Gotta Get Those Boom Boom Pow Earmuffs!

First there was Princess Leia and her cinnamon roll style hair-do. Years later came the Limi Feu spring/summer 2009 runway show and their amazing hair covered headphones. Then with a Boom Boom Pow Fergie is all over MTV wearing her own spikey hairphones. I thought to myself, mommy like. The problem, I don't wear headphones. What I do wear are ear muffs.




As you know ear muffs are typically not the most stylish looking of warming accessories and I set out to change that. Inspired by the hairphones and with a wink and a smile I hope to keep your ears not only warm, but also in vogue with today's I Love to Create project.


SUPPLIES
Tracks of Hair
Liquid Fusion Glue
2 Plastic Doll Faces
Aleene's Hot Glue Gun
Clothes Pins
Small Rubber Bands
Scissors
Ear Muffs


All Hair and Ear Muffs are not Created Equal
First you need to choose your hair. I opted for a red/brown shade to match my real hair. I also went with cheap synthetic hair. This is the exact same fake hair you would use to put in extensions (read about my escapades with fake hair here and my sister Hope's how-to guide for installing a weave here). The hair comes in tons of colors and if you wanted to pay more money you could even buy human hair.

Once you have your hair, next you need ear muffs. Look for ear muffs that don't collapse or fold up like a sandwich. If you had to you could make a pair from foam and a hairband.

The first step is to coat the band of the ear muffs with Liquid Fusion Glue on top and underneath. Take a portion of the hair and wrap the headband. Use clothes pins to secure the ends.


Creepy Vintage Doll Heads Make Everything Better
The next step was a happy accident actually. As I was braiding, wrapping and gluing hair to the earmuffs I started to realize that I did not have enough hair for the job. Suddenly I thought back to some crocheted doilies I had recently purchased at the thrift store with creepy doll heads in the center. I rushed to my stash of doll parts and there smiling back at me were two of the exact same vintage doll head halves. They fit perfectly in the center of my ear muffs and added just the right amount of kitsch to my couture hairphones.

I used Aleene's hot glue to attach the braids for the most part. However, I went back through with Liquid Fusion Glue to anchor down all the ends. Hold in place with clothes pins and allow to dry overnight.


All that is left to do is wait for a chilly day. I never thought I would say this, but I kinda can't wait for our next cold snap just so I can wear my hair muffs.



If you liked this post, I got a feelin' your gonna like these posts too...

Tartan Tiaras
New Years Eve Pipe Cleaner Tiaras
Cowgirl Hat Headbands
Fergaliscious Domino Nails

Oilcloth Covered Chairs

A couple of years ago when our family scored a vintage dining set for our kitchen, I re-covered the traditional looking chairs with a more mod-style fabric. Oh, how I dug the result! They were funky, they matched our house perfectly and completely transformed the look of the original set.

Alas however, using plain fabric (even heavily coated with Scotch Guard) in a kitchen that's regularly inhabited by 3 kids and 2 pets, could possibly have been the worst idea ever! Ever. The chairs are constantly getting stained and have taken on a overall, dingy appearance that makes me cringe every time I look at them.

2010 is going to be about making more realistic choices for myself, even when it comes to home decor. New chairs for a new year, that's what I need! So fair readers, I'm embracing the fact that I need to be able to easily wipe spilt food, cat hair and various unknown substances off of our seats; quickly and with relative success. I re-covered them (again) with oilcloth, a fabric that's been treated with plastic.

Here's how you too, can breathe new (and easier-to-clean) life into otherwise tired chairs!

Materials

Chairs with Removable Seats

Oilcloth (available online) or Vinyl

Staple Gun & Staples

Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Spray

Pen

Screwdriver

Scissors

Directions

• Unscrew & remove seat from chair.

• Use seat as a template by laying it on the oilcloth and drawing around it, adding about 3" to all sides.

• Spray an even layer of Fast Grab Tacky Spray onto the old fabric of the seat top. Center seat face down on the wrong side of the oilcloth, pressing firmly so the glue sticks. This will prevent it from sliding around while you staple.

• Working from the center out of any of the edges, staple oilcloth to seat wood. Since this fabric doesn't have much give, you'll have to pleat in several places to keep it taut. When you get to the corners, fold as if you were wrapping a present.

