Nov 29 2010

Craft Or Crafts Entrepeneurs Have Improved Turnover Despite Economic Downturn

Are you an individual that operates a booming home run craft business? If that is so you know the problems of discovering and maintaining a solid customer base. If you have not considered the World Wide Web, now is the time. With the large number of chances available on the web, you’ll be able to take your business to a new level.

The first thing you must do is set up your own website. Kind of like opening a home run craft business web store. You will be able to easily upload digital pictures and set your prices. Then, people can purchase right from your website. All you have got to do is fill the orders and ship them. Optionally, your site could simply show sample products. You might take orders from folk and fill them on an as-needed basis.

Why not let the World Wide Web serve as your new advertising medium? You can grow your home based craft business by buying online index advertising in regional as well as interest-related directories. Online advertising is commonly cheaper than advertising in an offline index and typically does not require the commitment level required by broadcast directories. Additionally, you can get ad space in newsletters and on craft-related web sites. For some no-cost advertising, try collaborating in craft-related forums or groups. By using a catchy signature file that includes a link to your web site, you could be able to gain some new patrons.

Use Ebay as a place to sell your crafts. Set up your own Ebay “About Me” page so that even though folk do not buy your product, you can offer them the opportunity to be on a pre-notification list for future auctions. You never can say, they may buy something at later on. This is a good way to build up a future client database. Another thing you can try is to make and sell an easy craft template or possibly even a pre-made craft kit. Regularly other crafters are way more interested in making an identical product instead of buying one that’s already completed. As you can see, expanding your home based craft business is only limited by your creative thinking and resourcefulness.

Buy craft and crafts from Toggle.co.nz


Oct 20 2010

Learn How to Texture Precious Metal Clay Projects

One of the coolest things regarding using precious metal clay ( Pmc and ACS or Art Clay Silver) is you can add texture simply to your creations. Before Pmc came along, the sole way you could texture metal as a jewelry maker was to etch with chemicals, stamp with metal stamps, or employ a dear rolling mill.

Metal Clay is pretty very like clay that potters use, so you can produce unique details, intricate designs, and mold and texture the metal while soft. Try doing that with metal sheet!

Be certain to keep in mind before beginning though that precious metal clay is sticky and you need to employ a release agent to anything it touches. I love to utilise a very thin coating of olive oil on my hands, work-area, and tools. Do not avoid this! You will be terribly sorry and have a mess to wash up. Be certain not to use too much oil though because this can also mean a massive mess.

Here are some simple ways to add texture to precious metal clay while moist.

There are lots of other ways to make your own texturing gear also. Be certain to take a look at my other articles for additional recommendations.

  1. Make Your Own Texturing Equipment
  2. Plastic Texture plates / Rubbing Plates: These are quite cheap, and typically come with textures embossed on each side of the sheet. Just press the clay onto the sheet or vice versa.
  3. Items: Found objects are the ultimate in inexpensive texturing gear! Coins, leaves, bark, driftwood, fabric, and textured wallpaper pieces can all work. Remember to use some olive oil or other release agent. Use your creative imagination and you’ll find a lot of other textured objects you may use.

As it is easy to see, precious metal clay offers infinite options for creating textured jewelry, charms, pendants, beads, and findings and add a whole new dimension to jewelry making. What are you about to make today?


Oct 19 2010

Adding The individual Look To Cards, Stationary And Much, More

Have you received a birthday or Christmas greetings card that’s been lovingly hand made by the sender? This feeling of customisation really supplies a tremendous impact the instant the envelope has been opened up; all things considered, the sender has spent time and energy to design something for you personally that is truly unique. And also have you noticed that it’s becoming increasingly prevalent for brides-to-be to produce their own wedding party stationary, right from invitations to food list cards, name place cards to favours. Not only will this reduce expenditure but it also generates a genuine wow factor and something for each and every wedding guest to cherish.

