I am a tease......

psst.... I am working on a new book.
I can't spill the details yet - but this picture holds the clues.
Fall 2011

Welcome Home Wednesday: custom painted doormat

Welcome Home Wednesday: custom painted doormat

Your front door can go a long way toward making a home feel welcome, and this customized doormat is the perfect first step. This one was designed for an initial but, of course you could do any design. Other easy concepts are stripes, diamonds or checkers. You can also do holiday or seasonal designs.

Materials:
family initial stencil
manila folder
yardstick
pencil
coir doormat
low-tack tape
Krylon indoor/outdoor - satin Italian olive
Krylon indoor/outdoor - satin Oxford blue
old newspapers
utility knife

1. Print a family initial (or fun words) using a bold font and enlarge the letter so that it is approximately 6" tall.

2. To make the stencil, tape the piece of paper with the letter on it to a manila folder. Trace around the letter with a permanent marker-- the ink will bleed through the paper, leaving an outline on the folder. Cut out the letter (use a utility knife to cut out the inside of the letter).

2. Tape down the letter on the mat where you want it,placing the tape on the back of the letters. Don’t forget to tape down the inside of the letters you cut out, if you need them.

3. To add stripes, apply 2 rows of tape to the doormat, 2" from the top and 1" apart. Repeat this across the bottom of the mat, using a yardstick to help get the stripes straight or making the lines slightly askew. Cut away the blue tape where the lines intersect one another.

4. Tape off the rest of the mat with old newspapers, so you will get paint only where you want it. Press down firmly on the tape before spray-painting to ensure that it has adhered to the mat.

5. Working on old newspapers and in a well-ventilated area (outside is best), stand above and at least 12" from the doormat and spray-paint the mat, being careful not to get the paint under the taped area (standing directly above the mat works best). Allow to dry, then remove tape.

Washcloth Bath Puppets

Quick Sewing Idea: Bath Time Puppets

This project is from my book:
Creative Juice - 24 Re-crafting Projects to Make With Recycled Stuff

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 for Mom: Floating Pearl Necklace

Make It For Mom: Floating Pearl Necklace

Mother's day is just around the corner (May 9th) and a handmade floating pearl necklace is the perfect way to tell her how much you care. This necklace can be made in under 1-hour and features a magnetic claps. (Moms love magnetic clasps) For this design, I used fresh water pearls that were dyed a very soft pink. Of course you can use any thing from glass beads to gemstones. To make the bracelet, just scale down the project to fit a wrist.

Supplies:
Beading wire
Bead board
18 fresh water pearls
36 size 1 tubular crimp beads
Magnetic clasp
2 size 3 crimp beads
Round nose jewelry pliers
Flat jewelry pliers
Crimping tool
Clasp findings


Steps:
Begin by cutting the beading wire into cut into three lengths: 25, 23 ½, and 22 inches. (add inches to make a longer necklace) Place the 25inch beading wire length in one of the bead board channels.

Thread on a crimp tube, then a pearl then a crimp tube. Repeat until there are 7 pearls and 14 crimp tubes on the wire.

Adjust the center pearl so that it lies at the “0” mark of the bead board. Use flat pliers to crimp the two crimp tubes on either side of it to secure it in the center of the wire. Slide the other pearls along the wire to their desired location. Secure by crimping the crimp tubes on either side of them, as you did for the center pearl.

Place the 23 ½ inch beading wire length in a smaller channel of the bead board channels. Thread on a crimp tube, then a pearl then a crimp tube. Repeat until there are 6 pearls and 12 crimp tubes on the wire.

Slide the pearls on the wire so that they fall in between the pearls on the first wire length. Secure by crimping the crimp tubes on either side of them, as you did for the first wire length.

Repeat these steps for the 22” length of beading wire with the last 5 pearls and 10 crimp tubes.

To attach the clasp, thread one end of all three wire lengths through a size 3 crimp tube and through the loop of a magnetic clasp. Thread the wire ends back through the crimp tube. Crimp flat with the bottom portion of a crimping tool. Fold and crimp the tube by using the top portion of the crimping tool.

Trim the wires with jewelry cutter.

Keeping the wire lengths in the channels of the bead board so that the strands do not tangle, attach the other end of the magnetic clasp as you did the first end.

