We Are Thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  We are thankful for you.

Peace and Calming Perfume Pots by Lori Leissner

This has been one of our most popular posts to date and well worth sharing again.

This is the perfect Christmas gift or stocking stuffer. 

Enjoy!

I have become highly sensitive to scents. It's gotten bad in the last few years.  The laundry aisle at the Walmart can send me into a headachy, nose leaky, sneezy, itchy mess. But I recently discovered therapeutic grade essential oils. I have scent back in my life! Now I'm having some fun with them.

I can't believe how fast and easy this project is!  I don't cook very much, so I'm skeptical of any project that requires a live flame.  This was done, start to finish, in 20 minutes (not including decorating the top of the container), so it's perfect for quick gifts for lots of occasions.  Or you can do what I did and add it to a fun giveaway on your blog (hint...click the link, leave a comment and you might win.)

You'll need:

• Beeswax--Not a giant hunk like this one.  You're only going to use a tablespoon or so.  I used four tablespoons to make three pots of perfume in these 2 inch containers.  I got a block because I tend to overbuy everything and who knows when I might need a pound of beeswax?  I didn't want to buy the kind from the craft store that had a warning label that said, "NOT FOR COSMETIC USE", so I got this at the health food store. There was no warning label. 
• Jojoba oil--Spend a little more and get organic.  If you are going to the trouble to make something, make it good.
• Essential Oil--I use Young Living, but you can use other kinds as well, I'm sure.  Just make sure to get all natural, therapeutic grade essential oils. You'll use less, and there'll be no yucky stuff in it.  This is one is called Peace & Calming and has a nice citrusy scent.  I need a lot of both peace and calming, so I thought it would be a good choice for my first attempt at a solid perfume.
• A container for your solid perfume--It can be any kind of small container that's not made of plastic. You could even reuse your mini Altoid tins.  I got these 2 inch tins from Hobby Lobby.
• A stir stick--You'll need something disposable you can use to mix the oils with the melted wax.
• A small glass jar--To melt the wax in.
• A small saucepan--To heat the water to melt the wax.
• A shot glass or similar--I discovered trying to drip the oil drop by drop into swiftly hardening wax was not going to work. Collect the drops in a separate small container to make adding them to the wax faster.

 Directions:

1.  Place water in the bottom of a shallow saucepan and place on medium heat.
2.  Chip off the equivalent of 1 Tablespoon of beeswax.  (I used 4 T to fill 3 two inch containers, so adjust as you wish).
3.  Add the wax to the small jar and place in the water. 
4. Add 1Tablespoon jojoba oil to the jar with the wax. (Or the same amount of beeswax you used if you used more.) 
5.  While wax is melting, drip 8-15 drops of essential oils into a shot glass or other small container. (Don't forget to add more if you used more than a tablespoon of wax/jojoba.)
6.  When wax and oil are fully melted together, remove from heat.  

7.  Pour essential oil into the wax mixture and stir well with stir stick.
8.  Pour your lovely smelling liquid wax into your perfume containers.
9.  Let stand until hardened.  It doesn't take very long.  You'll be tempted to poke the wax before it dries.
10. Don't poke it.

I didn't take any pictures while I was trying to cut a print of my artwork to fit in the top. Trying to get a perfect circle in the perfect size is not that easy.   You are probably better at math than I am, though.  It'll be a snap. So...

11.  Decorate the top of your lid. 

12.  Be blessed.

Follow this blog.  There are lots of talented ladies that are going to share fun and fast projects over the course of the Fall and Winter.  Don't miss them.

And join our FB group so you don't miss anything! Cre8iveKlatch

Have a great time, cre8ive friends!

<3 Lori

My Places:
My website--LeissnerArt 
My Etsy Shop 
My Facebook Page 

My Instagram 

Ice Resin Play: Darned Bubbles! From Susan's Art Circus

Hello all!

This is Susan from Susan’s Art Circus. As well as being a painter, mixed media artist and a dozen other things, I am the resident jewelry maker in the Klatch group.  After, and before, being an Ice Resin© design team member in 2012-13 I have played in resin. I love it! And I've started a series of posts over on my own blog with that obsession in mind. It’s all about playing with and experimenting with Ice Resin© and  today I bring an installment of that series over here all about molding putty…

Now there are two posts that came before this one today and you can find them here:

Ice Resin Play: Molding Putty Part 1

Ice Resin Play: Molding Putty Part 2

But today I want to talk about a couple different brands of silicone molding putty. Two brands and two things in particular…time and bubbles.

