Fun Halloween Treat Bag to Make (or give to your girlfriend with a bunch of candy!)

Sorry creative sisters! A few blogs ago I promised an upcoming pumpkin project. Now it is the night before Halloween and I just got my camera to work!

Actually I made this a few years ago when I was demonstrating a glue on QVC. (It was really fun to be on there!) I keep it around for each Halloween and that glue works!

Basically I took a round cardboard box and cut felt to cover it (orange on the outside, black on the inside. I cut out the face and used pinking shears to cut the fabric for the handles. The glue (actually "Perfect Glue"tm) worked really well to hold it all together.

Now, every year I bring it out for my candy holder or to hold a dried flower arrangement. I'd definitely recommend it for a fun way to give your girlfriend her own treats at Halloween. (Or change the look to a snow-woman or Santa ... really easy to do!)

Have fun celebrating tomorrow! Watch out for ghosts and goblins! And don't forget to celebrate your girlfriends every day of the year. A world without girlfriends ... now that would be scary!

Girlfriend Advice: Organizing your Crafts

Talking with Kathy Cano-Murillo (The Crafty Chica) on the podcast inspired me to not only start a girlfriend crafting group, but also to get my messy studio and start messing with my glitter! (Kathy takes the love of glitter to a NEW level!) (I've already started planning ahead for some glittery glass candle holders for girlfriend gifts for the holidays! So, those of you who will receive them - act surprised!)

So ... then I'm doing research on an author and organization expert who is going to do a podcast with Girlfriendology in the coming weeks, Debbie Williams. On her site I found a great creative girlfriend article that I thought you might enjoy and benefit from. Check out her advice for organizing your craft space and her books. And, if you have specific questions for her for our podcast interview, please send them to us!

Perhaps it is our creative, female brains that takes one idea and smushes it into another?! Now I can get inspired by Debbie to organize my craft studio then get inspired by Kathy to mess it up again or, being organized as I will be after applying Debbie's sage advice, have more fun creating beautiful girlfriend gifts in my nicely organized, everything-in-its-place studio! Thanks Kathy and Debbie! Thanks girlfriends!

P.S. My girlfriend Debra Quartermain has written several crafty books and is a self-proclaimed "stitch chick." Check out her blog for info on her books and creative adventures.

Hey Scrapbooking Girlfriends! Enter this CONTEST - Quick!

Hey Creative Girlfriends! I just found out about this great contest and thought I'd share the news with YOU!

Epson is inviting scrapbookers and crafters to submit a winter holiday-themed greeting card, scrapbook page or holiday paper craft created using a patterned page from any CreativeZone project. Entries will be evaluated by well-known scrapbook and craft divas, including Rhonna Farrer, Renee Pearson and Jessica Sprague. Winning projects will also be featured on the Epson CreativeZone during the holiday season.

All contestants need to do is visit EpsonCreativeZone.com and download a free patterned page from any of the CreativeZone projects and use it to create an original holiday greeting card, scrapbook page or holiday paper craft. Then, just send an e-mail to EpsonHolidayContest@walt.com and include the following:

A photograph or scan of your winter holiday-themed greeting card, scrapbook page or paper craft, A list of supplies used in the project, Step-by-step instructions explaining how the project was created and your name, mailing address, telephone number and e-mail address.

You only have a few days to participate in Epson’s fun holiday scrapbook and craft contest. Prizes include an Epson Stylus Photo R1800 printer ($549 value) or a PictureMate Dash ($99 value)! The deadline is coming up next week on October 31, so enter and forward the contest details along to any creative girlfriends who may be interested!

For more info, see the official contest rules. Good luck, Girlfriends!

Start a Girlfriend Group - now! (Kathy Cano-Murillo tells how in our new Girlfriendology podcast!)

Do you have a girlfriend crafting group? Or a book club? Entrepreneur group? Maybe you should start one. Hmmm, but how does one go about starting something like that?

Listen to our new podcast with the Crafty Chica herself, KATHY CANO-MURILLO and she'll tell you! In fact, she's so enthusiastic and helpful that your creative brain will start rolling and all of a sudden, you're on your way to a great girlfriend group.

