Craftside

Fun folded Halloween spider web card idea from the book Celebration Graphics Sourcebook: Festive Designs from All Cultures

...and in conclusion of the work week before Halloween, I bring you this fabulous folded spider Halloween card design from the book Celebration Graphics Sourcebook: Festive Designs from All Cultures.

Click on this page from Celebration Graphics Sourcebook: Festive Designs from All Cultures to see the invitation designed by Design Army. I really like the simplicity of the "thread of text." Like this idea and want lots more inspiration? Then grab yourself a copy of:

Celebration Graphics Sourcebook: Festive Designs from All Cultures

by

John Stones

How dull would a seasonal holiday or special day be without the addition of celebration graphics—be it greetings cards, gift wrap, food packaging, sales promotions, gift supplements, merchandising, window displays, or room and street decorations? With international clients recognizing diverse religious observations, an increasing number of festivals, celebrations, and holidays are appearing on the calendar, and designers are being commissioned to communicate celebration greetings to audiences worldwide. Celebration Graphics Sourcebook presents innovative case studies from across all media, budgets, and cultures. Celebrations are arranged month by month, interspersed with weddings, birthdays, Name Days, and other life-marking events. 

John Stones is a journalist who has written for publications such as The Observer, The Scotsman, Business and Marketing Week, Design Week, and Icon.

How to add illustrations to photographs from the book Illustration School: Let's Draw Plants and Small Creatures

Thursday book giveaway time! Up for grabs is the too cute for words Illustration School: Let's Draw Plants and Small Creatures. Not only does this book teach you how to draw cute things, but there is a section on how to sketch on photographs. Scroll down to see some of the pages. But first , here's the question that gets you in the running to win a copy of Illustration School: Let's Draw Plants and Small Creatures:

Do you alter your photos? Draw on them, cut them, fold them, write with bleach, scratch on your photos?

Leave your answer by midnight ET Thursday November 4, 2010 and you are in the running!

Click on these pages from Illustration School: Let's Draw Plants and Small Creatures to read about how to add illustrations and images onto your photos.

Think these are as cute as I do and want to be able to draw them yourself? Well then grab yourself a copy of:

Illustration School: Let's Draw Plants and Small Creatures

by

Sachiko Umoto

Created by one of Japan’s most popular artists, this book provides detailed and complete instruction for illustrating fun and appealing characters and elements that celebrate life. The author’s special and distinct style is simple, appealing, happy, and cute and offers artists, crafters, and art enthusiasts—with and without experience—the instruction and inspiration to draw in the Japanese character style. This book is for artists and crafters of all skill levels that want to bring their own illustration to their work. It offers both entertaining and fun drawing instruction and techniques along with inspiring and sweet unique-style characters and elements.

Sachiko Umoto, born in 1970, graduated with a degree in oil painting from Tama Art University (Tokyo). In addition to her work as an illustrator, she also produces animation works for Usagi-Ou Inc. She is the author of An Introduction to Making Illustrations with One Pencil Workbook and An Introduction to Sketching with One Pencil Workbook (both published by MDN Corporation). She dearly loves dogs and Hawaii. Visit her online at http://umotosachiko.com.

 

4 great greeting card ideas from the new book 1,000 More Greetings: Creative Correspondence for All Occasions

As we enter into the holiday season, our minds turn to the cards we send out to wish everyone well and let them know we are thinking of them. Just in time to fuel your creativity is the new book 1,000 More Greetings: Creative Correspondence for All Occasions.

Click on this page from 1,000 More Greetings: Creative Correspondence for All Occasions to see these fun greeting card designs from La Familia Green and Art School Girl. To see 996 more, grab yourself a copy of:

1,000 More Greetings: Creative Correspondence for All Occasions

by

Aesthetic Movement

Greetings often provide designers with the chance to truly stretch their creative wings. 1,000 More Greetings features examples by designers who are enjoying the luxury of personal expression through creative freedom, without the need to satisfy a client.

The 1,000 inspirational examples of invitations, announcements, greetings, and self promotions are created using unique materials and expressive treatments. With correspondence for every occasion, this book is a must-have resource for designers who are looking for inspiration from an unprecedented collection of work by an international group of designers.