My favorite molding putty is, of course, from Susan Lenart Kazmer. (if you aren't familiar with her work go see...it's extraordinary!)

You can mix it together in equal parts and use it immediately after pulling out the item you’re molding. This means you can mix, mold, wait about 15 minutes, pull your mold off of your item, and pour resin right into the cavity. This is what it looks like after the resin has a 24 hour cure molding with Susan’s product.

You can see it’s clear, detailed, and beautiful. First try. This took approximately 24 hours total with the bulk of that going towards allowing the resin to cure hard enough to remove the mold. You could manage it in 12 hours if you're really in a hurry.

Now let me show you how another brand, which I won’t name, works if used the same way. I will preface my statements with the fact that the purple product works very similarly to the yellow. It mixes the same, takes the same time period to be able to pull out your molded item, and will mold with great details. But there’s a huge time difference in order to get a clear cast which, for me when I’m busy producing for shows or my shop, means I’m losing money with the time it takes. There is only one of me so every minute counts.

Here is a new mold made with the purple product that has had the resin poured into it.  Both making the mold and pouring the resin happened within about an hour’s time.

Notice anything? Here is another picture taken about 45 minutes after pouring the resin into the mold.

 Notice now? The type of material that this molding putty is made from de-gasses into the resin causing multiple bubbles to form. 

Sometimes this might be a happy accident but, for me, this means I have to make another piece. The only way to insure this doesn't happen is to let the mold cure for 24 hours before pouring your first resin into it. And sometimes even that doesn't stop it completely and you will still get more bubbles than you want or need.

So, for me, I use the yellow/white Ice Resin brand of molding putty and get some wonderful cast pieces in a time frame that I can manage.

No it's not a sheep or a doll...it's a piggie! 

If you try out any of these techniques please come join our group Facebook page at: 

Cre8ive Klatch

...and let's chat!

Until next time,

Susan

Cre8ive Klatch Gr8full Project: Friday Thoughts

As we approach the holidays I wanted to take a moment to revisit our Gr8full project.

 The gr8full theme for this month is "Small Things." 

Seems to be it's all the small things we lose track of during the busiest times...all of those tiny details...those truly are the meaning of our daily lives. We start to get frantic at this time of year with all the things we need to get done...shopping, gift buying, food preparation, card sending, cookie baking, tree trimming...to name just a few. 

We miss the things that make this life so special. 

Too many small things go by...and you miss the glory of being in the moment.

We here at the Cre8ive Klatch wish to empower you to take notice around you. Give yourself a second to take in all the small things that make up your life and be gr8full for each tiny thing. 

Be truly aware. What catches your attention when you give yourself a minute to see?

It could be your smiling children as they realize you're decorating for their favorite holiday. The family gathering that has a favorite recipe made for each and every member. Delighted glances from store clerks because you're the only one that was patient in their line. Things you might pass off if you aren't looking.

For the next week as we head into Thanksgiving try to capture a moment that is a small, tiny thing. A glimpse into something you may have missed if not for really taking that extra second to see. Allow yourself to be gr8full for a piece of your life that may have initially passed you by.

See what you can seize and snap a quick photo to share with us. Use the tags below, either together or separately...we will be looking to see just how much gratitude we can stir before this holiday that is all about giving thanks.

#Cre8iveKlatch #Gr8fullCre8ives #Cre8Gratitude  

Elev8 Your Cre8tive Spirit with Prayer Flags With Rachél Payne

Are you looking for ways to bring more meaning to your life?  To connect with your inner world?  To express the fullness of who you are?  

Rachél Payne withCreativity Tribe came to art through the door of personal growth and awareness.  She highlights projects and creative ideas to help you do just that with her Elev8 Your Cre8ive Spirit series, exclusive to Cre8ive Klatch.

Simple Prayer Flags

When something stirs inside, like a deep gratitude or that grinding concern for a loved one, having a way to express that can help us bring that feeling to life and move it beyond the quiet sanctuary of our hearts.  

