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The Crafty Chica DIY Project Library: a collection of fabulous handmade ideas by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica! Wednesday, December 23, 2009How to Make a Fluffy Ribbon Bow LINK Right now all the ribbon is on sale at craft stores, I LOVE the wide sparkly stuff. I scooped up this gorgeous gold. Using Cheryl's technique, I used wire to secure my bow, and I added a brooch in the center. For gifts you are going to give away, you can add a button in the center, a charm, a polymer clay or decoupaged design. you get the idea!  ** 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. Monday, November 30, 2009Shimmery String Candle Cozy (Photo credit: Scott Wilkensen)Create a shimmery little cozy for your holiday candles! Turn embroidery thread into festive décor with Aleene’s Fabric Stiffener & Draping Liquid and Crafty Chica Chunky Glitters. Supplies:
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. Sunday, October 11, 2009Shimmery 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!
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: collage/paper, Day of the Dead, glitter, shrines Mask-on-a-Stick   This is an exclusive project I made for dead.azcentral.com, CLICK HERE for printable directions and all kinds of other educational info about Dia de los Muertos! ** 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: Day of the Dead, glitter, Halloween, wearable art Glittered Memory Ornaments for a Muertos Family Altar This is an exclusive project I made for dead.azcentral.com, CLICK HERE for printable directions and all kinds of other educational info about Dia de los Muertos!** 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: Day of the Dead, glitter, shrines Monday, August 17, 2009Glitter bottle I can't resist glittering Mexican Coke bottles! They are so curvy and I love that the logo is imprinted directly on the glass, perfect for spicing up with paint and glitter.To do this, first you paint the bottle, and then go over it area by area with glue (I used Aleene's Paper Glaze. Next, section by section, add the Crafty Chica Glitter. I use a toothpick to get the tight areas. Seal it all with Aleene's Spray Acrylic Sealer! Peace, love, and glitter! Kathy :-) ** 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. Monday, June 22, 2009iPhone case still in progress!CLICK HERE IF YOU CAN'T SEE THE VIDEO ** 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: glitter Sunday, June 21, 2009Virgin of Guadalupe Wrist Cuff I made this project from my glitter fabric (scroll down to see earlier post). I cut a swatch for my wrist, sewed on a fabric image of La Virgen and seamed the edges with a tight zigzag stitch. I added rickrack, and stitched on some matching elastic. That big yellow piece is not a button - it is a vintage clip earring. I glued the clasp down and then stitched through the opening. I added a milagro charm too. I am 100% smitten with this bracelet. So much that I plan to make more of these with all kinds of different images. The glitter is sealed down, but still so sparkly!** 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: fabric, glitter, jewelry, sewing, wearable art Saturday, June 20, 2009Glitter fabric PHOTO: Gift box I made with my very own glittered fabric!It's no secret that I'm addicted to the sparkly stuff. To me, glitter is a metaphor for life. The more sparkle the better. Especially when it comes to crafts! Last year while working away at Duncan Enterprises headquarters, my co-workers turned me onto huge rolls of glittered canvas. These colorful backdrops have become regular fixtures in our house. I use them for all kinds of photos, but it's been hard to even consider cutting them for craft projects. I was determined to make my own! I found a successful method and I'm divulging it here, only if you promise to only use my Crafty Chica glitter because it looks the best (IMO!!!). This is a small piece, but you can coat huge pieces as well to make amazing, flexible, sewable, durable, not-very-flaky fabric.   TIP: I used a heavy white craft glue. I experimented with different types, and Aleene's Tacky worked best. Very thick and ultra sticky. While the glue is still wet, pour a thick row of glitter across the top and then move the fabric so it flows down and covers the rest of the wet canvas. Let it dry for an hour, and then take it outside and seal with HIGH GLOSS SPRAY VARNISH. This is what makes it usable and keeps the glitter sealed in. You can also use Aqua Net Hairspray if you don't have high gloss spray varnish. Here is a little video so you can see how cool it looks! Here is an applique I made with my glitter fabric. Stay tuned because I have other projects coming up. ** 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. Frosted Loteria Tags I've always loved to buy and make little artful hanging tags for my paper and mixed media projects. Stamping is cool, so is sewing little fabric charms. This time around I used my Crafty Chica Loteria Game.I also used this project as a chance to test the video feature on my new iPhone 3G S. So far, this phone is more that I expected, I'm really happy with my upgrade. As for the video feature, the colors are a little muted, but what can I expect? It's a cell phone! Let me know if you like this format, if so, I'll use video more often. It is so easy - you simply record and then upload straight to YouTube! Click here if you can't see the video. ** 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. Wednesday, May 27, 2009Glittered Canvases at Maker Faire I am leading a massive make-and-take glitterfest in our ILoveToCreate.com booth at Maker Faire! I outlined designs on 300 blank canvases for this event. I hope 300 people come by! If you are reading this, chances are you are not attending Maker Faire, so why should you be denied a fun project? It looks super easy, but there is a trick to it for maximum sparklyness.  Supplies:Blank canvas Crafty Chica Glitters Tulip 3D Fashion Paint, black Crafty Chica Tango Markers Decoupage medium (Collage Pauge or Aleene's Paper Glaze) Brushes Typing paper (to catch glitter overflow) Directions: 1. Draw your design on the canvas, the bigger and bolder the better. 