He crochets portraits!

Patrick's shot - it had an oyster at the bottom!

I trampled over crowds to meet Matt & Sheri from HGTV!

They said they check out my craftychica.com site!

Traci's boots! @trecidesigns

Protective plastic covering for her favorite boots - lots of paint in
the area here...

Just finished crafty storytellers!

Tie dye riot! The people have taken over!!!!

Glitter hour!

Tie-dye action! @ilovetocreate

Traci Bautista and her apron! @trecidesigns

Mantastic crafting ready to rock!

Our craft celeb panel from yesterday

Terri Ouellette, moi, Vickie Howell, Donna Dewberry, Carol Duvall. One
of the best experiences ever!

Maya makes her first decoupage bracelet

Eating dessert while a lady dances with candles on her head.

Tableside fun at Tu Tu Tango!

Dining out at Tutu Tango!

@vickiehowell and baby Clover!

Tie dye shoes by @iLoveToCreate

Wendy Jo from Fiskars!

Chica & Jo! @chicaandjo

Dos Rebecas from Tres Rebecas

Carol Duvall came by too!

Faythe Levine in the Crafty Chica shadowbox!

Elena from Scrapbook Royalty!

Interactive Shadow Box

Remember last month when I was in Fresno working on a top secret project?

Well, now I can reveal it!

It is an interactive shadow box! We made it for our booth at CHA. I'll post completed pictures after it is fully assembled, but inth emean time here are progress pictures, as well as a mini-video.

Special thanks to my iLoveToCreate co-workers, Sam, Alexa, Pattie and Mandy for helping me bring this idea to life. Special thanks with sprinkles on top to my boss, Alyson, for giving us permission to do it in the first place!


(Sorry for the heavy breathing...)

LINK

If you are at CHA, come pop your head in and snap a picture!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

My itinerary for this week!

I'm going to be a very busy chica over the next week, if you are attending CHA, come drop by and say hi!

Every day (Tuesday-Saturday): I'll be in the iLoveToCreate, a Duncan Enterprises Company booth - with a very special guest (Maya!) to show how to make a super fab, glittery project!

Tuesday, July 28

- FOX NEWS SEGMENT (Orlando area): 6-8 a.m. I'll be demoing ways to upcycle and recycle while making cool crafty ideas at the same time!

*

5:30-7 p.m. General Session & CHA Awards Ceremony The Future of Crafts: Our Changing Face Business Seminar S110

Panelists: Kathy Cano-Murillo, Donna Dewberry, Carol Duvall, Vickie Howell, Terri Ouellette Room W307 Who Should Attend: All Members; Price: Requires Seminar Pass 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM – Awards Ceremony; 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – General Session Celebrity Panel; The face of crafting changes, the aesthetic of crafts evolves, and the participation in crafting broadens daily, before our eyes. But what doesn’t change is the opportunity to connect with each customer by appealing to them through the mediums they care about most. Do you know the psychology behind motivating your customers to craft? In this current economic climate, it’s even more important than ever to understand your customer and the role crafting plays in their quality of life. Join this session to hear from iconic voices of the industry as they share their perspective on industry drivers and how to spark incremental sales for your business, you’ll learn: • Why people craft • Which craft segments are growing • What trends are up and coming • How crafters have changed, and what remains constant Join this timely discussion to discover ways to reinvent your customer experience!

Wednesday, July 29

Designers: How to Build a Dynamic Web Presence Business Seminar S114

Room W303B Who Should Attend: Designers; Price: Requires Seminar Pass Kathy Cano-Murillo, author, artist, product developer and founder of the award-winning web site CraftyChica.com, will lead this one-hour session about what it takes for a designer to launch and maintain a successful site. CraftyChica.com receives more than 2 million hits a month (50,000 - 60,000 unique visitors), and has a combined subscriber list of 20,000+. Learn from this success the techniques and applications an experienced designer can use to stand out from the crowd. Kathy will share her experiences from launching her site to expanding it to what it is now, including: • Easy, cost-affordable platforms and services to build a site • Devising a mission statement and tone for your brand • What kind of content and topics to include • Incorporating blogs, video, Twitter feeds and photo streams • Tips on sizing and storing photos • Overview of layouts, ads, special features • Budgeting time to keep up your site • Cross promoting with other sites such as Facebook and MySpace • Explantion of hits vs. unique visitors Plus…all attendees will receive take-away guidelines to web-building resources.

Friday and Saturday

I'll be on the juding panel for this!

Join Marisa Pawelko - indie-crafter extraordinaire - twice a day as she hosts America's Next Top Crafter - a fast paced, high-energy crafting competition where selected CHA Craft SuperShow attendees face off to show their creativity, ingenuity, and crafting skills. Marisa will randomly select audience members to compete in front of a panel of judges for exciting prizes and the title of America’s Next Top Crafter. Come to the CHA Craft SuperShow Friday, July 31st and Saturday, August 1st and get ready to craft your way to the top.

Stick around for the fun and you might be chosen next!

Booth #1801
Friday, July 31st - 11:30am & 3:30pm
Saturday, August 1st - 11:30am & 3:30pm

*

Michaels, 1-2 pm BOOTH 1915

I'll be demoing with Jo Pearson on the Michaels stage. I'm way nervous, she is so good, I hope I don't mess up and I hope my projects are worthy!

*

CRAFTY CAFE 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Crafty Storytellers: Inspiring, Comical & Entertaining Tales as told by full-time Craftaholics!
I'll be reading two essays each day about life as a full-time crafter.
Sit down, relax and be ready to laugh as popular crafty bloggers share their stories
about living life as a professional artist. From hilarious craftastrophes to family
memories to the quest for the golden glue gun - they've lived it and are now sharing
the details!

*

Don't forget to visit Patrick in the Mantastic Craft booth on Friday and Saturday!

You won't want to miss this area geared towards guys. Patrick Murillo, Mark Montano and Tandy Leather Factory will be guiding you through some free mantastic hands-on make-n-takes for and inspired by men! You'll have the opportunity to test drive and win a Brother Sewing Machine, a Deluxe Leathercraft Kit from Tandy Leather Factory and books from Sterling Publishing. Booth #2215 - Open Friday and Saturday from 10 am - Noon and 2 pm - 5 pm.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

This week...

I will be away from my crafty headquarters because I'll be in Orlando, FL at the summer CHA Show!



Even better - if you live in the Orlando area, two days of the show are open to consumers!


LINK

Here is more from Rob and Corrine from Threadbanger about last winter's show!


LINK

I'm not loading new projects this week because I'll be reporting directly from the show. Check back everyday for photos, notes, ideas and more!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

I like this sign :-)

Currently reading: Twenties Girl, by Sophie Kinsella

I'm a big fan of Sophie Kinsella novels. They are always hilarious, heartwarming and end with a great message. I'm a major sucker for happy endings and Kinsella knows how to deliver.

I've been waiting months for her latest title, Twenties Girl ($26. The Dial Press, 448 pages, hardcover), to be released. I couldn't decide whether to buy the hardback or the iPhone Kindle version. Up until Monday night, I wanted the hardback. Sophie's books are special, I wanted to stare at the cover and read the jacket flaps over and over. But then Tuesday rolled around and I bought the e-book on a whim. I have to admit, I like that no matter where I go, I always have a chance to read if I want. Last night at the hairdresser, I pulled out my iPhone while sitting under the heat lamps and read a couple chapters. If I had bought the actual book, chances are I would have left it at home.

Anyway! I'm on Chapter 4 and digging it. A lot. It's about a young woman, Lara, who reluctantly attends her Aunt Sophie's funeral (who died at 105). Halfway through the service, a much younger Aunt Sophie appears to Lara as a ghost and makes her stall the whole shebang right then and there. Lara doesn't know what to do, so she blurts out that she thinks Aunt Sophie has been murdered. Lara's family already thinks their daughter is a bit loca, and this situation doesn't help.

Aside from the plot and the comedy (and the ghost!), I'm intrigued by Sophie's mysterious necklace that she is in search of. I know something will come of it, but in the meantime, I think I want to make it! It's long, down to your belly, and is made from double strands of yellow pearls with green rhinestones in between each bead. It has a huge sparkly dragonfly pendant hanging from it.

I want to make this necklace! But first I think I'll finish the book!

What books are you reading this summer? Please share!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Tin-trimmed Cards

Tin art has been around for ages. Everything from recycled cans to foil has been used in some craft form at one time.

But these days, the term is "metal arts," and it's going high-tech, especially when it comes to paper crafts. Grommets and silver charms are cute, but for an industrial edge, artists are incorporating the thin shiny stuff wherever they can.

I use tin on everything from tin sheets in scrapbook pages to silver tape in my altered books and collages. You can do it, too. Here is a sample of a card I made that shows an easy way to get into the tin of things.

Tin-trimmed Card

SUPPLIES
1 blank card
1 piece of patterned scrapbook paper
1 piece of lightweight embossing tin (or center of a disposable aluminum cooking sheet)
Tin embossing tools
1 initial sticker
Crafty Chica Markers
1 piece of thin foam core
Brush
Aleene's Tacky Glue Stick
Double-sided tape
1 roll of silver tape
Heavy-duty scissors

DIRECTIONS: Line the edges of the card with the Crafty Chica Markers, let dry. Rip a rectangle from the scrapbook paper so it fits in the center of the card. Add a contrasting marker color to the torn edges of the scrapbook paper. Use the glue stick to affix it to the center of the card. Cut a piece of tin into a circle, either freehand or with a template. Use the embossing tools to add texture to the tin by placing the tin on a soft surface, such as a magazine or mouse pad, and rubbing the tool on the tin to make indentations. Use your hands or a brayer to flatten it.

