Snow Bottles

DIY Snow Bottles Video 

as seen on NBC - KSEE24 

We are Fresno LIVE!

Host Stefani Booroojian was so much fun on the LIVE show on Thursday, 

as she shredded foam with a cheese grater 

while I covered recycled bottles 

with Aleene's Tacky Glue.  

You've got to watch and see how easy and cool these bottles turn out, 

and how inexpensive they are for fabulous winter centerpieces. 

For the instructions, go to:

 http://www.ilovetocreate.com/ProjectDetails.aspx?name=Winter%20Wonderland

Pompom Christmas Tree

Pompoms and Christmas seems like the perfect match to me, 

and I've been dreaming of covering a tree with pompoms ever since Scott and I 

invented the PattieWack Pompom Tool 7 years ago.

We did it!  

We finally made the pompoms for our Christmas Pompom Tree.     

The pompoms are soft and pretty and colorful against our white Christmas tree.

 

I'm loving the retro look with our mod turquoise chairs and how sweet it turned out.

It was super easy to make about 60 pompoms in all different colors of yarns.  

There are 7 different bright jewel toned colors of yarn.  

I made sure to use turquoise and red since those are the two major colors in our mid-century modern living room.  Then I added yummy colors like kiwi, tangerine, lemon yellow, deep purple, hibiscus and pistachio green pompoms.

 

 We love it! 

DIY Video - Decoupaged Christmas Gift Box

Just like I promised, 

the Holiday How-To Videos are being posted at

iLoveToCreate,

and here's a great idea to turn a plain paper mache box into a

personalized gift for someone special!

New Holiday Craft Videos Are Coming!

We had so much fun with Holiday Craft Videos last year, 

our iLoveToCreate website team decided to do them again this year!

 Scott decided that a white Christmas would be fun, so he got busy painting and 

I brought in some color with ornaments and pillows.  

The cute little red deer and the
iLoveToCreate frame was added by Alexa (aka Swell Designer.)

 We have tons of Tulip holiday products,
so it didn't take long to put together some really
cute and quick crafts for the videos,
including coffee cozies with crystals to make a monogram.

 Molly was on hand to assist with set-up.
That cute apron was just one of several darling ideas for using our
amazing adhesives, crystals, 3-D paint, stencils and glitter.

 As you can see... Victoria was not so excited about me 

snapping a candid photo of her during the shoot.

Sorry!

 And of course, Scott worked to make me look good, the audio sound wonderful,

and get those all-important close-ups for you to see

how to make your quick holiday crafts.

It was a good day of shooting at the iLoveToCreate photography/production studio.
Check out the videos as we post them on the iLTC blog.

I hope that they will inspire you
to be creative this holiday season!

Happy Holidays!

Pattiewack

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....

Snuggies for Christmas!

I put the "wack" in a pair of snuggies for our site at iLoveToCreate, and I totally LOVE them!

Of course, when I saw that the snuggies were everywhere for Christmas, I had to embellish them with my own wackiness. You can decide if you want yours to be Naughty or Nice, or maybe you just want to add your name.

And what a perfect idea to personalize a snuggie for your boyfriend! I can just see it now... the sorority sisters with all matchie-matchy snuggaroonies with their Greek letters! Or how about with the name of their fave football team? The possibilities are amazing!!

Here's what you need:

• Aleene's Fabric Fusion Permanent Dry Cleanable Fabric Adhesive
  
• Tulip Fashion Glitter
  
• Tulip Glam-It-Up! Iron-On Fashion Designs
  
• Tulip Fashion Glitter Bond
  Foil
  Wedge makeup sponge
  Cutting mat or piece of cardboard
  Felt pen
  Ironing board
  Iron
  Fabric – black or white (depending on Snuggie color)
  Thin cloth
  Thread to match (optional)
  Snuggie™
  Sewing machine (optional)
  Freezer paper
  Craft knife
  

