Chalk Paint Demo this Saturday, March 7

We have many new products in stock in our Folk Art Chalk Paint line; new colors, finishes, stains and larger 16 oz bottles. We also have several cool new tools including sanding blocks, layering blocks, scrapers for distressing and brushes.

Our 8oz bottles of Folk Art Home Decor Chalk Paint are currently on sale for $5.98 during our National Craft Month March Ad. 

Have you been wanting to try the Chalk Paint technique but do not know where to start? 

Join us this Saturday, March 7th from 1pm - 3pm for a Chalk Paint demo! This is free of charge. Melissa will be showing you how to use the Chalk Paint at the Paints & Basics Demo Counter. 

Vinyl Project of the Month: You Are My Sunshine Canvas.

Our Vinyl Project of the Month for February is a now available in store. This month you can pick up the supplies to create this You Are My Sunshine Canvas - which is the perfect way to add a little color and fun to these very cold winter days!

You can find the project instructions for this project on our WEBSITE HERE. And you can find all the supplies to create this project here at Crafts Direct.

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Each month throughout 2014 we will be creating (and sharing) a "Vinyl Project of the Month". The project will be on display - with all of the coordinating products to create it yourself - by our Vinyl Room in the Seasonal Department. You will also be able to pick up (or find online) a project sheet with detailed instructions on how to creative the project as well.

Kids Crafts: Painting & Coloring Kits.

One more Kids Crafts post for you this week! If you know any kids that love to paint or draw some of the products I have to show you today will be perfect!

First, we have these fun painting by number kits. I like these particular kits because they come in varying degrees of difficulty (with subject matter that matches the intended skill age). And they are not to large to be overwhelming but will keep the kids busy for awhile.

The same company also makes the same type of kit with colored pencils instead of paint. A little less messy and would be great to pack along for a road trip or vacation!

 Finally, you've probably seen the velvet coloring pieces before, but we do also have these items as "kits" that come with the sheets to color and the markers. These aren't color by number but it is nice that they come with everything you need for the kids to create a masterpiece.
 

You can find all of these items in aisle 24 of our Paints & Basics department.

Project Ideas: MORE Paper Mache Letters

Today is the start of our new Mother's Day Sale Ad (which you can check out HERE). Included in the ad and on sale for only $7.88 each are our large (23.5") paper mache letters. Recently we created some new project ideas using these large letters that I thought I would share with you today - each of them turned out equally amazing but so different too! 

You can find a link to project instructions for each of the letters below by clicking on the project name, and you can also find project sheets for all of our paper mache letter samples by clicking HERE.

 Star Stamped Paper Mache Letter

Faux Metal Paper Mache Letter

Vine Covered Paper Mache Letter

Washi Covered Paper Mache Letter

Moss Covered Paper Mache Letter

Yarn Wrapped Paper Mache Letter

Hexagon Painted Paper Mache Letter

Doily Embellished Paper Mache Letter

Photo Covered Paper Mache Letter

Classes Classes and more Classes!

There are still openings in some of our February classes and we have added some classes to our March Calendar. Including some Happily Ever After classes for brides to be and a Flower & Cake Design class, the next course after basic cake decorating. Soon we will be posting our demo's and make & takes that we will also be holding in March for National Craft Month (NCM). The necklace pictured on the right is the Rosemaling project for this months class. Isn't it beautiful?



We hope to have April's calendar up soon, but will tell you the dates for our Card Chaos classes. They will be held on Tuesday's April 12th and April 19th from 6pm to 8:30pm. We are trying something new, we are offering a daytime card class on April 19th from 2pm to 4:30pm. This will hopefully allow more people to get into the class since it is a popular one.

14 Days of Love 2011: Day 4

Day 4: three heart frames - Nicole made this and I just love the simplicity & how cute it is. Perfect for displaying pictures of her three kids. Crafts Direct carries these heart frames that come attached to the rope, and retail for less than $3. All she did was paint them (Tuscan Red), add photos, and applied a sticker below each frame opening. The stickers are from Echo Park's line "Be Mine".

25 Days of Christmas: Day 4

Day 4: Coaster Sets - Everybody could use a coaster set and when they are this cute who wouldn't want one. Crafts Direct carries all the supplies you would need to make these and the 5pc. coaster set is on special right for only $3.00.

Here is a listing of the basic supplies used for all of them:

• 5 pc. coaster set
• acrylic paint
• asst. printed paper
• stickers
• rub-ons
  
• paper punches
  
• embellishments
• Ultra Seal
• felt or cork for back of coaster
  
• Envirotex (optional)

If using envirotex you can follow these steps we used for the tile boards. For complete instructions just click on the coaster set you like.

Basic steps:

1. Trace a coaster on 4 different papers and on felt, if using felt on back of coaster. Cut out.
   
2. Paint the entire box inside and out. Also paint the coasters, both sides and edges. Let dry.
3. Using Ultra Seal as glue adhere all papers to one side of the coaster let dry.
4. Punch out desired shapes, apply embellishments or rub-ons onto the punched shapes and use Ultra seal to adhere to each coaster (best if applied toward the corners so glasses sit flat on coasters).
5. Apply stickers to coasters if desired and any other embellishments.
6. Seal all coasters using Ultra seal.
7. Apply self adhesive cork dots to the back of coaster or attach felt squares using Ultra Seal.
8. Decorate outside of box as desired.

I can send you step by step instructions for any of the three coaster sets pictured if you email me kristines@craftsdirect.com

25 Days of Christmas: Day 2

Day 2: Count Down to Christmas - This is project is fun for kids and adults alike. All the supplies can be found at Crafts Direct.

Supplies:

• 4 to 5 printed double sided paper (we used Bo- Bunny paper)
• Days 'til Christmas vinyl by Vinyl Words
• 2 - 3.5" wood blocks SCH/247
  
• wood base
  
• acrylic paint
  
• Ultra Seal

Steps:

1. Paint the wood blocks and base making sure to cover all sides and edges. Let dry.
   
2. Cut twelve 3.25" squares from the printed paper. Also cut one 1.25"x7.75" strip from one of the papers.
3. Using Ultra Seal as the glue adhere one square of paper on each side of the two blocks. Use the same method to adhere the strip of paper to the front of the base.
4. Apply vinyl saying to the front strip of paper. Then apply these #'s to one block 2,4,3,0,1,5
   and the rest of the #'s to the second block.
5. Using the Ultra Seal as a sealer now, apply a coat or two to cover the entire surface of the blocks and base. Let dry.

It is as easy as that. All that is left to do is finding a place to display it in your home.

Classes!

I just wanted to show you the samples of the beading classes we are offering in January and February. Beading 101 and 201 projects are both necklaces with a pair of matching earrings. I just love the colors the instructor chose.

The photo of the Rosemaling pieces are the projects from our Rosemaling class. The frame is January's project and the heart box is February's project. The good news is that there is still room in both of these classes, if you are interested in taking them.

We have also, added another painting class for beginners to experienced painters. It is a Chickadee sled that reflects a winter scene, using acrylics. This is a two session class held the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 28th and the evening of Thurs. Jan. 29th.

Another new class we are offering is Mitten Madness, for experienced knitters. The class is being held on a Sunday, January 25th from 1pm to 4pm.

We hope to see you in one of these classes, and don't forget to check out our calendar to see all the other classes we offer.