Craft Crafters Crafting Handcrafted

Cute Reindeer Belly Button Candy Recipe

2011-12-13T06:36:00.000-10:00

Such a fun recipe to make with the family. I Love all the ingredients from the pretzel's to the Kisses to the M & M's :) Here's the recipe link ~ Reindeer Belly Buttons

Santa Hat Cupcakes Recipe

2011-12-13T06:24:00.000-10:00

What a fun way to dress up cupcakes for the Christmas Season :) I found this recipe on Twitter from Amazing Moms. You can view the step by step, with photos, instructions here ~ Santa Hat Cupcakes Recipe.

Happy Holidays!

Making Candle Wax Tarts

2011-09-29T18:43:00.000-10:00

I use an old porcelain Corning Ware teapot to melt soy candles.
I use soy candles because it doesn't stick to the molds and is easy to clean.
The heat is set on low to medium.
The fragrance of these candles is Orange Danish and Cloves :)
Very warm, very holiday-ish, for all holidays ~

Pouring the melted candle wax into some candy molds.
It's very quick to dry.

I added some cinnamon sticks in the 1st batch I made.
The second batch is plain.

Halloween Feather Earrings with Beads

2011-09-28T19:05:00.001-10:00

So, while I was busy uploading the photos Rel took for our "How to Make Feather Earrings" tutorial Rel was busy making herself a pair of earrings using black feathers and orange beads :)

I asked if she'd do a tutorial and she said "Sure!"

Coming soon ~

We have loads of feather earrings to choose from :)

Halloween Feather Earrings ~ Add a Pumpkin Charm

2011-09-28T18:40:00.001-10:00

Here is the feather earring we made.
We added a gold colored pumpkin charm.

We have lots of feather earrings to choose from!

Choose a charm.
We chose the gold colored pumpkin charm.

Cut 6" of 28 gauge black colored copper wire ~

Fold the wire in half to form a loop then twist 4 times ~

Slip the both ends of the wire into the charm loop ~

Stop at the length you want ~

Fold the wire up ~

And start twisting ~

Snip off the excess wire and tuck in with chain nose pliers ~

There you go :)

Charm's ready to be added to feather earring ~

Open the loop of the ear hook by pulling wire to the side with chain nose pliers ~

Slip the charm in the loop and close it back up ~

Here you go!

Happy Halloween!

How To Make Feather Earrings for Halloween

2011-09-28T18:00:00.001-10:00

In keeping with the Halloween theme I'm using black feathers and black wire.

We have a wide assortment of feather earrings to choose from :)

Here are the tools you'll need ~

Wire cutters, needle nose pliers, chain nose pliers

Here is the wire I used ~

Black colored copper wire in 20 gauge and 18 gauge.

Let's start :)

Cut 18" of 28 gauge wire (you can use 24 and 26 if that's what you have on hand).
Fold in half and form a loop.
Take your needle nose pliers

and crimp with your fingers to form the circle like so...

Here's what it'll look like ~

Take your chain nose pliers and clamp on the loop ~

Twist the 2 wires 4 times ~

Put together and straighten it out ~

Take your feather, make sure it has a strong tip so it won't break, and hold it together with the wire ~

Clamp both together with the chain nose pliers (however far down you want it) ~

And start twisting tightly to make sure the feather stays put ~

When you've wrapped it enough cut the excess wire. You'll be left with the tip sticking out ~

Tug at it to make sure the feather won't come out ~

Now to make the earring hooks :)

Cut 2 1/4" of the 20 gauge wire ~

Next comes the loop where the feather will hang from.

Take your needle nose pliers and make a small loop, don't close the loop ~

Now bend the wire to make the ear hook ~

Take your chain nose pliers and bend the other end out slightly ~

Sand the end down with a finger nail file ~

Now to connect the feather.

Slip the loop of the feather into the ear hook

Close the ear hook ~

Voila!

Halloween feather earrings!

Next tutorial we'll show you how to add a gold colored pumpkin charm to your feather earring :)

Chocolate Chip Candy Cane Cookie Recipe

2010-12-27T08:24:00.000-10:00

This photo belongs to Sugarcrafter.net

This morning I was looking at the candy canes we have left over from Christmas and thought it would be nice to use it in chocolate chip cookies. So I googled chocolate chip candy cane cookies and came upon Sugarcrafter.net. She has a recipe with photos and all and I just love the look of the cookies in the photo above and how she's got it all wrapped up with the ribbon and all. Hop on over to her blog and check it out, might be good for New Year's dessert!

