also purchase wooden acorns from a craft store. If the tops come off while you’re transporting the acorns, use a little bit of craft glue to put the tops back on.

Find enough acorns for each person in your family for this first craft. You’ll also need to have some acrylic paints, paint brushes, a sharp pencil and possibly six or more inches of heavyweight thread.

Paint the bottom half of the acorn using a flesh-tone or light brown paint. While this is drying, paint the top or cap of the acorn your favorite color. You would then do the same thing with enough acorns for your family, making the cap of each acorn that family member’s favorite color.

When the acorn is dry you can paint a face on it using a detail paintbrush or a very sharp pencil dipped in the paint. Add other embellishments such as little bows for a girl’s hair or painted pearls for mom. You could even make acorn animals by gluing on pieces of paper for the ears. These are particularly cute for couples who don’t have children but have ‘fur babies.’

Allow the acorns to dry thoroughly and either set them in a bowl, near family pictures or glue string on them to hang them as ornaments. Another thing you can do is create an acorn person for each person who is attending Thanksgiving dinner. Glue their acorn on a folded piece of business card stock and write their name on the card so everyone knows where to sit.

2. Wreaths

If you have a wreath to place on your front door, tie acorns onto a piece of raffia. Next tie the raffia into a bow and glue that to the wreath. You can also hot glue the acorns in groups of three around the wreath. Then use other fall items like baby’s breath, silk leaves and berries to fill out the wreath.

3. Picture Frames

How many old picture frames do you have which you would like to update? Create autumn frames by gluing acorns onto the picture frame. To dress the picture frames up a little bit, dry brush gold or copper paint on the frame and acorns. Once the picture frame is completely dry, place the picture back into the frame and group them in one area as a photo display.

Acorns are normally in abundance in the fall and it really is a shame to throw them away. In the spirit of trying to recycle and reuse, these crafts will help you do just that. By making one or more of these acorn craft ideas you can use the acorns and decorate your home at the same time.

Edible Thanksgiving Craft Ideas

For a typical Thanksgiving table you can make use of crafts using pinecones making pine cone turkeys. But, why not have fun this year and make some of your Thanksgiving crafts edible crafts? Here are a few examples of edible Thanksgiving crafts to do with kids.

There are some images which are common to the Thanksgiving holiday such as pilgrim hats, cornucopias and turkeys - to name a few. You can use familiar images as a guide to make edible

Thanksgiving craft ideas your children will love to make and eat. With ingredients found in your home, your children can make these edible crafts and enjoy themselves while staying occupied out of your way.

These edible crafts can serve more of a purpose than simply keeping your children occupied while you’re preparing Thanksgiving dinner. You can also use them to hold place cards for the table, as a treat to share with neighbors or as a means to teach very young children about Thanksgiving. Look over these ideas and see which ones you think your children would enjoy doing.

1. Pilgrim’s Hat

The pilgrim’s hat is an icon of Thanksgiving which can be made with cookies, large marshmallows, jelly beans, melted chocolate and wax paper. Since the chocolate has to be melted, an adult will want to help with this craft.

Put chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 second intervals, taking them out to stir. If the chips aren’t melted, put the bowl in for another 30 seconds. Once the chocolate is melted your child can carefully dip the tops of the cookies in the melted chocolate and place them on wax paper.

Dip the marshmallows into the chocolate and place them on top of the cookies. Then add a jelly bean to the newly made pilgrim hat to indicate a buckle. Once the chocolate has hardened, the hats can be moved to a serving plate and stored in the refrigerator to keep the children from eating all of them.

2. Thanksgiving Cupcakes

Cupcakes are a universal treat because they can be adorned in so many ways. No matter what the holiday, you’re sure to come up with some way to decorate them. Thanksgiving is no different. If you can find candy or small toys which have a Thanksgiving theme, the work is half done for them.

Help your children make cupcakes following the instructions given. Once the cupcakes are cooled, your children can then ice them with plenty of frosting. Push the candy or toy into the frosting and you’re done!

3. Cornucopia

The cornucopia is another traditional Thanksgiving symbol. Using sugar ice cream cones, frosting and fruit-shaped fruit snacks you’ll quickly have an edible cornucopia.

Place a small amount of frosting inside the ice cream cone. Then fill the cone with fruit snacks. Lay the cone down on a small paper plate and let the fruit snacks spill out of this edible ‘horn of plenty.’

If these edible Thanksgiving craft ideas aren’t to your liking, you can find many more in books at the library or on the internet. Look up ‘edible Thanksgiving crafts’ and you’ll find more ideas to choose from.

Of course, no matter what edible craft you choose to do, make sure you compliment your children on a job well done and enjoy at least one of the treats with them. Making edible Thanksgiving crafts may become a favorite holiday tradition.

If the kids get tired of making these you can go back to the trusted crafts using pine cones and make pine cone turkeys as a centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table.

Macramé 101 - Macramé Beaded Jewelry

Although the craft is believed to have originated in the 13th century by Arab weavers, macramé was a popular craft in the 1960s and 1970s. It has recently begun making a comeback in macramé beaded jewelry. This form of macramé is called micro-macramé. However, you can also make wall hangings and other useful items with this art form.

Macramé is basically tying knots to create a decorative fringe on shawls, veils, bath towels or other hand-loomed fabrics. If you were alive during the craft’s heyday in the United States, you may have also seen owl wall hangings or macramé plant hangers as well as traditional fringes. Macramé belts were also popular.

The most common materials used for macramé are strands of cotton, hemp, leather or yarn. Depending upon what is being made you may also find macramé items with beads of varying sizes and styles. Beads are particularly popular when making jewelry. Items which have special meaning may also be added to macramé jewelry to give it added significance.

