Craftside

4th of July Firework Decoration and More News to "Spark" Your Creativity

I made 13- 4th of July Washi tape decorations a while back, but this giant recycled Voss water bottle didn't get wrapped with washi tape and topped with a bouquets of sparkly pipe cleaners to make a 4th of July firework decoration... until now.

This project was so fun and simple you could whip up a bunch in minutes for virtually no money. I was inspired by this page in Washi Tape: 101+ Ideas for Paper Crafts, Book Arts, Fashion, Decorating, Entertaining, and Party Fun! where Courtney Cerruti uses a wine bottle decorated with Washi tape.

I simply made stripes with red, white and blue washi tape covering the whole bottle and cap.

Then I wrapped a bunch of sparkly pipe cleaners at one end with another pipe cleaner to secure them together.

I attached them to lid with a bit of hot glue.

To make the flag, I used Duck Brand Glitter Tape.

I folded a strip of it half around one end of a pipe cleaner and cut out a triangle.

NOTE: Can I say how great it is to cut sticky stuff with the new Fiskars Duck Edition scissors? I have been making a lot of stuff with Duck Tape since it's now available in such amazing prints, and now that I am a Washi tape junkie having some good non-stick scissors will be even more useful.

The last detail was to write "Bang!" on the Blue Glitter Duck Tape flag.

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And now onto some more tutorials, recipes and more:

Body Mind Beauty Health

Free Peace Mandela to download and color yourself

Quarry SPOON

Recipe for raw chocolate-carrot cake

Whole Home News

How to build yoru own herb-drying rack

Rock Paper Ink

10 rules of color: Know that people see color differently

Walter Foster

Washi tape birthday cards

QGeekBooks

Recipe for a Gin Rickey

More about the new Quarry book:

Washi Tape: 101+ Ideas for Paper Crafts, Book Arts, Fashion, Decorating, Entertaining, and Party Fun!

by Courtney Cerruti

Perfect to use for parties. See how to create invitations, gift wrap, and goodie bags. Holidays have never been more colorful with ideas for ornaments, window adornments, and even garland.

Decorations for your home and office are easy and inexpensive when you use washi tape. Wall décor, borders and lampshades can become unique works of art and give your home a personal touch.

You can even use washi tape in fashion. Dress up your glasses, shoes and jewelry using these simple ideas and designs. And because it’s safe to use on delicate items, washi tape is great for personalized gifts like vases and photo albums.

Washi Tape by Courtney Cerruti offers 101 amazing ideas that will make this new craft tape your new favorite thing. It’s safe to use almost anywhere and great fun for children!

 

 

How to Draw Cupcakes and Pastries: Advice from Sachiko Umoto's Illustration School: Let's Draw Magical Color

For today's #TastyFriday I have a fun page from the book Illustration School: Let's Draw Magical Color that features tutorials on how to draw cupcakes and pastries. I bet these little doodles from Sachiko Umoto would look cute on a greeting card or an a sign that features a fun kitchen quote.

-Fresh baked breads, juicy steaks, cakes with lots of cream inside... Don’t you get hungry just imagining them? There are as many yummy-looking colors as there are yummy-looking foods.

-Appetizing colors make us think of the colors of delicious foods. Yellow butter and red strawberry jam are especially appetizing. On the contrary, cold-looking colors close to blue are not appetizing and so we rarely see them in our daily foods.

SHARE YOUR #CraftsideCreation!

Did you try out this exercise? What's your favorite food to draw?
Take a picture of your art, share, and tag with #CraftsideCreation. We'll share it too!

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More about the cute Quarry drawing book:

Illustration School: Let's Draw Magical Color

by Sachiko Umoto

The 4th book in the Illustration School series focuses on the subject colors. A good understanding and use of color is a key skill for artists and designers to master. The popular illustrator Sachiko Umoto's exercises on magical color selection show you how to enjoy colors and express your feelings with colors, with each exercise accompanied by cute illustrations and simple color exercises. Adults and children can equally enjoy and learn how to use colors through this book.

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 and http://blog.umotosachiko.com/

Exclusive Knitting Pattern: Knit Doll Hair Hat by Mary Scott Huff author of Fun and Fantastical Hats to Knit

I have a super cute and fun knitting pattern to share with you today. Sometimes when a designer is working on a book there ends up being an extra project that doesn't make it in to the book. And this cute doll hair with a bow project was an extra pattern that didn't fit in Fun and Fantastical Hats to Knit: Animals, Monsters & Other Favorites for Kids and Grownups.

If this looks like something you need to make for yourself or know someone who would rock a crazy curly knit hairdo

Download

 

the free pattern and knit one up!

If you missed our post that featured the cute knit elf ears pattern from the book pop on over to check it out.

