Craftier – Volume 1, Issue 3

craftier craftier than santa’s elves Tips on how to get started and join swaps

Your handmade holiday shopping guide

Over 15 pages of holiday projects! and much, much more!

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table of contents

9 24

5 Editors Letter 7 Get More For Your Buck

Perfect handmade gifts for the holidays 12 Greeting Cards

Give your friends a special treat in the mail 14 Wallet Mania

Perfect for the money youll save this holidays 16 Reuse

Fun holiday projects to use all those scraps 20 Home Sweet Home

Tutorials Galore! All kinds of useful crafts for the

home.

34 Thanksgiving Eve Plan

Kelly B. helps you plan your Thanksgiving Eve

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38 Your Guide to Joining Swaps

Learn tips on how to join craft swaps 41 Craftier Spotlight

Graphic Material--Graphic Designer, Heather Y.

Heart Felt--Felt Designer, Lupin

LJCFYI--Crafty Blogger, Jenny C. 48 Yummy Holiday Gift Ideas Kelly B. gives us some of her favorite holiday treats 52 Holiday Meal Plan David shares some of his favorite and easy recipes 60 Craftier Profiles Get to know some of the crafters featured in this issue 66 Back Page Fun

12

craftier Editor in Chief Jane R .

Editor in Chief Meredith J. Layout Design Sergio J. Contributing Writer Kelly B. Art Direction Sergio J. and Jane R. Photography Sergio J. Special Thanks to All Crafters that have allowed their work to be featured in this issue.

Editor’s Letter

Ah, the holidays.

There’s nothing quite like it. Three thoughts come to mind when we think of it: food, presents, and of course togetherness. Well, we’ve got everything except the togetherness (but you can always email us if you want to talk!) for you in this issue. Tons of tutorials on how to make presents for friends, family, or even yourself. Once you’re done, we have recyled bows you can top presents with, and when you’re set with presents, you can get all the food ready with our fun and easy recipes courtousy of our e-friend, David.

Pulling this issue together was a bit of task, (it is considerably larger than our last issue) but it’s made us realize just how many nice people are out there, and how many new friends we have--even if it’s through the internet. We just wanted to give you a friendly reminder to cherish your friends and family because it’s all you’ve got...well, that and your crafting supplies. Craft on my friends and have a safe and happy holiday.

Jane and meredith

Editors-In-Chief Craftier Magazine

Product features

Holiday Shopping Guide D

idn’t quite make enough time for holiday crafting? No problem. We’ve found the best handmade gifts and greeting cards to make this holiday season a relaxing one.

Compiled by Jane R.

1 2 3

4 1.The little birch YO YO that could by benfloeter $25 2.Crocheted Brooches by Fuzzy Lumpkin Crochet $13 3.Small Leather Notebook by MyHandboundBooks $9 4.Whalebot Pouch by Anatomy of a Skirt $35 5.Bandanas by Custom Dog Bandanas $7 6.Chandelier Paper Weight

by Paper Flower $10

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7.Wood Grain Folding Pocket Mirror by Paper Fixation $18 8. Sewing Pin Set by Piece of Peace $4.50 9. PRIMA Purple and Guinea Feather Headband by Feather Brain, $32 10. Mix Tape iPod cozy by Moxie Madness $15 11. Feather Print Cotton Tee by ancientfuture $20

11 www.acraftierworld.com

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1.Retro Hip Christmas Trees $11

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Sign, Stam and Mail

Get inspiration from these handmade cards, or b day crunch! Either way, your recipents will be h

2.Berry Branch Cards $12.35 3.Christmas/Holiday Photo Card – You Print by lilsproutgreetings $15 4.OOAK Mixed Media Greeting Cards by 1453Designs $6.50

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5.Reindeer, $13.50 6.Garden Variety Christmas Tree by Pulp Art $3.75 7.Joy to the World Christmas Cards by Haute Pink Designs $8

mp, l

8.Wonder and Peace Christmas Cards by NY Paper Crafter $10.50 9.Two Christmas Ornament Greeting Cards

by Kimono Cards $7

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buy them if you find yourself in a holihappy that the mailbox isn’t soley bills.

8 9 www.acraftierworld.com

wallets to store all the money you’re saving With the state of the economy, it’s hard not to think about money--might as well look good while holding your savings!

Clockwise from top: Navy Letter Jumble Cardcase by Chickabird $18, Picnic Wallet by acommonthread $7, Business Card/Credit Card Holder by Talitha Leather $12 Yellow Duct Tape Walley by x3Inspireme $15

Scraping out the waste By: Jane R. Photography by: Sergio J.

reuse

Scaley Ornaments • • • •

Scrap paper approximately letter size (8.5” x 11”) Hole Puncher (I recommend 1/2” or bigger) Hot glue Gun Customizeable ornament or styrofoam ball

Take your hole puncher and punch out at least 50 circles from the paper.

With the decorative side facing down, place a dab of hot glue at the top of the circle (that way, the scales will still stick out when it’s done).

Working from the top of the ornament, place the circles around so that they’re slightly overlaping each other.

Then continue gluing and placing the circles around the ornament with each circle slightly overlaping so that it creates a scaled effect.

Now hang it on your tree, string it (so they look like lanterns), or place in a decorative bowl.

Personalized Classic Present Topper

The classic present topper could use some sprucing up and personalization! Now you can use your scrap pieces of paper, newspaper, or any other source you can think of.

Materials: Decorative Paper, magazine pages, old newspaper, or any other scrap paper Scissors or paper cutter Ruler 1” Brass Fastener Xacto Knife or Small Hole Punch (smaller than ¼”) Heavy Duty Double Sided Tape Directions: Take your paper and cut it into 8 strips that are approximately 1/2” wide. Make two of those strips 6 ¾” long, three of them 7 ½” long, and the last three 8 ½” long.

Take one of the 6 ¾” strips and form an “8” shape with them by putting the decorative side down, taking one end of the strip and pulling it to the left and then into the center.

Then take the other end of the strip pull it to the right and then into the center of the strip.

With all three layers of paper in the middle (the two ends and the middle) take your Xacto Knife and cut a slit big enough for the brass fastener. Then, push the fastener through the hole so that the nail head is on top.

Continue forming this shape with all the strips and placing them in different positions to form a bow or flower like shape.

When you are done, spread the fastener so the bow can lay flat and then stick the heavy duty double sided tape to the bottom. When you are ready to use it for a present, simply peel off the other side of the tape and attach.

Recycled Plastic Flower

The end result is so pretty, people won’t even know you used those plastic bags that are creating their own habitat in your pantry after shopping for your Holiday feast!

Materials: Plastic Bag Scissors Directions:

Stapler or Floral Wire

Lay your plastic bag flat and cut off the handles and buttom of the bag that is fused together.

Now pull out the sides so the bag is completely flat and cut down the sides of the bag so you have two sheets.

Take one of the sheets and fold it four times so you end up with a small rectangle. Cut any of the joining sides so they all become separate sheets of plastic. There will be sixteen sheets altogether, but you will only need eight to make one flower. And stack them neatly on top of each other. (It’s ok if all the sheets are not perfectly rectangular or identical) Now fold the stack of eight plastic sheets like a fan so each fold is approximately ½” thick (you can change this size to your liking). When you are done folding the fan, take your stapler and staple the middle so the folds hold.

Optional: Cut the ends of to make a point, make them rounded, or add any other decorative touches.

Begin separating the sheets of plastic to form a sphere shape When attaching it to your present, you can use the yarn or ribbon you’re going to tie around the present to tie a knot around the center of the flower (around the stapled part) and continue tying the ribbon around your present

Imagination anything is possible

tutorials

home sweet home H

ome is where the heart is, so it only seemed appropirate to gather tutorials submitted by readers to spruce up your home for the holidays.

Remote Control Pillow Pattern By: Julie K Pictures provided by: Julie K Visit: www.kundhicreative.com

Sweatshirt Remote Pillow — sweatshirt — pillow form, 2 inches bigger than your finished size — fusible interfacing — trim fabric — heavy duty needle • Press sweatshirt well, especially the letters. If they aren’t iron safe, place a piece of fabric over top of them first.

• Cut front and back pillow squares, centering the letters within the front square. Mine were 16 1/2 x 16 1/2 inches.

• Cut 2 squares of interfacing the same size. Fuse them to the pillow squares according to the manufacturer’s directions.

