Creative Juice

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October 30, 2008

Women's Day Magazine Radio Interview - Listen Live! -

Posted by cathieandsteve at 8:40 PM

October 25, 2008

Bow WoW WOW! & Plaid Crafts Sweepstakes!

Just in time for Halloween! Win a fabulous prize package from Plaid and the hosts of DIY Network's Creative Juice, Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza.

Make-Your-Own Doggie Costume Prize Basket
One Grand Prize winner will win a prize package including an autographed copy of the newly-released book, Bow Wow Wow! by Cathie Filian, a selection of Folk Art Fabric paint, a bottle of Fabric Mod Podge and a selection of Plaid fashion iron-ons -- everything you need to make a costume for your favorite pooch. Great for Halloween or any "dress-up" occasion for doggie. Prize package valued at $100.

First Prize
24 lucky winners will receive a copy of book Bow Wow Wow! by Cathie Filian. Retail value $17.95. Click here for rules and details. Ends 5 pm, ET, 11/17/08. Sponsor: Plaid Enterprises.

Posted by cathieandsteve at 1:38 PM

October 23, 2008

Witch Crafts Marathon Airs Tomorrow

Posted by cathieandsteve at 6:32 PM

October 19, 2008

This week in press - Real Simple & LA Daily News

Pick up the November issue of Real Simple for our tips on creatively cutting costs this holiday season. In November and December - I will be blogging ideas for making a Thanksgiving dinner on a budget and more $ saving ideas for the holidays.

Cyndi from the Santa Clarita Craft Lab gives me a shout out in the Los Angeles Daily News! Many Thanks!

We did a piece for the Knox News on how to preserve your pumpkins after carving.

Posted by cathieandsteve at 2:33 PM

October 18, 2008

making costumes from stuff around the house!

Here are a few ideas for creating costumes with items you probably have around the house!

Got Boxes?
Large cardboard boxes can be turn into so many different costumes. Just cut the tops and bottoms of the boxes and add straps across the shoulder area. You can decorate the boxes with paint, felt, glitter, ribbons, etc.

POPCORN BOX – use cut of foam for popcorn
LEGO – make a matching hat with real legos
RECYCLE BIN – add empty juice bottles sticking out of the box
GUMBALL MACHINE – use rubber balls for gumballs
ROBOT – Spray the box silver and use dryer tubes for arms and legs
GIFTBOX – add a giant bow to the front
PAIR OF DICE – use sticky back felt to create dots for the dice

Bag This!
BAG OF JELLY BEANS – Cut leg openings in the bottom of a clear yard bag, have your child step into the bag and fill the bag with small “blown up” balloons, gather the top of the bag around the chest area with a ribbon or twine.

COWGIRL or POCAHONTAS – Crinkle paper grocery store bags so they look like leather. Cut the apart bags and sew/cut them to create a skirt, vest, dress, etc. You can sew through the paper bags with a sewing machine or the costumes can be secured with duct tape on the inside. Cut smaller pieces to create fringe.

ATTACK OF THE SPIDERS – Cut black garbage bags into 10” circles. Crinkle up the leftover bag into small balls, place the ball in the center of the 10” circle, gather the bag around the ball and tie with a black piece of yarn, cut 8 legs from remaining bag surrounding the tied area. Glue odd sized google eyes to the spiders. Make as many as you wish. Attach to a “normal outfit” with safety pins.

Get Clean!
DIRTY CLOTHES - Use an old plastic laundry basket and cut out the bottom to fit your child, add straps with rope for shoulder supports and fill with laundry. You can fashion a hat out of an old detergent bottle to match.

CHICKEN – Wear a yellow outfit and use yellow kitchen gloves for chicken hands and feet. Add feather trim around the costume for extra pop.

Wings
Household coat hangers can be transformed into many different styles of wings. They are easy to make and kids will really love decorating them.

