I Love to Create Recycled Denim Book Covers

Recycled Denim Book Cover Margot Potter for I Love to Create Copyright 2009

When I asked my daughter if she needed to make book covers for her school books she looked at me what that, “Are you daft?” expression on her face. Yes, it’s official, I’m daft and I’m old. Undaunted by these facts, I was certain that book covers hadn't gone the way of record albums and After School Specials and then we saw some ready made stretchy covers at our local Big Box store.

A ha! Maybe I'm not so daft after all!

I thought we'd try and make some recycled covers instead of buying ready made. Back in my day, we whipped up covers to protect our school books using brown paper shopping bags. Those brown bags aren’t as easy to score these days. No worries! I have a huge stash of recycled jeans from a class I taught last year and that’s where this project was born. I got these jeans for pennies at my local Goodwill. You can do this for school books or for any books that get a fair amount of use to protect them. I love the little pocket for your pencils and pens or anything else you want to take along with you. Teens can personalize these any way they like and make a different one for every book.
Recycled Denim School Book Covers
Margot Potter for I Love to Create Teen Crafts
Copyright 2009

MaterialsPair of recycled stretchy jeans (You’ll be using a pant leg and a pocket)Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue
Aleene’s Patch and Applique Glue
Tulip Fabric Spray Paint Emerald and Fuchsia
Tulip Soft Matte Fabric Paints in Azalea, Ebony and Glacier White
Tulip Pearl Dimensional Fabric Paint Clover Green
Tim Holtz idea-ology Mini Masks Regal
Star Stencil
Hero Arts Writing Stamp

Tools

Ruler
Stencil Brush
Fabric Scissors
Foam Brush

1. Cut a leg from a pair of old stretch jeans. Cut a pocket off of the back of the jeans, leaving the backing so it’s still a pocket.

2. Place your book on the jeans and determine width and length of your material. You want the material to be able fold over on both sides about 2.5” and to be able to overlap the edge of your book cover about 2.5”. The fabric when folded top and bottom should hit at exactly the width of your book. Measure twice and then cut to size.

3. Run a bead of glue along the top and bottom edge of your folded fabric, stop gluing approximately 2.5” from each edge. Allow to dry.

4. Slide the front of the book cover into each side of your folded and glued fabric, creating protective sleeve.

5. Adjust the fabric tension and glue the edge down on each side. Repeat for the back cover. Allow glue to dry.
6. Glue pocket on front of cover with Patch and Applique glue. Allow to dry.7. Decorate the pocket using a variety of fabric paints, stencils, rubber stamps and splatters. I used the Tim Holtz flourish mask with pink and green fabric spray paint, the Tim Holtz flourish stencil with the azalea paint, smeared and flicked on the green paint on the pocket with my pointer finger and stenciled the stars on with the stencil brush and black paint. 8. Use a foam brush to apply fabric paint to a rubber stamp with text and stamp on the center of the pocket. Allow to dry.

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

Madge's Spicy Cajsian Shrimp

Madge’s Spicy Cajsian Shrimp
These spicy grilled shrimp have both a Thai and a Cajun flair. Enjoy with a loaf of warm crusty bread or cook up some brown rice. Try them with a side of mango salsa for a hot and sweet combo. Highly recommended with a glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Ingredients
1lb. medium frozen or fresh shrimp
2 large cloves garlic
2 limes juiced
½ lemon juiced
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1 tbsp. red pepper flakes (to taste)
½ tsp. Franks Red Hot sauce (or other red pepper sauce)

Side salad/garnish
3 large leaves Romaine lettuce
3 thickly sliced Campari tomatoes
Paper thin sliced Vidalia onions
Diced bell pepper
Lemon wedge



1. Peel and devein shrimp leaving tails on.
2. Squeeze two limes and ½ lemon into a large bowl.
3. Chop two large cloves of garlic and place in bowl.
4. Chop 1/3 cup cilantro and place in bowl.
5. Add pepper flakes and hot sauce to taste. (We like it really hot around these parts.)
6. Marinate shrimp for an hour.
7. Skewer and cook on grill.
8. Prepare garnish.
9. Bon appetit!

TastyLinks™ Saturday!

Click here to get the instructions for my Simply Lovely Bracelet at the Beadalon Website, you'll learn how to use scrimps and wire guardians! Copyright 2006 Margot Potter for Beadalon (You can find the bird charm at Ornamentea)
Join the Beadalon Fan Page on Facebook!

