Crafty Chica's 30 Days of Glitter!

LINK


Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Book trailer #2!

My lovely daughter, Maya, made a new book trailer for me! She is so creative!


LINK

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Loteria Framed Art

I can't sit still around a blank wood frame. I have to glue something to it. In this case, it was a deck of playing cards from my Crafty Chica™ Loteria Game™ !

Supplies:
1 wood frame with a wide border
Crafty Chica™ Loteria Game™
Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue®
Crafty Chica™ Little Chica Paint Packs™
Crafty Chica™ DIY Appliqués™ Value Pack™

Directions:
1. Paint the frame, and add contrasting accents to the outer edges.
2. Cut and glue the cards around the frame. Trim with black paint.
3. Iron on a sacred heart patch to a piece of fabric and insert in frame.
4. Enjoy!


Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Friday!!

I'm sorry I've been slacking on the Inspiration Friday feature. Ack, there is so much going on these days. I'll get caught up soon.

The latest:

1. I'm doing something ultra GRAND for National Craft Month, so be sure to check back here on Monday for a treat.

2. My walkathon is this Saturday. It is a 5K, which means it is 3.5 miles. I used to walk six miles a day when I was in college, so didn't think I'd have any problems with an easy three miles.

"Mom, you were 18," the kids warned. "Your body is different now. You'd better practice!"

Sooo...yesterday I decided to do a dry run and see where I stand. Maya and I hoofed it to the neighborhood Sonic, got there and called Patrick to pic us up. We were so proud! It felt like at least two miles. I figured I could easily handle another mile for Saturday.

"Yup," I thought. "Mommy still gots it!"

We arrived home and I checked the stats on MapQuest.

.61 of a mile.

That's how far we walked. A little over half a mile! And my pinky toes ached and I thought I was going to pass out from exhaustion. Not only that, but the next day my legs and heels cramped. Yah, I need to get out and exercise more. I need to appreciate these limbs and give them some sweaty, muscle-toning love.

As for the walk, I will show up and do my best. I have a week of book signings starting Tuesday so I don't want to kill myself out there, but I'm going to give it all I have, even if it is slow and steady. I know my dad will be shaking his head and laughing from Heaven!

THANK YOU to everyone who is sponsoring me! If anyone else feels like it, I'm only $75 from my goal!! Here is my donation page! My older brother designs pacemakers and invited me to walk on his team. Oh, lordy, I hope I can make it past the finish line!

3. My novel comes out Monday!!! And what timing - I just received my revision notes today from my editor for my second novel. I enjoyed my little break away from Miss Scarlet's world and now it is time to go back in and move some furniture around, let go of some clutter and tighten up that story! *Polishing reading glasses*

4. The Crafty Chica Love Shrine Contest is still going on! See what people have turned in already by clicking here. And here are the entry rules!

5. Michaels! Thank you for the updates on the displays, I am so sorry that many stores are sold out. I've passed along the info so hopefully they will be restocking soon! I am so grateful, delighted and honored that Michaels is featuring this latest round of products, and I'm grateful to everyone who has shopped for them! Thank you!!

Alrighty, I'm headed off to bed! Have a fantastic Friday!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Aleene Jackson of Aleenes Tacky Glue!

Aleene Jackson of Aleenes Tacky Glue!
Originally uploaded by craftychica

Even Aleene came by for a book! She is crafty royalty!

CHA booksigning

CHA booksigning
Originally uploaded by craftychica

My very first booksigning for the novel. This was at the CHA show in Anaheim last month. Such a crazy, surreal time, I will cherish every moment. Special thanks to the team at CHA for inviting me to have the signing!

It's time!!! Arizona book events!

My new novel comes out on MARCH 1st - this Monday!
Next week is going to be crazy busy with the release of the novel!

WAKING UP IN THE LAND OF GLITTER: A CRAFTY CHICA NOVEL

Here is a list of my signings around town, hope you can make it out, watch or listen!!
Bring something covered in glitter and you get a little prize!

1. - March 1st: Cool2Craft Live Webcast
Go to http://apps.facebook.com/cooltocraft and “allow” the app and then you’ll be able to join in the LIVE shows. (Be sure to test your webcam and mic where prompted so if you want to ask questions live, you’ll be all set! Don’t want to go on webcam? No problem! You can ask questions in the live chatroom.)


2. - March 2nd : Good Morning Arizona, 9:15 a.m.

3. - March 2nd: Changing Hands Bookstore, 7 p.m.
6428 S McClintock Dr, Tempe, AZ 85283

4. - March 3rd: Borders Books and Music, 7 p.m.
2402 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85016

5. - March 5th: ALAC Arts Center, 147 E. Adams, Phoenix, 7 p.m.

6. - March 6th: M7 Street Fair, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
7th Avenue between Indian School and Campbell, Phoenix
http://m7streetfair.wordpress.com/

7. - March 7th: FaveCrafts Radio!

