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New Projects in Easter Crafts

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AllCrafts.net Arts & Crafts Book Review Basic Jewelry Making

AllCrafts.net Arts & Crafts Book Review
Basic Jewelry Making: All the Skills And Tools You Need to Get Started. (Spiral Bound)

Why aren't more jewelry books like this one? "Basic Jewelry Making" has page after page of large, close-up photos of each step in a technique or project. It is spiral bound so it lays flat as I compare my wire wrapping with the one in the photo. Incredible. Each page has about 3-6 photos. The text is in the step by step captions underneath each photo.

There are three main sections to this book:

• Working with Beads

• Beads with Wire

• Bending Silver and Gold Wire

The introductory section explains the tools and materials you will need to get started. There are large photos of each tool and material. The first technique illustrated is essential in creating great-looking beaded jewelry - crimping. The photos give a clear view of how to do it and what the finished results should look like. The project that follows walks you through each step of creating a simple necklace with a clasp. The finished piece looks very professional. The next few projects in this section illustrate more techniques, including an elegant floating crimp. Using elastic cord, crimping on silk cord, and making polymer clay beads, are also helpful and are a nice bonus.

The next section of this book, Beading with Wire, is a comprehensive course in intermediate techniques. Here's where I learned lots of new ideas. This chapter focuses on working with headpins, loops, dangles and wire wrapping. A complex necklace separated by wire-wrapped loops is fantastic and each step is shown with photos. The final project lets you have fun with just wire by making a nice wire-wrapped pendant.

Once you've mastered these techniques, you're ready to play with the big boys. The last section, Bending Silver and Gold Wire, will show you how to make gallery quality pieces. The tools and materials section is full of pictures and explained thoroughly. All of this material was new to me, and quite interesting. From sterling silver and gold wire, you bend and hammer it into earrings, bracelets and more. The finishing techniques add that extra pizazz to your jewelry. From these lessons, you can go in many creative directions.

I was really struck by the quality of the instructions in this book. The photos are large and close-up and the captions are detailed and helpful. I've learned some of the secrets to the beautiful jewelry that I've seen at fine craft shows. "Oh, so that's how they do that," I thought more than once while reading and examining the photos. By far, one of the best jewelry making books on the market today.

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AllCrafts.net News

We announced our 5th year celebration last month and it's still going strong! Our winner of the quilting books did not respond to our email, so we'll be selecting another winner this week. Check your inbox! We're holding a Celebration Sweepstakes, with a new prize each month. Current subscribers to this newsletter are automatically entered, but if you'd like to update your info, use the entry form.

Enter to win a $200 gift certificate from CraftCuts.com. On their web site you can choose unpainted or painted wooden letters and shapes in dozens of sizes, over 1,700 different fonts, and numerous thickness options. These letters can be integrated into your favorite craft projects. They are also great for every wall of the home including kid's rooms, nurseries, family rooms, living rooms, and kitchens. In addition to wood letters they offer a full selection of vinyl lettering and craft boards. See their idea gallery for phrases and pictures. Also offered are kids puzzles, mirror wall letters, and much more. CraftCuts.com truly allows you to customize your home or craft project.

Completely customized Easter Bunny Letters. Create and view online.

How to make a Spool Knitter

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Making Cards with Stencils

A quick tutorial on using those elegant brass stencils to make a thank you card. Added to Card Making.

Crochet Doll Face Potholder

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Plastic Canvas Harry Potter Decorations

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Paint some Irish charm for your front door. Added to Painting and Holiday Crafts .

Baby Baby Baby Card

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How to Draw a Doll Face

Great article on how to design a doll's face. Geared to cloth dolls, but the principles are good for all designs.

Handprint Shamrock

Simple scissors craft for your preschoolers to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Added to Holiday Crafts.

Mini Bunny in a Pot

Here's a cute and easy classroom or Sunday School project for Easter. A cute bunny peeks out of a tiny flower pot. Added to Easter Crafts