New Image Group Blog

Winter Suncatchers – Holiday Fun for the Whole Family

2011-12-19T15:24:00.001-05:00

My favorite days in the winter are those when the sky is a clear, bright blue and the sun is shining. On those days the temperature isn’t much of a concern because it’s just so pretty out. But let’s face it. Sometimes, no matter how pretty the sky is, it’s just too cold to spend time outside. So bring the best of the outdoors, in!

Suncatchers can really make the indoors sparkle with that natural sunlight. Plus, they are so versatile. My son and I paint them together and then attach them to holiday gifts. My son loves giving out these presents, bragging that he painted the attached suncatcher just for that person. Some of our friends hang the suncatchers on their Christmas trees and then after the holidays put them up in bright windows so they can enjoy them all year long.

We don’t even carve out a ton of extra time to paint our suncatchers. It becomes part of our holiday preparations. We do have one special tradition though: when we know we are going to get snow, we pull out some special designs and paint them the night before so that they are ready to glitter against all of the pretty fresh snow.

What do you do with your suncatchers?

Crafty Stocking Stuffers

2011-12-08T14:49:00.000-05:00

Thanks to our friends over at CraftGossip.com we discovered our favorite new website: Bugs and Fishes! The site is the brainchild of Laura “Lupin” Howard who confesses that she is obsessed with felt. We didn’t need to know much more to love her. But then we took a peak at some of her projects and all we could say was, WOW!

Laura has a creative vision and ideas that got the wheels turning for us. In fact, she published a wonderful article full of adorable projects that would be perfect as stocking stuffers. Check it out!

Do Laura’s projects give you ideas? Share them with us! Tis the season to be making gifts and with all the people on our list we need as many ideas as we can get!

Winning Ideas

2011-12-07T18:44:00.000-05:00

Over the summer we ran a contest asking crafters to show us their Back-to-School themed projects. Kimberly Crick won the contest with her a set of tags that featured an animal on one side and the letter and word on the other. (See it here.)

We were curious about what Kimberly did with the products she won, so we asked her.

She made this beautiful Checkers set using Lara’s squares and discs. She stamped her own designs to create the pattern of the board and the crowns for the kings.

We loved her out-of-the box thinking on this project and were inspired to try it for ourselves.

What do you think? What other games could you recreate in your own style?

And the Stockings were Hung by the Chimney with Care…

2011-12-01T23:26:00.000-05:00

I don’t know about you, but it seems like every other year or so we are adding stockings. Whether we’re replacing worn out ones or adding new members to the family doesn’t seem to matter. We just need more. Plus, my son loves to give his teachers gifts in a stocking as an extra touch so we’ve had to figure out quick and creative stocking making. Fortunately, we have some really talented designers on our team to help us with that!

Over the next three weeks we are going to share fun and different stocking ideas with you. Make them to decorate your hearth, or give them as gifts. Either way the process is fun and much like snowflakes, you can make each one unique.

This week we’re starting out simple with a basic mini stocking. This little guy is easy to make and perfect for gift cards, candy, dog or cat treats and other small gifts. Mix it up a bit by making it with different colors of felt, or add Stick-It Felt numbers letters or shapes for an extra touch.

Have fun and show us your cute little creations!

Thanksgiving Reflections

2011-11-30T11:00:00.000-05:00

Our Thanksgiving holiday was a wonderful time for us to spend with our families and think about all of the wonderful people and opportunities in our lives. It also reminded us what a pleasure it is for us to craft and to share our crafts with others.

Crafting is so much more than just creating decorations or gifts. It’s a time to be creative and bond with friends and family. And in one special case, it was a time to learn a new culture and share some of our own.

A few summers ago we sent Kelly’s suncatchers with the Monaghan Baptist Church on their mission trip to Jamaica. We paint suncatchers all the time. We get excited by the new designs and love to get creative with them. But even we weren’t prepared for the reaction we got.

The people our friends at Monaghan Baptist visited had never seen anything like our suncatchers before. They took excitement to a new level. And we got to see a craft we do every day through fresh eyes.

The Monaghan Baptist was a success on many levels. We are so glad we got to be a part of it.

Getting into the Spirit of Christmas

2011-11-25T14:52:00.000-05:00

Now that we all have bellies full of turkey and have reminded all those near and dear just how grateful we are for them, it’s time to turn an eye toward Christmas.

The spirit of the season is about giving and while it is so much fun to watch someone receive and react to a gift, it is just as fun to do something for someone in secret. But instead of the traditional Secret Santa parties, we found a great way to get the whole family in on the act, without having to worry about gift lists, budgets, time lines and so on.

We call it the Gratitude Wreath. The wreath itself is pretty simple to make with dowel rods and squares of felt. It’s what you nestle inside the wreath that makes it really special.

Using long pieces of paper, friends and family can write down a good deed they’ve done, or something special that was done for them and anonymously tuck it into the wreath. This way all of your family’s good deeds are recorded, thanks are given and you get a daily reminder of how all of those little things add up to make a big difference.

Want an easy way to get the little ones involved? Let them know that Santa and his elves can see the wreath. They’ll love knowing that every slip they add to the wreath helps them stay firmly on the “nice” list.

Click here for instructions to make this wreath.

Frame It Up for Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T11:58:00.000-05:00

We’ve been trying to pull together some fun and quick ideas for your Thanksgiving dinner. This project is an old favorite – easy enough to do for everyone at your table and pretty enough to keep in your house all year long.

You can get this project done in no time – you just need a frame, some jute or twine and our fall leaves assortment. If you want to change the look a little bit, you can use felt instead of jute for the background. If you stick with the jute, simply wrap it around the frame. Place and then glue your leaves and you’re done!

If you want to use this as a name plate on your table, simply print or write your guests’ names on cardstock and put it in place. Or, take your favorite Thanksgiving photo and proudly display it.

Happy Thanksgiving from New Image Group!

Cute Critters

2011-11-21T10:41:00.000-05:00

With their reputations for making a mess of the garbage, raccoons may not be the most welcome sight in your yard. But these guys will stay exactly where you put them. And maybe even get a little giggle out of you. They are easy to make and could even make for cute and unexpected little name holders at your Thanksgiving table. Click here for instructions.

Felt Crafts for Kids

2011-11-17T11:00:00.002-05:00

With the weather turning colder and rain and snow moving in, you may be looking for things to keep the kids busy if they’re stuck in the house. Our friends at Better Homes and Gardens have just the thing with this selection of felt projects for kids of all ages. In fact, all of these projects would make great homemade holiday gifts.

Gobble Gobble!

