Being a former newspaper writer, I have a soft spot for each and every page. Here is a clever way to recycle!

Supplies:

Newspaper (different pages for pattern contrast: sports scores, financial tables, colorful ads, photos, etc)
Base or large charm
Image (I used an image from the Crafty Chica Inspiration Deck)
Liquid Fusion Adhesive
Crafty Chica Markers
Crafty Chica Glitter
hot glue
pin back

Directions: Glue the image to the front of the base. Trim the edge in glue and then glitter. Cut three strips of the newspaper:
- 1 straight scissors, 1 zig zag, 1 ripped
- three widths: one skinny, one medium and one tall

Draw a different color on each edge. Start with the shortest piece of newspaper strip. Ruffle and glue on the back of the base using hot glue. Repeat with medium and then the tallest.

Glue pin back.

**
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: jewelry, recycled, wearable

Here is a project I did for ILoveToCreate.com!

• Aleene's® Fabric Fusion™ Permanent Dry Cleanable Fabric Adhesive™
  
  
• Crafty Chica™ Tango Permanent Fabric Markers™
  
  
• Crafty Chica™ Little Chica Paint Packs™
  
  
• Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint
  
  

  		65018 Purple
  		65130 True Red
  		65404 Green Metallics

• Crafty Chica™ Chunky Glitters™
  
  

  		25692 Rockabilly Rudy
  		25694 Glamour Queen Green
  		25695 Popstar Purple
  		25697 Sci Fi Silver
  		25702 Sunset Pink

• Crafty Chica™ Market Tote™
  
  

  Bird with Roses

• Miscellaneous
  Sewing Machine
  Ribbon, 4 yards of 1 1/2"
  Towel
  Paintbrush
  Scissors
  

**
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

When I was at CHA in January, I stopped by to say ho-lahh to Leah Kramer (Craftser.org) during her demo in the indie craft area. As expected, she offered an adorable idea: Customized floral hair clips! Before her say a buffet of bins filled with silk flowers, accompanied by a tray of hair clips. We were to choose different flower pieces (after they had all been separated) and put them back together in our own style. I made one, wore it for the rest of the show and recieved scores of compliments! Even better, when I brought it home, Maya snatched it up. She even used it in one of her videos. That definately upped the cool factor for my clip! This project is so fast with a great pay-off, I thought I'd share it with you.

Here is how to make one:

Buy several silk flowers in different colors, styles and sizes (dollar store). Also buy plastic hair clips and little doodads for the center of your flower - gems, crystals, vintage earrings, buttons, etc...

Separate the silk flower pedals from the stem by removing the plastic backing. Keep the center stem!

Build your own flower creation by mixing and matching the pedals and replacing them on the center stem piece.

Hot glue the center accent.

Hot glue to the hair clip!

Here is my Crafty Chica touch - spritz some Tulip Fabric Glitter Spray over the whole thing!

Here is Maya's video :-)



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: flowers, wearable, wearable art

(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.

Labels: fabric, glitter, sports, wearable

Originally published for MyLifetime.com. Scarf pattern and design by Kate Jacobs.

Knitting and reading go together like cappuccino and cookies. "The Friday Night Knitting Club" by Kate Jacobs, "The Shop on Blossom Street" by Debbie Macomber and "The Knitting Circle: A Novel" by Ann Hood all offer a wealth of stitches combined with straight-up tear-inducing drama. Gather up some friends, read the books and then work together to tackle a project that is perfect for newbies, like Kate Jacobs's Easy Scarf pattern. "Reading — and crafting — are about flights of fancy," says Jacobs. "Imagination. Creativity. When I need a break from my computer, I like to knit up something easy, like a hair band or a dishcloth, on big needles."

***
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 lit, wearable, wearable art

by Kathy Cano-Murillo - Sept. 27, 2003 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
One of the biggest inspirations behind the crafting movement is the desire to have something no one else has. Or at least something that pops out.

If you're into belts, the options are endless. Artists have constructed chunky waistwear from pictures, bottle caps, clay and metal.

This particular project jumps on the glass-gem bandwagon.

Mostly used in scrapbooking or magnet-making, these see-through "puddles" (a name they are also known by) will leave an inspiring impression once they are connected.

I used images from an Archie comic, but you can alter the style by incorporating collage art, letters, words, and rubber-stamped effects or exotic fabric. Supplies can be found at Diane Ribbon and Notions, 2319 W. Holly St., Phoenix.


Comic book belt

Supplies
1 comic book
15-20 large glass gems (clear and flat on one side)
White craft glue
Scissors
15-20 bola tie slides
15-20 key rings, 1 1/2 inches in diameter
1 piece of leather fabric, 8 by 10 inches
E6000 adhesive
Large clasp
Needle-nose pliers

Directions
Tear out pages from the comic book and lay them on a flat surface. Rub a drop of glue over the back of the glass gem and place it over the image you want to show through. Press firmly. Let dry and then cut the paper from the edge of the gem. Repeat the process for the remaining gems.

Lay the leather shiny side up. Add a drop of white glue to the back of the picture that is on the gem and lay flat on the leather. Let it dry and cut off the excess from around the gem. Repeat for the remaining gems.

Lay the gems back side up on a flat surface. Add a dollop of E6000 to the back of a bola slide and press it in the center of the backside of the gem. Repeat for the remaining gems. Let dry overnight.

To connect the gems, use the needle-nose pliers to open the prongs on the back of the bola slides. Insert a key ring on one of the prongs and clamp it closed. Repeat for the other side. Connect to another gem in the same fashion. Try on the belt to see if you should add more gems to make it longer. Use the pliers to connect the large clasp.

Tips and variations: Make a bracelet by using smaller gems and jump rings.


***
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, wearable, wearable art

In the early 2000's (that sounds so weird!), these bags were all the rage. Nowadays people have carried the idea even further by making books, paper sorters, bowls, clutches, and all kinds of other things out of old LPs. I still like this one! You take vintage album covers, laminate them, create side panels, punch holes, insert grommets, and lace it all up together. Feed Mardi Gras beads inside clear tubing (found in the aquarium supply aisle). Use grommets to attach to the bag.

This lovely project is from my book: The Crafty Chica Collection!


***
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: Latin-inspired, multi-culti, wearable, wearable art

Hand stitch beaded fringe to the top of your jeans!

***
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: beads, wearable, wearable art