8. - March 13 & 14: Tucson Book Festival, Nuestras Raices Tent
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Performance Stage 11:30AM-12:30PM reading from GLITTER and a short Q&A
Craft Area 12:30-1:30 or 2PM Crafty Chica Workshop
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Craft Area 11-1:30PM workshop (different from workshop given on Saturday)

9. - March 20: Barnes and Noble, 2 p.m.
21001 N. Tatum Blvd, Phoenix, AZ (Desert Ridge Marketplace)
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Stretches for crafters!

Yesterday I tweeted about my sore shoulder (power-embroidery last night!) and DebRoby suggested I watch her video. I did, and it really helps!



LINK

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Snippet from a secret project!

Tonight's embroidery so far...

Embroidery in progress.

This is how I'm spending my evenings. Prepping for my Phx Fridas
upcoming exhibit!

How to flip crystals!

LINK

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Last night's dinner at my friend's! So pretty!

Airport meal. Asked for lemon. "this is the very last slice we have. Enjoy!"

Wedding Cake Card Box

When it comes to bridal crafts, don't leave out the gift table. Here's the recipe to a picture-perfect faux wedding cake that is created simply by stacking a set of hatboxes.

Wedding Cake Card Box

Supplies:
- 3 papier-mache hatboxes in graduated sizes (8 inches, 11 inches and 14 inches in diameter)
- 9 sheets of scrapbook paper in three patterns, three sheets for each box
- Aleene’s® Fast Grab™ Tacky Spray®
- Craft knife
- Foam or silk flowers
Sequins or Tulip® Glam-It-Up!™ Iron-On Crystals™
- Bride and groom topper
- 10-inch piece of netting or tulle
- Hot glue

Directions: Remove lids from the 8-inch and 11-inch boxes (these will not be used in final project). Choose a pattern of paper for each box. Working with one box at a time, add a coat of Aleene’s® Fast Grab™ Tacky Spray® to the bottom and outside and apply paper. Smooth out any bubbles with fingertips. You now have the three cake tiers.

Take the lid to the 14-inch box and make a slit 1 1/4 inches from the edge with the craft knife. Make it long enough across the length of the lid so cards can easily fit through. Use Aleene’s® Fast Grab™ Tacky Spray® and paper to cover the lid and the craft knife to cut through to the slit. On all the boxes, cover up where paper edges meet by adding trim, flowers or rows of Tulip® Glam-It-Up!™ Iron-On Crystals™ .

Turn the top two tiers over. Hot glue the 8-inch box to the center of the 11-inch box, then glue that box to the lid of the 14-inch box. Place the tiered lid on the 14-inch box. It will look like a round-tiered wedding cake.
Hot glue the bride-and-groom topper to the top of the cake and affix the tulle to their heads so that it drapes down over the back of the cake. Place your new wedding cake card box on the gift table so guests can insert cards.

VARIATIONS: Use fabric, wrapping paper or paint instead of paper to match your wedding colors.

, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

My week at iLoveToCreate!

We are working on fifty fabulous projects this week. It has been so much fun, I've been tie dyeing, stenciling, ironing, paintings, and more.

I arrived to the iLoveToCreate headquarters yesterday from Phoenix and the lead designer, Pattie Wack, handed me a simple tote that needed letters ironed on. I was so nervous, I didn't want to mess up. Therefore I practiced ironing on a letter on a scrap piece of fabric before I went into the real item.

Again, I was sooo nervous, I didn't want to have a Craft Fail on my first assignment! I wanted to impress everyone! I wanted my boss to lift my lettered tote to the sky and proclaim, "Kathy's project is astounding, let's dip it in bronze and mount it on the front of our building!"

Well, I ironed and ironed and ironed - and the darn transfer didn't work! I was so frustrated, but had too much pride to ask for help. And then I remembered a workshop I took last month that was all about letting go of pride when you know you need help in order to solve the problem swiftly and accurately.

With my invisable tail between my legs, I announced my problem to the whole design room. Cheryl, a full-time designer, walks over, picks up the supposed letter transfer I had been trying to affix to the tote, looks at it and says:

"Kiddo, this is the display sheet, it's just paper. The real transfers are still in the bag."

Can you say CRAFT FAIL???

Oh well, it served as my initiation to the entire project. The past two days have gone smoother than melted milk chocolate.

Here are some little videos I shot.

Today I'm decorating shoes!!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Tie dye and table covers!

Did u know purple painter's tape has less tack than blue? Good to know!

Pop Art Scarf!

This is a project I did at the craft trade show, and I finally have directions! It is so easy and looks wonderful! You can use it as a scarf or cut it up and use it in fabric collage projects.

Brighten your day – and your look – with a wearable work of art! Create this vibrant Pop Art Scarf with Crafty Chica™ Tango Permanent Fabric Markers™ and a little imagination.

