Tag Archives: colorado

Craft Ninjas vs. Seed Bombs (and Garden Markers)!

Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times

Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times

May is the perfect month to do some guerrilla seed bombing! Maybe in your own yard…maybe in the abandoned lot in your neighborhood that’s screaming for some greenery and color!
And we’re here to help you transform your neighborhood into a lovely place for the summer!

Our project this month is to hand roll seed bombs and make some cute little garden markers!

We’ll provide the materials and you be ready to get your hands dirty!
May 19th, 2013 – 1-5 PM at Three Kings Tavern
$23 bucks covers materials (dirt, seeds), containers, gloves, etc. – you’ll walk away with enough seed bombs to go crazy AND with the know how to make them yourselves at home!
Grab your spot via the link here!

Please don’t forget – it’s always better when you bring a little extra dough for a cocktail or two and some snacks to share with your fellow Ninjas!

Can’t wait to see you, Ninjas!

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Denver Craft Ninjas/Kunoichi Craft Events Embroidery Residency!

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We’re still in shock about the response to our Embroidery Residency!
When we were planning this event, it seemed like a long shot, but we managed to pack Mutiny Information Cafe with lots of faces eager to learn embroidery.
Each week we included some practical information about tools, fabric, floss and instruction about specific stitches that will get any budding embroiderer on the road to being an official stitcher!
We’re proud to say that everyone walked away with skills and ambitious plans to keep their embroidery practice going.
Couldn’t ask for a better end to our embroidery adventure!

The pictures above reflect the fun we had too! Lots of laughs, funny stories about ghosts, Burger King tacos, and embroidery euphemisms galore! Every Ninja had their own take on their style of embroidery and tackled their projects with the stitches they loved. Some even drew up their very own patterns – some of them not as safe for work as others. Pretty typical Ninja event!

We couldn’t do it without Mutiny Information Cafe! Jim and Matt shared their space with us and proved (once again) their investment in the Baker neighborhood and the Denver community. Thanks to them!

We’re already cooking up a new plan for more workshops! Is there something you’ve been wanting to try? Shoot us an email or leave a comment about projects you’d like to explore!

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Denver Craft Ninjas vs. IKEA!

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When IKEA asks you to partner with them on a project…you jump on it! It’s IKEA, you guys! Known for modern design and being eco-conscious, IKEA is a brand that inspires innovation and supports the DIY ethic – match made in heaven!

The theme for the event was Reduce, Reuse, Recraft – especially appropriate for Earth Month! Our plan was to use the excess of cardboard that IKEA goes through on a daily basis and repurpose it into usable items.

When we arrived, the space was already set for crafting! Thanks to Annie and her team at IKEA, they had done a great amount of work to make the event run smoothly and helped to provide all the materials we would need.
Annie and I had worked out a couple of projects that we would be sharing with attendees – varying degrees of difficulty and incorporating IKEA products. Before we knew it, folks started arriving and projects started happening.

The most popular of the projects was the cardboard lampshade. Using pre-cut circles, attendees were able to create and embellish their own lampshades and got freebie lighting rigs and IKEA’s LED lightbulbs to use with their lampshade. Brilliant!
We also had a few adventurous folks try the taxidermy deer head and some antlers (note: they were all Denver Craft Ninjas!!)

And speaking of Denver Craft Ninjas, we had a great showing of familiar faces. But even better, we met tons of new people!
The turn out at this event was diverse and interesting and we were excited to see so many different kinds of people crafting together!

If you missed this event, please contact us about directions for these projects! We’d love to share with you!
Thanks SO much to IKEA and Annie for allowing us to be a part of this great event!

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Filed under Craftin' Around Town, Craftin' for a Cause

Craftcation Recap & Giveaway!

Craftcation Goodies!

Craftcation Goodies!

If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or follow my Instagram feed, you probably know that I was recently in Ventura, CA for Craftcation!

