Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Craft & Hobby Association - CHA

 

 Heading to the CHA Mega trade show tomorrow....  CHA is the Craft & Hobby association and I'm a designer member.  I've been going to these shows since 1991 and love every minute.  It's an opportunity to see new products to create with, to try them and visit with old friends.  If you're planning to be at the show, don't forget to stop by the Smoothfoam booth, #301.  If you're there on Sunday morning, you can make this adorable Decoden Cupcake with Vicki O'Dell.


Katy Sue Designs & Flower Soft will also be at the show featuring new moulds for cake decorating (and paper clay!) and their updated selection of Flower Soft Sprinkles - that makes you think of cupcakes too, right!  Their booth is # 347.

The show has changed a lot over the past 20+ years, but creativity is the nature of our industry, so change is inherent in what we do.  I'll be posting photos to FB  from the show floor (so don't forget to "friend" me if you haven't already) and I'll be posting lots more here after I get back.......  Y'all come back now!  Enjoy your week!

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Favorite Products - Designer Crafts

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  

To start the year, Designer Crafts Connection members are sharing the products they enjoy working with the most.  I love to craft, so it's really difficult to say which I like best - I sincerely love the creativity of crafting with all kinds of products.  Looking back however, I think etching glass with my own designs and decorative painting would be at the top of the list. 

My friend, Lisa Fulmer interviewed me recently for an article on the Craft Foxes website about glass etching and decorative painting.  You can read all about it here: http://www.craftfoxes.com/blog/interview-with-glass-etching-and-decorative-painting-expert-julie-mcguffee 

Here are a few of the projects I've created over the past few years from simple glass etching to decorative painting on etched glass.  Enjoy!

Decorative Painting on Etched Glass



Glass Jars etched on the inside with dip'n etch, glass etching liquid


Designs created with stickers and dip'n etch


Original stencil designs using dip'n etch and etching crème




Simple design using Scotch Brand Magic Tape

 

Glass etching is really easy with etchall® from B&B products. "Like" their Facebook page for up to date information on sales, project ideas and more.  Etchall produces a smooth etched surface and doesn't have an unpleasant odor, plus it's re-usable!  There are lots of videos and books to show how easy it is to add painted designs to etched glass and, of course, other surfaces in your home.  The important thing to remember, that this style of painting is decorative and isn't supposed to look realistic, so give it a try - you'll be glad you did!  Y'all come back now........

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Last Minute Christmas!

OMG!  Only 3 more days till Christmas so here's a last minute idea for either your home or a gift for a friend. 

I love LED candles, especially the ones that have the timers, and I always pick them up whenever I find them on sale - usually at the Dollar store.  The tall ones look kinda plain though so I decided to dress one up a bit for a centerpiece.  I think it took 10 mins....  Quick'n EZ, right.... and it looks awesome!



I simply printed some Christmas sheet music onto a sheet of Craft Attitude™ then glued it to the front of the candle.  I measured the height of the candle first then sized it about 3/4" shorter before printing.  Pretty cool huh...........   Not just for Christmas decorations, you can also use this idea year round with all kinds of music or even old movie posters and photos, etc. 

Don't forget, you can also use Craft Attitude on any surface including glass, wood and even fabric!!!  Enjoy!  Y'all come back now.........

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Friday, December 5, 2014

Smoothfoam Holiday Ball

Every year Smoothfoam has a Holiday Ball and everyone is invited! 

Smoothfoam balls are SO easy to decorate and definitely meet my criteria - Quick'n EZPZ.  So here are a couple of my guests for the "Holiday Ball" - (I'd say they were my Holiday Balls, but would hate to offend anyone).

I made two versions - one for a fancy tree and one for my "kid friendly" tree and here they are:
 

1.  This one is kind of elegant, but still easy to make.  You'll need a length of 18 gauge floral wire, crystal glitter, white glue, sponge brush, fancy beads, a decorative ornament hanger and I thought the feathers added a nice touch.  You'll also need a Smoothfoam ball.......  this one is 3", but you can use any size.

       Step one is to push the wire thru the center of the ball.  Smoothfoam is very dense, so I heat the end of the wire in a candle flame then push thru the ball, using the hole at the bottom of the ball as a guide.  EZPZ.  Use needle nose pliers to make a small loop at the top.  Next step is to cover the surface with an even coat of white glue, then sprinkle with glitter.  I push a bamboo skewer into the bottom of the ball (next to the wire) so I have something to hold onto while I do this. Set aside till the glue is dry, then remove the skewer, trim the wire and make a small loop at the bottom.  Thread whatever beads you have on hand onto an eye pin, beading wire, or thread then secure to the loop at the bottom of the ball.  To finish I added the feathers by poking the ends up thru the bottom bead, then added the ornament hanger to the loop at the top.

