Unique Artisan Crafts

By Lisa A Mason

Artisan crafts are very unique. They are made by skilled manual workers often by their own hands. An artisan is sometimes also known as a craftsman. This is someone who uses tools but usually does not use machinery, or if so does to very rarely. These tools are used in a special way to create a handmade article.

This type of skill was very popular during the Middle Ages. In Europe, there were craftsman who would organize into guild or associations of master artisans. They would be granted charters by the local authorities. If you wanted to become an artisan in a guild, you would have to earn it by working as an unpaid apprentice under another master artisan.

If you then completed your training, you would become a paid journeyman. Then, before you could become a master artisan, you would have to produce something that met the high standards of the guild.

Handmade artisan crafts have been around for many centuries. Artisan jewelry in fact, can be traced back as far as 7000 BC. This was when gold and copper were first used as adornments. Artisan jewelry is popular but it was not the only thing that artisans created. Some made pottery, furniture, tapestries and glassware.

Certain cultures and areas are known for unique artisan crafts that aren't found in other areas or eras such as turquoise pieces from the Native Americans or cameo jewelry pieces from the Italians. Today, artisans are still creating unique, inspiring, beautiful pieces of unique crafts and jewelry pieces each and every day. They are great for gifts, for collectibles and many even as functional items.

With unique artisan crafts, you can guarantee you are getting something that no one else has and that can't be found in stores. This is another reason why these unique artisan crafts are growing in popularity today.

Lisa Mason is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles. She has written thousands of articles, hundreds of ebooks and thousands of website pages and related content. She has also authored her own books and works as a consultant to other writers, Internet marketers and Internet businesses. Lisa Mason, Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company, public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website:http://www.freelancewriter4hire.com You can see more articles like this at:http://giftsanddecor.wordpress.com/ ---------------------------------------------- For more articles and information on Artisan Crafts, see www.myguidetocrafts.com.

Markets to Sell You Crafts

By Susan Hutson

If you are in the business of making crafts, then you probably might have already sold some of your pieces. However your business cannot just succeed or run on an occasional piece sold every now and then. If you are looking at this as a long time career option then you need to have knowledge and access to markets which can ensure continuous sales.

Here are some of the most lucrative markets for a small or home craft business setup.

Retail stores

Retail stores such as gift or specialty/boutique stores are great avenues for selling your crafts. Since most customers visiting these stores are on the lookout for artifacts that they can use as either decorative items or for gifts, the chances selling your creations are relatively high.

What you can do is first compile a list of stores in and around your area. Make an inventory of the kinds of goods that these stores sell and if you feel that your crafts or creations would sit in well with what the store offers, then go ahead and approach the store owners. Owners of these stores are always on the lookout for unique and creative pieces. There is a cut off percentage that will be charged in lieu of shelf space for your goods.

A lot of craft business owners usually sell their goods to these owners at discounts, if the owner offers to buy several pieces. Before you go ahead and sell your products, you should familiarize yourself with a few legalities pertaining to insurance coverage or government regulations.

Consignment stores

If you don't mind a 20% to 60% cut in your sales prices, then do consider Consignment stores. Some consignment stores also require you to sign a yearly contract and expect a set monthly fee structure. This is exclusive of the commission figure that they earn from selling your products. The only drawback (if you can call it that) with consignment stores is that you get paid only after your products have been sold.

Craft and flea markets

If you want a market that optimizes exposure while offering a great opportunity to sell your products, then you should go with Craft shows, flea markets and local fairs. Flooded with all kinds of people from different sections of the society, you can definitely expect to sell a majority of your goods.

To get information on schedules you can look up professional craft associations as well as your business information center. Local and regional flea markets are common place and you shouldn't have any trouble with getting in touch with the concerned people. You could always set up stalls in partnership or get yourself an independent stall. The rates for these stalls range from $25 upwards. Crafts shows and flea markets are also great if you want to capitalize on getting to know your customers personally. And since in all likelihood your competitors will be setting up stalls too, this is a perfect opportunity if you want to size up your competition.

Internet

One of the reasons why small and home businesses have flourished in recent times is because of the internet. Eliminating the need to have a physical area to sell, the internet also facilitates selling on a much larger scale since distance and locations don't really matter in cyber space. While the internet is a great market, it does take a lot of time and patience as well as effective online marketing to accomplish the desired levels of success.

