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The Crafty Chica DIY Project Library: a collection of fabulous handmade ideas by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica! Sunday, June 28, 2009Fireworks Serving Tray This is a scrapbook project, believe it or not. You create a scrapbook design and seal it between two clear plastic serving trays. You can make one original, and then make color copies. Seal the edges with red or silver tape.You can also do this with clear plastic plates for your 4th of July BBQ. Add a little visual sizzle to your meal! ** 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: summer/4th of July Ceramic Star Box Recently while at Duncan Enterprises/ILoveToCreate.com, I was able to play around in the ceramics department. Can you say good times?To make this, I started off with a round bisque box. I took the "la estrella" card from the Crafty Chica Loteria set and blew it up about 10%. I then cut out the shape and used it as a template so I could paint the design on the box. I used orange for the bottom and white to add polka dots all over. Here is how I could have made it better - and I'm sharing this so that next time you go to a paint-on-pottery place, you'll remember my words of wisdom. The goal in ceramics is to end up with a smooth, even texture, almost free of brush strokes. In my case, you can see my strokes all around the shape of the star. It still passes as a gift for my nana or best friend, but for a truly professional look, I should have added an extra coat in an opposite direction to make it all blend in. Plus, blue is a color that REALLY shows the strokes. My little star box is not in traditional red, white, and blue colors, but I think it is cute for any star-spangled theme fiesta! ** 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: paint, summer/4th of July Patriotic Puppy  Special for ILoveToCreate.com!Show your patriotism this Independence Day with the help of a "paws"itively adorable friend! Create a spirited display with Crafty Chica Little Chica Paint Packs and Aleene's Original Tacky Glue. Add super sparkle with Aleene's Paper Glaze and Crafty Chica Chunky Glitters.
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: summer/4th of July Wednesday, June 10, 2009Crafty Beach Drawstring Tote
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: fabric, summer/4th of July, wearable Saturday, October 11, 2008VOTE postcards It's election season! While many of us are passionate about our candidates, we all know someone who could use a bit of nudging to the polls. Here's a way to motivate them - make and send reminder postcards, Crafty Chica style! Decorate them in your favorite campaign theme and mail them on out. Consider it your patriotic duty! Materials List * Crafty Chica™ Tango Permanent Fabric Markers™ * Crafty Chica™ Mojito Papers™ * Crafty Chica™ Little Chica Paint Packs™ * Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue Sticks * Crafty Chica™ Chunky Glitters™ 25692 Rockabilly Ruby * Crafty Chica™ Glossy Gloss Varnish™ * Miscellaneous Printout of the donkey or elephant political logo Scissors Watercolor paper, 4”x6” Newspaper Paint brush Instructions 1. Paint the entire front and back of the watercolor paper with red or blue from the Crafty Chica™ Paint Pack™. Let dry. Cut the Crafty Chica Papers and newspaper into skinny strips, and use the Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue Stick to affix them to the postcard. Glue on the donkeys as desired. 2. Paint a thin coat of paint over the open area, and hand paint your message over it. 3. Using a fine brush, go letter by letter and fill in with Crafty Chica Glossy Gloss Varnish, then pour Crafty Chica Glitter over it while it is still wet. Repeat for all the letters. Let dry. 4.Carefully brush on a coat of varnish over the glitter to seal it. 5. Paint the entire card with the varnish. 6. Fill out the back and mail to your friend! *** 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: campaign crafts, summer/4th of July Wednesday, September 17, 2008Etched Star Mirror I picked up three of these star mirrors and thought they needed immediate crafty attention. I took a package of star stickers from the school aisle at the office supply store and stuck them all over the surface. Then slathered on a thick layer of glass etching cream. Let it set, and then rinsed it all off. And there you have it! Embellished star mirrors!   *** 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: home decor, summer/4th of July Monday, July 14, 2008Faux Tattoo Sunglasses By Kathy Cano-Murillo Special for the Republic I love Ed Hardy sunglasses. But I can’t afford Ed Hardy sunglasses. I’m not one to give up so easy. With a little tinkering in my art studio, I came up with a more affordable recipe. Hello temporary tattoos! These tatts are just like little decals that can easily be applied to any surface. You can find them at gift boutiques, party supply stores, and even the craft store. The best aspect is you can pick up a few different sets of sunglasses and decorate them all different. Here’s a tip: I found that a white base works best. If you are using black glasses, paint a layer of white and then apply the temporary tattoo and you are good to go. Not into sunglasses? You can use this technique to add personality to your portable music player, cell phone, business card holder, or any other hard surface. Faux Tattoo Sunglasses Supplies: 1 set of sunglasses with wide sides Temporary tattoos (smaller the better) Wet paper towel Micro glitter and mini crystals Clear adhesive Toothpick Clear nail polish Directions: Set the temporary tattoo on the surface. Apply the wet paper towel over the tattoo and leave until the backing paper is soaked. Carefully peel away the backing. Tattoo will be set in place. Let dry. Apply a coat of clear nail polish over the tattoo, let dry. Use a toothpick and glue to add loose micro glitter and mini-crystals. **** *** 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: summer/4th of July, wearable art Friday, July 04, 2008Party poppersThis project has been getting a lot of hits this week so I thought I'd repost it front and center! Supplies - 1 empty paper-towel tube. - Glitter, fortunes, horoscopes, confetti, mints, funny notes, chocolate coins, small party favors. - 12- by 12-inch piece of wrapping or tissue paper. - Scissors. - Glue gun or tape. - Ribbon. Directions: Cut the cardboard tube in half, then cut one of the halves in half. Fill all three pieces with glitter, confetti and other festive accessories. Lay the wrapping paper face down on a flat surface, then set the three cardboard tubes in an even row at the edge of the paper, leaving a 1/2-inch space between each tube. Carefully glue or tape the edge of the wrapping paper in an even line across the tubes. Roll the paper over the tubes once and trim excess paper (also on each end of the tube). Gently twist tubes at the disconnected points and add ribbon for flair. Add them to the table place settings, place a bunch inside a large glass bowl or hand out right before midnight. Tips and variations: Before giving poppers to guests, use a pin to poke holes around the edges of the tube so it will break open easier. For smaller poppers, use cardboard tubes from wrapping paper. Use color copies of family photos for a personalized look. **** *** 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: summer/4th of July Friday, June 27, 2008Coke Can Star Lights Hosting a "Let's grill at my house for the Fourth of July!" kind of party? If so, you have one more day to put together some delicious crafty entrees. These easy party lights can be made faster than your average fireworks explosion, not to mention that you probably already have the bulk of the supplies in your pantry. It also proves that from an artistic standpoint, soda pop cans are just as awesome on the outside as they are inside. Supplies: Paper and pencil 4 red or blue (or two of each) soda cans Tin snips or heavy-duty scissors Hole punch, standard size 1 strand of 10 minilights Protective gloves Make a circle template by tracing a 2-inch circle on a piece of paper. Cut it out. Wear protective gloves and carefully cut off the top and bottom of the soda can with tin snips or scissors. Cut through the length of the body of the can to make one rectangular piece of metal. Work it with your hands or use a brayer to make the metal as flat a possible. Lay the circle template on the metal and cut around it. Repeat until you have three circles. Snip out the shape of a star from each circle. Punch a hole in the center of each star to make an opening for the bulb to fit through. You may need to punch several times to make the hole large enough. Carefully press a star over a minilight. Repeat until all the lights are covered. You should have one remaining light to use as a replacement if needed. Tips and variations: String the stars together with ribbon to make garlands or streamers. Glue the stars around the base of a flowerpot or around a large picture frame. You can also use them to decorate scrapbooks or journal covers. Instead of stars, cut out layers of flowers in various sizes and lay them on top of each other and connect with a rivet or grommet to make multilayered flowers. **** *** 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: recycled, summer/4th of July Thursday, June 26, 20084th of July Paper Swag Is there anything that hasn’t been made for the Fourth of July? Statue of Liberty tiaras? Been there. Star spangled pool float? Done that. Patriotic party horns, visors, water bottle holders - the list goes on. All month I worried about what to make for this week’s column. Recently I checked out a party store and noticed scores of plastic banner swags for the front porch. I let out a huge sigh of relief. I knew with all the cool scrapbook papers on the market, it would be a cinch to make my own Fourth of July version. There are two ways to approach this idea: