Contest Winners!

"I always find my roots," by Nolwenn

I used the Random Number Generator to choose winners from the "A Work Week in Photos" giveaway, as well as this weekend's Share It Saturdays link party. Click below to see who won!

Crafty Chica Cruise SWAG call out!

The 5th Annual Crafty Chica Cruise is almost upon us! We have 50 people from all over the world attending this event. One thing they all have in common? They are hardcore creatives and they love making Latino-themed arts and crafts!

Read on to see how you can be a part of the fun!

Today's craft store haul (very sparkly!)

These remind me of a Bollywood movie!

I'm working on a very special project tomorrow and using all of the following goodies I found today at the craft store!

POST YOUR CRAFT: 'Share It Saturday' link party & weekly giveaway!

The Valentine link party went so good, I've decided to kick off Share It Saturday (and Sunday) as a regular feature! Add a link to a project you made this week, along with a picture - share this blog post link - and you'll be entered in the giveaway drawing. This week's prize? A FREE discovering Y.O.U. {art marketing e-course} by Traci Bautista! $125.00 value! Here's how to enter: 

DIY Oilcloth covered sneakers

 I'm a sucker for cheap shoes. These canvas sneakers were $5 and served as the perfect base for a little oilcloth magic! Here are the steps to make your own!

INSPIRATION FRIDAY: Author Sandra Lopez

Today's guest is an author with amazing spirit and spunk! She wrote and published her first two novels while in college and is currently working on her third. In addition, she runs a book blog where she shares reviews of all the pageturners that capture her attention. This is a great article to share with the young, aspiring writers in your family because Sandra is proof that it's never too early to manifest one's dreams. Way to go, Sandra! Visit her web site here. Her essay is below...

DIY haute hangers!

This is a project from 2006, but I just came across these hangers in my closet and think they are so cute! I just had to share them. Here's how to add some sassy style to them.

Did I ever show you my empanada pin cushions?

This may be my kitschiest project yet: Empanada pin cushions! After seeing so many fiber artists have their way with pastry pincushions, I thought I'd throw a little needle love to mi cultura.

Reader questions

I get oodles of letters every week from readers, and I wish I had time to answer each and every one of them. I've pulled a few of the most common questions and am answering them here. I'm also interested to hear your answers for your own way of working, so please share in the comments!

A work week in photos (and a giveaway)

This was an apron I decorated in our booth at CHA. Tar'Lese, our trade show manager found it and returned it to me!

When you work for a craft company, you never know what the day will entail! I spent the week in Fresno at iLoveToCreate and I snapped pictures of objects that came across my desk. It's fun working in the creative arts industry! Click below to see all the images - there is a giveaway at the end!

A painting: from beginning to end

I've been working on refining my painting skills and had someone ask me for a step-by-step.Here is apiece I did for an art auction and I had my iPhone handy and was able to take photos during the process. Granted, I'm still a newbie, so don't judge!
First, I like to paint my canvas from the back. I gessoed it and then sketched my design.

DIY Patchwork Scrapbook Paper

LINK
Felicidades,

Chicken Soup for the Soul Call Out: Happiness

A few years back I had an essay selected for the Chicken Soup series. It was a story I wrote about my dad's tamale making adventures. I'm so glad I submitted the story for consideration,  I still talk to people who remember it! Here is a new call out I saw and I encourage all of you to write and submit, you'll be glad you did!

Items for upcoming XICO art auction!

Party on the Rez by Patrick Murillo.

 Every year XICO has an art auction and we donate pieces. Here are the new things we made for the big event later this month.

Make a juicy treasure box!

Everyone needs a happy place to keep their tiny treasures. Why not make a box that is as special outside as the things you'll place inside?

CRAFTY CINEMA: Gnomeo & Juliet-inspired Flower Pots

From TV commercials to movie cameos, garden gnomes have become a beloved fixture in pop culture outdoor decor. And we’re excited that their popularity has come to life in the new computer animated feature, Gnomeo and Juliet. It’s your basic two-ceramic kids-from-opposite-sides-of-the-flower bed love story. Can their blooming romance overcome the thorny obstacles from their families? Hopefully so, with a little help from finger-snapping musical numbers by Elton John.

Happy Valentine's Day!

"A happy wedlock is a long falling in love. "

                                - Theodore Parker

 This is one of my all-time favorite quotes about love and it is so true! In fact, I loved this quote so much that I built a whole scene around it in my Miss Scarlet novel. There is a character named Mary Theresa who is so uptight and bossy that her benevolent house husband threatens throws in the towel. She has to learn to loosen up in order to regain his trust and interest. That's all I'll say, you have to read it to find out what happens!

Jumbo charm bracelets and glitter resin charm tutorial.

 This is how I clean my art room. I had a lot of wood pieces so I turned them into jumbo charm bracelets. (For sale in my Etsy store, some have already sold though)

Phoenix Fridas meeting

We all got together last Saturday to catch up, plan our four big events for the year and...CRAFT!