Bizymoms has been helping women start work at home businesses for over 10 years. It is easy to start a Craft Business with their work at home business kit that includes everything you need to get your Craft Business up and running. ---------------------------------------------------- To see more information on Marketing Crafts, see www.myguidetocrafts.com.

The Art of Craft Fairs

By Connor R Sullivan

Finding art for your house or a gift can be a difficult task. You don't want to but some generic, artless painting that is sold in hundreds of stores across the country. You want some unique that speaks to you. There are definitely ways to do that in your home town or close to your home town. If you want to fill your house with lovely watercolor art, all you have to do is take some time to discover a watercolor artist in your area. You can do this in a number of ways. One way is to keep your eye out for local craft fairs and farmers markets. These are breeding grounds for small, home-run artists. Another way is to visit the closest town with art studios near you. If you can find these, you may be surprised at what you find.

Going to be craft fares can be overwhelming, but only if you let it be. You just have to get you bearings straight and you will be just fine. There is a lot of art and artists around, so it is easy to fall victim to indulge. If you are a person who tends to buy things on a whim, you may want to take only a limited amount of money with you. If not, you may find yourself spending much more money than you want to.

Also, keep in mind when going to craft fairs that it isn't uncommon for them to not accept credit cards. You may have to pay with a cash or credit. Art can be fairly expensive at times as well, so make sure to plan accordingly. If you take only a couple twenties, you may not have enough to but a great piece of art. On the other hand, that is a great way to keep you from spending too much money.

Also, don't let yourself be captivated only by the first two or three booths you visit. This art is how most of these artists pay their bills, so they are quick to try and get you to buy their work. However, even if it is beautiful, you cannot buy the pieces at the first booths. You may spend a lot of money, and then find something even better later on, but not be able to purchase it. The worst feeling is regretting buying a piece for art. The great thing about craft fairs is that you can go back to a booth after looking over all of them.

Craft fairs are so fun and funky! It is a really fun way to spend a day. You get to walk around in the sun and look at masterpieces. You can find some really unique works of art to decorate your house or to give as a gift. Giving art as a gift is such a great idea too. People really appreciate it, because you had to put thought into it and into the people. If you haven't been to a craft fair before, its time you go!

Connor R. Sullivan has been searching for watercolor art and watercolor artist prints to decorate his office. ------------------------------------------------------ For more articles on Craft Fairs, see www.myguidetocrafts.com.

Promoting Local Arts and Crafts Fairs

Community events are an opportunity to develop new relationships and strengthen ties amongst the community. They are essential for the physical and social growth of any community. Community events also help promote the location, district or neighborhood of a community.

Community affairs often include food markets, carnivals, concerts, plays and arts and craft fairs. Art and craft fairs help promote and sell local handicrafts and fine art creations of a community. Some of the activities and booths found inside art fairs include:

Local jewelry-Custom-made jewelry is jewelry whose design is taken from a culture's aesthetic background namely its use of patterns and materials. Well-known examples of this are metalwork from South America or glass jewelry from Venice. In a local community, custom-made jewelry can be made with colored beads or cultured stones native to the area. They may be combined with semi-precious stones and cast metal necklaces, rings and earrings.

Local pottery-Local pottery consists of earthenware pots, pans and jars used for a variety of cultural purposes. Well-known examples include earthenware pots from ethnic tribes in Laos and the Philippines. Today used as interior décor, local pottery was originally used for cooking, cleaning, gathering water, bathing, gift-giving, religious ceremony and burying.

Local weaves-Hand-woven textiles are also popular wares in arts and craft fairs. They may be made with traditional weaving machines or done by hand through knitting or stitching, woven textiles are used as clothing, bedding, dinner linen, interior wall décor or even upholstery.

Promoting community arts and crafts fairs can be fast and convenient through the use of simple print materials such as flyers, brochures, posters, postcards or catalogs. There are online printers that offer professional printing services at reasonable or discounted prices for wholesale orders. Uprinting, for example, provides loans as part of its U-Community program. This online printing company, through Kiva.com, loans to small business owners and start-up entrepreneurs.

For more resource information on Uprinting, readers can visit Uprinting.com

--------------------------------------------------

For more Craft Fair Articles, see www.myguidetocrafts.com.