ANGEL – add gold glitter to the wings and wear with a white dress
BAT – paint the wings black and wear with a black jumpsuit
FAIRY – add feathers and rhinestones to the wings wear with a frilly dress
LADYBUG – add polka dots to the wings and wear with a red jumpsuit
BEE – paint stripes and add fuzzy trim around the outer edge
BUTTERFLY – paint the wings to resemble a monarch and wear a black jumpsuit

Materials:
3 wire coat hangers
2 pairs 3x pantyhose in colors
duct tape
2 yd. elastic
needle and thread
scissors
2 large silk flowers
optional decorations: fabric dye, ribbon, glitter, fabric paint, and feathers

1. Bend one of the coat hangers into a loose oval shape to form one of the upper sections of the wings. Work with the curves already in the hanger, reshaping the wire so it does not look like a hanger (think graceful butterfly wings). Secure the hook by bending it back. When you are satisfied with the shape of the hanger, shape a second hanger to match the first one, making a matching set of frames for the top wings.

2. Shape the third hanger into the bottom of the wings by bending the hanger in the center and bringing it towards the hook to create two little wing shapes. Secure the hook by bending it back.

3. Lay the hangers together with all hooks in the center. You should have two larger oval wings on the sides, and the small bottom piece should slightly overlap both wings. At this stage, the wire frame should resemble a butterfly. Using duct tape, secure the hooks of the hangers together. Be careful to cover the hooks completely, and use as much tape as needed to secure the frame.

4. Using colored pantyhose (or you can use fabric dye to tint white pantyhose), lay out one pair se and cut 20" from each toe end of the pantyhose. Starting at the bottom section of the wings, stretch one leg of the hose over the lower wire section of the frame. Pull the fabric tight and gather in the center. Loop, pull and twist the excess pantyhose around the taped center section and secure with a whipstitch.

5. Lay out the second pair of pantyhose and cut 30" from each toe end. Working on the two upper sections of the wings, stretch each leg over each of the two wire sections. Pull the fabric tight and gather in the center. Loop, pull and twist the excess pantyhose around the center-taped section and secure with a whipstitch.

6. To attach straps, cut the elastic in half to make two 1-yard pieces. Fold each piece in half and wrap it underneath one upper-side panel of the wings; tie a knot to secure in place (figure F). Repeat for the second wing. Place the wings on your back and bring one elastic piece over your shoulder and the other piece up under your arm. Tie a knot to secure. Repeat for the other side.

7. Glue large flowers in the center of the wings to cover the duct tape and stitching. Embellish the wings with glitter, marabou trim, ribbons, pearls, fabric paint, sequins or rhinestones.

Got Old Clothes?

PIRATE– make a pirate with an old vest, sweatpants and a school shirt
FAIRY PRINCESS - use an old party dress to create a princess in no time
PUNKY MUMMY - old bed sheets can be transformed into a funky mummy

Materials:
old white long-sleeve button-down shirt (a couple of sizes too big)
pen
scissors
set of 6 5/8" eyelets or grommets
eyelet setter
hammer
leather cording
black sweat pants
GLOW AWAY Paint by Plaid
old vest
two scarves
hand sewing needle and thread (optional)
pirate themed buttons (optional)

1. At the top of the shirt, just inside the button placket for the top three buttons, mark the placement for three sets of eyelets or grommets (three running vertically down the left side of the button placket and three directly opposite those on the right side of the button placket).

2. Snip a very small hole where the marks were made. Insert the male (larger shaft) end of an eyelet through the front of the shirt. Click the female portion of the eyelet where the male portion extends on the backside of the shirt. Insert an eyelet setter into the back portion of the eyelet and pound with a hammer on a hard surface. The teeth of the male portion should clasp the female portion. Continue for all six eyelets.

3. Carefully cut the button placket just outside of the stitch lines so that the stitching remains intact. Cut from the collar to the second button, across the placket and up to the collar. The edge of the collar can also be snipped just outside the stitching line to create a frayed look.

4. Lace leather cording through the eyelets to create the pirate's open-throat shirt. Cut the bottom of the shirt to the appropriate length for your pirate.
To make the sleeves, cut off the cuffs and re-stitch them to the sleeve a few inches above the bottom of the sleeve to form a channel. Thread leather cording through the channel and tie around the pirate's wrist.

