CRAFTY VISIONS
 
NEWSLETTER
Volume ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June/July 1998
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Published by
 
World Wide Visions
Internet Visions Company
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Letter From Laurieann
 
Summer is almost in full swing! I know many of you will be on vacations or just away from your computers to enjoy the warm summer weather but there are always some rainy days to do fun crafts.

We are proud to announce that the Bluebonnet Crafters will be in the August issue  Aleene's Creative Living The Magazine.

Crafty College will feature a free class with instructions for the back to school crafts mentioned in the article. The Class will be open after Aleene's Creative Living The Magazine comes out. Watch for it and let us know what you think.

Please enjoy the crafts below and as always thank you for reading the Crafty Visions Newsletter.

Also please take some time to visit our contributors websites or send them an e-mail. With out them this newsletter would not exist.

Sincerely,

laurieann@ivisions.com

PS

If you want a condensed copy of this newsletter e-mailed to you, send a request to cvjun_july98@wwvisions.com.

And, if you have not subscribed to this newsletter, please fill out our on-line subscribe form as well as check out our other issues of The Crafty Visions Newsletter.
 
 

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Seasonal Crafts
by Bluebonnet Crafters
Independence Day Paper Mache Bowl
For decorative use only.
Picture of bowl
 
Materials:
Instructions:
 

Cover the outside of your bowl (form) with plastic wrap bringing it over the lip to the inside of the bowl (form). Begin dipping the strips of newspaper into the half & half mix of glue and water. Remove the excess and place the strips over the form crossing and overlapping the strips. Continue in this manner until you have four to six layers of strips completely covering the outside of the form.

Place a square of plastic wrap on the bottom and use a weight to flatten the bottom slightly. Let it set overnight to dry. Remove the weight and peel off plastic wrap from the bottom of the form. Remove the plastic wrap from the inside and gently lift off your paper mache bowl. Carefully peel the plastic wrap from the center of your bowl and allow to continue drying.

When your paper mache container is completely dry paint the entire inside with a base coat of white paint using your foam brush. Allow to dry and repeat painting the outside with the base coat. After it dries repeat base coating the entire inside and outside of the bowl with a second coat.

Apply the water based varnish to a small area at a time and use torn pieces of the flag motif paper to completely cover the inside and the outside of the bowl. You can use large pieces of the napkin to show the motif or tear in smaller pieces to give it a red/white/blue look.

Allow to dry thoroughly and apply two thin coats of water based varnish on the inside and outside to seal the container completely.


Stained Glass Candle
by Bluebonnet Crafters
Stained glass votive candle holder
Material:
  Instructions:

It is a good idea to get your spacing before you apply the glue. The spacing is adjusted so that the marbles or jewels do not stick up above the edge of the cup or leave too large a space at the bottom or between jewels.

Apply a small amount of E-6000 to the back of each marble or jewel and place them in rows around the votive candle cup. Begin at the top with the jewels or marbles just slightly below the upper edge and work your way to the bottom leaving tiny spaces between. Allow glue to dry thoroughly. Add the candle and it is ready for presentation.
 

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Crafty Tips
 

by Bluebonnet Crafters

1. To help keep the scale of your fabric in line with the crafts you are working on cut the smallest pattern piece for that craft out of clear plastic (Shrink-Art or quilting template) and use the template to look at the fabric. If the print is too big it will show immediately on the smallest piece.

2. When painting straight lines mask the area next to the line with a strip of masking tape.

3, When using water soluble marking pens it is best to use a very light hand. These marks can be removed by daubing with plain water. Heavy marks may require a second attempt at removal.
 

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Our Featured Artist
Patricia Rizzo
Visit Patricia's Angel Babies

Patricia began her crafting career with First Impressions, a desktop publishing company when her job of ten years evaporated In her late 50s, after many discouraging interviews, she concluded that the older worker just wasn't wanted any more so she began her own business. She found that the desktop publishing business was saturated and many of those involved had the equipment and knowledge superior to hers.