2. Use a marker to color in the area you want to glitter. DO NOT color the entire picture - only the first area you want to glitter. For example, for the heart picture you see above, you would color the crown yellow and stop. 3. Use your brush to coat the yellow crown area (example) with decoupage medium, and then pour the gold glitter over it. Tap away excess. Move on to the th next section, staying in the lines you drew. 4. When the entire design is covered in glitter, use the Tulip 3D Fashion Paint to draw over the outline. This will make the design POP out. The picture at the top doesn't show how cool it looks, so just trust me, okay? TIP: You don't have to glitter the whole thing. You can glitter the main design, and then color patterns in the background with the markers. You can also sub paint for markers! Have fun! ** 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: glitter Thursday, April 30, 2009Mini-Canvas Pencil Cup  I recently bought a bulk load of adorable mini-canvases. But because I'm a chica who loves function, I decided to make something useful with them, like this little pencil cup! Supplies: 5 mini canvases Crafty Chica paints Crafty Chica Glossy Gloss Varnish Hot Glue Strand of party beads Four wood doll heads (balls that are flat on one side) Tulip White Glitter First paint your canvases, and then add a coat of Crafty Chica Glossy Gloss Varnish and while it is still wet, pour on some clear glitter. This will give it a cool, sugar-look! Use one of the canvaes as the base of the box. Add hot glue to the inside bottom frame and attach it to one side of the base. Continue all the way around. There will be gaps on the side seams, add a bead of hot glue to seal these. Hot glue the party beads between each side and along the top. Paint and hot glue the balls for the feet. ** 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: glitter, home decor, paint Saturday, April 25, 2009Glittered Hinged Wallet OK, first of all, you'll have to forgive me for these photos. My daughter took my memory card from my camera to a party tonight, so I had to use my iPhone camera to get this project posted!You know how hinged wallets are everywhere these days? Well, I saw a glittered vinyl purple one recently and could not resist buying it, even though I knew from the start it would be too thin to hold everything I need. Anyway. I bought it, and in true Crafty Chica spirit - I immediately altered it to make it my own.  First I stamped on it using an Aztec-themed design and a permanent black inkpad. Next, I painted the girl, and then used a stencil for the sun - which I then used Aleene's Paper Glaze to affix Crafty Chica Goddess Gold Glitter to it. I let it all dry and then set out a sheet of wax paper and whipped up a small batch of two-part resin. I opened the wallet so it would lay flat on the wax paper (with the bottom and top facing up) and I ever-so-carefully applied a coat of resin to my artwork. I also used a straw to blow out bubbles. I let it set over night and the next morning I patted myself on the back for a job well done. The effect is a brilliant shine and surprisingly, the resin is not super hard, it's perfect! The texture of the wallet is still as cushiony as it was before. I must admit, I love the effect so much that now I'm on the hunt for more glittered hinged wallets! I even showed it to my boss, Valerie, and I asked her if she wanted me to make her one. "Oh, Kathy, no it's ok, you don't have to..." she replied. And then she paused, looked at it again and said, "OK, Yah, I want one!" I got "wow-this-is-really-a-rad-project" goosebumps! I feel kinda the same way I did with those chandeliers - I want to just drop everything and go into the glittered/resined hinged wallet business! Bring 'em on! 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. Labels: glitter, resin, wearable art Sunday, April 05, 2009Painted & Glittered iPhone case  At CHA last January, I was sitting at the events dinner with my fellow crafty amiga Candace Marquette, and her sister-in-law, Jaime Gaydos Fletcher. Jaime decorates iPhone covers with ultra-flashy, fun designs, and it inspired me to dive into mine and work a little magic. I can't believe I didn't think of it before! I mean, I've decorated my work beeper back in the day, and my other cell phones. Why not my iPhone case? I knew I wanted to resin coat glitter on it, and I wasn't sure it would work. I bought a cheapie hardcase cover to experiment on (eBay, $7) . I lightly sanded it, and basecoated it black with my Crafty Chica paints. For the back side, I glued down a fabric image of a sacred heart and sealed it all over the top and around the edges with Aleene's Tacky Glue. After it dried, I accented the design with Aleene's Paper Glaze and my Crafty Chica glitters. I covered the background with green glitter and added black polka dots to the green background. I then lined my workspace with wax paper, mixed the resin, and coated the cover. For the front, I added small painted accents. I let it set for 48 hours and then use a craft knife to remove any resin and/or paint from the ridges so it would snap back in place. I love it and am excited to make another one! Thanks for the inspiaration, Jaime! Peace, love, and glitter! Kathy :-) P.S. Check out my new book and product line! Labels: glitter, paint, wearable art Friday, March 13, 2009Glitter-on-Glitter Frame You know when you go to IKEA and come across the frame department, and see those package of cheapie picture holders? I can't resist - I have to buy at least four packs. This is what I do with them. I first base coat them, and then accent with my Crafty Chica glitter. After that, I go on top and add more accents of Tulip 3D Glitter Fashion Paint.I love layering sprakling properties. It might be a bit excessive to some, but the more the better, I say! Inside the frames, I used Crafty Chica Inspiration Cards. On the front are images that Patrick and I made, and on the other side are affirmations to read and apply to your life to make it more juicy and artful. There are