The Impatient Crafter : March 2012

iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts: Spring Flowers Felt Make-Up Bag

Avalon Potter for iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts
Spring Flowers Felt Make-Up Bag
"Teen crafted, mom approved."

Avalon has a small collection of make-up all mixed up in a cluttered drawer, so this was a perfect way for her to get it all organized. This project was all her idea, I just helped with some advice and am posting the instructions! It is so easy to turn a few pieces of craft store felt and some ribbon into a delightful decorative pouch using Aleene's Tacky Glue. You can style this however you choose, I love the chocolate brown with the pops of orange and fuchsia Avalon selected.

Materials
Brown Craft Felt
Hot Pink Craft Felt
Fuchsia Craft Felt
Genevieve Gail Boho Felt Flowers (1 die cut orange and one solid yellow)
3/8" Fuchsia grosgrain ribbon (Offray)
5/8" Medium rick rack orange (Simplicity)
1 Tulip Glam-it-up blue metallic crystal
Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue
Layered flower die
6 grommets

Tools
Die Cutter (I used a Sizzix Big Shot)
Grommet setting tool (I used a Crop-a-dile)
Scissors

The body of the bag is a full piece of brown felt folded in the middle. The bottom flowers are pre-cut, use die cutter to cut the layered top flowers. Glue and stack flowers.

Add grommets to sides and center of pouch on both sides using grommet setter. Glue edges of pouch together, add flowers and rick rack ribbon trim with glue. Attach crystal to center of flower with glue. Place something inside of pouch and on top of flowers to prevent glue seepage and lay under a large book and allow glue to dry.

Add ribbons. Tie ribbons through grommets at both sides, you can secure this with a dab of glue and optionally add Aleene's Stop Fraying to ribbon ends. Tie a knot in a 6" segment of ribbon and thread into grommet in center, repeat for opposite side. This will allow you to tie pouch closed.

Enjoy!

My Fourth and Final DIY Project for National Craft Month for Fiskars! Mais oui!

L'Invitation by Margot Potter for Fiskars

Here's my fourth and final DIY project for National Craft Month for Fiskars! You can get the instructions for all of my projects for Fiskars here. It's a party invitation featuring a vintage French language card. I really LOVE this edge punch with the daisies. Just silly good stuff. It was a true honor being a Guest Designer for the fine folks from Fiskars.

Avalon has a SUPER CUTE project for iLoveToCreate tomorrow, so do stop back!

xoxo
Madge

Springtime Scarflet by Vickie Howell

Howdy Campers!

Busy week ahead! Exciting stuff I can't talk about.

Yay!

This is a scarflet I managed to finish...finally...designed by the lovely and talented Ms. Vickie Howell. She hosted a Crochet-along on Facebook and Ravelry. It ends today, but you can still join the fun any time!

I am really quite happy with how this turned out. I'm also quite happy with all of the stitches I've learned so far. I had to work and rework this, even got half way through one and realized I'd done the stitch wrong, but I like that version too and will share when it's finished.

Not so bad for a newbie!

Tune in tomorrow for my final project for National Craft Month for the fine folks from Fiskars.

Until then...craft on with your bad self!

Cheers,
Madge

Chop Wood, Carry Water

"Verily, Margot, the more understanding one possesses, the less there is to say, and the more there is to do." The Universe

Well heck and howdy doody, I really kicked off a firestorm yesterday! Do forgive. As the title said, I was just thinking out loud. I am not running away to join the circus or giving up my craft career, I'm just taking stock of the things that are and are not working. The bottom line is, as of late, aspects of what I do are not working. I need to adjust them and integrate some of the things I love that are missing back into the mix. I'm not going away and things won't really be very different around here. We're building a new site, I'm working on some new professional directions, opportunities are unfolding...there is all kinds of good stuff happening at Studio Madge.

I am going to take the pressure off of myself. I'm going to get back to being who I am and doing what I feel. There may be a project, there may be a rant, there may be a post like this where I am just sharing my journey. There may be a kooky video with me singing in it because...I can. There may be a few days or a week when I don't post at all. I am going to do what makes me happy and if folks dig it, fabulous and if not, screw it. They can read another blog.

There is a Zen saying that is apropos at times like this. The crux of it is that we are in this physical world and we have to do the physical things. We have to eat, work, sleep, pay the bills, take out the trash, walk the dog...and no matter how enlightened we become, the dog will not learn to walk itself. And these mundane things we do each day are part of the deal. We can even find grace and joy in the doing of them if we look hard enough.

