Hi makers! For us yarn crafters, our time has come. I Love Yarn Day is approaching (October 12th), and we can't be more excited. For thousands of years, people made their own clothes and relied on skills passed down from their ancestors for survival. Fast forward to today and yarn crafts are mostly practiced as a fun pastime, a way to make money or a stress management tool. In spite of this, skills like knit and crochet are still just as important, especially with the rise of the DIY movement and a desire for sustainability.

I Love Yarn Day is every year on the second Saturday of October and is a day for yarn enthusiasts across the world to share what they love about fiber arts and why they practice these ancient skills. This year’s virtual event, which takes place on Oct. 12, will encourage yarn crafters to share with people in their lives why they love yarn.

In fact, we're so excited that we are celebrating the holiday all month long! We love cozy knit and crochet designs, but we’re stepping up the yarn game with weaving, plastic canvas and home décor too. If you enter our monthly giveaway here, then you can win all of these great goodies that we're about to talk about. So let's jump into it!

Crochet

We figured a great way to start I Love Yarn Month would be to celebrate some of our favorite patterns. We just recently published large collections of our best selling and easy-to-follow crochet patterns, and we're going to show you some of our favorites from these books! Hopefully you'll be just as inspired as we are! We'll start with patterns that always hit big in the fall - Afghans. Crochet Afghan Revival has an afghan pattern for every season, and this plum pattern is perfect for fall (first picture above). It has a great geometric pattern that will keep you cozy during those chilly months.

If you're making for baby this season, then Everything Baby Crochet has, well, everything you need. This Tunisian Cocoon and Cap is perfect for keeping your little one snuggled up and protected when they're dreaming of becoming an astronaut. The texture of the Tunisian technique will be soft on the baby's skin, and the blue color is super soothing.

If you're itching for some extra fall accessories, then we've got you covered. The Big Book of Crochet Accessories has this beautiful scalloped fall colored scarf (first picture above) that is a great light layer for any outfit. You can create lacy and textured patterns with easy-to-follow instructions! This is just one of the accessories you can make from this book, there are over 40 to choose from.

Amigurumi is a hot trend right now with yarn, because you can make some adorable little and large creations. This turtle from Amigurumi: An Adorable Collection is one of our favorite patterns from the book, but you can make so much more! These little plush animals can be great gifts for kids and grown-ups! Who wouldn't want this little turtle as a desk buddy? He even has a matching strawberry!

Knit

Another collection of our favorites is The Best of Knit Accessories! We have tons of patterns for you to choose from in the book, but our favorite is this beaded knit bracelet! The accessory doesn't even look like it was knitted together, and the pearlescent beads take the neutral tone of the bracelet and punch it up with blue tones as the beads hit light. You can take this pattern and customize it as you like with different color beads, or with different clasps. This is just one of the ways that you can get creative with a different weight of yarn.

If you're looking for some casual accessories to create this season, then look no further! Casual Weekend Knits has and adorable mustard colored clutch (above) pattern that is fall staple material. Using easy stitches and a little patience, you'll work up this small clutch quickly, and it will last you well past the fall season. You can even line your clutch with fun fabric for a fun surprise every time you reach for your car keys!

If you're looking for a fun project with little prep work, then our Mini Maker Books Plus Kits are for you(video above)! For I Love Yarn Month, we recommend the Knit Hat Kit. This kit has everything you need to make an adorable and comfortable knit hat, needles and all! It even comes with project book, so you're not just stuck with one pattern.

Extras

Plastic canvas is always a fun go-to yarn project to occupy your time with during I Love Yarn Month. This castle from Portable Playhouse Sets gets you in the perfect Halloween mood! Let the feasting begin as you have your knights gather 'round as the queen looks from her throne. The castle pattern has great brick detail, and even includes banners from two different armies.

You can learn to weave fast and easy with this laminated leaflet Learn To Weave! This design in particular has a great color palette, using this blush color as a form of neutral. You can play around with shape, texture, and flourishes as you follow along with these step-by-step instructions. You start with a simple surface like the twig shown on the wall hanging above, and work your way down until you have a beautiful and abstract wall hanging full of textures and tassels.

