Class Reunion

Amazing Weekend

It is soooo hard to leave paradise, but I had to do it this weekend. My high school class gets together once a year and this weekend was it - can it possibly be another year has passed?

Friday night a bunch of us gathered at our old high school for the football game. One of our classmates showed up who we hadn't seen since graduation. I won't say how many years that's been, but it's quite a few! Of course we didn't watch the football game, we chatted away the evening catching up on grandkids and kids and gossip.

My brother and family have a travel trailer, so they let me 'rent' it on weekends when I'm there - that way I don't inconvenience my parents or my brother's family. When I got back from the game, my brother came out to talk to me and we stayed up until 1:00 a.m. solving the problems of the world. He's coming over in a couple of weeks to help me redo my front yard - yipppeeee!!! I can't wait! It's going to involve a retaining wall and lots of paver bricks.

I was fortunate to get a last minute appointment on Saturday in Fresno with my hair guy, Ben. It's tough in a new town not knowing who to go to. It was fun catching up with Ben - seems as though everyone I know goes to him, so it's like old home week when I see him.

Saturday night was time to assemble the ol' class again. I had the most delightful people to talk to at dinner - she is a classmate of mine and she and her husband tour the world doing exciting things - they're off next month to some exciting place I'd never heard of to scuba dive. Carol was driving a Can Am - I'd never heard of them, but it's pretty cool - ladies, there's even a trunk so you can go shopping!!! They were off the next day to my new town for lunch.

After dinner we went to a local restaurant and took over the back patio to chat and listen to one of our classmates play guitar and sing. For four hours we just sat, enjoyed the music and company of friends. I had the worst headache late that night, crawled into bed around 1:30 with my head still pounding. I woke up early the next morning so sick. I laid around and when I finally felt better, my mom called me over to their house for a photo op (she and my dad live two doors away from my brother and family). One of the photos is at the top of the page - it's part of their old barn. My mom had to stage it - I just like to take photos of things how they are without altering them, but she was so excited about it, I couldn't stop her.

It's nice to be back home again, but it got my behind in gear today to get going on some projects - all of a sudden I have everyone from my class coming to 'paradise' - there's a girl's getaway weekend already planned - I heard something about wine, chocolate, food and kayaking - one of the girls has 3 kayaks!

Here's a picture of milo planted on my parents farm.

Creatively,

Joan

I have a TON of Aleene's vintage magazines and books up on ebay - check them out!!!

Item #
170262980913

Leaf Memory Box

Decoupage is my favorite - it's so easy and sooooo versatile. Use silk or collect real leaves on your walks. The Aleene's Instant Decoupage preserves the colors and keeps the leaves from becoming brittle.

Here's What You Need
Acrylic spray paint - your choice of colors
Paper mache box
Aleene's Instant Decoupage - Matte
Leaves - dried or silk
Foam brush

Here's What To Do
1. Spray paint box. Let dry.
2. Brush Instant Decoupage on back of one leaf. Place on box where desired. Brush a coat of Instant Decoupage over leaf. Repeat for all leaves.

Backpack

Back to School Backpack

Whether you're 9 or 90 and heading back to school, make toting your stuff an expression of you!

Here's What You Need!
Aleene's Fabric Fusion
Tulip Glam-It-Up! Iron-On Crystals
Tulip Cordless Heat-Setting Tool
Backpack
Chalk pencil
Trim with dangles
Studs, star shape

Here's How to Make It!
1. Draw letters on center of backpack, using chalk pencil. Place Crystals over letters. Preheat Heat-Setting Tool following package instructions. Gently press Tool on top of a Crystal and hold for a few seconds. Let cool. Touch to make sure it is adhered. If not, reheat. Continue with all Crystals.
2. Glue studs randomly on backpack.
3. Glue trim where desired. Let dry.
4. Add Crystals along edge of trim.

