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The Crafty Chica DIY Project Library: a collection of fabulous handmade ideas by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica! Wednesday, June 10, 2009Festive Flower Vase Here is another project I made for ILoveToCreate.com! Give your flowers a colorful home! Creative this festive vase with Crafty Chica Mojito Papers and Paint Packs, and don't forget to add lots of colorful embellishments like beads, ribbons and crafty little charms!
Instructions1. Clean vase; let dry. Cut strips of paper 7" L by 5/8" W narrowing at the ends to create points. 2. Apply glue to backside of papers and apply to vase in each section, press down. Continue process with each piece of paper, until vase is covered as desired. Let dry. 3. Paint around top edge of vase and bottom (we used pink at the top and green at the bottom). Let dry. 4. Cut beads to fit around top edge of vase. Adhere to vase with Liquid Fusion. Gently tape down to secure to the edge until the glue dries. 5. Wrap bottom with ribbon and attach charm. Kathy :-) P.S. Check out my new book and product line! ** MY NEW BOOK: "Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Ideas for the Everyday Crafter". See the new line of Crafty Chica products at HERE Amazon.com!! All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2009. Thursday, April 30, 2009Embossed Tin Planters Add a dash of tin to your pottery collection! Embossing tin, a pen and a magazine is all you need. Cut tin into strips, draw on the tin on top of the magazine. Glue the tin strips around the border of the pot! ** MY NEW BOOK: "Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Ideas for the Everyday Crafter". See the new line of Crafty Chica products at HERE Amazon.com!! All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2009. Labels: garden, gifts to make Monday, March 02, 2009Triple Planter Birdbath Here is the FIRST craft project I ever made for the newspaper that was published. 1999. I had given it to my Aunt Connie years ago and her daughter (my cousin), CeCe, begged to let her have it for her patio. When I was at CeCe's for a party recently, I saw this birdbath and gasped! I forgot about it!What you do is take three graduated sizes of planters, plus one large saucer. Turn the pots upside down and stack them. Use a chalk marker to make a line where they will meet and then decorate. Let them dry, stack them and then set the saucer on top, also painted. Make sure to use a heavy all-weather varnish over the entire surface so it will last for years to come! If you don't want to use it as a birdbath, you can use it to hold anotherplanter, as seen in the photo, or anything else you want! Peace, love, and glitter! Kathy :-) P.S. Check out my new book and product line! ** MY NEW BOOK: "Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Ideas for the Everyday Crafter". See the new line of Crafty Chica products at HERE Amazon.com!! All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2009. Thursday, February 26, 2009Loteria Flower Pot When Patrick and I first started to craft professionally, this flower pot was our top seller. We made hundreds of them for Bloomingdales, as well as Hallmark and many other stores. They were featured in Gourmet Magazine, Sunset Magazine and Latina Magazine! One difference - we used the Loteria cards from Mexico. Little did we know back then that someday we would have our own game that we designed ourselves!
Instructions
** MY NEW BOOK: "Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Ideas for the Everyday Crafter". See the new line of Crafty Chica products at HERE Amazon.com!! All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2009. Labels: garden, home decor, paint Wednesday, February 25, 2009Mail Box Makeover Life is too short to have a boring mailbox. I'm not saying to glue plastic flamingos all over it with flashing lights (although that would be really cool!), but a little decoration wouldn't hurt! The key to this project is to use an ultra thick varnish to seal everything in! I made this for my friend, Sadie Jo.I used a metal box and covered it with spray paint and decoupaged stamp-themed wrapping paper. I added wire wrapped accents, colored marbles and sealed the whole thing in outdoor-proof varnish. It won't hold up forever, at least not in Arizona, but it'll be nice for a season or two. Then you can whip up a new version! If you don't want to use it as a mailbox, you can set i tin your garden or art room to use as storage. ** MY NEW BOOK: "Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing: Fabu-Low-Sew Ideas for the Everyday Crafter". See the new line of Crafty Chica products at HERE Amazon.com!! All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2009. Labels: garden, home decor, outdoor Monday, July 21, 2008Glitzy Garden Globe One of the most lucrative aspects of crafting is the power to change the ordinary into the extraordinary. I jumped on this idea when I counted the number of free Internet-service-provider CDs that I recently received in the mail. Because I'm not one to throw things away, I whipped out my scissors and mosaic supplies and went to work on this glitzy garden globe. I suggest purchasing an inexpensive pair of scissors for this project, because cutting through the discs will