Mixed Media Jewelry Project Idea Earth Metal

Copyright 2009 Margot Potter for Walnut Hollow

I created this mixed media design for the fab folks from Walnut Hollow a while back. It features their Creative Metal sheets combined with inks, CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements and polymer clay. I actually painted the clay this color and used the Sculpey Ultra light. I like that it's so incredibly light weight and easy to shape and mold. I embedded slivers of metal into the clay and created metal cones which I inked, rolled and threaded on wire. I made my own findings using 20 gauge copper wire. I love this combination of colors and it feels so right for fall. I'll share instructions when this project goes live.

I'll be back tomorrow with a new Teen craft for I Love to Create. Until then...craft on with your bad selves.

xoxo,
Madge

Free Recipes for Best. Salsa. Ever and Citrus Chicken Nachos!

If you make this meal...you'll feel just like these cats on this album cover. No, really.

Best. Salsa. Ever.
Madge’s Garden Fresh Cherry Tomato Salsa
Margot Potter

We love salsa around here and we wait all summer for the day we can finally make up a batch filled with fresh ingredients from our garden and our local farms. This past weekend my sister-in-law gave us a gallon bag of cherry tomatoes and that combined with the fresh haul from our garden made me wonder what might happen if I turned them into salsa? Well...I’ll tell you what...those sturdy and flavor packed little tomatoes make one heckuva flavorful salsa! Here’s my recipe! I’m not joking when I tell you this is without doubt the BEST salsa I’ve ever had. Yum.

Ingredients
1 gallon size bag of cherry tomatoes
Large bunch of fresh cilantro
Juice from 2 limes
1 large sweet onion
Three medium sized jalapenos (or any peppers you like in any amount you prefer)
Dash freshly ground pepper
Dash salt

1. Halve the cherry tomatoes and place in a large mixing bowl.
2. Dice the onions into large pieces. Place in bowl with tomatoes.
3. Use a large knife to dice up the top two thirds of a large bunch of cilantro. Add to tomatoes and onions.
4. Squeeze limes into mixture. (I like tart salsa. You can opt for only one lime or use white vinegar if you don’t love it tart and tangy!)
5. Dice jalapenos (remove the seeds first!) Add to mix.
6. Put entire mix into a food processor for about three pulses. You want to mix everything up but not turn it into soup!
7. Allow salsa to sit for several hours for full flavor.
8. Grab a bag of tortilla chips and get to dippin’!

I served this salsa with a South Beach friendly version of nachos topped with black beans, lo fat cheddar and shredded cilantro citrus chicken. We ate all of this up so quickly that I’m afraid I was remiss in taking photos. I think you know what nachos and salsa look like though!
Madge’s Cilantro Citrus Chicken Nachos
Margot Potter
Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts
Juice of 2 lemons
1/3 of a large bunch of cilantro
1/3 cup not from concentrate orange juice (or freshly squeeze orange juice)
2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/3 cup water
8 oz. package of 75% fat free white cheddar cheese
1 large bag of fat free Tostitos or other lo fat tortilla chips
1 16 oz. can of black beans (rinsed)
Lo fat or fat free sour cream

1. Dice cilantro.
2. Combine with OJ, lemon juice, EVO, water.
3. Liquify marinade in food processor.
4. Marinate chicken for at least 1 hour.
5. Grill chicken.
6. Shred chicken with fork.
7. Rinse beans and drain.
8. Shred cheese.
9. Sprinkle chicken over fat free tortilla chips with black beans and cheese.
10. Bake in a 450 degree oven on a cookie tray until cheese melts.
11. Serve with lo fat or fat free sour cream and Madge’s Garden Fresh Cherry Tomato Salsa!

Get Creative Magazine Interview

A while ago I was contacted by the editor of Australia/New Zealand's Get Creative Magazine. We did an interview and it was just published in the August issue! I'm really thrilled with how it turned out. If you'd like to read the pdf, click on the image and it will take you to the page on my website. I'm so excited to have new fans from The Land Down Under...now how can I parlay that into a trip...hmm...