So, I leave you with this.

"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."

I'm off to chop the wood and carry the water. Thank each of you for your kind words yesterday, I am deeply blessed.

Love
Madge

Something Starfishy Around Here...

Happy Spring! Flowers are popping up all over the Smokies and the trees are starting to sprout leaves, this is my favorite time of year. I LOVE SPRING! Alas and alack, spring does not love me.

Snerg.

I made this jewelry with the plastique beads I bought in Tucson from The Beadin' Path and I've added a judicious smattering of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. I adore working with plastic. It's big and bold and light weight, you can pile it on and it won't weight you down. Try making a necklace with bubble gum sized gemstones, far too heavy!

I am currently loving these saturated colors. Kelly green, bright yellow, orange...very citrusy. Light and summery and fun, yes? I added red to the bracelet which really gives it a vintage vibe. You may remember the bracelet from an earlier post when I mentioned wanting to add one more element, so after some thought I decided on some vintage gum ball machine charm scotty dogs. Let's face it, put a scotty dog on it and it's instant cute!

These are for me to wear to some upcoming events. I would love to make a line of jewelry like this...but I'm not sure who would buy it. Thoughts? Who do you see wearing this big, bold, playful jewelry, well...besides me?

And with that I am back to the grindstone at Studio Madge. Have a craftacular day! Be a Crazy Craft Lady! Hooray! "T'aint nobody's business if you do!"

xoxo

Madge

iLoveToCreate Retrofabulous Crafts: Spring Peepers Easter Topiary

Spring Peepers Topiary Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate

iLoveToCreate Retrofabulous Crafts
Spring Peepers Easter Topiary
Margot Potter
"These are your grandmother's crafts...ya gotta problem with that?"

I love topiaries. It's true, I do. Yet, inexplicably, this is my very first topiary craft! There are a plethora of handcrafted topiaries in my stash of vintage craft magazines, mostly Christmas themed like the one above. I've been meaning to make one and well, the time came. Two years ago Avalon and I bought these little Easter chicks on super sale at Michaels after Easter. We thought we had a lifetime supply, until this idea popped into my head. I ran out of chicks mid-project and had to make an emergency tiny chick run to Michaels, thankfully they had more. What made me want to put tiny chicks on a styrofoam ball? I can not say. But I love it so much it's staying in the living room until after Easter.

This is so easy and fun to do. Aleene's Tacky Glue Dots make super quick work of attaching the chicks.You can either use a pot that is already decorated or just mix up some fun colors with your Crafty Chica paints, add some fun trims, toss some Easter grass and either pre-made eggs or jelly beans on the top, add a bow and instant cute! I love this as a centerpiece for Easter, you could make a couple more smaller ones for either side to make a trio. I'm a big believer in the rule of threes.

Spring Peepers Topiary Materials

Materials
3" Styrofoam ball
8" Wooden dowel
Approx. 115-120 3/4" fuzzy chicks
4.5" Clay pot
Coordinating clay pot saucer
Easter grass
Glittered foam eggs or jelly beans
Styrofoam block for inside of pot
Decorative ribbon for pot rim
Ribbon to tie beneath topiary ball
Coordinating scrapbook papers
Coordinating button
Layered flower die-you could use a pre-made flower here if you prefer
Crafty Chica Paints (I used green and yellow mixed and red and white mixed)
Aleene's Acid Free Tacky Glue
Aleene's 3/8" Tacky Glue Dots

Tools
Die Cutting Machine
Scissors
Foam brush

Paint the pot pink and the pot rim and dowel green. Allow to dry.

Use glue to adhere ribbon trim around rim of pot. I used super thick rick rack trim.

Die cut layered flower and adhere to conceal spot where ribbon ends meet using Aleene's Tacky Glue. Use a Tacky Glue Dot to adhere button to center of flower. Allow ribbon and flower to dry.

Take a chick and press it's feet on a Tacky Glue Dot. Press the chick on the styrofoam ball. Work from the center out, making a ring of chicks all facing the same direction. Work to the center on one side (this will be the top of the topiary) and the center on the other leaving a space for the painted dowel.

Once pot has dried, cut styrofoam to fit inside. Add some easter grass to hide foam. You'll insert the dowel into the bottom of your topiary ball and insert that into the center of the foam in the pot.

