Diary of a Crafty Chica

How to Make a Rug From a Hula Hoop & T-shirts!

2012-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Image from http://familyfun.go.com

I came across this project tonight and loved it! The only supplies needed are a hula hoop, t-shirts and scissors. I'm traveling for the next couple weeks, but as soon as I return home, I'm investing in a hula hoop so I can make a rug like this! I think I want to tie dye the shirts first though...
CLICK HERE FOR THE TUTORIAL

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Crafting on coffee

2012-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Bottlecap shrines.

I made them into a clock for an art donation for a local gallery event! I made this while I was hopping on a lot of coffee! I couldn't stop adding things. The family, one-by-one would come by and say "OK< you're done! Stop!" The nerve of them!

Are any of you on Instagram? I am! come follow me - I'm also on Pinterest. Just search for CraftyChica!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Unglued: Crafting Your Way to a Stress-free Life

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Special for Mamiverse.com
Follow Mamiverse on Facebook and Twitter!
by Kathy Cano-Murillo

There are many ways to let out stress: Punching a wall, scarfing Oreos in a dark broom closet, or my favorite - an old-school silent scream.
How about something a little more upbeat and healthy?

I’m talking crafts.

Believe it or not, sprinkling frosted glitter on wet glue, doodling on paper, or sewing through layers of fabric can be very therapeutic when your nerves begin to fray. As a mom with two kids, a full-time job and a part-time art career, I’m here to tell you – it works. Even if it’s varnishing one magnet, I finish witha smile on my face and a fresh attitude. From teaching workshops to answering emails, I’ve met many other women who will vouch for the benefits of craft therapy.

“Making stuff allows me to focus on something other than everyday stress,” says Lizzy Hernandez, 36. “I think of the bright colors I like to work with, or using my hands on clay, or stringing jewelry… and my mind clears. It’s like I’m putting all my energy into making something beautiful right now, instead of the chores I have to do tomorrow.

Hernandez, a mom from Whittier, California, should know. The name of her business is “La Chillona Arte” – it translates as “the crier.” She may shed a few tears from daily drama at work or dinner table politics, but it’s her artful sessions that bring her peace of mind.

“When I’m creating, I’m in a good place,” she says. “I may not be thinking about my problems, but it’s always when I’m crafting that I come up with the best solutions.”

Hernandez isn’t alone. According to a consumer survey conducted by the Craft and Hobby Association, American households rang up a whopping $29 billion dollars of craft-related supplies in 2010. From scrapbooking and sewing to painting and beading, crafting, it seems, has become a peaceful time-passer and colorful rival to a pricey back massage or counseling session. There is even an entire website dedicated to the subject. Self-proclaimed craft practitioners, Kathy Peterson and Barb Dehn, promote a handmade lifestyle as a tool for healthy living on their site, CraftForHealth.com.

But TV host and master DIYer, Mark Montano puts it in terms we all can appreciate.

“Being creative is proven to relieve stress, but don't make the mistake of thinking that crafting is a guilty pleasure, think of it as something that will make your life better,” says the bestselling author. “For example, wouldn't it be wonderful to spend a few hours one evening making a slew of birthday cards that will save you several trips to a card shop?”

He also understands what Lizzy Hernandez means about clearing one’s mind with a little glitter and glue.

“Creativity is active meditation and meditation is proven to relieve stress,” he says. “Creativity also teaches the brain to problem-solve. People who are stress-free think more clearly and make better decisions. When you factor in the benefits of crafting, doesn't it seem necessary to a better way of life?”

Now what are you waiting for? It’s time to make something fabulous! Even if you are juggling a full-time job and a busy household, there is still room in your life to exercise your creativity – as long as you plan. Here are some ideas to get you started so that you can craft away your stress:

