FatCatCreations

Warm and Gooey Love

2012-01-23T14:05:00.000-05:00

I shared this last February as a Simple Solutions project for When Creativity Knocks - but it was yummy enough to share again this year for those who missed it :0)

Nothing says lovin’ like something from the oven……… or say the saying goes. Last year, Ana shared here adorable big cookie heart project with our viewers. I tried it, and it was a huge hit here too! I've seen an assortment of very creative ideas for creating cupcakes, full sized cakes and more with a heart shaped theme in magazines and online, but wanted to try to find a "simple" way to create something special for my Valentines. Our family loves hot chocolate chip pie – it’s our favorite treat for dessert when dining out. My husband’s favorite home-baked treats are chocolate chip cookies and M&M cookies. This thick mini-heart chocolate chip cookie with a warm, gooey center is a mixture of all three favorites!

Instructions:

Begin by preparing your favorite home-made chocolate chip cookie dough (we like the original Toll-House Cookie recipe best).
Spray the inside area of a metal heart shaped cookie cutter with non-stick spray.
Place onto non-stick surface on baking sheet.
Use spoon to place approximately ½” of cookie dough to fill cookie cutter.
To make M&M heart on top, either freeform place candies to create heart, or use a slightly smaller heart cookie cutter on top of the base cookie and place candies inside to create heart shape. Remove cutter before baking.
Bake in oven at 375 degrees for approximately 10 minutes. Center will be soft when removed from oven.
Allow to cool on cookie sheet approximately 5 minutes. Gently lift cookie cutter and cookie “pie” will remain on baking sheet.
Place warm heart cookie pie onto small plate, sprinkle red & pink decorative sugars around it. Drizzle with chocolate syrup. If desired, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Serve while still warm and watch while your valentine enjoys their treat (or join in the delicious fun!).

Sharing the love with Rit Liquid Dye!

2012-01-23T13:50:00.000-05:00

A special Valentine custom created with Rit is featured on their site - I love experimenting with Rit - and this time I dyed parchment paper, card stock with a great accidental watermarked effect, paper doilies, and rubber stamped with Rit! Find the full instructions at the Rit website.

Makin's Clay Lanyards - For CHA!

2012-01-16T18:22:00.000-05:00

One of the tasks I've been busy with throughout the last week is creating 8 unique lanyards to be worn at the Makin's Clay booth at CHA this month. Beads, beads and more beads - extruded, rolled, stamped, cut with clay cutters, textured, molded, hand-made. Polished to a gloss, pearlized, inked and left in the natural state. Something from almost every clay option offered by Makin's - brights, terra cotta, black, neons, Earth tones, Vineyard tones, white......There's a little bit of everything in these lanyards!

Giving Back at CHA - Giving Tree Projects

2012-01-13T08:11:00.003-05:00

CHA is hosting Giving Trees this year and Designers were given the opportunity to create an ornament to benefit one of the charities they have chosen to support. My charity was Warm Up America - My ornament actually opens into a wearable scarf made from repurposed denim from an old skirt, woven together. Blumenthal Lansing buttons were stitched into a star pattern on the patchwork flag. It makes ME warm inside to use my creativity for those in need!

I also created this star book ornament using the Pages of Honor collection Signify Pink's Glimpses paper line (read my Product Review at WCK for more info) which I'm going to donate to Operation Write Home, another of the charities CHA is supporting at the event!

Also, I'm participating in the Flash Mob that Charity Wings is hosting right before CHA opens - going to be a fabulous time of giving back at CHA in Anaheim this January!

Designer Craft Blog Connection - Journaling!

2012-01-09T08:05:00.000-05:00

This month's theme for the Designer Craft Blog Connection blog hop was journaling. Almost everyone who scrapbooks agrees that the journaling can be a important part of capturing the memories. Whether it be lengthy or just a few words to spark memories - journaling is definitely a key element. When thinking about this challenge, I began looking through my past scrapbooking projects and what stood out the most were a couple of mini-albums I created where journaling was a main focus.

The first is a book I created for my boys. It's a chipboard book box, and the removable pages inside reflect words of wisdom shared by the men who touch their lives - their dad, grandfathers, uncles, and their dad and I shared thoughts on what we thought their great-grandfather's might pass along if they were here to be a part of it. Some of the advice is silly, some is serious and thought provoking. All of it is priceless. I often "hide" my journaling in projects, and did the same here - some is on the back of the pages themselves, and some is hidden beneath wooden tags, in pull out pockets, etc. Intermixed are photos of the people sharing the advice, along with many kinetic elements and dimensional details (since I'm a lumpy bumpy texture junkie ;o) - Here's a peak at some of the pages from the book -

The second is a project originally created as part of a challenge - The title of this mini-book is "I Never Imagined" and each page reflects on the many unexpected things that have been a part of my journey of life to date. The photos which show through the front windows are of me as a young girl, and then at the age when I made the book. The journaling inside is not lengthy, but when I look through this book - but each sentence or small paragraph reminds me how lucky I am to have come so far, and to keep following my dreams.

Click on the Designer Craft Blog Connection link to the right to see what the other talented designers who are a part of this inspiring group have shared today! And remember, whether just a few words or a lengthy story - JOURNAL. You'll be glad later that you did!

Happy New Year/Happy New Projects!

2012-01-05T16:53:00.000-05:00

The new year is here and so is one of the busiest times of the year for me - CHA preparation! I leave in just 20 days and I'm busy working on my Designer Showcase display, press kits, ornament for the Giving Trees, make & take project for the Makin's Clay booth, and kits for the class I'm teaching for the IMP group. It's creative madness and it just makes me so happy ;0). I'm busy creating with fabric, clay, paper, buttons, paint, ribbon and more and love being immersed in so many fun mixed-media items.

This is just a peak at a few of the projects I'm working on......

The Chill of Winter - Faux Ice and Snow!

2011-12-28T08:32:00.000-05:00

Faux dimensional snow and sparkly ice - these are altered trading card ornaments (with adorable spinning center elements) but these techniques would work for any winter themed project! Some of my favorite crafting materials came together for these - TaDa Creative Studios Frozen Tozen paper, Epiphany Craft toosl, twine from The Twinery, ICE Resin, Plaid Extreme Glitter and Elmer's products! Find out how on Rubber Road Adventures - http://rubberroadadventures.ning.com/page/spinning-atc-ornament?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Peppermint Straw Wreath Ornaments

2011-12-22T07:19:00.000-05:00

Inspired by the full size version on the front of Woman's Day magazine - introducing mini Peppermint Straw Wreath ornaments - Find out how to whip these up in my most recent Cindi's Simple Solutions article!

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296&Itemid=265

Fresh from the oven?

2011-12-21T12:15:00.001-05:00

Catch me if you can! Cork gingerbread men ornaments get a new twist with a fresh from the oven color thanks to Rit - Find out how to give yours a little oven-baked at the Rit Dye website: http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/catch-me-if-you-can-gingerbread-man-ornament

Attach him to the front of a hand-made holiday card made with adorable papers from TaDa Creative Studio's Jolly Holly collection and you've got surprise to sure to bring a holiday smile.

Front without ornament

Inside of card

Getting Holly Jolly with Rit & JudiKins!

2011-12-18T08:05:00.001-05:00

I've got another holiday project featured on the Rit Dye home page - this holiday card shares a couple of techniques for paper crafting with Rit - including a new technique I discovered with two of my favorite materials - Rit Dye and JudiKins Diamond Glaze!

Find the tutorial here:

http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/holly-seasons-greeting-card

Rit and a Reindeer Holiday Card

2011-12-16T07:46:00.000-05:00

The Holiday Glitz & Christmas Magic 2011 edition of Rubber Road Adventures ezine is now live - and I've got a project featured. Rit and a reindeer come together to create a non-traditional card with custom colored card stock to match the Basic Grey patterned paper. Find the complete instructions here.

http://rubberroadadventures.ning.com/page/rit-dye-technique-reindeer-christmas-card?xg_source=msg_mes_network://rubberroadadventures.ning.com/page/rit-dye-technique-reindeer-christmas-card?xg_source=msg_mes_networkfile://localhost/Users/fatcat/Desktop/RitRedBlueReindeerInside.jpg

Feathering my Christmas Nest

2011-12-10T17:26:00.000-05:00

While looking through holiday issues of some of my favorite print magazines recently, I noticed a few trends. One was a trend I spotted last January at CHA - birds are still everywhere - even in holiday decorating. Second, white, shades of blue and silver seem to be quite popular this year. Following those guidelines I created my Cindi's Simple Solutions project for the most recent When Creativity Knocks Creative Journal Newsletter. You can view the complete directions on how to make this easy feather tree and mini sparkling birds made with paper from The Robin’s Nest and Silver Roxs and Diamond Glaze from JudiKins here:

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296&Itemid=265

Here’s a peak at a just a small sampling of the projects that set my creative mind in motion for this project -

From the December, 2011 Issue of Family Circle Magazine

From the December, 2011 Issue of Better Homes & Gardens Magazine

From the December, 2011 Issue of Real Simple magazine

If you need some ideas on creating a blue, white & silver tablescape for your holiday celebrations this year - check out one of my Cindi's Simple Solutions posts from last year A Tale of Holiday Tablescapes Past .

Sock Monkey Goes MEOW (or ROAR!)

2011-12-05T00:01:00.087-05:00

“Okay....here’s my plan. If I sit really still, I’ll blend in well now and she might not notice I’m not a FELINE!”

Anyone who knows me well knows that my favorite color is TEAL and I am obsessed with all cats - domestic and large wild cats like leopards, lions, cheetahs, and tigers. Combining the two? Uhhhhh, what? My motto has always been “Dare to be different” and true to that, my new studio space is painted a lovely shade reminiscent of a tropical sea. Valance curtains made from Shannon Fabrics Cuddle Fabric in a turquoise blue and leopard print, along with a fun accent pillow, a bulletin board and a mouse pad further pulled together two of my favorite things. Mix in an eclectic mix of antique furniture (and a few newer pieces out of necessity) and you have a peak at my happy place!

Enter Sock Monkey! He fit in my studio space just fine as he’s a fun retro toy which goes along with my antique furniture. But he felt sort of outnumbered among all my cats - pillows, leopard print accents, framed layouts of my cats throughout the years, glass and porcelain cats I’ve collected, and stuffed wild cats given to me as gifts. First, he sneaked into my stash of Rit Liquid Dye and dyed himself TEAL! Then, my monkey decided to take the “if you can’t beat them, join them” philosophy and whipped himself up a head to toe leopard costume out of extra leopard print Shannon Fabrics Cuddle fabric from my vintage trunk full of fabric. Complete with a hat with kitty cat shaped ear covers, a tail cover, and a little nose mask with whiskers, he fits right in now with all my themes, yet maintains his individuality with his fun loving monkeying around!

This whimsical holiday card was created using JudiKins adorable Sock Monkey rubber stamp - a definite must have item for anyone whose heart sees the charm of these vintage cuddles. I used the leftover sock scraps after making the monkey and assorted black Blumenthal Lansing buttons to embellish the card. The teal card stock was made by crumpling a piece of white card stock, unfolding, and then placing into the leftover dye after I dyed my monkey. I do this every time I dye with the leftover dye and now have quite a stash of colorful custom colored card stock. Prismacolor watercolor pencils were used to color the stamped monkeys. The front of the card features a removable sock monkey holiday ornament - made from an oval of natural colored Makin's Clay, stamped with the monkey image, and trimmed with more of the sock scraps.

The Designer Craft Connection blog hop this month is sponsored by When Creativity Knocks, FoxRiver, Rit Dye, and Judikins! 27 Designers received a package of goodies including WCK’s Sock Monkeys Go BanAnas VideoBook, Rockford Red Heal socks, a Judikins Sock Monkey rubber stamp, and up to 3 shades of Rit Liquid Dye of their choice - then their creativity was unleashed and they were challenged to create 27 unique sock monkeys! The timing of this blog hop is perfect - Sock Monkeys seem to be popping up everywhere - while shopping recently I spotted them taking over the local Cracker Barrel restaurant gift shop! Yes - that's Santa Monkey on the very top of the tree!

