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We’re all working like crazy at USAQ!  While Julie takes care of the every day business, and I’m working on the HSN specs., our crew is busy pullin’, rollin’, and rockin’.  Here Sue is pulling Silver Dicrofibers to weigh them. Every color times 18 is .15oz. 

Then Norma is ‘rollin’ each one so that the Dicrofibers each look so beautiful in the box.  Aren’t these gorgeous!

And, don’t think for a moment, this is all work. Oh, no sirree…Here Sherri is rockin’ the house,  showing off her new idea for Dicrofibers…now, if she can just make it stick to the side of her head!  That’s Lorna at the big table, and Sherry, Norma, Sue and Rose – having lots of giggles.

Your seeing the back of the art department with all the assembly tables moved into it, because the assembly area is staged for all of those HSN palettes we’re all working hard to prepare before Christmas!

I taught a terrific class of multiple projects while in York, PA. at an Heirloom Show. We had so many projects, in fact, that no one was quite able to finish one of them. So, I promised directions on the blog. I’m a couple of weeks late, but finally because these are actual Christmas gifts, I wanted to get them all started, middled, and completed…I’m started and middled, but there’s still lots of completing to do.

Today I am making a beautiful painted and collage calendar cover.  Join me! 

Begin with Studio Cloth.  Studio Cloth is unique and can be cut like paper. It doesn’t fray, and is super strong and flexible. It is one of my preferred surfaces because if functions perfectly every time, and gives me a REAL product, not just an ethereal paper product.

 A Studio Cloth - Table Runner is 13″ x 54, making it perfect for 12 of these particular covers – 6.5″ L x 8″ W.  However, you’ll need to measure the calendars you find, and purchase the right amount of yardage for your calendars. Measure them fully opened, and add at least 1/2″ for the fold.  It will be trimmed later, so extra room will make it easier in the long run.  I had two small pieces left, which I’ll use to make credit card cases for my sisters.

I cut all the pieces and laid them out on my studio table, along with the calendar, a decorative paper napkin and the name of the person receiving the gift. This was important since I’m making so many and had to keep checking my list more then twice.  Everyone here was nice though…not a naughty one among them.

Begin by slathering a VERY LIGHT TINT of paint over the entire piece of Studio Cloth. Let that dry. Tear off all the back layers of the decorative paper napkin, and use the images as the design. Make sure to put plenty of Perfect Paper Adhesive under and over each image.  I used Gloss. It will keep the cloth flexible, washable and sturdy.

Don’t worry about edges that overhang, leaves or design parts that are cut off.  Just glue them down. Remember the right-hand facing side will be the front of the calendar cover, so you’ll want the strongest imagery on that side.  Add more color as you go, but always start with the lightest tones first.  If a leaf is missing a tip, paint it in. Don’t forget to overpaint all the images with lots of beautiful Perfect Pigment Acrylic paints. This makes them uniquely your own, repairs missing parts, and provides an opportunity to integrate color and design to make a pleasing composition.

When the piece is completed and dried, give it one more light coat of PPA, to ensure it will withstand water and handling for years and years. When that is dry, give it a light sanding with 0000 sand paper. I use a nail block for most of this work.  Sanding will make it super smooth and nice to touch.

Carefully trim the edges. I left enough overage from the beginning so that it was easy, but still I cut teensy bits off at a time.  You can’t glue it back on, so take your time on this part.

If your calendar has a plastic sleeve, like mine does, then slide the finished art into the sleeve and poke a hole through both pieces simultaneously.  If it does not have a sleeve, then open the calendar to the center, and poke through the center of the calendar and Studio Cloth simultaneously. 

 I used a piece of wire to help pull through an elastic cord which was very easy. Save the wire.

Tie a knot in the elastic and slide the wire through the base of the knot.  Then twist it once. This will keep the knot from ever coming back through the hole.  I also use bobby pins for this technique, or cotter pins if I have one the right size.

