“Safe Sparkle” Rally Outside
the Ellen DeGeneres Burbank Studio

Fresno, Calif. (March 26, 2008) Due to Ellen DeGeneres’ public attempts to ban glitter, Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica, is staging a rally outside Ellen’s Burbank studio on April 8 to spread the message of practicing “safe sparkle”.

The “Safe Sparkle” rally is Kathy’s way of educating Ellen and her viewers on loose glitter alternatives that don’t leave behind the pesky flakes that the beloved TV host has come to hate. Kathy, a glitteraholic, believes glitter adds light and beauty to our troubled world and thinks Ellen would agree - if only loose glitter weren’t so messy!

At the rally, Kathy will be demonstrating various “safe sparkle’ glitter applications, so Ellen’s fans can still share the sparkle - but not in a way that will annoy the hostess with the mostess.

The rally is expected to draw a large crowd of supporters, including Jenny Ryan (Community Marketing Manager for Craft: magazine), Cathy of California (LA-based crafter), Cathie Filian (co-host of Creative Juice on the DIY Network) and members of the Los Angeles Craft Mafia, all gathering to spread the message of glitter tolerance and most importantly, “safe sparkle”.

Kathy Cano-Murillo, known as the Crafty Chica to her 10,245 MySpace friends and two million per month website visitors, is leading this peaceful charge. Posted on her blog, in an open letter to Ellen, the Crafty Chica said,
“I love you. I've always loved you. So much that I've always had your back through goods times and bad. I love you because you preach love, kindness and equality for all people and things! Which is why your recent segment broke my heart! Please don't try to get glitter banned! I happen to be a fan of glitter because I feel it shines light both literally and metaphorically. Light is good because it gives people a sense of wonder and hope that they might need at that very moment. OK, I can totally understand your points - BUT you are talking about "loose" glitter. Please understand that is just one (the most well known) kind of glitter. Not all glitters are the same. Please don't pass judgment on all glitters based on this one type. Yes, loose glitter can be a headache to deal with. It has no shame, it sticks from person to person, thing to thing, with no remorse. And um, yes, I use it faithfully. And secretly, I kinda like it when one of my flecks spreads to someone else! HOWEVER - I'm a preacher of "safe sparkle". I teach many workshops and have met many people who don't like loose glitter either, so I educate them on loose glitter alternatives. And I think if you knew about these, you might find it in your heart to come to love glitter.”

The rally will begin at noon at 3000 West Alameda Avenue in Burbank, Calif.

About Kathy Cano-Murillo
In a (hefty) nutshell: I'm a mom, wife, artist, author & left-handed middle-child binge crafter Sagittarian. We have four Chihuahuas. I designed a product line with Duncan Enterprises - it launches this summer nationwide! I write a weekly nationally syndicated craft column for The Arizona Republic. I've authored six books. My seventh is a sewing book for Potter Craft and it comes out February 17, 2009. I wrote and sold my first novel, Love Shine, coming out in summer 2009 (Grand Central Publishing). I make and sell a line of "Chicano Pop Art" with my husband, Patrick Murillo. He does all my illos! We are currently prepping for a six-month art installation for the Heard Museum, opening October 2008. I have a web series with LifetimeTV.com called "Crafting With the Chica". I love to read. I watch too much TV!

About the Crafty Chica™ product line
The Crafty Chica™ product line is a vibrant line of craft products and kits geared for those who crave color and pop art combined with innovation and easy applications. It's all about high shine, glitter and bold colors - with a dash of rock 'n roll. Developed by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica™.

About Duncan Enterprises
For 61 years, Duncan Enterprises, a Fresno, Calif. based company, has been a leading ceramics arts and crafts marketing, manufacturing, sourcing and distribution organization with a reputation for excellence in product development, quality, education and health & safety. Not one to rest on its reputation, Duncan Enterprises always strives to explore new avenues of creativity for its core brands, Duncan Ceramic Arts, Aleene’s® Crafting Adhesives, Crafty Chica™ and Tulip® Fashion Art.

For more information, contact:
Alyson Udell
559-294-3335
audell@duncanmail.com
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Duncan makes it easy to experience creativity
and the excitement of personal accomplishment.