Here's looking at some cool crafty blogger links

When you go to a party at a guy's house that does lighting in the film biz there is sure to be a big surprise. This is the view you saw when waling up the driveway:

Here it is with a flash:There were lots of other cool lighting effects all around-super fun!

Crafty Princess Diaries
A granny square dress? Is it over the top or a true crafty fashion statement?

Cross Stitch at About.com
Louise is proud to show off her first project, a Peter Rabbit Cross Stitch Bookmark by Anchor. It's a great first time effort.

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
Do you sell your crafts? Have you ever? Read Linda's musings and share your stories in the comments section.

Mixed Media Artist
Give your favorite building a new look by creating a fractured photograph!

Naughty Secretary Club
Join Jen on a week long screen printing adventure as she reviews books, plays with a YuDu, puts a unicorn on a onesie, plays with vinyl records and more.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got a crocheted pumpkin pattern, how to sew a shower curtain and towels, an interview with Tracie Lyn Huskamp author of Nature Inspired and a Mixed Media Dada Dolly TP cozy.

The Artful Crafter
Recycle artificial flowers into frilly fairies. Teens, tweens and kids-at-heart will love making and hanging around these little creatures.

The Impatient Crafter
There's a brand new The Impatient Crafter YouTube video to inspire you to declare yourself an artist! Madge explores the Cricut Expression in this quirky new video offering.

About Family Crafts
Never run out of Halloween crafts, activities, and motivation. Get new Halloween projects delivered to your email box every day for 31 days! Find out how...

Aileen's Musings
Aileen has a crafty Halloween project and template just for you.

Cathie Filian
Cathie has a quicky way to jazz up plain glass candle holders and it uses scrap ribbons!

Army men are melted into service to make this cute coaster using the wonderful tutorial from the new book Craftcycle by Heidi Boyd

I did not love green plastic army men as a child but I do now! I have used them in jewelry and just kind of like having them around in a big bowl (pictured below) and when I turned the page of Craftcycle and saw the great tutorial Heidi did in her latest book I was all set to give this a try. I am always in need of coasters so I thought that would be my first project.
It went so smoothly melting these plastic soldiers using her directions. I have put post-its on quite a few pages in this book that are now on my to make list (T.M.L.)! Thanks Heidi for writing such a great recycling source book!

Craftcycle: 100+ Earth-Friendly Projects and Ideas for Everyday Living
by
Heidi Boyd

"Inside Craftcycle, you will find a mix of over 100 ideas for crafts, recipes, sustainable living ideas and construction projects - all organized by season to offer year-round green living. Within each chapter, there are larger projects to build, quick crafts to complete using basic materials or recycled items, seasonally appropriate tips, and recipes using seasonal ingredients. Detailed diagrams accompany the larger-scale projects, while the basic crafts feature step-by-step photographs and illustrations, making them accessible for the entire family.


Heidi Boyd is the author of seven North Light craft books. She brings her simple and pretty approach to green crafting in this book. Her husband Jon Boyd, an architect, is certified in sustainable building practices, and he brings his expertise to this book. He provides the larger-scale simple wood construction projects, all of which are be accompanied by clear diagrams."

To see tons more of Heidi's creativity pop on over to mycraftivity.com.

Burbank Vikings Pee wee football team wins and winning crafty blogger links

Go Burbank Vikings! (Burbank's Pee wee football team won this past weekend.) And look- the mountains aren't on fire! It was a good day.

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
What did I find at the Wisconsin Quilt Expo? Check it out!

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi shares her finished quilt...and swears she is ready to start the next one!

Naughty Secretary Club
If it will sit still long enough Jen will find a way to make it into jewelry, even iron-on T-shirt transfers are not safe.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got a chance to win a copy of Nature Inspired along with some original artwork by the author Tracie Lyn Huskamp, a fun Halloween ghost decoration delivered to you by Fedex, creatively photographing your shadow and a sneak peek into the soon to be released 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse.

