Some New Advice for a New Year

(The divine Ms. Carmen Miranda)


I've got my work cut out for me as I head into the New Year. Three major design projects are all standing shoulder to shoulder and gawking at me slack jawed and sans inspiration shuffling their feet and sighing deeply. Rattling around in my brain are the seeds of some ideas that are, of course, fraught with potential for craftastrophic events. Most of what I do is challenge the impossible, stretch the acceptable and defy the laws of physics. My process is akin to that of a mad scientist. I get an idea and then I do whatever it takes to make that idea coalesce into a tangible design.

There are threads that run through my work...but for me, for the most part, each new design is a unique entity with a specific aesthetic and core concept. My eclecticism is my strength as a designer and on the flip side it is my greatest challenge. That's usually the way it works. Most artists have a very distinct style you can point to and say...oh that's so and so. My work doesn't have that continuity. My brain simply doesn't work that way. It's constantly moving at the speed of light in multiple directions. I may riff on a theme for a while, but eventually I get bored and move on. I truly love so many things...so many styles of design, art, music, decor, cuisine, literature...it all excites and inspires me. If there is one definitive thread in my work I think it's the narrative element. I love to tell stories. I like to create a collection of thematically related concepts and then when the story is full developed, move on to a new story.

It's important to develop your style, your sense of who you are and what you're trying to say with your work. If you're influenced by other artists (and no matter what anyone tells you, we all are) then you need to create a dialog and not just create derivative concepts that lack any of your special sauce. If you look at the work of other artists and think, "Crap...I'll never do that." You're right. So what?! What is it about you that makes you unique, extraordinary, fabulously you? What resonates for you visually...viscerally? What can you do that no one else can?

Wild thing, what makes your heart sing?

The more you can tap into that vein...the deeper, richer and more fascinating your work will become. The more you can allow yourself to dance on the edge, to risk looking ridiculous and to leave the safety of the same old crapadoodle, the better. I often look at craft magazines, blogs and books and feel as if everyone is drinking the same design Kool-Aid. The first time you see a new idea you think, "Wow, that's cool." After a while of seeing that same idea being played ad infinitum you think, "Ugh, that again?" You can mine what's 'hot' for some inspiration, but then let that go or you'll just be another face in the crowd.

Create without filters my fine friends. Color outside of the lines. Spit in the face of convention. Forget the rules. Risk, dare, dream. Live out loud. People will probably point and laugh...but so what. I spent a good portion of my youth being laughed at and making myself smaller. Then I said, "Fuck it." Yeah, I did.

Now who's laughing?!

My goal here is to inspire you to let go of the need to fit in and to become you. I don't always get it right and I'm on my journey too...but I try my best to be transparent.

Your mission in life is to become you. Your life is a process of becoming. Take this New Year by the you know whats and go for it! You may not feel comfortable, but you'll feel the unbridled zeal of being fully and completely free.

Become you and on the way, share that with others. That's the point. Create a life of abundance. Pass it on.

Carpe Gaudium. Seize joy.

Love
Madge

iLoveToCreate: As Time Goes By Mixed Media Necklace



"You must remember this,
A kiss is just a kiss,
A sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply,
As time goes by."
As Time Goes By by Herman Hupfeld

I couldn't resist another silhouette project for New Year's Eve after I recalled this lovely Dover books image. This delightful necklace is a small momento of an evening that will pass far too quickly. We spend New Year's with our family noshing on tasty appetizers and playing games. This seemed like the perfect something extra to give Avalon on New Year's this year. Shhh...don't tell it's a surprise!

The image is permission free and available from Dover Books. The text is easy to print out on your computer, use an ink jet if you want to create an image transfer with Collage Pauge. The Tulip crystal accents add some sparkle and the gun metal chain carries through the Victorian feel.

As Time Goes By
Mixed Media Necklace
iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts
Copyright 2009 Margot Potter
"Mom crafted, kid approved."


Materials
1.5" gun metal finish pocket watch locket (or other round metal frame with glass will work)
Dover silhouette sized to fit inside of the locket/frame
10 4mm clear AB CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements bicones
Printed "Happy New Year 2010" in French Script MT 22 pt.
1.5" clear acrylic Tim Holtz idea-ology Fragments oval
Tim Holtz idea-ology gun metal link chain
Traci Bautista's Collage Pauge Glossy
Aleene's Glass and Bead Slick Surfaces Adhesive
Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue
Aleene's Stop Fraying
Tulip Glam It Up clear crystals
20 gauge annealed iron wire

Tools
Pen or pencil
Scissors
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Memory wire shears
Electric Drill with 1/6" bit

1. Size image to fit your frame. Print image and adhere to inside of frame with a thin layer of Collage Pauge. Allow to dry. While drying adhere a crystal accent using Tacky Glue. Before you close the frame, if you are using a locket style, add the crystal bicones.