Click on the Designer Craft Connection link on the right to see all the amazing designs they dreamed up! But wait, there's more! You could be a winner!

Prize Package for One Lucky Reader:

-Sock Monkeys Go BanAnas WCK VideoBook

-One (1) sewn Sock Monkey body ready to be stuffed

-One (1) pair of original Rockford Red Heel Socks

-Button Eyes, needle, floss and stuffing

Prize package worth over $40.00

FREE 2012 WCK Sock Monkeys Go BanAnas eCalendar

Any blog hop reader who goes to When Creativity Knocks and orders: Sock Monkeys Go BanAnas WCK VideoBook will receive a free copy of the eCalendar to be created featuring some of the sock monkeys from this amazing blog hop!

Things to know about: Sock Monkeys Go BanAnas WCK VideoBook

A history of the Red Heel sock monkey
A new and easier way to make sock monkeys
Timesaving hints
- A detailed sock monkey worksheet
- Tips on personalizing your sock monkeys
- Printable PDF directions
- 26 Full-size sock monkey body and clothing pattern pieces including “Sock Pants”

To enter to win go to When Creativity Knocks. In the Member Log-In box, click "Create An Account". Enter the code Sock Monkey. There is also a discount coupon to purchase the WCK VideoBook Sock Monkeys Go BanAnas.

Holiday Cards - Many Options

2011-11-30T20:24:00.000-05:00

Have just a few holiday rubber stamps, and a small assortment of cardstock or ink pads? That does not mean you can’t create a variety of fun holiday cards for your friends and family! This set of cards uses just one set of stamps (this great floral stamp was from The Stamping Studio), two colors of inkpads, white and one color of coordinating card stock. Keep it simple with just basic supplies, or take it a step further like I did and use a Krylon gold leafing pen, some gold tone Toner wire, a bit of gold trim, Ranger Inkssentials Crackle, and some twists on shapes and sizes to add interest.

Simple square with a pop - plum cardstock cut into a square card, edged with a gold Krylon leafing pen - layered with the flower (used as a poinsettia here) stamped with black and plum ink on mottled off white card stock also edged in gold. The plum petals are layered with Ranger Inkssentials Crackle for a bit of shine and texture. A coiled wire center adds dimension, as do the bottom petals which were cut from the card stock with an X-Acto retractable craft knife and then allowed to extend over the gold ribbon and stamped verse.

Tag time! Create the same flower as above, then cut it from the backing for a poinsettia tag. Add a stamped verse on a card stock mat an a gold ribbon tag topper.

Curving door - The card was made with the off white mottled card stock, edged in gold leafing pen. On the inside back of the card, the image was stamped and embellished as above. From the front of the card, cut the top portion and remove so the flower shows, leaving a small front to open. Add the stamped verse and gold ribbon.

Backwards action - Create the card using mottled off white card stock. Add a layer of plum card stock to the inside back. WITH THE OPENING ON THE LEFT, from the front of the card, cut into triangle as shown. Edge front and back with gold leafing pen. Stamp floral image and embellish as above. To back inside of card, add gold ribbon trim and stamped verse.

Tri-flold - create a traditional tri-fold card (8 1/2" x 5 1/4"high - fold in two ends to meet in center, creating opening. Edge with leafing pen. Layer onto plum card stock mat. Stamp and embellish image as above, allowing the coiled wire to extend over the opening and help hold the card closed. Add gold ribbon and stamped verse.

Here Come the Seasonal Decorations!

2011-11-23T17:26:00.000-05:00

This was the first of a series of 4 articles I did last year for the WCK Jingle Bells Journal - as we head into the season of seasonal decorating again - I thought I'd take a minute to share it here too - It's a simple, affordable way to add to your stash of holiday decorations!

Time for holiday decorations, and time for my creative muse to go into major overtime! While shopping with a friend this past weekend, some of the decorations at the local mall inspired me to get creative at home. For WCK's annual Jingle Bells Journal series I’ll be sharing a new version of these fun, simple, holiday trees each week to inspire your creativity!

Over the years, I have amassed quite a collection of old-fashioned Santa’s and ornaments with the darker tones of burgundy and evergreen being prominent. I wanted to create some fun, whimsical trees for my mantle, but they needed to stay within the overall color scheme of my other decorations. Out came my Graphic 4’s Christmas Past collection of papers and I got busy. Three different sized cones were decorated to create this trio of trees. (Hint….. these cones have a secret inside…… I’ll reveal the secret on December 10^th!) Begin by selecting double sided paper and cutting it into 1 ½” squares. How many squares will depend entirely upon how large your cone/finished tree will be. If you are purchasing paper I’d recommend getting a few sheets of each of your chosen patterns. Gently roll one corner of each square outward/upward to reveal the pattern on the back side (I used a pencil to roll my corner). Then simply begin at the bottom and hot glue them to your base, overlapping each layer above the one beneath slightly as shown. If desired, spray finished tree with a clear sealant, give it a coat of Plaid Extreme Glitter for a little shimmer, or add additional charms and embellishments as desired.

I found these fun, colorful whimsical trees created by fellow designer Lolly Chessie on her blog recently (www.LollyChops.com) Lolly created her trees using Brenda Pinnick’s Flower - Beauty Bloom Sizzix die and a combination of fun, colorful papers. I just love Lolly’s version of these trees!

Ice Resin - Super Star Saturday

2011-11-20T07:32:00.001-05:00

I am honored to be featured in this week's Ice Resin blog in their Super Star Saturday feature!

You can read my interview here: http://iceresin.com/icequeen/2011/11/daring-to-be-different-with-cindi-bisson/

If you haven't tried Ice Resin - try it! Amazing resin, easy to use - a million creative opportunities

Ice Resin - Super Star Saturday

2011-11-20T07:29:00.000-05:00

I am honored to be featured in this week's Ice Resin blog in their Super Star Saturday feature!

http://iceresin.com/icequeen/2011/11/daring-to-be-different-with-cindi-bisson/

If you haven't tried Ice Resin - try it! Amazing resin, easy to use - a million creative opportunities

Feeling Thankful!

2011-11-13T20:11:00.002-05:00

I've got a new project posted on the home page at Rit Dye - Custom dyed burlap, string and buttons coordinate perfectly with autumn patterned paper - Find the full instructions here.

http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/thankful-you-thanksgivings-day-card

Feeling Thankful!

2011-11-13T20:08:00.000-05:00

I've got a new project posted on the home page at Rit Dye - Custom dyed burlap, string and buttons coordinate perfectly with autumn patterned paper - http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/thankful-you-thanksgivings-day-card

Mixed-Media Workshop at CHA in Anaheim!

2011-11-12T17:00:00.001-05:00

I am thrilled to announce I am hosting a workshop at the upcoming CHA show in Anaheim this January. I am working the Independent Manufacturing Partners group and am combining products from 8 manufacturers to create a unique mixed-media art project. Registration for the class was sold out for 75 participants the first day. There is a chance that it will be opened to 100 participants, if you are attending CHA and would like to learn sign up for the waiting list to attend - click here:

https://www.craftandhobby.org/eweb/dynamicpage.aspx?webcode=CHASessionDetail&ses_key=ED0805BF-AFAD-42E8-91AB-8DEC925B6FE0

This workshop will provide an exciting hands-on experience exploring the broad range of possibilities working with products from eight different manufacturers! Participants in this workshop will create a mixed media keepsake using an extensive collection of high-quality art and craft products. Cindi Bisson has designed a perfect project which is ideally suited for prominent display in your home, office, or for retail display. Participants will be working with products from the 2012 Independent Manufacturing Partners: ClearSnap®, Globecraft Memories, Justrite Stampers, Makin’s Clay®, Robin’s Nest, Rubber Stamp Concepts, ScraPerfect, Westcott Brand Cutting Tools. Professional artists/designers Cindi Bisson, Becky Conley and Deborah Mahnken will be facilitating the workshop, sharing with participants distinctive highlights of the products, and will demonstrate the many creative ways these products can be used collaboratively. This workshop is ideal for retailers aiming to increase sales by cross promoting inventory, and those who would like to learn about a wide range of innovative products from the sponsors.

Capturing Autumn

2011-11-12T11:15:00.000-05:00

Capturing Autumn - My latest Cindi's Simple Solutions project for When CreativityKnocks is published. See how simple it is to capture a bit of the season with Ranger Inkssentials, Tsukineko Kaleidacolor inks, rubber stamps, foil tape and more....and share it with a friend -

Here's the link:

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296&Itemid=265

Enjoy!

Flannel & Corduroy Leaves

2011-11-03T08:19:00.001-04:00

Here's a warm & cozy fall project from a WCK Creative Journal last autumn - but since it's time to start thinking warm and cozy again this year, I thought I'd share for anyone who didn't see it the first time. The first thing that always pops into my mind when I hear the words warm and cozy is flannel! I love curling up in flannel pj’s in front of the fireplace (or woodstove when we lived in Maine!) and reading or watching a movie with my family. I love hugging my sons and husband when they are wearing a flannel shirt. Since raiding my husband’s flannel shirt stash was highly discouraged (I did try…trust me), I decided to check out one of my favorite sources for items to repurpose – the local Goodwill Industries Store! As always, I wasn’t disappointed and came home with two cozy baby shirts in great flannel plaids, a girls flannel plaid skirt, and a pair of tiny brown corduroy pants I couldn’t resist adding to the mix for a bit more texture. For less than $3 I had enough fabric to make a lot of leaves and I helped out those in need!

Once home, I sketched maple and oak leaves onto scrap paper and cut them out (you could print off a pattern from the internet, or even trace a real leaf!). The paper patterns were pinned to the fabric, and then the leaves were cut. I purposely cut some of the leaves on seams, included buttons, etc. for added homespun texture. Once the leaves were cut, I used extra embroidery thread I have stashed in my studio (see, keeping scraps of everything does pay off!) and roughly stitched approximately ¼” from the edge of each leaf, and to create the veins in the leaves.

The result is a set of almost whimsical, homespun decorations with a warm and cozy feel. They look great mixed in a basket of pinecones collected from our yard and set outside our front door, or displayed around a pumpkin in our entry way.

While this project would work with any fabric – I think the flannel and the corduroy just add to the warm and cozy fun!

Creepy Amore with Rit & ICE Resin!

2011-10-27T17:39:00.000-04:00

I've got a new project up on the Rit Dye website featuring Rit and ICE Resin - faux blood and ghostly flowers - check out the instructions for a little creepy amore here: http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/fake-blood-ghostly-flowers-create-creepy-amore

I "Tricked My Pumpkin" For Plaid!

2011-10-20T09:40:00.001-04:00

Plaid has extended the deadline for entering the Trick Your Pumpkin contest until Sunday - Join the fun! I Tricked my Pumpkin using Plaid Mod Podge & Extreme Glitter, Rit Liquid Dye, burlap, vintage Halloween images, plastic grocery bags, a plastic flowerpot, paper plate and paper towel tube. A unique treat bucket for giving out goodies on Halloween is the result!

http://www.plaidonline.com/CommunityProject.aspx?projectID=266&categoryID=0

Treats that can't be beat!

2011-10-18T20:53:00.001-04:00

Treats that can't be beat are easy to share with Rit Liquid Dye, Eileen Hull's Sizzix 3-D Vase Scoreboards die, Blumenthal Lansing buttons, Judikins stamps, colorful twine from The Twinery, and Plaid Extreme Glitter! I am pleased to announce another of my projects has been published on the Rit Dye home page. This whimsical set was designed to coordinate with the Halloween pennant banner I shared here a few weeks ago. Find out how these fun treat cups and coordinating invitation were made here.

http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/halloween-treat-cups-trick-or-treat-party-invitation

Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop - Eileen Hull's ScoreBoards XL Die - Vase, 3-D

2011-10-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

I am excited to be a part of the Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop! It’s time for me to share the projects I’ve created with the die I received - Eileen Hull’s Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Vase, 3-D. Eileen’s ScoreBoards dies are great - they cut and score making them perfect for working with matboard, chipboard, or other denser materials. But, in my usual style of trying to think out of the box, I had to experiment with another material.

