Welcome to our blog archives, with a LINK to the NEW PATTIEWACK DESIGNS BLOG

 

Visit the NEW & IMPROVED 

PattieWack Designs blog now at:  www.PattieWack.com 

 

If this is your first time to visit the PattieWack Blog, let me say, "Welcome!"  I'm so glad you found this crafty spot to hang out and get project ideas and inspiration. 

 

There are over 700 CRAFT PROJECTS on this blog, so grab a nice refreshment, and settle in for great crafts and inspiration! 

This blog began in 2006, and has evolved through the trends from back-in-the-days of MySpace and before there was FaceBook!  

But now, we've moved on to a new location.

Please feel free to roam around and check out all the old project archives here, and then click on over to our NEW PattieWack Designs Blog located on the www.pattiewack.com site.  There you'll find even MORE crafty project tutorials, my design portfolio, a section about us, a section filled with inspiration with dozens of projects, and a NEW CATALOG where the PattieWack Pom-Pom and Tassels Makers can be ordered as well as a few more crafty supplies. 

So, stick around and enjoy... but don't forget to check out all of our other Social Media links below, including PattieWack Designs on YouTube, where you can see over 125 Craft Videos, viewed by almost 18K subscribers, with nearly 4M views. 

And as I always say,

"Have FUN with it!"

Pattiewack

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Decoupage A Mannequin - Here's How!

Mannequin Art is one of my favorite mediums, and I had a blast when I got to decoupage this one at a trade show.

Watch now, and get some fun ideas on how to turn old magazines into decoupage papers for your next art project.

Enjoy!

Pattiewack

Art from Scrap

I'm always on the hunt for scrap, trash, recycled objects, and anything that I can see being put to good re-use.  I just ran across this silly video of me today and it got my creative juices going.  

Maybe it will for you, TOO!

Haha....enjoy!

And get out there and make something!

:-)

How to Make-Over Pillows in a Minute!

Here's an easy and fast way to change the look of your room in just a few minutes!  All you need is a scarf or fabric, and a pile of pillows.  Change your room from a winter look, to bright and cheerful summer decor.

Pom-Pom Hangers!

How fun is this?  

Covered hangers with pompoms are so simple, 

yet really functional.  

Wind yarn around the third section of the 

PattieWack™ Pom-Pom Maker until it's nice and full.  

Tie it as tightly as possible in the center 

with another length of yarn.  

Pull the tied yarn toward the point of the tool 

to loosen the yarn slightly, 

then cut the loops on both sides to release the pompom.  

Now, trim the pompom and tie it to a fabric covered hanger.

Super cute!

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter Everyone!

You can put pretty pompoms on a stick and poke them into anything today to add a little fun to your Easter festivities!

Just grab your large Pattiewack Pom-Pom Maker and wind yarn onto the second step of the tool to make 2" pompoms.  Next glue them onto the end of bamboo skewers.  

Presto!  You've got instant pompom fun.

Have a blessed an happy day!

You Can Do Anything - Boho Pompom Bracelet

You can make just about ANYTHING if you have the right tools, including this beautiful boho bracelet if you have the PattieWack™Tassel and Pom-Pom Makers.

For this bracelet, just grab your PattieWack™ Mini Pom-Pom Maker and 3 colors of embroidery floss.  Wind floss around the tool on the third tier to make a 1-1/2" pom-pom.  Tie it in the middle, then cut the sides to release.  Trim it up and tie it to your favorite boho-style bracelet.  Add two more, and you've got a pretty addition to that t-shirt and jeans or shorts for the perfect summer outfit.

Oh, and if you're into making jewelry, you can tie the pompoms to a lobster claw.  Then you'll be able to take clip them onto anything.  Cool, easy, and fun!

For shopping info, go to PattieWack.com and get your OWN tassel and pompom makers!

Tie Dye Pillows For Easter

Just in time for Easter fun, there's tie-dye! Make bunnies, shirts, pillows, or anything you want with Tulip One-Step Tie Dye products from iLoveToCreate.

I had a blast shooting this segment at the KSEE24 Fresno TV Station.  Alex is so much fun to craft with!

Happy Easter everyone!

You can pick up your pink dye right now at JoAnns online here:
Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye

Glamping Time with Tassels!

It's that time of year, Yay!! The kids are getting restless, the weather is decent, flowers are ready to bloom and it's time to go outside and play.  What a perfect way to play, than by building a tent!  