5. Swap the buttons on the vest for pirate-themed buttons.

6. To make the pirate pants: Cut the sweatpants to be approximately 6" shorter. Cut a frayed edge into each leg. Apply stripes of the glow-in-the-dark paint for added effect and for safety.

Step-by-Step Fairy Princess Instructions:

Materials:
old party dress
stems of artificial flowers
safety pins
scarf in a coordinating color
head band
hot glue and hot glue gun
1-yd. each of two colors of tulle
satin ribbon
large artificial flower stem
glitter glue, rhinestones, glow-in-the-dark paint

1. Remove the individual blooms from the stems of artificial flowers. Remove any plastic parts from the flowers and safety pin flowers to the hem, skirt, and neckline of the dress. Pin the flowers such that the safety pin remains on the outside of the garment so that it is more comfortable to wear and helps prevent any pinpricks.

2. Use hot glue to attach additional flowers to the center portion of the scarf. This will be the waist sash. Use hot glue to attach flowers to the center portion of the headband.

3. To make the wings: Cut the tulle into pieces that are 36" x 18" (smaller fairies may need smaller wings and this size can be adjusted). Lay alternating colors of tulle in a stack. Cinch in the center and tie with a satin ribbon. Pin the wings to the back of the dress.

4. Wrap the end of the large artificial flower stem with leftover satin ribbon to make a flower fairy wand.

5. Embellish any elements of the costume with glitter paint, rhinestones, and/or dimensional glow-in-the-dark paint (optional).

Posted by cathieandsteve at 11:48 AM | Comments (1)

October 15, 2008

Make it: Tissue Transfered Candles

Transform plain candles with a few stamping supplies. Great for holiday gift giving and decorating! From the Medieval Lights episode of Creative Juice.

Supplies:
Light colored pillar candle
White tissue paper
Scissors
Rubber stamp
Ink pad – black
Purple embossing powder
Embossing gun
Luminarte Twinkling H2Os watercolors
Paintbrush
Parchment paper
Small scrap booking eyelets
Candle paint pen

1. Cut a piece of tissue paper that is large enough for your stamp. One side of the tissue paper will be slightly glossy. Ink your rubber stamp and stamp onto the glossy side of the tissue paper. If you’re using a larger stamp, place the inked stamp rubber side up on your work surface, lay the tissue paper on top of the stamp, and gently rub the paper to fully transfer the image. Gently lift the tissue paper from the stamp.

2. Sprinkle embossing powder on the image on the tissue paper and tap off the excess. Work over a manila file folder so that you can easily funnel excess embossing powder back into its jar. Heat the powder on the candle with an embossing gun until the image is embossed.

3. Swirl a wet paintbrush into the Twinkling H2O and color in the background of your stamp. (If you don’t have Twinkling H2O watercolors, any other type of watercolor will work.) Make sure your paintbrush is not too wet or your tissue paper may tear. Allow to dry (drying takes about ten to twenty minutes).

4. Cut a piece of parchment paper that is large enough to cover your image and wrap all the way around the candle, plus an extra several inches of length. Trim the excess tissue paper around the edges of your image. Place the image onto your candle. The embossed side of the image can face in toward the candle or outward, depending on your preferences. We placed the embossed side inward for a more antiqued look. Wrap the parchment paper tightly around the candle, using the excess parchment paper in the back as a handle.

5. Move your embossing gun over the image to melt the tissue paper into the candle. You will be able to see the wax melting through the parchment paper. Once you see the wax melt in one area, move the embossing gun to another area so as not to melt the candle too much. When the entire image has melted into the candle, carefully remove the parchment paper.

6. Add details to the candle using scrapbooking eyelets and candle paint pens. While the candle is still warm from step 5, press eyelets into the candle at the corners of the image. Add dots and lines with candle paint pens and allow the candle paint to dry for 24 hours.

Posted by cathieandsteve at 10:45 AM | Comments (1)

October 9, 2008

Bow Wow WOW! is finally here....