What a wild week! Up and down and all around and by Friday I was feeling like crawling under my covers with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s and a trashy novel. Then I got some stellar news I can share as soon as the ink is dry and that perked me up a skootch. I was still feeling kinda bleh until I got an email from my publisher. Both of my new books Beyond the Bead and Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed have sold through their first printings! Beyond the Bead sold through within the first three months! That’s rockin’! Plus the email included a little Press Release they’d whipped up that said some awfully super nice things about me. I’m a Leo, we love compliments. In fact we eat them for breakfast every morning. Please pass the ‘pretty please with brown sugar on top’ and a side of ‘gee you’re swell’s.”

So thank you to everyone who has purchased both of the books, thank you to folks who’ve written up some great reviews and helped get some buzz going. Kudos to my fabulous co-authors Fernando DaSilva (check out Nando's great post on pricing your jewelry line) and Katie Hacker (Katie's got a great post on Bead Artists against Breast Cancer)! We popped the cork on some bubbly last night and celebrated. This just confirms my belief that folks are hungry for inspiration and for creativity in these trying times. So if you’re a creative, take heart.

I'll be riding on a horse drawn carriage in a fancy (and probably soggy due to the rain) hat this Sunday! My SIL invited us along to schmooze with the uber elite at a prestigious horsey event. As Joan Rivers would say, "Fohn, fohn, fohn...fohn." Just call me "Lovey" dahling.

Super Linky Love thank you to the gals from ScaryCraft for featuring my Mixed Media pin last week! Check out their craftalicious blog!

Ms. Jennifer Perkins did a very fun blog round up of crafty red heads this past week. She included yours truly, I'm a red head at heart no matter what color is on my locks. Thanks Jen!

A Linky Love 411: The folks from Max and Chloe emailed me a hot tip on a great giveaway! They carry some really innovative costume and fine jewelry lines. Click here to enter a sweepstakes for a 500 dollar shopping spree!

My friend Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood Studio did a gorgeous design for Rings n Things last week. She was inspired by my simple wire wrapped lava rocks to make a mind blowingly cool wrapped design integrating her beautiful keyhole pendant as a focal element. Plus I love how she showed you first hand how to be inspired by something and then make it your own. Great work, Melanie! Also check out her thoughtful post about artists’ rights and copyrights here.

Without further ado...here’s this week’s sampling of TastyLinks™ open wide and say “AH!:”

Vickie Howell Create customized cards out recycled fabric and keepsake images!

The Crochet Dude Drew talks about his latest hook/needle find in an All Boye Review!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery See how to make stitchless embroidered fabric from the cool new book: Fabricate by Susan Wasinger.

Naughty Secretary Club Jen does a little painting, searches for vintages images and boils a pair of eyeglasses all in the name of creating a necklace with a little specs appeal.

Cross Stitch at About.com Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Connie's latest fun, fabulous, and did we mention FREE Cross Stitch pattern.

CraftyPod In her latest podcast, Sister Diane interviews Sarah Hodsdon about the future of the design profession in a global, digital economy.

Crafty Princess Diaries Go shopping in style with your own crocheted tote bag. The Crafty Princess shows off her latest finished fiber project.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Craftside's got a crochet pattern for a pop art roll of toilet paper cozy, a detailed tutorial on how to make a photo based painting, a free dress silhouette template from the new book: Cloth Doll Artistry, and a couple of necklaces made from some very unusual recycled elements.

Cathie Filian Cathie volunteered to make 40 centerpieces for an Awards Gala - Check out her trip to the flower district and step-by-step instructions on how to make the arrangements.

Blisstree Arts Cyndi has rounded up all of her favorite posts on making background papers and fabrics for your projects.

Aileen's Musings Aileen offer's another great Mothers or Father's day gift idea using more bottle caps!

About Family Crafts Help needed: Looking for creative graduation decorations... Ideas anyone?

The Impatient Crafter Learn how to make beaded wire circles with Madge!

Free Jewelry Making Project!

This project from my new book Beyond the Bead is available as a free download at the MyCraftivity site until April 24th! Learn how to turn poly clay into faux metal with a fun and simple technique. I still need to make a necklace for this set...hmmm...better get on that!

I've got a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes here and hopefully soon some of it will be solidified for announcement status. At least it's keeping me out of trouble! Tom Petty was so right when he said the waiting is the hardest part!

