As I mentioned yesterday, part of The {NewNew} National Craft Month celebration we are going to be bringing you some fantastic tutorials. Since I just can't keep a secret here is what we have in store for you this month:

Later today (March 2nd) Karina from Windows of Agate will be bringing you a fun Felted Tic-Tac-Toe board tutorial. Perfect for those rainy spring days that are just around the corner. Oh, I so hope spring is just around the corner... but I digress. The point is, come on back later today!

On March 8th, Simone from Grounsel will show us how to make wine charms. Now if you are having a party, these will definitely come in handy.

On March 18th get your "green" on. No not your St. Patrick's Day Green, your reuse, renew, recycle green. Sara from S2 Stationery and Design will demonstrate than an envelope can be renewed and made beautiful.

On March 24th Angel from Cards in Stitches gets us started block printing. Once you start with this technique you'll be block printing everything in sight - it is that much fun!

And then, last but hardly least On March 25th May from May Luk / Take Me Homeware is going to take the mystery out of screen printing when she shows us how to do a small run at home.

I personally can't wait for that one. My boyfriend on the other hand is a little worried about what that means for the amount of space my design and craft supplies take up in our tiny apartment.

Happy Day Creative People
Holly / Ellis Design

Now none of us really need an excuse to celebrate our crafty, artsy selves but since March is our month to celebrate let's get the party started!

The Craft and Hobby Association estimates that 60 million households, that's over half, participate in some sort of crafting each year. That's a lot of glue, paper and scissors having fun out there. Even better, art and crafting have been shown to reduce stress, enhance self-satisfaction, and in kids it can help build self esteem and basic learning schools. Fun and good for you, it doesn't get much better than that.

Here are a few ideas to bring the celebration home:

Share your love of a specific craft with someone else by teaching. Contact a local school, library, retirement or community center or church group to see if there are opportunities to share your expertise.
Have a craft party. Gather 5 or 6 of your friends and share an afternoon or evening filled with creativity, conversation and fun. Check out our tutorials on the blog and the Etsy blog for project ideas.

Graphic from "Throw an Etsy Craft Party"

Create for charity. Noting feels better than giving something back to the community. The{NewNew} knit hats for preemies last year along with visitors to our booth at the Maker Faire in Queens. Contact local hospitals and community centers to see where your creative talents can be put into action.

Learn a new skill related to your current craft or design area. Do you make beaded jewelery? How about learning wire wrapping to mix things up? Knit? No time like the present to learn lacework or cable techniques!
Learn a new craft. Many stores are offering extra classes and sales this month to celebrate. In the New York City area 3rd Ward is a great place to learn something new. You'll be amazed how often a new area of crafting, design or art often will meld into what you were previously doing. I use to crochet then I took a jewelery class and the next thing you know I was making crochet wire jewelry. One caveat here - make sure all those half-finished projects are done before starting something new, wink wink.

All month long we'll be celebrating here on the blog sharing stories, providing tutorials and ideas and just all around having a good time. It is a celebration of what we love to do after all!

How are you going to celebrate? Leave a comment to let us know, we love hearing from you.

Party on Creative People!

Holly / EllisDesign

Tutorials We Have In Store For You This Month

March is National Craft Month