Factory Direct Craft Supply's Blog

Factory Direct Craft Supply hits 1,000th follower on Twitter!

Factory Direct Craft just hit our 1,000th Twitter follower. It's amazing in such a short time, we have gained so many followers. Each day Factory Direct Craft has interesting tweets on craft ideas and tips, wedding and bridal tips, arts and craft information, and  just fun things to make you smile. But best of all, the special discounts and sales that are only offered when you follow Factory Direct Craft on Twitter! 

So check us out at -->http://twitter.com/facdirectcraft

Wedding Bouquet Display: Table Decorating Bouquet Holder

Transform your wedding table, from ordinary to elegant, with the Bouquet Display Holder. You can use your own wedding flowers or additional bouquets to decorate the front of your wedding table. Simply slide your bridal flowers into the display for everyone to see and enjoy.

Bouquets are beautiful arrangements of flowers that the bride and bridesmaids carry during the wedding ceremony.  After the ceremony where does a bride or bridesmaid place their flowers?

They probably place them on a table somewhere, where they are no longer looked at. After the ceremony is over, the life of the bouquet is usually over and no one gets to see it anymore.

You get the Bouquet Display Holder and assemble it to your wedding tables. It's a great way to lengthen the viewing of beautifully arranged bouquets from brides and bridesmaids. The Bouquet Display Holder is an easy to use clamp that has a mini crate-like tube attached to it for the flowers rest in. This is great idea for decorating your wedding table where the wedding party sits. It is great to reuse the bridal bouquets in such a creative and stylish way.

As all the brides maids and the bride walk into the reception area, they can easily place their bouquets into the Bouquet Display Holder right onto the wedding table. If you don't want your bridesmaids or yourself rummaging in front of the wedding table, it might be a good idea to have someone take your flowers and do the set up in the reception area before anyone comes in. You may drape a table skirt into the lower hook, over the tablecloth for a cascading effect or simply use one skirt without draping for a delicate effect.

The Bouquet Display Holder is such a wonderful idea and it can really make good use of your bridal flowers and it is easy to use!

Centerpiece Mirrors - Table Mirrors for Special Occasions and Other Mirror Ideas

Mirrors - reflect both beauty and light. Mirrors are used in a wide arrange of displays such as wedding and banquet centerpiece displays. Smaller mirrors or mosaic tile mirrors are used for all kinds of craft projects or they can be used to display your collectibles.

Remember the disco ball? Disco balls were made of 100's of tiny glass mirrors. Swirling above the dance floor the small mirrors reflected light.

Small mosaic tile mirrors work well for doll house miniature decorations, and as table scatters. Crafters and artists can choose square, round, or assorted other shapes in different sizes to add a reflective shine to their mosaic projects. You can also create original wall art, vases, garden art ... etc with these convenient precut mosaic mirrors.

Use 4" square beveled edge mirrors, as seen on HGTV's Summer Showdown, to create a bold and contemporary atmosphere.  Use Welbond glue, available in 2oz, 4oz, or 8oz bottles to assist with your mosaic projects.

Round, beveled edge, or square centerpiece mirrors give your wedding and banquet tables a touch of elegance! Mirrors give your table centerpieces that sparkle you're looking for. When you use table mirrors for centerpieces you are adding an extra dimension to your decorations. If you're using flowers or candles, the reflections in the mirror will enhance the overall appearance of the display. They can also make the use of simple materials look stunning. A church candle and some flower heads placed on a table mirror can look truly wonderful.

Beveled edge table runner mirrors are a new way to experience the magic of mirrors! More dramatic than a centerpiece, this mirror runs the full length of your table or buffet. You can use table runner mirrors to decorate the credenza or the dining room table, to give a sense of elegance to your dining area. Octagon mirrors can be used for placemats and the smaller size octagon mirrors as coasters or to place under wedding favors.

Have you ever broken a mirror? Well, instead of 7 years of bad luck use the broken mirror pieces to create a unique mosaic art work.

The monogram mirror cake toppers are very modern, unique and classy. The choices are from all capitalized letters in the alphabet and the "&" symbol. You have additional options to the size of the monograms. You can order a couple pairs of you and your fiances initials in different sizes and place them in focal points of the wedding like your wedding cake, dinning tables, buffet tables, gift tables, and etc. The mirror cake toppers would also work well for anniversaries, or birthday parties.

FactoryDirectCraft.com  has a variety of craft supply's for all your crafting needs

 Questions? Give us a call 1-800-252-5223 M-Sat 9-6 est

What are the makings of a Perfect Match?

