topic Re: Crafting in Home

Crafting

wismiss — Tue, 11 May 2021 07:48:26 GMT

I am not an expert crafter like some of you probably are, but I like to do a seasonal floral arrangement for my six gallon Red Wing crock that sits by my antique washstand.

I also like to do various wood projects. For instance, for our family reunion that is coming up in August, a friend has made wood cutouts of the state of Wisconsin. (My Grandpa settled in Wisconsin when he came to the USA.) I went on the computer and found an outline of the country of Switzerland and copied that. I chose red with a white outline. (My Grandpa came to the USA from Switzerland.) I placed a bling dot to show the location of Grandpa's hometown in Switzerland. I then laminated the Switzerland map. I painted the wooden Wisconsin cutout red to match the red on the Switzerland map. Then I punched a green star from self-adhesive foam glitter paper (a lot of us live in Green County, Wisconsin) and adhered that to the location of Grandpa's farm and the town where a lot of us live. I used double sided tape to adhere the map of Switzerland onto the Wisconsin cutout.

But my favorite thing to do is to create decorated tote bags. I use computer images, make transfers, and transfer the images to tote bags. I am physically handicapped and find a tote bag is very useful when I go shopping, take something to the post office, etc. I make the tote bags for seasons, for activities I do (balance yoga), and for different organizations I belong to. I make many bags for friends/acquaintances. Since I do not sell the bags, I do not have to be concerned about violating copyright protections. Beside, most of the protected images have their name across the image so they cannot be copied.

I also am interested in embroidering. My Mom was an excellent embroiderer and I wish I had learned from her. I am a real novice at this but hope I learn some of the more elaborate stitches. I think You Tube will be a bookmark for me since my Mom's not here to teach me.

I also saw a new craft-----diamond dotz painting (copyrighted name). I haven't tried it yet, but it uses a stylus to place diamond dots on a painting.

I also like to make Christmas ornaments using sequins and pins. You pin the sequin to a foam shape and use a pattern to determine the color of sequin for a specific location. My Mom also used to do this and gave away many, many of these Christmas ornaments.

What about you? What do you like to do?

Re: Crafting

haddon9 — Tue, 11 May 2021 10:45:51 GMT

Years ago when scrapbooking was very popular, I joined in and really enjoyed making scrapbooks and homemade cards. I exchanged cards and supplies with others here on the QVC boards (we had a crafting board at the time) which was so much fun!

About 15 years ago I also made cigar box purses....they were fun and I sold close to a hundred of them!

I also took my love of scrapbooking a step in a different direction and started to make signs. They were simple at first but then I started selling them on Ebay then Etsy. I have been on Etsy since 2008 selling custom & personalized vacation (mostly beach, lake & ski) house signs.

I figured that since I loved making, why not make some money doing it and turn that into a small business?

Re: Crafting

ninjawife — Tue, 11 May 2021 10:58:56 GMT

I used to craft a lot but not so much lately. I made scrapbooks for my girls for each school year between kindergarten and 8th grade. I made a scrapbook of my wedding pictures. I painted wooden items and glass. I also made jewelery.

Re: Crafting

Krimpette — Tue, 11 May 2021 11:45:55 GMT

I don't scrapbook much any more. But I'm always making cards.

Re: Crafting

sometimesQVCaddict — Tue, 11 May 2021 12:16:56 GMT

My mom's had a successful craft business for almost 40 years, selling mostly at craft shows. She also is a member of several cross stitch/embroidery guilds. I joined her about 20 years ago in the craft business. At this stage we're starting to liquidate supplies of items no longer being made and cross stitch kits/accessories she'll never complete. It's going to be a super huge task when there's basically a craft supply store in her basement!! Hoping to sell on etsy the more expensive items & the cheaper items can donate to retirement homes or childcare centers/lower income schools or sell at some of the shows.

Re: Crafting

NickNack — Tue, 11 May 2021 13:50:22 GMT

@wismiss You sound very talented! I would love to see a picture of the Wisconsin/Switzerland cutout/map you made for your grandfather.

I did a lot of scrapbooking when that was popular. I don't have a craft room, and it took up so much space that I quit doing it. About 20 - 25 years ago I did a lot of cross stitching. I recently took that up again. I'm enjoying doing it and wish I'd started it at the beginning of the Pandemic.

Edited to say: I've watched a lot of You Tube videos about cross stitching and have learned a lot.

Re: Crafting

sometimesQVCaddict — Tue, 11 May 2021 13:59:56 GMT

@Nicknack do a Google search in your zip code area for cross stitch guilds/groups. They are excellent resources if you'd like to learn more!

