Craftside

Bead Dangles and a Braid Make a Beautiful Bracelet

Sometimes it's fun to whip up a quick, new piece of jewelry when you only have a short amount of time but have the need to create. This beautiful wrap bracelet, featured in the book Artful Handmade Wrap Bracelets, is just the project that you could make quickly and easily with just a few supplies that I bet you have in your stash.

Simply make a bunch of bead dangles and braid them up with some cord or twine or even leather!

With the clipboard still lying flat, use the three-stranded braid technique to braid the entire length of the cords. Make the braid fairly tight to keep the charms in place.

SHARE YOUR #CraftsideCreation!

This is such and easy and perfect project for summer. You could even make anklets! We'd love to see what you can make so email us or share them on social media and tag with #CraftsideCreation.

For more beautiful wrap bracelet designs and tutorials grab yourself a copy of:

Artful Handmade Wrap Bracelets: A Complete Guide to Creating Sophisticated Braided Jewelry Incorporating Precious Metals and Stones

by Di Kim

Artful Handmade Wrap Bracelets is an amazing step-by-step guide to make beautiful jewelry for all occasions. Author Di Kim will walk you through tools and materials, basic braids & knots, and fastenings. All you need to make any style of bracelet, whether plain and simple, or glammed-up with precious metals, stones, crystals or glass!

 

- Over 25 projects for stylish, covetable jewelry that combines informal style with fine materials

- Clear step-by-step instructions on basic braiding and knotting techniques, using a variety of cord materials, from leather and hemp to silk and ribbon

- Easy-to-follow guides to using beads, precious metal components, semiprecious gemstones, and more in your designs

- Features a full-color gallery of different styles, plus inspiration to create custom looks for a colorful wrist party

 

Born from a long line of artists and designers, Di Kim is no stranger to the world of creative art. With parents, siblings, and other close relatives all with careers in the design industry, it was only natural for Di eventually to follow suit. Combining her love of fashion and style with a Do-It-Yourself mantra, this self-taught jewelry designer began creating pieces from her home in Houston, Texas. She currently sells her jewelry online through Etsy, as well as at local boutiques, gift markets, and trade shows.

 

Washi Tape postage stamp collage inspired by the book Playing with Color

Sometimes it's fun and cathartic to simply make a whole bunch of simple things and then arrange them. That is just what I did inspired by a page in Playing with Color: 50 Graphic Experiments for Exploring Color Design Principles.

This page in Playing with Color features a collage of colored letters, and I thought it would be fun to make a collage of little postage stamps embellished with washi tape.

The first part of this fun exercise was simply to punch out a whole bunch of solid colored and printed paper with a postage shaped paper punch.

Then I cut small rectangles of washi tape and placed it on the postage stamp cut outs. This was part of the fun of coordinating the background colored paper with the color and print of the washi tape. It was kind of a "mix and match" game.

The second part of the color play, was arranging all the little paper postage stamps in my altered book.

This was fun and easy too. I stuck them down with little glue dots so I could possibly pull them up and use them on envelopes. It was a nice little relaxing collage and a fun way to store my embellishments.

More about the Quarry and Rockport books:

If you have never heard of washi tape, get ready to enter a bright new world of paper crafts! Originating in Japan, washi paper is stronger than wood-pulp paper making it perfect for use in projects like origami and scrapbooking. The tape is low tack and slightly transparent, in a mix of adorable colors and patterns, and a brilliant way to make all of your crafts even better. 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!

Playing with Color is a highly accessible, fun approach to learning color application and principles. This hands-on book begins with an introduction to the philosophy of learning through the process of play. It then leads to a series of experimental design projects with an emphasis on color, providing the reader with a “toolkit” of ideas and skills. The awareness and sensitivity to form, color, material and craft gained through these visual experiments will increase the designer’s confidence in their personal and professional design work. This book can be used in the classroom or independently, and readers can go directly to exercises that appeal to them.

Richard Mehl teaches two-dimensional design, color theory and typography at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He is a graphic designer by trade, working on projects for corporate and non-profit clients. Mehl received his MFA from Yale School of Art where he studied with Paul Rand, Bradbury Thompson, Matthew Carter and Edward Tufte. Visit him online at http://www.rmehl.com.

Fabulous Fiber book and supply giveaway plus a crochet Daffodil pattern

Today's giveaway is all about fabric and fiber and all the great ways to knit, crochet, quilt, felt, weave and more with fabric and fiber. If you do one of these crafts but are considering trying a new one this great collection fiber craft books and supplies is one you will definitely want to get yourself in the running for. And be sure to scroll down to see the free crochet daffodil pattern from the book The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet, 2nd Edition.

