Author Archives: amysolovay

May Garden Journal Pages for the Happy Planner or Other Discbound Planners

Craft Updates for the Week of 4-23-2023

Updated 4-28-2023

Hello Crafty Friends! What’s new with all of you?

This is just a quick post to let you know about all the new pages and updates that have been happening around here:

Enjoy the Journey Sailing Themed Scrapbooking Layout by Amy Solovay

This Is Paradise Scrapbooking Layout: Snorkeliing in Hawaii

6x8 Scrapbooking Layout Featuring Havivian Farmer's Market in Ashkelon, Israel

6×8 Scrapbooking Layout Featuring Havivian Farmer’s Market in Ashkelon, Israel

I just updated our pages of travel scrapbooking ideas and Hawaii scrapbooking ideas to add a bunch more recent projects I’ve been working on. The latest additions include this nautical themed 6″x8″ scrapbooking pocket page; this Hawaii-themed scrapbook album; and a collection of pages documenting my travels in Ashkelon, Israel.

Prima Paintables Watercolor Papers from the French Riviera Collection Designed by Frank Garcia

Paintables Watercolor Paper from the French Riviera Collection Designed by Frank Garcia for Prima

I just updated our guide to papers for arts and crafts to include photos of Frank Garcia’s gorgeous Paintables papers by Prima Marketing. Although these are not brand new papers, they’re still available for sale in plenty of places, and I just recently discovered them. I’ve used them in bunches of new projects that I’m working on posting; I’ll update to get you the links to them soon.

Candy Cane Lane Christmas Card

Candy Cane Lane Christmas Card Featuring Supplies by Prima, Altenew and Ranger Industries

Yes, I know, this new Christmas card design isn’t exactly seasonal right now as we head into summer. I actually made this card last December to send to a friend — but I never got around to posting the project idea at the time because I got too busy doing other things. So now I am working on reorganizing my pages of Christmas project ideas, and have begun adding all the new projects I made during the last holiday season.

Waves Stencil From the Simple Vintage Seas Collection by Simple Stories Plus Various Mixed Media Craft Supplies:Distress Oxide Reinkers, Scrapbook.com’s Pops of Color, Brilliance Reinker, Distress Mica Spray by Tim Holtz for Ranger Industries, and Nuvo Spatulas

I just posted a brand new page on the topic of stencils. If you enjoy stenciling, mixed media art, bullet journaling, decorating your planner, or related craft projects, I invite you to check it out.

DMC Satin Embroidery Floss

I just posted a new review of DMC Satin Embroidery Floss. The short version of my review: I highly recommend it! You can click or tap here to see my brand new, full-length product review of DMC Satin Embroidery Floss.

I also just started a new page on the topic of cross stitch. I have a lot more to add to this page, but this is a good start. Since I do more crochet than cross stitch, I have bunches of free patterns for cross stitch on crochet available (with more to add soon; if you enjoy this sort of project, please hang onto the link so you can find the page again in the future). I hope you’ll enjoy the free patterns.

6x8 Scrapbooking Layout Featuring Hawaiian Pineapples

6×8 Scrapbooking Layout Featuring Hawaiian Pineapples

I just updated our page of scrapbooking layouts to add some of the 6″x8″ pocket pages I’ve been making lately. This page is still in need of additional updating, because I’ve completed bunches more scrapbooking pages than the ones showcased — but this is a good start for now. You’re invited to check back if you’d like to see more pocket page scrapbooking ideas.

Layered Flower Die Set by Waffle Flower Crafts

Layered Flowers Die Set by Waffle Flower Crafts

I just posted a brand new product review of one of my newest favorite paper craft products: The Layered Flower Die Set by Waffle Flower Crafts. The TLDR summary: I highly recommend this die set to other crafters. If you want more details, please click or tap here to see my Layered Flowers Die Set product review.

Over to You:

What are you working on this week? Any new craft projects on your hook / needles / table? What types of inspiration are you searching for right now?

Thanks so much for dropping by today. I really appreciate your presence here, and your interest in our craft blog.

Best wishes,

Amy Solovay

Setting the Table for Earth Day

Setting the Table for Earth Day 2023: Pictured here is a place setting featuring an upcycled napkin ring made from wire and pull tabs, plus a placemat you can crochet in organic cotton yarn for Earth Day or everyday.

For those of you who didn’t know, today — Saturday, April 22, 2023 — is Earth Day. Happy Earth Day, everyone!

I’ve posted some lovely free patterns you can use for dressing up your Earth Day table, or any holiday table for that matter. Check ’em out!

Pull Tab Napkin Rings

This project calls for upcycling some pull tabs and transforming them into these beautiful napkin rings, which are pictured above. The instructions for these napkin rings are available online for free.

Earth Friendly Organic Cotton Placemats

Organic cotton yarn is grown using far less water than conventionally grown cotton does, and it is also easier on the environment because the farmers growing it do not spray their cotton fields with massive quantities of harmful, toxic pesticides. If you use the suggested organic cotton yarn for crocheting these placemats, they’re a fantastic, sustainable craft project for Earth Day.