Re: Crafting

Caaareful Shopper — Tue, 11 May 2021 14:31:52 GMT

I like to watch the HSN crafting shows, but I'm not really a crafter.

I do make greeting cards. I create my own art and then scan it onto card stock using my home printer. I do batches of three or four different images, for about 50 - 60 cards total, and gift each batch separately to my mother and sister, twice a year (summer - general blank cards, and Christmas cards). I make my own Christmas cards as well.

I don't use typical crafting tools, or cards that have those cute & tricky pop-ups or embossing, etc. What I get out of the crafting shows, besides the pleasure of watching them, are ideas for images. Plus, I've recently purchased from HSN a Marker Airbrush to create easy background color on the card before I start to paint my image.

Re: Crafting

Witchy Woman — Tue, 11 May 2021 21:17:54 GMT

@wismiss

You sound very creative, and I'd love to see your stash of goodies

I used to do a lot more than now...counted cross stitch, crewel embroidery, wreath making, floral arrangements, quilting...BUT, now I just sew baby blankets for children in need.

After a while, I realized I wasn't completing my projects and that's a sure sign it's time to stop (in my mind).

But, if you enjoy all you do, I'm sure you are in heaven when working. It is so uplifting to create something.

Continue to enjoy and have fun.

Re: Crafting

Qgirl26 — Tue, 11 May 2021 21:47:47 GMT

@wismiss, I've been mostly a papercrafter, doing scrapbooking and cardmaking. Cardmaking mostly in recent years but I find myself missing my scrapbooking days far more and find I enjoy the cards a lot less than I used to. I also have made many ornaments out of plaster and painted those. I haven't done nearly much of anything lately but that is more due to depression than anything. I am always trying to get myself to start back up again because it really can be relaxing. I haven't sold anything but have given many of the ornaments away to family members who expressed interest.

My daughter does the diamond dot painting and at first she didn't love it. She said it was hard on her eyes (and she's 36) and you have to be real careful with how much you pull away from the adhesive. Hard to explain but you have to expose the artwork you want to work on and you cannot put it away until you have completed all the rows of "diamonds" that have been exposed. But she has come to enjoy it more as time goes on and they are beautiful once completed. She also does embroidery. She hated crafts growing up but now with 4 kids, she needs her down time and really enjoys it.

You sound like a talented lady!

Re: Crafting

Qgirl26 — Tue, 11 May 2021 21:51:13 GMT

@haddon9, I was a part of that group you mentioned (those were the days!) and we had the other board that someone from here developed on another site. I think of everyone often because I don't see many familiar names from back then. I'm glad you are doing well with your signs!

Re: Crafting

BExplorer — Tue, 11 May 2021 22:14:04 GMT

I have recently gotten back into scrapbooking and card making. I took a several year hiatus but now have a grandchild and another on the way so I am determined to get and stay caught up with all my photos. 😊

Re: Crafting

PA Mom-mom — Tue, 11 May 2021 22:38:07 GMT

@wismiss I'm so glad you decided to do a Crafting thread! Do you get your tote bags online or at a craft store? Also, you hit home for me with mentioning the Christmas ornaments! I used to make them, but I usually bought kits. Well, they are way too pricey for me now. I would like to do quilted ornaments, because I'm afraid to use pins and sequins because of some of my younger grandchildren. When I first got married I did about 8 quilted ornaments, but they got lost in our move. Since then, I just have not been able to successfully reproduce them. Keep posting, and I'll be following. Also, I'd love to see pics of your creations.

Re: Crafting

ROMARY — Wed, 12 May 2021 21:04:53 GMT

I used to love to make medium-small wooden decoupage plaques.

Used Mod Podge to paste and then coat glossy clear.

Gee, I wonder what happened to them.......

It was fun and very easy.

Re: Crafting

haddon9 — Wed, 12 May 2021 02:26:21 GMT

@Qgirl26 wrote:
@haddon9, I was a part of that group you mentioned (those were the days!) and we had the other board that someone from here developed on another site. I think of everyone often because I don't see many familiar names from back then. I'm glad you are doing well with your signs!

@Qgirl26 Thanks! I remember you along with several others who are no longer here but were on the crafting board back then. I also joined that other board...I think it was "Crafting with Friends"...something like that. It didn't last long because then suddenly Facebook became the thing and a page for our group was started and everyone went over there.

At that point I didn't participate that much since I had gotten so busy with my Etsy shop.. However I do miss those Q crafting forum exchanges! It was a lot of fun!