Set aside a regular block of time. I used to have “crafternoons” on Sundays. I let my family know that from 4-8 p.m. I was dedicated to crafting. I invited my kids and relatives to join me. It didn’t take long for everyone to respect my request--especially when it helped me start the week off in a happy state-of-mind.
Start simple. Buy a kit at the craft store or sign up for a local class. If you feel daring, try a genre that is new to you; or start slow and take one that is comfortable to you.
Take an online class. There are many work-at-your-own-pace e-courses available. Paper arts, rubber stamping, drawing, painting, beading, etc. They are very affordable and easy to follow.
Buy a blank journal and a set of juicy colored markers. Every time you get stressed or have an awful day, open your journal and force yourself to write, draw or doodle the good things that happened. Even if it is a decent cup of coffee or a tasty cafeteria lunch, make note of it.
Celebrate accomplishment. Choose a project that you know you can finish – and really finish it. Hang it up and show it off. This is proof that you are capable of making something wonderful.
Make small gifts to share. Many times we have a hard time stepping away from our responsibilities – we feel guilty or selfish. If that is the case, use your time to make small collage affirmation cards to give to your friends and family (or nice strangers!). Think of it as your gift of love and positivity to others.
Get messy! If you need to work out anger issues, get physical! Grrr. Take on a mosaics class where you get to smash tiles with a hammer, or buy a large canvas and throw paint at it. Take on a pottery class and allow yourself to get grit under your nails.
Think Big. If you don’t feel like making something small and fast, take on a large project, like a T-shirt quilt; that will certainly keep you busy during your crafternoon sessions.
Take pictures. Not feeling the glue, paper or scissors? Use your cell phone to take pictures of your week or day. Choose a theme, such as a color, and only take pictures of that theme. It will force you to look at the world in a new way.
Start a blog. There are plenty of free blogging services out there. Start one up and use it to document funny quotes from your kids, photos you took, food you cooked, places you went, crazy things that happened during the week – or those craft projects you made!
Volunteer. Look for sites like QuiltsForKids.com and use your crafty skills for a good cause.
Throw a craft party. There is no better way to relax and let loose than to have a party. Gather your friends and meet at a restaurant and work on your projects and make things! Share ideas and cheer each other on!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

iPhone Video Tip: iStabilizer!

2012-01-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

If you're like me and use your iPhone to record your craft video tutorials, I highly suggest investing $30 in this little dude: the iStabilizer.

iStabilizer, a must-have for your smartphone if you take a lot of videos.

It has an adjustable clamp to securely hold your smartphone, and the legs will even bend around bars! Seriously, I was shopping for yet another small video camera, when I thought DUH - just buy a stand for my phone! I love this tripod, it's sturdy and gets the job done.

From the website:

The Smartphone Flexible Leg Tripod is durable and lightweight enough to carry with you in a day bag or stuff in a suitcase. Just pop in your smartphone or mobile device, and you're ready to go! Truly versatile, you’ll find a million places to wrap the flexible legs, whether you’re in the car, at dance class or hanging upside down from the monkey bars. Be the filmmaker you’ve always wanted to be! The Smartphone Flexible Leg Tripod will even cradle your device while in your preferred case or bumper.

Its quick access mount lets you instantly swap devices. Capture one scene on your iPhone and switch to snap another pic on your iPod or Android. Just remove the mount and you can use your point-and-shoot digital camera with this tripod. The patent pending removable mount can be used on any tripod with a standard ¼ x20” camera mount.

All orders placed before noon will ship that same day, otherwise they will ship out the next business day (M-F). Orders ship from Salt Lake City, UT

This item comes with the Tripod Mount already attached. You can remove the Tripod Mount to use a normal camera (that has the standard 1/4" thread) or use the included Tripod Mount on a standard sized tripod if you want.

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Flip Video Winner: Cynthia Martinez!

2012-01-20T23:05:00.000-08:00

Thank you everyone for entering!

Stay tuned for more giveaways!

Check out Cynthia's blog, Fat Girl Escapades.

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Meet the voices of my new audiobooks!

2012-01-20T21:35:00.000-08:00

Random House bought the audiobook rights to both my novels and they are both finished being recorded!

Actress Julia Whelan as she is recording my novel for an audiobook!

Julia Whelan recorded Waking Up in the Land of Glitter this week.

Actress Tavia Gilbert!

Last week, actress Tavia Gilbert recorded Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing. She is so sweet, she even friended me on Facebook, it made my whole day!

Both audiobooks will be out later this year!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

INSPIRATION FRIDAY: Working With Craft Manufacturers

2012-01-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

One of the questions I get asked a lot is "How did you end up with your own product line?"
The answer is that things like this don't just fall out of the sky. I had been blogging about crafts for a while and worked really hard on branding. But what really got my name out in the craft industry was attending the Craft & Hobby Trade show (CHA) and introducing myself to the companies of the products I faithfully used (Tacky Glue!). My first show was in 2005, when I attended as a reporter for the newspaper I wrote for, and then I was to sit on a discussion panel and the rest is history.