Materials List

• Crafty Chica™ Tango Permanent Fabric Markers™
  
  

• Miscellaneous

  • Ruler (optional)
  • Scarf – white – 100% silk
  • Butcher paper
  • Blue painter’s tape

Instructions

1. Wash scarf to remove sizing; do not use fabric softener. Let dry.
2. Cover work surface with butcher paper. (Do not use newspaper as the ink may soil scarf.) Secure the scarf to the paper on table with painter’s tape so it remains taut.
3. Using the black fabric marker and ruler if desired, measure about a 1” in from edge of scarf and draw a border all the way around scarf as shown.
4. Use the black fabric marker to create hearts, flowers and other desired designs within the middle section of scarf. Write the word “LIFE” or another word as desired.
5. Fill in all designs with other colors then add dots and squiggles to fill in open spaces.
6. Create half circles around the border as shown.
7. Add additional accents with the black fabric marker. Let dry.

See even more projects at iLoveToCreate.com!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Mixed Media Mega-Badges

What happens when a craftaholic is away from the studio for long amounts of time?

This!

These are new designs I came up with in the spirit of large badges that you can wear as a pin or as a necklace. Yah, they are mongo-sized, but so is my love for all things creative. Dainty, I'm not. I suppose you could shrink the idea down to your desired size.

I'll have directions on these soon!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Waxed Roses

Don't be sad when the roses your lover gave you begin to wilt. Keep the buds in your vase - and your relationship - intact by waxing your roses. Not only do they look as gorgeous as that Victoria's Secret nightie you bought, they'll last a long time!

Supplies:
Double boiler
Paraffin Wax
Paper towels
Oven mitts
Large wood or metal spoon
String and clip (like a clothesline)

Directions: Place the paper towels under the clothesline so the wax won't get on the floor. Heat the wax in the double boiler according to package directions. Put on the oven mitts and pick up one of the roses and insert it in the wax. Use the spoon to drip it on hard-to-get areas (like the center). Clip it upside down on the clothesline. Note: Strip the leaves ahead of time, or wax them too. Who wants a perky flower with saggy leaves? Not us!
Felicidades,

Just arrived on my doorstep...

Final copies of my GLITTER novel! There is actually glitter embedded in the title and on the bottles of glitter! Hopefully readers will think it shines inside and out!

NOTE: Only the first run has the embedded glitter, so they are collector's items! Pre-order your copy now!!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Book Trailer! WAKING UP IN THE LAND OF GLITTER

LINK

Here is the first of two book trailers for Waking Up in the Land of Glitter. Special thanks to the fabulous Dave Lowe for putting it together for me!!

The book comes out in two weeks!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

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

Plus-size clothing myths debunked!

I came across this article on iVillage.com and loved it. It debunks clothing myths for plus-sized chicas like me.

When I knew he loved me...

From the first day I met Patrick, I knew I would spend the rest of my life with him. It took a while for him to realize it, but the bottom line is, he did.

And I remember the day.

It was a year and a half before we were married. I was managing his reggae en español band and we had a Memorial Day gig in Rocky Point, Mexico. The first day, he wore his favorite green, yellow, and red headband that some famous reggae star had given him. It was very windy that weekend, and Patrick offered it to me to restrain my wild, curly locks. I accepted and took this gesture as his secret code of “Yes, I am in love with you too". I put the headband on and didn’t remove it for the rest of the weekend.

Because it was a holiday, Rocky Point was crawling with drunken college kids that paid no mind to any kind of personal hygiene. When the last morning arrived, the band members loaded up the equipment in our vehicle – an unconditioned food delivery truck that Patrick’s dad had lent us. Aside from the front two seats, the truck was empty. Most of us had to sit in the hot steel box the way up and back. But the truck was free for us to use, and we liked that.

I wanted to freshen up before we left. I went into the nearest bathroom and was disgusted by it’s condition. It hadn’t been cleaned in days and stank worse than a chicken farm. I tiptoed through the water on the floor to reach the faucet.

I took off the headband to splash water on my face, but I must have done it too fast because Patrick's beloved headband flung off my fingers and landed inside the toilet that had not been flushed.

There was no way I could go back to the truck and say to my future betrothed, “Sorry my love, I dropped your favorite headband in the toilet!”. What would Patrick say? I plugged my nose and peeked at the damage. The headband was still dry, it appeared to just be resting on the side of the bowl. So I picked up a comb carefully fished it out. I dropped it in the sink, squirted soap on it and used the comb to “scrub” it until it lathered. I was in a panic and jumped when I heard Patrick holler for me.

“Kathy!, Come on, we're waiting for you!" he yelled from the truck outside.

I grabbed the one unused paper towel in the room, blotted the headband and ran to the truck.

"Hey, gimme my headband back, I need it now, it's going to be a hot ride home," Patrick demanded.

"Here ya go!", I said as I tossed it to him. I jumped in the truck and chewed on my nails, as if I had nothing better to do. Patrick put on the headband, snapped it in place on his sweaty forehead and climbed on the truck.