Fashion Friday: Spring Fling headbands

This little cutie can be whipped up in under an hour and is the perfect spring accessory. I used an Amy Butler paper and some of my stash flowers for this design. Of course you can tailor this design concept to any color palette or paper print. For best results, choose a flat wide headband. I have found inexpensive ones at the dollar store, target and at teen shops. Remember, even if the color is wrong on the one you purchase if won't matter because you are going to be covering it.

Materials:
Mod Podge Paper - Matte
1" Foam brush
Scrap paper
Decorative paper
Pencil
Scissor
Wax paper
Rick-rack trim
Hot glue
3 small silk flowers
3 medium rhinestones
Scrap of coordinating ribbon

Steps:
1. Create a template of the headband by tracing it on a piece of scrap paper. Using the template as a guide, cut the headband shape from the decorative paper.

2. Using a piece of wax paper and a foam brush, coat the back and front side of the paper with Mod Podge. Position the paper on the headband, press out any air bubbles with your fingers and smooth your brush strokes. Allow to dry.

3. Hot glue rick-rack trim to the edges of the headband. Hot glue silk flowers to the mid-top section. Hot glue a rhinestone to the center of the flowers. Hot glue a scrap of ribbon around the two ends of the headband to secure the rick-rack. Allow to dry.

Prom Corsage and Boutonniere-Making 101

Boutonniere-Making 101

Making your own boutonniere is easier than it looks. All you need is a few flowers, floral tape and a little floral wire. All the supplies can be picked up in the floral arranging section of most craft or fabric stores.

Materials:
single flower or bud (such as a rose, lily or orchid)
small amount of greenery and/or baby's breath
green floral tape
floral wire
small boutonniere pin
water mister
clear plastic clamshell containers, from a floral supplier
natural-colored paper shred or shredded wood fiber

1. Create a bed for the flower with a small amount of baby's breath and/or greenery. The bed should not extend much beyond the top of the flower and should be visible from the sides.

2. Trim the flower stems, at a 45-degree angle, with sharp clippers.

3. Use floral wire to pierce the base of the main flower, just above the stem. Thread the wire through the flower so that equal lengths are on either side of the stem.

4. Curve the ends of the wire down to follow the stem, and snip the wire so that it's the same length as the stem. Wrap the stem and wire with floral tape. Make sure the tape covers the end of the stem to help seal in moisture.

4. Layer the greenery behind the flower, trim the stems. Wrap all stems together completely with green floral tape. Place one small boutonniere pin through back of the stem into the flower head.

5. Mist with cool water and place on tissue in a box or in a corsage bag. Keep refrigerated.

Pinning and wearing a boutonniere:
A boutonniere is always worn on the left side of the body. Place the boutonniere at a slight angle on the lapel. This is an average of about 4" in from the tip of the left shoulder. For a clean, polished look, try weaving the boutonniere pin through the fabric and to the underside of the lapel to keep the head of the pin from showing.

Wrist Corsage

Corsages are usually three or more boutonniere-sized clusters of flowers. You can attach them to the dress with a pin or create a wrist style.

To make a basic corsage:
Make three to five small boutonniere clusters. Add greenery to the boutonniere clusters and then gather and arrange them together. Arrange the flowers so that there are flowers in both directions and no stems highly visible. Bind with green floral tape. (see the instructions above)

To make a wrist corsage:
Open the metal prongs of the corsage wristlet. Lay the stems of the corsage parallel to and between the wristlet prongs.Clasp the prongs around the stems of the corsage.

To wear a wrist corsage:
Just slip on your wrist with the larger end facing towards your elbow (or up the arm).

To make a pin corsage:
Using floral tape, wind and tape the stems together. Leave the stems loose at the bottom, to create a “hand-tied” organic look, or satin wrap them with ribbon for a more polished look. A small bow may or may not be added to the left-bottom side of the corsage. Place two large corsage pins into the back of the corsage, up through the stem. Keep misted and refrigerated.

To wear a pin corsage:Place the corsage at a slight angle on the dress or lapel. This is an average of about 4 inches in from the tip of the left shoulder. Use a corsage pin to pin into the fabric at the bottom left corner of the stem. Weave the pin through the fabric. Be sure that the very tip of the pin does not stick out, nor does it poke under the fabric and touch the skin. Repeat this process with the corsage pin at the top left corner of the stem, just under the heads of the flowers. Two corsage pins will help to support the weight of heavy flowers on delicate attire.

hot glue gun helper - round two prototypes!