K-Mart Craft Fair on Christmas Eve

2010-12-26T07:28:00.001-10:00

Natural Maui participates in a craft fair and farmer's market at K-Mart in Kahului every Friday and Sunday from 9am to 4pm. Today is an exception because I'm spending much needed quality time with my family after a hectic Christmas season.
Along with my craft table, where my daughter and I sell our sea glass and shell items (we gather all the sea glass, shells, drift wood, and anything else we find interesting ourselves and we make all of the products we sell ourselves) there is also a vegetable stand, many of the items locally grown in Kula and a Poi Mochi table.
Here are a couple of photos of us at the K-Mart craft fair on Friday, Christmas Eve.

Not only do they make Poi Mochi, a local favorite, the also make coconut mochi and banana mango mochi (my favorite). Notice also the sign, smoked marlin (my daughter's favorite) and salmon. Ono! If you are visiting Maui stop by K-Mart on Sunday's when they are usually set up to savor the taste of local favorite grinds.

Locals and visitors alike visit Nui Fresh Farms Produce to get locally grown produce at great prices.

See the big building in the background? That's Costco.

Ummm green leaf lettuce juice! See the taro leaves?

Christmas Hoop Earrings

2010-11-10T15:01:00.000-10:00

Here are some Christmas earrings I've been working on for a craft fair. The wire is 20gauge tinned copper wire and is nontarnishable. The Christmas embellishment I got from Wal-mart a couple of years ago. You can use almost any kind of light embellishment like the one I used and even better if you make it yourself. I just had these left over and want to use them up.

I'll be sharing this craft along with some other crafts in an eBook I'm putting together. Until then, I have to get back to my crafting! Thanks!

Strawberry Theme Recipe Card and Whipped Strawberry Frosting Recipe

2010-11-08T11:49:00.001-10:00

Here is a free recipe card with a Strawberry theme and a recipe that my daughter Rel and I used for the topping on our most recent chocolate cake.

To use just right click on the image and save to your desktop or USB.

Whipped Phil with Strawberries

1 – 8oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1 – 80x. Whipped Cream
10 – 12 frozen strawberries thawed

Cut the strawberries in tiny pieces
Put all the ingredients in a large bowl
Use electric mixer on high until smooth

Voila!

Here’s a photo of our cake

Red Rose Gift Wrapped Recipe Card with Rose Water Recipe

2010-11-07T21:41:00.003-10:00

Christmas is right around the corner so I wanted to share a recipe card, I made, with you to use in a gift basket.
The recipe card is a 3×5 card with a parchment paper background. It appears as if it’s tied with red ribbon and a rose with leaves bow to top it off.
On there you can write the recipe for Rosewater that I’m going to share with you in the form of a video I found on YouTube.
First the recipe card, to use it right click on the image and save to your desktop or USB.

A very simple recipe for rose water is to add rose essential oil to distilled water but if you like to make it from rose petals here's a very nice recipe from Scented Gifts by Laura Dover Doran :>D

Here are the materials she used:
8 cups fresh rose petals
2 1/2 cups distilled water
1/3 cup vodka
Strainer
Sterilized glass container

The process:
Combine rose petals and water in covered saucepan, bring to boil slowly
When active boil reached turn down heat, simmer for several hours
Remove from heat, allow to sit for 2 days
After 2 days bring water back to boil then simmer for 1 1/2 hours
Set aside to cool

Pour vodka into bottle or container
Pour water through nonmetallic strainer into a separate bowl while pressing rose petals against strainer
Pour rose infusion into bottle
Makes about 3 cups of rosewater
If use rose petals for decoration be sure to strain out rosewater into another container before use.

How lovely would this be if this card with this recipe along with a bottle of rosewater, some rose scented bath salts and candles were included in a gift basket. What a great Christmas idea for a gift!

Here are some other books by Laura Dover Doran that you might enjoy reading just as I have enjoyed this book, Scented Gifts.

It's a Really Beautiful Day On Maui!

2010-11-05T12:04:00.000-10:00

After a couple of days of intense heat and humidity, then pouring rain, today is nice and cool, some wind, little overcast sky but it's the best weather for either sleeping or cuddling up and reading a book or watching a good movie OR making crafts which is exactly what I'm getting ready to do! I'm working on primitive country Christmas tags with a stain technique that, no, I did not learn on my own but from other primitive country crafters and I'll be sure to share their link when I post my tags, Christmas tags to be exact!

