ArtFire Crafters for Canines

There's a new site showcasing the artisans of ArtFire who create for canines. We've just started accepting new studios, so if you have an ArtFire studio and your crafts are inspired by the dog, please consider joining the group. It's another way to promote your studio as well as fellow crafters. It's also a great way to shop for you 4-legged friends. Please check back often to see what new shops and handmade products have been added.

Crafters for Canines

The ArtFire - Etsy Debate

Let me begin by saying that I have shops on both Etsy and ArtFire and I'm in no way trying to promote one selling venue over the other. But I've been reading the forums for quite a while and I'm really suprised at the attitude of many Etsy sellers toward the new ArtFire site. I've read lots of negatives statements concerning ArtFire, mainly low views, no sales, unattractive front page, and poor search options. Does anyone remember the birth of Etsy? Pretty similar, right? ArtFire is still in its infancy. It's still in Beta, which means it's in constant change. Those of us who have started studios realize that and don't expect an immediate influx of buyers rushing to purchase our items from a relatively unknown site. But the word is getting out. Both administration and members are pushing hard to promote the site.



Etsy sellers should welcome this new kid. Competition is not bad. It makes others step back and see if there might be some improvements they could make. There are lots of inovative projects happening on ArtFire. Perhaps Etsy will recognize that sellers respond to improvements. Monopolies become stagnant. Competition encourages companies to become the best that they can be.



ArtFire is just giving us another selling option and if it works for you, great. But if your loyality remains with Etsy, that's ok too. It's a matter of personal choice and neither site should be bad-mouthed for giving it's members an inexpensive storefront to sell our handmade creations and vintage treasures. Your comments are welcome!

Recycled Playing Cards

One of my latest finds in my thrift store excursions was a deck of Coca-Cola playing cards, used but still in perfect condition. I put them to good use by repurposing them into cute retro notepads. This first example is meant to be used as a keyring - never be without paper in your purse again! There are also lots of other uses. Hang it by your phone with phone numbers..... Or on the kid's backpack.... Or anywhere you need information fast. I have one hanging on my desk with my website passwords!


The next is a notepad bound with Rollabind disks. A perfect little pad to carry with you anywhere. The nice thing about both these items is more paper can be added at any time. Never discard the covers - only the used paper sheets inside!



For more information on making recycled notepads, visit my Squido lens, Re-Creative Crafting.

Recycled Calendars

Yearly calendars, given away free as advertising, are filled with beautiful images and photos. I've been saving mine for years, but have never really done anything with them. Well, I've finally gotten around to using them for envelopes and matching cards. Here's what I came up with.

For the envelope, I used a template from Green Sneakers, but you can easily make your own template by unfolding an envelope, tracing, and cutting it out from cardboard or plastic sheets. I mounted the photo page on a white paper sheet prior to cutting, as it was slightly smaller than the template. The extra lining also makes the envelope a little stronger if you are sending it throught the mail. The resulting white border on the envelope came out great. Since I had leftovers from the calendar page, I used the same picture to create a matching card. Don't worry about writing an address, just use a white label stuck on the front.

I tried using Lick and Stick glue for the flap, but it didn't stick to the glossy paper. So I'm using clear 1" stickies that I made from a clear plastic sheet and my Xyron.

I love the look of these envelopes and cards. They're fast, easy, and best of all - FUN!

Happy Mother's Day

Do You Squidoo?

What is this Squidoo, anyway?

According to Megan Casey, one of the founding members:
"Squidoo is the popular publishing platform and community that makes it easy for you to create "lenses" online. Lenses are pages, kind of like flyers or signposts or overview articles, that gather everything you know about your topic of interest--and snap it all into focus."

It's a fascinating site to browse around. I've created my own lens entitled "Re-Creative Crafting", which will focus on tips, techniques and tutorials for creative projects using a variety of repurposed materials. It will showcase more detailed information about many of my projects seen on this blog.

If you have a Squidoo lens, please leave your URL as a comment so we all can take a look.

Recycled Computer Disks

I've finally figured out what to do with those obsolete 3 1/2" floppies. They make great little desk calendars. I printed a year's worth of calendars on cardstock and used two metal eyelets to hold them between two disks. The calendars can be used freestanding on a desktop or closed like a book. This is just a basic calendar, but you could stamp images or decorate the pages in any way you'd like. And it's a great way to make use of something that would just be thrown out.

Recycled Postcard Notepad

Just though I'd share with you another of my recycled items. The cover of this notepad is made from a recycled postcard mounted on chipboard. I used 24lb 50% recycled paper for the pages.

