Pattiewack Christmas Crafts Countdown

The "Pattiewack Christmas Crafts Countdown" kicked off today
in Tulsa on the Six in the Morning Show at CBS, on Channel Six.

My idea was to make something quick and fun to display your Christmas cards, and this is reeeeallly quick. I found these cute rhinestone studded mugs at the 99 cents store, can you believe it? But you know, we all have a Christmas mug or 2 stuck behind dishes in our kitchen cabinet, and this is a great way to use them. Hey, you know this would also be fabulous for Father's Day, birthdays, or any occasion. Oh, how about fancy teacups? Oooooh, just one single wire in a cute little teacup would be DArling!

Here's the tutorial to make your own:

Christmas Card Holder

Supplies:
Coffee Mug
16 Gauge Floral Wire, 18” long
Needle Nose Wire Pliers
Plaster of Paris
Disposable Plastic Bowl
Stir Stick
Water
Tape

Instructions:
1. To measure, pour water into coffee mug, 3/4 full.

2. Pour the water into a disposable plastic bowl. Stir plaster into the bowl a little at a time, until it is thick like a milk shake. Set aside.

3. Bend 5 wires into coils with needle nose pliers. Bend a crook into the other ends of the wires.

4. Place the crooked ends of all 5 wires into the center of the plaster. Tape into place until the plaster has completely set.

5. Discard the tape and spread out the wires to complete.

Wacky Cake

All you need are some white foam slabs, glue and candy, and decorative pins to impress your guests with this wacky holiday fake cake. The instructions are simple, and you can find them at Duncan Crafts along with the fun cupcakes you saw in the Aleene's glue ad in all the holiday magazines. I plan to keep this bagged after Christmas, in a cool dry place, and hope to use it year after year!

Posh Pompom Scarf

Scrumptious colors of yarn can transform your hand crochet or knitted scarf into a snazzy scarf that would be a gorgeous gift for someone on your Christmas list. I had a blast designing this one, and the most fun was making the funny tasseled ends. I tied them on with bows! And they are shaggy, cute and most important, easy. Here's how I did it:

Posh Pompom Scarf

Scarf instructions:
Follow the project sheet instructions for your favorite crochet or knit scarf.

Additional Pompom Instructions:

Yarn:
Red Heart Soft Yarn, 4422 Tangerine
Red Heart Soft Yarn, 4420 Guacamole
Red Heart Soft Yarn, 9518 Teal

Tools:
Small size Pattiewack™ Pompom Tool
Small size Pattiewack™ Tassel Tool

Steps:
1. Make 4 Tangerine pompoms, on the 1” step of the Pattiewack™ pompom tool, winding 50 times and tying with 8” of yarn.
2. Make 4 Guacamole pompoms, on the 1-1/2” step of the pompom tool, winding 55 times and tying with 8” of yarn.
3. Make 4 Teal pompoms, on the 2” step of the pompom tool, winding 60 times and tying with 8” of yarn.
4. Tie the pompoms onto the scarf, using the photo as a guide if desired.
5. Make 4 Teal tassels, on the 2-1/4” step of the tassel tool, winding 30 times and tying the tops with 12” of yarn.
6. Make 6 Guacamole tassels, on the 1-3/4” step of the tassel tool, winding 40 times and tying the tops with 12” of yarn.
7. Make 8 Tangerine tassels, on the 1-1/4” step of the Pattiewack™ tassel tool, winding 50 times and tying the tops with 12” of yarn.
8. Tie the tassel onto the ends of the scarf into bows, using the photo as a guide.

Craft TV Studios

We worked like busy beavers today at Craft Studios. Here I am on the set, barefooting it and putting my little tassel Christmas tree into place. We shot 6 new Christmas videos, and they will start airing next week on the Six in the Morning show on CBS in Tulsa. I did tons of fun stuff, and as you can see on the table there, I did soaps for stocking stuffers. They have all our kids and grands pictures on them. Too cute!

