I found these amazing tents with a tutorial on CAKIES Blog and she gives complete sewing instructions for building the perfect tent.  

And of course, you'll want to put your personal touch to the tent with tassels, to create a grand entrance to the tent.  Just grab your Pattiewack Tassel Maker and make 5" tassels, string them to a cord, and tie to the tent posts.  My goodness, you could even do this to a tent you already have, right?

Okay, now I must get out in the yard, take the wiener dogs out for a walk, and think about making tents.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's not too late to make a cute little pompom garland for St. Patrick's Day.  I saw this darling idea over at Honest to Nod and thought it was perfect, and super easy!



Now this little shamrock garland caught my eye, since it is so clever!  All you'll need is baker's twine, pom-poms, and little pieces of felt to make it.  There are more garlands and banners along with this one over at B Lovely Events.   

Just grab your Pattiewack Pom-Pom Maker and pump out some quick pom-poms for a darling banner today to perk up your office cube, hang from a chandelier, or between two bed posts, for a super lucky day! ;)

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!

Tribal Tassels - DIY Necklace

Tassels and beads are the perfect combination for this tribal take on a necklace you can wear with anything!  It is SO easy, if you have the PattieWack™ Mini Tassel Maker.  Here's how....

Wind embroidery floss around the tool at the 4th section of the mini tool for a 2" tassel.  Tie the top and the neck with a contrasting floss.  Cut the bottom of the tassel and slide off the tool.  Attach to a chain, make four more and add to the necklace.  You can use jump rings if you're into jewelry making, or just tie them on.  

And there you have it.  Super cool, fun, and easy to make.  Oh, and you could even make one for your friends, too.  P.S. You don't have to tell them how inexpensive it was. LOL

For shopping info, go to PattieWack.com and get your OWN tassel and pompom makers!

I need these!

 

I neeeeed these!  But I don't have $995 to spend on them. Good grief!  Dolce & Gabbana is off the hook with pompoms and rickrac on these cute slides.  And the sandals are killing me. A Dolce & Gabbana purchase is way above my pay grade at over $2000. Yikes. The best I can do right now is to take a screen-shot.  

So trust me. Stay tuned. I'm going to be embellishing some summer shoes!

If you want to buy them, here's the link, wink-wink:

https://www.lyst.com/shoes/dolce-gabbana-slave-sandal-in-napa-leather-with-pompoms-red/?product=EKSVZAW&atc_country=USA&atc_grouping=Google-PLA&atc_content=USA-PLA-Dolce%2B%2526%2BGabbana%2BFlats-Clothing%2B%2526%2BAccessories%2B%253E%2BShoes%2B%253E%2BFlats-EEE-no&atc_source=google&atc_medium=cpc&atc_campaign=USA-PLA-AllBrands&sem_id=A5739323&gclid=CPfRurusxMsCFUdlfgodepIJIQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

Debra Arch makes the CUTEST bunny baskets!

These little bunny baskets are adorable, and Debra Arch will show you in the video just how she made them for Station KWQC-TV6 from the Quad Cities in northwest Illinois and Southeastern Iowa last week. She takes crochet to another level and then shows how to make pom-poms with the Pattiewack Pom-Pom Maker. The Paula Sands "Live" TV broadcast is such fun, and Debra rocks it.  
You can also check out more crochet goodness from Debra on the Annies Craft Store website. Debra is truly the crochet queen. She has authored 10 pattern books for Annie's, she crochets and knits designs for Annie's Hook and Needle Club, and she is a frequent contributor to Crochet! and Crochet World magazines. 

Thank you Debra, for sharing this great DIY project, and for promoting Pattiewack Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers!

Follow Your Dreams

Zulily.com is extending their event featuring the PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers!

This is the last day of the event where you and your friends will get a fantastic discount of up to 40% on all PattieWack™ Makers!

Add a cool tassel to anything with your PattieWack™ Tassel Maker, just like the boho banner "Follow Your Dreams".  Simply wind your favorite yarn around the 4th section of the tassel maker to make a 5" tassel.  Tie the top of the tassel and bind the neck with contrasting yarn.  Cut the bottom of the tassel and slide off the tool.  Now thread some boho style beads onto another piece of yarn, knot the bottom of the yarn and then tie it to the neck of the tassel.  You're done!  Tie your boho-licious tassel to a banner, or even tie it in your hair for a festival.  