Children's Quilts - Each Tells a Story

By Sharon Camp

Observe a playground of 3 year olds playing for a few minutes. They are the busiest little independent group of individuals. Each can make you smile, cause you sleepless nights, and give you the most love and joy you have ever experienced in your life. As a quilter, designing a children's quilt is much like these little ones on the playground. Each of the unique children's quilts stand alone in a sea of other unique handmade baby quilts, yet all belong to the collection entitled, "Children's Quilts." The quilter smiles and sews, thinking of the child, who will cuddle under the quilt each night. Yet, those late nights spent making sure the children's quilt meets with the high expectation of its maker, if not, long hours will be spent until the problem is resolved. But as the quilter adds the last stitches to the finished project, she knows that unique handmade quilt, will become another keepsake to her growing collection of the children's quilts.

How does the story of each unique quilt begin? As a quilter commences her initial design work, thoughts grow and develop from the design board to the sewing machine. Each of her children's quilts tells its own story, as the pieces are cut from carefully chosen fabrics, sewn carefully into patterns. The story's is illustrated through color, design, and texture. Whether the quilter has a special child in mind, as she sews and quilts, or if the quilter is designing and quilting for the love of her art, either way, the children's quilts come to life step by step. For example, the soft baby flannel that may be used in the piecing of a clown's hat may evoke memories of a toy that the quilter's son once played with in the nursery. The soft pink cotton that once was the out grown nightgown of a clumsy toddler is now the ballerina's skirt in a children's quilt of a graceful little girl, who grew up and now loves to show her Mommy how much she loves to dance, instead of crawling around the house. Or the blue jean train on the newly finished children's quilt which was once a little boy's first pair of dungarees. Tonight, when he goes to bed, and hugs his handmade children's quilt, the story can be told again about the little train on that special children's quilt, a keepsake for years to come, with a story to tell.
Take time to quilt.

Come and choose one our handmade children's quilts, a lasting keepsake, a unique birthday gift, or Christening gift, for that special "little one."

Visit my website: http://www.uniquebabyquiltboutique.com and chose of one unique handmade children's quilt from my collection for your child's birthday or other special event.

Sharon Camp has been quilting for over 30 years.

-------------------------------------------------------------

For more resources on Quilting Crafts, see www.myguidetocrafts.com.

Crafts Are Good For Crafty People

By Adam Florence

In the quest for finding the right hobby some folks realize that crafts are what brings out the best in them. In the simplest terms, we can describe a craft as a practical form of art. It is not only mentally involving, but physically as well.

There is something magical about turning trash into treasure or working an idea by using locally available material. Sometimes it takes planning and work but in the end the final product is worth all the praise. The only thing you need to have is the natural ability to see the sculpture in the marble; otherwise you will not be able to create anything.

Crafts were more famous in the days of our forefathers. Back then they were taking a more professional side since most of the crafts made would be sold. In the present time, there are classes that help you hone your craftsmanship skills and become good at it.

The studio crafts as they are better known include pottery, wood working and glass blowing. The training is only to offer a better foundation for the natural skill that you have. It gives you a kind of growing place where the skill gets to develop.

Most people due to economic reasons have turned their crafts into businesses so that they can realize a little extra at the end of their time. These are the folk that spend some of their free time doing crafts instead of going shopping or spending all day in bed. Usually things like woodwork come in handy in replacing all the purchasing of cabinets and other wooden stuff since they can be made personally.

When it comes to selling of these crafts, there are a couple of factors that you need to take into consideration. The first thing is always marketing. You may be too good at what you do, to simply let all your work simply lie in the garage. Open up a make-shift selling booth where you can showcase all your work.

You can also display your work in a garage sale. Both of these methods are for crafts that are unique and hard to find anywhere else. If your crafts work is more common, you could participate in the galleries organized by studio crafts to showcase your work.

The third option is to organize a craft fair where many people get to participate. You would be amazed at just how much you can make from this especially if your creativity boundaries are huge and your work exquisite. Not so many give up their job to become craftsmen, but the money the may make from this is not exactly ignorable.

Looking for the right craft for you is not too hard, a list of your favorite crafts can help you narrow down to what you enjoy doing the most. You can always go to the internet to search for new ideas since most if not all the kinds of crafts are often listed. That way you can get a place to start.

Adam Florence enjoys quilting and for the best quilting fabrics go to http://www.Sew-Materialistic.com.

---------------------------------------------

See more on arts and crafts at www.myguidetocrafts.com.