Cut a piece of foam core into a small circle and add a piece of double stick tape to both sides. Peel off the backing and stick it to the back of the tin circle. Peel off the other side and affix it to the center of the card. Cut thin strips of the silver tape and use them to add a border around the envelope.

TIPS: If you don't have specific tools for embossing, be creative and look around your house for objects with grooves that you can use instead: wire brush, a fork, paper clips, meat tenderizer, etc. Use an old ballpoint pen to draw lines. Wipe off any ink with tissue. Use an old or cheap pair of scissors for cutting the tin, because they will become dull after use.

VARIATIONS: Add tin accents to frame scrapbook pages. Cut out small shapes, like flowers or hearts, emboss them, punch a hole in the center and add a colored grommet. Use the same process to cover a box or picture frame.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Happy Birthday, Big D!

Embarrassing baby pictures. He was a preemie, only 4 pounds, when he was born!
Having fun in a NYC hotel room.

Mom and son portrait.

Back in the groovy days.

"Cheese and rice! High school is over. Now what?"

Negotiating with Grandpa.

(NOTE: DeAngelo is wearing silly baby hats because I was just learning to crochet back then. Poor kid!)

DeAngelo, my little boy, is 19 today! Here are some of my favorite DeAngelo memories!

The time he tried to pass off Patrick's art for a Secret Santa gift at school.

The time wanted to wear a yellow tux to the prom.

Suspenders and a belt.

DeAngelo's first MySpace page and how I discovered it - from my boss at work!

DeAngelo's breaks his arm, convinces doctor I'm a drunk.

DeAngelo's first shave!

His name, car crash and other stuff.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Custom-made tiara!

I recently got this from Over The Top Tiaras, and I love, love, love it!! My problem? I'm too chicken to wear it! I'm not exactly the polished type of chica who can glide down a red carpet while balancing an encyclopedia set on her head. Plus, I think the dainty combs would get snarled in my wiry mane of curly hair!

Artist Kate Stein hand crafts each one to your liking in your choice of frames. I think she adds some magic happy dust too, because this one has major sparkly action going on! It is very sturdy - soldered strong.

I wore this loverly creation at a book reading recently and am debating if I should bring it to the CHA convention next week. I'm too chicken!!! I think I'll decorate a foam mannequin head and set this atop it. You know, use it as an art piece of empowerment in my studio!

I do believe we should all wear tiaras, but invisible versions are just as regal! Unless it is something like this (another fabulous creation of Kate's!), then I'd wear it 24/7:



Anyway, kudos to Kate, this is so gorgeous!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Call for submissions!

I saw this call out on MySpace and thought I'd share it here.

CALL FOR AFFIRMATIONS, CONSEJOS AND DICHOS

Daily Affirmations for Latino’s

by Betty Ramirez Swinners & Josie B. Vasquez

Do you have a great affirmation, consejo or dicho to share?

Deadline – December 31, 2009

Submit your affirmation, consejo or dicho with a motivational description of what it means or how to apply it in our daily lives when dealing with conflict, work, disappointment, friendships, family, etc. (Limit 75 words)

Submit Your Affirmation, Consejo or Dicho for Consideration

Daily Affirmations for Latino’s
Attention:
PO Box 181393
Dallas, Texas 75218

Email: josie_vasquez@att.net or Fax: 469-327-2773

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Betty Ramirez Swinners is a motivational speaker who has dedicated her life to sharing her story of success and survival to encourage others to believe in themselves. Betty is the Owner/Chief Executive Officer of Diversity Speakers, an international speaker’s bureau established to promote diversity.

Josie B. Vasquez is a contributing author of “Tortilla Soup For the Spirit.” She is a second generation Tejana who was raised as the 6th child of nine children. Josie has come a long way from the cotton fields in Texas to being the owner of J B Vasquez & Associates, a consulting business dedicated to helping others deal with workplace conflict and job skills training.

Daily Affirmations for Latino’s will be a must have book for all Latino’s and we want you to be a part of it!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Alice in Wonderland movie trailer!

LINK

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Puppy Paw Protectors (from the hot pavement!)

Meet Lola. She is my sister's beagle. We like to take her on walks. But when the Arizona pavement is hot enough to melt a stick of butter, an outing is out of the question. So I crocheted these booties from lightweight cotton yarn. Lola gives them five barks and two paws up.

NOTE: I'm reposting this from last year because I hate to see people walking their dogs on the hot asphalt and when the poor pooch run towards the grass, the owners tug them by the leash and say, "Come on! Behave! Stay over here!" I even saw one dog stepping in his owner's footprint shadows thinking it would be cooler. These paw protectors don't take very long to whip up.

Just because it's hot doesn't mean Fido should be stuck in the doghouse. So take him or her for a walk already, and don't worry about the heat. Here's a fashionable way to protect your pooch's paws from the searing pavement. You can buy a set for $20 at the pet store, or take up the art of crochet and make your own for less than a dollar and less than an hour's time. This project is perfect for summer; the loose crochet stitches combined with lightweight cotton yarn will keep those footsies cool from top to bottom.

Supplies:
Measuring tape
1 skein of lightweight cotton yarn
1 Size J crochet hook
Scissors
24 inches of ribbon

Directions: Measure the width of your dog's paw. Next, measure the length and add two inches to that number. This is how wide and long you need to make each bootie. For a medium-size dog: Begin by holding the end of the yarn, making a slipknot and inserting the hook through the loop. Make 6 or 7 chain stitches; at the end, join them to make a circle. Begin to create the bootie by adding stitches around the circle, using the double stitch. Continue to build up to desired height and then finish off. Cut four pieces of ribbon, each 8 inches long. Weave a strand through the top row of each bootie so you can tie it on the dog's paw.

Variations: For smaller dogs, decrease the amount of chain stitches; for larger dogs, increase. For more durable booties, sew a small piece of suede onto the bottom. Add decorative stitching at the top. If you do not want to crochet, you can make the booties out of fleece and use Velcro straps for closure.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Last week to enter!

Crafty Chica/CRAFT Contest Description & Official Rules

Crafty Chica and CRAFT are excited to present a contest for all you crafty beach-goers this summer. It's the first Crafty Chica Challenge, and this is your chance to win your very own Crafty Chica Party for you and five guests! Submit a photo of your own embellished beach tote to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr group and at the end of the four week period, The Crafty Chica, Kathy Cano-Murillo will pick one Grand Prize winner and three runners-up.

The Grand Prize winner will receive a prize pack for your very own Crafty Chica Party for you and five guests!

The prize pack includes:

• 30-minute crafty conversation/coaching session for your party (or just for you) with Kathy Cano-Murillo.
• $100 discount off of the Crafty Chica Art Cruise package.
• 6 sets of Crafty Chica Mojito Papers.
• Crafty Chica Wood Boxes (great for making a shrine for something you love).
• 1 set of handmade invites and a paper banner handmade by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica!
• 10 jars of Crafty Chica Glitter.
• 1 Crafty Chica Wish Granter Empowerment Guardian for you to decorate to bring cheer to your party!
• 1 copy of Kathy's book, Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing.
• 1 mixed CD of music to craft to, chosen by Kathy.
• A blog post about your party on Kathy's blog.

Three (3) runners-up will receive a Crafty Chica bobble head and a $25 MakerShed Gift Certificate.

Deadline is extended to 07/24/09.

Head on over to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr group.

Official Rules

1. No purchase necessary to enter. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning.

2. Contest begins at 12:01 AM Eastern Time (ET) on 6/19/2009 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 07/17/2009. Everyone may enter by submitting their information to the 'The Crafty Chica Challenge' Flickr group so it is received by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/17/2009 07/24/09 (deadline is extended).

3. Prizes: The Grand Prize winner will receive a prize pack for your very own Crafty Chica Party for you and five guests!

The prize pack includes:

• 30-minute crafty conversation/coaching session for your party (or just for you) with Kathy Cano-Murillo.
• $100 discount off of the Crafty Chica Art Cruise package.
• 6 sets of Crafty Chica Mojito Papers.
• Crafty Chica Wood Boxes (great for making a shrine for something you love).
• 1 set of handmade invites and a paper banner handmade by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica!
• 10 jars of Crafty Chica Glitter.
• 1 Crafty Chica Wish Granter Empowerment Guardian for you to decorate to bring cheer to your party!
• 1 copy of Kathy's book, Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing.
• 1 mixed CD of music to craft to, chosen by Kathy.
• A blog post about your party on Kathy's blog.

Three (3) runners-up will receive a Crafty Chica bobble head and a $25 MakerShed Gift Certificate.

4. Winners will be selected by The Crafty Chica from among all eligible entries received. Winner will be notified by e-mail, mail or phone. If a prize or notification is returned as undeliverable, the corresponding prize will be awarded to an alternate winner. Winner may forfeit prize if Sponsors are unable to contact him or her within 7 days of first attempted notification. No prize substitutions will be permitted, except Sponsors may substitute any prize with one of equal or greater retail value. Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use each winner's name, prize won, hometown and likeness for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity including online posting without additional compensation.

