Steampunk New Year's Eve

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

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

Burnt Brown Bag!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy 2010!

Pattiewack

Creative Team at iLoveToCreate

Yep, that's the extreeeeeme, silly, and CREativE TeAm at iLoveToCreate.

Yesterday we ran outside to get a quickie pic of the crazy peeps that make it happen here. It was a bit frosty outside (for California) but we still managed to be wacky and have fun with it.

Hugs, Kisses, and Holiday Wishes to EVERYONE!

Snuggies Girls Gone Wild!

It got a little wild in the iLoveToCreate design studio today!

Allee decided that the zebra snuggie we did for the website was just what she needed to warm up.

Chloe, our copy write was freeeeezing, so she grabbed one of the snuggies that says "NICE" in glitter and iron-ons. She is itty bitty, and the pink snuggie was HUGE!

I think she like it because it made her look "NICE".....

Allee was pretty happy that her's said "NAUGHTY".... and there it was.... Snuggies Girls GONE WILD!!!!

To see how we embellished them go to iLoveToCreate.com and get the scoop.

Have a Crafty Christmas!

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




Check it out!




















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

Happy Holidays!
Pattiewack

Sweet Snowball Slippers

You can add these super cute snowball pompoms to slippers for fabulously easy gifts for Christmas. I picked these up at Target and added the pompoms with my Pattiewack Pompom Tool. It's the 4-inch pompoms made with a little bit of the fancy yarns you can snag from any craft store. I love the white-on-white, because it's so snowy and winter looking.

You can also dress up some ordinary shoes from your closet and make them totally rock the dance floor by adding darling pompoms.


Here's how to make the Pattiewack Pompoms:


Wind yarn 1o times around the 3-inch step of the Pattiewack Pom Pom Tool.

Wind wire or yarn around the center and twist or tie.

Cut the yarn on both sides to release the pom pom.

Pull the pom pom off the tool and glue it to your shoe.

Fabulous and fancy! And it's not too late to order a Pattiewack Pompom Tool on the Pattiewack website. Use your PayPal and it will be on it's way just in time for the holiday dance!

Cirque Du Noel!

Fresno Etsy Especial presented Cirque Du Noel on Thursday night at the Big Red Church. There were dozens of artists and makers there with some of the most fabulous handmade items for sale. The theme was a French circus, and the Etsy crowd was dressed in black berets, circus costumes, and moustaches.

The event was a great success, with DJ Jonny Q provided the musical entertainment for the holiday bazaar, and roller derby girls, french croissants, coffee, and of course....
iLoveToCreate!

Aleenes Collage Pauge was flying everywhere at the iLoveToCreate craft bar, and Alexa and I stayed busy all night setting up the shoppers with a glass ornament to decorate with glitter, a holiday greeting, tissue paper, and Traci Bautista collage papers.

Traci's papers can be downloaded and printed at iLoveToCreate.com for your very own collage art. They were perfect for our Cirgue Du Noel theme, and great for our craft bar.

The first step is to tear out a greeting and glue it face down with Aleenes Collage Pauge. Then tear up tissue paper and any other paper to continue the collage to the edge of the glass. You can sprinkle glitter in the glue as you go.

What's really fun is when you turn your glass ornament over to see how it looks. It dries clear, so the tissue becomes transparent, and beautiful when lights are behind it or when you hang it in a window. You can also use Tulip 3D Glitter Fashion Paint to embellish the front of the ornament for a little more pizzaaaaaaz.

I brought mine home and hung it in my front door wreath. I had a blast with all my Etsy friends, and I'm glad to be a part of the event, because we also contributed to the Fresno Westside Farmers Food Bank with donations and canned goods.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Pattiewack

You can go to Fresno Etsy Especial Blog to see what you missed, and to snag all of those last-minute gifts from some outrageously talented artists!

• Bizee Bodies
• Chebang
• Clean My Studio
• Dragonfly Designs by TH
• Green Meanies
• I Heart Paper Studio
• Knick Knack Patty Shak
• Make Pie Not War
• Paper Symphony
• Swell Shop
• The California Chi
• Tuscan Road Designs
• Ziggystitch
• Zobo's

Comfy Corny Christmas

With all this winter weather, sore shoulders, and holiday headaches, a comfort pillow is a nice thing to have around. I found the cutest pin-up girl fabrics to give to the guys in my family. They are filled with FEED corn (not popcorn) because I simply love the smell. It brings back memories of my gramma Harris in Dewey, Oklahoma when I was a little girl. Every time I spent the night with her, she would pop a huge dishpan full of popcorn while we watched TV before bedtime. I think of her every time I warm up my corn pillow in the microwave. It only takes 2 or 3 minutes, and then it rests on my shoulders while I sit at the computer. The moist heat, memories and aroma makes life goooood.