dull the blades. Ultimately, the small pieces arranged around the ball will reflect light beautifully. GLITZY GARDEN GLOBES SUPPLIES: * 6 to 8 unwanted CDs * Tile nippers or heavy-duty scissors * 1 Styrofoam ball (8-inch round) * 1 bottle of Make-It Mosaic Adhesive (4 ounces) * Pedestal * 1 carton of Make-It Mosaic Grout (1 pound) * Acrylic paint in desired color (optional) * Medium-size rubber spatula * Damp sponge * Dry cloth DIRECTIONS: Cut the CDs into 1-inch pieces. Holding the ball in your lap, adhere the CD pieces one by one so that they are approximately 1/8 inch apart. Rest ball on the pedestal and let dry completely. Mix half the carton of grout according to directions (if desired, add a few drops of the paint to add color). Working one side at a time, use the spatula to fill in the crevices with grout. Wipe the ball down with the damp sponge to remove the excess grout. Continue process until the entire ball is smooth and even. Let dry and then polish the CD pieces with the dry cloth. TIP: Sometimes certain discs will crack when cut. These still will work; just set them aside and intersperse them among the smoother pieces. *** 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 Sunday, April 13, 2008Tropical Table Runner Hot weather means summer, and summer means pool parties. Luau, anyone? OK, it's only April, but it never hurts to kick off the season early and in style. This cheery tropical table runner will do the trick when it comes to setting the mood for an outdoor soiree. The vibrant look is achieved by dismantling bunches of silk flowers, which are often on sale this time of year, or leis, separating the layers and then adhering them petal to petal in rows and columns. Once you've finished, top it off with a large pineapple or tiki god for a centerpiece. Silk flowers can be found at craft stores. Tropical table runner Supplies 4 bundles of silk flowers (or leis) in assorted bright colors Hot glue Directions: Remove the flowers and leaves from the stems. Take each flower and remove the back and front plastic centerpiece that holds the layers together. Working on a smooth flat surface, pick up one flower layer at a time and hot glue the edge of one of the petals to another layer's petal edge. Repeat the process until it measures approximately 12 inches across. Keep adding to the row lengthwise until it's 36 inches long. Use the longer shaped leaves for the border - glue them from underneath, sticking out all the way around the runner to achieve a framed look. Tips and variations: Be careful when using the hot-glue gun - it's almost inevitable that you'll singe your finger at least once. This project requires a lot of time and patience; it took me 2 1/2 hours to complete. Use the idea to line a window, pillow, book or other flat surface. *** 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 Sunday, September 09, 2007Good Intention Candle(Photo credit: Meghan Oleson) If you've ever felt like no one understands your love for solder wire, yarn, fabric and paper, maybe you need to find a new circle of friends. Crafty friends. Organized craft collectives have been popping up all over the country, most recently right here in town: the Phoenix Church of Craft, the Phoenix Craft Mafia and the Arizona Crafty Burrito Collective and my group, The Phoenix Fridas to name a few. These groups are made up of artists who meet once a month and plan events not only to sell their work but to inspire others to pick up a craft. I recently chatted with Meghan Oleson, the "reverend" of the Phoenix chapter of the Church of Craft. Glory to glitter, she had some great answers to my questions, as well as a happy candle project. ** Craft Intention Candle By Meghan Oleson Supplies One glass container (can be found at Goodwill or other thrift store) 1-2 boxes of paraffin wax (can be found at craft store) Colored crayons (to dye wax if a color other than white is desired) (optional) Double boiler for melting wax Cotton candle wick Tissue paper 1-inch x the length of your wick India ink ad quill pen (or other kind of pen) Spray paint Card stock and craft knife Decorative rub-ons Directions: Clean and dry container. Write intention on tissue with pen. Wet tissue and wrap around wick tightly being careful not to tear it. Melt wax in double boiler, following manufacturer directions on package. Pour one-inch of wax into the container, insert wick. Fill remainder. Let cool. When wax is completely cooled, clean the outside of your candle making sure there is no waxy residue. Use the card stock and a craft knife to create a stencil for the spray paint (example, cut out the shape of a heart), tape the stencil around the outer area of the candle and spray. Let dry. Decorate the outside of the candle with paint, rub-ons and any other desired items. Burn while crafting to keep all your crafty intentions in mind. Variation: you can also buy a store bought prayer candle if you don’t want to pour your own. Tip: Always use extreme caution when working with or burning candles. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Read Meghan’s blog at http://lucky15paper.typepad.com. Kathy Cano-Murillo is a freelance craft designer and author. Send questions or ideas to kathy@craftychica.com or visit her Web site, www.craftychica.com. *** 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: garden, home decor, lights Wednesday, January 10, 2007Glitter Centerpiece *** 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 * Monday, October 30, 2006PROJECT: Bleach Pen Skull Banners Here is another sneak peek from my book (Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life )! Enjoy! Bandera de Calaca The purpose of hanging splashy banners for a muertos celebration is to show that the festivities are a celebration - not a mourn-a-bration. It's believed that the souls of the dead are hurt if they return and are greeted by weeping relatives. Traditional altars use Papel picado to signify the party, but you can be innovative by using this sassy substitute. Supplies: 1 red cloth napkin with a patterned border 1 Clorox Bleach Pen 1 package of Creative Iron fusible fabric borders (or any other kind!) 1 piece of balsa wood 8 grommets and tool Paints Fringe hot glue small drill Directions: Lay the napkin on apiece of cardboard. Shake the bleach pen and use the fine point side to draw on the skull design. Set aside for 30 minutes (until you can see that design has soaked thru to the other side). Rinse in warm water to remove bleach. Let dry. Iron on the fusible fabric borders. Paint the balsa wood, drill three holes at the bottom, and two at the top. Make three holes at the top of the napkin and connect to the balsa wood with ribbon. Add a strand through the two holes at the top to hang. Hot glue the fringe along the bottom of the banner. You can go bleach pen crazy by making a whole bunch of these and tieing them together, or decorate napkins, seat covers, pillows, etc. Make sure the fabric you are using does not have ScotchGuard, otherwise the bleach pen won't work on it. *** 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: Cinco DeMayo, Day of the Dead, garden, Latin-inspired, outdoors Sunday, July 09, 2006Chile Can Candelarias Have you ever whipped up a batch of salsa and flinched when it was time to toss out the chili can? Especially if it has a pretty label, like this? Don't do it! Salvage it and morph it into a candle holder! Imagine how cute this will look in your kitchen or outdoor patio. If you want more light to show through, you can drill holes around the body of it. These would also work cute as covers on patio lights. Maybe a little heavy, but it's worth checking out. To make these, you drill holes around the top and hang chains from them (use jump rings to connect). you can add beads to the chain links, or whatever you want. Gather the loose ends up at the top and connect to a larger ring for hanging. If you can't find any cool chili cans, print out some pictures or vintage food labels and attach them around a small tomato sauce can. *** 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 * Saturday, April 08, 2006Poetic Pots Those clever folks at Magnetic Poetry have just released some ultra cool letter stamp sets. Sure you can customize your tees, but I opted for terra cotta pots. HERE ARE THE DIRECTIONS. *** 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 * Friday, May 06, 2005Spanish language pottery  Decoupage Spanish language newspaper on the pots, coat with varnish, paint and seal. * 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, collage/paper, garden, Latin-inspired, outdoors Saturday, February 05, 2005Photo Patio Curtain  Every spring I get bored with our screened-in patio and try to mix things up. This photo curtain I made from a box of greeting cards I found at Target. I affixed them to colored card stock and laminated them and then punched holes and string them together. It did so much to POP our patio! While I was making it, I kept thinking of how cool it would be to rubber stamp designs or use family photos. * By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: collage/paper, flowers, garden, summer/4th of July Colorful Candliers Let the crafty choir bells ring! Candlemaking 101 has reached the ultimate in simplicity by way of Lazy Man Candles. Sold in bags with wicks, these vividly colored and richly scented wax granules can be poured into just about anything -- mugs, votives, terra-cotta bowls and more. Add a wick and you are ready for action. The only heat required is from the strike of a match. The bright hues of the wax inspired me to keep the theme whimsical and cheery. With the aid of colored wire, wood beads and ribbon, I created a batch of ornate minilanterns that reminded me of chandeliers. If you are new to the world of wire, this project may require a bit of patience and practice. Purchase extra wire to try out different loops and shapes before moving on to the real thing. Supplies are available at craft stores, and Lazy Man Candles are sold at the Candle & Gift Factory Outlet, 2325 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, or www.candleoutlet.com. SUPPLIES: * 4 strands of 18-gauge wire in different colors (36 inches each) * Baby-food jar * Needle-nose pliers * Assorted beads and ribbons * 1 strand of 18-gauge wire (3-inch) * Lazy Man Candles wax granules in assorted colors DIRECTIONS: Slightly bend one of the long pieces of wire in half and wrap it around the lid of the jar. Tightly twist it at the lip to keep it in place. Straighten one end of the wire piece up and the other end down. Repeat process with the