It was a tiny secret that took years to be revealed.
When my Patrick and I first dated, I had just purchased a new perfume. I loved it and used it lavishly. Our relationship flourished and I connected my eau de toilette with the passion. But when the romance ran out, so did the fragrance.

Patrick and I eventually reunited, and it was five happy years into our matrimony when I came across a beauty catalog. There on the front cover was a promotion celebrating the relaunch of some old favorites -- including my saucy scent.
I was so excited. This was my chance to right the wrong. I bought the huge economy size, spritzed it on and waited for any retro romantic reaction.

He didn't mention a word, much less come near me.

Figuring his allergies were acting up, I went for another round of the perfume, but I couldn't find it.

"Have you seen my new perfume?" I asked.

"Hmmm, it's not there?" he innocently replied. "Oh, just let it go, honey, I like the perfume you have now."

"But I got it as a surprise for you!" I said, with a big smile. "Don't you remember the smell? It's the one I used to wear when we were first dating!"

There was a pause, and then the horrifying reply.

"OK, I hid it," he confessed. "I never wanted to hurt your feelings then, or now, but dang! That perfume is skanky-smelling! The whole time we were dating I dreaded it, but you liked it so much. ... Please don't put me through that again!"

So I found out the hard way that if only I had asked him long ago, perhaps we would never have ended our courtship the first time. You think?

Anyway, I dedicate this Beaded Bottle Topper project to my hubby. May he find the perfect perfume to go with one of these bottles.

Supplies
* 3 glass, painted or wood beads in assorted sizes
* 3 seed beads
* 1 hatpin
* 1 bag of assorted-size corks
* Glass bottle (any size)
Directions: Match the beads' color scheme with the room where you will display your bottle. Arrange the beads on the hatpin, leaving 1 inch at the bottom. Choose a cork that fits your bottle. Carefully push the beaded pin into the middle of the cork and place into bottle.

Tip: Fill with colored mouthwash for added dimension, or glue other beads around the lip.


***
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: beads, home decor, recycled

When we were on the cruise, one of our crafters, Julie, broke out with a gallon-sized Ziplock bag of mini Mexican basket rings. She bought them at Goodwill and didn't know what to do with them She offered them to the group and none of us knew what to do with them either.



On the last day, I took one and slipped it on my finger as a ring. Next I added yarn. "Put crystals on!" someone chimed...so I did. And I ended up up with a super fly-looking finger flasher.

Ann followed my lead and made a basket ring too. She used holographic sequined trim for hers (que fancy!). It just goes to show that we were drunk on crafting. You know when you finish your drink and sip the straw once more, hoping to eek out that last little bit of fun? Well, it was like that for us, except with craft supplies. We had finished our projects, so we scoured the room and made stuff out of the leftovers.

Here are our finished rings!



And here are Ann's pictures from the cruise!


***
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: jewelry, recycled

Whether you are into cooking, crafting or plain sewing - making an apron is a great project to tackle.

I've seen my friends use so many resources I never would have thought of - vintage linens, old pajamas, a men's dress shirt, cloth napkins, even fabric scraps sewn together.

This week, it's all about the old T-shirts. Finally, you have a use for that concert T from college or your husband's old sports shirt, the one he won't throw away. You'll need two T-shirts, one to show off the pattern and one to cut up, for this project. Find what you love, and then hack it to pieces in the name of art.

If you stayed in and studied in college, then check out the junior T-shirt section at stores such as Wal-Mart (locations Valley-wide at www.walmart.com) and Target (locations Valley-wide at www.target.com), where you'll find a cheap selection of vintage-looking T-shirts with concerts, cartoons and other logos for around $10.

For adult sizes, thrift stores will have a great selection of real vintage T's for as little as $2.

I plan to use mine in the art room, where I'm forever looking for a paper towel to wipe my hands or a cloth to clean my paintbrush. This is a great project for beginning sewers because no pattern is needed.

Supplies

Coordinating fabric, about 12by 12 inches

Sewing machine

T-shirt with your favorite design (shirt A)

Scissors

T-shirt you can cut up (shirt B)

Straight pins

1 ribbon 1 inch by about 48inches

2 ribbons 1 inch by 12inches

Directions

Hem the coordinating fabric on the top and both sides. With shirt A, cut out the design, going through the back layer as well, in the shape for the top.

Turn them right side in, and sew up three sides. Turn it right side out. On the open side, fold the raw edges in and sew a hem along it as well as the other three sides. Attach to the center of the coordinating fabric to create the top of the apron.

With shirt B, cut the bottom half off for the skirt of the apron. Leave it right side out and sew a hem along the sides and bottom.

Center and pin the top of the apron to the bottom of the apron and sew. Center the long ribbon (cut to the length to fit you) along the middle seam and sew. Sew on ribbon straps, one to each side of the top of shirt A.

Variations: You can alter the decorations the way you like. I added lace along the edge and a cupcake pocket made from scrap fabric and decorated with ribbon. For an even easier apron, skip the coordinating fabric and cut shirt A to fit as the top.


***
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: recycled, sewing, wearable art

This is a bracelet I made using washers, pictures, bola tie slides and jump rings. A wonderful chica named Mona turned me on to the idea a long time ago, except she used pictures of typewriter keys. Very easy, and it is a great project for kids! My daughter, Maya, even demoed it on the DIY Network, and it is featured in one of my Crafty Diva books!




***
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: jewelry, recycled, wearable art

I'm revving up to share all the details of the cruise, but first I thought I'd post a project.

Planning the party of the century?

Take that extra step and make customized favors. I made these for the cruise participants so they would feel like queens of creativity!

My original intention was to purchase plastic crowns from the party store and be done with it, but my craftaholic tendencies took over when I spotted these mini tiaras. They work great for weddings, birthday parties and anniversaries.

Custom Party Favors - Tiaras
Supplies
1 bag of small wood hearts ( 3/4-inch each)
Color copies of small pictures
Glue stick
White craft glue
Loose glitter
1 package of mini tiaras
Hot glue gun
1 boa or lace ribbon

Directions
Cover the wood hearts with the images (1 picture per heart) using the glue stick. Using your fingertip, add a thin border of white craft glue around the edge of each heart and then pour glitter over it. Tap away excess. Set to dry.

Use the hot glue gun to attach the heart to the center of the tiara. Snip off a piece of boa or lace ribbon, about 1 inch long, and hot glue it to the back of the tiara, so it protrudes from the top.

Maze Game
Supplies
1 package of mini maze games
Craft knife
Color copies of picture to fit the size of the game
Scissors
Glue stick
Hot glue

Directions
Turn the game back side up. Carefully use the craft knife to remove the cardboard backing of the game. Don't lose the ball inside the game!

Use the backing as a template to cut out circles of your favorite pictures. Use the glue stick to affix the picture to the backing. Make sure the ends are sealed down. Replace the backing and add a dot of hot glue on the back ridge to seal it.

Variations

Instead of the tiaras or maze games, you also can make other kinds of party favors by using your own paper: party horns, mini Rubik's Cubes, ball paddles, lip balms, purse mirrors, mini notebooks, etc.

***
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: paper, party favors, wearable art