lowcarb Crafter» Craft Blog – Crafters & Crafting http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com Tue, 04 May 2010 23:23:53 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Practical Mosaic Crafting http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/practical-mosaic-crafting/ http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/practical-mosaic-crafting/#comments Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:33:30 +0000 Skip http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-rus/practical-mosaic-crafting/ glass marble votive candle holderThe craft we call Practical Mosaic is probably something most crafters are already familiar with, easy crafting that requires no special tools and can be completed in a weekend or just a few hours. We love to search for potential craft ideas that are inexpensive and easy crafts, looking for bargains, scrounging at garage sales for the perfect plain glass hurricane or bowl, just begging for a design in simple glass pieces to transform it to a crafters pride.

this was a plain clay pot before covering with Talavera shardsLook for ordinary looking clay pots for the garden or patio that you can cover with a design of colorful mexican tile, or mixed media like colorful flat glass marbles, bottle caps or any other so-called tesserae (which simply means pieces of things) Old china like Willow and any broken lusterware are great for mosaicing just about any shape.

Practical Mosaic also likes to keep the crafter's tools, craft supplies, and expenses to a minimum while encouraging the budding mosaicist crafter to discover on their own all the designs and methods available to them. Crafters will benefit by the experience and the sharing of craft techniques and craft projects that are simple yet gratifying.

Valuable information from long-time arts crafters and mosaicists who will guide you through their projects in order to provide the inspiration for your own craft ideas. Understanding mosaic craft is not as intimidating as most think and the best way to learn is to jump in with a simple project from these pages.

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]]> http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/practical-mosaic-crafting/feed/ 1 Crafter's Patience Pays Off http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/crafters-patience-pays-off/ http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/crafters-patience-pays-off/#comments Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:07:47 +0000 Skip http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-rus/crafters-patience-pays-off/ crafting does not have to be expensiveTechnorati, the Gods of blogs is "seeing" our little craft site for crafters now. Thank you very much! Onward and upward as they say! Very "crafty" folks these Technorati guys and gals.

Now crafters everywhere will be doing craft projects like these!  

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]]> http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/crafters-patience-pays-off/feed/ 0 Do-It-Yourself Mosaics http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/do-it-yourself-mosaics/ http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/do-it-yourself-mosaics/#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:41:22 +0000 Skip http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/low-carb/do-it-yourself-mosaics/ Our approach to easy crafts and crafting projects is a bit unique – but for the crafter, very simple, approaching what we refer to as  instant gratification crafts. We want to be able to make them NOW! My method of mosaic instruction outlines each step of the process in designing a simple mosaic craft project, one you can complete easily on a weekend or in just a few hours. It includes all the information you need, where to look for inspiration for your craft designs and how to use different media effectively. I will tell you where to find the materials for your craft project at little or no cost. You will be amazed at the transformation of a plain item into a colorful design of glass that will wow your family and friends. "YOU MADE THAT?!"

Votive candleI am a prolific mosaicist, not a professional one and I make a lot of crafts that are fun crafts and beat scrapbooking all to heck! These craft projects include candle shelters, candle holders, planters, garden pots, tissue boxes, vases and chimneas, furniture and unique knick-knacks that were once ordinary. Practical Mosaics is a fast and easy way to get you started with mosaic crafting. I do this because I enjoy it and it really relaxes me. I get my craft ideas for craft projects just by going to the nearest garage sale. The stresses of my day job just seem to melt away after just a few minutes spent working on a craft project.

The media (in mosaic it's called tesserae) I apply to glass or ceramic objects can be just about anything with a flat surface; marbles,  rocks, pennies, beads, milefiori, smalti, beach glass, stained glass, ceramic – you name it and I have crafted it!

At the risk of my own ego I have presented a variety of craft projects within this site - ones that hopefully will interest anyone in arts crafts to those would-be crafters who have never even thought of doing something like this themselves. I love to dress things up in bright colors and textures for my garden, family room or patio with practical and useful mosaic pieces that will provide years of pleasure. Talk about conversation pieces!

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]]> http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/do-it-yourself-mosaics/feed/ 0 Useful And Fun Crafts http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/useful-crafts/ http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/useful-crafts/#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:15:34 +0000 Skip http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-rus/useful-crafts/ My focus is on using bits and pieces of mixed media and colors to create interesting, attractive and useful craft mosaic designs. I love to take a clay pot and make a mosaic planter for my garden or take a plain glass candle shelter and turn it into a colorful accent for the fireplace mantle. I am of the want-it-now generation of crafters and I like to have several projects going at once so that when I finish one I can move on to the next craft project.

just look at all the craft project potential in this one garage sale - a crafters paradise!I find potential craft projects at craft stores, thrift shops, garage sales, swap meets and my own attic, anywhere I can pick up something economically (ok, cheap) and make it over by adding colorful mosaic tile or glass. Hopefully you will agree that the everyday items that I started with ended up looking like something you might spend your hard-earned money on at a craft gallery. If you are a do it yourself crafter, you won't need to spend much. Abe Lincoln once said "Chop your own wood, it will warm you twice." He was so right! 