remaining three wires so that they are evenly positioned around the jar. You will have a jar with four pieces of wire standing straight up and four wires straight down. On the bottom strands, create loops with the needle-nose pliers and add beads (if desired). Then connect them one at a time up to the rim of the jar by bending the wires together. For the top strands, bend one of them 1 inch to make a loop for hanging. Gather all the wires and then tie them together by tightly wrapping the 3-inch piece of wire around them. Use needle-nose pliers to make decorative loops with the excess wire on the top. Add ribbons or dangling charms for more flair. Have a friend hold your candle-lier while you carefully add a wick and colorful layers of Lazy Man Candle granules. * For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: garden, Latin-inspired, lights, outdoors Desktop Zen Garden After a week of stressful activities, the thought of relaxation time sounds pretty good. However, if you are out of Calgon bath beads and the balance in your checkbook rules out a day spa, a clever alternative will have to do. This meditation garden will do the trick. These soothing, sand-filled boxes often are found at high-end shops and chic gallery stores. They also are sold as pricey do-it-yourself kits. Here is one example of how to assemble your own dry garden as a gift, or to keep in a special area of your home. The idea is to focus on creating balance and harmony with the use of a small rake, sand and rocks. I used three rocks and one item for a focal point. However, the possibilities are nearly endless. Gather several rocks in diagonal corners, or use seashells and starfish for a beach theme. There are no rules, just as long as it helps you relax. SUPPLIES: * 1 wood serving tray (9 1/2 by 13 inches) * Patina paint set * Stencil brush * Asian-inspired coins or accessories * Hot glue * 2 strings of gold-tone beads * 3 pounds of craft sand * 1 Asian-inspired focal point * 3 rocks * Small rake or mini-back scratcher DIRECTIONS: Stipple the tray with layers of Patina paints, using the stencil brush, and let dry. Affix the coins to the sides of the tray with hot glue. Repeat process to add beads around the top of the tray. Pour in sand and shake tray until the sand settles evenly. Turn tray lengthwise, and place focal point at the top. Add the rocks in a balanced design. Use the rake or back scratcher to make patterns and lines in the sand. * For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: empowerment crafts, garden, inside, multi-culti Glitzy Garden Globe One of the most lucrative aspects of crafting is the power to change the ordinary into the extraordinary. I jumped on this idea when I counted the number of free Internet-service-provider CDs that I recently received in the mail. Because I'm not one to throw things away, I whipped out my scissors and mosaic supplies and went to work on this glitzy garden globe. I suggest purchasing an inexpensive pair of scissors for this project, because cutting through the discs will dull the blades. Ultimately, the small pieces arranged around the ball will reflect light beautifully. SUPPLIES: * 6 to 8 unwanted CDs * Tile nippers or heavy-duty scissors * 1 Styrofoam ball (8-inch round) * 1 bottle of Make-It Mosaic Adhesive (4 ounces) * Pedestal * 1 carton of Make-It Mosaic Grout (1 pound) * Acrylic paint in desired color (optional) * Medium-size rubber spatula * Damp sponge * Dry cloth DIRECTIONS: Cut the CDs into 1-inch pieces. Holding the ball in your lap, adhere the CD pieces one by one so that they are approximately 1/8 inch apart. Rest ball on the pedestal and let dry completely. Mix half the carton of grout according to directions (if desired, add a few drops of the paint to add color). Working one side at a time, use the spatula to fill in the crevices with grout. Wipe the ball down with the damp sponge to remove the excess grout. Continue process until the entire ball is smooth and even. Let dry and then polish the CD pieces with the dry cloth. TIP: Sometimes certain discs will crack when cut. These still will work; just set them aside and intersperse them among the smoother pieces. * For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Tea-Light Dish Garden Chunky handmade candles are common fare for setting a mood. However, when revamping your humble abode, don't underestimate the power of tea lights. When used creatively, these tiny twinklers make a dazzling display of romantic or relaxing radiance. A simple terra-cotta dish garden will raise an ordinary cluster of these peewee flames to a new level. You'll find that the finished piece works wonders as an elegant centerpiece for the patio, coffee table and more. And because terra-cotta pots and saucers are inexpensive, readily available and come in a range of sizes, a "one-candle" version is a spiffy take-home gift for party guests. SUPPLIES: * 1 terra-cotta planter * 1 terra-cotta saucer a size larger than planter * Assorted acrylic paints * Assorted craft brushes * Matte or gloss spray varnish * E6000 glue * Colored sand * 1 box of tea light candles DIRECTIONS: Paint the inside and outside of the planter and saucer in desired colors. Varnish. When dry, turn the planter upside down and apply a thick bead of E6000 glue around the base. Turn the