If you want specific details of what manufacturers are looking for in craft designers, this is your day! Here is an article by Alyson Dias, Marketing Director for iLovetoCreate. Read it several times to get inspired and motivated for the new year! The best part is that these tips will likely work for other business areas in your life.

NOTE: These steps don't guarantee your own product line, but they sure do help! Overall, be on your game, stand out, check your facts, takes risks, and have fun!

Part One: Designers not attending CHA, but want more info
Part Two: Designers attending, CHA

Good luck!

Building relationships with craft manufacturers
By Alyson Dias

Part One: First timers connecting with manufacturers
Product Sponsorships…whether you’re looking for product sponsorship for an event, an editorial opportunity or blog, ilovetocreate.com has an easy online form to get the process started - http://www.ilovetocreate.com/sponsorship.aspx. The key is to show us how your request will benefit us more than the next request. The use of competitive products, either associated with this particular request or in your general use, makes it difficult for us to work together.

Test Yourself…I’m not asking for free publicity here, but if you do your own post using our products and have fabulous results (likes, retweets, pins, views, comments, etc), share them with me! Give me examples of how you can continue your test success (and build upon it) if we partner together.

Fill a Void…check out what we’re already doing and discover our voids, then pitch us on how you can fill that void.

Unique Email Subject Line…I receive a lot of email every day and those emails that have catchy subject lines get read first! Steer clear of email subject lines like:
“Let’s work together”
“I have a great idea”
“I want to be a blogger”
“We’d make a great team”
These are just too generic. Be clever…be brief…be funny…be unique.

Snailmail vs Email…this might just be me, but I still love to receive real mail (when it’s not a bill, of course!). In a world of email overkill, consider sending via the United States Postal Service so that people like me can enjoy opening a pretty package. Yes, I said “pretty package”! I remember getting a call from our HR team one day that I had to see a resume immediately…I ran over to their office and loved seeing the brightest pink foil package with a resume (printed on pink paper) and portfolio included. The open position was for a graphic designer and I immediately knew who the most creative candidate was by just looking at the stack of resumes…she later proved her creativity and qualifications in a formal interview. That candidate was Alexa Westerfield…and now she’s an iLoveToCreate Graphic Designer and Social Media Manager!!!! So consider snailmail…and make it pretty!!

Part Two:
CHA is right around the corner and I eagerly await the opening of the show floor. Attending the tradeshow always reminds me that we are blessed to work in a creative industry where we get to dream in glitter and paint! As we all prepare for the winter show, I thought it might be helpful to you to hear my perspective as a manufacturer wanting to work with you as a designer. I share this with the hope that it supports your success at CHA.

1. Personal invites: develop a dream list of manufacturers that you want to work with and personally invite the right contacts to your display. In your invitation, be clear and concise on how your display will interest the contact and impact their business. Be explicit with your dream of working together and your desired outcome from the show meeting. Also, spelling my name correctly is a big plus!

2. Mutually-beneficial: This might be just me, but I insist that all partnerships are mutually-beneficial. It only makes sense that you as the designer and me as the manufacturer both receive a benefit from working together. Don't be afraid to get excited about the benefits - emotion is powerful!

3. Know my business: Several times I've had an excited designer tell me that they love a specific product of ours, but it's not my product, it's my competition. Take time (real time, not just a few minutes) to learn about the manufacturer, their brands, their products, how they position their products, their business style, their environment. Figure out how you fit into their business (refer to #2) and tell them. If you use competitive products and you're willing to switch to their brand, tell them. If not, be upfront about it and understand that it might be a partnership roadblock.

4. The Thumper Rule: never speak poorly of another designer, company, brand or product, whether at the show or after. We must respect that creativity is subjective and every designer has a unique point of view. The last thing a manufacturer wants to deal with is negativity.

5. Speaking of bathrooms, elevators and food lines: Okay, maybe not the bathrooms, but unless you're in your hotel room, consider every public space at a tradeshow an opportunity to make a connection. The "designated" times at your display or in our booth aren't the only opportunities to strike up a conversation. Keep your eyes open for representatives from your dream manufacturers and maximize even the 45 second elevator ride to introduce yourself and make the quickest pitch of your life! Honestly, I met a retailer in an elevator late one night, she looked at my badge and was so excited to meet someone from iLoveToCreate because she wanted to know more about our products. ¦I exited moments later assuming I'd never see her again.When she showed up in our booth the next morning, I happily greeted her and not a single show has gone by since that we haven't met up! Embrace spontaneity!!