Aleene's Creative Living Publications

Aleene's Creative Living Magazines and Books

I'm cleaning and really want to find good homes for a ton of Aleene's Creative Living magazines and books. I have thought many times this week that I could just take them down to the local thrift store, but I want them to go to someone who knows the history and would appreciate them. Please email me if you're interested and we'll work something out. craftproducts@yahoo.com

Joan

Random Acts of Kindness

Little Things Make People's Day

I had a most delightful Labor Day Weekend and in looking back it was the random acts of kindness, surprises or just people doing things for others that stand out in my mind.

Let's start with this morning - I heard the wind blowing pretty hard as I was laying in bed. I just knew that my trash cans, that I'd heaped to overflowing, would have fallen over and strewn trash all over. Indeed the trash was everywhere, but someone had been kind enough to have picked up my trashcans and faced them so they wouldn't fall over again. I went down the street and picked up my garbage - wouldn't you know it, my parents had given me loads of tomatoes and some had 'gone passed their prime' and I'd put them in the trash - one had rolled most of the way down the hill. The wind did blow over my trashcans twice more this morning, but in looking at it, it isn't a big deal, just one of those things.

Another instance of kindness - I bought a coffee table this weekend and a neighbor saw me struggling to get it out of my car and came over to help. It took less than a minute, but meant so much.

I attended a small orchid show and I was greeted with a complimentary orchid. I love orchids but hesitate to buy them because I can never get them to bloom again. Keep your fingers crossed with this one.

And, looking back over my last week, there were a couple other instances that I chalked up to living in a small town. My windshield wipers were shot, so I went to my local auto supply store and they put them on for me - no charge, just offered. I learned something that day - that the left and right windshield wipers aren't the same size - duh!

These instances remind me to be mindful of others (and myself) - even a smile will brighten someones day.

Here's smiling at you!

Joan

This Week

Aprons and More Aprons!!!

It's been a whirlwind week with lots happening, but the thing that keeps coming back to me about the week is APRONS!!! Late last week I had the pleasure of editing instructions for seven aprons that the Duncan designers created for an upcoming Belle Armoire issue. They ranged from one that Cheryl Ball created that I called a Lucille Ball apron to a Peace Apron. All very clever and all very different.

Last Saturday, I met up with Cheryl Ball who was selling her handmade items at the Paso Robles Olive Oil Festival. She had the best aprons for sale - while I stood there she sold 3 (one with an olive on it, of course) and she's making some aprons for a new bakery that just opened in Paso. Cheryl's wasn't the only booth selling aprons, there was another one, but she was charging over $40 for hers. On my way out of town, I stopped at a quilt store and there were more aprons!!! I see the apron I bought on my last vacation is hanging in my storage building - time to get it out and at least make it a part of my kitchen decor. On Sunday, Cheryl, her sister Krissy and I had brunch in Morro Bay. It was nice to catch up with both of them.

Looking back on last week, I don't know how I fit it all in. A former co-worker mentioned about me being a butterfly and after just watching one in my yard fluttering around for place to place, I think she hit the nail on the head. I DO have to post pictures of my butterfly bathroom - I keep forgetting.

Last Wednesday I attended my first newcomer's club meeting - it was fabulous - the energy of the sixty-five ladies was fantastic. They have little off-shoot groups - one is for Chick Flicks, one gourmet cooking, one gardening and the one that was formed that day was The Valley Girls. It seems as though about 85% of the members are from The San Joaquin Valley - that shouldn't have been a surprise to me since that's where I'm from and here is where a lot of the Valley people vacation to get away from the heat.

Last Wednesday night I visited with Kathy Cano-Murillo, The Crafty Chica. She was in a nearby town debuting her new product line - the line I spent over a year editing instructions, writing packaging copy and getting it translated - it was a BIG job. It was so fun to see Kathy in all her glory. I had dinner with Kathy and her husband, Patrick. What a terrific evening! Thanks Kathy and Patrick for sharing your evening with me.

Saturday was spent shopping - I bought a most gorgeous Mission-style bookcase, begged my sister and nephew to come over and help me unload it - I bribed them with ice cream. We spent the rest of the evening chatting and having fun. My sister and husband lived in this house for a while way, way, back.