Macramé is made by tying a variety of knots. The main knots used are the square knot and either a full hitch or double half hitch knot. Macramé also uses granny, Josephine, lark’s head and overhand knots. Today these same knots are used to create macramé pieces; however, the size and complexity of the craft has changed in the past decades.

If you’ve never tried macramé before, you can easily find books and instructions at craft stores and online. Some books will provide better direction, often with step-by-step photographs for the more elaborate. The supplies are easy to obtain and aren’t terribly expensive unless you’re going to use Swarovski crystals. Most beads, even the better quality glass ones, can be purchased for less than $7.

When just beginning this craft it is a good idea to purchase a macramé jewelry kit which can be purchased at any craft store. The kit will include all of the cord you need to complete the project, as well as any beads which may be necessary. They will also provide detailed instructions on how to finish the project.

Expect to spend a good amount of time creating your macramé pieces as the process of tying the knots is time-consuming. Other factors which may determine how long a piece takes are the size of cord you use and the number of beads added. Of course, more elaborate patterns will take more time as well.

Once you have become familiar with the different knots you may want to try to design your own macramé pieces. Look through books, magazines and the internet to help you see the breadth of options available to you. It is amazing how a macramé has changed over the centuries.

Paper Folding Your Children Will Love - Origami

Paper folding or Origami is as suitable for kids as Mosaic Crafts For Beginners are. It is easy, can be completed in a small amount of time and will give them a lot of satisfaction.

Making something is an activity most kids love. They are especially charmed by creating fun things out of ordinary paper. This is where Origami comes in. It does not have to be complicated and they can attempt easy projects that will give them great satisfaction and can be completed in a short period of time.

Origami is not only fun and satisfying, but it also helps foster co-ordination and dexterity. Look for designs and projects that fit your child's age, and get ready for a project everyone will enjoy.

Did you know that you can download printable designs from the internet? (Type "free printable origami patterns" into your web browser.) There are even online tutorials with helpful pictures and videos. Also, your library will have lots of books on origami. To help you get started, here are some tips for folding neat, attractive origami creations.

1. Read first. It may be tempting to start right in on the folding, reading as you go, but take the time to read through the directions and the design before beginning.

2. Use the right kind of paper. While you don't need to use formal origami paper, make sure you use a paper that will work for your child's age and co-ordination level, and that fits your design. For example, thinner paper such as magazine paper works for smaller designs, but you will need something sturdier for larger, simpler projects for younger children. Origami paper is almost always square.

3. Start with projects that have ten steps or less. That prevents you feeling overwhelmed.

4. Make sure you are folding on a hard surface such as a smooth tabletop or floor. This will help keep the paper from creasing in unwanted areas and will help you to make clean folds.

For a simple beginning project, here are the basic instructions for a simple origami cat.

Materials:

• 1 sheet of square paper, at least 6 inches by 6 inches, in whatever color you like
• Markers
• Glue
• Plastic "googly" eyes

Direction:

1. Fold the square paper in half diagonally to make a triangle. Make a smooth crease.

2. Fold the paper in half again, once more diagonally. Make the fold smooth. Then open this fold up again.

3. Fold the top tip of the triangle down so that it comes down about 1/4 of the way. The flat top you create with the smooth crease will be the top of the cat's head.

4. Fold the bottom right corner straight up - the point will go slightly beyond the top of the cat's head to make the ear.

5. Repeat with the bottom left corner.

6. Flip the whole thing over, and you have a simple cat's face to which you can add whiskers and eyes.

Making A Bird House With Twigs

Kids usually love wild animals. As parents we know it is not good for them to touch them even though they want to do it. What we can do is encourage them to love birds and how to keep them coming back to your garden, even in winter. You can do winter crafts for kids such as making a pine cone bird feeder or this birdhouse with twigs. Let them hang it near a window so they can watch, and you may have a budding ornithologist on your hands.

Birdhouses can be made from a variety of items. Milk jugs, boxes, and soda bottles are common crafts items for children to try. Here’s what your child will need if they want to make one from twigs they find lying around the yard.

Supplies:

• Clean, empty 1/2 gallon milk carton
• Paint in natural colors like brown or grey
• Twigs from around the yard, broken in to various sizes
• Tacky glue or a low-temp glue gun if an adult will be helping
• Safety scissors, depending upon the age of the child
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Fishing line to hang the finished birdhouse

Method:

Measure 3 inches up from the bottom of the clean milk carton and make a dark mark. Continue measuring and marking 3 inches from the bottom on the remaining sides. Using the marks as a guide, have them cut the carton into two pieces. Be sure to save both parts; they’ll need them.

Starting with the top piece, your child can cut a 2 inch circle in one side of the carton. Then moving to the bottom part, have them cut 2 inches from the height. Place glue on all the outer sides of the smaller carton and push the larger one into the bottom. This will make the carton smaller than it was.

Glue the spout closed and then paint the milk carton one of the darker natural colors. Allow the milk carton to dry completely.

If your child hasn’t already done so, have them find a lot of thin, straight twigs or sticks. Thinner twigs will allow your child to break them with their hands rather than having to be sawn. Then have them break the twigs into different lengths to fit the sides and top of the birdhouse.

An adult will want to poke a hole in the middle of the top ridge of the carton. Let your child thread string or heavy duty fishing line through the hole and tie a knot in it. This will be how to hang the birdhouse.

Using tacky glue, have your child cover the sides of the milk carton with twigs, but leave the hole they made open. They may also want to push a twig under the hole so the birds have a perch to land on before they enter their new birdhouse. Glue it well.

Finally, they’ll want to cover the top of the milk carton by gluing sticks on it. They may want to leave a little of the twig hanging over the sides. When the birdhouse is completely finished and has had ample time to dry, help them find the best place to hang it.

Give your child the joy of watching nature by helping them learn how to make a birdhouse with twigs. Having a birdhouse near a window allows them to learn about nature from the safety of your home. It’s a win-win situation for both your child and the birds.