2. Mark and drill a hole in the bottom center of your acrylic tile.

3. Print text. Trace around text using acrylic shape as a guide. Cut out and adhere text to back of shape with Collage Pauge. Spread a thin layer of Collage Pauge on the back. Allow to dry but not completely, so for about five minutes or so. When still a little wet GENTLY remove upper layers of paper from back of tile. I left paper in the center under the text because I liked the cloudy, vintage look it created. If you want to remove all of the paper, allow the paper to dry completely, wet your finger and gently remove paper by rubbing it off in thin layers. This creates an image transfer, but be aware that you may lose some of your text if you remove all of your paper.

4. Glue crystals to right front edge of your acrylic tile with Slick Surfaces adhesive. Allow to dry. (A toothpick with bee's wax or the Quicker Poker Picker Upper Tool will help you transfer the crystals from the glue to the tile.)

5. Cut a 2" section of annealed iron wire with Memory Wire shears. Bend the center of the wire over your index finger to create a hook shape. Use pliers to bend one hook end into a larger loop that will fit into the drilled hole of your acrylic tile and one into a loop small enough to fit inside of your chain link using your round nose pliers to assist you. See photo for reference. (I have detailed tutorials with pictures for this in my books if you need further instruction.)

6. Create 10mm annealed iron jump rings by wrapping the wire around a 10mm dowel and using the Memory Wire shears to clip the coil you've removed from the dowel into rings. (I have detailed tutorials with pictures for this in my books.)

7. Attach the hook to the bottom of your acrylic tile using chain nose pliers to secure hook closed.

8. Attach the chain to the top of your acrylic tile using a jump ring. Attach a jump ring to the top of your locket and slide this on the chain.

9. Finish by tying a small bow around the jump ring at the top of your acrylic tile. Seal the ribbon ends with Aleene's Stop Fraying.

Christmas Weekend TastyLinks!

Happy Holidaze!
A new dishwasher! Huzzah!


I do hope you had a wonderful time with friends and family whatever you may celebrate this time of year. I cooked for twelve without any major incident...and it all tasted incredibly yummy! Huzzah! We've got enough stuffing to feed a small army and lord knows I don't want to eat it all or my arse will be the size of Texas come February...but I did come up with an incredibly evil idea.

Deep fried stuffing balls.

Yes, it's so wrong and yet...so right! I'm half tempted to make them. Heck maybe we could dip them into cheesy fondue in our new fondue pot...hmmm...

Santa got me a Canon EOS and I'm beside myself with excitement! A real camera! Not just one with a small bird inside that pecks the pictures on to a rock! YAY! Santa got my hubby a dishwasher! After years of hand washing, it's a pretty big dealio. I cook, he cleans. Seems like a fair exchange.

We're enjoying a lazy holiday weekend before we get back to the grindstone a little and then have one last party. Then January is full tilt CHA prep! Eek!

I've got an appointment with the 'hair fairy' on Monday so...until Tuesday...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Madge

Aileen's Musings

To help bring in the New Year Aileen has a snazzy freebie New Year's card for you to download and send to your friends and family.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
At Craftside there is a Steampunk-style cam chain necklace, how to make an image have a pop art look, recycle a milk jug into snowflakes, and a tutorial on making domed bead caps.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy is going bananas, literally, over amigurumi again. Crochet folks take note!

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
Linda DID get a present or two made before Christmas actually arrived--check it out!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
File this one away for next year...Madge's final Retrofabulous Christmas Craftabration Project for 2009! This one kicks tinsel!

Mixed Media Artist
Mix fabric and paper for a one-of-a-kind collage!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Press On with Trylon and Perisphere Cross Stitch using a cool font from the book A Rainbow of Stitches

The Artful Crafter
Don’t toss those leftover holiday candle stubs! Here’s how to organize them for recycling later – after the holiday whirl subsides.

Final Retrofabulous Christmas Craftabration Project for 2009! Tinsel Kicking Vintage Ornament Wreath

Retrofabulous Christmas Craftabration with Madge! Final Project 2009!

Tinsel Kicking Vintage Ornament Wreath
Copyright Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter™ 2009

I hope to start this retrofabulosity earlier next year. There are just far too many good ideas in these magazines to waste! Until then...here’s my final Retrofabulous holiday idea for 2009.

I collect vintage mercury glass ornaments and kitschy holiday decorations and I love the elaborate wreaths people make by hot gluing a ton of them on a Styrofoam or wire wreath base. They go for big bucks on eBay. (Check out this fabulous vintage ornament packed wreath from Junkhound Sally!) I personally don’t want to trap vintage goodies into a wreath forever. They’ve survived this long unscathed! I scored four tinsel garlands on super clearance after last Christmas with this project in mind. Flash forward a year...a trip to the craft store for a Styrofoam wreath and some Styrofoam balls and a gathering of pretty pink ornaments...and SHAZAM!

