Projects: Super Bowl

Are you planning a Super Bowl party?

Well it is not to late to wow your friends with a few crafty ideas. Why don't you craft up a astroturf football tablecloth or how about some yummy slow cooker crab dip or perhaps a sour beer punch is more your speed.

Kick back, get crafty and enjoy the game. Steve and I have compiled projects from Creative Juice that are just perfect for this Sunday! Click on the links below for the project instructions and recipes. Go Team - Cathie

Astroturf Football Table

Make Your Own Pom Poms

Slow Cooker Crab Dip

Herb Roasted Nuts

Homemade Rosemary Focaccia

Grilled Brats with Spicy Onions

Sour Beer Punch

Homemade Caramel Corn - YUMMY!

They Followed Us

Hi everyone its Steve here, as you know Cathie and I are in Vegas, we woke up early Monday morning and off we went.


Highway 15 is the quick route to Vegas. We stopped at a roadside snack shop where we were encountered by aliens. We've posted the pics so you know we are not lying. Just want to let everyone know that Cathie and I are OK - BUT the aliens have followed us to Las Vegas without us knowing, until tonight.

We came back to the room after a long day of working the floor at NATPE, sat on the edge of the bed looking at the amazing Vegas landscape and then it happened.

POW, BANG, WHAM, POOF, a crazy ball of intense light began to spin around Cathie and myself, vision of aliens entered both our minds, "they are trying to penetrate our brains" I yelled, luckily we are strong willed and stubborn as hell.

We both concentrated hard and as quickly as they came, they vanished. Here is frightening picture and the proof of our experience with THE ALIEN OF LAS VEGAS.

Stay safe.
STEVE

Creative Juice is Twice as Nice on Thursday

Tune in or Tivo to HGTV & DIY Network for Creative Juice!
We are Rockin Out with Rock projects and Stamping Up with cookie cutters.

Click here for all the project instructions: Rock Out Stamp Style

Modern Rock Art made with Mod Podge

Lovin' It

Desk Top Plants

Cocktails and Mocktails on the Rocks!

Homemade Stepping Stones

Strong!

Stamping UP!

Beeswax candles made with cookie cutters

Fabric printing with bleach and cookie cutters

stamped mailbox

Cleaning and caring for rubber stamps

Day 1 in Las Vegas

Well last night was great fun! We met with some guys from Warner Bros at TheHotel and sipped a bit of wine ($17 per glass - no joke). We also met a great guy who gave us some invaluable tips on creating promos and presentations. I showed him our presentation for our shows and he loved it! I was so thrilled that it passed his inspection because he is a veteran in Hollywood.

Joined at the head and hip.

We played the penny slots and I lost $10! Not bad considering I am not a gambler. Then - I mistook a $5 slot machine for a nickel slot and lost $20 in 20 seconds. Must quit gambling now!

The conference went well - we made some solid connections and got reacquainted with some folks that we had not worked with for awhile. I don't want to give away too much - But - I smell football and my hubby will be happy about that. :) Details soon.

Emeril was all smiles!

Oh Dolly!

Yummy Lunch at the Border Grill!
We are huge fans of Mary Sue and Susan! LOVE THEM

Waiting for our talk show seminar with Sally Jessy Raphael, funny man Tom Green, Jim Paratore the executive producer of TMZ, Talk show legends Burt Dubrow and Woody Frazier and Terry Wood from CBS.

Getting Sleepy

Back at the room, ready for a little
Jeopardy, snacks and Idol.

Vegas Baby! On our way....

We just landed in Vegas! The drive was awesome we laughed and gossiped the whole way. What a road trip...we saw a beautiful rainbow, the largest thermometer, aliens and had our fortunes told. We are off to our photo shoot and interview with Natpe Daily and C21 Media. Lipstick please:) and hair gel for Steve.

Get Nailed with Creative Juice

Tune in or TIVO on Tuesday for the "Nail It Up" episode of Creative Juice on DIY Network. 12:30 eastern. Click here for all the project instructions: Nail It Up Epiosde

In this epiosde:
really cool string art
sour beer punch
bedazzling and studded jeans and tote bags
re-crafted soda cans turn into garden tea lights

Vote for Sweet P and Make Your Own Modern Art!

Steve, Sweet P & Me at Jo-Ann Fabrics

It has been such a busy day! We are gearing up for CHA and Steve and I had so many supplies to buy! We had many stops; Jo-Ann Fabrics, Michaels, The Habit (yummy lunch) and back to Jo-Ann's for more supplies.

