selling buttons

[waterlove.livejournal.com]

for those of you that make and sell buttons, have you found it a worthwhile investment?

i keep debating ordering a hand press one. i myself buy tons of buttons and i know my friends do so it may be a good plan....

any thoughts?

also, for those of you who sell your crafts online:
how do you "advertise" or get people to see your site? i have had a few orders off my site (i would link it but it's being re-done right now...), but they have all been from lj.
any advice? i have flyers and i go to craft shows but i don't know where to go from here.

(no subject)

[samia.livejournal.com]

Decoupaged candle holders!

(no subject)

[avitania.livejournal.com]

does anyone know any reliable online sites where i can purchase good quality soap scents and molds? i'm not too thrilled with the kind i find at Michael's, and i've purchased some online but can't remember where. i'm just doing glycerine melt-and-pour soaps, nothing too fancy.

also, is it safe to use any kind of essential oil in soap making? i was afraid that things like citrus or cinnamon oils might be a skin irritant, especially if it got into the eyes.

many thanks in advance!

(no subject)

[xitsmylifex.livejournal.com]

Ok, I don't know if any of you girls are like me, but I'm a lingerie freak. I love all of those gorgeous sexy outfits and stuff, but they're so expensive. It seems like no matter where I go these tiny little sets are like $50.

I know its possible because my aunt used to do it, but is there any way to make your own lingerie? My aunt used to make her own bras and underwear, and I guess that's a bit different... are there patterns for that stuff?

Oh. and another question, is making your own clothing stuff fairly easy? I've never sewn before much (I've made pillows and that's about it) and I guess I wanna make my own skirts and kinda create my own personal clothing line.... but I'm hoping maybe if I got good enough I'd be able to make stuff for my friends or something....

Coffee Mugs

[nurse-bateman.livejournal.com]

Ok here's my first 'actual' post (Hi!). I have a bunch of off-white, plain looking coffee mugs and was thinking that maybe I can do something to them to sort of spice them up a little. My concern is that the mugs already have the gloss shine to it so I'm afraid that if I paint stuff on it, it'll come off the next time I wash them. Is there something I put over the paint so that it sticks? Possibly Mod Podge?

Another useless CD Idea

[xitsmylifex.livejournal.com]

I work at an internet web design company, and we constantly get those AOL cds and such. Well, when I first started working here the guys had started a big collection of them.... they went around to the different stores and grabbed lots of them.

What we've decided to do, but not yet have done, is make them into a lamp. We're stacking them all together and probably gluing them together or something and putting a rod through the center of them and making it into a lamp. I'm not sure how exactly to do this but it's a great thing for your computer desk if you need a lamp. :-)

(no subject)

[chinesebombs.livejournal.com]

hello fellow craftgrrls,

x.x i was writing to ask several questions, if any one would help me out. <3

x.x okay first, i have this old chair and it's really cool, it's been in my garden since i was a kid and i'd really like to fix it up.
okay so the problem is how do i remove rust and layers of paint, and how do i paint it again?
i would think some sort of paint remover and rust remover and a plaster scraper... but i don't really know..

x.x secondly, i have one of my old toys, robot man. and like he's kinda dirty, but his tag says surface washable only, i was wondering if any one knew some good way to clean him. o.o

x.x also i wanted to decorate a bottle for my dad and like paint on it, and make like a little garden thing, like paint a odd looking kid thats suposed to be me. and hearts... um i dunno quite yet. could i just use acrylic?

x.x okay thanks anyone. :)

X3

christmas gifts

[lolitastorm.livejournal.com]

this year i've decided to make customised journals for my friends.
basically, i took a few hardback notebooks, like pretty good quality ones with nice paper inside and i chose different coloured card for each person and covered the front and back of the book with it. it might also be nice to upholster the books with a pretty fabric.
anyway. i chose to go along with a kitsch and cute theme. i used those cardboars dress up doll thingies (i found mine in a local art shop) and i used the cut out dresses and things to put on the front. i also splashed out on some really beautiful stick on letters so i could put initials on the front of the journal. i think it's a really cute idea, a lot more personal than a cd or something :) and you can basically let yr imagination run wild.