If you're looking for alternative fall color combos, then this is the pillow for you! Textured Pillows has a lot of great design ideas for dressing up a typical throw pillow, which is perfect for upcycled fall décor. This pillow design also allows you to play with three different textures of yarn. The bright olive green of the pillow pops so well on the pillow, and you can make a similar one with simple stitches and some hot glue!

These are all really creative ways to get crafty this year with yarn. If you've tried some of these projects, be sure to tag us @leisureartsinc or use #leisurearts so we can see what's going on in your studios! Be sure to throw in a couple extra skeins for October 12th, and good luck with your projects this month.

Happy stitching!

-Leisure Arts Team

Hello Again, Makers! We've got more color inspiration coming at ya, and this time we're ready for fall! We've got a beautiful color to work with from our list of Lion Brand Yarn's colors of the year for 2019, see below!

Lion Brand has compiled a list of great colors for 2019, and every month we pick a hue and match some of our favorite Leisure Arts Patterns to the color palette . Here's a little more information on Wheat:

"Yarn lovers flock to variations of this best-selling neutral as it showcases stitch-work and  mimics the  raw natural qualities of wool. Paired with brighter tones this color gives you a nostalgic quality with a contemporary pop."

Wheat is a perfect neutral for fall, and we have some really great Lion Brand Yarns on our website to showcase the different colors variations of wheat you can play with! Shawl In A Ball - Namaste is a perfect warm toned neutral in the wheat family that features little stripes of light reflective metallic yarn for extra pizazz. Shawl In A Ball - Cleansing Quartz is a cool toned member of the wheat family, with more gray and white hues laced throughout the skein. Either yarn would be perfect for crafting something wheat-centric, but feel free to shop for other hues if you want a different brown! As you've probably guessed, wheat has a lot of variations.

Scroll to find your craft category, and find your next wheat project!

Crochet

These projects fall a little to the lighter side of wheat, but you can use whatever yarn you want to punch up or dial down the color. This tasseled pillow from Quick Crochet Home Decor is an adorable neutral for a colorful setup like the one shown in the photo above. Take the simple design and dress it up with some long tassels for a little bit of boho chic!

If you want to start making for the holiday season, this angel garland from Retro Christmas Ornaments is perfect for you! You can use light reflective yarn to make these angels shine, and string these guys up on your fireplace mantle or around your Christmas tree! The wheat makes a great accent with the white and gray angels, and makes this retro garland a bit more modern to spruce up your holiday decor. You can even make a set of Christmas lights to match!

Knit

If knitting if more your speed, then try out these patterns! Whether it's cowls, mittens or cozy caps, you can't go wrong with a fun fall accessory. The Best of Knit Accessories has a really nice cowl (above) in wheat that even incorporates other colors into it for accents, so you can branch out and try different color combinations! With the big button accent, this cowl looks modern and cozy. Casual Weekend Knits and All Your Favorite Hats have some great patterns for knitted hats (above). You can add long tails to the ends to make little earmuffs, like the children's hat, or you can make some matching mittens like the adult pattern! The choice is up to you, it can be whatever matches your fall style.

Craft

If you want to stray away from wheat projects with yarn, then try these! Home Soap Making has a great Coffee Latte Soap that is a beautiful Dark wheat color, but smells like fresh brewed coffee. The recipe is as easy as melting some soap down and adding good vibes! The caffeine rejuvenates the skin too, so you'll feel refreshed and energized. If you're looking for a great accessory to make for fall, these Fringe Earrings from Aromatherapy Jewelry are perfect for the eclectic style. The lava beads used are porous and can absorb any essential oil you want. So you can feel all the stresses fall away with your favorite scent and fancy fringe!

Plastic Canvas

Plastic canvas is a great craft to do for the holidays, because these projects make for fun and unique gifts. This Log Cabin set from The Best Of Mary Maxim's Log Cabin Plastic Canvas is adorable, and would make a great gift for a little hunter in training! The set includes little chairs for your people to lounge on and so much more. Take barbie to the next level!

If you want to start with your seasonal decor already, start with small projects from The Magic of Christmas. This adorable Reindeer tissue box is a cute way to dress up the ordinary and make it festive. Let Rudolph guard you tissue boxes with festive frolicking and Christmas fun!

