"Kathy Cano Murillo strikes us as one of those people who, stranded on a desert island with nothing but a volleyball, a deck of playing cards and some coconuts, would not only craft a rescue vehicle and distress
signal but whip up a spiffy castaway-themed wardrobe to wear as she did
so. And she would be having a great time. And so would you. Visit the
Arizona Republic contributor's site to get the craft fever yourself."
– USA Today
The Crafty Chica DIY Project Library: a collection of fabulous handmade ideas by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
How to Make a Dia de los Muertos Altar
My sister made this ofrenda to Barry White and she added all the basic elements for Dia de los Muertos. Over at http://dead.azcentral.com, click HERE to see an interactive display!
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 9:54 PM
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Cycle of Life Face Painting
Many schools are teaching students about Dia de los Muertos and are on the hunt for cool crafty ideas. This is a good one that is often found at many muertos fiestas - face painting!
But we're not talking Disney characters or sports logos. This is much more meaningful. This is a chance to explain about the cycle of life and how Dia de los Muertos relates to it.
Using face paint found at the costume store, paint half of a face like a sugar skull and leave the other half alone. This represents that in this life or the next we will always be "alive", our spirit is eternal! I've seen all kinds of faces painted in this style and it is inspiring to see the variations on how the skull portion is decorated. You can use black and white, or lots of color and even glitter!
If you are a painter, why not volunteer at a local school or local muertos fiesta and paint faces? Or at least have your face painted, it's fun. It tickles!
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 12:38 AM
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Dia de los Muertos Shrine Contest!
Crafty Chica Challenge: Create a Day of the Dead Shrine
CRAFT and iLoveToCreate.com have teamed up to present to you the Crafty Chica Challenge: Create a Day of the Dead Shrine! Day of the Dead (or Día de los Muertos in Spanish) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico as well as by many in the United States on November 2nd. Day of the Dead is a holiday to remember loved ones who have passed, and includes many characteristic decorations such as skeleton figurines, candy skulls, marigolds and much more. For this challenge, we ask you to create your own Day of the Dead Shrine and share it with us. This Crafty Chica Challenge will run for 4 weeks, and the Prize winners will be announced on Monday, November 2nd. Deadline for entries is 11:59 p.m. PDT October 28, 2009. Due to the personal nature of these Day of the Dead Shrines, the winner will be selected via drawing. There will be one (1) grandprize winner, and three (3) runners-up.
The Grand Prize is a Crafty Chica gift basket, an advanced copy of the Crafty Chica’s first novel “Waking Up in the Land of Glitter” and a $100 gift certificate to shop at the Crafty Chica’s store, ChicanoPopArt.com
The Runner-up Prize is a Crafty Chica gift basket as well as a $25 gift certificate to the MakerShed.
To enter this Crafty Chica Challenge, please submit photos of your shrine to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr group. Enter in a 250 word or less description of what your shrine represents and what materials were used in its creation.
If you're joining in on the contest, here's the code for the badge to display on your site or blog.
This promotion is intended for play and participation in the United States only and shall be construed and evaluated according to the laws of the United States. Please do not participate if you are not a legal resident of the United States and located in the United States at the time of entry.
Important: Please read these rules before entering the Crafty Chica Challenge (the "Contest") sponsored by CRAFT and ILovetoCreate.com (the “Sponsors”). By submitting your projects to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr group, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. CONTEST OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHO ARE EITHER OF THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN THEIR STATE OF RESIDENCE AT THE TIME OF ENTRY (19 OR OLDER IN AL AND NE, 18 OR OLDER IN ALL OTHER STATES). VOID OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND WHERE OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Official Rules: Crafty Chica Challenge
1. How to Enter: To enter the Contest, submit photos of your shrine to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr group. Include a 250 word or less description of what your shrine represents, and what materials were used in its creation.
Contest begins at 12:01 a.m. PDT on October 1, 2009 and will end at 11:59 p.m. PDT on October 28, 2009 (the “Contest Period”). All entries must be received during the Contest Period to be eligible. You may enter as many times as you wish, but please do not submit duplicate projects. Sponsors are not responsible for retaining archives of any projects submitted. Email addresses obtained through the Contest will only be used by Sponsors to notify the winners and participants of the contest results.