CD Clock Idea

[pookfreak.livejournal.com]

Hi there - First time poster but I've got a fairly easy craft idea using left over CDs. (The CD Lamp reminded me). I also work for a software company and we always have tons of left over cds so a few years ago I decided to make a clock for my father for christmas out of CDs.

I went to AC Moore and got a can of the granite stone colored spray fleck paint, clock face and the clock components (I think the face was sold separate from the clock itself and I believe I bought separate hands as well).

I took the CDs and scratched them up with some sand paper to make sure the paint stuck and then laid them outside on a bunch of newspaper and sprayed one side of them. Then I took some sort of glue - probably a polymer I bought at Michaels - and glued them all together and then put the clock face on and the clock and hands on.

I made 2 of them - the first a demo and the 2nd for my father. He's got his but here's a photo of the demo that now hangs in my study above my computer desk:



If I did it again I'd remove the 2 farthest to the side CDs and maybe paint the outer ring a different color making it look more like a flower.

EDIT: I meant I bought my stuff at AC Moore, not Michael's - Michael's probably has the stuff though their website doesn't list it, only a make a clock kit. However I did find a website on a quick search that has clock parts for crafts - http://www.bjcraftsupplies.com/clock_menu.htm

(no subject)

[ex-just-kidd591.livejournal.com]

hi i'm jess...just joined. let me say that this community is great. anyway my question: i just made a bag [hand-sewn--i'm at college and have no sewing machine] out of old jeans, but the top edges are fraying a bit. i was thinking of putting a border on the top [i'm not sure of what--any ideas of where to get stuff in manhattan?], but since i wouldn't be able to make the stitching as precise as a machine--i'm pretty good but there would have to be imperfections--i was thinking of using fabric glue to attach the border. but does anyone know of any places to get that stuff in manhattan? or maybe any substitute that i could get at a hardware store? or if anyone has any other ideas as to what i could do w/ my fraying edges.

thanks a bunch!

More on CDs

[nisie.livejournal.com]

I found this link (you need Adobe Acrobat for this one) http://www.craftmag.com/articles/cdfish.pdf with directions for how to make a fish out of a CD.

t-shirt reconstruction

[asleeptoday.livejournal.com]

hi,

ok. i remember someone posting awhile ago with this tutorial on how to make a t-shirt smaller.
i looked all the way back to march and couldnt find it in the old entries, and i also looked in the memories.
so basically waht i'm asking is - does anyone remember this post? and / or know where it is?
i'm really interested in re sizing some stuff over christmas break and even though i have a pretty good idea of how to do it, i'de like to look things over and make sure i dont forget anything.

thanks alot!

what to do with nifty cards?

[dog-new-tricks.livejournal.com]

my stepmother has really good taste in cards, so i feel bad throwing out the ones she sends me. my family likes to send me cards for almost every occassion imaginable. can you guys suggest some good ways to recycle them? when we were little we used to make tiny boxes with lids, but i can't remember how to do that, and i'd like to see some other ideas too.

(no subject)

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine wants to get him mom a sewing machine for Christmas. He says she sews a lot, mostly clothes, but doesn't really do anything *fancy*, just useful. I told him I'd ask you for recommendations.

What sewing machine would you choose, and why?

ceramic paint/dinnerware design

[darkseptember.livejournal.com]

Hi! I just read pinupdeadgirl's post about painting on ceramic mugs, and trainspotgirl suggested a paint that she thought was for designing your own china (or maybe it was ceramics?).

I have an amazing set of cheap dishes that are solid black octagonal shaped ones that I use for every day, but I would love to be able to buy an additional set and paint my own designs on them. The plates are not ceramic, and not porcelain, either, but are still very nice.

Does anyone know if ceramic paint would work on a smooth glass surface?

ceramic paint/dinnerware design: found a link.....

[darkseptember.livejournal.com]

For PermEnamel at the Delta Crafts homepage, and it shows a pic (though it does not give instructions) of several glass items that have been painted with that particular brand. It also says it is the only air-drying ceramic paint, but I don't work with ceramics so I have no idea if that is accurate or not.

They have a several online how-to books here which give list prices and instruction for some of the projects. The one specifically for PermEnamel is here if you have acrobat reader. If the link doesn't work, just click on 'literature' and they will have a PermEnamel one listed, along with several other types of ceramic glazes and paints.