The key to successful seat covering is using lots of staples to withstand wear & tear. Don't worry if it isn't pretty; no one but you will see the seat underside.

• Depending on where the screw holes are, you may end up covering them. If so, you can poke through the oilcloth with a craft knife or nail to access them again.

• Re-attach seat to chair.

Repeat for all of your chairs, using either the same oilcloth or mixing it up as I did. If you're not attached to the wood color take this project a step further, by painting the chair frames 1st!

Craft.Rock.Love,

Vickie

iLoveToCreate As Time Goes By Mixed Media New Year's Necklace

"You must remember this,

A kiss is just a kiss,
A sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental things apply,
As time goes by."
As Time Goes By by Herman Hupfeld

I couldn't resist another silhouette project for New Year's Eve after I recalled this lovely Dover books image. This delightful necklace is a small momento of an evening that will pass far too quickly. We spend New Year's with our family noshing on tasty appetizers and playing games. This seemed like the perfect something extra to give Avalon on New Year's this year. Shhh...don't tell it's a surprise!

The image is permission free and available from Dover Books. The text is easy to print out on your computer, use an ink jet if you want to create an image transfer with Collage Pauge. The Tulip crystal accents add some sparkle and the gun metal chain carries through the Victorian feel.

As Time Goes By
Mixed Media Necklace
iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts
Copyright 2009 Margot Potter
"Mom crafted, kid approved."


Materials
1.5" gun metal finish pocket watch locket (or other round metal frame with glass will work)
Dover silhouette sized to fit inside of the locket/frame
10 4mm clear AB CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements bicones
Printed "Happy New Year 2010" in French Script MT 22 pt.
1.5" clear acrylic Tim Holtz idea-ology Fragments oval
Tim Holtz idea-ology gun metal link chain
Traci Bautista's Collage Pauge Glossy
Aleene's Glass and Bead Slick Surfaces Adhesive
Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue
Aleene's Stop Fraying
Tulip Glam It Up clear crystals
20 gauge annealed iron wire

Tools
Pen or pencil
Scissors
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Memory wire shears
Electric Drill with 1/6" bit

1. Size image to fit your frame. Print image and adhere to inside of frame with a thin layer of Collage Pauge. Allow to dry. While drying adhere a crystal accent using Tacky Glue. Before you close the frame, if you are using a locket style, add the crystal bicones.



2. Mark and drill a hole in the bottom center of your acrylic tile.

3. Print text. Trace around text using acrylic shape as a guide. Cut out and adhere text to back of shape with Collage Pauge. Spread a thin layer of Collage Pauge on the back. Allow to dry but not completely, so for about five minutes or so. When still a little wet GENTLY remove upper layers of paper from back of tile. I left paper in the center under the text because I liked the cloudy, vintage look it created. If you want to remove all of the paper, allow the paper to dry completely, wet your finger and gently remove paper by rubbing it off in thin layers. This creates an image transfer, but be aware that you may lose some of your text if you remove all of your paper.

4. Glue crystals to right front edge of your acrylic tile with Slick Surfaces adhesive. Allow to dry. (A toothpick with bee's wax or the Quicker Poker Picker Upper Tool will help you transfer the crystals from the glue to the tile.)

5. Cut a 2" section of annealed iron wire with Memory Wire shears. Bend the center of the wire over your index finger to create a hook shape. Use pliers to bend one hook end into a larger loop that will fit into the drilled hole of your acrylic tile and one into a loop small enough to fit inside of your chain link using your round nose pliers to assist you. See photo for reference. (I have detailed tutorials with pictures for this in my books if you need further instruction.)

6. Create 10mm annealed iron jump rings by wrapping the wire around a 10mm dowel and using the Memory Wire shears to clip the coil you've removed from the dowel into rings. (I have detailed tutorials with pictures for this in my books.)

7. Attach the hook to the bottom of your acrylic tile using chain nose pliers to secure hook closed.

8. Attach the chain to the top of your acrylic tile using a jump ring. Attach a jump ring to the top of your locket and slide this on the chain.

9. Finish by tying a small bow around the jump ring at the top of your acrylic tile. Seal the ribbon ends with Aleene's Stop Fraying.