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]]> http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/useful-crafts/feed/ 0 Mosaic Crafting For Fun http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/mosaic-crafting-for-fun/ http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/mosaic-crafting-for-fun/#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:11:08 +0000 Skip http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-rus/mosaic-crafting-for-fun/ Tissue box with Mosaic sun flowersMy finished projects are usually not made to sell. Although you will find few items like this one on Ebay. The time that you invest in even the simplest craft projects will deter you from selling them, especially if it turns out really unique. So, when I complete an item it either goes in the garden, on the patio, or is given away to a family member or friend.

What I really hope to accomplish is to "inspire the desire" in do-it-yourself crafters - people who are not afraid to think outside the box and get their hands dirty. I hope that you decide to find out for yourself how rewarding and fun this craft can be.  As I have said, the method I have adopted for my style of mosaic is what I call; Practical Mosaic. Most of what you will see on these pages are things that were made with readily available and very inexpensive materials but what really appeals to me is that they don't take a lot of time to do and require few tools. 

this crafter is an artist!It is my hope that by showing you the items I have made over the years that I can demonstrate that crafting mosaic pieces doesn't have to be complicated. You certainly can make it that way if you attempt a really ambitious project like this mosaic croc for example, but this way those new to the mosaic craft will find it easy to get started. There is an almost universal misconception that mosaic is difficult to do and only practiced by accomplished artists, and it's no wonder, check out what's on the web and most of what you find are mosaicists who seem to prefer trying to recreate great works of art. Ambitious undertakings that can be breathtaking, when finished, however, I for one, do not have the patience required to spend months or years on a single design.

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]]> http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/mosaic-crafting-for-fun/feed/ 1 Feng Shui Crafts And Crafting http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/feng-shui-mosaic/ http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/feng-shui-mosaic/#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2009 05:30:46 +0000 Skip http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-rus/feng-shui-mosaic/

Gold and smalti tissue box

Crafting on the Tail of the Dragon

Sometimes I really don't have a plan before launching myself into a craft project unless I find something unique that is begging to be covered in broken tile, glass marbles, smalti, etc. A lot of times I just go to Michaels, the arts and crafts retail store chain to see what new items are available. They offer very reasonably priced glass vases in many shapes and lots of assorted colored glass marbles.

this martini glass craft mosaic project will inspire would be crafters!My approach with glass marbles is a bit different as you can see. Instead of dumping them in a glass container and viewing them from the outside I actually stick them on the glass so the light does interesting things to them. While my designs and little glass marble projects may not be exhibited at fine art shows I created and built them, one piece at a time!

There are usually several craft projects going at once. A half-finished seascape sits on a card table in the little area of the garage that I loosely call a mosaic craft "studio." A garden "lady bug" wall design awaits grouting, a mirror in a frame sits ready to mosiac.

Usually I am reasonably tidy but sometimes if I have a lot going on it can get a bit disorganized but the mess is kept contained to the garage, no worries! It's my little corner of the world and it's got good feng shui. I am happy to just sit on a stool and look around at all the neat crafting materials that I have collected over the years. There are many little drawers, shelves and cubby holes all filled with tesserae (broken bits and mosaic treasures). I just never know when a fun craft project idea is going to hit me and I like to be ready!

color is goodNearly everywhere in my home you can find a unique piece of craft mosaic that I made with my own two hands, a tile chimnea on the hearth, pots full of cactus and succulents in the garden, glass vases covered with shiny marbles and filled with dried flowers in the family room, catching the light and throwing rainbow shadows on the walls. And my personal favorites: candle holders made with translucent, colored marbles and millefiori glass.

millefiori church craft projectThese things are simple and fun to do and you virtually cannot make a mistake! I particularly love to craft with mosaic using bright colors and am always fascinated by the emerging characteristics of random designs. I am a member of SAMA, the Society of American Mosaic Artists and have been practicing this craft for five years.