By submitting an entry, you grant Sponsors and its agents the irrevocable and perpetual nonexclusive right to print, publish, reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works from, promote, and provide access to any such Contest entry, in all media throughout the world, and without consideration to you. Projects: must be the original work of the entrant; may not have won previous awards; may not have been published previously; must not infringe third-party rights, and must be suitable for publication (i.e., may not be obscene or indecent). By submitting an entry, you represent and warrant: that you are the sole owner of all rights in and to the materials that constitute your entry; that your entry is your original work; and that your entry does not violate laws prohibiting copyright infringement, defamation, misuse of trade secrets, invasion of privacy, or other laws. You agree to confirm in writing your grant of rights to Sponsors and/or the above warranties as a condition to receiving a prize in the event you are eligible to receive a prize.
2. Winner Selection: Winner selection for the Grand Prize, and 3 (three) Runners-up will be based upon a random drawing.
Winners will be notified no later than Monday, November 2, 2009. The decisions of the prizewinners will be final and binding on all matters relating to the Contest. Limit one prize per household.
3. Prizes: One Grand Prize Winner three Runner-up Winners will be selected by The Crafty Chica (Kathy Cano-Murillo by drawing. The Grand Prize is a Crafty Chica gift basket, an advanced copy of the Crafty Chica’s first novel “Waking Up in the Land of Glitter” and a $100 gift certificate to shop at the Crafty Chica’s store, ChicanoPopArt.com
The Runner-up Prize is a Crafty Chica gift basket as well as a $25 gift certificate to the MakerShed.
Estimated total value of all prizes: US $354.66. All prizes will be awarded, provided they are properly claimed.
4. Winner Notification: Each Prizewinner will be notified by e-mail or Flickr mail by Monday, November 2, 2009. Sponsors are not responsible for any change of entrant’s e-mail address. Any prize or prize notification returned as undeliverable or otherwise not claimed within seven (7) days after notification of prize award will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate prizewinner. Prizes are not transferable. No cash redemptions. No substitutions or exchanges of the prize will be permitted, except that Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any prize that becomes unavailable. The prizes are awarded "AS IS" and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied, (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE). ACCEPTANCE OR USE OF PRIZE IS AT THE WINNER'S OWN RISK.
5. Sponsors and any of their parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, professional advisors, employees, and agencies will not be responsible for (1) any late, lost, or misrouted entries or errors in transmission; (2) any disruptions to Internet connection, injuries, losses, or damages caused by events beyond the control of Sponsors; or (3) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest.
6. Sponsors and their agencies are not responsible for technical, hardware, software, or telephone malfunctions of any kind and shall not be liable for failed, incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled, or delayed electronic communications utilized in this Contest which may limit the ability to participate in the Contest. If for any reason, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other cause beyond the control of Sponsors, which corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, the Contest is not capable of being conducted as described in these rules, Sponsors shall have the right, at their sole discretion, to modify and/or cancel the Contest.
7. Eligibility: Contest open to legal residents of the continental United States who are of the age of majority in their state of residence (19 or older in AL and NE, 18 or older in all other states) at the time of entry, or who are between 14 and the age of majority in their state of residence at the time of entry. Any minor who is eligible to receive a prize must submit a parental consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to receiving a prize. Employees of Sponsors, MAKE and/or Microchip Technology Inc., their subsidiaries, divisions, and related companies, and their respective agencies and agents and immediate family members of such are not eligible.
8. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL TAXES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRIZE WINNERS. Prizewinners may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility and publicity, liability and other release (and a signed parental consent form, if entrant is an eligible minor) within fifteen (15) days of notification attempt or prize will be forfeited and an alternate prizewinner will be selected.
9. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST OR ACCEPTING A PRIZE, PARTICIPANTS RELEASE SPONSORS AND ANY OF THEIR PARENT COMPANIES, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENCIES (COLLECTIVELY, THE "RELEASED PARTIES") FROM ANY LIABILITY WHATSOEVER, AND WAIVE ANY AND ALL CAUSES OF ACTION, FOR ANY CLAIMS, COSTS, INJURIES, LOSSES, OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST OR ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE AND/OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CLAIMS, COSTS, INJURIES, LOSSES, AND DAMAGES RELATED TO PERSONAL INJURIES, DEATH, DAMAGE TO OR DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, RIGHTS OF PUBLICITY OR PRIVACY, DEFAMATION OR PORTRAYAL IN A FALSE LIGHT, WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR UNINTENTIONAL) WHETHER UNDER A THEORY OF CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, WHETHER ACTIVE, PASSIVE, OR IMPUTED), STRICT LIABILITY, PRODUCT LIABILITY, CONTRIBUTION, OR ANY OTHER THEORY.
10. Except where prohibited by law, entry into the Contest constitutes permission to use winner's name, likeness, contest submission materials, and/or prize information, without limitation, for any advertising, promotional, or any other purpose related to the Contest or to use of the entry by Sponsors or their agents, without further compensation to, or permission from, the Prizewinner.
12. The Contest will be governed, construed, and interpreted under the laws of the United States. Entrants who violate these Official Rules, tamper with the operation of the Contest, or engage in any conduct that is detrimental to Sponsors, the Contest, or any other entrant (as determined in Sponsors’ sole discretion) are subject to disqualification. By entering, entrants agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, participant’s rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsors in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California. By entering, entrants consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state and local courts located in San Francisco, California.
Sponsors:
Maker Media Division (CRAFT), 1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472.
iLoveToCreate.com, 5673 E. Shields Avenue, Fresno, CA 93727.
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 12:14 AM
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Dia de los Muertos paintings
I recently bought 8 canvases and decided to try and paint one a night. Well, I really got into and did 2-3 a night! My wrist is shot, but it was worth it. It feels so good to stretch out of my normal range. I tried to break old habits and experiment with challenging (to me) techniques. I highly encourage giving it a try!
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 12:08 AM
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Sunday, October 11, 2009
Shimmery Skeleton Shadow Box
Give your home or office a touch of shimmery delight with a shadow box decorated in vibrant Crafty Chica Chunky Glitters! Add images from your favorite Crafty Chica Inspiration Cards for a daily pick-me-up!
Cover work surface with newspaper. Squeeze a puddle of desired color of paint from the Crafty Chica Little Chica Paint Pack onto foil. Basecoat the inside and outside of frame and let dry.
Use a clean paintbrush to coat the inside of the frame (sides and top only) with Aleene’' Original Tacky Glue then immediately pour a layer of glitter over it. Let dry then tap away excess glitter.
Paint desired pattern on the front of the box with colors of choice. Let dry. Working in small sections at a time, cover pattern sections with glue and add glitter to sections as desired. Let dry.
Use handle of brush to add dots of paint on top of glitter for more dimension. Let dry.
Choose one card from the Crafty Chica™ Inspiration Cards™ and cut out images from the card to place in layers within frame (front, middle and back).
Glue the back layer to the inside back of box. Add a bead of glue to the bottom of the second image and hold in place in middle of box until it stands upright. Glue the third image in place in the front of box.
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 10:02 PM
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Mixed Media Collages
Collage canvases are a great way to express yourself and add a pop of color and design to your surroundings. Check out Google images for calacas to use as your focal point. Keep in mind, most images are copyrighted, but you can use them as long as you don't sell them!
Directions: 1. Write a poem, phrase, or random words on the canvas. 2. Coat with a layer of decoupage medium and add a layer of tissue paper, add a coat over the that. Let dry. 3. Add images, stenciled designers, stamped words. 4. Add glitter accents if desired.
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 9:16 PM
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Charming Day of the Dead Resin Heart Bracelet
Charming Day of the Dead Bracelet
Designed by Kathy Cano-Murillo
Dia de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead – is a Hispanic holiday dedicated to remembering loved ones who have passed on. Create this Charming Day of the Dead Bracelet with Crafty Chica™ Charms™ and Chunky Glitters™ as a way to honor and celebrate the lives of those you love.