Remember, these are just suggestions! you can have fun with the wheat color however you want. Be as creative as you can be! If you've tried any of these projects, tag us @leisureartsinc or use #leisurearts so we can see what's going on in your studios.

Happy Making!

-Leisure Arts Team

We hear those sleigh bells ringing, makers! The holidays are coming around faster than you think and we've got your holiday home décor covered. We recently released a collection of Holiday Diamond Art canvases, and boy are they festive!

So what is this dazzling craft of diamond painting? It sounds strange if you've never heard of it before, but the act of diamond painting is quite simple. It's like painting by number, but with diamonds! You adhere 13 faceted gems to a sticky pre-designed canvas, and voila! You have a beautiful and unique creation that has super versatile display options. Here is a diamond painting up close, featuring our Christmas Tree Kit.

These full drill beauties have 13 faceted gems covering every inch of pre-printed design, that's over 11,000 gems that completely cover every square inch of design! That's around 143,000 facets of beautiful and sparkling artwork that you can frame and customize. These kits make for perfect gifts, or would be a fun project to work on with friends and family as you watch Hallmark movies and drink hot cocoa! Here are our Holiday Diamond Art kits:

If you want to truly deck the halls with festive and fancy artwork, then what better than a Santa Claus and a christmas tree? This dashing Santa Diamond Art canvas (above) does the ol' Saint Nick justice, with beautiful burgundy and plum beads that stand out against the stark blue-black background. The Christmas Tree Diamond Art canvas (above) is full of great colors too, including AB (Aurora Borealis) coated diamonds.

If you want more religious Christmas decor, then our Angel Diamond Art canvas (above) and Nativity Scene Diamond Art canvas (above) are perfect for you. The Angel kit incorporates gold metallic gems that weave through the bright baby blue silhouette of the angel. The Nativity Scene has a unique stained glass effect like a church window, which shines with sparkly reds and yellows against the blue shimmery background.

If you want to decorate a little early this year, these canvases are just festive and fun enough to decorate with before the actual holiday timeframe. The Lantern Diamond Art canvas (above) is whimsical enough to be a beautiful fall/winter themed decoration, and it's one that you can probably keep framed and put up even after the holidays. The Star Diamond Art canvas (above) is minimalist and geometric, and doesn't overtly show that it is festive, so it's perfect to put up during Thanksgiving, and keep up all through Christmas!

You can join Dasher and Dancer in their little reindeer games when you dazzle these canvases! The Reindeer Diamond Art canvas (above) shows a beautiful white and gold silhouette of a reindeer with those signature gold metallic beads. It stands out and dazzles against the backdrop of that ombre Christmas red, making it a perfect Christmas accent for your wall. If you want a canvas that is more subtle in color, then try this Santa's Sleigh Diamond Art canvas (above). The giant full moon in the background full of AB coated diamonds is so magical in the background of the winter village. This canvas shows that you don't need a lot of color to make a bright and sparkling statement.

This canvas has sparked interest from everyone on our Diamond Art Facebook Page and Diamond Art Facebook Group lately. Everyone loves Frosty! This little snowman that could is ready to dazzle any room you put it in, with adorable little mittens and a striped scarf and hat. The background is full of variations of white and baby blue, making this canvas 12X12 inches of pure holiday magic. This Snowman Diamond Art canvas (above) is perfect all winter long.

These canvases make for perfect gifts, especially when you can frame and customize them however you want! But you can go beyond just a frame! Below, you can see some of the DIY variations we've tried out. We think that reindeer pillow is adorable.

Have you already dazzle some Holiday Diamond Art? Share your progress with us! We'd love to see what's going on in your studios. Tag @leisureartsinc or use #leisurearts so we can see what crafty things you're creating.

Happy Dazzling!

-Leisure Arts Team

You may have already heard (because it's awesome and super relaxing), but Diamond Art by Leisure Arts is a captivating and meditative craft that everyone is becoming addicted to. So what is this dazzling craft of diamond painting? It sounds strange if you've never heard of it before, but the act of diamond painting is quite simple. It's like painting by number, but with diamonds! You adhere 13 faceted gems to a sticky pre-designed canvas, and voila! You have a beautiful and unique creation that has super versatile display options. Here is a diamond painting up close, featuring our Beginner Elephant Kit.