When you’re considering making your very own cards, invitations, scrap books or images then you’ll want to get all the fundamental principles right. Purchase the proper supplies and you’ll be easily on your way to making some very nice products.

You could think stamps are set aside solely for office workers yet if you want to be really creative then a collection of rubber stamps will likely end up being just about the most used components of the accessory kit. Stamps offer a quick and easy technique of creating a specific illustration upon the card or material and since you can buy ink in a apparently endless listing of shades it is possible to design some very nice broad variety.

However you will not get a lot of imaginative patterns in stock of your local stationer, so where can you get a stamp to fit your design and style? The answer is through picking a stamp producer who has the capability to replicate the design and replicate it on to the die (the term for the actual rubber bit of the stamp). All you need to do is simply supply the design and style as you give the order. And don’t be misled into thinking that a customised stamp will be very expensive. The high quality suppliers can recreate your design and style in an economical way, this means the pastime does not turn into a massive expense!

The advance of the online world means that many individuals can now convert his or her past time into a small business, offering their cards and other accessories via web public auction web sites as well as in some cases constructing their own web site. So get creative, who knows where this kind of wonderful hobby will take you!


Oct 17 2010

Develop Some Hobbies for Kids

The olden days were associated with a lot of laughter and screams of happy children playing in the parks but this sight is a rarity now. TV and computer games have fast replaced the earlier creative pursuits in this technology driven age. Even when we crib about this unavoidable situation of the tech age, there is hope shimmering in the form of many easy-to-catch-up hobbies which engage kids productively along with sharpening their creativity. It is unthinkable for me to see kids who are totally unsocialable when they grow up and they can only talk to each other via keyboards and screens.

A timely interference in your kid’s playtime can change his interests and make him involved in many useful and productive hobbies. So ensure you provide them with creative and attention seeking hobbies in their leisure times. It helps to promote creativity and thinking power in the long run along with making productive use of time.

Let’s take a look at 3 hobbies that can help getting your kids out of the world of television, and into the world of diverse arts and crafts.

Try to engage your kids in good hobbies like latch hooking a rug. This is a simple process and you need to provide a Mesh Polyester Cotton Canvas, Latch Hook Patterns, Frames, Latch Hooks, Rug Binding Tapes, Fringe or Rug Yarns, Wicker Baskets, Magniviewers and of course Scissors. Many craft stores provide latch hook rug kits with its associated paraphernalia along with instructions. If your kids don’t like the designs shown in the kit try out something new using various software programs which create patterns to knit from photographic images. Try out latch hook rug kits as a hobby and develop some creative minds for your kids.

Take advantage of their cartoon icon and dazzle them with the Hello Kitty collection. Hello Kitty collections are another hobby that can easily become a passion with the kids due to their affinity for the cartoon icon Kitty. Hello Kitty attracts children of all ages and also adults due to its cute and innocent looks. Check out some of the Hello Kitty stuff and perhaps you can see some great ideas from here.

Stamp collection or philately is both a hobby and knowledge acquisition. Stamp collection is interesting for your kids as it helps them to know more about the world and its history through the minute pictures depicted. Introduce them to stamps of a particular nation before setting to widen their horizons. There are around 20 million stamp collectors in America. There were many stamp collectors initially but unfortunately with the advent of the internet age stamp collecting lost a lot of patrons. The modern age may now be able to communicate without stamps but the collection of stamps is still finding good takers. Stamp collecting can be a great hobby. Not only it is fun, it is also educational and children will learn a lot of things just by collecting stamps. Plus, stamps that are collected for years do have some monetary value, so it’s not a bad idea isn’t it?

Give your kids adequate knowledge about these hobbies and rouse interest in them before providing the accessories. You will be glad to see their creativity and thinking power increasing day by day. They are definitely a more creative way of spending time rather than the electronic distractions.


