Mother's Day Garden Party Brunch

Garden Party Perfect for Mother's Day
or Anytime!






























What You'll Need for Wreath
Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue
18" Grapevine Wreath
Garden Shears
9-3/4" Plastic Gazebo (found in cake decorating dept)
Spanish Moss
Flowers, Assorted Mini Silk or Dried Garland with Small Leaves
Fence, Miniature Wood

How to Make It
1. To make an area on wreath to hold gazebo, cut grapevine from about 1/4 of wreath, using garden shears. Pull wreath apart slightly.
2. Assemble gazebo, following manufacturer's instructions. Glue gazebo on prepared section of wreath, near center, referring to photo.
3. Glue moss and flowers around gazebo and on top of gazebo. Cut two pieces of fence to desired length. Glue on both sides of wreath. Let dry.
4. Wrap garland around wreath. Glue flowers and leaves on wreath. Refer to photo.

What You'll Need for Invitations, Food Tags and Favors
Aleene's Original Tacky Glue Sticks
Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue
Floral Paper
Decorated Edge Scissors
Parchment Paper, beige
Computer and Printer OR Pen
Blank Cards, beige
Spanish Moss
Porcelain Flowers, small
Bubble Envelope for each invitation, if mailing
Permanent Pens: white, black
Silk Leaves: 2 large for each favor
Flower Seeds
Flowers: Silk or dried
Ribbon, 1/2" wide yellow
Fence, Miniature Wood

How to Make Them

Invitations
1. Cut floral paper slightly smaller than card, using decorating edge scissors.
2. Print "Garden Party" on parchment paper, using computer and printer or write by hand.
3. Cut parchment paper slightly smaller than floral paper, using decorative edge scissors. Glue parchment paper on floral paper, using Glue Stick. Glue floral paper to card.
4. Glue a section of fence on parchment paper. Glue moss on bottom of fence and porcelain flowers on fence.
NOTE: Hand deliver these special invitations or mail in bubble envelopes.

Food Tags
1. Cut a section of fence and an extra fence post for each tag. Glue extra post at bottom of fence for stake. Let dry.
2. For label, cut a 1/2" x 1-1/4" piece from parchment paper. Write name of food on piece, using black permanent pen. Glue tag on fence. Let dry.

Favors
1. Write guest's name on a leaf, using white permanent pen. Glue two leaves together, leaving a 1" opening. Let dry. Fill with seeds. Glue shut. Trim edges, if necessary.
2. Glue silk or dried flowers along edge of leaf above name.
3. Tie a small two-loop bow. Glue bow at stem of leaves.
4. Print planting instructions on parchment paper. Cut out around instructions to make a 5" x 3-1/4" piece. Cut floral paper slightly larger than parchment piece. Glue parchment paper on floral paper, using Glue Stick. Glue favor on parchment paper.

What You'll Need for Fruit Dip
8 oz. Cream Cheese
Mixing Bowl
7 oz. Jar Marshmallow Cream
1/4 Cup Strawberry Preserves
Spoon
Small Bowl
Serving Plate
Knife
Assorted Fruit

How to Make It
1. Soften cream cheese in mixing bowl. Add marshmallow cream and strawberry preserves.
2. Stir ingredients by hand until smooth. Place in small bowl.
3. Place dip in center of serving plate.
4. Slice fruit into 1/4" wedges. Leave strawberries whole.
5. Insert Fruit Dip Food Tag.

What You'll Need for Canapes
White Bread
Sharp Knife
Oven
Pastry Brush
Butter of Margarine, melted
Gherkin Pickles
Cheddar Cheese (slices)
Spoon
Dry Italian Dressing Mix
8 oz. Package Cream Cheese (softened)
Serving Plate
Silk Flowers

How to Make Them
1. Remove crusts from bread. Cut each slice into four equal pieces.
2. Place oven tray 3"-4" from heat. Preheat oven to broil.
3. Brush one side of bread with melted butter or margarine. Place in oven. Toast 3-4 minutes or until golden brown on buttered side.
4. For flower leaves, make a thin lengthwise cut on two sides of pickle. For stems, cut a 1/8" x 2" piece from pickle. Cut cheese in Tulip shape, approximately 1" square.
5. For spread, stir dressing mix into cream cheese to taste. Just before serving, spread cream cheese mixture on unbrowned side of bread. Place pickles and cheese on spread.
6. Serve canapes on plate. Add a sprinkling of silk flowers.

We're having a Mother's Day Brunch for my mom this Sunday and I can't wait to make these yummy recipes and projects again!

Joan

Shoe Art

It's a Shoe-In
















Maybe my obsession with shoes isn't over. I was looking for something and ran across a lovely shoe stamp and found myself setting aside my chores for the day and indulging in my 1/2 hour of creativity for the day and it was marvelous!!!