Posted by cathieandsteve at 9:33 AM | Comments (2)

October 5, 2008

Schedule Changes For Creative Juice - on Mondays!

Schedule Changes For Creative Juice!
Tune in or Tivo!
Monday at 1:00 pm eastern on DIY Network!

Bohemian style is in full swing on this episode of Creative Juice. We create a one-of-a-kind patchwork tack board with celling tiles, shed some light on a beautiful beaded lamp, and add some Bohemian flair to a plain old ring and mix up some red wide spritzers.

Ingredients:
2 c. frozen berries, any variety
1 bottle, 750 ml, dry red table wine
1 qt. seltzer water

1. Fill large pitcher with the frozen berries and dry red wine; let stand 30 minutes.

2. Pour wine from the pitcher into wine glasses approximately halfway up the glass. Scoop a few berries into glasses.

3. Top off glasses with seltzer just prior to serving.

____________________________

Materials:
cluster or charm ring blank
assorted beads
silver-tone head pins
rounds-nose pliers
wire-cutters

1. To create a charm, thread a head pin through one of the beads (if the beads are small, try putting two or three on each pin). Trim the head pin with wire-cutters, leaving just enough wire sticking out from the top of the pin to make a small loop with the round-nose pliers.

2. To make the ring, make a loop, leaving it slightly open, and link it to one of the loops on the ring blank. Close the loop with pliers.

3. Repeat steps until you are satisfied with the fullness of the ring, keeping in mind you can put more than one charm on each loop of the ring blank.

____________________________

Materials:
acoustic ceiling tile (15"x15"), available at hardware stores (can be cut to size with a utility knife)
9" quilting square
medium to heavy-weight fusible interfacing
scrap fabric (velvet, funky colors and prints)
Fabri-Tac glue
backing fabric or felt, cut slightly smaller than the tile
18" of decorative ribbon
sewing machine
scissors
pinking shears
assorted brooches and buttons
heavy-duty flat thumbtacks
jewelry wire-cutters
E6000 glue

1. Use the quilting square to trace and cut out four 9" squares of fusible interfacing.

2. Cut scrap fabric in random sizes and shapes and place on the adhesive side of the interfacing. Arrange the pieces of fabric to overlap with no interfacing showing.

3. Iron the fabric pieces to the interfacing using a dry, hot iron. Press down and hold to fuse the interfacing to the fabric scraps.

4. Using a zigzag stitch, topstitch over the edges of each piece of fabric, stitching them in a crazy-quilt pattern. Repeat for each of the four squares, trimming the edges to fit the fabric to the interfacing.

5. Lay out the four squares to make one large 18"x18" square.

6. Overlap the edges of two squares and pin together. Use a zigzag topstitch to sew squares together. Repeat with the remaining two squares.

7. Overlap the two sets of squares and zigzag stitch together to complete the large square.

8. Lay fabric right side down and place ceiling tile on top of fabric; there should be a 3" seam allowance on all sides of the tile.

9. Place a dot of Fabri-Tac glue on one corner of the tile. Pull the fabric taut, fold toward the center of the tile and press. Continue this process until all four corner are folded in and glued to the tile.

10. Place additional glue around the perimeter of the tile, and fold remaining fabric in center of tile.

11. Glue the ends of the 18" ribbon to the back of the tile, 2" from the top and 3" from the side edges; the ribbon will act as a hanger.

12. Cut a piece of fabric 15"x15" (slightly smaller than the tile) and glue to the back of the tile, covering the folded fabric to create a finished look.

13. Choose an assortment of brooches and buttons and remove all the hardware backings (pins and shank button pieces) with jewelry wire-cutters.

