Favorite Quick Tip Tuesday 2025

 My favorite quick tip this year was from April 7.  It answered the question of how to choose a craft based on the mood you want to create.  I've included it here for you.

• Relaxing & Meditative: Knitting, crochet, embroidery, watercolor

• Creative & Expressive: Painting, sculpting, mixed media

• Functional & Practical: Sewing, woodworking, leather crafting

• Quick & Satisfying: Paper crafts, candle making, air-dry clay projects

Yes, there are other things to consider such as cost, time investment, and your current skills, but this is a place to start.  Happy crafting!

Merry Christmas

 Happy Christmas!

And hope you have a safe and healthy new year.

Most of all, thank you for being part of my crafty community.  I look forward to growing in 2026 with new, unique, craft-related tips and projects, and new additions to the Etsy shop!

Quick Tip Tuesday - Vinyl Testing

 Following up on last week's quick tip...

Quick Tip: Always Test Vinyl Before the Final Cut

Before cutting into your full sheet of vinyl, take a minute to run a small test cut using the same vinyl, blade, and settings. Even if you’ve used that brand before, don’t skip this step.

For vinyl projects, cut a tiny shape—like a star or your smallest text—to check blade depth and pressure. Then weed it. If it weeds too easily, your cut may be too deep. If corners pull or tear, adjust your settings before committing to the full design.

Vinyl thickness, adhesive strength, temperature, and blade wear all affect results. A 30-second test cut can save an entire sheet of vinyl and a lot of frustration.

Make test cuts part of your routine, and your vinyl projects will look cleaner, sharper, and more professional every time.

Quick Tip Tuesday

 

Quick Tip: Build a “Test Strip” Habit Before Every Project

Before starting any craft project—vinyl, sublimation, resin, paint, ink, or paper crafts—create a small test strip or sample swatch using the exact materials and settings you plan to use. Not just when something is new, but every time.

For paper crafts, this might mean cutting a small shape from the same cardstock to test blade depth, pressure, or score lines before cutting your full design. It can also include testing ink blending, stamping pressure, or adhesive placement on a scrap from the same paper pack to see how it reacts.

Why? Humidity, paper coatings, blade wear, and even paper color can change results. A quick test can prevent tearing, cracking folds, or ink bleeding.

Pros treat test strips as part of the process—not a backup plan. Adopt the habit, and your success rate will jump instantly.

Last Minute Christmas Activities for Kids

 If you have kids at home, one thing you'll probably hear at some point during the holiday break is, "I'm bored."  Printables to the rescue!

Kids can color their own Christmas cards to give to friends and family or to use as labels on gifts.  What a personal touch and fun for all ages.

Or how about an exciting Christmas themed Escape Room bundle?  The kids can save Christmas by completing puzzles and secret codes.  Ages 10 and up are most suited for these games.

And check out my Etsy shop for other activities and games for both children and adults!  Happy holidays!

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Sublimation

Sublimation is a printing method where special ink turns into gas when heated and permanently bonds to coated surfaces—no peeling or fading. It works best on polyester fabric and poly-coated hard goods. You can sublimate vibrant designs onto items like t-shirts, mugs, keychains, bag tags, and tumblers. It’s perfect for crisp, long-lasting color that won’t wash out.

Popular Sublimation Blanks:

• Polyester shirts (65–100% poly)

• Poly-coated mugs and tumblers

• Aluminum panels

• MDF ornaments and bag tags

• Slate photo panels

• Mouse pads

• Neoprene items (koozies, coasters)

You can do this at home with a sublimation printer!

Please let me know if you have any questions and don't forget to join our Facebook group - Crafts for All with Crafteverly!