Here's what I did ~
I stamped the shoe image on some tissue paper and cut it out.

I brushed some Aleene's® Instant Decoupage™ on the back of an acrylic rectangle, put my shoe in place, then brushed Instant Decoupage over the entire piece. While it was still wet, I sprinkled in some Tulip® Fashion Glitter™ for a touch of color. After it was dry, I turned it over and added some detailing with permanent pens.

I adhered some old looking paper to the back of the cardboard from the frame using Aleene's® Spray Adhesive™ (I just love the look of old stuff - can you tell?)

I glued the rectangle to a piece of old rust screen (love it!) with Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue,® then glued it to the frame backing. Four beads accented the corners.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I keep hearing a thunderstorm is coming.

Joan

Bread Dough

Aleene's Bread Dough Carnations

We had a discussion at work this week about what our favorite flower is because someone was trying to send a friend a bouquet. My favorite flower is the carnation - I love the ruffly edges and the spicy smell. So, in tribute to my favorite flower - here are step by step instructions on how to make that spicy cutie.

Look below for the Aleene's Bread Dough Recipe that made with just white bread and Aleene's Original Tacky Glue.

For each petal, make a round ball of dough the size of a pea. Flatten out. Make 2 petals the size of a nickel and 1 the size of a quarter.





Ruffle the edges of each petal, as if you were fluting the edge of a pie.





For center, cut a piece of wire about 3" long. Bend a small hook at one end of wire. Place a small dab of dough to cover hook



Place a small amount of Aleene's Original Tacky Glue on stem. Place one small petal around stem. Place on second small petal. Add large petal.






Make 4 leaves and place around base of carnation.




Place two leaves together on stem.

Let dry.

Aleene's Bread Dough

Aleene's Bread Dough for Kids
Easter Bunny

Jackie got into the Craft Challenge with her kids, Sam (age 4) and Jessica (age 2). She used the Aleene's Tacky Glue Bread Dough Recipe (see a few posts below this for the recipe) to create fun dough art.

They just rolled a couple of balls of dough, squished them (Sam's words) made some ears and added a small ball of dough for the tail. They put their creation out in the sun to dry.

Jackie said they glued the ears and tail on after all the pieces dried with Aleene's Tacky Glue and then painted the bunny white and added his features with acrylic paint.

Jackie said they made a big batch of dough, so she'll be submitting more projects - she keeps the dough in a ziptop plastic bag in the fridge so it's ready when the kids are to play.

Thanks Jackie, Sam and Jessica!!!

Keep your projects come for the Craft Challenge for National Craft Month

Joan

Getaway Weekend

Mom's Birthday Girl's
Getaway Weekend!!!

We're down to hours now until the BIG weekend!!! I've just been cleaning out my car for our road trip that starts Friday afternoon. I have my craft projects packed and am waiting for the laundry to be done so I can pack up my bags.

Things are busy at work - during March you'll see over 30 brand new projects on the website http://www.duncancrafts.com/. I'm also working on the new Crafty Chica products and we're gearing up for another trade show - this time ceramics.

Since I won't be able to post a project on Saturday, March 1st (the first day of the Craft Challenge!!!!!), I'm posting my mother's present (a clear glass teapot and blooming teas). I wanted to make this gift look a little more special, so I glued a carnation (my mom's favorite flower) to the top of the packages with Aleene's Original Tacky Glue and then added little loops of some bright ribbon. It only took a few minutes, but it felt soooo good to go beyond ordinary and be creative.

Joan

Aleene's Bread Dough Recipe

You asked for it, here it is!

Cyndi asked for the Aleene's Bread Dough Recipe, so I've posted it below. It's great for making flowers - anything you want to 'model' as a matter of fact. Speaking of flowers, for part of my Craft Challenge projects for March I'm going to make some bread dough flowers and I'll post them. They turn out fabulous!

Let me know if you have any other 'recipe' requests.

Joan

Bread Dough Recipe

Aleene's Bread Dough Recipe

Remove crust from white bread and tear into pieces. Place pieces in ziptop plastic bag.

Add 1 tablespoon of Aleene's Original Tacky Glue for each slice of bread. For larger batches, use 1/4 cup of Glue to 4 slice of bread.

Knead until smooth.

If after a few minutes the mixture is still sticky, add more small pieces of bread. If it is too dry or still, ad a few drops of Glue.

Place dough in another plastic bag. Knead dough until smooth and pliable.

To color dough, add paint a few drops at a time and mix or wait until dough is dry to paint.

OPTION:

Mix equal amounts of cornstarch and Aleene's Original Tacky Glue and follow the above procedure.