5. Contest is open to adults, 18 or older. Employees of the Sponsors, their affiliates, subsidiaries, distributors, retailers, advertising and promotion agencies, and the immediate families of each are not eligible to enter or win. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited by law.

6. By entering The Crafty Chica Challenge you agree to receive e-newsletters and other marketing information from the sponsoring partners. Your email address will not be shared with any other third parties. The Sponsors' respective Privacy Policies are amended so that by entering the The Crafty Chica Challenge, the entrant agrees that entrant's personally identifiable information may be available to the Sponsors and, as a result, participant may receive e-newsletters and other marketing information from the Sponsors, subject to entrant's ability to opt-out as described in each Sponsor's Privacy Policy. Entrant's personally identifiable information will not be shared with any other third parties. Entrants agree to be bound by the terms of these official rules and by the decisions of Sponsors, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this Contest. Prize winner may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release and a Publicity Release within 7 days following the date of first attempted notification. Failure to comply with this deadline may result in forfeiture of the prize. Acceptance of the prize constitutes permission for Sponsors and their respective agencies to use winner's name and/or likeness for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. By accepting prize, winner agrees to hold Sponsors and their respective directors, officers, employees and assigns harmless for any injury or damage caused or claimed to be caused by participation in the Sweepstakes or acceptance of the prize. Sponsors are not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the Sweepstakes or in the announcement of the prize.

7. Sponsors are not responsible for lost or late entries nor for electronic transmission errors resulting in omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions or limitations of any kind, or inaccurate transmissions of or failure to receive entry information by Sponsors or presenter on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site or any combination thereof. If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsors which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, the Sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. Caution: Any attempt by a contestant to deliberately damage any Web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the game is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Sponsors reserve the right to seek damages from any such contestant to the fullest extent of the law.

Head on over to the The Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr group.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Memory Collage Boards

These are photo collage boards I made for my dad. I gathered up as many happy pictures as I could to celebrate his life.

These boards can be made for any kind of celebration or event and they are easier to put together than you think! The trick to make them look "full" is to line the background with paper instead of leaving it white or another solid color. There are so many cool papers out there, choose a set that matches your theme. The other trick is to line the back of the images with more foam core to make them "pop" out. The last thing is to add stickers as accents. i bought all kinds of stickers to go with things my dad liked to do - sports, cameras, travel, gambling, grandkids, etc...

Supplies

Large boards of foam core
12 pieces of 12x12" scrapbook paper (contrasted colors, but similar in theme)
Aleene's Spray Adhesive
More foam core, craft knife
Scissors
Card stock
Ink dauber
Hot glue gun
Assorted stickers

Directions:
Use the spray adhesive to affix the scrapbook paper to one side of the board. Spray the paper and set it in place until the entire surface is covered. I lined mine up in rows.

Print out your photos and affix them to card stock. Use the ink dauber to trim in edges in color.

Cut the foam core in smaller pieces and glue them behind the images. Use the hot glue to affix images to the board. Add stickers at random.
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Glitter Canvas video!

Special thanks to CraftZine.com, Maker Faire and San Francisco's View From the Bay for inviting me to appear in a segment on this fun show - At Home with Lisa Quinn!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

You can also see my crafty amigas, Sarah and Natalie as well!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

TV Casting Call for Moms

The founders of Metro Mom are looking for moms in the Phoenix area to audition for a new reality show!



LINK FOR MORE INFO

From their web site:
How would you love to open your business and life to experts who want to help you Get It Done, Get It Back and Get It ON?! We are creating a reality-based show, and are doing a casting call for women in the Phoenix, Arizona area taking place in August. If your answer is YES, then we’d love for you to submit a short and very real video clip answering some simple questions and telling us a little about yourself and your business…

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Dad - the Rockstar of Tamale Makers

This is an essay I wrote for Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul years ago about my dad's tamale revenge on us kids!

CLICK ON LINK TO LISTEN

Enjoy!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone here for your kind words last week in the passing of my father. Thank you for the flowers, sentiments, calls and letters. Even though his cancer had progressed very far, it was quite unexpected. Your words, thoughts and prayers helped so much in making it through the week. All throughout the days while making the funeral arrangements, still dealing with the shock of it all, trying not to totally lose it, I would peek at my email and your thoughts gave me strength. I hope to repay you for that!

We had no idea that this day last week would be his last. He led a very full 72 years, made lots of friends, changed the lives of so many people. His funeral services were so beautiful and uplifting. We had a priest with a sense of humor that my dad would have liked. We played his favorite music, had a slide show of pictures from throughout his life. My dad's friends from grade school, high school, and work came out in droves to pay respect, honor his life, and share stories. His brothers shared hilarious stories about growing up in a house with nine kids. And boy, did they have some whopper tales to tell! My dad did so much more than I imagined. Even if resources were tight, he found a crafty way to go above and beyond his goals. It only made him smarter and sharper!

There have been waves of laughter and tears when we remember my dad. But we all are thankful that he is no longer in excruciating pain. Even up to his last day, I felt like I was still learning from him.

Determination.

My dad never once gave up this fight. Do you know the last thing he told my sister before he left his hospital room that night? He told her to bring his cancer pills, that he would need them for the morning. Even after all the bad news the doctors told us, the pain he was in, he still was fighting to hang on. That determination is what kept him with us for these past few years. We only found out the other day that after my dad's heart surgery two years ago, doctors expected him to live six months more. They totally underestimated him! Even in his last week, he was still using his walker proudly. Still going to family parties, playing with the kids. When we were all crammed in his tiny emergency room, he was very alert, in pain, but still wanting to joke and hear stories. At one point, my sister joked and told him I got a tattoo.

He sprang up and said, "Kathy, come here, I want to see it!" I couldn't tell if he was impressed/excited or mad, lol... I almost wished I did get a tattoo just to find out!

Anyone who has lost a loved one will agree that an event like this changes you forever. Everyone who spoke about my dad all said that what they loved about him was his positive spin, he always looked for the upside to get through tough times.

I don't think my smiles will ever be the same after this, nor my tears. Things that used to bug me suddenly don't seem as important. Silly things that used to make me cry don't seem worthy of tears after this. I feel like a whole new chamber of love for my mom, brother, sister, kids, and husband has opened inside me. I learned it is more important to embrace the moment and make the most of every experience than it is to judge or criticize.

On Thursday night we all went up to speak about our dad. I was so worried I wouldn't be able to get my words out because I am a highly emotional person. So many people here gave me awesome advice of how to get through it. So I'm going to share that!

Whether it is a happy event or sad, focus on the purpose of why you are speaking. Yes, I cracked a couple of times, who wouldn't? But I kept telling myself that my dad deserved for his friends and family to hear these words. I was doing it for him. As soon as I drew in a deep breath and remembered that, it really helped a lot and I got through it.

I'm sending gobs of love out to all of you, and your special ones who have passed away. We are all in this together! I've been told the pain never really goes away, so it is a matter of being strong, being positive, being grateful!

Peace and love,
Kathy :-)

Silk roses covered with glass spray paint

Spray paint that is meant for glass. But it works really well on fabric for a translucent, shiny look too.

Buy some white silk/faux roses and some spray paint meant for glass. Spray on top of the bunch. Not too close or the paint will drip. I think this would look really neat to use different bases flowers with contrasting paint, such as orange flowers with red paint, or purple flowers with blue paint. You could also sprinkle some glitter over the tops while the paint is still wet!

Marker Tattoos

We had a family party last weekend and Patrick and Maya got busy with stamps and markers. He used a rubber stamp and a permanent marker to make this faux tattoo on her arm.

Doesn't it look cool? It could be a fun idea for Halloween. You can use Q-Tips and rubbing alcohol to blend different colors.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

CRAFTY CINEMA: Allison Anders' Memory Table!

Movie director and screenwriter, allison Anders is one of my all-time faves. From Mi Vida Loca to Grace of My Heart, she knows how to tell a great story. Imagine how giddy I was when I met her on Facebook! We emailed back and forth and she told how she loves to craft and how she gets goosebumps from glitter too. I sent her a batch of Crafty Chica goodies and even made her a purse!
Tonight she sent me picture of what she did with the glitter. She made this wild mosaic memory table and used the glitter throughout to accent the pieces.

"I used Crafty Chica glitter as the topper to make everything sparkle - and I used every color I had cause I love them all sooo much!

The Mardi Gras beads around 3 sides are actually from Vegas, specifically the Imperial Palace during Cinevegas '05, where I watched as 3 young indie filmmakers and my friend Hunter drank White Russians and played blackjack -- each time one won they gave me their beads. Which -- was not often enough for how late we stayed up that night and I was on jury duty too! We awarded "In Memory Of My Father" by Chris Jaymes the grand jury prize the next day. Herein all these memories are preserved.

The pale pink and pearly white rosary at the top Devon gave to me."

Those of you Mi Vida Loca fans will be excited to know that Allison has reunited her cast for a sequel. It's called Smile Now, Cry Later. In the meantime, here is the trailer for Grace of My Heart! (Matt Dillon is so cute in those Buddy Holly glasses, isn't he?)


LINK



Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

INSPIRATION FRIDAY: Gaby Triana

www.GabyTriana.com

Gaby Triana is a mom, a novelist - and a cake artist.

Seriously.

Isn't that the coolest triple-threat ever?

Her books include Cubanita, Backstage Pass, and The Temptress Four. She is currently celebrating the launch of her fourth teen novel, titled RIDING THE UNIVERSE:

Here is where you can read about her passion for pastries (check out the slide show!).