Tie a bow around the bottom of the topiary ball.

Make some coordinating decorations to dress up the table...and if you love carrot cake...get the recipe for these Easter Bunny Nest Coconut Carrot Cake Cupcakes today on Your Grandmother's Crafts!

iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts: Peeps Stenciled Napkin with Jelly Bean Ring

iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts
Peeps Stenciled Napkin with Jelly Bean Ring
Margot Potter for Avalon Potter!

Avalon is on Spring Break and alas she caught a cold. I stepped in to make this easy peasy stenciled napkin and beaded ring. I used cardboard to make the stencil, but it's very important to wipe off the excess seepage under the stencil between each use on all four corners. If you can find 'freezer paper' it makes a much cleaner and easier to use stencil. We LOVE Peeps around here, this is my third Peeps themed Easter craft! I had to buy a few boxes for research purposes, but keeping them from being devoured was quite a feat!

Step away from the Peeps.

Tulip Soft fabric paints and Crafty Chica glitter make quick and easy work of this design and the Glam-it-up metallic crystals are perfection for eyes. Use Aleene's Jewelry Glue to secure the knot on your napkin rings. This is a great way to get teens off of their cell phones and doing something fun. Make some coordinating place mats and you'll have a delightfully cheerful Easter table.

Materials
Fabric Napkin
Thicker cardboard for stencil (thicker than a cereal box, but not too thick!)
Chunky colorful beads to make a 4" ring
Tulip Soft Paint in Petal Pink
Crafty Chica glitter in Frida's Fuchsia
Tulip Glam it Up metallic crystals in black (2 for each rabbit)
.8mm clear elastic cord (I used Elasticity)
Aleene's Turbo Tacky Glue
Aleene's Metal and Jewelry Glue

Tools
Chain nose pliers
Paint pouncer
Craft knife
Fine tip marker

Wash napkins to remove sizing. Iron to remove wrinkles. I freehand drew the rabbit, it's very simple. He should be about 2-3" tall. You want him to fit the corner of your napkin. If you need a guide, try using an actual Peep for reference, this also allows you a snack while waiting for the paint to dry. Use a craft knife to carefully cut the shape out and create a stencil. Use pink paint and paint pouncer to stencil on napkin corner. You can also opt to add rabbits along the shorter edge of your napkin, that's up to you. Hold your pouncer straight and hold stencil firmly to prevent paint bleed. Be sure to wipe off stencil front and back after each use.

Before rabbits are dry, pour a small amount of glitter on each rabbit, shake around for full coverage and shake off excess. Do them one at a time! The paint should be tacky enough to grab the glitter.

Add eyes using Glam it Up crystals, I use a pair of chain nose pliers to pick up crystal, dip in glue and attach to rabbits. Allow rabbits to dry before using!

Thread beads on elastic cord. Tie ends and pull tightly. Make a double overhand knot and pull tightly. Add a dab of jewelry glue to your knot and let it dry overnight.

National Craft Month for Fiskars Tuesdays with Madge!

Margot Potter for Fiskars

This week's project is a clean and simple scrapbook page from our trip to Hoboken to the Cake Boss's Carlo's Bakery. Looking at this now, I wish I'd used three dimensional cupcakes instead of birds, but I had birds handy and a lot on my plate that week. Still, I love the colors and the whimsical look of this. It's only my second scrapbook page...ever. I know the trend at the moment is messy and funky in scrapbook pages, but you know I'm not one to follow the trends. Clean and simple design works for me!

For the instructions and materials list follow this link to Fiskars Guest Designers page!

Love
Madge

Tuesdays with Madge for Fiskars National Craft Month!

The fine folks from Fiskars asked me to fabricate four projects featuring their fabulous tools for National Craft Month. Of course I jumped at the chance! The first project is the only jewelry design. I was so smitten with this circus font themed scrapbook paper, I simply had to turn it into jewelry.

And so I did.

And so can you if you follow this link to get the instructions on the Fiskars site! Stay tuned, I have a new Fiskars project for every Tuesday this month! Hooray!

Love
Madge

iLoveToCreate Retrofabulous Crafts: Spring Fever Magnet Card and Necklace

Retrofabulous Crafts
Spring Fever Magnet Card with Butterfly Necklace Set
Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate
“These are your grandmother’s crafts, ya gotta problem with that?”

