Fall Overhaul: Mod Podge Boots

Fall Overhaul: Mod Podge Boots

Re-vamp an old pair of boots with a little Mod Podge and uber cute fabric. It is easy...I swear. They took me about 1.5 hours to make with a 5 hour dry time. I so wanna do a pair of cowboy boots.....yee haw!

Materials:
Smooth Pleather or Leather Boots
Fabric - Westminster - ZaZu by Tina Givens
Scrap Paper
Pencil
Scissors
Mod Podge - Fabric
Foam Paintbrush

Let's Do This!

Begin with a pair of smooth pleather or leather boots

Make a paper pattern of the boot. I like to tape the paper to the boot and sketch the shape with a pencil. Add a little extra to the length and the back-side seam.

Trace the pattern to the backside of the fabric. Be sure to position the pattern over your desired print pattern.

Cut.

Oh La La! Here is the magic podge.

Brush the Mod Podge to the back of the fabric piece.

Position on the boot. Smooth ant air bubbles with your finger.

Trim the over hang.

Begin the zipper side. You will need to make two different patterns for the zipper side.

Apply to the boot.

Repeat pattern, mod podge and apply the second zipper side.

Overlap the backside. Trim to smooth. Allow to dry!

Finished!

Go Make Some!

Then run around town and
show off your re-vamped boots!

When people ask,
"where did you get your boots?"
tell them you made them!!!


cathie

Scissor cut fall leaves

Fall Leaf Place-card Holders
We designed this idea specifically for Plaid!

Fall is in the air and in most parts of the country that means leaves are beginning to fall. This time of year is particularly hard for me as I miss my mid-west seasons. I am in sunny Southern California so we don't get too many falling leaves - just palms! Today it looks like drizzle in LA and I could not be more thrilled. The only problem is that I have to do a "big hair" up-do for my 4:00 meeting and I don't want it to fall. I will have to bust out my big can of hair spray or stiffy!

Have you heard of stiffy? (not that kind - hehe) Stiffy has been around for ages. You may remember the stiffy bows of the 80's. The big chintz bows that were draped onto baskets. Ringing any bells??? or am I just dating myself. This product is so awesome and deserves a spin into 2010. I used stiffy to stiffen the fabric for making the fall leaves that are pictured above.

They are easy to make - make one - make a million! Make this leaf shape with the template below or make your own shape.

Last I checked, Stiffy is available at all the major craft and fabric retailers. A little goes a long way and excess can be funneled back into the bottle and reused.

Happy Fall~
Cathie

Materials:

Stiffy by Plaid
Scraps of fall colored printed fabric
Large old bowl 6 clip hangers or clothesline Leaf template large Leaf template - small
Scissors Eyelet & Setter
Printed-paper nametag
Thin ribbon

Steps:1. Pour the stiffy into a large old bowl and dip the pieces of fabric into the stiffy until they are saturated. Remove the excess stiffy by pressing you're your fingers. Don't wring the pieces! Hang on clip hangers or a clothesline, smooth out the pieces and dry for about 1 hour.
2. Trace around the leaf templates with a pencil onto the dry pieces and cutout.
3. Layer 2 leaves on top of each other and attach with a decorative eyelet.
4. Create a printed-paper nametag by either printing one from a computer or making one with stickers. Attach an eyelet to the top of the tag.
5. Thread the tag and leaves onto a ribbon and tie with a decorative bow.
6. Place one at each place setting.
Optional: Leaf ornaments! Skip the nametags and just add a piece of looped ribbon for a hanger.

Download the picture for the templates

Hooray for Crochet and Drew Emborsky

Look what came in the mail........It is a copy of Crochet It.Love It. Wear It. How about...Covet It! lol. I was thinking about doing a giveaway with my copy but, I think I'll have to keep this for myself!

let's peek inside

Love Love Love this design! How cozy warm and chic does this look? The button choice was spot on and the faux fur looks so soft.


This design has my sister written all over it! The color, the texture, the waist wrap. You could just throw this on over a tank or thin tee and be ready to go.

This one is all me! The delicate ruff at the sleeve is so cute and the baby doll bottom is too cute. I would love to partner this with a pair of skinny jeans. I love the color choice too! I think it would be really pretty in a light oatmeal yarn.

What Else???

I perused through the book to see what extras Drew and the team at Leisure Arts had included in in the book.