The result is this clear votive holder, with a shimmering stained glass image, accented with opalescent ribbon, colorful fibers and an opalescent glass butterfly. Easily adaptable for any occasion with different stamped images, colored with alcohol inks, or try layering decorative tissue papers onto the plastic with a single coat of the glitter paint for more transulucent color that lets the light shine through.

I also created some fun Halloween party treat cups using this die which will be posted this week on the Rit Dye website with instructions.

Materials:

Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Vase, 3-D
Sizzix Big Shot
2 liter plastic soda bottle
Elmer’s Glue Spots
Judikin’s “Tropical” stained glass stamp #2349H
Tsukineko Jet Black Staz-On inkpad
Tsukineko Fabrico markers #158 Sky Mist, #161 Burgundy, #165 Pine
Plaid Martha Stewart Crafts Sugar Cube Glitter Acrylic Craft Paint
Fibers, ribbons, glass butterfly, paint brush
Votive/tea light
X-Acto Scissors

Instructions:

Wash 2 liter soda bottle, let dry thoroughly. Use scissors to cut out the middle/flat portion of the bottle. Cut to fit over vase die.
Following product instructions, create sandwich using die, plastic and 2 clear plates, cut vase and bottom of vase from plastic using Sizzix Big Shot. (*Some of the scored areas may cut through the plastic, but this only happened in 2 small sections on my piece - so the finished product was not affected.)
Ink stamp with black Staz-On and stamp onto center of outside of vase.
Flip over. On reverse side (inside) color image with markers. Let dry.
Apply two coats of glitter paint, allowing to dry between coats.
Assemble vase according to directions, using clear Elmer’s glue spots as adhesive.
Wrap fibers/ribbons around cup and tie in place. Mount clear butterfly to one piece of fiber as shown.
Insert votive or tea light and enjoy the glow.

Be sure to click on the Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop link to the right to see what other amazing creations designers have made with Fresh Vintage dies! Each week, a new die is shared for endless inspiration. And visit Oh My Crafts Blog for a chance to WIN one of these amazing dies!

Westcott Brand® Designer Connection Blog Hop! It's Time!!!

2011-10-03T00:01:00.016-04:00

WESTCOTT BRAND® Cutting Tools is sponsoring the October Designer Craft Connection blog hop! You can find more info about the challenge here: http://tinyurl.com/64tkxsg

Westcott sent all participating designers an amazing assortment of cutting tools - all in pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month! The Duck Brand® also sent us a fun assortment of pink and gold tapes and adhesive sheets, and Velcro Brand® Fasteners contributed fasteners for our creations! Our Designer Challenge packages included the following products:

Westcott Brand® Titanium Bonded Non Stick Scissors
Westcott Brand® 12” Titanium Bonded Trimmer
The Duck Brand® Duct Tape Sheets
The Duck Brand® Patterned Duct Tape Rolls
VELCRO® Brand Hook and Loop Fasteners
VELCRO® Brand Sticky Back Hook and Loop Fasteners

I really expanded my creative horizons on this one - being a mom of 2 boys, PINK is not a color I commonly create with - so I went a little pink crazy and created many projects to share! I have to say that these non-stick titanium scissors are amazing. Anyone who works in a classroom should have a pair for sure - as we cut Velcro about ten zillion times a week. They cut cleanly and crisply through paper, chipboard, fabric, ribbons, Velcro and duct tape - without sticking - an amazing accomplishment! To view all the amazing creations by participating designers, follow the Designer Craft Connection link on the right side of my blog!

Flamingos! The bright pink Duck Brand tape immediately reminded me of those pink plastic flamingos so popular in some yards. Our family has an ongoing joke about them, so I decided to create a fun 3-dimensional flamingo for a layout to document our feelings about these funky birds! Two pieces of pink tape were placed sticky sides together, then individual feathers were cut and mounted to form the bird. His beak is made from black glass beads adhered with Judikins Diamond Glaze. His legs are made from bamboo skewers. I also used an alphabet stencil from Plaid to cut a “F” from the pink duct tape sheet for the title. A photo mat was also cut from the pink duct tape sheet. All that’s missing is the photo of the yard we often laugh about - and that will be added soon!

Repurposed Pizazz Bracelet - a round plastic piece from the center of a large spool of Velcro Brand fastener used in our classroom at school was transformed into a funky dimensional bracelet using pink & black zebra striped tape and gold tape. Faux gemstone accents add to the bling factor.

Girl in Flight Mobile - A mobile for a little girls room which starts with a wire framework wrapped in bright pink tape, then wrapped in goldtone wire. Hello Kitty duct tape and gold duct tape butterflies, hand cut with Westcott scissors hand from golden threads. The secret to this mobile is that the butterfly bodies are made from black Velcro, and the butterflies are interchangeable with funky black and pink zebra tape and gold tape butterflies - when the little girl takes flight into the world of pre-teen girls - her mobile can grow up a bit with her!

PINK stands boldly in the Garden of Hope - In keeping with the Westcott Brand tradition of giving back to the community, they are once again be teaming up with CharityWings.org in an online auction of the designer’s creations with the proceeds going to raise funds for breast cancer awareness. This mixed-media canvas was created to be donated to the Charity Wings auction. A canvas was first painted with shades of blue Plaid Martha Stewart paints in Satin, Pearl, and Glitter. Floral patterned paper from the BFF Collection by TaDa Creative Studios was cut with Westcott cutting tools and mounted to the bottom portion of the canvas. The title lettering was cut with from pink tape and mounted to a gold tape border. The “P” was wrapped with Hello Kitty, pink Zebra and solid pink tape. A Clover Kansashi Flower maker and Clover Frilled Flower maker were used to create the 3 large dimensional flowers, all made with patterned Duck Brand duct tapes embellished with Blumenthal Lansing buttons. Additional Blumenthal Lansing buttons, a Creative Charms butterfly, floral gemstone brads, paper and fabric are finishing accents. All items adhered with Elmer’s Craft Bond Adhesives.

Here's a link to the auction: http://charitywingsnews.blogspot.com/2011/10/westcott-brand-and-friends-auction-for.html

More about Westcott Brand® products:

· Westcott Brand® Scissors are the WORLD’S FAVORITE SCISSORS™ meaning Westcott sells more scissors than any other manufacturer in the world!

· Westcott Brand® Titanium Bonded Non Stick Scissors are the BEST Non Stick Scissors on the market that never get stuck and can easily cut through Sticky Back VELCRO®, Duck Tape and multiple layers of fabric and other materials!

· Titanium bonded blades are 3 times harder than stainless steel and never need sharpening!

· Westcott Brand® Cutting Tools have the best performance! The 3” scissors can even cut through 5 layers of fabric!

· Westcott Brand® Cutting Tools are ergonomic and come in several different color options!

Westcott is also offering an amazing giveaway of Deluxe Assortment of Westcott Brand® Cutting Tools for a reader! To learn more visit http://www.facebook.com/WestcottBrand or http://westcottbrand.blogspot.com/ to find out how YOU could win! Random giveaway winner to be announced by Westcott on November 1^st! Prize must be shipped to US address.

Colors of Autumn Tassel Necklace - New Episode of WCK!

2011-09-30T17:30:00.001-04:00

Pantone's Fall 2011 colors are EASY to match with Rit!

In my newest appearance on When Creativity Knocks, I share with Ana & Megan Araujo, and a live audience who created this along with us, how to make a "Colors of Autumn Tassel Necklace". Rit Dye, Blumenthal Lansing Buttons, DIY Bangles wooden leaf pendant, Judikins stamps and a repurposed bed sheet come together for a funky fall accessory. Rit works great on fabric, buttons, and wood!

View this episode here: http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&Itemid=176

Sizzix Fresh Vintage Fringed Flower - Blog Hop!

2011-09-29T10:53:00.001-04:00

Today's the day for the next wave of projects in the Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop - Find links to all the participating designers who created with the Fringed Flower die, and see how Eileen designed this amazing box at Eileen Hull's site - http://eileenhull.blogspot.com/2011/09/sizzix-fresh-vintage-blog-hop-fringed.html

It's started! Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop has begun....

2011-09-27T22:23:00.000-04:00

Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop Starts Today....

I am honored to be part of this amazing blog hop - my assigned die project will be shared in the coming weeks - but don't miss a single week of inspiring ideas from these talented artists!

Check out the

Fresh Vintage Blog Hop

which starts today!

One die from the Fresh Vintage Collection

will be featured every Tuesday and Thursday for the next 6 weeks.

You will see 6 - 10 projects for each die....

Start at Eileen Hull's Blog to check out

what has been done with the

Scoreboard Album Die and

click on the Fresh Vintage Link

on Eileen's Blog to get to the next project.

FAQ about the Fresh Vintage Blog Hop:How do I hop around to see ideas using the current featured die?

Every Tuesday and Thursday between September 27-November 3, 2011 there will be a new Sizzix Fresh Vintage die featured on 6-10 of the 75 participating designers' blogs. The navigation buttons for "Hop Back" and "Hop Forward" are on the widget that you can find on the right side of my blog, will allow you to easily hop around and see projects featuring whatever the currentdie is, since those buttons are programmed to navigate only to the blogs that are participating for that die. On the next Tuesday/Thursday, the buttons will automatically reprogram themselves to navigate to the blogs that are signed up for the next featured die.

What if I start at a designer's blog that isn't one of the 6-10 signed up for that die?

No problem! Simply hit either the "Hop Forward" or "Hop Back" button on the Fresh Vintage navigation widget from any blog's sidebar and you'll automatically advance to one of the participating blogs.

Can I go back and view the ideas for a previously featured die?

Of course! Go to Eileen Hull's blog and find the "Blog Hops" link at the top of the page. It will bring up her blog posts where you'll find direct links to each participating blog along with a thumbnail image of the project.

Where can I buy the Sizzix Fresh Vintage dies, by Eileen Hull?

You can visit Sizzix.com to find a local and online retailers for Sizzix products. Also be sure to visit Oh My Crafts, one of this blog hop's sponsors, (between the dates of September 27-November 3, 2011) and enter for a chance to win a Flower Layers #9 die!

The Blog Hop has ended and the navigation widget is no longer in the sidebar. How can I see the ideas?

Go to Eileen Hull's blog and find the "Blog Hops" link at the top of the page. It will bring up her blog posts where you'll find direct links to each participating blog along with a thumbnail image of the project.

A Halloween Welcome

2011-09-27T20:37:00.000-04:00

At Last...We Thought You’d Never Arrive - Halloween is a popular holiday at our house, and this Halloween home-decor piece hangs inside our front entryway. In the theme of the “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” and featuring papers from the Graphic 45 Halloween in Wonderland Collection it is definitely an attention getter. Faux blood created in my Mad Scientist Lab (aka Studio) with "secret ingredients" to be revealed in an upcoming Halloween episode of When Creativity Knocks was used in three ways - I used my fingers to smear it over all edges of the canvas while the blood was still wet (it really looks disgusting lol!). Another vial of blood is attached to the canvas with the Mad Hatter looking up at it with a surprised expression. And some of drops and puddles are added beneath the vial onto the canvas so it looks like it spilled over. The canvas itself was colored with Rit Dye, and the green strips of torn sheet were dyed with Rit to match the background paper. The purple-grey paper stamped with a pocket watch stamp matches the color of the Mad Hatter's coat perfectly thanks to Rit dye. The Hatter himself is partially cut from the background and raised up with Elmer's foam tape for added depth. A gold moon & star charm, gold teapot and teabag charms tied with twine serve as accents.