Hemp Beaded Anklet :>D Free Craft Tutorial

2010-11-05T11:21:00.002-10:00

This is a hemp anklet my oldest daughter made for me a couple of years back. She used a very basic macrame stitich, I don't even know what it's called anymore, I think it's a square knot. I used to macrame quite a bit years ago, then taught my daughter little things here and there and she went on to teach herself more. Anyway, this has some pretty expensive jade beads that we got free from one of her aunt's collections of broken jewelry. She made this for me for my birthday and I treasure it!!!

And if you decide that you'd like to learn how to macrame and make something like this as a gift I'm sure whoever you give it to will also treasure it!

Here are some awesome links that show you the basics of macrame and then I'll share some links that show how to make a beaded anklet.

Half knot and square knot :>D Once you get to this page she'll have more instructions on macrame, more complicated knots that are variations of the half knot and square knot. She also has instructions on how to use beads with square knots.

Here is an excellent video on making a beaded hemp anklet without having to macrame and it is by Catherine of Eclectic Designs :>D

This is one of the many Christmas gift ideas I'll be posting, and I'll probably post more on this, and many more free craft tutorials so subscribe to be updated! My subscription box is on the right side bar, just fill in your email! thanks!

Candy Cane Ornaments :>D Free Craft Tutorials

2010-11-05T10:32:00.000-10:00

Photo credits: Shoreline Church

Every year for Christmas we make sure to buy a couple boxes of candy cane, it's really reasonably priced, and put it on our Christmas tree so when children or guests come over they can take one. We never really got into decorating our candy canes though. My children, when in elementary school, once made reindeers from their candy canes and they often received it as a gift from class mates.

I have made candy cane ornaments out of felt before. Those are pretty simple to do. I just drew out my own candy cane shape but you can also use cookie cutters to draw it out. Place the pattern on the felt (or cloth) and cut 2 out. Make sure to leave some space for the seam. Sew the 2 pieces together, you can sew it by hand or sewing maching, leaving a space to stuff. Turn the candy cane right side out and stuff then sew close the opening. Now you can sew a ribbon on the top to hang from the tree and embellish your candy cane. I've used sequins before, red felt, white sequins with a red bead to hold the sequin in place.

These are fun crafts that can be made up quick and sold as fundraiser items or to use as an embellishment on a Christmas package. A great Christmas gift idea ~ use the finished candy cane ornament and sew it on to a barrette or glue it on to a headband.

Here are some links to some other free candy cane ornament craft tutorials :>D

How to make candy cane Christmas tree ornaments ~ Candy Cane Signs, Candy Cane Hearts, Candy Cane Reindeer

Beaded Candy Cane Ornament ~ I actually received one like this from my beautiful niece! It's made with green and red beads and it's very pretty and sturdy!

Candy Cane Ornaments ~ Kid Friendly!

Method 1 :>D Is so cute and geared towards little hands using just red and white pipe cleaners

Method 2 :>D Is like the beaded candy cane ornament above

Here's another idea, no link here, take red and white pompoms and alternately glue them onto a candy cane shape cut out from card board. Glue a ribbon onto the top to hang on the tree. Very kid friendly is this free candy cane craft idea.

Lots more free Christmas craft tutorials, patterns, and gift ideas so subscribe to get updates. It's easy, just go to the subscription box on the right side bar and fill in your email. Thanks!

Wire Wrapped Sea Glass Jewelry :>D Free Craft Tutorial

2010-11-04T12:16:00.000-10:00

Photo credit: Natural Maui Sea Glass Jewelry

I am an avid sea glass collector. I collect many beautiful pieces many of them more than 100 years old. The history behind these pieces fascinates me. Sea glass is fast becoming extinct due to the replacement by plastics. So if you can get yourself some sea glass you are pretty lucky. Even here on Maui, sea glass is not abundant but we do find sea glass and when we do it's a treat!

I made that pendant in the photo. I didn't learn this by myself though. I searched the internet high and low to learn and now I'm going to share some of those sites that offer free craft tutorials on how to wire wrap sea glass as a Thank you for teaching me. While there look at the finely crafted sea glass jewelry they have to offer for sale as well.

I don't think I need to say what a wonderful Christmas gift idea this is. Every time I give one of these fine pieces as a gift the recipient is fully elated and so will your recipient!

Here's one of the places I found that has a step by step guide on how to wire wrap your precious sea glass shard. It is from The Sea Glass Journal. It's nice and simple to follow and you'll be so pleased with the finished product! I'll be posting more on this too so subscribe to my newsletter for updates. My subscription button is on my right side bar. Thanks!