I thought I was off the hook. But an hour into the drive, I noticed a faint dirty diaper smell.

“Oh no…” I thought.

As each minute passed, the stench grew stronger. What made it worse was that it was May in Arizona, and the heat was evil. So evil that I couldn't tell if it was just in my paranoid head or if the headband was coming back to haunt me, like a ghost with unfinished business. It wasn’t my imagination. Soon, all the band members eyeballed each other as if to say, “Did you have an accident and not tell us?”

The smell was beyond unbearable. I wanted to gag, but I didn't want to draw attention to myself. Still, no one said anything out loud.

Finally, Patrick did. "What is that smell?!" he said angrily.

The band members chimed in unison - "I don't know, man!, I didn’t do it! Where can it be coming from? Did anyone bring food back? Did someone fart?"

Patrick sniffed and sniffed around the air like a hound dog detective. His head rotated in a large circle with more mini-sniffs. He stopped, but his eyes darted around the truck. Then he looked down, sniffed and looked up, and sniffed again. He ripped off the headband and yelled, "It's ME!"

I scrunched my knees up to my chest and buried my head.

"KATHY! What did you do to my headband?"

I caved. "I'm sorry!" I cried out. "It fell in the toilet back there and I fished it out and tried to wash it but I guess it didn't work very good! I know the famous reggae guy gave it to you and I didn't want you to get mad, so I didn't tell you! I thought it was clean!"

No one said a word, but the bass player/driver pulled over so Patrick could dispose of the ca-ca infested accessory and wash his head. The remainder of the trip I had to listen to the band lecture me on the dangers of germs.

What ever! It was a simple, honest mistake made out of puro amor para mi hombre.

So how did I know Patrick loved me? He was only mad for the next couple hours. When he dropped me off at my house after our trip, he smiled and gave me a big bear hug. He lifted my chin, laughed and said, “Girl you are something else!” My stomach did the flip flop thingy and I promised to crochet him a new red, yellow, and green headband.

I knew at that moment he was secretly in love with me. I was right! After we got married and compared notes, he admitted it!

Little did he know that the headband story was a sign of more drama to come...This March is our 20th anniversary!

Crafty Chica’s Lesson Learned: Love is like a craft project. The glitter will give you goose bumps and that hot glue gun burn will leave a scar. But there is no way to brag about the result unless you experience both pleasure and pain.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

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

Maya in the Monent: Valentine's Day!

My daughter Maya (de)celebrates the big day...


LINK
Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new novel and Crafty Chica product line!

Happy book review: 4 out of 5 stars!

Book reviews are starting to come in, here is the latest! This one is from Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine and they gave it 4 out of 5 stars! (Click on image for a bigger view).

And here is a review from Journey of a Bookseller, and she is giving away a free copy too! (Thank you!!)

"It was an interesting read. The author puts three very different women together and works her magic with them. They all have goals, but none of them are the same. And they have an interest in crafts, too. Or at least some of them do...

They each weather their own personal crisis, get a bit testy with each other, and try to get focused on what works best for them. They also end up developing a more enduring friendship in the process.

It reads easy and fast. The characters are enjoyable and will remind you of some of your friends, I bet.

Sometimes friendship is like a spider web, and you have to be careful not to fall through the openings. These characters didn't, despite their troubles."

Only 16 days until it is released!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my debut novel and product line!

Finished!

This morning at 9:39 a.m., Arizona time, a new manuscript arrived into the world!

Well, the first draft anyway.

Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing wrapped up at about 80,000 words and 42 chapters.

It's not finished ready-to-print-finished, but at least it is all out on paper. Now my editor will read it and send me notes and revision suggestions. Then I go in and polish it up!

All I can say is, what a journey! For the past few months, I've had to work eight hours a day on my crafty job with iLoveToCreate, and then as soon as my time is up, I'd switch back to writing. When I wasn't writing, I felt so guilty! Deadlines are crucial in publishing. I neglected everything and everyone and am so thankful they all put up with me. In my house, they all felt the pressure right along with me. Every morning the kids would ask, "How many words last night, Mom?"

There were some days when I had a two-way conversation with myself that went like this:

"I can't do this, this is impossible!" (flips though 10-page outline and shakes head)

"You HAVE to do it, you have no choice, and it is due, um, yesterday. toughen up and get busy!" (sucks down a double shot iced mocha)

None of that matters now, I finished! It is the best feeling to take on a huge task and complete it. I wish I could use this kind of motivation to lose weight, seriously. One step at a time!

The down side is after the excitement wore off, I moped around the house, lonely. I'd been hanging out with my characters instead of my family and it felt like they all packed up and left (my characters, not the fams). I didn't know what to do with myself.