Fabric Crochet Coasters

This thick, durable flower trivet is a protective surface you can use when you need to set down a hot dish or oversized coffee mug.

You can upcycle old textiles such as sheets, sarongs or clothing and transform them into rag balls to use for knitting or crocheting. There are countless environmentally friendly projects you can make using these rag balls; I have a whole list of them (plus links to free patterns) on my page about fabric crochet. Some of my favorite fabric crochet projects are coasters you can use for proudly setting the table on Earth Day. Check out these heart-shaped coasters for another fantastic project idea.

See Also:

Get Ready for Spring Cleaning With Crocheted Scrubbies and Dishcloths

Easy Beginner’s Half Double Crochet Dishcloth — Free Pattern

According to my planner, today is the first day of spring. You know what that means: Time for spring cleaning. Uggh.

I don’t much enjoy cleaning, although I sure love it when everything is clean. It’s hard to get motivated to start — but since I never need much prompting to get motivated to crochet, I thought I’d try making some projects that’ll help with the cleaning as well. Sometimes, it’s little things like soft, pretty dishcloths or innovative recycled scrubbies that can make all the difference in whether I ever actually motivate to clean anything.

Hey, whatever works, right?

Are you planning on doing any spring cleaning this year? If you’re going to get to work on it, you might as well have some cute crocheted dishcloths and fun crocheted scrubbies to make your tasks more ~~pleasant~~ ~~enjoyable~~ bearable. If you must clean, (and of course you eventually must, right?) please do help yourself to any of our free patterns for crocheting these types of projects.

Check ‘Em Out:

Pictured above is an easy, beginner-friendly half double crochet dishcloth pattern. This is a free pattern that is great for beginners to use for learning or practicing the half double crochet stitch, and it’s also a quick, easy and useful pattern for people of any crochet skill level to have on hand.
How to crochet dishcloths and washcloths
Kitchen crafts and kitchen crochet patterns
More useful crochet patterns (If cleaning is not your thing, and if not who can blame you, this link takes you to our main directory featuring many other types of patterns.)

Happy spring cleaning, everyone! And happy crafting…

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Posted By: Amy Solovay

DIY Thank You Card With Sunset Silhouette Design

Guest designer Laura Jane is hosting an Inspiration Challenge over at the Altenew blog. I have been excited about the challenge since the day she posted it, because it features one of my favorite design themes — a sunset! Check this out:

Inspiration Challenge Sunset Image by Laura Jane for Altenew

That’s the Inspiration Challenge Image Laura Jane posted. She also posted a bunch of amazing purple-ish, pink-ish cards featuring dark silhouetted elements. I loved them so much!

I looked through my paper stash to see what I could find. I have a bunch of Altenew papers, but none of them are quite the right colors for this — so I ended up using papers that I colored using various dyes and inks, including some Altenew inks and others.

Years ago, I used to teach textile design classes to fashion design majors at California Design College. We did a lot of fabric dyeing in those classes. At the end of class, I’d usually have leftover dyes. Instead of just pouring the extra dyes down the drain, I used to use them to create paintings and designs on paper.

I used most of those hand-dyed papers long ago, but I still do have a few of them left in my craft supplies stash waiting for just the right projects to use them in.

Hand Dyed & Ink Blended Papers

This was one of those just right projects. I chose one of these striking hand-dyed papers to use for my darker silhouetted images; the paper has striated shades of deep purple and dusky pink that are reminiscent of the colors you see outdoors at twilight.

And I used another one of these papers to start me off with the background, but I added some spritzes of Altenew ink colors diluted with water — Ruby Red, Coral Berry, and Frosty Pink. I also used some of Tim Holtz’s Dusty Concord Distress Oxide ink to give my card background a more purplish appearance.

Here’s how my card turned out:

DIY Thank You Card in Sunset Colors With Craft Supplies by Altenew

Craft Supplies You’ll Need for Making a Similar DIY Thank You Card

Papers: You could use ink blended or hand dyed papers like I did, or you could use patterned papers for this. You’ll also need some white or colored cardstock to make your card base.
Inks: I used Altenew’s Coral Berry, Ruby Red and Frosty Pink dye inks plus Tim Holtz’s Dusty Concord Distress Oxide ink — but you can use any inks you like.
Dies: “Sweet Blooms” Die Set by Altenew — This set is so pretty and so versatile; I highly recommend it.
Sentiment Stamps: I used the sentiments from Altenew’s “Painted Rose” stamp set, which appears to have been discontinued. I really love this one, but if you missed out on getting it, there are many other possible sentiment stamps you could use.
Scalloped Circle Die or Scalloped Scissors: You’ll need to cut out your stamped sentiment in some manner. If you have a scalloped circle that’s the right size, that would be ideal. I happen to have stencils and old-fashioned decorative scissors that I like using for this — so I used scalloped scissors by EK Success to fussy cut around my stamped sentiment.

So there you have it: That’s my inspiration challenge entry. I hope you enjoyed taking a look at it. Thank you so much for dropping by! I appreciate your interest in my project.

Posted by: Amy Solovay

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