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If you’re into customization, then vinyl crafting is for you. Over the last few years, the vinyl crafts scene has rapidly evolved into one that allows even home crafters to create quality products. Among the most popular ways that crafters use vinyl are for custom decals, home decors, and personalized gifts. In this section, learn all about the latest trends in vinyl crafting and how you can get started and ultimately improve your craft. From choosing the right vinyl and cutting tools, we’ll cover the basics and beyond.
When decor meets customization, you get decals! Sturdier than your average sticker, decals are adhesives that you can stick onto a variety of surfaces. Since they’re fully customizable, you can create a decal using any design you want – your imagination is the limit! Use decals to add a personal touch today. Here’s how:
How to start making custom decals:
Vinyl home decor projects are an easy but effective way to add some personal flair to your home. Have an empty wall you want to brighten up? Add a vinyl wall stick-on. Want to organize your spice cabinet? Make yourself custom labels. Starting up a garden? Custom signs can be a charming and clever accessory. Compared to traditional home decor approaches that include spending on brand-new items, vinyl-based projects are more affordable since you can create multiple decorations from the same materials. What’s more, you can even upcycle things you already have, giving them and your home a new life.
How to start making vinyl-based home decor:
One of the oldest artistic mediums is paper. Accessible, versatile, and easy to work with, paper can be used to create many different creative projects. One of the easiest yet most satisfying of these is scrapbooking. Aside from being a great way to create art with paper, scrapbooking can also preserve special memories. Over the years, scrapbooking has amassed a huge following that has helped propel the craft forward. On the QVC, you’ll even find an impressive roster of scrapbooking brands, all of which have made this paper art form more convenient and beautiful with products like embellishments, premium cardstock, and more. If you’re new to scrapbooking or just want to improve your work, here are some tips to dive into.
Scrapbooking is more than just gluing together pieces of paper and pictures. It’s a craft that tells a story and creates an ambiance. One of the best ways to keep your scrapbook visually and emotionally engaging is through layout. Here are some layout ideas for you to try out.
Just as life can definitely use more sparkle, so can your scrapbooks! Add pizzazz to every page with some embellishments. Available either ready to stick on or customizable, scrapbooking embellishments are like the finishing touch that’ll bring your work to a whole new level.
Although sewing projects can seem intimidating, they’re actually some of the most intuitive crafts you can get into! After overcoming a learning curve, you’ll find that many of the same sewing techniques can be applied to countless projects. Moreover, sewing is highly versatile, so you can use it to make clothes, decor, and even accessories. With brands like Brother, Singer, and Simplicity making sewing even more foolproof, there’s no better time to get your needle and thread out!
If you’re new to sewing or you want a project that’s faster to finish, sewing home decor is a good place to start.
How to start sewing home decor:
If you’re feeling more confident in your sewing, try a more advanced craft, such as making clothes or accessories.
How to start sewing clothes and accessories:
Needlework is a fine craft that can create some of the most impressive textiles, portraits, and designs. Some of the most well-known techniques include embroidery, cross-stitch, knitting, and crocheting. Each one offers its own charm, which will make for some of the most memorable projects. While needlework crafts require practice, the output you’ll end up with is more than worth it! From hoops and kits to needles and yarn, here’s a quick rundown for interested crafters:
Embroidery is an ancient art form that is considered an honored tradition in many cultures. To this day, some of the most expensive artistic, cultural, and fashion pieces feature exquisite embroidery work. What may surprise you about embroidery, though, is that it’s actually rather easy to pick up! In fact, you need very few materials to create striking designs, and once you’re confident enough, you can start adding it to virtually any cloth surface you want.
How to start an embroidery project:
If there’s only one needlework technique that’s the most beginner-friendly, it’s probably cross-stitching. Fun and therapeutic, cross-stitching makes use of an aida or Evenweave fabric through which colored threads are crossed following a specific pattern. Countless patterns are available today, with some of the most popular styles including seaside landscapes, florals, and cottage scenes. For more experienced stitchers, cross-stitching can be even more exciting with the addition of new stitch types and more intricate designs. Aside from creating canvases of picturesque thread images, cross-stitching can also be used to add decor to other fabric pieces like placemats, pillowcases, or blankets.