This wreath kicks some serious tinsel!


I could have added a lot more ornaments, but I like the simple and uncluttered look of this wreath with lots of tinsel poking through and the felty good pop art flowers. (Plus those resin and tinsel beads I scored in NYC worked perfectly!) I remembered this project concept when I saw the tin wreath from McCall’s Christmas Make-it Ideas Volume XI above. This is another 60s craft mag without a date...but based on the preponderance of thick fuzzy yarn pom-poms and the hairstyles I’m guessing late 60s. Frankly, I’d really prefer not to have a razor sharp wreath...so this soft and squishy tinsel garland does the trick! (Oh and note that I’ve worked Floam into another holiday craft project! Hee.)

Oh and...two vintage mercury glass ornaments met an untimely death while working on this project. So show me some love people!
Materials
Styrofoam wreath form
4 12 foot long tinsel garland swags
8”x10” sheet hot pink craft felt
8 vintage pink mercury glass ornaments (you can buy these on eBay, but pink is pricey so go for mixed lots and collect the pink as you go, I’m a big fan of Shiny Brites)
9 2” Styrofoam balls
5 20mm and 5 15mm pink plastic beads
Hot pink Floam
18 gauge Beadalon Artistic Wire
2.5” wide silver with holographic glitter wired craft ribbon
6”x7.5” Colorbok chipboard ornament
Ranger paint dabber fuchsia
Ranger paint dabber silver
Floral vine background stamp
2” thick satin ribbon with looped edges
Sparkly pink rick rack trim (mine is vintage, but you can find similar new)
Sizzix Hello Kitty Daisies Die
Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue
Tools
Sizzix Big Shot
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Straight edge item (I used a flat thin plastic ruler)
Non-stick craft sheet

1. Paint the chipboard ornament pink. Allow to dry.


2. Stamp with layers of floral vines in silver. Allow to dry.

3. Glue a stripe of black satin ribbon across center front of ornament. Glue a rick rack trim stripe in the center of the black satin stripe.

4. Cover small foam balls with a thin layer of Floam and quickly remove various segments creating a textured effect. Allow balls to dry overnight on a non-stick craft sheet.



5. Use Big Shot to cut out felt flowers.

6. Use a u-shaped wire to attach one end of a tinsel garland swag to the back of your wreath. (This is kind of like a staple that holds the garland down.)

7. Wrap tinsel around wreath, securing ends with 2-shaped wire segments as you work your way around. Wrap so there are no foam gaps. When you reach the final wrap, tuck that under with another u-shaped wire segment and clip off excess garland.

8. Use looped end 5" wires to slide in 9 Floam balls leaving about 4 inches between each and alternating placement so some are higher and some lower as you work around your wreath. (The chain nose pliers can help you slide the wires in if you get stuck.)

9. Use looped end 5" wires to slide in your beads and flowers; they should be at the same spot as your foam balls but on the opposite side of the width of the wreath.



10. Use u-shaped wires to attach the ornaments to the wreath, in between the foam balls. Leave one area open for your ribbon.

11. Cut off a long section of ribbon and wrap around wreath in open area. Tie into a bow. Cut off any excess ribbon.

12. Hang your chipboard ornament on wired tinsel from the top center of the wreath so it hangs inside.

Check out more retrofabulous vintage ornament wreaths:

Georgia Peachez Flickr

Georgia Peachez Flickr

Georgia Peachez Flicker

Vintage Squirrel


1800 Flowers Blog

Jennifer Perkins


(The adhesive, paints, wire and tools were all donated for use in my work)

Free Holiday Craft Project for iLoveToCreate Teen: Pretty Ribbons Fleece Hat and Glove Set




Pretty Ribbons Embellished Fleece Hat and Glove Set
Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate teen
Free Holiday Craft Project
“Mom crafted, kid approved.”

Need a last minute teen friendly gift idea? We’re big fans of fleece around here and you can score the hats and gloves right now on sale. Why not help your teen customize a set with some easy to create ribbon accents? These would make great (and affordable) gifts for their friends. I have a small collection of vintage ribbons and buttons, but you can find similar items at your local sewing store or on the internet. Tulip fashion crystals and Aleene’s Fabric Fusion glue make it a breeze to whip up this lo-sew project.

Materials
Fleece hat
Fleece gloves
7/8” wide black satin ribbon with looped edges
7/8” wide vintage or new decorative ribbon
1 large and 2 small vintage or new red buttons
Red sewing thread
8 5mm Tulip crystals
Aleene’s Fabric Fusion glue

Tools
Scissors
Embroidery needle (you’ll need a needle that can easily pass through a thick stack of folded ribbon)
Tulip Glam it up Heat tool


1. There are tons of tutorials on the internet for lovely 3-d ribbon flowers and all of them are so complicated I decided there had to be an easier way. So I just folded ribbon around itself 3 times. Begin by folding the ribbon end into the center of a 2 ¾” section of ribbon. Wrap ribbon three times around itself. The folded ribbon sections should be 2 3/4” for the smaller flower and 3” for the larger), hold the center firmly, gently tug the ribbon folds into petals on each side (you’ll move the folds on each side in opposite directions). (See photo.)