More about the CPi book:

Fun and Fantastical Hats to Knit:  Animals, Monsters & Other Favorites for Kids and Grownups

by Mary Scott Huff

Knit a hat for someone, and you'll keep their head warm. Give the hat googly eyes, floppy ears, or a prehensile tail, and you will give them and everyone they meet something to giggle about.

Do you know someone who could use a beyond-cute hat that resembles their favorite animal or character? Fun and Fantastical Hats to Knit adds a little fun to cold-weather wear. It doesn't have to be cold out for you to sport some fuzzy cuteness! You can have these amazing and easy-to-knit styles year-round! The twenty-one knit hats in this book are designed in sizes to fit everyone from babies to adults and are knit in-the-round with lots of amazing details!

Feeling a bit bonkers? Time to knit up a Tea Party topper or sport your new Rabble of Butterflies hat. Geek out with Architeuthis, Gargoyle, or Mercury hats; express your culinary inclinations with California Roll or Cherry Pie bring out your wild side with a Blue Crab cap, Frilly the frilled lizard, Baldy the eagle, or a Hedgehog helmet! Find all of these and more inside Fun and Fantastical Hats to Knit.

Mary Scott Huff, author of Fantastical Hats to Knit (CPi, 2014) began as a classically trained actor and theatrical costume designer, but accidentally became a computer programmer somewhere along the way. In writing her first two books, The New Stranded Colorwork, and Teach Yourself Visually Color Knitting, Mary fled the realm of Information Technology to pursue a more yarn-centered way of life. The many friends she found along the way have helped her become a nationally-recognized designer, teacher and author. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Mary shares a wee little house there with her husband, two children, some Scottish Terriers, and more yarn than is strictly necessary. You can join Mary on her adventures playing with string at www.maryscotthuff.com

www.maryscotthuff.com

www.ravelry.com/designers/mary-scott-huff

Mary Scott Huff lives in Fairview, Oregon, and teaches knitting all over the United States. Mary designs knitwear, writes books, blogs, and generally pursues a yarn-centered existence, in a little red house shared with her husband, two children, and two Scottish Terriers. This is her third book.

Join Mary in her adventures playing with string at www.maryscotthuff.com

Meditative Quilting? Learn Tangle Stitches and Enter Our Zentangle Giveaway!

This Zentangle Craftside Giveaway is special. It includes a copy of the soon to be released and available for pre-order:

Tangle Stitches for Quilters and Fabric Artists: Relax, Meditate, and Create with Rhythmic Stitches by Jane Monk.

It also includes:

• One Zentangle A Day
• A 6-Week Course in Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration, and Fun by Beckah Krahula
• Tangle Art: A Meditative Drawing Kit by Beckah Krahula
• Tangled Art Journals: Set of two 64-page blank notebooks by Penny Raile
• Pocket Tangles: Over 90 Tiles to Tangle on the Go from Frances Lincoln
• The Quilter's Color Scheme Bible: More than 700 stunning color combinations by Celia Eddy
• A Dritz tape measure 
• A DMC magnetic needle case

Enter this giveaway here and then scroll down for a free stitch pattern from the book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Wondering about what's inside of this amazing new book?

I have an inside peek that features the tutorial on how to draw the "Quilted Zentangle" pattern. Won't it be fun to stitch a zentangle that's name is "quilted?" I love the way it looks- simply drawn. Here's what Jane Monk has to say about her patterns in the book:

I have chosen a mixture of patterns to show you how to draw them. The pattern directions are commonly known as step outs. They show you how to create each individual step to make the whole pattern. Some of these patterns are official Zentangle® patterns. The patterns that are marked with an asterisk are those I have created and named myself. Once you get started you will discover ways to change patterns to suit your style of drawing and add your touch, or even create your own unique patterns. 

Although most tangle patterns can be stitched, many would require multiple stops and starts. I have included a mixture of patterns, both simple and more complex. Some of the patterns have a more fluid design that will need only minimal stopping, starting, and backtracking while being stitched. When stitching, some elements of the individual patterns can be eliminated, such as the dots in the pattern Msst or the colored sections in the patterns Crescent Moon and Chartz. You can add these elements in with a black fine-point pen, if you wish.

I recommend drawing any pattern on paper a few times before you start stitching. This makes it easier to stitch smoothly with the machine, and your brain will remember the sequence much more readily if you have practiced first. Let’s look at those tangle patterns.

 

More about the new CPi book:

Tangle Stitches for Quilters and Fabric Artists
Relax, Meditate, and Create with Rhythmic Stitches

by Jane Monk

Zentangle = filling odd shaped spaces with repetitive patterns using pen and paper, developed by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. Zentangle quilting = filling odd shaped spaces with repetitive patterns using machine stitches and thread.

Free-motion quilting in repetitive patterns is not new to quilters. They have long used stitch patterns like "vermicelli" and "echo" stitching to quilt their projects.

