Let’s Paint a Goldfinch in Acrylic!

Hi friends! Tonight we are going to paint this cute little goldfinch!

This is a beginner level tutorial so don’t be shy, give it a try!

Supplies available at our sponsor Jerry’s Artarama:

• Art Bites Painting Boards 3″x9″
• Turner Acryl Gouache Set
• Reference photo

Feel free to substitute the surfaces and acrylic paints you have on hand. You can even try this with tempera paint. I have had many younger viewers asking if you can use poster or tempera paint in place of acrylics and YES you can. It is an economical and washable choice for kids. It might not be as opaque as acrylic but is it better to paint with what you have than not to paint at all!

Speaking of painting, I am taking part in a year long art class called Wanderlust with 26 other fabulous instructors! There will be a new class every week for 50 weeks! It is on sale until December 15th for about $100 for 50 classes! That is $2 a class, sweet!

My class will be on India ink next summer. I can’t wait to see what the other teachers have in store! The teachers will all be sharing projects with different mixed media products including in-depth info and techniques so if you have collected a lot of supplies and want to put them to use this is a great opportunity! You can find out more about Wanderlust here.

Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

It’s Like the Marathon of Craft Nights!

Hi Friends! Lookie what i did tonight!

It was the annual Day of the Dead celebration at our local library tonight and we had a ball. We almost ran out of sugar skulls and it took both Audrey the Librarian and me both to keep frosting bags filled and to the keep kids from eating the icing LOL! Oh, and we managed to teach them a bit too! I did not get a chance to sit and snap a pic of my decorated sugar skull til it was over! There is something so special and fun about watching 30 giddy kids wielding bags of frosting, feathers and sequins. I love how the Mexican culture is not afraid of death and honors and celebrates those who have passed. I know this custom can seem strange but that is what is great about public libraries, they open your eyes to other cultures and customs. Last year I filmed the process of making and decorating the sugar skulls, and also some info about the traditions of Day of the Dead in Mexico. Please take a moment to watch this video and meet my good friend Audrey who our community is fortunate to have as our local librarian.

Video!

Even if this project isn’t for you I am happy your curiosity made you check it out. I am always a bit worried when I share a project from a different culture that I might get something wrong and offend someone. I hope I didn’t and if I did get something wrong you will teach me. This is hands down our most popular event for kids and families at the library, it is an all-hands-on-deck kinda thing but I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’m pooped and my hands will be stained the color of frosting for a few days but I loved every minute of it! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Stamp School! A Tri-Fold Card with Bookmark Gift!

Hi Friends! Today we are going to make this pretty card featuring two of my favorite stamp sets from Art Neko! They are offering 10% off ANY order or free shipping on orders over $50 if you mention thefrugalcrafter when ordering.

I used the Framed Flowers ATC set and the Bookmarks and Sentiments set for this. I stamped on smooth (hot press) watercolor paper and colored the images in with watercolor markers but watercolor pencils and a fine brush would also look nice! Watch the video to see how I made it!

Video!

I hope you enjoyed this quick tutorial and you try something similar! Let me know what you think in the comments! Thanks to Art Neko for sponsoring today’s video and til next time happy crafting!

A Pretty Flower for a Very Sweet Viewer!

Dear friends, I don’t think you realize the impact you make on my life when I read your emails, messages and comments. Today’s video goes out to a very sweet lady LaVonne who shared a lovely photograph of this bromeliad flower growing in her yard and gave me permission to share it with you.

Grab your paper, paints and brushes for a fun tutorial using only 3 colors! You will need Hookers Green, Lemon Yellow and a cool red like Magenta, Alizarin crimson or Rose Red. This can be painted with only a #6 round brush but you might also want a 1/2″ angular for leaf shading. I am painting on a 140# Strathmore watercolor greeting card.

Video!

I hope you enjoyed this relaxing tutorial and if you give it a try, please let me know how it went. I also have another favor to ask. This dear lady who shared the photo is back in the hospital, if you could send some positive thoughts her way and maybe leave a word of encouragement for her in the comments I know it would make her day. She has no idea that I am mentioning this and I hope I am not speaking out of turn but it is the least I can do for someone who lifted me up recently. Take care of yourselves and til next time happy crafting!

Funky Stretch Bracelets & a Winner!

Breaking News! I have a coupon code for 10% your order at Punch Place Plus! Discount code is Frugal
Expires November 2, 2015!

Hi friends! I’m gonna tell you right now, if you want a craft fair best seller, make these:

I say this because within an hour of this video going on you tube I sold both of these bracelets to excited viewers. I did not even say they were for sale LOL and I don’t have an online shop. That is how fun these are! I used the vintage label shapes from Punch Place Plus that I demonstrated in the Crafting on Clear video last week. The stretch bracelets fits any size and since I used stretch cord, glass beads and acrylic shapes it is safe for folks allergic to metal jewelry (if allergy is an issue you can omit the decorative metal filigree that I used on the green one.) Watch how easy this is to make!