6. Be Memorable: at CHA Winter 2006, I noticed a woman bounce into our booth dragging a fully painted suitcase, wearing bold jewelry and carrying a brand-new book. Within seconds, she had me hooked. She was so excited to show me a project from her book that used one of our adhesives. All that mattered to me was her individuality! An hour later, my colleague and I were enthralled in conversation with her and although we wanted to talk with her for hours more, we had other appointments. As she left our booth, we looked at each other and knew we had just met someone fabulous. I remember saying, "we have to work with her!". Her name? Kathy Cano-Murillo - and she still rolls with her painted suitcase!! Create a signature element of your tradeshow appearance and have it present on your person at all times during a show at every show.

7. Stats Matter, sort of: be prepared to share your personal stats with manufacturers - unique visitors per month to your blog or website, fans on facebook, followers on twitter, published works, etc. Know where you measure against other designers, but know that the designer with the most facebook friends may not be the most desirable partner. In your stats, identify growth trends throughout the past three to six months. I'd be more interested in a designer that is steadily growing their fan base every month versus someone that is stagnant with a large fan base. Analyze your stats and identify what makes your stats appealing to a manufacturer.

8. Dream, develop, pitch: throughout my almost nine years with iLoveToCreate, I've met so many designers that want to work with us. Most probably have something fabulous to offer, but far too often, the conversation ends quickly because the designer hasn't spent time dreaming of potential opportunities, picking one or two to develop a solid pitch for and then pitching. I don't know how to say this without being blunt - we get far too many "I'm interested" emails without any "here are my exact ideas, how we'll both benefit and what it will cost". I want to work with you, but unfortunately I have extreme time poverty and therefore I need you to make the presentation. Including the cost is just as important as the idea...providing ideas without the cost is like looking at jewelry through the window - I can't try it on and I can't buy it, I can only stare at it!

9. Focus group for your display: Yes, I'm serious - invite a few people (that aren't your husband, child or mother) to view your display and provide an honest critique. Without an overview from you, ask them what it says about you and about your talent. Listen to the critiques and make changes. The most common mistake in research is not accepting the data.

10. Follow up: At shows, I get inundated with business cards and I always return with a list of "omg - that was so cool", but then I filter the list to follow-up on what really stuck out. Give me about a week to recoup, then follow-up with me. Remind me of your #6 and send me your #8.

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

NEW SERIES: Love Songs for a Year

2012-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

If you need some good energy in the love department, I have something that might help!

Remember this summer when Maya fell in love for the first time? And when it all came to a tearjerking halt? It was pretty traumatic at the time. I was worried how it would affect her. Would she become a jaded manhater?

I'm happy to report it is the opposite. She rationalized her first love as being her "high school transitional boyfriend" (love it!) - and that she knew her true love was out there in her future. She's now focusing on friends, having fun, keeping things light, college, and her new job (very first). There's no time for romance!

But nothing will stop her from playing music, so she decided to give her tunes purpose and send good, loving, energy out into the world. That's where Love Songs for a Year comes in!

Love Songs for a Year is a new Maya in the Moment video series. She plans to share a new love song every week to keep the love flowing, with or without a boyfriend. She is taking dedications and requests too!

Here is her intro to the series and a new song she wrote last week. So if you need some perking up in the love department, give a listen!

And add her here too:

http://facebook.com/mayainthemoment

http://youtube.com/ahhmaya1234

Love Songs for a Year Intro (LINK)

Deepest Waters, Original Song, LINK

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

DIY: Heart-Shaped Sugar Cubes!

2012-01-18T00:00:00.001-08:00

Heart-shaped Sugar Cubes

These are great for serving up breakfast in bed in style!

Supplies:
1 tray of silicone mini-heart molds (I bought mine at Target’s Dollar Spot)
1 cup of granulated sugar
A few drops of water
Bowl and spoon
Index card
Plate
Icing
Edible decoration (M&M, heart candy, etc)

Directions: Pour the sugar in the bowl and add a few drops of water. Mix with spoon until sugar has the consistency of wet sand. Pack the sugar very tight into the molds (no more than two at a time). Place the index card over the mold and carefully turn it over so sugar hearts slip out onto the index card. Let harden for one hour. Decorate with icing and edible decorations.

