1.Tell us a little about you and your blog.
The title of the blog is a reference to a line from Hamlet, “I essentially am not mad, but mad in craft.” Hamlet was only pretending to be insane, but, when it comes to crafting I get a little cuckoo bananas.

Mad in Crafts is a place to share my crafty ideas and connect with other crafters who also understand why it makes perfect sense to nail a bent fork to the dining room wall.

2.How and when did you start crafting?
I have been dinking around with various crafts my whole life, but it became a real hobby two years ago when several of my home projects were featured on Dollar Store Crafts. I realized that I didn’t have to have a specialized skill like sewing or woodworking to be a crafter. I started up the blog, fired up the hot glue gun, and haven’t looked back.

3.How often do you craft?
Craft time is entirely dependent on A) the way the kids are behaving, B) the amount of coffee in the house, and C) whether or not there is anything good on TV.

4.Where do you get your inspiration?
Magazines and the internet, mostly. I do a lot of knock-off projects to put pieces in our home that we wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise.

5.What is your favorite medium to work in?
I don’t have one. I am the definition of “Jack of All Trades, Master of None.” I have dabbled in sewing, crocheting, cross-stitch, painting, stamping, and scrapbooking. I am pretty mean with a can of spray paint and a hot glue gun. But I don’t really know how to do anything that I do.

6.What is your guilty pleasure?
The Real Housewives of NYC and Take 5 candy bars.

7.What makes you smile?
My kids, Barnes and Noble, bedtime.

8.What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?
Watching TV. It’s such an embarrassing thing to admit, but most days I would rather watch DVR’d episodes of Mad Men than get off my heiney and leave the house.

*You can learn more about Jessica and see her SYTYC projects on her bio page*

*Tutorial made by Bessie @ Besserina for her win of the Hardware Store challenge*

4 – six inch chimney pipe elbows
copper wire
7 various wire wheels (grinder thingys)
2 glass coffee percolators
3 screws
3springs
a large nut
clear plastic mirror flowers
a small light bulb to fit into one of the wire wheels
Primer
Heirloom White spray paint
canvas drop cloth
E6000
You will also need a hot glue gun, wire cutters and a drill Read more

Well,  here we are.  The finales of Season 6.  I don’t know about you guys, but it always seems to go so fast for me.  We have had some amazing crafters with amazing projects this season.  Thank you crafters for all that you do for this contest!  I’m amazed every week at the talent you all have!

So, as always, there is no theme for the finale…it’s a Wild Card round and it’s awesome!

It’s also not anonymous this round either.  You have all probably figured out and Bessie @ Besserina and Carlee @ Lady Bird Lane styles by now anyway.  So without further ado, here are their final projects! Read more

1.Tell us a little about you and your blog.

I’m a stay-at-home mom of two. I used to teach junior high and plan to go back one day. I started my blog, Celestial’s Creations, as a way to calm that desire in me to show off something I worked hard on. I figure having a blog is a better way of displaying my work than knocking on random doors in my neighborhood. Plus, I love having an organized record of things I’ve made since most of them find new homes, and I can never remember quite how I made something the first time.

2.How and when did you start crafting?

My mom was crafty, so I’ve loved crafts my entire life. I stepped up into needing a “craft area” in my house once I got married and started needing to make things like curtains and pillows. Once you throw kids and a tight budget into the mix – it’s DIY or bust.

3.How often do you craft?

I usually craft at least a little every day. There’s always something that needs to get finished. I feel a little calmer if I can fit in a little creative time.

4.Where do you get your inspiration?

Most of my inspiration comes from the internet. I have a list of blogs I follow faithfully for ideas. I think necessity is another inspiration. I know what I have and I know what I need, and I keep thinking until I come up with something that will work.

5.What is your favorite medium to work in?

Crocheting is my favorite craft medium. I find it very calming (I stick to simple projects to keep it that way). I love that it’s so forgiving and so versatile.

6.What is your guilty pleasure?

Reading books. I love to read books, but I have a hard time putting them down once I start. I’ll put off work I need to do and stay up way too late until I finish. I always feel guilty picking one up, because I know I’ll neglect everything for a day or two.

7.What makes you smile?

Baby kisses. Funny jokes. Family. Hearing toddler “I love you’s”. Having something turn out well. Well chosen vocabulary words. Chocolate chip cookies. Understanding hard things. Answers to prayer. Seeing the kitchen counter with no dirty dishes on it. Happy memories.

8.What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?

Learning. Is that too general? I love the way I feel when I learn something new. I love knowing that I’m a better mom, teacher, and person when I learn things that can help me help others.

*You can learn more about Celeste and see her SYTYC projects on her bio page.*

*Tutorial by Bessie @ Besserina for her win of the Fall Colors challenge*

3 Shades of burlap, I used dark brown, natural and green
Rust colored wool yarn
White fabric
22″ Orange bias tape
Tree branch
Long sewing needle
Sweet Annie
Hot Glue
Acrylic paint pens in Pumpkin, Brown, Celery and Celadon Read more

Can you believe we’re already down to our top three crafters?!  This season has been cruising by.

Last week Jessica @ Mad In Crafts pulled in a win with her awesome Fingerpainted Lyrics Art.

Isn’t that a fun idea!  You could do it with the words of your favorite song or quote. I love it!

But we had to say goodbye to Celeste @ Celestial’s Creations.  Her Little Bird Countdown didn’t quite make the cut.

Celeste has been a favorite all season and it’s really hard to say goodbye to her.  Make sure you stop by her blog, Celestial’s Creations, and check out all the fun stuff she’s got going on over there.  You won’t regret it

Now that we’re down to 3, the person going home this week is going to be receiving some awesome swag: Read more

1.Tell us a little about you and your blog.
I’m a stay at home mom to two little boys. I need more that “just being a mom” to keep me busy! I was inspired by all the amazing craft blogs and so I stated my own (Nap Time Creations)!

2.How and when did you start crafting?
I’ve always been a sewer, knitter and scrap-booker…more recently I’ve taken up crocheting, card-making, quilting and home decorating. I use the boys afternoon nap time to get the bulk of things done, but I squeeze in other moments during the day as well. I also always have a knitting or crochet project to do while we are watching T.V. at night.

3.How often do you craft?
Almost everyday I do a little something!

4.Where do you get your inspiration?
I get a lot of inspiration from my boys and things I want to make for them. I also love looking at other blogs for ideas.

5.What is your favorite medium to work in?
I love to sew!

6.What is your guilty pleasure?
Sweet snacks while the boys are sleeping )

7.What makes you smile?
My boys, my husband, a compliment about one of my projects.

8.What is your favorite thing to do (other than crafting)?
I love to exercise, I have a huge double stroller and the boys and I got for runs most mornings. We are also super active as a family: Hiking, swimming, biking, camping….you get the idea. We like to keep busy.

*If you want to learn more about Emily and see her SYTYC projects, check out her bio page*

*Sorry this is late everybody!  Apparently I need to review what “am” & “pm” mean.  I totally scheduled it for the wrong time!*

Well, here we are at another week.  And this one is a pretty important one.  But before I get into that, lets review the winner and who’s going home from last week.

Bessie @ Besserina pulled in the most votes with her Primitive Burlap Pumpkins.

I think those are totally adorable!  And burlap just seems so “fall” to me.

Although it was a tight race, we have to let Emily go this week.

I thought her Candy Corn Corn was really clever!  She has a bunch of other great stuff on her blog,  Nap Time Creations.  You should go check it out.  You won’t be disappointed :)

This week is a big one – we move from Read more