Our NFL and Holiday collections are our most recent lines of diamond painting designs, but we think that Diamond Art goes beyond just wall art, and can be made into everyday items like handbags, phone cases, or in this post, sparkling folders! Using easy-to-follow instructions and handy tools like a comfort grip stylus and wax caddy, you can pixel paint your favorite Diamond Art design, and then customize your school supplies to the next level!

Read on for a tutorial on how to use some DIY magic to make a one of a kind personalized folder with your dazzling canvases. This is a tutorial that works with almost every kit design we've created, but in this case, we decided to go simple and sophisticated using our Beginner Elephant Kit. 

Supplies

• A Diamond Art Canvas 
• Strong Adhesive Backing (fabric glue, double-sided adhesives, etc.)
• Basic Folder (varies by type and size, but MUST have a solid surface, no fur/velvet)
• Scissors
• OPTIONAL - Extra Accessories (stickers, extra gems, etc.)

Get Started On Your Folder! 

1. Dazzle Your Diamond Art Canvas

There isn't a big learning curve in terms of starting the craft, just dip, dot, and dazzle! Diamond Art is meant to be a leisurely craft that lets you put the canvas away for later if you wanted to. Complete it in one day, or complete it one day next week, the choice is up to you!

2. Cut Out Your Dazzle Area

After you've dazzled your way to success, carefully cut out your design, and get ready to customize! Our fabric frays minimally, so you don't have to worry about mending the edges before placing the design on your folder.

3. Craft Your Folder

Get to work on placing your design onto your folder using your adhesive of choice and a steady hand. Make sure to lay out the design flat, and smooth the canvas out for air bubbles once placed. If you're worried about our beads falling off, don't be! Our adhesive keeps our beads intact with the force of a thousand dazzling suns.

4. Accessorize (Or Don't)! 

Now that your Diamond Art is placed, all that’s left are finishing touches. Make your folder one of a kind by adding extra accessories around the edges, or placing a bead here and there. Go as maximalist or as minimalist as you want! For this project, we kept it nice and minimalist. Show the world how creative you can be with your Diamond Art. Be 'extra' to your heart’s content, and then voila! It's as simple as that. This is a great and unique way to utilize your Diamond Art canvas to the fullest! You have a decorative and dazzling folder to house your homework or keep important documents in the office.

If you try your hand at this, share it to our Diamond Art Facebook Page! or Tag us @LeisureArtsInc for a special shoutout. We'd love to see what's going on in your studio.

Want more DIY Diamond Art projects? Your wish is our command! Check out our other projects here.

DIY Diamond Art Phone Case

DIY Diamond Art Welcome Sign

DIY Diamond Art Cherry Blossom Pillow

DIY Diamond Art Handbag

DIY Diamond Art Butterfly Pillow

Happy Dazzling!

-Leisure Arts Team

Happy September, makers! We're kicking off the month strong with our #SeptemberStunners Campaign, full of projects that will rock your fall season. Now that temperatures are starting to drop, it's time to start planning your next WOW project. That one-of-a-kind project that makes people ask 'how DID you do that?' is just a Leisure Arts book (or kit) away! Keep reading to find your craft category, and start your next stunning project.

Crochet

Fall is so close that you can almost smell the pumpkin spice in the air. You know what pairs perfectly with pumpkin spice lattes? Knee-high boots and an oversized sweater. These two patterns from Oversized Sweaters (above) are just some examples of the kinds of tops you can make. You can go with a simple stripe, or give free-flowing ponchos a try. Either way, these patterns are super easy to follow, even if you're just starting out in crochet!

Knit

If knitting is more your speed, then you can't go wrong with a cute cowl or comfy wrap! The Beginner's Guide To Mosaic Knitting is a great book that shows that you don't have to stick to fall colors to have a cute fall outfit. This Geometric Wrap is bright and bubbly with summer colors, but it's perfect to wrap up in on a cool fall day! If you are a big fan of fall neutrals, then Slow Fashion Fast is your best bet. This Latvian Braid Cowl is perfect for those days when you need light layers. This cowl is the perfect replacement for a light cardigan!

Craft

Punch Needle is such a stunning craft, that we couldn't pick favorite patterns for September. You can make any of the patterns from Modern Punch Needle and stun your friends and family with the textured and beautiful designs you create. Just look at that adorable throw pillow! Punch needle has been around for quite a while, but this book takes the craft to a whole new modern level.

