It's the 4th of July weekend, what are your kids up to? If they are little, glam them up with one of these easy crowns. It's perfect for watching the fireworks. And if you are a kid at heart, make one for you too! I also made a really cool red, white and blue, but I can't find it! As soon as I do, I'll post a picture of it here. By the way, this crown is made from a visor, straws and lots of glitter!

The Fourth of July is all about flash and sparkle, especially when it comes to kids and big fireworks shows. Dress your little ones in style with this quick-to-make accessory that is sure to fire up patriotic spirit. With a foam visor, plastic drinking straws, glitter and embellishments, you and your child can make a stylin' crown so impressive, Uncle Sam would give a wink and two thumbs up.


Flashy Fireworks Headdress
Supplies
1 red, white or blue visor
Drinking straws
Hot glue gun
Red, white or blue paint, with loose glitter to match
Paintbrush
Scissors
Embellishments such as foam decorations, buttons and sequins

Directions
Turn the visor upside down so it becomes a crown/tiara. Hot glue the straws vertically so they are closer at the bottom and about an inch apart at the top. Cut the excess of the straws along the bottom of the crown. Use the brush to apply paint in between and on the straws, sprinkle the loose glitter. Let dry. Hot glue the other embellishments such as buttons, sequins, and letters.

Variations

Instead of red, white and blue, make a Statue of Liberty crown using a green visor. This idea can be used for different events all year, such as birthday parties or New Year's Eve.


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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: other holidays, summer/4th of July, wearable art

These are from last year, but what the heck!

The above is a drink holder/floatie for the pool. you take two solid foam stars, paint them, glue them (Crafter's Pick, the Ultimate) and glue on a drink cozy. Cover with ribbon and there ya go!



This is a little snack book made from lunch bags to put on everyone's place setting. Put treats inside each bag to surprise your guests!
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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: summer/4th of July

Here in Phoenix where it is 112 degrees and rising, pool parties are as popular as mittens in an igloo. It doesn't matter how hot it gets, the patio will be tricked out with munchies and icy, frosty beverages. So enter the painted placemat. An old standard, of course. But did you know there is a super swift way to make these? The secret is to go to the paper pad section of the art or craft store. Look along the bottom row for "Canvas Pad". Fredrix makes one that comes with TEN sheets of primed canvas ($12) - go for the 12x16 size. Rip 'em out and paint 'em and bingo! you have 10 awesomely cute placemats.



Summer's here, so why not have mealtime accessories to match the playful mood? These colorful and zesty place mats will fit with the season. They are made from sheets from a canvas pad found in the art-supply section of the craft store. Once you decorate and varnish them, they are as washable as they are durable. Take note: There are also blank oval canvas place mats ready for your paintbrush as well, but those "designated" place mats come with less product at a higher price. My advice is to go with the traditional pre-primed canvas pad sheets and cut them to any shape you like.


Summer Splash Place Mats
Supplies:
1 package of 12- by 16-inch Canvas Pad (10 sheets in package)
1 can of satin spray paint
Craft paints, assorted colors
Assorted chunky foam stamps
Assorted brushes, including a liner brush
1 jar of water-based brush-on varnish
Foam brush

Directions: Place one of the canvas sheets on a large piece of cardboard or newspaper, outside in a well-ventilated area.

Set it down so it lays flat. Spray on one coat of paint, let dry and add another.

When dry, paint a border around the edge of the sheet and add accents as desired. Add paint to the foam stamp and apply it to the center of the sheet. Outline with black paint. Add any other painted accents that you want.

Let dry. Brush on a coat of the varnish, let dry and repeat two more times. Repeat for other place mats.

Variations: Use a tapestry needle and embroidery thread to sew beads around the outside of the place mat, or add fabric trim. Use curve-edged scissors to create a textured look to the edges.

Have your kids paint their own place mats. You can roll them up and take them to use at the beach or park.