Also, I didn't scroll all the way through the how-to's, but I assume there is an order form somewhere....though I have yet to see one on the site.

Coffee Mugs, question 2

[yellowsocks.livejournal.com]

Hi there. My question is similar to pinupdeadgirl's earlier today. I made Christmas presents for my friends by painting on plain clear glass mugs. How would I go about sealing these? Could I use a normal spray on sealer? The other question mentioned pertained to using ceramic mugs and the answer was to bake them, but I can't bake cheap dollar store glass mugs can I?

Safety pin bracelets

[loosetooth.livejournal.com]

I've got a slew of seed beads, so I was thinking of making some safety pin bracelets. I just ordered boatloads of steel safety pins from http://www.enterpriseart.com. NOW I need good instructions. I'm sure I could wing it, but does anyone has favorite examples/instructions?

Thanks in advance!

(no subject)

[marilynmonrobot.livejournal.com]

i was wondering if anyone has ever stained glass before?

i was hoping to stain some cups for my siblings..i bought the paints that are dishwasher safe. so i'm sure you could use them on glasses.

i've already started playing with it on some bottle..but it doesn't seem to be working out as planned.

any suggestions??

(no subject)

[miabella.livejournal.com]

(cross-posted to marble_madness)

i went to michael's and found clear marble gems for 99 cents per 12-oz. bag. however, after opening the bag and inspecting them, they seem small (maybe 1/2 inch across), and seem to have scratches and tiny bubbles in them. i didn't see any that we bigger or better, though. please advise! also, couldn't find round button magnets anywhere... they were all sold out at michael's and home depot. where do you buy yours? needless to say, i didn't bother getting the silicone glue. ugh.

knitting woes...

[bronhoffer.livejournal.com]

okay, so as my first knitting project, i'm making a simple bag sort of deal. it was originally going to be a scarf, but i think the needles i used were to small, so it came out really thick... but i have the main part of the bag done, and now i just need to do the strap. i did the main part in all knit stitches, and i wanted to do the strap in the stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl one row) but i can't seem to get it to work. i honestly don't know what i'm doing wrong, it should be really easy (i even taped one of my needles to remind myself to purl for that row...) i've tried it like four times, and every time i do it, it sort of looks like it's going to work, but then it turns all pebbly and just looks like a normal knit... help me please!!!!

(no subject)

[frankenboob.livejournal.com]

So... I'm making bath salts as xmas gifts this year. I tried out my current *brew* this morning & was disappointed. The scent was overpowering in the container, but was undetectable in the tub water. :( What did I do wrong?

Also... I looked at the ingredients list for my $12 can of "Burt's Bees Therapeutic Bath Salts" & they are basically the same as what I used in my $2 bottle of "Carol's Concoction." His mix of lemon oil/eucalyptus oil out-odored mine... but I can rectify that, I am sure.

Just had a "duh" moment....

[jagnightwalker.livejournal.com]

or maybe a EUREKA moment.

Making *cough*greenbay packer*cough* marble magnets, and was wishing I had a hole punch. Well DUH, I have templates in every size that I use for my ukrainian eggs. 3/4 inch circle worked perfectly.

So if you have a compass, make your own out of cardstock...it was very nice to have the image already cut and the perfect shape.

does this happen to anyone else?

[urbangypsy.livejournal.com]

i went shopping with a friend today and all i could see were things that i could make myself.

record bowls

[urbangypsy.livejournal.com]

is it okay to use a mictowave, instead of an oven to make the record bowls? none of my bowls (to use as a mold) are oven safe and before i run out and buy one that is, i thought i'd check to see if i can use the ones that i have on hand. thanks.

bottle projects?

[pixiemab.livejournal.com]

i am an avid fan of jones soda, and i've managed to accumulate tons of these bottles. they're beginning to take up a fair amount of space and i just don't know what to DO with them anymore! so my question is, does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do with these bottles? maybe cut off the cool labels and use them for something? and the caps of the bottles have fortunes on the underside - could i do something with those ... ?

thanks so much ... this community seems pretty spiffy :)

cool project thwarted

[felisfemme.livejournal.com]

I recently read about a project for making a fire screen. One attaches round, capiz shell disks with wire to the screen. The translucent shells catch the light from the fire for a lovely effect.