2. After you’ve created your simple flower, keep holding the layers together at the center and sew a button in the center tacking all of the layers down. Now you’ve got a super cute ribbon flower.




3. For the larger all black flower, add an extra folded section of ribbon to match the ribbon on the gloves. This functions as a petal. Tack it down with a needle and thread.

4. Apply a generous bead of Fabric Fusion glue to the underside of the flower petals and tack them down. Put something under them inside of the glove and hat to prevent them from sticking the opening together. Allow to dry 2-4 hours. Don’t wash until glue has cured for 24 hours.

5. Use the heat tool to apply the crystal accents to the ribbons. I put one on each petal of the decorative ribbon and one on the decorative ribbon leaf on the black satin flower.

Ornamental!

Copyright 2006 Margot Potter

Copyright 2008 Margot Potter

Copyright 2007 Margot Potter (these are my grandparents)

Copyright 2008 Margot Potter

Copyright 2007 Margot Potter

Copyright 2009 Margot Potter

Folks sometimes ask me how this career started and I can honestly say it wasn't exactly the road I planned to take, but life has a funny way of surprising us.

Seven years ago, I was looking for something to give friends and family for Christmas. Money was tight and we were under
a lot of stress. I had plenty of hard wire and a nice selection of vintage Swarovski crystal beads I'd stopped selling at our gallery and taken home. I started playing with the wire and came up with a dragonfly ornament like the one above. I gave these as gifts that year. Flash forward and a smaller version of this dragonfly became a focal element in a wire and crystal necklace I created for Beadalon. The positive reception of that design led me to finally realize that all of my talents could be combined to make the career I have now, though it took me a while (and weathering some rather stormy seas) to put it all together. So it was in the midst of chaos that I found my direction. I have a lot of respect for chaos. I was forty when I sold my first book and I'm 46 now. So don't ever, ever tell yourself it's too late to find your bliss. As long as you are breathing and as long as you are open, there is an endless sea of opportunity. Sometimes it requires a willingness to turn your wheel in a new direction and trust.

It's no coincidence that dragonflies represent metamorphosis. I like to think that little dragonfly was a messenger.

So in honor of that first humble ornament that led me here, I'm offering up some of my favorite ornaments I've designed throughout the past six years. I'll be back tomorrow with a final Holiday themed project for iLoveToCreate teen. Until then...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Madge

TastyLinks and Cookie Chaos Bites

(Vintage French postcard from my personal ephemera collection...Merry Christmas!)

We're all more than a little sad here today because we had to cancel our Cookie Chaos 2009 party. We kept our hopes up that maybe a few folks could brave the snow, but it's turned into a blizzard. Have I mentioned that I don't really like snow? Because I don't. I like to look at snow. I know lots of people love it and they're entitled to that feeling. I'd love to move to Hawaii and look at pretty pictures of snow while sitting in the warm sun drinking a tasty beverage with a decorative umbrella from a pineapple.

Yes, I'd like that very much. Sign me up.

I did call it Cookie Chaos. Perhaps we need a name change!

Avalon is having a friend over for the weekend and they'll decorate some cookies together and I'll console myself with egg nog and fondue. We've decided to host Christmas so that's something.

I shall cease being a Debby Downer now and leave you with your weekly dose of crafty inspiration from the Crafty Blogger's Gang! Huzzah!


About Family Crafts

Find out how you can spread the holiday spirit throughout your entire neighborhood using this fun pass-it-on gift.

Aileen's Musings
As a gift to you Aileen's created 2 beauitful recipe cards for you to download and print.

Cathie Filian
Check out Cathie's quick video on how to make a Christmas tree from a tomato cage.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
The Holiday Goodness Giveaways are in full swing with lots of great answers to fun questions and a week more to enter to win free books along with a free knit placemat pattern with a plaid detail, ribbon and pom pom trimmed dish towel, apron and Christmas tree how-tos, and an inside peek into artist studio with some fun recycled storage ideas.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy has received the first submissions for her book's gallery, and talk about impressive! Wow! Some amazing metal jewelry by Victoria Tillotson.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Wishing you Merry and Bright holidays with a cheerful free pattern perfect for the holiday season.

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
Where did December go? Linda's sharing her mantel decorations as she ponders her lack of handmade gifts this year. Yikes!

Margot Potter-The Impatient Crafter
Know someone bitten by the Twilight bug? Check out Madge's holiday themed Twilight silhouette ornament and pendant project for iLoveToCreate teen!