• Cut a rectangle for the remote pocket. It needs to be the same width of your pillow squares and as tall as you’d like to hold your remotes. Mine was 16 1/2 x 6 inches. (I did not use interfacing for the pockets so they’d have a little stretch.)

• Cut the trim for the top of the remote pocket. Mine was 16 1/2 x 3 inches.

• Turn the top and bottom edges of the trim down 1/4 inch and press.

• Line up the bottom of the trim with the top of the remote pocket WS to WS, pin (A) and sew as close to the edge of the trim as you can. (An edge stitch foot would be nice to use here if you have one.)

• Fold trim over, press, pin (B) and sew as close to the edge of the trim as you can.

• Figure out how many pockets you want and measure your sections. For mine, I just followed the white lines on the trim. Mark off where you want to sew with chalk or a light pencil line. Pin pocket to the back pillow square WS to RS. Sew your remote pockets. (C) • Align pillow squares RS to RS, sew around using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Leave an opening to turn right side out.

• Clip your corners, turn, poke your corners out with something like a chopstick or pencil eraser.

• Insert your pillow form. Mine was 18 inches and was difficult to fit through the opening. Using a seam ripper, I opened up the pillow, pulled out enough stuffing to get it through, then replaced the stuffing and stitched it close.

• Close the pillow opening with a blind stitch.

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a

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Dishtowel Potholder By: Beki L Pictures provided by: Beki L Visit: artsycraftybabe.typepad.com

For this project, its best to use 100% woven cotton dishtowels from the dollar store. It’s best to use something that isn’t too bulky.

1.Start with a standard sized dishtowel, preferably one that is not terrycloth.

2. Cut off the hems and any tags from the back of the dishtowel.

3. With the wrong side of the dishtowel facing up, fold over one long side towards the center about 1/3 of the width.

4. Fold the other long side towards the center about 1/3 of the width, leaving raw edge about ½” from the folded edge.

5. Fold end pieces of the folded dishtowel towards the center.

6. Fold over the dishtowel again, enclosing the raw end pieces at the center. You should now

7. Pin the folded edges in place and insert a loop of ribbon (or a piece of the hem that you previously cut off) at either corner or at the center of the potholder.

8. Stitch all around the 4 sides of the potholder. That’s it!

At this point you can leave the potholder as is, which is nice if you have a pretty printed dishtowel, but if you’d like to jazz up a plain dishtowel/potholder, the possibilities are endless. Some suggestions are to add appliqué, a strip of patchwork, embroidery, or stamp a design. A great gift idea is to embellish a dishtowel to match the potholder for a complete set. This could be given in conjunction with your favorite cookie recipe or a cooking utensil. Have fun!

Dishcloth Pattern By: Alicia Paulson Pictures provided by: Alicia Paulson Visit: AliciaPaulson.com

This pattern is provided for personal use only.

Matierals

• • • •

7 floursack dishtowels, any size 4" embroidery hoop 2 skeins black embroidery floss Very-fine-point washable fabric marker • Enough ¾" calico binding to trim each towel, amount depending on how big your dishtowel is (see below)

Directions Pre-wash the dishtowels and the calico fabric you'll be using for trim (separately, if necessary); dry towels and fabric and press.

Trim wobbly edges and manufacturer's hem from each dishtowel so that you have smooth raw edges.

To transfer designs to dishtowels, place design right side up on light box or bright window and tape it in place.

Place the dishtowel right side up on top of the design, and tape it to keep from shifting.

Trace the design with the marker and embroider using backstitch and running stitch, using 2 strands on text and major parts of design, and 1 strand on fine details.

To bind edges of each dishtowel, stitch enough 1½" straight-grain-cut strips of fabric together at short ends with straight seams to go around towel comfortably. Feed fabric strip through large end of tape maker and press tape as it comes out small end.

Attach binding by machine and hand around each edge, starting near (but not at) bottom left corner, and mitering all corners. Using different calicos for each towel would be adorable, I think.

To make your life easier, you could also hem all edges of towel and machine stitch. Embroider running stitch border on top of machine stitch with 2 strands of floss.

Take your time, have fun, and enjoy these!

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issa d.com l e M : a issa vided by es.typep l e M h By: s pro talstitc e r u Pict elemen : 4. Pin wrong sides together and sew up Visit

seams as illustrated (the red line on the picture).

So who hasnt burned their hands with a pot, pan even an cast iron pan by forgetting to use a potholder and grabbing the very hot handle. Well I got tired of the this always happening so I’ve made this tutorial to fix this in a few min.

Materials: Flame retardant fabric. I used an old felted sweater that still had a little of 5. Turn right side out and enjoy! Note: I its stretch left after felting. didn't finish the edges on mine because it Matching Thread was felted but if you want to, you would turn the edge on the opening under and 1. Measure the length and width of the pot sew them down before sewing the two handles you want to cover, mine was appieces together. I hope you enjoy! This was prox. 5.5 inches by 2 inches. fun, perhaps more tutorials will come soon.

2. Next, make a template of your design.

I wanted my cozies to be really snug so I didn't add any seam allowances. However if your material doesn't stretch add at least a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Have fun with the design. I made a simple design because my fabric is already so eye catching.

You could make the end pointed instead of rounded, a star or some other shape.

3. Lay out your template on the fabric and cut out.

Reversible Half Apron By:Crystal B. Pictures provided by: Crystal B. Visit: thelongestyear.typepad.com

Materials Needed: 2 pieces complementary fabric, 15"x24" 1 strip of fabric for top binding & apron strings, 4"x 55" (or use a measuring tape to determine your desired length - you may have to sew two lengths together)

1.Right sides of both apron pieces together, sew bottom and sides; clip the corners (figure b.)

2.Turn right side out and press.

3.Using your machine's longest stitch, sew a basting stitch 3/8" from the top edge, leaving a long tail of thread at the end.

4.Pull the top thread carefully, loosely gathering into a slight "ruffle" (figure c.)

5.Press the fabric strip in half lengthwise. Open and fold the raw sides into the center. Press. Fold closed and press again (figure d.).

6.Center the fabric binding over the gathered top edge of the apron and pin in place.

7.Starting at one end of the binding, topstitch the binding closed, stitching close to the bottom edge (figure e.)

(Optional) Apron with ruffled bottom: 1.Fold a 3 1/2" x 36" length of fabric in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.

2.Using the longest stitch on your machine, sew a basting stitch 3/8" from raw edge.

3.Pull top thread carefully, slightly ruffling the fabric until it is approx. 23" long.

4.Place one piece of apron fabric right side up. Line up the raw edge of the ruffle with the raw bottom edge of apron fabric, ruffle pointed toward the inside. The ruffle should start and end 1/4" from the left and right edges of the apron piece (figure f.).

5.Continue with Step 1 of Basic Apron (above)

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Bean Bag Chair

By: Joanna Pictures provided by: Joanna Visit: stardustshoes.blogspot.com

Gather Materials: 3 yards of fabric for the inner lining 3 yards of fabric from the Michael Miller Dick and Jane collection for the outside cover Scraps of coordinating fabric for the appliqué

30” of ¾” wide hook and loop tape Bean bag pellets (I used one 100 liter bag of recycled polystyrene pellets) The pattern pieces at the end of this tutorial The inside lining and outside cover are made the same way except for the closure. Pictures in the tutorial are of the outside cover.

1) Cut the pieces: The bean bag chair is made up of six panels. Each yardof fabric will yield two panels, with a bit leftover (whichwill be used later). Fold fabric selvedge to selvedge.

Iron it on the crease. Fold it in 8” on the side and ironthat crease. Cut so that you have a rectangle.

(Basicallyyou are creating a panel that if unfolded would measure 16” x 45”). Place the corner of the pattern where all thefolds meet. Pin in place and cut. When unfolded, itshould be football shaped.

Do this again with the remainder of the yard. You willhave strip of fabric leftover. Do not discard it!

Continue cutting until you have six panels. Figure out how you want your panels organized for the bean bag chair cover.You’ll be sewing your panels in groups of three.

2) Sew the panels: With right sides facing, sew two panels together along one side. You’ll want to start and stop your stitching at approximately 5/8” from the top and bottom points.

Iron the seams in one direction. Do NOT iron them open, as this creates a weak seam. If you have a serger, use it now.

If not, don’t worry about it.

3) Create the closure: The outer cover will use a hook and loop closure to allow for easy removal for laundering. The inner cover needs to be closed in the following way: Sew the first and sixth panels together leaving a ten inch opening for turning right side out and filling. Apply the appliqués (step 4), then fill. After filling, it should then be hand-stitched closed.

