New Girlfriendology Podcast - "Choose to Inspire your girlfriends," says life Coach Debbie Lundber

Starting out in a male-oriented industry, life coach DEBBIE LUNDBERG noticed women either supported each other to grow or held other women down. This initiated her life coaching (to primarily women, but also to men and organizations) as well as her active role in fostering growth in women.

Now MBA, author, trainer, speaker and Life Coach Debbie talks with Girlfriendology on our most recent podcast regarding her philosophies on women and in the importance in inspiring each other.

As our previous podcast authors and experts have advised, she just 'did it.' She started a women's group - the Tampa VEGAs (for Vision, Experience, Growth and Appreciation) who encourage each other to grow, learn and be their best self. Their recent event, Choose to Inspire, inspired women to be empowered through organization of their home, meals, finances, life and spirit.

Maybe now is a good time to start your creative girlfriends group (like Crafty Chica, Kathy Cano-Murillo advised in her podcast with Girlfriendology)! And maybe now is a great time to hear Debbie's advice for supporting other women, for starting a girlfriend's group and for making a difference in women's lives in our new Girlfriendology podcast. Thanks Debbie!

TIP TUESDAY #2 - Share your Holiday Crafting Tips with Girlfriends

Okay, girlfriends! Now it's your turn. You share your opinions, ideas, funny stories, shopping tips, recipes, favorite books, reality show updates, crafting techniques, store sales, celebrity gossip ... whew! We share A LOT, especially when it comes to girlfriends!

Now every Tuesday Girlfriendology is asking for YOUR TIP on a selected topic. For general topics, visit our other Girlfriendology Blog. But, for GirlfriendologyToo (the creative side of girlfriends) we'd like your crafty comments.

So, this weeks question is:

What is your holiday crafting secret?

Do you start early? Simplify? Embellish store-bought products?

Okay, I'll start first ... You already know, if you're a friend or a 'bleader' (blog reader) that I make my own holiday cards which I try to at least start thinking about the theme early in the year. For gifts, I try to make something little for a lot of my girlfriends. Last year I sewed pompoms, buttons and beads on cheap gloves (I'll share a photo in an upcoming blog). This year I plan to add glitter (thanks to our podcast conversation with the Crafty Chica!) to some glass tea light holders. Again, simple. Same project for lots of girlfriends but with variations (like color, decor elements - circles, swirls, words in glitter paint). Now, it's your turn!

Girlfriend Greetings - More ideas for holiday cards

It was my first house. I bought it on my own without even tell my parents until it was mine. (I told my mom, "guess what I bought that's older than you?!" She never guessed it, but I wanted to do it on my own and I did.) So, of course to celebrate it I had to make my holiday card about having a home of my own.

This simple card featured my home but I wanted it to be somewhat colorful and year 'round. I did a pointilism image of the house and printed it on vellum. Underneath I did watercolors to fit the drawing of spring blooms, summer grass, fall leaves and winter snow. Inside it read:

The animation of spring, the vitality of summer, the beauty of autumn, the peace of winter ... may each season refresh our joy of friends. season's greetings.

What does this have to do with girlfriends? Well, as creative girlfriends we like to share our crafty ideas with each other so I hope someone finds some inspiration in this artwork that I did over 15 years ago. My cards have always been my expression of my appreciation for all my friends. So I wanted to express it to you too.

Have special friends? Take the time to make them a special greeting this holiday season. Is your BFF the best friend ever? Make her a custom card to show your love and appreciation. Life is short. Celebrate the good stuff - like holidays, girlfriends and happy memories together.

Talking Crafting, Creative Women and Marie Osmond - with JULIE STEPHANI

Creative girlfriends - this podcast is for you! You know how your creative female friends 'get you?' They understand why you take time to craft and the amazing satisfaction in working on and completing a creative project. Well, JULIE STEPHANI gets us!

Sure, JULIE STEPHANI is editor of Home Arts magazine and The Creative Arts Club (with over 340,000 members!). She's written craft books, hosted her own Scrapbook TV shows (and guest hosts on "Scrapbook Memories"), has been in the craft/hobby industry for over 20 years. You might wonder if this woman even has time to craft, much less talk with Girlfriendology. Thankfully for us, she does and she did! Check out our latest podcast as Julie inspires us to get together with our female friends (creative or who think they're not creative!) And, hear her insight into crafting given to her by Marie Osmond!