Altered Postcard Notepad

A while back I was working on altered vintage postcards. I was toying with the idea of making some mini notebooks or journals when it dawned on me I still had a bunch of my postcards. Why not use them for the covers of my journals? Well, here's the result:

The cover is from a computer generated copy of my original altered postcard. It is laminated for protection and mounted on chipboard. The back cover is also chipboard. The binding eyelets allow the book to be folded back on itself for easy writing. The notebook measures approximately 3 1/2" X 5 1/2" and contains 35 pages of parchment paper. I'm really pleased with the way this came out and will surely be using some more of my previous projects for more journals.

A Card for You

Re-Use, Re-Cycle, Re-Purpose

Everywhere I go these days I am looking at things in a new perspective. I'm trying to see things not as they are, but as they could be. I'm transforming vintage buttons into pendants. I'm creating magnets from game pieces and vintage findings. I'm saving junk. I'm looking for odd hardware and breaking thrift store china. Why? I want to save unique treasures from the past by crafting them into new usable items. My present project is vintage inspired magnets, using bottle caps, Rollabind disks, and any small piece of interesting recycled treasure. I'm also breaking up china to use in mosaics. And I have plans for old silverware, used Christmas cards, cups and saucers, and more! This mosaic tray is a work in progress made from a wooden thrift store purchased base and broken dinner plates. Once it's grouted and the wood is finished off with a sealer, it will make a great presentation tray.

If you'd like to see some of my newest magnets, read my post about them on All Vintage All the Time. I'd also love to hear about your recycled projects.

Happy St Patrick' s Day

Senior Crafters United!

The Artful Seniors on Fire Guild membership is growing daily. These talented artisans have banded together to support the 55 and over generation. The guild is open to any ArtFire verified seller at least 55 years young. Take a look at these great studios to see what these senior crafters have to offer. This list was originally published by Alisun's Custom Crafted Jewelry Blog.

Acadienne
Crocheted items and gift baskets
Alisuns
Swarovski , gemstone, and glass jewelry
ArtbyJoan
puzzle greeting cards, Acrylic canvas paintings
ATouchofGlass
Stained glass art
ByDorothyLouise
Ceramic and vintage jewelry and collectables
CastinClay
Polymer clay art
CasualCottage
an eclectic collection of fabric items and painted porcelain
CherryTree
Ceramic sculptures
Crazywomanglass
lampwork
DLCreations-AL
gemstone and crystal jewelry
EclecticOddities
She has some of everything here: jewelry, upcycled and new, fabric art and garments, note cards… ah, go visit her studio! Hehe
Eliswoodgifts
No two items in this studio serve the same purpose. Come see!
EllaBellaMe
Vintage look jewelry, vintage patterns, baby items
Franciebagsetc
OOAK bags from fancy to casual
ImagineArt
Vintage and art supplies
KizingtonPlace
Upcycled dominoes and strung jewelry
Krschurr
custom athletic wear
Ktdesigns
OOAK jewelry
MaggiesMarket
Jewelry supply, craft supply, jewelry for you and your electronics and your wine
MySassyGlass
fused glass
Nossubgallery
Bead woven jewelery and 8strand braids
OldCroneBeadWorks
Vintage and Vintage style jewelry
Pepper
crocheted and knit items
Piscesmagick
Family (and pet) jewelry
SimplyUniqueJewelry
Her name says it all
SpiritDance
All things spiritual with beads
Storybookquilts
Her name says it all: and she personalizes
TheChicadeesNest
this n that & OOAK cards
tiedyejudy
If it's fabric, she dyes it!
VelmaGeorge
Crystal, gemstone, foil glass and more kinds of jewelry
VintageIntent
Very eclectic shop. You'll have to stop in to get a feel for it.
VintageNotionsLady
Her name says it all
WooleyCreek
Tribal and Ethnic jewelry
Zzazz
fabric housewares, especially pillows, and crocheted items

Glazes

I've been experimenting with various types of sealers and protectants for my pendants and magnets. I love the look of resin, but I won't use it due to its toxicity and the precise measurements involved. Two products that I have used with acceptable results are UTEE and Diamond Glaze.


I love the shine of UTEE (Ultra thick embossing enamel) and it's quick hardening. Bubbles are easily removed and the resulting surface is very smooth and glass like. It can be reheated and melted again if you're not satisfied with the results. On the downside, it isn't very scratch resistant. I'm presently looking for a polyurethane or acrylic sealer to apply on top to give it a hard seal. There's also a product called UTEE Flex, a resin, which is supposed to be added to melted UTEE to give it more durability.




Diamond Glaze, on the other hand, takes 24 hours to set properly, and after a few days, it seems to be much more scratch resistant. Tiny bubbles can be a problem if you're a perfectionist like me! It's also not quite as clear as UTEE.

I tried using UTEE to set the picture in place with a nice glassy coating, then applied a thin layer of Diamond Glaze for it's hardness. I wasn't completely satisfied because of the few tiny bubbles I always ended up with in the Diamond Glaze layer. (I did say I was a perfectionist!) For the present time, I'm just sticking with the UTEE. Any one have any suggestions?