The Artful Crafter
If this isn't a green craft, we don't know what is! Let Eileen show you how to make desktop organizers from junk mail. Saving the planet - one catalog at a time.

The Impatient Crafter
Madge talks about crafting a life of joy, which is a crafting of a sort indeed. The best sort.

About Family Crafts
If you are trying to find creative costume ideas for couples or groups of peoples, check out the lists I have compiled with the help of visitors like you.

Aileen's Musings
There is less then 14 days until the Ties That Bind Art Doll Raffle is done. Stop by and read how you can help us spread the word !

Cathie Filian
Dry hands and feet season is just around the corner...Time to whip up some handmade lotion bars. Cathie has a yummy DIY recipe!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy shows off the preemie baby blanket she started not that long ago. If you are looking for a super easy crochet project, this is a good place to start.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Go Team! Make some sports-themed gifts or decorations using the free Sports Motifs Pattern Collection. Your fans will think you are "Number One"!

Make a patch with a rubber stamp project inspired by the Super fun book- Bend The Rules With Fabric by Amy Karol

I have been collecting lots of rubber stamps over the years and I am trying to get to working with them more. Well when I got the book:

Bend the Rules with Fabric:
Fun Sewing Projects with Stencils, Stamps, Dye, Photo Transfers, Silk Screening, and More

by Amy Karol

I got so inspired to break out the stamps and fabric and get creative. There were just tons of fun ideas and techniques, I had a hard time narrowing down my first project, but I did manage to.
I made a stamped patch that I then sewed onto the sleeve of a plain top.This is how I did it:

I started with a scrap of plain white fabric.
-two of my favorite stamp images, two girls fighting and a girl holding a shot gun with a bird on it.
-My Crafty Chica black paint
-some wax paper to make a pallet and a brush to spread the paint out

I spread the paint out into a thin even layer on the wax paper. Then pressed the stamp into the paint evenly and stamped the fabric, I did a few so I would have some to play with.

Then to attach the patch I used:

-Heat n Bond and iron
-embroidery floss and needle
I simply fused the Heat n Bond onto the back of the trimmed image and ironed it onto the sleeve. Then I did a simple running stitch to add a decorative boarder and really secure the patch.

I haven't figured out what the girl with the gun image is going on but I like having it ready to go!

A bit more about the book:
Bend the Rules with Fabric:
Fun Sewing Projects with Stencils, Stamps, Dye, Photo Transfers, Silk Screening, and More

"You’ve bent all the rules with sewing, so now what? It’s high time you made your own fashions even more you with Amy Karol’s next craft revolution: Bend the Rules with Fabric.

Using simple, high-impact techniques:
• painting
• stamping
• dyeing
• silk screening
• photo transfer

You’ll learn everything you need to know to turn a plain piece of fabric or a garment into the perfect showcase for your personality.

In this follow-up to the wildly popular Bend-the-Rules Sewing you will see how easy it is to alter fabric, making and using your own custom stamps; make stencils that will totally transform totes and tees; rescue tired clothes with a new dye job; and use appliqués to spruce up anything that needs a little TLC. With Amy’s familiar, friendly tone and valuable advice, you’ll see every piece of fabric as blank canvas for your artistic vision!

AMY KAROL is an artist, author, and self-professed fabric junkie. Her writing and projects have been featured in Country Living, Sew Simple, Publisher’s Weekly, and BUST magazine, and her designs and creations have been displayed in galleries in Japan and throughout the United States. Follow her crafty adventures on her popular blog, Angry Chicken, found on her website www.amykarol.com"

Look Mom two hoops! and crafty blogger links for more fun crafting

I try to make it to the hooping meet up group each week and usually I average mastering(or at least succeeding at one new trick each week-this week's was two hoops at once. I even could go in opposite directions after a few tried but boy did that make my brain hurt!

Good thing crafting is a bit more gentile on the old brain!