Craftcation is 4 days of craft immersion! There is a lovely balance of craft business lectures and actual crafts.

And the best part of the experience is to grow your craft community by connecting with makers that share an investment in growing their craft business and encouraging the pursuit of craftiness.
Obviously, it was a perfect fit.

I had the opportunity to take courses that untangled the treacherous waters of SEO and also got to make soap!
I learned about how you can combine your blog and your crafty endeavors to create an online presence that helps you build your community. And I had the very fine opportunity to cook with KCRW’s host of Good Food, Evan Kleiman.

It’s important to explore beyond your community and learn about other people on the same adventure as you! Craftcation is a great way to do that!
AND THE OCEAN, YOU GUYS! The whole event is right next to the beach and just sipping a margarita next to that view will set a person at ease no matter what.

I want to share some of the amazing swag that I managed to get my hands on!

From the image above, you can see I got some good stuff and I want to share it with you! Here’s a run down of what is in this Ninja swag bag:

  • Denver Craft Ninjas Tote Bag
  • Three Pack Washi Tape
  • Kollabora Tape Measure and $10 off coupon in the Kollabora store
  • Tulip Multi-Surface Peacock Feather Stencil
  • She’s Crafttyyyy bobby pin with crochet flower
  • Unique Wooden Button
  • Stash Candy Quilt Pattern from The Quilter’s Studio
  • Bernina Seam Ripper
  • Three Pack of Simply Spray Soft Fabric Paint
  • 1 Free Month of Creativebug
  • 1 Large Wedge of Handmade Coconut Soap (I made it at Craftcation) and a Wooden Soap Dish

Now, the way to win this little goodie is to leave a message in the comments about what you would want to learn if you went to Craftcation or had the chance to attend a craft conference! We’ll pick one lucky winner!
Deadline is April 3rd!
Congrats to Jolea who was randomly picked and won the Craftcation Swag Bag Giveaway!

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Denver Craft Ninjas vs. IKEA!

Yep, you read that right!
We’re tangling with IKEA for our April project and only the strong will survive!

Craft Ninjas vs. IKEA

We’ve teamed up with IKEA for a super fun project that will make use of all the excess cardboard that they’ve got lying around. We’re calling it Reduce, Reuse, Re-Craft!

Join us on April 14th, 2013 at IKEA from 1-4 PM.
But Ninjas, here’s the catch! – we only have 10 spots saved for this event!!
For those of you Quick Draw McGraws – go to this link to sign up for one of our spots!

IKEA will be posting their Family email on April 1st where they will offer 25 more spots! GRAB THEM IF YOU CAN! 

THIS EVENT IS FREE!
That means you get to chill in IKEA, learn how to recycle cardboard in a crafty way, and hang out with the coolest craft group in Denver!

Hurry, hurry! Don’t miss it!

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Filed under Craftin' Around Town, Monthly Project

Embroidery Residency!


Our friends at 3 Kings are the best! They always take good care of us and for that we are forever grateful.
Jim Norris is always amenable to our variety of schemes and he’s just an all around good dude that loves Denver and the South Broadway neighborhood. It’s my hood too…so, that makes it that much more awesome to work with him.
So, when Jim and his partners took over the Mutiny Information Cafe and was open to the Denver Craft Ninjas taking over for an embroidery residency, well,  we were thrilled to death!

So, we’re doing it! Learn the basics of embroidery with Denver Craft Ninjas!

We’ll intro and discuss tools for embroidery, teach 8 embroidery stitches (including the French Knot) and demonstrate methods for pattern-making, special tips, decorative techniques, and more.

We’ll begin with the basics and provide everyone with a doodle cloth for practice and then move on to stitching a tea towel!

