Craftside

How to paint a winter scene with cardinals from the book Ornament Extravaganza

Ornament Extravaganza Holiday Goodness Giveaway! Today's book giveaway is a wonderful book about decorative painting for all seasons. To get yourself in the running for this fun book, simply answer the question:

What is your favorite holiday or season to craft and decorate for?

Leave your answer in today's comments by Midnight ET on December 29, 2011 to enter!

Since today is the first official day of winter, I thought I'd share this tutorial on how to paint a winter scene that includes cardinals, a barn and house covered in snow from the book Ornament Extravaganza.

Click on these pages from the All American Crafts book Ornament Extravaganza to enlarge and read the full tutorial on how to paint a winter wonderland featuring cardinals.

Like to paint things for all the holidays? Then you will love this great resource book for just that!

Ornament Extravaganza

by

The Decorative Arts Collection

Grab your brushes and get ready to paint a year's worth of decorations. Twenty-eight beautiful ornaments are featured with complete instructions, step-by-step worksheets and patterns. Ornaments are painted by 26 of today's finest decorative painters who have combined their skills and talents to present an assortment of their unique styles.

 

How to make a fringed edge on a quilt from the book Polka Dot Christmas: Festive Quilts with Fun Finishing Edges

Polka Dot Holiday Goodness Giveaway! Yup you can get yourself in the running for a spot on good Christmas craft book by simply leaving your answer to the question:

What's first up on your crafting list for the new year?

Leave your answer in today's comments section by Midnight ET on December 28, 2011 and one of you lucky Craftside readers will be the proud new owner of a copy of the book Polka Dot Christmas: Festive Quilts with Fun Finishing Edges.

For all of you today I have an inside peek that features such a cool technique! Click on these pages from Polka Dot Christmas: Festive Quilts with Fun Finishing Edges to see how to make a fringed binding for your quilt.

Want more fun quilting projects, patterns and techniques? Grab yourself a copy of:

Polka Dot Christmas: Festive Quilts with Fun Finishing Edges

by

Sue Harvey

and

Sandy Boobar

For a fresh, fun look, nothing says it better than polka dots, especially for Christmas. Each festive holiday project is splashed with polka dots for a contemporary twist to traditional style. For an added touch of pizazz, each quilt features a fanciful finishing edge.

Between the two of them Sue Harvey and Sandy Boobar have over 40 years of quilting experience. Even though this is their first book, they have worked together for years, collaborating on quilt designs, running a fabric shop, and selling fabric kits. Pop on over to their site -- www.pinetreecountryquilts.com -- to see more!

How to make a recycled shirt apron inspired by the book Sewing Vintage Aprons

Today I have a fun recycling project to share with you inspired by the wonderful book Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle. I also have the pleasure of being included in the book! (Well, a little story from my childhood about a fun apron experience in my grandmother's kitchen.) If you like aprons, good stories and recipes then I bet you will love Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle. And since it's Wednesday, that means it's today's giveaway book!

Leave a fun apron, cooking, or kitchen comment in today's post by Midnight Wednesday September 7th, 2011 and you are in the running for a copy of Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle.

This is the full apron I made from a shirt and a half apron.

I had scored 2 half aprons hand made by an older lady that were donated to a clothing swap. I don't wear half aprons so I flipped through Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle and it occurred to me that I had a few shirts that I could repurpose into the top half of an apron, one of which had already been cut and altered into a halter style top. Perfect!

All I had to do was stitch the shirt to the waistband of the apron and trim off the excess shirt.

One other alteration I made was I felt that the apron was a tad too long but I didn't want to lose the cool ric rack hem so I hemmed it above the ric rack trim.

Here is a close up of how I used my cutting board grid to fold the hem up. I could see the grid through the fabric so it was so easy to keep the hem the right length!

I'll keep you posted on how the other apron gets a top half when I figure that one out! But in the meantime, check out:

Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle

by

Denise Clason

For decades, smart stylish women have worn different aprons to suit their various needs. They are a must-have in the kitchen and elsewhere. This book brings new life to vintage styled aprons that women of today will find irresistible.

Denise Clason has been an artist/designer for over 35 years. Her designs have been published and licensed in the craft, decorative painting, sewing, and quilting industries. She is the author of 8 books.

How to paint an Easter chick hatching from an egg from the book Ornament Extravaganza

I think the title of this page from Ornament Extravaganza says it all! Well, not quite, but there is surely a significant amount of peeping going on! Want to paint a cute little hatching chick for yourself? Well scroll down and follow this super-easy painting tutorial from Andy Jones featured in Ornament Extravaganza.

Click on these pages from Ornament Extravaganza to enlarge and read the step-by-step directions on how to paint a chick hatching from an egg.

Like to paint things for all the holidays? Then you will love this great resource book for just that!

Ornament Extravaganza

by

The Decorative Arts Collection

Grab your brushes and get ready to paint a year's worth of decorations. Twenty-eight beautiful ornaments are featured with complete instructions, step-by-step worksheets and patterns. Ornaments are painted by 26 of today's finest decorative painters who have combined their skills and talents to present an assortment of their unique styles.

 

Polka dot wreath pattern from the book Polka Dot Christmas: Festive Quilts with Fun Finishing Edges

As they say, "It's never too soon to start your holiday crafting." I think Christmas in July is an official "thing," but I am a tad late. It's August and I'm getting in the Christmas mood. Wishful thinking on my part? Maybe. Really, polka dots are a great motif year 'round.

If you like the "dot" why not give this a "shot"?

Click on the image below for the polka dot wreath quilt pattern and directions.

For the full project instructions, grab yourself a copy of:

Polka Dot Christmas: Festive Quilts with Fun Finishing Edges

by

Sue Harvey

and

Sandy Boobar

For a fresh, fun look, nothing says it better than polka dots, especially for Christmas. Each festive holiday project is splashed with polka dots for a contemporary twist to traditional style. For an added touch of pizazz, each quilt features a fanciful finishing edge.

Between the two of them Sue Harvey and Sandy Boobar have over 40 years of quilting experience. Even though this is their first book, they have worked together for years, collaborating on quilt designs, running a fabric shop, and selling fabric kits. Pop on over to their site -- www.pinetreecountryquilts.com -- to see more!