Sunday, October 31, 2010

TECHNICAL PROBLEM: YOU NEED TO VOTE AGAIN!!!

If you have already voted - please read. If not, you can skip this post.

We had some technical difficulties the first 7 hours the polls were open, and I just became aware of them. They have been corrected now. All results have been reset, so you need to come vote again. Polls will remain open an additional 7 hours to make up for this error. This means you can vote until Tuesday @ 7 am MST. Winners will be announced @ 9 am.

Round 2 Projects - Time to Vote

Happy Halloween! We have quite the treat today with these Round 2 - Paint projects. Each of these ladies has been hard at work this past week, and have once again, cranked out jaw-dropping creations. You get to choose your favorite 3, so be sure to scroll down and vote at the end of this post.

Project #1 - Dining Room Wall Art
Forks? Knives? Spoons? Take a stab at modern wall art!
A simple painted piece of MDF is spiffed to the max with the addition of abstract images of a fork, knife, and spoon- all made up of said utensils. The white painted border ties all three images together and really makes the scoop.


Cut out the idle chatter with dinner company; these statement-makers also double as conversation-starters. While you are at it, would you please pass the Grey Poupon?


Now that, my friends, is fine dining!

Project #2 - Shipping Crate Date Table
Shipping Crate to Romantic Date

The crate was "free fitty free" thanks to a local shipping company who when I asked if they had any eagerly said "How many will you take?" After 4 coats of paint, interrupted by lots & lots of hand sanding {where did I put my electric sander?} and 8 dollars in supplies later our magnolia tree now has a gorgeous sitting area beneath it.

Throw in some rice paper lanterns and hand painted paper flowers and relax!


Project #3 - Paint Poppin' Pillows
These Paint Poppin' Pillows are sure to brighten up anyone's day!

It's time to shake things up and celebrate fall with some fresh, fun colors. These toss pillows incorporate the traditional fall hues with pops of turquoise. I love how well they coordinate with my favorite pillow!

A spunky owl perches in the branches of this charming tree watching the leaves fall. Made of canvas these pillows are right at home on your porch. And the best part is they're ready for winter too!

Just flip the pillows over and you're all set for a cozy evening by the fireside. Once again, a little pop of turquoise reminds you to celebrate the season and "let it snow".

Project #4 - Distressed "EAT" Sign
I'm very comfortable with paint, but decided to do something I haven't done in many years... distressing. In fact, with this project I did the distressing differently than I have in the past and let me tell you, I was really nervous! :)

Each letter needed three colors, and each depended on the other so they would show through. The E and the T both needed a base coat of a light, but bright color, then a darker color, followed by another light color. The A was different as I wanted it to contrast the other two, so I had to start with dark, go light, then dark again. In fact, I had to write all the colors down to keep it straight! :) Topped everything off with a couple pieces of very tarnished silverware and it's ready to hang!




Project #5 - Awesome-Fied Desk & Frames
I am starting a new design genre movement. Its called "Thrift Store Glam". Basically it's junk that you find at your favorite thrift store then awesome-fy it. I am addicted to the transforming power of paint. Take a look at this before.
I got the desk for $5.00 and it was used and abused. After a date with my sander, primer, Krylon Banner Red, and Ralph Lauren Faux Glaze in Black Silk, she was a completely different piece of furniture. Each of these frames was also purchased at the thrift store, the most expensive one being $5.00. I love the color combo. I love the tarnished brass. I kind of want to marry this whole shebang.
Now friends, lets take a closer look at the mirrors.
This is a really easy Anthro-inspired technique using paint stripper and acid (sounds terrifying but its not). The acid randomly eats away the reflective coating on the mirror and you get something that looks like it crossed the plains with your great great great grandmother. I put coordinating fabric behind to add some color and character. I hope that this project has you inspired to go and paint some junk too!

Project #6 - Maze Wall Art & Chalkboard Dresser
There are two common phrases I hear around my house that drive me insane. The first:


"I'm bored!"


The second:


"I can't find my (insert article of clothing here)."