Instructions

1. Use felt pen to trace “Naughty” or “Nice” pattern onto contact paper.
2. Place contact paper onto cutting mat or piece of cardboard, shiny side down. Cut out letters with craft knife to create stencil.
3. Place stencil shiny side down onto black or white fabric and iron on.
4. Squeeze a puddle of Fashion Glitter Bond onto foil. Working quickly, tap flat end of makeup sponge into Glitter Bond and dab a generous amount into stencil openings. Immediately sprinkle glitter over Glitter Bond and use finger to press down on glitter to set. Let dry then peel away stencil and shake off excess glitter.
5. Peel backing from Santa Hat Iron-On Transfer and place plastic side up where desired next to wording. Cover with a thin cloth and iron onto fabric following package instructions.
6. Cut fabric around word and Iron-On Transfer, leaving a 1” border. Refer to photo.
7. Place fabric piece on Snuggie™ where desired and sew in place leaving a ¼” seam.

Now, I don't know if you have read my sad story about MY adventures in SNUGGIES about 10 years ago, and how I COULD HAVE BEEN a Buh-JILLIONAIRE, but my girlfriend and I didn't have the cash to start the business.

If you're interested, check it out at:
Pattiewack Sleevies


Oh, and if you want MORE Crafty Christmas Tips, go to:
Pattiewack Christmas Tips

Stocking Stuffer Soaps

Looking for a stocking stuffer that you can't find in the department store?

Everyone will love to get a set of soaps with their photo on the front, or with cute Christmas stickers, and then placed into matching pillow boxes. These snazzy soaps are the perfect stocking stuffer, and are great for a quick craft that says, “I made it myself!”

The soaps I made are with my family pics. I printed them on my computer in black & white, so that the color of the packaging would be showy in Christmas colors.

And notice in the instructions that I used an old electric wok that I picked up at a garage sale to make a double boiler for melting the wax! It's perfect for putting about an inch of water in and then putting the wax in a tin pie plate for dipping the soap into. Of course, you could also use any old pan on the stove, and place your wax in a coffee can and get the same results.

Oh, and the Aleene's Original Tacky Glue Sticks are great for sticking the pics to the soaps. But, they are also great for wrapping gifts, making gift tags, and for adding a cute pic, glitter, or paper snowflakes to your Christmas cards.

You'll need:
White Bars of Soap (I used Ivory)
Photo Copies of Pics
Household Paraffin Wax (from the grocery store in the canning supplies)
Double Boiler (or electric wok)
Tin Pie Pan
Water
Tongs
Sharp Knife
Scissors
Aleene's Original Tacky Glue Stick

Steps:

1. Carefully carve off the soap's brand name with a sharp knife.
2. Cut out photos and glue to soap with glue stick.
3. Place a tin pie pan in the wok. Lay 2 chunks of paraffin wax in the pie pan. Pour water into the wok just until the pie pan floats above the bottom of the pan. Heat the wok on LOW and as soon as the wax melts, turn the heat off. (Never leave unattended.)
4. Grab the sides of the soap with tongs and dip with the photo face down into the wax, about 1/4 of an inch. Repeat a couple of times for a smooth surface. Lay soap aside until the wax becomes firm.
5. Tie with a bow, or place in a pillow box and you're ready to stuff a stocking or two.

Be sure and make lots, because everyone will want one. These are fabulous to give to peeps in the office, and they are great teachers gifts, too!

So, there you have some snazzy soaps for stocking stuffers. (Say THAT really fast 3 times!)

Have A CRAFTY Christmas!
Pattiewack

p.s. You'll find lots of Christmas Craft Tips at:
Pattiewack Crafty Tips

Merry Christmas!

Crafty, Wacky, Happy Holidays....

It's not too late to get into the crafty spirit, so grab your glue gun, and we'll pompom a wreath, turn wash cloths into house shoes, make silly soaps for stocking stuffers, or greet your guests with gilded dishes. That will get you into the spirit!

Just to let you know....I'm taking a little bitty blog vacation for a while so that I can celebrate Christmas with Scott's family. But you can still craft with me! I invite you to join me anytime, night or day at PattieWack.com, at MySpace, on CBS-CH6 in Tulsa, and, on LifetimeTV.com.

Here's GREAT NEWS!

