My Cool New Header

I did It! I did It!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love my new header ............Lots of color and pics of my projects. What do you think?????? Im going to look into promoting this program. It was fun and fairly easy. I' ll let you know all about it SOON. Gotta go network ..............now I want people to visit my fun blog :D

Jim Knows How I Feel !!!!!!!!!

I want a CUTE Blog Header

Well I have been learning how to customize my header to make it nicer than the standard boring blogger rectangle I still have. I never thought of myself as a slow learner but boy is this taking a long time! Mainly because I try different methods and then I'm not happy with them so I start over.(like 5 times so far)
I had one that was a slideshow with music, I thought would just revolve but after all my setup work it was an ugly you tube type of box.
Don't go for the free stuff is what I learned ..........nice but when you post it it's covered with peoples ads!!!!!!!
I got some excellent help from Vin in the help groups and I added a header layout box. Now I want to put something really catchy in it. So cheap me finally bought a software program and now I'm building the header and it really is fun but s.....l.......o....w......going and you know me ................I just want to take my glue gun and make it right now, anyway.........................off to finish it now ...............I hope!

Must See 3D Sidewalk Chalk Art !!!

This art is AMAZING. Don't miss the end where they show the pictures from behind and you can get an inkling of an idea of how he makes them 3 dimensional. It is very hard to believe but there is no water on the pavement and no holes in the pavement. I am in awe of people who have this kind of ability. My artistic talent is somewhere in the tip of my pinky and luckily on occasion creeps up to the trigger finger to work my glue gun.

Does this guy watch the weather channel and worry about grey clouds ?

And what's with the lobster about to eat the baby--creepy- but all great artists are a little "out there" or just "odd' in a good way

I'll show you another guy who makes art that walks ---all by it self ----tomorrow

Easy Gift Baskets (cheep-cheep)

You're about to discover how frugal I am AND I'm proud of it. I don't buy designer purses or clothes or jewlery - I think it's a waste of $$$. I'm just very practical and a minimalist. I rarely pay full price for any clothing or linens-I love TJMax and Burlington Coat Factory and such. I have bought tons of craft supplies at garage sales. I can hit 5 tag sales (yard sales) and spend $20 and come home a "happy camper". My daughter sayes I'm cheap but she doesn't complain when the bargain goes in her closet !

Anyway I LOVE LOVE LOVE to buy Christmas stuff a few weeks after the holidays. Cards, gift bags, bows etc. I bought the baskets in my video for $1.98 each. I'm good huh? They were in a bin at Michaels marked 80% off. Add a few bucks of trims, most of which was on sale, and Voila!!! Pretty Valentine or St. Patricks Day gift baskets for about $5 apiece. So now when I fill the basket with Godiva chocolate and nice liquor and fancy snacks - the overall cost is way less than buying an expensive commercially produced gift basket. I'm not cheap when it comes to the contents - that's the best part- right?

I noticed that Easter is in late March this year - I'll be lurking around the Easter sale bins in early April - see you there if your a smart chick like me "cheep-cheep"!

Me "The Uniform Lady"

For four years I've been in charge of the uniforms for my daughters high school marching band. It's a lot of work but only initially...........getting the new kids fitted.........refitting the ones who grew, gained or lost weight over the summer, and keeping master lists by alphabetical names and chronological numbers. These are important because the only problem all season after fittings are complete is "missing uniforms ".

Of course, they are never really missing................. because they are always found on the body of another student!! Always very funny too because you would think they would "feel" the difference. I've had large kids squeeze in to a tight uniform and not think its odd until we make several announcements and go around and check alllll......... the jacket numbers and then they say " I thought it got tighter" (???????????hmmmm not a math major I hope.)

Any way after getting a reputation as the band "uniform lady", people come to me for all costume problems the rest of the year. I only hem about 6 uniforms as they are adjustable and made to fit a large variety of body types, but a lot of the Moms think I do major alterations

The last two times Moms came to me with costume decorating problems, I listened, asked how many wearings would be needed ( only about 10) and reccomended the glue gun. These hard working moms were going to spend hours and hours hand sewing small trims and colorful strips up and down the arms and legs of 20 adult size costumes. They wanted me to help with the sewing.(puuleeeeease)........................NO No NO I said Go Go Go ..................Get a Glue Gun............................... and Go Go Glue gun Go. I t worked great -- the kids even helped and with gentle hand washings they easily lasted the ten wearings ---No Problem

It's amazing what can be secured, repaired, designed and completely fabricated with a glue gun...................stay tuned I've got a million ideas to share!!!

Keep Your Laptop Cozy

Found the cutest project at Design*Sponge , to protect your laptop instead of a new $50.00 travel case. I already have a large tote I cart everything to work in and making a cozy makes more sense to me instead of carrying two bags.

Of course I can see how to get my GOGO glue gun involved to save time making it. Glue the two pieces together ---corners and edges and skip the stitch -witchery. I also found their color choice rather yucky, but to each his own. And you better gogo glue gun the velcro dots in place because the light weight glue that comes on them wears out after a bit of tugging and pulling.

Also instead of felt, which will only take so much "wear and tear" I would suggest using the flannel back vinyl that is used to make tablecloths OR use the thick vinyl alone (one layer) that is found in the upholstry area.

Or if you have an old tablecloth your tired of using or maybe one that has a stain or a candle wax spot that you can't get out but your mother made it and you can't bear to throw it out . Or maybe you've finally found a use for that hidious flowered flannel raincoat your Aunt Ruby gave you for Christmas that you know you will NEVER wear..........................YES!!!!!!!