Mixed Media Artist
Make a stab-bound scrapbook or journal to hold all your Christmas cards and memories this year!

Stefanie Girard's Greeting Card Album Craftiness
How to decorate your Greeting Card Album for Christmas and recycle a card from last year with a fabric die cut.

The Artful Crafter
Eileen’s been elf-ed! Join in the fun and spread some holiday cheer. There’s still time for a few more elf-ings.

The Crochet Dude
Drew reveals his themed Christmas wrap and also announces a fantastic giveaway!

Check out these mini vintage postcard ornaments from When Creativity Knocks. Is it just me...or is everyone feeling Retrofabulous this Christmas?! Hee.

Make it Merry Free Holiday Craft Project Round Robin!



Victorian Snow Day
Put together a mixed media portrait using crafting scraps and this tutorial from Margot Potter.


Cookies in a Jar
Fun article with recipes and gift tags for making cookies in a jar.


Christmas Crackers
Make your own Christmas crackers this year (don't forget to add your favorite terrible joke for an authentic touch)!


Striped Stocking
A stocking knit in two colors on large needles is a quick and easy way to hold gifts for the holiday. Use traditional Christmas colors or make one with stripes of the colors of your favorite sports team.


Crocheted Wire Necklace
If you can string stone nuggets onto wire, and if you can crochet a simple chain stitch, then you can make this pretty necklace. Visit Beading Arts for the instructions!


Stained Glass Votives
Here's a great easy project that's perfect for kids and fun for adults! We spend lots of time making great votive candles, why not dress them up even more with hand made votive holders?


Skating Penguin Cartoon
Add a cute penguin to your holiday cards with this step-by-step drawing tutorial from Helen South.


Lampwork Snowman Earrings
Use a few wire techniques to turn two lampwork snowmen beads into some holiday jewelry. These literally take minutes to make.


Greeting Card Album
Recycle a greeting card and create a holiday album using materials you already have around the house.


Cut Paper Trees
These three dimensional stand up cut paper trees can be used for table decorations or winter scenes. They're cut just like snowflakes from regular paper.


Christmas Tree Seed Bead Earrings
If you're in a pinch for some holiday cheer upon your ears, then these simple seed bead earrings are just the holiday miracle you've been looking for. With just a little wire and a handful of beads, these can be made in just minutes.


Gingerbread Ornaments
When you don't have the fragrance of a real Christmas tree, fake scents just don't do it. Make a batch of these ornaments every few years and hang them from your tree, the scent will last for two or three years!


Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.

Free Holiday Craft Project Frosty the Floam Man!

(Click on images to view close up)

Frosty the Floam Man
Free Holiday Craft Project
Copyright 2009 Margot Potter

I had to make some on-air samples for a recent QVC appearance featuring the uniquely interesting substance known as Floam. I gathered up three oversized Styrofoam balls (courtesy of the fine folks from FloraCraft), a mini top hat created by my lovely daughter, some annealed iron wire and my collection of vintage buttons (you can buy these by the pound on eBay) and created this charming snowman. He’s currently standing guard in our entryway over a blanket of faux snow being cautiously regarded by our faux crow. I’ve got a thing for snowmen. What can I say?

Here’s how I made him, feel free to improvise with the materials you have on hand.

Materials
3 graduated Styrofoam balls (5”, 6”, 7”)
3 red buttons (vintage or new)
1 green button (vintage or new)
2 black buttons (vintage or new)
7 8mm hematite faceted beads (or other beads)
5 3.5 oz. tubs Floam in white
20 gauge annealed iron wire (or other rusty style dark craft wire or actual sticks)
Red craft felt
Mini Top Hat (black)
Tiny Tinsel Pin
Aleene’s Foamtastic Craft Glue

Tools
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Memory wire shears (annealed iron will wreck your wire cutters)
Fiskars scissors

1. Cover your Styrofoam balls with Floam. Let them dry on a non-stick silicone craft sheet. It could take a day or two, check the bottoms to adjust any drippy Floam. I made these intentionally lumpy like a real snowman.

2. Cut six 5” sections of annealed wire with memory wire shears. Put three into the center of the largest Styrofoam ball and slide on the second ball. Repeat for the next ball to create your snowman base.

3. Glue buttons as in photo. Glue on beads to form a smile. Allow glue to dry.

4. Cut a long 2.5” strip of red craft felt, repeat. Attach the ends with glue or a safety pin. Use scissors to cut fringe on both exposed ends. Wrap around the snowman’s neck.

5. Attach your mini-top hat (instructions for hat are here or you can buy a pre-made one at the craft store) using a u-shaped segment of annealed iron wire to thread it into the head of the snowman. Add your tiny tinsel pin to the front of the hat.

