Champagne 101

Just in time for New Year's Eve, The New York Times has a wonderful little article on Champagne. Makes my mouth bubbly just thinking about it!

Quickie Projects for New Years Eve - part 4

This is a youtube video from a New Year's Eve Party segment I did on NBC's IVillage Live. If you are looking for quick nibbler recipes then check out this blog post. For more New Years Eve Ideas....Visit part 1, part 2 or part 3 of the New Years Eve posts.

Quickie Projects for New Years Eve - part 3

Party Signs

Create a fun and welcoming sign with a small TOP HAT & some scrap book paper. I did a little embossing and added some fabby rhinestone letters. Perfect for on a bar or buffet table.

Craft a yard sign made from foam core board. Place it on your front walk so guests can easily find your home and neighbors can get in the New Year's Eve spirit.

Quickie Projects for New Years Eve - part 2

Countdown Clock, Party Crowns & Tagged Glasses

Adorn plastic party glasses with a bit of feather trim and a few ribbons, add a festive tag and some wired stars and your guests will be ready to party. Tip: Use low temp hot glue to attach the glasses to the base.

Count Down in style with a recycled record album clock. I added guitar picks for numbers a few sticky back rhinestones and some lime green letter stickers to spell "Happy New Year". You can pick up the clock
parts at any local craft store.

Embellish simple party hats with bits of tinsil, feathers and butterflies. Don't forget to add glitter!

Quickie Projects for New Years Eve - part 1

“Toast of the Town” Party Glasses and Confetti Poppers

Tis the season for toasting and whether you are planning a party for 4 or 40, I have some simple and easy craft projects that will make your glasses be the “toast of the town.”

If you are planning an intimate gathering, pick up some inexpensive champagne glasses and transform them into memorable toasting glasses with a little etching cream. If you are throwing a larger party and the idea of washing all that glassware is a little daunting, use plastic glasses and a little garland to create fanciful tinsel toasters. For extra party pizzazz, craft up some easy confetti poppers.

Along with these craft projects, here are a few tips on toasting. Be yourself and speak from your heart. Keep the toast articulate and humorous as well as appropriate and to the point. Be brief and end on a positive note. If you are stumped for the perfect toasting words, just raise your glass and a say “cheers!”

Etched Toasting Glasses

Supplies:
Champagne glass
Letter stickers or shapes
Glass etching cream
Paintbrush
Scissors
Rubber gloves
Sink

Steps:
1. Decide on a design plan. Cut around the letter stickers of your choice, leaving a space around the edge of the letter. Optional: If you want to use your own design, you can cut out a design from heavy-duty shelf paper.

2. Clean and dry glass thoroughly.

3. Making a stencil from the cut letter: Peel the letter from the cut piece and discard it. Make sure you keep any “inserts” from the letters (like the inside of an O). This will be the stencil.

4. Apply the stencil and any letter “inserts” to the glass. You can line them up straight or go for a more whimsical look by applying them randomly. You can use a piece of tape to help you line them up straight. Burnish the stencil into the glass using your fingers.

5. Applying the etching cream: While wearing rubber gloves and working on a protected surface open the etching cream. Using a paintbrush, liberally apply the etching cream inside the stencils. Remember that wherever the cream touches the glass will etch, so be careful not to go over the stencil.

6. Wait 5 minutes for the etching cream to react to the glass. Wearing rubber gloves, wash the etching cream off the glass and pull off the stickers.


Tinsel Toasters

Supplies:
Plastic champagne glass
Tinsel garland
Hot glue gun & glue

Steps:
1. Attach the base of the glass to the stem of the glass. If the glass feels flimsy, you can add a drop of hot glue to secure the base to the stem.

2. Wrap a 3-inch piece of garland around the stem of the glass and hot glue in place. (you can use a bamboo skewer to help hold the tinsel in place while hot gluing)

Confetti Poppers

Supplies:
Small plastic champagne glasses (bridal section of craft store)
Gold and black star shaped confetti
2” Gold notary seal sticker – Avery brand (office supply store)

Steps:
1. Fill the small champagne glass 3/4 of the way full with a scoopful of confetti.

2. Seal the top of the glass by centering the gold notary sticker over the opening of the glass and press down the sides of the sticker.

3. Punch the top of the seal with your finger and toss the confetti into the air.

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has a Safe and Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and a Super New Year.

One of my favorite ornaments!

When I was little...

The Santa Baby costume from my book Bow Wow WOW!