Tips And Ideas For The Beginner Knitter And Kids

Learning to knit is a good idea. Knitting is not only for grannies any more and you will find kids knitting more and more. For a good resource to get the kids knitting having a look at Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages is a very good idea.

Knitting is a pastime which has been enjoyed for hundreds of years, and with good reason. Knitting not only allows you to make some wonderful garments and household decorative items, but it also allows you to create while you relax.

Knitting gives you an amazing sense of accomplishment when you are finished with a project. Whether you are making a sweater or a scarf, you will be proud to show off your work when you have finished it.

Being new to knitting, there are a few things you need to keep in mind so that you will have the most success possible. They are:

1. Knitting Needles

Knitting needles are not all created equal. By far, the easiest needles to knit with are made from wood. Wooden knitting needles allow you to knit much easier because your yarn will stay in place on them. When you use plastic or metal knitting needles you will soon find that your yarns wants to slide off the needles if you are not careful in handling them. When you are new to knitting it really is best to stick to wooden needles.

If you cannot find wooden knitting needles in your area, you can take a dowel of wood and cut it to be about a foot long, sharpen the end with a pencil sharpener to a blunt point, and then rub it with a little candle wax. This makes a great pair of inexpensive and custom knitting needles.

When you are a beginner at knitting you should create your first project with large needles for a couple different reasons.

The first reason is that the large needles are easier to work with and allow you to see your mistakes much easier. If you drop a stitch you will immediately know it and can rip out and start again fairly easily.
The second reason is that large knitting needles make you complete your projects much quicke. You can very easily finish a scarf on large knitting needles in only a couple days. This sense of accomplishment is great for newbies.

2. Yarns and Fibers

When you are new to knitting you will want to start out with natural fibers such as cotton or wool. The reason you want to stick to the natural fibers is because they will not slide off of your knitting needles quite as easily as synthetic fibers will. While all those fancy yarns look inviting, they can be a challenge to work with if you are new to knitting. It is best to start off simple and move your way up.

When you purchase yarn or fibers for your projects make sure you take the time to get all of it from one dye lot. The packages of yarn will be marked with a number and you want to make sure they all match. This ensures that all of your yarn is an exact match to each other. You also have to make sure that the thickness of the yarn is the correct thickness for the needles you have.

3. Knit With Others

Being new to knitting offers some challenges. One of these is trying to learn to knit well from a book or off of the Internet or television. Knitting is one of those things which appears to be much harder than it really is. If you have a friend or relative who knits, ask them to show you how. If you do not know anyone who knits, then you might want to take a class at your local community college, or join a local knitting group. While you can learn to knit on your own, and many people have, it is a lot easier to learn when there are people around you who can show you what to do.

Fortunately with a resource, such as Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages, you WILL be able to do it on your own. This book has lovely pictures and it explains all the detail you need to complete a simple project successfully

Stone by Stone Mosaic Art Kits

Mosaics are beautiful pieces of art – they not only look great as a decoration in any home, but they are also lots of fun to make.


The Stone by Stone Mosaic Art Kits include everything you need to create your own piece of mosaic artwork. The kits can be bought as a single piece of craft, but are also available as multi-packs. These packs are great for birthday parties or groups of children, such as Sunday school groups.

Available are the Mosaic Clock Kit Class Pack which includes enough mosaic stones and materials to make 12 unique clocks. The other option is the Mosaic House Number Kit Pack, the Mosaic Mirror Kit Pack and the Mosaic Sundial Kit Pack. All kits include easy-to-follow instructions and all the necessary tools.These kt packs are a very good option as mosaic crafts for beginners.

I like the look of mosaics and can really recommend these kits. They are fun to make and beautiful to look at. I am sure that they will be very much appreciated either as a gift or as a birthday craft activity.

How to Create a Vacation Scrapbook

Scrapbooking is fun and if you are looking for some beginner scrapbooking tips and ideas you can have a look at Beginner Scrapbooking and Greeting Card Basics. I'm sure though, with this article you will have no difficulty in making your vacation Scrapbook.

When you go on vacation you probably take you take pictures to help you remember the time spent with family and the locations you visited. Perhaps you’d like to know how to create a vacation scrapbook to keep your photographs organized.

A scrapbook will also provide a place to record memories and funny things which were said during your trip.

Vacation scrapbooks are similar to general scrapbooks except the subject matter is limited to your vacation. Use the scrapbook to store memorabilia gathered on your trip.

Here are some things you may want to have on hand when creating your vacation scrapbook:

• Scrapbook
• Acid-free scrapbook pages
• Photographs
• Photo corners
• Tacky glue
• Stickers
• Maps or other memorabilia
• Acid-free ink pens

Most people use digital cameras and have the capability to print their own photos. You can also take digital photos to be developed at a variety of stores. At any rate, you’ll need pictures to put in the scrapbook.

Besides photos you’ll need paper to place the pictures. There are so many printed papers to choose from along with stickers with a vacation theme. Purchase the paper and stickers you’ll use so they will be available when you need it.

Choose the photos you’ll use on the various pages of the scrapbook. Pages can be planned based on day of the trip, locations, or any number of other reasons. When you have your pictures picked out, and you don’t have to use all of them, you’ll have a better idea which stickers and printed papers you’ll use.

Rather than filling the pages entirely with photographs, be sure to leave space on the page for memorabilia from your trip. Maybe you picked up some postcards along your trip. They would be a great addition to your pages. Other memorabilia to consider putting in your scrapbook are matchbook covers, souvenirs, maps or receipts.

You’ll also want to leave space for journaling as well. Describe the places you visited, anything memorable that happened along the way, and the names of the people in the photographs. Adding the date to the journal area will help you remember even more.

Try to get the rest of the family help you create your vacation scrapbook. Write down some of the things they remember from the trip. You may even want to have each person write part of the narrative in the scrapbook.

