crafts
Crafts Hacks for makers; a digital vision board with clever tips, ideas, techniques and materials for DIY creations.
Out of the Ashes
My journey into the world of textiles began as an effort to preserve my sanity when I was a young mom, home with my children all day. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a mother, but I’m a creative, ambitious person and I needed more in my life besides diapers, cooking and play-dates. I wanted to do something from home so I could still focus on my primary role as a mom. I landed upon the idea that I would like to design quilt fabric (I was a mural artist prior to having children). The only catch was that I first had to develop the skills to create digital artwork, something I never even knew was possible. I bought a computer and design software, and set about teaching myself how to use them. During that period, I would put my kids to bed each night and head to my room for hours of late-night learning. When I had developed just the basic skill set needed to submit a portfolio of design work, I was rewarded with a contract to design fabric with a manufacturer of quilt fabric.
By Emily Taylor5 years ago in Lifehack
Crazy
"Hey, what are you working on?" my niece asked. It was time for "The Test." I tossed her one of the quilt squares and held my breath as I waited for her reaction. I didn't have long to wait. "How cute!" she cried after looking at it for about 3 seconds. She handed it back and turned back to the movie we were all watching.
By Nicole Calbout5 years ago in Lifehack
Craftiness and kindness
I would like to invite you in to my crafty world to tell you all about some of my crafting activities over the years. Crafting, for as long as I can remember has always been a part of my life. I find crafting meaningful and useful, as well as the obvious, exiting and fun. I have made cloths and accessories for my dolls when I was young. I made jointed teddy bears when I was a teenager as well as children's novelty working clocks. As I got older I tried to take my crafting to a different level and began to learn about paint effects which led to painting furniture and using great new mediums tools and techniques. Some techniques were learned through college tuition some from books and TV, a lot through trial and error and so much more these days through media such as YouTube. I love to learn new things in this crafty world. It is a never ending happy adventure.
By Tammy Dunnan5 years ago in Lifehack
Recycling The Good Times
There’s nothing quite like opening a new notebook. The cracking sound with the turn of every stiff page not yet softened by time and use; the smell of processed paper, still slightly chemical; and, of course, gliding a pen along a line, crossing a new page for the first time.
By Luiza Araujo5 years ago in Lifehack
Watch Me Make A Tree From Wire
I love making trees out of wire. And when it comes to creating trees out of wire, you can use almost anything. A lot of the wire I use actually came from a big remodel project we did on a house we owned. We ripped out all the old electrical wires and I kept a big bucket full of all the strange and interesting different gauges of wires they used to put in old homes. But really, you can start with whatever you have on hand. Here's a few examples.
By L.P. Masters5 years ago in Lifehack
Finding Happiness in Chainmail
Over the years I have had a lot of heartache come into my life. From getting cancer to becoming disabled, a lot has gone on that would weigh anyone down. Most of it has happened in the last six years in fact, and let me tell you, when you get told that you may not see your son’s second birthday you have to find happiness wherever you can. For me the answers to this difficult time were not so much found but created as I turned to crafting and married it with my other joy that I’ve had through life, a passion for all things geeky! It started out simple with an idea for sewing our own geek themed rice filled hot packs. From there, the creative juices started to flow and transform into thumbtack dragon eggs, jewelry, books, cross stitch, and finally leading up to what I have been working on most today: Chainmail!
By Kathryn Dragoste5 years ago in Lifehack
My Creative Journey Combining Multiple Hobbies. Top Story - June 2021.
Growing up I was never interested in being a creator. I preferred dealing with facts and majored in finance where my day job involves numbers with no need for a creative side. Since I'm a data-driven person, what was the catalyst that sparked my interest in creative endeavors?
By Mad For Fabric5 years ago in Lifehack
My Fiskars Scissor Craft
The craft I am passionate about is plastic canvas, I can make anything from 3D figures, landscapes, picture scenes and even toys! I can literally make anything I want with it; all I need to do is know the dimensions for what size I want it and then I make it. I made a whole log cabin for my sister and it took time and skill but the outcome was incredible. The plastic canvas is flexible and easy to work with and the yarn gives it color and foundation. There were a few picture scenes I made that have so much color and life that even I was surprised at how well they came out. The yarn really helps hold it together and give the canvas form and a realistic look. I recently made a bird cage and I tried to make it with just the canvas and no yarn and it literally kind of fell over, so if that isn't proof enough that the yarn gives the canvas support, I don’t know what is.
By Tayler Teza5 years ago in Lifehack
