Think jump rings are only good for attaching clasps, pendants and charms? Think again! Read instructions for this project here.

* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: jewelry

Set Dad down to his own tick-tack-toe game
by Kathy Cano-Murillo - Jun. 18, 2005 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
It's 24 hours until Father's Day, and you still need one last gift. Think handmade, functional and interactive: a tick-tack-toe game! This project is aimed at kids who don't have enough allowance to buy Dad that set of killer golf clubs but still want to offer up something spiffy and unforgettable. With a ceramic tile and some wood pieces, you can whip up a handsome game board that can sit on the coffee table for the whole family to enjoy throughout the year. In this sample, I used painted wood pieces, but for an extra personal touch, make five copies of a picture of Dad's face, and five of your own, and then glue them to the wood pieces. So instead of using X's and O's, you can use your mugs as the game pieces.

Father's Day Tick-Tack-Toe Game

Supplies
• 1 ceramic tile, 12 by 12 inches
• 1 Sharpie marker and ruler
• 4 wood balls, a half-inch in diameter
• 10 wood disks or squares
• Assorted water-based acrylic paints, paintbrush
• E6000 adhesive.

Directions: Paint a base coat on the disks/squares - five in one color and five in a contrasting color. Let dry and then paint an "X" on five of them and "O" on the remaining five. Set aside and let dry. Paint the wood balls and let dry. Flip the tile upside down and apply adhesive to the bottom of each ball. Place one in each corner and let dry for an hour. Flip the tile right side up and using the ruler draw four lines to create the grid for the game.

Variations: You can use just about anything for the game pieces. Aside from gluing your photos on wood pieces, you can rubber-stamp or paint designs on the wood, or use found objects such as coins or washers. You can also use polymer clay.

* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: father's day, inside, recycled

Double-sided tape holds simple answer to buckle's look
by Kathy Cano-Murillo - Jun. 11, 2005 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

I love receiving packages in the mail, especially when they come with neat art supplies. Recently, I was graced with a box of goodies from TreasureItCrafts.com. The site is run by two moms who stumbled upon a genius combination for embellishment crafts: double-sided tape, micro ribbon, gems and micro beads. The idea is to take any flat surface (leather cuffs, lampshades, scrapbooks, hat brims, boxes) and cover it with the tape, draw designs with the ribbon, glam up with gems and then sprinkle clear micro beads over all the exposed areas. The end result is multidimensional, eye-catching and in some cases, almost vintage looking. I recently purchased some heavy silver buckles and vamped them up.

Supplies, kits and books can be found at www.tresureitcrafts.com or at your local craft store.


Glamouricious Belt Buckles


Supplies:

1 blank belt buckle
Double-stick craft tape (red backing)
Assorted metallic threads, approximately 1/16 in size
Assorted flat-backed objects (sequins, gems, etc.)
Picture (optional)
1 package of clear micro beads
Tray to catch micro beads (I used a small bead tray with a spout at one end)
1 pair of cheap scissors
1 pair of regular scissors

Directions: Cover the top of the buckle with double-sided tape, but do not remove the red backing. Rub your fingers over the tape to remove any air bubbles. Arrange your design on the buckle and then set everything aside. Once you know how to decorate it, peel the red backing off. Use cheap scissors to trim off excess tape. Apply the objects, but keep in mind that once you set something on it, it will not come up. Add larger objects or pictures first, gems, and then add ribbon by holding the strand down with one finger and moving it in desired shapes and/or swirls with your other finger. Use good scissors to cut ribbon. Once you have completed the design, hold the buckle over the tray and pour the micro beads over the entire surface until all the exposed tape areas are covered. Tap the buckle on the side to remove any excess beads. Use your fingers to press everything in place. Let set for 24 hours before using.

Tips: Avoid touching the exposed tape, as it will make it less sticky. Save scraps of tape for future use. To clean tape build up from scissors, use an adhesive remover, such as Goo Gone.

* By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: paper, wearable art