Quilt/Sew

If you want some stunning quilted projects for the fall season, look no further! Quilted Wall Hangings is full of fun geometric designs that take quilting to the next level. This Compass of Beauty wall hanging (above) is perfect for a room that needs some pops of color. The pinks and blues perfectly compliment the gray backdrop, making this neutral enough for any style or color palette in a home. The Jelly Roll wall hanging is a great starter quilt project because there's not a lot of hand work involved, its just simple strips and blocks!

Diamond Art

Diamond Art is a great project to work on during our September Stunners campaign, because of how dazzling the final product is! We just released a bunch of collections this month, like NFL Diamond Art and Holiday Diamond Art. This Snowman from the holiday line is especially adorable. But if you don't want festive Diamond Art to dazzle this fall, there are a lot of options. We just released this Mermaid and Friends Advanced kit, and it's almost full drill! That means almost every square inch of design is covered in our 13 faceted gems. Any diamond art would be stunning in your house for the fall season (or any season), but we just wanted to shine the spotlight on these two beauties.

Perfect projects for fall, right? If you've tried some of these projects, tag us @leisureartsinc or use #leisurearts so we can see your progress! We love to see what's going on in your studios. All of these books and products are in our #SeptemberStunners Giveaway, so be sure to enter in that so you have a shot at winning all of these goodies!

Happy Stunning!

-Leisure Arts Team

Who's ready for some football, makers? The NFL season is about to begin, and we have some dazzling diamond paintings to celebrate. We just launched our NFL collection of Diamond Art , so you can show your steam spirit with 13 faceted glittering gems!

So what is this dazzling craft of diamond painting? It sounds strange if you've never heard of it before, but the act of diamond painting is quite simple. It's like painting by number, but with diamonds! You adhere 13 faceted gems to a sticky pre-designed canvas, and voila! You have a beautiful and unique creation that has super versatile display options. Here is a diamond painting up close, featuring our Vikings Helmet Kit.

Our NFL collection is our most recent line of diamond painting designs. We have 18 dazzling designs full of team spirit! Using easy-to-follow instructions and handy tools like a comfort grip stylus and wax caddy, you can pixel paint your favorite team's helmet during commercial breaks! Here are all of our NFL Designs:

This is the first match-up of the season on the NFL schedule, so why not grab these canvases to celebrate! Or even better, grab both and have dotting competitions to see who can dot the most during commercial breaks.

Click here to see the Chicago Bears Canvas

Click here to see the Green Bay Packers Canvas

Fly with the Eagles or hail to the Redskins! These colorful helmets make great wall decor with warm and cool colors.

Click here to see the Washington Redskins Canvas

Click here to see the Philadelphia Eagles Canvas

Ravens, or Vikings? Both helmets have AB coated diamonds (in other words they're extra sparkly), so you can't go wrong with either one.

Click here to see the Baltimore Ravens Canvas

Click here to see the Minnesota Vikings Canvas

Two beautiful red canvases to dazzle! With neat abstract backgrounds to boot.

Click here to see the Kansas City Chiefs Canvas

Click here to see the Cleveland Browns Canvas

Bengals and Seahawks! Two very different canvases, but both have enough team spirit to make those gems sparkle.

Click here to see the Cincinnati Bengals Canvas

Click here to see the Seattle Seahawks Canvas

Will you go marching with the Saints, or will you be chilling with the 49ers? Either way, you've got a cool diamond painting to dazzle with friends and family.

Click here to see the San Francisco 49ers Canvas

Click here to see the New Orleans Saints Canvas

Are you riding along with the Cowboys, or stomping along with the Giants? Both canvases have some rocking colors and backgrounds.

Click here to see the Dallas Cowboys Canvas

Click here to see the New York Giants Canvas

Are you made of steel, or made of American pride? Dazzle both of these sporty canvases next game.

Click here to see the Pittsburgh Steelers Canvas

Click here to see the New England Patriots Canvas

Denver or Oakland? You decide which to dazzle as you watch the games and munch on potato skins.