Prayer flags are a simple but powerful art form that help us reach inside.  They connect you to your creative spirit, encouraging you to let your hopes, dreams, concerns, and prayers touch the wind and take flight.

We would love to see your Prayer Flags in the Cre8ive Klatch Facebook Group.  

Art Tag Tutorial From Sugarplum Patchwork

Hi! 

I'm Laney from Sugarplum Patchwork and I'm posting today with a tutorial for a drawn art tag. It would make a nice gift tag or bookmark, or just hang it on your design/inspiration wall.  I love making small things like this. It's quick and lets you create something most everyday if you can find a little quiet time.

I used watercolor paper, but you could start with a purchased blank tag if you like. I have found these addictive and have made a whole series of these tags.  

You can see more of them on my blog sugarplumpatchwork.com if you're interested!

So let's get to it!

Thanks so much for watching and I hope you are inspired to go create!  

If you make a tag share it on

our group Facebook page

I'd love to see what you make.

How To Make Your Own Christmas Holiday Art Tag by Jill Lambert

Have you looked at your calendar lately? We are rapidly coming up on the holidays...rapidly!!

Here's a lovely Snowman project sure to bring a little sweet holiday cheer to your decorations!

I’m a Wisconsin native so I have lots of experience with snow in the winter. Not by choice I will admit though! However, I love snowmen, real ones and painted ones. Not sure why since I’m not a fan of snow or cold weather, other than the first beautiful snowfall or snow at Christmas time. Maybe they remind me of youth, whimsy and just having fun! Here’s one my daughter and I made a few years ago...As you might be able to guess it started melting, then froze again in this crazy yoga backbend.





Today I’m going to show you how to make a little Christmas holiday tag that you can use to give on a gift or as a little piece of handmade art as well. You could even keep it for yourself and hang it on a doorknob during the holidays if you love it so much you just can’t part with it!

Materials needed:

1. Cardboard Piece, cardstock OR pre-cut tag 
2. Scissors (if need to cut down a size) 
3. Hole Punch 
4. Gesso (optional) 
5. Paints of your Choice - maybe 3-5 colors (I use acrylic) 
6. Brushes, Water for Cleaning Brushes 
7. Tools for stamping (stamps, stencil, flat pencil eraser, wine cork, etc.) 
8. Ribbon 

1. Cut your cardboard/cardstock to a size you’d like. I made mine 3.5” by 4.75.”

2. Punch one hole in the top left corner or center. That’s where your ribbon for hanging will go when you’re all done creating.

3. If you want, cover the cardboard with a layer of white gesso or white paint. I only did this so I could start on a white background. You can paint right on the cardboard if you want, but you just may have to do more layers.



4. Using stamps and stencils, randomly create marks on your piece. It really can be in any pattern because much of this will be covered up by more paint. It’s nice to just see a few marks underneath your next layer - this gives your piece texture, interest and depth.

5. Cover your background stamps and marks with a solid color or two if you like. Some of your marks will show through which is what you want. First I used a soft turquoise, then I chose a deep magenta because I’m not much a neutral-color girl. Notice my white circle marks now look a bit red! I can’t really see many of my other marks - that’s okay though! If you want to be sure to see these earlier marks, use a darker paint. Mine clearly wasn't dark enough.

6. Then I hand-painted some white snowflakes - you can do as many or as little as you want.

7. Now dip your brush into the white paint, then your water and splatter all over to get the effect of snow falling. 

8. Now paint the three snowballs of a snowman. I did mine freehand with paint. You can do it in pencil first but I sort of like the look it takes on just doing it freehand first. A funky snowman is a cute snowman I say! I actually did two separate coats of white for the snowman, letting it dry about ten minutes in between.

9. Now it’s time to add some sweet details like eyes, mouth, carrot nose, twig arms and scarf. You can be as detailed or as simple as YOU want! Other ideas to add: a hat, ornaments hanging from the arms, buttons, a bird on its head, etc.

10. Next, either use stickers, stencils or hand-paint a festive word above your cute snowman. I used the word “JOY” from stickers I had. I used Mod Podge to attach them - I put the stickers down and put the Mod Podge ON TOP of them. 