saucer upside down and lay it on a flat surface. Set the planter with the glue-side down in the center of the saucer and press firmly. Let it cure for 24 hours. Fill the saucer with colored sand and set multiple tea lights on top of sand. TIP: Add clay, florals, greenery, stencils, mosaics or photo appliques if desired. VARIATION: For a traditional look, use a deep saucer or bowl to house a cactus garden. * For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Concrete Coasters By now, many creative homeowners have made personalized stepping stones for their gardens and lawns. Making the decorated discs is as easy as buying a kit-in-a-box at the local craft store. But why be limited to grass and tootsies? Here's an idea that breaks the plastic mold: Shrink the concept. In an afternoon, you can whip up mini-versions that work wonders as playful drink coasters that carry the fun to patio parties, backyard bashes and the family room. Escalate the whimsy by gluing small pictures under clear, flat pebbles, and then embedding them in the wet cement. It's easy enough to follow up with a whole new set of the concrete stepping stones to match. Wilma Flintstone would be impressed. Supplies: 1 bag of large, flat-sided, clear glass pebbles. Small pictures or stickers. White glue. 1 box of cement mix. Plastic disposable bucket. Popsicle sticks. Plastic coaster molds. 1 bottle of water-based varnish. 1 sheet of colored felt. Optional: acrylic paints and brush. Directions: Add a dab of glue to the flat side of the pebble and set it on top of the picture. Have both on a flat surface so the pebble won't slide. When dry, trim the excess paper. Add a layer of white glue to the back of the picture to secure it and seal the edges. Each coaster will hold eight to nine large-size pebbles, so be sure to fashion enough pebbles for the number of coasters you wish to create. Mix the cement in the plastic bucket (or bowl) according to the manufacturer's directions. Pour the mixture into the molds and let set for five minutes. Press the pebbles into the wet cement in desired pattern and let dry for 24 hours. The glue under the pebbles will turn white but will eventually dry clear. Carefully remove the coasters from the molds. Turn them over and let them dry from underneath for several hours. Add a coat of varnish to the visible cement areas on top and sides. Apply felt to the bottom of each coaster to protect furniture. Variations: Instead of clear pebbles, press colored pebbles or other objects into the wet cement. Add a layer of paint on the back of each pebble so the color will show through or paint borders around the coaster edges for a brighter look. * For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: garden, home decor, inside, outdoor VIDEO: Ping Pong Patio Lights LINK Patio season is in full swing. These outdoor covered soirees unite friends and family, inspire hearty conversation and promote an agenda of lip-smacking foods -- we're talking fun and festive to the extreme. If you throw your own backyard bash, make your decorations the "light" of the party. Twinkling bulbs add the perfect accent, and, thanks to the new book Decorating With Mini-Lights (Lark Books, $19.95), there are an abundance of bright ideas to choose from. The 112-page book offers quick and impressive projects for a variety of occasions. I couldn't resist the one that gave new life to white table-tennis balls. The balls can be found in the sporting- goods department, and the minilights and other materials at local craft stores. Ping Pong Rainbow Lights SUPPLIES: * Acrylic paints in desired colors * Paper plate * Cup of water * Small paintbrush * 15 table-tennis balls * Paper towels * Paint pen * Craft knife with several sizes of blades * 1 strand of 15 clear minilights * Hot glue gun and glue sticks DIRECTIONS: Add a drop of one of the colors of paint to the paper plate, and add a few drops of water. Mix with the paintbrush until paint becomes watery. Dab your finger in it and lightly pat it on the surface of one of the balls. Continue the process on the remaining balls. Repeat process with other colors. Rest the balls on the paper towels to prevent spreading the paint on your work surface. When the paint is completely dry on all the balls, add accents with a metallic or black paint pen. There will be a logo on each of the balls. This is where you will poke a hole with the craft knife. Cut hole just large enough to fit over the light bulb. Add a small drop of hot glue to hold it in place. VARIATION: Make your lights look elegant by using gold or silver metallic paints as a base coat. Food coloring can be used instead of paint as a coloring medium, see book for directions. * For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: crafty video, garden, lights, outdoor Cigar Box Birdhouse Birds come in all sorts of shapes and sizes -- and most certainly with their own distinctive personalities, too. For every fluffy, happy bird that belts out cheery tunes, there is a macho feathered friend that prefers just to chill out and look cool. Enter the cigar box birdhouse, a crafty idea from my co-worker Randy Cordova. This simple creation involves only a bit of drilling, sanding and gluing, and will lend a masculine and classic touch to your garden. Unless, of course, you can't resist