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Newsletter October, 1999
Published by
Internet Visions Company
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 Hi Fellow Crafters, I would like to welcome all our new subscribers. We now have over 14,000 e-mail subscribers and many more that access us online! We are very proud to let you know that the Crafty Visions Newsletter was written up in the 1999 Woman's Day - Christmas Crafts Special Issue! I would like to thank all of you and our contributors for making this newsletter a valuable tool for the online arts, crafts, and doll community. Please continue to let us know what you think about the newsletter and any suggestions you have. Enjoy the seasonal crafts found below! Sincerely, PS If you want a condensed copy of this newsletter e-mailed to you, send a request to cvoct99@wwvisions.com. And, if you have not
subscribed to this newsletter, please fill out our on-line subscribe form
as well as check out past issues of The Crafty
Visions Newsletter.
 Seasonal
Crafts
by Bluebonnet Crafters
Paper Twist Wreath This wreath can be made for any season depending on the colors used. The amount of Paper Twist will depend on the size of the wreath so measurements for the individual loops are given. Total Paper Twist needed is not calculated. Materials:
Cut your Paper Twist into 6" lengths. Untwist and form a loop of each piece. Put a twist or two of wire around the end of each loop. When you have a pile of each color loop ready place your wreath flat on the table in front of you and begin pinning the loops to the wreath following the diagram. Dip the ends of your greening pins in the craft glue and pin each loop overlapping the one before until you have completely covered the wreath. Note: if the wreath will be seen from both sides your Paper Twist will have to cover the back as well. If it will hang flat against a wall or door you can cover only the area exposed. Break your filler flowers into small bunches. Wire them to a greening pin and place them randomly throughout the wreath being sure to tuck the ends under a loop so the flower part extends above the loops giving it an airy look. As a fall decoration yellow, orange, scarlet, dark green and brown can be used. All or any number of these colors mixed together with miniature sunflowers (or miniature flowers of similar color). For Christmas red, white and green with small Christmas picks, poinsettia or holly looks good. Similar arrangements can be made for any other season using the appropriate colors and embellishments. Option: A paper twist or wired ribbon bow can be added if you like.
Basic Barrette Hair Bow With all the holiday celebrations coming fancy barrettes for yourself and the young ladies in the family are a must. Make them from ribbon, lace or trims. If you have some of the fabric from your holiday dress you can even make them from the scrap to match. They also make a nice gift for limited budget exchanges. Materials:
 Lay the ribbon flat one color on top of the other. Cut a "V" notch in one end of each ribbon and place a safety pin to hold them together. Place the wire/stem through the hole in one end of the barrette and even the ends of the wire. (See Step 1) Place the ribbon with the end extending between the two legs of the wire, place one leg of the wire over the ribbon and wrap under the top piece of the barrette (See Step 2) leave it extending to the side pull up a loop of the ribbon (about a 2-3 inch loop) bring the second leg of wire over the ribbon and wrap under the top layer of the barrette cross the wires and twist one time. Pull up one more loop of ribbon and hold in place with one leg of the wire, repeat with the next loop and the second wire, cross under the barrette top and twist. Slide the twisted wire and ribbon toward the end where the wire is anchored. Continue wrapping the ribbon with the wire as above and pushing it toward the beginning of your wrapping until you have used the entire ribbon. Notch the ends of the ribbon same as the beginning. Bring the two end of the wire to the top and insert into the hole at the end of the barrette, separate the wire ends and wrap each back to the top from opposite sides of the barrette. Twist the ends of the wire together trim and tuck the ends back under the ribbon. A drop of glue can be added, if needed, at each end to hold the ribbon so it covers the wire and the metal parts of the barrette. Separate the first loops of ribbon pulling one to the left and the second color to the right. With the second loops reverse the order so the colors alternate the entire length of the barrette. Option: Use all one color or even several colors following the above instructions. You may also add charms, buttons and other embellishments. You can vary the width and length of the ribbon as long as your finished barrette gives a full fluffy look and the mechanics are covered.
# 1. When cutting any of the paper backed adhesives such as Peel 'n Stick or Stick and Hold place a small amount of talcum powder on the scissors blades to keep them from getting gummed up with the adhesive. # 2. When painting on dark fabric outline the entire area and paint with a base coat of white fabric paint first. This will allow your colors to be clearer and brighter. # 3. We have seen people recommend masking tape to prevent your needlework
fabric from fraying at the edges. This can become gummy and ruin your project.
Instead whip stitch around the edges or use a thin line of one of the fray
check products.