Until next time...craft on with your bad selves.

xoxo
Madge

I do, YuDu!

Image and text copyright Margot Potter 2009

It’s been ages since we created a new The Impatient Crafter™ video. So on Saturday we hauled out the lights and the camera and got to work. Drew worked his editing magic and we posted it last night on YouTube, you can watch it below!

When the wonderful folks from ProvoCraft sent me a new YuDu home screen printing system to explore, we knew it would make a great video topic. We did this on the fly working from the instructions that come with the machine and we found it very easy and super fun. It took us about 6 hours to film since we were working in live time. I also spent about 2 hours fine tuning my sketch you see above, it took about ten versions to get to this one, and I'm really happy with it. Provo has images you can purchase and of course you can mine Dover books and other permission free sources, but I really wanted to make something from scratch. You can use this machine to screen print on a wide variety of materials and items, t-shirts are an obvious choice...but check out the YuDu site for some really fascinating ideas including book shelves, belts, shoes...

It’s an investment, but screen printed items look so much better than the decal style items you can have made online. If you've got a team or a troop or a group event or a fundraiser, why not make your own shirts? I’ve got a lot of plans for this machine...

While you’re here, please check out my interview with the inspiring Sister Diane of CraftyPod on branding. If you’re trying to navigate the complexities of creating a personal brand, we’ve got some insights to share with you. These days, in an ever expanding sea of talent, branding is the key to standing out. Diane is a savvy lady whom I greatly admire and I was honored to be invited on her pod cast. Thank you Sister Diane!

My muse awaits...so until next time...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Margot

Siren Song Necklace by Avalon Potter

I managed yesterday to clear off the long desk in my studio that has been totally covered with crap for weeks. Most of my studio cleaning involves moving piles of crap from one spot to another spot...I guess that's what most cleaning involves when I think about it! Cleaning...is not my thing. I do it when I have to, but mostly I ignore clutter and hope it organizes itself when I'm not looking.

I’m not made of the stuff that easily organizes seemingly disparate elements into cohesive groups. I’m impatient, have I mentioned that? At some point though the chaos begins to make my brain stop functioning properly and I have to buck up and get to organizing. It’s absolutely insane how many craft tools, machines and supplies I own. Okay maybe not what since I craft for a living, but dang if it isn’t tough keeping it all organized!



While working on organizing and getting the final details of one of my TSPs* finished, my daughter Avalon was given the task of creating a necklace around an extraordinary miniature canvas pendant from the folks at Art Beads. She's my new intern, but she's far more talented than I could ever hope to be! I love the sleek simplicity of her necklace design featuring Beadalon Quick Links and chain and CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements jet black briolette pendants. Stunning! Oh and that gorgeous shell is one she just plucked out of the water in Jamaica and she insisted it be in the picture. She's a designer and a stylist! Love that kid of mine!

I fell madly in love with this artwork. It’s like a Rorschach test! When I look at it I see a large ship being engulfed by an octopus, while my husband said it looks like a tropical island with big palm trees...what do you see? There is an entire collection http://www.artbeads.com/pendants-canvas-on-wood.html of these miniature masterpieces on the Art Beads site all created by surfer and artist Charlie Clingman and each one is both stunning and incredibly inspirational. They are evocative and provocative and exquisitely fashioned.

I’ve got some podcasts pending. I’ll let you know when they go live. I’m slated for CraftyPod with Sister Diane on Thursday of this week and CraftCast with Alison Lee sometime in the very near future. They’re both interesting interviews with women whom I greatly admire. I was humbled and flattered that they each contacted me. I’m also slated to be on Reclaim U with the inspiring Sandy Fowler sometime in the near future, so look out for the 411!

I have a lot of straw to spin today so I must away! Until my most auspicious return...craft on with your bad selves!

Cheers,
Madge

(*Top Secret Projects)

Final Free Mixed Media Jewelry Project from Beyond the Bead

Nice and Naughty Shrink Art Charms Copyright 2009 Beyond the Bead by Margot Potter
Nice and Naughty Shrink Art Charms Variation Copyright 2009 Beyond the Bead by Margot Potter

(Click on images to view close up!)

