Today I’m sharing a sentimental project that comes from my personal archives. When my husband and I first married in 1990, we vowed to live the artist’s life and earn a living from our handmade creations. But when it came time to pay the first electricity bill, that idea had yet to pay off. With $20 in our pockets, we went to the craft store, bought a canvas and materials to make earrings. We figured if we could fill the canvas with earrings, maybe we could talk a boutique owner to buy the whole shebang. Our plan not only worked, but it served as the launching pad to our craft business that is now 18 years strong. To this day, I have a canvas in our bedroom - filled with earrings. It’s a meaningful reminder of how far one idea go!

This design is great for jewelry artists who want to display their wares, or for earring addicts who want a fun way to hang their goods.

Canvas Jewelry Holder

Supplies:

1 canvas

Assorted acrylic paints, brush

4 or more hook tacks

Small hammer

Dowel rod, cut to fit the canvas horizontally

Nail

Directions: Paint the canvas however you want. You can paint it all a solid color, or make a full-on painting. Let dry. Use the small hanger to attach the hook tacks to each corner in the wood frame. Make sure the hook is facing up, because you will add the dowel rod last. Use the nail to make holes for your earrings. Hang your earrings in the holes. Place the dowel rod on the hooks and use it to hold necklaces or clip on earrings. Hang in place

Variation: Glue the canvas to the back of a frame for a more artful look. You can also add hooks to the sides of the canvas to hang earrings and bracelets. Use hinges to connect several canvases for a standing display.
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Other links:
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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

This project has been getting a lot of hits this week so I thought I'd repost it front and center!

Supplies

- 1 empty paper-towel tube.
- Glitter, fortunes, horoscopes, confetti, mints, funny notes, chocolate coins, small party favors.
- 12- by 12-inch piece of wrapping or tissue paper.
- Scissors.
- Glue gun or tape.
- Ribbon.

Directions: Cut the cardboard tube in half, then cut one of the halves in half. Fill all three pieces with glitter, confetti and other festive accessories. Lay the wrapping paper face down on a flat surface, then set the three cardboard tubes in an even row at the edge of the paper, leaving a 1/2-inch space between each tube. Carefully glue or tape the edge of the wrapping paper in an even line across the tubes. Roll the paper over the tubes once and trim excess paper (also on each end of the tube). Gently twist tubes at the disconnected points and add ribbon for flair. Add them to the table place settings, place a bunch inside a large glass bowl or hand out right before midnight.

Tips and variations: Before giving poppers to guests, use a pin to poke holes around the edges of the tube so it will break open easier. For smaller poppers, use cardboard tubes from wrapping paper. Use color copies of family photos for a personalized look.

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***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

It's time to celebrate the Fourth of July! Breakout the red, white, and blue glitter already!

Here are some ideas that will help make the day pop!

This is a fun kids project - a Statue of Liberty tiara made from an upside visor and drinking straws.


Star Spangled Pool Float


Super Star Soaps


Patriotic Fabric Collage

Glittered Bikini (Note: I didn't like how I executed this design, but you'll get the gist...)



Americana Folk Art Shrine


Star-filled Snack Book


Soda Can Star Lights


Patriotic Paper Swag

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***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

Hosting a "Let's grill at my house for the Fourth of July!" kind of party? If so, you have one more day to put together some delicious crafty entrees. These easy party lights can be made faster than your average fireworks explosion, not to mention that you probably already have the bulk of the supplies in your pantry. It also proves that from an artistic standpoint, soda pop cans are just as awesome on the outside as they are inside.


Supplies:
Paper and pencil
4 red or blue (or two of each) soda cans
Tin snips or heavy-duty scissors
Hole punch, standard size
1 strand of 10 minilights
Protective gloves

Make a circle template by tracing a 2-inch circle on a piece of paper. Cut it out. Wear protective gloves and carefully cut off the top and bottom of the soda can with tin snips or scissors. Cut through the length of the body of the can to make one rectangular piece of metal. Work it with your hands or use a brayer to make the metal as flat a possible. Lay the circle template on the metal and cut around it. Repeat until you have three circles. Snip out the shape of a star from each circle. Punch a hole in the center of each star to make an opening for the bulb to fit through. You may need to punch several times to make the hole large enough. Carefully press a star over a minilight. Repeat until all the lights are covered. You should have one remaining light to use as a replacement if needed.

Tips and variations: String the stars together with ribbon to make garlands or streamers. Glue the stars around the base of a flowerpot or around a large picture frame. You can also use them to decorate scrapbooks or journal covers. Instead of stars, cut out layers of flowers in various sizes and lay them on top of each other and connect with a rivet or grommet to make multilayered flowers.
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***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

Is there anything that hasn’t been made for the Fourth of July? Statue of Liberty tiaras? Been there. Star spangled pool float? Done that. Patriotic party horns, visors, water bottle holders - the list goes on. All month I worried about what to make for this week’s column.

Recently I checked out a party store and noticed scores of plastic banner swags for the front porch. I let out a huge sigh of relief. I knew with all the cool scrapbook papers on the market, it would be a cinch to make my own Fourth of July version.

There are two ways to approach this idea: fast or artful. To make a speedy version, simply cut your red, white and blue scrapbook paper sheets into circles, slip them over a long piece of string, and use a glue stick to secure. However, if you really want to show your Americana pride - make paper collages for each of the banner pieces, or embellish them with stamped designs. Even better, summon the spirit of Betsy Ross and use fabric, interfacing, ribbon, and a sewing machine. Add some glitter or tassels for that sparkly fireworks effect.

Here are some other ideas for Fourth of July crafting:

- Use glass paint and glitter to dress up glass Coca Cola bottles. Use them as centerpieces.

- Buy a pack of white paper placemats and use a silver metallic marker to write quotes from the Declaration of Independence (“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”)

- Paint papier-mâché stars in red, white, and blue and use monofilament wire to hang from the ceiling.

- Set out a bulletin board with colorful papers and pens and ask each guest to write down what the word independence means to them.

- Make an Independence Day-themed music playlist, burns copies onto CDs, slip them into decorated envelopes and pass out to guests or random people you encounter that day as random act of kindness.


4th of July Paper Swag

Supplies:

1 spool of string or ribbon
12 sheets of scrapbook paper (4 red, 4 white, 4 blue)
Decorative Edge scissors
Hole punch
Glue stick

Directions: Fold one sheet of paper in half and cut the corners so you have a circle shape. Use the hole punch to add accents along the edge. Repeat with the remaining sheets of paper. Stretch out the string and leaving a six-inch tail, slip one of the folded circles over the top of the string, so it rests in the crease. Use the glue stick to seal the paper together. Leave a two-inch space and add the next piece. Continue until the banner is complete.

Variation: You can also use fabric or doilies or make your banner. For rustic “Americana” look, use light sandpaper to age the paper and sew the ends together.





***
CLICK HERE to see my crafty videos at LifetimeTV.com!

Other links:
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com