2011-11-14T15:41:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is just over a week away. While you’re pulling out all of your recipe cards and making shopping lists, the kids may be itching to do something, too. How about making a fun decoration for the front door?

This project was born out of necessity. My son gets so excited about Halloween every year that by the time we’re thinking about Thanksgiving, all of the best decorations are long gone. So we improvised. We found a plain, pre-made, wooden leaf wreath in the clearance section of a local store.

Then we went through our stash of felt and pulled out our favorite Fall colors and got to work. It’s important to note that for this project we used EZ Felt. Our wreath wasn’t big enough to support all of our turkey feathers. The stiffness of EZ felt meant that our turkey feathers would stay at attention, even if they didn’t have part of the wreath right behind them.

We wanted the colors of our turkeys to really pop, so on some of the feathers we laid Soft Felt over the EZ Felt. This also added dimension to our turkeys.

How did we make the turkeys? Easy. We drew the number 8 on our felt pieces in different sizes until we found the size we really liked. Then we cut out three turkey bodies. For the feathers we drew parentheses ( ), closing the tops so that we had a point and then cut them out. If you look closely at our project you’ll notice that while the feathers all look similar, none of them are the exact same size. Much like you’d find on an actual bird.

We used craft glue to put it all together and gave the turkeys some personality with google-eyes. Finally, we cut a square of felt that was just big enough to cover the area where we attached the turkey feathers and glued it to the back.

Once all of the glue was dry we broke out the hot glue gun and put a healthy amount on the backs of our turkeys and placed them on our wreath. We laid it flat to dry and cure overnight. The next day it was ready to go on our front door.

My son loved doing this project. With the exception of hot gluing the turkeys to the wreaths he was involved every step of the way and loves telling people which turkey is supposed to be him. (It’s the one on the left.) With the exception of letting the hot glue cure overnight, we were able to complete this project in one evening, after dinner. So even if you pull this together at the last minute, you can still have it ready for Thanksgiving Day.

Quick & Easy Halloween Decor

2011-09-30T09:43:00.001-04:00

We've been thinking about Halloween all summer and are super excited that we can finally start to trot out spooky decorations without getting funny looks.

Naturally, every year we make more and better Halloween decorations than in years past. This year is no exception, but we've added a rule to our creepy fun: recycle as much as possible as we decorate.

There must be something in the air because Jennifer Perkins from Naughty Secretary Club and I Love to Create gave a set of canisters new life when she decorated them for Halloween.

Jennifer uses both felt and yarn on her canisters, which gives a nice dimension. However, if you don't have any yarn, you can use felt for the entire project. Plus, if you have some Quick Stick felt handy you can make this project that much faster.

Now go scare up some supplies and get crafting!

Trend Alert: Rosettes are Everywhere!

2011-09-27T11:09:00.001-04:00

It seems like lately there are rosettes everywhere I turn – on clothing, hair accessories, even home décor! Want to bring the trend home without spending a fortune? Make your own rosettes! Our own Patti Gorman shows you how. They are simple to make and you can personalize them by making them in a multitude of sizes and colors. Add them to pillows, create centerpieces, even update handbags or clothes.

Photo from StyleToGo.com

Photo from Horchow.com

Photo from GoJane.com

Click here to get Patty's tutorial and start crafting your own rosettes!

Quick and Easy Dorm Room Décor

2011-09-26T13:00:00.002-04:00

Making a home away from home isn’t always easy, but you can make that first semester away from home more comfortable. Between getting into the swing of course work, adjusting to roommates, making new friends, and possibly even working, finding time to craft may not be tops on the list. But a cool project like this one from Cut-out and Keep is cool, highly personalize-able and a snap to make, especially if you use Quick Stick felt:

Designer Craft Tip: Making Shapes

2011-09-20T10:50:00.002-04:00

You can do tons of really cool stuff with felt, including cutting it into really cool shapes. But what do you do when want a great shape, but you’re not so hot at drawing free-hand? Use cookie cutters! With all the shapes and sizes out there, it will be easy for the kids to find something they love. Let them trace their favorite cookie cutters with chalk; the chalk is easily washed off so the cutters will be ready for you next baking project. Older children can cut out their own shapes, but smaller kids may need a hand with the scissors. Once you have your new shapes cut out, the possibilities are endless. Glue the shapes to cardboard or construction paper to make pictures and cards or decorate each one, then get out a hole punch and some ribbon for instant tags and ornaments. Let your imagination run wild!

Warming Up to the Books

2011-09-19T14:54:00.000-04:00

Across the country students are now about two weeks into the school year. That means they should have all of their text books. But are they all covered? If you’ve run out of paper bags to do the job, consider felt! Felt book covers are easy to make and highly customizable – you can even add a holder for pens and pencils or a small notepad.

The crafty sewers at Disney Family Fun show you how easy this "book blanket" project is.

Looking for even more inspiration? Check out how we dolled up a spiral bound book using 9" x 12" felt and a few fun embellishments.

National Sewing Month

2011-09-15T11:42:00.000-04:00

September is National Sewing Month! Whether you use a machine, or stitch by hand, this month is for you. Did you know? Sewing is one of the oldest arts – scientists believe cavemen sewed in the Paleolithic era, using bone for needles and animal hair for thread. The sewing machine wasn’t invented until the early 1800s and computerized sewing machines weren’t readily available until the late 1970s.

Today people can buy patterns to load into their sewing machines and complete their projects in a fraction of the time. Of course, hand stitching will never go out style. Fixing a button, a quick hem, even a larger project like making a piece of clothing can all be hand sewn for that extra personal touch.

Do you have any special projects underway? Are you looking for some sewing inspiration? Here are a few of our favorite stitched projects:

Back to School Crafts

2011-08-08T15:15:00.001-04:00

No matter what part of the country you live in, we’re in that final countdown to the first day of school. How does a busy parent keep the kids busy and get them ready for school at the same time? Crafting, of course!

Here are a few fun crafts that may just get the kids excited about hitting the books again this fall.

School Bus Frame
Pennants
Pencil Toppers

Getting Creative with Shapes

2011-08-03T08:22:00.000-04:00

Someone once told me that drawing is simple – you just put shapes together to create a bigger picture. We could argue that crafting follows the same tenant. And this adorable little guy proves it! He’s made from Lara’s pieces – small beads, spools and a goose egg. Connect it all with pipe cleaners and voila, you’re spending the rest of the summer with a fun new friend. Click here for full instructions.

