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The Crafty Chica DIY Project Library: a collection of fabulous handmade ideas by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica! Sunday, October 11, 2009Charming Day of the Dead Resin Heart Bracelet
** 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, jewelry, resin Thursday, April 30, 2009Resined table This is nothing new and fantastic, but I made it for my living room as an end table and I like it so, I'm posting a picture. I blew up the loteria game cards, covered them with a layer of Aleene's Tacky, and coated the whole thing in resin. I also added glitter inthere, but thepicture doesn't show it off very well...** 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: home decor, Latin-inspired, resin 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 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, November 17, 2008Collage Watch Charms By Kathy Cano-Murillo Special for The Arizona Republic November 15, 2008 I’m a sucker for any kind of old jewelry, especially if it comes cheap. Recently I was at a thrift store and purchased a perky collection of unfixable men’s watches. Anything that has a deep-dish element is always considered an asset in my crafty mind. I converted my newfound treasures into wearable shadowbox-like pendants, rings, and bracelets. These can also be used as holiday ornaments, fan/light pulls, wall art, etc. Although, I love wearing them. They make me think about the dashing gents who originally splurged on the timepieces. It feels good to put the watches back in the spotlight! Collage Watch Charms Supplies: Old men’s watches (from flea market or thrift store) Extra strength adhesive Decorative art paper or paint Images copied to glossy photo paper Micro glitter Sequins, crystals or other tiny objects White craft glue Two-part resin 2 large jump rings Headpins, beads, needle nose pliers Necklace hardware, ring blanks, or pin backs Directions: Take apart the watch by removing the back. Keep a few of the smaller pieces for your design, and set aside the rest. Add a thin line of extra strength adhesive along the lip of the backing and replace it. Let dry. This will prevent the resin from seeping out of the seam. Line the back of the watch “window” with paint or white craft glue and art paper. Line the edges with glue and micro glitter. Cut out your image and set it inside. Add any other small items. Mix the resin according to the package directions and fill the watch. Let set overnight until the resin is hardened. Add the jump ring to the top, and then add the chain. Add ring another to the bottom. Slide the beads on the heads pins and use the needle nose pliers to attach them. Tip on resin: Blow out air bubbles with a straw. Variation: You can also thread a ribbon through the openings (or a watchband!) and wear it on your wrist. You can also use vintage women’s watches – they are much smaller but you can fit in a charm or button. *** 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, jewelry, mantastic crafts, resin Saturday, October 11, 2008DIY Flexible Resin Sheets  This is a special project I did for Craft Stylish! Looking for new tricks to try with resin? Been there! This is a technique I found by accident. One day I had mixed a batch of resin and accidentally spilled it on my waxed paper-lined drying board. The next morning I was delighted to discover that the cured mixture had dried to a thin, flexible sheet that could be cut with scissors, punched with decorative tools, stamped with ink, colored with permanent markers, and so on. It's kind of like a marriage between Shrinky Dinks and clear vinyl. Click here for the full story on Craft Stylish! *** 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 Friday, June 15, 2007DIY Mighty Magnets I love me some Lucy Lu Mighty Magnets. They have that thick coat of shiny stuff on top and they look so pretty and cool. But at $13 bucks a pop, I can only afford to recieve them as gifts! Plus, maybe I want to mix and match my mighty magnets. That led me to experiment with making my own Crafty Chica version. Mmmmmm, I love how they came out. (Some of these images are from Ken Brown wrapping paper!) This is how I did it: Supplies: Wood pieces Sturdy magnets Envirotex Lite (2 part resin mixture) paper cup, chopstick, drinking straw Pictures Aleene's Tacky Glue Black craft paint Waxed paper Directions: Line your work area with waxed paper. Glue the image to the wood piece. Paint the edges to seal the paper to the wood. Let dry. Apply a coat of Tacky Glue over the entire image and around the edges to again seal the paper to the wood - otherwise the resin will "seep" under. Let it dry until the glue is absolutely clear. Mix the resin in the cup according to the package directions. Use the chopstick to stir it. Apply a dollop on the wood piece and use the chopstick to push the resin to the edges without letting it drip. Blow out any bubbles with the drinking straw. Let it cure for 24 hours. Glue the magnet on the back. Enjoy! *** 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: collage/paper, inside, paper, resin Saturday, February 17, 2007Glittered Milagro Resin Knob Pulls  I was recently on HGTV showing how to make these fun knob pulls. In case you missed it, I'm posting the directions here. Yes, that's a cabinet from my kitchen! 