Amy's pugs get in the holiday spirit.
Plaid Enterprises


Steve and I trying to convince Santa we have been good.

The Christmas elves with Steve's tree.

Press: Reader's Digest: Gift Wrap Ideas

Check out Reader's Digest for a slide show of some of my quick and easy handmade gift wrap ideas. Happy Holidays!

Quick Gifts for the Girl on the Go!

This easy to make beauty kit includes brown sugar scrub, infused sea salts and a makeup brush roll made from a store bought placemat.

Brown Sugar Scrub Materials:
2 ounces brown sugar
2 ounces Turbinado sugar (sugar in the raw)
3 vitamin E capsules
dollop of honey
avocado oil
essential oil – scent of choice
4 ounce jar with lid
scrapbooking punch
glue stick
labels printed onto sticker paper
gold stickers
shrink band
heat gun

Steps:
1. In a small glass bowl combine the sugars, open the vitamin E capsules and add the contents to the sugars, add a dollop of honey, stir to combine. Slowly pour the avocado oil into the sugar mixture and stir until the sugars are coated. Add a few drops of essential oil, more or less depending on the scent strength desired.

2. Spoon brown sugar scrub mixture into a four ounce jar and attach a decorative label. Yield four ounces or double the recipe. The brown sugar scrub has a shelf life of 12 months if the container is sealed.

3. Decorate the top of the jar with a decorative stamp and paper. A label printed onto sticky paper is used to decorate the front of the jar.

4. Slip a shrink band over the top of the jar. A heat gun quickly shrinks it for a leak-proof seal.

Ins and Outs of Oils and Additives:

Avocado oil is taken from the pulp of the avocado and makes a rich additive to skincare products for all skin types, especially dry and maturing skin. It is high in protein and vitamins A, D and E which help heal scaly, dry skin. Unrefined avocado oil, which is green in color, contains a higher proportion of these nourishing vitamins and solids with exceptional moisturizing capabilities.

Essential oil is distilled from plant material using water, steam or both. Essential oils have remarkable qualities that enhance health, beauty and well being, helping to revitalize skin, encouraging radiance and resilience. Essential oils produce various results in different persons with a variety of skin types.

Honey is rich in many essential nutrients including vitamins C, D and E, honey is also a natural humectant that draws moisture to the skin.

Sugar is an effective ingredient to add to recipes for body scrubs. It is generally too abrasive for use on the face and neck area but when used on the body, especially hands, feet, ankles, heels, elbows, knees and everywhere else, it is superb.

Vitamin E is used to moisturize and nourish skin and it also protects against free radicals.

Infused Sea Salts Materials:
4 ounces of sea salt
essential oil – fragrance of choice
plastic seal bag
4 ounce jar with lid
ribbon scrap
glue stick
travel stickers

Steps:
1. Add four ounces of sea salt to a plastic seal bag and add a few drops of essential oil to the salt. Seal the bag and use you hands to knead the salt and oil together.

2. Pour the infused salt into the jar and seal. Attach a label to the lid and a decorative ribbon around the base of the jar, secure with a glue stick.

Makeup Brush Roll Materials:
1 ready-made fabric placemat
2 yards of ribbon
sewing machine
matching thread
scissors
straight pins

Steps:
1. Lay the placemat right side down on the work surface and fold the bottom edge a third of the way up to form a pocket. Iron in place. Sew the two side seams of the pocket in place. This will create the side edges of the long pocket.

2. Lay out the items for the roll-up across the long pocket. Use pins to mark where you will want to sew the seams. These seams will form mini-pockets to hold the items. Space them as far apart as necessary. Stitch down each pinned line. Adjust the depth of the pockets by stitching across the bottom of each pocket.

3. Fold the ribbon in half, pin in the center of one side edge and stitch in place.

4. Fill with items and roll it up. Wrap the ribbon around the roll and tie in place. Trim the ends of the ribbon.

Make it: Kids Holiday Wreath

Kids Can: Craft A Wreath

Kids will love to create this holiday wreath and it will look welcoming and beautiful on any door. This makes a great holiday gift for grandparents.

What You'll Need:
Green felt squares - 4 or 5 pieces
Cardboard scrap - 12"x12"
Scissors
Craft glue
Pom-poms
Pink felt square
Marker

Steps:

1 - Cut a 10 inch ring from a piece of heavy duty cardboard.