Cliff Chopra lives and works in the Manchester, England. His painstaking technique requires precision and time. Using natural materials, the skeleton of a leaf is soaked, scrubbed and dyed. This process strengthens the leaves which become the canvas for his illustrations. Each small blade of straw is cut and assembled with grass and branches adding the final touch to complete the design. In the "boat scenery", the tree alone has over 30 pieces of small size straw sticks which make the branches and leaves. Each leaf design is unique His work has been well received in the U.K. and he is now opening his sales on the Internet. With over 50 designs in his portfolio, Cliff accepts commissions. contact at:Cliff Chopra, Cliffords Cards
Cliff shares with us the way he makes his fabulous illustrations. First of all the leaves are soaked in the water for a period and then gently scrubbed to make the pretty strong skeleton which is then 'dyed'. Then painstakingly you cut out the small pieces of straws with a blade and stick them on the leaf to make the illustrations. For birds & animals etc, you would cut out/paste the shape first and then stick the small pieces for the grass & branches etc. In the 'boat scenery' the tree alone has over 30 pieces of small size straws stuck to make the branches & leaves. These leaves can also be framed and they last for number of years. You may also like to experiment with sticking a leaf on a piece of wood with a bit of Varnish. To paste them on cards, just put a drop of PVA Adhesive on the back of the straws in a couple of places so that it is hidden & just a trickle on the top point of the leaf. You can do the same for matting. I sell these pasted on Greeting cards but so many other CRAFTY things can be made with these leaves, its just a matter of using one's imagination!! Visit his web site to see some of his other cards.
Centerpiece Vase This project can be made in connection with a nature walk where you collect real leaves, as the second part of an art class where you draw and cut your leaves out of construction paper or you can use purchased silk leaves. Materials:
Pinch the plastic bottle to begin your cut then cut the top off evenly leaving your bottle approximately 6" from the bottom up (size is non specific). . With the foam brush or piece of sponge spread an area beginning at the bottom of the bottle and press the leaves randomly into the glue. Continue this an area at a time until you have completely covered the outside of the bottle. . Place the marbles, stones, etc. in the bottom of the bottle and place the floral foam on top. Arrange the flowers or leaves the way they look best to you. . Place your raffia or jute cord around the bottle and tie in a bow
on the side that looks best making it the front. .
Three Bears
Materials:
 Instructions: To Make Papa Bear: 1. Cut all chenille stems in half. Slip two stems through 2- 20mm beads. 2. Slide the beads up on the stems so that 2" of stem is showing at the top of the beads and 2- 1/2" is showing at the bottom. 3. Separate the two beads slightly and twist one stem around the other two stems (in step 2). Slide the beads to the center and secure with a drop of glue. Allow glue to set. 4. To make the Ears: roll each of the top stems around to form a flat circle. 5. To make the Arms and Legs: wrap each stem around a pencil to form a spring. Tighten spring to make smaller if necessary. 6. Glue 5mm wiggle eyes to the top bead. As a finishing touch tie a ribbon around the neck. *To make Mama Bear use the 16mm beads and make it the same way as Papa Bear. *To make Baby Bear use the 12mm beads and the 4mm wiggle eyes. Trim
stems to 1-1/2" for ears and 2" for arms and legs.
Corn Casserole Ingredients
Mix all ingredients together. Bake in 9" X 13" pan at 325 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour.
Holiday Entertaining Tip
When hosting a party or going to a "bring a dish" celebration this makes a quick and fancy dish. Pick up a variety of raw veggies at the produce section or from the salad bar. Add a large red onion and several Bell peppers. Pick peppers with a flat bottom and one of each color. You will need one pepper for each type dip or dressing. Cut the onion from the stem end almost through to the root end with 8 to 12 cuts across the onion. Drop in ice water and refrigerate to crisp. Cut the top off each pepper and remove the center, wash and allow them to drain on paper towel in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Cut the tops in strips and add to the other vegetables. When ready to serve pour dip or dressing into the peppers using colors that contrast or enhance each other. An avocado dip in the yellow pepper, a white colored dip such as Ranch in the green pepper etc. Arrange the onion and filled peppers on a serving platter with the raw vegetables. Cover the peppers with plastic wrap for travel. Any of the firm fleshed squash can also be used for a harvest holiday
in place of some of the peppers.
Gel Scents Directions by Ruth Estrella of BluebonnetCrafts@onelist
Materials
Heat 1/2 cup liquid potpourri in a medium saucepan. Stir in the gelatin until dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in the remaining liquid potpourri. Fill jar with the mixture and refrigerate for about 2 hours. Remove and cover with plastic wrap until ready to use. If using a jar with a lid skip the plastic wrap and put the lid on. These would make lovely small gifts for teachers and workmates. Use decorative jelly jars that come with covers and add a lace doily or small ribbon embellishments. If you have baby food jars they can be decorated and used as well. We used an old fashioned canning jar from the craft store with a sticker covered by a light spray of water based varnish. With the addition of a bow you would not even need to wrap.
 Contributors:e-mail: bluebonnet@BluebonnetVillage.com URL: http://www.BluebonnetVillage.com Email: custserv@enterpriseart.com http://www.enterpriseart.com/ Email: cliff@chopra.u-net.com Clifford's Cards
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Letter
From Laurieann
