Pat Catan's Crafting & News Blog: Creative Angle

Creative Angle Catseye & Crystal Ladder Bracelet

Project sheet coming soon, or check out in store flyer!

Creative Angle: Edible Chocolate Basket

By Kieth G

Supplies:
Wilton Cupcake Pan (sold in two size, larger shown below)


1lb. Make n Mold Chocolate


How to Make:

1. Melt chocolate following the manufacturer's directions. I personally love the Chocolate Melter (#MM9830)
2. Pour about half of the melted chocolate into the bottom half of the cupcake pan. Tilt the mold to coat all the sides of the pan up to the edge.
3. Chill  in refrigerator approx 10 minutes and repeat step 2.
4. Chill again till set. Careful not to let it get too cold because the chocolate will crack and you will have to start over. 
5. Your chocolate basket should then just lift out of the mold. Fill & Enjoy

You can also mold the top half of the cupcake and create a very sweet edible cupcake box to fill and give to someone special. For more tips on melting chocolate visit www.makenmold.com

Creative Angle Mini Bowdabra

click for larger view

Creative Angle: Basket O' Plenty

By Marie Vetrano

Supplies:
Basket of choice (shown: willow basket #2874-69SM)
Spring floral picks of choice
Ivy picks #DS-3223-54 or your choice
3 wood cut out shamrocks #9144-25
Shamrock garland #2405-59
Ribbon of choice
Gold coins #1881-20
Double sided sticky foam circles #1206-03
20 gauge green wire #3958-78
16 gauge gold wire #3958-85
Green paint
Green glitter
Mod Podge
Floral foam
Spanish moss
Additional Supplies:
Hotglue gun, glue sticks, wire cutters and foam brushes.

How To Make:
1. Paint both sides and edges of the wood shamrocks and let dry.
2. Brush Mod Podge onto shamrocks and sprinkle with green glitter. Tap off excess glitter and
set aside to dry.
3. Glue floral foam into basket and cover with Spanish moss.
4. Cut apart the picks using wire cutters. Start at the center and begin arranging flowers and
then the ivy along the edges.
5. Wrap green wire several times around the stems of the wood shamrocks and then wrap
around the 16 gauge gold wire. Push the wire down into the foam in the center of the 
basket. Fan the shamrocks out from the gold wire.
6. Cut lengths of the shamrock garland and loop among the flowers.
7. Make a bow and tie it onto the bottom of the handle. Embellish center of the bow with 
several gold coins layered using the double side foam circles. Glue more coins along 
portions of the handle, the shamrock garland and the sides of the basket.

Creative Angle: Family Album

By Vicki O'Dell

Supplies:
#1211-89 Family Chipboard Album

Thickers “Gift Box” green stickers # AMC42762
Papers of your choice * shown: Basic Grey Series
(BGPHE-755, BGPHE-754, BGPHE-762, BGBLU-653)
Ribbons and trim of choice
Rhinestones and stickers of choice
X-acto blade, pencil, straight edge, scissors, paper punch
Tape runner or spray adhesive, glue, extra fine sandpaper block, cutting board
 
How To Make:
1. Open rings and remove each chipboard album page. Lay each page face down on paper of 
your choice and trace shape onto paper. Remove page and cut shape out using an X-acto 
blade and a straight edge. *flip page over and trace shape onto a coordinating sheet of 
paper and cut out.
2. Use a tape runner or spray adhesive to attach paper to each chipboard album page.
3. Lay page flat on cutting surface to trim off any excess paper or use a sanding block to 
sand edges. *you will achieve more of a distressed look. (*you can also use chalk or pigment ink along
edges of each page)
4. Embellish pages as desired. Add photos, stickers and journaling.
5. Reassemble album onto binder rings. Glue Thickers onto front page spelling out family name.
6. Cut coordinating ribbons and trim and tie onto binder rings.