It's time for the final free project from my fabulous new mixed media techniques for the beader book...Beyond the Bead! Insert cries of unfettered glee and joyous abandon here.
This 'charming' project has a tale to tell. Originally these little flappers were a little more...shall we say...naughty. I was asked to consider covering them up just a skootch more and I agreed. It was never my intention to offend, I just have an affection for vintage pin up art. But only if it's naughty...and nice. It looks as if the Dover book I used is no longer in print, so I've provided a link to a fashion illustration title from the same period with less risque images. I've also included some variations I made using colored pencils and vintage Vogue pattern images from the 1940s. This is a pretty straightforward idea, you pick bold pen and ink images and you trace them on the shrink plastic. I'm all about make it easy and make it fun...this is a great project to do with kids (using kid appropriate images...of course!)

So without further drivel...here's your free project! Leave a comment and I'll randomly select a winner to be announced on April 1st. No fooling, tee hee. I'll be sending you a signed copy of the book, a jaunty Beyond the Bead promo button and a stash of CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements sparklies for your collection! Good luck! Oh and if you're on Facebook, would you consider joining my Fan Page? I'll announce upcoming events and airings on QVC there, share project debuts and links to what's new in Madge's world. Pretty please?

Nice and Naughty Shrink Art Charms
Copyright 2009 Margot Potter
Beyond the Bead for North Light Books
Are you a naughty girl? Do you love to dance on the edge of decency? Do you ‘rouge your knees and roll your stockings down’? Well, my little flapper girl, these nifty little shrink art charms are certain to suit your style. Vo dee oh doh!

*Any clean and simple black and white inked illustrations will work here. The bigger the better so you can really get the detail in before it shrinks! It’s important to use a very, very fine tipped market so you can really get the lines clean or the finished result could be lacking in definition. You can add more or less color depending on your mood.

Supplies
Dover Spot Illustrations Book
Rough and Ready shrink plastic
Ranger Adirondack pen red pepper
Ranger Archival Ink black
Micron 005 fine tipped black marker
4mm gun metal jump rings
Krylon silver leafing pen
Sheet of brown kraft paper cut to fit oven tray

ToolsHole punch
Craft dedicated Toaster oven
Metal spatula
2 pairs chain nose pliers

1. Select images from book. Remember that they shrink a lot, so pick large detailed images for best results.
2. Trace images on rough side of plastic using a fine tipped marker.
3. Accent images with red marker.
4. Cut out images with sharp scissors making interesting shapes.
5. Create hole in top of image with hole punch.
6. Place images in preheated toaster oven on top of precut brown paper bag liner on oven tray.
7. Allow to shrink, use spatula to flatten any still curled images before cooling.
8. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
9. Use metal leaf pen to edge images. Allow to dry.
10. Attach jump rings to charms.

Supplies
Rough and Ready Shrink Art Plastic Shrinky Dinks, Spot Illustrations Dover Books, Adirondack pen and Archival Ink Ranger, Micron pen Kuretake, Silver leafing pen Krylon, gun metal jump rings Rings n’ Things.

Where Have All the Necklaces Gone?!

Jeff Vespa
Taraji P. Henson in vintage Fred Leighton necklace

My computer modem died unceremoniously Sunday morning. I’m not sure how a technophobe such as myself (who didn’t even have email until 5 years ago) has become so...okay I’ll admit it...addicted to the internet! I couldn’t work from home if I didn’t have the internet. I need it lightening fast and I need it fully functional.

So when my internet access goes down...I go into a panic. Thankfully my hubby was back from his 10 day trek in the UK and he helped get me back online!

I did manage to stop panicking long enough to enjoy the Oscars last night. That was, without doubt, the coolest Oscars EVER! The stage was unbelievable! The way they gave away the acting awards was brilliant! And how the hell does Sophia Loren still look like that? I’ll have what she’s having...please! Hugh Jackman was the perfect touch of old Hollywood style class. Oh and that crystal curtain...magnifique! I want one in my house! Because a giant Swarovski Strauss curtain fits so well in a 128 year old Amish school house.

I have to admit when I watch the Oscars I really miss acting. I have practiced my acceptance speech a zillion times usually with a hair brush and not a bottle of shampoo like Kate Winslet, but I could so relate! I truly hope to get back to that career when my daughter is in college. By then I’ll be ready for the cool character roles, which are by far the most interesting. My lovely daughter has been bitten by the acting bug and I think she was planning her speech while we watched the Oscars together. I'm so excited for her because she got the role of Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast Jr. and that's exactly what she wanted. I love that kid!