Re: Crafting

wismiss — Thu, 13 May 2021 03:36:21 GMT

@haddon9, I've never heard of cigar box purses. I'll have to google them to see what they look like. What do you make your signs from? Smart idea----make money from something you enjoy doing. Hopefully others will contribute to this thread and it will be an enjoyable spot to come and "talk" with others.

@ninjawife , it sounds like you are very talented and have experience doing an assortment of crafts. Have you passed your talents on to someone else?

@Krimpette, I had a friend who turned a spare bedroom into a crafting room. Her husband was a carpenter and built a shelf/table that went across a whole wall. What a fabulous place it was. Like you, she made cards, and I always kept the ones she sent me because they were so special.

@sometimesQVCaddict, I can only imagine the good times you and your Mom have had crafting over the years. I can't imagine, though, having a basement full of craft supplies. But, it is easy to buy this, then you need that, and so it goes.

Please keep in touch, everyone.

Re: Crafting

wismiss — Thu, 13 May 2021 03:35:00 GMT

@NickNack, I'm not very talented. I taught for several years and just never had the time to do any crafts. Now I have the time but not the knowledge. I recently discovered a lot of newspaper articles, etc., so I bought a scrapbook and am going to make that my next project. I did some cross stitch a few years ago but did not have the time to devote to finishing a project in a reasonable amount of time and gave it up. I'm probably going to watch You Tube. My Mom has a lot of projects started that I would like to finish and they all seem to have the lazy daisy stitch and I have no idea how to do that, so maybe You Tube will be helpful.

@sometimesQVCaddict , thanks for the info you gave NickNack about googling for a cross stitch guild/group. I did that and found some area resources.

@Caaareful Shopper, Wow!!! You are talented. To create your own art work and then produce your cards is a true gift and talent.

@Witchy Woman, what a kind thing to do----sewing baby blankets for those in need. I need to sharpen my skills---I'm a novice at a lot of things but not an expert at anything. So maybe now that I'm retired I can narrow the field of what I want to do for crafting and become better at it.

@Qgirl26, maybe doing some scrapbooking or making painted plaster ornaments would lift your spirits. Cardmaking, scrapbooking, ornaments----what fun and I'm sure everyone enjoys the ornaments you made for them. Thanks for sharing your daughter's experiences with diamond dot. Sounds like a challenge.

@BExplorer, good idea to keep up with your scrapbooking and cardmaking. Grandchildren grow up so fast that your scrapbooking skills will help to chronicle their lives.

@PA Mom-mom, I buy a good quality tote on-line. I live in a small town and we don't have a JoAnne's, Michael's, or Hobby Lobby, so the pickings are rather slim. Oh, my, quilted ornaments sound so pretty. I love anything quilted, but I don't know how to quilt. I don't know how to import pictures of my crafts on the forum, but I'll try later.

@ROMARY, decoupage plaques sound interesting. Would you decoupage pictures or text, or what? What were your resources for what you did? I'll bet the walls in your house were so pretty with your decoupaged plaques.

Everyone, please keep posting and sharing.

Re: Crafting

Qgirl26 — Thu, 13 May 2021 03:11:17 GMT

@haddon9 wrote:
@Qgirl26 wrote:
@haddon9, I was a part of that group you mentioned (those were the days!) and we had the other board that someone from here developed on another site. I think of everyone often because I don't see many familiar names from back then. I'm glad you are doing well with your signs!
@Qgirl26 Thanks! I remember you along with several others who are no longer here but were on the crafting board back then. I also joined that other board...I think it was "Crafting with Friends"...something like that. It didn't last long because then suddenly Facebook became the thing and a page for our group was started and everyone went over there.

At that point I didn't participate that much since I had gotten so busy with my Etsy shop.. However I do miss those Q crafting forum exchanges! It was a lot of fun!

@haddon9, I missed out once everyone went to FB because I am not on there. Plus that was about when my husband got sick and crafting was put on the back burner. It was fun while it lasted though!

Re: Crafting

AnikaBrodie — Tue, 18 May 2021 13:45:27 GMT

I enjoy seasonal wreath making. I use mostly silk flowers but would like to try straw flowers if I can find them. Sometimes I can get some supplies from a thrift store (frames, flowers, ribbon, small signs, etc.). Speaking of wreaths it's time to start thinking about my summer wreath. June will soon be here.

I like this one, especially the sunflowers and daisies, which sells for more than $85.00. I can probably make it for between $20.00 and $25.00, depending on the cost of the grapevine frame. I use wire ribbon and like the burlap.

Re: Crafting

wismiss — Wed, 19 May 2021 07:01:47 GMT

That is a pretty wreath. I like the pop of purple. What a savings it would be to make it yourself. Thanks for sharing @AnikaBrodie .