Girlfriend's DIY BFF Earrings

Let's hear it for the girls!  You know, the ones who lift you up, cheer you on, hold your hand, have your back, tell you the painful truth and love you good, bad and ugly!  Yes, the girls!  Don't forget your gal pals on Valentine's Day!  Show them the love with these fun, fast and fabulous DIY BFF Earrings for iLoveToCreate.  Miss Avalon and I worked on these together, because like most things, crafting is more fun when you share.

You can get the full tutorial for theses DIY BFF Earrings over on the iLoveToCreate blog.  AND...they're double sided so check out the other side over there!  I got the striped metallic hemp twine from Darice at the Fave Crafts Event at CHA, how fabulous is that?!  L O V E! 

I'll be back tomorrow with a crafty round up from some of my Crafty BFFs, make sure you stop by and say, "Howdy!"

xoxo,
Madge

Glittered Tie Dye Necklace for iLoveToCreate

Learn how to make a glittered tie dye effect necklace today on the iLoveToCreate blog!  Tell 'em Madge sent ya.  And...just an FYI, I'm going to start blogging on DIY Doyenne part time and here part time.  It's a revamp and refocus after much considered thought.  All things crafty will live here and all things fashion, style and galcentric will live over there. We'll see how it goes!

xoxo

Madge

DIY New Year's Eve Crown

 Merry, Merry to you and yours!  

Snow Globe Necklace for iLoveToCreate

I'm guest posting on the iLoveToCreate blog today with a miniature DIY Snow Globe Necklace!  I love these little glass vials, I've made jewelry with these before, but I think this one is my favorite.  What's more fun than wearing a snow globe?

Jingle Bell Stamped Christmas Earrings

I've got a festive pair of Jingle Bell Stamped Christmas Earrings over on the ImpressArt blog today!  You can whip these puppies up in a few steps and be ready to rock the egg nog in style!  Aw, yiss.  

DIY Louis Vuitton Inspired Mod Purse

I love vintage fashion.  I've been collecting vintage clothing for over thirty years.  I have a particular affinity for the fashion of the early 1960s. So when I saw the divine Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2013 mod collection popping up in the fashion pages, my heart went pitter pat.  Alas, my wallet is not in sync with my desires, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and make a Louis Vuitton inspired DIY purse.  You can get the instructions for this retrofabulous creation in the iLoveToCreate blog today!

Hooray!

How to Make a Hopeful Romantic Paper Straw Necklace

It's Friday!  Where did my week go?  Eek!  I've been so busy figuring out the logistics of the big virtual move, the week got away from me.  Today's offering is two-fold.  A festive Valentine's Hopeful Romantic Paper Straw necklace featuring adorable striped straws and SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and scroll to the end to download a super cute vintage elephant png file!  Hooray! 

DIY Valentine's Jewelry

I am guest posting for iLoveToCreate today, you can get the tutorial for this pretty DIY Valentine's Gift Box over on their blog, I'm sharing the DIY for the Darling Decoupage DIY Valentine's Jewelry here!  I've been making decoupage jewelry for years now.  I'll decoupage on almost anything. It's amazing what a little paper and plastic can create when you put them together with decoupage medium.  I scored these Tim Holtz faceted acrylic charms at Michaels on clearance and used some paper doilies to make a pretty set of jewelry in a flash.  Miss Madge's Share the Love Initiative marches on!

Oh and...big HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes to the lovely Miss Avalon Potter!  She's 15 today!  Good GRIEF?!  When did that happen?!

Pop Rocks for ImpressArt AND Kalmbach Blog Hop Contest

Grab a cup of coffee.

No, make that a pot of coffee.

This is epic, Babycakes!

The Anatomy of a Necklace: DIY Necklace Tutorial

A few beads, some wire, some organza ribbon, a vibrant color palette...and you have a simply fabulous necklace in a flash.  The anatomy of a necklace a DIY necklace tutorial brought to you by Madge. I call this Folk Art Chic(tm), it's the style of our home and a style I'm finding more and more appealing these days. 

DIY Collar Necklace Guest Posting for iLoveToCreate

Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate DIY Collar Necklace

Hello, love muffins!  I have been crafting like a mad woman this past week and somehow defying all logic, I managed to eek out this one last project yesterday afternoon.  Yes, I spent my entire weekend making class kits and DIY projects for my clients.  Can you say tired crafty lady?

Happy New Year's, love Madge

This is last year's New Year's Eve project with a little musical interlude for your edification and entertainment. These are really super cute (the little one on the bottom is a man's boutonniere, I still have mine from last year...if you don't date them you can use them again!

Insert evil crafty laugh...here.