dressing it up with a splash of color. Thankfully, you don't need to be a cigar smoker in order to make this birdhouse. Cigar boxes are readily available at local cigar shops, thrift stores or online auctions. Cigar box birdhouse Materials: * Medium-size wood cigar box with sliding panel * Drill * Sandpaper * Glue gun * Outdoor polyurethane varnish * Optional: beads and glitter * 12-inch piece of jute cord or wire Directions: Remove sliding panel from box, and drill a 1 1/2-inch hole 2 inches from the top. Sand the edges of the hole to smooth. Take the box and apply a thin line of glue to the grooves and slide the panel back in place. Let dry. Drill two small holes at the top of the box. Cover the birdhouse with two to three coats of varnish. Add beads and glitter, if desired. When completely dry, thread the cord or wire through the top holes, tie off and hang. Tip: If you'd prefer to decorate your cigar box, decoupage pages from bird handbooks or pictures of birds. For a more eclectic look, glue bottle caps, trinkets or other found objects, or add a dangling ornament at the bottom of the birdhouse. * For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Terra Cotta Patio Lights From silver stars to pink flamingos, patio lights have become must-have accessories for indoor and outdoor recreation rooms. I first learned of this clever light-string idea from my Auntie Linda, who is the ultimate crafty lady in the family. She has always had a magic touch when it comes to creating cozy and whimsical atmospheres in her house. Every time I visit, I'm awestruck by how many colorful creations she has come up with -- plant pokes, lawn ornaments, photo collages, table centerpieces, down to the handmade party invitations she sends us every year. However, it was these terra cotta patio lights that made me gasp in delight. I used fabric scraps from a Mexican serape and raffia, but you can easily coordinate alternative fabrics and/or ribbons to match your decor. Supplies can be found at most craft stores. Terra Cotta Patio Lights Supplies: * String of white outdoor minilights * Terra cotta pots (2-inch size) * Fabric * Ruler * Scissors * Fabric glue stick * Newspaper * Glue gun * Raffia or ribbon Directions: Count the number of lights on the string and purchase the same number of pots. Cut the same number of fabric strips measuring 6 1/2 inches by one-half inch so there is one for each pot. With the glue stick, attach fabric strips to the rims of the pots. Let dry, then go back and trim any excess fabric. Place one light inside the hole of a pot so it goes all the way through but still fits snuggly. If the hole is not big enough, open a pair of scissors and use one blade to scrape inside the hole to enlarge it. Work on top of newspaper, because this will create a pile of terra cotta "dust." Do this to all of the pots until the lights fit firmly inside the hole. Using a hot-glue gun, attach the lights inside the pots one by one. Let dry. If desired, add raffia bows in between the pots. Tip: Don't have fabric scraps? Ribbon works even better! * For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: Cinco DeMayo, garden, holiday, Latin-inspired, lights, outdoor Polka Dot Hurricane Lamp Stained glass looks elegant on windows, but here's a clever and contemporary way to incorporate it into a living room or patio accessory. The secret is the black leading. It looks as if each outline were painstakingly created by hand. Wrong! The credit goes to Redi Lead. Produced by Gallery Glass, this adhesive lead comes in convenient packages of strips and circles. I fell in love with both. Simply peel them off, arrange a design on the lamp and fill in with color. Upside: The leading is very flexible and allows room for shaping. Downside: I had leftover leading. This project was so addicting that I confiscated every glass item in my house in order to use it all. Polka-dot hurricane lamp supplies: 1 large hurricane lamp 1 package of Redi Lead circles Assorted colors of Gallery Glass paint Pillar candle Paper towel Directions: Clean your lamp with glass cleaner. Peel off largest size of Redi Lead circles and position them randomly around the entire area. Do the same with the other sizes of circles in descending order until they are evenly distributed. Use the center dots from the Redi Lead circles for the middle of the largest circles. Keep in mind that Redi Lead is removable for a couple of minutes after placement, but sets permanently soon after. Next, fill in the circles by squeezing the Gallery Glass stained glass paint and lightly spreading with a finger or Q-tip. Use a paper towel to wipe excess from the Redi Lead. Let dry for one hour, then reapply color for a more intense look. Let dry for another hour until paint dries clear. Cut the excess leading left on the paper into tiny squares and place on the lamp to fill in spaces. Set the lamp on a holder, place the candle inside and light. * For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: garden, home decor, inside, lights, outdoor Garden Mirror Strings
When the Crafty Ideas column launched in December, we put up a message board at home.azcentral.com to accompany it. Since then, dozens of creative folks have visited and shared ideas about everything from pottery to tarot cards to classroom activities.