2 - Make a template of your kids hand with a scrap piece of paper. Using the template as a guide, cut hand shapes from the green felt. You will need about 10 hands.

3 - Using craft glue attach the hands around the ring, overlap as needed. Glue pom-poms as ornaments and add a bow cut from pink felt.

4 - Smile your finished! Hang on the door.

You could also create a holiday tree by using a large triangle shape. Glue hands to be the tree branches and pom-poms for ornaments.

Tune in: Creative Juice for the Holidays on DIY

Creative Juice for the Holidays

Tune in or Tivo!
December 22, 2008

1:00 PM Eastern

If you don't get DIY, you can check out all the segments on youtube by clicking the links below.

Video: peppermint bark
Video: infused vodka
Video: tomato cage trees
Video: felt bows and wreath
Video: glttered snowpeople
Video: kids dreidel game board

Project Instructions at DIY:
Tomato Cage Christmas Trees
Glittered Snowballs, Snowmen and Ornaments
Peppermint Bark
Felt Wreaths and Bows
Berry-Infused Vodka
Raspberry Martinis with Green-Sugared Rim
Dreidel Game Board

Link - O - Rama

About Family Crafts
With just a little bit of time and a few simple supplies, you can give everyone on your shopping list a home-made, personalized calendar.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen goes green for Christmas, and shows you what you can do with all those extra Christmas cards and gift tags we all have hanging around!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
Alexa shares how to create a custom mat frame from journal pages...a perfectly sentimental gift everyone will love!

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
The 15 days of Holiday Goodness Giveaways continues at Craftside. Just answer questions and you are entered to win free books! And while you're there check out a lace trim Christmas tree and New Year's Eve party hat, 4 of the cards from the new book-1000 Handmade Greetings, a holiday memory photo ring tutorial and a free crochet Santa pencil topper pattern.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Read the Fine Print When Crafting for Charity - Make what they want and give what they need.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Try your hand at a traditional embroidery style with this free Candlewicking ornament.

Layers Upon Layers
It's not too late to make pretty fabric hearts for your tree...or for everyon on your gift list!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how easy it is to alter custom game pieces that will have players fighting over them.

The Impatient Crafter™
Commemorate this historical election year with an easy to make festive Obamornament!

Bake it: Peppermint Bark

I love this time of the year! I feel like a busy kitchen elf, baking cookies, making sweet breads and my famous peppermint bark. Homemade treats never last long so I always suggest doubling sweet treat recipes! My sister is making something similar this week - but she is substituting the peppermints for lemon drops and coffee candy.

*peppermint bark tutorial*

Shop List:

12 oz. quality white chocolate, finely chopped
30 red-and-white-striped hard peppermint candies, coarsely crushed (about 6 ounces)
12 oz. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 Teaspoon peppermint extract

Kitchen Tools:

Measuring cup
Rubber spatula
Sharp knife
Aluminum foil
Cookie sheet

Bowl

Sauce pan

Packaging:

Glass jar
Ribbon,

Tag

Ornament

Note: This recipe makes around 1-1/2 pounds.

Line the cookie sheet with a 12" length of foil.

Combine bittersweet/semisweet chocolate, whipping cream, and peppermint extract in a bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water - (homemade double boiler) - do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) until chocolate is melted and smooth. The chocolate will feel warm to touch. Remove from over water.

Pour the chocolate onto the foil. Using the rubber spatula spread an even layer of chocolate over the foil. Sprinkle half of the crushed peppermints over the chocolate. Chill in the refrigerator until set, about 20 minutes.

Remove the chocolate and peppermint from the refrigerator. Melt the white chocolate in a bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from over water. Pour all of the white chocolate over the chilled chocolate and peppermints. Using the rubber spatula spread the white chocolate in even layer. Top with the remaining crushed peppermints. Refrigerate until very cold and firm, about 25 minutes.

Once hardened, use your hands to break the bark into chunks. Allow bark to stand 15 minutes at room temperature before serving. (Note: This recipe can be made 2 weeks ahead and chilled in an airtight container.)

For gift giving, package the peppermint bark in clean glass jars. Glue stick wrapping paper scraps to the metal lid. Attach a bow, ornament and a tag.

Homemade Hard Candies

Classic Hard Candy

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.

Gift Wrap Ideas From Your Kitchen Drawer

Need a quick gift wrap? Why not look in your kitchen drawers. The top design was made with a sheet of tin foil, glitter snowflake and bow and the bottom design is a just a zip top baggie (with the zip top cut off) a little tissue, tinsel, and a bow.