fast or artful. To make a speedy version, simply cut your red, white and blue scrapbook paper sheets into circles, slip them over a long piece of string, and use a glue stick to secure. However, if you really want to show your Americana pride - make paper collages for each of the banner pieces, or embellish them with stamped designs. Even better, summon the spirit of Betsy Ross and use fabric, interfacing, ribbon, and a sewing machine. Add some glitter or tassels for that sparkly fireworks effect. Here are some other ideas for Fourth of July crafting: - Use glass paint and glitter to dress up glass Coca Cola bottles. Use them as centerpieces. - Buy a pack of white paper placemats and use a silver metallic marker to write quotes from the Declaration of Independence (“We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”) - Paint papier-mâché stars in red, white, and blue and use monofilament wire to hang from the ceiling. - Set out a bulletin board with colorful papers and pens and ask each guest to write down what the word independence means to them. - Make an Independence Day-themed music playlist, burns copies onto CDs, slip them into decorated envelopes and pass out to guests or random people you encounter that day as random act of kindness. 4th of July Paper Swag Supplies: 1 spool of string or ribbon 12 sheets of scrapbook paper (4 red, 4 white, 4 blue) Decorative Edge scissors Hole punch Glue stick Directions: Fold one sheet of paper in half and cut the corners so you have a circle shape. Use the hole punch to add accents along the edge. Repeat with the remaining sheets of paper. Stretch out the string and leaving a six-inch tail, slip one of the folded circles over the top of the string, so it rests in the crease. Use the glue stick to seal the paper together. Leave a two-inch space and add the next piece. Continue until the banner is complete. Variation: You can also use fabric or doilies or make your banner. For rustic “Americana” look, use light sandpaper to age the paper and sew the ends together.  *** 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: paper, summer/4th of July Monday, June 23, 2008Frosty glassware Here in Phoenix, the temp has reached 115 degrees. There's nothing I can do about it except run from one air-conditioned area to another. Even then - it's still hot! But at least we can think "cool", right? Here is an easy recipe for frosty designer glassware. You can score a set of glasses at the discount department store for less than $5 and make them your own using one jar of etching cream. Or you can go with my preferred method and buy assorted shapes and use one stenciled theme to tie them all together. If you want a classier look, visit a high-end housewares store and peek at their offerings for inspiration. This project also works great as a wedding, shower or housewarming gift because you can design a set to fit the person. Supplies • Assorted drinking glasses • Blue painter's tape • 1 package of round labels (office-supply section) • 1 pair of plastic gloves • 1 small brush • 1 jar of etching cream (found at the craft store) • Chopstick or toothpick • Extra strength waterproof adhesive • 1 bag of 6mm flat backed crystal (I used Tulip brand) Directions: Wash and dry the glasses. Start with one glass. Apply a band of blue painter's tape around the rim. Add labels randomly around the outer surface of the glass. Press all the edges down firmly, which will prevent the etching cream from seeping under the label. Wearing the gloves, use the brush to apply a thick layer of the etching cream in vertical strokes all around the glass. Let sit for 10 minutes, rinse and remove the labels. Dry the glass. Apply a new set of labels in the same spots. This time, apply the cream horizontally around the glass. Let it sit for 10 minutes, rinse and remove labels. If there are any "bald" spots of the cream, repeat the process and apply cream vertically. The glass should look evenly etched with clean polka dots. For the finishing touch, dab the end of a chopstick or toothpick in the adhesive and make a small dot on the glass. Pick up a crystal and set it on the adhesive. Continue as desired all over the glass. These glasses will even hold up in the dishwasher. Variations and tips: Use painter's tapes in different widths to create the look of stripes. Put words on your glasses by printing them in large fonts on sticker paper, cutting the letters out with a craft knife and using the remaining paper as a stencil for the cream. Aside from drinking glasses, you also can etch mirrors, pitchers, vases, salt and pepper shakers or other glass objects. For more color accents, use porcelain paint or colored crystals. **** *** 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: summer/4th of July Postcard greetings Have craft supplies, will travel. Just because you are going on vacation doesn't mean you have to leave your scissors and glue stick at home. Pack a thin minicrafting kit so you can whip up custom greeting