I am Senior Marketing Coordinator at C&T Publishing. I like making things with C&T products, especially Blank Board Books and Blank Canvas Books because they work with pretty much anything I might find in my craft supply stash. I also like ripping apart and re-purposing stuff I find around the house. My dog Alabama is very enthusiastic about helping me with the ripping part…

Trick-or-Treat Pail

March 15th, 2010 in Projects, Sewing
By Danielle Dews

It’s not quite Halloween time yet, but if you use your imagination, I’m confident you can come up with a gazillion variations for this basic, kid-friendly project. A cute pail like this could be used to hold almost anything, from fresh-cut flowers to pens and pencils to the bits and bobs that tend to gather on your furniture’s surfaces. You might start by finding something that needs to be “contained,” then design the pail around it’s contents!

Click here to download the free, full-color project sheet, which includes this variation. Author, Sue Astroth used the pail technique to create a pirate’s spyglass. She says:

With an old kaleidoscope (I found one at a thrift shop for 25¢), a little fabric, and a cool skull medallion—you’re set!

This project is an excerpt from Super-Simple Creative Costumes by Sue Astroth, which includes tons of Easy sew and no-sew costumes from sweet to scary.

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March is National Craft Month and we are celebrating by posting one project every day this month! If you are joining us late, click here to see the full list of Craft Month projects that have been posted so far.

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Almost Woven, Super Simple Quilt

March 14th, 2010 in Projects, Quiltmaking
By Danielle Dews

New quilters about to make their first quilt and experts looking for a quick charity quilt design alike will love this super-easy appliqué quilt. This project sheet download includes instructions for three different sizes and images of three different colorways.


This project is an excerpt from Super Simple Quilts #4 by Alex Anderson and Liz Aneloski which includes 9 appliqué projects to sew with or without a machine.

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March is National Craft Month and we are celebrating by posting one project every day this month! If you are joining us late, click here to see the full list of Craft Month projects that have been posted so far.

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Squared Away with Lutradur

March 13th, 2010 in Mixed Media, Projects
By Danielle Dews

Finished size: 5½ ˝ × 5½ ˝

You should know by now that Lutradur® is a fabulously versatile art material that’s described as a cross between paper and fabric. This mixed media project is all about Lutradur and incorporates painting, collaging, burning, and lacing techniques.

Read what Jenn Mason, this project’s designer had to say about working with Lutradur:

The Lutradur was a challenge to work with, because it falls somewhere between fabric and paper. I loved how the paint was absorbed but didn’t bleed, which allowed me to go crazy with my colors while still keeping a bright, unmuddied palette. The kid in me also enjoyed melting the Lutradur, and it took all my willpower to keep from watching the whole piece melt away.
—Jenn Mason, project designer

Click here to download the free project sheet, which includes instructions for the lacing and burning techniques.

This project is an excerpt from Fabulous Fabric Art with Lutradur by Lesley Riley, which includes 27 mixed media techniques and 14 projects that implement them.

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March is National Craft Month and we are celebrating by posting one project every day this month! If you are joining us late, click here to see the full list of Craft Month projects that have been posted so far.

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No-Sew Fabric Flowers for Kids

March 12th, 2010 in Projects, Sewing
By Danielle Dews

Nothing brightens up a room like flowers. These are easy to make with kids and a fun way to use scraps. Make a bouquet or a table centerpiece or string them together for a flower garland or other wall decor. Use the patterns included in this PDF project download, or create new blossoms.

The download also includes the below Lily Pad or Poinsettia Centerpiece. You will make these the same as the flowers except layer the smaller flowers inside the bigger flowers. Make a lily pad or napkin base.

You will also find general directions for fast2fuse fusible interfacing in the download, complete with a list of three shortcuts that are sure to save you time!

This project is an excerpt from 100+ No-Sew fabric Crafts for Kids by Mary Link which includes oodles of projects you can do with kids and for kids, including bookmarks, coasters, mobiles, games and toys, party goods, room décor, and holiday goodies.

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March is National Craft Month and we are celebrating by posting one project every day this month! If you are joining us late, click here to see the full list of Craft Month projects that have been posted so far.

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California Poppies Quilt

March 11th, 2010 in Projects, Quiltmaking
By Danielle Dews

Paradise is more out of reach than ever these days it seems, so why not use this project to create your own little slice right in your own home. There are plenty of options with this project—it is bordered in an oval frame and could be used as a centerpiece for a quilt, pillow, or handbag.

Click here to download the full project sheet PDF, which includes patterns for the poppies. The finished quilt is 16″ by 20″.

This project is an excerpt from Paradise Stitched—Sashiko & Appliqué Quilts by Sylvia Pippen, which includes 6 vivid quilts inspired by tropical flora and fauna.

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March is National Craft Month and we are celebrating by posting one project every day this month! If you are joining us late, click here to see the full list of Craft Month projects that have been posted so far.

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Technique Tuesday: Blanket Stitch and More

March 9th, 2010 in Projects, Sewing
By Danielle Dews

Laura Wasilowski is doing something very interesting and cool over at her blog called Thread-u-cation Thursdays, where each week she introduces and demonstrates a new stitch with how-to photos and written instructions.

Laura is kindly letting us borrow some of her content for this week’s Technique Tuesday Craft Month blog post! The technique we are featuring today is Laura Wasilowki’s Blanket Stitch, and at the end of this post you’ll be able to download a free PDF with some additional stitching techniques.