I've got a really yummy end of summer recipe for you tomorrow. Until then...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Madge

Free Mixed Media Jewelry Project for I Love to Create

Mixed Media Melange Necklace for I Love to Create by Margot Potter

This felt, ribbon, glass and crystal necklace is an easy project for a teen to recreate in their own personal style and has a true Haute Couture appeal. All of the high fashion houses are showing these fabric mixed media style bib necklaces this season, so I thought I’d try my hand at one that would have teen appeal. You can switch this up to suit the materials you have at hand, try washers and nuts, small metal parts, sequins, bugle beads, beads...it’s endless. (You may need to glue and then sew on items to further secure them, I prefer a low sew approach!)

It’s easy to make fabulous projects when you use I Love to Create products!

Margot Potter for I Love to CreateTeen Craft Project
Mixed Media Melange
Felt, Crystal and Fabric Necklace

Materials
Black craft felt
Black ½” thick grosgrain ribbon
Large cabochon style beads
4mm Tulip Glam-It-Up!™ Crystals
5mm Tulip Glam-It-Up!™ CrystalsBlack thread
Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Aleene’s Stop Fraying
Aleene’s Stiffen Quick spray
ToolsGlam-It-Up!™ crystal applicator
Sewing needle
Scissors
Dress maker’s pencil

1. Mark and cut a symmetrical bib out of craft felt. Size to fit your wearer, I made mine in a shield shape. My felt shape is 6.5"x3.5".
2. Decide where to place your embellishments on the front of the felt.
3. Working around the crystals, use Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue to adhere the non-crystal embellishments. Allow to dry overnight.

4. While glue is drying, use crystal wand to heat and adhere Glam-It-Up™ crystals.

5. Cut two ribbon lengths that are long enough to be tied in a bow when worn. Mine are each approximately 2’.

6. Attach ribbon to top of felt on both sides using a needle and thread. I threaded the needle in between the ribbon and felt to conceal the knots. After you tie each ribbon off, use some Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky glue to secure the top of the sewn felt to the front of the ribbon. Allow to dry.

7. Dab a bit of Aleene’s Stop Fraying on the ends of the ribbon and allow to dry.

8. Trace and cut a second felt piece to back the first and add some structure to the design. Glue to the back of the first piece using Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky glue. Allow to dry.


9. Finish by generously spraying felt backing with Stiffen Quick and allow to dry. This will give your design structure when worn.

(Designer Tip: Felt is thick and porous, so you may need to check the glue on your embellishments several times to be sure there’s enough to secure them. Let them dry overnight so they have time to form a strong bond.)

I Love to Create Moulin Rouge Mini Top Hat Headband

Avalon Potter Models a Jaunty New Headband!

Moulin Rouge Mini Top Hat Headband
Teen Craft Project
Margot Potter for I Love to Create

Mini top hats have been big with the DIY and the club crowds for a while now and they’re filtering up to the mainstream this season. I thought for this week’s project for I Love to Create I’d whip one up for my daughter to wear to school. We just watched Moulin Rouge again and this has such a Satine vibe. It sounded so easy...and yet...well...it took some effort but I worked it out!

If you want to opt out of making the hat, just buy a doll or teddy bear sized top hat and embellish it. Would that I’d figured that out before diving into this head first...but there’s a lot to be said for Doing It Yourself! At least that’s what I’m telling myself so I feel better. I found a lot of great tutorials online for a variety of versions of this project and then I worked it out in typical Madge style. What’s crafting for if not making glorious mistakes and getting sticky, fuzzy fingers?! (Oh and if you’re more of a cowgirl than a circus performer, Jen Perkins made an adorable mini straw hat headband last year you should definitely check out.)