Now you know how to create a vacation scrapbook, you can use the ideas above to stimulate your creativity. Make each page unique, but use similar elements so the overall vacation theme is consistent throughout. Then when you and your family look back through the vacation scrapbook you can remember the time with happiness.

If you still fell you need a few more pointers, go to: Beginner Scrapbooking and Greeting Card Basics

Can You Use One Of The KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers For Crafts?

Now you really think I have lost it. How can one of the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers possibly be uses in doing crafts with the kids? I do not blame you, but surprisingly it is possible.

To be hones with you this though only entered my mind this Friday as my granddaughter visited us. She wanted to do some baking and as luck would have it I had a packed for vanilla muffins in the house.

For this pre-mix you need to measure some oil and water and mix it with two eggs before adding it to the muffin mix. Then you had to mix it for 2 minutes on medium with an electric mixer and, of course, this is where on e of the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers comes in. It is and ideal mixer to use for this purpose.

Now what does this have to do with crafts you ask me? Well there are quite a bit of stuff your kids can do helping you to bake these muffins.

First of all my grade one granddaughter was able to measure all the ingredients. Then she was able to mix it, add it to the muffin mix, switch on the mixer and time the two minutes.

Then once the dough was ready, she was able to spoon the dough into the muffin tines that she has already prepared with cooking spray. So, as you can see there was quite a lot she could do during this baking session and that is why baking should never be ignored as a craft for our kids.

An Easy Seashell Candle To Make As An Easy Craft

With the summer coming we are going to be gather seashells on the beach again. What to do with them later on? that is the question. Of course you can make mosaic crafts for beginners with them, but making a seashell candle with them is also a fun and easy way to use those candles.

Seashells are a favorite souvenir of beachgoers. And if you’re willing to look for them along the oceanside, they don’t cost a penny. These beautiful products of nature make great souvenirs and gifts on their own, and they can also be used in all sorts of craft projects.

Have you ever seen those candles that are adorned with seashells? They can be quite expensive in stores. But you can easily make your own seashell candle at a fraction of the cost. These go well with virtually any décor, and they can also serve as decorations at beach-themed parties and weddings.

Supplies

• Cheap white pillar candle
• Hot glue gun
• Small seashells
• Water
• Bleach
• Bucket
• Old toothbrush

Instructions

1. Make a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water in a small bucket. Place the shells in the bucket and scrub them with a toothbrush to remove debris. Rinse thoroughly.

2. Place the candle on a pillar candle holder or some other surface that will not be harmed by melted wax.

3. Plug in the hot glue gun and allow time for it to heat up. Do not place a glue stick in it. Hold it over a piece of newspaper and squeeze the trigger so that any excess glue comes out.

4. Find a spot on the candle where you want to place a seashell. Place the tip of the glue gun on that spot and squeeze the trigger so that the wax melts. Move it around to melt a spot large enough to hold the shell.

5. Press the shell into the melted wax. Hold until the wax hardens enough to keep the shell in place.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have placed as many seashells as you like on the candle.

If you prefer to have your seashells inside of the candle, you’ll have to pour your own instead of using a store-bought one. The easiest way to do this is to make a jar candle. Here’s how.

Supplies

• Pint jar
• Candle wick
• Paraffin or soy candle wax
• Seashells
• Double boiler

Instructions

1. In a double boiler, cut the candle wax into small pieces. Heat slowly until all wax is melted.

2. Dip the candle wick into the melted wax. Let harden, and repeat several times to give it an even coating.

3. Pour a small amount of wax into the bottom of the jar. Place the candle wick into the jar, making sure it’s centered.

4. While holding the wick straight up, place some shells into the jar. Pull the wick firmly, yet not so hard that it pulls loose from the bottom of the jar. Try to keep the shells away from the center, and don’t add too many at a time.

5. Pour wax up to the top of the shells. Add more shells and repeat until the jar is filled. Let wax harden.

Decorations Ideas For Bikes For Fourth Of July

Your children have likely seen the Christmas parade and commented that they’d like to participate. Maybe you don’t want to have your children riding their bikes for the entire length of a parade in the cold.

Besides that, your children may not really want to be a part of a long, drawn out, cold parade, but still want a chance to show off their bicycles, especially if you nine year old boy has a Mongoose Montana Boy's Mountain Bike 24 Inch Wheels!

Plan a mini-parade for the neighborhood children and they can use some of these Fourth of July bike decorations ideas to make their bikes stand out.

Perhaps your child already has a bike in one of the patriotic colors – red, white or blue. If that’s the case, they can wrap streamers of the other colors around their bike to make it more patriotic. This can be done whether your child rides a tricycle or a bicycle.

Here’s what they’ll need to decorate their bikes no matter what color it is:

• Red crepe paper roll
• White crepe paper roll
• Blue crepe paper roll
• Scissors to cut the crepe paper to the right length
• Tape to adhere it

What to do:

1. Beginning at the front of your child’s Mongoose Montana Boy's Mountain Bike 24 Inch Wheels, or the bike your kids has, wrap one color of crepe paper around the frame. Be sure to cover the frame completely and tape it at both ends to secure it to the bike.
2. Next, take a second color and wrap it around the frame but leave enough space so the first color shows and will allow for a third color.
3. Then, wrap the third color of crepe paper around the frame so you can see the red, white and blue pattern on the frame.

Another idea, streamers:

1. You can also take three foot pieces of the different colored crepe paper to make streamers.
2. Gather one of each color to make a patriotic streamer and adhere it with tape to the handle bars.
3. You may also want to place one on the back of the seat.

One without streamers:

Maybe your child doesn’t like streamers. If they have a basket on their bike they could place red, white and blue Christmas ribbons on their basket. Christmas ribbons are usually more metallic looking, so they will show off your child’s distinct style.