Thanks Julie for inspiring us to enjoy, appreciate and create with our girlfriends!

TIP TUESDAY #1 - Share ideas with girlfriends all over the world!

Hang out with a group of female friends and you're likely to get some advice. It is just what we do - share information among our friends to help each other solve problems or have a better life. That is one of the greatest benefit of having girlfriends!

I've heard/shared information with my female friends on new restaurants, make-up tips, recipes (generally those my husband has tried!), crafting techniques, good books, sales and specials, etc. Just thought quick phone conversations, my girlfriends have helped me improve my life by offering web sites that might interest/educate me, magazines and TV shows I should check out and what stores have great paper craft supplies, and much, much more.

So, in an effort to solicit ideas from you and to see what all we can share together, I've created TIP TUESDAY. Each week I'll post a topic and question. I welcome (beg?!) you to participate and give your feedback so we can all learn from each other's experiences. So, here goes your creative girlfriend challenge ...

This GirlfriendologyToo TIP TUESDAY question: What magazines do you recommend for the latest crafting techniques and projects? What publication would you HAVE to have with you on a deserted island?!

Share a TIP! Leave a comment. Give some girlfriend advice! Or just send on to a girlfriend you know who has an opinion they might like to share. And come back next Tuesday for more!

And ...
* Not to sway your votes on this, but JULIE STEPHANI of Today's Creative Home Arts Club (and editor of their magazine) will be our next podcast interview! Send us any questions you have for her and check out the other podcasts!

* The other Girlfriendology Blog also has a TIP TUESDAY. Check it out for less crafty questions and tips! And please share your comments so we can all learn from each other!

Girlfriend gifts, holiday greeting cards - what are you making this year?

I just recorded the most recent podcast with the winning entries from our Girlfriendology Contest. It was fun just to share the stories of female friends who have been there for their girlfriends - just when they needed them the most to wonderful friends who have fun and funny traditions of doing life with their girlfriends. All of them were so inspiring!

This month's contest is about "girlfriend gifts" - what wonderful things have your girlfriends given you or done for you? GirlfriendologyToo is all about the creative side of girlfriends so I'm really looking forward to your inspiring ideas and stories!

Football games and cooler weather make me start getting excited about the holidays. What will I make for our holiday card? I have a ridiculous tradition of overproducing a card at the most hectic, stressful time of the year! I thought I'd share this and will show my progress in future blog entries to inspire you or to show you what NOT to do! Shown here is my first card. It was back in the 80's and I made my own stencils on a cardstock postcard.

Unfortunately this is my only one and it suffered some water-damage but it is still fun to have and look back on! In fact, it reminded me of blogs some of my creative girlfriends wrote on old crafts that they now laugh about. (We all have those non-timeless designs or goofy projects that we love even if they're not perfect!) Get inspiration and fun ideas from my creative girlfriends (who wrote those blogs) - Katie Hacker and Linda Peterson.

I also try to give handmade gifts to my girlfriends. I'm looking for inspiration! Anyone have great ideas for girlfriend gifts? Do you have a creative holiday tradition to share with your Girlfriendology girlfriends? Has a girlfriend given you a special present? Maybe her time, or a handmade gift or a wonderful surprise. Share that too in our contest. Girlfriends are a blessing - share your stories and ideas!

Are your girlfriends a GIFT? (Want to win one too?)

Our October Girlfriendology Contest was about special girlfriends and we received several really inspiring stories (including T and all those rubber stamps!). (Thanks to all of you!) Today is November 1, we're off on a New CONTEST and a new way to win prizes just for having thoughtful girlfriends - or being one yourself. Maybe you'll be able to take your girlfriend out for a Starbucks on Girlfriendology! So, drum roll please ...

NOVEMBER CONTEST: Has a girlfriend ever given you a really special gift? Or, have you had the opportunity or a great creative* idea to give your girlfriend something that she really, REALLY appreciated (and that you loved giving)?! Tell us about it! (*I'm really looking forward to the GREAT responses by all the crafty, creative women reading this!)