At one point tonight, I couldn't sit still and considered embroidering a Frida Kahlo portrait right then and there (for real! I have crafting OCD), but then I stopped myself. I plopped on the couch and watched goofy TV shows (My favorite Project Runway star, Jay McCarroll, cried on Celebrity Fit Club!). And then I tried to go to bed at 9 p.m. nope, didn't work. I've been going to bed at 2 a.m., I'll have to fix that!

Tomorrow is about cleaning house, getting the studio prepped. I'm so ready to CREATE!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

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

HOW-TO: Start Your Own Crafty Lit Book Group!

If you:

- LOVE to read juicy novels

- Are a full-on glue gun totin’ craftaholic

- enjoy hanging out with the chicas


Well then, you must join or form a crafty lit book group!

Words can’t describe how much kooky fun it is to gather a group of wildly creative, wordy women and set them loose at a table of art supplies with a book as a topic of conversation.

The “Oh. My. God. No way!” stories take on a life of their own, the laughter machine unloads, and glitter flies everywhere. At times there are even tears shed for the characters' achievements and heartaches - and how they relate to our own lives. And it all wraps up with a show-and-tell finale, where everyone takes a turn to hold up their masterpiece and brag about it.

Excited? You should be. Here are the basics of starting your own crafty book group.

P.S. Here is a Crafty Lit group I started with my friend, Silvia from Studio Mama, come join us!

Round ‘em up. Shake the tree - send a note out to family and friends explaining what you want to do. Ask them if they would like to take part in a monthly spectacular crafty book bash. If you feel daring, look for people outside of your normal social circles. Post note cards at craft stores, colleges or libraries. It’s a groovy way to make new comadres, and the varying styles will add a nice flavor to the clique. When you have enough willing souls, set up an email list or online message group so everyone can post important dates, notes, pictures and messages.

What to do? Find common interests in both book genres and crafts. Mysteries, chick lit, historical fiction? Knitting, collage, macrame? At your first meeting, do introductions, and then have everyone fill out a short questionnaire sharing a book they want to read with the group, and a type of project they want to make. Put them in a hat and take turns drawing. That way everyone can contribute. If you want to be really creative, you can theme the project to fit the book. Here are some ideas.

Where to meet: There are two ways that work really well. The first is to have a different person host the meeting each month. The host supplies the basics: glue, paper towels, scissors, ruler, paints, craft knife, etc. The other option is to make it a field trip every month. You can meet at the park, the food court at the mall, an open lab at a craft store, even a coffeehouse.

What to bring: Make it a crafty potluck (theme it around your book!). Each person brings a food or drink offering, a small bag of craft supplies to share, basic tools (favorite scissors, pens, stamps, etc) and whatever items they want to use for their piece. It’s more personable when everyone brings their current favorite CD. It keeps the music going and you get exposed to new tunes.

Other ideas:

- Make one of your craft projects a journal for writing. Pass it around so everyone can decorate page in each other's books.

- Incorporate writing exercises in your group. Have everyone share a crazy, made-up line and then take turns continuing the story either on their own, or in the group.

- Attend a book club meeting or craft class together. You can keep the group lively by enrolling together in a class/book group at a local arts/bookstore. This option is perfect for tapping into new trends and practicing difficult techniques, because a know-it-all instructor is right there to help!

- Name your group. Have everyone submit ideas and choose one out of a hat or vote. Nominate someone to design a tantalizing logo. Come up with a catchy tagline for your group.

- Set up a web site. Star a group blog or an actual site. Give everyone their own page with a personality questionnaire. If your members have web sites, promote them. Include a page that links to other craft groups in your community or around the country. Post pictures of completed projects, along with instructions. Any lessons you’ve learned, post them to inspire other crafters.

- Throw a collaborative art show. Theme it around books, writing and reading! Check if your community has First Fridays (a night where all the galleries host openings). If so, visit local art spaces and pitch an idea for a show that unites all of your work.

- Become crafty heroes for each other. If someone in your group is in dire need with a home renovating project, centerpieces to assemble or a room to re-do before out-of-town company arrives, devote a meeting to help out. You’ll find this will also extend to help with advice, relationships, cooking and more.

- Buy an art booth at a festival. The trouble with art shows is the fee can be high, and it’s stressful to work the crowd all day. By joining forces like the artful wonder women you are, you can cut down on all of that.

- Design and create for charity. Sew or knit blankets for a local shelter, or have the group sign up to volunteer for fund-raising events.

- Invite mystery guests. Meet a talented artist in your travels? Invite them to come to a meeting and join in. Whatever book you are reading, look up that author's contact info and see if they can do a speakerphone interview with the group. You can also check to see if the author is visiting your town. Better yet - support local authors in your area!

- Take oodles of pictures and post book reviews. These will come in handy for the projects in this book. Post the pictures on your web site so the world can see how brilliant you all are! In addition, post book reviews on book sites, online book sellers.

- Theme your meeting. Celebrate each other’s backgrounds and upbringings. Have Cuban day one month and Texas day the next. You get the idea!