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

DIY: Valentine's Day Lighted Shadow Box

2012-01-17T00:00:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day Light Box

Use your favorite Valentine's Day card, or a personal photo, to make a dimensional lighted shadow box. Actually this concept can be used for any theme you want. I am so excited for when I have a break so I can make a whole bunch of these!

Supplies:
Small glass jewelry box
Crafty Chica Acrylic Paints
Hand-held rotary tool
Aleene's Turbo Tacky Glue
Decorative paper, pencil
Valentine image (I got mine from CandyCoated.org)
Foam core
Scissors
Crafty Chica Glitter
Battery-operated strand of 10 mini lights
Sequin trim
Wood beads for feet

Directions:

Paint the box and let it dry. Turn the box over and using the hand-held rotary tool, create 10 holes in the back of the box. Blow off dust.

Open the box and hot glue decorative paper to the back of the box. Use a pencil to poke through the paper where the drilled holes are. Glue the valentine image to a piece of foam core and cut around the edges.

Coat the edges with paint and sprinkle glitter over it. Let dry. Cut a small piece of foam core and then hot glue the image to it. With the box upright and the lid open like a door, hot glue the foam core to the inside base of the box, and then glue the image on top of it. Insert the mini lights (one light in each hole).

Glue the battery pack behind the box. Hot glue the door closed. Add sequin trim around the front of the box, and any other decorations you want. Hot glue wood beads as the feet for the box.

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

250 of these are finished!

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

I'm heading out to CHA at the end of the month and part of my preparation involves these. They are 250 items that I pieced together, chica style. I can't share the tutorial just yet or what they even are- but I will once the show opens!
A lot of fabric and sparkle yarn was involved! Stay tuned!

Coming on Friday - a Q&A with Alyson Dias, Marketing Director from iLoveToCreate. I'm sure a lot of you have a New Year's resolution about kicking up your business a notch. Alyson is going to share ideas on how crafters can introduce themselves and network with craft manufacturers!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Bedroom Makeover: The headboard (in progress)

2012-01-16T00:02:00.000-08:00

Headboard before the transformation! Boring!

Here is a headboard and bed frame I bought for $179 at a furniture store. It's so dull - but the reason I chose it was because of the recessed area in the center. I saw sparkles when I first looked at it!

My first thought was to do a resined collage, and then I was going to paint a mini-street mural and then I decided to go with an application that I could finish within my allotted time frame (one day). I have a LOT going on these days and can't afford to get sidetracked - I really need my bed! So I'm going with a "bed of roses' theme:

Roses I glued down.

I hot glued silk roses in different textures on a red painted (unframed) canvas, which I'll affix to the headboard. Next I'm going to glue magnetic poetry words all around the frame, and glue something along the top of the headbaord to give it height. I bough two chunky candle sticks for each end too! I also bought a garden arch that I'm going to wrap in fabric, fuzzy yarn and mimi-lights and use it to make the bed super dramatic and artful.

For any of you who have read my Miss Scarlet novel, the arch and fabric strands above the bed mentioned above are inspired by the character of Rosa and her bed!

I'll post again when I have more of the bed finished, I'm getting back to work right now! YES! I will finish!

Oh! I have to tell you about my mattress score. I was out shopping for an affordable mattress set and everyone told me to go to R&S Mattress. On our way there, my sister texted me about a deal that Costco was having and she sent me pictures. She had me convinced, but because we were so close to R&S, we stopped in anyway. I showed the salesman the pictures and price sign my sister sent me from Costco and he offered me the very same set for $50 less!

I love that kind of shopping, I felt like such a savvy consumer, even if was by accident! That's $50 more I can spend on fabric or yarn!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING
Psst, don't forget I have a contest going on - you can win a FlipVideo!

GeekLyfe.com (My Son's New Blog) & DIY Unicorn Poop Cookies!

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

My son, DeAngelo, is now in the blogging lifestyle too! His blog is called TheGeekLyfe.com and it is all about video games, comic books, online games and more. If you (or your kids) are into World of Warcraft, Dungeons and Dragons or Stars Wars Old Republic or SkyRim - his blog is where you can find a lot of fun articles!

TheGeekLyfe.com

Here is one he shared with me recently - How to Make Unicorn Poop Cookies!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

My tips to keep you motivated, plus a FlipVideo giveaway!