Tangle Stitches for Quilters and Fabric Artists takes the concepts, theory and method of Zentangle and transfer them into quilting patterns and projects. You will learn how to create tangle patterns on paper and then how to create the same patterns in thread, the key difference being that Zentangle patterns on paper are 'one stroke at a time' while quilting patterns are most efficiently achieved in one continuous line. Zentangle-inspired quilting projects include materials, how to mark and prepare fabric, tricks and tools.

The projects can be achieved on either a domestic (conventional sit-down) sewing machine or longarm quilting machine.

Jane Monk lives in Tasmania, Australia. She is a self-taught artist who has been drawing since she was a young girl, inspired by the beauty in all things in the natural and man-made worlds. Patterns and repetition; the sometimes quirky and different; are what inspire her work. Jane began quilting in 2003 and loved it so much she purchased a longarm quilting machine in 2007. Jane is an award winning machine quilter and quilts professionally for others in her business "Jane Monk Studio".

Jane has designed quilt patterns for publication in quilting magazines, including a short DVD showcasing the basics of Zentangle and quilting. She has taught numerous classes in Zentangle, quilting, free motion stitching and doll making.In 2010 Jane became a Certified Zentangle Teacher and combines her love of Zentangle and Quilting by bringing these two complimentary mediums together. Zentangle Stitches for Quilters and Fabric Artists is Jane's first book. Web site; www.janemonkstudio.comblog: http://janemonkstudio.blogspot.com/

Photograph Your Shadow! An Inspirational Exercise From the Book Shooting With Soul

This exercise for photographing your shadow from Alessandra Cave's book Shooting with Soul is one of my personal favorite things to do. The one thing that I will now try, that I hadn't considered before, is to incorporate an interesting surrounding and texture with the shadow. In the past, I generally went for a clean surface for the shadow along with the elemental focus of the photo. Below, Alessandra's photo is gorgeous and also cool because it combines another of my faves- spelling out a word with objects.

Instructions

1. Find an interesting location to capture your shadow.

2. Choose a light-colored, clean background for better contrast with your shadow.

3. Play with architectural lines, color, interesting surfaces, patterns, and textures.

4. Observe the light. When the sun is very low in the sky—either in the early morning or the late afternoon—you will cast more interesting, softer, and longer shadows. Around midday, when the sun is directly overhead, your shadows will be harder and shorter.

Techniques:

• Turn off your flash. You need the contrast between the light and dark when capturing interesting shadows. 

• Use a tripod or prop the camera on a secure surface to free your hands and body for interesting posing.

• Use a self-timer or remote so you can jump, wave, etc. (Hint: Your tripod will most likely also show up in the photo unless you can place it behind or away from the light source.)

SHOT IDEAS

• For an interesting variation, photograph your shadow cast onto a wall instead of on the ground.

• Take a picture of your shadow with an interesting or unusual pose.

• Interact with your environment: Take a photo of a shadow of you touching, holding, or pointing at something around you.

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More about the Quarry photography book:

Shooting with Soul: 44 Photography Exercises Exploring Life, Beauty and Self-Expression - From film to Smartphones, capture images using cameras from yesterday and today.

by Alessandra Cave

Shooting with Soul is glorious and beautiful book for anyone who loves to take pictures. Whether you are an aspirational photographer, artist, creative mom, or blogger, you will enjoy expanding your understanding of this medium by exploring 44 weeks of unique and reflective prompts and exercises aimed to demystify seemingly “techie” topics and enhance your creative self-expression. No matter what camera you own, an SLR, point and shoot, or even a camera phone, this book offers tips and methods for any device that snaps a photo.

 

New technology is making it easier to share photography, and interest in photos is being fueled by the popularity of photo-based apps and social networking sites such as Pinterest, Instagram, Hipstamatic, Flickr, and tumblr blogs. Sharing photos with friends and family has become as easy as pushing a button, however, finding the right photos to take and coming up with creative concepts for jaw-dropping photos remains something that needs to be explored and fostered.

 

Shooting with Soul teaches successful photography methods through an approach that is very much like journaling. By putting deep thought and feeling into the process, and into the exercises, which focus on personal exploration and autobiographical information, you will become able to create images that are infused with soul and that connect you with your viewers more deeply, whether they are friends and family, a professional art audience, or followers of a blog or website. 

  

She currently lives in San Francisco and splits her time between commercial and editorial photography assignments, teaching workshops at creative retreats, and raising her amazing daughter, who is her biggest creative achievement to date.

 

Alessandra holds a Master in Arts degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design, but she considers herself completely self-taught when it comes to photography. A former contributor to Shutter Sisters, the widely acclaimed photo-blog celebrating women photographers, Alessandra is passionate about inspiring and empowering women to pick up the camera and follow their creative dreams. Her work has been featured extensively around the world-wide-web, as well as in national and international publications, such as: The Beauty of Different, Nine to Five, Artful Blogging, Somerset Studio and Mingle. You can follow her work and journey at www.alessandracave.com.