DIY Gifts for Wine Lovers

Wine Projects from Creative Juice, make great holiday gifts for wine lovers.

Wine-Label Scrapbook

Here is great idea for a wine-label scrapbook - this little reference book will heplp keep track of your favorite vintages. Kit from www.sevengypsies.com.

Materials:
2 7"x8" chipboards (front and back of book)
1 3"x8" chipboard (spine of book)
awl
small craft hammer
lacing and needle
book pages
paper glue or tacky glue
scrapbook embellishments
1/2 yd. cotton fabric or cork
2 pieces heavy-duty cardstock
7 Gypsies handbag book (modified)
ribbon
glue gun
2 hinges (included in 7 Gypsies set)
foam brush
paper or fabric (wine-inspired) to cover book
wine labels
ruler
Sharpie marker
hand drill (optional)

Steps:

1. Glue the paper over the chipboard from 7 Gypsies' kit, making sure to leave at least 1/2" of extra paper to fold over the flap.

2. Using an awl, make two holes on the side of each chipboard and attach hinges.

3. Cut the cork sheeting to fit as an inside book lining.

4. Using binding thread and a needle, attach the pages to the middle piece of cork.

5. Attach the larger pieces of cork to the inside sides of the book with hot glue.

6. Attach the ribbon to the two inside sides of the book; the ribbon will become a fastener for the book. Tuck the ribbon edges under the cork to create a clean finish.

7. Attach the pages to the book by hot-gluing the cork to the spine.

Etched Wine Glasses

So easy to make!

Materials:
armor etch
waxed paper
small flat paintbrush
2" low-tack blue painter's tape
wine glass
small to medium punches
scissors
rubber gloves

Steps:

1. Apply a strip of tape to a sheet of waxed paper. Using three circle punches of graduated sizes, punch through the tape and waxed paper to create mini adhesive stencils. Separate the stencils and trim them down with the scissors.

2. Remove the tape from the waxed paper and place the dots in the desired position on the wine glass (do not place near the mouth area of the glass. Press the dots firmly in place and burnish the edges with a fingertip.

3. Wearing gloves and using even application strokes, apply etching cream according to directions.

4. After the allotted etching time, while still wearing gloves, rinse the glass and peel off the stencils.

Custom Cork Stoppers

Materials:
bottle corks from the craft store
glass drawer knob (single with a cap screw set)
screw driver
small, pointed screw

Steps:

1. Predrill a hole into the cork by screwing the pointed screw all the way through center, or use a hand drill.

2. Place the cap end of a cap screw set on top of the knob.

3. Thread the screw up through the cork, the glass knob and the cap; make sure the screw is tightly in place.

Optional: Add a drop of E6000 glue to the screw before inserting into the cork and knob.

Make it: Denim Wine Bags - recycled

Project: Recycled Denim Wine Bags

Supplies:
Old Jeans
Scissors
Fabric Glue
Sewing Machine
Wine Bottle
1 Yard Ribbon

Steps:


1.Lay the jeans out flat (iron if necessary) and line up the wine bottle on the lower leg. Position the bottle so the top is about 3 inches down from the hem.


2.Cut the leg off about 1” from the bottom of the bottle.

3.Turn the leg inside out.


4.Stitch the cut opening with a 5/8th inch seam allowance. Turn the bag right side out and press if needed.

5.Remove the pocket from the seat of the jeans and trim around the back of the pocket so you are left with just one layer of fabric.


6.On the backside of the pocket, apply a bead of fabric glue around the outer edge and glue to the wine bag about 2” from the bottom and allow to dry. Place the wine bottle in the bag and add a wine opener to the pocket and tie a ribbon around the neck of the bottle.

Tips and Tricks: not so great at sewing….in a pinch you could staple the seam on the wine bag closed.

Pics from the Tree Lighting

Happy Elves!

My sister and I were the elves at the Atwater Tree Lighting and Steve helped organize all the lights and ornaments for the giant tree that grows permantley in the middle of Atwater Village. We had so much fun, met some wonderful people and got to ride on the city of Los Angeles fire truck! Check out the CBS website for a slide show of the event. The turn out was so huge that kids stood in line to meet Santa long after the event was over. I think they were tired! HUGE thanks and hugs to all the Creative Juice friends and fans that came out to meet us! Crafty Kisses and Happy Holidays!!

Robbie joined in the fun.