Ancient Crafts of Rajasthan - Hand Painted Wooden Furniture & Marble Painting

By Chip Tolaney

Want to spice up your living room? A single item of ha-painted furniture from Rajasthan, India, could be just the thing you're looking for, adding rich color and interest to your home.

Like other myriad crafts from this Indian desert state, hand-painted wooden furniture has a long tradition. The cities of Kishangarh and Jodhpur, in particular, are famed for their distinctive styles of furniture.

Acacia arabica, mango and rose are the woods favored by artisans. An item of furniture is first made and then finished. Painting is done over the finished piece, which is finally given a coat of varnish. A host of products are available: small, low chairs (with detachable seats) that are surprisingly comfortable, stools, trunks, wine racks, cupboards, doors, paneled screens, cabinets and decorative, carved 'windows'. A wide range of bright colors are used to decorate these products.

Paintings from the Kishangarh School of Art present human figures with highly stylized features - elongated necks, wide, almond-shaped eyes, slender fingers and muted colors. This style - like the pretty, symmetrical floral motifs - bears the stamp of the Mughal influence on the artforms of Rajasthan. Such motifs, which were traditionally painted on silk as miniatures, find their way on to furniture as well. Kishangarh furniture also features embossed and painted designs.

Wooden furniture from Jodhpur has a quaint, antique charm, with typically ethnic color combinations. A cabinet, for instance, might feature red and green floral motifs with a border of cobalt blue and ochre. Decorative wooden wall pieces often feature richly carved borders that frame paintings of Hindu gods or Rajput kings and queens.

Rajasthan's painted furniture evokes the rich traditions of its glorious past and makes for unmatched conversation pieces.

Marble Painting in Rajasthan is the other popular craft. From the mines of Makrana in Rajasthan (western India) came the marble used to build the Taj Mahal. Now you can own a piece of history too! Painting on marble is an ancient craft in Rajasthan that comes down to us in an unbroken tradition. Today, with worldwide demand, artisans produce a variety of exquisite creations that have both decorative and utilitarian value.

Whether it's a vase, a traditional Indian water pot, bowls, jewelry boxes, pipes used for smoking, lanterns or more contemporary products like bathroom ware, marble painting renders the products breathtakingly beautiful. Gorgeous, stylized floral designs, delicately picked out with gold foil are used to turn out stunning pieces in eye-catching combinations of red, green, black, yellow or deep blue.

Rajasthan's marble paintings are fit for a king's palace. The art was patronized by the ancient rulers of Amer-Jaipur, now the state capital. The traditional motifs used show a strong influence of Mughal art. This is due to the closeness that existed between the Rajputs and the Mughals. The difference lies in the brighter colors used by the artisans of Rajasthan.

Miniature paintings on marble tiles are also a great buy. Most miniature marble paintings represent Hindu gods and Rajput kings and queens clad in their traditional finery. Often, the paintings also feature a fine, net-like carving of marble around the painting, a special technique used by artisans in Rajasthan. Fine gold leaves were also used in these paintings enhancing their richness. A more contemporary use of marble painting can be found in photo frames, with techniques like embossed paintings and enameling being used to turn out exquisite pieces.

Chip Tolaney operates Ethnic Gifts Store called Cultural Elements. He shares additional info about the world crafts at Cultural Elements Blog

-----------------------------------------------------

A lot more available on arts and crafts at www.myguidetocrafts.com.

How to Enjoy Family Staycations in a Recession

by Rosemary Lichtman

Now that the summer solstice has given us more time between sunrise and sunset, Americans are officially in summer mode - using the extra daylight hours to spend with the family. But unemployment rates are above 10% in many states and the recession isn't showing signs of an early end. A lot of us are cutting way back on expenses. The Auto Club estimates that the traditional vacation costs an average of $244 per day for two people just for lodgings and meals. With plane fares, the kids' expenses and other costs thrown in, the price of a weeklong family vacation could reach $10,000.

With the effects of the recession hitting government agencies as well as individual families, are you wondering how to entertain your kids this summer? Many cities are cancelling summer school, county governments are cutting down on various services and some state parks are closing. So if you need to engage your children this summer, here are some tips to help you take advantage of free and low-cost alternatives to expensive summer activities - the emerging trend of "staycations:"

1. Make good use of your local library. The hours may be cut back but the library is still a good source of fun for the kids. With a library card, you can take out DVDs and CDs, as well as books, rather than buying them. And many libraries are still sponsoring programs that are informative and interesting for the whole family. Why not create a summer book club for your children, teens or yourself? You can decide to read "beach books" or some classics, settle on best-selling non-fiction, beautifully written novels or award-winning titles. The choice is up to you. Your weekly discussion groups will be engaging and fun for everyone.