I also found some outstanding bargains on summer clothes - 75% at Penney's. I need summer clothes because...I'm going on a cruise to Cabo in October. I'm going with 14 very party people, so it will be fun and it's a place I've never been.

The rest of the weekend was spent organizing my storage building, putting books on my bookshelf and going through old files - being totally afraid to throw papers away. I figure I can always track stuff down if I had to.

I have been busy working in my yard, planting flowers and trying to figure out what to do with a yard that's pretty much just dirt...I'm sure you'll hear about that again.

The weather as been absolutely fantastic, so I've been taking lots of walks and everyday I have the windows open to let in the sounds of the ocean and the fresh air.

Well, my friends, I must get back to work - be sure to check out http://www.duncancrafts.com/ - we're adding over 50 new projects this month on the crafts and ceramics websites - everything from Halloween costumes for your dog to a garden candlestick to a Crafty Chica project - can't tell you what it is!

Enjoy your day!
joan

Here's what I woke up to this morning...
It's a busy day - freelance work for Duncan, a newcomers luncheon (it's a Western theme, so I tied a handkerchief around my neck - it's all I could find with most of my stuff still packed away!) and I GET TO HANG WITH THE CRAFTY CHICA TONIGHT!!!

Blast Off!

Change, Change, CHANGE! (and I'm not talking about the stuff in my pocket!)

















A HUGE opportunity presented itself and I jumped on it without hesitation or fear (totally unlike me!)

While on my vacation at the ocean a couple months ago I knew I absolutely belonged there - I felt at peace, relaxed and comfortable. Not too long after I got home from vacation I got an unexpected phone call from my parents - one of their rental houses became available on the Central Coast of California in a wonderful little city on the ocean. This is a cottage my dad built back in the early 1960's in panels at home in the San Joaquin Valley, loaded them up for the 3 hour trip in a U-Haul truck and finished putting the house together on site - I have a picture of me standing in front of the U-Haul truck (I can't find it at the moment, or I'd post it, but these pictures are from back in the 60's. The hill is now covered with homes and that's me second from the left and no, the house is no longer painted Flamingo). This house has many joyous kid memories - we spent a lot of time here in the summers and on weekends getting away from the summer heat of the Valley. But, with this new beginning, comes many farewells and thoughts of what of the last few years have encompassed.

I moved to Fresno 3 years and 9 months ago to work for Duncan Enterprises as the writer while my 25 year marriage was ending. My friends at Duncan have seen me at my worst (and best!) - they have been there as my cheerleaders, my friends, my teachers...

In the 3+ years, I have seen a lot of changes not only in myself but with my co-workers and friends - Patty has had 3 fabulous babies and two brain surgeries, my friend Frances got the courage to introduce herself to her neighbor when I asked her If Not Now, When? - this October they will have been married 2 years - you go Frances!!! Many people have come and gone, but I appreciate everyone who has come into my life and the valuable life lessons they have shown me.

My family, especially my brother and sister-in-law and their sons Justin and Brandon have been an awesome comfort to me - Brandon and Nicki even stayed with me one night a week for over a year while Nicki finished her college degree. Nicki invited me to many concerts and enlightened me on new music groups - their CD's grace my shelves to this day. BTW, Bon Jovi rocks!

One person who came into my life just a short year ago and who has guided me with her gentle care and outstanding knowledge through this last year is Lindy. Lindy and Doug became friends - we spent a wonderful day doing the zipline and enjoying the Gold Country and they came at the last minute to haul away stuff I no longer needed. We did a lot of lunches together and now we have a standing Wednesday lunch phone call. She goes out into the Duncan rec park and last Wednesday I went outside and weeded my yard while we talked.

My IT guy, Rocky, is fabulous! Rocky rescued me on many occasions and was there in the end to take a boat anchor of a computer away for me. He's been there when I yelled "help!". Thanks Rocky!!!