three sets in all, each one has 24 cards. ** 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: glitter Thursday, January 29, 2009Super bowl Shirt (Photo model: Chloe Tatro)Super easy goal: Make your own Cards shirt By Kathy Cano-Murillo Special for the Arizona Republic I swore I would never marry a sports fanatic and thought I had struck gold with my artist-musician husband Patrick. No sports talk at the table, no Monday night football on our big-screen TV. Perfect! That is, until a few weeks ago, when he noticed how well the Arizona Cardinals were doing. He sat in front of the TV riveted as the Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Eagles, earning a trip to the Super Bowl. During commercial breaks, Patrick explained the team's history and how awful they had been. Until now. I'm a sucker for an underdog story so I watched the game too, shocked that I was cheering as well. And here I am sharing a Cardinals craft, one with plenty of glitter (though if making it for a guy, skip the sparkle part). If you want double the twinkle, add crystals. Go CARDS!! NOTE: The logo is licensed and this project is only intended for you to make for personal use, not to sell! Supplies 1 shirt Printout of Cardinals logo Clear contact paper (shelf liner) Tulip Sticky Fabric Collegiate Letter Stencils (or foam stamps) Tulip Soft Fabric Paints: red, black, yellow, white Crafty Chica Glitter: black, red, gold, white Tulip Glitter Bond Makeup sponges or stencil brush Craft knife Mat or cardboard Masking tape  Directions Leave the backing on the contact paper and cut a piece 1 inch larger than the logo image. Use the masking tape to tack it down to the mat. Apply small pieces of tape to the back of the logo and place it on the contact paper. Using the craft knife, cut along all of outside, as well as the inside pieces. Remove the contact paper. Remove the inside of the logo. On the outside piece of contact paper, remove the backing and place it in the center of the shirt. Use the makeup sponge to apply the black paint evenly inside the area (Photo A). Let dry. Now take the inside of the logo and remove the red, white and yellow pieces, so you have a "stencil." Peel off the backing, line it up with the design on the shirt and press in place (B). Use the makeup sponge to add red, yellow and white paint (C). Let dry. Go over the same areas with the glue, and then the glitter (D). Tap away excess. Use letter stencils to add a phrase. Let dry before wearing. To wash, turn the shirt inside out. 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. Wednesday, January 14, 2009Glittered Cars I saw a clip of the recent Japanese car show and they a Mercedes that was 100% covered in crystals. Of course I had to drop what I was working on to make something just like it. Problem - I didn't have enough crystals in my supplies. The horror! Well, they say glitter is the poor man's bling, so glitter it is!These are my Crafty Chica glitters - Glamour Queen Green and Rockabilly Ruby and I added some Be Bop Black to dirty them up for a vintagey kind of look. I bet you are tired of reading me "talk" about my love of glitter - but I am so proud of these glitters, they are truly premium and every time I use them I am amazed at their dazzle. You can't tell by the picture, or even by the bottle, but once you actually use them, you can see the sly holographic effects in them. I have to give props to Lauren at Duncan for sourcing them and then allowing me to mix them for retail! I am hoping and praying that someday soon we'll be able to add more colors to the line. And yes, I am hoping and praying for other things too, like world peace and food for starving children. After all thos eproblems are solved maybe there will be some time for a little extra chica glitter action :-) Here is the Japanese car show video - fast forward to the 1:21 mark to see the eye-popping crystal car. ** 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: glitter Monday, December 15, 2008Glittered Resin Snowflakes Here in Arizona, snowflakes are hard to come by. So we have to be creative and create our own faux-chilly version. Snowflake-shaped silicone molds will do the trick. Use them to create a serious collection of colorful decorations that can be hung in your house or outside on your patio, or even from trees. The trick is to use resin and mix in glitter, sequins or anything else to create an artful look that would make Frosty proud. Glittered Resin Snowflakes Supplies: 1 large silicone snowflake mold (I bought mine at the Target Dollar Spot) 1 box of Envirotex Lite resin Chopstick Assorted Crafty Chica glitter, sequins. Wax paper Dremel tool Fishing line Directions: Line your work area with wax paper. Use one-fourth cup of each part of the resin and pour in a paper cup. Mix vigorously with chopstick for two minutes. Pour in the glitter or sequins and stir again. Pour into mold. Let sit for 24 hours until fully hardened. Use the Dremel to drill a hole at the top. Add a long strand of fishing line. Repeat for make more snowflakes. Hang in different lengths from your ceiling or from outside trees or patio trim. CLICK HERE FOR MORE HOLIDAY PROJECT IDEAS! *** Don't worry, be crafty! Buy Crafty Chica books & art supplies at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Monday, December 01, 2008Glittered Bird in a Cage Everyone has a friend or family member who likes offbeat accessories. Like a glittered bird in a cage! To make this, you'll need: A small bird cage Crafty Chica paints Crafty Chica Glitters Crafty Chica Glossy Gloss Varnish Tulip 3D Fashion Glitter Paint High gloss spray varnish Hot glue  Decorate the cage with the paints and varnish. While it is drying, visit your corner dollar store and look in the ceramic area. They always have little birds there! Take it home and paint it with acrylic craft paint, and let it dry. Use a thin liner brush to go over each painted area and add matching glitter. Continue until the entire bird is covered in glitter. Next, add accents with the #D glitter paint. Let dry and then hot glue it to the center of the cage. For a more personalized look, add a banner to the cage that has your friend's name! *** Don't worry, be crafty! Buy Crafty Chica books & art supplies at Amazon.com! Other links: STORE * BOOK * T-SHIRTS * MY SPACE * FLICKR * All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2008. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com Labels: glitter, home decor Saturday, October 11, 2008La Catrina Cigar Box Shrine : cigar box, clean
