Crafting the Essentials in Scrap Booking
By admin | December 27, 2008
Crafting the Essentials in Scrap Booking
How to learn craft terms for scrap booking
Terms are important in life, including when crafting scrapbooks. When you visit craft stores it is great to know a few terms so that the sale clerks will think you are an expert. In addition, having a basic line of terms will help you find your way, rather than getting lost when you hear the clerks talk foreign craft lingo. To get started we can consider acid.
How to understand craft and scrapbook terms:
Acid-free products are the key to creating and preserving your scrapbook. You want to request materials that do not have acid-based chemical reactive content. The Ph level should be around seven or even higher, to produce a safe keep scrapbook. The products should not have polyvinyl chlorides; therefore look for PVC-Free materials. Instead, look for materials made of polyester, polyethylene, or polypropylene. Lignin-Free materials will prevent your newspapers, or clippings from yellowing. Lignin is acid based. In addition, you want to learn steps to avoid acidy contents touching your scrapbook. You should wash your hands prior to touching your scrapbook, and request that anyone touching your scrapbook wash their hands beforehand.
Archival is a common term in crafts, since many scrapbooks are made up as archrivals. Archival is the process of protecting your scrapbook from fading, yellowing, or deteriorating. Buffer paper is recommended for crafting scrapbooks. Buffer paper will protect your book from defused acids, and acid migrating from damaging your papers and photos. To find buffer paper suitable for scrapbook crafting, look for paper with the label “Photo Activity Test,” approved or P.A.T., which is approved by ANSI. (American National Standards Institute)
If you plan to glue your photos and news clippings, or other materials in your scrapbook, keep in mind that reversible adhesive is optional. The contents will allow you to remove the photos later and re-locate them in necessary.
“CK OK,” is the “Seal of Approval” that provides you a safe keep in scrap booking. If the materials you purchase do not have this seal, leave it alone.
Scrapbook crafting entails cropping, workshop, page exchange, produce swap, scrapbook club, layout, “Pass the chocolate,” mounting, double mount, heading, embellishment, them, title page, page, and memorabilia.”
How to crop:
Cropping can be done with PhotoShop otherwise, you will need scissors. The process requires that you trim the photos to fit your book. Cropping also entails collecting, allocating ideas, and putting the parts in order so that it tells a story. Workshop is the process of working together with other scrap bookers to come up with ideas. You can use PhotoShop to devise a scheme.
Page exchanging is similar to workshop, only you bring a page with you and work with others to share ideas and to craft a page. Product swapping is the process of getting rid of old craft materials, such as scissors, papers, etc, and swapping with your friends to gain new materials. You can create a scrapbook club from here, which swapping can occur and you and your friends can “pass the chocolate.”
How to layout your scrapbook:
In your club, you will hear the term layout. The term is used to define page grouping. Page grouping is the process of collecting your pages and inserting them alongside the joined group, using the same theme. You can devise your own theme, such as “My Scrapbook of Memories.”
Once you adhesive your photos on a single sheet of paper you are conducting the process of mounting. Double mount is comparable to Layer Mattes. The process includes adhesive two cuts of paper, sticking them together with the photos resting on top of the papers.
Embellishment is the terms used to define die-cuts, stickers, or related materials that make up a page in your scrapbook. The header is your title page. Title page is the start of making your scrapbook. For instance, “Jane Does Scrapbook.” The theme will define your overall ideas behind your scrapbook. Page is the process of making up non-photographic materials, such as journal, embellishments, etc decorated around your photos. Finally, memorabilia is adding souvenirs, official documents, artwork, or related documents to your scrapbook.
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How to Craft Camille Outfit
By admin | December 25, 2008
How to Craft Camille Outfit
How to choose materials
Do you have Camille? Would you like to create an outfit for her, yet you have no clue where to start? If you answered yes then continue reading, since we are going to design Camille a fashionable suit.
To start you will need materials. You will need 40 inches of pink plain-woven, fine fabric made of linen and/or cotton. The fabric is needed to make Camille’s loose fitting pants that gather at the ankle, as well as her underskirt. Purchase 2
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Time in a Capsule Scrapbooks and Craft
By admin | December 23, 2008
Time in a Capsule Scrapbooks and Craft
How to create a time capsule
Scrapbooks are fun and tell a story about the characters preserved in its content. Scrapbooks can include photos, journals, letters, report cards, certificates, stories, books, handprints, footprints, college papers and more.