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love
Join Vickie & Lands' End for a Twitter Party to celebrate the FeelGood campaign to benefit the homeless!

The Impatient Crafter
Get your teens ready for Back to School with these recycled denim book covers from The Impatient Crafter for I Love to Create!

The Crochet Dude
Check out Drew's super cool Crochet Word Search that he has as a free download on his blog! I wonder how quick I can finish it!

The Artful Crafter
Do you know how to make a secret box book? It's not hard - well-except on your fingers. Eileen shows you how. She took lots of photos since she won't be able to type for a while. LOL.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside's got a fun skull quilt tutorial inspired by a quilt in the new book Quilting Art, how-to's on painting rocks like skulls, eyes and more for Halloween, tips for re-purposing in the studio and the correct terms for the parts of a book.

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen is in the midst of wrapping paper week with clever how-to idea, uses for wrapping paper that have nothing to do with gifts & a Wrapagami book giveaway.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has a copy of "The Art of Fabric Collage" to give away!

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
I may have to tackle a t-shirt quilt---I'm getting ideas from all directions.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Do you find solace in your stitching? Vote in the poll, read the comments, and share your own experiences.

CraftyPod
Check out Sister Diane's newest ebook - Creating a Blog Audience: An Unconventional Marketing Guide

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy shows the beginnings of a baby blanket in progress, a super easy crochet project to consider for those who make charity items.

Cathie Filian
Melt up some soy wax and make some easy candles with Cathie.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
It's the return "Terrorific Tuesdays" on Swelldesigner's blog! Learn about how you can participate in all the fun, spooky Halloween action!

Aileen's Musings
Have you heard the term Altered Art or Altered Artist and wondered what exactly that means? Aileen has given her explanation of what Altered art is and how YOU too can become an Altered Artist!

About Family Crafts
September is National Sewing Month! Why not celebrating by making one or more of these easy sewing projects.

Cone Candy Holder Candelabra inspired by a pretty project from Paperie for Inspired Living by Karen Bartolomei

Candy and a candelabra don't usually go together but when your flipping through a wonderful book like
Paperie for Inspired Living: Stationery and Decorations for Weddings, Parties, and Other Special Occasion
and Halloween is coming ideas just abound!
I don't do too much with candles because let's face it the fiber is flying around here and open flames just aren't my thing (the mountains burning as an example)

But I do love candelabras and I am always on the look out for fun things to do with them. Well Paperie for Inspired Living has a great project where you put paper cones of popcorn in champagne flutes.

This got me thinking, I wanted to see the candy in my cones so I wanted something clear. I recycled a plastic container that I think orriginally held paper. I made my cones by tracing a plate with a light score from an x-acto knife and then cutting it out. To form the cone I simply stapled it together along the seam a few times. (You can see my gray paper tests in this photo)

Need more fun and elegant paper ideas? Well grab yourself a copy of:

Paperie for Inspired Living: Stationery and Decorations for Weddings, Parties, and Other Special Occasion

"With this book from paper guru Karen Bartolomei, even the most budget-conscious host can now create beautiful, customized, coordinated suites of paper products for any occasion—a casual wine-tasting party, elegant dinner party, or backyard barbeque, among others.

To get started all you need is a computer, paper, and embellishments you can find in any craft store. Each suite contains several projects, from the all important invitation to smaller touches like labels, tags, and keepsakes. For instance, in the personal stationary suite you’ll learn to make a monogram, Thank-You cards, Mailing Labels, Business Cards, Letterhead, and Notecards, while in the New Year's Eve suite the projects include an Invitation, Menus, Resolution Sign-in/Postcards and Drink Signs.

In addition to providing inspiration for themed suites, Paperie for Inspired Living also includes indispnsable advice for invitation wording and etiquette, and provides tips for throwing unforgettable parties, like choosing a color scheme and ideas for breaking the ice.