Creepy Hotel Room Creations

2011-09-22T09:19:00.001-04:00

So, I found those awesome skull beads at the Bead Boutique booth at Southern Women's Show in Charlotte, (see my previous post). I wanted fun earrings to wear while taping a Halloween episode for When Creativity Knocks on the Creative Stage - with limited supplies to work with in the hotel room, I made these very simple earrings. Little did I know that attendees would be stopping me at the show and wanting to know if I could buy them at the show and at which booth, and if I had a jewelry making book published LOL! :0) Not perfectly executed for sure, but here's the quick hotel room version of the creepy earrings - decorative paper clips, silver tone wire, and those fun red skull beads!

Back from Southern Women's Show

2011-09-20T11:26:00.002-04:00

Wow - I am still awestruck by the reception the WCK Creative Stage received at the Southern Women's Show in Charlotte, NC - Attendees absolutely loved the different workshops we offered and it was standing room only at every one. The week was a whirlwind, starting with packing it up and driving it to Charlotte on Tuesday, and then for the rest of the week non-stop creative chaos! If you've never been to a Southern Women's Show - they are offered all around the country and they are amazing events. Extremely well organized and well-run, by friendly professional staff. A wide variety of booths offering cosmetics, jewelry, clothing, home decor, wellness items, home cleaning items, foods, and this year - CRAFT items, were visited by over 20,000 attendees this year. 3 Stages - the WCK Creative Stage, a cooking stage, and the main stage, were busy throughout with events like performers, the firefighter fashion show fundraiser for burned children, and more. The SWS comes to Raleigh next spring - and I plan to be there for sure! For more peaks at what was available to attendees visit the When Creativity Knocks Flickr!

Southern Women's Show - Charlotte, NC

2011-09-07T23:28:00.001-04:00

Next week the WCK team will be hosting the craft stage at the Southern Women's Show in Charlotte, NC, Thursday, September 15th through Sunday, September 19th. You can find a schedule of creative events here I've been busy here in NC preparing class materials, and Ana Araujo has been busy in California doing the same - when we come together next week it's going to be a crafting explosion! We've got some FREE TICKETS to share too - if you'd like one, email me at Cindi@WhenCreativityKnocks.com and we'll add you to the list!

Here's a little colorful peak at supplies for a couple of classes....

Feeling the "Chill" of ICE Resin

2011-09-07T23:13:00.000-04:00

After meeting Susan Lenart Kazmer and Jen Cushman this summer at CHA and having a chance to see some of their amazing art with my own eyes, I've been experimenting with ICE Resin and have found it very user friendly and it produces amazing results. I have lots of projects I will be sharing over the coming weeks here where I have combined the resin with an assortment of unexpected things, and will be sharing a project on an upcoming episode of When Creativity Knocks...... but in the mean time, did you know that ICE Resin has a call out for 4 new design team members? Visit the ICE Resin website for all the details. I encourage you to give this product a try and give yourself a chance to try out for the team. The deadline for applying is September 16th - so check it out fast!

Giant Diaper Cupcake!

2011-09-05T00:05:00.019-04:00

Since the Designer Craft Connection group decided to share party favors, decorations, etc. for our Celebrations theme this month, I thought add a "bonus" project to today's post (Halloween Banner - below) and share a link to one of my episodes of When Creativity Knocks - This is a twist on the traditional "diaper cake" presented to expecting mothers - it's a giant diaper cupcake! Complete with a embellished baby blanket wrapping and baby sock frosting (and coordinating invitation and gift recording book for mom too!). Expo International's BaZooples line of appliques added to the fun of this project. Find out how it's done here: Diaper Cupcake Episode

Halloween Pennant Banner

2011-09-05T00:04:00.008-04:00

It's time for the monthly Designer Crafts Connection blog hop to begin and this month we are focusing on Celebrations! For our give-a-way prize this month - visit Julie McGuffee's blog and see how you can win a DVD set of the new TV show Scrapbook Soup, Series 100! And don't forget to click on the link to the right to visit more creative blogs from talented designers and see their fun celebrations ideas!

And now for my Spooky Celebration decor.... RIT Liquid Dye, Blumenthal Lansing Buttons, and Plaid Extreme Glitter are the key elements in this decorative banner great for a Halloween party or for displaying just for fun during the spooky season. Don't let these lengthy instructions "scare" you away - It's really easy to create!

Materials:

RIT Liquid Dye - Tangerine, Purple, Black (www.RIT.com)

Disposable craft gloves, bowl, water, paper towels, microwave, small paint brush

White cardstock

Plaid Extreme Glitter - Black and Orange and Folk Art Silver Sterling acrylic paint(www.PlaidOnline.com)

Blumenthal Lansing Buttons - Spiders from Big Bag Value pack of Bats & Spiders, Violet and Fern Glitter buttons (www.BlumenthalLansing.com)

Google eyes in various sizes

Elmer’s Craft Bond Tacky Glue (www.Elmers.com)

X-Acto scissors, retractable craft knife and decorative edge scissors (www.Xacto.com)

Clear Contact paper

Green eyelets

Crop-A-Dile tool (www.WeROnTheNet.com)

White sheet or white cotton fabric

Decorative faux spider webbing

Black felt (www.

Red Sharpie marker

Brown chenille stems, scrap burlap, wooden skewer

Faux gemstones in assorted sizes

Instructions:

To create faux handmade/mulberry paper -

Wearing craft gloves, for Tangerine and Purple, in separate bowls add one tsp of each color RIT Liquid Dye and 1/2 cup water. Microwave for approximately 1 1/2 minutes.

Gently crumple sheet of white cardstock. Unfold and press to flatten. Place onto scrap paper. Use paintbrush to brush dye directly onto cardstock. Flip over and repeat on back side. Place onto paper towels and microwave approximately 2 minutes. Repeat until you have at least 3 sheets of each color.

For grey/black “spiderweb” paper, wearing craft gloves, in bowl add 1 tsp Black RIT Liquid Dye and 1 cup water. Microwave approximately 1 1/2 minutes.

Measure and cut clear Contact paper for each piece of dyed paper. Mount clear Contact paper to BACK side of each piece.

Determine desired size of pennants. Draw cutting lines on back side and cut out pennants using decorative edge scissors.

For project as shown, you will need 4 orange, 3 grey and 3 purple.

For orange pennants, on back side draw jack-o-lantern face. On cutting mtat, use retractable craft knife to cut out face.

On front of each orange piece, use small paintbrush to apply lines of orange Extreme Glitter approximately 1” apart. Let dry.

Use Elmer’s Craft Bond Tacky Glue to mount Blumenthal Lansing leaf buttons on two and brown chenille stems twisted to create stems for remaining two.

For spider pennants, coat several black spider buttons in assorted sizes with black Extreme Glitter. When dry, use Elmer’s Tacky Glue to mount to grey pennants.

Use Elmer’s Tacky Glue to add faux gemstone eyes to each spider, adjusting size of eyes to match each spider size.

For Frankenstein pennants, on two pennants mount green rectangular buttons as shown.

Cut small piece of black felt and cut edge to create spiked hair. Glue to top of button as shown.

Mount two small google eyes on each green button head.

Use red Sharpie marker to draw mouth on each.

Add small scrap of burlap beneath each head.

Paint approximately 1” of a bamboo skewer with silver paint. Let dry. Cut 4 small pieces (approximately 1/8”). Mount to either side of button Frankenstein head. (These are his “bolts”.)

Mount purple glitter buttons randomly around head.

For last purple banner, mount purple and green glitter buttons in assorted sizes. Add google eyes in assorted sizes to green glitter buttons.

Tear 1/4” strip of white sheet.

Use Crop-A-Dile tool to mount green eyelet approximately 1/4” down from top of each pennant on right and left sides.

String sheet through each eyelet and double knot. Cut to fit. Repeat until all pieces are strung together as shown.

Stretch small amount of faux decorative spider web across the top of entire banner over white sheet strips.

Hang and enjoy the spooky season!

Altered Books

2011-08-31T20:07:00.000-04:00

This week's WCK Creative Journal Simple Solutions article is now live - and it's all about Altered Books. Take a peek between the pages and find out more.

The Product Review for this week is this great book by Judy Picarello - Patterns in Polymer - It's an amazing book!

Also, take a few minutes to view the latest episode of WCK as Ana Araujo and Sarah Moore of the Craft Critique tour some fun creative spots on Chicago Craft Tour!

Rolling Along with Ta Da Creative Studios!

2011-08-31T11:04:00.000-04:00

That rolling trend I noticed at CHA is still going strong! Look at this simple, yet adorable card created by Margie Higuchi featured with instructions at the Ta Da Creative Studios blog! This was made with their new Frozen Tozen' Collection which is adorable! Just had to share :0).

FaveCrafts Profile

2011-08-28T08:42:00.000-04:00

I now have joined the ranks of creative designers with profiles at FaveCrafts.com! You can view my profile with links to projects, etc. here:

http://www.favecrafts.com/Craft-Designers/Cindi-Bisson

I'm looking forward to sharing more projects and contributing to FaveCrafts creative world!

Getting Creative with RIT Liquid Dye

2011-08-26T19:07:00.001-04:00

Back to school! My two boys are back to school this week - 5th and 7th grade! And I want back to work at our local elementary school part time in the afternoons. A busy time for all and a welcome return to a more regular schedule for mom! Meanwhile...... I'm happy to say that RIT Dye has posted another of my projects on their home page of the website this week - not once, but twice! Learn how to create this greeting card with sponged patterned paper and removable apple magnet - both techniques done with 2 shades of RIT Liquid dye and featuring a fun Blumenthal Lansing leaf button - here - Apple Magnet Card.

Plaid's 2nd Annual Trick Your Pumpkin Contest

2011-08-13T16:56:00.000-04:00

Just found this fun new contest from Plaid and my muse is already in high gear! Yup - I'm Trickin' My Pumpkin! Will you too? Click to find out all the "scoop" (seeds and all!)

http://www.plaidonline.com/2nd-annual-trick-your-pumpkin-contest/555/article.htm

Good Messy Fun!

2011-08-13T05:00:00.000-04:00

I spent yesterday afternoon in the kitchen with all my RIT Liquid Dye and an old white sheet. I am working on a special project and wanted to try matching the Pantone Fall 2011 colors using the RIT recipes. I am happy to report that their recipes to match these colors are great! Here's a peak at my workspace in the midst of all this colorful madness :0). I sure do love to make a good creative mess.

Pantone's Fall 2011 Colors - and RIT to Match!

2011-08-12T16:13:00.001-04:00

Have you seen the absolutely scrumptious colors Pantone brings us for Fall 2011? I discovered today that RIT Dye has already provided us with formulas to match these gorgeous colors for our own projects! Yay!
http://www.RITDye.com

Knot Your Ordinary Scarf - New WCK Episode!

2011-08-12T15:31:00.000-04:00

A new episode of When Creativity Knocks just went live on the site - shot on site at Maker Faire in San Mateo this spring. I show Ana Araujo just how easy it can be to create a fun & funky scarf - no knitting needed! See how here:

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&Itemid=176

4,530+ WOW!

2011-08-10T11:56:00.000-04:00

I am awestruck - and want to say a big thank you to everyone who has viewed my latest episode on When Creativity Knocks. This simple project I shared with Ana Araujo at Maker Faire featuring RIT Dye and Blumenthal Lansing buttons has had over 4,530 views in just a couple of weeks. Thanks for your support everyone!

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&Itemid=176

Roly Poly - Here it is again!

2011-08-05T13:09:00.008-04:00

I mentioned what I thought was a "trend" I spotted at CHA in a recent post. Just got this tweet from My Little Shoebox and had to share - Here come the roly poly's again...... Love this layout! And check out all their fun Trick or Treat projects too! http://www.mylittleshoebox.typepad.com/

Beachy loveliness - Check out this kit!