Kathy was busy designing her new line of craft products (can't wait to see those!) but she still took time out to talk with Girlfriendology about her fun, creative girlfriend group, "The Phoenix Fridas," on our weekly podcast. You have to listen! I was smiling during the whole conversation! Her creativity is contagious. Her enthusiasm for her girlfriends is gregarious. Her sweet, kind, encouraging spirit is just what a girlfriend longs to hear. She rocks!

Just to share a bit about Kathy, she recently wrote her first novel and has several creative/crafty books which inspire people all over the globe. She has designed home goods for Lowe's and has fun, funky jewelry on Target.com. And, she has a Crafty Chica Cruise coming up in March 08. Wow!

Overall, she is fabulous! Listen. Enjoy. Then get inspired and start your own girlfriend group. And, share your stories with Girlfriendology. Muchas Gracias Kathy! You're a real girlfriend!

Fun stuff coming! Get ready for La Crafty Chica!!

Hey - creative girlfriends! I took a quick trip to northern WI. (YES, that far north!) Now I'm back and jammin' on some fun stuff for GirlfriendologyToo.

Get ready to meet La Crafty Chica herself - KATHY CANO-MURILLO! Check out her web site and you will find all kinds of creative ideas, links, books and wonderful ways to get crafty with La Chica! She has a new show on TV, new books (and a novel coming!) and tons of creative ideas for girlfriend gifts, fun and funky home decor, jewelry and more. AND, Girlfriendology is going to chat with Kathy for our next podcast.

What questions do you have for this cool, creative, CRAFTY CHICA? Should we ask about her inspiration? Best girlfriend gifts to make and give? About her crafty girlfriend group she meets with in her hometown? Or what things she hasn't put glitter on? Let Girlfriendology know your questions! (Email us at ideas@girlfriendology.com!)

And come back and visit us at GirlfriendologyToo! Next project: Easy, pleasy Pumpkin Treat Bag!

Inspiration, pumpkins and girlfriends ... a perfect Autumn combination!

Funny how ideas and events coincide. Fall arrived this week. On Wednesday. In one day, it went from air conditioner weather to 'where did I put my sweaters?!' temperatures. I felt drawn to decorate for Fall. I filled the flowerbox with mums and now - I need pumpkins!

An email from my creative girlfriend Linda Peterson brought me to her blog on clay, crafts and creativity. There on her top 'story' was her version of baking pumpkins - Fimo pumpkins (shown here, using scrap polymer clay!). Wouldn't that make a great decoration for you or a girlfriend?!

Along with the great creative ideas (thanks Linda!) was Linda's blog about loving fall, craving pumpkin pie, enjoying the cool weather and anticipation of fall leaves. Sharing that sentiment with my girlfriend many states away was like a little visit together. Like sharing a cup of tea and laughing together as we wrapped ourselves in blankets and enjoyed the cool weather.

Thanks Linda for the great ideas and for sharing your creativity through your site. And thanks for the tea and pumpkin 'recipe.' Fall is a perfect time to create. Why not call a girlfriend to join you? Or create something special for someone special? Or make this pumpkin and send it to a friend in another state? You'll get to enjoy Fall together - now that's perfect! Happy Fall, Girlfriends!


P.S. Just a girl-friendly reminder ... It is almost officially half way through October and the 1st Girlfriendology Contest is going on! And, it is bringing in some great stories on girlfriends. Don't miss out! Share a story about your best friend, your childhood girlfriend, your girlfriend group - "whatever-girlfriend" and be eligible to win coffee at Starbucks with a girlfriend on Girlfriendology. Not only do you get time together, but we'll spotlight the wonderful gift of her friendship on the blog to recognize her. Join in girlfriend!

Finding creative inspiration from Katie and the internet - gotta go create!