I think I better stop because I'd be up all night thanking everyone, so I'll do a blanket thank you to everyone at Duncan, my family, friends and to my off-site friends (oh, I just have to send a shout-out to Pattie Donham Wilkinson - PattieWack - she was the one who told me way back when that Fresno was my landing pad - after a couple months she changed and said it was my launching pad - I found a picture of a rocket blasting off that said 'blast off' on it that I saw every day when I walked out my door.) Thanks for being there (there has been several places the last 3+ years...)

So, for a month I frantically packed boxes, threw stuff away, worked full time, went to Goodwill with things I knew would no longer work in my life and last weekend my brother and I packed me up and moved me over to Paradise (my bro's word).

So, I have been painting and and making the cottage my new home. I have lots of things to fix and lots of things to do - after I painted, I noticed I got some light sage green paint on the cottage cheese ceiling - I got out my Aleene's True Snow and dabbed it over the green paint and it was gone! Love it!

I look forward to keeping you updated on my blog letting you in on the secrets to 'small space living', exciting crafts and life's little adventures.

Joan

Local Television Appearances
Cheryl Ball and I appeared last week on a local morning TV show as the Still Crafty After 50 ladies doing recycling/retro projects using up those things we have laying around - we arrived at 5 a.m. and left after 10!!! What a fun, exhausting and exciting day!

The projects I created and demonstrated are below.

They asked us back for the next week, but it takes a lot of work before we even step in front of the cameras so we begged off. We are going back for nine more segments next week. The melted record projects were such a hit, we're featuring records and album covers on next week's show! We're making an album cover serving tray, melting records to create a bill organizer for your desk, jewelry, a record birdfeeder - and other things I can't remember at the moment. We will have the how-to instructions up for those next week.

Keep those records spinning...
Joan

Stacked Stuff

What You Need
Plates, candlesticks, bowls, etc.
Liquid Fusion adhesive
Glass cleaner and paper towels

How to Make It
1. Stack pieces for desired look.
2. Clean pieces.
3. Apply glue where pieces come together, following glue instructions. Let dry.
4. Clean with a damp sponge. Do not submerge in water.

Eyeglass Jewelry

I Can See Clearly Now Jewelry

What It Takes
Eyeglasses
Aleene's Clear Gel Tacky Glue
Brush, ½” wide
Scissors
Pen, gold permanent - optional
Glass cleaner and paper towels
Magazines, tissue paper or fabric for backing
Pin backs, self adhesive or thread to go through screw hole of frame

How to Make It
1. If desired, remove lenses from frames. NOTE: For necklace, break the frame in half and take out screw to remove side piece.
2. Choose desired word – cut from magazine or print on printer.
3. Clean lenses.
4. Brush glue on back of lens. Place word face down on lens. Place tissue, fabric or magazine image on glue side to cover. Let dry.
5. Closely cut around edge of lens. If desired, go around edge of lens with permanent pen.
6. For pin, remove paper backing from pin back and apply to back of lens.
7. For necklace, place thread through screw hole. Cut thread desired length and tie ends together.

Record Fountain, Cake Plate and Bowl

Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf

















You can make a ton of projects with old records!!! From fountains, to cupcake plates to room dividers!!! Here's the basics...

Record Bowl

What You Need
1 Record
Oven
Pie plate
Gloves, cotton
Liquid Fusion adhesive
Flat item about 2” in diameter (plastic, metal or glass – this is used to cover the hole in the record)
Hot pads

How to Make It
1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
2. Turn pie plate upside down. Place record on top. Place in oven for 3-5 minutes. Ovens vary so keep an eye on it. Record is ready when pliable.
3. Wearing gloves and using hot pads, remove from oven and place record inside pie plate to form. Let set until hard. It won’t take very long.
4. Glue flat objects over hole in record. Let dry.

Check out Cheryl Ball (from our old Aleene's Creative Living days) and my Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf ebook for tons of ideas to use old records!
www.lulu.com/spotlight/craftproductsatyahoodotcom

Spray Paint Silhouettes

Stunning Silhouettes
Here's a quick gift or a unique home dec accent. You can also do a person's silhouette -the how-to is below...

