Friday, December 28, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year everyone! 
What a wonderful year I've had and it's all because of YOU!  You have helped spread the word about my work, my books and my insanity.  It's true, I could not have the life I have if it weren't for all of you. I'm grateful!  To celebrate the New Year, here's a little project to wear to your New Year's Eve party.  Enjoy and may 2013 be your best year yet!
Here's the how-to video I made with my niece and nephew

YOU'LL NEED
Krylon metallic spray paint
E-6000 glue
Kid's magnetic numbers
Glitter
White Elmer's glue
Plastic headband
Feathers
Sandpaper or sand block
Hot glue gun 
Sand the top of your headband 
Sand the base of each number.
Sanding makes the glue stick perfectly!  
 Glue the numbers to the headband giving them about 1/2" in between each number.  Let the glue dry for 40 minutes!
 Spray the headband with the metallic gold and let dry
 Magic fingers!
Add glue and glitter to the face of the numbers and let dry 
Figure out where you want to put your feathers 
Add feathers to the back of a number 
Let everything dry for a bit
Wear in  health and bring in the new year safely! 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Elizabeth Lyska: A REAL giantess from 1880!

A few years ago when I was traveling a lot for work I rented my apartment in New York to 
Patty Grazini, a paper artist who is so talented that I have stalked her like a true psycho!  Over the years I had worshipped her work.........and here she was staying in my apartment in the East Village of NYC!  Last week she contacted me and let me know about her new exhibit which is simply breathtaking.  It focuses on the life of a real giantess named Elizabeth Lyska from 1880.  You must see this exhibit if you can. If not, just google the images and look at all of the stunning paper sculptures Patty creates.  I hope you love her as much as I do.
Elizabeth Lyska 
The ticket to Patty's exhibit....Wonderful!
Patty and Elizabeth Lyska who was created in actual size
Elizabeth and her sister
Close up of Elizabeth's jewelry 
Pieces from the exhibit 

I hope you enjoy Patty Grazini as  much as I do!  Just google her work and see how truly wonderful she is!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

He Crafts She Crafts......Letter Perfect!

*COMMENT ON BOTH BLOGS AND BE ENTERED TO WIN SOME TERRIFIC LOOT and THE BIG-ASS BOOK OF BLING!

There is a place called Dollar King near where I live and let me tell you, it is UH-MA-ZING!  I found masonite letters for 99c each and went nuts.  As I was stuffing the entire alphabet in a cart I realized these were perfect for the HE CRAFTS SHE CRAFTS blog I write with my friend Stephenie (www.mycraftyadventures.com).  So here we are!  I opted for creating a free standing key holder that I could keep on my desk which could also work as a jewelry display on your dresser.  Stephenie made a WONDERFUL holiday centerpiece with her "S" and I have to tell you, I'm a bit jealous......She always knows how to put the "S" in sparkle and shine!
SHE CRAFTS
HE CRAFTS

YOU'LL NEED
Masonite letter
Piece of wood large enough for the base of your letter
2 small "L" brackets
E-6000 glue
Hammer 
4 small nails or small hooks
Grey Krylon Primer
Black Krylon Fusion spray paint
Krylon metallic gold enamel pen
If you need to, sand and clean your pieces
Nail 4 small nails (or screw in 4 small hooks) for your keys in different areas
Glue the "L" brackets to the back of the letters making sure they are flush with the base of the letter
Glue the "L" brackets to the piece of wood for the base and let dry
Spray with the Krylon Primer and let dry for about 15 minutes
Spray with the Krylon black and let dry for 15 minutes
Take your metallic gold Krylon enamel pen and trace around the edges of the letter to get a nice gold edging.  For the base of the letter, place a piece of paper on the base flush against the letter and carefully draw across the bottom.
Make sure to leave a comment here and on Stephenie's blog to be entered to win some terrific prizes AND The Big-Ass Book of Bling!

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Cardboard Christmas Balls DIY!

Do you have some cardboard boxes hanging around that need a little overhaul?  Of course you do!  Trace out some circles and grab your craft stash and let's get started making some Christmas Balls.  
Blue and gold is my favorite holiday color combination.  My mom was always trying to stay away from traditional colors in our holiday decorating with the exception of one year she lost her mind and decided  EVERY color would have to do. 
Here's the how-to video 
You'll need:
Scissors
Straight pins
Cardboard 
Large cup
Thin ribbon
2" thick ribbon
Gold spray paint
Glitter
Elmer's glue 
Trace 6 circles per ornament 
 Cut 5 of them exactly in half
 Glue one half to the center of the full circle using hot glue
 Glue two more 1/2 circles on each side of the 1st half
 So it looks like this
Repeat on the other side 
Spray paint the entire ball with the gold spray paint 
 When dry, glue along the edges and dip in glitter

 Let dry for about 25 minutes
 Tie a bow with the large ribbon and a loop with the small ribbon and secure it to the ornament with a long straight pin
Here you go!
A whole ornament chapter in THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY!

I'm just going to be honest.  I rarely participate in blog hops because they confuse me. Yes, my understanding of the internet is challenged.  It's a wonder I can post on FB each day!  That said, I'm going to do my best here to participate because it's sponsored by my friend Margot Potter.  We do these things for friends and I know that one day when I fully understand what a blog hop is, that Margot will participate in mine! 
Win a copy of Margot Potter's new book
The Fine Art of Shameless Self Promotion,
$150 dollars worth of crafty goodness!
and
Win a signed copy of my book!
Head over here for the rules:

Good luck everyone!



Monday, December 3, 2012

Lacy Recycled Holiday Ornaments (from magazine pages)

It's that time of year that we start decorating for the holidays.  It's also that time of year when we all get super crafty!  These recycled ornaments are a blast to make with friends.  They look great on top of a gift or on the tree.  Warm up some hot chocolate, gather a few friends and get crafting!  I'll bet you already have everything you need to make these, too!
Happy Holidays everyone and stay tuned for another ornament DIY next week.
 Beautiful, lacy, recycled holiday ornaments!
Here's the how to video! 

 You'll need:
Glue
Scissors
Wax paper
Magazine pages
Ribbon
Pencil
Glitter
Spray paint (optional)
Roll your magazine pages around a pencil to create a tube 
Secure the edge with glue and let dry.  You'll need about 5 tubes per ornament 
Cut in 1/2" sections 
 Lay down some wax paper and dab the pieces in glue and start creating your ornament
After your ornament dries for about 30 minutes, spray it with silver metallic spray paint and let dry for another 15 minutes. 
 Paint the edges with more glue
 Sprinkle with glitter
Hang from a ribbon