Metal crafts, whether they are stamped, sculpted, punched or embossed, are growing in popularity.

Pink - a favorite in the fashion world this season - is overflowing into the realm of home decor crafting. Other cheerful, bright colors are apt to follow.

Also in home design, "shabby chic," replete with peeling paint and an "antiquey" feel is being replaced with a more modern look that is clean and finished. Warmer tones with color and texture are very popular.

Needlecrafts, crocheting and knitting are still growing by leaps and bounds thanks to the extra exposure offered by celebrity endorsements. Plus, it's not just about baby blankets and scarves -- these handcrafted designs are also moving into home decor. Similarly, quilting has become more of an art form than a craft. Quilts are adorning walls, and the trend has also been carried over into papercrafting, where "quilted" looks are hot.

"Mixed m e d i a collage" h a v e become buzzwords in the world of crafting. These terms blur the lines between fine fine art and crafting and are fueled by scrapbooking, paper-crafting and other ideas about adding embellishments to art.

In a similar vein, embellishments in general - most notably beading - are current everywhere, from fashion to home decorating.

For those who dabble in sewing and fashion design, the preppy look is back, giving a nod to simple motifs, embroidery and monograms. And for patterns, stripe and polka dots are quite popular, while modern graphic prints are being joined with romantic and nostalgic prints to give them a modern flair.