Make Your Own Rainbow Yarn

I love to crochet and I love to use 100% cotton yarn, but it was hard to find vibrant rainbow skiens in the colors I wanted (ie: BRIGHT). So I came up with a method to this DIY rainbow yarn project. It's really easy,I hope you give it a try!

Popcorn Tie-Dye Technique

OK, I didn't actually use popcorn in the making of this shirt, but you'll see in my video why I called it that name. It's a traditional technique from Japan, but I gave it my own rubberband twist! It's easy and the final look is spotty and fun!

You'll need a pre-washed T-shirt and lots of ruberbands - and most of all just one bottle of Tulip One-Step Dye. I used black.

iLoveToCreate Craft Haul Video with The Impatient Crafter

Craft Haul Video for iLoveToCreate  

(from The Impatient Crafter!)

One of my favorite freelance gigs is working as a blogger for the fine folks at iLoveToCreate. They make some of the coolest products in the craft industry and they're some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Their team is unparalleled, creative, visionary and smart. So when I get a box filled with new goodies to use in my blog posts and designs, it's always a party at Casa de Potter. This time, we decided to film the most auspicious opening of the latest box of awesome. 

Yup, it's an iLoveToCreate Craft Haul Video!  Huzzah!

Be forewarned, I try to keep my tongue firmly planted in my generously rouged cheek at all times.  So if you're looking for a straight forward haul video, this isn't it.  If you're looking for a little chuckle, a lot of chutzpah and a bevy of bodacious products including Tulip Body Art, Tulip Tie Dye, Tulip Glam-it-Up and more...well you've come to the right video!

Enjoy!

xoxo

Madge a.k.a. Margot Potter

Convert Your Kids Art Into Party Decorations

I'm spicing things up today for I Love to Create and making a video with my daughter Tallulah. In the video we are making custom party hats using art work (and some of mom's vintage wrapping paper stash) created by she and her brother. They have a birthday party on the horizon and I wanted them to feel involved and included in the planning.

SUPPLIES

Children's art work

Scissors

Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue

Party horns

Party hats

Decorative trim, stickers, gem stones and more!

I recently read a blog post about how we are letting Pinterest dictate our kids crafts and involvement with crafting projects. I too am guilty of wanting to make things like custom party decorations myself for the pretty finished picture that I can post all over various social networking sites. However, this does not do much for my kids. I wanted my kids to feel involved in their party planning. I wanted them to be proud of the decorations and favors. I wanted them to feel like their crafts were worthy of being pinned.

CRAFTY CHICA: DIY Crystal Eyeglasses!

A couple of years ago, I noticed my vision was starting to...well, SUCK. I couldn't zero in with precision like I used to. That's what a life of beading, sewing, painting and gluing will do to a chica. Instead of pouting, I decided to embrace the fact that I needed reader glasses and am now a collector of cool specs.

But when it comes slaving away in the art studio, I don't want to use my spendy finds. I go for the cheapies, but then those can be boring. Life is so hard!!!! (lol)

Call it procraftination on another project, but one day I sat down and embellished all my low-budget reader glasses...and made a video tutorial! Now I have sparkly energy at all times!

These are great to give as gifts, or for your favorite bookworm or girls night for crafting. Next, I want to make fabric sleeves for them too!

Supplies:Tulip® Glam-It-Up!™ Iron-On Crystals™ 
Tulip® Glam-It-Up!™ Fashion Art Tweezers™
Liquid Fusion® Clear Urethane Glue 
A chopstick or toothpick
Paper plate

Directions: Squeeze out some glue and apply to the top of the frames and then add the crystals, one-by-one. Check out my video to make the process super easy - plus a couple other insider tips!



LINK

CRAFTY CHICA: My new products at Michaels! Plus a tutorial!

I'm super excited to announce that the new round of CraftyChica™ products are now on sale at select Michaels stores!

Here is a video showing how to use a transfers:

Click here to see if your local Michaels carries the line.
Click here to read about the Crafty Chica California Road Trip Tour!

To celebrate the launch of the new Crafty Chica Dia de los Muertos craft line at Michaels, I'm going on a Crafty Chica California Tour, sponsored by iLoveToCreate, Michaels, and La Quinta Inn & Suites, for a series of personal appearances at select locations! If you live in Phoenix or California, I hope you come visit me!

For those who attend - we're going to have a special gift if you purchase Crafty Chica products, plus freebies: commemorative Crafty Chica temporary tattoos, buttons and more! I'll also have a display of finished craft projects showing what you can do with the products. Oh, and I'll have books too! There is limited supplies of the goodies, so get there early!

Click here to see if your local Michaels store is carrying the line.

Now wait, what if you don't live near one of the stores that sells the products? You can buy the items online at iLoveToCreate.com (should be posted soon). Now, I'm going to have fun on this road trip. I'm making special pieces of art and will be leaving them along the way throughout the tour in random places. I'll be posting the locations on my Instagram and my Facebook page - so if you live in Phoenix or California, stay tuned, you might score one of them! If you do, share a photo on my Facebook page!

Lastly, I have to give special thanks to La Quinta Inn & Suites for sponsoring this tour. They are providing us rooms each night, we couldn't have done it without them! And also, gracias to iLovetoCreate and Michaels for making it all happen!