6. Create wire arms by wrapping a second 3” section of wire around the longer wire arms. Mine are approximately 6” long.

7. If you want your snowman to stand freely, glue him to a thick piece cardboard or wood.

Floam Me Up, Scotty!


Everything is cuter in Japan...even Floam!

In between the mountain of other design work I've got on my plate right now, I was asked to create some creations with Floam by the fine folks at QVC for an upcoming airing. I finally carved out some time Monday and began a floam exploration. I covered a recycled plastic bottle with Floam...and woke up to a puddle of melted floam under the bottle on Tuesday. So maybe it's not a great plan to Floam a plastic bottle...but it worked fabulously on Styrofoam balls and a variety of other surfaces. I was hoping to have time to make more samples, but I was called in at 4pm Tuesday for a morning airing Wednesday...which is today for you but I'm blogging in advance.

Enter fan stage right!


Wait until you see Frosty the Floam-man. That is if you see me today, Wednesday at 10am EST on QVC with the 6 piece Floam kit! If you miss it, you can watch the video at the hot link after the show ends. Yipee! My daughter made two fabulous masks and we Floamed a variety of items. Personally, methinks Floam works best on porous surfaces. That's just me.

So with all of the Floaming and the designing and the deadlines...I had no time for Retrofabulosity, in fact I didn' t have much time for any semblance of fabulosity and I'm saying a small prayer my Floam samples are dry by morning.

'Tis the season! Tomorrow I'll be participating in a fun holiday craft blog link round robin and then maybe...if all goes well...I'll share Frosty the Floam-man and his instructions here in the old bloggy blog on Friday!

We shall see.

Floamingly yours,
Madge

Free Holiday Craft Project for iLoveToCreate Teen: Have Yourself a Twilight Little Christmas Ornament/Pendant


(Click on image to view close up)
Have Yourself a Twilight Little Christmas
Twilight Themed Ornament/Pendant
Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter for iLoveToCreate Teen
“Mom crafted, kid approved.”

I thought we’d escaped the phenomenon of
Twilight. Avalon showed no interest in the books at all...until last month. Then suddenly she wanted to read the first one. So we bought it. She read it in one day. Then we got the second book. Alas, she’s hooked. I thought in light of this and the incredible popularity of this series and the films, I’d be remiss as a teen craft designer if I didn’t come up with something Twilight themed.

I have always loved silhouettes. I don’t know what it is about them that I find so intriguing, but I do. I’ve been meaning to work on a silhouette craft project for a few years now, so this seemed like the perfect match. I figured fans of the film would recognize the silhouettes of the actors who play Edward and Bella...and just in case they didn't I added a “Bella & Edward 4-ever” to the other side of the framed images. You are welcome to use the template I’ve made. It’s sized to fit inside a 2”x2” frame and you’ll need to clean up any rough edges when you cut it out. I made the ornament and thought it would be a cute pendant, so I did a variation. It’s the same thing, slightly different.


(Twilight and my designs are under copyright and you absolutely can not take this project and resell it. This is intended for personal use only.)

Ornament Materials
2”x2” gun metal Ranger Memory Glass frame
2 2”x2”Ranger Memory Glass squares
19mm Lucite leaf bead from The Beadin' Path
2mm freshwater pearls
K & Company Brenda Walton Evergreen Designer Mat Pad
Tulip Dimensional Glitter multi
Aleene’s Glass and Bead Slick Surfaces Adhesive
Aleene’s Archival Glue Stick
Liquid Fusion glue
Printed image sized to 2”x2”
The King & Queen Font 9 pt. black “Bella & Edward 4-ever” centered and cut to fit frame
(Similar free fonts available at DaFont.com)
Thin black satin ribbon
Tools
Scissors
Computer
Printer


1. Right click and save image. Print silhouette. Cut out carefully with scissors.

2. Cut out tiny heart from red area of plaid holly paper. Dab a small amount of dimensional glitter on heart and allow to dry.

3. Trace with 2” glass square and cut out plaid holly paper to fit frame.

4. Cut out holly shapes to edge image on both sides of frame. Add a thin layer of dimensional glitter. Allow to dry.

5. Assemble the collage using your glue stick to adhere layers.

6. Print text. Trace with 2” glass square and cut out to fit frame.


7. Place front and back of collage together between layers of glass.

8. Slide into frame.

9. Glue three pearls into a small Lucite leaf with Liquid Fusion glue. Allow to dry.

10. Glue leaf to front left corner of frame with Glass and Bead Glue. Allow to dry.

11. Spread a thin layer of dimensional glitter on frame edge. Allow to dry.

12. Attach a thin satin ribbon to loop at top of frame.

(For the pendant, spread a thin layer of dimensional glitter on cut out image. Shake on a generous amount of Crafty Chica glitter in Be Bop Black. Allow to dry. Insert with text on back as before into frame. Glue a small satin bow to a red button with Liquid Fusion. Allow to dry. Glue button to frame edge with Glass and Bead glue. Spread a thin layer of dimensional glitter around frame edge. Attach to a chain with a 10mm jump ring. All materials used in these designs were given to me to use in my work except for the satin ribbon.)

