Fall 2011 press kit
Creative Connections
This fall, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores® has gathered some bright ideas to get everyone crafting for the season. Fall's main events - Back to School, Halloween and Thanksgiving - feature handmade crafts that appeal to a diverse creative audience, including everyone from teens to moms. With all this fresh inspiration from JOANN, it's easy to see - Happiness is Handmade™!
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project instructions
Graffiti Art Storage Crate
Dorm room decorating 101! Turn a plain wood storage crate from drab to fab with a few coats of paint and a graffiti-inspired design. Bright colors will liven up your space while the hand-painted design adds a lively pop of personality.
Skill Level 2: Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:2-4 hours plus drying time
Padded Tech Case
Your iPad™ or e-reader deserves a home with a personality that's as colorful as yours! Choose fabric in a contemporary print and your case will stand out proudly in a sea of solid colors. A large flap with Velcro® and strap closures keeps contents safe and secure when on the move.
Skill Level 3: Experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:1 1/2 hours
Tote-ally Awesome Tote Bag
Carry books and belongings in a handmade canvas tote that sports a smart sense of style! A bold floral design gives it graphic appeal, while rhinestones deliver the bling. A sewn-on drawstring pocket crafted from T-shirt fabric is the ideal spot for a phone, iPod® or MP3 player.
Skill Level 2: Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:2 1/2 hours
Dazzling Decoupage Necklace
Avalon Potter, blogger for ILoveToCreate Teen Crafts, has designed an eco-chic necklace for teens or trendsetters of any age. Cutout greeting cards are decoupaged onto wood tiles then combined with beads and silver chains for standout bohemian style.
Skill Level 2: Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:2 hours
Glittery Harvest Centerpiece
Tradition with a shimmery new twist! Guests will be instantly impressed once they set eyes upon this sensational pumpkin, gourd and cornucopia display. Sprinklings of glitter and touches of metallic paint lend an exciting look to classic fall decor.
Skill Level 1: No experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:1-2 hours plus drying time
Wire-Wrapped Fall Candles
Here's a brilliant idea - illuminate fall tablescapes with trendy wire-wrapped pillar candles! Create scroll-like leaf shapes from brown- and copper-colored floral wire. Then bend and twist the wire designs around each candle for a touch of sophistication.
Skill Level 1: No experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:1 hour per candle
Lacy Applique Funkins™
Fall is looking no less than elegant with these vintage-inspired Funkins™ carvable pumpkins! Lacy floral appliques are easy to adhere to the pumpkin surface. For a glamorous finishing touch, embellish each one with rhinestones, ribbon or a handmade tag.
Skill Level 1: No experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:1 - 1 1/2 hours each
Creative Metal™ Funkins™
Shiny metallic embellishments give Funkins™ carvable pumpkins a glitzy makeover for fall! Embossed metal stars, leaves and triangles transform plain or painted pumpkins into handcrafted works of art. Use any combination of copper, gold or silver metal accents for impressive results.
Skill Level 1: No experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:2 - 3 hours each
Knitted Striped Throw
Color and texture steal the show with this amazing hand-knitted throw! To achieve its appealing look, start with a variety of yarn weights - from chunky to plush. Then think outside the typical fall color palette and go bold with brighter, more vibrant hues.
Skill Level 2: Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:15 - 18 hours
Haunted Halloween Mirror
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the craftiest of them all? Create this fiendish faux mirror and the answer is - you! A spooky image is what people see when they gaze into the glass. Creepy crawlies lurking in the branches stir up quite a fright!
Skill Level 2: Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:1 - 2 hours plus drying time
Monster Doll with Costumes
More cuddly than creepy, this adorable little monster is a fun friend to have around for Halloween! Dress your monster in interchangeable costumes for unforgettable tricks and treats. Depending on the monster's mood, he or she can easily transform into a pirate, geek or witch!
Skill Level 2: Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:1 1/2 hours for doll, 3 - 4 hours for costumes
Glowing Halloween Ghosts
Wonderfully wicked and frighteningly fun, these translucent spooks are simply hanging around, gleefully giving trick-or-treaters a friendly little scare! To create their phantom-like shape, apply fabric stiffener to cheesecloth. Miniature party lights produce their ghastly glow.
Skill Level 2: Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:2 hours plus drying time
Apron Costumes
Slip into character this Halloween with these fun-to-wear aprons. Use your imagination to create a fabulous and easy costume - such as a 1920's flapper or a 21st-century cowgirl. Each apron is delightfully detailed so everyone will know exactly who you are for the night.
Skill Level 2: Some experience necessary
Approximate Crafting Time:3-4 hours per apron