I Heart Handmade

Things I love – crafting, Etsy, healthy living, natural childbirth, Baby Signs, saving money……

Make Believe Fake Believe February 10, 2009

Filed under: Crafting, How To — CraftyMom @ 9:07 pm
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Ah, the good old days when a box was a fortress and some blankets and chairs made an awesome fairy castle.  All is not lost.  :)   My son got some fun dress-up items for Christmas and after playing with them off and on I can see some missing items.  I love this sword tutorial – great pics, and easy to do!  It’s even in Danish – brush up on your foreign languages while you create!  I’m sure I’ll embellish when I make one for my king/pirate/viking and I’ll add pics of the finished product.

Here’s the creator with his viking sword.

 

Reform CPSIA – Join the Class Action Lawsuit January 14, 2009

Filed under: CPSIA, Crafting, Etsy — CraftyMom @ 12:17 pm
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classaction1

From http://reformcpsia.org/2009/01/class-action-lawsuit/

Class Action Lawsuit

CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT
==========================================================================================
Please read the following press release. If you are an interested party directly affected by the CPSIA that will take effect as of February 10th, I urge you to join us in this class action lawsuit.

Contact me or the contacts listed below for additional information.

Warmest Regards,
Dawn Michelle LaPolla
http://www.babysproutnaturals.com/
dlapolla@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
==========================================================================================
Moms band together to save their businesses.

Rachele Dressler-Sweetser is a mother of 3 and owns http://www.MonkeyBabyClothes.com, a creative children’s clothing line.  This business is not only her additional “baby” but her main source of income. She created Monkey Baby out of necessity. As a single mother she was faced with the issue of a sick child with medical needs that could not be left alone.  She combined her creative sewing skills and marketing knowledge to create a fun and successful children’s clothing line.  Waking up to a new year she is faced with her legs being knocked out from under her with this quiet law going into effect with huge consequences.

Dressler-Sweetser says “I have built this business out of love for my children and my God-given talents. It is my dream, livelihood and my future.  I can’t sit still.  I understand the need to keep our children safe but this law is too broad.  It is not in anyone’s interest as it is currently written.”  Dressler-Sweetser has contacted the Kushner Law Firm to begin the process of a Class Action Suit to prevent the law’s enforcement of the February 10, 2009 deadline.  She is actively contacting businesses owners that this law will effect to ban with her in preventing its enforcement on February 10, 2009.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) is requiring lead testing on all products (including apparel and components of apparel which knowingly have little or no lead such as ribbon, tulle, thread, elastic etc.) designed for children under the age of 12.  “This new Act is unconstitutionally overbroad and vague, and disregards the significant and disastrous impact on small and medium businesses as Section 605 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act requires” says Michael Kushner, of The Kushner Law Firm.

Immediate action is required in order to save many businesses and to keep costs from skyrocketing for children’s toys, accessories and clothing.

Contact:
Rachele Dressler-Sweetser

http://www.monkeybabyclothes.com/
949.916.9288 ph.
949.916.9087 fx.

Attorney:
Michael Kushner
The Kushner Law Firm
949.421.3030 ph.
949.421.3031 fx.
http://www.kushnerlawfirm.com/

==========================================================================================

Because of the overwhelming response to the potential Class Action Lawsuit, I’m requesting that interested parties, please fill out the form below.  This will help as we organize our action as well as alleviate the burden of paperwork once we move forward with the attorney.

You are not committed to any legal obligation by filling out this form, this is just an interest list. Our initial Retainer to hire The Kushner Law Firm, www.kushnerlawfirm.com, is $10,000 divided by the amount of participants. Therefore, the more people that enter into that contract the better. I will update everyone once we’ve achieved 50+ people. Then we can decide if we can all afford the cost at that time, and he will prepare the Ex-Parte filing with the Federal Court.  Please direct your inquiries to me, as he legally cannot discuss this issue with you until we as a group decide to “retain” (hire) him.

I will do my best to get everyone’s emails and phone calls returned as quickly as possible. Feel free to forward this to interested parties.

Thank you,
Rachele Dressler-Sweetser
Monkey Baby

 

Save Small Business From the CPSIA January 6, 2009

Filed under: CPSIA, Crafting, Etsy — CraftyMom @ 11:07 pm
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(from change.org)

Go to their site and VOTE.

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

A Proposal From the handmadetoyalliance.org:

In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries violated the public’s trust. They were selling toys containing dangerously high lead content, unsafe small parts, and chemicals that made kids sick.

The United States Congress rightly recognized that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) lacked the authority and staffing to prevent dangerous toys from being imported into the US. So, they passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August 2008. Among other things, the CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in children’s products, mandates third party testing and certification, and requires manufacturers of all goods for children under the age of 12, to permanently label each item with a date and batch number.

All of these changes will be fairly easy for large, multinational companies to comply with. Large manufacturers who make thousands of units of each item have very little incremental cost to pay for testing and updating their systems to include batch labels. Small businesses however, will likely be driven out of business by the costs of mandatory testing, to the tune of as much as $4,000 or more per item. And the few larger manufacturers who still employ workers in the United States face increased costs to comply with the CPSIA, even though American-made toys had nothing to do with the toy safety problems of 2007.

Anyone who produces or sells any of the following new or used items will be required to comply with the law: toys, books, clothing, art, music, educational supplies, materials for the learning disabled, bicycles, and more. Any uncertified item intended for children under the age of 12 will be considered contraband after February 10, 2009. It will be illegal to sell or give these items away to charities, and the government will require their destruction or permanent disposal, resulting in millions of tons of unnecessary waste, and placing an enormous strain on our landfills.

