Crafty Bloggers Update

Here's what some of my favorite crafty bloggers have been up to this week:

• About.com Family Crafts
  What are your cleaning tips for crafting with kids? Please take a moment to share your tips and then browse through tips shared by others.
• Aileen's Musings
  Hard as it was, Aileen has narrowed down the playing field and needs your help again to choose from her favorite sayings that have been posted for her blog giveway! Stop by and pick your favorite.
• Cathie Filian
  If you are wondering what to eat, craft and play on the 4th of July then head over to Cathie's blog for ideas.
• Craftside
  This week at Craftside you can watch the latest Look, Learn & Create video that includes tips on drawing, two techniques and projects for cutting photos up, a bit of fabric eye candy, and a free paper stencil and project from the new book The Art of Decorative Paper Stencils 2 and if you leave answers to the day's questions you are entered to win free books.
• Crafty Princess Diaries
  Tammy uses her jewelry making skills to create some beautiful and functional stitch markers.
• CraftyPod
  Sister Diane reviews an intriguing new book: Micro Macrame, by Annika DeGroot.
• Mixed Media Artist
  Have you been wondering what happened to "Layers Upon Layers"? Cyndi's still hard at work, but has moved to "Mixed Media Artist". This week she's got a a round-up of fabric painting ideas for you.
• Naughty Secretary Club
  Arty Masterpieces are overrated, it's all about the Glittery Crafterpieces! Take a peek at the handmade art around my house and try your hand at making a fun glittery deer picture.
• Sweater Surgery
  See how to make a card and card album themed for a rock and roll mom to be that uses cute die cuts in a cool way.
• The Artful Crafter
  “Panadieres for Zambia” is a neat story and one small example of crafters helping crafters – all around the world. As Eileen likes to say, “Crafters are just the nicest people.”
• The Crochet Dude
  Read Drew's first installment supporting the 3/50 grassroots project.
• The Impatient Crafter
  Madge shares a technique in this post about embossing on slick surfaces.
• Vickie Howell
  Keep your kids busy this summer by setting up a Crafty Challenge for them.

Follow me, @crossstitcher, on Twitter to find out what's going on at About.com Cross Stitch.