Post CHA Show

Hi Everyone!

I got back from the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) winter show a week ago and finally have my legs under me.  My feet were a little tired from walking 20 aisles of crafts, but somebody's got to do it!  Now, I can share some of the crafty fun with you. 

First of all, the I Love to Create booth was a fun tour of the company's history.  I got to share in that with a creation of a hat that would fit in the 50's or 60's.  I had a great time creating it.  One of these days I'll have to make one of my own to wear.

This pillbox hat is a no-sew project using Fabric Fusion(R).  I love the new Peel & Stick Sheets.

See my hat here on the "I Love to Create" website and check out all the other projects, too.

And, my little Roly-Poly Penguin made it to the show.  He was in the Smoothfoam booth.

Designers had their table displays on the show floor this year, so we were right in the middle of the action and had a lot of visitors.  Here's a look at my display.

 

I didn't take as many photos as I would have like.  Too busy gawking at all the crafty wonders!  But, fellow designer, Julie McGuffee, took a lot of photos and you can see them on her blog, Life in the Craft Lane.

Happy Crafting!

Terry

Southwestern Cross

Hi Crafters!
It's our first Monday Designer Crafts Connection blog hop, and we're starting the year off with Home Decor items.  It's the perfect time to add a new accent to your home, and I'm sure you'll find a few you'll want to try.  Follow the blog ring by going forward or back with the big blue button to the left of this post.

My home decor piece is a Southwestern Cross.  It has a natural look with faux stucco and raffia-covered floral wire and will fit in with a den, office or family room decorated in wood and stone. 

Although it looks like stucco, the base is a unique construction of Smoothfoam(TM) and a paintable texture paste from DecoArt(R). 

First cut a cross from a Smoothfoam(TM) sheet.  The dimensions on this cross are 6" wide by 8" high with 2" wide arms.  After measuring it, use a serrated knife in a sawing motion to cut it out of the foam.

Using a palette knife, cover the foam cross with DecoArt(R) Dimensional Effects(TM) paintable texture paste.  It's like frosting a cake (only easier!).  You can work the paste for awhile to get the texture you want.

When the paste is dry, paint it with Georgia Clay or the color of your choice.  When that is dry, make a wash of Peach Sherbet and paint over the first layer.  To make a wash, thin the paint with a little water.  Let dry.  These paints are from Americana(R) by DecoArt(R).

Cut two lengths of the florist wire about 7" long and two 4" long.  Loosely twist the two longer wires together.  Twist the 4" pieces together about halfway, slide it over the 7" twisted wires and finish twisting the wires.  The floral wire is from Joann's. 

Glue the wire cross to the foam cross with tacky glue.  Cut felt to cover the back and glue it to the cross.  Glue on a ribbon loop for hanging.

Happy New (Crafting) Year!
Terry

Last Minute Gift Idea

Hi Crafters!

Are you like me - looking for a last minute gift?  I usually make earrings, but this year I made these easy cell phone charms.  They are super quick to make and good for those who don't wear earrings.  And, you can use up bits and pieces of chain, unmatched charms and leftover beads to create them. 

I used a cell phone charm holder as a base, but you could use a key ring or a lobster clasp as a base.  I opened the jump ring on the holder and slid on the ring from a toggle clasp.  Then I attached pieces of chain to the ring with jump rings.  Attach charms, dangles and beads of your choice to the ends of the chain. 

That's all there is to it!  They make a great last minute stocking stuffer or package decoration.  And, you can attach them to anything from a pair of scissors to your purse or zipper or backpack!

Happy Crafting!
Have a great Christmas!
Terry

Nativity Ornament

Hi Crafters!

Happy December and welcome to another round of the Designer Crafts Connection blog hop!  This month we're making handmade gifts.  I'm sure you'll find a wonderful variety of super crafts just in time for the holidays. 

I had my kid crafters over last Friday and this is what we made.  It's my version of a craft stick Nativity Ornament.  You'll find it quick and easy to do and the kids will have fun with it. 

You'll need:
Wood pieces:  14 craft sticks, 2 wooden spoons or medium ovals, small oval, 2 medium circles and one small circle, star
Paint:  brown, yellow, face color, black
Cloth scraps
A small amount of wood fiber
Tacky glue
Twine for hanging loop
Tools:  paintbrush, toothpick, scissors

First, lay out the sticks and cut or snap off to size.  I used Skill Sticks(R) that you can snap apart.  If you use popsicle stitcks, have an adult use a pair of scissors to cut them.  Arrange your sticks to create a point in the center.  I've used ten sticks for the back.

Next, paint the roof and cross beams brown and the star yellow.

Glue the cross beams in place.

Snap or cut off the ends of the roof beams and glue them in place with a small piece of stick under them in the center. 

Cut the ends off the wooden spoons and paint the faces.  I liked the natural wood for the faces, but the eyes will bleed into the wood lines if you don't put a coat of paint on first.  Add the dots for eyes with the end of a toothpick.

Glue the heads onto the bodies.

Cut out rectangles of cloth for the clothing.  For Mary, you'll need a dress and veil.  For the baby, I used a strip of cloth for the swaddling clothes.  For Joseph, I used a piece of plaid flannel.  You could add a head scarf, too.

Wrap and glue the clothes around the figures and glue them in place on the stable.  I used some wood fiber for hay under the Baby Jesus, but you can use crinkled paper or raffia.  Glue on the star.  Add a twine loop for hanging.

