Trends for 2015

Craft Trends to look for in 2015

December 23, by Katie Smith. Leave a Comment

Christmas is almost here and 2015 is just around the corner! Pretty soon we’ll be making new years resolutions, Either towards your life or towards your crafting. I wanted to showcase some of the things I think will be trendy in the craft industry in 2015.

1. Foxes. I’m betting that foxes and other woodland creatures will still be going strong next year. I for one, still love a good fox or owl craft and I think we’ll still be seeing handmade items with a fox doodle, or hedgehog scrapbook paper.

2. Calligraphy. I’ve been seeing more and more calligraphy and hand writing inspiration in my pinterest feed and I think it’s a hobby that more people will be taking up or purchasing more typographic art.

3. Feathers and Flowers.  Feathers have been trendy for a while now, but I don’t think they’re growing old anytime soon. I also think wildflower fabrics and art will be making an appearance in the upcoming Spring season.

4. Recycled/Restyled Projects. I love a restyle project and I know a lot of other people do as well. Turning vintage flea market finds into a personalized piece of furniture is all the rage!

5. Simple Patterns. Chevrons, Herringbone, Scallops, Hearts and Stars as well as any other simple patterns are becoming quite popular. They’re not only easy to doodle (even if you’re not very good a drawing) but they’re also great for tone on tone patterned papers and fabrics that give you print without being overwhelming.

What trends do you think will stay strong/die off in 2015? Are there any new trends that you predict?

Christmas Santa's

I was so happy when I purchased these little  glass Santa's at a thrift shop last week  I was going to make cute sets of Christmas earrings for all of my friends.  Up until today I has not opened the bag that they came in.  Well I was in for a real surprise.  There are  23  of these little guys and each one is different.  There are two alike, but different sizes.  Now I will just have to purchase a tiny tree to put them on.  Too bad my original idea isn't going to work

Steampunk Balloon Tag

Steampunk Balloon Tag

A swap is a fun exchange of items created by members of a group such as  

Art for the Creative Minds yahoo group.  It may be cards or ATC's  4X4 pages, junk journal. the variety of items it endless.  Some swaps are one to one, a single exchange, others are multiples of the same artwork sent to a hostess, who then sorts them out and sends them to the members who are taking part in the swap. It is exciting receiving the swaps, and seeing each persons interpretation of the swap's theme

The swap was to be a faux metal Steampunk Balloon Swap.  It was a one to one swap for Art for the Creative Minds yahoo group Art for the Creative Minds yahoo group.  The tag  it a #8  6 1/2" by 3 1/8".  I covered the tag with a piece of metal looking wallpaper.  I used a rubber-stamp showing a series of gears and cogs to stamp the background keeping with the steampunk theme.  The picture of the lady was a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) sent to me by another member of the group.  I used a balloon stamp that I purchased years ago  and rubbed the design onto a piece of thin aluminium with the rubber end of a pencil.  These little balloons were cut out and then attached with foam tape here and there on the tag.  Fibers were added at the top.

Halloween Swap

 Halloween  Swaps

A swap is a fun exchange of items created by members of a group such as  

Art for the Creative Minds yahoo group.  It may be cards or ATC's  4X4 pages, junk journal. the variety of items it endless.  Some swaps are one to one, a single exchange, others are multiples of the same artwork sent to a hostess, who then sorts them out and sends them to the members who are taking part in the swap. 

It is exciting receiving the swaps, and seeing each persons interpretation of the swap's theme

This is a Tri-Fold ATC  2 1/2" by 3 1/2 ".  The swap was for a Art for the Creative Minds yahoo group.   The swap was to be to feature Edgar Allen Poe.  I used images from Altered Pages.
I started with a piece of black card stock folded down to measure 2 1/2 X 3 1/2.  The middle image of Poe was layer on the black and then a paper frame was place around it.  The Raven ticket was printed from the internet.  The picture on the left shows  Edgar Allen Poe gravestone.  The raven picture on the right is also from Altered Pages.

