Crafts Inspire Me

What's Your Inspiration?

Thanksgiving Table

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Crafts Inspire Me

Thanksgiving is celebrated by everyone across the United States. It is a time of family gatherings and delicious food. Planning is the key to preparing a feast for a crowd, which can be a daunting task. There are so many decisions to be made, starting with the dining table.

Traditional Dining Room Table

Is there enough room for your guests and the food? Should you serve a sit-down dinner or buffet style? How can you create a festive atmosphere?

Contemporary Dining Room Table

Just as artists are faced with a blank canvas, what can you do with an empty table? Let’s look at a few options…

Tablecloths & Placemats:
Tablecloths

Placemats

Centerpieces:
Table Runners, Candles & Flowers

Cornucopia with Seasonal Produce

Seasonal Accents at Varying Heights

Ceramic Pumpkins & Leaves

Place Settings & Glassware:
Formal Place Setting – Neutrals

Formal Place Setting – Bold Jewel Tones

Casual Tropical Place Setting

Buffet-Style Place Setting

Glassware

Food Presentation:
Charcuterie Boards

Spreading Knives

Bold Contrasting Colors & Materials

Decorative Platters & Artfully Arranged Food

Thanksgiving Themed Desserts

Homemade Cakes & Candy (Edible Décor)

Lighting:
Firelight & Candlelight

Fairy Lights

Specialty Lights & Floral Garland

Thanksgiving Day:
Dinner is Served

Celebrating with Family & Friends

I hope these suggestions will inspire you to come up with creative Thanksgiving décor in your own unique style. Wow your guests on this memorable occasion. If you have any family traditions you would like to share, please do so in the comments.

Thanks for Reading, Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Crafting!

Fun with Photo Editing

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Crafts Inspire Me

Here Comes the Sun
Wouldn’t it be cool if you could simply change a gloomy sky to a gorgeous day with a wave of your arm? We might not have that ability now, but we can certainly achieve this monumental task through the power of photo editing. Many software programs are available, including PhotoShop and Corel Paint Shop Pro. Your existing digital photos are the perfect canvases for creating new masterpieces to share with family and friends. Here are some fun photo-editing ideas to explore:

Fun in the Sun
Beach Before & After
Take a few of your old vacation photos and add or subtract a little action. In the first photo, the planes, boats and parachutes were added to a peaceful beach scene. In the second, all the extras, except for the two planes, were removed and removal of the waterfall restored the shoreline.

Playful Pets

These silly hybrid animals are amusing for the kids. The combinations are endless. The key is choosing animals with similar colors. The rest is a simple copy and paste.

Adventurous Kids

Many people have tried riding a horse or maybe even a camel. Why not alter the photos to spice things up a bit by adding a dolphin or a T-Rex? Now that would be exciting!

Story Time
Tell Me a Story
Our local library offers a program enabling children to read to a live greyhound. I’m sure a tiger loves stories as much as everyone else, but I doubt kids will be reading to them any time soon. Photos like this will certainly grab the attention of their grandparents!

Creating Drama
Create Drama
Do you have a budding actor or actress in your family? With the appropriate pose and facial expression, he or she can be inserted into any harrowing scene you choose.

Portraiture
Female Portrait
Portraits don’t have to be same old same old. This layered photo tells a story by combining colors, textures, and meaningful items surrounding this beautiful woman in a more intriguing pose. Perhaps she’s an architect or a stained-glass artist with an appreciation for antiques. Tell your story.

Storybook Romance
Fantasy Female Potrait
Prom or wedding photos are ideal resources. Add a fairy tale background and imagine the possibilities

View from Above
Airplane View
Everyone loves taking photos from airplane windows. Usually there’s not much to see except clouds or maybe a bit of land or water. The little lizard above is really funny, but it could be even better if you inserted a family member instead. You could say it was a “no frills airline!” lol

Come Sail Away
Sink Sailing
The tricky parts of this illusion are the ripples in the water’s surface and the reflection of the sailboat.

3D Tech
Tech Illusions
Can you remember a time when you didn’t have a cell phone? These photos not only capture the subjects, but they also bring them out into our world in three-dimensional splendor.

Room with a View

Who is watching whom? This is an amazing photo. At first glimpse you might think the artist simply replaced the outside image with an underwater scene but look how cleverly the reflections of the water create dappled patterns upon the walls.