Sew the second and third panels togetheralong one side. You now have half of abean bag chair!

Set this aside and sew the three remaining panels the same way.

Now you’ll attach the two halves. With right sides facing, sew the third and fourth panels together. It can get a bit bulky at the points, but don’t worry about making them perfect, as they will be covered up later anyway.

Cut a strip of fabric 32” x 2-½” long.

Fold down both ends ½” and iron them down. Then fold the entire length of the strip in half and iron it.

The loop tape is 30” long. Mark its center at 15” and line that up with the center of the strip. Place it closer to the folded side of the strip and sew around the perimeter of the loop tape to attach itto the strip.

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Line up the center of the strip with the center of the panel side where it will be attached. The loop tape should be facingdown and the raw edges should betogether. Pin in place and sew using a ¼” seam allowance. Reinforce at the beginning and end by backstitching.

Instead of turning it to the other side of the panel, however, the hook tape needs to remain facing up. Make it behave by finger pressing the seam so that it lies under the panel. Topstitch it in place.

raw edges

Fold the strip over to the other side of the panel so that the loop tape is now facing up. Finger press it along the edge and sew in place, backstitching when you start and stop.

Make sure the bean bag cover is still inside out. Attach the hook and loop tape together (not all the way down, just at the top, since you’ll need to get through the opening to sew!), and sew the ends of the strips together from A to B. Backstitch to reinforce. Do the same for the other end.

Remove the fabric from the machine and readjust so that you can finish closing up the bean bag cover. Turn the cover right side out.

A For the other panel, do the same thing— create the strip, attach the hook tape, center it, pin it in place and sew with hook tape facing down.

B 4) Create and attach the appliqué: The points on the top and bottom of the cover may or may not line up, but that doesn’t really matter because they need to be reinforced anyway with a sturdy appliqué. For the appliqué you’ll need one piece of fabric for the top, one for the bottom and iron-on interfacing—all measuring 4” x 4”.

Press it flat. You may need to fiddle with it a bit to get the edges smooth.

Iron the interfacing to the bottom piece following the manufacturer’s directions. Place the top piece face down on the bottom piece. The interfacing needs to be on the underside. Trace the circle with a fabric pen and then stitch directly on the circle, all the way around.

Pink the edges of the circle. Carefully pull the two fabric layers apart and cut a slit in the bottom piece. Do not cut through any stitching. Turn the circle right side out.

The interfacing should now be the center layer.

Pin it on top of the bean bag cover where all the points meet. Pin it so that each panel has one pleat in it. Take special care to ensure that the appliqué lays flat.

Zig zag around the perimeter of the appliqué.

Attach another appliqué to the bottom in the same way.

Insert the filled liner in the cover, and close it up!

Thanksgiving Eve Plan By: Kelly B.

O

n Thanksgiving Eve, after I have completed the food prep for the next day, I like to sit down and create the decorations for my table. Once I have decided if this year’s theme is going to be crazy colorful or back to nature, the first thing I do is gather all of my materials to make my center piece and place cards. The second thing I do is make some hot mulled cider for myself and my helpers.

Pinecone Turkey

The pinecone turkey is an old favorite of mine. If you have a big pinecone, make it a centerpiece. If you have smaller ones, they work great for place cards!

Ingredients: Pinecones Kraft paper or construction paper Scissors Twine or string

Place card Hole punch Optional – Glue, twigs,pebbles

Recipe: Cut feathers from the paper for the tail feathers. I can usually get these to stay in the pinecone with a little maneuvering. If you don’t have time or the desire, dip the ends of the feathers into glue and attach them so that the pinecone has a tail.

The tail can be realistic with the darker feathers in the back or it can be wildly creative and have different colors everywhere!

I like to keep my turkeys simple and just create feathers, but feel free to get wildly creative and give your turkey a head and gobbler and a personality! Use pebbles for little feet or twigs to create wings!

Once you have the turkey pinecone of your dreams, if you are using them as place cards, cut a small piece of cardstock and write the person’s name on it. If you created a head for your turkey, you can punch two holes in the card and thread some string through it to place the name card around the turkey’s head!

Now your guests will know where to sit so they can gobble gobble up their food!

Ingredients:

Hot Mulled Cider

1 quart apple cider 5 whole cloves 5 whole allspice

2 4-in sticks of cinnamon 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar (or to taste) Cheesecloth bag to hold spices (optional)

Recipe: Combine all ingredients in saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and discard spices; serve hot. Perfect for four people!

Once you have your cider made, dive into your projects!

Table Leaves

I enjoy recreating nature with paper and thread in this project!

Ingredients:

Paper in colors of fall or the theme of your table for Thanksgiving

Sewing Machine

Recipe: Cut out leaf shapes. Use sewing machine to create vein patterns on leaves.

Thanksgiving Garland

These are so simple yet absolutely gorgeous!

The Thanksgiving Garland uses the scraps created by the Table Leaves so there’s hardly any waste from these two projects!

Ingredients: Scrap paper from the Table Leaves project Thanksgiving stickers

Glue stick Heavy thread or thin yarn Optional: Large circle or square punch

Recipe: Take your scraps from the table leaves project and use scissors to cut shapes or a circle or square punch to cut out the pieces.

Once you have pieces cut, lay them out on your table and place the thread across them. Use stickers to hold the thread to the pieces cut or use the glue stick to place other circles or squares over top.

You can make the garland as short or as long as you like. When the glue is dry, hang on your mantle or wherever you like!

Hand Turkey Contest

And I have to mention the Hand Turkey Contest. I love to force the people that are coming to my Thanksgiving celebration to bring a hand turkey drawn by them as their ticket to dinner. I take these hand turkey drawings and place them for everyone to see, usually near the pies! Before dinner, everyone votes by secret ballot for their favorite and the winner gets something different ever year. There’s also a Turkey prize for the hand turkey that receives the fewest or no votes.

Getting Started With Swaps

By:Meredith J. Pictures provided by: Jane B.

I

f you've been in the online crafty scene for long, you've probably seen a lot of conversations and links for swaps. Getting involved with your first swap can be a bit intimidating, so I asked my friend Jane B. to give us an overview of getting started with swaps.

Can you tell us a little bit about what a swap is?

A swap is an exchange of a parcel, though the mail. Whoever is hosting the swap usually writes what the theme of the swap is, the deadline for sending, and all of the other little details. You get partnered up with someone, you gather items according to the theme, package it up and send it out by the deadline!

It’s as easy as that. If it’s a package swap, it’s going to cost you a little more money than a little swap such as exchanging postcards.

There are a lot of different types of swaps.

Packages, postcards, matchboxes, and ATCs. (Artist Trading Cards) ATCs are 2.5 x 3 inch pieces of paper that you decorate according to theme. (ie; fall, the color blue, owls) You swap these like baseball cards. ATCs are never sold, only traded! These are just a few examples of different types of swaps. There are a billion possibilities!

How did you get involved in swaps?

Years ago I was involved with a website called nervousness.org. It had a forum for mail talk and you could also join in on little swaps and art projects that they hosted. I “met” a lot of my pen pals through this website and I’ll be forever thankful for it opening up a bunch of doors for me.

What is your favorite thing about participating in swaps?

My favorite thing would have to be the most obvious, getting pretty packages in my post box! Other than the fact that I love buying presents for people, I enjoy the fact that I might make their day by sending them something through the mail. I live in a small town that doesn’t really have an art scene so it’s nice to meet people who share common interests with me, even if they live on the other side of the US. It’s quite comforting.

I enjoy the fact that I might make their day.

What is your favorite swap that you have participated in?

There have been a lot of swaps that I loved but I thoroughly enjoyed the “Cold Weather Care Package” swap I hosted through my Livejournal community, Postal Pop. I love winter so it was fun gathering things like scarves & tea and also getting a really wonderful package in return.

What would you suggest to people who might be interested in getting involved with swaps?

Definitely start out small. I would join in on some postcard swaps because they’re quick & easy. It’ll let you get a feel for the whole thing. It’s very important for you to send out your swaps by the deadline provided. I don’t mean to sound like a grandma, but it’s much more fun if everyone plays by the rules!

Anything else you’d like to add?

No matter what website you do swaps through, you will also come across flakers.

Flakers are annoying people who sign up for swaps, receive a package but never send anything out. I love using swap-bot.com for swaps because every swap that you take part in gets rated. So you can easily go to your partner’s profile and see how many swaps they’ve participated in and how well they were rated. Lastly, just have fun with swapping. Don’t take it too seriously, don’t cause drama on the message boards and don’t sign up for too many swaps and become stressed out.

