Crafty Manolo

Hey all you baking mavins out there! Fancy Flours is having a series of one-day sales for the next week. The shindig starts tomorrow, thursday, december 15, with a one-day 25% off sale on all cupcake liners, wrappers, picks, and decorations as well as books and DVDs.

Now’s your chance to get something like this rather glorious Nutcracker Suite cupcake decorating set for a quarter off. The set includes 24 cupcake wrappers in two styles, and 24 picks in four different styles: the Nutcracker, Clara, the Rat King, and the Sugarplum Fairy.

Then check back each day for more sales!

Roberts Crafts has two great deals for all of you looking for, well, great deals on crafting equipment and supplies.

First off is the very limited time Beat the Heat offer of 20% off your entire online regular price purchase. All you need to do to get the savings is enter the code: BEATTHEHEATW at checkout, and anything you bought that wasn’t already on sale is 20% off! Not bad. Hurry, though! The deal ends tomorrow!

But wait! That’s not all! There’s another deal available:

If you happen to live nearby a Roberts, Two Fer Tuesday has been expanded to saturdays, as well, meaning you can use two coupons in one transaction. Again, not bad at all.

And now I think I’ll go off and craft some homemade ice cream. That’s my way to beat the heat! Stay frosty, everyone.

Hey all you scrapbookers out there in Craftland! Roberts Crafts is having a huge scrapbooking sale now through the Fourth of July. Get 25% off all regular priced scrapbooking supplies. Just use discount code SCRAPBOOK26W to get the savings.

This would be great for commemorating that family reunion, college or high school graduation, new baby, retirement party, major wedding anniversary, or first house purchase coming up in your family.

After all, we crafty people enjoy a good bargain, too.

It’s sale time at Roberts Crafts! Now through saturday, you can get 20% off your entire purchase (full-priced items only) so long as you order them online. That means you can afford to learn about a new way of doing your favorite craft, such as using wire to crochet.

Or maybe it’s time to treat yourself to some fun rubber stamps, like this one:

Or even a kit to entertain the kids and teach them scientific principals during their summer vacation:

Whatever your interest, chances are there’s something you can use. Why not get it at a bargain price? Just use the sale code SPRING20W.

Have you heard about Sugar Baby?

No, no, not Sugar Babies!

Sugar Baby.

It’s no secret that I love cooking. I love baking. But I’m new to candy making. That’s what this book is all about: sugar arts. If you, too, love playing in the kitchen and want to make pretty things out of sugar, this is the book for you.

Sure there are recipes for lollipops and taffy and the currently fashionable Parisian macarons, all of which are pretty and tasty. But you can get those recipes in a lot of places. The really cool stuff includes instructions for homemade cotton candy, barley malt skulls (the recipe that sold me on the book!) and even an amazing sugar bowl featuring swirls of red and blue food dye. Gorgeous and a perfect centerpiece for a Fourth of July party. Or use different colored dyes to make it just the thing for Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah, or a wedding reception.

If you have a reliable candy thermometer and a couple basic pieces of kitchen equipment, you can learn to make beautiful, tasty things with sugar.

What’s more, Gesine Bullock-Prada’s breezy writing style will keep you in stitches. Be sure to read all the tips. And remember, never poke caramel!

So where to get this masterpiece of sugar fun? Amazon, that’s where. Oh, and if you find yourself stuck or wanting more information, head on over to the author’s associated website, sugarbabycookbook.com.

And now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to pull out my candy thermometer and make something sweet to share with people I love.

With the royal wedding happening in just a few more days, the appetite for tie-ins and trinkets has reached fever pitch. But if you get it quickly and get right to work (and don’t eat, sleep, or do silly things like show up to your job), you can one-up everyone on your block by watching Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot surrounded by their wedding party, including them!

All you need to do is head over to Amazon and order a copy of Knit Your Own Royal Wedding by Fiona Goble. Why not? It’s just $12.14 (reduced from $17.99), eligible for Super Saver Shipping, and a chance to knit yourself an entire herd of tiny corgis.

Come on, you know you want to.

As any needleworker knows, keeping your tools handy and organized is as important a step as there is. Tangle threads, lost needles, and mussed charts are a nightmare.

But the good folks at Roberts Crafts have this lovely organizer created by thread giant DMC to help you keep everything in its place. It’s made of sturdy, attractive embossed denim that will live up to wear and tear on the road or at home. But inside is even better.

It’s got: 1 large pocket to hold a book, 3 tabs for stitching accessories, fabric ties to hold design materials, two pockets for scissors and similar accessories, and a section with eight fabric ties with rings to organize your thread or floss. It even comes with a felt square to keep your needles safe and handy! Just fill the portfolio and be on your way!

All this for just $27.49. Twistie sez: this is a great deal.

After months of dark, early nights and cold weather it’s nice to think about bright colors and cheerful images. It’s even better to think about making something so bright and cheerful.  Perhaps something as fun and happy as this delightful wildflower crewelwork pillow kit from Robert’s Crafts. It’s just $14.95 and includes everything you need: fabric, backing, threads, and instructions.

Oh, and if you order $50.00 or more from Robert’s by January 29, you can save $10.00 by using discount code ROBERTSTENW when you check out. (more…)

Making jewelry by hand is a rewarding craft. For one thing, there are so many ways to go about it. If you’ve been considering trying your hand at playing with wire, then I have a book for you.

Weave, Wrap, C oil: Creating Artisan Wire Jewelry by Jodi Bombardier is a guide to manipulating silver and/or copper wire into spectacular jewelry that you’ll love to wear and that your friends and family will love to receive as gifts.

With twenty-five projects to get you started, introducing you to new techniques, you’ll find plenty of inspiration between the covers of this book.

Best of all, it’s on sale at Amazon for just $15.61 (regularly priced $22.95), and qualifies for Super Saver shipping.

It just doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

Hancock fabrics is having a huge half off sale on fabrics right now through the 24th. Whether you’re looking for quilting fabric like the one shown above, something to make a new winter coat, or something slinky for an evening gown or boudoir pretty, this is the time to get the fabric.

Not crazy about what you see in that batch? Take a good look at the year end clearance event with prices up to 75% off. Or maybe the 40% off fashion fabric sale. Or the decorator fabrics sale with savings from 40% – 60%.

Whatever you’re planning to sew, Hancock Fabrics is a great place to look first right now. Hurry, before the best fabrics are gone!