These tags are for a Halloween swap for Stamping Scrapping Swapping Democracy.  The tags were a multiple swap.  We sent 8 tags to the hostess and in exchange we will receive 8 different tags.
I cut black card stock to a #8 manilla tag. 6 1/4" by 3 1/8".   The orange layer was cut about 1/4" smaller all around and then the spiderweb piece was cut smaller by another 1/4".  I used a spider web washi tape that I received from a member of another group across the bottom.  I purchased a package of spiders with the angel hair webs from a Dollar tree.  I pulled the angel hair to give the appearance of a webs and then hot glued the spider in the middle.  I use a Halloween sticker to attach the ribbon to the top of each tag.

We were given an eviction notice the middle of June.  The owner's daughter was getting married and she wanted the house.  It took over 6 weeks to find something else suitable.  We needed 2 bathrooms, a garage,  3 bedrooms, a living room , dining room and a large kitchen.  We found  the house we were looking for, but unfortunately, it does not have a garage.  The price was right, so we agree to rent it.

It took over 20 days to move everything to the new residence.  Thankfully, it was just about 4 km from where we were living.  My son and his friends did all the moving.

I am still trying to unpack the boxes and find things.

Wolf my son left for New York today.  He is trying out for a new survival reality show.

Luka our Husky passed away about a month ago and we were offered a rescued husky.   The  original owner  got her as a puppy and had to leave her with his mother.  She did not want the dog.   We had not  planned on getting a new dog so soon, but this one needed a forever home.  She is black and white with beautiful blue eyes.   Luna has not left Wolf's side since she came to live with us and  has been going everywhere with him.   Now that he left, she is mopping up in his bedroom.

Composition Book Cover

"Composition Book" Cover

This is swap for the internet group  Stamping, Swapping, Scrapping Democracy (SSSD).  We were to choose a Month and create a theme for that month.  Seven people signed for this swap. We were required to make seven identical covers.

I chose October and a Halloween Theme. 

Once completed, I mailed the seven duplicate covers to the hostess of the swap for distribution among the group members.    

Materials Used:

• Cut a piece of black heavy card stock  6 1/2" by 8"
• Cut a piece of orange Cardstock ( I use Bazzill) approx 5 1/2" X 6"
• The middle of the orange card stock was cut out using a SizzixDie Bigx-Top Note
• Do not throw the cutaway piece out.  It can be stamped or embellished for future  for card fronts.
• Cut a piece of punchinella cut from corner to corner of the  base piece
• Attach the punchinella to the card stock with a piece of double sided tape.
• The main design ( the spooky house is a cuttlebug die)
• White pigment ink was dragged over over the house image to give an eerie  effect.
• The windows and moon where highlighted with gold pen
• Attach the main design on the backside of the frame with the coloured design showing.
• Attach the frame with the design to the card on top of the punchinella
• Stamp a Halloween saying on a piece of orange card stock and attach it to a piece of black card stock.
• Embellish as desired

A "composition book" cover is a particular style of notebook, pictured below.

Sewing ATC's

Sewing Artist trading card (ATCs) These are miniature works of art about the same size as modern trading cards baseball cards, or 2 ¹⁄₂ by 3 ¹⁄₂ inches (64 mm × 89 mm)  Generally they are small enough to fit inside shirt pocket. The ATC movement developed out of the mail art movement and has its origins in Switzerland. These Cards are produced in various media, including dry media such as pencils, pens, markers, etc., wet media like watercolor, acrylic paints, etc., paper media in the form of collage, papercuts, found objects, etc. or even metals and fiber. The cards are usually traded or exchanged. Generally ATC's are not sold, only traded.  When sold, they are usually referred to as art card editions and originals (ACEOs).

Here are two ATC's (Artist Trading Cards) I created from Altered Pages materials.

   To make these ATC's:

• Choose your theme idea 
• Cut heavy card stock or cardboard (such as an old cereal box) to exactly 2 1/2" X 3 1/2 "
• Cut and Glue scrapbook paper onto cardboard pieces you just cut out.
• Print off collage sheets from Altered Pages
• Cut images from collage sheets
• Glued images onto cardboard sheet
• Embellish as desired

Images were cut from a the following Altered Pages collection

• Sewing collage 
• Fashion collage
• Button Sheet

On the back of each card, the artists name, the date it was made, the number of this type of card that were produced, and any other contact information desired. This can be considered a unique form of a business card.


References:
Trading cards offer glimpse into Edmonton art scene Edmonton Journal Friday, July 27, 2007

Artists' trading cards put collectible creations in the palm of your hand Honolulu Star Bulletin Sunday, May 6, 2007