Etched Slate Sign

Hi Crafty Friends!

I'm back from a road trip to Arizona where I saw many amazing sights like the Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert.  Among the many fascinating things I saw were petroglyphs.  These are ancient drawings carved into the rock in many places around the world.  These petroglyphs inspired the slate sign I etched here.

I received some new materials from etchall® for this blog hop and I was eager to try them out.  One item was a etchall® resist gel to use with etchall® etching crème.

After studying the petroglyphs, I chose a simple sun as a motif on a slate sign.  I drew my own image with a circle and rays.

Here it is drawn with pencil on the slate.  You can erase whatever pencil marks that are left later.

I used the resist gel and went over the pencil lines.

Then, I let it dry until it was clear.  Using a toothpick, I filled the ring and rays with etching crème.

After fifteen minutes, I rinsed off the etching crème.  Ordinarily, I'd scrape off the etching crème and return it to the bottle, since it is re-useable.  But, in this case, I used very little crème.  Once the crème was rinsed off, I pulled of the resist gel. 

Here's the result:

I liked the look of the primitive sun on the rough slate, but I thought it needed a little more.  So, I added some smaller petroglyph motifs on both sides.

I drew the motifs with pencil, then used a toothpick dipped into the etchall® etching crème and went over the lines.  After 15 minutes, I rinsed them quickly under running water.

Here's the final result of my etched slate sign:

Etched Slate Sign

Etched Slate Sign

Here it is again showing the great etchall® product used in this project.  I hope you'll try it because it is fun and easy to use with easy clean-up and very little odor.  This is the first time I have used the etchall® resist gel, and I really like how it works on a rough, uneven surface like the slate.  I have tried stencils before on slate and the resist gel works much better.

Take a look at all the other designer's etched projects for this blog hop.  You can find them all on the Designer Crafts Connection Blog.

National Craft Month

Hi Crafty Friends!

March is National Craft Month and I'm going to celebrate this month with some ideas and inspiration for you. 

Here's a few ideas from the Creating With Joy blog.  It's almost St. Patrick's Day, so here is a cute banner from Julie McGuffee:  St. Patrick's Day Banner

St. Patrick's Day Banner

Also from the Creating with Joy blog, my Children's Felt Bulletin Board.  It's simple to make with that wonderful felt from Kunin, some Duck Tape and Joy Iron-on Letters.

Children's Felt Bulletin Board

Joy Iron-on letters can be ironed onto most surfaces with a craft iron or glued onto those surfaces where you can't use an iron.

Here's a craft that I did in February for the Creating with Joy blog.  We're expecting a granddaughter this month, so I created a small garland for the baby's room.  This time I used stiffened felt, some tulle ribbon and, of course, Joy letters!

Baby Onesie Garland

And, in January, I was thinking snow!  Maybe I thought a little too hard!  There is a lot of it around this year!

Here's the easy garland I created for January:

Let It Snow Garland

These letters are adhered to sparkling foam snowflakes.  It's easy to adapt for any occasion by cutting or buying die cuts and adding Joy letters.  You can find them in craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby or on their website.

Hope you are inspired to create! 

The Creativation Show

Hi Everyone,
I'm back from the Creativation Show in Phoenix and I thought I'd share a few photos of the show.  This year, I walked the show, took some classes and taught a Make and Take on the show floor.

One of the speakers that I had the opportunity to hear was Leatrice Eiseman, who is the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. It was all about the new fashion color palette and what inspired its selection.  The website says that this set of colors for Spring 2017 combine "Vitality, Relaxation, and the Great Outdoors". 

Here's the new palette:

I think it's a lovely group of fresh, bright and happy colors.  They are some of my favorite colors to wear.  What do you think?

I also taught at the show in the Creativation Café where a whole host of industry designers were teaching Make and Takes.   Eileen Hull's little trailer, Scotty, was also on display there.  She traveled all the way from Virginia to Phoenix pulling the trailer to the show.

I walked the show looking for fresh inspiration for my design work and checking out the new products.  Here's some of what I found:

I found string art and woven wall hangings at several booths along with looms in different shapes.

String Art

Woven wall hanging in different shapes and sizes from Bucilla

Walnut Hollow

A woven wall hanging with added flowers at Prima

There were pretty new paint colors and some new finishes at the Plaid booth.

This display was set up with a large picture in back.  Those chairs are only about 6" high!  And, those umbrellas are painted bowls with bamboo skewers.  Clever!

Here's another photo from the same booth.  Painting on rocks is continuing in popularity.

Another of my favorites is the Bernat yarn booth.  This year they had a winter lodge scene with lots of warm sweaters and a stone fireplace.

WOW!

Chunky yarns and big needles were also on the scene at several booths.  The above was at the Lion Brand Yarns booth.

Here's another amazing display - all built from paper.

And, although I'm not much into scrapbooking, I always have to take a look at the Graphic 45 booth.

Some of my favorite booths were decorated with old stuff.  Tim Holtz always has a great collection of memorabilia here hung on shelving with rope and pipe fittings.

There was lots more, but half the time I was too busy ooh-ing and ah-ing to remember to take photos!  More photos of the show can be found here on the show website and here on the AFCI facebook page.  That's our new name by the way.  We have gone from CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) to AFCI (Association for Creative Industries). 

Also new to the show this year was a baking section, a sewing competition, a splatter paint booth where you could suit up and create some art, and a "Shark Tank"-style best invention competition.  It was a lot of fun to see and, after only a few days, my feet were back to normal!  I'm looking forward to next year - and hoping for warmer, drier weather! 

Creativation

Happy New Year!

I hope you all have a very crafty New Year!  If you don't have a hobby that is fun and satisfying to you, it's never to late to start.  There's something out there for everyone.