With this project, we solved both those problems! Using chalkboard paint, we did a mini-makeover of one of my children's bedrooms. We painted a dresser with chalkboard paint so that my little one can keep track of exactly what is in each drawer AND how many are left. No more complaining about being out of pants, only to have me go and find 5 pair sitting right on the bed! Just look at the drawer, and we can see there are 3 pairs left inside. The possibilities are endless with chalkboard paint. Love that stuff!

We had some leftover chalkboard paint, and there are some little people in my house who love mazes, so we made maze wall art! Now, the kids can just pull the art down off the wall, grab a piece of chalk, and have hours of fun finding all the paths through the maze! Oh, and did I mention that the paint is magnetic? We attached a magnet to our chalk so we can stick it right to the canvas!

As you can see, I couldn't even keep these projects away from the kids long enough to photograph them! They are a huge hit in our house.


Project #7 - Decorative Vintage Milk Jug



I've had this vintage milk jug for a while, and I've been itching to paint it. After scrubbing and bleaching it a bit, I applied my favorite shade of orange to the outside, then a brown glaze to soften the orange and distress it a bit. I felt it needed a little something else, so I made this acorn frame. I LOVE acorns, and have been anxious to craft with them. I spray painted white ribbon to match the yellow frame I painted. I also added mini acorns to the frame, and found GIANT acorns for the center and added a touch of green to them. I then added a piece of scrap paper to the back and voila! A new front porch decorative piece.

Project #8 - Snowboarder Wall
I decided to go "old school" and put some paint on a wall! But I tried to make it "new school" by creating a graphic in Photoshop, and filling an entire wall with it! With only 4 colors, I made my own little paint by numbers guide and went to town with a little square brush.


Paint can do so many amazing things, and this week, it has transformed a little boys' room to a space cool enough for a teenager! (No small feat if you've ever met a teenage boy). This guy is larger than life and taller than this teenage boy, (for now).


Project #9 - Alphabet Sideboard


I made a "sideboard" for my son's twin bed. I got an old closet door, painted it navy blue and stenciled on letters (with spray paint), since he loves the alphabet. Then I added on shallow shelves with a lip so that he could put things on them (you know how little boys collect things like crazy!) I decided to hang it horizontally because of the way the furniture in the room needs to be arranged. I love the way this turned out and it makes a huge decorative statement in his bedroom. Plus the shelves are super convenient for bedtime story reading!

I made a few large letters out of paper mache and spray painted them. Originally I was going to put them right on the door, but paper mache is tricky and the letters didn't lie flat. So I just use them now as part of the decor!

I told you jaw-dropping, right?!!! Now it's up to you. Click on your favorite 3 below and cast your vote! (Go on click over from Google Reader...you know you want to). Polls are open until Tuesday, November 2nd @ 7 am MST, and winners will be announced at 9 am MST. Good luck contestants/stars!!!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Getting to Know Anna & Heather

Let's meet Anna & Heather.

Round 1: Brand Inspired/Knock-Offs - High-Minded Chandelier


Audition Project - Silhouette Tea Towels


Contestant
:

Who was your favorite celebrity as a child?
Zack Morris

What is your favorite color?
Eggplant purple

What word describes you best?
multi-tasker

What is your greatest accomplishment?
My marriage and my daughter Alaire.

What drives you every day?
Taking care of my family and trying to cross SOMETHING off that never ending list

What is your favorite food?
black bean and corn salsa with tortilla chips

Where do you like to vacation?
Anywhere warm with a sandy beach... which reminds me I haven't been to one recently!!

Who do you admire?
My mother for bringing out my creativity as a child. It is something I hope to give to my children.

If you were invisible, where would you go?
Martha Stuart's Craft Room. Then I would take my invisible Santa's Sack and fill it to the brim : )

What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you?
My husband loves me unconditionally, even when I put everything on the back burner for one of my projects.

What would you do with a million dollars?
I would pay off my student loans and take my husband on a ridiculous vacation.

If you had three hours to yourself, what would you do with them?
would take a bath and go shopping for myself without any diaper bags, baby bjiorns, or making of bottles. Then I would probably swing by Cold Stone on my way home for a birthday cake remix..mmmmhhh And if I could get an extension I would take a nap.

