Welcome!
I love to give personalized gifts. Being a crafter, handmade gifts are especially fun to create and give. Sometimes I don't have the time to make what I would really like to, so I am always on the look out for EASY handmade gifts. Hopefully you'll find some inspiration and ideas here!
Great places for projects and supplies
- CRAFTER'S VAULT.com ---> My Craft Blog!!! :-)
- This is my blog where I have posted crafting projects and informative articles. Enjoy!
- Jo Ann's Arts and Crafts
- You probably alreay know about Jo Ann's craft store, since they have them across the country. I suggest getting on their email list to get great savings with online coupons. Be sure and bookmark this link!
- Delta Crafts
- You probably recognize the name Delta Crafts, as they make many craft products. Their site has lots of great projects for paint, stencils and rubber stamps, but you'll have to get their actual products from somewhere like Jo Ann's or another craft site.
Sign up at personalizecandles.com OR craftersvault.com to be notified when my ebook becomes available!
Stenciled Asian Candle
A fast and easy handmade gift!
I love to give handmade gifts...when I have the time, that is. So, I especially love a SIMPLE handmade gift because often times I have more love than time available to create a handmade gift. You can probably relate!Well, here is an idea for crafters. It's so simple, even non-crafters can do this. It's a great kids craft, too. You and your child could make a stenciled candle for a grandparent or a teacher.
All you need is:
-a pre-made candle
-a stencil (I used Simply ® Stencils - Laser - Asian Symbols #28054)
-stencil brush or cosmetic wedges...you know those triangle-type foam things
-paint (I used Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paint)
-Candle and Soap Painting Medium (I used Delta Ceramcoat Candle and Soap Painting Medium.
For the rest of the instructions, go to:
www.craftersvault.com
(use search term: "asian candle")
Happy Crafting!
Candle Crafting Books
Here are some books on creating candles.
The Handmade Candle
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009) 
The Handmade Candle Book (Handmade Series)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Country Living Handmade Candles
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Country Living Handmade Candles: Recipes for Crafting Candles at Home
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Country Living Handmade Candles (Recipes for Crafting Candles)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Color Bleeding in Melt and Pour Soap Crafting
One of my favorite handmade gifts to make is handmade soap. The EASIEST way to make handmade soap is to buy "Melt and Pour" soap base from a craft store or online. It is easy, fast and you can personalize the soap for your gift recipient in a multitude of creative and fun ways.One of the things to know about Melt and Pour Soap colorants is that the color bleeds (unless you buy a colorant that specifically says it does not). I had an idea for a gift of handmade soap that had alternating layers of color (see picture). I knew that the color might bleed, but I wasn't sure if a light color like pink would bleed...and if so, how long would it take for the color to bleed. Well, I have the answer!
The answer is yes, it will bleed...and it will do it fast! I was really surprised to see...
For the rest of this article, go to: www.craftersvault.com
(use search term: color bleed soap)
Happy Crafting!
Soap Crafting Books
Here are some items to help you in your handmade soap endeavors. Enjoy!
The Handmade Soap Book (The Handmade Series)
Amazon Price: $14.62 (as of 12/30/2009)
Handmade Soap: Recipes For Crafting Soap At Home ( Country Living)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Country Living Handmade Soaps Recipes for Crafting Soap at Home
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Handmade Soap
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Handmade Halloween Greeting Card
A fun handmade card to send to a friend for Halloween
Okay, this isn't a handmade gift, like my other articles. It's such a fun, easy handmade card to make, I just had to add it to my lens.This truly is an easy card to make - even for those of you who haven't made a handmade card before. Just 10 easy steps, and your card is complete!
Supplies:
White or Black Cardstock or Blank Greeting Card
Black Paper (if use white cardstock)
Orange Paper
Black Ink Pad
Halloween Image
"Paper Shapers" Decorative Scissors - Deckle Edge
Adhesive (double-stick tape, glue or glue stick)
Optional: Dimensional Adhesive Foam Squares
Optional: Halloween rubber stamp (called "Fred-a-Scare")
Instructions:
1. Get a white or black pre-made blank greeting card at a craft store or make your own by folding a piece of cardstock in half and cutting off the excess paper to make it the size of a greeting card.
2. If your card is white, adhere black paper to the front of the card and trim away the excess black paper. Double stick tape is the fastest, easiest method to use for attaching the paper to the front of the card, but glue or glue sticks also work well.
3. With a piece of orange paper, tear out(rather than cut) a piece that will fit inside the boundaries of the greeting card so the card will frame the orange paper (see picture).
4. Crumple the piece of orange paper and then unfold it again, but don't flatten it completely.
5. Take a black ink pad a gently rub it over the ridges created by crumpling the paper, as well as the torn edges. Only the raised ridges will have ink on them (see larger picture at http://www.craftersvault.com/?cat=3).
For the rest of the instructions, go to: www.craftersvault.com
(use search term: halloween)
Happy Halloween crafting everyone. :-)
Rubber stamps Crafting Books
I love to rubber stamp and you can create really personalized gifts with them by selecting just the right rubber stamp for your project.
Rubber Stamp Extravaganza
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Making Gifts With Rubber Stamps
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Great Rubber Stamping: Ideas, Tips and Techniques
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
The Art of Rubber Stamping
Amazon Price: (as of 12/30/2009)
Handmade Jewelry
Teach Yourself VISUALLY Jewelry Making & Beading (Teach Yourself VISUALLY Consumer)
Amazon Price: $15.74 (as of 12/30/2009)
Bead on a Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry
Amazon Price: $15.63 (as of 12/30/2009)
Seed Bead Fusion: 18 Projects to Stitch, Wire & String
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/30/2009)
Cube Bead Stitching: Contemporary Jewelry Designs You Can Make
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/30/2009)
More Seed Bead Stitching: Creative Variations on Traditional Techniques
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/30/2009)
Let me know what you think of my lens
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- Nickis_Trends Nickis_Trends Oct 14, 2009 @ 7:28 am
- Great Lens!
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- jan4insight jan4insight Jul 1, 2009 @ 9:18 pm
- Very nice, with lots of useful information :)
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- appleandstar appleandstar Jan 9, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
- What a great lens - tons of useful and informative content :-) Happy I found you :-)
by crafterjoy
I have always loved being creative and just LOVE doing craft projects, especially making handmade, personalized gifts. Craff...
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