Duct Tape Bead Tutorial

Today I am going to teach you how to make Duct Tape Beads.

As shown in the photo the supplies you need to make these beads are:

Duct tape, exacto knife, scissors, coffee or regular straws ( the coffee ones are preferable because of them having a smaller hole), ruler and a cutting mat.

The bead styles I am going to teach you are small & 

large flat, swirl and cone shaped.

Cut a piece of duct tape 7" long on your cutting mat

Cut strip in half longways

for smaller beads you can get 8 strips worth out of this one piece

for larger beads you can get 4.  cut these strips longways (they do not have

 to be perfectly even). attach to the end of the coffee straw

 (always attach the wider end of your strip) and

 then just start wrapping around the straw. when you finish rolling

 the strip cut bead off extra part of straw. Bottom right photo shows you

 how the bead will look from the side.

Cut a piece of duct tape 9" long on your cutting mat

Cut strip in half longways

then from top right to bottom left (on each half) cut diagonal.

Place wider side of strip on end of straw.

 then just start wrapping around the straw, making sure you keep

 it centered while rolling.  Always keep in the middle. If you go astray

 it is ok just unroll and start again. when you finish rolling

 the strip cut bead off extra part of straw. 

Cut a piece of duct tape 9" long on your cutting mat

Cut strip in half longways

then from top right to bottom left (on each half) cut diagonal.

Place wider side of strip on end of straw.

 then just start wrapping around the straw, On this one you just need to make

 sure the left side of the strip is rolled on top of each other. that way you make the rest spiral on the right. If you go astray it is ok just unroll and start again. 

when you finish rolling the strip cut bead off extra part of straw. 

My top featured photo with the bracelet is easy to make. You need 2 Cone beads, 2 Small Flat Beads, 1 Large Flat Bead, 4 Pony Beads and stretchy cord.

Happy Crafting. 

If you have any questions, Please let me know.

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Spring is in the air!!!

Is it just me or are you enjoying all the gorgeous blossoms that are popping up all over the trees now.

These photos were from a tree right outside my front door.

Hope you enjoy them

Happy Photo Shooting!!

Paper Scraps Organized

Do you have a heap of scrap paper or crate full like me?

We I am just plan fed up of mine.

So here we are giving you a tutorial on how to make a file system to

 organize your scrap papers by color.

Items you will need:

Cardboard: cereal box, reused mailing boxes or reg. cardboard boxes

scrap paper

marker to write label

glue dots or your favorite adhesive

masking tape

brown paper or even brown paper bags from the grocery store

carton

To make the dividers. reuse cereal boxes, mailer boxes (that you got in the mail) or any other sturdy cardboard that will fit the crate. 

My dividers are measured at 15" x 12".

I wanted to color coordinate the files so just by looking at the top of the divider you would know what color was in that file. I took some extra scrap papers (boy I defintely had this one covered). 

Process above.

Picture 1: dab glue or glue dots on the bottom of the colored paper.

Picture 2: flip divider onto back side. Apply the adhesive side down on the edge.

Picture 3. Flip back onto front side.

Picture 4: apply more glue dots or adhesive all over the colored paper.

Picture 5: Fold glued side over and press down onto front side.

Picture 6: make sure you have colored paper all the way across the top of the divider.

Pocket measurements: 6" x 13" (this was made from brown paper)

How to make the pocket:

Picture 1: Line up back side of the 1st divider with the front side of the 2nd divider.

Picture 2: Take your pocket paper, using masking tape tape down the pocket.

Picture 3: tape down the other side.

Picture 4: fold in half

Picture: hooray you have a pocket divider.

Keep doing this process until all of your dividers are connected.

Happy Organizing!!!

Flower & Feather Hair Clip Tutorial

It is one of my sisters birthdays today. 

So i decided to surprise her with a happy birthday balloon, 

a cupcake from Sweet Tooth Fairy and a homemade hair clip.

To Make my hair clip you need the top 4 layers of flowers.

Layer 1: Large Crocheted Mallorie Flower (one of my own designs)

Layer 2: Colored Vinyl (found at joann's in the area that has fabric on big rolls)

Layer 3: a smaller 5 petal flower

Layer 4: this flower was cut out from a piece of sheer material with tons of flowers on it.

Step 1: Stitch Layer 1 & 2 together.

Add some feathers, tuck underneath  

 Sew Layer 3 on.                            

Sew on Layer 4

Add a pearl in the middle of layer 4 and a clip to the back and your finished.

Happy Crafting!!

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Capt' Krunch Berrie Treat's

I wanted to try to make Rice Krispy Treats with a twist. 

So I went up and down my local stores cereal aisle to see what I could find to trade out for rice krispies cereals. and lo and behold I came across a box of Capt Krunch Berrie Cereal (Only the Berries). Bingo!!!

So these are easy peasy to make.

You just need the cereal and a  couple bags of marshmellows or 2 jars of mallow.

If you go the marshmellow way, you will have to melt down the marshmellows down to the gooey stage yourself.