Star:

Who was your favorite celebrity as a child?
The only person I can think of is Candace Cameron (Kirk's little sister) from Full House. Kind of embarrassing. She and I were around the same age and she had to go through that awkward tween stage on TV.

What is your favorite color?
I love navy blue and orange. Not necessarily together.

What word describes you best?
Besides "crafty" I would describe myself as gf er54eg xs <-- ha ha, my 1 year-old described me that way. :) I would describe myself as laid back, I guess. People tell me I am laid back. I know, that's two words. Also not that exciting, but there it is. What is your greatest accomplishment?
I was really excited when I got in the Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1677046/). Craft-wise, I was included in Blog.com's top Craft blogs, and Apartment Therapy chose my blog as one of 10 Craft Blogs We Love.

Hopefully, there are still a lot of accomplishments ahead!

In my personal life, having three boys and surviving every day with my sanity is an accomplishment!

What drives you every day?
I started blogging because I love writing, and it was excited to have an audience that actually commented. Competition with myself drives me, having lots of ideas and the rush of seeing them carried out drives me. Coming up with clever and simple ideas, sharing cool craft projects, and the sheer joy of creating drives me.

What is your favorite food?
Take me out to sushi for my birthday, followed by a schmancy chocolate dessert and a cup of coffee, and I'll be really happy.

Where do you like to vacation?
I went on a Caribbean cruise once and it was awesome! I also love going on road trips (but not really as a mom... I don't want to entertain crying kids on the road!). One of my most memorable trips was to Moab, UT - such a beautiful place. I also love Washington, D.C.

Who do you admire?
I admire George Washington Carver because he spent a ton of energy focusing on one object (the peanut) and came up with so many amazing uses for it. Imagine if we focused that much attention on one craft supply?! I admire Lindsey from Filth Wizardry (http://filthwizardry.com) because she comes up with the most innovative craft projects. I admire Anne-Marie Faiola from Brambleberry.com because she started a crafty business that has seen amazing growth, she's a kind and wise person, and she takes time to interact with her fans.

If you were invisible, where would you go?
Somewhere quiet with a Snickers bar.

What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you?
Most recently, Rosalie of UnanimousCraft.com and Rachel of Swap-Bot.com matched funds when I was raising money to print my craft magazine. That was kind and unexpected.

What would you do with a million dollars?
I would donate some of it, spend a bit, and save the rest, hopefully. But if I wasn't being smart like that, I would make a really low-budget movie.

If you had three hours to yourself, what would you do with them?
Get invisible, find a quiet place, and eat a Snickers bar. Just kidding! I would re-organize my desk and craft area because they are really scary! No, I'd get a massage and pedicure! Go shopping all by myself?

Friday, October 29, 2010

Getting to Know Amy & Michelle

Let's meet Amy & Michelle.

Round 3: Fabric - Bedroom Makeover w/His and Her Sheets


Round 2: Paint - Paint Poppin' Pillows

Round 1: Brand Inspired/Knock-Offs - Sweater Dress and Cowboy Boots


Audition Project - Cupcake Matching Game

Contestant:

Who was your favorite celebrity as a child?
As a little kid I would have to say Mr. Rogers:)

What is your favorite color?
Pink

What word describes you best?
Enthusiastic

What is your greatest accomplishment?
Being a mother

What drives you every day?
Once again, being a mother. My little miss makes sure I get up bright and early!

What is your favorite food?
Ice Cream

Where do you like to vacation?
Anywhere with a beach

Who do you admire?
My mother- she is the perfect example of what a mother should be

If you were invisible, where would you go?
Gosh- I really can't think of anything. I think I prefer being visible:)

What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you?
My parents raised me in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- nothing else come even close to having such a large impact on my life

What would you do with a million dollars?
Save it until my hubby finished law school and then buy my dream home (well... at this point having any home would be awesome!)

If you had three hours to yourself, what would you do with them?
I would plan to sew, make dinner, and take a bath. Realistically I would sew for 95% of the time, whip up some mac & cheese and skip the bath

Star:

Who was your favorite celebrity as a child?
Tom Cruise?