11. Now you can tie your ribbon and call it finished! After the fact I sort of wish I put the hole in the center because it would hang straighter, but I still think its sweet! You could also punch holes on the left and right and thread the ribbon through both of them.

Other ideas/ways to use your sweet snowman tag:

• make a few with your kids and hang them from a tree branch from outside that you have in a vase inside for decorations 
• hang as an ornament 
• give as teacher gifts to your favorite teachers 
• use as a gift tag on a present; you can write “to and from” on the front or the back if you don’t want to cover up your art 
• hang on the corner of a bathroom mirror to add a little holiday decor every time you wash your hands 
• hang on the inside of a window from the lock so you can see it every time you do dishes at the kitchen sink 

You can see more of Jill's art and her process at:

Jill's Dream

or shop for her lovely creations at:

Jill's Etsy shop

And don't forget to come on over and join the cre8ive conversation at our Facebook group:

The Cre8ive Klatch

Felted Soap Tutorial By Kelly Corso

Christmas is only a few weeks away and Kelly is here to show us a fabulous gift idea that’s easy to make! 

Have you ever heard of felted soap? It’s soap that is encased in wool, pretty cool huh? There are many benefits to be had from felted soap.

-soap lasts longer

- you have a wash cloth and soap in one

-exfoliating properties

- wool has natural anti-microbial properties

- it’s also darn pretty!

I'm going to teach you how to make cuties like these for yourself or for a great gift for someone you love!

Material needed:

-wool- any wool of your choice will work. A lot of people like merino. You can choose roving or    batting. I prefer batting because the fibers seem to felt together faster and easier.

- a bar of soap, your choice. Preferably in a shape with rounder edges

- a stocking or panty hose

- water and friction

Soap, wool, stocking and a container for warm water

Step 1- Put enough warm water in your container to dip wool in

Step 2- Tear off strips of wool and dip in the water, then begin wrapping the soap. Tearing is better than cutting. Cut edges will take a bit longer to felt together.

Begin wrapping the soap while smoothing the fibers on the surface of the soap

Step 3- Cover the entire surface of the soap while keeping the fibers as even as possible.

Step 4-  The fibers will still be loose at this point. Enclose the soap in your stocking or panty hose.

Soap enclosed in stocking

Step 5- Immerse soap in warm water to get it completely wet and begin rotating it gently in you hands as if your were washing them. Be very gentle at this point because the  fibers are still loose and need to begin to felt together. 

Do this for approximately 5 minutes. 

Step 6- Take the soap out of the stocking and the fiber should be                 interlocked at this point as pictured below. At this point you can continue to felt without the stocking.

Final Step- Continue rotating the soap in your hand for about 5 more minutes or until you can feel the fibers tightening around the soap.

Place on a towel to dry. 

Drying can take 24-48 hours

Bada Bing! There you go! Felted soap!

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make felted soap and give it a try!! It is so much fun!

Happy Felting!!!

Until next time-

Find more of Kelly’s fabulous felted creations at: 

Bird In A Tree Creations

Connect with us in between posts and 

share your thoughts with our Facebook  group: 

Cre8ive Klatch

Mantra Mobile by Michelle Reynolds

What a wonderful project this one is! 

This project could also be a tree ornament, an affirmation for yourself or a friend, or just a beautiful mobile piece to hang anywhere! 

You’ll want to make lots of these!

Hi everyone!!

I'm Michelle Reynolds from www.shellsinthebush.com/ and the Cre8ive Klatch Team.

I'm here today to show you how I made my Mantra Mobile and to inspire you to create your own.

Here are the supplies I used but I encourage you to use what you have already or to check out your $2 shop for some special items.

Paper - gelli prints and scrapbooking paper, pencil, scissors, glue stick, alphabet stamp set and ink, hole punch, ribbon.

1. First of all you'll need a mantra - two to five words that resonate with you.  I've created a Pinterest board if you need some inspiration.

2. Decide which shape you would like your mobile to be - for example if your mantra is Live Laugh Love you might decide on a heart shape.

3. Choose some papers - I love gelli printing so I have a lot of gelli prints and I also have a stash of scrapbooking papers which are plain and patterned.

Choose a colour scheme - think of contrasting your papers - warm colours and cool colours, plain and patterened, or red/white/blue etc.

