Labels: Easter

If you can't see the video, click here!

Labels: crafty video, Easter, LifetimeTV

Did you know you can use temporary tattoos on hard surfaces? I used the Crafty Chica tattoo on this egg. I made after drinking too much coffee, so it is a little wonky, but if my hands were steady, it would have looked much nicer!

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Labels: Easter, food crafts

This is from a segment I did on DIY Network's Craft Lab! Way fun!

Materials:

1 dozen eggs
2 brushes
2 cups of water
black, red, green, yellow and blue paint pens
2 steak knives
confetti
1 bag of sequins
paper towels
colored tissue paper
white craft glue

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Lucha Libre-Inspired Decorative Eggs (cascarones) and Egg Holder

Steps:

1. Decorate an egg carton with glitter, glue and paint pens (figure A) and let dry.
2. Poke a hole on the bottom of the egg with a steak knife — just big enough to drain the egg (figure B). Be careful when poking the hole in the egg, the shell cracks easily. Always empty more eggs than you think you'll need just in case one breaks. Dry the egg, rinse out with water, turn upside down, and then let it drip over a paper towel.
3. Carefully insert a teaspoon of confetti inside the egg. Micro glitter will be hard to see once the egg cracks, therefore use glitter with large flakes.
4. Using white craft glue, glue tissue paper over the hole.
5. Draw an outline of the face with a paint pen.
6. With the paint pens, color inside the lines of your outlines on the shell (figure C).
7. Carefully set the egg in the carton to dry.

Tips:

• An easy way to make your own confetti is to hole punch metallic wrapping paper.
  
• Instead of paint pens, use permanent markers or a light coat of paint. If using paint, make sure it's not too thick.

Peace, love, and glitter!

Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Labels: Easter

Peeps are not just for chewing anymore. They have become pop culture icons of spring, even if they don’t rank high on the tasty list. They are colorful, cute, and packed with personality. Hello, craft project! After seeing a slideshow from The Washington Post recently of Peeps dioramas, I made my own simpler version to celebrate Easter. You can use any kind of small box as the foundation, and use up any excess craft supplies to use for accents.

To see the slide show, visit: http://tinyurl.com/2co752

Supplies:
Shadow box (any small box will do)
Peeps
Spray varnish
Scrapbook paper
Flowers
Glitter in assorted colors.
White craft glue
Paints, brushes
Hot glue

Directions: Take the Peep outside and spray it with the varnish. Let dry and then flip it over and repeat. Let dry and repeat process one more time. Base coat the box in your desired color, and then coat with glitter. Let dry. Glue the scrapbook paper to the inside panel of the box. Decide how you want to stage your Peep. Mix paint to match the Peep’s skin color and coat over the dots for eyes so you can add your own. Glue all the pieces down. Add any other accents you’d like, such as a small bird on top, or dimensional squeeze paint on top.
Tip: You can personalize your box by making it to the theme of your favorite hobby!
If you are super proud of your Peep box, have a professional picture taken so you can make postcards.

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Labels: Easter

Every year at this time of the season, I can’t help but buy a bag of those colored plastic eggs. Anything that is under $1 and has secret compartment capabilities scores high on my supply list.
And…every year I have yet to open the bag. Therefore, I made it a challenge to come up with fabtastic, new uses for these timeless Easter containers (other than just holding jellybeans). Once I began to sketch, the ideas sprouted like happy daisies. Here are three of my favorites that can be used as party favors or decorations for the kiddies.


Bobble Eggs: The idea is to create a “bobble” effect by inserting a spring between the two halves of the egg. You’ll need a small base of thick cardboard or wood, a spring (I used the spine from a spiral notebook), hot glue, wire nippers, pipe cleaners, googly eyes and embellishments. Cut the spring at 3”, and hot glue it to the bottom portion of the egg, and then inside the top. Let the glue harden. Add eyes and other embellishments and glue to the base. Use the pipe cleaners to make funky arms!


Kitschy Chicks Candy Holder: These are adorable and useful. Make one for each guest and then hide a treat inside. You’ll need googly eyes, bamboo skewers, a wood or cardboard base, hot glue, scrapbook paper. Cut two legs from the bamboo skewers and glue them to the bottom of the egg. Glue on the eyes, and then cut two sharp ends from the skewers for the beak, and glue them below the yes. Add hair, and cut feet from paper. Glue on the base. Add glitter for plastic grass if desired.


Nifty Egg Necklaces: You’ll need a hand held rotary tool, large jump rings, needle nose pliers, paints for plastic, ribbon or cording. Open the egg so it is flat on the table, drill two small holes at the top, and use the pliers to insert and close the jump ring. Paint the outside of the egg with the paints, let dry. Thread a ribbon through the top, fill with treats and pass out to the kids!


Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Labels: Easter

(Photo by Angela Villalba of MexicanSugarSkull.com)

My friend, Angela Villalba, founder of MexicanSugarSkull.com, sent me pictures of the gorgeous eggs she made using egg molds, sugar, icing and Crafty Chica glitter! Angela is the master designer behind the Day of the Dead sugar skull molds and used her technique to make these brilliant eggs for spring.