What is your favorite color?
Blue

What word describes you best?
CRAZY!!!

What is your greatest accomplishment?
Graduating with my Master's Degree (besides my kids)

What drives you every day?
My Kids

What is your favorite food?
Pizza?

Where do you like to vacation?
Anywhere warm and sunny

Who do you admire?
The "ordinary" (but extraordinary) people around me.

If you were invisible, where would you go?
Watch my husband at his work?

What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you?
Flying my husband and I to San Diego for a day in his private jet, Driving us around the bay in his yacht, buying us dinner and souvenirs at Hotel Coronado.

What would you do with a million dollars?
Invest part, fix up the rest of my house, establish a scholarship

If you had three hours to yourself, what would you do with them?
Sleep or make something with any interruption

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Getting to Know Michele & Beckie

Today we are going to meet Michele & Beckie.

Round 1: Brand Inspired/Knock-Offs - Monogrammed & Embroidery Pillows
Auditon Project - Button Bib Necklace

Contestant:
Who was your favorite celebrity as a child?
Harrison Ford. I was determined to be an archaeologist when I grew up. I still love to watch the Indiana Jones movies!

What is your favorite color?
Purple with turquoise a close second.

What word describes you best?
Humorous - I love to make others laugh.

What is your greatest accomplishment?
Creating a family. Growing up I could never picture it. Now I feel like I was made for it!

What drives you every day?
My son.

What is your favorite food?
I love anything with pesto! So probably spaghetti pesto.

Where do you like to vacation?
The beach. ANY beach!

Who do you admire?
Working mothers & stay at home moms. Both jobs can be stressful and rewarding!

If you were invisible, where would you go?
I think I would hitch rides on various airplanes and tour the world. For free!

What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you?
I have a great support group of friends and family, and they are all exceptionally kind to me. I'm not sure I could pinpoint one thing!

What would you do with a million dollars?
Pay off the house, make some updates to the house, pass some around to the family, buy myself a red 66' Ford Mustang, and save the rest.

If you had three hours to yourself, what would you do with them?
Whenever I have time to myself I'm always at a loss of what to do! But you will most certainly find me immersed in my craft space!

Star:
Who was your favorite celebrity as a child?
Mark Paul Goessler...loves me some Saved By The Bell

What is your favorite color?
To wear: Orange, To Decorate: Turquoise and Red.

What word describes you best?
Creative

What is your greatest accomplishment?
Having a great marriage

What drives you every day?
my faith in God

What is your favorite food?
anything sweet. I have the worst sweet tooth known to man.

Where do you like to vacation?
Anywhere on a cruise ship. We are cruise junkies at the IC house.

Who do you admire?
My husband and my mother-in-law

If you were invisible, where would you go?
A day in the life of my husband for sure.

What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you?
Gave me grace when I didn't deserve it.

What would you do with a million dollars?
I would invest it like crazy so we would never have to work a day in our lives again. Hire a house cleaner for sure! Buy a new car! I would hope not much about my life would change. I am pretty blessed right now.

If you had three hours to yourself, what would you do with them?
take a bubble bath, have some chocolate, go to a nice dinner with my husband, get a pedicure and do some sort of crafting project...this would definitely take longer than three hours!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Do You Want the Latest Updates?

Did you know that you can get all the latest info on the contest by clicking on the "Crafting with the Stars" tab at the top of the page. It shows the current status of the competition, links to past rounds, and has contestants/stars info, etc.

Also, due to numerous requests to get on Facebook/Twitter, I've set up a Facebook page. (Baby steps, we'll see how FB goes, then maybe I'll join Twitter). You can click the "Like" button over in my sidebar, or just click here to go to my Facebook page. I'll post all the updates for the competition so you can always know what's going on.

One last thing, linky parties for each round will be open until November 16th. So if you've done a project that's Brand Inspired/Knock-Offs or plan on doing one, link up here. I'll be showcasing link-ups at the end of the competition.

