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Crafting is just so darn much fun, especially in months like April, with the arrival of spring and then Easter.

This year was no exception at The Artful Crafter. We did lots of Easter eggs and even experimented with making our own vegetable dyes.

Crafter’s Companion sponsored a big giveaway which closed April 30th. I hope you didn’t miss it.

The two bracelets I created for the 7000 Bracelets for Hope project to benefit children with rare diseases are in the mail. The theme was denim blue – as in blue genes.

I haven’t finished my submission for A Creative Dreamer’s April "purple"creativity prompt yet, but it’s in process. Sorry, June ;-)

What have you been up to in your craft room this past month?

Revel in your craftiness. Crafters are truly blessed to be allowed to have so much fun!

We have some new projects on site as usual. Plus you’ll find lots of ideas to inspire you in our Craft Ideas Section and in our Holiday Craft Index.

Speaking of holidays, here are dates of a few significant ones coming up to help you plan your crafting.

• Cinco de Mayo – May 5
• Mother's Day – May 8
• Memorial Day – May 30
• Flag Day – June 14
• Father's Day – June 19

Eileen

• A Clever Way to Recycle Coffee Cans – Don’t throw food tins and large cans out. Repurpose them and decorate at the same time.

• How to Sew the Curves of an Ivy Cap – What’s an ivy cap, you ask? Perhaps you know it by another of its 17!

• How to Make Reusable Lamb Place Card Holders for Your Spring Table – Readers suggested these cute little lambie place card holders can also be used to hold other small slips of paper … in baby’s nursery, to leave a note for your little one, or for the babysitter … or time schedule for medication … or shopping list ...

• "Mixed Media" Decoupage – Oil and water don’t mix, unless …

• How to Make a Flower Box and Seed Strip Planting Kit – Do you know how to DIY seed planting strips to plant perfectly spaced straight rows of seeds as easy as 1-2-3-? Put some in a pretty decoupaged box for a lovely springtime gift.

• How to Dye Easter Eggs Naturally – If you didn’t see this tutorial in time for Easter 2011, bookmark it for next year. This is a fun way to teach kids that many things haven’t always come in kits or mixes.

• How to Make Spring Chick and Easter Bunny Clay Pot Figures – Clay pot crafts are clever and inexpensive to make.

• Easter Crafts: the Big Reveal –

Celebrating Crafter's Companion U.S. Arrival!

Did you know that the amazing Crafter’s Companion paper crafting tool is now available in the US?

Oh wait: back up; rewind.

Do you know what the Crafter’s Companion is? If not, prepare to be amazed by this YouTube Video.

I ordered my Crafter’s Companion Ultimate as soon as I heard the news. It’s sitting and waiting for me at a friend’s house in Texas for me to pick up when I visit her this month. [Living in beautiful tropical Mexico does have a few drawbacks.]

Anyway, I’m chomping at the bit to get my hands on this new crafting toy. In the meantime, I signed up to follow the Crafter’s Companion blog and am bookmarking projects to try.

Reader Letter of the Month: Dye Sublimation Personalized Ceramics

I’m looking for a company that’s willing to transfer print onto these unique cup and saucer sets which I would like to use for my wedding.

Would you happen to know of any, or is this possible through your site?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Eishnel

The cups and saucers are lovely and I think there are enough straight surfaces to do what you want.

You need to locate a dye sublimation printer in your area. Look for one which offers designs on mugs and glasses, not just tee shirts and caps.

You’ve seen dye sublimation printed products but may not have realized it. Dye sublimation printing is used for t-shirts and other apparel, coffee mugs and ceramic tiles.

Dye sublimation printing produces photo-realistic images on both hard and soft surfaces including ceramic, metal, polyester fabric, Mylar, glass, wood and plastic.

The process involves printing onto paper and then transferring the dye to a polymer or polymer-coated surface with heat. It sounds like, but is nothing like, those old rubbery iron-on t-shirt transfers that crack and peel off. These are true dyes!

The dye fused onto a ceramic tile or pane of glass is fused permanently to the surface. T-shirts remain soft and supple just as if you had dyed them in a vat of Rit.

Good luck and best wishes!