How to Make A Dreamcatcher

I love dreamcatchers. They're unique and they are from the Native American culture, which makes them all the more interesting.

Dreamcatchers are basically made to protect infants and children when they sleep. These dreamcatchers or dream snares are often decorated with protective charms or personal items such as beads and feathers.

Nowadays, these dreamcatchers are made for decorative purposes. I particularly love this video, which teaches us how to make 2-inch dreamcatchers, which are made into cool pendants.




You can also view a step-by-step tutorial with pictures, taken from cutoutandkeep.net.



See Dreamcatcher Pendant  and 1000's of others or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

It's a cool project to try, don't you think? Happy Thursday and happy crafting!

Video - Zutter Bind-it-All Binding Machine

Zutter Bind-it-All Binding Machine - www.binditall.com

It's been a while since I last shared crafting videos here. I have recently accepted a job to make a wedding guest book, and boy, do I wish to have my own binding machine.

I have heard about the Zutter Bind-it-All machine before, but I have only recently read about it. There are many tutorial videos on YouTube that you can watch. It's so much fun and I cannot wait to get my own Zutter Bind-it-All machine. The Zutter Bind-it-All machine is priced at $74.99.

If you're interested in finding more about it, check out these video links:

Bind-it-All V2.0 Chapter 1: Introduction

Bind-it-All V2.0 Chapter 2: Upgrades

Bind-it-All V2.0 Chapter 3: Let's Punch

Bind-it-All V2.0 Chapter 4: Let's Bind

Bind-it-All V2.0 Chapter 5: Dreamkutz

I will be getting my Sizzix Big Shot die-cut machine soon. I'm so excited, even though my bestie is getting it for me in KL and I won't be using it until I come back. I don't want to risk having the machine mailed to Kuching, and I don't want to carry such a big item when I come back to KL anyway. Still very, very excited about it, though. Can't wait! :)

In the meantime, enjoy the vids!

Video - Tim Holtz Sizzix Vagabond Die-Cutting Machine

If you're a scrapbook enthusiast, the name Tim Holtz is probably not a stranger's name to you. Tim Holtz is like the guru of scrapbooking and papercrafting, and the coolest thing is that he's a guy! A guy who's into scrapbooking, how cool is that?

Anyway, he came up with an updated Sizzix die cut machine last year, and it's called the Vagabond. It's so cool! If you love vintage stuff like I do, you'll definitely love the Vagabond. It's like a die cut machine packed into your very own suitcase, perfect for travelling.

Tim Holtz Sizzix Vagabond Die-Cutting Machine [Image courtesy of Sizzix.com]

The Vagabond is stronger than any other die-cutting machine, and it can cut thick chipboards and even Tim Holtz grungeboards. It's also motorised and not hand-powered, unlike other Sizzix die-cutting machines. How awesome!

Enticed yet? Just watch this video of Tim Holtz Vagabond demonstration, and tell me if you end up wanting the Vagabond as much as I do!

The only downside is that it's priced at $249.99 on Sizzix website, excluding shipping. That's more than RM750 for the machine alone. Bummer! Going to pull some strings (and hair!) for the Vagabond, I guess. 

Video - How to Use Flower Soft on Stamped Images

When my customer ordered Flower Soft, I wondered what it is. It was my first time hearing about it and I was curious, so I looked it up online and found this cool Flower Soft tutorial video.

The video is owned by Suzanne Dean. She explains what Flower Soft is and how to incorporate it into your stamped images to make your cards. Check out her blog too! She makes gorgeous cards! She uses a lot of stamped images and coloured them with Copic markers. Here's one of her recent cards: Mum's Away!

Using Flower Soft is pretty easy and the result is beautiful too. It's definitely one of the more interesting cardmaking technique that makes your cards look like professionally-made cards.

Flower Soft can also be used to make realistic miniature flowers and plants for doll houses.

Check out the video and have fun!

How to Use ColorBox Pigment & Fluid Chalk Ink Pads

I love watching craft videos on YouTube, and I came across this video on how to use ColorBox ink pads recently.

The video shows how to use Colorbox ink pads, like the petal ink pads and also the Cat Eyes Queue ink pads, which has 6 colours in 1 and can be stacked on top of each other.

I have the ColorBox Cats Eye Queue 6 in 1 ink pads at my store, and they're available in either pigment or fluid chalk ink. They are available for pre-order at RM48.50 each.

If you're looking for quality ink pads, get the ColorBox ink pads now!

Video - Tim Holtz Grungeboard Ideas

I've always been a huge fan of Tim Holtz and his scrapbooking products. I've watched a Tim Holtz video recently and I'm hooked! I'm going to get myself some Grungeboard soon.

What's a Grungeboard, you ask?

A Grungeboard is just like a regular chipboard, only more durable and will not tear easily. This makes the Grungeboard grungeable, as Tim says.

Not to be confused with Grungeboard, Grungepaper is form of Grungeboard, only thinner but with the same grungeable properties. 

You can decorate your Grungeboard using whichever methods you fancy; inking, spraying, glittering,; you name it, you can do it on a Grungeboard without damaging it, since it's very flexible.

Check out the video to see what Grungeboard is all about! Happy Grunge-ing!