KAREN BARTOLOMEI was hailed as the “Sky’s the Limit Stationer” by Modern Bride magazine. Her work has appeared in all the major bridal publications and she was featured as the paperie expert in HGTV’s The Ultimate Wedding Guide special. She is the owner and creative director of Grapevine Paperie. Visit her online at grapevinepaperie.com".

Still burning! Good thing for Crafty blogger Links

Aileen's Musings

Find out what Formica and Christmas have in common when Aileen shares a great gift idea with you! Check out her tutorial and download a free Vintage soda label while your at it.

Cathie Filian
Craft up an end of summer wine tasting with Cathie!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Check out this unusual call for entries the Crafty Princess found for Momiji doll lovers.

Craftypod
In Sister Diane's latest podcast, Patricia Zapata of A Little Hut talks about the intersection of graphic design and craft.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Get ready for Halloween with free Cross Stitch patterns. Ghouls, ghosts, bats, cats, About.com is where it's at!

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style: A crafty blog
A quilting project needs some attention--read the story, see the pictures, offer your suggestions

Mixed Media Artist
Why take a class? Cyndi shares about her experience learning from the fabulous Jane Sassaman!

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen gets invited to a mustache party and busts out the fun fur and old records to make kitschy masks.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
Craftside has a bunch of cool photos that have words spelled out with objects, try it and post your photo in the Flickr group, fun photos from the Squam Art Workshops, single letter cards to send out for the Week of Hope Sept 1-7 and how to turn an old metal link belt into a fat cuff bracelet.

The Artful Crafter
Eileen would like to introduce you to Precious Metal Clay. It's an amazing medium for jewelry crafters as well as polymer clay artists.

The Crochet Dude
Drew shares before and after photos from his recent studio makeover!

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love
Knit hats for the homeless with Vickie, Lands' End and Warming Families! Read more for a free hat pattern & the scoop on how you can be a part of the FeelGood campaign!

My Christmas tree is getting adorned with a cute crochet bird from the charming new book Crochet Adorned by Linda Permann

Just about my favorite thing to do is embellish! And crocheting little bits and trims is so cool!

I savored every page of this book. The first project I had to try just flew right off the page at me....yes pun intended!
Crochet Adorned:
Reinvent Your Wardrobe with Crocheted Accents, Embellishments, and Trim
By
Linda Permann

"Does last season’s skirt need a little more flash? Want to breathe new life into your favorite tee? If you love crochet and quick, gratifying projects, Linda Permann will show you how to turn your old duds into a new wardrobe with yarn, a hook, and inspired ideas! By adding trims, embellishments and lace–or even changing the design of a garment–with simple crochet stitches, you can give your clothes a whole new look. These fun-to-make projects are a great second chance for clothes from your closet or thrifty finds–and they’ll even look great with the gems already in your yarn stash. When someone asks, "Did you make that?" you will love to answer "Yes!"

Plus, Linda shares new ideas for accessories and home decorating with projects that include earrings, aprons, and pillows. She’ll guide you through color theory (to keep your clothes and yarn in harmony), help you develop an eagle eye for embellishable clothes (so that you can reap all the benefits of thrifty finds), and share all the details you need to know to customize each project to your own size and style.

With helpful how-to instructions and illustrations, 20 inspired projects, and a stitch dictionary of extra trims, motifs, and patterns, you’ll have all the tools you need to embellish anything and everything–just the way you like it."

OK so I grabbed a ball of yarn in a great sick greenish yellow color, it was a bit bigger than the recommended size for this pattern but when I make something the first time sometimes I like to work with an easy size yarn.

Crochet Adorned included both word directions and symbol patterns, I really liked that because this helped me learn symbols but made the words make sense. Very cool!

I like the way my first bird came out. I gave it a ribbon scarf and used the yarn tails to make a loop for hanging on my tree. The next bird I crochet using the pattern from Crochet Adorned will definitely be in the recommended size yarn so I can make a pin from it.

If you like crocheting up little bits to add to your cloths or projects you will truly have a lot to work with in
Crochet Adorned .