Funds were getting scarce and a sisters' birthday was fast approaching. Without the money for a gift and wanting to conceal how bad things were for her she bought a pair of white ceramic dime store angels. These angels were so plain she thought some flowers added in their hands would help. She got a square of Sculpey, made some tiny roses, baked and painted them, then glued them into the angel's hand. They were a big success and there began her journey into the craft field.

Although she had done some ceramics in high school. Her sisters' gift was her first attempt since then. She began making jewelry with Polymer clay. At first it was rose pins and earrings. When she got bored with the roses they gradually turned to angels. Patricia says "I was not prepared for the way the angels evolved and took off. They truly seemed in charge of leading me where they wanted me to go".

She started selling the angels in several boutiques in her local area and gradually moved to the internet in late 1996. Since their debut on the internet thousands of her angels have found a good home. Over 2,000 individual pieces were sold during the last quarter of 1997. Comments from customers are "they make a person smile" and "they make you feel good when you wear one".

Patricia still has quiet periods but a lot of her angels are sold to dealers, churches and other organizations. They normally buy hundreds of pieces at once and want them "right now". One large order can wipe out her stockpile of angels. She is now experimenting with molding processes and is beginning to turn out molded angel babies that are accurate even to showing her fingerprints. This is the type of quality Patricia has been searching for. Even though molded her angels will always be hand painted.

This has been a family project up to now but she hopes to hire and teach others to paint them. Because of her experiences those she hires will definitely be people over 50 or those retired or disabled. She hopes to make available a way for her workers to supplement their social security or disability income. The only requirement Patricia has is that you have a talent for painting. She states "I like to think that what happened to me was part of a plan and the angels are part of it too. They lead and I follow and it is a great partnership". Most of all she believes her angels carry a message of hope. "We must never ever give up hope".
 

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Crafty Q &A
In this feature, we invite readers to ask a crafting question. Questions will be printed in each issue. We then would like for anyone who has an answer to these questions to please send them to laurieann@ivisions.com .

In the following issue, we will print the questions, the answers we received, and new questions for you to answer.

Please submit your crafting questions to laurieann@ivisions.com

Question: What to do with coffee cans?????

Answer:

Glenn can make some country candle lanterns from his coffee cans or from
any size can.

1. Fill the can with water and freeze it.  This keeps the can from bending
when you puncture it in the next step.
2. Using a hammer and an ice pick or small pointed screwdriver, puncture
the can in decorative patterns, such as concentric circles, zig-zags,
simple quilt patterns, stars, etc.  Keep it simple.
3. Thaw the ice and re-cycle the water. If the can has a painted-on label,
spray paint it all one color.  I use silver or chrome.
4. Put candles inside the can.

Uses: varying sizes of candle lanterns on a mantel at the holidays, with
some greenery interspersed, as a substitute for jack o lanterns at
Halloween, for parties, camping - we even used them as table centerpieces
at a country wedding.

As for the plastic lid - cut a narrow slit in the center of it , push the
handle of your paintbrush through it and it will help keep your hands from
drips.

Laurann

Question: Where do I find raw materials for chimes???

Answer:

In reference to the item in the newsletter about raw material for wind chimes. I am
wondering if Clodene has tried her local hardware store for the piping for the chimes.
They will also have instruction sheets on how to cut the pipe. Hope this helps. Mary
 

New Question
 
I have problems making any money doing craft shows.  I have tried everything I can possibly figure out to do.  I have ceramics so can do many varieties such as kitchenware, animals, holidays, angels, etc.  Please help any way you can think of. Any advice is welcome.  Thanks -
Please submit your answers to laurieann@ivisions.com
 
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 DOLL CORNER

 
In this issue we don't have a free pattern.  Instead we wanted to show you how you can design your own dolls!  Yes, if you have basic sewing skills you can become a cloth doll designer!

How???

