I’m on vacation this week, but don’t worry, I’m swatting up on great crafts to bring you on my return in a few days.

Stay tuned for some terrific ideas for the fall/autumn season and the runup to Christmas and all the festive holidays.

Duncan Cairncross

I’m Duncan Cairncross, your new Craftmaster here at Craftmodo, the place to be for all things crafty.

I just want to introduce myself and explain how I’m going to go about this job of bringing you the best of craftage and craft commerce, especially in the runup to Christmas, when we’re all looking for great gifts for our craft-conscious friends and acquaintances.

First, thanks to my predecessor, Adelle Tilton, for writing some great stuff on the female side of crafting. There’s lots to see in the archives if you appreciate that.

I want to tilt the balance a little at first by covering a few typically male crafts that are often ignored in our society. Men need crafts too, you know. We don’t just stand around watching you girls create the world around us.

John (our editor) thought it would be a good idea if I started out reviewing the craft bits of The Dangerous Book for Boys. This is a British book which has taken the market by storm in the UK. I’ll be looking at that in my next post.

Keep crafting.

Nothing to do this weekend?  It is still hot; I think it is hot everywhere now and staying inside in the air conditioning and doing some family crafts seems right up my alley.  Brave the heat long enough to go up to the hardware store and pick out some pretty tiles.  Get large enough ones to work on the surface, say a foot square or so, and then head to the craft store and pick up some decoupage and a clear sealant.  The rest is going to come from things in your own home and your imagination.

Old photographs are a nice touch on these tiles.  Glue the photograph down and run your hand or something over it to remove any bubbles.  Many decoupages are meant to use as the glue and will bubble less; I prefer those.  Just be sure to remove the air bubbles from under the picture.  You can use magazine photos, antique photographs, seed packets (just the front layer)… anything you like. 

Once it is sealed on, follow the instructions on the decoupage bottle and then on the sealant container.  Be sure you are in a well ventilated room.  Then you can attach hangers and display your work or you can use them as trivets for hot plates (don’t put anything too hot on it to protect the photograph if it means a great deal to you).  I would recommend if the photograph is one of a kind and cannot be replaced, that you spend a few dollars and have it photostated by a professional photocopying service and save the original in a safe place.

These tiles will make great gifts and a great memory of a fun day.  These crafts are easy, inexpensive and totally individual to each crafter. 

Creativity is the fuel that drives the crafter. It is an expression of ideas that brew about in our heads. Sometimes the creativity well runs dry though, and a little help is necessary. Other times it is fun to see what other people have created and expand our own ideas. “The Creative Life,” is a television show, with a corresponding Web site, that features everything from traditional crafting to the new recycled art so popular today.  

‘The Creative Life’ is your new one-stop show for step-by-step how-to segments and tips and techniques for creating unique items for the home. From decorative painting to building, gardening to cooking, sewing to home decor and everything in between, Cheryl does it all, and takes you on location as she explores every nook and cranny of ‘The Creative Life.’
The Creative Life Web Site

“The Creative Life” presents not only ideas but free patterns on the Web site.  If you have been unaware of this show, you can also find the PBS scheduling so you can watch the production in your local area.  You can also see different clips from the show.  For the crafter, “The Creative Life” is a “creative” approach to crafting that will be become a useful resource.

The Creative Life