One of those online guests was Sharon Knight of Scottsdale. Last March she wrote, "I have a lot of beveled mirror pieces from an old leaded bedroom section. I've saved the pieces that didn't get broken and plan on having them framed, but there are a lot of leftover broken large sections. I'd like some insight on what to make with them." Here's a way to let your outdoor garden benefit from the excess material. By gluing mirrors to fishing line you can add a sparkling New Age touch to trees. The multiple mirrors will flicker as they reflect light. It's best to make several strands for a brighter effect and arrange them in clusters. Mirror pieces are available at any home-improvement or craft store. Back to the message board -- special thanks to everyone who has visited. It's a great place to discover new ideas and share tips on the joys and hazards of crafting. Your idea may even end up right here. Supplies: * 15-20 small mirror pieces (1 inch wide) or 10 larger mirrors (2 to 3 inches wide) * Fishing line or thin decorative ribbon * E6000 glue * Thin colored ribbon Directions: Cut a 14- to 16-inch piece of fishing line. Tie a loop at the top large enough to fit over a tree branch. Apply a dollop of glue to the back of one of the mirror pieces and lay flat, glue side up. Place the fishing line on top. Press another mirror on top, so that the line is sandwiched between the two mirrors. Continue until you have several in a row. Take several strands of ribbon and tie them to the bottom of the string for color. * For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Textured Terra Cotta Planters Half of the fun of gardening is in finding creative ways to display the goods. These days, ordinary terra cotta planters don't cut it. While some people prefer to make over the planters with paint or mosaics, others are content with keeping their traditional look. Enter DAS terra cotta air-dry clay. It's easy to use, dries fast and adds a whole new, subtle dimension to terra cotta planters and accessories. Other uses include making ornaments, covering picture frames, boxes, candleholders and more. Materials: * 1 package DAS air-dry terra cotta clay * Cardboard for work surface * Small rolling pin * Small cookie cutters * Decorative stamps * Craft knife * Toothpick or ball-point pen * Rubber clay molds * E6000 glue * Terra cotta planter pots * Water-based brush-on varnish * Brush Directions: Pinch off a small lump of clay and roll it into a ball; keep the remainder of the clay tightly sealed in its package to prevent drying out. Flatten the ball with your fingers, place it on your work surface, and smooth and flatten with the roller. Punch out shapes with the cutters, then press a rubber stamp firmly in the center to create an indentation. If using a large stamp, skip the cookie-cutter step and press stamp directly onto clay, then cut around the stamped shape with the craft knife. Use a toothpick or ballpoint pen to press designs and dots into the clay. If you prefer to use a mold, pinch off a small piece of clay, roll into a smooth ball and press firmly into the mold. Press the opposite side of the mold so the piece will pop out. To apply to the pot, spread a thin layer of E6000 glue on the back of the clay surface. Gently apply it to the pot and hold in place. Hold the two pieces until they are secure. After you've applied all of the pieces, let the pot dry for several hours. Brush on a layer of varnish. * For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: Cinco DeMayo, garden, Latin-inspired, outdoors Wednesday, March 31, 2004Garden Mirror Strings Here's a way to let your outdoor garden benefit from excess craft materials. By gluing mirrors to fishing line you can add a sparkling New Age touch to trees. The multiple mirrors will flicker as they reflect light. It's best to make several strands for a brighter effect and arrange them in clusters. Mirror pieces are available at any home-improvement or craft store. Back to the message board -- special thanks to everyone who has visited. It's a great place to discover new ideas and share tips on the joys and hazards of crafting. Your idea may even end up right here. Garden Mirror Strings Supplies: * 15-20 small mirror pieces (1 inch wide) or 10 larger mirrors (2 to 3 inches wide) * Fishing line or thin decorative ribbon * hot glue * Thin colored ribbon Directions: Cut a 14- to 16-inch piece of fishing line. Tie a loop at the top large enough to fit over a tree branch. Apply a dollop of glue to the back of one of the mirror pieces and lay flat, glue side up. Place the fishing line on top. Press another mirror on top, so that the line is sandwiched between the two mirrors. Continue until you have several in a row. Take several strands of ribbon and tie them to the bottom of the string for color. Tip: If you use smaller mirrors you can fit a row of eight to 10, or for larger mirrors you can fit one to two. For more color, replace fishing line with decorative ribbon or trim. *** 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 Monday, March 29, 2004Cigar Box Birdhouse Birds come in all sorts of shapes