What do you give a guy who has everything?
My brother loves old rusty things, lives on the 40 acre family farm and is really hard to buy gifts for.
This present really came by mistake - I was at the family farm taking pictures of leaves for a gift for my mom (she really, really loves leaves - AND so do I!). I thought about taking photographs of interesting leaves, but thought it would have so much more meaning if they were leaves that she saw every day. As I was out taking leaf pictures, I noticed that a board on the barn had a cutout of some kind that looked like a D - that's where I lost all track of time (my mom actually came out to make sure I hadn't fallen in the well - there's actually no way to fall in the well, but it sounds good...I am a writer, after all!). So, I started looking around to spell out my brother's name in things around the farm. The A is some kind of a hitch the V is an inverted saw horse, the I is actually (I'd have to clarify this with David after Christmas) that it's from a Model T and the other D is a tractor seat. I really had fun doing this. So, let your imagination run free and sometimes don't think so hard about that perfect gift and it will just come to you as if it was written on the side of a billboard - in my case on the side of the barn! It was inexpensive too!
David's Rusty Old Stuff Wall Art
Here's What You Need
Aleene's® Crystal Clear Tacky Spray™
Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue™
Tulip® Soft Fabric Paint™ (color to match wood)
Foam paintbrush
Photos
Old wood for background
Picture hangers and hammer
Chipboard (size of photos)

Here's How to Make It
1. Attach picture hangers on back of wood.
2. Paint edges of chipboard with Soft Paint. Let dry.
3. Spray Tacky Spray on front of chipboard. Press on photo. Repeat for all photos.
4. Glue photos on front of wood.

Make It Yours! Tip
Think of what the person really likes - is it candy, is it office supplies (that could be fun!), is it pictures of the kids (have them form the letters with their bodies or hands!)???

Wrap It Up! Tip
I think I'm going go hang this out in David's workshop or maybe I'll wrap it in a burlap sack...

Family Wreath

Create a wreath to commemorate a special occasion.

Here's What You Need
Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue™
Aleene's® Stick Glue™
Wreath or make your own
Ribbon
Pictures
Scrapbook papers
Leaves
Scissors

Here's How to Make It
1. Cut scrapbook papers slightly larger than pictures.
2. Glue pictures to scrapbook papers with Stick Glue.
3. Place ribbon loosely on wreath and tack in place with Tacky Glue.
4. Glue pictures and leaves on wreath.
5. If desired, print wording on plain paper and glue to scrapbook paper. Glue at top of wreath. Make bow and glue at top of wreath.

Make It Yours! Tip
Commemorate a monumental birthday, an anniversary, a wedding - use colors from the occasion or the person's favorite colors. Make it really personal - at the party - have pieces of scrapbook paper cut, pens and hot glue and adorn the wreath right there with their greetings. Remember to later use some Tacky Glue where hot glue was used - that way you know it will stay together forever!

Wrap It Up! Tip
This one you just have to hang on the wall and let it speak for itself!

Gift Wrap Jewelry
























(As a side note - I remember when my niece, Jenn Fee, now an actress, did this project on Aleene's Creative Living!)

Use holiday wrapping paper and make a great accent for your coat. This is a fun project for kids too!

What You Need
Aleene's® Instant Decoupage Sealer & Finish™
Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue™
Gift wrap
Wax paper
Scissors
Scrap paper
Brush - optional
Pin back

How to Make It
1. Cover work area with wax paper. Cut out desired design from gift wrap. If design is very detailed, cut a free form area around design.
2. Cut five pieces of scrap paper slightly larger than gift wrap design.
3. Layer papers, beginning with one piece of paper and apply Instant Decoupage on one side. Instant Decoupage may be applied with a your finger or with a brush. Place this piece of paper, glue side down, on second piece of paper. Press out any air bubbles by rolling bottle over paper. Continue until you have layered all five pieces of paper. The more layers, the more solid the jewelry piece will be. Apply Instant Decoupage on top layer and place gift wrap design on layered papers. Let dry.
5. Cut around design.
6. Glue pin back on back of design.

Make It Yours! Tip
Use Christmas cards instead of gift wrap. Use as gift tags too!

Wrap It Up! Tip
If you're giving a gift of clothing - attach the pin on it and it will be an added surprise when the person opens up the gift!

These Beautiful Botanical Notecards are the perfect Christmas gift for everyone! Use different papers and unusual embellishments to make each card unique.