cards to send to friends and family back home. As you buy your postcards, take a minute (honest, that's all the time this project will take) and glue them to the front of blank cards so you have more room to share your getaway adventures. This project is a great way to pass the time on the road and is mess-free. To make it even speedier, prep the blank cards with scrapbook paper and foam core before leaving on your trip. Postcard greetings Supplies Postcards Blank notecards (jumbo size) Scrapbook paper Glue stick Thin sheet of foam core Scissors Directions: Cut the scrapbook paper to fit the cover of the card. Affix in place with the glue stick. To add a lifted "dimension" to the card's look, cut a 1- by 3-inch piece of foam core and glue it in the center. Trim the white edges from the postcard and glue to the foam core. You can embellish with eyelets, decorative staples, brads, small crystals, ribbon and rubber stamps. Variation: Make a set of cards, wrap them in a ribbon and give them as a gift. Instead of using them as cards, insert in matted frames and hang as wall art. Look for gift shops that carry boxes of postcards. That way all the cards will have a similar theme.  AND - if you like the postcards (Romance Pulp Postcard Box) I used, here is where you can buy 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, summer/4th of July Wednesday, June 04, 2008CRAFTY CHICA VIDEO: Star Spangled Pool FloatieMyLifetime.com has a whole new crafts section up and it is called "Crafted" and features five artsy ladies sharing cool ideas for the holidays. I am so happy I got to be one of them! Aside from moi, there is Vickie Howell, Pattie Donham, Leah Fung, and The O'Neil sisters. Here is the page in case you can't see the video. CLICK HERE  **** *** 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: crafty video, LifetimeTV, summer/4th of July 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 Saturday, July 29, 2006Ice Age Bracelet (Photo and text copyright Kathy Cano Murillo/The Arizona Republic, 2006) Visualization is the key with this bold bauble bracelet that looks just like frozen ice cubes. Supplies: Plastic ice cube tray, Easy Cast resin, blue resin coloring, gold micro stars, paper cup, chopstick for stirring, disposable measuring cup, needle nose pliers, drill, jump rings, bracelet clasp. Directions: Mix the resin according to package directions (using cup, chopstick and measuring cup) and pour an approximately 1/4-inch layer into dry ice cube tray compartments. Sprinkle in gold stars. Let set for four hours. Mix up a new batch of resin, but this time add one drop of blue resin coloring. Dab on a thin layer on each cube. Keep it thin, because it is just to give it a faint blue tinge from behind. Let cure for 24 hours. Pop the pieces out of the tray. On each side, drill a hole at an angle, coming out the bottom. Using pliers, insert a jump ring and connect the pieces. Attach bracelet clasp. Note: After you've finished, do not use this ice cube tray to make real ice. *** 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: jewelry, summer/4th of July, wearable art Beach Towel Tote (Photo and text copyright Kathy Cano Murillo/The Arizona Republic, 2006) Beach towels may be on clearance at the store, but we're still diving into the pool at every opportunity. Here's a way to take one of those jumbo towels and transform it into a functional (and very cute) tote bag. Supplies: 40- by 70-inch beach towel with wide trim, pinking shears, sewing machine, thread, pins. Directions: Fold the towel lengthwise. Cut the trim off one end of the towel and set aside, this will be the handles of the bag. At the other end, keep the trim (this is the bottom of the bag) and cut about 12 inches up (this is the top of the bag). Toss aside the excess, you will not need it. Unfold the towel and hem the raw edge by using the zigzag function on your sewing machine (to prevent fraying). Sew again with a regular stitch. Fold the towel again in the same fashion and sew the sides and bottom. Using the trim from the other end, cut it in half so you have two straps. Stitch the raw ends using the zigzag function. Sew one strip on the inside of each side of the bag so you end up with two handles. Note: Use the excess towel to make another tote! *** 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: summer/4th of July, wearable art Ice Cream T-Shirt (Photo and text copyright Kathy Cano Murillo/The Arizona Republic, 2006) If you don't have time to eat the creamy stuff, you can at least wear it. Color copy the front of your favorite icy sweet treat (Italian ice, Mexican paletas, Orange Dreamsicle) onto fabric paper, affix it to a tank and you are good to go. Supplies: 1 box of ice cream treats 1 sheet of fabric paper 1 sheet of HeatnBond fabric transfer 1 bottle of fabric squeeze paint Iron Directions: Using the high-resolution setting, color copy the front of the box onto a sheet of fabric paper, either at your local copy center or using