It's Monday! Yay!

Copyright V.R.U.S.P. Inc.-All Rights Reserved
Copyright V.R.U.S.P. Inc.-All Rights Reserved

My dear friend Ben Sander a.k.a. Brini Maxwell invited me up to NYC recently to shoot two videos together. The first one is up on Brini's website! We had a delightful time decorating Holiday Balls with Brini's best friend Mary Ellen. Yay! Plus Brini's balls are beyond the beyond! No, seriously.
Copyright Ben Sander-All Rights Reserved

Don't forget our newly retooled Crafty Cabaret Caribbean Cruise! It's so absurdly affordable! You're going to enjoy a delightfully entertaining cabaret show, two fabulous classes, cocktail parties, generous swag bags AND two full days in the Bahamas. Plus I'm quite sure the company will be craftacular! What more could a gal or a guy want?!


I spent most of the day yesterday cleaning the downstairs of this old school house for our holiday party next week. We started a holiday tradition three years ago of having an annual cookie decorating event and it's been a blast. The first year we'd not even started renovating, the second we got our walls and cabinets painted and this year...finally...we've got our floor down and a simply stunning backsplash. We have a very, very small budget for home improvement and we have to be frugal. My job is to find something fabulous that will work and not make me feel like I had to settle for something sucky.

We found some really pretty floating floor tile that looks like slate and is a breeze to clean up. Yesterday we went to Home Depot to pick out a kitchen back splash and after reviewing our options, I discovered these pretty striated clear and copper glass tiles on a mesh background. They were incredibly affordable and it was really easy for Drew to install them, he even got out the glass cutter to fit tiles into the edges and corners. We didn't even have to remove the drywall background that was covered in scrumpy glue bits for the past year. Woo hoo! Just a little scraping and sanding and...ready to roll! We had to let the tile set overnight and tonight we'll do the grout in a rusty nutmeg color. Once it's finished, dried and cleaned, I'll share some pics. It's really gorgeous already and I'm so, so glad. I chose wildly vibrant colors for the walls and cabinets...as you can see here in last year's post. I've grounded it all with dark brown, copper and rust elements. It works surprisingly well.

I am buried in design work and fresh out of elves, so I must away! Until tomorrow...craft on with your bad selves.

Cheers,
Madge

TastyLinks Sunday!


I made this card with a photograph of the barn across the street from our house and some help from Photoshop. You can
find the instructions in my Free Holiday Craft Project RSS feed along with a bevy of other seasonal inspiration!

Another week bites the dust! I've been a seriously busy little bee, but I'd rather be busy than bored. Soon enough it will be mid-February and I'll be seriously missing this busy holiday season. Without further ado, here's a heapin' helpin' of holiday inspiration from the Crafty Bloggers Gang!

Big Linky Love hugs to Katie Hacker! Check out her great easy earring ideas!

The Artful Crafter Just look at the darling ornaments you can make from mini clay flower pots!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Die cut, stamped and shrunk deer Christmas necklace made with inspiration from the book Beyond The Bead

Mixed Media Artist Cyndi is giving away a copy of Chain Style by Jane Dickerson! Come leave a comment and you'll be entered for the drawing.

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style Another project from the past--a quick and easy baby quilt.

Cross Stitch at About.com Having a hard time finding time to stitch during the holiday season? Read Connie's time-saving tips and share your own.

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy is thrilled about a new set of bamboo crochet hooks she finally purchased from an Etsy seller.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world The 19 Days of Holiday Goodness Giveaways is week 2, leave your answer to the day's question and you are entered to win a free book and while you're there check out how to make pockets from coffee filters, crochet a 4 color spiral, some cool fashion insights, a whole bunch of recycled clothing ideas and a bit of architecture.

Cathie Filian Whip up a vintage style wreath for the holidays!

Aileen's Musings Aileen's found a great use for those left over cards you have! Check out her Recycled Christmas Card project.

About Family Crafts Do you make your own Christmas cards? If you do, please take a moment and share your designs and then browse through the pictures of other peoples' creations.

The Impatient Crafter It's Project #2 from Madge's Retrofabulous Christmas Craftabration! Perky Pixie Ornament!

Four Seasons of Beading and The Card Album


I have really got to stop making these sweeping and definitive statements on my blog, because as soon as I make up a new rule...I change it! So our previously scheduled Holiday Fun (mostly) Facts posts is being pre-empted by some news and a product review! Huzzah!

Yesterday I got my copy of
Barb Switzer's new book for DRG called Four Seasons of Beading. I have two pieces on the front cover! Barb didn't even tell me! I was ticked pink when I opened the box.