You can watch ALL SIX CRAFTS COUNTDOWN VIDEOS anytime you want. We'll make some whimsical gifts, wacky decorations, impress the most finicky friends and as usual, Have fun with it! I'll be back soon....so keep on crafting!

Happy Holidays,
Pattiewack



On Christmas Eve you can catch me on the "Six in The Morning" show with the last one of the segments for the Christmas Crafts Countdown. I'll be making these cute last minute gift boxes, tags and place cards from Christmas cards and photos.

But, YOU CAN WATCH ALL SIX SEGMENTS NOW if you miss it!

Just CLICK HERE and watch them right now....

Mini Gift Boxes
Designed by Pattie Donham

Supplies:
Christmas or Greeting Card
Option: Photograph and same size Cardstock
123D Papercrafting System™
Tape or Glue

Steps:
1. Cut the card in half along the fold line. If you are making a box with a photograph, cut cardstock the exact same size as the photo.
2. For the box top, place the photo or front of the card face down on the (pink) scoring side of the 123D Papercrafting™ System mat. Place the corner of the card or photo in the bottom left corner along the WHITE lines. Lay the slotted ruler over the card and lightly score on the 1-inch mark. Repeat on all 4 sides. (Note: If you want a box that is not 1-inch deep, score along the measurement that you desire, for example 1/2-inch, 2-inches, etc.)
3. For the box bottom, place the other half of the card, or the cardstock in the corner along the BLACK lines. Lay the slotted ruler over the cardstock and lightly score on the 1-inch mark. Repeat on all 4 sides.
4. To cut the corner tabs, lay the Notch-a-box template over the corners and cut out a notch as shown on the template. Repeat on all 4 tabs, on the box top and bottom.
5. Adhere the corner tabs to form the box top and box bottom.
6. Place the box top on the box bottom to complete.

Comfort Pillows

With all this winter weather, sore shoulders, and holiday headaches, a comfort pillow is a nice thing to have around. I made this one for my segment tomorrow on CBS Six in the Morning. You'll be able to watch at around 8:25 a.m. when they show me sewing these up for Christmas gifts. 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.

Snazzy Soaps

You'll get to watch me make these Thursday on the CBS Six in the Morning Show if you live in the tri-state area of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas. LeAnne Taylor is the Anchor, and they plan to have me on at 7:40 a.m. while everyone is getting ready to rush out the door to work and school. I just love being on the show, since most of my family lives there and can watch.

Okay, here are the steps to make your own snazzy soaps!

Snazzy Soaps
Designed by Pattie Donham

Supplies:
White Bars of Soap
Stickers or Photo Copies
Household Paraffin Wax
Double Boiler (or electric wok)
Tin Pie Pan
Water
Tongs
Sharp Knife
Glue Stick

Steps:
1. Unwrap soap and carefully carve off the brand name with a sharp knife.
2. Apply stickers or photo copies with glue stick.
3. Place tin pie pan in wok (or double boiler). Lay 2 chunks of paraffin wax in the pie pan. Pour water into the wok just until the pie pan floats above the bottom of the pan. Heat the wok on LOW and as soon as the wax melts, turn the heat off. (Never leave unattended.)
4. Grab the sides of the soap with tongs and dip face down into the wax, about 1/4 of an inch. Repeat a couple of times for a smooth surface.
5. Lay soap aside until the wax becomes firm.

Crafty Christmas Tips

DELICIOUS DECOR is sometimes the simplest and the most stunning. Fill a glass BRANDY SNIFTER with cranberries and then poke skinny tapers or a big fat red pillar candle into the berries.

WONDERFUL WRAPPING doubles the delight of any gift! One of the easiest wrappings is fabric circles cut with pinking shears. Place the gift in the center of your chosen holiday fabric, cut a large circle, and gather the fabric up around the gift. Tie up the fabric with a bountiful bow.

STENCILED BAKEWARE is as much fun to give, as it is to get. Paint the sides of tin bread pans with heat resistant paints. Stencil on Christmas trees, snowmen or gingerbread men. Line with a gingham napkin to serve up or give your favorite homemade baked goodies. Don’t forget to add a recipe card!