2011-08-03T12:42:00.002-04:00

I don't often repost things like this - but I think this is just so pretty I had to share. Here's a great chance to win the gorgeous August set from Studio Calico - The details are all here -

Kim Watson's blog

Designer Craft Connection - August Giveaway and Makin's Clay on your Layouts!

2011-08-01T00:00:00.044-04:00

The Designer Craft Connection August giveaway is a collection of punches! Here's the scoop from Julie McGuffee on how you can be eligible to win this prize:

These are great big punches! Two embossed leaf punches and a tag shaped punch from Marvy Uchida, and two McGill button punches.

To enter to win readers have to hop around the webring then comment on my (Julie McGuffee's) blog about
which technique they liked the best,
which one they are going to try and
which one was the most unique.
The winner will be announced on August 15th.

This month we decided to share some of our favorite "techniques" with our readers. As a certified "Technique Junkie" (I even subscribed to Pat Huntoon's Technique Junkies Newsletter for ages!) - I have too many favorites to even try to blog in one post. With that said, in reference to my blog post yesterday, I have resparked my desire to scrapbook recently. One of my favorite "techniques" to do when scrapbooking is to add dimension and depth to my pages - bringing them up to the lumpy and bumpy category. While many scrapbookers prefer flat pages so their books don't bulge, dimensional and more bulky pages can still be displayed framed on a wall, or the techniques used can be applied to other home decor or jewelry items.   Don't forget to use the link at the right to click through the other talented designer blogs and see some of their favorite creative techniques!

Makin's Clay is a product I love to use on my layouts. Clay? Yes, clay. Makin's Clay is a lightweight, air dry polymer clay. It is acid-free and safe for scrapbooking. It's flexible when dried, and when rolled thin can be craft punched or die cut. I love to texture it with their texture sheets, stamp it when wet to create unique embellishments, or stamp it when dry too. Often I create embellishments with their push molds. Makin's Clay can be colored with a number of different colorants and finishes to create shimmering effects, glossy effects, and more.   While I haven't whipped out my Makin's Clay and used it on a layout in recent months, I have used it a number of times in the past. Here are a few pages highlighting various ways to add Makin's Clay to your pages:

Die cut clay title letters, seashell accents made with push mold and accented with EarthSafe Finishes for shimmer.

The baseball accent and die cut 2007 were made from clay textured with a real baseball. Dimensional clay stitches made using the clay extruder.

Pansy and leaf accents made with custom colored clay and push mold.

Hand made clay sunflower accented with acrylic paint to match background paper (back in the "old days" when I had to manually stitch two scans together........ I am so glad I've learned a better way!)

Scrapbooking, at last!

2011-07-31T09:52:00.006-04:00

Scrapbooking........!

Sadly, I haven't had the creative time to scrapbook in ages! I am always busy with some time of creative project for the show, for a manufacturer, etc. Don't get me wrong - I love it all - but my personal memory pages have dwindled in production for the last year or so!

When reviewing the new line of papers from Susiebee Studios for When Creativity Knocks Creative Journal this week, my muse kicked into gear and I took the time to actually create 3 layouts! I forgot how much fun it was to scrapbook! I mixed papers, added a bit of embellishing and dimension here and there, and voila - 3 colorful memory pages to re-spark my interest in this addictive creative hobby! My complete review of this fun live of colorful, vibrant papers, and more detailed instructions on how I created each layout will be featured in the Creative Journal and on the home page at When Creativity Knocks on Tuesday - but I was so excited I had to share a peak at the layouts here on my blog!

Texture & Dimension - Lovin' the Lumpy Bumpy Look at CHA!

2011-07-27T08:58:00.000-04:00

If you've viewed my episodes of When Creativity Knocks, or viewed my art over the years, you may have noticed that I refer to myself as a "lumpy bumpy" loving texture and dimensional embellishment junkie! I have often made my own embellishment out of Makin's Clay because I love the depth it gives to a project. Everywhere I looked this week at CHA in Rosemont, IL I saw things that fabulously fit this category! Home decor, cards and scrapbook layouts are definitely heading into my territory. Absolutely GORGEOUS multi-dimensional, sometimes multi-patterned flowers in every style and color imaginable. Twigs, wire, beads, wood, gemstones - even a dimensional birdbath. See for yourself and dare to be different and come over to the "lumpy bumpy" side of creativity!

Really liked these two samples at Webster's Pages

"Beauty and the beach" at that favorite "birdy" layout I found at Prima!

Petaloo! A creative flower explosion.

Loved this autumn layout complete with tiny dragonfly....but where was I?

Creepy Crawlies and flowers too! My Little Shoebox

"Beachy keen" embellishments at My Little Yellow Bicycle

Wooden it be nice to use these houses on your project? Studio Calico!

We've been FRAMED - Everywhere at CHA!

2011-07-26T08:33:00.000-04:00

Every turn I took on the CHA showroom floor I saw frames. And most specifically - "empty" frames - they seemed to be the decoration of choice in many of the booths! Even Cricut gave away at frames cartridge at their event - large or small, ornate or simple, with a photo or a bit of other creativity inside - frames seem to be IN right now!

Roly Poly......More from CHA

2011-07-25T15:44:00.000-04:00

So far I have shared that I noticed at this summer's CHA trade show that crafters and artists were going to be seeing birds everywhere - another "trend" I noticed was that scrapbook embellishments seem to be getting a bit "roly poly" quite often! I think this is a great idea and a resourceful way to use up small scraps of cardstocks or patterned papers and use them to add depth and dimension and make your art even prettier! I first spotted a wintery wreath made from rolled patterned papers, then I began to notice these decorative rolls popping up on layouts, frames, and more throughout the showroom floor. If you look closely, you'll spot them on every photo here!

My Little Yellow Bicycle is always on my must see list at CHA!

Absolutely ADORABLE example of Roly Poly at Studio Calico!

My Little Shoebox always has an adorable selection of scrapbooking papers!

LaBlanche had absolutely stunning silicone stamps, and breathtaking display projects!

Upcycled Bracelet Project - My Newest Episode of When Creativity Knocks

2011-07-25T15:21:00.000-04:00

The latest episode of When Creativity Knocks features a fun tie dyed bracelet project I designed using RIT Liquid Dye, Blumenthal Lansing buttons, and a repurposed t-shirt! You can view it here to see how simple it was for Ana Araujo and I to create these simple bracelets, and a matching headband.

A Bit of Black - As Spotted at CHA

2011-07-23T22:31:00.002-04:00

While adding black may not be a new trend, I did seem to notice black popping up more often in lots of beautiful layouts and projects displayed at CHA in Rosemont this week. More tomorrow from CHA!

DCWV had an amazing display of holiday trees - this one featured pink and black poinsettias - it was amazingly unique and eye-catching!

This new "Phantom" line from Pink Paislee is elegantly ghoulish fun!

This lovely example of black done perfectly was on display at the Spellbinders booth.

Graphic 45 - They use black as an accent perfectly in almost all their lines! A must see stop for me at every CHA!

Petaloo offers an amazing variety of gorgeous dimensional flowers in a multitude of materials!

Mixed-Media Crafty Couture Gowns - Elegance at CHA

2011-07-23T09:31:00.000-04:00

CHA challenged designers to submit their ideas for a mixed-media Crafty Couture gown for display at the Craft Fusion Center at CHA. The chosen participants all put countless hours of effort into their artistic creations. Here is a look at some of these unique gowns - which incorporated so many amazing things - craft foam, feathers, die cuts, wire, clay, photographs, plastic grocery bags, art journaling, canvas, ribbons, book pages, paper towels, dryer sheets, paints, crystals, felt, velvet, glitter, satin, organza, denim, copper metal, scrapbook papers, working lights and even scissors. I would like to personally thank Makin's Clay, EarthSafe Finishes, Darice, Blumenthal Lansing, Tulip, and National Non-Woven for their support of my design. The fan favorite was an amazing art journaling gown by Julie Fei-Fan Balzar. This special presentation was a feast for the eyes and I am proud to have been a part of it.

CHA - A First Report - or should I say "TWEET!"

2011-07-22T18:31:00.014-04:00

I arrived home today from CHA Summer in Rosemont, IL. The show was a bit smaller than in the past, but I still spotted what I would call a few "trends" very quickly! Here is just one thing that stood out quickly!

Ever see Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" - If it scared you don't read further..... because THE BIRDS are definitely HERE! Birds, birds everywhere - and birdhouses, and birdcages, birdbaths, nests....... EVERYWHERE - Rubber stamps, die cuts, patterned papers, dimensional embellishments, chipboard shapes, wooden birds, painting sets, stencils, fabric - a bird of some sort either on a product or on a booth decoration in some sort. See for yourself a few of the flock I captured on film.

Plaid makes it easy for anyone to be an artist using paint!

Floracraft's booth is always bursting with giant sized fun!

Crate Paper's booth was fully of tweety good fun - displays and products with birds popping up.

LaBlanche offers absolutely stunningly detailed silicone stamps - lots of birds & more!

ART-C - Wow - a mixed-media artist's dream.

Graphic 45 was exploding with colorful, fun and funky birdhouses.

This birdcage and two feathered friends was photographed at the Silhouette craft cutter booth.

Studio Calico had a great booth- and I found this stamped card with this fun tweeting bird.

DCWV - loved these fun colorful papers - and look - birds!

Prima - Everything a bird lover could want - beautifully added to a layout - a nest, birdhouse, even a dimensional birdbath! One of my favorite layouts at CHA!

Just look at this adorable owl "penant" made from Nikki Sivils' fun You're A Hoot collection!

Piggies & Pennies from Heaven!

2011-07-15T14:42:00.002-04:00

Check out Ana Araujo's super clever greeting card idea featuring Judikin's products in this week's episode. Ana and I had fun sharing this project despite the never ending winds and challenges of taping on site, outside, at Maker Faire! See it here: http://tinyurl.com/5ut4nxe

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CHA Summer - Here I Come!

2011-07-13T19:07:00.000-04:00

I am almost (well, not almost, but getting there...) ready to head to Chicago this Saturday for CHA! I will be participating on Sunday in the Photocentric certification class and will share more about this ingenious machine when I get back. Then Monday the hustle & bustle of CHA begins. I'm participating in the Crafty Couture Gown Designer Challenge and I can't tell you how relieved I was when my finished gown actually FIT the mannequin when I tried it on her! We were challenged to create a gown using multiple mixed-media. My design incorporates a number of media definitely not typically seen in a gown - and I am happy with the finished gown. Many thanks to Makin's Clay, EarthSafe Finishes, Darice, Blumenthal Lansing, Tulip and National Non-Woven for their support with this project. I will also again be participating in the Designer Showcase event. I have been busy working on a whole new display for this and am making good progress. Here's a tiny peak part of my gown......

Meanwhile.......... Back on the When Creativity Knocks homefront - My latest episode is now live at the site. C&T Publishing's TAP Transfer Paper is the star product in this episode where I demonstrate how to make a fun animal themed tote bag. I made a bag like this years ago, and I take it with me every time I travel as my carry on bag. EVERY time I go anywhere, I always get multiple comments on it - so I wanted to share it with all our viewers. See it here: http://tinyurl.com/5skmomg

My latest Simple Solutions project is a simple faux paper mosaic technique which is great for personalizing albums and more. Here's a link: http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296&Itemid=265

My Product Review for this week is Yoga for Your Brain - A Zentangle Workout by Sandy Steen Bartholomew: http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=297&Itemid=128

iLovetoCreate Challenge - Tulip Beads in a Bottle

2011-07-01T00:00:00.002-04:00

The Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop group has partnered with iLovetoCreate for July’s challenge! iLovetoCreate provided 30 designers from this group with Tulip’s Beads in a Bottle and challenged us to create something unique to share. We are proud to share our projects with you and hopefully inspire you to give Tulip's Beads in a Bottle a try! Click on the Designer Crafts Connection link to the right, or visit the iLovetoCreate link below and directly hop to the participating designer's blogs.

For my project, I created a fun and funky summer bracelet. The colors of the Gemstone Collection set I received to work with matched this button from Blumenthal Lansing perfectly - which got my creative muse thinking......

