Are you interested in scrapbooking?  Do you happen to also have a flare with computers?  If so, I have the perfect site and craft for you.  Get out your digital camera, your imagination, send the family out for the afternoon, and have some serious fun.  Digital scrapbooking online is a great new craft and although unconventional, is a craft you might find very relaxing and definitely rewarding.

Scrapblog is a combination of blogging and scrapbooking.  The practical uses are obvious - do you have photos that grandma and grandpa would love to see?  Does your child have godparents that now live on the other side of the country?  Would you like to create something for them to see that is unique and easy to access on the computer? 

This is going to be your answer.  Backgrounds and other graphics are provided to make creation of a fun scrapbook easy.  You can also write a journal with the photos, essentially a blog, so that the photos can be placed in context.  You can put in little conversation “bubbles” with the captions you would like to see within a photo. 

It can be serious.  It can be fun.  It can be private or public. It is something that just about anyone would enjoy.  I first thought of it as a great way to put together a class album for a class of any age - younger grades would need help of course, but middle school kids and older would have a great time with this project.  Church youth groups could make an album as could all of the vacation Bible schools that take place during the summer.

Keep in mind the site is a beta site so it is important to back up your photos and data.  That should always be done with any digital artwork.  Having backups and hard copy printouts of any photography or journaling you do, is always smart.

Have fun - I think you will have a great time with this new idea on the Internet.

Scrapblog 

 

I remember when crafters often turned to bed sheets as a decorating medium.  Not for just beds - of course that is one use for them, and probably the most popular, but how boring!  How unimaginative!  Do you realize all you can do with bed sheets?

I was shopping the other day for some linens.  I saw the new spring line of bedding and I loved the colors!  They are bright, bold, and somewhat retro.  I can think of a thousand uses for those wonderful colors - the ones that caught my eye were turquoise, coral and a celery green.  But I digress. 

Sheets are wonderful fabrics for decorating.  There are the obvious advantages such as the finished edges, but if you buy a high quality sheet, think of the fabric you are getting for a fairly good price.  A very good price, if you catch them on sale.  Some sheets come in 500 thread count and those are fabrics that aren’t going to fade and thin right away.

There are some ideas on this site that I found.  It will be a good start and I do say a start, because this idea will grow as you find more ideas and uses for the beautiful colors and patterns you find in the bedding department.

Bed Sheets For Home Decor

Making gel candles is a very popular craft and hobby.  Buying and collecting them is too, but that is another topic for another way (but keep in mind this craft could earn you some pocket change.)  Gel candles have a unique beauty, are not difficult or expensive to make, and can be enjoyed by just about anyone.

My research showed that finding accurate information about making safe candles is a bit sparse.  It is important that anything that you make is safe to use; gel candles have previously been the topic of concern regarding safety.  I found a Web site that addresses this issue head-on and gives the crafter the information to make the craft properly. 

Safe Gel Candle Making

Gel Candle Supply

Do you meditate?  I mean, seriously sit and meditate?  It is so good for you.  It lowers your blood pressure, calms your adrenal glands, puts your brain waves “in order,” and releases tension and stress.  Best of all it connects you not only to yourself, but to God or the Higher Power you believe in.  It is something that can only be beneficial.  So do you have a meditation cushion?

Most people just sit in a chair or on the floor and begin meditating.  And there is nothing wrong with that.  It is the “economy” meditation.  But to do it right, setting the scene is important.  Candles set the mood, music of course is a part of meditation, but a cushion tells your body it is time to shift into a lower gear and begin the calm practice of meditation.

The cushions can be expensive so why not make one.  It isn’t hard to do.  There is a wonderful set of instructions on making your own meditation cushion online - print them out, get your materials, and sew up your cushion.  Choose a fabric you love - it should reflect your personality and decor, but it should also reflect the mood you are trying to achieve.

Enjoy - this is a wonderful craft for yourself or for a gift.  It is classy, beautiful, and inexpensive to make.

Zafu Meditation Cushion