Steampunk New Year's Necklace

What are you going to wear for New Year's Eve parties this year? If you're like me, you always reach for that same little black dress year after year after year. But then the jewelry changes every year according to the styles. And this year is the year of the statement necklace.

I made this amazing steampunk-style statement necklace just in time for the New Year's scene. It's much easier than it looks, and it has a famous Aleene's glue technique:

Burnt Brown Bag!

The butterfly with the houndstooth ribbon across it is truly burnt glue and a paper bag. It honestly looks like antique metal. If you've never heard of it, let me tell you about this crafty technique that's been around for years....

First, grab a paper bag from the grocery store. Cut out three 4 x 4 inch squares. Stack and glue them all together with Aleene's Tacky Glue. Trace the butterfly pattern and cut it out, and now you're ready for the craziness.

Light a candle, since the flame is part of the process. Cover the entire butterfly with glue. I'm talking a nice thick coating of glue on the top and the bottom and the edges. Yes, you're gonna get a bit sticky, but now grab some old tweezers to hold it.

Hold the glue covered butterfly over the candle and watch what happens. If you have the bag totally covered it won't catch on fire, but the glue will start to turn black and get wrinkly. I know, it's crazy! Keep going until the entire butterfly is black and wrinkled, and press out bubbles if they come up.

Then, gently rub the black soot with a tissue and let the glue dry. After that, I used my finger to rub silver rub-n-buff on it to make it look antique. A few crystals glued on the wings finished it off.

The rest of the bib necklace is a collage of trims, buttons, lace, and crystals all glued to muslin or any black scrap fabric, with Aleene's Fabric Fusion and then put together with grommets and chain. You can get the complete details on the iLoveToCreate website on the homepage, or on the Steampunk Socialite Necklace project page.

Don't forget to come see me at Pattiewack.com for more crafty ideas for the most wacky and crafty year ever!

Happy 2010!

Pattiewack

Black Eyed Peas are for Crafting and Eating!

It may be Christmas Eve, but I am already thinking ahead to next week and New Years! In the South we have a tradition involving black eyed peas. Some people eat them on New Years Day to ensure good luck all year long, but my logic was that if you craft with them on New Years Day as well as eat them it might make your new year extra lucky! Grab some dried black eyed peas, Tacky Glue and get ready for an all new I Love to Create Post.


SUPPLIES
Dried Beans
Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue
Wooden Plaque
Sublime Stitching Transfer Paper
Embroidery Pattern
Gold Cording
Pen
Stick


BEAN DESIGN
You want to choose an image that is not terribly detailed to use for your bean art. I found that embroidery patterns work great. I chose this owl from Q is for Quilter in the Hoop Love Embroidery Pool. Using transfer paper and a pen trace your image onto a piece of wood.


BEAN GLUING
One section at a time apply your Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue and your beans. The more beans you use the better since they come in all kinds of colors and will help give your image more depth.

I glued the owl and the stick he is perched on first. Next I went around the edge of the owl and glued down some gold cording.

To ensure good luck in 2010 I filled in the rest of the empty space with more black eyed peas.


With the rest of your black eyed peas try my favorite bean dip recipe.

Santa Baby Beards

Every month I get together with a bunch of mom friends for a little, baby play date and adult camaraderie. We rotate houses and this month it was my turn. Because it's the holidays I thought it might be fun to set-up a craft table with the fixings for Santa Baby Beards. We set up a blanket with toys, rotated baby wrangling duties and whipped up a little holiday hilarity that perhaps, only a mama could love.

Try this craft in your own home either made for baby or by an older child. I'd be willing to wager if you leave a picture of your cutie-pie Kringles near the cookies for the Big Guy, he'll leave an extra little something in his biggest fans stockings!

Crafting Table

Materials

Craft Felt

Cotton Balls

Aleene's Tacky Glue OR

Aleene's Fabric Fusion

Baby Elastic

Needle & Thread

Scissors

Marking Pen

Baby Beard Template

Fiona supervising her mom's work.

• Trace template onto felt. Cut out.

Noelle, Susann and Jennifer, partaking in holiday craftiness.

• Glue cotton balls onto felt front. Let dry.

• Measure elastic from baby's ear-to-ear. Subtract 1 " and cut. Hand sew to top of both sides of beard piece.