Supplies:

Tulip® Beads in a Bottle™ Paint Gemstone Collection - 28795 (see the great assortment of Beads in a Bottle choices here: http://tinyurl.com/5urjspr)
Wooden bangle bracelet (http://www.diybangles.com/)
Blumenthal Lansing Swirls - 195001991 See Thru Acrylics by LaMode^®(http://www.blumenthallansing.com/seethrubuttons.aspx)
EarthSafe Finishes Shimmer Opaque - Black Pearl (http://stores.earthsafefinishes.com/-strse-9/Shimmer-Opaque-Gel-Medium/Detail.bok)
Elmer's Craft Bond Tacky Glue Adhesive (http://www.elmers.com/)
Black fine Sharpee marker, paintbrush

The wooden bangle was given a coat of Black Pearl Shimmer Opaque and allowed to dry. Working with one color at a time, and allowing drying time between colors, I used the Tulip® Beads in a Bottle™ Paint to create similar swirls to those on the acrylic buttons in assorted sizes on the painted bangle. Once all colors were dry, a fine point Sharpee marker was used to doodle swirls around some of the Beads swirls. Elmer's Craft Bond Adhesive was used to mount three of the buttons, at evening spaced intervals, onto the finished bangle.

iLovetoCreate is also offering a chance for YOU to win an awesome stash of products - to find out how to enter visit iLovetoCreate's blog here: http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/beads-in-bottle-blog-hop.html

Photo "Tile" with Elmer's Craft Bond Adhesive

2011-06-30T20:20:00.000-04:00

Presenting.....my latest episode as featured designer on When Creativity Knocks - Ana Araujo and I had a blast sharing this faux photo "tile" project with you! Find out how to make your own project here:

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=176&video_id=230\

Butterfly Wings & Fireworks - RIT Style!

2011-06-30T12:00:00.000-04:00

I've been busy designing with RIT Liquid Dyes again. Two of my recent projects and techniques are featured on the RIT Dye homepage - http://www.ritdye.com/.

Learn how to create velvety crystalized RIT Dye butterfly wings (and learn a tip about RIT and Staz-On inkpads with vellum!) here: http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/rit-dye-vellum-yes-indeed

Fireworks! Get ready for some messy creative fun and make fireworks for your July 4th celebration (what a fun background for your scrapbook layout of fun photos from the day!) http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/firecracker-fun-make-july-4th-party-invitations-place-cards-event-schedule

The End of June?

2011-06-22T10:27:00.004-04:00

How can it almost be the END of June? These last few weeks have flown by. The end of school brought more time at the lake. Warm weather brought flowers to care for and lawns to be mowed. A renewed dedication to better health brought frequent trips to the local gym and more walks with a friend. The loss of another good friend's daughter to an auto accident brought tears, sorrow, and a complete inability to focus for over a week...the color orange will now forever mean Camille in my world. I am now attempting to get it together as I have realized that CHA Summer is less than a month away! I've been working hard on my Crafty Couture gown for display at CHA, and pulling together my Designer Showcase display. Also have been working with the WCK team to prepare for our trip to CHA and all that we will be undertaking while in Chicago. Did you know WCK is now offering Tag codes for DESIGNERS AND MANUFACTURERS to put on their promotional material? Email me for the full scoop on this affordable way to promote YOUR business!

A few weeks ago I promised a peak at Maker Faire San Mateo - Here's a link to my Simple Solutions article highlighting some things that caught my eye: http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296&Itemid=265

Ana and I also had fun with Blumenthal Lansing's yummy new Sweet Treats button, Green Toys, and Elmer's Glue Dots in this new episode!
http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&Itemid=176

Best Dad in the Neighborhood - Dyed Craft Foam!

2011-06-05T10:53:00.001-04:00

Did you know you can custom dye craft foam? It works! My latest project for RIT Dye is posted at their site! See the instruction on how to custom dye foam and how to create this dyed plaid background paper at the RIT website: http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/show-dad-hes-best-dad-neighborhood

California - Beaches, Creatures & Artichokes!

2011-05-27T18:07:00.000-04:00

There are so many interesting sites to see in California. Each time I travel to this diverse state with the WCK team I am fortunate enough to be spoiled with a tour of something fun and unique. This time the beach was Monterey - 17 Mile Road offered so many gorgoeus scenic views my head was spinning. Ana and I stopped at each one - and my favorite had to be this little cove where we watched a mother seal teaching her pups how to fish and play. It was such an amazing sight - everyone should have a chance to see something this special in their life! We also saw sea lions, pelicans and an assortment of other sea birds, and these adorable little squirrel-like critters which I have yet to positively identify. My eye always seems to be drawn to the unique flora in the state of California and I am always asking Ana and Scott to identify some plant or tree I see. I photograph as many as I can too! In addition to the beautiful vistas, we enjoyed many tastes of California!

I saw my very first artichoke fields, and yes, was enough of a tourist to take photos. We stopped at this little roadside stand and Ana and I ate fried artichoke hearts - YUMMY! We brought some fresh artichokes home too and later Ana gave me a lesson on the best way to enjoy this treat! We also enjoyed pizza right on the beach from Pizza My Heart - complete with a commemorative t-shirt! Last thing that evening, we stopped at a great frozen yogurt place and I enjoyed Key Lime and Cheesecake frozen yogurts topped with fresh pineapple and sliced almonds. Mmmmmmmm good. Laughter with a friend, beautiful places, and tasty treats - the makings of an amazing afternoon exploring a new part of California! For a peak at lots more photos from my recent California adventure - check my Facebook page.

California, Here I Come!

2011-05-17T17:30:00.000-04:00

Phew! Been AWOL for a while as I am in full scale madwoman style preparation for a trip to California this week. The When Creativity Knocks team will be attending Maker Faire in San Mateo, CA. We will be bringing the Airstream trailer and offering fun make & takes sponsored by great sponsors like Elmer's, Blumenthal Lansing, C&T Publishing/TAP Paper, Judikins......., as well as taping several episodes while we are there. Lots of prep work ahead of time, but Maker Faire is always a truly unique experience and I'm sure this one won't be a disappointment! I will share photos when I return next week.

Cinco de Mayo - Celebrate with Custom Dyed Balloons in Fiesta Colors!

2011-05-04T08:18:00.000-04:00

Ole'! RIT Dye features my technique for custom dying balloons, this time in their new Fiesta colors - on their home page this week - Read more and find out how here: http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/ole%C2%B4-cinco-de-mayo

RIT Liquid Dye Mother's Day Card

2011-04-26T20:18:00.000-04:00

I've discovered two new techniques using RIT Liquid Dyes - Custom colored microbeads and custom colored shrink plastic! This colorful Mother's Day card is now featured on the home page at the RIT Dye website - http://www.ritdye.com/. To view instructions on how to try these two new techniques, how to create a colorful background, and how to stamp with RIT Liquid Dye - view the tutorial here:

http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/just-you-mom-sweet-mother%E2%80%99s-day-card

Here Comes Peter Cottontail.....3 Ways!

2011-04-14T00:01:00.003-04:00

I happened to be shopping the day after Easter last year and stumbled upon a clearance half-price sale on all Easter products. These plastic bunnies were just screaming to be purchased and turned into something new and creative. At .50 cents a piece, I couldn’t go wrong! (Even at the original price of $1.00 these are worth it!) These snap open clear rabbits are originally meant to hold jelly beans, or other small candies in Easter baskets or centerpieces, but I had something else in mind.

The first bunny is beautiful on a windowsill with the sunshine streaming through – it almost looks like stained glass. This was very easy to accomplish. I simply drew diagonal lines using silver liquid leading to create a diamond pattern. Then, after determining the color palette I wanted to use by sketching it out on scrap paper and coloring it in with colored pencils, I followed the sketch and filled in each area with glass stain. Repeat on the back and your bunny is finished. You could still fill him with Easter treats and present him as a great surprise to someone special. Once the treats are gone they will still have a pretty Easter decoration for years to come.

Supplies: plastic rabbit treat holder, Gallery Glass Liquid Leading in silver (http://www.plaidonline.com/), glass stain (http://www.deltacreative.com/) in assorted colors, small paintbrush

Next came the gingham bunny. These soft pastel colors of gingham just say SPRING to me so I thought it would be fun to incorporate them into an Easter decoration. Random size pieces of pale green, blue, pink and yellow gingham were torn and then decopauged into the insides of the bunny using Plaid Mod Podge. A bit of pink and blue gingham ribbon around his neck and he was complete. When placed in a window, the sun still shines a bit through this bunny giving it a soft glow. And yes, it still opens so it can be filled with treats and presented as a gift.

Supplies: plastic rabbit treat holder, gingham cotton fabric in pink, pale blue, pale green and yellow. Pink and blue ¼” gingham ribbon. Plaid Mod Podge, paintbrush.

Spring flowers are popping up everywhere in North Carolina these days. And now they are popping up in this 3rd decorative bunny. This is the easiest of all to make – simply fill the bunny with an assortment of spring colored artificial flowers (with the faces of the flowers facing the outside of the bunny) and close. Then use Elmer’s Craft Bond Tacky Glue to attach a few accent flowers to create a wreath around the neck. The sun doesn’t shine through this one, but it still looks bright and cheerful on a windowsill, especially when joined by his two bunny pals.

Supplies: plastic rabbit treat holder, artificial flowers in spring shades, Elmer’s Craft Bond Tacky Glue.

The Designer Craft Blog Connection group is presenting a ton of creative Easter ideas today - click the link above to see everyones inspiring projects!

Somebunny Special Easter Card featuring RIT Liquid Dye & Graphic 45

2011-04-12T17:18:00.001-04:00

I absolutely love this new collection from Graphic 45 - Once Upon A Springtime! (http://www.G45papers.com/) The colors are beautiful and soft, the patterns include adorable electic springtime images like fairies, birds, whimiscal bunnies and other springtime creatures. This collection includes a good assortment of patterns that coordinate well together. I turned to RIT Liquid Dye (http://www.ritdye.com/) to create custom colored cardstocks for this card, as well as to dye the buttons on the front, and to dye the crochet trim on the front to match the skirt on the focal image bunny exactly. To find out how I used RIT with these fun papers to make this card visit the RIT Dye website:
http://www.ritdye.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/project_large_image/Easter%20Card%20Inside.png

Glove Bunny & Knock Knock Easter Card

2011-04-10T10:05:00.000-04:00

When Creativity Knocks shares TWO new episodes this week with creative Easter ideas! Ana and I ham it up (hey, it was day 4 of CHA and I was a bit tired....translation.....silly!) while she shares this clever Knock Knock card idea featuring Elmer's foam board:

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=176&video_id=213

And Ana shows Laura Bray how to create clever glove bunnies! I love this striped one!

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=176&video_id=212

Easter Treat Pouch

2011-04-08T08:45:00.000-04:00

This colorful ribbon egg treat pouch was a project completed last spring for Cindi's Simple Solutions. It's the perfect size for a box of marshmallow Peeps (a favorite at our house for years!). If you are looking for a unique way to present an Eatser surprise to someone this year - find out how to make this project here under Easter Treat Pouch - Ana's Craft Pouch Challenge:

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296&Itemid=265

RIT Liquid Dye comes to the Party!

2011-04-07T08:57:00.000-04:00

I have been having so much fun recently experimenting with RIT Liquid Dyes. My most recent discovery is that you can use RIT Liquid Dye to create custom colored, "tie-dyed" balloons! See how I did it here in this week's Cindi's Simple Solutions article for When Creativity Knocks:

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296&Itemid=265

Also check out my latest book review - Time to Tangle with Colors by Marie Browning -

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=297&Itemid=128

Ana's also got more creative birthday cupcake fun in her Ana's Creative Chaos article this week! And our latest new episode features a colorful butterfly lollipop project using the Craftwell e-Craft!