Your top layer with words on it should be plain enough so the words stand out and don't get lost in the pattern.

4. Cut out your papers - I have cut out three circles - using a round gelli print made the bottom layer easy to cut and I have already made up circle templates to use but look around your home - in the past I have used small plates and bowls and glasses to create a circle shape.

5. Use a glue stick to glue your layers together.

6. Put your words onto your top layer - I have used stamps, paint pens and gel pens. Another idea is to use words or letters from a magazine.

7. Then continue to decorate your mobile to your heart's content. You could use a paper doilly as one of the layers - see image below.

8. I punched a hole in the top and threaded some ribbon through.  If you feel your paper is too thin and not strong enough then you may have to glue some cardstock to the back of your mobile.

I hope you have fun creating your Mantra Mobile.  Please join our Cre8ive Klatch FaceBook Group and share your creations - I would be thrilled to see them and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you.

Michelle.

PS If you would like to buy some gelli prints to use to create this mobile or in your art journal, for collage and mixed media art then check out my Etsy store for some great Gelli Print Packages.

Meet Our Cre8ive Vagabond

Hi there fellow Cre8ives!

My name is Janet Forrest, and I'm new to this group. Well, at least visibly.

When Susan, Lori, and Ursula first launched this new new project I thought it was a GREAT idea. But because of my crazy lifestyle I felt unable to commit to projects and deadlines. I’ve just been watching the progress from a distance, trying to be supportive, but wishing I could participate without setting myself (and them!) up for disappointment.

Well, those sweet ladies did it! They found a way for me to be involved on a flexible timetable that fits my reality. I’m now their “Cre8ive Vagabond” - a guest blogger and occasional participant. 

I hope to bring you a different perspective on cre8ivity, based on my need to find it in some pretty non-traditional places.

But let’s start with a little background.

For twenty years I owned a brick and mortar business - a florist and gift shop that was non-traditional, as well (you’ll figure out pretty fast that’s the way I do life!) It was heavy on the gifts, unlike most florist shops, but gifts came first and flowers were added later. It began as an outlet for my creativity - my arts and crafts - but I quickly discovered that there weren't enough hours in the day to be supplier, displayer, salesperson, janitor, accountant, etc. so I had to re-define creativity. For many years I had to express myself through the products I purchased for sale, and creating displays that made people NEED to have the merchandise in their own home.

As the store grew (from under 500 sq. ft. to 2500 sq. ft) I added staff and was able, eventually, to return to designing and producing (with the help of some talented ladies!) merchandise for sale in the store.

But then life changed again when grandchildren started arriving. With them came the need to reassess what was important in life, and the store lost. In 2005, just a few months shy of its 20th birthday, I sold it and embarked on a new adventure.

I was having so much fun with my new granddaughter that it took a few years for me to realize that the creative part of me, the part that made me, me, was withering up and in danger of dying. To make a VERY long story short, a friend encouraged me to go to the book store and peruse the art section and see if anything spoke to me. The next thing I knew, I was taking an on-line art business class and met “my tribe.” The journey to rediscover creativity in my life had begun.

I was trying to stay open to all the possibilities, but I had it in my heart I wanted another creative business, so I explored how to make that happen in the computer age. The next three years were full of ups and downs. I struggled with defining “creative” and figuring out how to make it work in my new “post-working/caring-for-grandchildren-while-their-parents-were-working-life.” I’d started out hoping, in my heart of hearts, to have another creative business, selling things that I made, but when I got reacquainted with how much time and energy that takes, I realized it just wasn’t going to work in my new reality. But I KNEW I needed to have creativity in my life. And so I kept pushing ahead. And I’ve ended up going places I never could have imagined. 

I rediscovered my love of writing, began photographing the world around me through what I’ve come to call my “Tattered Lens,” 

begun doing art for the fun of it,

and developed a serious case of wanderlust - thus my current title of “Cre8ive Vagabond!”

And here we are.

I hope I’ll be able to inspire you to expand your definition of creativity as I share stories and art from the road. Thanks for joining me on this leg of the journey!

We couldn't be more excited about having Janet join us!! Want to connect with her? Want to read her fascinating blog?

Tattered n' Worn

Or join the conversation over at our Facebook page:

Cre8ive Klatch