The Crafty Princess Diaries

Tammy Powley’s Crafty Weblog

December 27, 2015
by Tammy
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Craft Links Time

Art Bead Scene

Mary shares some super-fun holiday earrings!

Chalkboard Paint Wine Bottles

Save up your empty bottles and have fun creating arrangements of chalkboard paint wine bottles. This was such a fun project that Eileen plans to make lots more after the holidays.

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!

Jean reviews a great book to start the New Year: Learn to Make Bead Jewelry, With 35 Fabulous Projects, by Lynn Davy. Happy 2016!

Join and Win, Maybe

Join the Crafty Princess Dairies Ravelry group and chat it up with fellow crafters. Plus enter to win the monthly FOs drawing.

December 20, 2015
by Tammy
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Freebie Craft Projects, Tips, and More

Stitch Gingy

So, you can’t catch the Gingerbread man, but you sure can stitch him! The latest free chart from Connie Gee’s Designs will make a great pillow or ornament depending on the count of the fabric used.

Alcohol Ink Ornaments

These gorgeous alcohol ink ornaments require nothing more than alcohol inks, compressed air, clear glass ball ornaments and a sense of humor.

Beading Arts

It’s not too late to make a few more jewelry pieces for gift-giving!

Art Bead Scene

Check out Erin’s adorable Hoots’ Family Reunion! So cute!

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!

Mastering Beadwork by Carol Huber Cypher is a must-have beadwork book for all avid beaders! See Jean’s review of this classic, and consider it for a holiday gift. Everyone will love it!

Another Amigurumi Tip

When you put together all the parts of your crochet toy, it is time to commit!

December 19, 2015
by Tammy
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Share Your Crafts & Goals


Come join my Crafty Princess Diaries Ravelry group and share your finished crafted objects as well as your crafting goals for 2016. I have a Finished Objects thread open for December 2015, and there are going to be multiple prizes drawn after the month ends, including some free knit and/or crochet patterns. Plus, there is a new thread asking about your personal crafting goals for the new year. All types of crafters are encouraged to participate and join in the fun. You don’t have to be a yarn only crafter!

December 17, 2015
by Tammy
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Coloring Ocean Mandalas

Ulysses Press sent me a review copy of Coloring Ocean Mandalas: 30 Hand-Drawn Designs for Mindful Relaxation, a followup to Coloring Dream Mandalas also by the same author, Wendy Piersall. Like the previous publication this also retails for $10 US ($11.95 CAN). Along with her very popular series of adult coloring books, Piersall has also started a YouTube channel where she shows her own processes for coloring, and she invites her fellow coloring enthusiasts to share their colored pages with her through various social media such as Instagram.



This latest book in her series has 30 pages to color, all with beautiful images from the sea like mermaids, whales, and shells. Each coloring page in the book is one sided so that you don’t have to worry about colors bleeding through. Some include inspirational nautical themed sayings as well.

Below is one of her videos where Piersall shows how she likes to color her hand-drawn designs.



December 14, 2015
by Tammy
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Holiday Craft Links

Recycled Greeting Cards

Ever wondered what to do with all those beautiful greeting card you get? Personally I hate throwing them away, so I upcycle them into cards I can give. Sometimes I even make my own envelopes. Hey! Maybe I should do a DIY video on that!

Snow Glittered Cone Trees

Snow glittered cone trees that don’t snow glitter all over. Here’s a way to create glittered white snow drifts that stay put with heat set embossing powder.

Felt Ornament

Whip up some super easy felt holiday ornaments with this quick how-to video.

Candy Cane Pattern

A sweet treat for the holiday season that will be perfect for a card, gift tag or ornament.

Beading Arts

Cyndi has a round-up of all her book reviews from 2015, and of her top picks in every media for holiday gift giving!

Snap out of it, Jean! There’s beading to be done!

Jean reviews a super beading book concerning a brand new technique: Albion Stitch, 20 Jewelry Projects, by Heather Kingman-Smith. This is a wonderful, energizing book for all the beaders on your gift list!