Here's a way to let your outdoor garden benefit from excess craft materials. By gluing mirrors to fishing line you can add a sparkling New Age touch to trees. The multiple mirrors will flicker as they reflect light. It's best to make several strands for a brighter effect and arrange them in clusters.

Mirror pieces are available at any home-improvement or craft store.

Back to the message board -- special thanks to everyone who has visited. It's a great place to discover new ideas and share tips on the joys and hazards of crafting. Your idea may even end up right here.

Garden Mirror Strings

Supplies:

* 15-20 small mirror pieces (1 inch wide) or 10 larger mirrors (2 to 3 inches wide)

* Fishing line or thin decorative ribbon

* hot glue

* Thin colored ribbon

Directions: Cut a 14- to 16-inch piece of fishing line. Tie a loop at the top large enough to fit over a tree branch. Apply a dollop of glue to the back of one of the mirror pieces and lay flat, glue side up. Place the fishing line on top. Press another mirror on top, so that the line is sandwiched between the two mirrors. Continue until you have several in a row. Take several strands of ribbon and tie them to the bottom of the string for color.

Tip: If you use smaller mirrors you can fit a row of eight to 10, or for larger mirrors you can fit one to two. For more color, replace fishing line with decorative ribbon or trim.


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

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

Labels: garden, outdoors

Birds come in all sorts of shapes and sizes -- and most certainly with their own distinctive personalities, too. For every fluffy, happy bird that belts out cheery tunes, there is a macho feathered friend that prefers just to chill out and look cool.

Enter the cigar box birdhouse, a crafty idea from my co-worker Randy Cordova. This simple creation involves only a bit of drilling, sanding and gluing, and will lend a masculine and classic touch to your garden. Unless, of course, you can't resist dressing it up with a splash of color. Thankfully, you don't need to be a cigar smoker in order to make this birdhouse. Cigar boxes are readily available at local cigar shops, thrift stores or online auctions.

Cigar box birdhouse

Materials:

* Medium-size wood cigar box with sliding panel

* Drill

* Sandpaper

* Glue gun

* Outdoor polyurethane varnish

* Optional: beads and glitter

* 12-inch piece of jute cord or wire

Directions: Remove sliding panel from box, and drill a 1 1/2-inch hole 2 inches from the top. Sand the edges of the hole to smooth. Take the box and apply a thin line of glue to the grooves and slide the panel back in place. Let dry. Drill two small holes at the top of the box. Cover the birdhouse with two to three coats of varnish. Add beads and glitter, if desired. When completely dry, thread the cord or wire through the top holes, tie off and hang.

Tip: If you'd prefer to decorate your cigar box, decoupage pages from bird handbooks or pictures of birds. For a more eclectic look, glue bottle caps, trinkets or other found objects, or add a dangling ornament at the bottom of the birdhouse.


***
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

Labels: garden, Latin-inspired, outdoors, recycled

Chunky handmade candles are common fare for setting a mood. However, when revamping your humble abode, don't underestimate the power of tea lights. When used creatively, these tiny twinklers make a dazzling display of romantic or relaxing radiance.

A simple terra-cotta dish garden will raise an ordinary cluster of these peewee flames to a new level. You'll find that the finished piece works wonders as an elegant centerpiece for the patio, coffee table and more. And because terra-cotta pots and saucers are inexpensive, readily available and come in a range of sizes, a "one-candle" version is a spiffy take-home gift for party guests.

Tea Light Dish Gardens

SUPPLIES:

* 1 terra-cotta planter

* 1 terra-cotta saucer a size larger than planter

* Assorted acrylic paints

* Assorted craft brushes

* Matte or gloss spray varnish

* Extra strength adhesive

* Colored sand

* 1 box of tea light candles

DIRECTIONS: Paint the inside and outside of the planter and saucer in desired colors. Varnish. When dry, turn the planter upside down and apply a thick bead of E6000 glue around the base. Turn the saucer upside down and lay it on a flat surface. Set the planter with the glue-side down in the center of the saucer and press firmly. Let it cure for 24 hours. Fill the saucer with colored sand and set multiple tea lights on top of sand.