Creative Angle: Black & White Wedding Display Frames

Black & White Wedding Display Frames
By Beth Davies


(Click image for larger view)

Supplies:
8”x 8” Black and White Memory Frames
#70004/#70019
4” x 8” cylinder vase #RG548
4pkgs – 4mm flat back Swarovski Crystals #0674-T1
2pkgs – 2.2mm flat back Swarovski Crystals #0672-T1
1 pkg –wire heart stickers #AC931S
Red ribbon rose #7203-02
Black ribbon 5/8” and 3/8” #08403/#29967
White ribbon 5/8” and 3/8” #2956-01/#29994-029
Frosted glass spray #RUS1903
Black matte spray paint
Hot glue gun, Mod Podge or glass and metal glue,
toothpick, newspapers, scissors, glass cleaner,
paper towels

How To Make Frames:
1. Remove the mat from the white frame and spray paint black. Let dry.
2. Cut 9.5” of 5/8” wide white ribbon and 3/8” wide black ribbon.
3. Hot glue to the back side of the mat (side to side)
4. Repeat from top to bottom. Frame picture.
5. On the outside of the glass, tie a shoestring bow and hot glue at the crisscross of ribbon.
6. Glue a ribbon rose in the center of the bow.
7. Dip toothpick in Mod Podge and place glue down the center of the ribbon.
8. Place a 4mm Swarovski crystals onto the dots. Let dry.
9. Repeat steps to the other frame in opposite colors.
*Display frames on photo easels for table top display.

How To Make Vase:
1. Clean glass vase and apply heart stickers.
2. Spray the vase with Frosted Glass paint. Let dry.
3. Peel off the stickers. Add the flat backed Swarovski crystals in both sizes randomly 
on the heart designs. *Refer to photo.
4. Hot glue 5/8” ribbon and 3/8” white ribbon at the top of the vase.
5. Make a small bow and glue to the ribbon. Add a ribbon rose to center of the bow.
6. Dip toothpick into Mod Podge and place dots around the center of the ribbon.
7. Place 4mm Swarovski crystals on the glue dots and allow to dry.

Creative Angle | Sizzix Ornaments | September/ October 2008

Sizzix Ornaments
By Marie Vetrano

Supplies:
Sizzix Die Dress Ups Body #654972
Sizzix Die Dress Ups Karate Uniform #655346
Sizzix Die Dress Ups Winter Clothes #EI655027
Cardstock of Choice
Sizzix Die Cut Machine (or Cuttlebug)
Photos, Scissors, Paper Trimmer, Tape Runner, Hole Punch, Ribbon or String, Glitter.

Instructions:

1. Trim paper to fit die cut machine.
2. Follow directions on die cut machine for paper, placement of dies and paper. Turn the handle until die comes all the way through the other side. Remove die cut pieces.
3. Scan photos of kids so faces measure about 1.5". Cut the faces and attach to paper doll heads.
4. Assemble kids outfits and attach to doll form with a tape runner.
5. Embellish as desired. Punch a hole at top of hair and slide a ribbon or string through hole for hanging.

Creative Angle | Burlap Scarecrow | September 2008

Make Your Own Burlap Scarecrow
By Sharon McPhearson

Supplies:
27" Muslin Doll (#1236-89)
Burlap:
1/2 Yard Purple (#3102-669)
1/2 Yard Natural (#3102-668)
1/2 Yard Orange (#3102-669)
1/2 Yard Black (#3102-669)
6" Straw Hat (#2816)
3 Ply Jute (#34100D)
Grapevine Chair (#2857-56)
Woven Basket (#2848-26)
White Garden Gloves
Crow (#1307-29)
Apple Picks (#RC-446)

Additional Supplies: raffia, spanish moss, heat button, small black buttons, hot glue, scissors, black embroidery floss, large needle, red chalk and applicator

1. Cut out 2 shirt patterns from the purple burlap. Place one piece on back and the other on the front of doll. Hot glue or sew edges together.
2. Cut a zig zag pattern at the bottom of the shirt.
3. Cut out 2 pants patterns from the orange burlap. Place one piece under the dolls legs and the other on top of legs. Hot glue or sew together.
4. Tie jute tightly around each of the ankles and knot.
5. Cut two 8x8 squares for the shoes.
6. Fold the corners to form shoe over dolls foot, hot glue in place.
7. Tie a length of jute around burlap at ankles to secure.
8. Cut a 12x12" piece of natural burlap for the head.
9. Cover dolls head with burlap and secure with jute around neck.
10. Trim off excess material using a zig zag pattern.
11. Glue on small black buttons for eyes, small orange burlap triangle for nose.
12. Thread needle with black embroidery floss and stitch on a mouth.
13. Rub red chalk onto cheeks with sponge applicator.
14. Distress a 6" straw hat by cutting some holes in top and along the edges.
15. Glue some Spanish moss, small daisies, and fall berries onto rim of hat.
16. Glue raffia along the inside of the hat for hair, trim front for bangs.
17. Poke a hole on each side of the hat.
18. Cut a length of jute and feed each end from the inside of the hat through the holes.
19. Knot ends to secure. Squeeze middle of jute together and thread on a pony bead.
20. Knot jute under bead. Glue on hat.
21. Glue garden gloves onto doll hands.
22. Cut raffia into 3" long strips. Slide raffia up sleeves so half is hanging out.
23. Tie a piece of jute tightly around wrists to secure gloves and raffia.
24. Glue a heart button onto shirt. Cut some patches from burlap and glue onto knee.
25. Arrange and glue apple picks, Spanish moss, fall floral and a crow into a woven basket.
26. Set doll in a grapevine chair and glue basket onto lap.
27. Arrange and glue hands so it looks like scarecrow is holding the basket.