And what perfect timing for girlfriend gift ideas, right? The holidays are right around the corner and we all love ideas for making our friends feel as special as they make us feel. If you're one of the five top stories, you'll win a $10 gift certificate for Starbucks to take your girlfriend out for a coffee on Girlfriendology. Also, the top overall story wins a Girlfriendology Journal.

And, as you may know, the October Contest ended with a big BANG! Seal Press ("groundbreaking books by and for women!) generously provided five copies of Rosie Molinary's book, "Hijas Americanas: Beauty, Body Image and Growing Up Latina" (featured on our recent podcast) for the next five girlfriends to share a story on their girlfriends.

Another drum roll please! This months winners are:

Another drum roll please! This months winners are:

Our Monthly Contest Winners: Tammy, Carol, Michele, Brooke and Elizabeth*. All receive a $10 Starbucks card to take their girlfriend out for a coffee on Girlfriendology. *Elizabeth also won the Girlfriendology journal for the best overall girlfriend story. Congratulations Girlfriends!

Our Special Prize for entries at the end of the month (they win a free copy of Hijas Americanas): Debbie, Rochelle, Jane, Michele and Brooke.

Want to hear their great girlfriend stories? Listen to our new podcast for their inspiring tales of appreciation of their fabulous female friends. Like the quote from As Good As it Gets, these stories make me want to be a better girlfriend. Thanks to all of you inspiring women!


Send in your story today, then think about it and send in another story tomorrow. What great gift has a girlfriend given you? Her time? Her friendship? A personalized present? A shoulder to cry or a reason to laugh? Share your story. Inspire other women. Then be the girlfriend that shows her female friends how much she appreciates and loves them. Thanks girlfriends!

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!

Do you have a girlfriend addicted to rubber stamps? (Is her name Robin?)

I included this on my other blog but, since it deals with subject that creative women could relate to, I thought you'd enjoy this entry into this month's Girlfriendology Contest. Can you beat it???? (And, the only way I could publish this, was by not using the writer's name!)

From "T" - The 60 Pound Friendship

My girlfriend-in-crime Robin has a SERIOUS rubber stamp collection. While visiting her, she let me go through her garage and pick out whatever stamps I wanted as she needed to get rid of some of her collection to a good home. I had flown in from out of town and my suitcase only weighed 20 pounds on the flight there, so I thought I had some room.

Needless to say, I had too much fun in Robin's garage. My suitcase overfloweth! We laughed so hard at how I could fill up a suitcase with rubber stamps. When I finally had to leave I could barely lift my suitcase up to be weighed in at the airport. Oh no! It was 80 pounds! I about died! What had Robin given me – lead stamps?!

I was lucky enough to be in first class and I only had one bag – so my weight limit was 70 pounds. I had to get rid of 10 pounds of stamps in that bag and quick. I started stuffing them in my purse and my carry-on. I put it back up on the scale – 72 pounds! FAA regulations only allow 70. I had to get rid of two pounds or call Robin and have her come get me. The thought of throwing away a stamp or having to send them home – GASP! So, I put them in my pockets. That still left me about three more. I had one choice and I took it! Yes! In the middle of one of the busiest airports in the world, I stuffed rubber stamps down my shirt being held by my "God given" shelf until I could get through security.

To this day, Robin and I laugh so hard over that fun time together. She wanted her rubber stamps to go to a good home, she gave them to me. My job was to get them home – ALL OF THEM - and I did!

Creative girlfriends can get, well, creative. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Anyone for a 65 or 70 pound female friendship story?! Do you have a bigger, better girlfriend story than "T"? (hidden to protect an obsessed stamper!) Join the Girlfriendology Contest and we'll see!

Are creative girlfriends different than other girlfriends?

My creative girlfriends get me. They understand why I stayed up late to finish a scrapbook page or when I'm late because I had to make jewelry to go with my outfit. They never question why I have glitter stuck to my fingers or have paint stains on my sleeves. And, they love to hear about my creative projects and they share my fascination with adhesives and all the embellishments you can stick with them!

Do you have creative girlfriends with whom you share your passion for crafts and hobbies? Are you pulled to female friends who 'speak your language' and know where to shop for unique beads and have an opinion on polymer clay techniques?! Do your girlfriends inspire you to create handmade gifts and greetings?