Each detail that goes in your scrapbook will leave you a lasting memory. When you create the time capsule scrapbooks, you invent seals, history, and preserve time as a whole. Time capsules can include photographs, clothes, hand/feet prints, CDs, names, weight, height, and more. For instance, you can make up a scrapbook that records your baby’s first step and up until this very moment. You can add a journal, photos, prints, etc to set off your design.
How to start your time capsule:
You will need a container to seal your items. You will pictures and members of your family and friends along with the items they want to add to your scrapbook. Make a lit that includes your items, photos, family names, etc. Once you collect your details, close your container, label it, and add the date you started. Include the date you intend to begin your scrapbook.
If you have newspaper clippings including recorded events, add them to your scrapbook. You can trace your children’s feet, hands, etc, and add them to your scrapbook as well. You may want to craft a favorite page so that everyone knows your children’s, yours, spouse, or friends’ particular items of interest.
If you have parts of clothing that brings up memories, add them to your scrapbook. CDs make up great memories in scrapbooks as well, especially if the dates are marked. Photos will tell a story about you, your family, friends, etc. Try to organize the photos so that the storybook comes together.
If you have goals set, you may want to add them to your scrapbook as well. The memos will serve as a reminder.
Graduation articles will make a good time capsule for your scrapbook. You can add photos, graduation gown articles and more. Don’t forget to add dates, names, locations, etc so that you have something to remember for a long time to come.
If you wrote a short story, you may want to add it to your time capsule. I had started writing short stories when I was thirteen and would give anything if I would have preserved the copies in my own time capsule. The success we achieve is something to remember for a lifetime, therefore adding stories is giving you a moment to remember.
Some people add locks of hair to their scrapbook. The hair is a reminder of the person they love. In addition, the hair represents a special moment in history.
If you received a special rose from a loved one, or friend you may want to add the flower to your scrapbook. You will need a dried, pressed flower and glue to your page. Add the flower to bring your theme come together. That is if you create a garden page; add the flower in this section. Better yet, if you created a page of your loved one, friend, especially the one that gave you the flower, add it to this section.
If someone in your home is an artist, perhaps you can make a special page for this person. Use the arts drawn and mount them to a page in your scrapbook. Your friends and family will appreciate this special moment, since art says a thousand words.
In all you can add nearly anything you choose to your scrapbook and go back in time in your capsule as you choose. The main idea is using common sense when crafting your scrapbook so that you do not invent bulky pages.
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The Crafts in Patching your Quilt
By admin | December 21, 2008
The Crafts in Patching your Quilt
Patches can make up a fashionable, yet old-style quilt that will last for a long time to come. To create patchwork you will need fabric. You merely cut the pieces of your fabric to form patches and design, stitching in simple numerical lines. If you are creating the traditional patchwork, you will need fabrics, including lengthy stripes, squares, curved shapes, and rectangles. You can leave out the shapes that curve if you don’t want to go through the steps of creating a complex quilt.
Crafters often use patches to create quilts with many parts, such as the quilts that resemble the Picasso arts, or the basic quilts. Once you gather your patches, you will need to form blocks of your fabric. The blocks in crafter terms include the “corn and beans,” motifs, “turkey tracks, maple leaf,” and so on. One of the more attractive quilts is the “Robbing Peter to Pay Paul” blocks. Regardless, you will need blocks to finish your quilt.
To start you will need to select your block scheme. You have the choice of the 4-patch scheme, or the 9-patch. The patch block schemes make up grids, which fill in various simple lines in numbers and shapes. The 4-patch is one of the common patterns used to make traditional quilts. The 9-patch is also used, yet other styles are made up on different geometric grids.
The 4-patch:
The 4-patch is 4-squares factored into a numerical grid. For instance, you can picture a box, draw a cross inside, and count 1-4 to achieve the 4-block scheme. To continue to the 4-patch scheme you would need to add squares, stripes, etc.
The overall notion behind the 4-patch scheme is that you can use a variety of patches to create a multi-color quilt, yet you must lay out your block foundation first.
Now if you want to use the 9-patch scheme you would create nine squares in your grid and either leave them together or break them into parts. Still, you must leave the 9-patch structure.
For instance, if you were to take a piece of craft paper, rather graphing paper and draw per inch, four squares, eight squares, and then another ten, you would have your foundation to start your patchwork. To make up your designs however, you would need to add shapes to your grids.
Once you design your craft on graphing paper, you can create a full-size block. You will need to cut your patches, as well as create templates however before you can start your quilt.