Tallulah

• Sit back and enjoy the wonderment in your baby's, bear-wearing face.

Clover & Quinn

I mean seriously, look at the joy! This is what Christmas is all about; the merriment of babes.

Happy holidays!,

Vickie

Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate: Pretty Ribbons Fleece Hat and Glove Set

Pretty Ribbons Embellished Fleece Hat and Glove Set
Margot Potter for iLoveToCreate teen
Free Holiday Craft Project
“Mom crafted, kid approved.”

Need a last minute teen friendly gift idea? We’re big fans of fleece around here and you can score the hats and gloves right now on sale. Why not help your teen customize a set with some easy to create ribbon accents? These would make great (and affordable) gifts for their friends. I have a small collection of vintage ribbons and buttons, but you can find similar items at your local sewing store or on the internet. Tulip fashion crystals and Aleene’s Fabric Fusion glue make it a breeze to whip up this lo-sew project.

Materials
Fleece hat
Fleece gloves
7/8” wide black satin ribbon with looped edges
7/8” wide vintage or new decorative ribbon
1 large and 2 small vintage or new red buttons
Red sewing thread
8 5mm Tulip crystals
Aleene’s Fabric Fusion glue

Tools
Scissors
Embroidery needle (you’ll need a needle that can easily pass through a thick stack of folded ribbon)
Tulip Glam it up Heat tool


1. There are tons of tutorials on the internet for lovely 3-d ribbon flowers and all of them are so complicated I decided there had to be an easier way. So I just folded ribbon around itself 3 times. Begin by folding the ribbon end into the center of a 2 ¾” section of ribbon. Wrap ribbon three times around itself for the smaller flowers and four times for the larger satin flower. The folded ribbon sections should be 2 3/4” for the smaller flower and 3” for the larger), hold the center firmly, gently tug the ribbon folds into petals on each side (you’ll move the folds on each side in opposite directions). (See photo.)


2. After you’ve created your simple flower, keep holding the layers together at the center and sew a button in the center tacking all of the layers down. Now you’ve got a super cute ribbon flower.




3. For the larger all black flower, add an extra folded section of ribbon to match the ribbon on the gloves. This functions as a petal. Tack it down with a needle and thread.

4. Apply a generous bead of Fabric Fusion glue to the underside of the flower petals and tack them down. Put something under them inside of the glove and hat to prevent them from sticking the opening together. Allow to dry 2-4 hours. Don’t wash until glue has cured for 24 hours.

5. Use the heat tool to apply the crystal accents to the ribbons. I put one on each petal of the decorative ribbon and one on the decorative ribbon leaf on the black satin flower.

Crafty Christmas Videos!

Have you run out of Crafty Christmas ideas? Well, I've got videos for you to watch how fast and easy you can create crafty goodness for your friends and family before Christmas.


Check it out!




















There are tons more videos at iLoveToCreate.com and you'll also be able to shop for all your crafty needs.

Happy Holidays!
Pattiewack
p.s. Come see me at Pattiewack.com!

El Milagro Journal

What are the crazy-outta-this-world miracles you wish would happen?

Instead of daydreaming about them while driving on your way to work, write them down and put them into action!

"El milagro" means "the miracle". I think at this time of the year, we should all jot down the miracles we hope to see. World peace, straight A report cards, a never-ending carton of chocolate milk in the fridge...

Here is an easy way to maker a journal to keep track of all your miracles!

Supplies:

1 blank hardback journal

2 sheets of scrapbook paper

Aleene’s® Crystal Clear Tacky Spray™

Crafty Chica™ Mojito Papers™

Crafty Chica Heart Iron-On Transfer

Scissors

Iron

Directions:

Cut the scrapbook paper to fit the cover of the journal (both sides). Use Tacky Spray to affix it, letting the edges overlap so they can be folded over to the inside. Cut excess.

Take one piece of of the Mojito paper and set on a flat table top. Set the iron-on design in the center, cover with a thin piece of cloth. Set iron on highest setting, no steam. Firmly press over design for 60-seconds, edge to edge. Remove cloth, wait a minute for transfer tocool, and then peel away the protective plastic to reveal design.

Spray back of paper with Tacky Spray and press in the center of the book's cover.