Crafts: What’s Hot And What’s Not

I look at a LOT of blogs each day in order to find posts for Craft Stew. As a result, I feel I have a good sense of what’s newest and brightest and what’s yesterday’s news. Here’s my list of What’s Hot And What’s Not….

What’s Hot: Sewing, Knitting, Crocheting and Embroidery
What’s Not: Decorative painting, retail craft kits and collage

What’s Hot: Vintage style crafts
What’s Not: Traditional style crafts

What’s Hot: Unique, hand carved or small run rubber stamps
What’s Not: Mass produced rubber stamps

What’s Hot: Free sewing patterns
What’s Not: Overpriced commercial patterns

What’s Hot: Elaborate cupcakes, paper holders and toppers
What’s Not: Elaborate chocolates from purchased plastic molds

What’s Hot: A few fresh blossoms arranged in a simple container
What’s Not: Overblown floral arrangements

What’s Hot: Recycled Projects
What’s Not: Projects utilizing expensive store-bought craft supplies

What’s Hot: Projects with simple, yet clever design
What’s Not: Projects using embellishments to disguise poor design

What’s Hot: Unique jewelry made from found or crafted components
What’s Not: Jewelry created by stringing together craft store beads

What’s Hot: Sewing stuffies and crocheting amigurumi toys
What’s Not: Sewing dolls and crocheting baby blankets

What’s Hot: Paper crafts as home decor
What’s Not: Paper crafts for scrapbooking

What’s Hot: Finding supplies in dollar stores and thrift shops
What’s Not: Purchasing supplies from craft stores

What’s Hot: Woodworking with used or alternative materials
What’s Not: Woodworking with new and expensive sheets of wood

What’s Hot: Projects that build on prewritten tutorials
What’s Not: Projects that are duplicates of prewritten tutorials

What’s Hot: Collaboration with other crafters; sharing resources
What’s Not: Witholding information, techniques and processes

What was out, but now is back:

Macrame
Plastic Canvas
Stenciling
Loom Crafting
Tie Dying

I’m sure this list will offend plenty of loyal readers. If you disagree, please let me know. I’m always open to other opinions.

Read More : This And That or Home

Quick & Frugal Ideas For Summer Fun

Looking for some cheap and educational activities this summer? Need something to occupy your kids before they destroy your house? Here a couple of quick and easy ways to keep both you and them satisfied.

Start with your library.

Libraries often have wonderful music, nature and reading programs running from June through August. Most of the programs are free but they do require you to reserve a place ahead of time, so call early to avoid a last minute disappointment.

Next, work your way over to the book section. Try to see if you can revive your children’s interest in Harry Potter. If not, dig into some good mysteries, historical fiction and how-to books instead.

Then, see what’s available in the crafts section. Our local library has half a dozen books on making “treasure from trash.” Also search for titles on dough crafts, paper crafts and scrap fabric crafts.

Before you leave, be sure to read the “what’s happening” section of your local newspaper. Most big cities have free outdoor concerts, puppet shows and art fairs throughout the summer months. See what’s in your neck of the woods.

Other Suggestions To Share With Your Kids:

Write to an email pen pal

Keep a nature journal of your own backyard

Make nature crafts – painted rock, wreathes, dried flowers

Design a quiz-type game show on history

Study cartooning

Build from cardboard

Cook an authentic Chinese dinner

Keep a diary

Create a historically accurate diorama from scrap materials

Read, read, read

Arrange a neighborhood yard sale

Get a job walking dogs, cleaning or doing errands for a neighbor

Make a food pyramid from old magazines

Learn to comparison shop for groceries

Plant a vegetable garden

Draw original mazes

Create a birthday card

Design a web page

Make a quilt from recycled materials

Volunteer at the library

Invent something

Observe your pet and record your findings

Grow an indoor terrarium

Learn origami

Learn a foreign language

Build with scrap materials

Make your own holiday presents

Compose new, science-based lyrics for popular tunes

Participate in online projects

Write a script for a puppet show

Learn to use a word processor

Attend local museums on free days

Learn to sew

Design a variation on the game checkers

Borrow educational videos off the internet.

Participate in a nature scavenger hunt

Learn to paint with watercolors

Practice cake decorating

Obedience train your dog

Create paper mache bowls from old newspapers

Make handmade paper

Buy and learn to play the recorder or harmonica

Enter all kinds of contests

Solve word problems

Make and observe a bird feeder

Play scrabble and other board games

Do low cost science projects

Give several of these activities a try. If your child doesn’t enjoy one activity, suggest another one instead. But, if you find that all your child wants to do is sit and veg out, let him make that choice. He may need the time to relax and, after all, it is summer.

Read More : Crafts For Kids or Home

Handmade Paper Tape

Description : Clever Cathe Holden found a fun and easy way to make her own custom Handmade Paper Tape.

Craft Link : Handmade Paper Tape

Read More : This And That or Home

What Can I Do With A Trivet?

My husband brought me a home a wooden trivet with individual tiles from our local housewares store. He figured it would be great to craft with, and he was right!

I’ve been staring at the trivet off and on all day trying to figure out what I can do with it.

Here is what I’ve come up with so far….

bracelet
domino set
pendant
memory game
magnets
pin/brooch
accordion book
coasters

If you have any others ideas, please let me know in a comment. I’m going to start taking apart the trivet next week, and I’d like to have plenty of projects to choose from.

Read More : This And That or Home

35 Fun Russian Nesting Dolls Tutorials

Image by Katey Nicosia

My mother-in-law always had a set of beloved Russian Nesting Dolls above her fireplace mantel, but they were the “don’t touch” kind of dolls. I’m not sure where they came from but they were very precious to her. Since both sets of my great-grandparents were Russian immigrants, these Russian Nesting Dolls are also important to me.

Russian Nesting Doll Stuffies

Russian Nesting Doll Cards

Russian Nesting Doll Wearables

Russian Nesting Dolls For The Home

Russian Nesting Doll Gifties

Russian Nesting Dolls Toys

Hand-Painted Russian Nesting Dolls

Hand-Painted Matryoshka Dolls
Egg Matryoshka Dolls
Make Russian Nesting Dolls With Gourds
Paper Mache Russian Nesting Dolls
Cupcake Pattern Painted Nesting Dolls

Bonus Project: DIY Russian Doll Linocut Print

Read More : This And That or Home

I Could Make That

page corner bookmards

Page Corner Bookmarks

cardboard and fabric bracelets

Cardboard And Fabric Bracelets

plush baby myr

Plush Baby Myr

Description : I just discovered a great site called I Could Make That. It’s full of unique craft projects, many of which use recycled materials. Besides the projects pictured, also check out the their T-Shirt Dress.

Source : I Could Make That

Read More : This And That or Home

20 Great But Underrated Posts

underrated posts

Craft Stew is primarily known for our comprehensive link compilations. We’re thrilled about that, but we’ve also posted some fun tutorials, recipes and patterns – stuff that never seems to see the light of day!

Here is our very subjective list of 20 Great But Underrated Posts….