Aesthetic Movement is a think tank for smart, creative collaborations. A/M provides full service solutions for discerning clients in the home and lifestyle industries. These services include: creative consultation and business development, branding and identity systems, graphic and interior design, product development, distribution, and representation.

 

Surface embellishment, netting, picots and joining ladders from the book Julia Pretl's Big Book of Beadwork

Whether you are an extreme beader or like to do quick and easy projects, I bet you will like these beading techniques from Julia Pretl's Big Book of Beadwork: 32 Projects for Adventurous Beaders.

 

Click on this page from Julia Pretl's Big Book of Beadwork: 32 Projects for Adventurous Beaders to read about how to add surface embellishment beads, netting and picots and joining ladders and picots in your beading designs. Like these and want more fabulous bead patterns and techniques? Grab yourself a copy of:

Julia Pretl's Big Book of Beadwork:

32 Projects for Adventurous Beaders

By

 Julia S. Pretl

This volume brings together some of the best of Julia Pretl's bead collections. In this compilation of the author’s previous three books, Beaded Collars, Bead Knitted Bags, and Little Bead Boxes, readers learn the author’s original methods for beading miniature vessels, knit purses, and classic neck pieces. Pretl, an innovator of form and technique, offers instruction for creating four-, five-, and six-sided rectangular, square, and stacked miniature boxes; vintage-style bead-knitted handbags; and intricate neckpieces, inspired by the dramatic jewelry worn by the ancient Egyptians.

Each of the projects contains a materials list and instructions presented both in written and charted form. With detailed instruction and sequenced illustrations, the author provides clear, step-by-step guidance. The enclosed DVD offers a series of video tutorials in bead knitting, with all the techniques needed for the projects included (for both left- and right-handed knitters!), and full-size printable PDFs of graphs.

Julia S. Pretl (Baltimore, MD) is the author of Beaded Collars, Little Bead Boxes, and Bead Knitted Bags. She has been featured in several articles and on the cover of Interweave’s Beadwork magazine. Her work has also appeared in the Baltimore Sun and in numerous galleries and exhibits. She was also an invited artist for Beading for the Soul (Interweave, 2005). Julia teaches classes and workshops and is well-known in the online and off-line beadwork community.

 

Winner of the book Creating Glamorous Jewelry with Swarovski Elements and Garth Johnson curating a Creative Reuse show at the American Conservation Film Festival

Congratulations to Tammy V.! She is the winner of a copy of Creating Glamorous Jewelry with Swarovski Elements.

 

And in more cool news:

Garth Johnson is curating a creative reuse art exhibition for the American Conservation Film Festival based on works published in 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse: Remake, Restyle, Recycle, Renew. The festival is scheduled for November 4-7, 2010, in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The local independent bookstore Four Seasons Books is arranging a book signing.

Garth is doing a free lecture about creative reuse throughout the ages at Shepherd University, Byrd Center for Legislative Studies, Friday, November 5, at 5 pm, with a book signing immediately following.

There will be a second signing on Saturday, November 6, at 6 pm, at the War Memorial Building, 102 E. German Street, Shepherdstown, WV 25443, which is also the location of the creative reuse art exhbition.

The exhibition, "Renewal Notice: Creative Reuse in Contemporary Art and Design," is free and open:
Thursday, November 4, 5-10 pm
Friday, November 5, 4-10 pm
Saturday, November 6, 10 am-10 pm
Sunday, November 7, 10 am-3 pm.

And now onto links to fun crafts:

The Crochet Dude
Big reveal over at Drew's blog - his super cute strappy clutch purse design! Just in time for the holiday party season!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make Halloween knit cuffs embellished with vintage pins inspired by the book Warm Knits, Cool Gifts.

Mixed Media Artist
Sometimes you just need to think about how to reuse items that you've made...

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge shares a new project for Jewel School and muses about The Big Move.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
There are various options for printing greeting cards onto glossy photo paper. Here are some money-saving tips from Eileen.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Having hand trouble due to carpel tunnel? This tip might help you out so you can get back to crafting.

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi discovers an amazing new stamp company in her own backyard.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen's cooked up some delicious pumpkin scones just in time for fall; stop by to get the recipe!

About Family Crafts
Sherri will be carving pumpkins soon. If you will be too, check out these free pumpkin carving designs to download.