your inkjet printer. Cut out the shape of the image, as well as a piece of HeatnBond to match. Iron the two pieces together, remove the protective backing, set in place on the tank and iron in place. Refer to HeatnBond package directions for specifics. Let cool. Use fabric squeeze paint to add small dots to outline the image on the shirt for durability. *** 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: summer/4th of July, wearable art Arctic Eye Mask (Photo and text copyright Kathy Cano Murillo/The Arizona Republic, 2006) This mask takes minutes to make and is a luscious treat for tired eyes. This little baby goes in the fridge as well, so it will be chilly to the touch. After a hard day at work or working on the lawn, lie down and plop it over your eyes for ultimate relaxation. Supplies: 2 pieces of cotton fabric, each 6 by 3 inches Straight pins Pinking shears Sewing machine or needle and thread 1 cup of rice Essential oil (if desired) Directions: Line up the two pieces of fabric, right side out, and pin around three sides. Sew with straight stitch around the three sides, removing pins as you go. Pour in rice and sew up the top. Sew another seam around the whole mask. Use the pinking shears to trim the excess fabric around the edges. Store mask in freezer or fridge. Variation: When adding rice, add one to two drops of essential oil. Experiment with different fabrics such as satin or ultra suede, to see which you like best. Make several bags so you can rotate 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: beauty, summer/4th of July, wearable art Tingly Face Spray Photo and text copyright Kathy Cano Murillo/The Arizona Republic This is a must-have to take with you on road trips and even shopping trips. After you complete this project, store the bottle in the fridge or an ice chest. Use it to mist your skin for a sharp and tingly sensation. Supplies: 1 new travel-size spray bottle Distilled water Essential oil of choice (lavender is nice!) E6000 industrial-strength adhesive 1 package of Austrian crystals Chopstick or toothpick Directions: Using the toothpick or chopstick, dab the end in the glue and make random dots around the outside of the bottle. Apply the crystals, one by one, over the glue. Let dry. Fill bottle with water and add one to two drops of essential oil of your choice. Shake. Keep in the refrigerator to keep cool. To use, lightly mist face and arms for a tingly sensation. *** 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: beauty, inside, summer/4th of July Friday, July 21, 2006Frosty Glassware Today it was 117 degrees here in Phoenix. Any little bit helps when it comes to trying to keep cool. Even sipping from frosty, etched glasses like this. A little bit of painter's tape, stickers and a jar of Armour Etch and you are set to go! These days, there are so many art supplies and idea books, anyone can dive into the world of design. I'm here to show you how. I've always embraced the "Why buy it when you can make it?" mind-set and I'm not alone. According to the Craft and Hobby Association, one out of every four people has tried a do-it-yourself project in the past year. That's a lot of craftiness. That's why I'm excited to bring this column back to The Republic's Home section, where it launched in 1999. I have yet to run out of ideas (my family can vouch for that) and I'm excited to share them with you. In the coming months, we'll dive into everything from furniture overhauls to red carpet-ready jewelry, paper arts and everything else the artsy universe has to offer. First up: an easy recipe for frosty designer glassware. You can score a set of glasses at the discount department store for less than $5 and make them your own using one jar of etching cream. For a bohemian look, visit a swap meet or thrift center, buy assorted vintage glasses and use one stenciled theme to tie them all together. If you want a classier look, visit a high-end housewares store and peek at their offerings for inspiration. This project also works great as a wedding, shower or housewarming gift because you can design a set to fit the person. Custom Frosty Glassware Supplies • Assorted drinking glasses • Blue painter's tape • 1 package of round labels (office-supply section) • 1 pair of plastic gloves • 1 small brush • 1 jar of etching cream (found at the craft store) • Chopstick or toothpick • E6000 extra strength adhesive • 1 bag of 6mm crystals Directions: Wash and dry the glasses. Start with one glass. Apply a band of blue painter's tape around the rim. Add labels randomly around the outer surface of the glass. Press all the edges down firmly, which will prevent the etching cream from seeping under the label. Wearing the gloves, use the brush to apply a thick layer of the etching cream in vertical strokes all around the glass. Let sit for 10 minutes, rinse and remove the labels. Dry the glass. Apply a new set of labels in the same spots. This time, apply the cream horizontally around the glass. Let it sit