Tip: Add in personal objects if you like.   Figure A *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.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: Day of the Dead, glitter, recycled, shrines Glitter Marker Lamp This is lamp I made from an IKEA lampshade - I used glitter markers to color it in. I then decoupage a picture of a Day of the Dead dog and cat on the lamp base.  *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.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: Day of the Dead, glitter, lights Storybox Shrine (Click on image for a closer view)This a shrine I made for our Heard Museum exhibit. I took a long wood box, added some walls to create "windows", and then added all kinds of little trinkets and things. First you want to base coat the entire piece, and then paint the outside edges in a contrasting color. I went with red and hot pink. Next you want to make a background for each window. you can use paint, glitter, textured paper, anything! Next, work on one little space at a time. I made each little window tell a story. It's a very personal piece, even though it just looks like a bunch of things glued in there! *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.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: collage/paper, glitter, recycled El Pastelito Greeting Card El Pastelito means “the little cake” in Spanish. Regardless, the universal translation is ultimate yumminess! Make this card for the sweetest friend you have! Designed by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica Materials List
Instructions 1. Cut black cardstock into desired card size. Fold. Cut white cardstock smaller on all sides than black cardstock. Using an Aleene’s® Original Tacky Glue Stick, glue white cardstock into center of black card. 2. The front of the card will have three colors of glitter. Squeeze some Aleene’s® Paper Glaze onto foil and using paintbrush, paint a thick strip of Paper Glaze onto top 1/3 of white cardstock and immediately pour the first glitter color of your choice over the glaze. Press with your finger to set. Pour excess glitter onto scratch paper and return to glitter container for reuse. 3. Repeat step for the second and third sections of the cardstock, using the glitter colors of your choice. IMPORTANT: While applying Paper Glaze in the middle section, leave the center of the middle section without glaze so that you will be able to glue the image for the card to that spot. 4. Using scalloped scissors cut a piece of the newsprint design of the Crafty Chica™ Mojito Papers™ slightly larger than Loteria Card playing card piece. Using the Original Tacky Glue Stick, glue newsprint paper to the middle portion of the card that you left untouched with glaze and glitter. 5. Glue the “El Pastelito” playing card from the Crafty Chica™ Loteria Game™ to the center of the newsprint paper. 6. Let card dry, then write your special message inside. *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.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 Yarn Heart Shadow Box Turn any wood frame into a glittery hanging of love! Supplies: 1 large frame 1 sheet of foam core 1 large Styrofoam heart Crafty Chica Paint Pack Aleene's Original Tacky Glue Chunky red yarn Crafty Chica Pop Star Purple Glitter Hot glue Collage Pauge Instant Decoupage Brushes Cut the foam core to fit the back of the frame. Secure it with hot glue. Use the Tacky Glue to adhere the heart in the center. Let dry. Paint the frame green, the inner background purple and the heart red. Work section by section and coat an area with the decoupage medium, and then the purple glitter. Do this until the surface is completely covered. Now add Tacky Glue to the front of the heart and wrap the yarn around the heart. Let dry. Add details to the frame. Use two eye hooks to hang to another decorated shadow box!  *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.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: collage/paper, glitter, home decor Tuesday, October 07, 2008Sugar Skull Glitter PIllow Here are directions on how to make this from two bandannas!  *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.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: Day of the Dead, fabric, glitter, Halloween Thursday, September 18, 2008Chihuahua Pop Out Card  I happen to be a big fan of little dogs with pointy ears - more specifically: Chihuahuas! We have four of them! Here's a cute card I made using the Crafty Chica Mojito Papers, Crafty Chica Glitters and Crafty Chica Loteria Game. You also need pre-scored jumbo-sized cards, Aleene's Paper Glaze, a glue stick, small piece of foam core or thick cardboard. Take one sheet of the Crafty Chica paper of your choice, cut it in half. Use a glue stick to affix it to the front of the card. Next, take one of the large Loteria cards from the caller deck and carefully cut out the main image, Chihuahua (or other image). Glue the background of the image to the front of the card. Add a small piece of foam core to the back of the Chihuahua. Now add more glue and place it in the center of the background picture. Add a trim of Paper Glaze and pour on the glitter before it dries. NOTE: You can also do this with any photo at all! CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A CLOSER VIEW *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.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 Wednesday, September 10, 2008VIDEO: Day of the Dead mask!Watch to see how to make a Dia de los Muertos mask! Click here if you can't see the video above. *** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.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: Day of the Dead, glitter, Halloween, paper Wednesday, May 28, 2008VIDEO: Save Glitter!