2.  The snow "ball" is even easier. (there's actually 2 versions).      


 Push a piece of wire thru the ball as above then make a loop at the top for the hanger.  Cover the ball with glitter.  His eyes and center of his mouth are large, black quilt pins.  I used 2 smaller quilt pins for each side of the mouth.  The nose is a red pony bead held in place with a large, red quilt pin.  Now you can hang on the tree as is, or decorate him in variety of ways.  I used a cupcake paper for the hat, and chenille and pom poms to make ear muffs and a scarf for the other.  The pom poms were held in place with quilt pins.  I also used a small, "U" shaped piece of wire to attach the bell to the bottom.  So many ideas, so little time - Christmas is only 3 weeks away - oh my!!!   Better get cracking...........  Enjoy!  Y'all come back now.................

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Milk Bottle Snowman

I found some vintage style milk bottles at Michaels the other day.  I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do with them, but I played around awhile and this is what I came up with - a Frosty the Snowman candle!


Isn't he cute!  And, he's so easy to make.... this is what you'll need:


1.  Etch the bottle:
To give Frosty his special look, I filled the bottle with etchall® dip'n etch, glass etching liquid from B&B Products.  Leave for 20 mins then pour the dip'n etch back into its container.  Rinse the bottle thoroughly. Now to etch the outside of the bottle.  You'll need a plastic container a little taller and a little wider than the bottle.  Fill the bottle with marbles, pebbles, or something that will stop it from floating, then place it into your container.  Fill the container with water up to the neck of the bottle. Carefully remove the bottle.  The water level will sink.  Mark the water level on the outside of the container, then empty the water.  Dry the container thoroughly then fill with dip'n etch up to the mark.  Carefully place the milk bottle into the container. The etching liquid will rise to the occasion.  Let stand for 20 mins.  Remove the bottle, rinse thoroughly then dry with a soft cloth.  Pour the dip'n etch back into the dip'n etch container to be used again at a later time.

2.  Nose:
Holding the brush upright, dip the rounded end of a paintbrush handle into a puddle of orange glass paint.  Make a dot on the glass where you want his nose to be, then without removing the handle from the surface, slide it downwards and to one side.  Practice on a piece of wax paper first.


3.  Eyes:
Using a paintbrush handle, make 2 black dots on each side of the nose.

4.  Mouth
Dip the paintbrush handle into black glass paint then place the first dot where the center of the mouth will be.  Continue to add 3 dots on one side.  Each dot will be smaller than the preceding dot. To add dots to the other side, dip the handle into black paint then make the first dot on wax paper, then add 3 dots to the opposite side of the center dot. 

5. Tea Light:
Use the paint dauber to lightly sponge black paint onto the bottom of the tea light.


6.  Hat:
Cut a strip of black felt about 1" wide and long enough to go around the neck of the bottle. Glue the overlapped ends together.  To make the brim, cut a 3" circle of black felt with a hole at the center large enough to place over the tall part of the hat. Place the LED tea light upside down inside the top of the hat.  It is a little larger than the bottle opening, so it won't fall in.  Don't glue in place, or you won't be able to replace it when the battery eventually wears out. Decorate the hat if you like.  Frosty the snowman never looked so good! Especially in the evening when his light is turned on.

  

There are lots of other glass containers you can use for this technique.  What will you make?  

See the post below this one for more, easy to make etched gifts.  Enjoy!  Y'all come back now.........

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Friday, November 28, 2014

99 Handmade Holiday Gifts - Etched Glass Votives


There's always something special about candlelight around the holidays.  Use on tables, mantels above the fireplace, in guest bathrooms, or give them as a hostess gift.  Votives are relatively inexpensive and I buy the boxes of clear ones (without the wax candles) from Michaels using my 40-50% off coupon if they're not already on sale, plus the LED tea lights.  I do like to jazz them up a bit though so I used a sheet of peel off (or outline stickers) and dip'n etch, from B&B products to etch star designs on each votive.  As you know, I like EZPZ and these fit the bill perfectly.


To create the negative star design, I placed star stickers around each glass, then realized that after removing all the stars, the leftover sheet had a pretty neat design on it too!  That's what I used to create the carpet of etched stars on the other votive.

This is what you do:

1. Carefully remove the sticker backing sheet from the carrier sheet. You can discard, or use this to etch the stars as seen on the sample above by placing it carefully around the outside of the glass votive.


2.  Roll the carrier sheet back away from the star stickers and the points of the stars will pop up, making it easier to remove them with the tip of a craft knife, or a pick tool.  Decorate the outside of the glass with stars.