2. Check out the museums in your area. Many of them will likely have admission-free days, particularly for local residents. Plan your schedule around these days so that you can introduce your children to art, history, nature, music and crafts. The bonus is that you, too, will learn something from these visits and enjoy the time you spend there. Visit a water park, zoo or aquarium that offers shows for the kids. They'll find out first hand about the habitats and lifestyles of many species.

3. Enjoy free concerts in the park, community festivals and low cost theater productions. Check the local papers for notices about events near you. You and the kids can informally experience all kinds of ethnic celebrations. Search out public tours of civic buildings and corporate businesses. Educational day trips to government offices and companies give you the chance to view beautiful art work and learn about what goes on behind usually-closed doors. Community playhouses often have revivals of classics, musicals or innovative avant guard shows at reasonable costs. You can explore small theaters in your city or line up for rush, discounted tickets at more well established ones.

4. Go outside with the kids. Locate maps of your community and hike in the hills, walk in areas you haven't explored before or bike in the flats around a lake. A trip to the community swimming pool is fun for everyone. Plan to picnic on the grass at home or camp out overnight in your own backyard. Take in a baseball game, sitting in the bleachers. If you can, take a drive to a lake or the ocean and spend time with the family enjoying the vastness of the waterscape, the warmth of the sand, the sound of the waves crashing, the smell of sunscreen, the open blue sky. Or drive to the hills or mountains for full days of hiking and camping in the simple beauty of nature. Park Rangers may be available to give you informative talks about the flora and fauna you are seeing.

5. Do some cooking or baking together. It's always fun to hang out in the kitchen together, even in the summer. Make some tried and true favorites like chocolate chip cookies. Teach the kids some of your old family recipes or try out an interesting new one. Summer can be the time to schedule potluck evenings with family friends. Everyone can pitch in to keep down the costs and create a diverse menu. Bring the recipes to share and you have new dinner ideas to use during the coming year. Cap off the evening with charades and team games or you can set up tournaments for board games, based on your children's ages.

6. Explore a new area or hobby with the kids. Summer might be just the right time to finally get going on that interest that has been percolating on the back burner. Have you wanted to start a family tree? Now, take the time to get on the Internet and start researching. Organize your snapshots? Get out those photos and arrange them in an attractive scrapbook or e-book. Learn about the universe and star gazing? Visit a planetarium, observatory or the library. Buy an inexpensive fish with the kids - and then teach them how to clean the bowl, how often to feed their pet and even about the life cycle of fish.

7. If you can, include some staycation plans solely for adults. Schedule a joint massage for you and your partner at a local spa. Take a day cruise or a short train ride - just you two. Splurge and stay at a nearby bed and breakfast. You'll find that the time alone for a romantic getaway refreshes you and your relationship.

Planning and taking a real staycation gets you out of your everyday rut and creates memories for your family to share throughout the year. Now that you have heard lots of good ideas for taking a staycation without draining your funds, get out there and enjoy yourselves! And don't forget to take lots of pictures so you won't forget any of the delightful details.

© 2009, Her Mentor Center

About the Author

Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. is co-founder of http://www.HerMentorCenter.com, a website for midlife women and http://www.NourishingRelationships.blogspot.com, a Blog for the Sandwich Generation. She is co-author of a forthcoming book about healing the pain in family relationships. She offers a free newsletter, Stepping Stones, through the website.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For more articles and information on crafts, see www.myguidetocrafts.com.

Christmas Craft Projects: Bust Boredom With Kid Crafts

Have you ever heard those familiar words, "I'm bored," coming from the mouth of your child? If so, then kid crafts are the answer. Providing the kids with plenty of interesting craft materials and project ideas and boredom will soon be a thing of the past. In here I will outline a few ideas and their instructions to keep little fingers busy throughout the Holidays.

I'm sure you already know that you need to have plenty of the basic essential on hand like paper, crayons, safe scissors, and glue. Paper for kid crafts can include construction paper, plain typing paper, cardstock of various colors, and many other options. Make sure you start saving magazines and even junk mail can be cut up to make interesting projects. Crayons are nice for younger children, but the stores are now filled with other options, such as washable dry-erase markers, watercolor pencils, and gel pens. Kid crafts supplies can run into money, but even on a tight budget there are many affordable craft materials for kids.

