All right, crafty kids, the arts-and-crafts-show hiatus that always happens after the holiday rush is officially over! There's a whole mess of spring shows coming up that are perfect for exhibiting your creative endeavors!

If you're dreaming big, apply to display your stuff at one of the biggest arts/crafts/design shows in SoCal and get your materials in to Unique LA. The spring show takes place Mother's Day weekend this year (May 7-8) and always draws quite a crowd. And hurry! Applications are due by midnight on March 4.

Photo from Unique LA website

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After the jump, details on more spring shows looking for crafty vendors.

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Photo from Photojojo website

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Planning a wedding in the current economy can be a rough one. You want your event to be nice, classy even, but you don't want to break the bank. The best way to save a wad of cash? Enter the DIY dragon. But beware, and choose your do-it-yourself adventures wisely. You don't want your alcoholic cousin Cletus handling the wedding photography when his only experience with a camera is getting a mug shot snapped after his last run-in with Johnny Law.

Thankfully, Paper Source has you covered when it comes to creating your own invites! They've just released their 2011 Wedding Invitation Collection, and the fully customizable cards are sure to add a touch of class to your upcoming nuptials.

After the jump, learn more about how to make your own invitations and how to attend Paper Source's 10th Annual Paper Wedding Event taking place this weekend.

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​In a town where affluence is a synonym, Swellegant Vintage Store on Newport Boulevard in Newport Beach might look rather misplaced--yet completely appropriate.

Nicole Bernstein developed a liking for vintage clothes while in high school and even paid her college tuition reselling pieces to other stores. The 36-year-old opened the shop 14 years ago as a hobby. She saw the lack of vintage stores in Orange County as a gap that needed to be filled. "People are a little bit more fashion-conscious and whatnot in this area. . . . Obviously, Newport needed me," said Bernstein with a toying laugh.
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Image from Craftzine.com

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Valentine's Day is fast approaching, but there's still time to make something cute for that special someone. Taking the time to make something unique can really show your guy or gal you care. Or, if it turns out badly, that you have a stellar sense of humor. So crack your knuckles and warm up that mouse-clicking finger, and then check out these great sites for inspiring ideas for special gifts you can make before V-day.

Click on over to Craft Magazine's website for a slew of great ideas, including a tutorial on how to create one-of-a-kind thumbprint art for you and your sweetie.More >>

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With Valentine's Day fast approaching, there's no better time to get yourself signed up for a craft class so you can make something special for your loved ones. Scratching your head over what you and your beloved can do to celebrate the holiday? Consider buying a spot for each of you in a class you can take together! Write a sweet note in a card revealing the skill you'll be learning together, and POW! You've got a handmade Valentine's Day done right!

And now, without further ado, a roundup of crafty class listings from all over Orange and Los Angeles counties.

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​A couple of months ago, I opened my front door to a huge box of amazingness from the folks at Xyron. They wanted me to try out the Creatopia machine, see what I thought about it and, more important, see what I could do with it.

After the jump: What is this Creatopia thing, and what can you do with it?

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One of my best friends is a microbiologist, and with that comes a special love for all science-themed crafts. So when I saw a link to the Scientific Culture shop on Etsy, it was love at first smarty-pants sight.

Lab Ware art post cards by Scientific Culture

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After the jump, get your science on.

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Image from Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark's Pie Bird Design blog

​Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark of online yarn shop Kitchen Sink Dyeworks had a stroke of crafty-community brilliance at the start of this year. As a way of bringing together crafty friends both near and far, she's starting an online film club so participants can virtually get together to watch films, make crafts and participate in lively discussions.

After the jump, more about the club and how to get involved.

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I got a message via Facebook over Christmas asking for crafty advice, and I thought I'd share my thoughts! Anne Kuo Lukito of Crafty Diversions writes:

"I'm looking for a good paper cutter, but I can't afford a $300 commercial one. I've tried one of the fancier Fiskars rotary ones and am not impressed by the combo of the quality and its price. Do you have any recommendations?"

A very-nice-lookin' Fiskars rotary cutter. Image from the Craft Critque website

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After the jump, let's cut (paper) to the chase.

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