 

Sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you come up with a Prince. Such was the case with Daneen, my daughter. She had dated on and off, some serious, some not so serious, but no one clicked.

 

Then she met Garett on Match.com. They went out on a date and ye again, nothing! Then something happened, divine intervention perhaps? Daneen had tickets to an Ohio State football game. The Ohio State, you know, the one no one ever turns down free tickets to see play. So why had her original date called and said he couldn't make the game?  Now what she to do with only an hour until she had to leave for Columbus? She could take her Dad or Brother, of course both would love to go. But she didn't want to go with them.

 

So, Daneen got out her little black book... well, actually her cell phone and thought who to call. Perhaps she would give that nice guy from Vermont a call. The one who had been nice but, there just hadn't been that spark a week ago on their date. Oh well, why not she thought! A call to Garett and free tickets to the OSU game sealed both their fates. They had so much fun at the game! They talked, found out they had the same values and so much more. He was quiet, like her Dad. She was talkative, like his Mom. It just felt right!

 

Within 3 months of dating they had decided...the big one, lets get married. Now, how to put on a wedding in a few short months? It's already January and they were going to get married in May! Daneen, had lots of experience with weddings since she was the Bridal buyer for FactoryDirectCraft.com, but this just wasn't any wedding, this was HER wedding; the one that was her happily ever after.

 

With help from her friends and family, myself and of course her experience it all came together. The perfect place (on the beach in Naples Florida), the perfect day (May 4th, her Grandfather's Birthday), and the perfect guy, Garett, the nice guy from Vermont. What more could a girl want?!

 

Thanks  to Match.com and a guy turning down OSU tickets, Daneen finally found her prince (no more frog kissing)

FactoryDirectCraft.com  has a variety of craft supply's for all your crafting needs

 Questions? Give us a call 1-800-252-5223 M-Sat 9-6 est

Fun with Outdoor Craft Projects - Paint rocks, or flower pots - Find your inner Picasso with sidewalk chalk!

Summer and spring are great times for outdoor craft projects. When the weather is warm it is a lot of fun to take all the mess outside. Here are a few ideas for easy and fun outdoor craft projects the whole family will love.
 

• Paint Rocks

To start this craft, go for a walk or visit a park. Let each child to pick out a relatively smooth, flat rock for painting. Wash the rocks with the garden hose when you get home and let the kids paint them with Apple Barrel Acrylic Paints to paint a design then seal with an Folk Art Matte Outdoor Finish Sealer. You can use these master pieces to decorate your garden, around trees, or as a paper weight, etc.


You can use the same techniques to paint clay flower pots.

• Sidewalk Chalk

Use our jumbo sidewalk chalk to let the Picasso in your kid to come out. What kid doesn't like to draw? With this chalk they can use the large canvas of your driveway or sidewalk. The great thing is, it will wear off or wash away in the rain, and they can start all over again.  It's their very own temporary masterpiece!

• Windsocks and Mobiles

Let your kids create a sunflower windsock from this kit or let them paint their own designs on this car and signs mobile or this starfish and fish mobile.

 

This 68pc Artist Kit Set or 34pc Artist Kit Set is the perfect gift for a creative child. It is fun outdoors and just like an art studio ready to go wherever you go!  Let the kids let their imagination soar with drawing and creating!

Of course all kids crafts should have adult supervision with any arts and craft project. It's great to spend time outdoors with your kids, so start creating some outdoor craft memories now!

FactoryDirectCraft.com  has a variety of craft supply's for all your crafting needs

 Questions? Give us a call 1-800-252-5223 M-Sat 9-6 est

Follow FactoryDirectCraft.com on Twitter and Receive Special Offers Daily

Be sure to follow FactoryDirectCraft.com on our Twitter name FacDirectCraft.
We Twitter discount offers throughout each day. These special offers are only valid with the Twitter codes you receive. Take a look at our Twitter and feel free to "tweet" us!

FactoryDirectCraft.com  has a variety of craft supply's for all your crafting needs

 Questions? Give us a call 1-800-252-5223 M-Sat 9-6 est

Arts and Crafts - Going Green and Recycling Everyday Items!

Arts and crafts first started with the hobo tramp art. The hobos took every day objects such as cigar boxes or twigs and with paint or carving turned them into works of art ... or to them something they could trade for supper! Little did the hobos know by making something from an everyday article that normally is thrown away they were "recycling"

 

Today you to can turn every day household items into craft projects! What a better way to go green, recycle and have fun doing it. Hate to throw things out? Here's the answer!