Skills taught in class:

  • Basics of hand embroidery and tools used
  • Types of floss & threads /organizing floss/separating floss
  • Eight embroidery stitches
  • Pattern transferring

Supplies included in class fee:

Embroidery hoop, Doodle Fabric, Embroidery Floss, Embroidery Patterns, Needles, & Tea Towel

There are a couple of ways you can get involved!
First,  you can join us for all four of the classes:
The price is $40 for all 4 classes at 7 PM every Wednesday in the month of April. Click here to register!
Second, you can come to individual classes! For $12, you’ll get that class’ individual benefits and we’ll make sure you get all the the materials too! Click the individual dates to register - Wednesday the 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th

Stitchers are welcome – all levels of ability! (However, we do ask that any kiddos that come are at least 10 years old) Come sit a spell with us and stitch with us over coffee!

And thanks tons to Mutiny Information Cafe for sharing their cool space with us! See you soon!

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Craft Ninjas vs. Hand Printed Tea Towels

Weather can throw a wrench in any good plan! Sadly, we had to cancel our first date for this great project.
So many people had signed up and were ready to stamp their hearts out. One Ninja was excited to come before her baby was born and we were excited to see her! (Leslie was born on March 7th – Congrats Rachel!)
Alas, a really good snow storm came in and, with safety in mind, we cancelled our February project and made it our March project.

But you can’t keep Denver Craft Ninjas down! We waited it out and invited more Ninjas to jump in and we made up for our missed date with some serious crafty work!

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This project is so easy to crank out! And there’s lots of room for you to flex your creative muscle and try a variety of techniques in creating your own stamps.
The materials are so darn easy too! Grab some craft foam, spray adhesive, cardboard, fabric paint, and some fabric and get busy! Share your pictures with us if you do try this project – we’d love to see what you’re up to.

As usual, we couldn’t do what we do without Jim and 3 Kings Tavern! It’s a great place that supports its community on Broadway. We’re tickled pink to be a part of it all!

We want to mention how psyched we are to have our super-intern Amber back in Denver! Expect to see more of her hanging out with us!

Now, seriously…keep your eyes peeled for our April project. It’s going to be unprecedented and we’re crazy excited to share it with you! STAY TUNED!

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Denver Craft Ninjas vs. Craftsy


We were really excited when our Ninja pal and Craftsy employee, Katie Puza, asked to interview our Ninja-in-Chief, Becky Hensley, about Craft Ninjas!

Craftsy is an the hub of online craft classes taught by awesome instructors! They do a little bit of everything too – sewing, knitting, and even some cake decorating! It’s a great place to build up your repertoire of crafty skills.

It’s exciting to be recognized by Craftsy for our little craft corner in Denver!
Check out the interview here!

Thank you Craftsy and Katie!

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RESCHEDULED – Hand Printed Tea Towels!

RESCHEDULED!

As much as we love the snow…the snow storm on February 24th put the kibosh on our Ninja fun!
So, we’ve set a new date and, although short notice, we’d still love to have you!

Join us on March 10th – from 1-5 PM at Three Kings Tavern for some serious hand printing of your own designs!

This project is $20! And we ask that you pre-register for the event via this link so that we can have all the materials ready for you.

We’ll provide three white tea towels, craft foam to create your very own stamps, and fabric paint. You can go wild decorating and when you’re done, you can take home your pieces and use them or share them as gifts (because they make perfect gifts)!

Hope to see you next Sunday!

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National Craft Month

Yep! It’s that time of year again! March is National Craft Month!

And we’re so darn thrilled to have our month jam packed with all kinds of crafty goodness!

We’d love to know how you’ll be celebrating! Please share, in the comments, what you’ll be working on in March. Let’s talk materials, patterns, projects, and what is inspiring you!

We’ll be working on projects throughout the month and sharing them with you! We’ll provide you with directions, lists of materials, and hopefully we can create together!

Also, our Ninja-in-Chief is headed to Craftcation this month! She’ll be sharing her adventures with us! With great indie business classes and DIY projects, it’ll be worth paying attention!
She’ll be using Twitter and Facebook to share all the best that Craftcation has to offer.

 

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Filed under Craftin' Around Town, Staying Creative