Don't miss this chance to click over to Zulily.com and take advantage of their big event, and get your discount of up to 40% off, during this extended sale for the 

PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers!

This is the LAST day of the Zulily event!

Pop a Cork with Pom-Poms!

Zulily.com is extending their event featuring the PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers another day!

Today you and your friends will get a crazy discount of up to 40% on all PattieWack™ Makers!

It's seriously enough to make you pop a cork, right?  Then you'll just have to decorate that cork with a raffia pom-pom.  The cool thing about the PattieWack™ Makers, is you can wind just about anything around the tools, like RAFFIA to make a pom-pom.  

So, to make your pom-pom corks, wind raffia around the PattieWack™ Mini Pom-Pom Maker at the 5th section to make a 2-1/2" pom-pom.  Tie the center with raffia, or better yet, use heavy wire.  Cut the sides of the pom-pom to release.  Poke the wire into a cork and it's ready to pop back into the bottle.  Cute. Fun. Easy.

Don't forget to click over to Zulily.com and take advantage of this big event, and get your discount of up to 40% off, during this extended sale for the 

PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers!

I Make Me HAPPY

Zulily.com is extending their sales event for PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers!

You and your family and friends will receive up to 40% discount today on all PattieWack™ Tools!

Then make yourself HAPPY by adding mini tassels to one of your favorite necklaces.  It's so easy with the PattieWack™ Mini Tassel Maker.  Choose 3 colors of embroidery floss for three different mini tassels.  Wind the floss around the mini tool on the 4th section to make a 2" tassel.  Tie the top and bind the neck with matching floss.  Cut the bottom of the tassel and slide it off the tool.  Make two more tassels in different colors and tie them to your necklace for a fun fashion to add to your everyday look!

Don't forget to click over to Zulily.com to take advantage of this amazing event, to get your discount of up to 40% off PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers!

Kindness Matters

Zulily.com is extending their event featuring the PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers!

Today you and your friends will get a fantastic discount of up to 40% on all PattieWack™ Makers!

You can make the cutest little pompom banner out of bakers twine and yarn, with the PattieWack™ Mini Pom-Pom Maker.  Simply wind black yarn around the third section of the tool for a 1-1/2" pom-pom.  Add bakers twine by winding 4 times around the tool, on top of the yarn.  Tie the center of the pom-pom with yarn, cut the sides of the pom-pom to release. Make several fluffy little pom-poms, and then tie them to a length of bakers twine to make a happy banner!

Don't forget to click over to Zulily.com and take advantage of this big event, and get your discount of up to 40% off, during this extended sale for the 

PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers!

California Dreamin'

Zulily.com is featuring the 

PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers TODAY!

Wednesday, March 9th

You and your friends and family will get an incredible discount of up to 40% today on all PattieWack™tools!

All the tools are super fun and easy to use.  For this California Dreamin' market bag, grab you PattieWack™ Mini Tassel Maker and yarn to match your crocheted bag.  Wind yarn around the 4th section of the mini, which will make a 1-1/2" mini tassel.  Tie the top, and bind the neck with a contrasting yarn.  Cut the bottom of the tassel and slide it off the tool.  Make at least 2 more mini tassels and tie them to the handle for a dreamy market bag to take to the beach, farmers market, or anywhere!

Don't forget to click over to Zulily.com and take advantage of this fabulous event, and get an amazing discount of up to 40% during this special event for PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers!

Have you heard the NEWS?

Zulily.com is featuring the 

PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers 

in an upcoming event!

Wednesday, March 9th

You and your friends can get an amazing discount of up to 40% on all PattieWack™ Tools!

And here's some more news..... Did you know that you can make newspaper pom-poms with the PattieWack™ Pom-Pom Maker?

All you need is a newspaper, scissors, and chenille stems (aka pipe cleaners) and heavy wire or a dowel rod.  Simply cut 1/4" strips of newspaper lengthwise.  It won't take much for each pom-pom.  Then wind the strips around the pom-pom maker at the 3" section of the large tool.  Bind the center with a chenille stem.  Cut both sides of the pom-pom to release it from the tool.  Fluff it out, and attach it to a dowel rod or heavy wire to make the stem. 

Easy-peasy!

Don't forget to click over to Zulily and take advantage of their fabulous event, and get an amazing discount of up to 40% during this special event for PattieWack™ Pom-Pom and Tassel Makers!

What are you making today?