1. Great Photos
2. Clear Instructions
3. Good Illustrations
4. A Prom Dress
5. A Darling Scarf
6. General Instructions
7. Gauge Guide
8. Stitch Guide
9. 12 Different Patterns
10. Something for Everyone!

Meet Drew! Drew Emborsky is my crafty pal, glitter confidant and a super talented designer. You may know Drew from Knit and Crochet Today on PBS or from his many books or product line of tools for crochet.

Come See Me at The Creative Connection!

I'll be in Minneapolis! How about you?

View my page at tcc here!

Have you heard about The Creative Connection? The Creative Connection is a a 3-day conference and market created by Nancy Soriano and Jo Packham of WHERE WOMEN CREATE for creative women and women entrepreneurs!
They have an awesome list of panelists! I am so thrilled to be in the company of such inspiring women. The list of teachers will really get your creative juices flowing.

Where I will be:

Thursday - September 16th

5:30 - 9:00

Book Signing and Kick Off Gala Dinner

_______________________________________

Friday - September 17th

11:30 - 2:00

Boxed Lunch with Women Entrepreneurs

Colleen Reilly VP of Marketing of Scrapblog, will begin by speaking about her own personal journey of creativity and business. You will then hear from five women in creative businesses who, for each of them, what started as an idea, a necessity, or a creative moment has turned into a business and in some cases a national brand. How do they manage it all, or do they? How did they get to where they are today? What are their words of wisdom, best practices, biggest mistakes, and proudest moments.

Join us for open and candid conversations with:

*Colleen Reilly, Vp of Marketing of Scrapblog

* Cathie Filian
* Christine Plantan of russell+hazel
* Heather Bailey
* Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica
* Vickie Howell

Homemade Limoncello

Homemade Limoncello

This weekend I was blessed to receive a bottle of homemade Limoncello from my cousin Jim. It got me thinking about my recipe and what a perfect gift a bottle of this potent little potable makes.


Ingredients:
1 liter 100 proof vodka
2 ½ cups sugar
2 cups water
Zest of 8 fresh lemons

Steps:
1. Wash the lemons with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any reside of pesticides or wax. Carefully zest the lemons with a zester or vegetable peeler so there is no white pith on the peel.

2. In a clean and sterilized 1-gallon glass jar, add ½ liter vodka and the lemon zest. Cover the jar and let sit at room temperature for at least 10 days, and up to 40 days in a cool dark place.

3. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar and water and cook until thickened, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Let the syrup cool before adding it to the limoncello mixture. Add the additional ½ liter of vodka. Allow to rest for another 10 to 40 days.

4. After the rest period, strain the zest and bottle the liquid, discarding the lemon zest. Keep in the freezer until ready to serve. For gifts: funnel into wine bottles and add decorative labels.

Rose Water Champagne with a dash of Pom

If you want a refreshing cocktail that screams celebration - then a Rose Water Champagne with a dash of pomegranate if for you. This bubbly treat is sure to please with bursts of flavor and sweet after notes.

What You Will Need:
1 oz. rose water
Two sugar cubes
Dry sparkling wine
Splash of pomegranate or cranberry juice
Two rose petals
Champagne flutes
Shot glass

How to Make it:
1. Pour 1 ounce of rose water into a shot glass. Soak a sugar cube in the rose water and drop into a champagne flute. Repeat with the other sugar cube in the other flute.

2.Fill each flute with dry sparkling wine.

3.Top with a splash of pomegranate or cranberry juice for color, and a rose petal in each flute.

Pistachio Crusted Salmon

Pistachio Crusted Salmon

Ingredients:
2 salmon fillets, 6-8 ounces each
1 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
pinch of salt
1/2 cup shelled raw pistachios
¼ cup toasted bread crumbs
1 Tablespoon olive oil
Fresh thyme sprigs for garnishing


Toast the pistachios in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant and lightly toasted. Pulse the pistachios in a food processor, only to the point that they reach a medium fine texture. Mix with the breadcrumbs. Spread this mixture onto a plate.

2. Stir the cumin, dried thyme, and salt into the mustard. Coat the top of each salmon fillet with
mustard mixture.

Press into the pistachio and breadcrumb mixture to coat.

Heat a large skillet over high heat, and add the olive oil. Sear the salmon fillets, pistachio side down, over medium-high heat, until a crust has formed, about 2-3 minutes.

Remove the fillets from the pan. Place them in an ovenproof dish greased with a little olive oil. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Serve with a sprig of thyme and a lemon wedge.