I'm including her directions as well!

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

Peace, love, and glitter!
Kathy :-)

P.S. Check out my new book and product line!

Labels: Day of the Dead, Easter, food crafts

I always have a hard time with Easter. I've never been into cute chicks and bunnies, and my version of the pastel palette consists of hot pink, banana yellow and neon green. But that doesn't mean my Easter eggs have to suffer. This year, I'm being bold and teaching my kids a lesson in pop art.

I clicked over to Google images and found some Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and even Keith Haring images. The trick to the eggs is to color them as usual with traditional egg dye kits (I used Twinkling H20 watercolor paints) and then apply images printed on water slide decal paper. This is clear paper that has a protective backing that is most used in model car kits. After printing the image, soak it in water and the image separates from the backing. The result is a transparent background.

If you don't have time to buy the decal paper, you can decoupage the image on the eggs. Decal paper can be found locally at Hobby Bench and Arizona Art Supply locations. Available online at lazertran.com.

Pop Art Decal Eggs
Supplies:

1 package of InkJet Decal Paper or Lazertran Water Slide Decal Paper
Hard-boiled eggs
Watercolor paints, brush
Bowl with water
Scissors
Acrylic paints

Directions: Paint the eggs with the watercolors and let dry. There are two kinds of decal sheets - one for InkJet printers, and another for laser printers. If you use the latter, you'll have to print your images on a color laser printer at a local copy center. Using the high-resolution setting, print the images on the decal sheet. Cut them out and put in the bowl of water. After a few minutes, the image will separate from the paper backing. Carefully pick up the image and lay it on the painted egg. Use your finger to smooth out bubbles. Let dry. Use other paints or markers to add contrasting polka dots.

TIP: Keep your pictures small so they will lay flat against the egg. There will be crinkles around the edges of the decal because the egg is round, but you can smooth them out by carefully snipping the decal and sealing it down with water.
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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: Easter, food crafts, other holidays

Use icing tubes to jazz up your chocolate eggs!

***
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* 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: Easter, food crafts, other holidays

Here are some ideas to keep you busy this week!

- Quickie projects


- Fake Easter Chocolates

- Egg Placeholders
- Cascarones


***
STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR

* 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: Easter

Easter isn't simply about hunting for treats and biting the ears off chocolate bunnies. It's also about having fun at other people's expense - if you are into confetti eggs, also known as Cascarones. You can buy ready-made eggs at the grocery store, but how fun is that? Part of the payoff is knowing that you made them. Visit a party store to choose from all kinds of confetti. I used small sequins in my eggs for a shiny effect. Confetti eggs also are great party favors all year. Paint them to match a baby shower or birthday party and fill them with small candies, a favorite quote or a small toy. But remember: When cracking them over someone's head, tap the egg and squeeze it with your hand to make sure it opens.

Confetti Eggs
Supplies
1 dozen eggs with container
Water-based acrylics, brush, cup of water
Paint pen to draw designs
Steak knife
Confetti or sequins
Paper towels
Colored tissue paper
White craft glue

Directions: Working with one egg at a time, poke a hole at the bottom with the steak knife, just big enough to drain the egg. Let contents drip out. Rinse the inside of the egg and rest it, hole side down, on the paper towel. When the eggs are dry inside, decorate the shell with watered-down acrylics. Pour a teaspoon of confetti inside the egg. Glue a piece of tissue paper (matching the color of the egg) to seal the hole. Set the egg hole side up to dry. Paint and embellish the egg carton to match.

Tip: Only use a light coat of paint. Too much and the egg will be hard to crack.

* 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: Cinco DeMayo, Easter, food crafts, Latin-inspired

I met the fabulous Ele Shnier who makes a living by making fake food! Check out these Easter chocolates.
Fake Easter Chocolates
Supplies
Cutting mat
Rolling pin
Easter-theme cookie cutters
1 can of cooking spray
1 bag of Crayola Model Magic
Large foam stamps
Delta Ceramcoat acrylic paint, Burnt UmberSmall paintbrush
Brush-on varnish, satin
Assorted dimensional squeeze paints in bright spring colors

Directions: Lightly coat the cutting mat, rolling pin and cookie cutters with cooking spray. Pinch off a baseball-size piece of Model Magic and use the rolling pin to smooth and flatten it until it is 3/4-inch thick. Take a foam stamp (does not need to be sprayed) and press it firmly into the Model Magic so the design looks sharp and defined. Take a cookie cutter and press it in place so the stamped design is in the center. Remove the cookie cutter and peel the Model Magic from the mat. Remove excess product. Let air-dry for 24 hours until hard. Paint the entire surface with three coats of paint, letting each coat dry. Varnish and let dry. Embellish with dimensional squeeze paint and let dry.

Tips: Use a blow dryer to speed drying time for the paint. Once you open the Model Magic, keep the substance tightly wrapped or it will dry out. If you want to mimic other types of foods, Schnier suggests setting the real thing close by so you can copy its shape.
* 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: Easter

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