National Sewing Month

September is National Sewing Month

Jo-Ann Stores and Joann.com are hosting a month long sewing party.  View a new sewing project every day at Pinterest during the month of September.

National Sewing Month is the official host for the month. There are free projects, educational articles, and how-to directions for the whole month.

2012 National Sewing Month Sew for the FUN of It! Contest

What do you consider  a fun sewing project?  Is it a new party outfit, a bed for your dog, or a wild & crazy shower curtain?  This year, NationalSewingMonth.org is sponsoring a contest. No categories, no limitation - sew what YOU consider fun.  Check out all the rules and guidelines here.

The observance of National Sewing Month began in 1982 with a proclamation from President Ronald Reagan declaring September as National Sewing Month "in recognition of the importance of home sewing to our Nation."


Get Involved in National Sewing Month

• Teach a family member or friend to sew.
• Volunteer your time and teach sewing to a local youth organization, like Girl Scouts or 4-H Club.
• Join your local chapter of the American Sewing Guild.
• Take a class at a your local craft store.
• Create your own sewing circle of friends - it's fun to sew with others.

Please share your crafts/sewing projects by sharing a link via the comments section.

Happy sewing.

Crafters Free Holiday Ebook

The holiday season inspires the crafter in all of us. Whether you’re trying to save money, want to create homemade gifts & decorations, or simply enjoy the art of crafting, this ebook with over 25 quick and easy crafts will inspire you. In this ebook you’ll find Christmas Ornaments, Home Decor, Greeting Cards, Kids’ Holiday Crafts, Gift Giving Ideas, and more. You can pick up your copy here.

Easy Egg Decorating

Use rubber bands to decorate Easter eggs. After hard-boiling the eggs, wrap rubber bands around them in any pattern, then dip in a container of dye. When the eggs dry, remove the bands. For additional colors, rewrap and repeat.

Wordless Wednesday #20

First day of school.

Artist Trading Cards

Here are some ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) that I have done over the past year.

These ATCs were made for a swap. The theme is the The 12 Months. This series is based on the 12 months of the year.

These ATCs are ready for a one-on-swap. Buttons is the theme.

These are Christmas ATCs made as gifts for my Holly Jolly Helpers.

These were done for a swap. The theme was Color Box. You had to create a card for each color in a a Crayola 8-count crayon box.

Recylcing Plastic Bags

Here is an interesting article about recycling...

Cut up existing plastic grocery bags into loops and use them to knit or crochet a sturdy shopping tote that you can reuse each time you shop.

Instructions:
http://hakucho.blogspot.com/2007/06/how-to-turn-plastic-bags-into-yarn.html

April Fool's Creating and Crafting

Are you someone who enjoys playing April Fool’s pranks and practical jokes? I’ve gathered a list of harmless pranks and April Fool’s jokes guaranteed to entertain and delight! The plotting and planning are half the fun.

April Fools' Pranks to Play on Your Friends
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/aprilfools-pranks-ms/aprilfools-pranks-ms.html?link=Section4Link1

A Shamburger
http://familyfun.go.com/utilities/global/feature/fftv-archive-video-player/fftv-archive-video-player.html?video=hamburger_cookies&campaign=NLC-NL_Wkdr&link=Section2Link2

April Fools' Funnies
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/april-fools-funnies/april-fools-funnies.html

April Fools' Practical Jokes and Pranks
http://www.kidzworld.com/article/1939-april-fools-practical-jokes-and-pranks

April Fool Zone
http://www.aprilfoolzone.com/

Dyeing Eggs Naturally

It is more work but very fun.

Deep Gold
Boil eggs in turmeric solution, 30 minutes.

Sienna
Boil eggs in onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.

Dark, Rich Brown
Boil eggs in black coffee, 30 minutes.

Pale Yellow
Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes.

Orange
Soak eggs in room-temperature onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.

Light Brown
Soak eggs in room-temperature black coffee, 30 minutes.

Light Pink
Soak eggs in room-temperature beet solution, 30 minutes.

Light Blue
Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage solution, 30 minutes.

Royal Blue
Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage solution overnight.

Lavender
Soak eggs in room-temperature beet solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature cabbage solution, 30 seconds.

Chartreuse: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature cabbage solution, 5 seconds.

http://www.marthastewart.com/dyeing-eggs-naturally

Easter Creating and Crafting

Let's have fun creating with the kids. Create any one of these fun Easter crafts and share the link to your photos in the comments section. Everyone who enters will have their name put into a drawing to win a small prize from my personal prize cupboard.

Styrofoam Bunny Egg
http://www.bfranklincrafts.com/CraftIdeas/CraftIdea-styrofoamBunny.html

Angelic Bunny Pin
http://www.thuntek.net/~rhardy/paint/bnypin.html

Bead Bunny
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10838&campaign=NLC-NL_Wkdr&link=Section1Link1

Cool Crayon Eggs
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11716&campaign=NLC-NL_Wkdr&link=Section2Link1

Jelly Bean Carrots
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50360&campaign=NLC-NL_Wkdr&link=Section3Link1

Rainbow Easter Egg Cookies
http://www.cookingvillage.com/cv/recipe/art/0,1684,sLang=us&iObj=11016,00.html

Clothespin Easter Bunny
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/easter/clothespin-easter-bunny.shtml

Carrot Tree
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11194

Bunny Pin
http://crafts.kaboose.com/bunny-pin.html

Bunny Ears
http://crafts.kaboose.com/bunnyears.html

Brown Bag Bunny
http://www.angelfire.com/hi3/PamsPlace4/1brownbagbunny.html

Easter Bunny Cake
http://www.dailysoutherner.com/features/local_story_094103638.html

Jelly Bean Pots
http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jsp?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/15182.xml

Easter Egg House
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/easter/house.shtml

Have fun!