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

Sparkling Crystal Leaves Necklace for Create Your Style with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS

If you're missing the fall foliage, this DIY Sparkling Crystal Leaves Necklace is a glamorous replacement!  A while back, I was asked by the Create Your Style with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS team in Austria to design some jewelry based on the theme of handicrafts.  They've shared the design on their website this month, hooray!  I wanted this to have a Folk Art Chic appeal, elements of handcrafted paper married with the unmistakeable sparkle of crystal.  It's intentionally imperfect and handmade.  I started with paper snowflakes cut from very old book pages (I sell these on my website ThriftScore)-you can get instructions for making paper snowflakes here.  I turned the arms of the snowflakes into the templates for the pendants tracing them out on gold cardboard with a slight edge for a stacked effect.  An array of hand glued SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS flat backs elevated the design from handicraft to high fashion.  Crystal bronze shade rounds in varied sizes and aged brass chain pulled the design together, giving it a vintage vibe with a modern appeal.

Visit the Create Your Style site to download the PDF instructions for this Sparkling Crystal Leaves Necklace and while you're there, check out the amazing array of DIY inspiration from designers across the globe.

Life is short, be sparkly!

Cheers,

Madge

DIY Glittered Ornaments for iLoveToCreate

As you can see, I'm having a little love affair with clear glass ornaments this year.  It actually started last year with some vibrant feather filled ornaments, but something about this blank canvas keeps me coming up with more ideas.  This time, it's all about glitter.  Mmmm...glitter.  You can get the step by step instructions to make these DIY Glittered Ornaments on the iLoveToCreate blog today.

Yarn Wrapped Easter Egg DIY

I've been buried in work on the new site, so forgive me for not being around as much!  I'm guest posting over at iLoveToCreate today with a yarn wrapped Easter egg DIY that is literally three simple steps.  Yes, folks, for a few pennies and in three easy steps, you can whip up some festive Easter decorations!  Huzzah!

How Do You Value Your Work

 

How Do You Value Your Work: What Separates a Design Hobbyist from a Professional Designer

Copyright 2013 Margot Potter

All Rights Reserved

One of the most empowering and important things a professional designer can do is put a tangible value on their work, their time and creativity.  And when I say value, I mean a monetary one.  All creativity has value.  It's a tricky thing because not everyone who creates does it for a living or for any financial return.  A lot of people create for the sheer, unfettered joy of it.  That's a personal choice and an acceptable one for sure.  Doing what we love doesn't mean we have to do it for a living.  So, what separates a professional designer from a hobbyist?  Is it skill?  Is it knowledge?  Is it simply the willingness to say, "I am hanging out my shingle, this designer is for hire?"  How do you value your work enough to ask for compensation?  What is the value of creativity?

Emerald City Necklace for iLoveToCreate

I'm guest posting over at the iLoveToCreate blog today with this Oz inspired Emerald City Necklace.  You can find the step by step instructions over there.  I just loved Oz the Great and Powerful, mostly because I love the message that if we believe, anything is possible.

Because, it's true.

"I don't want to be a good man... I want to be a great one" Oz

Rock and roll,
Madge

DIY Decoupage Pot

I am over at the iLoveToCreate blog today with this DIY decoupaged terra cotta pot.  In person, it actually looks like it's been painted.  I'm pleased as punch with how this one turned out!  This could not be easier to make, it is literally four steps!  Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. I have a second one in the works and then they'll go out on our screened in porch for the spring and summer.

DIY Peeps Easter Bouquet

An Ode to Peeps

Oh Peeps, dear Peeps, tempting, tender, tasty Peeps, how do I love thee?

Let me count the ways...

I love you for your soft-ish marshmallow inside.

I love you for your crunch-ish sugary outside.

I love you fresh-ish from the package and after a few days when you've gotten a little stale-ish.

Oh Peeps. 

I love you every which way and especially when you're in my tummy.