Mix 1/4 cup of each part of the resin according to package instructions.
Pour two heaping teaspoons of Sci Fi Silver Crafty Chica Chunky Glitters into resin and stir until glitter is fully mixed. Pour into desired number of molds. Let set 24 hours until cured.
Once cured, pop hearts out of molds and use a handheld drill to create a hole at the top of each heart.
Cut a 6" piece of wire and using the needle-nose pliers, wrap the wire through the hole in heart several times, leaving a 2 mm loop at the top. Twist the loop several times to create a small hole, turning the heart into a charm. Repeat for all hearts.
Use the jump rings from the Crafty Chica Charm Bracelet Workshop-in-a-Box and 3-in-1 jewelry-making tool to connect hearts and Day of the Dead charms onto the bracelet from the kit.
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 8:53 PM
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Dia de los Muertos Felt Flower Headband
Supplies:
1 headband 1 safety pin Assorted sheets of craft felt cut into leaves and circles (different sizes with different scissors to give it more flair) Crafty Chica Charms Liquid Fusion Adhesive Clothes pin
Directions:
1. Arrange your flower into the design you want, glue in place, let dry. 2. Use the safety pin to "scratch" the metal on the back of the charm and on the area on the headband where you will glue the felt. 3. Glue the charm in place in the center of the flower. 4. Glue the flower to the headband, use a clothespin to hold in place while glue dries.
OK, I'm going to go pick my jaw up from the floor from these amazing eggs. (Step one, make the first half of the eggs and fill them)
"I made some panoramic Sugar Skull "Spring" Eggs using my sugar skull recipe and mini original sugar skull molds. I bought the egg molds from Michael's. I made the eggs, scooped them out just like the large sugar skull molds and then made an eyehole before they dried.
I found that if I hollowed them out while in the mold they turned out with much thinner walls than if I scooped them in a couple hours. Anyways, when they were dry, I made up an interior that would be looked at when peeped into... like there's not much room inside, but I put a mini skeleton from Puebla, or a mini sugar skull or one of our original minis that I decorated.
When dry, I close the lid onto the bottom with a bead of white royal icing. It's all done with royal icing in deep colors. We sell the disposable icing bags, meringue powder and the intense food coloring. After they are closed, I use a spoon to make the peep hole a little bigger and nicer round shape. Then, decorate the outside!
I made mini sugar skulls to attach to the top of the egg with a blob of icing. I was told not to call these "Easter Eggs" as some Christians would take offense. But we all know these are awesome Easter Eggs for those who love Day of the Dead or Mexican crafts.
They were such fun to make and turned out so impressive. I used your glitter too, before the icing dried.
I receive your daily art blogs and am constantly amazed how much energy you and your family have. You are so creative. Whenever I get tired of my business, I just think of you circling your house with a glue gun and a big bottle of glitter, looking for something to decorate! You give me inspiration!"
Trivia: When I created the sugar skull recipe using the meringue powder back in 1995, I adapted a recipe for Easter panoramic eggs. Sugar art started in the 14th century in Palermo, Italy as Church altar decorations...probably little sheep and angels... Skulls came about 100 years later. So, there is a connection between the Easter sugar art and Day of the Dead sugar art."
For more information about Angela, and to buy supplies, check out her sites: Reign Trading Company www.MexicanSugarSkull.com Mexican Calendar Girls by Chronicle Books www.CulturalAdventures.com
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 11:31 AM
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Saturday, October 25, 2008
Faux Wood Block Transfer Technique
Today I was using my Crafty Chica Flocked Skull Iron-on Transfer - which is flocked (velvety texture). After I ironed on the design, I looked at the backing plastic and said "Hmmm..." it is all outlined with the flocked stuff - it is the outlined of the design. So I sprayed on some Tulip Cool Color Spray over it and pressed it on a piece of fabric and this is what came out! The best part, is you can keep using it over and over. I'm on deadline for another project at the moment, but when I get home, I'm going to experiment even more!