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=176&video_id=211

2011-04-05T19:01:00.000-04:00

The creative team over at Rubber Road Adventures had a challenge recently - we were asked to design something using the leftover wood mounts from when you unmount stamps. The variety of ideas is amazing! I used tiny wood mounts from a small set of alphabet stamps I unmounted for easier use. For a full tutorial on how to create this necklace using repurposed wood mounts and Makin's Clay - click here:

http://rubberroadadventures.ning.com/page/recycled-wood-mounts-necklace

To see the other totally creative ideas shared by these talented designers visit the home page at Rubber Road Adventures ezine: http://rubberroadadventures.ning.com/

While you are there check out some of the other amazing, creative projects the Rubber Road designers have shared!

90th Birthday - 90 Flowers

2011-04-03T16:44:00.000-04:00

My grandmother, who lives with us, turned 90 this past Wednesday and we had a family celebration last weekend. Rather than make a birthday card, I decided to make 90 paper flowers to celebrate her 90 years. Out came my Sizzix Big Shot (my latest tool addiction) and Brenda Pinnick's Sizzix Originals Die - Flower, Beauty Bloom #655455 flower die. Once I decided on my color palette (inspired by the fun Linnie Bell Collection from Pebbles, Inc.), I searched through my vast (hoarded) collection of papers and got busy. Each flower has 4 layers, and a wire stem hot glued to the bag to help them stand up in the basket. A gift card was slipped into a bamboo skewer and inserted in the bouquet. She was quite pleased with her lasting bouquet!

I got (Zen)Tangled up this week!

2011-03-31T12:31:00.000-04:00

This week's Cindi's Simple Solutions project for When Creativity Knocks is a simple Kaleidacolor resist technique - with a Zentangled cupcake embellishment. This is definitely not a new technique but it wasn't new when I first discovered it several years ago and I loved it, so I figured I'd share it again for any newbies out there! Here's the link:
http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296&Itemid=265

The Zentangling was inspired by my Product Review this week - Zentangle 4 by Suzanne McNeill - published by Design Originals:

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=297&Itemid=128

Ana also shared 3 new creative projects in her Ana's Creative Chaos blog - and there is still time to entire our Elmer's Prize Package contest by viewing the latest Elmer's Cards for Our Troops episode and leaving a comment. This is also the last day this month to view one of our episodes from this month and leave a comment to be eligible for winning one of the great books I've reviewed - dont miss your chance to be part of WCK Books to Your Door! http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/

Tie Dye Meets Paper Crafting!

2011-03-24T16:40:00.000-04:00

My latest Simple Solutions article for When Creativity Knocks features another fun new technique I discovered using RIT Liquid Dye - Learn how to create this effect here:

http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=296&Itemid=265

The latest episode of WCK is a fun & funky DIY Bangle embellished with awesome swirls & flourishes made on the Craftwell. Check out this episode as WCK Crafts Under the Big Top at CHA with Craftwell!
http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/index.php?option=com_hwdvideoshare&task=viewvideo&Itemid=176&video_id=209

Something New To Try with RIT Dye!

2011-03-17T17:36:00.000-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I am pleased to announce I have began working with RIT Dye as a freelance designer. My first two projects are now featured on their home page (http://www.ritdye.com/), just in time for St. Patrick's Day! I've been experimenting with the dye, seeing what I can do with it that I haven't seen done before - and have come up with what I *think* are two new techniques - for full instructions follow the links below....

Luck of the Irish Tri-Fold Card with Versamark & RIT Dye

I'm So Lucky To Have A Friend Like You - Stamping with RIT Liquid Dye & Versamark Ink

I've got a few more techniques featuring RIT Liquid Dye to share with you in the next few weeks - so stay tuned and if you want to experiment with something fun in your creative endeavors - get some RIT Liquid Dye!

Getting "Green" For St. Patrick's Day (and a big RED announcement!)

2011-03-14T17:29:00.001-04:00

I am SO excited to announce that I was chosen as the the Daily Windows Shades of Red Design Challenge Winner for the month of February! In answer to their call for mixed-media projects, I created "Le Cardinal Rouge" with textured strips of red Makin's Clay woven together, dusted with Intereference Jacquard Interference Red Pearl-Ex Pigment Powder, and layered over a piece of crackle patterned paper with bits of polka dot paper here and there, to create a background for a custom made cardinal made from scraps of red ribbon & trims, a Darice seed bead & Judikins Diamond Glaze face, silk poinsettia leaf wing, Yasutomo Mizuhiki legs/feet wrap around a real twig. Red velvet flowers from Creative Charms with faux crystal centers were the finishing touch of red.

First place prize is a bag of my choice from Daily Windows and $100! I am so excited!

Daily Window will also be having a March challenge - details will be posted at their blog: http://dailywindow.wordpress.com/ Log in to find out more and check out their complete line of fabulous Daily Window bag options! www.dailywindow.com

Now on to GREEN - My latest Simple Solutions project for When Creativity Knocks is a sliding pop-up card - instructions are included to create this fun card for a St. Patrick's Day greeting or any occassion. Find out more here: http://tinyurl.com/32nwsk5

Creature Double Feature: Wedding Style!

2011-03-13T18:27:00.000-04:00

Anyone remember those old sci-fi movies which used to be on Saturday mornings two at a time? Godzilla and things like that..... they were called Creature Double Feature on Channel 56 at our house. But I digress. The Designer Craft Connection is focusing on weddings this month. Be sure to click on the link in the upper right of my blog to hop around and see some of the amazing ideas they are all sharing with you! I wanted to share a couple of wedding ideas featuring "creatures." The first, is a butterfly wedding favor I first featured in an issue of the When Creativity Knocks Creative Journal.

A bit of organza ribbon, Mentos mints, white Jordan almonds, or white chocolate pretzel balls, faux gemstone brads, and wire repurporsed from a bit of "happy birthday" garland are all u need to create these whimiscal table decorations for the wedding guests. The steps are layed out below.

The second "creature" is a starfish bridal shower invitation. A friend's niece is getting married at the beach this spring. Her colors are fuschia and olive green, with starfish. Striving to create a unique bridal shower invitation, I made 75 of these starfish. The text was layed out in Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9, then printed onto the cardstock. The individual starfish were traced and hand cut, then embossed with a Spellbinders Impressabilities die and the Grand Caliber machine. The backs of each were stamped with a speckled background stamp and Ranger Tea Dye Distress Inkpad. Next, holes were punched at the top and a no-tie bow of fuschia organza ribbon was added. I folded each arm of the starfish slightly inward to add depth and dimension like a real starfish.

And now for the the stepped-out photos for that butterfly favor.....

DESIGNER BLOG CONNECTION, CHA & A CRICUT!

2011-03-03T06:27:00.013-05:00

When this post went live on 3/3/11 - I inadvertently posted the black Cricut logo above instead of the machine photo - sorry for any confusion but my blog is NOT one of those you need to find the Cricut on to be eligible to win.......This error was corrected on 3/4/11.... I'll try to not be such a goofball in future posts!

The Designer Blog Connection is now officially LIVE! Each month a group of amazing designers will share projects in a variety of mediums on a variety of topics. This month we'll be posting ideas on projects for weddings on March 13th. Look for the logo on your right on your favorite blogs. Click the "hop forward" button and it will take you to another designer's blog. There you will find the same logo. This logo is your ticket that will take you from blog to blog to discover projects, tips and techniques from some of the Arts & Crafts industry's premier designers.

Julie McGuffee has generously offered to donate a CRICUT EXPRESSION! Here's the scoop directly from Julie's blog on how YOU could win this awesome machine!

This is how you enter to win. As you hop from blog to blog you will see this logo on 9 of them:

Make a note of the name of the blog where you saw the logo then list these names in the comments section of this post on my blog. The winner will be announced here on March 14th. (Please note: Due to shipping charges and customs regulations, I can only ship to a US address.) Followers automatically qualify to enter, but if you leave a comment, you can be entered twice - just let me know you're a follower. If you're not already a follower, you can sign up and be entered twice too!

I hope you enjoy your treasure hunt and all the exciting blogs you'll visit on your journey. Be patient with each of us - sometimes the logo is easily seen at the top of a blog and sometimes it's at the bottom, but it's there and if you don't find 9 "Cricuts" the first time around, check again in a day or two. Time gets away from us sometimes...... If you happen to get "stuck" somewhere click on the DC Connection button and it will take you to a list of all the blogs in the ring. Skip over the one where you just got "stuck" and click on the next on the list. Designers are busy, busy, busy and blogging has to take a backseat sometimes, but we will have something special to share with you each month and......there will be a giveaway! Not a Cricut each time, but something I hope you'll enjoy. So, y'all come back now........ and tell your friends!

Yours truly, Julie :)

Posted by Julie McGuffee - http://www.juliemcguffee.blogspot.com/

CHA Winter - A Look Back -

In recent posts, I’ve shared a couple of trends I noticed (circus themes and houses everywhere...), and a link to the When Creativity Knocks episode featuring some of the designers who participated in the Designer Showcase - http://tinyurl.com/6kykskp. But as I sit back and think about the last CHA one thing stands out in my mind – the amazing fact that so many creative people are gathered together in one place to share their energy for a few days. One of the best parts of attending CHA is getting to see “old” creative friends, and make new creative friends. Getting to laugh, view so many mixed media projects, talk a bit even if it’s just a stolen moment here and there, and take photos. The time spent demonstrating and hosting make and takes at booths is always great because attendees are generally so happy to be able to stop and make a project. This year I hosted a Makin’s Clay make and take featuring a ring project. I also worked with When Creativity Knocks at the Elmer’s booth hosting Make and Send projects – interactive fun cards for the troops. Episodes highlighting some of these projects are already available on the www.WhenCreativityKnocks.com site – and there are more to come soon. We also presented Crafting Under The Big Top with Craftwell and had a blast hosting making “circus lollypops” and DIY Bangles featuring dies cut with their awesome machine.

I had very little time to walk the floor this year, but I snapped a few photos of things that caught my eye.

Theresa Cifali, Vanna, Laura Bray and I - Smiling for the camera at the Elmer's Booth!

The Yarn Guy. Almost as popular as Vanna White at Lion Brand Yarn this year – was the Yarn Guy. I was working at Elmer’s booth across from the Lion Brand Yarn booth and I can honestly say almost no one made it past him without sitting down and having an imaginary chat, not to mention a few other unexpected things I saw people do to him…. I told them at the end of the show they needed to replace him with a real guy wrapped in yarn and have him get up and walk through the isles and out of the convention center. A lot of people would be very surprised if they thought he had actually been a REAL guy in there! Speaking of Vanna – she and her daughter Giovanna took the time after the Lion Brand Yarn fashion show to stop by the Elmer’s booth and create cards for the troups – it was great to create with them and I am sure the recipients will be shocked when they see they have a card signed by Vanna!

Feathers and a big bird….. I am always drawn to the feather booths –they are just so jam packed full of fluffy fun I can’t stay away. This year was no exception – and I loved this big bird at the Midwest Design Imports booth.

I have also enjoyed viewing the photos shared by so many fellow designers – together these photos create a very accurate snapshot of the showroom floor. Click on the link in the upper right of my page to see what they've shared!

Pinocchio Takes Over My World

2011-03-01T17:45:00.001-05:00

It's almost time for the East Clayton Elementary School's annual Drama Club presentation. This year they are performing Pinocchio. This is my first year being actively involved in the preparation for the play - and I am having a blast (although I admit to being slightly exhausted and I'm dreaming of whales).

For the last several weeks, I've been busy creating a costume and mask for the fox, donkey ears and tails, Gepetto's costume, Pinocchio's costume, a circus tent, cuckoo clock hats, shortening capes, lengthening pants with fringe, painting magnolia pods gold for cuckoo clock costumes, making a whip for the coachman.... and working on creating the sets themselves (cardboard planks for Gepetto's workshop, an ocean scene, a circus tent....). It's creative madness for sure. Luckily, there are a lot of other people generously donating their time to help get it all done. We're on the countdown....... it all has to be complete and ready to transport to the Clayton Center next Tuesday.