What You Need
Plate
Self-adhesive shelf paper
Spray paint, desired color to accent colors in plate
Newspaper
Scissors
Straight pin
Silhouette (see step 2 below)

How to Make It
1. Wash plate.
2. Choose silhouette. For a person, use a light to project profile on wall and trace on paper or find interesting silhouettes on the internet. Print silhouette to fit plate and it’s perfectly OK to have the silhouette go off edge.
3. Cut around edge of silhouette. Trace on paper side of shelf paper. There are two ways to cut the silhouette and each has a totally different look – you can get a positive or a negative image depending on how you cut out the stencil. To cover up a certain area of the plate, carefully out on the outside of the lines – the bird plate is an example of this cutting technique. To have an image in a certain area and you want the paint not to cover the rest of the plate, cut out on the inside of the lines – an example is the butterfly.
4. Remove backing from shelf paper and place on plate. Go around all edges of the stencil with your fingernail. Place plate on newspaper.
5. Prepare spray paint per instructions on can. Spray lightly from side to side of plate. Spray until desired color is achieved. Let dry.
6. Carefully remove the shelf paper with a straight pin.

Joan

Still Crafty After 50
Cheryl Ball and I were on one of our local TV stations today with 9 recycling segments. There was plenty of prep work before our arrival at 5 a.m. this morning. Throughout the five hour show we teased, chatted, crafted and even got on camera doing stretches. I am soooooo tired!!!

We've been back at work for not even an hour and we've already gotten word that they want us back - GULP! next week for 9 new segments...

My favorite was making a fountain out of old records - it only takes 3-5 minutes for a record to melt in your oven at 200 degrees. Here's the link - it's the recycle material video
http://kmph.com/Global/category.asp?C=108757&nav=menu612_5

Or here's the same project on youtube
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AqS_kM2gBlc

Another favorite project was silhouettes on plates - the instructions will be up soon!

Check out our Get Those Old Records Off the Shelf ebook for tons of ideas to use old records!
www.lulu.com/spotlight/craftproductsatyahoodotcom 
Joan

Creative Weddings

Craft a Dream Wedding - Tips to Cut Wedding Costs with Crafts

Since we're talking about weddings this month, I thought I'd share this awesome article about cutting wedding costs with crafts. Check it out!
http://www.craftandhobby.org/cgi-bin/pressrelease.cgi?func=ShowRelease&releaseid=238

Wedding and Anniversary Celebration Cards

Love is in the air

Create a personal card for the special couple.

Here's What You'll Need

Aleene's Original Tacky Glue

Aleene's Glue Sticks

Scissors

Ruler

Pencil

Bowl

Decorative edge scissors

Greeting card, blank

Fun foam, white

Additional Materials for Pink Card

Micro beads: pearl, silver

Seeds beads: 6 pink, 12 green

Parchment paper: beige, pink
Toothpick

Additional Materials for Blue Card

Micro beads, silver

Artistic Wire, 22 gauge blue ice

Parchment paper, blue

Wire cutter

Round nose pliers

How to Make Them

1. Cut parchment paper slightly smaller than card, using decorative edge scissors. Glue to card, using Glue Stick. For pink card, cut a square from beige parchment paper. Glue to center of card.

2. For cake, cut a 1/4" wide strip from foam sheet. Cut three pieces in graduated lengths. Cut two 1/8" wide pieces for each cake to separate layers. Cut a pedestal from foam.

3. Glue pieces to cards, using Tacky Glue and photo as a guide for placement. Let dry.

Pink Cake

1. Apply a thin layer of Tacky Glue to layers of cake and along edge of beige paper. Working over bowl, immediately sprinkle on pearl beads. Press with finger to adhere. Place pearl beads back in container. Repeat for silver beads on cake pedestal.

2. Glue seed beads along edges of cake layers to create flowers, placing green beads on their sides for leaves.

Blue Cake

1. Apply silver beads and stripes along edges of card following instructions above. Let dry.

2. Cut two 1/2" lengths of wire. Shape into hearts, using round nose pliers. Set aside. Cut lengths of wire slightly longer than cake layers. Slightly crinkle wire and flatten. Glue hearts to top of cake and crinkly wire to top of each cake layer.