Beading with the girl scouts this week got me energized to pull out my beads and create! For further inspiration I also checked out my creative girlfriend Katie Hacker's site. Katie has written more than 15 books on beading, writes tons of articles and also 'stars' on the PBS show Beads, Baubles & Jewels. Her blog follows her creative life with her precious daughter Lily, her travels for fun and work, her crafting adventures, etc. A visit to her site is like a visit with Katie - always fun!

Did you know that you can watch segments from that show and other creative shows the Internet? HowToTVOnline.com has beading, kids crafts, scrapbooking and cake decorating videos - so you get to pick what show you want to watch on your own schedule. You can see lots of Katie on this site - check it out! (I always learn so much from these shows!)

Now, it is off to create! What fun projects are YOU working on? Where do you get your inspiration??

Girl Scouts, beads and crafting together - what a fun night!

Last night I had the honor of teaching the local Girl Scouts how to do beading. Actually the theme was more about individual style and how to apply it to beading or jewelry making. We had a great time creating together and I learned some cool ideas from these wonderful young teens. (They really were amazing!)

Just last week I interviewed best-selling author Kris Radish for my podcast about her books and her girlfriends. She even mentioned Girl Scouts as a way of making girlfriends when she was growing up. (It works! You don't have to 'make the team' - you're always welcome and included. A very positive experience for young women!)

Remember what it was like to be in Girl Scouts or to be that age? Your girlfriends were your LIFE. They still are. Yes, you may have husbands, boyfriends, kids, careers ... but the fact remains that you're a girlfriend and you hopefully always will be.

Reach out to other creative women of different ages, races, neighborhoods, educations. Take time for women of other interests or hobbies. Stampers hang out with knitters! Croppers meet the beaders!! We're all women. Women who need friends. (Girlfriends!) Women who have creative passions. Women who appreciate a good handmade gift. Girls (at heart!) who love a creative solution to a craft problem!

Thanks Girl Scouts! Thanks creative girlfriends!

Share your creative girlfriend stories in our October Girlfriendology Contest and win Starbucks for you and your girlfriend (and a Girlfriendology Journal!). Love ya Girlfriends!

Girlfriends are the spice of life, right? Then add some flavor to your life and make this fun girlfriend hostess gift!

This polymer project keeps it simple with black and white salt and pepper shakers. I used three colors - white, black and translucent. (I used Fimo and found the white polymer a little stiff to work with so mixed it with the translucent.) Condition your clay. Probably the hardest part is keeping the white (mixed with translucent) - white! It seems to pick up any color remnants from your clay space/pasta roller so clean before using. Then prepare your black clay.

Apply a thin cover of polymer over your glass salt and pepper shakers. (You can get a package of several sets of these shakers at Wal-mart.) Make sure you cut around the opening so that the metal cap will fit back on. Then I made very simple canes - checkerboard and jellyroll* and applied them to the shakers. Flatten these elements (into the clay covering) or leave them dimensional. Bake per the clay guidelines then cool. You can either leave them like this or apply a glaze. Polymer glaze is available in a craft store or you can use floor wax before to add a shine and cover up any fingerprints.

Make a whole bunch of mix and match sets to have them on hand to give to your friends. Your girlfriends will love them and think of you each time they spice up their food!

* If you'd like to find out more, my creative girlfriend Donna Kato (she is a blast to hang out with!) wrote 'the book' on polymer clay - The Art of Polymer Clay AND her new book The Art of Polymer Clay Creative Surface Effects - very cool!

Stamping Addicts revolt! (actually, not ... she came forward willingly!)

As "T" mentioned, in the last blog, her creative girlfriend Robin has a bit of an extreme attraction to rubber stamps. She even shared so many with "T", that she had to fill her bra with more stamps to make her plane. (The photo is only some of her stamps!)

Well, Robin fessed up and contacted me. Don't expect this stamper to be shamed! She's proud! Actually she's designed and taught for years, so to her, stamps are her 'tools of the trade.' And not only is she addicted to stamping, but her creativity also covers all kinds of crafting and writing. She has a great blog where she covers stamping, creativity and life. Visit her at www.pearlesq.blogspot.com. Just make sure you keep an eye on your rubber stamps!

Thanks Robin!