APPEARANCE DATES AND LOCATIONS

Phoenix Kick-off party! Thursday, September 13th, 6-8 pm
1925 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ

Friday, September 14th, 6:30-8:00 pm

1652 Camino Del Rio N
San Diego, CA 92108-1514

Saturday, September 15th, 4-6 pm

561 Coleman Ave
San Jose, CA 95110-2047

Sunday, September 16th, 2:00-3:30 pm

3340 W Century Blvd
Inglewood, CA 90303-1305

Sunday, September 16, 6:00-8:00 pm

4240 Pacific Coast Hwy
Torrance, CA 90505-5526

Monday, September 17, 10 am-12 pm

13410 Whittier Blvd
Whittier, CA 90605-1932

Monday, September 17, 2:30-4 p.m.

10345 Magnolia Ave
Riverside, CA 92505-1809

Meet celebrity crafter, Kayte Terry! She shares two projects!

Kayte Terry is one busy gal in the crafty scene. She runs a popular blog, ThisIsLoveForever.com, is a former magazine editor and currently works as the merchandising manager for Anthropologie stores. Yes, she's the one who gets to decide what all those cool decorations are going to be!

But the real story? She's a hardcore crafter - like all of us, she loves to make things! Kayte has a new book out called, Paper Made!: 101 Exceptional Projects to Make Out of Everyday Paper ($16.95, Workman Publishing). She recently came by my hometown of Phoenix, Arizona and I had the chance to lunch and craft with her! Here are two projects we made! Enjoy!

VIDEO TUTORIAL: How to dye fabric with yarn!

 Check out the video tutorial below!


 LINK TO VIDEO

Regular old tie-dyeing can get boring. not all of us are into the hippy style, you know/ I like to experiment and come up with non-traditional ways to use fabric dye. This is a good one - it's great for kids or people who just like to play and experiment!

What you're doing is soaking cotton yarn, holding it tight between your fingers and then pressing onto damp fabric. It gives a bit more control that just using the squeeze bottle.

You'll need to pick up a Tulip Tie Dye Kit and either cotton swatches or shirts, etc. Check out the video to see the full technique!

Here are some clutches I made using my fabric scraps from this experiment. I have the tutorial posted here.

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Craft on!

MAYA IN THE MOMENT: How to Glitter Your Nails

I started glittering my nails since the end of last year and I'm hooked! It's really easy and way fun. I use the Tulip Body Glitter, nail polish and clear coat polish. Here is a video I made about it:

Paint your nails, one at a tine, add glitter. Let dry, add clear coat. Remove excess with a cotton swab and nail polish remover.


LINK

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Craft on!

Introducing...Craftovision by Corinne Leigh!

LINK

We are huge, glittery fans of Corinne Leigh, formerly of Threadbanger. We're giddy to share that she just launched her new craft channel, appropriately titled CRAFTOVISION: A Show About DIY Culture!

Check out her first video where she shows how to make sexy feather earrings, it features Aleene's Original Tacky Glue! Here is a link to Corinne's Craftovision blog!

Congrats, Corinne!

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Craft on! Click here for today's daily giveaway!

How to use Aleene's Flexible Stretchable Fabric Glue

LINK

Craft on! Click here for today's daily giveaway!

VIDEO: How to prevent stencil overspray

Have you ever used a stencil with fabric spray and then cursed when the paint goes beyond the edge? Here's an easy way to prevent that!


CLICK HERE IF YOU CANNOT SEE VIDEO ABOVE

VIDEO: Tie dye in lion-themed collage art

Edd, a senior graphic artist at iLoveToCreate, presents a recycled project that he created using old tie-dye t-shirts and foam core remnants! The colorful artwork is displayed in our Design Studio for everyone to admire!

We love that our co-workers are just as crafty as the products they make!

LINK

VIDEO: New Tulip® Fashion Art Tools

Visit your local JoAnn Stores to find our new range of fashion art tools - perfect for making every project a success!

Check out our video starring the always charismatic, Pattie Wack!

Tulip® Fashion Art Tools -
They're fun, functional and certainly a must-have for all crafty folks!

LINK

Glue embossing

Looking for a way to break out of your comfort zone, as far as art techniques? We have an idea for you! Glue embossing. It's very easy and has brow-raising end result. You can use it to make silhouettes on canvas art or for journal covers and more!


LINK

From Craftster.org: DIY Freezer Paper Stencils &Tulip Soft Paints

We love Craftster.org - especially when they use our products in adorable project videos like this!

Watch this video to learn how to make a freezer paper stencil that you can then use our Tulip® Soft Fabric Paint™ to embellish t-shirts or anything other kind of fabric!

LINK

NEW Fast Grab Tacky Spray - Time to get schooled!

Pay attention, class!

LINK

I Love to Create Technique Videos!

One of the great things about www.ilovetocreate.com is the vast amount of resources that are available to crafters looking for new techniques and projects! Our technique videos, found here, give you step by step instructions on using our Tulip paints and dyes, Duncan ceramic paints and bisque pieces, and Collage Pauge products. We will constantly be updating this page, so look back from time to time to see what new product/project video is being featured! And we'll fill you in on this blog when we have new updated videos!

Check out our featured video above using Tulip® Cool Color Spray™ for Fabric and Tulip® Cool Color Block Resist. Alexis shows you how to make a custom heart with wings tee. It turns out so cute and colorful!

Hope this inspires you to want to create a new, fab project!