There's always time for some lovins and Scott was there to oblige. We ARE newlyweds, ya know. *giggle* He's my best friend and buddy. I don't know what I would do without him directing me and making me look good. I love how he lit the set in soft lights and yet he put light in the right places to make the projects pop. We started adding it up today, and figured out that we have easily shot over 400 videos together! We met on opposite ends of the camera on a TV show about 10 years ago. So, it's just what we do! Thank goodness we love working together, and make a good team. Today was totally fun, even when I hit a speed bump with the 5th segment. I had to make my step-outs all over again to re-shoot it, but Scott never got grumpy on me. *sigh* It was a good day.

Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Are you looking for a really fun and inexpensive idea for decorating for that special day Thursday? Well, I've got it right here. This Thanksgiving centerpiece is way wacky, but it makes a great impression. Here I am at Channel Six on the CBS morning show, getting ready to do my demo.

















All you need are clay pots, spray paint, felt & gold paper, and a hot glue gun. The Pilgrim Pots instructions are on my website for you to print out. I made a big pot for my mum centerpiece, then the little pots hold candles and candies dressed up in polka dot tulle. Preeety, and preeeety easy.












If you got my latest Pattiewack Newsletter, you already know that I'm doing a countdown of Christmas crafts for the next six weeks on the CBS Six in the Morning show in Tulsa on KOTV. Yipppeee! I am usually on between 8:30 and 8:45, so don't forget to watch!

Crafting Gone Bad

This is what happens when an idea goes a giblet too far. *giggle* If you want to freak out the kids, hear your momma shreak, and watch your girlfriend head for the hills, wear this to Thanksgiving dinner. I think all you need is your backwards ball cap, some pompoms and felt, scissors and an afternoon of nothing to do, and boom-ba-da-bing, you've got your turkey bling, baybee. Just don't tell anyone you saw it here.

Old Paris Flea Market

I love flea markets! And this one in Carpinteria was fabulous. About a dozen booths offered a bountiful collection of eye candy and special things for sale. I was looking for a birthday gift for our daughter Stacey, and a mannequin for the studio. I scored both! I simply had to wear the apron I found for her as I finished shopping. It has a little fairy applique on the side, and since she LOVES fairies, it was calling her name.













I didn't buy this mannequin because it is so small, I didn't think I could really use it to display things on when we shoot craft videos. But I did find one that was a bodice, and scored that one for 20 bucks.













I am so stoked, with the apron and a necklace and other cute finds, Stacey's birthday gift will really be special.

Yarnzy Stool

One of my fave and outrageous places to hang out, is on the Free People site. I got my mail order catalog yesterday and then went to the site to sneaky peak at all their cool stuff, and this darling yarnzy stool was there. I fell in love! You can buy it from their crafty artsy shopping pages. I don't know how durable it would be, but who cares?

Pompom & Tassel Crazy

My fingers are so sore, and I have no idea how many pompoms and tassels I've made this week. But, I'm finished with my projects I've been working on for my website and for Coats & Clark to demonstrate my tools. I love everything! Okay, for one shawl I made 22 tassels. Not to mention all of the felt rosettes and leaves. I just can't hardly wait to get them all up on my website with the instructions so that everyone can make them, too. My amazing web designer is working on a brand new site, and it's crazy picking out all new colors and backgrounds. I'll keep you posted. This pink hat and scarf set was so fun to do, with the cute little felt flowers and pompoms. Makes me want cold weather to come sooner. Whoa, I better get to bed because I think I'm starting to ramble.

Tassel Purse

I'm crazy for this tassel covered purse, since I am crazy for tassels. I've been busy as a bee on projects this week, using my Pattiewack Tassel Tool and Pompom Tools. As soon as I am finished, I'll get them posted to my website with the instructions for you to check out. I love tassels!

Cute As A Button

You've never seen "buttons" like these before! I used just ordinary wooden plaques from the craft store and decoupaged them, drill holes in them to turn them into buttons, and then sewed them into the pillows. What do you think??

Materials Checklist:
Drill
Two(5" or 3-1/2")wood discs for each pillow
Sandpaper
Acrylic paints (coordinating colors)
Acrylic or sponge brushes
Aleene's Instant Decoupage glues (Matte)
Decoupage paper, gift wrap or greeting cards
Paint pen (gold metallic)
Pillow(s)
Cording or ribbon (narrow enough for upholstery needle)
8" upholstery needle

Steps:

• 1. Drill two "button" holes in each disc. Sand wood discs.
• 2. Paint disc and allow to dry.
• 3. Apply decoupage paper onto disc with Instant Decoupage. Let dry. Embellish "button" with gold metallic paint pen.
• 4. Sew button on front and back of pillow with ribbon, using upholstery needle. Tie ribbon into bow on back.