- Look for online book groups that you can connect your group with.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

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

LOVE SHRINE: La Tormenta

"La Tormenta" by Kathy Cano-Murillo

TRIVIA: In my new novel, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter, my main character, Star, makes a love shrine much like La tormenta for her ex-boyfriend, Theo.

This is a love shrine I made long before I even called them love shrines! This is from around 2001. I let it go, and wished so bad that I had kept it! I remember taking it into work at the newspaper and showing it to some reporters and then taking orders to make more of them!

I started with the base of a cigar box and painted it. I lined the back with paint chip cards and then affixed a page from a Mexican novela comic in the center with a juicy glue stick.

This particular comic was a racy one! This girl was in love with a mysterious stranger who rode into town on a dark horse. She was forbidden to be with him, but they snuck around anyway. I think he saved her life at one point as well. They had one passionate night of lovemaking and then the next morning they were busted! A bad guy from her town killed her lover right before her eyes and this was the page where it happened.

*Wipes tear*

Back to the shrine! I outlined the page in gold glitter and then added small items that were significant to the story of the novela. Except the Homey, I just liked him and he looked good there, so I glued him down. I used hot glue for all those items.

I used Aleene's Tacky all around the inside borders and added more loose glitter.

For the front edge of the box I used a Mardi Gras necklace. Hot glue didn't keep it in place, so I used hot glue and a slower-drying permanent glue. And then I added ruffles of colored crepe paper around the edges.

And there you have it - a love shrine. Actually, this is the love shrine that inspired the one in my novel. Star makes one for Theo, much like this!

Here is an image of a different couple from a different novela that you can use, just click on the picture for a bigger resolution!

And then enter the Crafty Chica Love Shrine Contest!



Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

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

Love Shrine Week: Storybook Love by Michelle Cano

In honor of the Craft/ILoveToCreate Crafty Chica Love Shrine CONTEST going on, I'm sharing different types of love shrines to give you ideas to make your own! Pssstt, enter the contest!!

OK, this one - my sister-in-law made for my Making Shadow Boxes and Shrines book. It is all themed around love and romance. If you look close you can see little pictures frames, mini-glassware, jewelry, flowers and more. I like all the window stories she has going on, but I think my favorite aspect is the way she really popped out the outside of the box with the tulle and the gift boxes on top.

Here are tips to make your own love shrine:

Let your heart guide you. Think of all the things that give you goosebumps (or that you want to give you goosebumps!) and make you happy! Your shrine can be exploding with sparkle and shine, or it can be soft and subdued. Start by laying down a foundation and background, and then adding a focal point, and then add accents to round it off. While Kathy likes to use creative containers for her love shrines, you can use what ever you want - anything is fair game! Kathy believes by setting out your love shrine in a place where you will see it everyday is a great way to bring happiness into your life!

Enter in this Crafty Chica Challenge for a chance to win crafty prizes. This challenge will run for 5 weeks, and the deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. PST on March 11, 2010. The Prize winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Because Kathy feels that love shrines are oh-so-very personal, the winners will be drawn at random. There will be one (1) grand prize winner, and three (3) runners-up.

• The Grand Prize is a Crafty Chica gift basket, a copy of the Crafty Chica's first novel Waking Up in the Land of Glitter and a $50 gift certificate to the Maker Shed.
• The Runner-up Prize is a Crafty Chica gift basket as well as a Crafty Chica bobblehead.

To enter this Crafty Chica Challenge, please submit photos of your love shrine to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr Group, and include a description of your project, inspiration, and materials were used in the process. (250 words or less please).

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RULES!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

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

I'm walking three miles in honor of my dad's shoes.

(Father Heart, watercolor on paper)

Today would have been my dad's 73rd birthday.

To celebrate his life and all he taught me,
I'm doing something to make a difference on February 27th...

I'm joining my brother, sister, and my kids on team to fight heart disease and stroke by participating in the
American Heart Association's Start! Heart Walk!



Me walk a marathon?

I'm a plus-sized chica who spends way too much sitting - either at the computer writing, or at the art table tinkering. My dad used to love to do these things too, but he was also very active. He used to build ten-speed bikes from scratch and then take them on long rides around the city. Growing up, every Saturday he would BBQ a big dinner and then make the whole family walk around the block to burn the calories.

*

I know the fundraiser is about preventing heart disease, but to me it goes much deeper. It's about WALKING in honor of my dad.

My dad had his leg amputated eight months before he passed away. I was there when the doctor came in to tell him the bad news. I've never seen my dad's face look more heartbroken.
He made it through the surgery and rehab, and stayed positive.

Once the wound healed, he embraced the artificial leg, got up and walked every day. He was in so much pain, but it was his pride that gave him the power to stand up tall and carry on.
He would even joke around and show it off to everyone!
He was all about making the most of every day.

I want to feel that burn. It's hard to explain, but I want to do it for him
and push through the pain.