Yea! Yea! Two shouts for no more burns!! Round two of the prototypes came in today and they are working swell!! The tweezers pick up the smallest rhinestones and the finger caps are really heat resistant! We still have a few more rounds till everything is perfect - but we are getting close.

Wanna learn more about our new tools?
Watch the video below!

It is official: 101 Snappy Fashions Hits the Stores!

Barns and Noble in Encino, CA

I just made trip to see my fantastic accountant in Encino. I needed to sign a few docs....you know taxes are due!! I decided to pop into the Encino Barnes and Noble to see if my new book 101 Snappy Fashions was on the shelf yet. As I rounded the corner to the craft section, there she was....nestled with lots crafty books. I was like a proud mama taking her picture.

If you want to order the book online, please visit the links below.
And if you have a copy already, please leave a review.

Barnes and Noble

Amazon
Borders

101 Snappy Fashions Hits the Stores!

It was a labor of love!
I had so much fun making all the designs!!

I even had to get more snapsuits on the way to a party!

Just a small sample of the 156 designs ready to ship!

It is hard to imagine that all this fit into a book!

Visit this link to see more pics from the photo shoot day.

Watch me alter a snapsuit in under 1 minute!

Don't forget I have a few more weeks of giveaways!!!
Lots of great items!

Welcome Home Wednesday: Faux Tile Mirror

Before: Ikea Mirror

After: Ikea Faux Tile Mirror

Materials:
Ikea Tranby Mirror
Sewing Pin
Gallery Glass

Gallery Glass Colors:

	16008 - Gallery Glass ® Window Color™ - Kelly Green, 2 oz.
	16012 - Gallery Glass ® Window Color™ - Royal Blue, 2 oz.
	16014 - Gallery Glass ® Window Color™ - Amethyst, 2 oz.
	16035 - Gallery Glass ® Window Color™ - Lime Green, 2 oz.
	16425 - Gallery Glass ® Window Color™ - Citrus Yellow, 2 oz.
	16455 - Gallery Glass ® Window Color™ - Sunflower, 2 oz.
	16457 - Gallery Glass ® Window Color™ - Plum, 2 oz.
	17053 - Gallery Glass ® Window Color™ - Jadeite Green, 2 oz.

Instructions:

1. Begin by prepping your surface by cleaning the mirror. The mirror that I used in this project has small mirrors around the rim. If your mirror is flat, don’t worry it, you can use the same technique.

2. Working in a random pattern, paint each of the mirror tiles with a different color of gallery glass. If you don’t have mirror tiles, just paint small squares around the rim. You will want to paint the squares for at least 3 or 4 rows around the rim. Allow the paint to dry for 36 hours.

Tips: Never shake Gallery Glass! If you do you might get an air bubble. If you get an air bubble, just pop it with the end of a sewing pin. If you make a mistake, wait for it to dry and just peel the mistake away.

Tasty Tuesday: Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed Bell Peppers are Easy, Yummy and Delicious!!

This recipe is made with ground beef. You could also use ground turkey or chicken. For a vegetarian option, I double the rice and add chopped veggies or I add a little stuffing mix.

Ingredients:
4 large bell peppers
3/4 to 1 pound ground beef or Turkey
1 small white onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
handful of chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 cups cooked brown rice (I use Trader Joe's frozen)
1 cup tomato based pasta sauce
shredded cheese
salt & pepper to taste

You can use a variety of peppers. Red, Yellow, Orange or Green!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the tops, inside stems and seeds from the peppers. Rinse clean.

Steam the peppers to soften them. If you have a steamer pot, place the peppers in the steamer, fill the bottom with with water, boil and steam for 25 minutes. You can also place the peppers in a large pot, fill with water, bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. Drain the peppers on toweling.

Defrost and strain the corn under cold water.

Chop the onion, garlic and basil.

Brown the ground beef. Drain any excess fat.

Add the onions and garlic. Cook about 2 to 3 minutes.

dried thyme

Classico...my secret sauce.

Combine the rice, corn, basil, thyme, and sauce into the pan.
Salt & pepper to taste.

Fill the peppers and place in a glass baking dish.

For softer peppers, add an inch of water to the pan.
For firmer peppers, don't add water.

Cover the pan with foil and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Pull from oven and top with cheese. Continue cooking (without foil) until the cheese melts.