Tip: Other ideas for decoupaged buttons...old photos on tapestry pillows, nursery rhymes on gingham or plaid pillows, cartoon characters - on primary colored pillows or snap shots on denim pillows.

Candle Jewelry

Did you know that you can make jewelry for your candles? Well, just click on over to LifetimeTV.com and watch while I turn beads, pins, sticky sheets and eye-pins into jazzy jewelry that pokes right into the sides of your candles. I was so excited when I saw that this craft video was up on the list of 16 projects to watch. It is absolutely one of my favorites, because it's so fast and easy, but it really delivers a lot of punch! The thing is, you can make these in less than an hour for your home, or a fancy gift for someone special. Sooooo, come on over and hang out with me, while I craft my crazy butt off at LifetimeTV.com!

Creative Home Arts

There I am again, in the latest issue of the Creative Home Arts magazine. The Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue advertisement is right in the front cover! I have been slammed with hits on my website and blog since Friday, and was wondering what the deal was. Then I got my magazine in the mail and figured it out. I just want you all to know that I will answer every single email, but it might take me a few days. Whew!

Just in case you haven't become a member of the Creative Home Arts Club yet, I would love to tell you all about it. They have over 280,000 members who receive their magazine and enjoy the benefits of being in the club! The Creative Home Arts Club is a national, membership-based organization designed exclusively for the most active home arts enthusiasts. The Club welcomes crafters of all skill levels and offers the following benefits:

• Today’s Creative Home Arts—a members-only magazine delivered six times a year
• Opportunities to test and keep craft products
• Giveaways of various craft products and services
• Unique member-to-member forums
• Product purchasing opportunities
• Members-only competitions and contests
• Discounts on selected products and services
• Access to a members-only, project-packed Web site














Our production company, Crafts Studios has been producing craft DVDs for Creative Home Arts for the past 2 years.

The Pattiewack DVD Series includes...

• Let's Craft with Pattiewack
• Get Creative with Pattiewack
• Ready, Set, Craft with Pattiewack
• Creative Keepsakes with Pattiewack

We are busy producing another Pattiewack DVD right now, and I can't wait to see how it turns out! So, if you want to be a member, just check out the Creative Home Arts site for more info.

Dia de los Muertos

To celebrate the Day of the Dead, we decided to go to the Sea Breeze Art Gallery in Ventura, and view their amazing art, the unbelievable shrines, and hang out with all of the beautiful people. The photo was too fun! One of the artists had a stand-up that we stuck our faces through, for a quick pic, and then they gave it to us to take home. I think Scott looks a little bit pimp-daddy, and I simply love my huge red bouffant hairdo.













Our friend, Xavier Montes was there playing his harp, which set a wonderful mood. We picked up one of his CDs and have been playing it constantly. Xavier also had wonderful paintings and lots of people surrounded him with hugs and love. It was quite a festive place, with marigolds strewn on the floor to lead the spirits of dead relatives in to the shrines that were carefully and playfully decorated with familiar objects and foods, and photos. The art was spectacular. There was a whimsical Elvis shrine, some amazing metal sculptures, ceramics, and photography. It's hard to choose, but my favorite was the mixed media and assemblage art by Jeanne T LaRocco, where she had shrines made from old shoes! I went nuts. I would put pics here, but that would not be fair to the artists. They would love for you to visit the Sea Breeze Art Gallery and experience their creativity first-hand.
















We ended the evening at Hush Restaurant and Lounge where we yummed out on seared ahi tuna, lobster mashed potatoes, and several glasses of wine. The dinner rolls were nothing short of luscious, and I kept dipping mine in the corn salsa that was meant for the ahi. We sat by the fire on the veranda and cuddled where it was just perfect with a bit of chill in the air and the smell of the eucalyptus trees. Ohhh, what a great weekend!