Materials
Black plastic skinny headband (I got five for a dollar in a value pack at our local drug store!)
Craft felt (Wool is sturdier and more durable than acrylic, but I used acrylic here.)
Pink tulle netting (I got this at JoAnn Fabrics.)
Black marabou feathers (I got these at JoAnn Fabrics.)
Acrylic fiber stuffing
Black thread
Hot glue sticks
Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Aleene’s Stiffen Quick Spray
Tulip Glam-It-Up Crystals in clear AB

Tools
Hand Sewing Needle
Scissors
Hot glue gun
2” diameter template (I used a large plastic pill jar)
2.5” template (I used a ribbon spool)
Ruler
Dressmakers pencil or white pigment ink pen
Quick Kutz QuickStik Quicker Poker Picker Upper Tool
Tulip Mini Iron

1. Measure and mark 5.5”x2.5” strip of felt and cut.

2. Use a 2” diameter template to trace and cut a circle of felt. This is the top of the hat





3. Repeat with a 2.5” template. This makes your brim.This is the tube of the hat. (If needed, Iron felt pieces flat with mini iron.)



4. Cut two 1/4" notches in the center of the 2.5” felt circle with scissors. (They need to be just big enough to accommodate your headband.)



5. Run a bead of hot glue along shorter edge of felt rectangle. Press on opposite short edge to create a tube.



6. Run a bead of hot glue along top edge of tube and carefully adhere 2” circle to edge. You can support this by reaching one hand inside to keep tube stiff while attaching the circle, just be careful not to burn your fingers on the glue.



7. Stuff tube with fluffy enough fluff to give it structure.



8. Run a bead of hot glue along bottom edge of tube and adhere to center of 2.5” circle.




9. Allow glue to set. If you have to go in and rework any funky spots this is a good time to do that!

10. Thread headband into slot you cut on large circle.

11. Use a needle and thread to secure the mini hat on head band, I’ve done it so it’s slightly off center for a “mad hatter” effect.

12. Your brim will pucker a little, that’s okay. Saturate it with Stiffen Quick and use your fingers to create an evenly spaced wave pattern in the puckers and to flip up the sides. Allow to dry.



13. Wrap a strip of pink netting around the entire brim of your hat and knot one strand around the other, tucking in the extra netting so it looks like a flower. Cut off any excess uneven netting. The netting will hide the back seam and any futzy spots along the top and bottom of the tube from the hot glue. (This is a typical The Impatient Crafter™ solution to not having to be perfect.)



14. Slide two marabou feathers into the side of the flowers and use Fast Grab to tack them and the netting at the knot into place.



15. Use Aleene's Fast Grab Glue to attach crystals to netting. Because the netting is made of plastic, I didn't think it wise to use heat, so I opted for glue. I used a Quicker Poker Picker upper to make it easier to adhere them.



16. Allow everything to dry before wearing...our hat was still wet here...we like to live on the edge like that.

Avalon Potter Looking Adorable in her new Moulin Rouge Tiny Top Hat Headband!

Free Mixed Media Jewelry Project: Red Riding Hood Glass Pendants

(Click on images to view close up)

Free Mixed Media Jewelry Project
Red Riding Hood Glass Pendants
Copyright 2009 Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
My friend Homer H. Hillis of HHH Enterprises has a never ending array of fabulous new toys for the mixed media crafter. He sent me some new Our Glass pieces recently that are totally awesome. They’re thick, they’re smooth and they are optically clear. That means whatever you put behind them is slightly magnified. He also sent a roll of 3/4” thick foil tape to help seal the images. Beadalon just came out with glue friendly pendant bails and BeadFix glue in sheets!

Can you say, “Match made in heaven?!”

I kept this simple and straightforward, so I can use them as striking focal elements in some new designs. The images are from a recycled vintage children’s book I purchased this past weekend. You can opt for permission free images or other images that suit your style. I love recycling fashion magazines. Don’t scan and manipulate images on the computer unless they’re permission free though, using the actual page is recycling, copying the page is copyright infringement.