14. Using E6000, glue heavy-duty flat thumbtacks to the back of the brooches. This can be tricky, so make sure to lay it on a solid flat surface while it dries. Set aside and let dry for several hours.
____________________________

Materials:
lampshade holder ring with drilled holes for hanging prisms
standard washer-top bulb clip
tall lamp
monofilament
painter's or masking tape
medium-gauge jewelry chain
two pairs round-nosed jewelry pliers
4mm or 6mm jump rings
charms
miscellaneous beads of different sizes and colors
scissors
measuring tape

1. Cut monofilament line 4" longer than the length of bead strands. To determine the length of the beaded strands, place lampshade ring on the lamp and measure how far down the beaded strands will hang. This measurement will vary depending on the height of the lamp. This shade is 8" long, so the monofilament was cut to 12" lengths.

2. Thread a large bead or charm on the monofilament and knot at the bottom to secure. Use a measuring tape to measure the strand and continue stringing beads on the line until the bead strand is 8" long.

3. When the bead strand is the desired length, wrap a small amount of painter's or masking tape to the end of the monofilament to prevent the beads from sliding off while working on additional strands.

4. Using round-nosed jewelry pliers, open a link in the jewelry chain to create the length of chain needed for the lamp; we used 9" lengths of chain. Continue to make additional chain lengths.

5. Open a jump ring with the round-nosed pliers and attach a charm to one end of a length of chain.

6. Make enough beaded strands and lengths of chain with charms to attach to the drilled holes in the lampshade ring. We attached chain or strands to every other hole.

7. Tie the bead strands to the lamp by threading the top of the monofilament line through the drilled prism hole in the lampshade ring. Tie the monofilament in a double knot to secure the strand.

8. Attach the chain lengths to the lampshade ring by opening a jump ring with round-nosed pliers, threading the chain on the jump ring, inserting the jump ring through one of the drilled holes in the lampshade ring and closing the jump ring.

9. Trim away any excess monofilament and attach the shade to the lamp.

Posted by cathieandsteve at 7:43 PM

October 4, 2008

New Craft Items On ETSY!

Posted by cathieandsteve at 11:57 PM

October 3, 2008

Magical Halloween and Holiday Parties!

www.lincolnworld.com

My hubby and I, had the pleasure of seeing Lincoln Kamm, perform at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles. You might remember this blog post about it. We had such an amazing time - my head is still wondering how Lincoln did what he did! Well it turns out Mr. Sacha Baron Cohen thinks so too! He said that Lincoln is the best mentalist in the states and I agree!

Well a few nights ago, I was chatting with him and he mentioned that he did holiday and corporate events! I was thinking how cool it would be to have a magician at a private party and it turns out it is more affordable than one might think. Imagine all your guests "oohing and awing" at your next party!

To find "good" magicians in you area ask for references at a local magic shop or google it! To book Lincoln for a party in Souther California you can email him at lincoln(at)lincolnworld(dot)com. (he also travels to parties and corporate events)

Oh and by the way...Lincoln is pretty creative! Check out his felted critters from the fabulous show Yo Gabba Gabba.show Yo Gabba Gabba.

Posted by cathieandsteve at 7:35 PM

October 2, 2008

Witch Crafts: Sneak Peek & Complete Project List

Posted by cathieandsteve at 12:17 PM | Comments (1)

October 1, 2008

New Episodes of Creative Juice Begin Tomorrow!

First up is Window Dressing. We off 3 different ideas for dressing windows, tour Alexander Henry Fabrics and make test tube vases.

Philip and Nicole, (the brother and sister team) are the designers for Alexander Henry Fabrics. It was such a great time touring their design studio and warehouse. I have been a fan of their for years.

Posted by cathieandsteve at 6:57 PM | Comments (1)

Witch Crafts Sneak Peek!

Watch if you Dare!

Witch Crafts Marathon - All 5 episodes!
October 24th begins at 2:00 pm eastern

www.witchcraftstv.com

Posted by cathieandsteve at 6:03 PM

Radio Interview - Listen Live!

Tune in this Thursday to TerriO Radio on the internet. I will be chatting with TerriO and sharing some quick Halloween craft ideas from my new book Bow Wow WOW! fetching costumes for your fabulous dog.

To listen live click: TerriO Radio If you miss the live show, you can tune in 24/7 to listen to the archives.

To get the book visit Barnes and Noble, Amazon or Target.

Posted by cathieandsteve at 11:14 AM