Video!

Supplies:
Beadnova stretch cord
Glass Beads
Vintage Label acrylic shape from Punch Place Plus

Tip to add: If the tail of the cord pulls out of the beads you were hiding it in you can trim it short and place a drop of glue or nail polish on the knot to keep it secure. Duh, the bracelet stretches and of course it would pull out. Lindsay makes a rookie mistake LOL!

Last week I asked you what you would buy and make if you won a $20 gift voucher from Punch Place Plus and you had so many cool ideas from 18″ doll accessories to jewelry and some of you spotted some great double stick tape, they sure have more than acrylic shapes! I tossed all of the entries in a hat and picked… Betty L Swan Congrats! Please keep an eye on your email, Punch Place Plus will be contacting you! I want to thank Punch Place Plus for sponsoring this giveaway and thank you for watching and I do hope you try this fun bracelet and of course you have my permission to make and sell these (more money for craft supplies right?!?) Happy Crafting!

A Silly Challenge & 10 Winners!

Hi friends! Today I am announcing the winners of the 10 watches from Jerry’s Artarama but fist I wanted to share my video for the Made by Mommy October Craft Challenge. Kim over at Made by Mommy mails 15 youtubers a box full of random supplies and challenges us to make something. Have a look!

Video!

That was fun and it had me using materials I typically would not select. The really fun thing was seeing what other You Tubers came up with, you can see all of their videos in this playlist.

I had so much fun and want to thank Kim at Made by Mommy in the #MBMCraftChallenge OK, now on to the pink watch winners from Jerry’s Artarama:

Vicki Gable

Wietske

botanyflora

Joyce Rogers

Rosalind Whitesides

Chris Baxevanis

Marlene

Jennifer Pospychala

Sally Haddock

oberlinmom

Congrats folks! Look for an email in a day or two from someone at Jerry’s Artarama, they will get your mailing address and ship the stylish watched out! Thanks Jerry’s! Thank you for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Budget Craft Room! {My Neice Sarah’s New House!}

Hi friends! My niece and her husband just got their first house and I offered to help her unpack her craft supplies and set up her craft room. It was a lot of work but lots of fun (I work for coffee LOL!) and now she had a place to create everyday! Watch the video to see the transformation and money-saving tips!

Sarah used the shelves she already had and her husband made a wooden shelf to house rubber stamps. It is important to see what you have BEFORE buying or making more storage items.

Vintage jars hold buttons and ribbon scraps and sturdy shelves from the big-box store hold paper and books.

This pretty lamp and a nearby window provides perfect light for jewelry making!

Plastic gutter from the home improvement store was cut to length and screwed to the wall to hold ribbon.

Everything in the room can be seen so it will get used. I am so happy to see Sarah and John in their first home, I can tell there is a lot of happy times ahead of them, and crafty times too! What was your favorite money-saving storage tip? Are you going to try any of these ideas? Let us know! We hoped we inspired you with this makeover! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Don’t mind the aqua snow & WINNERS announced!

Hi friends!  This lovely penguin was standing on lovely white snow until I added the glue and glitter LOL!

Ah well, at least I had fun making it! I used the paper mache ATC I punched with my Skilled Crafter Pro Hole Punch last week, hey, that reminds me, I need to announce 3 winners who will get an awesome 6-hole punch!

The winners are…

Linda Duensing

Barb Macaskill

Jennifer C

Congrats Ladies! Check your email because you will be receiving a note from Skilled Crafter (check your SPAM folder) they will ask you for your mailing address so you can get your prize! If you didn’t win the Pro Hole Punch is still on sale for $3 off if you want to get one!

If you were wondering what the cute stamps and dies I used on this ATC ornament you can order them from my friend Wendy over at Luvin Stampin! It’s up to you whether or not you have blue snow LOL! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

 

 

Easy No-Spill Candy Bag to Sew!

Here is a fun idea for trick-or-treating OR anyplace you need a no-spill bag for kids (like keeping Legos and crayons from spilling all over the car!)

The design is simple and easy to sew by hand or machine and it can be made with a half yard or fabric or 2 fat quarters. Watch the video to see how!

Supplies:
1/2 yard of fabric OR 2 “Fat Quarters”
Needle and thread or sewing machine
Iron
Sewing Pins
Hook & Loop Tape (AKA Velcro)
Grosgrain ribbon
Felt (orange, green, black, white)
Glitter
Fabric Glue or Hot Glue and spray adhesive if using glitter

Thanks to Papermart for sponsoring this post! Thank you for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!