How to create polished, beautiful cross-stitching:
Knitting and crocheting are two sides of the same needlework coin. Although they have fundamental differences in terms of tools and technique, they both utilize yarn to create stunning patterns and textiles that can be used for a myriad of items. Nowadays, knitters and crocheters have thousands of patterns to try out, ranging from all skill levels. Depending on what you’re interested in, you can knit or crochet everything from slippers to home decor, to clothes, to accessories, and even toys.
How to start knitting and crochet:
Essential tools include scrapbook paper, adhesives, scissors, embellishments, and a good quality album. These are the basics from which you can create your own beautiful scrapbook. If you want something a bit more elaborate or you’re ready to upgrade your scrapbooking projects, you can start investing in more advanced tools like specialty cutters, heating tools, and foils. The Silhouette America Heat Pen Set is a great tool for scrapbookers who want to add something extra to their work since it adds a stylish metallic accent to any paper-based project.
Begin with a cutting machine, vinyl sheets, and transfer tape. These are foundational materials that will enable you to make simple vinyl projects. They’re also easy to access and very convenient to use, even with minimal materials, so they’re great for practice pieces, too. In terms of what to make, start with simple projects like decals. Durable and versatile, decals can be used inside and outside on a variety of items ranging from home decorations to custom clothes and car accessories.
Beginner projects include pillowcases, tote bags, and simple skirts. These use simple patterns that are easy to follow and don’t require complicated techniques to complete. They’re also great practice pieces that will not result in textile waste. Best of all, these are perfectly functional, so you get to enjoy them, too!
Cotton and linen are popular choices for embroidery due to their tight weave. This makes it easier to compose your stitches, and they're not likely to snag, sag, or move. Of course, if you must use another fabric aside from these two, it can be done as long as you ensure you’re using the right stitches and keeping the fabric taut. This can be done by hand, but a tool like the Elna Air Artist Wireless Embroidery Machine can make this easier, no matter the fabric or design you want to embroider with.
Use storage bins, shelves, and labeled containers to keep your supplies organized and easily accessible. When storing your supplies, make sure to consider their make and sensitivities. For instance, delicate items must not be placed under heavy objects, and supplies that are vulnerable to UV rays should not be kept near direct sunlight. Certain tools may also be better stored with their specific cases to prevent any damage.
Some popular brands include American Crafts, We R Memory Keepers, and Spellbinders. Each of these brands offers a variety of high-quality scrapbooking tools that are designed for intuitive use, meaning they’re great for beginners and experienced crafters alike. With their product selections, they can enhance any scrapbooking project and give it a more creative and polished finish.
It's best to use acid-free, lignin-free paper to ensure your scrapbook pages last longer and don't yellow over time. The good news is that this kind of paper now comes in multiple colors, designs, and finishes, so you can definitely find something for your project. Some of the most fun scrapbooking papers you can use today also have exciting textures.
When choosing a sewing machine, Consider your skill level, the types of projects you'll be doing, and your budget. After all, not all sewing machines are equal. For example, Brother has a specialty sewing machine specifically designed for quilting. Meanwhile, we also have portable sewing machines that work well if you travel a lot. Of course, if you’re new to sewing, you shouldn’t feel pressured to use a fancy machine just because it has a lot of features. Instead, practice and get comfortable with something like the Janome Beginner Sewing Machine. Designed with built-in stitches, this machine is a great one to learn on and grow with.
The most obvious difference between knitting and crocheting is that the latter uses a single hook to create interlocking loops, whereas the former uses two needles to create a series of loops. This tool variation creates various differences that are worth keeping in mind. First, knitting uses less yarn and can create both chunky and flowy knits. Second, crocheting uses more yarn, thereby creating heavier end products and necessitating the use of yarn multipacks. Despite this, crochet projects typically take less time to complete. In terms of a learning curve, it really depends on the project you’re trying. Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, though, both crocheting and knitting are highly rewarding activities!
Use transfer tape to lift the vinyl design from its backing and then apply it to the desired surface, smoothing out any bubbles. When trying out vinyl crafting, using transfer tape makes it easier for you to create even the most intricate DIY projects since it helps you apply with more ease and precision.