At our first stop we bumped into the fabulously talented, Sweet P, from Project Runway. We begged her to tell us the winner, but, she kept her lips sealed! She is a fan favorite in my house so when we got home we promptly voted for her as our fan favorite on the Bravo website and we encourage you to do the same. Click Here To VOTE!

At Micheal's they are having a huge clearance sale on beads - some were really cool and priced at a buck! They also have a great sale on art canvas and foam core board is a dollar!

I have received tons of emails about the gallery glass project from this post asking me about how to make the Liz Taylor art. They are so easy to make and you only need 1 bottle of black onyx gallery glass, which is about $2.00! The cool thing about this technique is that it will stick to the glass as long as you wish and then you can peel it away and create a new design. Here are a few different design ideas.

Hollywood Recycled
Made with bubble wrap, felt, yellow lined paper and magazine pages.

Let Their Be Light
Made with hot pink silk.

Records Re-Crafted
Made with a vintage album.

Birdy
Made with green silk.

Gallery Glass Goes Modern!

Basic Supplies:
glass frame
black onyx gallery glass
image to paint
felt
fabric
tacky glue
duct tape
options: paper and recycled items like records, bubble wrap, magazine pages

How To:

Remove the glass from the frame and clean the glass with glass cleaner.

Place a graphic image or vintage album under the glass. You can create your own graphic image by photoshoping your own pictures or look for graphic images in mags and online. To photoshop your own pictures adjust the color to black and white and then adjust the color balance until you are happy with the design. If you find a small image that you love, just increase the size on a photocopier.

Don't shake the gallery glass! Apply the gallery glass over the areas where you want paint. For the Liz Taylor, chandelier and the bird pieces I painted every area that was black. For the record album I highlighted just the conductor. Allow the gallery glass to dry for up to 24 hours.

For a Fabric Backing: Attach a piece of felt to the backing board of the frame with tacky glue, attach a piece of fabric to the backing board by wrapping it like a present, use duct tape to secure to the back.

For a Recycled Backing: Layer up vintage records, papers, bubble wrap, junk mail, grocery bags, etc. to the backing board to create a design.

Once the gallery glass has completely dried, place the glass on top of the backing board and secure into the frame.

Water Wind & Fire: Project Tutorials

It is Water Wind & Fire on Creative Juice!
Tivo or Tune in...Thursday Morning on DIY network.
Click the links for project instructions.

Apartment Sized Fire Pit
Great for a non-working fireplace!

Indoor Water Fountain

Sea Shell and Beaded Windchime

Plastic Fantastic: Craft Project Tutorials

It is Plastic Fantastic on Creative Juice!
Tivo or Tune in...Thursday Morning HGTV.
Click the links for project instructions.

Oil Cloth Table Runner, Re-crafted Utensil Caddy and Napkin Rings

Bobby Pins

Shrink Plastic Bracelet & Earrings

Button Decorated Pattern Storage Box

Project: Funk Up Your Tea Towels

Craft up your own funky dish towels!

Kitschy Transferred-Image Dishtowel

Materials:
woven cotton dishtowels
image to transfer (must be printed on a laser printer or copier)
iron or heat-transfer tool
masking tape

1. Choose an image to transfer and print it out with a laser printer or a laser copier. If the picture contains text, reverse the image before printing or copying.

2. Attach the transfer tip to a heat tool and turn the tool on. Place the image face down on a dishtowel; secure in place with a piece of masking or low-tack tape along one edge. Working on a hard surface (not an ironing board), burnish the back of the paper with the heat tool, using moderate pressure. Heat tools get very hot, so keep the tool moving to prevent paper burns. Continue working until the image is fully transferred. You can peel the paper up as you work to see which areas of the image have transferred.

3. If you don’t have a transfer tool, use a hot iron, applying pressure to the paper with the tip of the iron.

Lettuce-Stamped Towel

Materials:

woven cotton dish towels
Romaine lettuce
knife
paper towel
craft paint in two colors
textile medium
waxed paper

1. Wash and dry the towel according to the label care instructions.

2. Cut the lettuce roughly 3"-5" from the stalk end. The cut edge of the stalk end will become the stamp. Firmly blot the cut edge on a paper towel to remove excess moisture.