Finally, I decided that the white elastic was a bit too white, so I pulled it back out and painted it a yellow ochre color. I’ve done this on other projects and the color holds up nicely, even though the elastic gets lots of handling.  The elastic also keeps the calendar from flopping around in your purse, dog-earring the pages.  I like things finished, and knowing that it might get seen at some time, I also put a light coat of paint on the flipside of the artwork.  I hope you enjoy making these little special gifts as much as I do. 

These fabulous no-sew ultra-fast Christmas projects are made of Studio Cloth.  Once you get started, you’ll want to make some for yourself  AND for gifts! Remember that Studio Cloth cuts like paper, is super strong, and completely washable when painted with Perfect Pigments and sealed with PPA. I used PPA matte and PPA Gloss, depending on the finished look that I thought would look best for the project. The photos are pretty self-explanatory, but I’ve also included complete directions and patterns at the very end of this section. You have my permission to copy and paste them, print and then use them for your own Bloomers.

Frankie and I fooled around all weekend and they are addicting to make. But they can be cut into any shape from animals to abstract, geometrics to any figurative shape. Here is a table setting which includes a wine topper, candle, parfait and wine glass  embellishers, and napkin rings. Wouldn’t these just make the cutest gifts!

These are painted in a more ‘folk art’ style. Simply paint them in solid colors and use lots of dots and color to decorate them.

Layering various shapes and colors was fun, and I can mix them up for different looks. I called these the more contemporary designs.

Here is a napkin ring, and place cards for each person at the table.  I put a small ornament in the center of each flower, and used a small pipe cleaner to hold them into place. They can double for wine glass charms because they have the little curvy cut that barely shows when they are hooked on the stem.

This parfait glass is used for desserts or even olives or pickles, but just to make it pretty, I used more ornaments.

This glass has 3 different Bloomers on it. I thought it was fun to have various critters, so each glass had a different bug or butterfly.

This is such a pretty presentation as a gift. The Bloomers can be used as napkin rings, a wine towel holder, or even a coaster. The bottle looks just as pretty sitting on the flower as it does wearing it.  Bloomers would be pretty on Olive Oil bottles too.

Bloomers are so pretty in hair too!  Here Lizzy has put her ponytail through it, and teased it out. She said she might be a little old for this look, but being a good sport let us use her as a hair model. 

Lizzy helped to make these, using various rubber stamps, and all the bright colors.

Of course if you give napkins as the gift, or anything else for that matter, you can use the Bloomers as the wrapping. Just pull the ribbon through the center and tie the bow!

Here are some patterns you can print out and use. I even included some designs to paint onto the them.

Of course the ladybugs are just too cute. So here are patterns for them too.  The directions are on the pattern. 

Hello – If you haven’t already signed up for 1 or all 7 of these Amazing Technique Classes at the Birch Run Deer Widow’s Weekend, in Birch Run, Michigan, there is still plenty of time to sign up!  Spots are filling up quickly, so don’t wait too long, because it’s this weekend!!!
November 11 – 13th. $10 per class, so indulge your creative self!
Call Julie at 1-800-766-0728.

Here is a close-up look at some of  Classes Susan Pickering Rothamel, Frankie Fioretti
and Crystal Copperstone will be teaching:

“Watercolor Extravaganza” taught on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday at 12:45pm.

"It's a Calender, Girls!" taught on Friday, Saturday, at 1:45pm. The rest of the classes include: "Dicrofiber Fabulous" taught on Friday, or Saturday at 2:45pm."Cut! Bond! Create!" taught on Friday, or Saturday at 3:45pm. "Micalicious" taught on Friday, or Saturday at 4:45pm.

 All Materials Included for these classes.
Click here to get more class information and descriptions. 
Call Today and Sign-Up – 1-800-766-0728.

Super excited about teaching at Birch Run…especially since Frankie and Crystal will be there too!  They are so much fun.  And, Cris will be there on Friday. She’s very special…but, you’ll have to ask my why when you get there!  Hope you all can come and be creative with us.  Click on the link below to see the classes we’ll be teaching. So call right away and reserve your classes.  Spaces are already filling up! They’re chuck-full of info and not just what’s shown, as anyone whose taken a class with USAQ will attest to.

Click here to PRINT the Deer Widow’s Weekend Class Flyer.