I thing to remember: when it comes time to mix up the cereal and marshmallow, If you use your hands you want to butter your hands up first, otherwise you will be sticking to EVERYTHING:)

Happy Treat Making!!

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It's Raining Flowers!!

while my husband was recovery in the hospital recently, I lugged my yarn with me and crocheted up a storm to pass the time. I came up with many new patterns I created myself and made over 150. whew.

So here are some pictures of some of my new creations. Hope you enjoy.

Allyson Flower

Coraline Flower

Allyson Fluffy Flower

Eloise Flower

Eloise Fluffy Flower

Isabella Flower

Mallorie Flower

Mallorie Flower

Margaret Flower

I have been crocheting flowers like crazy lately and have many new styles.

These are all available on our etsy site. 

Check them out www.etsy.com/shop/craftynightowls

and pass on the love.

Let me know how what you think of all my new flower patterns I have been designing.

Happy Crocheting!!!

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Pixie Wand

Preparing for an up and coming Birthday party.

 I decided to work on the princess pixie wands.

We are planning a princess/super hero party. 

because it's a niece and nephew's birthday.

So for the niece we are doing everything pink and girly and for the nephew

 he loves spiderman so for him it is all things super.

We will be making many of this pixie wands for my niece and all the girls coming.

It is made by making a chrysanthemum crocheted flower in 3 colors,

 4 bamboo skewers, yarn to cover the bamboo skewers and 

ribbon to tie a bow near the top.

I soon will be selling these wands and also the pattern for you to make

 them yourselves if you choose to go that route.

 they will be up later this week on my easy site.

 www.etsy.com/shop/craftynightowls

Happy sparkles!!

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Chocolate Ganache Mini Cakes

My hubby was craving cake the other day. 

So I decided to try my new mini cake pan out. 

It's a wilton cake pan that has 12 square mini slots.

and what came to mind, chocolate of course with more chocolate. mmmmm

Recipe

For the cake:

• 1/2 cup cocoa powder, sifted, plus more for dusting pan
• 3 3/4 oz. semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 10 Tbsp. (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3/4 cups sour cream
• 3/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips

For the ganache:

• 3 oz. semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup heavy cream

Have all the ingredients at room temperature.

Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F. Grease your pan; tap out the excess.

To make the cake, in a bowl, combine the 1/2 cup cocoa powder and the chocolate. Add the boiling water and whisk until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth and blended. Set aside.

Over a sheet of parchment, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 30 to 45 seconds. Reduce the speed to low, add the brown sugar and beat until blended. Increase the speed to medium and continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the eggs a little at a time, beating until incorporated before adding more and stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat in the vanilla until incorporated, about 1 minute.

Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the sour cream and beginning and ending with the flour, beating just until blended and no lumps of flour remain. Slowly pour in the chocolate-cocoa mixture and beat until no white streaks are visible, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, about 3/4 full.

Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached to it, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cake cool upright in the pan for 15 minutes. Invert the pan onto the rack and lift off the pan. Let the cake cool completely, at least 15 minutes.

Meanwhile make the ganache: In a heatproof bowl, combine the chocolate and butter. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the cream just to a boil. Immediately pour the cream over the chocolate and butter. Whisk until the melt and the mixture is smooth.

Pour the ganache over the top of the cake, allowing the ganache, to drip down the sides. 

Add sprinkles, candies or leave plain.

Let the cake stand until the ganache is set, at least 15 minutes.

Serves 12

Recipe tweaked from one found on: http://lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com (her recipe was for a huge bundt cake and the recipe was double this one.)

Happy Baking!!

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How to Organize your Embossing Folders!!

Today I decided to Organize all my embossing folder for my Big Shot.

The above photo shows you how to make your tabs.

Photo 1: I first drew the tab

Photo 2: take a 3 1/2 x 8 1/2" strip of cardstock and fold in half

Photo 3: place your template on top of card stock, matching up the creases

Photo 4: trace onto card stock, each strip you should be able to get 3 tabs

after you cut your tabs out, open and using a black marker outline the edges of the tabs.

Above photo shows you how to attach the tabs

 to your separating sheets. (the separating sheets are 7 1/2" x 4"). 

Photo 1: put to adhesive tabs onto the bottom of the tab.

Photo 2: flip over and line up with top of separating sheet.

Photo 3: flip separating sheet & tab over, place adhesive tabs, 

2 on the main body of tab and 2 on the top of the tab.

Photo 4: fold forward and press adhesive tabs to seal.

Now that the tab is on. Take marker and label the tab.

I kept all the pictures from the packaging so I could cut around the

 image and adhere to the front of each separator. 

My 1st photo in the post shows you my end result.

I used a craft memory box (I bought at Joann's)

Now because I don't have enough folders to fill this box. I placed a few of my cricut cartridge boxes into the front to take up some of the space.

Then I placed the separator and then the folder for each of my folders.

Happy Organizing!!

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