Wire Wrapped Tree Of Life Ornament :>D Free Craft Tutorial

2010-11-04T11:54:00.000-10:00

Photo credit: Cut Out and Keep

Okay, I'm on now! and here's a beautiful, beautiful Christmas ornament that you can make for your own tree or for a gift. It's beautiful! Looks like it can even be a pendant. And the colors, I think you can choose whatever color wire and beads you like but it's nice to have a pattern to follow. This is a free Christmas craft tutorial given by Lisa H. for Cut Out and Keep. Thank you Lisa! In this time, when finances are shaky it's nice to know we can still give beautiful gifts to family and friends.

Okay! This is new! There's an embed option where I can embed the tutorial here so I'm now going to try that. Awesome if it works!

See Wire Wrapped Tree Of Life Ornament and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

Okey dokey so this is how it is embedded. I would go on over and look this up because it looks like an awesome craft and is a great Christmas gift idea too!

Halloween 2010 Maui

2010-11-01T10:20:00.000-10:00

This is my princess...er...zombie vampire! She wanted to be a vampire but her cousin said she looks like a zombie. We made her costume. Underneath is black light material that she used 2yrs. ago. I just draped it over her head, cut a hole for her head to go through, sewed the sides for her arms, and made the bottom ragged. this year we added silver/grey tulle. I also just cut a hole for her head. Draped both over her head and pinned it in the back. She put her own make-up. We bought a tube of white stuff for like 88cents at Wal-mart. She had some red lipstick in her make-up case and she used my brown eye pencil. Then she used red food coloring to make blood drip from her lips. Here's a really spooky pic of her!

Perfect! She looks like she's getting ready to bite someone's neck here!

This is my grandson and his mommy, my oldest daughter. I made him his costume. It gets hot and humid here on Maui so we try to dress them up in cool clothing so they won't get hot and grouchy. The orange onesie I got brand new at a bag sale and it cost me nearly nothing. The black facial features I got from my kids pumpkin carving set. I traced it out on some black material I have and glued it on with Fabri-Tac™ glue.

This is my son. He didn't wanna go trick or treating. I forced him too LOL! But he had fun anyways. He pulled at his cheek and said "this is a mask that can't come off" and then he smiled cheek to cheek laughing!

These are the goodies that were handed out at my grandson's other grandma's house. She and her kids made these up. So cute! This is where we spent our Halloween night and we had just a blast! Good family, good treats, good food, good fun!!!

Here are some pics of their trick or treating. We were especially excited because it's my grandson's 1st trick or treat adventure and he was so good and just was so fascinated by all the lights. Didn't cry once!

Hope everyone else had as great a Halloween night as we did!

How To Make Scrabble® Tile Pendant :>D Free Craft Tutorials

2010-10-31T11:03:00.000-10:00

Photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org

Scrabble® tile pendants seem to be the rage nowadays. I happened upon this by chance one day when looking up different sea glass pendants, which I make. It's super neat and pretty simple to make. I myself got a scrabble game from my sister that she'd been storing for years. I can't wait to start making my pendants. Here are some of the sites and blogs I found that give free craft tutorials on how to make a Scrabble® tile pendant. Most of these sites also sell Scrabble® tile pendants so if you're not feeling like making one you can buy one from them. The cost is very reasonable. I imagine that matching earrings can also be made with these tiles.

What an excellent Christmas gift idea!

On with the blogs and Thank you for sharing!

eHow

Albu Design

Annie Howes Keepsakes

Suite 101

As soon as we make our Scrabble® tile pendants we'll be posting photos up.

We are constantly updating this blog with new free craft tutorials of all kinds for people of all ages and at all levels of crafting experience so if you'd like to be updated feel free to subscribe!

Crochet Doll Blanket :>D Free Craft Pattern from About.com

2010-10-29T10:51:00.000-10:00

Photo credit: About.com
Designed by: Sandi Marshall

I just posted about some really cute teddy bears that are yours for the making and I mentioned as one of the accessories a blanket. This blanket in the above photo, is a crocheted blanket that can be used for teddy bears or dolls. This free craft pattern comes to us courtesy of About.com. There's even instructions on how to crochet as well for those of you who have always wanted to learn to crochet.

A thought came to my mind earlier when I was putting away my grandson's receiving blankets. My daughter, who is now 12 years old, would always collect receiving blankets to use for her dolls. Cute! If you wanted to make it fancy you could trim the edges with ribbon or lace. Color coordinate the receiving blankets to make a nice pajama top for your teddy bear and then snuggle up!!!