I suddenly am in support of Aunt Rubys' right to not join the computer generation and learn all that "new-fangled high techso stuff" as she calls it! I must learn to respect my elders..........

Devil Doll

I want to tell you about a really strange little girl I had at one of my doll craft parties a few years ago. The craft I teach allows the kids a wide range of design choices and I realy like observing some of the crazy things they make. I get ideas from the very imaginative girls and I enjoy encouraging some of the timid creators. I've seen fake fur made into earrings, 14 sequins adorning a 2" by 2" skirt and pom poms pushed down a dress top to make boobs on a flat chested rag doll.





In addition to the fabrics and trims, I bring the usual tools, scissors, glue, markers............... and some toothpicks to unplug the glue bottles when needed. This one adorable little child, after observing me using a toothpick to clear a clogged glue tip, was inspired by the little pointed stick to make devil horns on her doll. She broke a toothpick into two precise equal pieces and glued them to the dolls forehead. She chose a full length solid red dress and left it completely void of any trim. The hair was red and she drew fangs for the teeth, and added yellow eyes. Mean while her peers are all making "barbie look a likes"!



The other mothers and myself chuckled at first but as her work became more intense and specific we began glancing at each other and wondering if we should intervene and try to guide her away from her gothic style. I joked with her a bit but she was determined to make a "demon doll". She even took a chenille stem and made a pitchfork for the little creature.



When her mother came to pick her up she greeted her with enthusiasm and when she bent down to give her child a hug, everything suddenly began to make sense,............................... as I noticed two pointy tips peeking out from her overly teased up hairdo.........................Just Kidding ...................................



There never was an explantion for the devil doll. The girls mother looked puzzled and just shrugged as they left the party. The moms all concurred with furrowed brows that it was a very "weird doll". At first I thought well......................maybe a counselor could be in the near future .............or a priest...........................but then I decided the result could actually be some thing great ,..................................maybe this kid is the next Julie Taymor or Edith Head and she'll be working with Stephen Speilberg when he directs "Star Wars Episode XL---The Nanoscience behind Luke Skywalkers Invisable Walker" Ha-Ha

Win Free Craft Stuff

I just started a monthly newsletter to tie my blog and Candee Crafts.com together. Of course I want you to sign up to recieve it. It will be full of craft news I've rounded up from around the internet world and directions for an easy craft you can make. I will also be asking for your input in developing new doll kit styles. I promise it will not be a junky sales letter and it will not be a duplicate of the blog info - that would be stupid.
I got a monthly supposedly "newsletter" letter from WKIS and it was simply a sales promo for concert tickets -- I promptly unsubscribed.

When you sign up, you will be entered into a weekly raffle to win a free "Design - A - Doll" Kit.

If you win the doll kit, I will mail it to you and I would LOVE for you to make the doll and send me a picture which I will post on the "Dolls of Fame" page on CandeeCrafts.com

I get lots of pictures of dolls and some of girls with their dolls but the women are all shy. I never get a picture of the woman with her doll. Why are women so timid? Be proud of your work Ladies!!!!!



Sooooooooo

Optimus Prime Was Yummy !!

Here's the Transformer Cake I made for my grandsons' party a few weeks ago. Pretty cool if I say so myself. What's really funny is the ridiculous amount of time I spent on it and then people just "ATE IT". I knew people would eat it but I kept fussing over it and picking at it and redoing parts. WHY?...........Because I'm a perfectionist or............................... as "they" ( every celebrity with a talk show) say I've got a little OCD............. Thats Obsessive Compulsive Disorder , in case you live under a rock. Yes,................. I waste lots of time making sure things are "just so" .........Like books on a table must be spaced "just so" and pantry shelves are organized "just so" and I cut tiny threads off the edges of placemats ......and yada yada

But I catch myself being OCD and then I go out of my way to leave a messy table or certain area all cattywompus. And then everytime I walk by the spot I say to myself "Seeeeee........that pile of junk doesn't bother me!" Anybody else do this ? Is it normal to be a little abnormal if you see the abnormal behavior and make sure you throw a little normal behavior in the middle somewhere? I think it's OK. Remember that book "I'm OK, You're OK"?..................Focus

So I learned when I made the cake , how to make the icing colors bright and bold because the last transformer cake I made in 1985, for my son, the guy was pastel pink and pastel blue. Not too intimidating for a robot. Instead of food coloring there are icing dyes that are gels and powders and you get very bright colors without diluting the icing with liquid food color. They are sold at Michaels and AC Moore. They even have character sets of colors like "Scooby Do" and "Dora the Explorer" and "NASCAR" colors. I have to keep that in mind for my hubby Jim - he is a NASCAR MANIAC to put it nicely

Anyway no glue guns were used in the making of the cake so no toxins were ingested ...................although the gel dye was some kind of chemical I'm sure......YUK!

Valentine Snowman Easy Craft

Freezing your tootsies off? (I'm in Florida and used to live in CT so I feel for ya) Here's a really fun and simple craft - A snowMan or Lady - however you design it. Use a glue gun or Fabric Tac, I call it "glue gun in a bottle" no heat and great for kids.
Supplies:

White tube sock

rice

black fun foam

pink & red fun foam hearts

sequins

1/2 inch ribbon or fabric strips

1/4 inch ribbon

colored markers

chenille stems orange and brown

tiny stretchie hair bands

trims-birds,gifts,lace, etc.

glue gun and sticks, scissor, wire cutters, and funnel

Watch the video and don't laugh, I say "um" about 50 times, I make a little "tsk"weird sound frequently (?? I have no idea what thats about) and it wasn"t a good hair day ----but I had fun!!