for 10 minutes, rinse and remove labels. If there are any "bald" spots of the cream, repeat the process and apply cream vertically. The glass should look evenly etched with clean polka dots. For the finishing touch, dab the end of a chopstick or toothpick in the adhesive and make a small dot on the glass. Pick up a crystal and set it on the adhesive. Continue as desired all over the glass. These glasses will even hold up in the dishwasher. Variations and tips: Use painter's tapes in different widths to create the look of stripes. Put words on your glasses by printing them in large fonts on sticker paper, cutting the letters out with a craft knife and using the remaining paper as a stencil for the cream. Aside from drinking glasses, you also can etch mirrors, pitchers, vases, salt and pepper shakers or other glass objects. For more color accents, use porcelain paint or colored crystals. *** 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: home decor, summer/4th of July Friday, June 30, 2006Statue of Liberty Crown It's the 4th of July weekend, what are your kids up to? If they are little, glam them up with one of these easy crowns. It's perfect for watching the fireworks. And if you are a kid at heart, make one for you too! I also made a really cool red, white and blue, but I can't find it! As soon as I do, I'll post a picture of it here. By the way, this crown is made from a visor, straws and lots of glitter! The Fourth of July is all about flash and sparkle, especially when it comes to kids and big fireworks shows. Dress your little ones in style with this quick-to-make accessory that is sure to fire up patriotic spirit. With a foam visor, plastic drinking straws, glitter and embellishments, you and your child can make a stylin' crown so impressive, Uncle Sam would give a wink and two thumbs up. Flashy Fireworks Headdress Supplies 1 red, white or blue visor Drinking straws Hot glue gun Red, white or blue paint, with loose glitter to match Paintbrush Scissors Embellishments such as foam decorations, buttons and sequins Directions Turn the visor upside down so it becomes a crown/tiara. Hot glue the straws vertically so they are closer at the bottom and about an inch apart at the top. Cut the excess of the straws along the bottom of the crown. Use the brush to apply paint in between and on the straws, sprinkle the loose glitter. Let dry. Hot glue the other embellishments such as buttons, sequins, and letters. Variations Instead of red, white and blue, make a Statue of Liberty crown using a green visor. This idea can be used for different events all year, such as birthday parties or New Year's Eve. *** 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: other holidays, summer/4th of July, wearable art Tuesday, June 27, 20064th of July ideas These are from last year, but what the heck! The above is a drink holder/floatie for the pool. you take two solid foam stars, paint them, glue them (Crafter's Pick, the Ultimate) and glue on a drink cozy. Cover with ribbon and there ya go!  This is a little snack book made from lunch bags to put on everyone's place setting. Put treats inside each bag to surprise your guests! *** 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: summer/4th of July Thursday, June 22, 2006Splashy Summer Place Mats Here in Phoenix where it is 112 degrees and rising, pool parties are as popular as mittens in an igloo. It doesn't matter how hot it gets, the patio will be tricked out with munchies and icy, frosty beverages. So enter the painted placemat. An old standard, of course. But did you know there is a super swift way to make these? The secret is to go to the paper pad section of the art or craft store. Look along the bottom row for "Canvas Pad". Fredrix makes one that comes with TEN sheets of primed canvas ($12) - go for the 12x16 size. Rip 'em out and paint 'em and bingo! you have 10 awesomely cute placemats. Summer's here, so why not have mealtime accessories to match the playful mood? These colorful and zesty place mats will fit with the season. They are made from sheets from a canvas pad found in the art-supply section of the craft store. Once you decorate and varnish them, they are as washable as they are durable. Take note: There are also blank oval canvas place mats ready for your paintbrush as well, but those "designated" place mats come with less product at a higher price. My advice is to go with the traditional pre-primed canvas pad sheets and cut them to any shape you like. Summer Splash Place Mats Supplies: 1 package of 12- by 16-inch Canvas Pad (10 sheets in package) 1 can of satin spray paint Craft paints, assorted colors Assorted chunky foam stamps Assorted brushes, including a liner brush 1 jar of water-based brush-on varnish Foam brush Directions: Place one of the canvas sheets on a large piece of cardboard or newspaper, outside in a well-ventilated area. Set it down so it lays flat. Spray on one coat of paint, let dry and add another. When dry, paint a border around the