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Laura Wasilowski’s Thread-u-cation Thursday: Blanket Stitch

The Blanket Stitch always gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling. It tucks in around a fabric edge holding it safe and neatly outlining the shape. But it can also act as a decorative stitch across the surface of fabric creating rows of UUUU or MMMM depending upon orientation.

Here’s how I make my Blanket Stitches: With the thread on top at A, place the tip of the needle about 1/4″ up and to the right of point A. Insert the needle at B and exit at C, about 1/4″ to the right of A. Trap the thread coming out of A under the needle tip and draw the needle and thread slowly through the fabric.
Continue Reading…

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RIT Dye, Fabric Art Collage and Canvas Books Giveaway!

March 9th, 2010 in Contests
By Danielle Dews

Our friends at RIT Dye have given us 12 bottles of dye to give away to one lucky blog reader! We had to join the fun, so have thrown in some Ready-to-Go! Blank Canvas Books to get the winner started dyeing, as well as a copy of Rebekah Meier’s Fabric Art Collage!

Fabric Art Collage includes Rebekah’s dyeing and overdyeing techniques with RIT Dye so recently RIT featured Fabric Art Collage on their blog, Edie’s Fashion Factory. Check out that post here, then check out the rest of the site because there’s plenty of cool videos and dyeing how-tos.

the giveaway bundle

The RIT Dye colors included in the giveaway are: Fuchsia, Cherry Red, Sunshine Orange, Lemon Yellow, Cocoa Brown, Taupe, Apple Green , Dark Green, Denim Blue, Evening Blue, Purple, and Black. That’s ALOT of dye!! But there are so many uses for RIT—from fashion to quilting, sewing, mixed media art and more—I’m sure the lucky giveaway winner will have a fantastic time devising a plan for making use of it all.

To be in the running for the RIT Dye giveaway bundle, leave a comment here or on Facebook telling us which project or dyeing technique from the RIT website or blog you want to try most and why. Comments will be closed at 9am PST on Monday, March 22, 2010 and the winner will be announced later that day. Good luck!

Extra comment entries are available to you if you want to maximize your chances at being the giveaway winner! If you take one or more of the actions listed below, enter an extra comment for each, and in that comment tell us what you did and link to the proof where that’s possible.

  • Place one of our blog badges on your personal blog (make sure it includes the html code that links it to our blog)
  • Subscribe to our YouTube channel
  • Subscribe to our Newsletter
  • Tweet a link to the giveaway & mention our twitter username @ctpublishing
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Let the Games Begin: A Game Board Quilt

March 8th, 2010 in Projects, Quiltmaking
By Danielle Dews

Whether you’ve got a sick friend to entertain, or it’s just a rainy, stay-inside sort of day, this cheerful checker pattern Game Board quilt can’t help but brighten spirits. It communicates love and caring, and of course spells fun.

This free project download includes the supply list and instructions for the above classic checkerboard quilt and the checker pieces and pouch below. We know that when someone’s sick, you may not have much time to spend making them a game board quilt gift, so the quick & easy roll-up variation project (pictured below) is also included!

Maybe checkers just isn’t your thing? We threw in some patterns for chess pieces as well!

This project is an excerpt from Comfort Quilts from the Heart by Jake Finch, which includes 12 quick projects to take care of others.

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March is National Craft Month and we are celebrating by posting one project every day this month! If you are joining us late, click here to see the full list of Craft Month projects that have been posted so far.

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Pop-Up Paper Notecards

March 7th, 2010 in Papercrafts, Projects
By Danielle Dews

Pop-up notecards give you the opportunity to transform one-dimensional elements into 3-D delights. The easy step-by-step instructions and photos in this free project download show you how to add a third dimension to images, words, and sayings. The best part is all you need is cardstock and a few basic cardmaking supplies. Ready to put on your “paper engineer” hat?

This project is an excerpt from Pop-Up Paper Structures by Heidi Pridemore which includes 12 pop-up techniques and 7 complete projects perfect for novices.

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March is National Craft Month and we are celebrating by posting one project every day this month! If you are joining us late, click here to see the full list of Craft Month projects that have been posted so far.

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Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Ornaments

March 6th, 2010 in Projects, Sewing
By Danielle Dews

It’s never too early to start thinking about the holidays, especially now that many of us are into giving authentic, handmade gifts, as opposed to gift cards from a favorite corporate monstrosity. Today’s project is a collection of Christmas ornaments—but with a little imagination and creativity in your fabric choices, you can make to function as “everyday” ornaments if you prefer.

Click here to download the 6-page full color project sheet PDF. Happy crafting!

Circle Bell

Two for the time of one! This sweet little bell will charm everyone—especially if you really hang a small jingle bell inside.

Triangular Bell

Three small pieces plus three small holiday bells, and it’s a charmer. Listen to its sweet music when the air moves it.

Gift Box

With just a bit of hand sewing you can create this sweet gift box ornament and the ribbon to decorate it.

Circle Strip

You can’t get much more basic than a straight strip of stiff interfacing and fabric. This is a very fast ornament to make, and with the right fabric and a few beads, it is sure to become a classic on your tree.

These projects are an excerpt from Fast, Fun & Easy® Christmas Decorations by Linda Johansen.

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March is National Craft Month and we are celebrating by posting one project every day this month! If you are joining us late, click here to see the full list of Craft Month projects that have been posted so far.

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C&T Publishing is a group of quilters and crafters dedicated to publishing products tailored to our audience. This blog is where we break away from book schedules and marketing campaigns to focus on what drives us to be creative and how this creativity manifests itself in our every day lives.

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