CHA Designer Showcase

2011-02-19T09:07:00.000-05:00

In this week's episode of When Creativity Knocks, Ana Araujo talks with some of the amazing designers who participated in the Designer Showcase event at CHA. This event gives designers the opportunity to share their work with manufacturers and press and was well attended - even though as those of us who participated can tell you - it was about a mile walk between the showroom floor and this room :0).

I was honored to be one of the designers interviewed and share my "House that Cindi Built" with our viewers! I wanted something eye catching - something different - to catch the attendees eye and hopefully cause them to pause and look through my portfolio. I created this huge house out of about 98% repurposed materials. The roof opened to reveal a lighted attic that held boxes highlighting some of my skills. The inside was carpeted with felt, and wallpapered with scrapbook papers. Cardboard, book pages and covers (books purchased at a local Goodwill store), a dog food bag, plastic grocery bags, newspaper, plastic 2 liter soda bottles, bamboo skewers, placemats..... it took many hours to create this house, which collapses almost flat for shipping (which is another story I would rather forget).

View the episode here featuring Jen Goode, Theresa Cifali, Laura Bray, Einet Kessler, Svetlana Kunina, and Cindi Bisson: http://tinyurl.com/6kykskp

Valentines & Sliding Puzzles!

2011-02-14T19:28:00.000-05:00

I know Valentine's Day is now officially behind us..... but in case you want to share the "love" for a little longer - I thought I'd share two of my latest Cindi's Simple Solutions articles for When Creativity Knocks - the first has instructions and a template for wedge shaped gift boxes with a heart cut out door - but the heart can easily be altered to any shape. I used fabulous papers from K&Company's new Kelly Panacci Valentine line to create these samples. http://tinyurl.com/32nwsk5

I also baked a special warm, gooey, heart shaped chocolate chip and M&M "pie" for my sons and my husband for Valentine's Day. They really enjoyed them warm from the oven with a little chocolate syrup drizzle and vanilla ice cream! The instructions for this goody are also at the Simple Solutions page.

The latest episode of When Creativity Knocks features an amazing sliding puzzle game with Elmer's Foam Board and a photo! We recently worked with Elmer's & X-Acto at CHA to host make & "send" projects for our troops - this is just the first of several we will be sharing in the coming weeks. Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/62kr4tx

Construction Boom?

2011-02-09T20:24:00.001-05:00

Are we in the middle of a creative "construction boom?" As I wandered the isles at CHA Winter in LA – “buildings” seem to be popping up everywhere. Booths made to look like storefronts, one, two, then yes, another one! Patterned papers and stickers galore with houses printed on them….. maybe not all brand new releases, but still visible on the showroom floor. Rubber stamps with housing themes, dies for embossing and cutting…… even the smaller elements of buildings/ construction seem to be seeping into the creative world! Check out this doorknob embellishment from Graphic 45 (www.g45papers.com Hardware for crafters - gotta love it! Here are a few more examples so you'll see what I mean....

A new company I discovered at the CHA Canadian Scrapbook Sampler was My Stamp Box - www.MyStampBox.com - clear stamps complete with clear plastic storage cases - and you guessed it - a Neighborhood set! Another favorite new company I discovered at this event was TWIDDLEYBITZ! Offered now in the US by http://www.selectimports.ca/. Here's just ONE of their dimensional houses....

Paper, Paper.... and more PAPER..... here's just a few!

We R Memory Keepers Family Keepsake - "Charles"

Crate Paper - Neighborhood Collection

My Little Shoebox has housing papers and stamps

Sizzix Scoreboards House 3D Die by Eileen Hull - Super Cute!

My Mind's Eye - two of their cute options!

Pink Paislee's Hometown Summer
- Sunnyside Lane

Nikki Sivils brings houses in to style in many ways!

Look, a Trend!

2011-02-08T12:24:00.002-05:00

I had limited time to adventure out onto the showroom floor at CHA in LA - but the time I did spend out there I noticed a few things I think fall into the "trend" category...... Here's a peak at the first one that caught my eye.

That's Entertainment!

When Creativity Knocks recently held Crafting Under the Big Top make and take take sessions and taped two special episodes at the Craftwell booth at Winter CHA. Complete with a portable big top, an adorable ringmaster costume and hat made by Ana Araujo for our host Megan Araujo (Megan was not impressed with the hat….but we sure did have some fun with it!), and custom made aprons for those of us manning the make & take booth, we were right on TREND!

My first recollection of the circus theme entering the creative world was when TaDa Creative Studios participated in our first WCK Great Crafter’s Paper Cut in 2010 with their Big Top Collection. TaDa also graciously donated their Under the Big Top Collection for the Craftwell Crafting Under the Big Top make and takes and the Elmer's Cards for the Troops make and takes - THANK YOU TADA CREATIVE STUDIOS! www.tadacreativestudios.com. I wonder if they knew they were at the beginning of an upcoming trend?! Fast forward to CHA Winter 2011, and we see the Studio Calico State Fair collection www.studiocalico.com Graphic 45 brings us Le Cirque www.g45papers.com. GCD Studios offers Fun House http://www.gcdstudios.com/ , while Imaginesce's Animal Crackers collection features such fun papers as "Under the Big Top". www.imaginisce.com/.

Circus themed rubber stamps, dies, stickers, and other embellishments are also readily available.

Tim Holtz Cling Rubber Stamps THE BIG TOP Circus- Stampers Anonymous

Almost every paper manufacturer had something to add to the celebrations theme - and many had a touch of the circus or fair thrown in for fun. Whether you are looking for bright and colorful, softly rustic, or absolutely vintage - there are circus/fair themed papers, stamps, and more available to you now!

Graphic 45's Le Cirque

GCD Studio's Fun House - A peak at their line!

"Midway" from Studio Calico's State Fair Collection

TaDa Creative Studios' Big Top Mini Mes gives a peak at
their colorful collection, only in mini!

"Under the Big Top" from Imaginesce

CHA Survivor!

2011-02-06T10:42:00.000-05:00

I think there may be a new reality show in there somewhere...... CHA Survivor! Between the perils of getting to LA, the crazy schedule of the show, and the storm of 2011 creating havoc on almost anyone who had to fly homes schedule, it certainly was an adventure! As most of you know, I normally browse the showroom floor taking tons of photos to share with you here. However, due to a back-to-back schedule this time, my floor browsing was limited. I have some fun photos to share (although I can't believe I didn't get a photo of myself and my long-time friend and fellow designer Becky Conley!), but I want to refer to you to the blog of my friend and fellow designer Theresa Cifali - http://theresacifali.blogspot.com/ - for a plethora of CHA photos to give you a great view of what the week was like! Thanks Theresa for covering it so wonderfully for those of us who missed out on some of it this time! Also check out my Facebook page and the When Creativity Knocks Facebook page for lots more fun photos in the weeks to come.

The When Creativity Knocks team of Ana Araujo, Megan Araujo, Scott Pfeiffer, Theresa Cifali, Laura Bray and myself had a wonderful time working with Craftwell and Elmer's taping shows and hosting make & takes. We created Circus Pops and fun bracelets at Craftwell, and did a whole series of interactive cards/games for the troops at Elmer's. Vanna White and her daughter Giovanni even took the time from their schedule at Lion Brand Yarn to come and talk with us and make cards for the troops - imagine the surprise of the serviceman who receives a card signed by Vanna! WCK also did a series of Great Crafter's Viewpoint interviews which are viewable on the http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/ site.

I worked extensively at the Makin's Clay booth hosting make and takes. We made fun rings which all seemed to enjoy. It was also an honor to see so much of my artwork displayed at the Makin's booth. The Craft Studio was amazing - what fun to see what fellow designers created with the base materials provided by CHA. I am also hopeful that the piece I donated for the charity auction brought a good donation for the chosen charity.

The Designer Showcase was well attended despite being about 10 miles away from the show room floor inside the conference center. I think everyone there was hoping a Segway would drop out of the sky to get us here and there all week! It was a pleasure to be included amongst so many wonderfully diversely talented designers and I enjoyed meeting and talking with everyone who stopped by.

Stay tuned for a report on the CHA Canadian Scrapbooker event, CHA photos, and more fun from the showroom floor.......

Charity Auction Art and more...

2011-01-23T07:56:00.002-05:00

A group of CHA designers decided to participate in the upcoming kids charity auction at CHA in LA. We each created a unique piece of art to contribute. I thought I'd share my piece -

“Streetside Beauty” – A flower vendor’s stand I photographed in San Francisco with Ana Araujo was divided into three sections: the original photo, a painting done in acrylics, and a dimensional panel created using Makin’s Clay^®– The No-Bake Polymer Clay^® with painted accents. The three techniques combine to create this unique canvas highlighting this glimpse of “Streetside Beauty.”

My Designer Showcase display is complete and packed (that is a nightmare story - have you ever spent 2 weeks creating something and then had to CUT IT UP because of shipping issues?), press kits and business cards ordered, luggage is almost packed.... in just a few days I'll be heading out to LA for CHA. I will be working with When Creativity Knocks at the Elmer's and Craftwell booths, and demonstrating at the Designer Craft Studio Monday at 10 AM, and hosting make and take projects at Makin's Clay throughout the show. I am looking forward to again getting some time to spend with so many people who agree that "art is awesome!"

Theresa Cifali is guest designer on the most recent episode of When Creativity Knocks - See Theresa share with Ana Araujo how she created this beautiful beeswax shadow box (I LOVE that seaweed!) here: http://tinyurl.com/4hu7nwv

The most recent Simple Solution is a review of this year's creative holiday tablescapes at our annual school staff dinner. http://tinyurl.com/32nwsk5

Happy New Year!

2011-01-12T10:33:00.000-05:00

WCK's newest episode!   Ana talks with Sandy Parker who created Phenominoes! http://tinyurl.com/4fvj7b9

I'm in full swing when it comes to preparing for the upcoming CHA event in LA. Preparing make & take projects, a Designer Showcase display, a Designer Craft Studio project, press kits, a project for the Kids in Need Auction and more.   I may need a U-Haul to get it all there at the last minute!   I will be there with the When Creativity Knocks team taping episodes & hosting events at Craftwell, Elmer's, and more. I'll also be demonstrating at the Designer Craft Studio Monday morning at 10:00 AM, sharing my "Knot Your Ordinary Scarf" with "ScarfCharms" embellishments, and I'll be presenting make & takes at the Makin's Clay booth at various times throughout the event. I'm looking forward to getting to see my fellow designers again and meeting lots of new creative people.

Many of the designers from the Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop are working on a brand new group - Designer Craft Connection. We will be working together to bring you even more creative inspiration. The clickable link will be appearing here soon!

Busy, busy, busy!

2010-12-28T12:35:00.000-05:00

Hope everyone survived the holidays! Things are in high creative gear here in my studio - I've cleaned and reorganized and am now busy preparing for the upcoming CHA in LA where I'll be doing a make & take project at Makin's Clay, my project for the Designer Craft Studio, and especially preparing for all the awesome things When Creativity Knocks has up it's sleeve for the event! I'm also working on a piece for donation to the charity auction to be held at CHA. Mix in my weekly Simple Solutions articles and Product Reviews, and you have creative madness :0). My recent Simple Solutions articles include creative holiday tablescape displays and lots of mini hand-made tree options. New Product Reviews include Teresa Collin's Noel Collection, Graphic 45's Christmas Past Collection, Scor-Buddy, and Creative Beading, Vol. 5. View them all at http://www.whencreativityknocks.com/

The two most recent episodes of When Creativity Knocks offer creative holdiay fun - but SantAna's Caramel Corn is so delicious it would be a crime to limit it to the holidays! Check them out here:

SantAna's Caramel Corn: http://tinyurl.com/3aepfxk
SantAna's Clever Ornaments: http://tinyurl.com/35s9dl8