Other materials kids can craft with include recycled junk and found objects. By recycled junk, I'm referring to things lying around the house and empty packaging like plastic containers, and even tin cans. If you let kids craft with tin cans, however, you need to make sure the open edge of the can doesn't have any sharp edges. Simply file these off or squeeze them flat with a pair of pliers.

Found objects include dry leaves, pebbles, feathers and other natural items a child might find. You can also recycle old or damaged toys to make interesting gifts for the family. Even a colourful jigsaw that lost the box so has no guide picture anymore can be used for the pieces to be glued to a paper circle to make a decorative wreath for Christmas. Glue on some extra decorations or holly scraps and it will be a welcome gift for other family members.

One of the most fun and popular kid crafts is making a collage. Kids can glue together all kinds of paper products and objects when making a collage. Use heavy paper for the background, and then let the creativity begin! For an extra challenge, a collage can be built around a theme, like food, animals, or babies. Old magazines can be searched for just the right pictures, which can be cut out and glued to the background. Older kids can also cut out interesting words and headlines and add them as well.

You can also use this idea to make your own jigsaws for toddlers. Glue an attractive picture from the magazine onto some firm cardboard, and then just cut it into irregular large shapes for your little kids to re-assemble.

Younger kid crafts can include collages made of glued down pasta, beans, popsicle sticks, leaves, and many other materials. And make sure you remember the sparkles. If the budget allows only a few kid crafts splurges, remember that kids of all ages, particularly girls, really enjoy crafting artwork that includes *glitter* But whether your kids are boys or girls, young or older, suggest some kid crafts the next time your kids are bored!

Bead and Pipe Cleaner Ornaments

Christmas objects made from ordinary pipe cleaners and inexpensive acrylic beads are very pretty and easy to make. They look quite impressive but only needs a basic level of skill for small children to make. This is one Christmas craft idea to use again and again. Older people will enjoy making this Christmas craft, too, which can be varied to make a number of different sparkling ornaments for your Christmas tree.

To make the bead and pipe cleaner ornaments, you need craft supply pipe cleaners in desired colors and acrylic beads. Two types of beads are particularly effective when strung on pipe cleaners. One type are called sunburst beads, but are also known as paddlewheel beads, snowflake beads, or starburst beads. These beads have six faceted paddles spaced equally around a center that contains the hole for stringing. When several of these sunburst beads are strung consecutively, they fit against each other in an interlocking pattern.

The other type of bead that is also effective for this Christmas craft is called the tri bead or propeller bead. It has three rounded bumps arranged around the stringing hole. Like the sunburst beads, the tri beads interlock when strung consecutively. For the most cheerful and bright Christmas ornaments, get tri beads and/or sunburst beads in translucent colors of red, green, and clear. The tri beads can also be found in metallic gold and silver which can be used in this Christmas craft as well.

Pipe cleaners can be found in silver and gold tinsel as well as chenille of all colors. For Christmas crafts, the best colors to use are the metallics and Christmas colors. The beads cover the pipe cleaners, but the ends will need to be twisted together and made into hangers, so they show.

Anyone, even small children, can string these beads on pipe cleaners. Bend up the end of the pipe cleaner so the beads don't fall off. The pipe cleaner works like a needle, making a needle unnecessary. For best results, show the children how to use a variety of bead styles and colours when stringing, or start a pattern of three colors. When the beads are strung on the pipe cleaners, they can be bent into different Christmas shapes.

For instance, string red and clear beads alternately, then bend down one end of the pipe cleaner for a candy cane shape. Or alternate red and green beads and form a circle for a wreath. Use red pipe cleaner to form a small bow to decorate the wreath. Form a hanger for the Christmas craft or simply slip the circle over a branch of the tree.

If you experiment with clear beads and silver pipe cleaners, you can make some very attractive snowflake or star ornaments. Snowflake designs can be twisted of silver pipe cleaner only, without the beads for a simple but pretty decoration.

Bead and pipe cleaner ornaments are a Christmas craft you will find yourself using every year. Children and their parents will both appreciate this simple yet pretty Christmas craft.