Check it out You can check her out at her Blog at theexits.livejournal.com or you can join the community of swapers at community.livejournal.com/postalpop

craftier spotlight

Craftier Spotlight

graphic matieral

Heather, the one and only designer behind the paper goods line, Sugar Coat Paperie, talks about business, inspiration, and starting her family.

By:Jane R. Pictures provided by: Sugar Coat Paperie

When did you start making cards?

I grew up in a home where I was daily doused in creativity. My dad had a multimedia business he ran out of a building on our little farm in Virginia, and he worked 24/7. His employees and clients were always around, and my five home schooled sisters and me were exposed to their creative process by the time we were in preschool.

Card making (and painting, sewing and experimental cooking) was a natural part of life – you’d never see store-bought art in our home. So, I’d say I’ve been making cards since before I could speak in sentences!

What is your educational background? Were you trained in graphic design? Or self-taught?

I majored in “Media Arts & Design,” which threw a bunch of design, marketing, journalism, and media

history all into one intenI see that you’re a freesive program. My minor lance graphic designer. was “Art,” where I took What are the biggest classes across the creative challenges of working for spectrum – from fine art to your self? graphics to interior design and architectural model The biggest challenge is the making. My first internuncertainty of where your ship out of college was in next paycheck could come interior design, and my first from. You’ll have weeks full-time job was in I simply when work is rolling in, graphic design for new clients are lining up design the salon/spa indusat your virtual doorstep, try. I’ve dabbled in stuff and you feel very comit all, and found that fortable in the freelance any design oriented that I’d life. But then you’ll have work is to my liking! actually some dry spells too. I had to learn to expect buy for the highs and lows, and myself. budget accordingly.

And, of course, I learned to pray a lot and let God take control of whatever happened to me!

The other challenge is that you don’t have anyone to watch your back. There’s no “boss” to check your work for errors, no one to blame if something goes wrong, nobody to substitute for you when you’re sick, no maternity leave. I’ve had to become a perfectionist, so

that my clients see only the most polished work I can produce. Of course, these challenges are also part of the reason I actually love working for myself! As a very independent person, I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?

Most of my ideas are sparked by antiques or retro stuff that I see or buy. Historic homes really excite me too – I am always in awe at how much time, effort and talent went into building and decorating the homes of old. A single Rococo curve or flowery French motif will inspire an entire design for me.

I’m also inspired by the competition that exists in the stationery industry.

Some of the most simplistic, easy-to-create designs are sold for ridiculous amounts of money. When I see those designs, I get a rush to make something better and sell it for less!

Congratulations on your soon to be baby daughter! How do you think being a parent will affect Sugarcoat Paperie?

I set up the business to work specifically with being a stay-at-home mom.

Designing can fit anywhere into my schedule (and I work best in the middle of the night!) and the readymade designs in my store need only customers’ custom text and photographs to be finalized before being printed.And since I’ve got babies on the brain, familyoriented designs just sorta flow out without much effort! I simply design stuff that I’d actually buy for myself.

Where do you hope to see yourself in the future? 5 years? 10 years?

5 years: I see myself continuing to design cards and other stationery products, while also adding in custom fine art for nurseries and children’s rooms. If success grants me the funds, I hope What is your absolute to buy a Hiedelberg letterfavorite thing to make/ press for creating extremely craft? high-end wedding invitations. Eventually, I’d like to I like to make really intrisell my work directly from cate designs by hand-drawmy own business website, ing them first, and then cutting out the middleman. converting them to vector Going wholesale would be for printing. Anything that part of the plan too. takes a significant amount 10 years: I’d love to add of time and detail-work is the title of “children’s book the most fun for me. I think illustrator and author” into I probably should have been the mix. Hopefully, I’ll have born in Europe – the slower several more kids of my pace of living is right up my alley.

own by then, who can act as my editors and critics!

I want to give them a creative childhood like mine was.

Do you have any advice for fellow crafters or aspiring graphic designers?

To crafters: Clear your brain and get inspired daily. Never sit at home or at work for a full day without going somewhere that lights your creative fire. cor driving to a local antique shop, or going for a 30-minute jog (trees and grass must be involved – escape the cityscape!). To graphic design business owners: 1.

Write quality contracts, and have them critiqued by a seasoned designer before handing them to a client.

2. Market yourself! I started my business by going online and gathering the contact information of over 1000 successful companies, and then mailing well-designed postcards to each and every one of them. I send out a new postcard every marketing season. It’s a lot of fun watching your website get thousands of hits the week you do a mailing! visit Heather’s website: heathergyoung.com

heart felt

R. : Jane upin y B d by: L viewe Inter s provided re Pictu About how much time I love the bold bright do you spend a week on colours felt offers and it’s Lupin? And how is that also a great instant gratification medium to work with time divided? (Between - you just cut the pieces out new designs, production, and go! I used to use it a lot and promotion--if you do any) to make what people now call “card toppers”, working Generally I try to keep a with felt and sequins and beads and then mounting it balance between the more fun and challenging parts of on layers of card and fancy my and the less interesting paper and all my other felt crafts developed from there. or routine bits as it’s very important not to get bored.

I don’t stick to a schedWith about 200 intriule of any kind but work cate items in your shop, you've left us all wonder- round things like my shifts ing, how do you have the at work and odd things time?? Is Lupin your full like the weather - if I have good light one day I might time job? Or is it more abandon all other plans and of a hobby? spend hours taking photos!

I often end up sewing in I work part time in a local the evenings after spending gift shop for a bit of reguthe day attending to emails, lar income but my sewing orders and other business is increasingly becoming my main income – it’s quite admin. I even take a workbox with me when we go for exciting doing my accounts drinks with friends and sew and realizing that making while we chat! stuff is now my proper job.

An interview with one of the crafting world’s hottest felt designer: lupin.

How long have you been crafting?

I’ve been making stuff for fun, in my spare time, since as long as I can remember really! I always used to have a box of “useful things” stashed away in my room as a kid, filled with bits of card and ribbon, scraps of fabric and leftover gift-wrap carefully hoarded from birthdays past. As I got older I just kept on making things as gifts for people, and enjoyed it so much that when I discovered Etsy the Christmas before last I thought, “why not give this a try?”

How did you come up with creating fun items out of felt?

I love the bold bright colours felt offers and it’s also a great instant gratification medium to work with

The only routine that I really try to stick to is to do a little bit of work everyday, no matter how small (it soon adds up), and to update my blog. I learned these habits during my Crafting 365 project, when I took a photo of my crafty efforts every day for a year, and I really enjoy sharing my work with others.

What inspired your line of disguises? (It seems to be such a huge trend in the crafting world.)

or come back to buy again or even tell their friends.

What are the challenges (if any) when working with felt? What should people at home remember to do when crafting with felt?

My moustache disguises came about because I made a moustache brooch for a laugh and everyone I showed it to immediately held it up to their face and Felt is super easy to work started pulling silly faces. with but sometimes it can The moment I made my be a bit flimsy - layers or first one and tried it on Are you the only pera bit of stuffing can work I giggled so much that I son working on your etsy wonders. It’s also (almost) shop? Or do you work with knew I was onto a winner, but I had no idea they always best to make a pata team? tern instead of getting would prove so popular! carried away and cutting It’s just me I’m afraid! I occa- It’s nice having a section freehand: even with simple sionally threaten to make my of my shop devoted to silly things and shapes it can take a while boyfriend to get them looking just “Do something to work on a go to the right and making small scale Post Office you enjoy and different items you want to make to the small for me but make it your detailed pieces sure that the details are he doesn’t perfect.

I normally seem keen! own” make. I particWhat other What advice do you have ularly love the kinds of crafts do you do, for other crafters out animal masks - there are if any? there? so many possibilities and different animals to try, I love doing what my mum My main bit of advice would it’s very exciting. calls “cutting and stickbe to do something you ening” - making cards and joy and make it your own. gift tags out of scrap paPattern books and comYou have over 1,000 per and card - and I knit mercial projects are a great sales from your etsy a bit too (though not very shop, what is the secret? way to learn, but even as well!). This coming year I a hobby crafter I think it’s really want to learn to knit really important to develop I don’t know if there is a properly and to follow real your own style or your own secret, really! I try to keep patterns, and I’ve decided unique spin on things. As a my shop fresh and interto burn off a bit of crebusiness you need a “point esting and well presented, ative steam by developing with new items clearly pho- of difference” from other simple crafty projects for makers and if crafting is tographed and I’m forever free tutorials on my blog. your hobby the imaginatweaking my shop policies I’m making a start on this tion and personalized detail etc to make them as easy at the moment, writing you put into items will make to read and useful as postutorials for felt Christmas your gifts extra special and sible. I also think customer ornaments as well as giftservice is really important - truly something no-one else wrapping ideas and designs happy customers leave nice will have. for some sweet and simple feedback, for more information, stocking-fillers. visit the store: lupin.etsy.com

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by Je .

