Whether you are into knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, sewing, beading & jewelry making, candlemaking, small woodworking projects, such as creating birdhouses, small shelving units, painting, scrapbooking, etc., you will find plenty of information, how-to's, and project ideas.  There are many crafting experts located throughout Anoka County.  This is the ultimate opportunity to connect with our local crafting experts to learn something new!  You will find crafting articles, project ideas, have a chance to connect with our crafting experts and more right here!

Are you a crafter?  We welcome you to share your crafting experience and project ideas.   Enjoy!


If you have a question pertaining to crafting that you would like to ask our craft experts or you have a project idea you wish to share, please email our webmaster your questions and project ideas.

 Project Ideas:

 Project #4 -- Altering Clipboards 

 Remember those brown, pressed wood clipboards that your gym
 teacher used for taking attendance?  Well, those are a thing of the
 past.  Altering or decorating clipboards is one of the hot trends in
 papercrafting and home decor.
 
                   
                                                 Artwork©1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®  
 
 This clipboard is used for decorative purposes, not as a usuable
 clipboard.  It is similar to a framed scrapbook page.  It can be
 hung on the wall or put in a decorative stand.  I like being able to
 make a unique display for special photographs. 

 To make this clipboard: 
 1.  I covered the clipboard with a glue stick and adhered textured
      cardstock and let it dry. 

 2.  Then I took chipboard letters and shapes, glued decorative
       paper on them, and sanded the edges.

 3.  I added a few brads, punched shapes and ribbon to give the
      clipboard some dimension.

 4.  I used a white gel pen and drew the slashes and dots along the
      edges.

 5. To add some personal sentiments, I heat embossed the words
      "wonderful", "adorable", and "cherish" to express our feelings
      about our granddaughters.

 What is great about this project is I can remove the current
 photograph and add a new photograph because the clip is
 holding the photograph on this project.



                   


                   
                                                 Artwork©1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

 This clipboard is a usable clipboard because the surface is
 smooth.  I made this clipboard for my future daughter-in-law to
 use at each of her bridal showers for writing down who gave her
 what gift.  I used the colors of her wedding:  silver and perfect
 plum along with the swirl image that was used on their wedding
 invitations.

 To make this clipboard:
 1.  I measured the two different colors of cardstock and rubber-
      stamped the swirl image on the perfect plum paper. 

 2.  Cover the clipboard with a glue stick and adhere both pieces
      of cardstock.  Let dry.

 3.  I used a piece of sticky strip where the two pieces of cardstock
      are joined to hold a piece of taffeta ribbon.

 4.  I rubberstamped different words and phrases Love You,
      Always, Hugs & Kisses, Mr. & Mrs., and Cherish, in perfect
      plum ink onto ivory cardstock. 

 5.  I punched them out in different shapes and adhered them on
      coordinating cardstock shapes. (These punched out words and
      phrases were attached to the clipboard at the top where they
      wouldn't interfere with actually using the clipboard.)  

 6.  For an extra special touch and a more finished look, I added
      some silk flowers, ribbon, and brads.

 Here are some other ideas for using altered clipboards.  You can
 make the clipboard extra-special by personalizing it with
 someone's name. 
 
 You can also make a clipboard using one of the following themes:
 
 Chore Charts for children
 List of Important Phone Numbers
 To Do Lists
 Yearly Calendar
 Shopping List
 Wedding Guest List
 Sign-out Sheets for the Office
 Gardener's Planting Schedule
 Scout Leaders Attendance Chart
 Teacher's Attendance Sheet
 Coaches' Game Plan
 Sign-up Sheets

 If you have any questions on altering clipboards or want to attend
 a class where you can make an altered clipboard, please contact
 please contact Sue Lehrer at 763-755-7331 or email Sue.  
 


                            Click to view past project ideas.
 

                    
Sue grew up in Columbia Heights, lived in Blaine for 25 years, and currently lives in Andover.  Her creativity began as a child with sewing Barbie doll clothes and then sewing her own clothes.  She has always appreciated the creativity and uniqueness of handmade things.  She enjoys decorating with antiques, family photographs, and handcrafted treasures.  For eight years, Sue was co-owner of an annual holiday boutique where she sold things she created, as well as for 40 other artisans.  About 15 years ago, her oldest sister introduced her to the art of rubber stamping.  Never in Sue's wildest dreams, did she think that paper, ink, and a rubber stamp would become a creative outlet for her and the fulfillment of her dream of self-employment! 
       Click Here for Sue's Listing in Hometown Marketplace.

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