Gifts from the Kitchen

It was a fabulous day at the studio where we made tons of gifts from the kitchen - we whipped up Coffee and Peppermint Body Scrubs adorned with real coffee beans and bread dough candy canes and holly, Spice Rub for Chicken, Rosemary, Lemon and Garlic Vinegar, Limoncello, Sea Salt Chocolate Caramels plus, tags, tags, tags and labels for everything!  If you missed out, there's another workshop on December 1st.  www.CreativeMeTime.com

We even made tags using shrink plastic.

Aleene's Always Ready Glue Bottles

Wow!  A goodie box from iLovetocreate with Aleene's always ready bottles!  What a great idea!  Now, where's that cookie?

Creative Me Time Women's Retreat

We had such a fabulous weekend at the Creative Me Time Retreat!  We created Vision Boards for 2015 - look out 2015 these are strong and beautiful women ready to take on the new year!  We expanded our creative horizons and mixed white bread and glue to make amazing bread dough roses that we added to a decoupaged frame.  Then it was on to making a heart plaque with ceramic pieces and beads.  In between all that there were several naps taken, much, much, much food, shopping, hikes, reading...it was a perfect getaway weekend!  Check out upcoming retreats and workshops at www.CreativeMeTime.com

Getting ready for the Creative Me Time Retreat

Got the decorations for the retreat, now I get to add my creative touch.  Yup, you see orange and white swirl suckers...remember, the RSVP deadline is this Monday, October 6th.  It's going to be an amazing weekend to do whatever you want to do...from taking three creative classes taught by THE Heidi Borchers whose Mom is the Aleene's Tacky Glue Lady and me to hiking, shopping, enjoying the ocean that's right there to...well, you get the picture.  Www.CreativeMeTime.com

Creative Me Time Retreat

www.CreativeMeTime.comIsn't this a fun, colorful mobile?  Heidi Borchers and I have been busy getting ready for the Creative Me Time Retreat where you'll get to make this mobile.  We made the heart plaque from clay, glazed it and fired it in a kiln so it's ready for you to add beads and wire to make it uniquely yours!  Join the fun of an entire weekend of doing whatever you want to do!  We're have three creative classes too!  Food, lodging, creativity, relaxation and fun!  All for only $195.  Oh, I almost forgot - the retreat overlooks the Pacific Ocean!  Details www.CreativeMeTime.com

Aleene's Bread Dough Recipe

People are always excited about these beautifully detailed roses and then they're AMAZED when I tell them they're made from white bread and Aleene's Tacky Glue!  Yes - bread and glue!  It's a recipe that's been around for ages and we're going to feature this technique at the Creative Me Time Retreat October 17-19th in gorgeous Cambria, California.  Come join Heidi Borchers and me for a weekend that's all about you!  Yup, an entire weekend filled with yummy food, 3 creative classes, shopping, napping, the Pacific Ocean, reading...whatever sounds good to you.

Info is on our website www.CreativeMeTime.com - we've made the retreat very affordable (only $195 all inclusive) - space is limited - right now's a good time to sign up.

Oh, we're adding the roses to the frame, gluing on some other embellishments and you'll take home a beautiful creation ready for that perfect picture.

Aleene's Glue

About a month ago I received a notification on facebook that someone recognized me in a photo Tiffany Windsor posted.  It's embarrassing, but I had to ask the person to refresh my memory as to who she was.  Turned out she was a former co-worker at Aleene's and as we got more reacquainted we found out we both live in the same small town about an hour from where we worked. 

Last night we attended a Meet Up group here in town and saw each other for the first time in 17 years!!!  She came over for lunch today and we caught-up, brainstormed and had a great time.  She brought me these delicious leaf shaped cookies and attached a wonderful gift tag that reads: 
glue: something that binds together

What a lovely and thoughtful gift!  Thanks Carrie!

40th Birthday Party Ideas

My sister-in-law's birthday celebration!

A couple weeks ago a very special member of our family had a very special birthday! I asked my brother if I could be in charge of decorations...here's the outcome.

The welcome sign was created by gluing on a greeting (printed on my printer), pieces of scrapbook paper along the edges and I clipped on a silk gerbera daisy.

Nicki loves scrapbooking so I thought what better way to honor that than to use scrapbook papers she could use later to scrapbook about her party. My inspiration was a small but very expensive floral bouquet I'd seen at a local grocery store - the vase was only about 10" tall with black and white swirls on it - the flowers were elegant but simple red roses tucked closely to the edge of the vase. The cost $25!!!

Nicki lives in a 'guys' world with her husband and two rough and tumble sons so I thought we needed to glam-up her birthday with gems and flowers.