and sizes -- and most certainly with their own distinctive personalities, too. For every fluffy, happy bird that belts out cheery tunes, there is a macho feathered friend that prefers just to chill out and look cool. Enter the cigar box birdhouse, a crafty idea from my co-worker Randy Cordova. This simple creation involves only a bit of drilling, sanding and gluing, and will lend a masculine and classic touch to your garden. Unless, of course, you can't resist dressing it up with a splash of color. Thankfully, you don't need to be a cigar smoker in order to make this birdhouse. Cigar boxes are readily available at local cigar shops, thrift stores or online auctions. Cigar box birdhouse Materials: * Medium-size wood cigar box with sliding panel * Drill * Sandpaper * Glue gun * Outdoor polyurethane varnish * Optional: beads and glitter * 12-inch piece of jute cord or wire Directions: Remove sliding panel from box, and drill a 1 1/2-inch hole 2 inches from the top. Sand the edges of the hole to smooth. Take the box and apply a thin line of glue to the grooves and slide the panel back in place. Let dry. Drill two small holes at the top of the box. Cover the birdhouse with two to three coats of varnish. Add beads and glitter, if desired. When completely dry, thread the cord or wire through the top holes, tie off and hang. Tip: If you'd prefer to decorate your cigar box, decoupage pages from bird handbooks or pictures of birds. For a more eclectic look, glue bottle caps, trinkets or other found objects, or add a dangling ornament at the bottom of the birdhouse. *** 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: garden, Latin-inspired, outdoors, recycled Monday, March 15, 2004Tea Light Dish Garden Chunky handmade candles are common fare for setting a mood. However, when revamping your humble abode, don't underestimate the power of tea lights. When used creatively, these tiny twinklers make a dazzling display of romantic or relaxing radiance. A simple terra-cotta dish garden will raise an ordinary cluster of these peewee flames to a new level. You'll find that the finished piece works wonders as an elegant centerpiece for the patio, coffee table and more. And because terra-cotta pots and saucers are inexpensive, readily available and come in a range of sizes, a "one-candle" version is a spiffy take-home gift for party guests. Tea Light Dish Gardens SUPPLIES: * 1 terra-cotta planter * 1 terra-cotta saucer a size larger than planter * Assorted acrylic paints * Assorted craft brushes * Matte or gloss spray varnish * Extra strength adhesive * Colored sand * 1 box of tea light candles DIRECTIONS: Paint the inside and outside of the planter and saucer in desired colors. Varnish. When dry, turn the planter upside down and apply a thick bead of E6000 glue around the base. Turn the saucer upside down and lay it on a flat surface. Set the planter with the glue-side down in the center of the saucer and press firmly. Let it cure for 24 hours. Fill the saucer with colored sand and set multiple tea lights on top of sand. TIP: Add clay, florals, greenery, stencils, mosaics or photo appliques if desired. VARIATION: For a traditional look, use a deep saucer or bowl to house a cactus garden. *** 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 Sunday, August 10, 2003Desk top bamboo fountain School is almost back in session, which means a whole new layer of responsibilities. Before you whip out the family calendar to organize all those activities, take some time to meditate. This easy-to-assemble bamboo water fountain is peaceful and serene, and serves as the perfect way to calm any school jitters. There are many alternatives when creating tabletop fountains. Lynn Towne, co-owner of Southwest Gardener, a Phoenix garden accessory store at 2809 N. 15th Ave., designed this one with a small bowl, river rocks and a piece of live bamboo. Supplies can be found at Southwest Gardener (southwestgardener.com) or local craft stores. Easy Tabletop Fountain Supplies 1 fired ceramic or well-sealed waterproof terra-cotta bowl, 7 inches in diameter 1 small pump. The pump should have a water regulator that allows volume adjustment. We used the smallest pump available from Aqua Pump Bottled water Assorted river rocks, washed 1 piece of indoor Dracaena bamboo. Miscellaneous marbles or glass pebbles 1 small concrete frog Directions: Place the pump in the bottom of the bowl. Partially fill the bowl with bottled water and plug it in to check water flow and make any adjustments. Unplug the pump. Add the river rocks around the pump but do not to cover the spout. Imbed the bamboo in the rocks to hold it upright and cover the roots. Add the marbles or glass pebbles and frog for decoration. Fill the bowl with bottled water, and you are ready to be calmed. *** 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 About Me
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!  
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 Have a burning crafty question? Visit my Ask Crafty Chica blog or drop me a line! Project Categories
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