Guest Blogger: Home Decor Painting Tricks by I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar

I'm so happy to have Cheri from I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar here with us today. I {Heart} her blog and actually got to meet her last month, so now I {heart} her as well. She is so happy and fun to chat with, not to mention extremely talented and has a B.E.A.U.T.F.U.L. home. You definitely need to add her blog to your reader list if you haven't already. You are going to love the tricks she shares with us today. Take it away Cheri!

Hi everyone! I'm Cheri from I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar. I am having fun watching "Crafting with the Stars" just like all of you. Wasn't that first round pretty amazing? Lots of great work there! Way to go, ladies!

When Tam asked me to do a post/tutorial using paint, I thought it would be fun to show you some things you might not think to paint. Here are two examples.

Case #1: You fall in LOVE with this pillow from Ikea. It has the black, gray, and white you are using in your bedroom, but it doesn't have that mustard yellow you wanted to bring in as an accent. Bummer!






Solution? Paint some of it that mustard yellow. Get out a nice small paint brush and some acrylic paint and pick some of the shapes or lines to fill in. (Depending on the colors, it may take a few coats.)





Ta-dah! Now it looks like the pillow was made for this room, just like you wanted it to.




Case #2: You are searching for just the right rug that will bring all the colors together in your front room. You've found your dream rug, but it's $1800 and that's not in the budget. You see this really cute one at Target, but it doesn't have that main shade of dark blue that you're using all over the room.






Solution? Buy it and paint it. This rug has loops, so painting it will feel more like blotting on the paint with a brush rather than using brush strokes. Once again, pick a select area to alter and go for it. Pull back the loops you don't want to paint with your fingers as you go. If you need a specific color, you can get ANY color mixed as a sample for around $3. Or, you might have leftover paint from the walls you could use.








Can you tell which parts have been painted? No?






What if I give you a closer look?









It's the darker blue. You're probably wondering if it's going to feel a bit crusty. Well, if you rub the whole rug with your fingers you can feel a slight stiffness where the paint is, but I guarantee that you can't tell when walking on it with bare feet.

What else can be painted? Pretty much anything. My mom painted some floral-printed wing back chairs she had when she changed the decor of the room but didn't want to buy new chairs. Same method. She just changed some of the flowers' colors. I wish I had a picture of those for you, but they are long gone.

I've painted shoes, cardboard, and even undies. I once let my kids paint themselves. Yeah, I love paint. It can transform almost anything. So, take a look around. What is asking for a coat of paint?

Thanks for having me, Tam. All of you are welcome at my blog anytime.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

And Then There Were 9...

WOW! 3,439 VOTES!!!
I'm sure you all are just biting your fingernails in anticipation of who our 9 advancing pairs are, so without further ado, here they are:

Mandi & Becca - Anthropologie Teapot Lamp:
(Tutorial here)

Ashleigh/Kathryn & Cheri - Wall Cubby Shelf:
(Tutorial here)

Emily & Char - Fall Tweed Bag:
(Probably going to create a pattern for her Etsy shop - go talk her into it!)

Amanda & Amy - Fruit Wall Decor:
(Tutorial here)

Melanie & Jill - Fog Fairy Top:
(Tutorial here)

Kelly & Jen - The Somerset Dress:
(Tutorial here)

Kristen & Lorie: A Family of Sweet Treats:
(Tutorial here)

Amy & Michelle - Sweater Dress and Cowboy Boots:
(Sweater Dress tutorial here. Cowboy boots here.)

Heidi & Amy - Janie and Jack Sweater and Boots:
(Tutorial here)


Congratulations ladies! Unfortunately, that means we have to say good-bye to a few pairs as well. I'm so sad to type these right now.

Michele & Beckie - Monogrammed and Embroidery Pillows:
(Tutorial here)

Melissa & Shelley - Verveine Necklace:
(Tutorial here)
Anna & Heather - High-Minded Chandelier:


You guys did AWESOME!! Thank you so much for your inspiration. Please go visit each one of their blogs and let them know how amazing they are. Here are the voting results:
For the 9 pairs moving on, Round 2 will be:
Did you guess that from my project yesterday? Now get busy creating. Good luck ladies! Projects will be posted and polls will open Sunday, October 31st @ 12:01 am MST.
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