Santa and his helper, Miss Candy Cane, also do parties and kids events.
Visit www.myspace.com/lilstarparties to learn more about them
or book them for you next kids event.

Erin waves to the kiddies!

Steve's Tree!

Make it: Stretched Fabric Art

Stretched Fabric Art

Materials:

decorative fabric
wooden stretcher frame (available at art-supply shops)
staple gun
picture-frame hanger
beads, sequins, buttons, needle and thread (optional)

Steps:

1. To assemble the frame (if stretcher frame came preassembled, skip ahead to step 2), fit together the four sides of the frame by sliding the flaps into grooves at the end of each section. Using a staple gun, put a staple into each of the 4 diagonal seams.



2. Measure the fabric to fit the frame and add 2-1/2" per side to allow the fabric to wrap over the sides of the frame. Cut out the fabric; if necessary, iron it to remove wrinkles and creases.

3. Lay the fabric face down; center the frame on top of the fabric, front side down. Starting at one corner, fold the fabric over the frame and staple in place. Repeat on the other corners, making sure to stretch the fabric taut. Next, fold and staple the fabric back along all sides of the frame. To ensure that the staples stay in place, use a hammer to secure them.

4. Optional: Sew sequins, beads or buttons to the fabric to accent pattern elements; choose colors that complement the fabric. Attach a hanger to the frame.

Make it: Modern Grass Painting

Modern Grass Painting

Create a modern grass painting with a unique painting process that combines strips of shelf liner with warm green paints.

Materials:

20"x20" square prestretched canvas
self-adhesive shelf liner
scissors or craft knife
metal yardstick
self-healing cutting mat
Folk Art Acrylic craft paint: 2 oz. each olive green and white
gel medium
100% cotton rag
picture hanger

1. Roll out the shelf liner and tape down. Using a yardstick, mark points on the contact paper that are 17", 14", 11" and 9" tall . Next, using a craft knife and a metal yardstick, cut the paper at marked points. Line up the yardstick at the center of one of the paper’s boxes and cut down to the base at a slight angle. Doing this on both sides will leave a long, thin triangle shape. You will need 6 strips that are 17" long, 20 strips that are 14" long, 15 strips that are 11" long and 10 strips that are 9" long. The strips should resemble large blades of grass.

2. Attach the strips to the canvas. Beginning with the longest strips, keep layering until the canvas is covered. Wrap the widest part of the strips around the bottom of the canvas; pointed ends should be facing the top of the canvas.

3. Pour a small amount of olive green paint on a plastic plate. Add an equal amount of gel medium to the paint and mix thoroughly.

4. Wet a rag and wring it out. Forming it into a ball, dip it into paint, blot off the excess and begin painting at the base of the canvas. Paint the darker color 1/3 of the way up from the base of the canvas. Add a drop or two of white paint to the olive paint and blend to create a lighter shade of green. Continue painting the canvas with the lighter shade, blending the two colors together about 2/3 of the way up the canvas. Add more white paint to create a very light green shade and continue painting to the top the canvas, blending as you paint. Let the canvas dry.

5. Carefully remove the shelf liner paper and add a picture hanger to the back.

Make it: Mapped Out Art

Mapped Out Art

Materials:
Basswood Country Planks (this project used a 16"x13"x11" Walnut Hollow platter)
Small map of Italy (printed from the computer and enlarged to fit base of platter)
60- and 120-grit sandpaper
Folk Art Acrylic craft paint: cream (Linen), butter yellow (Morning Sun), spring green (Forest Moss), robin’s egg blue (Light Blue), tan (Buckskin Brown), chocolate brown (Dark Brown)
foam paintbrush
small round paintbrush
low-tack masking tape
pencil
matte clear sealer (varnish)
picture hanger

Steps:

1. Sand any rough edges and clean sanding dust off the tray.

2. This project is about painting in layers. Using a foam brush, apply 2 coats of cream wash (1 part paint and 1 part water) to the top surface of the platter and let dry.



3. Next, apply a coat of spring green wash to the inner base of the platter and let dry. Apply a coat of butter yellow wash to the inner base of the plank and let dry. Apply a coat of robin’s egg blue wash to the inner base of the plank and let dry. Apply a coat of dark brown wash to the inner base and let dry.

4. Cut out the map and position it in the center of the painted platter. Lightly secure the map to the platter with low-tack tape. Trace around the map with a pencil. Pull up the map to reveal the country outline.