3. On a piece of waxed paper, mix craft paint with textile medium (we mixed one part paint with two parts textile medium, following the instructions on the back of the textile medium bottle). Pour a small portion of the second color of craft paint into the middle of the just-mixed paint. Swirl the second color around slightly, stopping before the color blends with the base paint.

4. Place the towel over a piece of waxed paper to prevent the paint from bleeding through to the work surface. Press the cut edge of the lettuce into the paint mixture and stamp onto the dishtowel.

Optional: To create a leaf stamp, hold two or three leaves together in a bunch and press the cut end into green craft paint that has been mixed with textile medium.

Transfer Tips for Embroidered Dishtowels

1. Choose an image to embroider on the towel. There are numerous ways to transfer an image to a towel: e.g., transfer paper, pens and pencils. Choose one method and transfer the image, following the transfer manufacturer’s instructions. We used wax-free transfer paper and a serrated tracing wheel. For this method, place the paper, colored side down, on top of the towel; place the image on top, printed side up.

2. Use the tracing wheel to trace along the lines of the image. Use a pencil or ballpoint pen to trace the small details of the image. Remove the paper, and the image will be transferred to the towel.

3. Tighten the towel in an embroidery hoop and begin embroidering. Use different stitches and colors for the various areas of the design. When not working on the embroidery, remove the towel from the hoop to avoid stretching or warping the fabric.

UFOs over Texas and on Creative Juice

Crafty Space Episode - Creative Juice
Tuesday, January 22 - DIY Network - 12:30 eastern

UFOs are flying all over Texas and a few have landed at the Creative Juice set!
Tune in this Tuesdays for the Crafty Space episode.
Click here for all the project instructions: Crafty Space

Projects are:

Pulp Comic Laptop Case

Area 51 Cupcakes

Trip To The Moon Scrapbook Page

Kids Re-Crafted Chip Can Rocket

Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza Created and Co-host Creative Juice on HGTV & DIY! For more Crafty Ideas Bookmark www.cathieandsteve.com or subsribe to this blog!

When it rains it pours - especially in Peru!

The old saying when it rains it pours has never been so true! A few years ago our production company, Two Bees and a Pea Productions, filmed a pilot with a very famous woodworker. The pilot was beautiful and probably could have been sold as a DVD - but, we got the order for 78 more Creative Juice episodes and the 6-part Halloween special so we got busy fulfilling the Creative Juice order and the pilot had to put on the back burner.

Well, yesterday we had lunch with Mr. Woodworker (a delicious Thai lunch in San Dimes) and we picked up where we left off and have decided to follow him with cameras on his next trek into Peru. The Woodworker specializes in hand tools and forest management and works with small villages deep in the rainforest and jungles to help the locals with forest management and he teaches them how to craft the wood into furniture and novelties that can be sold to other parts of the world.

Many of the villages are "off the grid" with no power and all the tools are worked by hand or foot. It is absolutely amazing! The photos from his last trip to Honduras trip were not only moving but very inspiring. The craftspeople are now suppling the outdoor retailer Smith and Hawken with their furniture.

The Woodworkers next trip will be in deep in Peru. So deep, that it is a 2 day tretchorous drive from Lima. The accommodations will be sparse; wood planks, sleeping bags and Mosquito netting. Our camera batteries will be charged by generator and we are planning on purchasing the new smaller High Def camera for this trip. Of course we will have our cannon digital for stills along for the ride.

It is going to be a busy 2 months - of course I would not want it any other way.

Antiqued and Assemblage Art on HGTV & DIY

It is a double whammy of Creative Juice!

Turn on HGTV in the am for the Assemblage Art episode where we visit with our good pal and assemblage artist Jimmy McGill. We are also mixing up a velevt hammer cocktail, glue together a hex nut coasters, create secret nook books and getting a little kid crafty with a party tray race track and kooky critter stuffed animals. For Project instructions click here: Assemblage Art Episode

Velvet Hammer Cocktail - Yummy
Kooky Critters

And tune into DIY Network in at 12:30 eastern for the Antiqued episode where we are sewing a Victorian style party top, antiquing modern mirrors, testing tea dying techniques and creating a workshop sign perfect for dad! For project instructions click here: Antiqued Episode

Ruffled Top

Getting Crafty with Plaid!

Hump day! Steve and I have so much to do...we are burning dvd's, making press kits and getting crafty as fast as we can. We are getting ready for a huge tv conference in Las Vegas and then CHA (the largest craft convention for manufacturers and retailers) in early February.