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]]> http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/feng-shui-mosaic/feed/ 0 Easy Crafts Are Simple Crafts http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/simple-mosaic/ http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/simple-mosaic/#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2009 04:54:48 +0000 Skip http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/practical-mosaic/simple-mosaic/ simple glass bead mosaicI consider myself somewhat of an underdog in the mosaic world because I follow a different path, simplicity is my mantra, both in design and method and that may be considered by some as not adhering to the classic mosaic styles, but ask me if I care. There is a green movement about which is neither here nor there as far as mosaics and arts and crafts  is concerned but it sure is fun and gratifying to recycle a plain glass vase into a work of art – for under $5.! I also have a feeling that there are more folks out there like me who have the urge to craft and would be willing to try a simpler form of mosaic before tackling more complicated designs.

cabinet covered in blue willow dish shards from garage saleI prefer to be able to complete a project in a matter of hours or days versus months and years – not to mention the costs, special tools and special techniques required for more complicated projects, should you go deep into classic mosaic design. I believe that anyone can be successful using my starter plan and once they discover how easy crafting can be they will naturally progress to more involved craft projects. Keep in mind that mosaic materials such as glass, tiles, china and marbles will last a very long time and what you create could end up as a family heirloom. Sign and date your mosaic craft projects- they are likely to be around for a generation or more.

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]]> http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/simple-mosaic/feed/ 0 How To Make Easy Garden Mosaic Pots http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/how-to-make-easy-garden-mosaic-pots/ http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/how-to-make-easy-garden-mosaic-pots/#comments Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:48:09 +0000 Skip http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/low-carb/how-to-make-easy-garden-mosaic-pots/ Garden Pot made with authentic Talavera tile from Puebla, MexHere is a nice short video that will give you the basics for making inexpensive garden mosaics, but do use your gloves throughout the whole grouting process – that stuff is murder on your skin.

Use your imagination and express yourself and craft accent pieces like the Talavera tile pots shown. You can do them quickly and easily and they really make nice contrasts with whatever plant you decide to put in them.  Make sure to use a good grout sealer if they are to be exposed to the elements.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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]]> http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/how-to-make-easy-garden-mosaic-pots/feed/ 0 Welcome To The Crafter's Gallery http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/test-post-for-the-crafters-gallery/ http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/test-post-for-the-crafters-gallery/#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:13:23 +0000 Skip http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-gallery/test-post-for-the-crafters-gallery/ Mosaic Tissue Box With Gold Smalti

First Project In Our Craft Gallery

Since we just started this showcase of crafts and craft projects recently on lowcarbcrafter I was convinced (reluctantly) to feature some of my own works – just to get us started. Since millions of crafters and mosaic enthusiasts still don't know about us I am willing to stick my neck out and subject myself to criticism of my earlier works. That's ok I still like most of them and anyway, I have thick skin!

mosaic lizzard craft project in progressBut let it be known I am doing this strictly in the interests of furthering my craft, willing to be the guinea pig who gets the show started. Come on folks, I told my wife I would keep submitting my own projects to the gallery until some other brave soul ventured forth with one of their own. Let's show the world what we crafters can accomplish!

This started out as one of those hard plastic tissue holders that are made to slip over a standard, square off-the-grocery-shelf tissue box – thereby hiding those awful pastel designs. Anyway, I purchased it for $.50 at a garage sale (remember we are into practical mosaic!) It was begging to be covered in a unique design and I was going for a southwest look in a swirl of green smalti (glass) tiles, both dark and light greens, coral and turquoise and accented in gold scrap pieces. I used a sanded grout from Home Depot – mallard green color in the 5lb bag. It was inexpensive, fun to do, took little time and looks great in the hall bath. Create some buzz with your own designs and ditch the plastic look. 

You can learn more about how to do easy craft projects like this tissue box without having to purchase any fancy tools, expensive materials or going to a mosaic class in The Beginners Guide To Mosaic  

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]]> http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/test-post-for-the-crafters-gallery/feed/ 0 Mosaic For The Colorful Crafter http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/mosaic-for-the-colorful-crafter/ http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/crafters-crafting/mosaic-for-the-colorful-crafter/#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:26:51 +0000 Skip http://www.lowcarbcrafter.com/low-carb/mosaic-for-the-colorful-crafter/ This little piece of work, strips of Mexican tile laid on a plywood and wonderboard overlay, is almost four feet long, and two feet high! It was created to be photographed as the header for a new craft website. As it turned out it  became an image for a single post for crafters to observe. Ah, well, you have to go with the flow sometimes and maybe someday MexicanMosaic.com will have it's own forum. For now we are very happy with the crafts and craft projects contained within this blog.

Colors That Crafters Love

You can blow the image up to see the colors by hovering your mouse over the image and clicking it. You will see the wild colors that you can find in the patterns of 4" Mexican tile, particularly the hand-painted variety. I used a wet saw to cut the pieces (keeping them uniform in size while varying the lengths) for the border and the flower patterns then repeated what I call a random pattern from top to bottom and from side to side. The field of off-white tile in the center was done in a random pattern to balance the repeating strips. I grouted it with a Home Depot sanded grout color called red clay. 

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