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: summer/4th of July

My husband doesn't get this week's project. He doesn't understand that there is a secret code between crafters - that we can spot each other in a crowd thanks to little clues. Especially when we wear a spool of thread as a necklace. OK, it's not as weird as it sounds. Every time I go to the fabric store, I longingly gaze at the thread display. The spools are lined up like cupcakes in a bakery display, all colorful and yummy-looking. Despite the excitement, a sense of sadness sweeps over me because I know I'll never have enough time to use every hue. So rather than call a crafty counselor to vent, I bought all my favorite colors and vowed to make something fabulous. I added a few beads, some velvet cording, connected them with eye pins and voila!: the birth of a necklace that any artista can wear with pride. Keep in mind, the spool is meant to be a pendant. But if you ever happen to need some thread, you'll be in luck!
Super Spool Necklace
Supplies
1 small spool of thread
Patterned fabric or decorative scrapbook paper
1 bag of eye pins, 2 inches long each
Assorted beads
Large jump ring
Cording, ribbon or chain
Needle-nose pliers
Scissors
Glue stick

Directions: Remove the label from both ends of the spool and using the glue stick, replace with circles cut from the patterned paper. Thread a bead on an eye pin and slide on to the spool; use the needle-nose pliers to add to the jump ring at the top. Create dangles for the bottom of the spool by adding a bead to another eye pin. Repeat until you have as many as you want. Use the pliers to attach dangle to the eyehole at the bottom of the spool. Attach the necklace cord by tying it to the jump ring. If desired, cut a small strip of decorative paper and glue it around the spool.

Variations: For a bolder look, use the spools to make necklaces and bracelets. Or use it as a fan pull for the craft room, or use several to create a colorful hanging mobile. You could also use long strands of ribbon to hold spools and hang them on mug hooks in your sewing room to add a touch of décor, as well as easy-to-reach functionality. Look for minisewing kits that have micro-size spools to make smaller jewelry pieces.


And while we're at it. Aren't these pins so cute? I got them at the Renegade Craft Fair.


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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: jewelry, wearable art

This idea is a cinch. You just take a wood frame that has a smooth wide border and use a paint pen to write a poem or letter on it. It also would work good for a group event, where you could have everyone sign it and then put in the group picture. Or maybe at a family function. Or your Craftaholics Anonymous meeting. I'll guess you'll see me there after all these blog posts...As you can see, nothing in our house is left untouched!

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: collage/paper, father's day, other holidays

Actually this was Patrick's grandpa's tool chest from, like, 50 or 60 some years ago. I glued washers all over it to give it an artsy edge. I know - it adds zero function to the structure, but it sure looks pretty, don't you think? To make this I used Crafter's Pick The Ultimate glue. I liked it better than my usual e6000 because it also works on metal, doesn't stink and is very thick. And as a bonus prize, I didn't have to wait for it to cure before moving to the another side of gluing. I really am devoted to e6000, but I must admit it breaks my spirit when things begin to slide. I like to just glue and move on with my life and not worry.

And yes. I asked Patrick before I touched the tool box. His Grandpa Greg (sign of the cross) was always so sweet to me and got a kick out of all the crafty things I used to make and show him. I think he is winking at me from heaven because he is impressed.

P.S. It says "Dad" because I made it for my Father's Day crafting package. I also did this journal for the gambler dad.



I took a blank journal and covered it with fabric (I used a glue stick) and then I used large letter rubber stamps for the title.

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: father's day, other holidays

The nice folks at CraftMoldsPlus.com sent me a batch of their rubbery soap molds (Flexus Molds) to try out. The picture is of the soaps I made for Father's Day.

O.M.G! They are like nothing I've ever tried before. One of the reasons I rarely make melt-n-pour soap anymore is because of the hassle of popping the dang soap out of the hard plastic casing. That isn't a headache anymore thanks to these heavenly puppies. Here is where you can buy them.

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: beauty

Meet Lola. She is my sister's beagle. We like to take her on walks. But when the Arizona pavement is hot enough to melt a stick of butter, an outing is out of the question. So I crocheted these booties from lightweight cotton yarn. Lola gives them five barks and two paws up.

NOTE: I'm reposting this from last year because I hate to see people walking their dogs on the hot asphalt and when the poor pooch run towards the grass, the owners tug them by the leash and say, "Come on! Behave! Stay over here!" I even saw one dog stepping in his owner's footprint shadows thinking it would be cooler. These paw protectors don't take very long to whip up.