Now - onto the interview!

Q: Can you tell us about your new book? What was the inspiration?

Sure! RIDING THE UNIVERSE is about 17-year-old Chloé Rodriguez whose beloved uncle bequeaths her the Harley-Davidson they built from the ground up when she was younger, much to her parents’ chagrin. If she wants the privilege of riding it, she has to keep her grades up, an impossible task when she starts falling for Gordon, the peer tutor assigned to her after she starts failing Chemistry. Add to that her best friend, Rock, who suddenly decides this would be a good time to confess his love for her, plus her newfound curiosity to find her birth parents following her uncle’s death, it’s no wonder Chloé’s world starts spinning out of control. It’s a story about finding your place, love, and family, and it makes me cry every time I finish reading it.

My husband was the inspiration for the motorcycle angle of the story. He’s a Harley-rider, so I wanted to incorporate something I’ve learned a lot about vicariously into one of my stories, and the love triangle aspect of the book…well...let’s just say real life is the inspiration for most of my stories. J

Q: You have found a wonderful groove writing teen novels. Do you read a lot of teen novels, or watch large doses of Gossip Girl and 90210?

Weirdly enough, I don’t watch that much TV anymore, but I do read a lot of teen novels. It’s a fascinating time in one’s life to write about—you’re not quite a child, not quite an adult—the perfect breeding ground for lots and lots of drama! Each generation of teens has something different to contend with than the previous, but really, the issues and emotions remain the same over time.

Q: Which book has been the most personal for you and why?

You know, not to give the diplomatic answer, because the truth is that ALL my books have something intensely personal about them, but…uh…ALL of them. Even BACKSTAGE PASS, about the daughter of someone really, really, I mean really famous, which I know nothing about, was intensely personal in the most cryptic of ways, those which only my closest family and friends would ever be able to decipher. CUBANITA, because of the obvious—Cuban-American main character, overprotective mother and family, wanting her freedom. THE TEMPTRESS FOUR said a lot about the transition I went through in my life at that time(post divorce)—from structured, predictable future, to okay, now what? And RIDING THE UNIVERSE, about fighting for control over the uncontrollable speaks volumes about my life.

So, to answer to your question, Kathy… *shrugs.*

Q: What would you say is your signature item that runs through all your work. A "Gaby" common denominator. Like, you can tell a Gaby book because it has...

My name on the cover. *snerk* I’m so funny!

Okay, no, let’s see…because they all have—and this, I’m taking from all the feedback I’ve ever received from readers—believable characters. My readers seem to enjoy that all my characters seem like real people, people they know, have met, see each day, people they miss once the story is finished. I also like to feature parents prominently in my stories. Parents have everything to do with who teens are, what they do, how they act. Many authors like to keep them in the background, thinking maybe teen readers don’t want to read about the old folks, but um…parents exist, and I happened to have great relationships with mine, so while my characters may not always agree with their parents, they usually love and respect them, while many characters in other teen books are totally appalled by theirs.

Q: Between being a mom and writing novels - when you have time to make such perfect cakes?

I cloned myself. One of me does the writing and the mothering, and the other does the cakes. Fine, I have help. My husband and my mom are my secret weapons. Before them, it was daycare. But now that the kids are home for the summer, if I have to make a cake, I’ll bake while the kids are around, but as soon as I need to start decorating, my husband knows that I will soon become a werewolf if he doesn’t get the kids out of the house. Luckily, he is able to find his way to my mother’s house and keep them fed and entertained for hours at a time so that I can transform a mass of flour and eggs into a ’66 Mustang convertible. Same goes for turning blank pages into parallel worlds.

Q: How did you get started? Did you make one and then knew you had a calling for it?

I started when I was like 18 when I bought a Wilton catalog and followed the directions on decorating a cake, back when it was just buttercream. It was just fun for me, never thought it would turn into anything profitable. Soon, I was making cakes for every occasion, even making up occasions just so I could make a cake for it. Family started asking for them. Then, I stopped doing them for the longest time, when I really got into writing, until I started back up about two years ago. I almost sold all my baking stuff on eBay before then. I sat there, looking at my inventory of pans and realized I couldn’t sell them. I came out of the garage and said, “I’m gonna start making cakes again.” My mom said, “Tú estás loca.” Then came fondant. Once I realized I could use fondant for just about anything, my art background, the sculpture, the painting…just sort of blended with the baking, and well… www.cakesbygaby.com.

Q: Can you share three tips for using fondant?

1) Work quickly. It dries quickly, so make sure you don’t have to answer the phone, let the dog out, or anything that will interrupt you.

2) Don’t roll it too thick nor too thin. Too thick, and it’s just gross. Nobody wants to eat sugar Play-Doh. Too thin melds nicely with the buttercream underneath, but it’ll tear. And nothing sucks worse than laying on your fondant, having it tear all over the place, then having to decide, do I remove it and start over (wasting expensive fondant) or do I cover all these tears with inconspicuous decorations? By the way, all my cakes have fondant glitches somewhere, but you never see them because I’ve either filled them in or covered them with polka dots.

3) Use vodka, not water, when painting or dusting your fondant. Vodka evaporates faster than water, so mixing your dusts and sugar gels with vodka means the fondant doesn’t sit around softening the way it would if you used water. Softening fondant means you’re going to get a hole somewhere from it dissolving, and you will NOT be a happy cake decorator if that happens! Trust me (werewolf).

Yes, this is one of Gaby's cakes!

Q: Whether it is outlining a story or prepping your ingredients, how do you get in the groove? Do you work in long stretches of time, or a little bit here and there?

Writing involves the gathering of just the right words, so I need total quiet. I can’t have music, background noise of any kind, or I just can’t concentrate. When I write all day, I will literally spend the day in total quietude. I won’t even answer the phone, because it’ll totally throw me off course.

But with baking/decorating, I plug in my iPhone and let my playlists take over. I don’t really think about anything while I’m working, I just listen to music. Any music, depends on my mood or the type of cake I’m making. If it’s a delicate baby shower thing, I’ll listen to Billie Holiday, and if it’s a sculpted BlackBerry cake, then AFI. If it’s a curled up cat, nothing, because I’m too busy screaming my frustration at its head falling off for the third time. I won’t answer the phone here either, usually because my hands are covered in sugar. Yes, my family thinks I hate them, but I DO NOT. I just can’t talk.

Oh, and I work in long stretches. I’m very impatient and want to see the finished product in everything I do, whether it’s a book or a cake. I want to see it NOW! So I’ll forgo meals just to make that happen.

Q: How are making cakes and writing books similar? Metaphorically, that is!

They’re both like having babies. Pregnancies take forever, are messy in the making (and delivering), but once the kitchen is all cleaned up, the manuscript nice and tidy, you have a perfect little product to show off, and everyone will ooh and ahh…

Would you like to submit an article for Inspiration Friday? I feature a different person every week! Click HERE for the guidelines. -SUBMIT your piece with INSPIRATION FRIDAY in the subject line and email to kathy[at]craftychica[dot]com

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Dad's guest book

I've had a lot of friends and family ask about a guest book and service details, here is the info through azcentral.com that also has his obituary.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=david-o-cano&pid=129800039

Thank you for the condolences, I'm passing them all on to my mom and family.

Love.

My sister gave one of my dad's rings!

I will never take it off!

Dave Cano's crafted watch bar

This is one of my dad's last projects he made. After he came home from the hospital last winter, he passed the time organizing and making things. He loved wristwatches, he collected them from all over the world. He often bought all the findings and built his own custom wristwatches. In his later years, he just bought nice ones that caught his eye. Months ago, he made this watch bar for them. He said the watches would die if he covered them, or put them in a drawer. He wanted a holder to display them upright.

The bottom part is a piece of mesquite wood. He drilled two holes and inserted steel bars. He then took a hammer from his tool chest, removed the head portion, smoothed the ends - and there you have the bar to hold the watches!

When Patrick first saw it, he goes, "Hey, that is a Mantastic craft!"

Tonight my mom gave each of us kids (DeAngelo & Maya too!) a watch to wear and remember him by. It helps.

Here is my dad's obit that runs in the newspaper and online today. We all wrote it together:

David O. Cano, 72, passed away in his sleep on Tuesday, July 14th after a long and brave battle with cancer. Born in Phoenix, Arizona on February 8th, 1937, he led a rich life of accomplishment and love. His warm smile, mischievous laugh and his famous stories will be greatly missed by his loving family which includes numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, co-workers and the many friends he made in his life. As a teen, he won top awards in The Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild, a national auto design competition. He served in the Air National Guard as an aircraft electronics technician. In his career as a civil engineer, he led many infrastructure improvement district efforts that helped to support the growth of Phoenix during the 1980’s. He retired from the city of Phoenix after 33 years and then worked an additional 7 years for the City of Avondale as a project manager. He was a consummate hobbyist, able to fix or conquer any task given to him. He was also known for his red chili tamales, which received national acclaim when he was profiled in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Norma Jean Cano, his children, David A. Cano (Michelle), Kathy Cano-Murillo (Patrick) , Theresa Cano, his two grandchildren DeAngelo and Maya Murillo and his two doggies that loved him dearly Lola and Rocco. The eldest son of Joseph and Eleanor Cano, he is survived by his siblings Joe, Nick, Charlie, Danny, Mitzi and James. A visitation will be held on Thursday July 16, 2009 from 6:00-8:00PM with a Rosary at 7:00PM at Paradise Sunset Chapel Funeral Home at 3934 E Indian School Rd. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:00AM, Friday July 17, 2009 at St. Mary's Basilica 231 North 3rd Street Phoenix. Burial services will take place at St. Francis Cemetery located at 2033 N 48th St, Phoenix.