In my stacks of vintage craft magazines there are lots of ads for ‘liquid embroidery’ which have intrigued me endlessly. I thought perhaps you could get the same effect with Tulip and Scribbles paints, and you can! Talk about a time saver! The first project is a super easy to make necklace using pre-cut felt shapes embellished with metallic Glam-it-Up studs and connected with jump rings and the second project is a card with a fridge magnet attached. I thought these would make a perfect spring cheer gift for a friend. Yes, this necklace is big and bold, which is totally my style, you can use smaller shapes to make something a little less over the top! Nothing says vintage to me more than felt and these cut felt shapes had my name all over them. You could easily use a die cutting machine to achieve the same effect.

Spring Fever Necklace Set

Materials
6 Genevieve Gail Boho Collection for Michaels felt butterflies (4 for necklace and two matching colors for earrings)
54 Tulip Glam-it-Up Iron-On Studs
Aleene’s Turbo Tacky Glue
5 14mm silver tone jump rings
2 10mm silver tone jump rings
Silver tone swivel lobster clasp
2 silver tone ear wires

Tools
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Plastic or cardboard for glue

1. Place a blob of glue on plastic or cardboard.

2. Use chain nose pliers to pick up studs, dip into glue and place on butterfly. Gently press down on the crystal to ensure it is adhered. I placed 12 on each butterfly in a coordinating color. See photo for placement.

3. Allow studs to dry completely.

4. Use two pairs of chain nose pliers to open and close your jump rings with tension. Here is a quick video tutorial on how to do this properly.

5. Add the smaller jump rings to the outer wings on the two end butterflies. Add the clasp to the jump ring on one end. Hang your earrings so you have a left and right earring, using larger jump rings connected to ear wires.

Card:
Materials
White pre-made card
Anna Griffen for K and Company Carmen Collection paper
Felt shapes in vibrant colors (Genevieve Gall Boho Collection) OR die cut your own out of felt sheets (2 butterflies, one cut out flower and one solid flower)
Tulip Slick 3-D Fashion Paint in deep turquoise
Tulip Beads in a Bottle in soft yellow
Scribbles 3-D Paint Pen in kelly green
Aleene’s Turbo Tacky Glue
Aleene’s Tacky Dot Runner
Aleene's Magnetic Tacky Dots

Tools
Fiskars paper cutter
Fiskars edge punch daisy

1. Cut patterned paper to fit front of card. Use paper edge punch to create daisy cut outs.

2. Adhere paper to front of card with glue dot runner.

3. Use paints to create dots and faux stitches on edges of felt shapes. Allow to dry!

4. Stack felt shapes and glue together. I glued the edges of the flowers back to back and glued the center of the butterflies together and to the card. The butterflies are slightly askew to show the color beneath. Place something heavy on top and allow to dry overnight.

5. Attach Tacky Glue magnet to back of felt.

6. Attach felt to front of card using glue dots.

A Touch of Spring

Signs of spring are starting to appear in the Smokies. Daffodils, dandelions and other floral harbingers of warmer days to come have started blooming. From my studio window I can see the birds busily gathering bits and pieces to build nests. The spring peepers are in full voice in the ponds leading up to our mountain home. It's really quite exciting, this rebirth. I love this time of year, don't you?

I'm sharing a couple of designs I created for myself to wear. The things I make for me are a little larger than life and very whimsical. I've added some SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS to the mix with these vintage and vintage reproduction plastic flowers from The Beadin' Path. I am simply mad for the look of both of these. Adding the wired crystals to the edge of the filigrees reminds me of a very fancy cake and the red flowers dripping with giant crystals are divinely decadent. If I had a line of finished jewelry (and that might just happen one of these days), this is what I visualize. Big, bold, happy jewelry that makes the wearer and those whom they will meet along the way feel good.

Life is far too short to take it too seriously.

We are busily working on something new behind the scenes here at Casa de Potter! It's exciting stuff and much like spring, lots of things are happening beneath the soil preparing to peer through and unfurl. It's exciting and also just a little scary, which is the way of it when you take the leap, isn't it?

Storms are brewing in the Smokies, and the skies are changing minute to minute. It's fascinating living here. The other night a coyote howled right outside of our house, the dogs were none to happy about it. They're the only canines on this property, thank you very much. We snuggled on the couch together until that pesky coyote wandered away.

I will be back on Monday with a ''two for one" spring inspired project for iLoveToCreate Retrofabulous Crafts, so do stay tuned!

Until then, craft on with your bad selves.

Love
Madge