A Special Back-to-School Project for Mom

2011-07-29T12:47:00.000-04:00

It seems like we’ve all experienced a very hot summer this year. If you have kids, that means they’ve probably spent more time inside than usual, slowly taking over areas that were once tidy: the coffee table, kitchen table, the bonus room where you craft…

Good news! Relief is in sight! By September 6th, most kids will be back in school!

So, what’s a mom to do once the kids are gone for eight hours a day? Reclaim the house! After taking those areas back from the clutter, spruce them up with these fun topiary projects from Patti Gorman.

Add a small punch of color to a room with a Felt Tabletop Topiary, or make a statement with a Felt Wall Topiary. Both projects can be easily tailored to your taste and décor by using different colors and by creating them at a size that’s perfect for your space. Best of all? Once you complete these projects, they’ll look great all year long with no pruning!

Click here for complete instructions and the pattern to make the Tabletop Topiary.

Click here for complete instructions and the pattern to make the Wall Topiary.

Getting Ready for School

2011-07-28T14:09:00.002-04:00

If you have little ones in elementary school, their art teacher may ask you send a smock in for art day. Instead of sending in a ratty old shirt, why don’t you whip together one of these adorable aprons designed by our own Patti Gorman? Get your kiddo in on the project by letting them choose the colors and patterns and making the designs for the pockets. Best of all, these aprons are reversible, so you can get doubly creative with the embellishments.

Once done, your kids will probably want to wear their apron all the time! Can you blame them?

Click here for complete instructions.

Designer Craft Tip

2011-07-26T15:42:00.000-04:00

Blending Colors on Unfinished Wood

Last week we told you about using acrylic paint on wood. This week, we’re taking our painting tips one step further – blending! You may remember this relaxing “At the Beach” project we featured back in May. As you can see, the colors blend subtlety into each other. There are several ways to achieve this look.

Drew, the designer who created this project, simply used a tissue to blot the colors where they came together.

Another way to blend your colors is to take the colors you want to blend and put them side by side on a paper plate, or other surface that you can use as a palette. Once you have the paints side by side, take a flat paint brush and brush it back and forth between the two colors, mixing them together. You will still have each individual color to see on either side, so you can blend as much or as little as you like, using the originals as your guide.

Finally, you can use sanding to blend your colors. That’s right, sanding. If you are using the stain from our Kelly’s line or even acrylic paint, you can still use this technique. Simply let your paint thoroughly dry and then lightly rub a fine grit sandpaper over your wood surface. You’ll see the lines between your colors begin to soften and you’ll also smooth out your surface for the next step in your project.

Try each method and show us your results!

We Have A Winner!

2011-07-26T10:30:00.000-04:00

Back in June we announced a contest to celebrate our blog. Today we are pleased to announce that we have a winner!

EnchantedGal, aka, Kimberly Crick submitted these fantastic pendants that she made with Lara’s 1 inch circles.

(front)

(back)

We love this craft! It has already gotten our creative juices flowing. For example, make name tags for your kids’ backpacks or lunch bags. Chunky charm bracelets can use some custom charms like this and you can even make a special tag for your spare key.

What ideas does this project give you?

Congratulations to Kimberly on winning a $50 shopping spree from New Image Group. We hope you continue to make more inspiring projects.

Designer Craft Tip

2011-07-19T15:55:00.000-04:00

Tips For Painting Unfinished Wood Crafts

There are many different types of paint you can use to paint on unfinished wood. Although you can use that leftover latex paint you painted the walls with, latex paint isn't guaranteed to hold up under duress.

Acrylic paint is the best choice for unfinished wood crafts. Craft stores like Michael's, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, or Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts carry several inexpensive brands of acrylic paint in a tremendous range of colors. Depending on the color of the paint, it will cover better and take fewer coats if you basecoat the wood first with a primer. Let dry, and then paint. After the paint is dry, you should coat your painted surface with an acrylic sealer unless you are using a gloss paint, which has a sealer built in.

Happy crafting!

Fun with Felt

2011-07-18T11:54:00.000-04:00

Even though it's summer and temperatures are soaring across the country, there are still plenty of fun crafts you can do with felt. Don't believe me? Then take it from my friends over at FaveCrafts. Their every expanding list of things to do with felt is amazing and will get your creative juices flowing. Check it out!

Designer Craft Tip

2011-07-12T11:41:00.000-04:00

Designer Susan Philpott loves experimenting with her craft supplies. Here is a little something she figured out after painting a few suncatchers.

Craft Tip for Different Ways to Use Suncatcher Stain

Did you know Suncatcher stain can be used on other surfaces than our Kelly's Suncatchers? Suncatcher stain can be used on clear acrylic rhinestones or beads in a variety of craft projects.

Stay tuned for to this blog for craft projects like making jewelry or rhinestones using suncatchers stain!

Contest!

2011-06-23T16:54:00.000-04:00

We recently had problems with the commenting system on our blog. As soon as we realized there was an issue we jumped on it and got it fixed. Now we're so excited that we can talk to you that we want to celebrate! We're giving away a $50 shopping spree to one of our lucky crafters!

Here's how you can win: Use any Lara's Crafts products or CPE felt and create a back-to-school themed project. Post your project in our comments section or to our FaceBook page by Friday, July 22nd. We'll pick a winner and announce who it is on Monday, July 25th.

That's it! It's super easy and we hope it will be lots of fun. Plus, we plan to share all of the contest submissions, so you can all be inspired by each other.

In the mean time, talk to us! Comment on any of our blog entries, or drop a line at our FaceBook page. We're excited to hear from you!

Happy Crafting!

Meet the Designer: Susan Philpott

2011-06-15T18:24:00.000-04:00

Susan Philpott grew up in Augusta, Georgia, and has always loved being involved in art in some way. As a child, she took private drawing and painting lessons after school from a well known portrait artist who mentored Susan to become a commercial artist.

Susan has a BFA in graphic design from the University of Georgia. She started her career as a designer and product manager for an arts and crafts manufacturer. Her favorite crafts are painting and jewelry making. She wrote four craft instructions books on jewelry making and other crafts during her early years as a designer. She was also a product manager for acrylic paints.

Recently Susan was one of the designers for New Image's new line of suncatchers. Her favorite is the Boho Suncatcher Room Decorating Kit. Having 2 kids of her own, Susan enjoys designing for kids' crafts. She has volunteered at many vacation bible school and Girl Scout camps where painting suncatchers was one of the crafts. She finds it exciting to be part of New Image's product line design development.

Susan currently lives in Atlanta, GA, with her husband, two girls, and their bichon, Angel, whose playfulness never fails to get a giggle out of you.