TIP: Add clay, florals, greenery, stencils, mosaics or photo appliques if desired.

VARIATION: For a traditional look, use a deep saucer or bowl to house a cactus garden.


***
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

Labels: garden, lights, outdoors

by Kathy Cano_Murillo - Mar. 6, 2004 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

If you are a crafter and haven't yet made a cigar-box purse, what are you waiting for?

Craft stores have a healthy supply of options when it comes to raw wood boxes, purse handles, hinges and latches. All it takes is embellishing the box to your liking and adding the hardware to make a sensational handbag.

But if you are like me and yearn for a funkier look, pick up a wood-burning tool at the same time. It's as easy as drawing with a pen, and leaves a rustic and charming look.
If the thought of using a heated tool makes you flinch, go the easy route and decoupage or paint your favorite images instead.

Wood-burned Box Purse

Supplies
1 wood box with latch and hinges
Design pattern, tracing paper, pencil
1 hand-held wood-burning tool
1 piece of sandpaper, medium grit
1 purse handle with hardware
Hand-held drill
Screwdriver
Watercolor paints, brush, cup of water
Brush- or spray-on sealant

Directions: Lightly sand the box on all sides. If you are using a pattern, use the tracing paper and pencil to apply the design to the box. If drawing freehand, start by lightly sketching on the design with a pencil. Heat up the wood burner and keep the sandpaper close by. Draw the design onto the box with the burner. Use the tip for fine lines or use it at an angle for broader strokes. Go over the design several times to achieve an even, smooth look. Every so often, remove the build-up on the tool by wiping it on the sandpaper. Fill in the design's spaces with the watercolor paints. Paint and decorate the inside of the box. Let dry and apply sealant to inside and outside of the box. Use the hand-held drill and screwdriver to attach the handle to the top.

Caution: The wood-burning tool is extremely hot and dangerous if not used with care. This project is not for young children. Read manufacturer instructions thoroughly before using.

Variations: Decorate the handle with beads, paint, wire or ribbon. Line the inside of the box with fabric. Add a vanity mirror on the lid. Instead of using the wood burner, decoupage or paint the box and add trim.


***
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

Labels: paint, wearable art

Just because you are set to color Easter eggs this weekend doesn't mean the holiday duties stop there. There are still baskets to fill, food to cook and, most important, decorations to display. With only 48 hours to go, we're sharing a few tips and tricks to make the most of the final countdown.
* Fill plastic eggs with rice. Glue shut to make musical Easter "shakers."
* Create festive place mats with fun foam. Use one sheet as your base and glue a border of shapes in chicks, carrots, eggs and flowers.
* Use hot glue to cover a basket with faux spring flowers for a centerpiece to hold colored eggs.
* Cut bunny-feet shapes from craft sponge and use chalk to leave a trail of bunny footprints.
* Personalize the outside of plastic glassware with stickers, dimensional squeeze paint or markers.
* Make party favors by filling mini-terra-cotta pots with pastel-colored candy.
* Empty an egg, gently create a little "window,"paint and decorate the entire surface and insert a family photo inside for a minidiorama.
* Cascarones: Empty an egg, fill with confetti, decorate the outside with glue and tissue paper. Crack over loved ones' heads for fun.
* Roll up small toys or candies in crepe paper into a ball, add wiggly eyes and construction-paper bunny ears and a cotton ball for the tail. Kids will have fun unrolling the paper to find the surprise.
* Decoupage Easter napkins on all four sides of a box and use as a utensil holder.
* Fill a large, clear bowl with water and drop in fresh daisies to float on top.
* Snip strips of party streamers and roll each into small tissue flowers, tie to a string and hang.
* Glue jelly beans around a plastic foam topiary and insert into a painted planter. Add green basket grass for filler.

* For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: Easter, other holidays