Hang a small flag on the back of your child’s seat, or criss-cross two flags and secure them across the front of the handle bars. They could also weave red, white and blue streamers through the spokes on their tires.

Your child may have other Fourth of July bike decorations ideas that aren’t listed here. Listen to them and then help them create the decorated bike they’ve been thinking of. Then step out of their way and let them show off their handiwork and their bike.

Easy Crafts For Kids - Creative Paper Mache Projects

Kids love paper mache, but for some reason paper mache is a craft that goes in and out of vogue, despite the fact it is one of the easiest and most versatile crafts. Using paper mache you can make nearly anything. It is really easy to do Easy Kids Crafts, Paper Mache crafts.

Do you need a piñata for a birthday party but don’t want to spend a lot of money? Make one with paper mache.

There is no right or wrong way to do paper mache. One recipe for the glue isn’t any better than the others, so you’ll want to find one you’re comfortable with and stick with it. Here are two of the simpler recipes to try.

No cook glue is simply made with flour and water. The ratio is one part flour to two parts water. If you don’t like the smell, add a drop or two of an essential oil. Adding a tablespoon or two of salt to the mixture will help prevent mold. Unused glue can be covered and placed in the refrigerator for a few days.

Cooked glue is a little harder to make but produces smoother consistency glue. The ratio of flour to water is different: one part flour to five parts water. Mix together on part flour with one part warm water, beating until all the lumps are gone. Then bring four cups of water to boil in a pot.

When the water begins boiling, slowly add the flour and water mixture and mix well. Allow it to boil for 2-3 minutes. This will also keep in the refrigerator for a few days.

To create a paper mache piñata, start with a large balloon. Blow it up the size you want and then tape crumpled paper to the balloon to create the shape you want. Dip strips of newspaper into the glue and squeegee off the excess. Lay the glued strips over the form until it is completely covered.

When the piñata is completely dry, cut a hole large enough to remove the balloon and add candy. You’ll also want to carefully put a hanger of some type on it which will allow it to be hung. Paint the piñata, fill it, and then hang it up. Then watch the kids at the party destroy your hard work.

Knowing how to do paper mache is also good for creating science projects such as a working volcano. Create a form using chicken wire wrapped around a soda bottle which has been placed on a wooden base. Use paper mache to cover the volcano and allow it to dry completely.

Paint it, add rocks or sticks to represent boulders and trees, and then place baking soda into the bottle. Mix red food coloring with vinegar and then when it’s time for the volcano to erupt pour the vinegar into the baking soda.

There’s no end to the things you can create with paper mache. Do you need props for a play? Make them with paper mache. Do you want decorations for your home?

Some of them can be made with paper mache. Look through your public library or on the internet to get more ideas of what is possible with a little paper, flour, water, and paint.

Toddler Craft – How to Make a 4th of July Firework Picture

Kid's Fourth Of July Crafts are always a hit with the little ones. Of course as they get older you may want to move on to something such as Alex Toys Happily Ever Crafter where a kid can do a variety of crafts to decide on a favorite craft.

Toddlers love to be a part of everything you do. However, you know that during the Fourth of July, that’s not always a good idea. This is particularly the case when fireworks are being used. Here’s how to make a Fourth of July firework picture your toddler will enjoy instead.

There are a couple of ways to create a picture of Fourth of July fireworks. Your toddler can use paint or glue and glitter. Why not let them try each way and let them decide which they like the most?

• Your toddler will need the following items for this craft:
• Construction paper – black or dark blue would be best
• Water-based paints – use colors which are common for fireworks such as red, white, blue, purple, green, gold, or yellow
• Straws – one for each color paint
• Glue – school glue which can be thinned with water if necessary
• Glitter – silver, gold, red, blue, white, and green are good choices

Begin by placing newspaper on the work station to help contain the mess which will soon ensue. Put a piece of construction paper on the table followed by a drop or two of paint. Put the paint in the area which will be the sky.

Have the child blow through the straw to make a circle with the paint. Before the paint is blown too thin, have them pull the end of the straw through the paint to make the fireworks falling to the ground. It might be a good idea to have pictures of actual fireworks available so your toddler can remember what they look like.

Put another color on the paper and follow the same steps. When they’re happy with the look of their fireworks, let the paint dry thoroughly. Ask them to color the ground or glue some green construction paper on the bottom for grass. They could also add a tree or star stickers to make their picture their own.

To make a fireworks picture with glitter, water down the school glue a little bit so it can be blown similar to the paint. Put some thinned glue on the paper and have your toddler blow the fireworks like they did before. When they’re happy with the way the first one looks, let them choose a color of glitter and sprinkle it on the glue. Shake off the excess and let it dry.

If they want other color fireworks, they can repeat the above process with another color of glitter. Let them overlap their colors and have fun. When the pictures are completely dry, date the picture and write your child’s name on it. Don’t forget to display them in a prominent place in your home.

Once your toddler learns how to make a Fourth of July fireworks picture in either of these ways, they’ll be able to enjoy fireworks at any time of the year. If fireworks safety is important to you, this is one sure-fire way to enjoy them without being worried about your toddler’s safety.

Rainy Day Craft Ideas for Toddlers This Summer

There’s no doubt about it - toddlers can be a bundle of energy. And if you add rain to the mix, they may drive a poor mom, dad or babysitter crazy. Try out some of these fun rainy day craft ideas for toddlers. These crafts may help keep your toddler happy and you sane.

On a more sunny summer's day you can try out a fun Kids Summer Crafts – Caterpillar - Butterfly House that any kid will enjoy.

Of course, it helps if you have a box of craft items you can use with your toddler. Glue, glitter, feathers, construction paper, yarn, pony beads, finger paints, google eyes, pieces of felt, unmatched socks, old magazines and safety scissors are a few of the items you may want to have on hand. If you have things available, a rainy day won’t catch you by surprise.