Materials
Vintage Children’s Book Pages with Small Detailed ImagesHHH Enterprises Our Glass Wafers/Bubble Glass
Beadalon Glue-on Pendant Bails
Beadalon Bead Fix Adhesive Squares
Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue
ToolsBone folder
tim holtz for Tonic non-stick ScissorsMarker


1. Place Our Glass wafer over selected image and trace with a marker.

2. Cut out with scissors.

3. Spread a thin, even film of adhesive on wafer and adhere to glass.


4. Use fingers to gently work out any bubbles under glass. Allow adhesive to cure.

5. Place tape over back of decoupaged glass, if rectangle or square shape, leave an overlapped edge that is flush with top edge of glass. (If round glass, leave a small 1/6” edge. Designer note: You may need to add a second layer of adhesive to get the tape to adhere and stay there.) Mark and cut with scissors. Use bone folder to burnish tape edges flush to glass.


6. Adhere tape. Repeat adhering tape strips moving from top to bottom of back of pendant until finished.



7. Place flat side of bail on back of glue square and use as a guide while you cut out glue to fit bail.


8. Adhere bail to center top at the back of the pendant.


9. Use your bone folder to smooth out any wrinkles in the tape.

10. If you'd like, you can add a layer of solder to seal everything inside or you can opt to leave it as is. If you're hard on your jewelry or plan to wear this often, I suggest the solder!
Until next time...craft on with your bad selves!
xoxo, Madge

I Love to Create: La Tour Eiffel Decoupage Lampshade

(Click on images to view close up)

In the blink of an eye, little girls become young women. They’re more grown up and they want a more sophisticated bedroom. Total room rehab isn’t always an option but it’s not so hard to make quick and significant changes if you’re crafty. I bought this Eiffel tower lamp at Target about eight years ago, and it’s still available online! I wasn’t terribly fond of the shade that came with it, so I purchased a plain craft paper shade that I’d always intended to embellish. Flash forward eight years...

It’s perfect for my daughter’s newly revamped room! We used white tissue paper stamped with archival ink (you need to be sure your ink is waterproof or it will bleed when it gets wet.) I got a great decoupage trick from crafty diva Pattie Wack at CHA and used Aleene’s Tacky Glue® glue stick to adhere the torn pages on the shade instead of decoupage medium which can get very messy very quickly! Here are the instructions! Bon chance!

La Tour Eiffel Lampshade Teen Craft
Margot Potter for I Love to Create
MaterialsKraft Paper lampshadeEiffel Tower lamp base from Target
White tissue paper
Vintage or new off white buttons in various sizes
1 yard black chiffon ruffle trim (JoAnn Fabrics)Ranger Jet Black archival inkHero Arts Old French Writing stamp H2365
Inkadinkado Flourish stamp 96253-PTraci Bautista’s Collage Pauge Instant Decoupage™ in Glossy
Aleene’s Tacky Glue® glue stick
Aleene’s Fast Grab™ Tacky Glue®Aleene’s Jewel-It®

Tools
Foam brush
1. Wipe shade off with a dry cloth to remove any dust or dirt.

2. Stamp a large sheet of white tissue paper with archival ink and the writing stamp. Add stamped flourish accents. Allow to dry.3. Tear each stamped section leaving frayed edges.
4. Adhere paper segments to lamp using glue stick. Make sure to cover back of each sheet completely. Work from the center using your fingers to gently adhere paper to lamp and work out any wrinkles or bubbles.
5. Overlap sheets and don’t worry about any small gaps, you can go back and fill those in later with smaller paper segments.6. Spread a thin layer of decoupage medium over lamp using a foam brush. Use brush to work out wrinkles or bubbles. Don’t stress too much, texture is good! Allow to dry for several hours or overnight.7. Adhere ribbon trim to bottom and top edge of lamp using Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Glue. Allow to dry. 8. Adhere buttons of various sizes to shade using Jewel-It Glue. Allow to dry. C'est tres chic, n'est pas?

Saturday TastyLinks™!

We interrupt the regularly scheduled blog post for a moment of Shameless Self Promotion. The fabulous Brini Maxwell and I are hosting a crafty cruise that is going to blow your ever lovin' crafty minds. In October 2010, we'll perform our Crafty Cabaret show, teach four fabulous classes (I'll be teaching a tiara class!), have an open craft studio for 24 hour crafty fun and you'll visit some of the best locations in the Caribbean. Nine craftacular days of fun in the sun with two delightful, divalicious hostesses. Here's the story, Mornin' glories. You go to the ScrapMap site to sign up. All you need to do is put down a small deposit and make monthly payments, you are not locked into the cruise and can pull out and get your money back up to 120 days before the ship sails. So...what on earth are you waiting for? We want you...we need you...let us craftertain you!