We are so excited because we love Plaid products; mod podge, folk art paint, stiffy, gallery glass, the list goes on and on and we have just inked a deal to do "make and takes" and craft project demos in the Plaid booth for the winter CHA!

The UPS trucks have been delivering boxes of fabulous new Plaid products for us to play with. Some products are so hot of the press that they don't even have their labels yet! Love it :)


Cork stamps! They make the most beautiful aged impressions - perfect for altering clothes. We will be making the stamped flower pins on the show floor and will have 7 different projects on display; everything from a "rocker inspired" reverse appliquéd hoodie to a glam gold purse.


Multicolor Chalkboard Paints! I started playing with them yesterday, they go on so smooth and the colors are rich. We are going to using them on Fredrix Sew Paintable. So far the testing looks really good.


Mod Podge Galore! Glow in the dark, shimmers and glitters!!! I can't wait to dip my brush into them. I know Steve is probably thinking up some glow in the dark robot art.


Gallery Glass! This product has been around forever and it is so amazing for making faux stained glass. Well, we are putting our own modern spin on stained glass windows and going arty! This one is called Hollywood Recycled. The painting of Liz Taylor is made with black onyx gallery glass, old magazine pages, yellow tablet paper, bubble wrap and shocking green felt. We will have 12 different designs in total.

I am sure Steve will be pulling up any minute - must go get a quick walk in with Mr. Max. Have a super crafty day.

Cathie

BOW WOW WOW Color Proofs Arrived Today!!

You might remember back to a post from this summer where I had just finished the 18 hour photo shot for my new sewing book. Not to mention the entire summer sewing dog costumes and accessories.

I am so thrilled - I can hardly stand it!!!! The color proofs of my new sewing book, Bow Wow WOW!: Fetching Costumes For Your Fabulous Dog, just arrived today! I have one night to do my last set of notes so I'll be burning the midnight oil. Don't worry I'll have Idol and my hubby to keep me company!

The dogs look so cute in all the costumes - they bring a huge smile to my face! The book is loaded with accessory patterns and over 35 different costumes for your pooch as well as everyday looks.

Here is a sneak peek at the pages....now I must go and proof read.

Vampira You Will Be Missed

Maila Nurmi

Maila Nurmi, who created and performed the the Vampira character for just a short year in 1954, carved a path for women in television. Maila passed away at her home, a modest apartment in Hollywood, at the age of 85.

Her character is believed to have inspired the Morticia Addams character on The Addams Family, which made its TV debut a decade later.

Her film appearances included a cameo in Ed Wood's 1959 cult classic Plan 9 From Outer Space. Nurmi was portrayed by Lisa Marie in Ed Wood, Tim Burton's 1994 tribute to the B-movie director.

Creative Juice Farmers Market Episode

Farmers Market Episode
Tuesday, Jan 15th, 12:30 pm eastern on DIY Network

In this episode we are crafting a picket fence planter box with paint stir sticks, growing mint, embellishing a garden apron and gloves, wood burning garden markers and blending up some delicious raspberry and orange smoothies.

Click here for all the project instructions: Creative Juice - Farmers Market Episode

Picket Fence Planter Box

Garden Apron & Glove Set

Wood Burned Garden Markers

Smoothies

Creative Juice airs on HGTV every Thursday at 7:00 am and on DIY every Tues & Thursday at 12:30 pm. Set your tivos & dvrs. For more skinny on Cathie and Steve, visit www.cathieandsteve.com.

Creative Juice Rockstar Episode

Rock Star Episode - Thursday, Jan 10th on DIY - 12:30pm eastern

Steve and I are rocking out with fun projects! This episode is loaded with ideas. We decoupage a girly "rock star" belt buckle, stitch up some cool cutaway fashions, make resin guitar pick necklaces and create a few vintage rocker pillows.

Visit this link for project instructions: Creative Juice Rock Star Episode and visit DIY for air dates and times.

Rocker Belts

Resin Necklaces

Cut Away Sewing Technique


Cut Away Pillows

Creative Juice Crafters Caddies Episode

Crafters Caddies Episode - Thursday, Jan 10 on HGTV

We are re-crafting and re-thinking ways to store magazines and patterns, making a blooming pin cushion and decorating clipboards to hold magazine tear outs and recipes.