Craft Idea for a Group: Make a Mural

If you are minding the kids for the rest of the family on some of the key holiday, it is helpful to come up with group games and activities to suit the tastes of all involved, for a wide range of ages and of course interesting for both girls and boys. Most craft ideas are geared to individuals, whether kids or adults. Sometimes you'd like to have a craft idea that works for a group of kids working together. Making a mural together is an idea that works for a group. By working together, you are creating something to decorate a shared area.

Individual crafts can be displayed, but one unique item is often more effective than a group of items that are almost identical. In addition, sometimes kids crafts, like it or not, just become clutter when they are taken home, and it isn't long before Mom throws it out. This craft idea of making a group mural can be displayed for several weeks and will not become clutter in anyone's home.

The basic materials for a kids' group mural is freezer paper. Freezer paper is about 18 inches wide, and it is very tough. One side is plastic coated. That is the side that is designed to be placed against the food. You will have better luck drawing on and gluing things onto the other side. Class or group murals can feature a number of different design elements.

You can mix up some finger paint and let the children make finger streaks on the paper. You can let them scour old cast-off magazines and color catalogs for pictures they like and let them cut the pictures out and glue them on. They can add scribbles, designs, signatures, slogans, or pictures using markers, crayons, or gel pens. They can attach stickers to the mural as well. This craft idea is very flexible!

For making the mural, choose a theme that relates to the whole group in some way. If the group are girl scouts, for instance, and have been learning to camp, the mural can feature pictures of items related to camping. If you've been learning about dinosaurs, you can use them as a theme.

Little preschoolers will like making a mural with an animal theme. You should probably find and cut out animal magazine pictures to start with, and then let the children choose the ones they like for gluing down.

The children can also use animal cookie cutters dipped in finger paint to stamp animals on the mural, too. You may need to tape the paper to the table so it doesn't slide around while the children work.

Again, the craft idea is to build group solidarity and not to highlight one artist's skills over another. When the mural is completed, it can be a group project to display it. It can be hung in a special central location or given to an appreciated community leader or family member.

You should be ready now to begin a variety of great kid crafts projects over the holidays! If you still need more ideas come see what else I have to suggest, with instructions, of course. Visit the free online kid craft projects that Donna Dueck has available here: http://www.squidoo.com/kid-crafts

For more Craft Articles, see www.myguidetocrafts.com.

Printable Crafts - Possibilities and Ideas 1

By Anneke Lipsanen

LITTLE GIFTS AND TOKENS OF APPRECIATION

We all sometimes need a "little something" gift.

To congratulate, to say thank you, as a small token of acknowledgment, to wish someone luck or hope, or to say get well soon. Or to acknowledge the birthday or other special day of someone you may not know very well, like a co-worker or neighbour.

Printable crafts can make a modest item special, by customizing and personalizing it and thereby creating a new item especially for the recipient.

Besides a printer, computer and suitable graphic software, you only need a few basics for printable crafts. These include scissors, a craft knife, a steel-edged ruler or guillotine, glue, downloadable printables and suitable paper or cardstock to print on.

• A favourite all-occasion winner that is easy and quick to make, is a printed wrapper with personalized text for a bar of chocolate. A wrapped chocolate is one of the most versatile quick gifts - and the chocolate bar itself can be a budget bar or a luxurious and expensive one. Two of the most widely available and suitable sizes are 1.55 oz Hershey bars and various European 100g chocolate slabs.

There are ready-to-print wrappers available online if you want a quick and ready solution. Or you can use a printable motif and put it in a repeat pattern in a graphics program. A printable vignette picture can also be glued to colored card or paper in a coordinating color. Then you could still add a matching printable tag and a printable border design as ribbon around the middle of the bar.

Tip: Unless you buy special made-for-wrapping bars, add your personalized wrapping over the original wrapping so that the recipient can check ingredients in case of allergies.

• A bottle of wine can be personalized with a custom printable label too. Cut your label slightly bigger than the one on the bottle, but leave the small back label visible. You can also soak the label off first (which would remove the back label too) or scratch it off gently with a craft knife.

The same goes for a cooldrink bottle, beer bottle or a health drink - even a bottle of water. Add your own customized and printed label and you have a nifty little gift.

• Items like luggage tags and small sewing kits or a shower cap in a packet are useful little gifts for someone going on a journey. The luggage tag can be laminated in plastic if you have inserted or typed the recipient's address already.

• A pretty printable box or packet will elevate a small gift into something special. Like a golf ball in a custom box, bath salts or potpourri in a pretty packet and candy in a cone.