I now return you to your regularly scheduled blog post...

It's time once again to spread the Linky Love across the Blogosphere! Woo hoo! I'm back in the saddle big time this week. I've been assembling kits for my new book shoot, selling and shipping stuff from the newly replenished Etsy shoppe, doing freelance blogging and design and lots of networking post show to maximize my new connections.

Phew.

I woke up this morning with my head spinning like a ball in a bingo cage...

"Get drivers's license photo...do something about my hair first.
Make appointment to take daughter to doctor for vaccinations and school required check up
Finish packing supplies for book photo shoot
Take pics and load new designs into Etsy Shoppe
Work on proposal for big event
Create widget for cruise
Fine tune idea for pitch
Write some pages for my e-book
Plan a new The Impatient Crafter™ video
Herd dust bunnies out of studio
Finish follow up emails post CHA
Pay bills
Work on design and blog post for manufacturer."

Damn...it's Saturday...and my straw pile is still HUGE! Enough whining about all of the work I have to do...it's better than having none at all!

My friend and colleague 'Daliciuus™' Fernando DaSilva is running a great contest on his blog. He's looking for a few good followers...Go see!

Here's what the Crafty Blogger Gang has for your education, entertainment and edification this week:

The Crochet Dude Drew is giving away all his latest designs that are included in his new line of patterns that just launched nationwide! To enter you just leave a comment on his blog!

The Artful Crafter Eileen blogs about learning photography - one frame at a time.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Earrings made with something old, something new and a how-to from the new book- Simply Gemstones by Nancy Alden

Naughty Secretary Club Jen dishes up a recipe for making a pin cushion out of vintage tin.

Mixed Media Artist Cyndi has an imaginary friend named Jim...from 100 years ago!

Cross Stitch at About.com Help Connie decide a caption for her free Bat Cross Stitch pattern.

CraftyPod SisterDiane interviews a top Etsy seller who decided to downsize her business.

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy has a bag full of fun crafting ideas for the crafter with a birthday.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Craftside has a how-to on making a Traveling Mail Art Kit from the soon to be released book-Good Mail Day, a tutorial on how to line a flap and step by step directions to make a painted fusible web postcard. Be sure to answer the week's questions to be entered to win free books while your getting your fill of crafty goodness.

Cathie Filian Join Cathie Filian on HSN August 17th where she will be showcasing the new formulas of Mod Podge, Chalkboard Paint and Texture Paint.

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner Alexa shares 3 great photography tips for taking better photos of your crafts. You don't even have to have an expensive camera!

Aileen's Musings Aileen is offering a book giveaway! See how many ways you can get your name entered in her drawing to win a Ties That Bind Collaboration of Love book...

About Family Crafts Hurry on over and submit your photos and ideas! Sherri is now accepting Halloween submissions. Share your costumes, haunted house ideas, more and browse through the photos everyone else has submitted.

The Impatient Crafter Make a super cute pair of flip flops with your kid or teen for your end of summer vacation! Madge shares the 411 in this post for I Love to Create

Book Review: Kanzashi in Bloom by Diane Gilleland

Book Review
Kanzashi in Bloom
Diane Gilleland
Watsun-Guptill

Diane Gilleland is known in the 'craftiverse' as Sister Diane, the mastermind behind the wildly popular blog and podcast CraftyPod. Diane has an innate gift for taking a simple and striking idea and making it fabulous. I had never seen Japanese fabric kanzashi blooms prior to getting this book and I was immediately excited to try making some of my own. Diane offers 20 gorgeous ideas here that are beautifully photographed and meticulously stepped out so you can see step by step, petal by petal, how to recreate them.