This Craftside Fabulous Fiber Book and Supply giveaway includes:

A copy of the brand new book:

The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet, 2nd Edition

Small Loom and Freeform Weaving: Five Ways to Weave

Knitting 101: Master Basic Skills and Techniques Easily through Step-by-Step Instruction

Quilting 101: Master Basic Skills and Techniques Easily through Step-by-Step Instruction

Felt Fashion: Couture Projects From Garments to Accessories

1 ball of Trendsetter Yarns Blossom

1 ball of Bernat Camouflage - Blue Frost

A varity of quilt fabrics

1 DMC Marbleized Scissors

1 DMC Scissor Case

1 DMC Punch Needle Embroidery Transfers

1 Crochet Dude Bloom Loom

1 Dritz Tape Measure

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Question: How often do you try a new craft? End date July 19th, 2014

D A F F O D I L

Skill Level: Intermediate

Note: Make cup of flower first; then, make petals.

Cup

Ch 5, join with a Sl st to form ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, 10 sc in ring, join with a Sl st to first sc.

Rnd 2: Ch 2 (counts as a dc), working in the back loops for this row only, 2 dc in next sc, *1 dc in next sc, 2 dc in next sc, rep from * around (15 dc), join with a Sl st to top of beg ch-2.

Rnd 3: Ch 2 (counts as dc), 1 dc in each dc around (15 dc), join with Sl to top of beg ch-3.

Rnd 4: Rep Rnd 3.

Rnd 5: Ch 1, *skip next dc, [1 sc, 1 dc, 1 sc] in next st, rep from * around, join with Sl st to beg ch 1, end off.

Petals

Rnd 6: Join yarn in any free loop at back of Rnd 1, working in the remaining front loops, *ch 10, 4 tr in 4th ch from hook, 1 dc in each of next 2 ch, 1 hdc in each of next 2 ch, 1 sc in each of next 2 ch, skip 1 st in Rnd 1, Sl st in next st, rep from * 4 times (5 petals), join with a Sl st to first Sl st, end off.

 

And in case you are also interested in crocheting up a 4-color spiral (like the one along the bottom of the cover) pop on over to this Craftside Crochet post.

 

More about the CPi book:

 

The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet, 2nd Edition

*All You Need to Know to Crochet *The Essential Reference for Novice and Expert Crocheters *Comprehensive Guide to Crochet Tools and Techniques *Packed with Hundreds of Tips and Ideas *Step-by-Step Instructions for 220 Stitch Patterns

By Margaret Hubert

This is a comprehensive reference book on all aspects of crochet.

This book provides a reference for all methods, including Tunisian, intermeshing, broomstick lace, hairpin lace, and freeform crochet.

Includes step-by-step instructions for all the basic stitches and swatches of 100s of stitch patterns with completeinstructions. Now with:

• 15 all new projects
• 20 new stitch patterns (220 in all)
• Expanded basics
• Hundreds of tips and ideas

Margaret Hubert designs for yarn companies and book and magazine publishers including Crochet, Interweave Press, Quick and Easy Crochet, Crochet Fantasy, and Belle Armoire. She teaches at yarn shops, retreats, and national gatherings and rarely misses a national conference in the needle arts field. Among her specialties, she is a master at freeform crochetand knitting. She is the author of many books and currently resides in Pawling, NY. Visit her online at http://www.margarethubertoriginals.com and http://margaretshooksandneedles.blogspot.com.

How to Make a Skeleton Rib Cage Pop-Up Card from the Book: Playing with Pop-ups

Wow! The fall decorations are already in the stores, so it's time to start fall crafting and that means Halloween is just around the corner! This cool rib cage skeleton pop-up card from the book Playing with Pop-ups: The Art of Dimensional, Moving Paper Designs is the perfect paper craft to work on during a hot summer day sitting in the air conditioning dreaming of crisp, cool autumn.

 

Pull-Tab Rib Cage

Artist Yoojin Kim translates forms found in human anatomy into pop-ups. She is captivated by the overlapping qualities that exist between the function of pop-ups and how a human body works. Pivots and levers resemble the movements of human tendons and joints and the way that muscles move. This project features an adaptation of the pull-tab cylinder technique. As the spread is opened, a strap pulls the tab to raise the rib cage from the flat surface.

Rib Cage Trivia

Here’s an interesting fact about the human rib cage: When the Flemish anatomist Vesalius noted in 1543 that humans have twenty-four ribs (twelve on each side), he set off a wave of controversy. It had been assumed from the Biblical story of Adam and Eve that men’s ribs would number one less than women’s. Variations in the number of ribs do occur, and about one in two hundred to five hundred people have an additional cervical rib; these extra ribholders are predominantly female.

MaterIals

templates: Download here!

card stock

craft knife

scissors

glue

scoring tool

straightedge

cutting mat

InstructIons:

Step 1: Prepare background and print

I photocopied a dictionary page onto card stock to create a background for my rib cage. You can use a plain card stock, purchase a printed card stock, illustrate the background, or make a collage to accent the ribs.