Image source: http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/11/grungeboard-has.html

Video - Tim Holtz Distress Ink Techniques

Tim Holtz is awesome! Yup, I saw his vids on YouTube and I'm amazed. I'm not an awesome crafter and I'm still learning, so here's a video that I've just watched on How to Use Tim Holtz's Distress Inks.

Check it out! It's so awesome!

Meanwhile, I'm pre-ordering Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads on my store, so if you're interested, I'm selling them for only RM25.00 each. There are 36 colours to choose from, and each ink pad is 2 x 2 inches, so it's not a mini ink pad.

If you have watched the video, you'll find out how great these distress inks are. I'm going to get some for myself! Don't forget to check out my store for more new items!

Get inspired, and get crafty! :)

Video - How To Wrap Gift In A Box & Bottle

I was looking for inexpensive gift-wrapping ideas when I came across this video. I love wrapping gifts. I have been wrapping Christmas gifts for C's family ever since I knew him about 4 years ago. He's terrible at wrapping gifts, so if you feel that you need to learn how to wrap gifts just like C does, you might want to watch this video.

The video clearly shows how to wrap gifts in boxes and also how to wrap wine bottles. I think it's very easy to follow too. Wrapping gifts the proper way is not only to make your gifts look prettier. You will be able to use wrapping paper efficiently. You can also save some money by making your own wrapping paper.

I haven't done buying Christmas gifts for this year, but I'm going to buy and get them wrapped before I go back to Kuching. I'll take a photo and show my wrapped gifts here. Have fun watching the video and happy weekend!

How to wrap gifts in a box & a bottle



Congrats to the first THREE commenters! :)

Mariuca - Mariuca's Perfume Gallery
Shemah - Just Press Play

Video - What Are Rub-Ons?

I haven't got the time to make more cards. I've been busy updating Crafty Heart Online Store with new items! This time, I brought in almost 100 new items! Although it took me all night to upload the product photos to my inventory, it's worth it. I have some Christmas items, tonnes of stickers, embellishments and rub-ons.

What are rub-ons?
Rub-ons come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They’re sticky on the back side (like a sticker), but they’re applied with a stylus or a popsicle stick. The most popular form of rub-ons are alphabets. The benefit to rub-ons over stickers is the fact that stickers often have an outside “ring,” where rub-ons have a very clean look. Often times, you can’t even tell the difference between a rub-on and a handwritten title. [Source]

Check out this video on How to Use Rub-ons!



These are my favourite rub-ons. The brand is called Cherry Arte. You can get these right now at my craft supply store for only RM9.50 per sheet, and they actually sell for $3.99 (approximately RM14.15)! They can be used for both scrapbooking and cardmaking.

Click to on image view large

If you like these Cherry Arte rub-ons, get them now!

Congrats to the first commenter! :)

Shemah - My Sweet Escape

Video - How To Fold An Origami Tie

Remember the video on folding an origami shirt I posted yesterday? Well here's the video on folding an origami tie for the shirt. It's so cute! I am going to try and make a card like this soon! :) Happy watching!

Congrats to the first commenter! :)

Ane - A Network of Entertainment

Video - How To Fold An Origami Shirt

Have you made anything for Father's Day yet? Here's a great Father's Day card idea, which incorporates an origami shirt. Learn how to fold an origami shirt and use it as your Father's Day card embellishment! I think it's neat! Enjoy!

Congrats to the first commenter! :)

LadyJava - Cat Tales

Video - Eco-Friendly Father's Day CD Card by Shiho Masuda

Father's Day falls on 21st June this year. I haven't got anything yet for my dad, but every year I'll definitely make a card for him for his birthday and Father's Day. Although my cards are not as pretty as I'd like them to be, I take huge pride in them because I'm able to make something for my loved ones, using my hands and creativity.

If you are into eco-friendly crafts like me, you might like this cool Father's Day card idea. This eco-friendly card is made by Shiho Masuda. She's a visual designer, specialising in display/space design and gift wrapping design.

She uses a discarded cd and cd case to create this ultra chic card. (She makes me miss writing in Japanese! I still can write my name though.) I think it's a great, inexpensive and uber cool idea to make for our dads. This recycled cd card was featured in New York's Japion newspaper. Enjoy the video!

Tips: Use a pair of scissors to cut the circle cd shape if you're not used to handling an exacto knife. ;)

Congrats to the first commenter! :)

Ane - A Network of Entertainment

Video - Mother's Day Accordion Pop-Up Card

Hello everyone! It's been a week since I last updated Craft N Swap. I haven't been feeling too crafty lately. I have some projects in mind, including a giveaway, but I will need to go out and do some shopping to get the materials I need. I need to catch up on Postcrossing too, which means more reason to shop as I need to buy more postcards.

Now, we all know that Mother's Day is coming real soon. Have you made anything for your mom yet? Well, I've made some accordion pop-up cards for my mom, I just have to choose one of them! :) Here's the video that I watched in order to make those cute pop-up cards. The video is owned by okakuku, who's an awesome crafter. I love her creations and she is very creative! I hope you'll enjoy the video. Don't forget to share your posts with me if you've made some of the cards. Happy Wednesday!

Congrats to the first commenter! :)

Shemah - The Accidental Fashionista