P.S. I don't mean to have my blog be a downer this week. I've been posting since 2003, and I post about everything, all that is in my heart and on my mind. I promise to get back to crafts-as-usual later this week. Thank you for understanding.

- Kathy :-)

Love, Joy & tamales

Click on image to enlarge.

This was from when my dad was profiled in the December issue of Better Homes & Gardens Magazine for his tamales! He did a local TV tour and savored every moment of the spotlight!

This is the lead page of the article. L to R: Maya, Dad, DeAngelo, me, Theresa, and my sister-in-law, Michelle!

I'll post the article as soon as I get a chance.

Thank you again for the warm thoughts...

Rest in peace, Dad.

(Photo: David A. Cano)

Yesterday my dad went into ER because he had trouble breathing. The tumor on his lung had grown so big it was blocking his blood flow. It was determined that the cancer pills were not working. He asked about other alternatives even though we had been told there weren't any. He was not ready to give up. They kept him over night for observation. While we were waiting for the room, he joked "Come on, let's get out of here and go home!"

Finally, they secured a room - a brand new remodeled huge swanky hotel-suite looking thing. He loved the huge bed, he said it was very comfy. He was in so much pain, he deserved every ounce of comfort he could get. We helped him get situated and then kissed him goodnight and left. I prayed for him to please be released in the morning so he could go home.

He passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning. My heart is broken, as is my family's but we are happy that he is not suffering anymore. He suffered a LOT these past few months, but did his best to push on. He left this life with so much dignity, he always stood tall and looked to see the best in people. He loved to make people laugh. He loved to create things with his hands. He loved a hardcore math problem. He loved make red chili sauce from scratch. He loved the Cardinals football team!

Most of all, he loved to be with his family.

I'm so proud to be his daughter.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your well wishes, they meant so much.

- Kathy

Popped Out Boxes

(Click on image for a closer look)

I never tire of decorating wood boxes. Recently, I was making some for a wholesale account and decided to try something different than the usual flat decoupage style.

Supplies:

Crafty Chica Paints
Crafty Chica Glitters
Crafty Chica Loteria or Inspiration Cards
Wood boxes, paint brushes
High gloss varnish
Aleene's Original Tacky Glue

I painted the boxes as usual, and then coated the tops with my Crafty Chica Glitters. I then glued the main image on top. In some cases, I cut out a portion of the picture, glued down the background and used cardboard to the back of the cut out piece, so it popped out. I then coated it all in high gloss varnish. They look so juicy and shiny! And now they are for sale at The Phoenix Art Museum too!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Our Frida event

My craft group, The Phoenix Fridas had our 3rd Annual Frida Kahlo Birthday Celebration last Saturday at Changing Hands Bookstore.

Frida was born July 6th 1907 and passed away on July 13, 1954. That's why we always hold our event within that week. There are seven in our group and we are all inspired by Frida for different reasons. We are not alone - there were about 200 people who came to the event throughout the day.

I held make-and-take craft sessions and a book reading, April Edwards delivered a presentation on "Toxic Love", Anita Mabante-Leach demonstrated how to make one of Frida's favorite meals, Carmen de Novais sang various songs by female songwriters and Leticia de la Vara read a story to the kids. Emily Costello and Lucia Madrid helped us all out with whatever we needed!

One of the highlights was artist Denisse Leon who came as Frida and portrayed her all day!

Here are some videos from our event!


LINK


LINK


LINK


Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

crafty chica in the land of toys

crafty chica in the land of toys
Originally uploaded by swelldesigner

My friend and co-worker Alexa (SwellDesigner.blogspot.com) took this pic of my bobblehead submerged in gumball toys. Sometimes I feel like that is my life!

Cool mannequin at a bookstore!

photo.jpg
Originally uploaded by rachelkramerbussel.com

Isn't this a great window display? Check out Rachel's other pics from this bookstore to see other mannequins!

A hot-hot-hot day!

LINK

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Crafty Chica Tip

CLICK HERE IF YOU CAN'T SEE THE LINK.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Late night lino print cards!

I carved this new stamp earlier this evening and made some cards
before going to bed. I like them!

Today is the day!

SAT JULY 11TH BIRTHDAY BLOWOUT
“VIVA LA FRIDA!”
FEATURES THE PHOENIX FRIDAS CRAFT COLLECTIVE

One of the Valley’s best craft collectives, The Phoenix Fridas, return to Tempe’s Changing Hands Bookstore to celebrate the birth of the world’s most renowned Mexican female painter, Frida Kahlo.

We play.
We have pain and passion.
We love to paint and we live in Phoenix.
We are the Phoenix Fridas – rising up from triple-digit temperatures for the sake of art and craft!”

Now in its third year, this is expected to draw hundreds of Frida fans to Changing Hands, 6428 S. McClintock Drive, @ Guadalupe in Tempe; (480) 730-0205.

“This year we’ve ramped up our presentation to include cooking, a silent auction and photo fun,” says Carmen Guerrero, known as “Frida Beader.” Carmen, a jewelry maker and musician, will perform. A special look at the life of the artist also is scheduled.

Phoenix Fridas founder, Kathy Cano-Murillo (The Crafty Chica!), will lead a free Frida-inspired make-and-take craft project.

A silent auction to benefit a local nonprofit will feature members of the Phoenix Fridas: Kathy Cano-Murillo, Emily Costello, Anita Mabante Leach, Lucia Madrid. April Edwards and Carmen Guerrero.

Participants will be able to purchase original art and crafts from members of the Phoenix Fridas, including paintings, jewelry, hand-crocheted tops plus home and fashion accessories.

The Frida Photo Frame-Up, allows store guests to “pose” as Frida for a quick snapshot. “From Palette to Plate;” features food inspired by the bright colors of the artist’s palette will be presented by Anita Mabante-Leach and will be shared with the audience.

“Toxic Love” a lecture, will be presented by artist April Edwards.

The afternoon will rap up with a Panel Discussion by all the Fridas explaining how the artist has influenced their personal lives.

The Phoenix Fridas, voted Best Art Collective by the Phoenix New Times in 2007, take their inspiration from the late Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The group’s members each take the artist’s name to create a personal crafty moniker.

I'll be photo blogging the event as well!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

INSPIRATION FRIDAY: Kate Harper

Want a Career Designing Greeting Cards?

Quick! Grab the Nearest Artist and Start a Support Group.

Special for CraftyChica.com
by Kate Harper

For years I worked in the Art Cave. You know that cave. It's the place you go to be alone so you can create art. There are wonderful things about the cave: No interruptions, great intensity, messes that don't have to be cleaned up, primal acts of drinking from milk cartons and never combing your hair. But there are also compromises: Working methodically on calligraphy all morning, only to find out later you misspelled the word "Conra-D-ulations." That's because there was no one around to say "Hey ding dong, get a clue."

So one day, a couple years ago, I left the art cave to go to a weekend workshop on Art Licensing. There, I learned how I could "license" my 500 card designs for royalties, instead of doing what I'd been doing for the last 15 years: Manufacturing and shipping them to over 2,000 stores.

It was one of those "the sea parted" moments, light came through the clouds and I saw an alternative way to make a living. Being at the workshop was like meeting the underground cave network. They spoke my language and understood my challenges. THEY knew the best kind of tape to use on a trade show booth panel. After the workshop, some of us talked about continuing to meet on our own, to share information and start an "Art Licensing Support Group."

That was the beginning of a major mental shift for me. Not long after, I quit my manufacturing business and acquired a licensing contract with a major card publisher for royalties. With great enthusiasm, I sold off all my stock, threw out mountains of paperwork, cancelled store rack shipments, said sad goodbyes to staff and sales reps, but best of all, I was finally able to get a divorce from that grumpy guy who was always late for our afternoon dates: the UPS man.

In manufacturing, you can find yourself having ridiculous conversations with supposedly sane people, who are 100% committed in trying to convince you to work for free. I call this the "card slave" syndrome. I got over it early in my business when a national bookstore chain accepted my card line, only to tell me later, "oh, by the way, if you want shelf space for your cards, you have to purchase all the cards currently sitting on shelf." So, in essence, they wanted me to buy another artist's cards, remove them from the rack, before I could put mine up. I thought: "Heck, they don't need customers, they just need clueless artists. They can keep reselling their card space every two weeks and make a killing."

So, I was happy to leave manufacturing behind and I looked forward to becoming part of a Licensing Support Group. As expected, our first meeting drew a mix of people: Some experienced, some not, some with a lot of great advice, some a little nervous to show their work, and some drove over an hour in bad traffic just to be there. As the meetings went on, sometimes we invited volunteer guest speakers, such as a copyright attorney and licensing agent, and as I write these words, three of our members have recently acquired agents, some went to their first trade shows, and even I came out of my art cave long enough to get six contracts without an agent.

But fundamentally, art licensing is a business. Supporting each other is about learning to prepare tear sheets, getting feedback on new designs, becoming aware of trends, protecting copyrights and learning how to do an elevator pitch, even if you're shy. It's also about being in a community of artists who are very serious about making a living from their art. And while we all have different styles and viewpoints, one thing we do all agree on, is that the group has helped us move forward very fast.