Have some old film canisters laying around? The book, 35MM Can Do provides you with some great ideas for Recycling old film containers into party favors and storage containers. These adorable characters are great to give as gifts, use in your home, or for craft time in scouts, church, school, 4-H, etc. Projects include a clown, scarecrow, gardener, tooth fairy, nativity scene, school teacher, snowman and much more.



A wonderful way to recycle.  The Too Cute Cans, Too Cute Cans Book 2 and Too Cute Cans Book 3 books show you how to take any size tin can and transform it into gift packages, party favors, etc. Ideas for holiday and everyday.  Both Kid craft ideas and adult projects.



Recycle cardboard, cardboard boxes or grocery sacks with the ideas from The Book Wrap it Up! Make your gift giving truly unique with these wonderful ideas. This book includes springtime gift bags, featuring frogs, bees, butterflies, flowers and bunnies as well as holiday gift bags. Garlands for every occasion including Easter, spring, winter, Christmas and Halloween. The garland pieces are cut from corrugated cardboard, painted and wired together. A great way to recycle old cardboard boxes or brown grocery sacks! You can also make get well, baby shower and birthday gift bags, plus instructions for making your own wrapping paper.

This delightful Camp Crafts 'N More book will make life a little easier for camp leaders everywhere. The author is a camp leader herself and has designed projects that are useful, portable, and most of all, FUN!

This book features complete assembly and finishing instructions for a variety of projects including:
Trail Containers made from milk bottles! Carry water, trail mix (4 recipes included), first aid supplies and much more. A great way to recycle!

Other ideas for turning every day objects into crafts:

 

• Baby Food Jars - Use these jars to make Jack O' Lantern luminaries for Halloween. Make a "Garden in a Jar," Make small favors for weddings and showers. Make a sewing kit with a pin cushion top.

• Old Cork Tops - Make small ornaments

• Food Cans - Make unique and fun centerpieces for special events, use them as planters, and organizers for things around the house

• Plastic Bags - Make fun and colorful pom poms for gift wrapping or make unique vibrant roses and flowers

• Toothbrushes - Make fun and unique toothbrush bracelets or use them for small places around the house that need a good scrubbing!

 

The projects are unlimited... So, get crafty and recycle!

FactoryDirectCraft.com  has a variety of craft supply items for all your crafting needs

 Questions? Give us a call 1-800-252-5223 M-Sat 9-6 est

Go Green and Recycle - Make Something from a Milk Jug!

In a small way, do your part to reduce waste and recycle an ordinary milk jug into everyday useful or craft decorative items. Here are a few ideas:

•  Cut out the side and make it into a scoop for pet food.

•  Cut out the bottom of the jug and turn into a pet food bowl for car trips or hikes
•  Make a luminary out of the jug. Line the walk way outside for holiday night time decorations.

•  Fill with water and make into a long lasting ice block
• Make a Milk Jug Jack-O'-Lantern

Jack-o'-lantern is easy for kids to make, plus, it's weather proof! Draw jack-o'-lantern face onto the milk jug. Cut out the eyes, nose and mouth shapes (have Mom and Dad help with this). Paint the jug with orange acrylic paint. May take a couple coats to cover well. Once the paint has dried, draw pumpkin like stripes with a black, permanent marker or black acrylic paint. For the inner glow, insert a small flashlight or battery operated tea light  inside of the jug lid or in a hole cut below the handle and tape it into place.

• Make a Milk Jug Easter Baskets

• Easily Make the milk jug into a funnel. Cut off the bottom of the jug.
• Poke holes in the bottom of the jug and use as a watering can for your garden plants and flowers

• Cut a hole opposite the handle and use as a storage container for almost anything. Works great for storing golf balls, arts and crafts materials, small toys like LEGOs, and more.
• Cut the bottom off and remove the lid and use as a mini greenhouse for your small plant seedlings

• Knitters and crocheters cut off the top just far enough to insert a skein of yarn. You can then thread the yarn end through the hollow handle and it will keep your yarn clean and tangle free as you work.
• Use the flat sides of the jug to create your own stencils
• Make a milk jug skeleton with 8 or 9 clean milk jugs. 

