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One of the ways by which you can jazz up your scrapbook page is through creative lettering  This will give your scrapbook the additional oomph necessary to make it stand out from the crowd.  According to scrapbooking retreats Minnesota specialists, creative lettering styles bring purpose and focus along with style and design to the page.  Here are some tips on creative lettering for your scrapbook.

Graphic Lettering and Fonts

For folks that want a more modern and urban feel to their project, there is a huge availability of lettering, fonts and writing samples that use graphics such as curlicues, stars and hearts embedded into the lettering itself.  Doodle-style and graffiti style lettering is just a couple of examples that are quite popular these days. The great thing about this approach is that you do not need any sophisticated equipment to do it. Simply compose a sentiment or title and then add the graphics to it. This type of lettering is best for scrapbooks that feature a contemporary feel.  Also, creative lettering is an excellent way to put style and interest to your scrapbook page.

Handwriting Fonts

According to craft retreat Alexandria MN providers, a new approach popular in graphic and scrapbook design is using actual handwriting as a type of font. The use of a handwritten font conveys a casual and fun appearance to your scrapbook.

Mixed Medium Lettering

One type of lettering is simple and can do the job quite quickly but can be boring and too simple. If you want your scrapbook page to standout from the rest try designing your projects using an eclectic mix of lettering styles so that you can focus on the most important aspects while not sacrificing detail and variety doing so.  For example, combine a fluid lettering style with a masculine tone. In this way, you get instant contrast immediately.  This can immediately catch anyone’s attention and can convey your message effectively.

For most people, quilting is something that grandma did a long time ago. The art of quilting is thank goodness still alive and kicking today because crafters love to sew quilts that can be used for personally as a blanket or as gifts for special occasions.  Here are some cool quilting facts to ponder.

What is a Quilt?

According to quilting retreats specialists, a quilt is a blanket or cover that is made through stitching different types of fabrics together using a collection of patterns for the top and then connecting it to a layer of batting or cushioning. The two are then connected to the bottom fabric layer. When the three layers are melded as one fabric, a quilt is made.  Quilting first became popular during the 18^th century when colonial women sat around a warm fire and made quilts for their husbands and kids.  However, it became really popular in the 1800s when more fabrics became available to work with.

Popularity

Quilting is popular not just in America but also in a number of different cultures as well.  There is a plethora of patterns that range from detailed double-wedding ring patterns to pattern that tell a narrative or story.

Time to Finish

The time to finish a quilt will depend on how large the quilt, the degree of detail on the patterns and how many people are working on it at one time. In the US, there are popular “quilting bee “groups of women that band together and work on different sections of the quilt so it can be done quite fast.

Hand or Machine

It really does not matter if you use a machine or do it by hand as both have their unique characteristics that make them special. If you are a sucker for detail then go hand made. If you want swiftness, a machine will do the trick for you.

Quilt Care

According to quilting retreats Alexandria Minnesota specialists, caring for a quilt will depend largely on the age as well as the materials used. For example, newer quilts can go through a machine wash using a delicate cycle and some mild soap. Vintage quilts made from satin, or silk will need to be cleaned by a professional.

One of the most popular pastimes in America, quilting is the art and craft of layering and sewing three pieces of materials to form a blanket.  The quilt top for instance can be sourced from different fabrics but it can also be a single fabric piece as well.  According to quilting retreats Central MN specialists, the top stitching and layering of the materials are what makes a quilt a quilt.  Here are some of the basics for beginner quilters.

Fabric Selection

Everything begins with selecting the right fabric for your quilts.  Select from a range of fabrics such as silk, velvet, cotton and even denim for that matter.  According to quilting retreat Brainerd MN specialists, you need to maintain the same thickness for each type of fabric you have chosen as uneven fabrics will look odd. If you use cotton be sure it is 100% as it is the one that is easiest to work with and can be run through the washer and dryer without any issues. Aside from cotton, plain muslin is also a very good choice for beginners.

Cutting and Seaming

There are a number of quilt top designs that can be produced from cutting different types of fabrics and then seaming them together in order to form a pattern.  For instance, art quilts are done using an abstract or pictorial approach.  If you are going for the art quilt, the traditional designs are not the ones that are necessarily used however the steps remain the same.  To do so, seam the quilt using a ¼ inch seam.  Keep in mind that in quilting, the seams are pressed downward or to one side.  If you are having difficulty trying to select which way to press your seams, look for the darkest fabric and then press in that direction.  This is important so as to minimize the number of seams that are seen through the outside.

Machine or Hand Quilting

If you want convenience and fast results use machine quilting as it is done entirely with the sewing machine. Hand quilting on the other hand is perfect for people that want tiny details to be seen on their quilts.  Moreover, a lot of quilters enjoy the process of quilting as much as they enjoy seeing the end result and would not trade hand quilting for a machine made one. Whatever the choice, the important thing is you have a blast doing it.

If you want to encourage creativity and expression with your kids, exposing them to arts and crafts is a sure fire way to stimulate their imagination.  Here are some neat arts and crafts ideas that kids will definitely enjoy.

Potato Printing

Craft retreat Alexandria MN specialists recommend potato printing as a starter arts and crafts project for kids.  Begin by cutting a potato in half and give one half to each child.  Give the kids a pencil and let them draw a shape or animal on the potato. You can then carve the shape out for the child.  Next step is to give each kid a piece of construction paper. Pour some tempera paint on a paper plate and then let the kids to use the potato cutout like a stamp.  Have the kids switch potatoes so that they have more than one impression on the paper.

Butterfly Arts and Crafts

Begin by laying out some newspapers so as to protect the work area surface.  Provide each child with a coffee filter and some watercolor paints.  Allow the kids to dip their brushes in the water and then in the paint.  Let them paint the coffee filter in any way they please just ensure that the paint is watery enough. Once done, set them out to dry and then teach the kids to crunch up the coffee filter in the center and then with a rubber band to hold it in place. Use a clothespin for the butterfly’s body and glue it to the rubber band.

Sock Friend

Another easy arts and crafts idea that crafting retreats Minnesota experts recommend is sock friend.  Simply go through your laundry and look for some unmatched white socks. Let the kids fill the socks with some rice and then use a rubber band to close off the end so that the rice does not spill off.  Put some paint on a clean paper plate and give each child a paintbrush.   Instruct them to paint the sock like an animal or person by adding eyes, whiskers or hair. Once done, let the socks dry. When ready, allow the kids to play pretend with the sock friend or play a toss game. Set some coffee cans at different distance and see if the kids can throw their sock friend straight into the cans.