• Something drinkable like cocoa in a printed packet, or a few special teabags or coffee pods in little printable envelopes are great too.

• Lollipops can have little personalized covers and these can be inserted into a bunch of flowers, or can be tied together with a ribbon as a lolli bouquet.

• Candles are another versatile and inexpensive gift. Add a printable wrapper around two candles or around a pillar candle and add a coordinating tag. A votive candle in a glass container can also be dressed up with a wrap label.

• Add a printable topper to a packet of home baked cookies. Add a custom label or a tag.

Tip: Wrap any food that can spill or stain in food-safe plastic or cellophane first.

• Nice artisan soap is another item that can be wrapped and beautifully presented with the help of printable crafts. Wrap the soap in plain or printed paper. Then add a printed border design around the bar and glue a label on top over the border.

• Any bath product - like bath oil, bubble bath or bath salts - can be personalized with a printable label. Tie a matching tag around the neck of the bottle with a pretty ribbon.

Again, I would leave back labels intact so that the recipient can read the ingredients in case of an allergy.

Printable crafts can also be combined with store bought items to round out a gift. Why not make up coordinated combinations of many of the above for unique personalized gifts? Coordinate printable craft motifs and colors and put the items in a basket, pretty bag or gallon can for a pamper hamper or gift basket.

• You can combine drinking chocolate in a printable packet with marshmallows in a bought mug. And the teabags or coffee pods can be combined with a mug, tea-cup or even a pretty spoon.

• A small toy or activity book can be combined with a bouquet of customized lollipops for a sick child.

• And book can be combined with a printed bookmark and wrapped chocolate or a personalized bottle of wine.

• Combine a map or journal with a sewing kit and luggage tag for a useful travel gift.

Use any of these versatile budget-friendly ideas to solve those "little gift" dilemmas for many occasions. The personal note achieved with the printable element has an effect that is more than the actual value of the gift. Printable crafts help to create items that are thoughtful and distinguished.

CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

AnniArts http://www.anniarts.com/ is the home of professional designer images for printable crafts and coordinating print-on-demand products. Lovely samples are available to subscribers http://www.anniarts.com/free-printables.html and craft licenses allow for the use of the art by home business crafters. The bumper "Best Of" CD contains 14 designer ranges. Anni also designs licensed products for businesses, craft companies, greeting card publishers and homeware manufacturers.

For more Articles on Crafts, see www.myguidetocrafts.com.

4th of July Crafts - Add a Glimmering Patriotic Sparkle to Your Tabletop Decorations

Instead of searching your home décor store for a unique and patriotic 4th of July decoration, why not embellish a piece of glassware you already have. This easy yet spectacular project will take less than 5 minutes to complete, and can be easily transformed as a decorative focal point through out the changing seasons and holidays we celebrate.

You will need the following supplies:

• One piece of glassware from your own kitchen. We chose a square shaped clear vase about 6 inches tall.
• 1-2 packages of gel clings. We chose navy blue stars purchased at your local dollar store.
• 1-2 packages of candy or food items. Something red would contrast well, such as strawberries or watermelon, depending on the size of your glass container. Note: You can also substitute food items for decorative items. Red candles with metallic shredded paper in blue as your base would be pretty.

Clean your glassware, removing all dust and dry thoroughly. Remove gel clings and position on to your glassware bowl, vase or container making sure to cover each side. Next, fill with your favorite food or decorative items. For example, you can use small artificial red or blue fruit as the vase filler. If using blue gel clings, fill the inside with red items. If using red ones, fill the inside with blue. Anyways, you get the point. The main thing is to just have fun with it. This is a simple and very eye catching 4th of July decoration for your tabletop that your guest will absolutely love.

Note: Gel clings are reusable. When storing, carefully remove them from your glassware being careful to reposition them back on to the sheet they came on. Next, cover them with plastic wrap or store in a covered box to keep them clean and dust free until you use them again. See our other craft projects using gel clings.

Linda Johnson is a degreed and experienced crafter and interior decorating specialist, with years of experience helping friends, family, and clients solve decorating and craft needs. Find tons more craft and decorating ideas, and submit your own great ideas for free by visiting http://www.showcasetoideas.com/, and Festive Christmas Vase with Snowman Gel Clings -http://www.showcasetoideas.com/christmasvasesnowman.html

See more Craft Articles at www.myguidetocrafts.com.