Gold Dipped Glitter Clutch

A black clutch should be a staple in every girls wardrobe, but no one ever said that staples had to be boring, did they? This gold dipped glitter clutch is definitely not boring, but I would still consider it a staple. It is functional and fabulous at the same time; Perfect for everyday use as well as a night out on the town.

Feather-stamped Tee and Bag

When I was young I had a collection of rubber stamps.  The only thing I ever used them for was making cards.  However, with the I Love to Create products, I use stamps in so many different ways.  I carved this feather stamp and used it on a couple of projects here to show you how you can make use of any stamp you might have.

Decorate an Umbrella with Fabric Paint!

They say that April showers bring May flowers. And in some parts of the country this year there've even been April flurries to herald in the blooms! While Mother Nature keeps us on our toes, here's a colorful springtime project that really brings the flowers when it rains. It's just one of a slew of ways to decorate an umbrella with paint (because let's face it, sometimes a purple umbrella isn't quite bright enough). It's part pop art (a gumball machine!), part impressionism (Monet's gardens at Giverny) -- and a whole lot of color to brighten any dreary day! We often think of fabric paints in the context of T-shirts and other wearables, but it's fun to experiment with paint on other fabric-based surfaces: embellished pillows, couches, canvas director chairs, curtains, and...umbrellas!

What you need:
-a plain umbrella
-Tulip Soft Fabric Paint in a variety of colors 

(I used Azalea, Lime, Mandarin Orange, Linen, Crimson Red Matte, and Holiday Green Matte)
-Tulip Sponge Pouncers (foam paintbrushes)
-paper plate (to use as a paint palette)

Check out the how-to video I did for About.com, or scroll down to follow the step-by-step photos.

Open the umbrella (I know it's considered bad luck, but you'll have to get over it -- or take the project outside if the weather's nice!). Squeeze one paint color onto your palette and use the pouncer to start making dots around the perimeter of the umbrella. Make them close together at the bottom of the umbrella and space them farther apart toward the top.

Wash and dry the pouncer before changing colors, or start with a fresh brush. Squeeze out a new dollop of paint and press dots around the base of the umbrella, interspersed with the first color. Reinforce the fabric surface on the inside of the umbrella with your other hand (just slide it under, palm up).

Continue to add colors the same way, and your "garden" will grow more and more lush. It's repetitive, but incredibly meditative, too!

When you've added all of your colors, let the umbrella fabric dry completely. Now that you've completed this "rainy day activity," you can take part in a new one: go outside with your umbrella and jump in the puddles!

It's a nice vibrant splash of color while we wait for the flowers to poke through.

Painted Mail Bag

Today I'm going to show you how to make some fun, polkadot mail bags.  They are a quick and easy fun project.

Background info: So about a year ago I learned something cool.  You can send mail in cute little bags with tags on them.  My mother-in-law started sending fun packages to the boys in these draw string bags and I was floored.  How did I not know about this?  It's way more fun than an envelope and you can use them again and again.  (If you're looking for some just google "cloth mailing mag" or "drawstring mailing bag."  They'd be easy to make as well.)

Who wouldn't like to get a fun package like this in the mail?

I got out my Tulip fabric paint and my sponge pouncers.  

I poured some paint onto a little plate and then I dipped and pounced.  My son even got in on it and thought it was fun.  I love how each dot looks different and not every dot is filled in perfectly.

And....I started thinking about all the things I could easily put polka dots on.  It would be fun to do little girl leggings or knit headbands or pillows in multiple color dots.

Once the bag dried I wrote "for you" with a 3D paint pen.

Now you just load it up with fun stuff and someone will be thrilled to get a present in the mail.

Happy mailing.

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Craft on!

ILovetoCreate Teen Crafts: Blue Christmas Card

ILovetoCreate Teen Crafts
Blue Christmas Card
Created by Avalon Potter
"Teen crafted, Mom approved."

This week I wanted to do something that is fun for the person to give and fun for a person to receive. So not only is it a gift for someone else, it's a little gift to you. I decided on a holiday greeting card. You can easily make many of them if you have a time crunch on gifts or you just want to make something simple but nice.

Materials
White Card Stock (or holiday colored)
Blue Card Stock
Tulip Dimensional Fabric Glitter in Crystal Icicle
Foam Dimensional Stickers
Tulip Fashion Graffiti Big Phat Black marker
Large Snowflake Stamp
Aleene's Acid Free Tacky Glue Stick

Tools
Scissors
Paper Cutter
Tulip Sponge Pouncer

1. Cut your white card stock into an 11.5"x5.75" rectangle.

2. Use your marker to color the entire stamp and press down firmly in the middle of the card stock.

3. Re-apply the marker to the stamp two more times and stamp half of the stamp on the card stock in the upper right hand corner and again in the lower left hand corner.

4. Repeat step two on your blue card stock making two snowflakes. Cut the snowflakes to fit in the two empty corners.

5. Put a few dimensional stickers on the bottom of the stamped blue snowflakes and attach them to the two empty corners.

6. Once the ink has dried, take the tulip silver sparkle paint and apply to the blue snowflakes and to the snowflakes on the white card stock.

7. Put a personal message inside of the card by printing it out on the computer, cutting it out to the size and shape you like, and applying to the card using Aleene's Tacky glue stick.