*** See my new product line at select Michaels stores or buy online at Amazon.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: crafty video, empowerment crafts, glitter Thursday, May 01, 2008Stamped Tissue Flower Pins One of the reasons I started making Latin-inspired crafts was to counteract the goofy Mexican-themed projects out there. Especially around this time of the year (Cinco de Mayo). I swear if I see another clay sombrero guy climbing in a tequila shot glass - I will cry! I'm not about the Haterade, instead let's think of some nice alternatives! Like the traditional tissue paper flower. They are bright, cheery and super easy to make! I made these tissue flowers as pins to wear at Maker Faire this weekend. I love making them, but after I made the first one I thought of the cool, pretty kits that Martha has out. "OK, I am the Crafty Chica, I HAVE to do make my flowers different than Martha's!" I thought. After I cut the squares of tissue, I stamped them! High-five, por favor! I wish I had silver or gold ink, but black worked nice as an alternative. I think these are stunning. There are very Carrie Bradshaw-goes-south-of-the-border. A contemporary spin on tradition! NOTE: These also make excellent Christmas tree decorations - all you have to do is glue an alligator clip or clothes pin on the back of each one and clip iton a branch! Here is how you make them: 1. Cut 8 pieces of assorted party tissue in squares, about 6". Cut 4 squares that are 3" square. If you want to stamp the tissue, do that now. 2. Stack them, and set the smaller set in the center. Accordion fold the stack. 3. Snip little notches on each side in the center. 4. Use a piece of pipe cleaner to wrap around the notches to secure the flower. 5. Carefully separate the sheets, and fluff them as you go. 6. Dab white craft glue and sprinkle matching (or translucent) micro glitter. 7. Turn over and hot glue pinback.  If you are having a Cinco party, or going out to a fiesta, or maybe attending a friend's party - make these and hand them out. Your friends will love you for it! There are so many variations on these that you can do. I would have made more, but I leave for the airport in the morning, and I still have to clean for the house sitters, and pack! *** 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: Cinco DeMayo, flowers, glitter, holiday, kids, Latin-inspired, paper, stamping Sunday, April 13, 2008Flower Power Wastebasket I was so excited to decorate my daughter's rooms. Well, that is, until I asked for her input. All I wanted was cheery, kid-friendly inspiration. Instead I received an elaborate floor plan from my daughter, Maya. I should have known that letting her watch too many episodes of America's Next Top Model couldn't be healthy. She came up with a grand plan of lime-green walls, fuchsia furniture, and bright-yellow curtains -- all trimmed with glitter and flowers. Maya's psychedelic setting wouldn't be so easy. We finished the fuchsia dresser and yellow curtains. I'm still working my way up to the lime-green walls. Until then, I'm devising a series of whimsical accessories to tie the wild colors together. One of which is this flower-power wastebasket. As you can see, I'm only half way finished! Flower-Power Wastebasket Supplies: Assorted colorful plastic flowers with leaves 1 wire wastebasket Wire nippers Glue gun Clear, wide strapping tape Directions: Cut apart the fake flowers and leaves into strands. Cut the bottoms so that each strand is no longer than 4 inches. Beginning at about the third row from the bottom of the wastebasket, insert a flower through a hole. Weave the stem out and then in through a hole underneath (for security). Fold the stem downward and snip the excess. Do not cut it too short, or it will leave a sharp edge. Seal the end down with the glue gun. Continue working in a circular motion around the basket, skipping a few holes between each flower for a more balanced, even look. Use your hand to smooth down the stems inside the basket. Use leaves throughout to fill any bald spots. If you want to create a smooth surface inside the basket, use layers of strapping tape to cover the stems. Variations: You can use a plastic wastebasket and hot glue the flowers on, but don't glue on the plastic part, glue from the pedals. Add sparkle to the flowers by gluing on small crystals or spritzing with fabric glitter spray. *** 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: flowers, glitter, home decor Friday, February 22, 2008Mixed Media Key Chain  Today's project is all about making the most of the odds and ends in your art room. Once I cleaned out all my extras, I realized that I could put them all together to make something functional! I posted a picture earlier and got a few emails about it, so I thought I'd share the crafty recipe for it! First let me say that here in Phoenix, we have this magnificent craft warehouse called Diane Ribbon and Notions. It's been around for more than sixty years and is owned by the original family! You walk in there and it is a wall-to-wall paradise of cardboard boxes stacked from the floor to the ceiling. All superfly crafting treasures! And because they have been around so long, you can find really wild treats from the 70s and 80s. So anyway, last time I was there I picked up some blank dog tags. I glued down scraps of paper on them and then a picture, and then painted on accents, added micro stars, and glitter. Yes, even in the tiny space of a dog tag, you can cram in all those elements! I covered each one in resin. And then I took some mini-bottles, filled them with glitter, attached a chain, added word beads and charms and some old-fashioned key rings. Now that I look at the picture, I think it would have been cool to add a bit of yarn too! As far as the glitter in the little bottle...just think - you will have (contained) sparkle with you where ever you go! I actually glued the lid down. That way I can tell people "In case of emergency, break bottle of glitter!" Supplies: Keyring Decorated dog tag, or another large picture charm of some sort. 2" of chain mini-bottle filled with micro glitter (add a bit of glue inside the rim to hold it tight) Eye