We are not hand holders, but we care about each other. At one meeting, a member named Lesli shared her anger and frustration at the costs she incurred, paying someone to put together promo materials that turned out terrible, and she was in a pinch because she needed them for a trade show.

I felt like she was ready to give up, not just on the promo materials, but possibly even on the show. After hearing this, another member, Dianne, offered a day of her time to help lesli throw these things together. I know enough about Dianne to know this is a very generous offer, since she is a professional product photographer, and would normally get paid a healthy fee for a project like this. But this is just the beginning of the story.

The next day lesli brought flowers to Dianne to thank her for her help, and Dianne put the flowers in a vase on the table and decided to paint a picture of them. In a spontaneous act, she sent the painting off to a national retailer, who immediately accepted it to use on a greeting card for royalties.

Dianne will probably make more money from the flower painting than she would have if lesli had paid her for her time, and I'm sure Dianne could have found flowers on her own and painted them, but that's not the point. It's about what happens when artists support each other. Do these women feel this was merely a business transaction? Probably not. I imagine they both walked away feeling something more important happened. They both planted seeds for each other, and those seeds grew very quickly.

So, if you want to move your art life forward, find another artist. Help each other. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, take risks even if you're terrified. Magical things can happen. You might find yourself becoming a thankful recipient and great giver of many wonderful things. Yes, with enough commitment, you can make a living off your art, and yes you can expand your possibilities beyond the cave. I know. I'm doing it. And I'm doing it with a great bunch of women. So, quick, hurry! Look around, and grab the first artist you can find!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Kate Harper is a card and gift designer living in Berkeley, CA, and has taught classes and published articles on the Greeting Card Business. For more information you can visit her blog http://kateharperblog.blogspot.com/ or website http://kateharperdesigns.com/

Would you like to submit an article for Inspiration Friday? Click HERE for the guidelines. -SUBMIT your piece with INSPIRATION FRIDAY in the subject line and email to kathy[at]craftychica[dot]com

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Repost, just because.

Well, my sister became one of the casualties in the Gannett layoffs last night. After working there for more than 10 years, her position was eliminated.

She called me right after she found out the news, and then she called back after she told my parents.

"Dad thought I was joking. He didn't believe me!", she said.

"What about MOM?" I asked.

"She said for me not to worry, that everything will work out."

I hung up the phone and bit my lip to hold back the tears. Moms always know the right things to say at the right time. Layoffs are like getting a divorce, or as my sister said - more like a death. Her birthday is tomorrow and I told her to look at it metaphorically, it's a time for her to birth a new journey. Things will work out. This is where family support comes into play. I hope to help my sister steer her future in a new, exciting direction. She's always done that for me.

I'm sending many prayers and blessings to my former Gannett colleagues those who lost their jobs this week. I think there will be 1,400 in all by the time the week is over. Whew. Things WILL get better. If you believe it and take the steps, they will. They will. They will!

And just because - I'm reposting my favorite Maya Angelou quotes. The words mean so much more today than they did Monday.

- "I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

- I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

- "I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

- "I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."

- "I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

- "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

- "I've learned that when ever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

- "I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

- "I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

- "I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

- "I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Crafty Chica Workshop!

This is a project from my sewing book, Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing and I'm teaching a workshop on it next month here in Phoenix.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS!

This sleeve is pretty basic with two types of fabric, but in my class, I'll show how to do a fun patchwork version. And the best part is I'll have all kinds of cool fabric prints and solids for you to choose from, as well as trims and such.

This is the perfect class for newbie sewers, because it is simple, yet really packs a punch!

The class is part of the amazing Art Unraveled! AU is a week of national artists who teach all kinds of mixed media workshops. People come from all over the WORLD to join in the fun.

Monday, August 10th
6:30-9:30 p.m.
Embassy Suites
4415 E Paradise Village Parkway S
Phoenix, AZ
Includes fabric, all materials, and a free Crafty Chica applique. You don't have to have a sewing machine, I'll have mine, but if you do have one it will be easier.
Sign up HERE

Click here to see pictures from last year's workshop. We made purses. This will be similiar, except it will be for your laptop!

Reserve your space now, the slots are filling up fast!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Chunky charms made w/ Crafty Chica glitter!

Wire-wrapped rings

One spool of wire can lead to a lifetime of flirty finger embellishments. Here's my recipe for whipping up a batch of beaded baubles for you and the gang. I've recently come off a charm bracelet bender. After spending several weeks connecting abstract objects to a chain, I've curbed my obsession, or at least toned it down.

I never let anything go to waste. Therefore, I took a spool of wire and the leftover beads, buttons and charms from my bracelet projects and made these adorable charm rings.

Use your finger as a guide to shape the base and then add whatever you like at the top. I secured a jump ring to add dangling beads, and on others I anchored a button, charm or bead at the top.

I love this idea because it has a speedy result, which is great if you want to make jewelry but don't have the time or energy to devote to a bracelet or necklace. For a higher quality ring, use sterling silver wire. All supplies can be found at local craft or bead stores.

Supplies
1 spool of 18- or 24-gauge wire (sterling silver is best)
Needle nose pliers with cutting device
Small jump rings
Assorted charms, beads or buttons
Ring sizer (optional)

Directions: Cut off an 18-inch piece of wire. Using your finger or a ring sizer, wrap the wire around it four to five times to create the base of the ring.

Straighten out the tail of extra wire. On the ring's base, position the raw end of the wire at the top and pinch in place. Feed the tail through the hole of the base and up and around the top to cover. Pull it tight to cover that raw end.

Straighten the remaining length of the tail, and if you want to have a ring with dangling charms, slip on the small jump ring and feed the wire through it to secure it to the top of the ring so it stands upright. (If you don't want dangles, you can skip the jump ring and feed on a bead, button or charm.)

Make sure the end of the wire is lodged between the layers of wire. Add beads or charms to small head pins. Using the needle nose pliers, attach the head pins to the jump ring by bending the wire over the jump ring.

Tips and variations: For more of a "wrapped" look, cut a longer piece of wire (about 22 inches) and after you make the circles for the ring base, use the tail to wrap around it. For a gaudy look, add a lot of dangling beads; for a daintier look, add a few small ones. Think of other objects to add such as bottle caps, birthstone gems, small fabric or silk flowers.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

A little over a week left!

Only a little over a week left to enter! Here is the cool blog post from Craft Zine!!!

Simply embellish any old tote you have laying around your house, enter it in our Crafty Chica Challenge, and the next thing you know, you could be sitting around a table with your friends and more Crafty Chica craft supplies than you'll know what to do with. Grab a tote (beach, grocery, diaper bag, etc.) and embellish the heck out of it. Grab buttons, glitter, embroidery floss — anything you can get your hands on, and make that tote shine in a whole new way.

Snap a picture or two of your finished project and add it to our Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr Pool . Get crafting, because even though the contest deadline has been extended to July 24, you'll want to give yourself plenty of time to embellish your little heart out. The winner will get loads of Crafty Chica products and even a few personal items handcrafted by the Crafty Chica herself. You'll even have a chance to talk to the Crafty Chica and get the scoop on her favorite craft and party tips. For a full list of all the prizes and perks, please see the contest page.

And if you're looking for a little inspiration, first check out the Crafty Chica's own Flickr stream. She's constantly posting pictures of all things sparkly and embellished, and offers loads of inspiration. Also check out the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr Pool to see what's already been entered.

Finally, here's a little something I worked on over the holiday weekend. I can't enter the contest, but reading about it made me want to embellish a tote of my own. I took a Crafty Chica tote that I got last fall (and have been dying to embellish ever since) and added some freestyle embroidery here and there. Once I was satisfied with the embroidery portion of the embellishment, I whipped out my Crafty Chica glitter. Remember chunky glitter you had as a kid? Now forget about it. Kathy's glitter is tiny and beautiful and really nice to work with. I added touches of glitter to the flowers, bird, and a leaf. All I need to do now is give it a final dust off and it will be good to go.

Here are some tips:

• Having my tote bag in an embroidery hoop actually helped in my application of glue and glitter. I was able to paint the glue on with a tiny paint brush and apply glitter right where I needed it.


• Lay a towel or sheet or newspapers under your tote bag while you apply the glitter so you can just pick it up and toss it or wash it when you are done. Don't be like me and apply glitter freely on the ottoman in the living room. You'll have to deal with grumpy family members who don't like to get glitter on their socks.

Associate Editor Becky Stern has also been busy with her glitter tote, sprucing up a Mexican-style beach bag she found at a local thrift store. Feeling Kathy's warm glittery vibes from across town, she set to work jazzing up this airy bag.

All that's left to do is to start making your guest list for the big craft party! What are you waiting for?

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Glittery dilemma

Click here if you can't see the video!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

DIY Mighty Magnets

I love me some Lucy Lu Mighty Magnets. They have that thick coat of shiny stuff on top and they look so pretty and cool. But at $13 bucks a pop, I can only afford to recieve them as gifts! Plus, maybe I want to mix and match my mighty magnets.

That led me to experiment with making my own Crafty Chica version. Mmmmmm, I love how they came out. (Some of these images are from Ken Brown wrapping paper!)