3. Now to etch. You'll need a plastic container that's just a little larger than the glass votive.  Fill the votive with something to weigh it down (I use glass marbles) then place it inside your plastic container.  Fill with water until it almost reaches the top of the glass then remove the glass.  Mark the water level in the container.  This is so you'll know how much etching liquid to use.  Empty the water then dry the container and the glass votive thoroughly.  (Use a votive without stickers for this step.) Fill to the line with dip'n etch then carefully place the glass votive into the container.  The etching liquid will rise to the occasion to the top of the votive.  Let sit for 20 mins, then repeat with your second glass votive.  etchall® Dip'n etch from B&B products is re-usable, so you can use it multiple times.



4.  Remove the votive from your container, rinse well then dry with a soft cloth.  Remove the stickers to reveal your design.

CAUTION - Etchall dip'n etch is a permanent etching product.  It is very easy to use, but please read the directions on the container.  Do not let the liquid touch a surface you do not want to etch. I work on a laminate counter top, not granite for example, and my sink is stainless steel, not porcelain. Always use caution.


So here are the etched votives with their LED tea lights.  I put red cellophane around the inside of one of them.  It ended up looking a bit too pink for Christmas, but it was an idea worth trying! My granddaughter loves pink though, so it will look nice in her bedroom...........

Look for more Handmade Gifts from the 365 Days of Crafts,  99+ Handmade Holiday Gifts blog hop.  Find instructions by selecting the links below.  If you see projects you like, follow the designers on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram to keep up with their creations. You'll find gifts that are perfect for friends, family, teachers and almost everyone on your list. There are handmade food items, paper crafts, ornament ideas, sewn items, home decor and so much more.  Be sure to visit each blogger and see what they created.  There is also a giveaway for  a $100 Amazon Gift Card.  You can enter the giveaway by using Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enjoy!  Y'all come back now.............

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Handmade Holiday Gifts - Christmas from the Beach

Life's a beach, even during the holidays.  I'm a shell collector and love creating with shells.  I've found all kinds washed up on the beaches I've visited and many of them have ended up as decorations in our home.  Have to admit however that I didn't collect these Helmet starfish.  These are from US Shell, and I found them at my local Michaels' store.  I have a shell mirror and a shell basket in our guest bathroom and since my sister and her husband are coming for Christmas, I thought it would be fun to add a small Christmas tree and it was easy to make! My sister has a "beachy" bathroom too, so this will be an additional gift to take home.



Here's what you need:


    •  Smoothfoam® cupcake shape
    •  5 Helmet Star fish (in graduating sizes large to small). You buy the larger ones in eaches, but there are packages of the smaller ones.
    •  2 Tiny Starfish (found in a package of assorted shells)
    •  Burlap ribbon
    •  Cool-temp glue sticks and glue gun

1. Glue the burlap ribbon around the cupcake shape for the base.
2. Glue the largest starfish to the top of the base then glue the others on top.
3. Glue two tiny starfish together (back to back) then glue to the top for the star.

Yep, it's that easy and it really does add that perfect little bit of merry to my bathroom beach theme!

These are the other shell projects:  The mirror was made by gluing a craft store mirror to the center of a Smoothfoam disc then adding shells around the edge.  To make the baseket, I glued clam shells around the outside of a Smoothfoam bowl.  Shells are surprisingly heavy, so Smoothfoam is the perfect surface for these pieces since it's very sturdy yet lightweight.

 


These are just a few of the Handmade Gifts from the 365 Days of Crafts 99+ Handmade Holiday Gifts Blog hop.  Look for more by selecting the links below.  If you see projects you like, follow the designers on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram to keep up with their creations. You'll find gifts that are perfect for friends, family, teachers and almost everyone on your list. There are handmade food items, paper crafts, ornament ideas, sewn items, home decor and so much more.  Be sure to visit each blogger and see what they created.  There is also a giveaway for  a $100 Amazon Gift Card.  You can enter the giveaway by using the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Enjoy! Y'all come back now........

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!


Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Etched Glass = Easy Gift Giving

I was looking thru a cabinet the other day for some Christmas CDs and came across this small, hand painted vase.  I was about to put it in the Goodwill box, but decided to improve it a bit.  It's not that I didn't like it, it's just that it could be so much prettier.   It's a busy time of year, so whatever I needed to do had to be quick and easy.  You don't need 3 guesses to know what I did........ yep, I filled it with etchall® dip'n etch.  It doesn't get much easier than that and I just love the "milk glass" look! 


As you can imagine, it's not going in the Goodwill box.  It will be an amazing gift for a friend, or neighbour!

So, next time you find a glass container, decorated or not, fill it with dip'n etch for a simple and elegant, upscale look...   