2013 is going to be TECHNICOLOR, RETROFABULOUS, GLITTERY AND GLAMOROUS! Big, bold, beautiful new directions are unfolding and y'all are gonna love it! I am heading into the new year with my arms wide open, my heart filled with gratitude and my grin a mile wide! LIFE IS LARGE! Let's rock this year, people! Huzzah!

Have a Happy, Happy New Year's, I shall toast to each of you at midnight with a glass of bubbly!  

xoxo
Madge

DIY Crocheted Infinity Scarf

Last year, our lovely and talented local Knoxville Tatting Queen, Erin Holloway drove all the way out from Knoxville to our little Smoky Mountain hideaway to teach me some basic crochet.  I knew how to do a chain stitch and make some crocheted flowers, but that was the entirety of my skill set.  I find crochet patterns painful to read, is it just me?  I know, it's shorthand, but when you're just starting out, shorthand looks like Greek.

Guest Posting for iLoveToCreate: Butterfly Kisses Silk Pouch

I'm guest posting for iLoveToCreate today with a pretty silk pouch you can make in three easy steps! This is a really cool technique with infinite potential, you'll be amazed how fun and easy these are to make. In fact, it's just a little addicting, so consider yourself warned!

xoxo,
Madge

Last Minute Gifty Cheap and Easy Crafts: DIY Perler Beads Candy Hearts Necklace

Anyone who knows me knows that I loves me some quirky jewelries. This DIY Perler Beads Necklace , inspired again by the divine Mr. Mark Montano's fantabulous Big Ass Book of Bling, is all kinds of quirky.

Okay, maybe about five kinds.

Instant Glam Blog Hop: Copacabana Necklace Set

Hello and welcome to my little corner of the Instant Glam Blog Hop!

What do you get when you combine the fabulous new Instant Glam by Fernando bezels with the colorful kid's craft material known as Perler Beads and a generous sprinkling of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS?

Just Add Crystal...

Glue crystals to numbers, add jump rings, attach findings and chain.  Shazam!

I've been working with the Create Your Style with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS brand since my first book...way, way, way back when!  In fact, I was the first American DIY industry designer to knock on their door back in 2004 to request samples for a book.  That was one of the bold emails I sent out in my year of reinvention, and when someone responded I almost fell off of my swivel chair!

Squee!

Don't ever be afraid to ask.  The worst thing that can happen is that they might say no.  On the other hand...they just might say YES!

How-to DIY Retrofabulous Halloween Masks

DIY Retrofabulous Halloween Masks

Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate

“These are your grandmother’s crafts, ya gotta problem with that?”

I found these vintage inspired paper mache masks at Target and my only regret is that I didn’t buy every last mask.  Alas, they’re sold out locally and I’m kicking myself for not getting more.  If your local Target is sold out don't fret, you can find similar masks made of fabric and paper at craft chains and costume supply stores.  It’s so easy to dress them up with inexpensive glitter, gems, feathers and decoupage using Aleene’s Tacky Glue, Fabric Fusion tape and decoupage medium.  These also look fabulous painted or covered with sequins or ribbon, so make them your own.  I love them for Halloween, but they’re so fun you could use them for Home Décor year round!  You can give these masks even more vintage appeal if you remove the stretchy straps and attach a painted dowel and satin or lace ribbons.  

(See the video on Knoxville's WBIR Channel 10 Live at Five at Four here!) 

How-To DIY a Dali/Schiaparelli/Man Ray/Lanvin Inspired Red Lips Necklace

When I started seeing Man Ray, Salvador Dali and Elsa Schiaparelli inspired accessories popping up in the fashion mags recently, I was tickled ten shades of SHOCKING pink!   The Impossible Conversations exhibit at the Met featuring the work of Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada obviously hit a surreal note for the fashion crowd. Schiap and Dali created some amazing, iconic pieces together. 

How To Make Sugar Skull Shrink Plastic Earrings for BeadsDirectUK

Sugar Skull Shrink Plastic Earrings
Margot Potter for BeadsDirectUK

Ah, shrink plastic.  I can clearly recall myself as a younger and impatient Madge marveling through the oven door window as my colorful creations folded, flipped, flopped and flattened into delightful miniature works of art.  Some things never change.  I've been making shrink plastic jewelry for a number of years.  It does require just a little bit of patience, but the end result is absolutely worth the effort!  I've always had a deep adoration for The Day of the Dead celebration and the many colorful, lively, beautiful crafts that surround this holiday.  What an amazing way to celebrate life and those who have passed away.  I've taken a permission free skull and added some sugar skull embellishments, you can take the skull and add more details or take some away, remember to add a little loop at the top for your jump ring.  Use permanent markers, take your time and make sure you bake colored side up.