Girl Scouts Get Crafty with Kelly's Suncatchers

2011-06-14T09:50:00.000-04:00

Recently a Hobby Town USA store in Cumming, Georgia, hosted a local Girl Scout Troop for a day of crafting. What did the girls do? They painted suncatchers, of course! Here's Keith Pruitt's article about the event from Hobby Merchandiser magazine.

Kelly’s Crafts offers several lines of craft projects that provide inspiration, creative fun and a bit of education while entertaining kids of all ages. One of its lines is Suncatchers. These are a type of stained glass window decoration made to “catch the sun” and allow the sunlight to bring out the brilliance of the colors and shapes. Kelly’s Crafts’ Suncatcher Kits are made of clear plastic and include brushes and transparent liquid stains that allow kids and adults to create beautiful craft art pieces to hang in their windows.

Recently the HobbyTown USA store in Cumming, Georgia, hosted a craft workshop for the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Troop 10881, in which the girls painted Kelly’s Crafts Suncatchers. With the wide variety of Suncatchers available, each girl had the opportunity to paint several different ones. They were able to choose from animals, cartoon characters, fairies, sea creatures, pirate paraphernalia and 3-D butterflies.

Girl Scouts is an organization that enables girls and young women to exercise their talents, gain new skills in leadership and practical applications and have fun during the process. There are several types of projects that Girl Scouts perform, including outdoor activities like canoeing and horseback riding, as well as various forms of arts and crafts. Kelly’s Crafts Suncatchers were a natural fit for their arts and crafts endeavors.

On a sunny spring afternoon, Troop 10881 arrived at Hobbytown USA ready to have some fun and promptly went to work. As the girls began to paint the Suncatchers, their conversation varied from an obstacle course the girls had recently completed to “World Thinking Day,” a festival about globalization and world cultures. They also discussed the Suncatchers, deciding which colors to use on the different designs and what they wanted to do with them after they had finished. They considered donating them to the pediatric wing at the local hospital or perhaps to the convalescent home to brighten up the rooms of the elderly patients living there.

Kelly’s Crafts Suncatcher Kits each include multiple containers of paint in various colors, allowing mixing and matching of colors on the various pieces. These kits, many containing multiple Suncatchers, make a workshop like this simple, inexpensive and easy to perform in any hobby shop. The Suncatcher Kits also make an excellent choice of afternoon or evening activity for any family at home. Obviously, the young ladies of Troop 10881 had a blast painting the Kelly’s Crafts Suncatchers, and it was great fun watching them.

Meet the Designer: Patti Black-Gorman

2011-06-10T11:16:00.000-04:00

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patti Black-Gorman. Patti is the owner of Splinters Designs and has been working with New Image as a designer for the past six years.

Patti has a long history of creativity ranging from catering to interior design, including kitchen design, product design and creating inspiring projects with New Image. With an innate entrepreneurial spirit, Patti constantly finds simple ways to craft and short cuts that help save time and headaches. And she creates great projects!

Patti loves keeping her hands and her mind busy. And with four children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren, she is always active. She believes that we are never too old to learn and can prove it with the four generations of her own family!

Currently, Patti is designing in New Image’s CPE felt line. She loves this medium and has created some really dynamic projects. This stocking is an example, plus we’ll be sharing many, many more!

We’re excited that beginning this month Patti is going to be a regular contributor to our blog. She wants to hear from you – what are your crafting secrets? Do you have crafting questions? Send them to Patti! She really is an expert in creativity and is excited to answer your questions as well as learn from you and share ideas.

Meet the Designer!

2011-05-26T13:00:00.000-04:00

We love being inspired and inspiring others, so we've decided to introduce some of the people who inspire us to you. Today, we'd like to introduce Jolene Gulley.

Jolene has been an artist, favoring painting and drawing for as long as she can remember. She became a professional Graphic Designer and Illustrator when she graduated from the Art Institute of Dallas in 1988. In 1990 she added Professional Crafter to her repertoire and started selling her designs in craft malls and local shows.

Jolene started working with Lara’s Crafts in 1997 creating designs and project ideas for all of the different wood parts. She produced pattern packets, project sheets, internet projects and even project books for some of the most popular wood surfaces.

Since Lara’s joined the New Image family Jolene has been able to work with CPE Felt and Kelly’s Crafts as well as continuing her work with the Lara’s products. Being able to put together wood and felt has opened up a whole new world of inspiration that she loves.

What Jolene enjoys most about working with New Image is developing projects for children, as well as more challenging designs for older crafters. She has a ton of experience to share and will begin writing guest posts on our blog this summer. What do you think she should blog about? Are there specific questions you have about crafting with Lara’s or any of our craft lines? Submit them in the comments section and Jolene might just tackle your topic in an upcoming post.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8th!

2011-05-02T12:27:00.000-04:00

It seems like Mother's Day snuck up this year, doesn’t it? Don’t worry! We have great project ideas to let Mom know that she’s #1 in your heart and mind.

Gift Card Holder
Sometimes the best gift is a gift card to one of Mom’s favorite shops or salons. A great way to give the card a little extra pizzazz is to create a personalized gift card holder just for Mom. She can use it past Mother’s Day to hold other cards, or maybe slip a little picture in behind the gift card, giving Mom an extra reason to keep this lovely little holder close.

Felt Clutch
This darling bag is easy to make and a great gift! Make it out of Mom’s favorite colors, or to coordinate with a special outfit. Mom will love carrying it around and bragging that it was made with love.

Felt Family Tree
If your mom is anything like mine, she loves bragging about her family. Create this tree with favorite family photos and give Mom another opportunity to show off.

Beaded Bracelets
These bracelets are fun and easy to make. Paint messages like “I Love Mom” on the beads or just go simple and paint them in her favorite colors. Either way, Mom will love this gift from the heart, that even small crafters can help make.

Who Wants a New Image Shopping Spree?

2011-04-23T11:18:00.000-04:00

What are your best craft tips?

Everyone has little tips and tricks that make a project more efficient, or make it really pop. We want to know what they are!

Send us your tips and tricks. We’ll put them up on our FaceBook page for our fans to vote on. The person who sends us the tip or trick that gets the most votes will win a $50 shopping spree good for anything on the New Image website.

Start submitting your tips now! We’ll collect them until Friday, May 13^th. We’ll post them all on our FaceBook page on Saturday, May 14^th. Then you’ll have until May 26^th to read and “like” your favorites. On the 27^th we’ll announce the winner!

Submitting your tip is easy! Simply click on “Discussions” on our FaceBook page and add your expertise to our “Tips and Tricks” discussion thread.

Even if your tip doesn’t win, we know it can help other crafters, so when the contest is over we’ll archive all of the tips on FaceBook and on our blog so that you can reference them whenever you need a little help or inspiration for a project.