Click here to see the Denver Broncos Canvas

Click here to see the Oakland Raiders Canvas

Now you have the perfect gift for your favorite NFL fanatic! If you've already bought your team helmet and are gearing up for the season, or are working on another Diamond Art canvas and want to show it off, tag us @leisureartsinc or use #leisurearts so we can see! We'd love to know what's going on in your studios.

Happy Dazzling!

-Leisure Arts Team

Hello again, makers! We're coming at ya with a brand new color inspiration post. We've been finding inspiration left and right from all of the color combos on Lion Brand Yarn's Colors of the Year for 2019. Now that it's getting closer to fall (judging by number of days, not degrees), we can find some cute and easy to craft pattens and projects in our newest color Inspiration: Prism.

Here's some background behind the beautiful color via Lion Brand:

"This icy version of orchid,  is the perfect purple of our time.  Bridging the gap between delicate pastels and technicolor purple, Prism has a spiritual and calming quality. Prism is no shrinking violet: the color makes the perfect accent to any neutral."

Sounds like a calming color to me! This nice balance between vibrant and soft makes for a perfect pop in any upcoming fall wardrobe. Let's first start off by giving you some trusty yarn recommendations from our website to get you started. We went for exactly what the color says: Calming, and a mix between vibrant and pastel. This Shawl in a Ball - Metallic Lotus Blossom (below) has multiple facets to it, with a beautiful reflective fiber woven throughout the wool. So if you wanted the perfect blend in one skein, then this yarn is the right one for you! On the flip side, if you like the subtle side of Prism, then Wool Ease - Rose Heather (Below) is the perfect pastel Prism look alike.

Check out some of the patterns and projects we think would look great with this multi-toned color!

Crochet

We're starting off with a lighter version of the orchid hue, with wraps that are definite must-haves for fall. If you have a baby in your life that is in extra need of cuddles, try crocheting this soft and fluffy blanket from Cute Baby Stuff. The prism and green make for an unlikely combination, but they are a great pop of pastel against the bright white bulky yarn! The colors are more springtime, but the feel and weight of the blanket is definitely fall. You can always change the colors however you like!

If you want your own personal wrap for binge-worthy Saturdays, then this easy throw from The Ultimate Crochet Collection is the perfect starter blanket, especially if you're just getting started in crochet. With the lacy look, this is a great lightweight wrap for both the rest of the summer and the upcoming seasons. The book itself is a great resource for all beginner crocheters, so this isn't the only easy patterns perfect for fall! This pattern is just perfect for our Prism inspiration.

Knit

If crochet isn't your cup of tea (pumpkin spice tea, am I right?), then try these adorable knit patterns. Knit Cakery has a lot of great patterns in it that let the yarn do most of the work for you. All of the patterns in the book come from cakes of yarn! This Striped Shawl has both variations of the dark and light Prism hues, and they blend really well together with the bright oranges and yellows in the pattern. It makes for a great light layer that will liven up any outfit, summer or fall.

If you're looking for a cute baby project, then these adorable knit patterns from Sweet Knits are perfect. This Prism Colored Cardigan (above) makes for the perfect cover up for your little ones. The patterns are all easy, and work up quickly with our guided instructions, so these projects are great for first-time knitters.

Craft

Miniature punch needle has been around for centuries, done long ago by ancient Egyptians, and eventually traveling through to countries like France and Russia. We've put punch needle on a much grander scale, with Modern Punch Needle. It's an easy to follow craft that can be used for small accessories and large home décor pieces, and we have a good variety of projects that are perfect for beginners. These Coasters (above) are the perfect starter project for someone wanting to see what punch needle is all about.

If you want cute home décor with a little less effort, try to craft an easy textured pillow! This prism colored pillow from Textured Pillows would make a great addition to a window seat, and it only requires a little bit of hot glue and some paint strokes! The book relies on using already sewn pillows to start your project, so it takes a lot of the 'heavy lifting' out of the craft, so to speak.

Quilt/Sew

We're putting a modern twist on quilting with these geometric patterns from Modern Patchwork. This Iron Bag (above) shows a darker hue to Prism, and it makes the adorable diamond print pop, a cute and durable addition to a craft room. If you want to try a larger quilting project, however, try this Ombre Patchwork Quilt! Using a quilt as wall art beats buying generic wall art, and you can play with color as much as you want against this neutral gray background. You can use it on your bed, or on the wall! Doesn't the dark Prism color just pop out against this wall?