 

BTW, if you need to know how much dip'n etch you'll need to fill your glass container, fill it first with water, then pour the water into a measuring cup.  Dip'n etch comes in different sizes, but I use it a lot, so I buy the large container.  This etching product is re-usable, so after 15 minutes, pour it back into its container to use again, and again and again!  It lasts a very long time.  You can check the etchall Facebook page for holiday sale offers then purchase directly thru the "buy now" tab on their page, or click on their logo in my sidebar to go directly to the etchall website.  Enjoy!  Y'all come back now......

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Friday, November 14, 2014

Book Review - Upcycled Jewelry, Bags, Belts and More

Do you remember the term "waste not, want not"?  or how about "one man's trash is another man's treasure"?  Sayings to remind us that it isn't always necessary to throw things away.

  
Upcycled Jewelry, Bags Belts and More  by Linda Peterson is full of ideas on how creative we can be with many of the day to day items we nonchalantly throw in the trash.  I've known Linda since the early 90's and have always admired her amazing creativity with products like Friendly Plastic, clay (she makes the cuuuutest clay figures and animals) and jewelry pieces.  Linda definitely put that creativity in overdrive when she created the projects for this book.  From soda can tabs and empty plastic soda bottles to bicycle chains and inner tubes, there's something for everyone here, but more importantly it makes each one of us think twice about throwing things away.......

My hubby says I'm a hoarder, but I'm really just a born and bred Yorkshire lass who hates to throw anything away.  I know that one day I'll find a use for it - after all, that's what being "crafty" is all about.  Here's a recycled project I still have around the house:


We used to have the prettiest chandelier that hung in our entryway for many, many years.  After many, many moves however, it simply fell apart, but I couldn't bear to part with those pretty little crystals that picked up the sunshine and filled our home with rainbows.  So - I purchased 2 glass candlesticks and glued a "bowl" from the chandelier onto the top of each one. Then I simply added short strands of crystals around the edge.  I also gave some crystals to my brother-in-law to include in his stained glass pieces, but I still have quite a lot of crystals left just waiting to be given new life when I turn them into something fabulous! 

Now you know what I think about Linda's book, check out what other designers are saying using the links below:



Enjoy!  Y'all come back now............

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Thanksgiving Gifts

November 3rd is First Monday and this month Designer Crafts Connection is sharing ways to say "Thank You"...  For more inspiration, hop thru the webring using the "hop forward" link in the DCC logo found in the sidebar of each member.

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday.  Catherine Millard wrote: "We can trace this historic American Christian tradition to the year 1623. After the harvest crops were gathered in November 1623, Governor William Bradford of the 1620 Pilgrim Colony, “Plymouth Plantation” in Plymouth, Massachusetts proclaimed:
"All ye Pilgrims with your wives and little ones, do gather at the Meeting House, on the hill… there to listen to the pastor, and render Thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings."
Although Thanksgiving seems to be more about getting ready for the Christmas holidays and looking for the best shopping bargains on Black Friday, I think the majority of families still remember this as the day to give thanks for our many blessings and to share with family, friends and neighbours.  Here's a gift idea using a large, clear glass mason jar with smooth sides:

 

 Step 1:  Etch the outside of the jar with etchall® by immersing the jar in dip'n etch up to the neck.  (See instructions for glass etching in the second part of this previous post, which will explain how to dip using an empty soda bottle. http://juliemcguffee.blogspot.com/2014/09/glass-etching.html)

Step 2:  To decorate the outside, I printed a photo (sized to 4" x 11") on to Craft Attitude printable film then wrapped it around the center of the jar. I secured the ends with tape, so the wrap could be removed later when the jar needed to be washed.  The photo I used was a pile of apples taken with my phone at the grocery store, but you can use any photo.


Step 3:  Cover the top and bottom edges of the wrap with 1/2" wide burlap ribbon.  Secure the ends with 3D glue dots then adhere additional embellishments to the front with glue dots.  Cover the rim of the lid if desired.

You can fill the jar with a mix to make an apple dump cake, then place it in a basket of red apples and your favourite dump cake recipe to give to a friend or neighbour, or simply place a small LED tea light inside and use as a decorative accent in your own home.  

  

For a different look, fill the mason jar with etchall dip'n etch then découpage the printed layer of a fall themed napkin onto the bottom half of the jar with DecoArt® Americana® DécouPage.  Embellish as shown.  Etching the inside of the jar will give the jar a milky look, but it will still be shiny on the outside.



              Etched on the outside of the jar                Etched on the inside of the jar
                                 
There are so many other designs you can create using these easy techniques.  Enjoy!  Y'all come back now...........

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!