After our meeting was adjourned, we busted out with bangles from DIYBangles.com and Crafty Chica markers and went to town. There is no better feeling than to add wet color to dry wood, so relaxing!

INSPIRATION FRIDAY: Papel picado dresses and more!

Inspiration from around the interwebs!

1. Papel-picado dresses from Outsapop.com

From Outsapop: Papel picado ("cut/perforated paper") is the Mexican art of papercutting into elaborate designs. The designs are commonly cut from thin tissue paper. Themes includes birds, floral designs, and skeletons. Paper cutting is one of those hobbies that an averige person just does not have the time or patience, but if you have the passion for it amazing things will be created. This technique is not just for paper craft but fashio designers have also taken inspiration from it to create similar looks from lasercut fabrics and leather. These dresses are by Brazilian fashion designer Ronaldo Fraga, his SS10 collection. Found via Ullabenulla.

Free Valentines!

"Ama me/Love me" by Kathy Cano-Murillo."

Patrick and I have a treat for you! Here are two Valentine designs we painted that you can use to give to your friends or use in your personal collage or mixed media projects! All we ask is that you not use use them commercially in any way (anything you would sell). Enjoy!

No-Sew Applique Flaming Shibori Top!

This is a shirt that I bleached out using the Shibori technique.I've included a video below, but instead of using dye, I used bleach. I let it set on the tube for about 15 minutes and then I washed the shirt, dried it and used Tulip® Fabric Spray Paint™  in yellow and red to create the look of flames. I let it set according to package directions and then washed and dried it.

SQUEAL! Look what was just delivered on my doorstep: My new novel!

 The final copies arrived to my editor last week and she sent me two copies hot off the press! My heart is racing, I can't believe it is already coming out. Tears of joy streaming down my face as I type this.

CHA: Fun times!

 Here are some more pictures from CHA!

CHA: My showstopper low rider dress!

Over at iLoveToCreate, each of us designers were given the task to create a dress themed around "drivers of creativity" and this is what I came up with!

Here is my original sketch and click the link below to see how it turned out! (You can also click on sketch for a bigger view)

Going to Superbowl party. Bringing my neccessities! (not a sports fan, obviously)

CRAFTY CORAZON: Valentine Link Party! Post your craft!

In my world, floating hearts abound all year long, but they triple during February! Love and crafts go hand-in-hand, don't you think? If you are in the mood to craft, here are some flirty ideas.

NOTE: I'm trying something new -  a link party! At the very end of this post, you can add your link of a Valentine's Day, heart, love, or romantic craft or art piece YOU made (rated G please) and post a picture! All I ask is you share this blog link somewhere online!

Projects:

Heartful Shadowbox Frame

Shirbori Heart Tee

Free Valentineshttp://thecraftychica.blogspot.com/2011/02/free-valentines.html

Casa romantica candy boxes

Chocolate Box Valentine

Hearty projects

Chubby Girl Delight: Pop Tart Valentine's Day Cookies

Candy-covered Box

Cigar Box Love Shrines

Conversation Heart Coasters

Cupid's Light Box

Doily Love Pouches

Flirty Word Heart Lights

Happy Heart Fabric collage

Heart-shaped Sugar Cubes!

Heart Utopia Bag

Love Affirmation Standing Valentine

LOVE SHRINE: La Tormenta

Lyrical Love Song Pillowcase

Queen of Hearts Window Frame Box

Simply Sweet Valentine Cards

Soldered Heart Charms

Storybook Love

Suerte Love Charm

Valentine Granny Handbag

Valentine Heart Bottle

Woodburned heart

Waxed Roses

 Felicidades,

The power of invisible red lipstick!

People think I'm confident and happy 24/7. I'm here to tell you that my red lipstick is the key to my mojo. It's my security blanket, right along with blouses that cover my hips and big earrings. It's silly, don't you think? I mean, lipstick is just a waxy cosmetic. Superficial. But without it, I feel as bland as an unbreaded, overcooked chicken nugget. Imagine the horror when I realized I lost my one and only lipstick on the first day of the craft convention! Not only that, it was right before my seminar in front of 150 people!

Three ways to impress a retail buyer

Here is a quick interview I did with Andrea Spyros, owner and retail buyer of Handmade Galleries LA, about what she looks for when investing in new artists.

If you have ever considered wholesaling your wares, there is a lot to consider - pricing, a theme for your line, consignment vs; buying outright, etc. But before you go down that road, check out these tips!


LINK

Felicidades,

Soldered Heart Charms

Who says soldering is only for glass? These are wood hearts that I painted pink, coated with sparkly glitter and then soldered around the edges. They make cute, rustic-style necklaces!

Felicidades,

Los Angeles, Part One: The California Gift Show!

The huge sign promoting my book signing right by the entrance area. I got goosebumps when I saw it and had to snap a picture!

I'm home from two weeks in Los Angeles!

Both the California Gift Show and the Craft and Hobby Trade Show were incredible. It was difficult being away from my family for that long of a stretch, but it was worth it because I made unbelievable  connections for our little art business.