Once again, I borrowed clear vases from a friend (I did see them recently at a dollar store so you don't have to break the bank for centerpieces). I sprinkled gems around the table and since the party would go on until after dark, I took apart some of the gerbera daisies, placed them on the table and placed a votive candle on top. For an added touch of 'Nicki', I cut out large N's from scrapbook paper and glued them to the insert paper before I slipped them into the vase. I made swirled wire 'picks' to stick out the top of the vases and attached some pictures to the wire.

On some of the circles I put pictures of Nicki - loved seeing 'old' photos of her.


A garland can easily be made from scrapbook papers - just cut out circles, print off a greeting on your computer, glue them together punch a hole at the top of each circle and string them together with ribbon. Since I wanted a touch of glitz, I applied Aleene's Tacky Glue around the edges and sprinkled on clear glitter.

My sister made the three tier cake! Three DIFFERENT flavors too!



We needed to cover up some things on the patio so my mom came to rescue with quilts hand sewn by my great aunt!

Thanks for being a part of our family, Nicki! And here's to many, many, many more celebrations!!!

Fun! Fun! Fun!

My Afternoon with Heidi Borchers

Wow!!! Am I honored! I had a very long lunch with Heidi last week and when I left she said I HAD to come over this week to be creative. So today, I ventured the 10 minutes over to Heidi's studio and I had a lovely afternoon - she let me have run of her studio to select just the right pieces to put in my mosaic project and she has VERY cool items to craft with!!! While I made my mosaic masterpiece, Heidi was working on a beautiful recycled bottle necklace and chatted with her children on the phone. (Heidi, you are an amazing woman with such a kind and gentle spirit, I have always admired you and even more so after spending one-on-one time with you this last week.) AND, I encouraged Heidi to join me in my exercise class - see you Thursday, Heidi...(no pressure!)

Heidi and I go way back...if you're a crafter you probably have a bottle or two of Aleene's Tacky Glue. Well, Heidi is Aleene's daughter and we met back when we were appearing on the Aleene's Creative Living Television show many, many years ago.

I love Heidi's Eye Candy in her studio!

Check out all the goodies for making mosaics at Heidi's Studio - and this isn't anywhere near all of it!

Heidi getting ready for our photo op.

Get truly inspired at Heidi's website - http://www.heidiborchers.com/

Thanks, Heidi!!!

Joan

How to Make Bread Dough

Bread Dough Marbles

My nephews, Justin and Brandon, had a great time this weekend making marbles. It's super easy - all you need is bread (or cornstarch), glue, acrylic paint and zip top bags.

Bread Dough Recipe

What It Takes

1 slice of white bread

1 Tablespoon Aleene's Tacky Glue

2 zip-top plastic bags

How to Make It!

Remove crust from bread and discard.

Tear bread into small piece and place in plastic bag.

Add 1 tablespoon Aleene’s Tacky Glue.

Smoosh bag to mix bread and glue until smooth.

Cornstarch Dough

What It Takes

Cornstarch

Aleene's Tacky Glue

2 zip top plastic bags

How to Make It!

Measure and pour 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part Aleene's Tacky Glue into plastic bag.

Smoosh bag to mix cornstarch and glue. Add more cornstarch if the mixture is too sticky or add more glue if the mixture is too stiff.
Smoosh dough until smooth.

To Color Bread or Cornstarch Dough

Separate dough into several balls and place in clean plastic bag.

Remove one ball at a time, resealing bag to keep remaining dough moist.

Add one drop of acrylic paint at a time and knead color into dough.

Continue to add color one drop at a time until desired color is achieved.

Return dough to plastic bag.

Repeat to color remaining dough.

Making Marbles

Roll a ball of dough to desired size.

Add tiny bits of colored dough on ball. Twist to mix or leave dotted. Roll to form ball.

Drying time will depend on thickness and weather. Place in a dry place. Let set a few days until firm when pressed with finger. Tip: Set by your computer fan for quicker drying.

Eggshell Mosaic

Easter Eggshell Mosaic

Don't discard the shells from your colorful Easter eggs!!!!

Peel the eggs. Let dry completely.

Brush Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue® on the piece.

Place eggshells on glue and press with fingers to crack and lay flat.

Continue applying glue and pressing on eggs until the item is covered.

Isn't this cool looking?

Let the glue dry.

Brush a wash of black paint over the entire surface. Let dry.

I wanted sparkles, so I brushed on a coat of Tulip® Sparkles 3D Fashion Paint™ - Gold. The Fashion Paint protects the surface.