To start your quilt you will need to consider the style again. Do you want the 12, 14, 16, 18, or larger blocks? If you are new to making quilts, you may want to start with the lower block inches. However, you will need to learn how to make borders to complete the quilt.
Once you decide you will need to consider your schemes. If you are working the 4-patch scheme on blocks, around 4 inches then you will need to cut your patches 2 inches in squares. The higher the scheme, the more patch inch squares you would need. For instance, if you want to create a 12-block scheme, you would need twelve patches and cut in six-inch squares.
On the other hand, if you were using the 9-patch scheme, choosing the 12-inch blocks then you would need to cut your patches into 4-inch squares.
Now you can move to create your templates. Templates in crafter terms are patterns, which are cut from strong fabrics, or materials. You need the templates to create an easy squared quilt, otherwise prepare to battle.
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The Craft of Quilt Templates
By admin | December 19, 2008
The Craft of Quilt Templates
How to make templates
Templates are patterns so to speak, only with templates you cut the materials you need from strong fabrics. Otherwise, if you were making patterns you would cut the templates from ordinary paper.
At what time you create templates, you are making your quilt making process easier. The surface patterns will flow consistently as well. You can use your created templates and trace along your patterns, instead of pinning graphing paper to your quilt material. You can purchase ready-made templates, however if you create your own you will save money. You can purchase transparent plastics at craft stores, or stores that carry supplies, such as craft, paper, pencils, etc. If you choose plastic, you will need to individually, trace your patterns. You will need allowance for your seams. After you create your patterns, cut your templates. The plastic templates are ideal for making larger quilts.
Straight grains make up woven textiles. The grain lines run comparably along the edges of the non-fraying edges in the materials. Across the “straight grain,” is another line known as the “cross grain.” Crafters use the term to define the lines, such as “Fabric on the grain.” You will need to eliminate the edges, by cutting it off.
The non-frayed edges are makes up the areas that have not been cut, especially around the label and the snug woven areas.
How to create basic templates:
Creating templates is as simple as tracing your footprints on paper. To create your templates you will need to choose plastic and/or paper. Once you make your choice you will need to trace your template to paper, add a few permitted seams, and then use adhesive to add your trace to a clip of hard copy, i.e. cardboard or the like and cutout your templates. Stop: before you cut your templates, first replicate copies and play with the patterns until you achieve your desired mark. Once you achieve your patterns add numbers and/or letters to mark your pattern. This will help you remember where each template goes. Next, you will cut your pattern parts out, using common scissors. Cut the outside areas only at the edges. You will need to create one template per piece to add to your quilt.
Next, trace your patterns, tracing the parts onto your plastic and/or paper. Space the parts once inch in all directions, and away from the other. Use a measuring device, such as a ruler to draw
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The Craft in Blocks and Borders
By admin | December 17, 2008
The Craft in Blocks and Borders
Once you select your patterns, blocks, templates, etc, you will need to prepare your fabric. You will need to consider how to organize your blocks, once you gather the necessary amount needed to complete your project. You want to consider your borders as well.
You will need graph paper, since you will need to sketch in order to determine how many blocks you will need to complete your quilt. To get started you will also need to decide the size of quilt you want to create and then you can consider settings.
To set your blocks, or organize the blocks you can consider borders, sashing, and cornerstones. The diagonal settings are another style you can consider, as well as the straight set.
Sashing works in the same way as the straight sets, i.e. you merely block your settings against the other and in an organized line. After you will run horizontal and vertical lines, which makes up your 9-patch scheme. The blocks in this instance are interacting with the stitches in three lines and with only three blocks. Use the “block-to-block” steps as listed above to continue. To create a visual, think of a box, or frame with nine rows across and nine rows down in a framed grid. Now add star-shapes, creating nine stars in three rows across your grid. If you can visualize the grid, you can get an ideal how the slash and straight setting works.
Next, add narrow stripes at the corners and around your row of boxes. If you can visualize, you have created a grid of lattice and/or slash. The pattern is designed to enhance your quilts overall outcome, yet you can add different effects to achieve your ultimate design. You can create an ordinary quilt from this grid, or you can crisscross the framework by interwoven your open-mesh frame, crisscrossing the stripes until you form a pattern. Some crafters use geometric patterns to arrange points.
How to set diagonal patterns:
If you want to create a diagonal pattern, or set you will need to organize, and add your blocks, placing them diagonally across your fabric, and on the points. Work a 45-angle into the scheme and work at the side. “On point” is a crafters term to state that the set blocks are on the points.