I love all my girlfriends - crafty, creative, croppers and those who aren't (or just don't realize that they're creative!). But, I do find that my creative girlfriends and I have a different way of communicating and are excited for each other the way that some of my girlfriends are not.

Your assignment is to tell GirlfriendologyToo about the friendship you have with crafty, hobby-passionate girlfriends. Think about the wonderful women who inspire you creatively, who support your 'bead habit' and who can challenge you on the number of rubber stamps in your collection. Then, email us at ideas@girlfriendology.

Have a great story about your girlfriend(s)? Maybe it is worth submitting for the Girlfriendology Sept./Oct. contest. Your creative girlfriends deserve recognition and appreciation, right? Let GirlfriendologyToo help you make them feel special! I look forward to your stories about your fun, creative girlfriends!

Girlfriend Gift for Summer Porches or Autumn Decks

Again, I love this time of year. It starts to cool down (or at least we know it is near!) and we spend time on the porch or deck in long conversations about anything from vital to trivial, and either is welcome!

Do you have a girlfriend who enjoys her time outside? Maybe a special female friend who loves to light a fragranced candle and enjoy her home? Either way, this project is perfect for a gift for them.

Start with a filled-glass candle. Wrap with metal mesh (slightly less than the height of the glass) and overlap and bend it to hold onto the glass shape. Cut more metal mesh into a long piece 2-3 inches wide. Start wrapping glass globs/drops into it twisting the mesh around each piece for a long strand of mesh wraped glass. Vary the colors of the glass to the candle wax and a complimentary color. (Something about it reminded me of candy pieces all tied together - maybe it is a food fixation I've had since my childhood?!) Then wrap these mesh covered glass pieces around the top and bottom of the mesh to cover those edges.

From others I've kept and used, the glass and metal make an excellent reflector to the candle flame. It is a beautiful addition to decks, porches, mantle and home decor.

You love your girlfriends, right? Well, a present like this is a creative reminder of your friendship throughout the seasons. Girlfriends are the perfect gift to our lives, why not make your girlfriend a perfect gift? Send photos or email your ideas to ideas@girlfriendology.com. Thanks Girlfriend! Have fun!!!

Get ready for cool weather and outdoor lanterns!

I love this time of the year - don't you?! It is still light outside at night but the cooler temps make it great sleeping weather. I've filled the flower boxes with mums and am ready to put on a jacket and sit out on the deck for an evening of candle-lite conversation.

Being a crafter, I also love making home decor crafts for the seasons. (And crafts I can make for my girlfriends that they'll use each Autumn.) This piece is a classic and I love watching the reflections of a dancing flame from the candle inside.

If you've never tried working with copper, you should! It is beautiful and incredibly rewarding. I drew designs on three panels of copper foil. On each I cut out a Fall icon - a leaf, pinecone and this harvest sun flower. I then gently embossed the images from the back to make them dimensional. The last step (before assembling) is the most scary but rewarding! With my trusty heat gun, I warmed the copper up until it changed colors. (Practice on a spare piece of copper, this can go really fast once it warms up!) This heat treatment it a beautiful amber glow, making it a awesome Fall decor craft.

Barbara Mattheissen wrote a book on New Metal Foil Crafts: Simple and Inspiring Crafts to Make at Home and this project was put on the cover. Check it out for more instruction and ideas.

How does Fall inspire your crafting? What craft projects do you make or bring out each Autumn? Please share. Won't you?

Celebrating National Women's Friendship Day ... making earrings & stuff!

National Women's Friendship Day was started by Kappa Delta Sorority in 1999 to celebrate the wonderful relationship of female friends. Each year more women get involved and today, all over the country, girlfriends are getting together to show their love and appreciation for each other!

I'm having dinner tonight with nine of my favorite female friends to celebrate our friendships. We'll catch up, share stories, laugh, possibly cry and, no doubt, come home with a confirmed appreciation for the wonderful gift of girlfriends.

