Craft Site Directory Newsletter: February 2005
Theme: Creative Home Decorating
http://www.CraftSiteDirectory.com


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SECTION 1):*~*: What's New at CraftSiteDirectory.com?

SECTION 2):*~*: Home Decorating Tips
Quick tips for successful decorating projects.

SECTION 3):*~*: Throw Pillow Sewing Tips
Make perfect throw pillows with these sewing tips.

SECTION 4):*~*: Achieve Breathtaking Walls with Raised Plaster Stenciling
It can be as easy as frosting a cake!

SECTION 5):*~*: Top Home Decorating Web Sites
If you are planning to redecorate or simply add a few homemade items to your decor, visit these web sites first!

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 SECTION 1):*~*: What's New at CraftSiteDirectory.com?

Several sub-categories have been added to our 'Dolls' section. We've added sub-categories for doll clothes, doll patterns, doll making supplies, cloth dolls and porcelain dolls.

We've also added a sub-category for 'Handbags'. You can find this sub-category under 'Apparel'.


SECTION 2):*~*: Home Decorating Tips
Quick tips for successful decorating projects.

  • Choose 3 main colors for each room in your home, one main, one secondary and one accent color. Maintaining at least one of these colors throughout your home will create the sense that everything flows together.

  • If you can sew a straight line, throw pillows can make your mismatched furniture pieces look like they were made for each other. Choose colors(solids and prints) from each furniture piece and a few additional complementing colors. If you have a burgundy couch and 2 green chairs, for example, place the pillows with more burgundy on the green chairs and the pillows with more green on the burgundy couch.

  • Living plants and flowers look great in any room, from the den to the bathroom. Use your imagination when choosing pots and hangers for your plants. At http://www.knotingwork.com, you can learn how to macrame, then view free instructions to make your own macrame plant hangers. Or visit Patricia's Pots at http://www.patriciaspots.com/howtopaintapot.htm to learn how to paint terra cotta flower pots.

  • Bare walls can be filled with framed photographs, dried pressed flowers, or even pictures from your old calendars. Decorate inexpensive picture frames with decoupage(apply paper cut-outs with craft glue, then apply 1 or 2 layers of varnish), rubber stamps(beautiful stamps and paints are available nowadays), or simply paint them to match your room. If you have a printer, a program like Paint Shop Pro and a digital camera or scanner, you can create a unique look by making black and white versions of your family photos and grouping them together on a wall. Try grouping various sized photos together with similar frames and matting.

  • When repainting a room, choose an accent wall to add interest and depth to your room. There are many different painting techniques you can use on your accent wall, or you can simply paint it a contrasting color. If you've always wanted to attempt a faux finish, for example, but painting the entire room seems like a daunting task, this is a good option. As a general rule, choose the wall that contains your room's centerpiece, such as a fireplace or bed. But, if you have a wall that is somewhat separate from the rest of the walls, because of doorways, you could make that your accent wall instead.

  • One gallon of good quality paint normally covers about 350 square feet of wall or ceiling space. Use quality paints, brushes and rollers and take your time preparing the room. Use blue painter's tape to protect your edges and cover floors and furniture with plastic. Don't be afraid to ask for assistance at your local paint store, let them know the condition and current color of your walls and they can help you select the right supplies. You may need some patching compound and primer to fix nail holes or damaged walls.

  • Visit http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/homedecorating/ for more tips and ideas, plus handmade items to beautify your home.


    SECTION 3):*~*: Throw Pillow Sewing Tips
    Make perfect throw pillows with these sewing tips.

    Ever wonder why your pillows don't look professional when you get finished? Try fusible interfacing on the body of the pillow. Use either weft or knit interfacing which will keep the soft hand of the fabric but also "beef" it up and help it hold the shape and stay smooth.

    When you are putting a self-piping in a pillow, leave an inch free at the beginning. After stitching all around the 4 sides of the pillow, and you return to the beginning spot, stop about 2" from where you began. Clip the stitches out of the piping from the end piece and cut the CORD (not the fabric) to match the other cord exactly - a piece of tape will hold them together. Fold back the raw edge of the extra fabric that is left after you trimmed away the cord. Tuck the cord with the raw edge inside the folded piping. Then stitch them both the rest of the way.

    Gathering a dust ruffle. Use a thin cord such as perle Cotton # 5 or buttonhole twist thread (sometimes known as top stitch thread). You can find top stitch thread at the bottom thread displays in the stores. It will help if you have a presser foot with a hole in the front. Or you can use a 7 grooved pin tuck foot. Set your machine on a zigzag stitch with a 3 width and 2 length.

    Stitch over the cord - do not hit the cord. After you have the cord zigzagged down, tie a safety pin on one side with a knot. Draw up the end of the cord that does not have the safety pin - Pull it up to gather the fabric as much as you want. This method works well when using heavier fabric because the cord is strong enough to gather it.

    Submitted by Patty Dunn of All Dunn Designs at     http://www.alldunndesigns.com Check out Patty's innovative dolls and sewing techniques.