Just because it's hot doesn't mean Fido should be stuck in the doghouse. So take him or her for a walk already, and don't worry about the heat. Here's a fashionable way to protect your pooch's paws from the searing pavement. You can buy a set for $20 at the pet store, or take up the art of crochet and make your own for less than a dollar and less than an hour's time. This project is perfect for summer; the loose crochet stitches combined with lightweight cotton yarn will keep those footsies cool from top to bottom.


Pavement Paw Protectors
Supplies:
Measuring tape
1 skein of lightweight cotton yarn
1 Size J crochet hook
Scissors
24 inches of ribbon

Directions: Measure the width of your dog's paw. Next, measure the length and add two inches to that number. This is how wide and long you need to make each bootie. For a medium-size dog: Begin by holding the end of the yarn, making a slipknot and inserting the hook through the loop. Make 6 or 7 chain stitches; at the end, join them to make a circle. Begin to create the bootie by adding stitches around the circle, using the double stitch. Continue to build up to desired height and then finish off. Cut four pieces of ribbon, each 8 inches long. Weave a strand through the top row of each bootie so you can tie it on the dog's paw.

Variations: For smaller dogs, decrease the amount of chain stitches; for larger dogs, increase. For more durable booties, sew a small piece of suede onto the bottom. Add decorative stitching at the top. If you do not want to crochet, you can make the booties out of fleece and use Velcro straps for closure.


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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: outdoors, pets, wearable art

The kids just got Nanos, which inspired me to make some little felt sleeves for them. This is a nifty project for kids or teens to do for the summer. These little suckers are just made out of sheets of regular .20 craft felt! The fun part is that you can whip up several to match whatever outfit or purse you want to wear. You can also make them to use as coin purses, cell phones, Blackberrys or to hold small art supplies in your craft room or craft case. It's sweet because it's all nice and cushiony soft. By the way, this project is super easy, but lots more detail can be added if you want, such as embroidery, bead, trim, fringe, buttons, etc...

Supplies:
2 sheets of craft felt
Scissors, ruler
Needle and thread or sewing machine
Applique if desired
Button and ribbon (or other closure device such as velcro or a snap)

How to do it: Measure an extra inch beyond the size of what you are making the sleeve for. I made two cases for my iPod Mini. I simply stacked the two pieces of felt and sliced it up the center lengthwise. Keep one set and sew them together all around the seams, as close to the edge as possible. Fold up where you want, so your iPod will fit nice and then sew up the sides. If you want to add an applique, do it before you sew up the sides. If you don't have a serger to seal down the edges of the applique, then just use the zig zag stitch on your sewing machine. TIP: You don't really need a ruler, you can pretty much eyeball the size. For the regular sized iPod, you will need to cut and then sew the flap on separate. Sew the button on the bottom portion and then tack on the ribbon on the top of the flap so you can wrap it around the button to close the case.
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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: sewing, wearable art

I apologize for the long run without new ideas! I've been traveling so much this summer, I haven't had much time. But I'm back in the crafty saddle. First up - Glitter n Glam Rings! I was inspired to make these after indulging in way too much gourmet glitter from ArtGlitter.com.

Supplies:
Resin Jewelry Molds (see pic below, available at Hobby Lobby and other craft stores)
EasyCast resin (available at Hobby Lobby and other craft stores)
Mixing cups, measuring cup, chopstick for stirring (found at craft store)
Mini-straw
Ring blanks (I buy mine on eBay)
Loose glitter (the more dimensional in color, the better)

How to do it:
Prepare the resin mixture according to the package directions - EXACTLY. Do not "eyeball" the measurements because your resin will not set and you will cry. Pour a small amount of the resin in the mold, blow with straw to remove gas bubbles. When resin is clear, pour in the glitter almost to the top of the mold, but not all the way. Now pour in another thin layer of resin. Use the chopstick to move the resin around so it covers all of the glitter. Blow out bubbles with straw. Let set for 24 hours. Add one more thin layer of resin and set the ring blank face down*. Let sit for 24 hours. Pop out of mold and use a file or sandpaper to smooth down the edges. If desired, use a buffing tool to make the ring shiny.

*Alternative: You can skip the last part and just use E6000 to glue the ring blank on. Also, you can embed other small object or pictures by printing them out on high gloss photo paper.


Resin jewelry mold


EasyCast Resin

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: glitter, jewelry, resin, rings, wearable art