New Image Produces Felt From 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Fibers

2011-04-21T23:55:00.000-04:00

Do you recycle your plastic water and soda bottles? If you don’t, you should! Recycling those bottles gives them a second, environmentally friendly life in tons of products including building materials, school supplies, lawn furniture and felt!

New Image felt is produced from recycling plastic bottles. Here’s how:

Plastic bottles are collected and brought to recycling plants

The bottles are crushed and then broken into chipped plastic bits

The bits are sorted to filter out dirt and other impurities (Ever shove a food wrapper in an empty plastic bottle?)

The chipped bits are melted into liquid form and then spun into fiber filaments

These filaments become the base of the polyester felt we produce

New Image prevents more than one million pounds of waste from entering our landfills every year. In fact, our manufacturing process recycles so effectively that we have virtually eliminated all waste.

Looking for more reasons to recycle? Check this out:

Every ton of plastic that is recycled saves 3.8 barrels of oil and 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space

In 2007 the U.S. recycled enough plastic to heat over 2.1 million homes

Using recycled plastics reduces greenhouse gas emissions

New Image is proud to create products that are made of 100% post-consumer recycled fibers. We are committed to continuing this practice and constantly looking for more and better ways to create environmentally friendly products.

This symbol lets you know that you are crafting with sustainable, earth-friendly products.

Do you have ideas for more ways that we can use recycled products? Let us know what they are!

Back to School Projects

2010-08-12T14:00:00.000-04:00

The ringing of the first day of school bell is fastly approaching and, depending on their age, the mood can range from excitement to dread.

Why not try to create some on of a kind projects to help build or harness excitement for the new school year. Somethings are as simple as applying a few stickers while others take a little bit more work.

Try your hand at some of these Back to School projects:
1) Handy Bookmarks

This is a great project for those wary First Day of Schoolers. Trace around their hand on a piece of felt and then decorate any which way they would like with Stick-It Felt Stickers.

You can spell your name, choose a subject, or turn it into a turkey.

If you are inspired, you can create 10 different hands to help teach colors, numbers, or shapes.

2) Pencil Pouch

With just a little bit of glue and some imagination, you can transform a simple 9 x 12 felt sheet into a brand new pencil pouch.

These look great in our new printed felt designs!

Check out the rest of our project pages to find more fun back to school crafts!

Enjoying the Last Dog Days of Summer...

2010-08-02T15:37:00.000-04:00

As I stepped outside this morning to head to work, I heard a collective sigh from all the kids in the neighborhood. This can only mean one thing...the first day of school is looming over their heads.

Make sure to enjoy that last remaining remnants of summer vacation with some relatively quick and simple projects. These are especially helpful when it is an unfortunate rainy day or if the heat is too much to bear.

Here are some tried and true projects from Kelly's Crafts to help keep everybody occupied:
1) Suncatchers: once complete, you can add your creation to your backpack for a nice reminder of the summer fun you had.
2) Fun Buttons: create a character or have fun coloring in any of our downloadable inserts
3) Sand Art: the Xtreme Sand funnel tray is a great way to contain the mess and create a nice work space.

Two Day Sale!

2010-07-20T12:20:00.000-04:00

Cash in on our Two Day 20% Sale! Enter the promo code JULY at check-out to receive 20% Off your ENTIRE ORDER until tomorrow July 21st!

Flag Placemat

2010-07-02T11:48:00.001-04:00

Having a fun barbeque this weekend? Why not dress it up by making these Flag Placemats! They are a great way to add Patriotic flair to your table setting!

Fourth of July Sale!

2010-06-22T13:10:00.000-04:00

From now until 6/26/10, enter the promo code FOURTH at checkout and receive 10% off your entire order! Make sure to check out the projects section to get a list of all your must haves for your favorite Fourth of July crafts!

Star Table Toppers

2010-06-15T12:40:00.000-04:00

Looking for an easy AND affordable way to decorate your house for Fourth of July this year? Why not try your hand at making these dimensional star table toppers! You can even string them together to make a lovely garland to acccent your barbeque!

Summer Fun with Fun Buttons!

2010-06-10T09:20:00.000-04:00

Summer is here and there are plenty of opportunities to spend quality time with your children. Our Fun Buttons are the perfect summer time project! They are reusable buttons so you can change out any of our fun to color in inserts or make your own on our blanks!

I love turning them into a crazy characters and placing them on pillows, clothing, etc and go on a scavenger hunt with my nephew! He loves the adventure!

What will you make with your button?!

Beach Trip Frame

2010-06-08T12:07:00.000-04:00

Summer is finally kicking into gear! Why not commerate your first beach trip with this fun Beach Frame! It will be a perfect rainy day project!

Fish Bowl Tic/Tac/Toe

2010-06-03T13:49:00.000-04:00

This is a fun project to make that gets to be used over and over again! It is especially helpful on car rides or rainy day! Just a few sheets of EZ Felt and Stick-It Felt get you on your way to many fun tic tac toe games!

Find out how to make it here!

Puppet Golf Club Cover

2010-06-01T10:42:00.000-04:00

With Father's Day coming up in a few weeks, here is a fun Mommy and Me project that gets everybody involved in making something special for Dad!

With one of our adorable puppets and a sock, you can transform a golf club into any fun character you want!

Find out how to make it here.

Did You Miss Us On Sunday?

2010-05-25T12:52:00.000-04:00

We had a blast talking with Tiffany Windsor over at FaveCrafts Radio this past Sunday! Did you miss it? Don't worry- the entire episode is available On Demand!

Make sure to stay-tuned all the way to the very end to listen about the wonderful contest they are doing featuring our Support Ribbon Frame!

Memorial Day Project Ideas at FaveCrafts Blog

2010-05-20T11:09:00.000-04:00

Check out our first guest blogging experience with our friends over at FaveCrafts!

They are a variety of affordable and fun party decor ideas to get your holiday party off to the right start!

Also, don't forget to set your calender to listen to The New Image Group on FaveCrafts Radio at 7:00 PM this Sunday!

Swim On In Door Hanger

2010-05-19T13:36:00.000-04:00

Summer is just around the corner and that means tons of pool parties! Leave this awesome Door Hanger to let everybody know you are out back enjoying some Fun in the Sun!

Learn how to make it here.

Gear Up for Summertime with Puppet Kit Activities!

2010-05-13T10:17:00.000-04:00

We are about to hit those summer months and I don't know about you, but I have been looking for a way to keep my nieces and nephew entertained on our outings.