     SECTION 4):*~*: Achieve Breathtaking Walls with Raised Plaster Stenciling
    By Victoria Larsen, http://www.victorialarsen.com

    Raised Plaster stenciling is as easy as frosting a cake:

    Do you dream of breathtaking walls? Ooohs and Aaahs out of friends, visitors and family? Would you love to re-do that ugly old dresser in your bedroom and make it look as though it’s an expensive antique? Well now you can! Welcome to the wonderful world of “Plaster Stenciling”! It’s as easy as a bucket of common joint compound and a thick stencil!

    You’ve seen stencils (if not used them!). Well, imagine now, creating raised plaster designs on virtually anything with simple joint compound, a flat edged palette knife and a thick stencil. I’m not kidding; if you can frost a cake, you can do it!

    To get a noticeable raise on the item you want to make look “fab”, you need a good, thick stencil. Common craft store stencils typically aren’t thick enough. They tend to range between 4 mil and 7 mil thick (for the designer variety). You need something that is around 14 mil. (Trust me, I’ve tested for over 6 months to find just the right thickness!) Search the internet for plaster stencils. There are a number of sites that cater specifically to stencils thick enough for plastering (but do check the thickness to be certain!).

    I’ve found that I can use simple joint compound (found in your local home or hardware store for super cheap!) can be used for nearly any project. It comes pre-mixed and acts just like cake frosting (even looks like it a little!). Talk about fun!

    Here’s how you do it:

  • Tape the stencil to the wall or project with ordinary masking or cellophane tape.

  • Using a flat edged palette knife (also found in the paint area of the store), spread a thin layer of joint compound over the stencil openings.

  • If you want a smooth design, scrape off the excess.

  • If you want a rough textured design with a bit more raise, don’t scrape off the excess (just don’t apply it way too thick!).

  • Now, gently un-tape one edge of the stencil.

  • Peel carefully back, toward the taped side then remove the stencil.

  • Allow the design to dry and cure for 24 hours.

    What you will see it the most incredible thing on your wall! Now repeat the design in to a border, free form design, chair rail design or moldings (yes, designs are created to go right over the top of your existing moldings for very ornate moldings for pennies!).

    At the turn of the century, our beloved “White house” was stenciled with plaster. The ornate ceilings and walls were ordered by Mrs. Rosevelt and were the hit of the decade.

    Now, for the very first time since then, plaster stenciling is getting a much deserved revival!

    I’m a Victorian decorating enthusiast by nature. Once I discovered the idea of raised plaster stenciling, I instantly became hooked beyond belief! I took a trip to San Francisco to witness for myself the “painted ladies” homes of that enchanting city. There, on the building fronts were ornate fixtures, designs that resembled plaster stenciling and I was inspired to say the least.

    At home, I then re-searched the internet on plaster stenciling and found numerous historical websites on the matter. Now I was completely addicted! I found sites that offered this type of decorating for thousands of dollars and I knew with a little know how, I could do it myself for nearly pennies!

    My entire home is now plaster stenciled. But I also combined that with cast plaster ornaments from plaster molds and now my home looks like I’ve hired a pro at thousands of dollars to create plaster works of art.

    Raised designs on walls or furniture can either be left the pure white color of the dried joint compound, painted with the color of your wall to cast stunning shadows of beauty for all to behold, or tinted with simple stencil creams or acrylics and a flat end stencil brush.

    Pure pigments can also be added right to the joint compound for pre-colored designs! This can range anywhere from pure pigment paints to fabric dyes or even cake decorating colors! Just remember that your design will dry slightly lighter.

    For more information on this exciting and “renewed” method of decorating, simply search “plaster stenciling” on the internet or visit my website at http://www.victorialarsen.com. A whole new world will be introduced to you.

    For answers to your plaster stenciling questions, simply email me at victorysprings@yahoo.com.


    SECTION 5):*~*: Top Home Decorating Web Sites
    These are our top recommendations for home decorating information. If you are planning to redecorate or simply add a few homemade items to your decor, visit these web sites first!

  • At PageWise, you can find a huge selection of articles about interior decorating. From making your own window treatment, to achieving feng shui, you can find it all here.
    http://www.essortment.com/in/Home.Decorating.Interior

  • HGTV's website is a great source of home decorating information with illustrations. Sign up for the free HGTV Decorating newsletter to receive tips and ideas via email.
    http://www.hgtv.com

  • All Home Decor can help you decorate, care for, and organize your home.
    http://www.all-homedecor.com

  • The Waverly Home Decorating Project Center offers project ideas suitable for beginners.
    http://www.waverly.com/Project/project.asp

  • The Budget Decorator is a free e-zine dedicated to the "budget impaired" decorator.
    http://www.thebudgetdecorator.com

  • Decorating Studio's web site contains articles with information about decorating nearly any room in your home. You can also find other decorating info and how-to information.
    http://www.decoratingstudio.com/archives/index.html

  • Getdecorating.com is a great place to simply view actual home decor designs by interior designers and architects throughout North America. Even without a membership, you can view 1000s of great photos.
    http://www.getdecorating.com


    Happy Crafting from CraftSiteDirectory.com!


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