Happy 2015: Create, Craft and Share

I don't have a long list of resolutions for 2015. What I do have planned for this year is to create and craft more and share my knowledge along the way. I'm sure some of you know that occasionally I post videos on YouTube on how to make different projects. I hope to put more on YouTube and short videos on Instagram.

I'm about sharing and paying it forward. A woman wrote me and told me she was a single mom. She sold a bunch of wreaths that she learned two make from my sandwich bag wreath video on YouTube. That gave me a great feeling, because I was able to empower, inspire and help a mother put food on the table.

So here's my idea for all of you out there who know how to craft. If you sew, decoupage, scrapbook, crochet, upcycle, recycle, make jewelry or anything else you can think of, share it!  Even some of you who sell on Etsy or other websites. I know you sell to make money and to pay the bills;  but why not think outside the box? Why not pay it forward and share your talent. Just think maybe you'll be helping someone on the other side of the world, a total stranger. Maybe you'll be helping that one person put food on the table.



When you think about it, doesn't crafting make you feel good, take the stress away or make you feel like you have accomplished something in life. It does for me.  Remember if you pay it forward it comes back tenfold. It has for me.

SHARE IT

• Write a blog.  I post my stuff and that of other crafters on this blog. Create your own blog.
• Share blogs of different crafters. I do this on this blog and on the Best Crafters Facebook. 
• Share someone else's idea. I post things I like on the Best Crafters Facebook page too.
• Shoot a 20 second Instagram video with a quick tip.
• Shoot a YouTube video. You can use a camera even your smartphone and post straight to Youtube. Here's a short one I shot on my phone and posted right on YouTube.

I figure God gave me my talents. I might as well share them and keep the crafting world alive!

Happy 2015 and happy crafting!

Rebecca

Make a Halloween Card: Easy, Colorful, Spooky

Boo to You

This was a very easy Halloween card to make.  It actually took me an hour to make several, because I like to make duplicates at one time.
I set up my kitchen (where I craft) with everything listed below, and got busy.

 Here's what you'll need:

• Blank card
• Scrapbook paper: orange textured
• Scrapbook paper with pattern that has some orange
• Scrapbook paper: black
• Stamp: Halloween theme (I used "Boo to You)
• Black Sharpie marker
• Punch: Small Spider
• Rubber stamp:  Spider (Large would be best)
• Rubber stamp: Spider web (can also be hand drawn)
• Glue 
• Scissors

You can probably look at my card and figure out how to make it, because it's that easy. 

First, I took a blank card, outlined enough orange textured paper and glued it on top of the blank card. 

I stamped "boo to you" with black ink on a creme colored piece of scrap paper.  Yes, keep those scraps.

I cut it in a rectangle shape, and then glued it to another piece of leftover scrapbook paper with a pattern.  As you can see mine is black with some orange dots. I cut around the "boo to you" shape, eye balling it to leave a little border.  Done.

Next, I glued the "boo to you" rectangle on the card.  Anywhere is fine.  

I took my big "spider" rubber stamp, use black ink and  randomly stamped on the card. Only two times, because you don't want the card to look cluttered.  One was stamped partially on the "boo to you."  

More card ideas!

With sharpie marker in hand, I added some dashes to make it look like the spider's traveled route.  I then took my small "spider" punch  and punched out a few small spiders from a piece of leftover black scrapbook paper.  I punched out several for future projects. 

The "spider web" in the corner is actually party glitter, the kind you throw on a table to decorate.  If I had to do it again I would use a rubber stamp and stamp a spider web or draw my own.

There you have it.  A Halloween card worth giving away in a package of cards or one to send out to a friend or family member just in time for Halloween. 

Until next time! 

Best Crafter's Blog: Make it and Love it

I love crafters who just seem to be able to do everything.  And that's what I have found in the author of the blog "Make it and Love it." This blog is our choice for one of the best crafter blogs on the web.

Ashley is behind this blog. She's  a mother of three. She says she has a very patient husband who tolerates her crafting clutter.  Wow! Sounds like my husband dealing with my craft--turn-crap room.

Looking over Ashley's blog--it is filled with lots of easy to do crafts.

• Cellphone holder out of a lotion bottle
• Turn a Maxi dress into a maxi skirt
• Wearable blanket for baby

Ashley has so many tutorials that you will busy making crafts for months.  And she offers quite a variety:

Blogger: Ashley

clothing, baby, gift ideas, holiday, re-purposing and the the list goes on.

I wish Ashley would turn some of her tutorials into videos and post them on Youtube.  I'd love to see her make this stuff on a video tutorial, because then I can feel like I'm right there with Ashley.

This is an A+ blog, and Ashley is quite an inspiration to us crafters.