2012-01-15T19:56:00.000-08:00

I wrote an article for Mamiverse.com and it's now loaded up on the site! I put together my ten tips for staying motivated, even if your resolution has already gone a bit rusty!

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Now...about that brand new Flip Video!

Here is how to enter to win it:
1. Go to Mamiverse's page on Facebook. CLICK HERE
2. Click the button to "like" the page.
3. Come back here, post a comment below, include the number of "like" that you were.

BONUS ENTRY: Leave a comment at the bottom of my Mamiverse article as well! Limit of two entries per person (one for each comment).

We'll use the Random Number Generator to choose one winner! Deadline is Wednesday, January 18, 11:59 pm. Good luck! Here are details on the camera. $79.99 value!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Girl in Progress: A Movie I'm Excited To See!

2012-01-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

LINK
I love mother/daughter flicks and this looks like a juicy one!You know when you see a movie trailer and you just about want to cry? That's what this one does for me, plus it is from the director of Under the Same Moon, one of my favorite flicks!

From the site:
Girl in Progress
Grace (Eva Mendes) is a single mom. She is too busy juggling work, bills, and the very married Dr. Hartford (Matthew Modine), to give her daughter, Ansiedad (Cierra Ramirez) the attention she desperately needs. When Ansiedad’s English teacher, Ms. Armstrong (Patricia Arquette), introduces her students to classic coming-of-age stories, Ansiedad is inspired to skip adolescence and jump-start her life without mom. While Grace becomes preoccupied with the increasing affections of her co-worker (Eugenio Derbez), Ansiedad enlists the help of her loyal friend, Tavita (Raini Rodriguez), to plot her shortcut to “adulthood”. But as her misguided plan unravels, Ansiedad and Grace must learn that sometimes growing-up means acting your age.
Girl in Progress hits theaters on April 27th, 2012.

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

CRAFTY CINEMA: The Help (pie plate)

2012-01-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Help is an internationally best-selling novel that takes place in the South during the civil rights era. The story is rich with drama, love and controversy, which is why it was made into a motion picture. I loved the book and the movie as well. Now that it is on OnDemand, I've watched it twice more. And ooooh, that pie scene. It inspired me to paint a ceramic dish, 60s style! Here is how you can make one too!

Patterns
- Pattern 1
- Pattern 2

Visit your local ceramic/paint on pottery shop to get the pie plate and paints. Here is what I used:

Duncan® Concepts® Underglazes for Bisque and Majolica

		CN 074 Really Red
		CN 253 Dark Black
		CN 262 Bright Grape
		CN 302 Bright Caribbean
		CN 362 Ivory

Dinnerware Bisque Designs

Wavy Ware Pie Dish 11.25" x 11.25" x 2"

Signature Brushes

		SB 802 No. 1 Liner
		SB 803 No. 4 Liner
		SB 806 No. 6 Round
		SB 807 No. 6 Fan Glaze

Duncan® Pure Brilliance® Clear Glaze
Miscellaneous
- Foil or foam plate for palette
- Potter’s sponge
- Graphite paper
- Pencil
- Container for water
- Pattern
Instructions
1.Use Fan Glaze brush to paint two coats Ivory to the entire dish. Let dry after each coat.

2.Place graphite paper on dish with pattern on top. Using pencil, trace over pattern design to transfer to dish.

3.Using No. 6 Round, paint three coats Really Red in roses. Let dry after each coat.

4.Use No. 4 Liner to paint three coats Bright Caribbean on leaves. Let dry after each coat.

5.Use No. 1 Liner to add Black accents to leaves. Let dry.

6.Use No. 6 Round to paint Bright Grape foliage on opposite side of bottom of pie plate.

7.Use No. 1 Liner to add Really Red dots as shown. Refer to photo. Let dry.

8.Use No. 1 Liner to paint Bright Caribbean flowers with Black centers on rim of dish. Let dry.

9.Use No. 4 Round to add three coats of Really Red swoops between flowers on rim. Let dry after each coat.

10.Use No. 4 Round to add one coat of Bright Grape swoops beneath Really Red swoops between flowers. Let dry.

11.Use sponge to carefully apply one coat Pure Brilliance® over entire front and back of dish. Let dry.

12.Use Fan Glaze brush to apply second coat Pure Brilliance over entire dish. Let dry.

13.Stilt in kiln and fire at witness cone 06.

LINK

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Bling Your Tee!