J d e h i l it Supp ered

by M graphs to Pho

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enny's website LJCFYI is one of the first I can remember reading. I was drawn in by her creativity and her love of sharing such cute things.

She seems like the type of person I would love to hang out with. I'm constantly inspired by her craft ideas, especially her themed Christmas gifts. I know you'll also find Jenny and her crafting world to be inspiring!

When did you first start crafting? What kind of crafting did you do?

Can you be born crafting? I picked it up from my mom and grandma. When I was a kid, they were always knitting and sewing. Back then it was called "work". Now it's "cool". My mom sewed all my clothes back then.

She made me Holly Hobbie book bags and a night cap like Bert and Ernie wore on Sesame Street. She also made me a handmade Cabbage Patch Doll.

I did lots of paper crafts.

My mom claimed I ate masking tape because I went through so much of it. I wanted to be a rabbit *ahem* so I made rabbit ears and carrots out of cardboard and construction paper.

How would you describe your crafting style?

Fun and personal. For me crafting has to be fun, not a chore. I like to do projects that are fun and whimsical.

Like my Valentine's Day

Candy Bar Cozies. Candy bars do not need to be kept cozy. But they are cute and fun to use. (see candyBarCozies.jpg) I also like to bring a personal touch to my projects.

I like to illustrate cartoon characters for my friends and I use these a lot. I have used them to make tote bags for my friend's kids with their own cartoon character on them.

If you were on a deserted island and could only do one craft, what would that craft be? Why? Crafting with photographs.

Whether that is scrapbooking or iron on transfers or papercraft, I think using photographs in crafting can make them have so much more meaning. I love taking pictures and I love reliving memories when I see them used in my crafts. (see photoCubeCalendar.jpg and photoAdventCalendar.jpg) What is your favorite project you’ve ever done?

A few years ago I made shrinky dink wine charms for my friends using their cartoon character illustrations as the charms. That way when we had a party you just chose your own character for your glass.

Everyone loved them... they couldn’t believe they were made into a charm. That is when I really started to used my illustrations in my crafty gifts. (see wineCharms.jpg) How do your friends and family (and pets!) influence your crafting?

Well, I can’t knit near my cat Stewie... the yarn drives him into a frenzy! Ha ha. My pets definitely show up in a lot of my crafts. They are so comical they are perfect for softies and illustrations.

My husband, Aaron helps me a lot, especially when we go into high production mode at the holidays.

He is great at woodworking and also is an extra set of

hands whether I am making candles or gingerbread ornaments. I like to run my ideas by him and he always has good ideas of his own to throw into the mix. (see candleAcorn.jpg)My mom is always gathering supplies for me... old teacups, antique forks and my dad gives Aaron lots of good woodworking ideas. He just gave us something he found at an auction that we are going to recreate for Christmas gifts... can’t say what though!

come.

What inspires you?

I am having a lot of fun crafting for work too. My full time job at Kodak is Chief Blogger, but I also get to contribute project ideas to our Kodak Tips & Projects Center. I love this because I enjoy crafting with photographs. I have created projects like a Valentine's Day Candy Box Photo Frame and Photo Lanterns. You can see them at http://www.kodak. com/go/tips It's so much fun.

Holidays. I love holidays.

Christmas, Easter, Halloween. My year revolves around the holidays. I enjoy making decorations and gifts for whatever holiday is around the corner.

Every year you detail your lovely Christmas themes on your blog, LJC FYI. Where do you get the ideas for your themes? How do people respond to your handmade gifts?

What crafting skill are you currently wishing to learn?

I would really like to get into felting. I love working with bought felt (no hemming!) but there is so much potential in making your own. I have lots of ideas for making tons of felted balls and creating things with them.

Anything you'd like to add?

I start thinking about my Christmas theme about mid - summer. I love having a theme. It carries through from our gifts to our Christmas card. It usually stems from a favorite part of Christmas or an idea I had for a handmade gift.

Friends usually where I find the time to make all the handmade gifts I give. I just hope they enjoy them and keep them for years to visit Jenny’s website ljcfyi.com

Yummy Holiday Gift Ideas

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very year I like to do a thoughtful gift that I can give my closest friends that is useful and yummy. Since I don’t want to reveal this year’s project, I am going to give you the details from something I did a few years ago! This gift was a decadent combination of hot cocoa mix, coffee, chocolate spoons, and shortbread. And if the person had a dog, there was some doggie shortbread as well! Here are the instructions for the different components of the gift!

By: Kelly B.

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Ingredients:

Hot Cocoa Mix

5 cups powdered milk 2 cups powdered coffee creamer (use different flavors for fun!)

1 1/2 cups cocoa powder, sifted

3 cups powdered sugar 1/3 cup granulated sugar Miniature marshmallows Containers for the gifts

Recipe: With a wire whisk, thoroughly mix dry ingredients together in a big bowl. Stir in marshmallows. This recipe makes 11 cups so divide mix into baggies or containers accordingly.

Attach instructions to jar -- To use, fill your mug one third full of cocoa mix and then stir in boiling water. There’s a cute little tag for you to use if you like!

For this project, you can divide the mix into baggies which you can place in mugs or put it in decorated recycled jars!

Chocolate Covered Spoons

Make the Holiday Hot Cocoa a little more decadent with Chocolate Covered Spoons! They are easy and fast to create and add just the right special touch to the Hot Cocoa recipe!

Ingredients: 12 ounce package of chocolate chips. Use semi-sweet, milk chocolate, white chocolate, whatever you like!

40 heavy plastic spoons Crisco or shortening Waxed paper

Cookie sheets Deep glass measuring bowl Colored cellophane bags or Saran Wrap Thin Ribbon Optional: sugar holiday shapes or peppermint candies or colored sugar

Recipe: Line the 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper. Put the chocolate in the glass bowl and melt the chocolate in the microwave. Heat the chocolate at half power for 1 minute. Stir thoroughly.

Continue to microwave and stir at 15 second intervals until smooth and completely melted.

Add to the melted chocolate one teaspoon of shortening for each cup of chips. Stir lightly until just blended.

Dip a spoon into the bowl, covering both sides completely. Place the spoon on the cookie sheet and rest the spoons handle on the cookie sheet edge. If you have more than one type of chocolate, drizzle a contrasting chocolate color over each spoon. If you are using candies, press the candy into the spoon cup immediately after they are dipped. If you are using colored sugar, sprinkle it immediately after you dip the spoon.

Refrigerate the trays until chocolate is completely hardened. Wrap each spoon in a cellophane bag or Saran Wrap and tie a bow with the ribbon to decorate!

Shortbread Cookies

These cookies are easy to make and simply delicious, buttery, and perfect with the Holiday Hot Cocoa or coffee!

Ingredients:

2 cups unsalted butter, softened 1 cup packed brown sugar 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour Bowl Mixer Rolling pin

Baking sheets Fork Knife Cellophane Optional: pizza cutter

Recipe: Preheat oven to 325°F. Cream butter and brown sugar well with mixer. Add 3 to 3 1/2 cups flour and mix well. Sprinkle board with the remaining flour. Knead dough for 5 minutes, adding enough flour to make a soft dough.

Roll to 1/2 inch thickness. Use the pizza cutter or knife to cut into 3x1 inch strips. Prick each cookie with a fork and place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Doggie Shortbread Cookies

Allow to cool completely and then wrap in cellophane to accompany the Holiday Hot Cocoa Mix and Chocolate Covered Spoons!

These dog cookies are fun to make if you want to remember the furry friends in your life!

Ingredients: Biscuit Dough: 1 1/2 cups flour 3/4 cup oatmeal 1/4 cup wheat germ 1/3 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 Tablespoons honey 1/2 teaspoon bakin powder 1/2 cup water

Glaze: 1 large egg 2 Tablespoons milk Bowl Mixer Rolling pin Cookie cutters or knife Baking sheets

Recipe: Preheat the oven to 275°F. In a large bowl, combine the flour, oatmeal, wheat germ, peanut butter, vegetable oil, honey, baking powder and water. Mix the ingredients until thoroughly combined.