Diamond Art

You can make the upcoming fall season sparkle like autumn leaves with these prism colored Diamond Art kits! Our Advanced Mermaid Canvas is a new release, and our dazzling mermaid has some bright and shimmering Prism-esque hair. With her two dolphin companions at her side, this kit is great for the days you just wanna lounge at home and be creative. Diamond Art is as easy as picking up and placing 13 faceted gems, so there's no learning curve! You can have beautiful modern art pieces for your home like this Intermediate Modern Flower Canvas.

Hopefully we've given you some inspiration! Be sure to tune in over the coming months to get even more color inspiration. If you've tried any of these crafts and patterns, be sure to tag us @leisureartsinc, or use #leisurearts so we can see what's going on in your studios!

Happy Making!

-Leisure Arts Team

Do you love to #ShareYourSkills and teach others? If you do, and have a strong grasp of basic knit and crochet skills, join the thousands of knitters and crocheters who’ve already gained the knowledge and confidence to teach others through the Craft Yarn Council’s Certified Instructors Program. 

We've all thought about it at some point in our lives. We all have imagined leading a group and teaching the best of the best to some awesome people. Now, we makers have that resource! The Craft Yarn Council has this AMAZING program that lets you share your skills with aspiring crochet and knit enthusiasts. This opportunity keeps crafting alive for future generations, and gives you the opportunity to give back to your community though your trade.

The program has been around since 1982. More than 15,000 students have completed the course and gone on to teach in retail stores, adult education programs, and to share their knowledge with friends, coworkers and family. Students work with a nationally recognized Master Teacher and complete teaching hours to prove their proficiency.

The Certified Instructors Program equips people with the tools to share their passion for knit and crochet with others and to “stitch it forward”. The program offers many benefits to students, including increased confidence in their crochet or knitting skills and the ability to convey these skills to others. Students also gain exclusive access to the closed CIP Student and Graduate Facebook page, where they can collaborate with other CIP students and graduates. 

Check out CYC’s interviews with two of the program’s Master Teachers - individuals with wide-ranging knowledge of their craft and extensive experience teaching others. Master Teachers evaluate students’ work and help them along the way to certification. You can catch Karen Klemp’s interview here and Edie Eckman’s interview here. 

Here are some fast facts about the program:

• It’s offered via correspondence and occasionally as an on-site course
• The correspondence course is divided into Level I and Level II
• Students have six months to complete each level of the correspondence program and one year to complete 15 student teaching hours per level
• For the on-site course, there are 15 hours of class time held over a series of days at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and the curriculum covers both levels 

Ready to start? Visit the Craft Yarn Council website for more information and to apply for the program. 

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Sounds pretty amazing, right? Be sure to check out this program, and share it with others who would love to share their favorite past times onto the next generation of rocking crafters.

Have you been participating in #ShareYourSkills? Be sure to tag us @leisureartsinc or use #LeisureArts or #ShareYourSkills so we can see what's going on in your studios!

Happy Teaching!

-Leisure Arts Team

Sharing is caring, makers. This month, we're celebrating #ShareYourSkills in the spirit of going back to school. Whether you're just starting high school, making the trek to college, or wandering through life looking for the next thing to learn, this month is all about sharing what you know, and learning about what you want to know.

We Share: Skills You can Learn

We'll kick off the blog with crafts that we want to share with you. Use this month as an opportunity to not just pass on a skill to someone you care about, but to learn a new skill for yourself!

If you've always wanted to knit, and don't know where to start, try The Complete Knit Collection. This is a recent release from Marly Bird, filled with a wide range of projects to work on. From Simple Fingerless Gloves, to Knit Journal Covers (above), you can learn the basics and knit luxury accessories all from the patterns inside this book! The book is designed to start with beginner projects, and slowly progress into harder patterns as you read. So when you reach pro-crafter status, you have patterns to try and challenge you as you get more comfortable with knitting.

If Knitting isn't your speed, and you'd prefer to learn a skill with just one hook and some patience, try crochet! The Ultimate Crochet Collection is another Marly Bird release that has a slew of projects that are cute and functional! Start with Small Scrubbies (above) as a starter project, or one of the many other beginner patterns, and work your way up as you get more comfortable with crochet! The book is structured the same way as The Complete Knit Collection, set up as the perfect intro into this addicting craft.