pins Beads Needle nose pliers Jump rings Directions: Attach the dog tag. Attach the bottle to the chain, and add that to the keyring. Put the beads on the yee pin and use jump ring to attach! *** 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: glitter, jewelry, wearable art Wednesday, February 20, 2008PROJECT: Glittered Soda Pop Bottles This is a project from my Crafty Chica Collection book, glittered soda pop bottles! Here's how to do it: Buy some glass pop bottles. I love the Mexican ones because they have raised designs or the labels printed directed on the glass. But you can also use flat paper label ones. It's all good! You'll need acrylic craft paint, assorted brushes, and toothpicks for the micro spots. You'll also need decoupage medium and ultra fine glitter in colors that match your paint colors. First paint the entire bottle, and all the little details. Let it dry. Next, working one area at a time, coat it in a thin layer of the decoupage medium and then pour on the glitter. Don't sprinkle the glitter - POUR it! If you sprinkle, you'll miss some spots. Trust me. Tap off the excess glitter and move on to the next spot. Stop when it is all covered in glitter. Spray with varnish to seal it. You could skip the paint part, but I like to do that step because it makes the glitter more vibrant. Red glitter on red paint, yah, baby, gimme more.... Now you can use your bottles as vases, centerpieces for a party, for a window sill, 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: glitter, home decor, inside Friday, February 15, 2008Tricked Out Tee One of the biggest rewards of crafting is seeing a high priced item at a swanky boutique and grinning - because you know you can go home and make it for a fraction of the cost. On a recent trip to New York City, I came across a wildly adorned (and very expensive) rock star T-shirt that had all kinds of hand-applied crystals all over it. Talk about going from grunge to glam! I could hardly wait to get home just so I could make my own version. I decided to take it up a notch by starting with a faux-vintage tee and adding on some sequins and glitter too. The various sparkly textures play off each other nicely without being too over the top. Note: This project will take one solid afternoon (or two chick flick DVDs), but will be worth every second of effort. Tricked Out Tee (NOTE: Because I work for Duncan, I have access to all their fabulous products, so I used a lot of them on this shirt!) Supplies: 1 T-shirt with a simple image 1 piece of cardboard lined with freezer paper to slide inside the shirt 1 large package of crystals that match the image (I used these from Tulip, and you will need about 100 of them, depending on how much you want to apply) 1 crystal iron-on heat tool (I used this one from Tulip) 1 crayon Polyester glitter (made for use on fabric, like Tulip Fashion glitter) Sheet of paper Sequin trim Permanent fabric adhesive (I used Aleene's Fabric Fusion) Directions: 1. Slide the cardboard inside the shirt. 2. Working on a flat surface, open the crystals and lay them in front of you. 3. Working on a small section at a time on the shirt’s image, pick up a crystal with the crayon and place it on the fabric. Use the heat tool to adhere it by pressing it on the crystal until its adhesive backing melts. 4. Place more crystals where you want them (in groups of four or five work good), and then continue applying them the with heat tool. 5. Add the glitter. Work over a sheet of paper. Fill in other areas of the image with the glitter by painting the surface with the permanent fabric adhesive, and pouring the glitter over it before it dries. Tap off excess. 6. For other areas, apply the fabric adhesive and add the sequin trim. Let it all dry. 7. When finished, remove cardboard. Gentle wash, inside out, hang dry. Tips and Variations: If you don’t want to fill the entire areas with crystals, just use them on the outline of the image. You can choose to apply the crystals very close together, or spread out a bit. The closer they are, the more you will need and the longer it will take. If you do not have a heat tool, you can apply them with a mini-iron, standard iron, or permanent fabric glue.  *** 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: glitter, wearable art Monday, January 21, 2008SNEAK PEEK: New Crafty Chica product line! Since April, I've been dropping little bread crumbs about my new gig at Duncan Enterprises. They brought me into their magical manufacturing universe to create a brand new product line based on this very web site, my artwork that I've been making for years with my husband Patrick, as well as the happy philosophy behind it. They have  and  and now...CRAFTY CHICA!It's been equally exciting as frightening (in a good way!). It was so hard to come up with 100+ products and decide if they should be based on themes I know and love, or themes I think consumers would know and love. I followed my heart, did a LOT of research, and then did my best to come up with a shiny balance of the two. Basically, I dabble in all kinds of genres of crafty, so the line reflects that! :-) I have four Chihuahuas, so you'll see their spirit in the line. I love roses, saints, skulls, and cupcakes. Color combinations of red, green, and purple. I've always been about "triple shine"action: bright colors, lots of glitter sealed with high gloss varnish! So that is all in there. I've always loved to collect and horde pictures to use in all kinds of ways, so Patrick drew dozens and dozens of gorgeous images for the line. I love world culture, pop culture, rebel culture! And of course traditional Mexican culture. So all of that is sprinkled in too! I designed everything to be mixed and matched. I made sure each product has a gob of uses! That goes back to the days when Patrick and I didn't have much money and we learned secrets for stretching our supplies.  I love glitter so much that I even talked Duncan into letting me mix my own glitter colors! At first I think they thought I was kidding, but one day my boss walked in on me working at my desk like a crazy crafty chemist - and she knew I was serious! The glitters are so beautiful and multi-dimensional! I could just eat them with a spoon. Take that, Ellen!  