So even though I'm going to be out of breath and probably want to give up after the first 15 minutes, I'm going to give it my all and FINISH THE WALK!
And when I'm done, I'm going to kiss his picture!

*

Here is the official spiel:

Unfortunately, too many of us have a loved one affected by heart disease or stroke. To help stop this, I will be walking in this year's Start! Heart Walk benefiting the American Heart Association. I have set a personal goal to raise funds that are needed for
critical heart disease and stroke research and education.

I'm doing this in honor of my dad and my nana, who both suffered from heart disease
(both had triple bypasses), and have since passed away.

I've never done anything like this before
and am very excited to not only get outside and WALK,
but to do it for such a wonderful cause!

You can help me raise funds and protect those you love by making a donation online. Click on the link below to visit my personal donation page where you can make a secure online credit card donation.

The American Heart Association's online fundraising website
has a minimum donation amount of $25.00.

~* PLEASE SPONSOR ME! *~

Follow This Link to visit my personal AHA fundraising web page and help me in my efforts to support American Heart Association - Phoenix, AZ - PMA

It's OK if you can't donate anything, that is totally fine!
Just send good vibes my way on February 27th!

No matter what way you contribute, you will make a difference in the fight against our nation's No. 1 and No. 3 killers-heart disease and stroke. Thank you for your support!!!

Happy birthday Dad, I love you and miss you so much. I hope you are resting in peace and feeling all the love we are sending your way! Thank you for watching over us, we feel your love all the way down here! xoxoxoxox!

Peace, love, and a healthy heart!

Kathy :-)

Crafty Chica classes in the Oceanside area!

My friend Svea from Dancing Bear Indian Trader is holding two Crafty Chica workshops at her shop featuring Crafty Chica supplies!

I'll be there in spirit. In fact, I'll work it out so she can call me and I'll say hi to everyone over speakerphone!

Here is the first one - Crafty Chica Fancy Fedora, $20. The date is February 20 - so hurry and sign up!

The other is August 14th and it is the Chihuahua Pillow project!

Phone number: 760-726-BEAD (2323)

Hours: 11am-5pm (Pacific) Tuesday-Saturday

email: info@dancingbearindiantrader.com

Store Address: 135 E. Broadway, Vista, CA 92084

Don't forget, you can make your own versions by buyng supplies at select Michaels locations!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

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

Patrick made earrings!

Patrick made earrings!
Originally uploaded by craftychica

Patrick is performing at a big reggae festival tonight and wanted to make things to sell at a booth too. He has been working all week on making things. Today he said "How can I make earrings?" I told him what to do, and he did it. I attached the fish hooks for him. Real men use glitter!

Lyrical Love Song Pillowcase

(lyrics from Cameo's song, Sparkle)

Don't you want to be the last thing on your significant other's mind before he/she falls asleep? Diamonds and roses are nice, but they won't do the trick. But a Lyrical Love Song Pillowcase will. Choose your favorite tune - maybe one from your wedding or first date - write the lyrics on a pillowcase, then dye it whatever shade you want. Imagine your sweetie snuggling up to your sentimental, romantic verses long after Valentine's Day has gone.

This concoction uses fabric-friendly supplies to ensure the pillowcase will be soft and irresistibly huggable. Just like you!

This is also a fun project for kids to try. Let them draw on the pillowcase or scribble a love note. Resist medium and fabric spray paint can be found in the clothing aisles at the craft store.




Supplies:
1 cotton pillowcase
2 tubes of Tulip® Cool Color Block
1 bottle of Tulip® Fabric Spray Paint™

Set out the pillowcase on a covered surface. Write your lyrics with the Tulip Cool Color Block across the fabric and let dry according to package directions. TIP: The Color Block will spread - so make sure to write big and spacious!

When dry, spray with color, let dry and wash according to package directions. I used Tulip Fabric Spray in bright red, and then covered with a coat of gold glitter fabric spray.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

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

LOVE SHRINE Contest!

CRAFT and iLoveToCreate.com have teamed up to present to you the Crafty Chica Challenge: Love Shrine!

Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica, has been making love shrines for the past 15 years. Using everything from mint tins to cigar boxes to even kitchen drawers, she transforms them into colorful art assemblages filled with objects, trinkets, mementos and phrases she loves. Her themes range from exotic lands to her kids to her Mexican culture. But her favorite love shrines to make are themed around romance!

In Kathy's new crafty-themed novel, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter, her main character, Star Esteban, makes a magical, glittery love shrine for her ex-boyfriend, Theo as a way to woo him back. Readers will not only have a peek at how Star made her love shrine in the story, but at the back of the book there are directions to make your own. You can also try one of Kathy's Love Shrine workshops in a Box - or start from scratch!

