FUN Thursday Nights for the Month of April

Join Becky Dykes, Silhouette & Cricut Life Inspiration Box,  Jamie Omahen, Craft Chameleon, Lisa Potts, Lisa Potts Design  and Andrea Ross, My Very Crafty Life on Thursdays this April. 2 hours of back to back lives on crafting! Record your other shows t hen join us for fun conversations, great crafts, lots of inspiration  and camaraderie! Craft Along TV - https://www.facebook.com/CraftAlongTV/ Thursdays for the month of April 6pm - Becky Dykes 6:30pm - Jamie Omahen 7pm - Lisa Potts 7:30pm- Andrea Ross Central Time

Crafting & Art Therapy Become More Important Than Ever

According to the American Art Therapy Association,

           "Art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psycho-therapeutic relationship.

          Art therapy, facilitated by a professional art therapist, effectively supports personal and relational treatment goals as well as community concerns.  Art therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensory motor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance societal and ecological change."

It’s a well known fact that over the last few years, the handmade market has exploded.  After the start of Etsy, a trend began and others tried to follow along such as ArtFire and Handmade on Amazon. Many of the people that originally started shops on Etsy were woman; woman that were staying home with their children or people that that found themselves home with chronic illnesses. What started out as hobbies turned into businesses. What was once a tiny niche of an industry became a significant player, as the appetite for high-quality products (made by an actual human being) keeps growing.⁣ 

The world has been turned upside down with COVID19 and the 3 biggest consumer trends impacting our lives right now are working from home, homeschooling, and home fitness.  The handmade world has been called on as face covers, masks and other supplies have been in short supply all over the country.   Craft Chameleon has free patterns  available for a ITH Embroidery Mask and a Face Shield.

Are you new to being at home keeping the kids busy during this strange time? Good Housekeeping has a great list of 50 fun activities for the little ones. Check it out!  

Middle Schoolers? Send those guys on a virtual field trip here! Even high school and college kids can fight boredom and keep their head in the game for school by checking into some of these Ivy League Free online classes! 

More than ever, people are turning back the clocks to a time when being safe at home was a good thing, not to mention a normal thing. People are having conversations more, playing games, doing some much needed pampering and self care that many just don’t have time for anymore. For example, I had forgotten that I used to paint my own nails in the past. I didn’t always go to the nail salon and have them done. I can grow and paint my own nails but I haven’t in years until now. Lots of people are using this time to learn a new skill or language. How do you learn a new skill? Everyone is different is seems. I am big on reading. If I want to learn how to do something new, I head to the library. My sons on the other hand would go straight to YouTube to watch it. My husband would just do it and learn as he went.

Craft Chameleon has an abundance of DIY craft supplies at reasonable prices to keep you and your family busy during this time at home.  Along with the supplies to stay busy Craft Chameleon also has nightly Facebook Live tutorial videos to teach new craft methods and to provide social interaction without leaving the contact of leaving your home.

Don’t miss out on any new product releases, special events or sales. Join our NEWSLETTER list HERE!

You can never have too many craft supplies from Craft Chameleon.

Add to your supply stash today!

Shop Here!

Personalized Color Your Own Bag DIY Tutorial 2018

It's so nice to welcome back Terisa Bostic, this weeks guest blogger! Terisa is showing how to make this personized 'Color Your Own Tote Bag!' So let's dig in with Terisa below!

SuppliesItems listed with an * are clickable links to the products

* Sturdy Canvas Tote Bag with Handles (Natural color)

* Black Heat Transfer Vinyl

Cutting Equipment  - Used here Silhouette Cameo

Cutting Mat and weeding tools

Heat Press or Iron - Cricut EasyPress Used

SVG or other digital design

Use the font selection tool, type in the name you will be putting on the bag.  It is best to select a font that is thick and without out any swirls or flourishes.  For this design, I selected Franklin Gothic Heavy.

Next you want to create an offset that will allow you to cut the outline of the letters. This gives the “coloring book” effect to your finished item.   After typing the name, select the font and right click.  A menu option will pop up.  Select Offset.

The offset menu comes up.  Select Internal Offset and in the distance field type in 0.035.  Then click Apply.  You can play around with this number and create a thicker or thinner line, depending on what look you desire.  Depending on the font selected, you may have to adjust due to the shape of the letters.  If the offset is too large, your letters won’t cut properly.

Select your design that you wish to use to complement the name.  I selected a design I already had in my library from Silhouette Studio.

Highlight the design and then right click to bring up the menu.  Select Offset. 

Then click Internal Offset and change the distance to 0.025.  Click Apply.

Right click and drag the cursor to include both the design and the text.  Then right click and select group.  This brings your two designs together as one group.

Since we are cutting on Heat Transfer Vinyl, we need to reverse the design.  Highlight the design and right click.  Then select flip horizontally. 

Your design will be reversed on the screen.

Place HTV vinyl on cutting mat with the clear/shiny side sticking to the mat. Place in cutting machine. Click Send in the upper right corner.  Under material, it should say heat transfer material. ( Mine shown in the picture is incorrect.) Click Send.

Remove vinyl from machine when cutting is complete.  Weed design by removing the larger center part of the design.  The part you will need is the thin outline on the outside of the design.

The canvas bag will likely be a bit wrinkled when you remove it from the package.  Give it a quick press to remove the wrinkles before placing the vinyl.

 Center your cut out vinyl on the bag, with the sticky side down.

Place sheet of pressing material on top of the design.  I use just regular kitchen parchment paper.

Set your heat press to 305°C for 30 seconds.  Apply force to the heat press and apply to each area of the design.

When design is cooled, slowly remove the clear plastic from the design.

The design is finished and ready to color!  For a permanent effect, you can use fabric markers or sharpies.  For a temporary washable look, Crayola washable markers are perfect.

Thank you Terisa! What a great idea for your child or grandchild this summer, personalized party favors, activities bag, Sunday School tote, Mandala for adult coloring and so many other ideas.

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