Roll the dough out to a ½-inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into desired shapes with a knife or cookie cutters and place on baking sheets. In a small bowl, mix together the egg and milk. Brush the glaze on the biscuits.

Bake for 30 minutes. Rotate the pans, and bake for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, until biscuits are golden and firm.

Putting it all together!

Wrap in cellophane or place in a baggie decorated with doggie’s name!

Once you have the components made, think of a creative and beautiful way to put them together!

If you want a simple gift for several co-workers, put the cocoa in bags and spoons together in a mug. You can wrap the mug in a clear or holiday cellophane bag if you want!

The year I made this gift set, I had saved big coffee cans from work and cleaned them thoroughly and let them sit with the lids off for a month to air out. I then decorated the cans and placed all the wrapped goodies inside. It made travel easy and a great way to reuse the can one more time!

If you have holiday cards from years past, they area great thing to recycle into gift decorations or tags!

Look at what you have around you and reuse things you would normally recycle or throw away. I know I’m dreaming of a green Christmas this year!

If you are looking for GREAT deals on cookware and accessories, then check out One Stop Cook!

We have over 350 products to choose from. Come and take a look, you won’t be disappointed.

We have everything from cookware to dinnerware and everything in between.

If you need a set or just a pan, we can help. If you need a great knife, we can help. Need bowls or maybe a cutting board?

We have everything you need at: www.onestopcook.com

Have a recipe you’d love to share? A tutorial to inspire rookie and veteran crafters alike?

Products from your store you’d like to share with readers? Have a crafty blog that you’d like people to know about?

Know someone that would make a great fit in our magazine?

Crafiter is looking for new handmade products, stores, blogs, and people to feature in our upcoming issues. If this sounds like you, please send us an email to jane@acraftierworld.com

recipes

Holiday Recipes

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oliday recipes Simple enough for anyone to make and so delicious everyone will be asking for seconds.

Recipes written by By: David from onestopcook.com

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Chicken Noodle

his is a great recipe when you don’t want to spend a lot of time prepping a bunch of stuff and still have a great tasting meal. Tender pieces of baked herb chicken with lots of vegetables in a creamy cheese sauce with a crunchy bread crumb topping. It’s hard to go wrong with this one. The prep time is about 1/2 an hour and bake time is an hour.

Ingredients: Chicken and Noodles ( prep time 5 to 10 min. ) 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast 1 teas. salt 1 teas. pepper 1/2 teas. onion powder 1/4 teas. garlic powder

1/2 teas. dry sage 1 teas. dry oregano 1 teas. dry parsley 1/2 teas. dry thyme 1 to 2 tbsp. olive oil 12oz. bag egg noodles water for noodles

Method: Chicken Wash and dry your chicken and put a pan of water on the stove ( for noodles ) to boil and preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Add all of your seasonings ( except the oil ) to a small bowl and mix well. Drizzle the olive oil over the chicken rub to coat ( this will help your seasoning to stick to the chicken ).

Sprinkle the seasoning on both sides of your chicken and rub it in. Transfer to a baking sheet and place in your preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove it from the oven and let cool for slicing. When cooled slice into bite size pieces.

This also makes for a great herb chicken dish but thats another recipe.

While your chicken is cooking, boil the noodles according to package instructions.

Ingredients: Breadcrumb topping, Sauce and Vegetables ( prep time about 20 min. ) 1 small can cream of celery soup 1 small can of cream of mushroom soup 1 small can of cream of chicken soup 1 can of water and a 1/4 cup 1 16oz. bag frozen california mix vegetables ( broccoli, cauliflower and carrots ) 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese 8 oz. shredded monterey jack cheese 6 slices white bread Method: Breadcrumbs Here is a slick trick for your breadcrumbs. Take about 3 slices of bread and form into a ball, then run it through a cheese grater and whoa-la‌ instant bread crumbs! Continue until all of your bread is done. About 3-5 minutes.

Add 1/2 of each cheese to your breadcrumbs and mix well. This is your breadcrumb topping.

Set it aside for now.

Now for the sauce and vegetables. Cut a small slit into the bag of california mix vegetables and microwave on high for 2-4 minutes, or until warm. Pour the mixed vegetables into a bowl and add the 1/4 cup of water, microwave on high for 1 minute, stir and microwave for another minute.

In a large bowl add your cream soups, can of water, cheese and vegetables and stir well. At about this time, your noodles should be done and the chicken should be coming out of the oven. Add them to the bowl and mix well.

Casserole Assembly: You will need 2 casserole dishes. Add 1/2 of the mixture to each dish and smooth to a flat surface. Add 1/2 of the breadcrumb mixture to each dish and lightly press down. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. They should look like this.

You are know ready to cut and serve. Have it with a nice garden salad and a glass of wine, I’m sure you will enjoy it. Serves about 10.

You can refrigerate any leftovers for about 4 days to a week and it can be frozen for up to a month.

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Baked Rigattoni

vegetarians delight! This is a great recipe for any vegetarian, easy to make and full of flavor. Great change of pace for meat lovers as well. Enjoy!

Ingredients: Sauce 1 1 1 3 1 1 2

28oz. can tomato sauce 28oz. can crushed tomatoes 6oz. can tomato paste teas. sugar teas. salt teas. pepper 1/2 teas. crushed garlic

2 tbsp. dry oregano 2 teas. dry basil 1/4 red pepper ( small dice ) 1/4 green pepper ( small dice ) 1/4 yellow pepper ( small dice ) 1 small onion ( small dice ) 2 cups water

Method: Sauce Add all ingredients to a 3qt. sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. Turn off heat and set aside.

Ingredients: Cheese 24oz. ricotta cheese 6 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese 3 oz. shredded parmesan cheese 8 oz. cooked, fine chopped spinach 1/4 red pepper ( fine chop ) 1/4 green pepper ( fine chop )

1/4 yellow pepper ( fine chop ) 2 eggs 1 teas. salt 1 teas. pepper1 tbsp. dry oregano 1 tbsp. dry basil

Method: Cheese In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients and mix well.

Ingredients: Manicotti or Cannelloni For stuffed shells, cook them first.

Add a little less sauce. tomato sauce cheese mixture 1 16oz. box dry manicotti 6 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese 4 oz. shredded parmesan cheese

Method: Manicotti Spoon cheese mixture into a piping bag or large ziplock bag and cut off corner to squeeze mix into the manicotti tubes.

Pour about 1/4in. of tomato sauce into the bottom of 2 small baking dishes. Fill dry manicotti tubes with cheese mixture and place into the baking dishes. Pour more sauce over the top.

Note: You will need enough sauce to just cover the manicotti as the dry noodles will absorb it during cooking. Sprinkle the shredded cheeses over the top and bake covered in a preheated 375 degree oven for 1 hour.

Remove cover and cook an additional 15 minutes, until cheese just starts to turn golden brown.

Garlic cheese bread Melt butter in a small sauce pan and add crushed garlic and paprika. Simmer on low for about 5 minutes. Turn heat off and let stand for 10 minutes letting the butter absorb the garlic.

Pour into a small bowl and refrigerate until it has thickened.

Spread a thick layer onto each piece of bread and sprinkle with cheese. Bake on a cookie sheet in a preheated 375 to 400 degree oven for 10 minutes or until cheese starts to turn golden brown.

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Delicious Peaches

ere is a quick and easy dessert for you to try. Juicy peaches, roasted pecans, vanilla ice cream and maple syrup‌ YUM! This is a great recipe that you can try with different kinds of fruit. Cherries, strawberries, apples, blueberries, raspberries, almost any fruit will work well

Ingredients: 1lb. peach wedges ( fresh or frozen ) 2 sheets puff pastry ( 1 box ) 1/4 cup flour 3 tbsp. sugar 3 tbsp. brown sugar 1/2 teas. cinnamon 2 to 3 ounces chopped pecans or walnuts 2 tbsp. butter or margarine 1pint vanilla ice cream maple syrup ( thick )

Method: Add butter, nuts. 1 tablespoon each of sugar and brown sugar and a tiny pinch of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon to a small sauce pan and saute for 10 minutes or until nuts are slightly browned. remove from heat and cool.

In a large mixing bowl add your peaches, flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts. Stir to combine.