Cat & Mouse Games

Typically, a game like this would not end well, but this is another astonishing illusion.

Who’s Afraid of the Wolf?

This fearless little girl looks calm and self-assured. the story, “Little Red Riding Hood,” has come to life!

Death-Defying Yoga?

Someone is always coming up with new exercise and meditation classes, but I don’t think underwater yoga is a thing! Maybe she’s a shark whisperer? In this exceptional photo, it’s the shared lighting and bubbles that really make it believable.

As your skills grow and you develop your own editing style, your creative photos will blossom with intriguing details and dazzling special effects. Who knows? You may find yourself working in the gaming and entertainment industry, graphic design, advertising, photography, or any of the many fields that entice consumers with compelling images.

Thanks for reading & Happy Crafting!

Happy Halloween 2024

Posted on October 31, 2024 by Crafts Inspire Me

It’s hard to believe Halloween has arrived. I love driving around the neighborhood to see all the frightfully creative yard décor.

Treat your family to delicious homemade chocolates. These are easy, fun and so much better than store bought candy.

Want to feel like a child again? Wear a mask.

Costume making 101: Cut eye holes in an old sheet and throw it over your head. How easy was that? Accessories are fun but optional.

Most families trick or treat as a group. It’s a fun and safe way to wander around the neighborhood and you’ll probably meet several friends along the way.

Let the festive lights and laughter fill you with the spirit of the season. Breathe in the clean, crisp fall air and make a wish upon a star. “Listen to the Music of the Night.” – Phantom of the Opera

I hope you have a great time and wish you a Happy Halloween and Happy Crafting!

Feathered Bird Mask

Posted on October 27, 2024 by Crafts Inspire Me

A mask is the perfect accessory to complement any Halloween costume. Feathers have gorgeous colors and patterns and are easy to work with, making them a great choice for mask making projects.

Humorous Bird Mask

Masks not only coordinate with costumes, but can also express personality, subtle sophistication, and even humorous characteristics.

Unintentionally Humorous Bird

The colors and patterns in this mask are bold and confident, but there’s a problem…birds don’t have feathers on their beaks. To correct it, remove the beak feathers and simply paint it flat black, which will return the focus to the beautifully accented eyes.

How to Make a Feathered Bird Mask:

Assorted Supplies

Crafts stores sell several mask styles, such as half masks, full face masks, and some with sculpted scroll or fleur-de-lis details. Decorations include feathers, rhinestones, sequins, faux diamonds, and fancy beaded or woven trims.

Paint Mask Black

This half mask is made of plastic. Because spray paint can produce strong odors, I chose to hand paint it with acrylic paint to make this more comfortable to wear. Depending upon the mask material, it may require two coats of black paint.

Add Faux Faceted Diamonds

Glue individual diamonds, flat side down, around the eye openings, ensuring the gems will not impede vision.

Begin Layering Black Feathers

I started under the center point of the eye openings and worked my way around to the top, following the contours of the mask.

Create a Feathered Crown

Layer additional black feathers creating a beautiful crown, which extends above the top edge of the mask.

Layer Turquoise Feathers

Turquoise & brown tipped feathers are added, starting at the edge of the nose and continuing around the eye as shown. Repeat for the other side.

Completed Mask

Add turquoise accent feathers on the top to contrast with the black. You may need to touch up the black paint due to scratches or nicks from handling. This completes the mask and it is ready to wear.

Completed Mask – Left Side View

Because each feather is unique, there will be variations, but this will not detract from the design. I chose to create a balanced design, but masks can also be asymmetrical.

Completed Mask – Right Side View

Completed Mask – Top View

Raven/Parrot Costume

I made this mask for my mom to wear to a Halloween costume party. I had already purchased this cape, which resembles bird wings, from Grandinroad. She wanted an easy-to-wear costume. All she had to do was wear a black top and slacks, pull on the cape and complete the look with the feathered mask.

I hope you enjoyed this project. It’s easy and fun. Have you ever made a mask? Please let me know in the comments.

Thanks for Reading. Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!

Halloween: Grins, Chills or Screams? Part 4

Posted on October 16, 2024 by Crafts Inspire Me

When I was writing the first three posts in this series, I found myself constantly flipping back and forth between each of the Halloween themes within the Kid Friendly, Creepy and Nightmares levels. I thought you might like to see a side-by-side comparison. The results below are astonishing.