Oct 14 2010

FireYour Precious Metal Clay Without a Kiln

Precious metal clay (also known as PMC and ACS or Art Clay Silver) is very simple to use, and is similar to working with plasticine or pottery clay. It’s soft and moldable, and works very much like clay in many ways.

Here’s how this material works. First you form the pieces, let them dry, then finally use a firing method to burn off the organic binder. This works because fine metal particles are suspended in an organic binder that can be burnt away leaving the metal fused into the form you shape it.

There are unlimited ways to shape, texture, and mold your precious metal clay into eye-catching and intricate shapes, but these are beyond the scope of this article!

The Firing Methods

You’ll find there are 3 most commonly used ways to fire your pieces. You can use a small torch, a jeweler’s kiln, or with a Hot Pot (or similar gas/metal screen setup). In this article, let’s talk about using the micro torch.

Use A Micro torch For Firing Precious Metal Clay

You should only torch small pieces that are less than 25g. Also, it’s best to make sure your piece is pretty even in thickness and more or less simple. More complex and intricate pieces have a tendency to fare better in a kiln.

Torch firing isn’t difficult. Be certain toput your clay on a a heat proof and fire proof surface like a soldering pad or a fire brick with a piece of aluminum sheet underneath. You’ll want a well ventilated area. Using your butane torch (I use a Blazer torch), aim your flame on the dried precious metal clay piece. At first you’ll see a small amount of smoke as the binder burns off. After that you just need to get the piece to glow a nice pinky orange colour (you can see it quite clearly as long as your light isn’t too bright) Move the torch away a little bit and then back if the glow fades. Just don’t go really close with the torch once you have got up to temperature or you will melt the detail on your work.

A Precious Clay Torching Video:
Videos always help explain this torch technique:

Looking for precious metal clay retailers? Resource girl to the rescue! Take a look at my precious metal clay pages and posts at http://shop.how-to-make-jewelry.com/metal-clay-supplies/ to find metal clay supplies and links for various suppliers and stockists worldwide.


Oct 12 2010

Try Knifty Knitter for a Simple and fun Hobby

Loom Knitting is an enjoyable hobby.If you are looking for a hobby,try loom knitting. Unique projects can be made with Knifty Knitter. Loom knitting is a blessing for people who have carpal tunnel and arthritis.

Loom knitting is actually an old craft form. A new interest has arisen in loom knitting as a hobby recently. Loom Knitting has had a new upsurge of interest with the introduction of the Knifty Knitters. The company which produces the Knifty Knitter is Provocraft.

The Knifty Knitter is a low cost way to start loom knitting. Knifty Knitters are sold at most stores that carry craft supplies. Many sites on the internet also sell the Knifty Knitters.

Knifty Knitters come in different types ,the round looms can be purchased singly or in a set of various sizes. The long looms which are known as knitting boards can be purchased the same way. Many small projects can be made on the small flower loom.

I discovered loom knitting when I saw a demonstration at Joann Fabrics, the lady doing the demo showed the Knifty Knitters and a number of items she had created with them. She had a lovely shawl to match her daughter’s prom gown and matching flip flops she had embellished with edging made on the Knifty knitter. A number of other loom knitted projects were also available to show the items that can be created on the Knifty Knitters.

The demo sold me on a new hobby, loom knitting here I come. The round looms were my first loom purchase. The best project to start with is a hat. Looming a hat with the Knifty Knitters takes about two hours ,it is a quick evening project.

It is simple to start out loom knitting all you need is the loom and two skeins of yarn and you are ready to go. A good choice for one of the skeins is a contrasting yarn. Try using an eyelash or other specialty yarn for a special effect on your project. Once you find how easy it is to use your Knifty Knitter you will move on to bigger and more complicated projects.

Once you are ready to make bigger projects, there are several books with great patterns for loom knitting. The internet offers lots of resources for patterns and advice, and Provocraft has patterns and tips on their web site.