DIY Rustic Elegance Centerpiece

I am thrilled beyond belief to be guest posting over at Decor Hacks today for David Tutera's FAB new DIY Bridal Collection.  Make a DIY Rustic Elegance Centerpiece using inexpensive items you can score at Target, Michaels and Home Depot or Lowe's for SONG with this quick and absurdly simple DIY.

St. Patrick's Day Craft Idea!

Top of the Mornin' to ya!

Erin go bragh!

Manly, yes, but I like it too.

New Craft Haul Video for iLoveToCreate!

Craft Haul Video for iLoveToCreate

Hey Howdy Hey, Crafty Campers!  Happy Wednesday!

It's Madge here!

You know, in case you were thinking someone else was posting on my blog.

Derp.

How to Make Bunny Nest Coconut Carrot Cupcakes

Bunny Nest Coconut Carrot Cupcakes

Easter is just around the corner and these Bunny Nest Coconut Carrot Cupcakes are as yummy as they are adorable.  Miss Avalon made the fondant carrots. How cute are they? I love my smart, funny, creative kid!

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!

Upcycled Can DIY and Free Vintage Graphic

Miss Avalon has a super cute upcycled can DIY for iLoveToCreate today.  Turn your old tin cans into pretty can-tainers in just a few quick steps!  You can get the full tutorial with pictures on the iLTC blog!

So sorry for being MIA this week.  Mr. Potter is overseas traveling for business and I fell down the stairs during a power outage and managed to sprain my ankle and possibly fracture my fifth metatarsal bone. You know, for fun.  Squee.  Getting up and down the stairs is proving challenging, so my DIY output has been diminished considerably.  I did get this project shot yesterday and posted today.  While I was down in the craft dungeon studio, I scanned and cleaned up this final free Miss Madge's Share the Love Initiative free vintage graphic for your elephantine entertainment and edification. 

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?!

Free Victorian Calling Card and Valentine's Jewelry for Mom

Halloo!  Today's Madge's Share the Love Initiative offering is three fold.  Three is a magic number, after all.  Firstly, a lovely free Victorian Calling Card for you to download.  Victorian era women and men of a certain status would leave them with friends when calling (visiting) often in a small receiving tray or with a servant if the home owner was away.  The cards and the manner in which they were folded or embellished had a variety of meanings.  Here is a great site with detailed information about these fascinating cards.  I have a small collection of these cards in my coffers, this is one of my favorites.  I also sell a digital collage sheet of calling cards on the website for download (which means you buy the file and can use the image again and again in your work.)

Tophatter Haul Video

I was asked by the fine folks at the online auction site Tophatter to visit the site, bid on some items and share my haul in a video.  Uh, you want me to shop?  You had me at haul!  If you've not checked this site out, it's a lot of fun. Not only can you bid on all sorts of fabulous items in a live virtual auction, but you can sell your items there too! 

It's fun filled, fast paced and frenetic.  You can find everything from craft supplies to handmade goods to jewelry to watches to electronics...even food! 

Go check out Tophatter and tell them Madge sent you! 

xoxo
Madge
(Disclosure: This blogger was compensated for this video.  A gal has to butter her bread!)

DIY Cupcake Wrapper Flower Valentine's Wreath

What's this?  A lovely DIY Valentine's Wreath for iLovetoCreate?  Why yes, it is!  Isn't it romantic?
Monday was Operation Take Down Christmas at Casa de Potter.  Le sigh. Worst day of the year, if you ask me.  Which you didn't, but that never stopped me from sharing my opinion.   I was feeling the winter blahs and then I stumbled on a Styrofoam wreath in my crafty coffers and I simply had to make a Valentine's wreath.  The making of this wreath was epic, in a Dino DeLaurentis or Ziegfield Follies fashion.  I wanted romance, I wanted pretty, I wanted it all without the slightest whiff of ticky tacky.

How to Make Cupcake Wrapper Flowers Guest Posting!

I'm guest posting for iLoveToCreate today with some cheap and easy Valentine's Cupcake Wrapper Flowers you can whip up in a flash to make a whimsical bouquet for your sweetheart.  Who loves ya baby?  Well, I do.  Duh.

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.