Here's how to make your own comfy corn pillows:

Supplies: Sewing Machine Matching Thread Scissors Ruler Two 6” x 18” pieces of Cotton Fabric Iron and Ironing Surface 6 Cups FEED CORN (no, it will not pop!) 1 Yard Ribbon Microwave Oven Pattie’s Pointer: My corn pillow is great to keep in the freezer for a sore ankle or knee, or for a headache. Steps: 1. Sew two pieces of fabric together, right sides facing, leaving a 3-inch opening. 2. Turn the fabric right side out and sew ribbon to each end. 3. Fill the with corn, but not quite full so that it will lay on your shoulders nicely. 4. Sew the opening closed, and it's ready to use or give as a gift. I almost forgot to tell you that if your child has an earache, a little corn pillow warmed in the microwave is wonderful to help them sleep through the night....

Houndstooth Honeys

If you look at fashion magazines, shop the mall, or look around at the coffee shop you already know how HOT houndstooth is right now. And I jumped on the fashion wagon with these two honeys with my own version of fashion t-shirts for the iLoveToCreate website. I wrote about this photo shoot a couple weeks ago, and now the project is up on the site with tons more project ideas for the holidays.

These sweet tees would be fun for a holiday party, and perfect in California. But if you're in the chilly willy weather, they would still look great peeking out from a velvet jacket.

First I dyed the shirts in an ombre style, by dying one side much darker than the other side. Then I surfed the web for a nice houndstooth design, printed it out, and then drew a pattern on freezer paper for a stencil. After cutting out the pattern I ironed the stencil onto the shirts and painted them with black soft paint. After they were totally dry, I peeled off the paper and they were ready to go.

iLoveToCreate a Christmas Party!

Behind the scenes with Pattiewack is fabulous this month, because as you can see.... last night the Marketing and Communications departments at iLoveToCreate were invited to celebrate the holidays by our Creative Director, Michelle Martin.

Michelle is an outstanding Creative Director, and is always full of great ideas and imaginative ways to improve marketing, graphics, and the craft studio. She has been renovating a contemporary home in the beautiful area around Fig Garden in Fresno, and we could hardly wait to see the results of her hard work and artistic flair.

The crowd of party peeps were instantly impressed with these absolutely AMAZING works of EDIBLE ART. Would you believe, these are cookies?

A local baker was commissioned to make these beautiful baked goodies to resemble the ceramic discs on the front of our corporate headquarters!

Check out these pics of the iLoveToCreate Headquarters and see for yourself:

What a creative idea. I don't "see" cookies, but apparently Michelle did.

Of course there was live music, because Michelle's brother, John Martin III is a global percussionist with the Latin jazz band Cerro Negro, along with Dusty Brough and Frank Giordano. They were fabulous!

The home is huge, with granite, cement, teak, and pewter throughout and is built in a horseshoe design around a lanai.

A ginormous wreath was hung above the fireplace with feathers and ornaments.

The pink Christmas tree was a perfect fit for modern home.

My hubby Scott, got acquainted with Zoe, who was happy to give tours around the pool.

Giant paper lanterns floated lazily above the pool.

The birds of paradise form a natural curtain in the dining room.

One of the most amazing features is the stucco screens. Red up-lights turned them into instant holiday jewels.

Modern artwork added warmth and flair to every room.

Everyone was drawn to the ceviche in martini glasses, and rows of crudite's standing at attention in long ceremic serving dishes.

After stuffing ourselves with goodies, we walked through Christmas Tree Lane and enjoyed the spectacular lights.

It was unbelievable!

There were kids, dogs, musicians, caterers, and of course, Santa hanging out with no cars, lots of music and giggles.

Alexa (aka Swell Designer) had fun taking pics and posing. Too fun!

But then again, who can forget those cookies that look so much like ceramics??? They were as delicious as they were beautiful.

I love this pic from the '70's showing the installation by the ceramics artist, Stan Bitters. Now, when I look at the front of our headquarters, all I see are COOKIES!!

Thanks again Michelle, for a FABulous iLoveToCreate Christmas Party...

Happy Holidays!

Pattiewack & Scott