edge of the sheet and add accents as desired. Add paint to the foam stamp and apply it to the center of the sheet. Outline with black paint. Add any other painted accents that you want. Let dry. Brush on a coat of the varnish, let dry and repeat two more times. Repeat for other place mats. Variations: Use a tapestry needle and embroidery thread to sew beads around the outside of the place mat, or add fabric trim. Use curve-edged scissors to create a textured look to the edges. Have your kids paint their own place mats. You can roll them up and take them to use at the beach or park. *** 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: summer/4th of July Saturday, May 06, 2006Bohemian Ankle Bracelet Sandal season is in full swing, which means it's time to flaunt those ankles. What better way than to combine ribbon and charms for an earthy, East Village bohemian look? My best tip for this project is to work under good lighting because you will be stitching small jump rings to a thin piece of velvet ribbon. It's worth the detailed effort: The end result is a colorful, dangly anklet that is all about movement and sass! Supplies Thin velvet ribbon Small charms, faux coins, beads, etc. Assorted multicolored beads 1 package of small jump rings Embroidery thread (same color as ribbon), needle 1 medium jump ring Bracelet clasp Needle-nose pliers Directions: Measure your ankle, add 1 inch to the number and cut a piece of ribbon to that size. Find the middle of the ribbon and attach a small jump ring to it by hand-stitching it on with the embroidery thread and needle. Add jump rings to the left and then to the right so you have a row of jump rings sewn onto the ribbon. Using the needle-nose pliers, open each jump ring and attach a charm. If you want to add beads, put them on head pins and attach to jump rings. Close each jump ring so charms will not come off. On each end of the ribbon, add a medium jump ring by feeding the ribbon through and sewing the end. Add clasp. Variation: Use different kinds of ribbons to vary looks. Make a choker or wrist bracelet to match. You can sew the charms right to the ribbon, but they won't dangle as much. *** 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: jewelry, summer/4th of July, wearable art Saturday, July 02, 2005Patriotic Pool Floatie Necessity is the mother of invention, alright! You know when you are splashin' around in the pool and you get thirsty for your pop, beer or a cocktail? Here is a way to solve that problem. It's a styrofoam pool floatie I made that holds your drink de jour!  Here is the page in case you can't see the video. CLICK HERE Supplies
Steps1. Glue three rings together to create a ring holder. Let dry. Apply a generous amount of red craft paint to the outside surface of the ring holder. Let dry.2. Apply a generous amount of blue craft paint to the larger star, leaving center bare. Apply a generous amount of white craft paint to the smaller star, leaving center bare. Let dry. 3. Center and glue the white star on top of the blue star. 4. Center and glue the red ring holder on top of the white star. Let dry. 5. Embellish the floater with star garland and foam stickers. 6. Place the centerpiece decoration in the ring holder. Crafty Chica Tips: This patriotic pool floater can be used to hold a drink, a centerpiece decoration or a glass votive holder. Use the floater as a pool or tabletop decoration. Choose round or star-shaped Styrofoam to create decorations for birthdays or other holiday celebrations Peace, love, and glitter! Kathy :-) * 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: outdoors, summer/4th of July Friday, July 01, 2005Thrillin' Grillin' Serving Tray This is a scrapbook project, believe it or not. You create a scrapbook design and seal it between two clear plastic serving trays. I also have directions for making a cool floating drink holder for your pool. It's in the same story - picture of that one coming soon... *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 * Labels: collage/paper, summer/4th of July 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 Custom Postcards I'll admit it. I'm hooked on postcards. So much that even though I buy them like crazy, I still don't have enough. Now I'm making my own from fabric scraps that I couldn't bear to toss out. Here's what I did: Cut watercolor paper to the size of a postcard (just use one as a template). I used a glue stick to cover one side and then I laid the fabric or paper over it and put it between two thick books for a couple hours. The result is fantastic! I sent these out to my local friends *just because* and they loved them! It's a great way to use leftover fabric, wrapping paper, etc. Or you can just paint your own design. * By Kathy Cano Murillo, copyright 2005. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * Labels: collage/paper, recycled, summer/4th of July 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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