Enjoy hopping around the Designer Crafts Connection blogs to see more fun handmade crafting!

Happy Advent!

and

Happy Crafting!

Terry

Roly-Poly Penguin with Smoothfoam™

Hi Crafters!

Today I'm part of a blog hop highlighting Smoothfoam™ - The Crafter's Foam.  I've created a little penguin using Smoothfoam™ balls, paint, tacky glue, craft foam, felt and wiggle eyes.  He's easy to make.  He'll like hanging out on your tree or in a winter snow scene on your mantel or table.

Roly-Poly Penguin with Smoothfoam™
Design by Terry Ricioli

Here's how to make this cute (if I do say so!) Roly-Poly Penguin:

Materials:

2 Smoothfoam™ balls: 1 1/2" and 2"

Black and white acrylic paint

Scraps of black, orange and pink craft foam

8" x 1/2" strip of red felt

Wiggle eyes

Tools:

Small teardrop wood piece for pattern

Tacky glue

Serrated knife

Hole punch

Scissors

Pen or pencil

1.  Saw off a small circle of foam on the top and bottom of the large ball. Slice off a small circle of foam from the bottom of the small ball. Glue the flat side of the small ball to a flat side of the larger ball.

2.  Paint the tummy and the face of the penguin white. Paint the rest black shaping the face with a point in the center.

3.  Use the teardrop wood piece to trace and cut two wings from black foam. Use the end of the teardrop to trace a small half circle from orange foam for the mouth. Cut a smaller half circle to fit underneath that piece. Shape the flat sides of the half circles to fit the round surface of the face. Use the teardrop wood shape to trace and cut feet from the orange foam. Use the hole punch to cut two circles of pink foam for the cheeks.

4.  Glue the wings, mouth, wiggle eyes and feet to the penguin.

5.  Cut fringe in the ends of the felt strip and tie it around the penguin's neck.

6.  If you want the penguin to hang on your tree, poke a small hole in the top of the head with a toothpick and glue the ends of a loop of thread in the hole.

Smoothfoam™ is having a great giveaway as part of this blog hop.  You can enter to win this Snowman kit and more by leaving a comment on your favorite Smoothfoam™ project saying what you would make with Smoothfoam™.  So, hop around the Designer Crafts Connection blogs by clicking on the big blue button on the left side of this entry.  I can't wait to see what everyone has been crafting!

Happy Crafting with Smoothfoam™!

Terry

Thanks a Bunch!

Hi Crafters!
This month the designers in our Designer Craft Connection blog hop want to say "Thank you"!  So, we've designed some ways that you'll be able to do that while having some crafting fun! 

Thanks a Bunch! Card
Design by Terry Ricioli

Cards are always a great way to say "thank you"!  Here's my take on a thank you card using some recycled materials, paper, a little paint and some tacky glue.

I love the corrugated sleeves that you wrap around your hot drink.  They are a great source of crafting material.  I cut the grapes from one of those.  You can see that they are cut in all directions and of no particular size, so don't worry about it!

The leaf and stem are made from pieces of a brown paper grocery bag - also a great source of craft material.

Cut two small pieces of bag.

Add tacky glue.

Press the paper squares together.

Trace a leaf on the paper bag squares.  Use a natural leaf as a guide or make your own pattern.

Cut out the leaf.

Wrinkle the leaf by folding and scrunching it.  Let it dry.

Roll up a small rectangle of paper bag.  Twist and bend it into a stem.

Paint and arrange the leaf, stem and grapes on a torn rectangle of colored paper.  I painted these with some metallic powder but you can brush it with any color or kind of paint you like.  I like to leave some of the brown showing through the paint.

Glue the pieces onto the colored paper and glue that piece to a card in a contrasting color.

Print out "Thanks a bunch!" using your computer and printer and tear around the lettering.  Glue it at the bottom right or inside the card. 

Thanks a bunch for stopping by!  Stop in again on November 10th for some Christmas crafts using Smoothfoam(TM).

Happy Crafting!
Terry

 

French Knitter - The Craftier Side

Hi Crafters!
Some months ago, I mentioned that I found a new gadget to use in my crafting.  It's a French Knitter, and I found it fascinating.  I don't know why I never ran across it before, but, after a little research, I found that it appears to have been around forever and is a favorite of kids because it is so easy to use.  Being a kid at heart, I took to it right away. 

The manufacturerof this particular French Knitter, Clover, asked me to come up with some designs for them.  I had a great time designing with it and came up with a few new twists on some easy designs that are geared toward tweens and teens.  These designs incorporate beads and buttons as you work the knitting, so, in most cases, the beads or buttons are strung on the thread first.  Then, it's a simple process to knit the cord.  Instructions in the project sheet show how to finish the pieces.  I used a variety of cords like hemp twine, cotton cord and yarn so the pieces work up quickly.

Here are some of the projects in the group:

This is a bracelet using pink cotton cord, lime green E beads and a bright pink button.

And, here's the necklace to go with it!

This bracelet and key ring are made with hemp cord.  You can personalize it with letter beads.

And, just in time to wear for the football and basketball games, here's a fun necklace and tag to cheer on your team.

Here is a free copy of the instructions for the projects shown here and a few more.  Instructions are in English and Spanish.

I hope you'll try these fun projects.  Stop in again Monday for our Designer Craft Connection blog round.
Happy Crafting,
Terry