This is how I did it:

Supplies:

Wood pieces
Sturdy magnets
Envirotex Lite (2 part resin mixture)
paper cup, chopstick, drinking straw
Pictures
Aleene's Tacky Glue
Black craft paint
Waxed paper

Directions:

Line your work area with waxed paper. Glue the image to the wood piece. Paint the edges to seal the paper to the wood. Let dry. Apply a coat of Tacky Glue over the entire image and around the edges to again seal the paper to the wood - otherwise the resin will "seep" under. Let it dry until the glue is absolutely clear. Mix the resin in the cup according to the package directions. Use the chopstick to stir it. Apply a dollop on the wood piece and use the chopstick to push the resin to the edges without letting it drip. Blow out any bubbles with the drinking straw. Let it cure for 24 hours. Glue the magnet on the back. Enjoy!
***
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Glittery goodness.

These look but they are not! Only half way!

Happy birthday Frida!

Today is the anniversary of Frida Kahlo's birth. Here are some pictures of things I made inspired by Frida, be sure to add your links as well!

Viva Frida!

























Coming THIS SATURDAY - my craft group, The Phoenix Fridas will host a party in Frida's honor!

Time: Saturday, July 11, 2009 1:00 p.m.
Location: Changing Hands Bookstore
FRIDA’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION 1-5pm
Join the Phoenix Fridas for their annual celebration of Frida Kahlo’s birthday. Activities include music, art projects, food samples and panel discussions. Crafty Chica Kathy Cano Murillo leads two Make-and-Take projects for kids (1pm & 2:30pm - sign up at noon) and signs her many craft books. The Fridas will exhibit and sell original artwork.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Words to live by

When I was in high school, working on the newspaper staff, I had one goal for when I "grew up" and that was to be a features reporter for The Arizona Republic. I feel very blessed that I fulfilled that goal.

It breaks my heart that this week The Arizona Republic is having another round of lay-offs. As we all know the newspaper industry is being hit very hard during these tough economic times. I spent 13 years at The Republic as an employee and those days shaped who I am today. My editors, my co-workers, the photographers, designers, copy editors, the people I interviewed, the ad reps, the clerks, even the PR folks who pitched stories! My sister works there too!

I'm sending lots of love and good energy to everyone there, I know it is going to be a hard week. And for anyone else out there who is on shaky ground for any reason, here are some words from Maya Angelou to help shine some light your way:

- "I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

- I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

- "I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

- "I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."

- "I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

- "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

- "I've learned that when ever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

- "I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

- "I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

- "I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

- "I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Maya's words inspired me to think of things I've learned...

- I've learned to treat people how I would want to be treated

- I've learned it feels good to look people in the eye, letting them know that you are acknowledging their presence. It lets them know their words mean something.

- I've learned the things I started off hating in my life, are the things I end up loving the most. That you have to go through the roughness of the sand to become diamond smooth.

- I've learned that it's worth it to ask, even if it seems "out of the question". You'd be surprised at the result!

- I've learned if you knowingly do something dishonest or intentionally cruel, you WILL have bad karma, right where it hurts you the most!

- I've learned that the pain in my chest isn't a heart attack, it's gas. It's another chance to change to a healthy lifestyle before it really is a heart attack!

- I've learned there is beauty in everything. It takes a special person to look beyond the obvious to find it.

- I've learned my kids will remember everything I do and say and then tell me about it in front of everyone at Thanksgiving dinner (or on live TV) 20 years from now.

- I've learned to act on your dreams as soon as you think of them, or time will fly by. The sooner you open yourself up for opportunities, the sooner they will come your way.

- I've learned it makes you a better person if you live each day as if it were your last. Go to bed with a clear conscience, tie up loose ends, show affection.

- I've learned that most desserts really are the same thing - refined sugar in different forms. But it's still fun to splurge on the good stuff now and then.

OK, what have you learned? Please share!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Beach Towel Tote

(Photo and text copyright Kathy Cano Murillo/The Arizona Republic, 2006)

Beach towels may be on clearance at the store, but we're still diving into the pool at every opportunity. Here's a way to take one of those jumbo towels and transform it into a functional (and very cute) tote bag.

Supplies: 40- by 70-inch beach towel with wide trim, pinking shears, sewing machine, thread, pins.

Directions: Fold the towel lengthwise. Cut the trim off one end of the towel and set aside, this will be the handles of the bag. At the other end, keep the trim (this is the bottom of the bag) and cut about 12 inches up (this is the top of the bag). Toss aside the excess, you will not need it. Unfold the towel and hem the raw edge by using the zigzag function on your sewing machine (to prevent fraying). Sew again with a regular stitch. Fold the towel again in the same fashion and sew the sides and bottom. Using the trim from the other end, cut it in half so you have two straps. Stitch the raw ends using the zigzag function. Sew one strip on the inside of each side of the bag so you end up with two handles.

Note: Use the excess towel to make another tote!
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

CRAFTY CHICA CHALLENGE!

A friendly reminder!

To enter: Simply post a picture of ANY tote or purse you embellished or made - and you're entered! See below for details. Again - any tote!

Crafty Chica and CRAFT are excited to present a contest for all you crafty beach-goers this summer. It's the first Crafty Chica Challenge, and this is your chance to win your very own Crafty Chica Party for you and five guests! Submit a photo of your own embellished beach tote to URL and at the end of the four week period, The Crafty Chica, Kathy Cano-Murillo will pick one Grand Prize winner and three runners-up.

The Grand Prize winner will receive a prize pack for your very own Crafty Chica Party for you and five guests!

The prize pack includes:

• 30-minute crafty conversation/coaching session for your party (or just for you) with Kathy Cano-Murillo.
• $100 discount off of the Crafty Chica Art Cruise package.
• 6 sets of Crafty Chica Mojito Papers.
• Crafty Chica Wood Boxes (great for making a shrine for something you love).
• 1 set of handmade invites and a paper banner handmade by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica!
• 10 jars of Crafty Chica Glitter.
• 1 Crafty Chica Wish Granter Empowerment Guardian for you to decorate to bring cheer to your party!
• 1 copy of Kathy's book, Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing.
• 1 mixed CD of music to craft to, chosen by Kathy.
• A blog post about your party on Kathy's blog.

Three (3) runners-up will receive a Crafty Chica bobble head and a $25 MakerShed Gift Certificate.

Head on over to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr group.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Shiny stars, just because

These are some pretty glittered stars I made with my gourmet glitter. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them yet, but I just love to look at them. Sometimes when life gets a little rough, all it takes is one sparkle to brighten things up. So, here is a gazillion of them.

This is for those of you who need a boost of shininess - even after the 4th of July fireworks!

Hope it was a nice one for you!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

My husband found my rubber stamp stash

And now he is stamping everything in sight!

Super Star Soaps

The Fourth of July is the most picnic-friendly day of the year. However, before you bust out the barbecue sauce, hot wings and other finger-licking good entrees, have plenty of soap nearby. Sticky fingers can ruin a party in no time. These dimensional star soaps made from "melt and pour" glycerin not only will do the trick but also will add a layer of fun to your patriotic festivities.
White and clear glycerin, molds, dyes and scents are available at local craft stores.

STAR-SPANGLED SOAP
SUPPLIES:
* Paper towel
* Petroleum jelly
* Plastic soap-bar molds
* Large knife
* 1 pound of "melt and pour" clear glycerin soap
* 1 pound of "melt and pour" white glycerin soap
* Short glass measuring pitcher
* Soap dye in red and blue
* Spoon or Popsicle stick
* Soap scent (optional)
* Star-shaped soap log

DIRECTIONS: Use the paper towel and petroleum jelly to line the inside of the molds for easy removal of the soap. Cut the glycerin into 1-inch cubes. Put four cubes of the clear glycerin in the pitcher and melt in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove and stir. Add five to six drops of red color and stir again until smooth. Add a couple drops of soap scent, if desired. Pour the mixture into the molds at a 1/3 level. Let set several minutes, until firm. Rinse the pitcher until all of the red soap is removed. Put in four cubes of the white glycerin and repeat melting process. Pour the mixture on top of the red and let set until firm. Repeat process with another layer of clear glycerin tinted with blue dye. When the soaps are fully set, turn over the mold and pop them out. Makes four bars.
Slice the star-shaped soap log into 1/4-inch slices. Add a dab of melted glycerin to the top of the layered soap bars and then place a white star on top. Hold in place until it sets.
TIPS: Use extreme caution, as melted soap is hot. Always clean the container before melting new glycerin. Adding red coloring to white glycerin will result in a deep fuchsia color, as opposed to bright red. Use the leftover glycerin to make theme soaps for other upcoming events or parties.
VARIATIONS: Create chunky soap by pouring solid color bars and then cutting them into squares. Lay them in the mold and then pour melted clear glycerin over the top. The star molds can be used to insert inside the soap bar molds for another type of dimensional effect.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Salute-n- Snack Book

Ready to impress for your Fourth of July fiesta? Whip up one of these adorable snack books and pass it around to your guests. Each page is made from a paper bag that holds secret treats.

