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[wismiss]

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?

[haddon9]

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?

[ninjawife]

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.  

[Krimpette]

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

[sometimesQVCaddict]

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.

[NickNack]

@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.

[sometimesQVCaddict]

@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!

[Caaareful Shopper]

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.

[Witchy Woman]

@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.

[Qgirl26]

@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!