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 7:00 AM
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Monday, October 20, 2008
Skelton Shadow Box
(click on image for a closer view)
Take a spin by the toy section to pick up some figures, give them a makeover and then stage them inside a glittery shadow box. You can go as small as a mint tin or larger with a cigar box. Either way, you'll have a worthy piece of art!
My box is called "Recuerda me" (Remember me), it is about a ballerina who was in love with a musician. They lived in the southwest. She dreams of him in the afterlife, and knows he is thinking of her too. Come Nov 1st, her spirit will return to Earth and linger at their romantic hideaway, where she knows he is waiting for her with a beautiful ofrenda in her honor...
Supplies • Any collection of small boxes. • Scrapbook paper or fabric. • Magazine pictures. • Small dolls from the dollar store. • Small found objects. • Glitter, hot glue, white craft glue, paint. • Mardi Gras beads or other accents.
Directions Using black paint, coat the inside and outside of the box, let dry. Line the back with paper/fabric, using white craft glue. Paint the doll to look as sweet-and-scary as you want - it can be a vampire, a skeleton, a pumpkin head, a witch, a zombie, etc. I made mine for Dia de los Muertos.
Glue the doll in place and add found objects to give the box personality. Trim the inside and outside edges with the Mardi Gras beads or accents. Add a hanging attachment to the back.
Tips Make several of these boxes in different shapes and sizes and display them together in a modular pattern. Add captions, speech bubbles or titles to make them funny. Use more than one figure in several of the boxes, just to mix it up. *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.com!
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 9:11 PM
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Saturday, October 11, 2008
Crafty CHICA-ween & Day of the Dead!
Looking for some fun Halloween projects? Look no further! I'll be adding more throughout the rest of the month, but in the meantime, here are some from years past.
Next is my favorite. It is dead.azcentral.com - it is a web site for The Arizona Republic and AzCentral that Patrick and I helped put together. Patrick did all the illustrations and I wrote many of the stories.
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 11:36 PM
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Painted Halloween or Muertos Lanterns
Supplies:
1 paper lantern.
Spray paint (optional).
Assorted paints and brushes (or stencil and spray paint).
Loose glitter in black, white, purple and orange.
Newspaper.
Directions: Open the lantern. If it's white and you want to add color, take it outside and lightly spray it with the spray paint. Let dry. Prop it on a flat surface. Carefully paint on your design (or go outside and lay the stencil on the lantern and apply spray paint). Let dry. Use a liner brush and paint to highlight the edges of the design and sprinkle glitter over the wet paint. Let dry. Continue adding designs to the rest of the lantern if desired.
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 10:46 PM
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Dia de los Muertos Education Packet
Day of the Dead information for teachers and students
This is a special package I helped put together for http://www.azcentral.com. It features the artwork of my husband, Patrick Murillo. He painted a series of pieces exclusively for this education packet! All images are copyrighted. Thanks! enjoy!
azcentral.com is proud to offer a downloadable education companion to our Dia de los Muertos site. Adults and children alike often get their first exposure to this important celebration through the colorful art, food and folk traditions of the holiday and its close association with the more common Halloween celebration.
Our goal is to educate those seeking information on this celebration through articles, original art, and interactive projects. We hope that you use this information as well the pages found on the web site to enrich young minds as well as your own.
Packet Contents: Bibliography 4 coloring pages Word search game Mix and match puzzle Papel picado lesson plan, including an easy-to-use template for younger children. Calavera mask project Skeleton puppet project
• Posted by Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica, 10:30 PM
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About Me
Name: Kathy Cano-Murillo
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Mommy, wifey, artist, author, left-handed middle-child Sagittarian. Craft designer, product developer, former newspaper columnist. My first novel, WAKING UP IN THE LAND OF GLITTER debuts March 1st!
Are you a Crafty Chica? Wear a T-Shirt to prove it!
Note to visitors:
Hola! This site is the archive of all my past projects for Gannett News Service and The Arizona Republic. These ideas are for personal use only. I make a living as a craft designer, so I will be using these ideas in my published works. If you are thinking of selling or using these ideas for profit, please give respect and "twist" them to make them your own - put your own stamp on them to make them different. It will work out for the best for both of us! Thank you and much respect from one creative person to another! — Kathy