5. Using a small round paintbrush, fill in the map outline with tan paint (not wash) and let it dry. Let the platter dry thoroughly before sanding.

6. Using 60-grit sandpaper, sand the entire platter. Sand lightly on some areas of the platter and more heavily in other areas to expose different layers of paint. Smooth out sanding lines with 120-grit sandpaper; wipe the surace with a rag to remove sanding dust.

7. Optional: add extra embellishments such as map symbols or sayings to the platter.

8. Using a foam brush, coat the platter with matte-finish clear sealer. Secure a picture hanger to the back of the platter for hanging.

Make it: Handmade Ribbon Bows

Handmade Ribbon Bow

Materials:
long zipper, measuring tape or ribbon
hot glue
scissors

1. Twist one end of a piece of ribbon into a loop and secure with a drop of hot glue.

2. Create a figure-8 by making a second loop of ribbon the same size as the first loop. Twist loops together and secure with a drop of glue.

3. Continue creating loops and figure-8s until you have rounded out the bow, decreasing loop size until bow is full.

Make it: Recycled Card Ornament

Materials:

several used greeting or note cards
2-1/2" punch, or a glass with a 2-1/2" base for tracing
pencil
small scrap of cardboard
ruler
glue stick
binder clips
hole punch
decorative ribbon
optional -- bone folder

1. Use the 2-1/2" punch (or trace a 2-1/2" glass base) to punch 20 circles from assorted cards. 2. Using a ruler and pencil, draw a triangle measuring 2-1/8" on all sides on a scrap of cardboard; cut out the triangle to use as a template.


3. Trace the triangle onto the back of each greeting card circle and score each circle along the triangle lines using a bone folder or ruler. The circle should fold so the printed sides of each circle are on the interior of a small triangle-bowl shape.

4. Using five of the scored circles, glue stick the flap of one circle to the flap of another, continuing with all five circles to form a star shape. Clamp together with binder clips and let dry for 15 minutes.

5. Working with 10 more greeting card circles for the middle layer, glue the flaps to the bottom layer flaps, clamp and let dry.

6. Use the last five greeting card circles to form a top layer. Glue, clamp and dry.

7. Punch one extended flap with the hole punch, thread a length of decorative ribbon and hang.

Make it: Paper Gift Boxes

Need a quick box? Origami fold your way to an easy box made with 2 pieces of scrapbook paper. It is easy and priced right.

What you will need:
2 12"x12" square sheets of paper
bone folder or old credit card

1. To make the box lid, fold one paper square in half diagonally, first one way and then the other, sharply creasing the folds with a bone folder or an old credit card before unfolding.



2. Fold the four corners in until they meet in the center of the paper, crease sharply and unfold.


3. Beginning with the paper unfolded, fold one of the corners until it meets the farthest crease line opposite that corner. Crease, unfold and repeat the process with the remaining three corners.

4. Fold each corner to its closest crease line before unfolding all corners to reveal an overall pattern of creased squares.

5. Open the folds and place "wrong side" up on the table.


6. Fold two opposite triangular corners at their first crease lines.




6. Fold again at the next crease lines. Use the last crease to stand up box sides.

7. Using your thumbs, gently fold in the remaining box sides along crease lines, forming the sides of the box. Crease and fold in the last triangular corner flaps to complete the box.

8. To make the bottom of the box, trim a 12"x12" piece of scrapbook paper to 11-1/2"x11-1/2" and repeat the steps for the top of the box.

Make it: Kids Bath Time Puppets

Quick Baby Gift: Bath Time Puppets

Bathtime just turned into an imaginative puppet show! Ordinary hand towels and felt become fun bath puppets in the shape of frogs, piglets, monsters or anything else a child can imagine.

Materials:
1 hand towel
embroidery floss
felt scraps
embroidery needle
scissors
sewing machine
permanent marker

Steps:

1. Choose a hand towel and felt in colors appropriate for each puppet.

2. Fold the towel in half end to end. Place a hand on the folded towel with your arm pointed toward the towel ends and a finger pointed toward the fold. Spread your pinky and thumb as far as possible and, with a wide stroke (approximately 1-1/2" from your hand), trace around your hand (like a hand turkey) with the marker.

3. Cut through both layers of the towel on the traced line and pin for sewing. Sew around the puppet, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance; leave the bottom part of the puppet open for your hand.

4. Clip the curves of the seam allowance to increase flexibility and turn right side out.

5. Adding features is the place to get creative. Cut circles for eyes, funny noses, floppy ears, etc. Hand-stitch with embroidery floss and add extra details with a simple satin stitch.