Start an alphabet collage with your toddler. Go through old magazines and have them cut out letters from the titles of articles. These will generally be much larger and will be easier for your toddler to cut out. Glue the same letter on a sheet of paper, and then go back through the magazine looking for pictures of items starting with that letter. For instance, A – apple, alligator, adding machine, etc. You’ll end up with 26 pages, one for each letter, as well as a front cover and back cover. Your toddler will begin to learn their letters and the sounds the letters make.

Another way to teach them while they have fun is to let them use finger paint. Give them several sheets of paper and finger paint, and let them loose. However, you may want to teach them to “write” their name with finger paint or show them different shapes. Of course, they may have so much fun feeling the squishy paint between their fingers they may not want to stop once the sun comes back out.

Make a sock puppet with a couple of the unmatched socks you have lying around. Your toddler can glue pieces of yarn on top for hair, glue google eyes on if you have them, and cut out shapes for the mouth. Be sure to let the puppet dry completely before your toddler begins playing with it or the pieces may come apart and end up where they don’t belong. You can do a similar craft using paper bags.

It’s quite possible your toddler has started a collection of rocks; many toddlers do. If they have some larger smooth rocks, they could make paperweights out of them. Let them paint and decorate the rock however they’d like. When it’s dry, they can give it as a gift or keep it for themselves.

These are just a few fun rainy day craft ideas for toddlers you may want to try. The internet is also a great resource for more fun ideas you can use on rainy days, as well as your local public library. Your greatest resource, however, is your toddler's own creativity and having someone to share that creativity with.

Beginners Crafts To Boredom-Busting Craft Activities for Your Pre-Schooler

A bored pre-schooler is definitely something we want to prevent! So engage your child and get started on some fun craft projects. A very good option is Mosaic Crafts For Beginners, making use of seeds so it is not too heavy on the pocket!

Of course there are many other excellent ideas as well and here are some ideas:

Paper Plate Flowers

Bring some springtime inside with this fun project. This is also a good way to recycle old paper towel or toilet paper tubes.

Materials:

• A variety of paper plates of any size or color
• Brown, yellow and green construction paper
• Glue
• Cardboard tubes such as paper towel, wrapping paper, or toilet paper. Varying heights make a nice effect.
• Paints (if using white paper plates)

Directions:

1. Wrap the cardboard tubes in green construction paper. Glue the seam.

2. If you are using white paper plates, paint them in bright colors. Encourage your pre-schooler to paint from the center outward, like petals.

3. Cut circles from the brown and yellow construction paper in various sizes (these will be the flower centers).

4. Glue the circles onto the center of the colored or painted plates.

5. Glue the backs of the plates to the tops of the green cardboard tubes.

6. Cut out and glue green leaves to the flower "stems" if you like.

7. Set the flowers up on a sheet of green construction paper that represents grass, and make a flower field.

With a little modification, you could make a forest of trees using the same technique. Your pre-schooler can use the woods or flower field as a scenic backdrop for imaginative play.

Tissue Box Car

One of the keys to making boredom-busting crafts is to create things your kids can play with after they're made. A tissue box car is not only fun to make, it's fun to play with!

Materials:

Tissue box
One sharp pencil
Two drinking straws
Four plastic tops, such as those from 2-litres, milk jugs, etc.
Paints, construction paper, puffy paint, etc.
Hot glue

Directions:

1. Carefully remove the plastic from the tissue box opening.

2. Using the sharp pencil, the adult can punch four holes in the base of the box. These will be where the wheels go, so try to make the holes evenly spaced.

3. Poke one straw through each pair of holes, pushing it through until it comes out the other sid

Easy Mother’s Day Projects for Toddlers

While a toddler can't make his or her mom breakfast in bed, there are still lots of neat projects you can do with a toddler to show how much you appreciate Mom. Here are some ideas for easy mother's day projects for toddlers.

Mother's Day Crafts - Egg Carton Tulips

Materials:

• Cardboard egg carton
• Scissors
• Paint
• Green pipe cleaners

Directions:

1. Use scissors to cut the segments out of the egg carton. You should now have separate cup shapes.

2. Cut the edges of the cups into tulip-like shapes.

3. Use scissors or a pencil to punch a hole in the bottom of each cardboard tulip blossom.

4. Poke a pipe cleaner up through the hole and bend it to keep the tulip bloom from slipping off.

5. Paint the tulips in all sorts of bright colors.

Framed Hand Prints

Mothers love their children's hand prints, and anything made from them. Here is an idea for a framed piece of Mother's Day artwork that will make Mom smile.

Materials:

• Store-bought picture frame, any size - but think big for toddlers to have room to work
• White art paper or poster board
• Finger paints
• Green marker
• Construction paper
• Glue

Directions:

1. Cut the white paper to fit inside the frame.

2. Cut out a basic vase or bowl shape from any color construction paper.

3. Glue the vase shape onto the bottom half of the white paper.

4. Let the toddler(s) make hand prints using the finger paint. Try to make sure the hand prints are generally above the vase shape, on the top half of the paper. Use several colors.

5. After the hand prints have dried, use the green marker to draw stems from each hand print to the construction paper vase. Try to make it appear as if the flowers are in the vase.

6. Place the piece into the frame.

Decorative "Stone"

Materials:

• Modeling clay that will become hard and permanent upon drying, either air-dry or the sort that will dry in a home oven
• Craft paints or acrylic paints
• Permanent marker

Directions:

1. Take a large lump of clay and form it into a rough, stone-like shape.

2. Have the toddler press his or her hands into the clay to make two hand prints.

3. Dry the clay.

4. When the clay is hard, let your toddler paint the decorative stone in colors he or she likes.

5. On the bottom of the stone, write the date and the occasion with the permanent marker.

Do I Need Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium?