Halloween Themes:
Kid Friendly Creepy Nightmares

Jack-O-Lanterns

Black Cats

Mummies

Spiders

Ghosts

Clowns

Scarecrows

Monsters

Witches

Haunted House

Pumpkin Patch

Skeletons

Graveyards

Werewolves

Bats

Day of the Dead

Vampires

As you can see, Kid Friendly characters are cute, almost cuddly. Creepy ones make you feel uneasy, wondering what it might do. However, if you encounter a Nightmare character along a lonely road at night, don’t waste time wondering… Run away!

This is the last post in the Halloween Grins, Chills & Screams series. In case you missed the first three parts, please be sure to read part 1 Kid Friendly, part 2 Creepy, and part 3 Nightmares for more inspiring ideas. I hope you enjoyed it. Please let me know your favorites in the comments.

Thanks for Reading. Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!

Halloween: Grins, Chills or Screams? Part 3

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Crafts Inspire Me

When decorating for Halloween, there are two decisions to be made:

1. Choose a Theme. 2. Choose a Fear Factor.

What is the fear factor? Think of it as how much you want to frighten people, based upon a 3-level scale. Level 3 is Nightmares. Halloween themes at this level provide good old-fashioned scares like when someone sneaks up behind you and yells Boo. You jump and maybe scream in shock…and then you tell them they’re grounded for life. (lol) Let’s see how the desired emotional reactions affect our choices in Halloween décor.

Nightmare Themes:

Jack-O-Lanterns

Black Cats

Mummies

Spiders

Ghosts

Clowns

Scarecrows

Monsters

Witches

Haunted House

Pumpkin Patch

Skeletons

Graveyard & Zombie

Werewolves

Bats

Day of the Dead

Vampires

Haunted Corn Maze

Haunted Village

Haunted Bog

Onion Monster

Insects

Headless Horseman

Vampires & Werewolves (Extra Credit for Living Chess Pieces. lol)

Gremlins

Nightmare Themed Foods:

Beverages

Cakes

Desserts

Pastries

Let’s Toast to Halloween

Halloween Nightmares themes explore the unknown and isn’t that mankind’s biggest fear? Being more complex, these characters appear out of the darkness via motion (costumed actors or animatronics), light, sound and fog, triggering screams or bad dreams for days to come.

Stay tuned for the fourth and final post in this series for a frightfully fun side-by-side comparison of Halloween themes. In case you missed the first two parts, please be sure to read part 1 Kid Friendly and part 2 Creepy for more inspiring ideas. Please let me know your favorites in the comments.

Thanks for Reading. Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!

Halloween: Grins, Chills or Screams? Part 2

Posted on October 2, 2024 by Crafts Inspire Me

When decorating for Halloween, there are two decisions to be made:

1. Choose a Theme. 2. Choose a Fear Factor.

What is the fear factor? Think of it as how much you want to frighten people, based upon a 3-level scale. Level 2 is Creepy. Halloween themes at this level are eerie and unsettling, resulting in spine-tingling chills & goosebumps. Let’s see how the desired emotional reactions affect our choices in Halloween décor.

Creepy Themes:

Jack-O-Lanterns

Black Cats

Mummies

Spiders

Ghosts

Clowns

Scarecrows

Monsters

Witches

Haunted House

Pumpkin Patch

Skeletons

Graveyard

Werewolves

Bats

Day of the Dead (Extra credit for being fashionably frightening. lol)

Vampires (Looks like Tom Cruise in Interview with a Vampire)

Twisted Fairy Tales

Dolls (Reminds me of the little girls in Stephen King’s The Shining)

Creepy Themed Foods:

Beverages

Cakes

Candy

Serving Dishes

Guests, craving the thrills of amusement parks, will appreciate the chilling surprises discovered around every corner with these Halloween Creepy themes. Please let me know your favorites in the comments.

Stay tuned for the third and fourth posts in this series for ideas on Halloween Nightmares themes and a comparison of all three. In case you missed it, please be sure to read part 1 for Kid Friendly inspiration.

Thanks for Reading. Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!