What are you making today? In the words of my mother, every day whenever I would  talk to her as a little girl growing up she would asked me what did you accomplish today? So, now as a grown-up whenever I wake up I ask myself what am I making today? Then I'm able to be proud of what I accomplished at the end of the day. Is anyone else like this?

Tassel Napkin Rings

Vicki Odell is an amazing designer, and she made the cutest tassel napkin rings!  

Of course, she used the PattieWack® Tassel Maker for the quickest little tassel you've ever seen.

For the complete tutorial, click here to see her cool website:

http://vickiodell.com/last-minute-napkin-rings

Happy Holidays to everyone!!

XOXO

Pattiewack

Ugly Sweater for a Weiner Wonderland!

If you can't have a winter wonderland, how about a Wiener Wonderland?  Our ugly sweaters are keeping us warm and giggly : -)  

For the full tutorial, check it out at iLoveToCreate:

http://www.ilovetocreate.com/weiner-wonderland-couples-diy-ugly-sweater

Puffy Paint Backpack for Back-To-School

It's not too late to personalize those backpacks for back-to-school!

Save the cash you would lay down for a fancy designer backpack for your little princess and simply grab a pack of Puffy Paint to put a kitty face and her name on the front in no time.

Cut the label off the front if it's in the way of your design.  I just took my craft knife and slipped it behind the label to cut it out.  You can't even tell it was ever there.  

Now choose some great colors to match, with a contrast color.  I chose black, white, pink and a contrasting blue.

Here's the pattern for a kitty face.  If you prefer a different animal you can do a google search for animal face clip art to find everything your kids could want!  You can even find fun faces that the little dudes in your family would like. 

Save the pic to your computer and print.  You're all set.

Start by painting the design at the top of the backpack (ears and hair) so that you won't drag your hand through wet paint. 

Keep going until your face is done.

If you're timid about drawing the face freehand, you can draw it with chalk first and then trace over it with the Puffy Paint.  The chalk will be easy to brush off, after your paint is totally dry.

Now paint your name with simple letters that you can add contrasting dots to for a super cute and fun personalized touch.  I drew mine on a piece of paper first, to get the size and spacing figured out.  Again, you can draw the name on your backpack with chalk and trace over it with Puffy Paint if that works better for you.

See you in the next post! 

Check out other PattieWack social media

 on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Blogger,

 YouTube and Instagram!

DIY Back-To-School Classroom Folders

It's Back-to-School time again, and if you're looking for a way to brighten up the classroom in a BIG way with a SMALL budget, these DIY Classroom Folders are just the ticket!  

Save $$ money $$ with just a few supplies, since all you need is this fun pack of EXTREME 3D PUFFY™ PAINT and those dirt-cheap folders in bright primary colors that you can pick up anywhere....even the dollar store.

Get creative!  Everybody loves Puffy Paint, and this kit will be so much fun to paint the folders with, the kids will even want to help. 

 "Read Every Day" 

For this folder I used a red colored folder and wrote the word "RED" on one side and then used the acronym to write the words Read Every Day.  Then I cut out green construction paper for the corners and glued them with Aleene's® Tacky Glue.  Next, just add a few fun embellishments and you're done.  It dries super fast, too.

"MINE"

I really had fun with this one!  I cut a funny monster shape from pink construction paper and glued it in the top left corner of the purple folder.  Then painted some crazy teeth, and an eyeball.  The monster outline is in blue, and then I drew the word "MINE" in blue with a black arrow drawn from the monster to the word.  Mine, mine, mine, mine.....  :)

"Writing"

My short stumpy pencil was cut from yellow and pink construction paper and glued to the left side of the purple folder.  I outlined it with red and black paint, and added blue squiggles of writing from the pencil point at the top and right edge of the folder.  To finish it, paint the word "Writing" in white.  

"Bee Smart"

I especially like this one.  The little bumble bee is cut from black construction paper with a circle cut-out for the bee face.  After gluing it onto the folder, I drew the face and antennae with a black crayon.  Then I painted the white stripes across the bee body.  Now write the word "Smart" with red paint.  To finish, paint the wings, ends of the antennae and a bumble bee trail with black.  Bzzzzzz...

"Stuff To Always Remember"

Here's another acronym with the word STAR to use for the words "Stuff To Always Remember".  I started by cutting a star shape from yellow construction paper and gluing it to the green folder with Aleene's® Tacky Glue.  Then I painted the word "STAR" in red along the left side of the folder.  Next I finished the words in blue, outlined the star in white and painted black beams from the star.  How fun is that?