I LOVE Birthday's that Keep Going and Going and Going

I just had to share a couple of gifts I received after my birthday - one old, some very trendy and all so me!

Thanks, my friends and family for making my special day - extra looooong.

The first was a gift from my sister - it is VERY old. When we were little, our great uncle gave my sister a birthday card with three fancifully dressed girls. Way back then, my dad traced around the girls on thin wood and cut them out. He somehow glued the card to the wood and a few (a lot of fews) years later it still looks fantastic!

My parents gave me these adorable butterfly sandals - I love them! BTW, they're from Avon.

STARBUCKS!!! I received this Starbuck's glass from a friend. She sees me everyday and noticed how I recycle my glass from my Venti Black Iced Tea from Starbucks - fun thing is, most of the time someone else picks it up for me and their name is written on my glass.

Well, this glass is double walled, very thick plastic, doesn't weep and included a permanent straw!!! It's perfect, because I stopped going to Starbucks - why pay $2.10 for a glass of tea when I can make it at home for a couple pennies? So now, I make my tea at home and use my handy dandy new glass. It has been all the rage around the office - everyone wants one, but they're hard to come by.

Last Saturday morning, I went out for my walk later than usual and I was surprised to find quite a commotion in the process. They were filling up a hot air balloon. Needless to say, I had to return home and get my camera to capture the event, right in my own backyard. It was a very windy day and it was scary to watch them turn on the 'fire' to inflate the balloon - it was fantastic to see!

Creatively yours,

Joan

Wedding Gift Wrap & Centerpiece Idea

It's wedding season! Do you have a wedding gift that you want to wrap in a special way or need a unique bridal shower centerpiece? This 'cake' is paper mache boxes frosted with Aleene's True Snow with silk flowers and trim glued on for color.

Someone saw the photo and thought it was a real wedding cake. I love it!

Here's What You'll Need

Aleene's True Snow

Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue

3 Paper mache boxes (I used 12", 10" & 8")

Flat edge knife

3-1/2 yards of 1/2" wide braid (color to go with flowers)

Silk flowers, ivy, large leaves

2-1/2 yards of 2" wide ribbon (floral)

2" x 3" cardstock

Pen

Here's How to Make It

Frosting - Apply Aleene's True Snow to sides and lids of boxes, using knife. Apply Snow thinly below rim of box so lid will fit. Let dry. You can also mix acrylic paint with the Snow before it's applied or brush on after its dry.

Icing - Glue braid 'icing' around edges of lids. Glue two pieces around 12" box. Let dry.

Assembly - Glue top of large lid to bottom of medium box and top of medium lid to bottom of small box. Refer to photo.

Flowers and Greenery- Glue flowers and ivy on top of cake lids. Glue large leaves around edge of large bottom box.

Ribbon - Cut 15 (3") pieces of ribbon. Glue short ends together, crimping ends to gather. Glue randomly among flowers.

Cut remaining ribbon in half. Glue on top of cake allowing streamers to cascade down sides of cake.

Card - Write names on card. Glue flowers and small piece of ribbon to card. Glue to top of cake.

Place your gift in the boxes and you'll have a beautiful 'present'ation or place where you need a splash of color at the bridal shower - this will be the perfect keepsake for the couple to keep their wedding mementos. This would make a great birthday presentation too!

Enjoy the moment!

Joan

Summer Tote Bags

Tote Your Stuff in Style

It's summer and that means toting everything from laundry to swimsuits to just plain ol' stuff. Handle your summer gear in awesome tie-dye bags that you make uniquely your own - it's summer easy with Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye and the cool bags from http://www.organize.com/.
Check out the five examples at
http://www.duncancrafts.com/ProjectDetails.aspx?id=fa64daa0-cbaa-4cf7-a3aa-6685677dd71b
And here's where to find the laundry bags at organize.com
http://www.organize.com/grlabagwidr.html?Prod_ID=grlabagwidr&qid=