Make it: Kids Doll Bed - recycled

Recycled Doll Bed - perfect for American Girl Dolls

In this recycled project, a breakfast tray is flipped upside down and transformed into a dolly bed. The linens and pillows are made from fleece and flannel and are no sew - just a drop or two of fabric glue is all we used. From the It's a Dolls World episode of Creative Juice.

Materials:
breakfast tray with collapsible legs
wood glue
wood screws
4 wood balls or blocks (bed legs)
2" thick foam
1/2 yd. flannel sheeting
1/2 yd. polar fleece
2 empty 6-oz. gelatin boxes
Fabric-Tac glue
measuring tape
pinking/scalloping shears
craft paint (optional)

Steps:


1. To make the head and foot board of the bed, flip the tray over and, using wood glue and screws, secure the legs in a locked open position. Let glue dry.



2. Using wood glue and a screw, add legs to the bed at the four corners and let dry. The bed legs are an opportunity to use your creativity: wooden blocks, drawer pulls, wood balls, etc., can be used -- just look for objects that match in size.

4. Using a kitchen knife, cut foam/mattress to fit base of tray.

5. Cut flannel 10" larger, length and width, than foam mattress measurements. Wrap foam, gift style, with flannel sheet and secure on the bottom with Fabri-Tac glue.

6. For the bedspread, cut fleece, adding 6" to width and 4" to length of mattress measurements. Trim edges with scallop shears.

7. For pillows, wrap two large, empty gelatin boxes with fun fur, leaving 1" on each end. Using Fabri-Tac glue, glue fur to boxes, tuck ends into box sides and secure with drops of glue. Fill boxes with crumpled scrap paper for additional strength.

make it: kids Tea Table

Ikea Hack: painted kids tea table

This table is surprisingly quick to paint, when you use a few tips and tricks from us. We used a pencil eraser to make quick polka dots, added a floating medium to our paint to create smooth and simple flowers and used blue painter's tape to mark off our edges.

The table and chairs are from Ikea: Gulliver Table & Chairs

Materials:

unfinished wood children’s table and chairs
1 qt. semigloss paint (base color)
1 qt. primer
foam brush
paintbrush
drop cloths
sandpaper
folkart acrylic paint: purple (polka dots), dark pink (flowers), light pink (flowers), light yellow (flower center), spring green (leaves)
folkart floating medium
medium flat-head paintbrush
medium angle-head paintbrush
small detail paintbrushes
pencil with eraser
2 cans spray clear sealer

Steps:

1. If needed, lightly sand table and chairs; wipe down wood with a damp rag after sanding to remove any dust. Prime table and chairs, and let dry before painting.

2. Using low-tack tape, tape off design or pattern to be painted. Trim the corners so they make a sharp point. Paint areas to be painted and let dry, per directions, before removing tape from furniture.


Note: When applying decorative painting techniques for the first time, practicing first on scrap paper is advised. Once you're comfortable with the technique, begin painting the furniture. 1. To make flowers, working with an angled paintbrush, lightly dip brush into floating medium (the medium will soften the colors and help blend them together); dab off extra (this helps to embed medium into brush bristles). Next, dip the top three-quarters of the brush into the lighter pink paint and the remaining bristles into the darker pink paint.

2. To paint the petals, first make an upside-down teardrop with the brush, then fill in the center.

3. To add leaves. using a flathead brush (we used a 5/8"), dip brush into floating medium. Repeat the technique used for the petals with the colors green and just a bit of purple.

4. To paint leaves, go between the petals with a loose S stroke. Make the center of the flower with a finger dipped in orange paint. Once this is dry, remove the tape.

5. To make polka dots, dip the eraser end of the pencil into paint and dot paint on the pattern.

6. For fringe, using a small brush, dip brush into the paint of choice and make squiggly lines through the placemat.

7. Let paint dry and, working in a well-ventilated area, apply a coat of clear spray sealer to the chairs and table.

Make it: Glittered Reindeer and Trees

Paper Mache reindeer
2 Styrofoam cones
Ultra fine glitter - 3 different shades of blue and green
CS11235 - Mod Podge - Paper - Matte, 4 oz.
CS11276 - Mod Podge - Glitter - Hologram Silver, 8 oz.
Foam paintbrush
Wax paper
File folder
Yarn scraps
Small ornaments

1. Using a foam paintbrush, liberally coat the reindeer and cones with matte Mod Podge. Working over a file folder, sprinkle the items with glitter, tap off excess glitter and set aside on wax paper to dry. Use the file folder to pour the glitter back into the storage jar. Repeat for maximum coverage.