GLITTER FRUIT is retro and ridiculously easy! Gather up all those old plastic grapes, apples, and whatever else you can find. Now, lay them all out on newspaper and spray a good coat of spray adhesive. Next, cover them with glitter. Let them dry, turn them over and repeat until they are totally covered with glitter. You can use totally silver or gold, or get really crazy and glitter them in all different colors. Wow!

If you like these Crafty Christmas Tips, you can find bunches more in the craft tips pages at PattieWack.com, plus over 30 Craft TV DVDs, books, and over 100 of my favorite Craft Projects that I have accumulated there for the last 5 years. Come see me, and don't forget to check out all 16 of my crafty VIDEOS at LifeTimeTV.com .....and get your Christmas craft on!

Happy Holiday Trees

These cute little pompom trees are part of the tassel and pompom projects I made for Terri O., the Craft & Hobby Association’s National Spokesperson, who is featuring new and exciting holiday craft products in all her Celebrate the Season TV segments. They would be terrific on a buffet table or for a child's room. Here are the easy instructions, and the yarns from Coats & Clark that I used to make my trees.

You can click on any of the video screens to go directly to one of her segments.




























Happy Holiday Trees
Designed by Pattie Donham

Yarn:
MODA DEA™Zing: 1 Ball No. 2357 Pearl
Red Heart ® Soft yarn: 1 Ball No. 4412 Grass Green
Red Heart ® Soft yarn: 1 Ball No. 4420 Guacamole
Red Heart ® Soft yarn: 1 Ball No. 5142 Cherry Red

Supplies:
2 Felt Squares: 9” x 12” (red or green)
1 Felt Square: contrasting color for 6 small circles
Dowel rod: 3/4” x 12” tall (painted red or green)
Wood plaque: 2” x 4” x 1/2” (painted red or green)
Batting
Craft glue
Sewing machine
Pinking shears
Scissors
Drill with 3/4” bit

Tools:
Large size Pattiewack™ Pompom Tool

Pompom Steps:
1. Wind yarn onto the pompom tool at the 1” step, and wind 25 times.
2. Tie the center of the pompom tightly with 8” length of yarn.
3. Cut the pompom away from the tool. Trim into a ball shape.
4. Make 6 pompoms of each color of yarn; grass green, guacamole, cherry red,
5. Make 4 pompoms from the Pearl yarn. Lay pompoms aside.

Felt Tree Steps:
1. Cut out tree shape from the 2 red or green felt squares, according to the pattern, using pinking shears.
2. Cut out two large circles, using pinking shears.
3. Cut out 6 small circles with scissors.
4. Sew the tree shapes together, leaving open at the bottom for batting.
5. Stuff tree with batting.
6. Insert dowel rod into the tree. Glue in place, closing the bottom of the tree with glue.
7. Glue the two large circles to the top of tree, back to back.
8. Glue pompoms and small circles to the front of the tree, using photo as a guide.
9. Drill a 3/4” hole into the center of the wooden plaque.
10. Glue tree into the hole to complete.


















Enlarge the pattern to regular size paper- 8.5 x 11"

Christmas Decoupage Platter

One of my all time favorite projects I've ever done was this Christmas platter. I wish you could see it up close, because my entire family is on there. My mom and dad are there in the foreground and the kids, grands, brothers, aunts and uncles are all behind them. It's done in reverse. In other words, I glued it all from behind in layers on a clear platter. So first I made photo copies of everyone and cut them out. Then I glued mom and dad face down on the back of the platter. Next I glued my family around them. I cut out snowflakes and glued those around the edges. Last, I glued Christmas wrapping paper over the entire back of the platter. This is one of those things I'll keep forever.

Now it's to bed with me. I'm feeling kinda queeeeezie, after a big yummy dinner with Scott tonight. We had fabulous fish and sweet potatoes with curry. Yummm-o as Rachael Ray would say. But, maybe it's a case of nerves since I've got a speaking engagement with the Ventura County Garden Club at their Christmas luncheon tomorrow. I made 50 goodie bags for them! In their bags they will find a cute little craft with all the pieces to make a magnet that says CREATE! I'll be sure and take some pics to show you all tomorrow. I'm going to take a big gulp of pepto and call it a night.

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.