My only complaint about the Oscars this year is the same as it was for the Grammys...where were the necklaces?! I saw two really cool designs and two safe but pretty designs and one that was far too small and then a whole lot of bare necks and a few sets of fabulous earrings (Angelina Jolie’s emeralds anyone?!) If you can’t wear diamonds, how about giving costume jewelry a whirl? Prada has those fabulous sewn on fabric crystal designs right now and what about Tom Binns or Erikson Beamon or Justin Guinta? I’m mad for the suddenly huge variety of costume jewelry on the runways and in the fashion mags, but why isn’t anyone sporting it to the awards shows? We get it that no one wants to look too ostentatious in this economy, so highlight some of the work of folks who aren’t afraid to take risks with non-precious materials. Ya don’t need to wear diamonds to look chic; in fact I refuse to ever wear them.

If I ran the world...it’d be far more sparkly and there would be a mandate on compassion.

Oh and as for gowns, there were lots of lovely ones but I really fell for Natalie Portman’s orchid pink and Alicia Key’s pretty purple frocks. I loved the shock of color in the sea of black, white, grey and beige.

I’m plotting a necklace inspired by the breathtaking 19th century Fred Leighton collar actress Taraji P. Hansen wore (see above.) I think her floral collar and the scrumptious 1950s diamond, emerald and ruby Fred Leighton necklace Amy Adams wore were both stunning. As soon as I get it made, I’ll post it here with instructions. Check back this week for the winners of the contests, a new free project from Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed and a free project from Beyond the Bead all with fab free prizes!

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

Cheers,
Madge

Free Mixed Media Jewelry Project from Beyond the Bead by Margot Potter for North Light Books

(Click on image to view components in close up)

WE HAVE A WINNER! I've announced the winner of this contest here! Check back for more free projects and free stuff!
As promised, this is the first of two free projects or sneak peeks from my new mixed media jewelry techniques book Beyond the Bead available at fine book purveyors everywhere! You'll have to buy the book to see the step out photos. This project made the cover and impressed a book buyer from a major book chain so much, she requested a custom order! That's a good sign! The book focuses on making the bead, pendant or component and shows you a variety of ways to integrate the finished item into finished jewelry, so you're learning how to make the bird charms here.

Leave a comment to win a free copy of the book along with a special prize, I'll randomly select a winner next Tuesday. Good luck!
I’ll Fly Away
Copyright 2009
Excerpted from Beyond the Bead by Margot Potter
North Light Books

Victorian style bird and nest stamped images are accented with soft shades of blue and green and coated with a clear glaze. Can you believe they’re made of paper? Chipboard provides a litany of design possibilities for the jewelry artist, just don’t wear these beads in the swimming pool and you’ll be fine.

*You can do so many things with chipboard. The key is not to over saturate it with inks. If you want to layer inks, let them dry in between so the paper won’t warp.

Supplies
3 Pre-punched 1.75" chipboard circles
Bird and Nest Stamp set
Ranger Archival Ink jet black
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads in shabby shutters and broken china
Diamond Glaze
Ranger Cut and Dry Stamp Foam square
Small Sharpee black
4mm gun metal jump rings
Gun metal head pins4mm olivine Swarovski rounds*
4mm jet hematite Swarovski rounds*
4mm indicolite Swarovski bicones*
(*Order from Art Beads before July 31st and use my code to save 10%:SCF10P-POTTER-0112)

Tools
Round nose pliers
2 pair chain nose pliers
Wire nippers

1. Stamp selected images on cardboard circles.
2. Accent surface of circles front and back with accent foam dipped in distress inks. Use a different part of the foam for each color to prevent muddy results.
3. After achieving desired color layers, add a layer of Diamond Glaze taking care not so shake tube to prevent bubbles. Allow to dry.
4. Repeat for opposite side of cardboard.
5. Lightly drag Sharpee around edges of bead.
6. Place Sharpee in underside of bead hole and accent with black.
7. Thread a 4mm olivine round on a head pin.
8. Thread the beaded head pin into hole in front of bead.
9. Bend pin flush to back of bead and create a loop.
10. Create coil topped dangles, two of each color bead and attach them to a jump ring.
11. Slide the beaded jump ring on the bail at the top of your bead and secure closed with pliers.

Supplies
Bird and Nest stamps Cavellini Papers, crystals Create Your Style CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements, gun metal findings Rings n’ Things, Distress Ink, Archival Ink, Foam squares Ranger, Diamond Glaze Judikins, Sharpee by Sharpee, jewelry tools Beadalon.