Here's What You Need
Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue™
Aleene's® Crystal Clear Tacky Spray™
Scissors
Cardstock
Ruler
Tissue, burgundy
5" x 7" notecards

Additional Items for Grape Card
Linen paper
Tissue, gold
Grape charm, gold
Silk grape leaf
Grapevine twig
Metallic paint pen, gold
Deckle edge scissors

Additional Items for Flower Card
Flower paper
Flower charm, gold
Metallic paint pen, gold
Deckle edge scissors

Additional Items for Leaf Card
2-1/2" mesh square, gold
Leaf charm, gold
Flower paper

Here's What To Do
1. For grape card, cut a 4" x 6" rectangle and a 3" square from cardstock. Cut a 2-1/2" square from linen paper.
2. Cut gold tissue slightly larger than rectangle. Cut burgundy tissue slightly larger than 3" square. Crumple tissue. Flatten tissue, smoothing with your hands.
3. Spray cardstock with Tacky Spray, following instructions on label. Lay gold tissue over rectangle. Smooth with hands. Repeat procedure to adhere burgundy tissue on square.
4. For decorative edge of linen paper, cut edges with deckle edge scissors. Apply metallic paint along edges.
5. Spray Tacky Spray on back of gold cardstock. Place on card. Repeat with burgundy cardstock and linen paper. Refer to photo.
6. Glue leaf, grape charm and grape twig on linen paper, using Tacky Glue.
7. For flower card, cut a 4" x 6" and a 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" rectangle from cardstock. Cut a 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" rectangle from flower paper. Follow steps 2 and 3 to adhere gold tissue on large rectangle and burgundy tissue on small rectangle. Cut along edges of all rectangles with deckle edge scissors. Follow step 5 to adhere rectangles on card. Refer to photo.
8. Glue flower charm on center of card, using Tacky Glue.
9. For leaf card, cut a 3-3/4" x 4-1/2" rectangle from flower paper.
10. Cut a 3" x 5-1/2" rectangle from cardstock. Follow step 3 to cover rectangle with burgundy tissue.
11. Follow step 5 to adhere rectangles on card.
12. Glue wire mesh and leaf charm on center of card, using Tacky Glue.
13. For all cards, cut front edge of card with deckle edge scissors and apply gold paint pen along edge to highlight.

Make It Yours Tip!
Use things you have on hand - rubberstamps, twigs from your yard even children's fingerprints to make special cards.

Wrap It Up Tip!
Place the cards in a fabric envelope or purchase a desk organizer and slip the cards in the drawers along with other desk accessories such as a letter opener and stapler.

Picture Frames
The perfect gift for everyone
What You Need
Wood frame
Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint™
Tulip® Soft Fabric Paint™
Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue™
Wood shapes of your choice (hearts, stars, circles, triangles, etc.)
Paintbrushes: various
Tape for checkerboard

How to Make It
1. Paint frame desired color. If you want the checkerboard look - use tape to divide off sections before you paint.
2. Paint the wood pieces. Layering different colors and shapes looks awesome! Let dry.
3. Glue and layer wood pieces to frame.
4. Add squiggles, dots and personalize with 3D Fashion Paint. Let dry.

Make It Yours Tip!
Paint the frame in the person's favorite color (school colors make a great checkerboard frame!), add wood pieces that fit the person - megaphones and mascots for a cheerleader, airplanes for the plane enthusiast - check out the wood aisle of your craft store. Stamps work great too!

Let them make their own custom picture mat - Include the mat, some decorative scrapbook paper and a can of Aleene's® Crystal Clear Tacky Spray™.

Wrap It Up Tip!
Wrap the frame add a bow and actually place it on the wall. It's a decorative touch to the room and a gift all in one!

Tick Tock Timeless Treasure
It's quick. It's easy! You can make this adorable clock in a matter of minutes and mark it off your Christmas gift list!

What you need
Tulip® Soft Fabric Paints™ - two colors to coordinate with your fabric - one dark and one light (even though the name is fabric paint, you can use it on all your projects!)
Aleene's® Crystal Clear Tacky Spray™
Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue™
Wood piece with hole for clock movement or drill hole
Foam brush
Sponge
Fine line permanent pen (black)
Fabric of your choice
Craft knife
Clock movement with hands (make sure the stem is long enough to go through wood
4 wood hearts
Scissors

Here's how to do it!
1. Paint sections of wood piece that will not be covered with fabric, using dark paint color. Paint hearts same color. Let dry. Sponge lighter color of paint over painted sections of wood piece. Add dots around edges of small hearts, using permanent pen.
2. Cut shape from fabric to fit wood piece. Spray Tacky Spray on back of fabric and smooth on wood piece. Cut hole for clock movement through fabric with craft knife. Position clock in place through hole, following manufacturer's instructions.
3. Glue wood hearts in position on clock, using Tacky Glue. NOTE: Place hearts so clock hands do not scrape them.

How to Make it Yours (or a perfect for that special someone) - Make the clock extra special by picking fabric and wood pieces that speaks to you about the person. Personalize with Tulip® 3D Fabric Paints™ and you can add 3D Paint numbers instead of using wood hearts.

Enjoy!