In the middle of the diagonal set, you will need to create triangles to make up the middle section of your pattern. You will need large and small triangles, which the larger batch will make up the center, while the smaller batch will fit the corners. Slashing terrazzo or strips is optional as well.
In addition to the slashing, straight, or diagonal, you can also choose to vertical set, or else the strip set. Crafters refer to the strip set as “Strippy.” Forming the Strippy is easy. You merely place your blocks perpendicularly in narrow pieces and divide the other narrow pieces, or strips.
The medallion is another set you can consider when crafting quilts. You will need to create middle equidistant from the other points. Next, you will need to focus on the points in the middle and surround them with various styles of blocks, slashing, or borders.
Now create your borders. To start your borders add your blocks to achieve the dimension of your borders at the side. You will need to factor in the slashing measurements, as well as the blocks. Example: Three blocks measuring 10-inch square, plus four strips at one inch wide equals 34 inches. Once you finish add a quarter or
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Porcelain Craft
By admin | December 15, 2008
Porcelain Craft
How to make porcelain doll dresses
Porcelain dolls, China dolls, etc, are made up of pottery and/or ceramic. The dolls are small, medium, and sometimes long. The twirps, Mellette, or youthful dolls may benefit from hailspot dresses, apron, shoes, socks, and so on. You can purchase socks and shoes at craft shops, otherwise you can hand knit the items for her.
You will need materials to get started. Materials should include 10 inches of hailspot patterns or fabric, which you will use to make underwear and the dress. Add 6 inches of white plain-woven fabric, or batiste to make your apron. The fabric should be made of fine, soft and plain woven-fabrics, such as linen, cotton, etc. add 40 inches and another 3/8 inches of narrowed edge lace to make your underwear, apron, and dress. You will also need light, DMC thread made of poly-cotton. Embroidery DMC thread should be light also to use on your sewing machine. (If applicable) Helmar is a fabric spray that stabilizes the material. You will need this also. You can find other brands at craft stores.
Purchase 818 embroidery threads, such as pink. You will need green also. (524) The thread will be used to make your bonnet and apron. You will need studs and/or buttons as well. Purchase the OOO types, as well as the “OOO studs” to complete your apron.
Once you gather your materials, you will need an acting technique, which includes patterns that you will cut. The patterns should include 2-underwear, front upper section of the dress on folds, or bodice. You will need a pattern to create the back region of the bodice on folds as well. In addition, add two sleeves, and the fold of your dress kilt.
How to design underwear:
To start, crisscross the lace attaching it to the legs. Pull the right face or sides of your fabric together and begin stitching at the front core and back center so that the seams come together. The untreated edges of the crown should crisscross, turning over a
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How to choose Craft Paper for Scrapbooks
By admin | December 13, 2008
How to choose Craft Paper for Scrapbooks
Now that you have your pen, glue, protectors, etc, you will need to choose paper for your scrapbook. Craft paper with seals of approval is ideal when creating scrapbooks. Craft paper includes the CK OK products. Paper designed for photocopying, journals, or albums are the choice papers. The paper that most crafters use is the pH that does not go over 8.0. The ideal level is 6.5 and/or 7.5. Un-buffered paper is the choice for many crafters, yet some recommend buffer paper with alkaline base. Paper should have an acid-base; therefore look for the lignin-free products. Paper without dyes, and are colorfast are choice products also. P.A.T. approved paper is the Photo Activity Test products, which is ideal for scrapbooks.
The paper outlined is ideal for photos. If you intend to add extras, consider pH levels no higher than 7.5 also. Buffer paper should have a very low content of zinc, magnesium, and calcium carbonates. Use the lignin-free and colorfast papers that do not dye as well.
Paper includes the basic of decorative designs. Pattern is a type of paper that has designs that replicate throughout the page. You can find conservative bold, tasteful designs, funky stuff, and so on. You can also purchase matching stickers to setoff your scrapbook.
When you create pattern scrapbooks keep in mind you are creating a book that brings your past to the future. You are creating a memo that tells a person about your past. In view of the fact, when choosing pattern paper try out the general patterns. If you choose extreme patterns, it will only rob viewers of seeing what you crafted to promote in the first place.
How to choose patterns:
“General pattern paper” has a variety of designs, including floral, stripes, and dots. You can choose the general patterns if you want variety. General papers are ideal for those who are searching for versatile results as well.