You Share: Share Your Skills With Others

One of the best ways to give back this month is to teach a skill to someone else! If you already know how to knit and crochet, why not pass those talents on? We found some patterns that are easy to teach, and would make perfect projects for the upcoming seasons.

You can start teaching others how to knit like you with the simple and easy projects from Cool Stuff - Teach Me To Knit. This rippled and multicolored knit afghan is a perfect project to start on this month of beginners, because fall is just around the corner, and who doesn't need a little throw for the couch? You can even create a complimentary pillow like the one above!

The same rules apply for this crochet ripple afghan from Cool Stuff - Teach Me To Crochet. Mix and match colors to your liking, and even mess with the size of the afghan! You can help someone learn to customize and create cozy necessities with the help of cool pattern books like these.

Speaking of #ShareYourSkills, the Craft Yarn Council is hosting their Certified Instructor's Program again, starting August 12th and running all the way through September. So if you are passionate about passing on your skills and teaching larger groups of people, check the program out! You'll be seeing a lot more posts from us on this subject, maybe even sooner than you think (wink, wink).

We All Share: Share Your Skills With Gifts

If you're not the teaching type, but still want to #ShareYourSkills, try gifting something homemade! Nothing says that you care about someone more than a homemade trinket or home décor item.

Textured Pillows is a good craft to learn if you want to work with yarn, but don't want to knit or crochet. Plus, how adorable would these pillows be as gifts? With hot glue and a little creative flair, you can create fun and fresh accents for that loveseat that needs a little extra TLC. There are even patterns with fabric that don't require stitching! You can start out minimalist, or go in with a splash of color, the choice is your! All patterns are super easy to learn and follow along to.

If you're feeling something a little more rustic, try Modern Woodburning for a change! Woodburning is super versatile and has limitless customization options, so this is a great book to get you started. Start off with small projects like these Succulent Coasters, and then work your way up to the more advanced projects in the book. You'll find that it's just as simple as putting a drawing pen to paper. It's just 1,000 Degrees hotter and more inventive!

Do you plan to #ShareYourSkills this month? We'd love to see! tag us @leisureartsinc or use #leisurearts to show us what's going on in your studios.

Happy Sharing!

-Leisure Arts Team

Hello Again, Makers, and Happy National Coloring Book Day! Today, show off your best and brightest colors and whip out those coloring pages! We're here to give you some inspiration in many different hues. All weekend Long, we're going to have a special National Coloring Day Sale and give you guys 35% off books, and 20% off instruments. In the meantime, let's show some coloring love with loads of inspiration!

Adult Coloring has been linked to multiple health benefits, because when you get into the craft, you become so relaxed, and fall into a beautiful meditative state. Anytime you need a break from the everyday struggles of life, pick up a coloring book and doodle away. We have a great blog post on The Wellness Benefits of Coloring, if you want more details. In fact, these projects above, like the Customized Gift Bag and Pencil holder are featured in that blog. Designer Cindy DeRosier, owner of My Creative Life, created these from simple coloring sheets. So creative!

You can even take the beautiful colored pages you created and turn them into something beautiful, like this seasonal paper pumpkin made from the pages of Jungle Wonders (left)! You can get romantic with a woven paper heart basket made from the pages of Art of Coloring - Patterns (left). It's amazing what you can create with just a simple sheet of paper.

You can get creative with coloring using all sorts of blending and layering techniques. You can create anything with the right instrument! We have a wide array of Coloring Instruments that you can play with, from Dual Tip Markers to Gel Pens. We have a great blog post on the combined effects of using both the Premium Colored Pencils and the Watercolor Pencils on our Bountiful Wonders Coloring Book, if you wanna see more colorful hues like the picture above.

Full Coloring Pages - #NationalColoringBookDay Inspiration

This part of the blog is really just to give a spotlight to some awesome coloring. Check these beauties out!

Have you dabbled in some coloring lately? Tag us @leisureartsinc, or use #LeisureArts so we can see what's going on in your studios! We'd love to see what color your artistic personality is.

Happy Coloring!

-Leisure Arts Team