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 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 Handmade 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.

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Happy Holidays!
Cathie and Steve


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 vodkaVideo: tomato cage trees
Video: felt bows and wreath
Video: glttered snowpeople
Video: kids dreidel game board

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.


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Happy Holidays!
Cathie and Steve

*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.

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

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.