2012-01-11T14:37:00.000-08:00

Do you have a tee that could use some classing up? My advice? Go for the glitter! This is a Muppets tee I bought at Target and I filled in the areas with matching glitter. It adds a whole new dimension to the graphic and people will think you bought it that way!

Here's how to do it!

Materials List:
- Tulip® Fashion Glitter™
- Tulip® Fashion Form™
- Tulip® Fabric Paintbrushes™
- Tulip® Fashion Glitter Bond™
- Paper plate
- T-shirt

Instructions

TIP: Buy glitter colors to match the color on the graphic, it will look much better!

Wash and dry tee to remove sizing. Do not use fabric softener.

Insert Tulip® Fashion Form between layers of tee.

Squeeze a small amount of Tulip® Fashion Glitter® Bond on plate and dip in brush.

Starting with the center and/or smallest portions, brush on the adhesive to the area you want glittered.

Sprinkle on glitter and shake off excess.

Repeat for other areas on the shirt until the entire design is covered and sparkling.

Let dry.

Add other embellishments if you want!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Fuzzy Slipper Makeover!

2012-01-09T19:53:00.000-08:00

How many of you received a pair of fuzzy slippers this season? My son got me these and as soon as I saw them I knew exactly what I was going to do with them! I used my Crafty Chica Cupcake Applique ($1 here!) and Tulip Beads in a Bottle to bring them to life!!
Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Happiness is...

2012-01-09T08:32:00.001-08:00

My sister-in-law made these beautiful cupcakes yesterday and after snapping this pic, I couldn't help but make a fun graphic. This is how we all felt while eating them. Enjoy!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

No-Sew Word Pillows (made from a pillowcase!)

2012-01-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

Maya has a fun tutorial this week on how to make these colorful no-sew pillows using Aleene's® Fabric Fusion® Peel and Stick Sheets™ .

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL TUTORIAL

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

IKEA HACK: Dombas Wardrobe Closet into Craft Storage

2012-01-05T12:08:00.000-08:00

I've been working on redoing my art studio since July and it's finally finished! I'll share some deets about what I did to pull it all together. For starters, I used to have cheap plastic shelving and I hated it, it looked so cheesy and messy. This time I went with two wardrobe storage closets from IKEA, and we hacked them!

Scored two of these for $99 on sale at IKEA!

There is one area meant to hang clothing. We added extra shelves.

I used the tried and true clear boxes with labels. I LOVE being so organized! It makes creating easy and fun. I still get ultra messy, I just make sure to clean up after I'm done.

We painted the cabinets and I added magnetic paint on one side (see to the right?) and corkboard on the other. I used paint to draw fun borders.

For the second cabinet, I did the same, except I made it strictly for fabric. Between the two closets, we made a shelving unit to hold the TV and finished art. My favorite part is that I can use the top of the cabinets to hold all my beloved collectibles!
Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Put a bird on it!

2011-12-31T15:09:00.000-08:00

LINK

Have you heard of this yet? Hilarious! Put a bird on it!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

VIDEO: Only The Lonely (mystery box giveaway too!)

2011-12-28T09:45:00.000-08:00

New cover song by Maya!

LINK

Watch the video and then leave a comment here and/or on the YouTube page for the video (1 entry for each, limit 2), and I'll draw one name to win a Crafty Chica mystery gift box filled with art doodads and supplies and stuff! Here is her Facebook page too!

Good luck!)

UPDATE: Winner is RuthGuajardo1 from YouTube comments! Thank you everyone for entering and supporting Maya's music!! I'll be doing this again very soon!

xo,
Kathy :-)

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

VIDEO: Crafty Chica Empowerment Guardian Tutorial by Fahtz!

2011-12-27T20:29:00.001-08:00

This is Fahtz with glittered nails, a handmade bracelet and an art tiara - all of which she made at the Phoenix Craft Rave earlier this month!

This adorable little girl named Fahtz came out to our Phoenix Craft Rave last month and stayed for hours crafting! iLovetoCreate was one of our sponsors - which meant everyone got a FREE Crafty Chica Empowerment Guardian in their swag bag.

Here is a video of Fahtz decorating her guardian - it is soooo cute, it will surely make you smile! And she certainly has the Crafty Chica spirit - from adding lots of glitter to cheetah print trim! Right on!

LINK
Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Suede's Holiday Fashion Tips!