SKELETON HEAD
Turn a milk jug upside down in the corner opposite the handle cut out a large pair of eyes, the mouth and two holes for the nostrils. Make two small slits in the top of the head and tie a loop of string through them to hang the finished skeleton.
SKELETON CHEST
Slice down the center of a jug - opposite the handle. Cut the plastic to make a rib cage. Glue the head and chest together with hot glue.
SKELETON SHOULDERS
Cut off two jug handles leaving a small collar on each end. Use hot glue to attach them to the chest section. Punch a hole at the outside end of each shoulder.
SKELETON WAIST
Cut out two spouts, leaving a 1/2 inch collar on each. Hot glue the spouts together. Glue to the bottom of the chest.
SKELETON HIPS
Use the bottom 4 1/2 inches of a jug. Cut into a pelvic shape. Glue to the bottom of the waist.
SKELETON ARMS & LEGS
Cut the bone shapes from the jugs. Tie to the shoulders and hips.
SKELETON HANDS & FEET
Trace the kid's hands and feet. Cut these shapes out of the jugs. Punch holes into the hands and feet and tie them onto the arms and legs.
For a greater effect you can paint Mr. Bones a neon color or with "glow in dark" paint so that he will glow as he greets your
Halloween guests. You can also use glow sticks for the same effect!

• Make a plastic grocery bag holder (by cutting out a hole opposite to the handle)
• Make a game of catch more sporty with milk jug scoops. Take two gallon jugs cut out into a scoop add a ball and kids can toss the ball and catch with scoops.

• Cut off and use as a tray to clean paint brushes.
• A gallon milk jug can be turned into a dustpan. Set the jug, handle side up, on a table, and cut the top off at an angle, leaving the handled portion as a very handy dustpan.
   
  Think of other ways to create something fun and useful with an ordinary milk jug!

FactoryDirectCraft.com  has a variety of craft supply items for all your crafting needs

 Questions? Give us a call 1-800-252-5223 M-Sat 9-6 est

Watering Can, Pails, and Seed Packets Make Cute Favors!

Small watering cans let you sprinkle love, laughter and best wishes. Perfectly proportioned and complete with spout and handle, these metal mini watering cans make great garden-themed favors for your bridal, baby, or wedding shower. The watering cans come in a variety of sizes and finishes. Fill them with floral cuttings, gardening tools, and other little treats for your guests to take home with them. You can also personalize them by adding your guests’ names to each pail. Watering cans hold water, but do not pour.

Write or print simple sayings or poems on small note cards along with your names and wedding date and attach to your favors.

"All things grow with love"
"Watch Our Love Grow"
"Love Grows Best with the Care of Family and Friends"
"Our Love Grows Stronger Every Day"

Miniature natural birds nests are the perfect favor for bridal and baby showers, or weddings. You can fill these nest with egg-shaped candies, tie with a ribbon and give as creative favors or scatter around your springtime reception as decorations.



Keep the garden or outdoor table decorations theme going with other garden-themed favor ideas such as seed packet place card holders, or empty seed packets look cute laying around the tables or filled with special treats,  miniature flower pots or small umbrellas will also work well as garden themed party decorations.

Other fun things to keep with the outdoor theme are these miniature trash cans. These mini metal trash cans are cute filled with candy, flowers, or other treats. Let everyone know "Who will be taking out the trash!"

Miniature pails and buckets are also perfect for a garden themes, bridal and baby showers, or weddings Fill them with candy, packets of bird seed, or other fun treats. For a beach-themed party, turn them into a place card holder by filling  the buckets with sand, and standing a place card inside. The buckets are easy to decorate, add something inside, tie some ribbon or tulle around the handle...and wah-la! You have an easy, cute favor that everyone is sure to love!

 

FactoryDirectCraft.com  has a variety of items for all your wedding, party or shower.

 Questions? Give us a call 1-800-252-5223 M-Sat 9-6 est

New Discounted Petaloo Products!

Factory Direct Craft is always searching for new and discounted items. Recently we purchased an entire warehouse of Petaloo products by Regal International.

 

This purchase includes everything from the Petaloo line of silk rose petals to unique florals, gifts, scrapbooking, and wedding items. All at amazingly discounted below wholesale prices!

Petaloo, seen on HSN, is the finest and largest source in floral petals. The number of ways to use Petaloo Petals is endless... Some of the more popular uses include:

• Weddings and Special Occasions - Along the aisleways or as table décor.
• Petal-Crafting™ – Petals are the new medium for expressing color and texture in arts and crafts.
• Visual Display – The pre-petalled fabric squares, runners and faux silk petals are guaranteed to create eye-catching, "I gotta feel it" displays for any home decor, parties or weddings.

Petaloo inspires creativity to express yourself and feel like an artist or designer for a day. If you can say it, you can petal it!

Check out all these amazing Discounted Petaloo Products!

The Regal line provides fun and innovative décor used in holiday, event and party displays. Unique, glitzy and fun items you're sure to love!