And, speaking of crafts and creativity, I'll be heading to Phoenix this month for Creativation.  This is the new name of the Craft and Hobby Association trade show that has been located in Anaheim for the last few years.  It promises to be a great time with lots of wonderful new ideas and products to view.  And, we'll have the city of Phoenix to explore.

This year I will be teaching a Make and Take in the Creativation Café.

So, if you are going to the show, stop by and say hi!  I'll be teaching a variation of this wrapped cuff bracelet:

Denim Wrapped Cuff by Terry Ricioli

For those of you not going to the show, I'll be sharing my Make and Take later in January with some show pics.

The Designer Section of CHA will be Sharing the Creative Heart(TM) on Sunday, the 22nd.  Participating designers are making a heart-inspired art piece and hiding it somewhere on the show floor for others to find and keep!  My plan is to make a pair of heart-inspired earrings - so keep an eye out on Sunday if you are walking the show!

And, a couple of my etched snowmen ornaments will be hanging around the etchall booth.  Etchall is new to the show this year, so stop by and find out about this amazing product at Booth #627 and try it out with a free Make and Take.

Etched Snowman Ornament

Hope to see you at the Creativation show!  Keep on creating!

Last Minute Gift Idea: Leaf Earrings

Hi Everyone!

Are you ready for the holidays?  Do you need a last minute gift idea for a friend or family member?  You've come to the right place!

We invite you to join the Last Minute Gift Ideas blog hop with a great group of talented designers.  Hop from blog to blog and find easy, fast and amazing last minute gift ideas.

You can also win a great prize!  Visit all the blogs participating in the hop, leave a comment, and you can win a $100 Visa gift card!

Earrings are always a great gift.  Here's some mixed media ones that will be sure to be a hit.  Leather is such a popular jewelry medium right now, and all you do to create the leaf is use a die cutter.  You can find the tutorial here.

Leather Leaf Earrings

 
While I really like these in tan suede and dark red, I wanted to try a different color to show how versatile this idea is.  Here's a necklace I made using turquoise leather.  For more on this necklace, go to this link.

Blueberry Tassel Necklace

Blueberry Tassel Necklace Close-up

As you can see, it's a very versatile design idea.  With so many colors and textures in leather and suede, it's easy to create your own version for any occasion. 

More ideas - try a different die cut, use leaf or other fancy chain, use pre-strung dangle chain, add a smaller leaf, a filigree stamping or other layer in between the leaf and the chain.

You have plenty of chances to enter to win a $100 Visa gift card each day of the hop, on any of the participating blogs.  Everyone is eligible to win whether you're in the U. S. or international.  The prize winner will be announced on Christmas, December 25, on einatkessler.com

Here's the hop list:

Ola Khomenok
Patti Hodder
Kathy Clement
Alexandra Morein
Sandy Trefger
Gloria Stengel
Pam Bray
Einat Alagem
Keren Tamir
Terry Ricioli - YOU ARE HERE!
Katelyn Grosart
Einat Kessler
Susan M. Brown
Steph Ackerman
Eileen Hull
Rita Barakat
Mahe Zehra

In order to win, leave a comment answering the question - "What is your favorite 'can't live without' craft supply or tool?"
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Creating and Happy Holidays!

Terry

Winter Woods Necklace

Hi Crafty Friends!

The winter issue of Craft Ideas is out in its digital edition and will be on newsstands soon.  It is filled with all sorts of great crafts for winter making and decorating.  Embroidery hoop ideas, how to use those coloring pages and ideas for decorating the kids' rooms are among the many ideas available.

Craft ideas

Of course, there are some jewelry designs for those of you who love beading.  Among them is one of mine!

Winter Woods Necklace

I love to mix different elements in my jewelry.  Here there are two different ceramic beads, three kinds of gemstones, glass daggers and wood combined with natural brass chain and spacers.  I tried to evoke a wintry scene with this piece - a view of snow-decked pines and firs, rocks half hidden under caps of white.  And, I'm pleased to say - the photo is mine, too.  I found the perfect old board with it's grays and peeling white and green paint.

Check out Craft Ideas; it's always full of great crafting inspiration!

Happy crafting!

Terry

Pretty Palettes November Challenge

Hi friends!

Today I'm designing with the Pretty Palettes November Challenge. Erin Prais-Hintz held a photo contest to come up with this month's palette.   Here's the color palette generated from the beautiful photo of lamb's ears and maple leaves by Susan Conaway.  Follow the link to her blog, which is filled with gorgeous fiber art!


Erin chose these beads from the Bead Gallery(R) line at Michaels.


Here's what I picked up at Michaels.

My favorites are the first strand; it's green banded agate and combines almost all the colors in the palette.  I also found a pendant that looked just like a lamb's ear leaf.  I added some fire agate rounds, faceted Czech glass in greenish turquoise with flecks of brown, and gold spacers.  Although I didn't pick up quite the same shades in the palette, the colors are all in the photo.

The first thing that I did was remove the bail from the pendant.  I used brass wire to make my own wrapped bail. 

To embellish the pendant, I added an antique gold oak leaf tied on with waxed linen with a few beads on the ends.  Then, I strung the pendant on a strand of the Czech glass turquoise beads.  I added another strand of the banded agate and fire agate and attached them to an antique gold rope-textured jump ring.  I tied red deerskin lace to the jump rings and tied them at a length that I could slip over my head.  I considered gold chain instead of lace, but I like the informal feel of the leather. 

Banded Agate and Turquoise Necklace

Not a very inspired name, but it's the best I can come up with for now!

Here are the earrings:

I happen to have both lambs' ears and maple leaves in my yard, so I couldn't resist placing them in the photo!

Thanks for the inspiration, Erin and Susan!