Take one sheet of puff pastry and roll out on a floured surface to 1/4 inch thickness. Spread 1/2 of the peach mixture onto the bottom half of the puff pastry leaving 1 inch of room around the bottom and sides of the pastry. Fold over the top half and crimp it down with a fork to seal the edges. Poke holes in the top using a fork to ventilate during baking. Transfer to a non-stick baking sheet and repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry.

Bake in a 425 degree preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until pastry has risen and is golden brown. It should look like this.

s In Puff Pastry Slice into about 2 inch strips and place a few scoops of ice cream on top of your piece and drizzle with a good quality maple syrup. Enjoy!

Makes 8-10 servings.

This is great for parties and only takes a little bit of time to prepare. Your friends and family will surely enjoy this sweet treat.

craftier profiles Name of Store: PulpArt Store and/or Blog Link: www.PulpArt.Etsy. com Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Gender: F Age: old enough to need reading glasses; young enough not to fall asleep before I’m done using them Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: my paper shredder - I use it to shred junk mail and other recycled papers so it’s easier to make them into pulp Favorite Craft related website or event: www.clothpaperscissors.com Advice for fellow crafters: Just because you hate something you made doesn’t mean you won’t love it in a couple of weeks ... or years.

Holiday Tips: In my home, I require that all stockings gifts are homemade. It can be a coupon book, a mixed tape, some earings made at the bead store. Doesn’t matter, you just have to make it yourself.

Strangest gift or most memorable (can be good or bad!) I’ve received: The most memorable gift was from a young child who gave me a toothbrush. It had been used.

Name of Store: CustomDogBandanas Store Link: www.CustomDogBandanas.etsy. com Location: Houston, Texas Gender: Female Age: 18 Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: Fabric and wood!

Advice for fellow crafters: Always do what you love and persevere!

Holiday Tips: Try to get your shop name and/or products out there for other people to see. Ask family members to tell friends about your shop, go to some craft fairs, and just have fun!

Name of Store: Piece of Peace Blog Link: http://livinginspired365.blogspot.com/ Store Link: http://Pieceofpeace.etsy.comLocation: Montreal, Canada Gender: Female Age: 35 Favorite Crafting Tools/Materials: wool, beads, yarn.

Favorite (Current) Craft related website: http://www.resurrectionfern.typepad. com/ Advice for fellow crafters: Keep an inspiration board above the space where you craft. Creativity breeds more creativity!

Holiday tips: quality over quantity always wins Most memorable gift received: a handcrafted quilted book Store name: Kimonocards Link: http://www.kimonocards.etsy.com/ Location: Charlotte, North Carolina Gender: Female Age: 60 years Favorite crafting materials and tools: Scissors and kimono silk fabrics Favorite crafty hangout: Etsy I was born and raised in Sweden, but have lived and worked overseas for the last 35 years. While living in Tokyo, Japan, with my family over a decade,besides falling in love with the country, its people and culture, I also started appreciating the beauty of vintage kimono and obi fabrics and started collecting.

With some of the fabrics I made some silk quilts, but when returning to the US in 2007, I started to design and sell greeting cards using these beautiful fabrics.

I draw and then cut each design by hand and assemble it carefully on the greeting card; my logo is also stamped by hand on the back of the card. Not two cards look the same, due to the enormous changing patterns of the kimono fabrics.

I take pride in not mass producing my cards.

Advice: Patience “Relax while crafting”

Name of Store: NYPapercrafter Store and/or Blog Link: www.NYPapercrafter.etsy.com Location: New York Gender: Female Age: 54 Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: My sizzix machine and working with all different kinds of paper.

Favorite Craft related website or event: I enjoy Craftbits.com Advice for fellow crafters: When you get into a crafting slump look around you... maybe go for a walk. Even a rainy day holds inspiration.

Holiday Tips: On my holiday table I place a handmade place card at each seat with the persons name on it. Inside the card I write a note to the person telling them why we are thankful for them. I never realized until recently that my family has been saving them from past years.

Strangest gift or most memorable (can be good or bad!) I've received: Most memorable: when my children were teenagers I asked them instead of buying a gift to write a paragraph on why they appreciated me. I was both surprised and touched by their writings and still treasure them.

Name of Store: Haute Pink Deisgns Store Link: www.hautepinkdesigns.etsy. com Location: Victoria B.C Candada Gender: Female Age: 24 Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: rubber stamps + paper punches Favorite Craft related website or event: web site- etsy.com event- "Out of hand Christmas craft fair" in victoria b.c Holiday Tips: Don't think you have to buy the most expensive craft supplies to make a really nice craft project. Be creative!

Advice for fellow crafters: If you are trying to get more people to know about your crafts, give them as holiday gifts But be sure to start making them early in November to avoid the Holiday rush!

Strangest gift or most memorable (can be good or bad!) I’ve received: My most memorable gift was given as a christmas gift to me as a child. It was my first set of rubber stamps.

Name of Store: Anatomy of a Skirt Store and/or Blog Link: www.anatomyofaskirt.com, www.anatomyofaskirt.etsy.com, www. robotaday.com Location: Canada!

Gender: Female Age: 27 Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: My industrial sewing machine and my sturdy thread snips!

Favorite Craft related website or event: One of a Kind show in Toronto, ON Advice for fellow crafters: Do your thing and be true to your own artist vision!

Holiday Tips: Take some time to enjoy the season (you'll be happier and more productive too!) Strangest gift or most memorable (can be good or bad!) I've received: Someone once gave me a store-bought purse, even though I make purses for a living! It was a bit incomprehensible.... but it was a pretty nice purse! I think the thought was that I'd enjoy something I didn't have to make myself, which is actually a really sweet idea.

Name of Store: Featherbrain Store and/or Blog Link: featherbrain.etsy.com Location: Washington, DC Gender: Female Age: 26 Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: Feathers, satin, felt, and my trusty hot glue gun.

My newest obsession is my digital SLR camera, which I use to photograph all of my work.

Favorite Craft related website or event: My favorite event is the Crafty Bastards festival, held twice a year in DC. The fair features a huge range of local independent artists, all of whom are incredibly talented and equally friendly. I also love Etsy.com and I find new inspiration on that site on a daily basis. Its members foster a deep sense of community and provide an exceptional support group for new crafters.

Advice for fellow crafters: Gorgeous photographs can make all the difference if you are selling your creations online. Enlist the help of a friend with a decent camera, and use models if your work is wearable. Don’t forget the importance of good customer service. Spend a little more time answering questions, ship as promptly as possible, and include handwritten thank you notes with your products. A few glowing recommendations from customers can go a long way!

Holiday Tips: Skip the gossip blogs and spend a few minutes online each day looking for the perfect gift instead. Sites like Etsy.com are wonderful for finding truly original and beautiful pieces for your loved ones, and will spare you the frenzy of the mall.

Strangest gift or most memorable (can be good or bad!) I've received: My most memorable gift was my beloved adjustable easel that I received when I was a little girl. As I raised the easel notch by notch to accommodate my growth spurts, my artwork evolved from fingerpaints and crayons to watercolors and oil pastels. I eventually grew too tall for the easel, but it helped me develop a love for art that I have never outgrown.

Name of Store: MyHandboundBooks Store: MyHandboundBooks.Etsy.com Blog: MyHandboundBooks.com Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) Gender: Female Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: It all begins with paper. All kinds of paper, ranging from expensive Japanese washi to old paper bags and chunks of corrugated cardboard.

Favorite Craft related website or event: I really enjoy the discussions that take place at the Book Arts Forum (www.bookartsforum.com) where bookbinders and book artists chat about tools, materials, techniques, etc. I also love participating in the periodic book swap events that take place through this forum.

Advice for fellow crafters: Take a lot of pictures of your finished pieces. The next time you can't decide what to create or you are in a creative slump, go back and look through the photos from a year ago or two years ago, and you will be inspired all over again by your own work.

Strangest gift or most memorable (can be good or bad!) I've received: Each year for Christmas when I was young, my parents would give me a box full of craft supplies: coloured papers, tape, glue, crayons, glitter, etc. As I got older, the contents of the box evolved to include other things like charcoal sticks, watercolour paints, calligraphy pens and such. But whatever the box contained, it was always the best gift

Name of Store: a common thread Store and/or Blog Link: www.a-commonthread.com Location: brooklyn, NY Gender: female Age: 28 Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: everyday objects like plastic bags with pretty designs, cake box string, or the simple twine that my mail comes bundled in.