If you are designing holiday decors use the general patters with minuscule red dots. The dots will blend well with the holidays design, such as those during Christmas.
Once you choose your paper, you can craft some ideas, such as using your patterns to fit in with small and large photos or embellishments. Paper mounts may include single mounts. You can use die cut layers to shape.
How to choose die cuts-
Die cuts for shaping may include small and large-scale patterns. You can also use scraps, punch holes in the patterns to create borders. Patchwork is also made up of scrap patterns.
How to pierce:
Paper piercing is an adventure. To finish the process you merely create layers, such as the matching templates, trace, cut, and join the layers together. Use solid patterns along with general scraps to finish the process.
You can also use scraps from your patterns to create letters. Of course, you can mark your pages, including dates, names, locations, etc, with craft pens, yet the letters you create with patterns will enhance your scrapbook. Try using the patterns to create a title page.
Use patterns also to create letter headings for journals, captions, title page, and so on. If you want to produce a basic layout, use two different patterns. The first pattern should mount your photos while the other is used as a background setting. You can add matching stickers to enhance your new decorative scrapbook pages.
As I said, once you choose your paper search for the designs that match your scrapbook layout. Patterns include the framed designs. In fact, the framed designs can off set your photos dramatically, especially if you choose frames that set off your photos. For instance, if you have a photo of your child playing soccer, why not choose the framed patterns with soccer as the title in the lower box, and soccer balls around the frame.
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How to Zigzag Lozenge Stitch in Craft
By admin | December 11, 2008
How to Zigzag Lozenge Stitch in Craft
The zigzag stitch is a common stitch expert cricketers’ use to create Afghans and more. The steps are relatively easy and must be learned to finish the “Evening News” Afghan, or other patterns of Afghans. After you finish your chain, bobble, Chevron, cluster, cross double, crossbatch, V-stitch, etc, you will need to zigzag your lozenge stitches. To get started we encourage you to read the steps below.
How to Zig your Zag to create the lozenge stitch:
To start the zigzag lozenge stitching you will need a base. The base is factored by multiples of two, plus one. In the first row, starting on the left side, chain two stitches to start your half-double crochet. Half double in the following stitch and skip one stitch including a half double, chain, and another half double in the following stitch. Repeat the steps starting with the final stitches skip one stitch and work two half doubles in your final stitch, then turn.
How to half double stitch:
Chain stitch and then intersperse your hook so that it goes into the second chain stitch and away from your hook. Chain stitch again and draw up your yarn bringing it through your finished chain and three loops on your crochet hook. Chain stitch again and draw up your yarn bringing it through each of the three finished loops on the hook, and the finish, working a half-double stitch into your pattern.
In the second row, continue to zigzag on the right side. Chain stitch 3 times to complete the start double crochet. Double crochet your first stitch and chain one time, and double crochet three clusters in the following space. Repeat your steps starting across, and to the finish working through the final space, adding one chain, two double crochets in clusters and at the crown of your turning chain, and then turn.
Moving to row three, chain stitch twice for your first half double. Skip the starting stitch and half double, one chain, and another half double followed by space and repeat your steps across, and to the finish, completing with a half double in your crown section of the turning chain, and then turn.
Adding Zigzag to Row 4:
Row 4 you will chain stitch three times for your first double, skip the initial stitch and cluster three doubles in the following space. Chain another stitch across, and to the final working a double crochet into the crown of your turning chain, and then turn. Moving to row, five add two chain stitches to the first half double. Half double another stitch into the first stitch, half-double, first chain, half double, and into the following space. Repeat your steps across, and to the finish working two, half doubles into the crown of your turning chain, and then turn. Complete your steps by repeating the second through five rows.
You have completed the zigzag lozenge stitching steps. Now you can move to the sample squares, which sums up eighteen rows. Once you complete the steps, you can move onto the borders, and finally finishing your Afghan. Once you finish however, you will need to edge the pattern to finally finishing your Afghan.
Remember when you design an Afghan, particularly the Evening News; you will need to work through a seven
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How to Stitch Quilt Borders
By admin | December 9, 2008
How to Stitch Quilt Borders
We started the borders by adding blocks to complete the range of your borders on the sides of your material. We calculated the dimensions of slashing, as well as the size of your blocks. If you haven’t done so, use the example as followed to measure your blocks. Example: Three blocks appraising the 10-inch square, in addition to the four, terrazzo at one inch width, which adds to 34 inches?
How to create borders:
Once you finish your dimensions, insert
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