Winter Whites Copyright Margot Potter 2009
Persephone Copyright Margot Potter 2009

The first piece is a refurbished vintage necklace to which I added a bunch of huge vintage faux pearls and vintage plastic drops. I was excited to get this one back to wear! The other is an autumnally inspired asymmetrical idea with mixed metals and a lovely
Kazuri fair trade bead along with a stunning Green Girl Studios shibuichi toggle clasp that I've repurposed as a pendant. These are both simple and striking ideas which suit the vibe of this book. Some of the biggest names in the bead world are included here and their designs are absolutely lovely. If you're looking for some design inspiration, this just might be your book. It's divided by seasons with a color palette for each at the start of the chapter. The designs are all basic stringing and wire working concepts that you could easily make in a flash.

I also wanted to share a very cool product designed by my fellow Crafty Blogger
Stefanie Girard of Sweater Surgery and Craftside fame. Stefanie came up with The Card Album which is an ingenious storage system for greeting cards. With my ever expanding vintage card collection taking over my studio, this is a perfect solution to store them and get them out of bins and up on shelves. Like most of the best ideas, this is one of those, "Why didn't I think of that?!" Any crafter who collects cards needs this and you can customize it if you'd like to give it as a gift to a bride to be or a new mom. Love it!

When you visit Stefanie's blog...check out the AWESOME
shrink plastic holiday necklace she created using techniques from my book Beyond the Bead! Wow!

I'm off to spin more straw into gold, but I'll be back tomorrow with the weekly link round up from the Crafty Bloggers Gang! Until then...craft on with your bad selves.

Cheers,
Madge

Retrofabulous Christmas Craftabration Project #2! Perky Pixie Ornament!

Retrofabulous Christmas Craftabration Project #2: Perky Pixie Ornament
Copyright Margot Potter 2009
Copyright McCall's Magazine circa 1960s
Copyright Margot Potter 2009
(Click on images to view close up)
Today’s retrofabulosity is courtesy of McCall’s Christmas Make-It Ideas Vol. VIII which is curiously lacking a publishing date. Based on the hair styles and the kitschy crafty deliciousness inside, it appears to be sometime in the late 1960s. There is so much good stuff in this one magazine; I could mine it for inspiration for years to come. Yay! Today’s retrofabulous project is a jaunty little elf made from beads, buttons and tinsel pipe cleaners. Their charming versions are made from lovely felt, pipe cleaners and Styrofoam balls covered with nylon stockings...love them. I’m particularly smitten with the tiny antennae...

I decided to try using beads and bits from my studio. I do love felt so, but I wanted to give it a new spin. I scored these painted wooden face beads in Manhattan, but I’m quite sure you can find similar beads online or at your local craft chains. If not, paint a plain wooden bead yourself, this is a fairly simple series of circles and lines! I would totally sport this as a necklace...seriously. It's that cute! So it falls into the 'ornapendant' category I created last year for sure!
Retrofabulous Perky Pixie Ornament
Copyright 2009 Margot Potter

Materials

30mm wooden face bead (or plain wooden bead you decorate)
1.5” white plastic button
25mm white plastic bead
10mm frosted red Lucite bead (Plaid Fresh)
2 10mm olivine moonglow vintage Lucite beads
7 9mm red moonglow vintage side drilled button Lucite beads
2 19mm olivine Lucite leaves1 30mm dark olive 3 petal Lucite flower (40mm widest side to side of petals)
2 20mm red vintage (or new) buttons
26 gauge Beadalon German style wire
18 gauge Beadalon Artistic Wire Tinned Copper
Silver tinsel wire

1. Thread a 10” 26 gauge wire over bent in half over the center of a tinsel pipe cleaner.

2. Thread 26 gauge wire into a Lucite flower bead, a white plastic bead, a face bead and into a big button and a final bead. Wrap wire flush to the back and around the bottom of the final bead using pliers to twist and secure. Cut off excess and tuck wire tail into itself.

3. Thread a wire with a red bead and two Lucite leaves. Wrap around the neck area of base. Twist ends, cut off excess and tuck wire into itself.

4. Cut off a 5” segment of tinsel pipe cleaner. Thread a bead on each end and loop wire end with round nose pliers to secure bead. Wrap center of beaded pipe cleaners around neck of base, these are your arms.
5. Thread 6 8mm beads on a 4” section of 26 gauge wire. Wrap wire around waist of base. Use pliers to twist wire, cut off excess and tuck tail under.

6. Thread ends of bottom tinsel into buttons, use pliers to pull wire. Wrap tinsel around itself. These are your legs.

7. Add a wire hook to the top of your ornament and enjoy! (These make fabulous package toppers!)


NOTE:
The vintage Lucite beads were given to me by The Beadin’ Path for use in my design work, the other materials were purchased by me.