Terry Ricioli Designs

Hi Crafty Friends! This month on the Designer Crafts Connection round-up, we're designing crafts that preserve memories.  Whether it's your last vacation, special family photos or scenes from your childhood, we have ideas for you!  Be sure to click on the big blue DCC button to the left of this post and see what all the designers have created! This month I created an etched frame and an etched vase.  My youngest daughter got married a little over a year ago.  Yes, I'm finally getting a photo in a frame.  I'm notoriously bad at getting photos into frames or albums.  Most of mine reside on the hard disk or in shoe boxes!  The vase is from the wedding centerpieces.  I first etched a border, then added the initial of her married name inside the border.  This will be a great reminder of a wonderful occasion.  The vase and stencils The border stencil The second stencil Finished Vase and Frame Here is the finished vas...

Hi Crafty Friends! Recently I was invited to try glass etching with etchall® .  It was a technique and a product that I had never tried and I was a bit skeptical.  I like to try new things, but my preference is quick and easy with great results.  I imagined glass etching as messy, smelly and requiring hazmat gear and lots of ventilation!  But, I was pleasantly surprised - actually more than pleasantly surprised - I am a fan now and looking through all my supplies and household items for pieces to etch!  Here was my process: First of all they included a hummingbird stencil and mirror tile in the sample kit with the etchall® etching creme.  I did that first and it turned out great! The double edges you see on this image are the result of reflection.  The actual edges of the stenciled image are very sharp. Next, I found a vase and a stencil from supplies I had.  This is an Americana® Gloss Enamels® Resusable Stick-onStenc...

Hi Crafty Friends! There's a touch of fall in the air here, and trees are showing hints of oranges and yellow.  It's time to break out the scarves and sweaters! Here's a jewelry set that combines a hand-dyed silk scarf with a necklace in a new way.  It's in the fall print issue of Craft Ideas Instead of using chain to hang the necklace, I designed it with loops through which you can thread the scarf. Scarf Jewelry You can wear this jewelry and the scarf in many ways.  Here's one way - thread the scarf through the loops and let the scarf drape down your back.  Here's a link to the Craft Ideas instructions . Check out the Craft Ideas fall issue for more ways to wear this. The special digital edition on Jewelry from Craft Ideas has another of my scarf jewelry designs and shows another way to loop the scarf through the necklace. The muted palette on this scarf would also be great for fall. You can find the instructions on Craft Ideas. These be...

Hi Crafty Friends! What do you think this wall basket is made from?  It's a Smoothfoam half ball!  I covered the half ball with a terra cotta finish from DecoArt and added some rope, filigree, twine and beads.  I love the way it turned out and it really looks like clay.  But, it's very lightweight.  Hang it outside on your fence (as long as it doesn't rain) or put it inside.  Add some lightweight silk ferns or dried flowers or even some faux cactus! You can find the complete instructions on making your own on the Smoothfoam Blog .  With one Smoothfoam half ball, you can actually make a pair of these. We have a lot of fun over on the Smoothfoam blog .  I'm proud to be associated with a very creative group of designers.  It's so much fun to see the original and innovative designs they create.  I hope you'll stop by!  You can find Smoothfoam on Pinterest , too.  And, to see my designs for Smoothfoam, follow me on Pinter...

Hi Crafty Friends! This month on the Designer Crafts Connection we're crafting in a Back to School mode.  You'll find crafts either using that theme or creating a craft with the actual supplies.   I'm crafting with school supplies. I had some old felt pens that didn't work anymore.  I just couldn't throw them away!  Not only do I hate to create more garbage, these pens were bright and colorful  There must be something I can do with them!  After some thought, I found I could remove the felt wick leaving a colorful tube.  And when you have a tube, you have possibilities! I decided to string the tubes on twine and make a wind chime.  I recycled a couple of plastic lids, too.  This craft is great for kids, especially if you have an adult remove the wick from the pen.  With the use of recyclable materials, it's inexpensive to make. Felt Pen Wind Chime You'll need:  8 dried-up felt pens 2 plastic lids Assorted acrylic b...