Favorite Craft related website or event: bust craftacular

Name of Store: Paper Flowers Boutique Store and/or Blog Link: paperflowers. etsy.com/ melissaschoenhardt.blogspot.com Location: Utah Gender: Female Age: 27 Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: paper,glass,fabric,vintage ribbon and other findings, rotary cutter Favorite Craft related website or event: http://lizzyhouse.typepad.com Advice for fellow crafters: Enjoy it!

Crafting to me is about relaxing and coming up with a product I love.

Holiday Tips: Get all your crafty friends together and have a Holiday Gift Swap Party. Use the items you get from the swap for neighbor and family gifts. That way you don't have to make a bunch of different items and you still get to give handmade.

craftier Have your profile featured here by sending us your handmade product, blog, or anything craft related to feature!

Send all submissions to

submissions@acraftierworld.com.

Name of Store: Paper Fixation Store and/or Blog Link: paperfixation. etsy.com paperfixation.blogspot.com Location: Kansas City, MO (although I'm a transplant from the Northwest) Gender: Female Age: 29 Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: PAPER!, sparkles, a sharp blade, and a flexible paper adhesive Favorite Craft related website or event: Etsy is by far my favorite crafty website. I spend loads of time looking at all the wonderful handmade items available!

Urban Craft Uprising in Seattle is a pretty awesome annual event to go to! It's like if you could visit Etsy in person!

Advice for fellow crafters: Don't compete! Just create! I used to worry too much about the competition or the color of an item because what if someone doesn't like that color, etc. Once I let all that go the inspiration started flowing! Make what you love. Don't make it if you hate doing it! It shouldn't be a chore! Keep creating. Give yourself daily goals to keep things moving.

Also, be sure to take great photos of your items. And most importantly...have EXCELLENT customer service!

Holiday Tips: Give a handmade gift!

Weather you buy it or make it yourself, handmade is the way to go. If you think you're not crafty enough to make something, write a letter or frame a photo! An item from the heart and hand is sure to please the recipient much more than a mass produced item!

Strangest gift or most memorable (can be good or bad!) I've received: The strangest gift I ever received was a Q-tip from my friend Sam! It cracked me up!

Name of Store: Lil Sprout Greetings Store and/or Blog Link: lilsproutgreetings. etsy.com or www.lilsproutgreetings.com Location: Mechanicsville, Maryland Gender: Female Age: 29 (probably the big 3-0 by the time this is published!)

Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: my laptop, photos, photoshop, good quality patterned paper, and paper cutting tools Favorite Craft related website or event: Etsy! I love browsing to see how creative other people are and to find inspiration.

Advice for fellow crafters: Keep a notebook handy at all times to jot down notes! I get my ideas from the strangest places, at the most inconvenient times. It may be a shirt, a photo, or simply sitting outside that triggers an idea and if you don’t write it down in that moment, you may lose your inspiration.

Holiday Tips: Less is more and simple is always better. I used to stress about getting several presents for each member of my family, and it finally clicked in the past few years that one or two meaningful, simple gifts are what everyone loves the most.

Name: Nate Bagley Name of Store: Talitha Leather Link: www.talithaleather.com (site, and on-line store) www.talithaleather.etsy.com (etsy store).

Location: Portland, Oregon Gender: Male Age: 29 Favorite Tools and Materials: Utility knife and hammer and anvil; leather, wood, rivets Favorite Craft related website or event: Portland's Alberta Street "Last Thursday" Art Fair.

Advice for fellow crafters: Holiday tips: When you run out of ideas of something new to make as a gift for friends and relative, barter your crafts with other crafters as a meaningful and inexpensive way to get your holiday gifts.

Strangest or most memorable gift I've recieved: A pastel snow globe with a ceramic, open mouthed baby chick in a nest inside the globe, and a momma bird with a worm perched on the outside of the snow globe with its head protruding through the glass towards the baby bird. Its head had been cut off for the body and the body of the bird was glued to one side of the glass, while the head was glued to the other.

Name of Store: ancient future Store and/or Blog Link: store is: www.ancientfuture.etsy.com blog is: http://everythinggardens.typepad.com/alternate_leaves/ Location: echo park (los angeles), ca Gender: female Age: 29 Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: organic and natural materials (i'm also a garden designer) Favorite Craft related website or event: http://www.designspongeonline.com/ and http:// www.designformankind.com/ Advice for fellow crafters: i live by the confucius quote "find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life" Holiday Tips: i don't buy into the holiday stresses. holidays are about the important things in life at my house... being surrounded by good friends, family, yummy healthy food and love. any presents that i give are hand made and from the heart.

Strangest gift or most memorable (can be good or bad!) I've received: the most memorable is the beautiful red and purple skort that a very good friend made for me.

Name of Store: Chikabird/randL - 2 labels for twice the confusion!

Store and/or Blog Link: www.chikabird. etsy.com Location: Seattle Gender: Lady parts Age: 26/29 - I think. Maybe 27/29

Holiday Tips: Buy handmade or make gifts for the holidays! It is so much more meaningful. People would much rather have something that was carefully handcrafted than mass-produced.

Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: Fabric is so accessible, so it’s our default favorite. But we have some big longing crushes towards felt, leather, wood, metal, and ceramic. We love the polish that a little piece of hardware can bring to an item, or the tactile appeal of natural materials. Tools wise - We’re pretty pleased with the machines we’ve invested in - a good home machine and a couple of industrial walking foot machines really open up possibilities. And our steam press has saved us HOURS.

Name of Store: Moxie Madness Store and/or Blog Link: Shop: http://www.MoxieMadness.etsy.com Blog: http://moxiesmadness.blogspot.com/ Location: Bloomington, IL Gender: Female Age:29

Strangest gift or most memorable (can be good or bad!) I’ve received: I got a how to play harmonica kit from someone who was really enthusiastic about how they had found the perfect gift for me... it was really puzzling to think about what made them think it was so perfect.

Favorite Craft related website or event: I really love the creative minds at the crafster website. I also look forward to the Renegade Craft Fair.

Name of Store: Ink Drop Design. All of my cards are from my original hand drawings, photography, or digital illustrations.

Store and/or Blog Link: www.InkDropDesign.etsy.com Location: beautiful San Diego, CA Gender: female Age: 33 Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: Papers, patterns, and photography.

Favorite Craft related website or event: I love printpattern.blogspot.com. It is an amazing collection of the greatest patterns worldwide.

Advice for fellow crafters: Do what you love and go for it! Be passionate about what you do and love what you do.

Favorite Crafting Tools and Materials: Ink and felt are pretty high on the list, but I’m a firm believer that Mod Podge can fix anything except dinner.

Advice for fellow crafters: Loving what you create is uber important but so is trying out new things. Don’t be intimidated or afraid that something won’t come out perfect, just give it a whirl.

Holiday Tips: I always go crazy and try and make everyone’s gift, but I’m coming to realize that’s just not going to work out. So each year I choose two people that I’m going to make for and just bite the bullet and buy for everyone else.

Strangest gift or most memorable (can be good or bad!) I’ve received: The strangest gift I’ve ever gotten has to be the “tea cozy” that a co worker gave to me one year for a mandatory gift exchange. It was a Stocking cap with two holes cut in it, a postit note stuck on it saying how they hoped I liked the tea cozy.

Thanks again to all crafters that submitted their handmade goods, tutorials, and time to make this issue possible!

back page fun

The New Year If you don’t already know how “MadLibs” work, all you have to do is think of word that fits the secription in the list below. Don’t peek at the story! The best part about MadLibs are the surprising answers that people put! When you’re done writing your words, read the story and insert the words you came up with. Enjoy!

Verb Food Special Day Group of People Name Holiday Object or animal Object Animal Object used everyday Kitsch Item Adjective I couldn’t believe 2008 had passed us by so quickly. I mean, it feel like just yesterday we were (verb) with the neighbors. I was thinking to myself as I scraped the leftover (food) off our best china--we only used it on (special day) and during the holidays when (group of people) came over.

(Name) called me and I quickly snapped out of my thoughts. (Name) asked what I got (gender) for (Holiday) and I said I couldn’t tell, but I smiled to myself knowing that I was giving (Name) a handmade (object or animal) made only out of (material). (Name) is going to LOVE it! I really out did myself this holiday season.

I looked under the (object) where we kept all our presents and knew exactly what was in every wrapped present. There was a plush (animal) for the baby, a (object used everyday) from a very practical person, and a (kitsch item). Yay. That one was for me.

It doesn’t matter though. I know it’s the thought that counts! And I also know that 2009 is going to be the (adjective) year ever! Happy New Year!

at Craftier, the grass is always greener on our side

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