Visit this link for all the instructions: Crafters Caddies. Visit HGTV for times and schedule.

Blooming Pin Cushion

Magazine Rack Made From Re-crafted Craft Books

Decoupaged Pattern Storage Boxes


Decorated Clip Boards

Emmy Nominated, Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza from Creative Juice on DIY Network & HGTV. For more info visit www.cathieandsteve.com.

Hard Candies Make Sweet Treats

Here is a copy of my latest newspaper column.

Sweet treats date back to the cavemen days; no, not the cavemen from the commercial. Even though, I am sure those actors have eaten a few sweet treats from the snack table. I am talking about real cavemen and women who would eat dollops of honey from beehives as a tasty dessert or afternoon snack.

In Europe during the middle ages the cost of sugar soared and candies were only available to the ultra rich. Clever candy makers turned to making hard candy and lollipops. They could be made in small pieces and lasted longer than traditional soft candies. Less buck more bang! This concept still holds true today. You can create pounds of hard candies for just a few dollars that will last for a very long time.

The ingredients are simple, the steps are so easy and the flavors are divine. You can create a traditional lemon, English toffee or peppermint candy or try something a little more modern like root beer, pina colada or cappuccino candy.

Candy making shops and online suppliers have many different molds and flavorings. You can create lollipops or mini heart shapes, you can add exotic colors and delicious flavors the sky is the limit when it comes to making hard candy.

This classic recipe, with delicate lasting flavor and just enough sugar, always tames my sweet tooth. If you make a batch for yourself or as a gift, I guarantee it won’t be long before you are boiling up a second batch. One note about making candy, it best done on low humidity days. A rainy day can ruin a batch of candy.

Classic Hard Candy
2 cups white sugar
1 cup water
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon raspberry food grade flavoring
6 drops red food coloring
powdered sugar
candy thermometer
cookie sheet with a lip, greased with vegetable oil

In a large saucepan, mix together sugar, corn syrup and water. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add your candy thermometer to the pan (avoid touching the bottom of the pan) Bring mixture to a boil without stirring. When syrup temperature reaches 260o F, add 6 drops of food coloring. Do not stir.

When the temperature reaches 300o F, promptly remove from the heat. After boiling action ceases, add flavoring and stir. Pour onto the cookie sheet. When cool, break into pieces and dust with powdered sugar to prevent sticking. Store in airtight containers.

Emmy Nominated, Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza from Creative Juice on DIY Network & HGTV. For more info visit www.cathieandsteve.com.

Creative Juice Record Mania Episode

On HGTV-HD, Sunday Jan 6th, 6:00pm eastern


Pull those old records off the shelf, and let's rock! We are tackling some fun music-inspired crafts, including a groovy room divider made from old LPs; a vintage-looking bleached rock T-shirt; photo scrapbooks made from nostalgic record sleeves; and customized CD covers that put a new spin on record mania.

For project links click here: Record Mania Episode

Enjoy!

Cathie

Creative Juice Fiesta Episode

On DIY Network, Tuesday Jan 8th, 12:30pm eastern


We are crafting up some fiesta-style projects! We come out swinging with a homemade pinata made from a recycled milk jug, design party throw pillows from rag rugs that are sure to be a hit, cook up tantalizing chicken mole sauce with a creative kick and blend up mango margaritas.

For project links click here: Fiesta Episode

Enjoy!

Cathie

Back Home & Back on HGTV

I am back home from a whirlwind trip to Oklahoma, where I got to see my fabulous family and from Mammoth Mountain, where I skied my buns off and celebrated the new year with friends and my hubby.

My trip was amazing and so much fun. I got to see my sister & brother, nieces & nephew, my grandmother in Warren, Oklahoma, the stunning diamond ring my husband gave me for x-mas, the small towns of Corn and Gotebo, my brothers office, the amazing Mammoth Mountain, snow, fire and my good pal Rob cooking in the kitchen.

Now that I am back home - I have loads of work to do! When my eyes opened this am - I almost passed out at the amount of catch up work that needs to be done. I am determined to not get behind on Day 3 of the new year so I am off to finish my newspaper column and organize my new calender.



Creative Juice begins back on HGTV tomorrow morning at 7:00am. Tivo or tune in! The episode is When In Rome where we mix up a batch of limoncello, infuse olive oil, hand paint oil bottles, make kids dish bottle puppets and garlic focaccia.

Cheers to a Happy and Fruitful New Year!

Cathie