Halloween: Grins, Chills or Screams? Part 1

Posted on September 25, 2024 by Crafts Inspire Me

When decorating for Halloween, there are two decisions to be made:

1. Choose a Theme. 2. Choose a Fear Factor.

What is the fear factor? Think of it as how much you want to frighten people, based upon a 3-level scale. Level 1 is Kid Friendly. Halloween themes at this level are cute or funny, resulting in widespread grins. In this four-part series, let’s see how the desired emotional reactions affect our choices in Halloween décor.

Kid Friendly Themes:

Jack-O-Lanterns

Black Cats

Mummies

Spiders

Ghosts

Clowns

Scarecrows

Monsters

Witches

Haunted House

Pumpkin Patch

Skeletons

Graveyard

Werewolves

Bats

Day of the Dead

Vampires

Kid Friendly Themed Foods:

Candy/White Chocolate Marshmallows

Cupcakes

Cakes

Cookies

Donuts

Guests of all ages will appreciate the playful, festive atmosphere created by these Kid Friendly decorations. Stay tuned for the next three posts in this series, exploring Creepy themes, Nightmare themes, and a comparison of all three. Please let me know your favorite Halloween themes and if you prefer amusing or frightening decor.

Thanks for Reading. Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!

The Beauty of Feathers

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Crafts Inspire Me

Feathers have been used for centuries as personal adornments, ceremonial costumes, wall art, and as the inspiration for freestanding sculptures and architectural reliefs. The photo above is a modern-day interpretation of the ancient Mayan & Aztec feathered serpent gods.

Light as a feather, each one is a fanciful treasure found.

The finest feathers provide bold colors in unique patterns and soft textures.

Peacock feathers are highly sought for their fascinating colors, shapes and natural sheen. Peacock patterns are often used in clothing, home furnishings and finishes. Let’s explore some of the artistic possibilities for these delicate natural wonders…

Costumes

Dolls

Dreamcatchers

Easter/Spring Décor

Digital Art

Quill Pen

Fantasy Portraiture

Feather Boas

Jewelry

Mobile

Photography

Wall Art

Feather Wreath

Feathered Hats

Feathered Hair Accessories

Flower Arrangements

Cultural/Religious Ceremonies

Feathered Masks

As you can see, there are many ways to incorporate feathers in your life. I hope these ideas inspire you to give it a try. Please let me know your favorites in the comments.

Thanks for Reading & Happy Crafting!

Beach Bear Rita has a Sister

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Crafts Inspire Me

Those of you who follow this blog are familiar with a recent crochet project called Beach Bear Rita. Well, guess what? Rita now has a twin sister! Wouldn’t it be nice to simply use a crochet needle to bring a new sibling into your life? And here she is…

She’s feistier than the original and loves red, making her the center of attention wherever she goes. Please check out the photos below to see how this little lady came together.

In Progress: Body with Swimsuit, Arms, Head, Ears & Skirt

Rita II has a red and white swimsuit with matching bracelets. The white skirt will have a red scalloped edge in a later step.

In Progress: Cardinal Inner Tube, Fish & Pail

The fish needs a white dot in the eyes and the cardinal inner tube needs to be assembled.

In Progress: Completed Body, Swimsuit & Inner Tube but Needs a Hairdo

Rita II is close to completion. The arms, ears and head have been sewn on as well as the facial details. The swimsuit has red scalloped edges at the top and bottom. Red earrings and a red tie for the swimsuit have been added. The skirt and inner tube may need to be tacked in place. The next decision is what type of hairdo would she like?

A New Up Hairdo

She may be a twin, but she has her own style, and an up-do seems to be a perfect choice. Bobby pins hold the style in place, while a vintage crystal bee pin tucked beside her ear provides the sparkle every fashionista craves.

Crocheted Bracelets & Scalloped Edge on Swimsuit Top

Cardinal Inner Tube

Unlike her sister, Rita II likes cardinals. You can easily adjust the pattern to resemble any bird.

Side View

Back View

Finished Bear with Fish in Pail

Beach Bear Rita Twin Sisters

Just like their human counterparts, these two may have their differences, but they will forever be sisters!

I hope you like this adorable, crocheted bear. For additional information, please see my first post by clicking this link: “Beach Bear Rita.” The pattern can be easily found online. These bears make great gifts, which can be personalized for each recipient and they’re a lot of fun to make. Good luck with your future craft projects.

Thanks for Reading & Happy Crafting!

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