The End!

Creative Angle | Festive Fall Wreath | August 2008

Festive Fall Wreath
By Marie Vetrano

Supplies:
18" Grapevine Wreath # GPV18
2 Ea. 2' PE Fall Ribbon (contrasting colors) shown: #PE-1004F)
2 Ea. 1.5" PE Fall Ribbon (contrasting colors) shown: #PE-1001F)
Bowdabra # BOW1003
Bowdabra Wire #BOW3030
Floral Picks of Choice
Berry Vine of Choice
1 Pkg. Feathers #1207-90 *Optional
Scissors, Wire Cutters, Hot Glue

*Wreath consists of 10 bows attached to a grapevine wreath. Assemble 5 bows of each using the 1.5" and 2" contrasting ribbon

Instructions For Bows:

1. Cut three 8" lengths from the 2' ribbon and dovetail* the ends.
2. Cut five 7" lengths from the 1.5' ribbon and dovetail the ends.
3. If using a berry vine - pull up on the individual secetions at the base of vine and cut. Set aside two sections for each bow.
4. Clip flowers from stems - leaving at least 1" of the stem under flowers
5. Cut bow wire 22", fold in half and place into Bowdabra lengthwise - tuck wire ends under the Bowdabra to keep them out of your way.
6. Push each of the 2' ribbons down into the center of the Bowdabra and then each of the five 15" ribbons.
7. Next place the ends of the berry sections into the Bowdabra.
8. Tuck flower stem into Bowdabra.
9. Bring wire ends up to the center, open loops end and slide ends through. Pull straight up on the ends. Separate wires and bring them around to the back of the bow and tie ends. 
10. Fan out the ribbon sections and separate some of the berries. Wire ends can be twisted around a pencil to form curly Q's
11. Once all of the bows are made, arrange them on grapevine wreath and either tie them on or hot glue them into place.
12. Cut a section of bow wire and tie onto the back top of wreath for hanging.

*Dovetail Ends: To create a dovetail simply put both pieces of the bows tails together and fold in half longways (like a hot dog bun!). Take a sharp pair of scissors and cutting from the inner fold (where the middle of the ribbon would be) cut across to the end of the ribbon tails. This creates a V shaped cut also known as dovetail!

If you need help with using your Bowdabra our craft coordinators would be more then happy to give you a hands on demonstration so you can learn! Just ask!

Creative Angle | It's Knot That Hard | August 2008

It's Knot That Hard
by Jen Langman

Supplies:
Hemp # 1936-89 or your choice
Fimo Beads #1995-26 or your choice
Scissors, Tape

Instructions for A:
Cut two strands of hemp 1 yard ea. Knot one end leaving 3" at end. Leave a 2" space, knot and slide a bead onto one of the hemp strands.  The other strand will be on the outside of the bead. Bring hemp together and make a knot. Repeat step but alternate the strand that you slide the bead on.  When desired length is achieved, knot end leaving about 3" from the end.

Instructions for B:
Make quick braided bracelets by cutting two strands each of 3 different colors of hemp - about 20" long. Knot the ends, leaving about 1" from the end. Secure knotted end to a stable surface with tape or a clamp and begin braiding hemp.

Instructions for C:
Cut 3 strands of hemp into 1.5 yards ea. Gather and knot ends together - leave about 2" at end.  Secure knotted end to a stable surface with tape or a clamp and begin making square knots.  Separate strands - left-center-right- the center will remain stationary- the left will first cross over right to form an X. left over right and under; right over left and under or the reverse whichever is handiest for you. After about 1" of square knots slide a Fimo Bead onto the center strand of hemp. Repeat steps above making square knots, adding a bead about every inch.