2011-12-25T00:09:00.000-08:00

If you are a longtime fan of Project Runway, you'll certainly recognize Suede from Season 5. These days, he still designs for celebrities, tours the globe, as well as producing a line of fabulous frock patterns for Simplicity. Here's an interview with Suede where he shares ideas about holiday fashion!
Check out his web site at SuedeSays.com - tell him Crafty Chica sent you!

CraftyChica.com: Should there be a difference in what you wear when it comes to parties vs. family gatherings?
Suede: I believe personal style should always be reflected in what you wear. Of course there are times when we need to funk it up or dress it up for certain parties but always let you shine through. If you are not expressing yourself who are you expressing?

Tips for the excessive, over-the-top dresser:
Edit. Sometimes less can really be more. Think about where you are going and what you want to say. At the end of the day you are the star not your clothes.

Tips for the minimalist:
Challenge is to find a statement piece and work it into your wardrobe. It can be a handbag, belt, necklace, bracelet, scarf - anything but just try to work in one piece that is a conversation item.

What are common mistakes women make when it comes to holiday fashion:
I find the most common mistakes people make are living in the past and not moving forward. Fashion is an evolution.. meaning your wardrobe should evolve. Be sure to keep things fresh and mix it up.

Seriously – have you ever own a cheesy holiday sweater?
Suede isn't a big sweater fan but I'm sure back in the day, pre-deciding what I wore I was plopped into a cheesy sweater or two. My mom loves to wear sweatshirts with holiday greetings on them so I have to tread very lightly here. Overall I'm not a fan of them but.... they serve their purpose and provide a public service message. Mine would say: SUEDEsays™ - freakin' ROCK your Holidaze!!!

What about women who have no moola to splurge on fancy threads?
I recommend taking up sewing. If you haven't seen the SUEDEsays™ by Simplicity line its full of amazing styles for women of all body shapes. We offer Classic, Edgy, and Flirty looks for women, and Prep and Rock for men's. You pick your style, you pick your fabric and you ROCKit how you like. Check www.SUEDEsays.com or www.Simplicity.com for more details.

What are some patterns from your line that we can run out and buy and make?
Your best bet is #2182 Cool Fast Fashion - it can be made in a couple hours. Get a knit that speaks to you - solid or print, and literally its a front, back, shelf lining, with braided strips. You'll be able to rock a fun party look in no time. If you don't want to show that much skin pair it with a great cropped jacket of a fun wrapped sweater (sans holiday greeting).

What are some ways people can give the gift of sewing – and why is that such a great gift?
So many craft stores offer lessons and sewing is invaluable. I mean what's better then expressing yourself through what you wear. With Simplicity, SUEDEsays™ offers the tools that will help you make modern fashionable clothing.

Be sure to check SUEDEsays.com to keep up with all things Suede. Sending you all much love and happiness during this Holiday 2011 Season and wishing you each a very happy, healthy, prosperous and ROCKin' 2012!

Felicidades,
Kathy :-)
Check out my new novel! MISS SCARLET'S SCHOOL OF PATTERNLESS SEWING

Diary of a Crafty Chica

How to Make a Rug From a Hula Hoop & T-shirts!

Crafting on coffee

Unglued: Crafting Your Way to a Stress-free Life

iPhone Video Tip: iStabilizer!

Flip Video Winner: Cynthia Martinez!

Meet the voices of my new audiobooks!

INSPIRATION FRIDAY: Working With Craft Manufacturers

NEW SERIES: Love Songs for a Year

DIY: Heart-Shaped Sugar Cubes!

DIY: Valentine's Day Lighted Shadow Box

250 of these are finished!

Bedroom Makeover: The headboard (in progress)

GeekLyfe.com (My Son's New Blog) & DIY Unicorn Poop Cookies!

My tips to keep you motivated, plus a FlipVideo giveaway!

Girl in Progress: A Movie I'm Excited To See!

CRAFTY CINEMA: The Help (pie plate)

Patterns

Miscellaneous

Instructions

Bling Your Tee!

Instructions

TIP: Buy glitter colors to match the color on the graphic, it will look much better!

Fuzzy Slipper Makeover!

Happiness is...

No-Sew Word Pillows (made from a pillowcase!)

IKEA HACK: Dombas Wardrobe Closet into Craft Storage

Put a bird on it!

VIDEO: Only The Lonely (mystery box giveaway too!)

VIDEO: Crafty Chica Empowerment Guardian Tutorial by Fahtz!

Suede's Holiday Fashion Tips!