Here are her tips:

Let your heart guide you. Think of all the things that give you goosebumps (or that you want to give you goosebumps!) and make you happy! Your shrine can be exploding with sparkle and shine, or it can be soft and subdued. Start by laying down a foundation and background, and then adding a focal point, and then add accents to round it off. While Kathy likes to use creative containers for her love shrines, you can use what ever you want - anything is fair game! Kathy believes by setting out your love shrine in a place where you will see it everyday is a great way to bring happiness into your life!

Enter in this Crafty Chica Challenge for a chance to win crafty prizes. This challenge will run for 5 weeks, and the deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. PST on March 11, 2010. The Prize winners will be announced on Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Because Kathy feels that love shrines are oh-so-very personal, the winners will be drawn at random. There will be one (1) grandprize winner, and three (3) runners-up. For more information and official rules, visit the Crafty Chica Challenge: Love Shrine contest page.

• The Grand Prize is a Crafty Chica gift basket, a copy of the Crafty Chica's first novel Waking Up in the Land of Glitter and a $50 gift certificate to the Maker Shed.
• The Runner-up Prize is a Crafty Chica gift basket as well as a Crafty Chica bobblehead.

To enter this Crafty Chica Challenge, please submit photos of your love shrine to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr Group, and include a description of your project, inspiration, and materials were used in the process. (250 words or less please).

If you're joining in on the contest, here's the code for the badge to display on your site or blog.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

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

FREE PHX FILM PASSES: Shutter Island!

I have a limited number of free movie passes for the new film, Shutter Island over at my ChicaWriter.com site! Click on that link to get the passes, first come, first serve!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

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

INSPIRATION FRIDAY: Crafternoon NYC!

Please welcome, Maura Madden, author of Crafternoon: A Guide to Getting Artsy and Crafty with Your Friends All Year Long ($16.95) as this week's guest blogger.
Check out the cool idea she has for saucing up some skivvies!

Sentimental Skivvies

By Maura Madden

Valentine’s Day is one of my all-time favorite crafting holidays. Yes, Christmas and Halloween definitely lend themselves to displays of serious craftiness, but Valentine’s Day is the perfect reason to get your supplies out and make your honeys some tokens of your love. And Valentine’s Day is especially close to my, ahem, heart because Crafternoon was born out of a Valentine’s making party some eight years ago. So even in a really busy year like this one, I make time to make valentines. Everybody wants to feel the love, and this day is a great excuse to show it.

I usually make paper valentines for most of my buds, but sometimes I like to go the extra mile and make a crafty pair of underwear for the besties. Nothing too racy, mind you, just something fun to show my love. I’ve got lots of suggestions in my book, Crafternoon, for hilarious sayings and witty observations to scrawl on your own pair of funderoos, but for this special Crafty Chica post, I kept it simple. Hearts and initials are all you really need to show your love, right? At least that’s what the trees have been led to believe.

Sentimental Skivvies Supply List:

Cotton underwear

Tulip® Soft Fabric Paint™

Paintbrush

Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint

Cookie cutters (optional)

Cardboard (optional)

Exacto knife (optional)

1. Identify the undergarment. Pick up some plain underwear in the right size for the intended recipient. Paint will show up better on a lighter color, so you white want to go with pre-Labor Day white. And though Sisqo may have been interested in seeing that thong, I do not recommend crafting on one. There just isn’t enough of a “canvas” to work with.

2. Create a panty plan. Do you want to use a stencil, or just paint freehand? Figure it out! Do you have a steady hand and a strong grasp of the heart shape? Then go freestyle! Want more guidance? Use a stencil to help you make your mark. (If you feel like freestyling, skip ahead to step four.)

3. Make a sweet stencil. I kept it simple by using a heart shaped cookie cutter to make my stencil. Just trace the shape of the cookie cutter on to a piece of cardboard or posterboard, and then cut out the shape with an exacto blade. (Parents: If you are making stencils, divide the labor by having kidlets do the tracing and then you can do the cutting. Exacto knives are very, very, very, very sharp, and the misuse of them is sure to ruin your Crafternoon).

4. Make yourself a masterpiece. With a brush and some fabric paint, paint on your image using either the stencil, or your mind, as your guide. You can do all sorts of things, but for Valentine’s Day, it’s hard to beat the beauty of a simple heart.

Whatever design ends up on the pantaloons, your recipient is sure to love them. After all, there are a few things that everyone needs in life, and two of them are love and underwear. Making valentine panties will make you a very popular person, and that’s a sure path to a mailbox full of valentines.

For more crafty tips on making valentines, mending hearts, and throwing your own Crafternoons, visit www.crafternoon.com.

Maura Madden is a writer, performer, producer and crafter working at Comedy Central in New York City. Maura was a member of the San Francisco comedy group Killing My Lobster from 1998-2002. She co-hosted Two for the Show, a monthly variety show at Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction in NYC, from 2005-07. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband Rufus, her Two for the Show co-host. They have a lovely dog named Lorenzo. Crafternoon is her first book.

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!