Get The TechniqueSince starting this blog, our objective has always been to bring as much new and inspiring content to the table. One way to keep things fresh has been to update our header on a regular basis.
By putting different techniques to work our header has gone through many transformations:
1 stencilled (the original blog header)
2 dipped
3 egg-dyed
4 glittered
5 jack-o-lantern leaves
6 paper pumpkins
7 Americana
8 beach-inspired
9 embroidered (running stitch)
10 tassels
11 summer prints
12 embroidered (backstitch)
So now it has become a point of conversation. After discussing our favourites, we narrowed it down to a top 5. Which one do you like best?
Loading ...More importantly, do you have any suggestions for future headers?
From: Monica | 10/14/10 at 7:36 am
I suggest just mixing them up! A different one for each holiday or season.
From: Lindsay | 10/14/10 at 7:41 am
I also really like "glittered", "embroidered (running stitch)" and "egg-dyed". I have no idea why "summer prints" ended up in the top 5. It's the worse design out of all of them. The words are hard to read, the edge is cluttered... it really should be removed from the top 5.
From: A Patel | 10/14/10 at 8:12 am
Finally! I've been waiting for this retrospective, are the how to's far behind?
beachy is my all time favorite. Now I'm drawing a blank on banner ideas, but it is a fav feature of mine to see what y'all have come up with next!
From: Mary Tomi | 10/14/10 at 10:13 am
I would like to see something made from polymer clay (beads or shapes) for the banner. Or something floral.
From: Anne | 10/14/10 at 10:20 am
It might be a good idea for a contest/giveaway. Have your readers submit "the crafts dept" headers and you select the best one to feature on your blog.
From: Jennifer | 10/14/10 at 10:36 am
I liked the glitter one
From: Jan Knapp | 10/14/10 at 12:05 pm
I like the stitched ones as well. How about stamped or wood carved? Or maybe appliqued and quilted? Or, for Christmas, a sequined or beaded design? What a fun job you have!
From: Grace Hester Designs | 10/14/10 at 12:56 pm
Sooooo difficult to pick one - they were all so beautiful and creative.
For other ideas, maybe banners made showcasing paper twilling, letterpressing(hard to show it I know but neat if done!), scrapbooking(similar to the glitter one but with all sorts of MS goodies), and leather-cut letters?
From: Kim | 10/14/10 at 1:15 pm
Why not rotate them on a seasonal basis?
And I agree with Lindsay that "summer prints" is extrememly hard on the eyes.
I really liked the "Glittered" and "embroidered (running stitch)" designs...
From: tinnytin | 10/14/10 at 2:24 pm
paper pumpkins has always been my favorite..love that cute little floating face!
From: Tiffany Sun | 10/14/10 at 5:10 pm
We had a blog header contest for our readers last year - check out the winners! http://thecraftsdept.marthastewart.com/2009/06/blog-header-winners.html
From: Lola | 10/14/10 at 8:14 pm
I love "tassels"!
From: Doris | 10/15/10 at 12:57 am
I liked the tasseled one and the embroidered running stitch, but they weren't in the top 5!
I'd love to see one done in applique!
From: Lorraine Slater | 10/15/10 at 1:24 am
They are all great and oh look, there are 12, great for one each month. After the year is over I'll bet there will be more clever choices for the future. One each month please.
From: Faith from OrdinaryMommy | 10/17/10 at 3:01 pm
I'm also a big fan of the embroidered (running stitch) banner! I love how creative and unique each banner is. How fun would it be to design one with spools of thread incorporated?
From: kristy {the purple pug} | 10/17/10 at 8:26 pm
I loved the glittered one:)
I think handmade yarn pom poms would be fab..Maybe a fabric bunting design. And def one that features tons of ribbon in the design.
From: Meredith | 10/18/10 at 2:07 pm
My suggestion is to do a banner in paper cut-out and use some of Martha's punch outs to accent.
From: Lydia Fiedler | 10/18/10 at 9:29 pm
I'm curious about why you didn't use the headers from your header contest last year. (I was a winner
)
From: Tiffany Sun | 10/19/10 at 10:30 am
Hi Lydia - we used the winning headers for a week or two last year. we're sorry you missed seeing yours up on the blog!