There is a clear disconnect between the sweeping nature of this law, and the narrow range of products that were problematic in 2007. The CPSIA applies standards that were put in place in reaction to the sale of toys contaminated with lead paint and toxic plastics. Rather than focus on these materials, this law imposes a guilty until proven innocent mentality on all children’s products by imposing mandatory testing and certification, and in the process will kill an entire industry.

Thriving small businesses are crucial to the financial health of our nation. Let’s amend the CPSIA so that all businesses large and small are able to comply and survive!

 

January 4, 2009

 

How to Make a Bow for your Christmas Tree December 11, 2008

Filed under: Crafting, How To — CraftyMom @ 8:24 pm
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Here’s a good photo tutorial for making a large bow for your Christmas tree.   Looks easy enough, eh?  :)

http://www.craftown.com/instruction/bows.htm

Start here

And end up with this nice, full bow.

This PDF file is excellent as well!   http://www.ezcraft.com/PDF/ez_bow_maker_instruction.pdf

Happy Decorating!

 

Handmade Toys at risk! December 11, 2008

Filed under: Crafting, Etsy, General, Shopping — CraftyMom @ 6:19 pm
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In just 62 days it is going to become illegal to sell handmade toys in the U.S. unless they have been tested.  Many of us who are crafters and Etsy-aholics certainly can’t afford this.  Is it time to say R.I.P. to all the beautiful crafts we love?  I certainly hope not.

Please visit the Handmade Toys Alliance to see what you can do to help all the wonderful stay at home crafters out there.

Don’t forget to sign the petition too.

We need to do everything we can to keep crafters crafting.

Another great article on this subject.

 

How to make a Christmas Tree Hair bow November 23, 2008

Filed under: Crafting, How To — CraftyMom @ 9:12 pm
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Isn’t this just the cutest thing?!?  Sorry, I realize I post a lot of girlie things.  What can I say – girlie stuff is so fun!

  1. Cut six pieces of 3/8″ (9.5mm) grosgrain ribbon: Two pieces that are 2.75″ (7cm), two pieces that are 2.5″ (6.35cm), and two pieces that are 2″ (5cm).

  2. Fold and glue ribbons as shown.

  3. Glue longest loops on ribbon lined single prong alligator clip. Click here to view how to line alligator clips.

  4. Glue 2.5″ loops as shown.

  5. Glue 2″ loops as shown.

  6. Make a knot (same as tying shoes).
  7. Adjust so the 2 loops are even.

  8. Pull the ends so the loops are small enough for the tree top.

  9. Cut the ends of the gold ribbon so the bow top covers about 3/4″ of the tree.

  10. Glue bow top to the tree.

  11. Clip it onto hair.

Tips

  • You can use fabric glue or a hot glue gun.
  • Single prong alligator clips can be found at beauty supply stores or online.
  • Ribbons can be found at local craft stores or online.
Warnings

  • Be careful. Don’t burn your fingers. Keep around a bowl of ice water. Submerge your hand immediately if you do happen to drop some glue on it.

Things You’ll Need

  • 3/8″ apple green ribbon
  • Single prong alligator clip
  • 3/8″ brown or turftan ribbon
  • 1/4″ gold ribbon (the kind being used here is Offray GALENA which can be found at Walmart, similar large department stores or local craft stores)

  • Fabric-tac and glue gun (high temperature glue gun works better)
  • Scissors

This awesome tutorial by Erin Loechner can be found on her blog with lots of other DIY stuff!

 

Fabric Key Fob Tutorial November 3, 2008

Filed under: Crafting, How To — CraftyMom @ 10:32 pm
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I found this great free tutorial for making key fobs today – check it out!  For full instructions visit the tutorial here.

This instruction is created buy Hip Girl Forum member j2garnett. Visit j2garnett’s website for Handmade hair bows, clips, and headbands for all ages.

You will need*:

Pair of scissors
Sewing Machine
Iron
Fabric
Coordinating color thread
1 1/4’’ cotton webbing
Heat N Bond (or similar)
Key Fob Hardware set
Pliers

Step 1 – Prepare materials:
Cut strip of webbing to 10’’
Cut strip of Heat N Bond to 10’’ x 1’’
Cut strip of Fabric to 10’ ’x 1 1/4’’
Turn on iron to “wool” setting
Thread sewing machine and bobbin with thread

fabric key fob instructions

Start with those supplies and end with this cute key fob!

They’ve got lots of pretties in their shop – check it out by clicking the image below.

 

Not once, but twice! October 21, 2008

Filed under: Etsy, KeikiBoutique, Promotions — CraftyMom @ 5:37 pm
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The Fle Market Fancy leaf print Twiddle blanket is mine! :)

 

Awesome free craft tutorials! October 15, 2008

Filed under: Crafting, Favorites, How To, Save Money, Shopping — CraftyMom @ 6:22 pm
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I just found some super cute craft tutorials, and they’re free!  Check out these adorable designs from Q.D. Patooties.

Suey, the Super Sock Pig Pattern and Tutorial

Duke Kingsley, Mutant Alley Cat

Hot Diggity Dog

Aren’t those just so dang cute!?!  Go visit her blog for much more!

Q.D. Patooties blog at http://qdpatooties.blogspot.com/.