On a whim, I took some of CPE's felt puppet kits to the park in an effort to keep them entertained after their several trips down the slide and it worked! This got my mind working overtime and I couldn't wait to share some other ideas with you.

Here are some great ideas to use Puppet Kits at the park, zoo, beach, and car rides below:

At the Park: I brought the fairy tales puppet kit with me and transformed the playground area into a magical castle where we needed to save the princess from a witch's curse. It was a great way to get my niece and nephew involved- even playing characters of their own.

At the Zoo:Create a puppet led scavenger hunt trying to find out where each animal lives at the zoo. Use whatever animal you are searching for to help guide you on your journey and tell interesting facts about it at the same time. It also never hurts to create a fun voice for each animal!

Relaxing on the Beach: Using the supplies around you at the beach, create a jungle safari where your cast of critters is looking to find the oasis!

Car Rides: If you have younger children traveling with you and a passenger ready to be puppet master, alternate animals through games of peek-a-boo. When they spot each critter, add the sound it makes to help familiarize them with the noise.

Memorial Day Party Flag Placemats

2010-05-11T12:16:00.000-04:00

Are you getting ready for the kick-off of the summer season by throwing a Memorial Day party? Why not add an extra special touch (and have the kids help out) by making these flag placemats! They are perfect for your picnic table. The best part is you can reuse them for Fourth of July!

Find out how to make them here.

Make Mom A Bouquet of Roses!

2010-05-05T12:32:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day is just around the corner. Surprise her with a handmade bouquet of roses!

Best part, they make a perfect decoration on her desk so she will always have a nice reminder of you :)

Fun Mother's Day Project

2010-04-29T13:19:00.000-04:00

Looking for something fun to make this year for your mom? Here is an easy no-sew project to help tie in with giving your mom some much needed rest and relaxation! Try making these Spa Slippers and Sleep Mask to help tie in with a nice Spa Gift Card wrapped in this Gift Card Holder!

Fun Kitchen Playset Project

2010-04-27T13:02:00.000-04:00

Have your kids help out in the kitchen by making these simple to create kitchen playset accessories! From basic fruits to your cooking essentials of milk and any variety of boxes, you can find a wonderful source of inspiration here!

Find out how to make them here.

Celebrate Earth Day with Fun Buttons!

2010-04-22T10:35:00.000-04:00

Kelly's Crafts Fun Buttons are known as the button with 1001 uses. Why not take some time this Earth Day to use our Fun Buttons in a variety of different ways to show how important reusing is!

Here are a few ideas:
1) Create a colorful insert from any of our templates.
2) Use scrap pieces of felt to create a wonderful Earth interpretation and wear it all day long or keep it on your backpack!
3) Create the recycle logo and share with others the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.
4) Create an endangered animal on our Fun Button blanks

What will you do with your Fun Buttons this Earth Day?

Spring Cleaning Has Never Looked So Cute!

2010-04-20T11:02:00.000-04:00

Show off those memorable bath moments with this Bath Time Frame. And with all this effort of Spring Cleaning going around, it is a fun reward for all your hardwork!

Get all the steps to make this here.

Fun & Games!

2010-04-15T10:56:00.000-04:00

With all these April Showers, I know the kids are beginning to get a little restless. Help keep them busy with this Squirrel and Acorn Handball Game! It is a simple felt craft project that will keep the kids occupied on those rainy days.

Find out how to make it here!

Last Day for 20% OFF!!!

2010-04-13T11:28:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day to cash in on our 20% Sale! Enter the promo code APRIL at check-out to receive 20% Off your ENTIRE ORDER!

Fun Party Packs

2010-04-08T09:46:00.000-04:00

Looking for a an affordable AND entertaining party favor for your next birthday or holiday party? Why not use create a party pack filled with wonderful activities to keep your little guests occupied for hours!

I am getting married next weekend and I made up these to help keep all the little ones entertained!

I used a Fun Button on the outside (take it a step further and personalize it with their name) and filled it with Stick-It Felt Shapes (to decorate the great felt bag), a Door Hanger, Frame, Wood & Felt Shapes, and a Suncatcher kit.

What will you put in yours?!

Wood Critters!

2010-04-06T10:26:00.000-04:00

Looking for a fun way to use Lara's Crafts Unfinished Wood pieces? Why not try your hand at making these adorable Wood Animals.

Fun Sand Crafts

2010-04-01T11:11:00.000-04:00

Warm weather is beginning to stick around which means summer is on its way! Start getting in the beach zone with some fun sand art protects.

There are kits available that include pre-cut sand art pattern cards and the sand so all you need to do is a simple peel and shake to have your beautiful works of art.

Or, if you are working with older kids or have more experience with sand as a medium, you can create your own designs with a little bit of glue, a paintbrush, and some bulk sand. I had a lot of fun painting old jars and putting them around the house to keep that summery feel for as long as I could.

Spring Into Savings!

2010-03-30T15:45:00.000-04:00

This week only (until April 3rd) New Image Group is having our Spring into Savings Sale!
Whether you love shopping CPE, Kelly's Crafts, or Lara's Crafts- you can get 10% off your entire order!*
Just enter promo code SPRING during checkout!
Stock up on your favorite supplies now!

Premium Felt Now Available On-Line!

2010-03-26T10:20:00.000-04:00

We just added our Premium Felt 72" x 10 Yards bolts for sale on our website. Available in red, kelly green, black, and white, you will find the perfect reason to incorporate them into your latest projects.

Looking for inspiration? Try your hand at some of these projects that can be made with our premium felt:

Hopscotch Mat

Family Tree

Race Track

Confused by the felt differences? Don't worry. Find out more about our various lines right here.

Spring has Sprung!

2010-03-23T11:35:00.000-04:00

The recent rainy days have reminded me that soon we will have green grass and flowers blooming again just in time for Spring.

Something else that is green, is The New Image Group's True Green initiative with the CPE Felt product line.

Read more about how we are giving back to the environment here.

Writing with a Friend!

2010-03-18T14:31:00.000-04:00

Pencil toppers are always a favorite project of mine to do with my nieces and nephews. They are relatively simple and they last for a long time.

I just love that they have so many places to use them and show them off to their friends. This weekend, I will be surprising my niece and her friends with all the fixings to make this Bunny Pencil Pal just in time for Easter!

Find out how to make it here.

Avoid Getting Pinched!

2010-03-16T13:24:00.000-04:00

If you are like me, it always ends up St. Patrick's Day and there I stand with no green anywhere near me- ending up with the inevitable, dreaded pinch.