Teddy Bears! :>D Free Craft Patterns at Beary Cheap

2010-10-29T09:27:00.000-10:00

Photo credit: Beary Cheap

Aren't these just adorable? Teddy Bears are one of the best gifts anyone, child or adult, can receive as a gift. At Beary Cheap you can download the free pattern and instructions to make both of these cuties, Clementine and Casey. Follow the link I provided and you'll be pleasantly surprised. There are even more cute free teddy bear patterns available to download! Bonus is, at this site is available for sale, many of the parts you'll need to make this bear.

Add items like a blanket, tie a balloon to an arm, make some cute simple shirts, there's so much that can be done!

Raggedy Ann 15" Doll :>D Free Craft Pattern From Bella Online

2010-10-29T08:24:00.000-10:00

Photo credit: Bella Online

From surfing the internet I can see that Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls are still very popular. Wouldn't you like to make some little girl happy by gifting her with this cute 15" Annie doll? Well, good news! This free craft pattern, designed by Helen B. Wharton, is available now at Bella Online. If you love to sew, have a gift for crafting, and need a gift for a little girl, this is a winner! Hop on over to Bella Online for the full instructions!

Christmas Tree Baby Food Jars :>D Free Craft Tutorial

2010-10-29T07:39:00.000-10:00

Photo credit: Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom

I can just imagine this Christmas Tree, made from baby food jars, all lit up at night just looking so beautiful! The Christmas tree in this photo is from a free craft tutorial over at Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom blog.

This Christmas craft follows right in line with my previous post, Christmas and Crafting, only this is on Christmas decor but the cool thing is this can also be given as a gift.

The tutorial is really easy to follow with step by step photos for the visual learners in mind. Hop on over to Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom and make a few of these to give to family and friends and while there browse through her blog and see all the other wonderful crafts she's made!

Christmas and Crafting, Christmas and Crafting

2010-10-29T06:25:00.000-10:00

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, please to put a five hundred dollars in the old man's hat, please to put five hundred dollars in the old man's hat! Why five hundred dollars? Well, think of when this nursery rhyme was written. A penny probably went a long ways. Five hundred dollars is a bit of an exaggeration but I just wanted to make a point.

Christmas time, I like to give gifts to everyone, nice gifts, but sometimes my pocketbook is a little short on the cash I need to purchase nice gifts for Christmas. Soooo, what is the alternative...CRAFTS!!! Thank God that we can craft! And that's why I like to look for free craft patterns and tutorials for kids, family, all kinds of crafts especially crafts that use household ingredients or items that can be recycled. I like to share what I find in hopes that it helps another crafter to get some great ideas for gift giving all the while, remembering to thank whoever I got the free craft pattern or tutorial from by placing a link on that particular post that goes back to the original site where I found the free craft pattern or tutorial, that is sooooo important.

And so, I'll be surfing the internet, books, magazines, and where ever else I can to post free craft patterns and tutorials that can be used as Christmas gifts.

No Bake Clay :>D Free Kids Craft Tutorial

2010-10-28T18:49:00.000-10:00

Part of the fun with children is watching them learn through crafting. Not only does it stimulate their brain but it also helps to strengthen muscles such as with this kids craft, no bake clay. Depending on the age of the child you can also teach them some math while measuring, and colors while adding the food coloring to the mixture. Even better is when you teach them how 2 colors mixed together will make a complete new color. That's all old news I know but sometimes when we read it again it helps to remind us and hopefully will also trigger some new ideas and put to use some old ideas. Crafting with kids is always fun, especially when you see the joy on their face when their creation is finished. Nothing can turn a ) to a ( faster than criticism though. Not at that age when nothing else should matter but building self esteem, a solid foundation for children.

On with the craft! This free craft tutorial, no bake clay, is shared by Education.com, with some suggestions on what to make with no bake clay such as creations centered around a holiday theme. And, what else is cool about this craft is almost all of the ingredients necessary to make this craft is from your kitchen cupboard!!!

Scary Limbed Paper Tree :>D Free Kids and Family Craft Tutorial!

2010-10-28T12:51:00.001-10:00

Photo credit: Family Fun

When I look at this I think of the Disney program all 3 of my children used to just love to watch. It was these trees that look just like the ones in the photo with Donald Duck wearing a sheet over his body but we could see his tail sticking out from behind when he waddled LOL! And the song, "grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize!" Oh classic!

These trees in the photo are actually made of paper and Family Fun shows us just how to make it, not only with print instructions but also accompanied with a video tutorial. I watched it and it seems pretty simple. I Love the way, well, it looks like orange gumdrops attached to the tree.