I was utterly impressed with her considerable writing skills and the painstaking research she did to give this lovely art form a context and meaning for the Western crafter. Many craft books are pretty to view, but lack depth of information and high quality writing. Diane gives you both along with cleverly fashioned projects that leave you completely inspired. Every design has a brilliant variation concept. Not only are the projects well crafted, the book itself is a beautifully crafted work of art.

I can't wait to try the techniques out for some jewelry and mixed media designs. The best kind of craft book leaves you inspired to create. Diane has achieved that with a brilliant book that I think every crafter should add to their collection.

Margot Potter
The Impatient Crafter
Author The Impatient Beader series
Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed
Beyond the Bead

My Interview with Debra Quartermain CEO!

TV Host Mark Montano and Deb Quartermain at the Today's Creative HomeArts booth!

I have met some amazing women working in the craft industry. Women who have reached out to me and become mentors and treasured friends. I think, if women could stop being competitive with each other and could come together towards the common purpose of creating mutual success and abundance, we could literally change the world. One woman who has inspired me endlessly with her boundless creativity, positivity and joy is Deb Quartermain. I simply adore her. She's a shining beacon of light and I'm blessed, truly, to call her friend. Deb (and her delightful handcrafted pals Fran and Freda) interviewed me for her CEO Blog (Creative Eternal Optimist) and she's kindly given me permission to reprint that interview here.

"The Marvellous Margot Potter!

One of the highlights of the summer CHA show was catching up with some of my most favorite people. I got a chance to spend an evening with the very talented Margot Potter. She is both witty and wise, a creative dynamo with an energy that lights up the room. Fran & Freda were starstruck upon meeting her and when they heard she was a fowl lover they were over the moon or coop so to speak! She very graciously granted them an interview. She even posed for pics, thank goodness their feet were clean! (considering they insisted on being carried everywhere their feet should have sparkled!) They also tried to talk Margot into making tiny tiaras for them, so embarrassing.

Margot, what has being creative meant in your life?

Being creative is my life. I have been creating it since I can remember! I believe we are all of us crafting our own realities, successes, joys and also our challenges. Having a tangible way to express the creative impulse is such a powerful thing for anyone, and I'm so glad I get to do that every day in my studio. I like to think of myself as a LifeCrafterTM. I'm inventing every aspect of my reality and it's a total blast.

What is your favorite crafting pursuit?

I am a restless creative type, so I love many crafting pursuits. In fact, I can't seem to stop expanding my repertoire, even though my studio has run out of room to store the supplies! I was so happy when I first heard the term Mixed Media because it fit my creativity perfectly. I love to add a dash of this and a smidgeon of that and see what might happen.

What inspires you?

Absolutely everything inspires me. I find the world around me endlessly fascinating and infinitely interesting.

What is your favorite food, book, craft tool, store?

My favorite food is cheese. I also love filet mignon, crème brulee, dark chocolate with almonds, butter, cream and a variety of other terribly fattening and wonderfully delicious things.

I love so many books; it's really hard to pick a favorite.

My brain is my favorite craft tool. After that...I'm going to have to say my Flexible Shaft Drill.

I'm a thrift store/flea market kinda gal

Freda is dying to know, does a tiara make you more divine?

A tiara reminds me that I am divine...as is everyone. I'm a big believer in tiaras...and in self confidence. We can't expect others to hand us our joy or our success, we have to make it happen. So to me, a tiara is a symbol of our divinity and our fabulosity!

You always look stunning at the shows, how do you decide on the do and frocks before the show?

My hairdresser and I work out the do and the outfits I shop for a few weeks ahead. Then I make jewelry and accessories to match. I think it's important for a designer who specializes in jewelry to be fashionable. I think it'd be hard to instill confidence in people to hire me as a designer if I didn't look like I could even design my own outfit!

THANK YOU Margot! for taking the time to chat with Fran & Freda. Visit Margot Potter.com, where this best selling author & celebrity designer inspires creativity with a mix of wit, wisdom & talent! Her blog The Impatient Crafter TM is a must read and Fran & Freda are beside themselves with excitement you can purchase Margot's magnificent jewels in her own Etsy Shoppe!"

(Interview re-printed courtesy of Debra Quartermain)