Well, check out Alumni Hall (http://CraftyCollege.com/alumnihall/) at Crafty College.  Here you will find many original dolls pictured. These are not the typical designs that you see for sale as patterns at your local doll shop or online, these are ones designed by students taking doll design classes online!  Many for these dolls represent the first dolls designed by these students.

Please check out the original creations of these students and take the plunge and instead of making other designers dolls learn how to design them your self! More information is available at http://CraftyCollege.com

If you still want a free pattern  there are links to six patterns on The Doll Net (http://TheDollNet.com)
 
Editor's Note: The doll shown was designed by Judi Ward based on the techniques taught at Crafty College in her design classes. This one-of-a-kind original doll is a "Has Been Show Girl".
 
 

Home of the  
Largest Doll Club in The World!

 
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Crafty Kids
A Puzzle Card Pattern for turtle
Material:
 
Instructions:

Trace the pattern on your posterboard or Manila folder and color it. Cut out the outside shape. On the back side write your letter or message. Turning the picture over cut along the traced lines. Place the pieces in an addressed envelope and send them to a friend. The friend will then have to put the puzzle together to read your message.


Beaded Key Holder

Materials:
 

 
Instructions:

Fold the lace in half placing one end through the split key ring, center the key ring and tie an overhand knot approximately ½" down from the middle of the lace. Place both ends of the lace through the first bead, pushing bead up to the knot. Tie a square knot to hold the bead in place. Add a second bead followed by another square knot and continue until you have used all 16 beads. Slide the snap hook onto one strand of the lace and tie a square knot to hold the hook in place.

Slide both ends of the lace back through the last bead and trim the lace close to the bead. Hook the snap hook through the lace loop that holds the split key ring. This makes a key ring bracelet.

 

You're # 1 Paper Weight
picture of rock paperweight

Materials:
 

 
Instructions:

Wash the rock well and use an old toothbrush or hand brush to remove any loose material. Allow to dry thoroughly. With your sponge brush paint the rock completely in the color of your choice. With the metallic paint write # 1 on your rock. With your permanent marker finish writing "You're # 1" or "# 1 Dad". Allow to dry. Paint designs with the metallic paint to decorate the paper weight. When dry apply two layers of varnish allowing it to dry between layers.


Firecracker Family Pin
(Sewing Craft)

You can make each a different color or print or make the all the same color.
All seam allowances are 1/4"

Material:
 

 
Instructions:

Sew the 3.5" X 6" piece of fabric into a tube 6" long. Sew one circle into each end of the tube leaving an opening to turn and stuff.

Repeat with the other two pieces of fabric. Place the 3 stuffed tubes grouped together
with the bottoms even and tack them in place.

Glue one piece of chenille in the center top of each tube. Glue short bits of red, yellow
and gold thread to the of the stem to represent the lit firecracker.

Add the eyes and embroider a mouth to each. You can add cheeks to the middle sized firecracker. Attach the pin back and wear to celebrate the 4th of July.
 
 

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Kitchen Crafts
Cheeseburger Muffins

Great 4th of July picnic food. Serve hot or cold with lettuce salad, sliced tomatoes and pickles.

Makes10 muffins

Ingredients:
  Instructions:

Split flakey biscuits horizontally. Place one half in the muffin tin and with your fingers gently press to form up sides. Add 2 tablespoons of pre cooked ground meat/meat loaf and top with cheese. Place the remaining half biscuit on top and gently pinch the sides together to seal. Place a small cut in the center top and bake in a 375 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes until muffins are golden brown.


Firecracker Cakes
Ingredients:
  Instructions:

Frost each snack cake with the white canned frosting and then using the colored gel alternate stripes of red and blue and white down the firecracker shape.

Contributors:
 
Thank you for reading the CRAFTY VISIONS NEWSLETTER and a very special thanks to our contributors! We are now accepting Fall and Back to School craft contributions, as well as contributions for all our newsletter features. Please send all contributions to Laurieann@ivisions.com
 
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http://www.wwvisions.com/newsletter/
 
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