And then there are kits, that are just like the the art workshops I teach all over the country, except they come in a box so you can make it at home! And like my class kits, they are jam packed with supplies and ideas. Aside from the bright colors and funky themes, the basis is all about self-empowerment, something I've always encouraged here. Overall, the Crafty Chica product line is VERY different from everything out there.  If you are a store owner or product buyer, we will have a HUGE display of every single product at CHA, February 10-13. Booth 4001!! I will be there from dawn until dusk (Patrick will make an appearance too!). We'll be answering any questions you have, demoing the products, signing my books, and even passing out Crafty Chica bobbleheads (yes, seriously!) that Duncan had created for the event! Please come by and see me! And if you are a glitter-friendly consumer, pass along this post to your local craft store and ask them to come by the booth so they can carry the line - that way you can buy the products and have fun using them! And here is another sneak peek!! It is Duncan's page for CHA! It is supposed to be for the convention next month, but I got permission to post it here FIRST! OK, I'm heading back to the art studio. Please pass along the good news. I'll post more info as it comes up! Thank you so much to everyone who has supported my crafty endeavors, I'm sending you all happy blessings and good karma galore! *** 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: glitter, product line Saturday, December 15, 2007Glittered Vase December is the season of all things sparkly, so glitter is a must-have when it comes to crafting. Pair it with high-quality double-sided tape such as Terrifically Tacky Tape and you have instant access to embellishing cards, ornaments, boxes and other items with a smooth surface. After I finished these vases I thought of how cute the technique would look on colored wine or vintage soda bottles. After you've finished and dusted the shiny granules off your work area (and body), use the vases and/or bottles as party centerpieces, candy dishes or lined up along a walkway. Don't forget to snip fresh poinsettias to put inside. Glitter vases Supplies Glass vases or bottles, any color Terrifically Tacky Tape, various widths, sheets or shapes Loose glitter, medium flakes Loose glitter in gold or silver, extra-fine flakes Dimensional squeeze paint, assorted colors Directions: Clean and dry the vase. Apply the tape in the desired areas until the jar is completely covered. Remove the backing to the tape only on the areas where you will be applying the same color. For example, if you are doing red and green stripes, first remove the backing for all the places where you will have red. Pour the medium-flake glitter over the exposed area of the tape and tap away excess. Repeat until the tape is completely covered. Remove the remaining backings for the other colors and repeat the process. To add extra shimmer, pour the extra-fine gold or silver glitter over the colored glitter. Outline and/or accent with squeeze paint. Tips and variations: The tape also comes in sheets so you can cut out custom designs. Instead of glitter you can apply microbeads, colored yarn or any other lightweight item. *** 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 Saturday, June 30, 20074th of July Glittered Bikini and more Let me start by saying that if I had the bod to wear a bikini, I would make sure that bikini had glitter on it. Until then, this project is dedicated to anyone who can wear a two-piece with pride. I know you are thinking glitter and water normally don't mix, but these days, there are new craft glitters on the market made especially for wearable fabrics. They withstand washings and still come out looking super and sparkly. Don't believe me? Check out any of the department stores to find T-shirts, jeans, shoes and even undergarments tricked out in glitter. If the bikini doesn't set off any fireworks for you, bling out a set of shorts, a tank top or hat. Fourth of July Glittered Bikini Supplies 1 bikini (or other piece of clothing of your choice) Stencil, foam stamps or other kind of pattern Fabric glitter adhesive Makeup sponge Red, white and blue loose fabric glitter (do not use regular glitter, only use glitter made for washable fabrics) Assorted crystals Directions Cover your work area with paper to catch the overflow of the glitter. Set out your bikini or other piece of clothing and decide where you want your designs. Place the stencil on the area and apply the adhesive using the makeup sponge. If you are using a foam stamp, coat the stamp with the adhesive and press down. You may need to "fill in" with a thin paintbrush. Pour the loose glitter over the wet glue and shake off excess. If you don't have a stencil, use a fabric marker to draw your own design. Add crystals where desired. Continue until you have completed your design. Let dry for 24 hours. Wear and enjoy! Variations: If you don't want to use loose glitter, you also can use regular fabric paint or dimensional glitter squeeze paint. And here are some other 4th of July crafty ideas! Americana Folk Art Shrine Statue of Liberty Crown Super Star Snack Book Pool Floatie Thrillin' Grillin' Serving Tray Patriotic Fabric Collage Red, White & Blue Soaps Tin Star Lights *** 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: glitter, summer/4th of July, wearable art Tuesday, June 20, 2006Gliiter 'n Glam Ring I apologize for the long run without new ideas! I've been traveling so much this summer, I haven't had much time. But I'm back in the crafty saddle. First up - Glitter n Glam Rings! I was inspired to make these after indulging in way too much gourmet glitter from ArtGlitter.com. Supplies: Resin Jewelry Molds (see pic below, available at Hobby Lobby and other craft stores) EasyCast resin (available at Hobby Lobby and other craft stores) Mixing cups, measuring cup, chopstick for stirring (found at craft store) Mini-straw Ring blanks (I buy mine on eBay) Loose glitter (the more dimensional in color, the better) How to do it: Prepare the resin mixture according to the package directions - EXACTLY. Do not "eyeball" the measurements because your resin will not set and you will cry. Pour a small amount of the resin in the mold, blow with straw to remove gas bubbles. When resin is clear, pour in the glitter almost to the top of the mold, but not all the way. Now pour in another thin layer of resin. Use the chopstick to move the resin around so it covers all of the glitter. Blow out bubbles with straw. Let set for 24 hours. Add one more thin layer of resin and set the ring blank face down*. Let sit for 24 hours. Pop out of mold and use a file or sandpaper to smooth down the edges. If desired, use a buffing tool to make the ring shiny. *Alternative: You can skip the last part and just use E6000 to glue the ring blank on. Also, you can embed other small object or pictures by printing them out on high gloss photo paper.  