Salute 'N' Snack Books

SUPPLIES

• 2 pieces of card stock, 17 inches wide, 5 inches tall
• 1 glue stick
• Stickers, papers, rubber stamps, pens, markers, paints, vellum
• 3 brown paper lunch bags
• 1 hole puncher
• 1 piece of ribbon, 12 inches
• Candies or other treats

DIRECTIONS: Using the glue stick, embellish card stock with stickers, markers, stamps, etc. One piece of card stock will be the front of the book, and the other will be the back. Take each lunch bag and cut the top 6 inches off, discarding the bottom. Seal the cut end with glue stick. Smooth with your fingers and let dry. Decorate the fronts of each bag with rubber stamps, sayings or stickers. Punch two holes on the left-hand side of front cover. Stack bags, glued ends to the left, to look like pages. Set the cover over the stack and draw a dot where the holes are (this enables you to make holes in the same spots on the bags so the book will line up). Set the cover over the book's back and do the same. Punch holes where the dots are. Insert bags between the covers and line up holes. Thread ribbon through and tie it. Add candies or snacks to each bag, fold the edge over and use a sticker or staple to close.

Variation: Use fewer or more bags if you like. Instead of food in each bag, insert a photo, CD or note.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

INSPIRATION FRIDAY: Natalie Baca!

Natalie Baca is a wildly whimsical mosaic artist who works in a variety of mediums. This is a piece she made using one of the Crafty Chica Inspiration Card Decks!

I think she is so clever to use more than just tiles. She incorporates all kinds of textures and objects that make this such an interesting piece. Here is her web site - Nancy Baca Studio and her Etsy store. Stop by and say hi! And if she looks familiar, it is because she was featured in April on HGTV's That's Clever!



QUESTION: How do you go about starting a piece?
ANSWER: I am always scrounging for fun items to put into my mosaics, and most of the time I will come across an "object" that will inspire my new piece. For instance, a few weeks ago, I came across a ceramic bird figurine, which inspired me to mosaic a birdhouse wall piece. I enjoyed doing the birdhouse so much that I actually made several more!

Q: What inspires you to create?:
A: Besides being born with a burning desire to create, I would say there are a number of things that inspire me: my children, found objects, music, nature, new art supplies, travel, museums or galleries just to name a few.

Q: Why it is good to look beyond the usual?
A: Why be ordinary? In the marketplace, I believe it is easier for a consumer to purchase something that is a bit different than to pay good money for something that is like all the rest. There are so many good mosaic artists out there! Therefore, I strive to make my mosaics unusual to stand out from the rest.

Q: Your number one tip when making a mosaic project:
A: The key to a fabulous mosaic is grout color! Grout should enhance your tiles, not blend with them. If you have light colored tiles in your piece, you should choose a dark grout to make them "pop" and vice versa!

Would you like to submit an article for Inspiration Friday? Click HERE for the guidelines. -SUBMIT your piece with INSPIRATION FRIDAY in the subject line and email to kathy[at]craftychica[dot]com

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Americana Folk Art Shrine

This project is from my Crafty Chica Collection book.

I made this shrine from all kinds of Americana knick-knacks and assembled them into a California wine crate. Basically, to make it you need to:

Paint your wine crate, line the back of it with fabric (I went with red w/ white stars). Next you want to add flat objects to the sides. Magnets (glue them on) work perfect for this! In the center I used a note holder and inserted a picture to serve as my focal point, and then I continued to add other objects around it. I even added some eye screws at the inside top so I could have Elvis's glittery blue jacket dangling! I also placed several miniature toys and pictures. On the outside top, I glued down what used to be holiday ornaments. Oh, I almost forgot - I painted some wood stars and hearts and sprinkled them throughout. This is my version of "folksy", therefore I really didn't use any glitter, except for what might be in the objects (like the jacket). If you look close at this piece, you will see all kinds of things like perfume bottles, Mardi Gras beads, a Tabasco sauce bottle and a button from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Click on the picture for a bigger view.

Let's talk glues. I used several. I mostly used hot glue, but sometimes hot glue is not strong enough to hold heavy objects. In that case, I put a dab of Liquid Fusion, and then put a dab of hot glue and it worked as yummy as hot apple pie with whipped cream.

Dang! Speaking of apple pie, I should have included that in there somewhere...Maybe I can go through a McDonald's drive-thru and buy a mini-apple pie, come home and eat it while smiling at my Americana Folk Art Shrine.

Happy 4th of July to you!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Fluffy clouds on my flight home

Soda Can Star Lights

Hosting a "Let's grill at my house for the Fourth of July!" kind of party? If so, you have one more day to put together some delicious crafty entrees. These easy party lights can be made faster than your average fireworks explosion, not to mention that you probably already have the bulk of the supplies in your pantry. It also proves that from an artistic standpoint, soda pop cans are just as awesome on the outside as they are inside.


Supplies:
Paper and pencil
4 red or blue (or two of each) soda cans
Tin snips or heavy-duty scissors
Hole punch, standard size
1 strand of 10 minilights
Protective gloves

Make a circle template by tracing a 2-inch circle on a piece of paper. Cut it out. Wear protective gloves and carefully cut off the top and bottom of the soda can with tin snips or scissors. Cut through the length of the body of the can to make one rectangular piece of metal. Work it with your hands or use a brayer to make the metal as flat a possible. Lay the circle template on the metal and cut around it. Repeat until you have three circles. Snip out the shape of a star from each circle. Punch a hole in the center of each star to make an opening for the bulb to fit through. You may need to punch several times to make the hole large enough. Carefully press a star over a minilight. Repeat until all the lights are covered. You should have one remaining light to use as a replacement if needed.

Tips and variations: String the stars together with ribbon to make garlands or streamers. Glue the stars around the base of a flowerpot or around a large picture frame. You can also use them to decorate scrapbooks or journal covers. Instead of stars, cut out layers of flowers in various sizes and lay them on top of each other and connect with a rivet or grommet to make multilayered flowers.
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Glittered heart

Flashy Fireworks Headdress

It's the 4th of July weekend, what are your kids up to? If they are little, glam them up with one of these easy crowns. It's perfect for watching the fireworks. And if you are a kid at heart, make one for you too! I also made a really cool red, white and blue, but I can't find it! As soon as I do, I'll post a picture of it here. By the way, this crown is made from a visor, straws and lots of glitter!

The Fourth of July is all about flash and sparkle, especially when it comes to kids and big fireworks shows. Dress your little ones in style with this quick-to-make accessory that is sure to fire up patriotic spirit. With a foam visor, plastic drinking straws, glitter and embellishments, you and your child can make a stylin' crown so impressive, Uncle Sam would give a wink and two thumbs up.


Flashy Fireworks Headdress

Supplies
1 red, white or blue visor
Drinking straws
Hot glue gun
Red, white or blue paint, with Crafty Chica Glitter to match!
Paintbrush
Scissors
Embellishments such as foam decorations, buttons and sequins

Directions
Turn the visor upside down so it becomes a crown/tiara. Hot glue the straws vertically so they are closer at the bottom and about an inch apart at the top. Cut the excess of the straws along the bottom of the crown. Use the brush to apply paint in between and on the straws, sprinkle the loose glitter. Let dry. Hot glue the other embellishments such as buttons, sequins, and letters.

Variations

Instead of red, white and blue, make a Statue of Liberty crown using a green visor. This idea can be used for different events all year, such as birthday parties or New Year's Eve.
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Independence Day Paper Swag

Is there anything that hasn’t been made for the Fourth of July? Statue of Liberty tiaras? Been there. Star spangled pool float? Done that. Patriotic party horns, visors, water bottle holders - the list goes on. All month I worried about what to make for this week’s column.

Recently I checked out a party store and noticed scores of plastic banner swags for the front porch. I let out a huge sigh of relief. I knew with all the cool scrapbook papers on the market, it would be a cinch to make my own Fourth of July version.

There are two ways to approach this idea: fast or artful. To make a speedy version, simply cut your red, white and blue scrapbook paper sheets into circles, slip them over a long piece of string, and use a glue stick to secure. However, if you really want to show your Americana pride - make paper collages for each of the banner pieces, or embellish them with stamped designs. Even better, summon the spirit of Betsy Ross and use fabric, interfacing, ribbon, and a sewing machine. Add some glitter or tassels for that sparkly fireworks effect.

Here are some other ideas for Fourth of July crafting:

- Use glass paint and glitter to dress up glass Coca Cola bottles. Use them as centerpieces.

- Buy a pack of white paper placemats and use a silver metallic marker to write quotes from the Declaration of Independence (“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”)

- Paint papier-mâché stars in red, white, and blue and use monofilament wire to hang from the ceiling.

- Set out a bulletin board with colorful papers and pens and ask each guest to write down what the word independence means to them.

- Make an Independence Day-themed music playlist, burns copies onto CDs, slip them into decorated envelopes and pass out to guests or random people you encounter that day as random act of kindness.


Independence Day Paper Swag

Supplies:

1 spool of string or ribbon
12 sheets of scrapbook paper (4 red, 4 white, 4 blue)
Decorative Edge scissors
Hole punch
Glue stick

Directions: Fold one sheet of paper in half and cut the corners so you have a circle shape. Use the hole punch to add accents along the edge. Repeat with the remaining sheets of paper. Stretch out the string and leaving a six-inch tail, slip one of the folded circles over the top of the string, so it rests in the crease. Use the glue stick to seal the paper together. Leave a two-inch space and add the next piece. Continue until the banner is complete.

Variation: You can also use fabric or doilies or make your banner. For rustic “Americana” look, use light sandpaper to age the paper and sew the ends together.


Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Fireworks Serving Tray

This is a scrapbook project, believe it or not. You create a scrapbook design and seal it between two clear plastic serving trays. You can make one original, and then make color copies. Seal the edges with red or silver tape.

You can also do this with clear plastic plates for your 4th of July BBQ.

Add a little visual sizzle to your meal!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!