I am glad I happened upon the Knifty Knitter demonstration, loom knitting has become one of the crafts I like to do most.

Get started with the Knifty Knitter now at http://www.funhobbyvideos.com/. They have all kinds of fun hobby and craft videos.


Oct 8 2010

The 20-20 Cream City Ribbon Promo Contest

Finally, IT IS ON!

For Cream City Ribbon’s FIRST promo contest, 20 winners will be chosen who will get a FREE Cream City Ribbon Kit, composed of 2 10-yard spools of our gorgeous natural ribbon. Join our contest today, and get a chance to win!
Here’s how:

1. Follow us on facebook, twitter, and blogs!
http://www.facebook.com/ccribbon
http://naturalribbon.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/creamcityribbon

2. Post a link of our blog (under favorites or blog listings – it’s your choice!): http://naturalribbon.blogspot.com/ on your blog using this image:

Or use this image URL: https://www.creamcityribbon.com/images08/logo_02.png

3. Post one of our videos on your own personal blog. .

4. Finally, for us to know you’ve joined the contest, all you have to do is post a link to your blog (that shows that you have accomplished the above tasks).

Post your entries as comments here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130103987042304
and comment on this blog!

Once we have a final list of the 20 winners, we will send you a message (via Facebook or Blogspot). We will also post your name/username and blog URL on our blogs, Facebook and Twitter page!

Join now, and be among the first 20 people who get a FREE natural ribbon kit shipped to you!
US entries only. Winners will be announced Next Monday, October 11, 2010, and each winner will be contacted via e-mail132013201320 or private message.


Sep 30 2010

What Else Can You Do With Hot Fix Crystals?

If you enjoy creating exquisite crafts and everyone says you have the knack for it, you may want to use your imagination more by starting craft projects involving hot fix crystals. Being gifted with the power to create beautiful things, you should spread the blessing by creating more. However, sometimes, you run into a creativity plateau as they call it and you need to find inspiration somehow. Here’s something that might interest you: hot fix swarovski!

When you start using hot fix crystals, you will realize that these are so versatile you can use them for almost all types of projects. Lycra and cotton are the usual materials that are used for hot fix projects that involve crystals.

You want to try creating something out of these materials now? Here is my recommendation…

Hot fix rhinestones used as accents for baby tee shirts!

Baby tees are not just clothes for babies, but for pre-teen and teenage girls, too. If you understand fashion, you probably know that young girls love to dress up in baby tee shirts with their names on them. Pre-adolescence is the time for bonding between young women, and that’s why groups of friends often wear similarly designed shirts to show the world that they’re a team.

You can create baby tee shirts with similar hot fix rhinestone motifs in different colors. Consistency in theme starts with selecting the motifs to use. For example, if your theme is “flowers”, look for different variants to put on the baby tees (e.g. daisy, rose and orchid).

What about the materials?

Swarovski crystal buyers from all over the world go to online shops to purchase their applicators and patterns. Before taking the plunge and buying applicators and motifs separately, check out each source for package deals. Make sure you look at all the places online to get the best patterns, applicators and motifs. For iron-on designs, you are going to need a good ironing board and of course, a functional iron.

Tee shirts are easier to find and you can buy these in bulk. As for size, baby tee shirts are available in one size, so it’s nothing to worry about. Baby tee shirts are also available in two forms: polo-shirt style and round neck..
If the crystals you bought are in rainbow colors, you should get pastel colored shirts. If your motifs only have white sparkling crystals, the shirts must be dark.

If you need more information, visit the following sites today:
Hot Fix Crystals
Hot Fix Rhinestones Wholesale


Sep 26 2010

A Few Methods For Using Crafting Buttons That You Might Have Never Thought About

Buttons intended for garments do serve a purpose, have been utilised in a lot of craft-based home business ideas, but they’re also for decoration. You want to look good in the clothes you wear. Having some craft buttons on them will cause them to look dissimilar to what others are wearing. It can change an easy button up shirt into something classy to wear to work or out for the evening. You can get these varieties of buttons at spare time pursuit stores, retail outlets, and even on the web.