There are so many variations you can create when making your own classroom folders with EXTREME 3D Puffy™ Paint!

I know you'll have tons of ideas and probably better than mine that your kids or students will love and be inspired by.  I hope you have a wonderful school year, and keep being crafty and creative!

See you in the next post! 

Check out other PattieWack social media

 on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Blogger,

 YouTube and Instagram!

How To Make Tassels - the PattieWack™ Way!

We've been working on a little (and I do mean LITTLE) video that shows all the sizes of tassels you can make with the PattieWack™ Tassel Makers.  Click and see how fun!

 Believe it or not, it takes HOURS for Scott and I to make a 'little' 20 second video like this one.  But with the small social media platforms like Vine and Facebook, this is what people like you are looking for, right?

So, please be sure and click, share, and subscribe to my little YouTube channel over at PattieWack Designs.

You'll get all the new videos we post about my DIY life, and get tons of ideas for crafts and tutorials made just for YOU :)

See you in the next post! 

Check out other PattieWack social media

 on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Blogger,

 YouTube and Instagram!

DIY - Boho Tassel Necklace

It's summer-time, and this girl's really lovin' the boho style that I'm seeing everywhere.  So, I went to Hancock Fabrics and bought several fun prints to make my own blouses and then I just felt like they needed something else.  This one has such great colors, and I thought it would be fun to match up the turquoise, lime, and lemon colors that are super vibrant with cotton embroidery threads.

I did fudge a little by starting out with a necklace on the sale kiosk at Nordstrom's Rack.  Then I got busy making tassels in each of the colors.  To make my tassels, I grabbed my PattieWack™ Mini Tassel Maker and decided what size to make them. 

I chose the 1 1/2 inch size and wound the embroidery floss around the tool until it was as fat and fluffy as I wanted. I wrapped this heavier floss about 20 times. How many times you wind it depends on how thick your thread is, and how fat you want your tassels.  And in order to make all your tassels the same size,  simply count how many times you wind the first one and then you'll be set for the other tassels. 

For the next step I put a large jump ring through the top of the tassel since it was going on a metal chain necklace. A pair of needle-nose pliers worked great for this. 

Then I inserted another piece of embroidery floss through the slit in the tool and tied it very tightly around the neck of the tassel. 

The next step was to simply cut the bottom of the tassel with scissors and slip it off the end of the tool. I also wound some more floss around the neck to add a little more pizzaz to the tassel. 

I made three tassels, added them to my necklace and that was it!  I had my necklace finished in about 30 minutes...boombadabing!

See you in the next post! 

Check out other PattieWack social media

 on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Blogger,

 YouTube and Instagram!

Project Runway - Hallmark Challenge - Aleene's Tacky Glue!

I'm a huge fan of Project Runway.  And Season 14, Episode 2 had me on the edge of my seat.  Yes, even more than the usual edge!   

Why?  Because my favorite episode is ALWAYS the unconventional materials challenge.  You never know where the Designers are going to be sent to gather their materials like a candy store, the city dump, or a New York corner drug store.  

And this time I was in HEAVEN because they went to a HALLMARK store to grab every card they could stuff in their shopping bags and then create wearable garments with the paper cards!  I mean, this was the dream episode for me.  All I need is a mannequin, paper, embellishments and GLUE to make all my dreams come true, okay?

I mean, have you been to a Hallmark Cards lately? As their Director of Branding said, the cards are "pieces of art with a story to tell", and the cards are covered with glitter, beads, bows, flower cut-outs, ribbon, fabric, tulle, and everything that makes a crafty girl's mouth water and her hands itch to cut, paint and GLUE!

After the designers made it back to the work room, imagine my squeals of glee when I saw that they were using Aleene's Tacky Glue!  Of course they were.  What glue works best with paper, than Aleene's Tacky Glue!

The gold bottle was easy to spot, even with the tape across the label.  And the designs that were coming together were ahhhhmazing!

Tim Gunn was happily mentoring the designers as they sifted through the mountains of Hallmark cards amongst the Aleene's Tacky Glue bottles scattered all around the work room.  I would give up my pinky toe to do just one unconventional materials challenge on Project Runway!

Edmund's wedding dress won, with the Hallmark signature cutouts forming the bodice and tons of shopping bags billowing in petal shapes for the skirt.  Love, love, LOVE!

Which one would you pick to win???