2. Coat the items with glitter Mod Podge to seal the glitter. This prevents glitter from shedding.

3. Add ribbons/yarns and small ornaments around the reindeer�s neck.

Make it: Handmade Gift Bags

Velvet Hydrangea Stamped Gift Bag

If you want to add a little flourish to a plain old gift bag, all you need to do is add a few painted stamps and velvet flowers. I purchased the velvet hydrangeas from Michaels and the foam stamp is by Plaid.

Supplies:
Simply ® Stamps - Leaf Motif
FolkArt ® Metallics - Pure Gold, 2 oz.
FolkArt ® Metallics - Peach Pearl, 2 oz.
Red Gift Bag
Foam Paintbrushes
Red Velvet Hydrangea Petals
Clear Rhinestones
Holiday Ribbon
Hot Glue

Steps:
1. Apply the gold paint to the stamp using a foam paintbrush. Stamp into the center and side of the bag. Repeat with peach pearl paint. Allow to dry.

2. Use hot glue to attach velvet petals in a random pattern to the front of the bag. Add a drop of hot glue in the center of the petals to secure the rhinestones.

3. Add a bow to the handle.

Get Well Bettie

Pinup Bettie Page hospitalized after heart attack

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bettie Page, a 1950s pinup known for her raven-haired bangs and saucy come-hither looks, was hospitalized in intensive care after suffering a heart attack, her agent said Friday.

"She's critically ill," Mark Roesler of CMG Worldwide told The Associated Press.

He said the 85-year-old had been hospitalized for the last three weeks with pneumonia and was about to be released when she had the heart attack Tuesday. Page was transferred to another hospital in Los Angeles and remained in intensive care Friday.

A family friend, Todd Mueller, said Page was in a coma. When asked to confirm, Roesler said, "I would not deny that," but he would not comment further on her condition.

By JAMES BELTRAN

Quick Gift Idea: Flower Hair Pins

Flower Hairpins

This is quick craft idea that we designed for Plaid. They are so quick to whip up and perfect little gifts for girlfriends and sisters. The dimensional paint adds just the right amount of sparkle for the holidays.

Supplies:

FolkArt ® Fabric™ Paint, Dimensional - Glitter Night Star
Hair Flowers Materials
3 Velvet hydrangea petals – red
2 Pearl beads
Hand sewing needle & thread
2 Bobby pins with glue pads
Hot glue

Steps:
1. Add a drop of paint to each petal. Flatten/spread the paint with your finger or a toothpick. Allow to dry.

2. Layer 3 petals on top of each other and hand sew a pearl in the center. Repeat for remaining petals and pearl.

3. Glue to the pads on the bobby pins.

Make it: Tomato Cage Christmas Trees

Tomato Cage Christmas Trees

Create a small-scale Christmas tree with style. The secret? Start with a tomato cage as a frame, and add embellishments to create one of the themed trees below. Tomato cage trees are prefect for anyone who wants a holiday tree for a small space. They look great clustered in a group of 3 by a front door or single on a table top. The trees can be made in a variety of fashions, natural, folk, feather and spacey tinsel.

Feather Tree

Materials:

Wire tomato cage
4 - 6 feather boas
3 Zip ties
Sheer ribbon- 1/4" wide and matching the color of the boas
35-Bulb length of white twinkle lights
Wire cutters

Steps:

1. Gather together the three vertical wires of the cage and secure them tightly together with a zip tie (figure A). Crisscross a second zip tie over the first zip tie, so that a 1-2" loop extends down into the cavity of the cage. Secure the second zip tie.

2. Use wire cutters to trim away any excess wire (figure B).

3. Thread the third zip tie through a strand of twinkle lights approximately 2/3 of the way from the plug end of the strand (figure C).

4. Loop the third zip tie through the loop formed by the second zip tie so the strand hangs in the center of the cage (figure D).

5. Tie the end of one of the boas to the top point of the tree, using a small piece of ribbon. The ribbon ties will be camouflaged by the fluffiness of the boas. Wrap the boas around the outside cone of the tomato cage, securing with small ribbon ties as necessary. When you reach the end of one boa, tie another one on and continue until the entire tree is covered.