It doesn’t take excessive time to be able to effectively remove the old buttons and place these on your clothing. Confirm your practice enough so that you can have the right talents to secure them in place . You want to use good quality thread that’s extraordinarily alike in color to the item you are placing the craft buttons on. This way the thread won’t be clear as well as a distraction.

You also have to ensure that the buttons are going to fit well through the button holes on the outfit. This is important because otherwise you’re going to have Problems. If the craft buttons are too small then will result in your attire coming undone. If they are too big you won’t be well placed to fasten them.

Don’t worry though as there are such a lot of different diameters out there for the craft buttons this won’t be a problem for you. Chances are if you find a kind of craft button you really like, it’s going to be offered in a couple of sizes. It is a good idea to buy 2 extras too. This way if one of the craft buttons gets damaged or falls off when you don’t see it you’ll have a replacement. It may be some time later and you won’t know where you got that first set of craft buttons.

have a giraffe with your clothing though with the employment of craft buttons. You can change the outward appearance of a top you have worn many times before. You may add something fun or classy to the outward appearance of your wardrobe. Replacing your buttons is less expensive than replacing all of your attire. You can get a complete set of craft buttons for only two dollars.


Sep 18 2010

Sewing Machine Basics

If you’re someone who likes to sew extensively for yourself as a leisure activity or your personal small business, no doubt you’ve considered acquiring a great professional style sewing unit at one time or another. Something like the Bernina 950 could make the time saving benefits of sewing more powerful, speedier and easier than ever before. In this article, we will check out a few of the distinct functions you should think about if you are preparing to make this sort of purchase for yourself.

Understand what your budget is before you begin to search and review sewing devices. It’s very easy to get swept up in the searching process and the next thing you realize, you may be on course to buying a unit which has a large amount of additional bells and whistles which you don’t necessarily even need. It is crucial that you just take a seat and make the decision about what functions and specifications are of the most importance for you just before you have a chance to end up being swayed too much by the most recent devices.

Think about the kind of stitching that you want your own sewing machine to be able to perform. The most affordable of the kinds of sewing models would likely include the straight stitch units. This particular unit will sew forward and backward, and would probably function as the most reasonable choice for somebody that sews primarily for entertainment and won’t do a lot of ornamental stitching.

The Bernina sewing machine mentioned previously, as an example, is a preferred zig-zag sewing machine. Zig-zag machines can be semi-automatic or automatic. The semi-automatic zig-zag sewing machine offers all the capabilities of a straight-stitch machine, however it also contains the capability to accomplish zig-zag and stretch stitching, sew stretchy fabrics, finish off seam edges, as well as make buttonholes.

The automatic, or mechanical zig-zag product can do zig-zag, stretch stitching, straight stitching plus it frequently contains a wide range of decorative stitches. This can be a fantastic unit for that serious end user and someone who sews for small business requirements.

A final option incorporates a computerized, or electronic sewing machine. This particular machine provides all of the same capabilities as the automatic zig-zag device, but it’s controlled by electronic digital chips rather than mechanical parts. This is the most advanced of sewing machines and if you like technology, this could be the ideal device in your case.

Make sure that you have a great understanding of the way the equipment that you are thinking about acquiring runs. Test to be certain that the wires and belts are in good shape and that your machine does not vibrate too much while in use. You should also decide if a foot control or knee lever is optimum for how you will end up utilizing your unit.

Regardless if you decide to purchase the Bernina machine described in this article or another potent professional strength sewing machine, make sure you do your homework before you make your own final decision. Make an effort to do your homework on the web as well as looking at customer reviews for that particular model device that you are thinking about. A good top quality sewing machine could last a long time and it is worth the time spent up front to get at ease and confident with your own choice.