Resin jewelry mold  EasyCast Resin *** 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: glitter, jewelry, resin, rings, wearable art Friday, December 09, 2005Glittered Cactus Garden There's a really good reason for showcasing yet another glitter craft project: You asked for it. In last week's glitterrific article that ran in Friday's Weekend Living section, there was a photo of glitter fan Spencer Mahaffey-Maat. In the corner of the picture was part of a glittered cactus she had made. That's all it took for readers to notice. By lunchtime, I had calls asking for instructions - which was reason enough for me to break out my jumbo jars of emerald, olive and grassy-colored specks. My sister thinks someone needs to check me into glitter rehab. However, it's my birthday today and I think I should be able to indulge my glitter addiction all day. Enjoy! Glittered Cactus Garden Supplies: Assorted plastic cactuses (found in the floral department at the craft store) Assorted loose green glitters in various textures and shades White craft glue, brush 1 medium painted flowerpot Floral foam Faux moss or straw Large piece of construction paper to catch overflow of glitter Directions: Insert the floral foam in the pot. Take the largest cactus, remove the thorns and set them aside. Dip the brush in the glue and paint over the surface; pour on the glitter while the glue is still wet and shiny. Continue until the entire cactus is covered. Let dry and return thorns to holes. Repeat the process for the next cactus, but use a different texture and shade of green glitter. Continue for remaining cacti. When they are dry, insert them in desired arrangement into the floral foam. Add the moss or straw to cover the foam. Variations: Instead of a green cactus garden, you can create a frosty look by using white and silver glitters. The plastic cacti also come in miniature versions, so you can insert them in minipots and use as small gifts or place card holders. Add white or green minilights for even more sparkle. * 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: glitter, holiday, home decor Sunday, December 04, 2005Glittered cards, boxes & ornaments   These are various glitter projects I made. Below is a glittered greeting card. I took a premade card from the store and used a small brush and painted on white craft glue (Elmer's because it dries clear) and added microfine glitter. You can do this with any store bought card to make it more intense looking. And then I glittered some small boxes and added ribbon. They look so pretty and if you are giving jewelry or knitted scarves you can decorate the box to match the contents. The last item are ornaments (top). On one of them I used vintage glass glitter that I bought from ArtGlitter.com, the other one I wrote on it with glue using a skinny metal tip and then sprinkled the glitter over it. I'm seriously on a glitter bender right now. I would glitter our 4Runner if my family would let me! More about glitter! Glitter podcast! * By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Saturday, December 03, 2005Crafty Chica Podcast #8: Glitterati!
Today we dive into a huge vat of shiny GLITTER! There is no better time to sprinkle away than in December. This show includes an article on glitter, a rundown on types of glitters, adhesives to use and of course - more sparkly visualizations than Liberace in a rhinestone shop...
Listen up, people. Glitter is more than just tiny glistening flakes that dance under the light. Yes, that is what I like best about it, but glitter is also a type of lifestyle. It’s about seeing beauty and amazement in ordinary objects, people and places. It’s about allowing yourself to view the world with a layer of intensity, brilliance and shine. You don’t have to be into crafting to appreciate that! I’m not the only one who adores the stuff. Recently I wrote a story for The Arizona Republic about other people who like glitter too. I’ve been a reporter at the paper for many years now and this glitter story brought out the most enthusiastic, optimistic people I’ve ever met! This is the first of daily Crafty Chica December podcasts to help you add a bit of sparkle to your holiday season. I’ll have a new mini-show every day, so check back! To learn about glitter, visit Glitter.AzCentral.com and ArtGlitter.com CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE*~Peace, love and glitter from Crafty Chica!*~ Subscribe to Crafty Chica Podcast * By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Friday, December 02, 2005Glittered Bud Vases In the mood for something easy and clean looking? These bud vases are it. You just have to pick up a glass cylander vase, they are pretty cheap in price and then use double sticky tape to add beads or glitter in random areas. Pop in a poinsettia stem and give to a friend, or use them on the dinner table. You can find skinnier vases at the craft store for under a dollar. Wouldn't they look cute as place card holders? You could use letter stencils to apply the person's name on it, and then they can take it home at the end of the night. Here are the directions! * By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.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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