Here is an easy way to make sure you have something green within arm's reach of you throughout the day. Try making these clover clothespins and decorate your desk, office, sweater, etc with them. This way you are definitely covered for showing off your St. Patrick's Day spirit!

Learn how to make them here.

Get Ready for Easter

2010-03-11T13:01:00.000-05:00

With Easter just a few short weeks away, why not try to put a little spin on your Easter Basket this year? We love this Bunny Treat Cone felt craft idea. You can set it up a week before Easter and start sprinkling little tid bits in there to get everybody excited for when the Bunny arrives!

Get ready for St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-09T13:17:00.000-05:00

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner. Are you looking for a fun activity with the kids and a little bit of Holiday Decor at the same time? Well, we have just the project for you. Try making this Shamrock Garland to help get the house ready for your St. Patrick's Day festivities!

School Spirit

2010-03-04T14:41:00.000-05:00

Rally behind your school by creating a special team inspired pennant! We used our EZ Felt Pennants and Stick-It Felt Shapes to show off our Tiger Pride!

Decorate a Shoe Box Project

2010-03-02T13:51:00.000-05:00

Looking for a simple craft project that opens up an almost infinite possibility in creativity? Why not take an old show box and decorate it?! One of our favorite crafters, Patrick, created this Valentine's Day box using Stick-It Felt Stickers, Felt Sheets, and his imagination. What will your project turn into?

See more images after the jump

Safari Wall Art

2010-02-25T16:20:00.000-05:00

I guess we are in a very jungle inspired mood this February as this is our second safari themed project this month!

All you need is some of our adorable and inspiring Wood & Felt characters and paint to help craft the perfect addition to your child's room!

The great thing about it is that it goes great with the Safari Mobile project from earlier this month!

Crafting with a Green Thumb!

2010-02-22T15:50:00.000-05:00

We are all doing our part these days to help reduce our carbon footprint and make the world a better place for our future.

The New Image Group has been doing this for years on our own accord. In fact, all the way back in 1998, we won our first Manufacturer of the Year award due to our efforts in environmental stewardship. We have continued on that tradition with our True Green initiative utilizing post-consumer recyclable material.

Read more about it here!

Race Track Project

2010-02-19T16:04:00.000-05:00

Did you already make the race car project from earlier this week and are now looking for a track to race on? Well have no fear! We have all you need to make the perfect race track for your race cars. The great thing is that once you are done with it, you can fold it up and put it away without taking up a lot of space! Make yours this weekend.

Race Car Project Idea

2010-02-17T12:36:00.000-05:00

Using some wood from Lara's Crafts, some suncatcher stain from Kelly's Crafts, and felt from CPE, you can turn them into a "speed defying" race car that will entertain children for hours. They are large enough to fit several different kinds of drivers!

Find out how to make one now!

New Unfinished Wood Signs Available!

2010-02-15T13:02:00.000-05:00

Just in time to help get over those winter blues and start looking ahead into Spring, Lara's Crafts has introduced new Unfinished Wood Signs to help get your home, garden, and everywhere in between ready for warmer temperatures and new blooms.

Try them with any of our unfinished wood stakes to get the whole package for your garden!

Safari Mobile

2010-02-12T11:10:00.000-05:00

Bring the beauty of our Kelly's Crafts Suncatchers and Lara's Crafts Wood & Felt Characters together in perfect harmony with our Safari Theme Mobile.

This is an especially fun project for big brothers and big sisters to help work on to welcome their new sibling!

Find out how to make it here!

Stuck Inside?

2010-02-10T13:49:00.000-05:00

These winter storms have gotten everybody bunkered down this week. Why not use some of those scrap pieces of felt to create a bunch of these alien pencil toppers? Once they are made you can create a wonderful story to fly them around the house and whisk away to far away places!

Glimmer Heart Frame!

2010-02-08T15:15:00.000-05:00

Here is a simple project to make with your children or for yourself this Valentine's Day! All you need is a wood frame, some paint, and Stick-It Felt glimmer hearts.

Find out how to make this project here.

Rose Pencil Topper

2010-02-05T12:28:00.000-05:00

Looking to give your Valentine a dozen roses this year? Make them last longer by creating a pencil bouquet of roses with this easy to create Felt Rose Pencil Topper.

Valentine's Day Heart Garland

2010-02-03T15:13:00.000-05:00

Love is in the air! Now you can show off your love of Valentine's Day with this affordable and easy decor option.

This garland can be made in a variety of lengths and colors out of EZ Felt with just some scissors, ribbon, and a hole punch.

Find out how to make it here.

Conversation Heart Pins

2010-02-01T13:23:00.000-05:00

Looking for a fun spin on a classic Valentine's favorite? Let everybody know how you feel about them this Valentine's Day with a fun take on Conversation Heart Candy!

Take any phrase, place it on a heart shaped pin, and spend your Valentine's Day creating new conversations!

Learn how to make them here.

Winter Time Blues?!

2010-01-29T09:55:00.000-05:00

Even though we are based out of South Carolina, we still get the wintertime blues too!

Start spreading Spring-time thinking right before Groundhog's Day with these easy to make Felt Flower Pins.

Find out how to make them here!

Visit us at CHA

2010-01-27T11:02:00.000-05:00

Make sure to stop by booth 2625 to check out all the new and exciting products we have in store for 2010.

And don't forget to drop off your postcard for your box of The New Image Group products.

We look forward to seeing you!

Felt Treasure Chest Project

2010-01-25T10:04:00.000-05:00

Looking for a fun activity for the kid's during the winter? Why not try making this simple to make Felt Treasure Chest! When they are done they get to stash their treasure in it. For an extra spin, why not hide your own treasure in it and make a treasure map to go on a scavenger hunt for the afternoon?

Find out how to make it here.

Visit Us at CHA Super Show!

2010-01-23T10:33:00.000-05:00

Looking for a fun make and take it at the CHA Super Show?

Come by the Hancock Fabrics booth from 11 am to 1 pm to make one of eight different puppets or a variety of different sand art using our easy clean-up Xtreme Sand Funnel Tray!

We look forward to seeing you!

Felt Puppet Pocket Apron

2010-01-20T09:54:00.000-05:00

Our Director of Sales made this adorable Puppet Pocket Apron last night and I could not wait to show it off to you guys (modeled by one of our Product Managers!).

Here's how she made it:
1) She cut out the apron piece from a piece of felt sold by the yard using an existing pattern (like an apron you already own!)

2) She stitched the puppets onto the apron leaving the tops open so you can access the pocket.

3) She sewed across the edges with some 1" Grosgrain Ribbon to add a nice finishing detail and added some extra to go over your head and to tie around your back.