However, I have encountered a problem: no capiz shell disks. So friends, where might I find these elusive disks?

A friend suggested that I get a capiz shell windchime and disassemble and use the parts. In which case, where do I get a capiz shell windchime?

Thank ya in advance!

instructions

[chikkz.livejournal.com]

i was going to make a tutorial to show the interested few how to make the ribbon stars i posted a couple days ago:


but luckily, for me, i realized that there was already one up online. as far as i can tell, it's pretty accurate, but if you have any problems, feel free to ask and i'll be glad to help you out. :) here's the link ladies,
http://www.highhopes.com/3dstar.html
good luck and have fun!

(no subject)

[ex-emmablowg545.livejournal.com]

I really want to make a kiwi/kiwi lime vegan soap for a friend of mine for xmas. I've read recipes and they honestly make no sense to me. What is soap base? Can I find a recipe that doesn't involve lard or lye? Also, where is a good chain store to purchase these products/supplies that might be in the Eastern PA area? Jo-ann's, AC-Moore, Michaels? Any help will be greatly appreciated.. <3

(no subject)

[ding-dong.livejournal.com]

Hello. I've been following this community for a few days and woah, do you post a lot! It's nice though, reading through my friends list and getting so many brilliant ideas.

Anyway, I've spent a couple of hours making christmas cards for my friends and family today. I even made the damn envelopes! I'm actually covered in glue right now.

I'm just showing off my favourite one really. I finally found something to do with all my test strips from photography class. It's all stuck down on silver paper.
( pictures )

a note about photographing your crafty stuff =) ( color balance)

[nicci.livejournal.com]

if you're like me, and you take digital photos of your crafty stuff, or even if you scan, and you might have problems with gross lighting. i have a bad habit of photographing at night, in the kitchen (which is the brightest room), under tungsten light. tungsten light = regular filament bulbs. it has a very orange/yellow cast, as you can see from the picture above. if you're not photographing in daylight, or if your scans are a little off, color balancing your pix in photoshop (if you have it) helps a lot. i'm addicted to color balancing. (photo major *wink*) ... so anyway, i just wanted to post a quick little .jpg to show you what i mean--how much of a difference your lighting makes in showing off your crafty stuff. these are marble magnets stuck to a white fridge under a normal tungsten bulb.

the left is the 'before' image ... the right is an 'after', as the captions indicate. the balance isn't perfect, but it's pretty good. and it look soooo much better. =) your lighting is important to get accurate color reproduction. so if you don't have photoshop, or special lights (which are way costly), or filters (which can get annoying), i'd reccomend photographing everything in daylight to make it look snazzah! *wink*

btw, i added 24 (whew!) new marble mags to my journal : anongrrl, and am giving them as gifts in sets of 12 in decorated altoid tins. liquitex acrylic matte medium (and glossy medium) work to decoupage, if you were wondering. it's basically all i use.

YES paste is best for wrinkle free adhesion with thin papers + it's acid free. mmm.. archival.

pottery

[anthacat.livejournal.com]

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/hjean_98/lst2?.tok=bcS2.yQB1vXTklOI&.dir=/Art&.src=ph

I hope this works... now you can see some of my pottery creations...

the paddles and misc phi sig stuff was for our foundation raffle

the nativity and animals

the snowflake ornaments

(crossposted)

(no subject)

[jen-shumate.livejournal.com]

is decopage food safe? if its not, what can i use? i want to paint with aryclics on a bowl, but it can be used as a salad bowl too...

(no subject)

[faeriesarereal.livejournal.com]

Hellos, I'm Lauren. I just joined yesterday and I was overjoyed to find this community :)

I made these marble magnets tonight after I got back from Joann's :) I was inspired to make some after looking at the how-to page today.

Here is what I made so far:



Hooray for marble magnets :)

(no subject)

[misery-dm8.livejournal.com]

hey there..

i rarely ever post my own topics here cause i don't have a digital camera and therefore i can't show off my stuff;)

but i was wondering.. how do i get plaster out of my carpet?? *uh-o*..

this community is awesome:)