Once you’ve got your papers, Download the patterns for the base card and rib cage and print them onto your prepared card stock.

 

Step 2: Cut and score

Cut out the card base, the two rib cage side pieces, and the rib cage using a craft knife. Cut the three slits in the card base. Score along the central dotted line on the card base and valleyfold it in half. Score along the dashed lines on the two rib cage side pieces and mountain-fold each one along those lines.

Step 3: Glue the side pieces

Glue the inside of both folded rib cage side pieces, gluing both sides of the fold and sandwiching the matching sides of the rib cage into the glued areas.

Step 4: Thread strap and mount rib cage

Thread the strap through the righthand slit in the card base from front to back and then thread it back into the card through the slit along the dotted line. Carefully lift the left side of the rib cage and apply glue to the back side of the rib cage side piece. Attach it to the base along the dotted line, taking care not to get glue on the strap.

Step 5: Assemble

Tuck the loose end of the strap into the slit on the left side of the base while folding the base page in half. Close the card completely, fold the end of the strap over, and glue it to the card base. Let the glue dry briefly. Open the card and watch your rib cage slide into three dimensions!

 

Downloadthe templates and start cutting! I can't wait to make these rib cage pop-up cards for all my ghoulish friends for Halloween!

More about the new Quarry book:

Playing with Pop-ups: The Art of Dimensional, Moving Paper Designs

by Helen Hiebert

Enter the enchanting world of pop-ups and handmade paper crafts. Join author Helen Hiebert as she guides you through materials, tools and pop-up basics including parallel folds, angle folds, combinations and variations, and layered pop-ups. Enjoy creating 20 projects to play with ranging from cards and books to buildings, graphic design pieces, and more. Featuring a high-end gallery of artists, whose beautiful work will inspire you to make your own amazing paper art, Playing with Pop-Ups will teach you to create interactive pieces that everyone will enjoy.

Helen Hiebert is a Colorado artist who constructs installations, sculptures, films and artist books using handmade paper, thread and light to create transcendent experiences that alter viewers’ perceptions of time, space and form. She teaches and lectures about papermaking and lamp-making internationally, and has served as an adjunct faculty member at Oregon College of Art & Craft and Pacific University. Helen exhibits her work internationally, she is author of the books Papermaking with Plants, The Papermaker's Companion, and Paper Illuminated, Playing With Paper, and she is a regular contributor to Hand Papermaking Newsletter. Helen has an extensive network of paper colleagues around the world and her interest in how things are made (from paper) keeps her up-to-date on current paper trends.

How to Crochet a Crescent Braid: Free Pattern from The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet, 2nd Edition

I think it's fun to add little touches to garments and home decor items. This crescent braid pattern from The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet, 2nd Edition is just the kind of detail that would add just a little touch of fun to a t-shirt, tablecloth or just about anything! 

The crochet chart for the Crescent Braid:

CRESCENT BRAID PATTERN
Skill Level: Easy

Ch 5, join with a Sl st to form a ring.

Row 1: Ch 1, 6 sc in ring, ch 4, 1 sc in ring, turn.

Row 2: [6 sc, ch 4, 1 sc] in next ch-4 space, turn.

Rep Row 2 for desired length of trim.

 ---------------------

This crochet pattern is from the Edgings and Trims section in the new CPi book:

Psst! You can get this book for 35% off in honor of Independence Day if you use the code STARS14 on QBookshop.com! Offer good until July 13, 2014.

 

The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet, 2nd Edition

*All You Need to Know to Crochet *The Essential Reference for Novice and Expert Crocheters *Comprehensive Guide to Crochet Tools and Techniques *Packed with Hundreds of Tips and Ideas *Step-by-Step Instructions for 220 Stitch Patterns

By Margaret Hubert

This is a comprehensive reference book on all aspects of crochet.

This book provides a reference for all methods, including Tunisian, intermeshing, broomstick lace, hairpin lace, and freeform crochet.

Includes step-by-step instructions for all the basic stitches and swatches of 100s of stitch patterns with completeinstructions. Now with:

• 15 all new projects
• 20 new stitch patterns (220 in all)
• Expanded basics
• Hundreds of tips and ideas

Margaret Hubert designs for yarn companies and book and magazine publishers including Crochet, Interweave Press, Quick and Easy Crochet, Crochet Fantasy, and Belle Armoire. She teaches at yarn shops, retreats, and national gatherings and rarely misses a national conference in the needle arts field. Among her specialties, she is a master at freeform crochetand knitting. She is the author of many books and currently resides in Pawling, NY. Visit her online at http://www.margarethubertoriginals.com and http://margaretshooksandneedles.blogspot.com.