The beauty of this is that it can be altered for all shapes and sizes and makes playtime just that much more fun!

Save 10% on Wood & Felt Characters

2010-01-18T10:28:00.000-05:00

This week only, take 10% off all of our Wood & Felt Characters!

Shop Shapes

Shop Letters

Start saving now!

Looking for project ideas? Check out our project pages to get started.

ABC Blocks Project

2010-01-15T12:46:00.000-05:00

This is a fun craft that can be done in sync with your child's classroom or for a fun learning experience anytime!

My niece had a blast spelling out all the different words she knew when she say these laying around house!

Get instructions for the ABC Blocks here!

New Projects Added!

2010-01-13T14:54:00.000-05:00

We just added a few new projects for January! Check out all the new ideas. You can make them just as described or add your own spin on them!

Head over to the projects section now!

Handy Felt Bookmarks

2010-01-11T12:42:00.000-05:00

With the cold temperatures continuing to climb, try your "hand" at making these simple to make Handy Felt Bookmarks using our EZ Felt and Stick-It Felt Stickers.

All you need is a hand, scissors, and some imagination to get your creativity started!

Find out how to make them here.

Celebrate Elvis's 75th Birthday!

2010-01-08T10:01:00.000-05:00

The King of Rock and Roll would have turned 75 today. Here are a few fun ides to celebrate Elvis Pressley's Birthday:

Have a birthday party for him. You can make your own fun hats for the party. Instead of starts, you can creat mutton chops or add glitzy rhinestones- depending on your favorite Elvis era.
Create a story about your favorite "hounddog" and his friends. Recreate it with felt puppets to build excitement!
Construct your very own Graceland out of EZ Felt.

What are you going to do for his birthday? Tell us in the comments!

Get Organized in 2010!

2010-01-06T12:25:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I have a myriad of loose papers and Post-It notes all over my desk. One of my resolutions this year is to get better organized so I took it upon myself to make my own Mini Clothespin Memo Rack. I added a few more clothespins than what is shown in the project and it has made work life much easier.

Make one for yourself today!

National Hobby Month Sale!

2010-01-04T13:37:00.000-05:00

Begin the new year and National Hobby Month off with savings of up to 50% on selected products!

We have a great variety across all of your favorite New Image Group brands of CPE, Kelly's Crafts, and Lara's Crafts!

And don't forget- free shipping on orders $30 or more!

Stock up now.

Tips for Adhesive-Backed Felt

2009-12-30T10:54:00.000-05:00

After spending some quality time working with our Stick-It Felt Sheets, Letters, and Shapes and our Quick Stick lines of products, I uncovered some fun tips to help make their use that much more enjoyable and your project longer-lasting.

1) To help remove the adhesive-backing on your felt, place the object in between your thumb and index finger and gently roll back and worth to help break the seal. From there, just peel and stick to your space.

2) To acheive a stronger hold on your projects (as long as you are doing fabric-to-fabric), use an iron set on the lowest setting and a press cloth and gently press for a few seconds on your items. This will help create a stronger hold.

Do you have any tips you picked up along the way? Let us know!

Rid Yourself of Winter Blues!

2009-12-28T15:59:00.000-05:00

Are you still waiting to see a thaw out from the past couple of week's crazy winter storms?! Well, here is a neat and fun way to vreate that positive thinking that may lead to warmer days! Try spreading Springtime thoughts with this melted snowman project.

Add him to your window sills, desk, etc to help chase off those wintertime blues!

Find out how to make him here.

Perfect Activity for the Holidays!

2009-12-23T13:54:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I was lucky enough to return to my home state of Michigan to enjoy some early holiday celebration with loved ones from far and wide.
It turned out that my two nieces (6 and 4) would be staying under the same roof and I jumped on the idea to bring some of the fun activities we have at The New Image Group for the girl's to play with.
Once they got their hands on these suncatchers, they entertained themselves for hours. I definitely won the best Aunt award in their eyes!

Why not pick up some suncatchers to help occupy the kids during all the holiday parties. It is a nice distraction from the same old "When do we get to open presents?!" routine!
Happy Holidays!

No Sew Felt Skate Ornament Project

2009-12-16T14:07:00.000-05:00

This creative idea was brought to us by our wonderful friend Patti!

She transformed her scrap pieces of felt and some paper clips into these whimsical ornaments that are perfect for your tree or to add some extra charm to the winter season!

Find out how to make the Felt Skate Ornaments here and thanks again Patti for this wonderful idea!

Last Minute Savings!

2009-12-14T10:13:00.000-05:00

Have some last minute gifts you need to make? Save 10% off this entire week with promo code LASTMINUTE at checkout.

Also, take advantage of our everyday Free Shipping on orders over $30!

Santa & Reindeer Project Idea

2009-12-09T09:36:00.000-05:00

I finally have a house with a mantel and was so excited to add some Holiday decorations to it this year. Well, these Reindeer and Santa characters were just the trick!

Using some scrap pieces of felt, google eyes, paint, doll heads, blocks, and clothespins I was able to create a fun sleigh scene in my home. Best part is- I was able to get my nieces and nephews to help out with it!

Find out how to make them for yourself here!

Toss out those gift tags!

2009-12-07T10:52:00.000-05:00

Why not try a new holiday tradition this year? Add some extra jazz to your holiday gift-giving by tying a suncatcher onto your presents! They are a great way to add a personal touch to the season!

A New Idea with Wood & Felt Characters

2009-12-02T13:05:00.000-05:00

I was referred to Beansprouts by a co-worker this morning and couldn't wait to share them with you. They make personalized growth charts for your little ones marking major milestones in their development.

And my favorite part, besides how adorable they look, is that they use our very own cast of Wood & Felt Characters to help add that extra special touch. They have a variety of different themes to choose from. I suggest you take a look at them this holiday season or get inspired to make your own project this Holiday Season!

Cyber Monday Special!

2009-11-30T08:06:00.000-05:00

Stock up on your favorite craft supplies today with our Cyber Monday special. Receive 20% off your entire order (not including shipping or taxes) by entering in Promo Code: SUPERSALE at checkout.

Turkey Time!

2009-11-25T11:22:00.000-05:00

I am so excited for this Thanksgiving! I have so much to be grateful for and I am so blessed to be able to share this holiday with family and friends.
I am planning on playing a fun game right before Thanksgiving dinner with everybody. It is "What Are You Thankful For?"
Using the project listed here, I will be asking my family and friends, before dinner is served, to create as many pins as they would like to show off what they are thankful for this year. I can't wait to see what some of the answers are!

Try it with your loved ones tomorrow and see how it goes!