It is normal for the Beginner to ask the question: " Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium?" Well, acrylic is a well loved medium and if you are a beginner artists or and accomplished artist this book will help you.

Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium does not only give you the basics, it also helps you with new techniques to get do much more from your acrylic paint.

This book will help everyone and is a must have resource in the library of every artist. Even so, even the beginner will find the basics needed to work with acrylics in it.

Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium teaches you how to prepare and paint on virtually any surface. This is where it will even help all beginner artists and beginner crafters.

What is also very helpful in this book is that it has a gallery of finished works by fellow painting revolutionaries that blend various acrylic techniques to create amazing effects. This is where Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium will inspire you and help you to think in new and innovate ways to produce better art.

So, I think if you love to paint with acrylics, having a look at Acrylic Revolution: New Tricks and Techniques for Working with the World's Most Versatile Medium is a very good idea.

Make a Star Studded Door Hanger For Independence Day

It is always fun to go all out with Independence Day decorations. There are so many fun crafts you can do so, why shouldn’t it be a day to go crazy with your decorations? So, looking at Kid's Fourth Of July Crafts is one way to start.

Decking your home out in red, white and blue is lots of fun, and it’s a great way to show your patriotism. This simple yet lovely door hanger is a great project to start with, and it’s so simple that even young children can participate.

Supplies

• 2 small paper plates
• Star-shaped sponge or foam stamp
• Acrylic paint in red or blue
• Red, blue and gold glitter glue
• Shiny red and blue garland
• Craft glue
• White yarn
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Cut a piece of yarn approximately a foot long.

2. Cut garland into several pieces, each about 16 inches in length. Five to eight pieces should suffice.

3. Put a thin layer of glue just inside the edge of the top side of one of the paper plates, going all the way around. Place the other plate on top face down, and press the edges together.

4. Place one end of the yarn between the two plates. Place the other end between the plates an inch or two away from the first end to create a hanger.

5. Directly opposite from the middle of the yarn hanger, place the end of each piece of garland between the plates. Press the edges together all the way around to reinforce, and let dry completely.

6. Put a small amount of the acrylic paint in another paper plate or on a piece of newspaper. Dip the star stamp into the paint, and then press the stamp gently into the center of the plate. Remove carefully to avoid smudging.

7. Trace around the star with a contrasting color of glitter glue. Use another color to create a border around the hanger. You could make a solid line or do a zigzag or curlicue pattern. Or, if you prefer, make a border in red and another border inside of it in blue.

8. Use the glitter glue or paint to add a message to your door hanger. “Welcome” and “Happy Independence Day” are two phrases you could use.

9. If desired, wrap the garland tightly around a pencil in a spiral, then let go to make it curl. Let paint and glitter glue dry completely before hanging.

This simple yet festive door hanger is a great way to welcome guests and celebrate the Fourth of July. It also makes a great family project. Each of the kids could make one for his or her bedroom door. And if you don’t have paint, glitter glue and garland on hand, markers and crepe paper can be used instead.

Crafts Galore! The Ultimate Guide for Girlfriends

Crafts Galore! The Ultimate Guide for Girlfriends is a great resource for all girls to get together and get crafting. It has a wealth of different project ideas that are easy and fun to make together. The finished pieces of craft can easily be used as presents, at parties or even sold at a church or school fundraiser.

The book comes with supply lists, which cover materials needed, costs involved and timeframes. This detailed information makes it easy to plan ahead. The book benefits from detailed instructional pages. All projects have been tried and tested.

The individual craft projects are divided into different sections, such as: Food Crafts, Service Projects, Gifts, Seasonal Crafts and Crafts with Devotion. They include projects such as:

* Ribbon Cards
* Giggle Jars
* Creative Clipboard
* Door Delights
* Mini Journal
* Mailable Photo Frame
* Patriotic Pillows
* Spring Flowerpots
* Bead Bracelets
* Soup Mixes
* Chocolate Dipped Spoons
* Sweet Psalms Box of Chocolates
* Memorial Candle
* And others

For more information on this fantastic book, go to Amazon and have a look at Crafts Galore! The Ultimate Guide for Girlfriends

Have a look at what some are saying about: Crafts Galore! The Ultimate Guide for Girlfriends

This is what Disciple Forever has to say:

I am always looking for fresh ideas to create simple, yet meaningful gifts of quality. You do not need to be Martha Stewart (or Donald Trump!)to make these creative items. This would also be a really fun resource to use when a group of girlfriends get together and are looking for a great activity to do together...a great addition to any Bible study or Book Club!

And this is what Susan H. Lawrence is saying:

Remember the days of doing a craft just for the sake of doing a craft? This book is full of ideas for fun crafts you will actually USE! Some are designed to be used for service projects, some can be given to friends, and some you can even eat. You can use some for fundraisers, retreats, gift-making and parties. Or, maybe you just want to get a bunch of girlfriends together on a regular basis...and you know we get so much more done when we are sitting around a table of girlfriends!

With easy supplies lists (separated for what you'll need per woman and what you'll need for women to share), time to allow, and cost symbols (the least expensive symbolized by one dollar sign and also two $$ and three $$$), Crafts Galore! makes it easy to plan crafts. Many of the instructional pages can be reproduced, so you can make copies for each table instead of read through instructions for everyone. And...all the crafts have been field tested, so you aren't the guinea pig. I've already made the Creative Clipboard, Journal in a Jar, Comfort Pillow and Chocolate-Dipped Spoons, and all were simple AND useful!

This is what Tracey Guilliams says:

No matter what your budget is...small or big...there is a craft in here for you and your friends to do. This book can be used easily for a women's group to make gifts for themselves or others. My personal favorite is the Door Delights! Make several of these easy to do Door Deligts and give them to shut ins, nursing home patients or your best gal pal!

You won't be disappointed with the easy to follow directions and pictures.