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 * Labels: Cinco DeMayo, Craft Lab, inside, Latin-inspired, resin Thursday, February 01, 2007Conversation Candy Coasters  It's been a long but rewarding nine months since I've been on the Atkins diet. But my real challenge comes at this time of year, when Valentine candy arrives. It seems that in every store, I'm faced with wondrous tiers of red, pink and purple heart-shaped packages of creamy chocolates and such. This year, I'm using crafts in my defense: If I can't eat the sugar-laden treats, I can at least decorate with them. These lovely drink coasters are made from terra-cotta saucers, resin and a sweetheart staple - conversation hearts. I'm planning to rest my low-carb chocolate shake on them. Conversation Heart Candy Coasters Supplies 4 terra-cotta saucers, 4 inches in diameter Acrylic paints in red, pink, white and purple 1 bag of conversation hearts E6000 adhesive Resin Paint brushes: base coat and liner Protective felt tabs Directions: Paint a base coat on the saucers; let dry. Add words or narrow designs around the border of the saucers with the liner brush. Glue the conversation hearts face up in the center area of the saucers (use ones that are of equal thickness); let dry. Mix the resin according to the package directions and pour over the candies until they are completely covered and the resin is at an even level. Put a dab of resin on your finger and rub it over the border to seal in your painted design. Let the saucers cure over night. Apply the protective felt tabs to the bottom of the saucers so they won't scratch your furniture. Tips and variations: Pop any bubbles in the resin by carefully blowing on them through a straw. For more accents, drop some metallic stars or hearts into the resin after you pour it (push them down with a pin) or trim the saucer's border with squeeze glitter. *** 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: food crafts, resin, Valentine's Day 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 Tuesday, February 28, 2006Resin Coasters Here's a shout out to all the Good Morning Arizona viewers! Interested in making some personalized tile coasters? Here is how to do it (taken from my new book: Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul.)You need Envirotex Lite, which is a light form of resin. You can find it at any craft store. don't feel like making these coaster, but still want a set? I'll make them for ya!  More and more people are curious about the sticky stuff, which you mix and pour into bottle caps, over picture frames and in rubber molds to make jewelry, furniture and scrapbook adornments. So what is it? Resin is a reactive polymer compound that cures to a thick, glossy coating that is highly durable and requires no polishing. It's often used to cover the tops of tables or bars in eating establishments. It comes in several brands, and each has its own quirks when it comes to combining the compounds. My advice? Wear a mask because it's stinky. And if you have long hair, tie it back before starting, otherwise there's a good chance you'll get the resin on your hair (like I did). The only way to remove the resin is to cut it off. Supplies 4 ceramic tiles, 4 by 4 inches each Small pictures White craft glue Metallic paint pens Two-part resin, small paper cup, chopstick, paper mask, skinny straw Wax paper 16 wood doll heads, 1-inch in diameter (round balls that are flat on one side) Acrylic paint and water-based varnish E6000 adhesive Directions: Wipe the tiles free of dust or spots. Using the glue, apply the pictures on the tiles and let dry. Apply a thin layer of the white glue on top of the pictures and let dry. Decorate the open spaces on the tile with the metallic paint pens. Go outside to work with the resin. Put on the mask and use the paper cup to mix the two-part resin according to package directions. Use the chopstick to stir the mixture vigorously until it looks bubbly and cloudy. Pour an amount the size of a quarter on each tile and spread it to the edges using the chopstick. Hold the tile up to the light to make sure you didn't miss any spots. Pop any bubbles by removing the mask and blowing through the straw over the surface. Place the tiles on the wax paper and place them in a covered outdoors area (garage or patio) to cure for 24 to 48 hours. Paint the wood balls, decorate with the pens and varnish. Flip the tiles over and use the adhesive to attach the balls. Let dry. Tips and variations: Have fun with your coasters. Make small scrapbook layouts on each tile using family photos, papers and sequins, or cut out pictures from magazines. Make sure to follow package directions, otherwise it will not cure. If the resin has not set by 24 hours, consider your project a bust and try again. Do not let your tiles dry outside because bugs, dust and leaves can become embedded in them. *** 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: collage/paper, home decor, resin Monday, September 05, 2005More belt buckles A few months back I hit a gold mine when I made some belt buckles. I had some blanks leftover so I whipped up these little puppies. I coated them with resin for long shelf life. * 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: resin, wearable art Friday, February 11, 2005Mexican Calendar Art Coasters Here is a mixed media coaster design. Supplies: Tile or coasters Spanish language newsprint Color copy of Mexican image White craft glue Craft paint Resin Glue the newsprint to the top of the coaster. Now glue the picture in the center. Add painted accents. Coat with a thin layer of white craft glue. Mix resin according to package directions and coat. Work over a piece of wax paper so it won't stick forever to your table. Blow out gas bubbles with a straw. Let cure over night. Put some felt tabs under the coaster so it won't scratch your table! * 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, home decor, inside, Latin-inspired, outdoors, resin 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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