Go To Amazon Now! Get Crafts Galore! The Ultimate Guide for Girlfriends

Let Freedom Ring, A Patriotic Pattern Pack

Where to buy: www.currclick.com

Go To Fun Kids Crafts For More Kid's Fourth Of July Crafts

“Let Freedom Ring” is a fantastic patriotic pattern e-book full of patriotic craft projects which include quilting, sewing, stitching and appliqué. The patterns are a great way to celebrate America’s patriotic holidays and are perfect for Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th etc.

Whether you’re making a picnic blanket, table cloth or potholders, you will find lots of attractive ideas and designs. The projects are easily completed by sewing beginners. The patriotic pack includes all the detailed techniques, patterns, information and illustration needed to finish each project successfully.

The projects are divided into ‘inside’ patriotic and ‘outside’ patriotic. Samples for an outside patriotic project are:

* Picnic tote bag
* Beverage Carriers
* Picnic Blanket
* BBQ mitt
* BBQ apron
* Warm day cool wrap

Samples for the inside patriotic projects include:

* Potholder
* Microwave potholder
* Table runner
* Decorated placemats
* Coasters
* Kitchen towels
* Quilted throw
* And more

The various techniques used for the projects include:

* Heat’n bond appliqué
* Clipping curves & points
* Hand stitching
* Hand embroidery
* Topstitch
* Applying bias tape
* And more

These patriotic Kid's Forth Of July Crafts projects are a fantastic way to celebrate and commemorate American holidays with your children.

Save Money By Catching The Sewing

Clothing is expensive. Those fashionable designer pieces can cost hundreds of dollars a pop. Even a simple t-shirt often costs more than going out to eat. Department store offerings are slightly easier on the budget, but even they seem to get more expensive each season.

There is a way around the high price of getting dressed. You can sew your own clothes. There was a time when almost everyone made clothes for her own family. Learning to sew takes some dedication, but it isn’t difficult. You can learn to make simple pieces in no time.

For those with a unique sense of style, sewing one’s own clothes is the perfect answer. Fabrics of all types can be found at your local craft shop or online. And there are tons of patterns to choose from, so you’re sure to find something that suits your taste. If not, you can always make adjustments to make each piece truly unique.

Your kids may be stuck on the designer fashions that their friends are wearing. But you can find patterns similar to almost anything out there. Let your child pick out the fabric, and when he sees the end result, he’ll likely change his mind. He may even be the envy of his friends, because they can’t find anything like it in stores!

Sewing also makes gift giving less expensive. You can sew a piece that matches the recipient’s personal style for much less than you would pay for a store-bought gift. And a handmade article of clothing is sure to be appreciated more.

Sewing is one hobby that has lots of money-saving potential. You can get started with nothing more than some fabric, a needle and some thread. Once you’ve learned the basics, you can move on to an inexpensive sewing machine. Patterns can be pricey, but you can find many online for free. Most craft stores also have patterns at very low prices, sometimes as little as a dollar. And by using different fabrics and making minor modifications, you can create an infinite number of pieces from one pattern.

Fabric can also be expensive. But if you shop at the end of each season for the following year, you can find some great deals. You may be able to find some for a dollar or two per yard. It’s important to examine fabric for flaws before you buy, but minor ones will make very little difference in the finished product.

If you’ve never sewn before, the thought of starting can be intimidating. But if you start out with simple patterns, you can boost your confidence and work your way up to more complex ones. Sewing does take time, but the money you save makes it well worth the effort.

Consider Knitting As a Self-Help Tool

We have to get our kids knitting with Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages. Non-knitters often consider knitting monotonous and boring. It’s true that knitting is not a fast-paced hobby like skydiving, but it does have lots of benefits. In fact, many experts are convinced that it has therapeutic properties.

Anyone who knits will tell you that knitting is a wonderful remedy for stress. At the end of a tough day, picking up a project can quickly calm one down. It’s those very repetitive movements that those who do not knit consider boring that produce a soothing effect comparable to that of meditation.

In fact, knitting has a lot in common with meditation. In both activities, you focus on one particular thing. When meditating, that thing is your subconscious. When knitting, it’s your stitching. In either case, you’re forced to push your worries, stress, anger and sadness to the side.

The focus required by knitting can help with a number of health issues other than stress. These include:

* ADD/ADHD – Knitting is great for improving concentration. The act of knitting forces the two sides of the brain to work together, and that’s something that those with ADD and ADHD can have a lot of trouble with. By knitting regularly, they can improve their brains’ ability to focus and hang on to information that is learned.

* Chronic pain – Chronic pain can greatly decrease one’s quality of life. But instead of using dangerous (and often addictive) painkillers as the sole treatment, many pain doctors are encouraging patients to include less conventional therapies in their treatment. Knitting is one activity that can help. The calm state of mind it produces, and the attention it requires, blocks pain signals from reaching the brain.

* Brain damage – After a brain injury, doctors seek to restore as much of the brain’s prior function as possible. Complete recovery is not always possible, but certain activities can help patients relearn fine motor skills and cognitive skills. Knitting is one of many possible treatment options. It tends to work well because it incorporates both types of skills into one activity.

* Anxiety – Anxiety may be mild, moderate or severe. At any level, knitting can be beneficial. While it probably won’t stop a full-fledged panic attack, knitting can reduce overall stress and divert attention from specific stressors.

* Chronic illness – When one is facing a long-term or terminal illness, depression can set in. Those who are bedridden are limited in what they can do, and this can give them too much time to think negative thoughts. Knitting is something they can do that is not physically demanding, yet it takes their minds off of their illness. And the finished project also gives them a sense of accomplishment.

Knitting as therapy may not be the latest medical breakthrough, but it can be helpful in many cases. It’s a relatively easy hobby, and it’s very inexpensive. And it engages the mind in a relaxing way that few other pursuits can.

So have a look at: Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages, as it says - Kids Of All Ages!