As the instigator(!) of the dinner, I wanted to make it special with some girlfriend gift bags. And, being creative, of course I had to make some surprises for them. One very simple and quick things to make for girlfriends are earrings. Deciding which beads and embellishments takes the most time, the actual assembly goes fast. I just used coated silver wire and miscellaneous glass beads. Some pairs match exactly and some are a little more 'funky' with matching but different beads on each earring.

I'm also working on some other surprises for my girlfriends (but they might be reading, so I can't tell all!). Even when I'm swamped with projects, work and life in general, there is something therapeutic about making gifts for girlfriends. I get lost in my thoughts of them, memories of times together, appreciation for all they add to my life, the joy that I feel when I'm with them - it makes me happy to make anything for them.

What girlfriends make you feel that way? How do you show them how much you appreciate them? What can you do to make them feel as special as their friendship is to you? Make things for your girlfriends. Then share your stories.

Naturally creating a Necklace - from an Earring??

Do you have events that you HAVE to make new jewelry before you can attend?! Whenever I went to CHA (the Craft and Hobby Assn. trade show), I HAD to plan time before the trip (and often, during!) to make some new jewelry. This is one of those designs!

First, before we talk about the project, do you remember the 80's? The years of big hair and HUGE earrings? Well, I had some earrings with a gold primal character on them - they were almost 3" long! I loved those earrings! Now that HUGE earrings aren't in style, I needed to use them another way. So ...

I started with hemp cord - three pieces (2', 3' and 4') on the longest I added glass beads (wrapping around the bead so they'd stay in place. On the middle length cord I tied the 'golden guy' and, on the shortest, I just added glass beads in a strand. I adjusted the lengths and added a toggle clasp.

This simple design combines natural hemp, funky glass beads and that recycled earring - and I love wearing it! What old earrings can't your get rid of - and wouldn't them make a great girlfriend gift as a necklace, re-worked earrings or bracelet charm.

Now, I just need a design for how to use the other one. Any ideas???

P.S. My friend KATIE HACKER has a book on Hemp Jewelry - It's Knot Hard! I have it and it is great! Check it out!

National Women's Friendship Day - Sunday, September 16th

Make plans now for the National Women's Friendship Day - September 16th (Next Sunday!). Started in 1999 by Kappa Delta Sorority to celebrate the great bond of girlfriends, what are YOU going to do to celebrate?! A few ideas:

- Plan a craft day or brunch with girlfriends
- Make and send cards to all your girlfriends telling them how special their friendship is to you
- Start a craft or book club with girlfriends so you can get together on a regular basis (Visit the GirlfriendologyToo Girlfriend Gift Shop for book and gift ideas!)
- Free calls on weekends? Spend the day calling your long distance and local gal pals
- Buy a bunch of mums, make some cards and then deliver them to your girlfriends
- Send a Women's Friendship Day eCard from Kappa Delta

What ideas do YOU have?! Send your thoughts and plans to ideas@girlfriendology.com. Celebrate Girlfriends!

Carol Duvall Show Videos - me on TV!

Funny! I just found out that some of my Carol Duvall show tapings are online. I really don't like watching myself on TV but hopefully you'll enjoy! Check out these image transfer projects on Carol Duvall - part 1 & part 2 as well as my book, The New Book of Image Transfer. (Doesn't my hair look funny?! And is "mender" really a word?!)

Not feeling creative ...

This has been my toughest week ever. Stella, our golden retriever 'daughter' of almost 12 years, had to be put to sleep after a very quick illness. Not having children, this loss has been deep and painful for myself and my sweet husband. (We don't believe the cat, Tom Anderson, is grieving although I'm sure he still prides himself for being the alpha animal in the house.)

So, there haven't been any creative postings to this blog. As much as I love being creative and sharing/making gifts and greetings for my girlfriends, I haven't had the energy to create. I know I will in the coming days/weeks. I just need time. I am planning to create a Stella memory box and a special Thank You gift for our friends who invited us to their mountain home this weekend - and I'll share those.

While I catch my creative breath, feel free to share your creative efforts through comments to this site. Join the mailing list so we can inspire each other. Pass this link on to other creative girlfriends. (Who knows? Maybe they'll get ideas to make gifts and/or greetings for you?!) And, tell your friends you love them. Give your pets attention and love on them. Take time out of each day to be thankful for all you have - for being creative, for having girlfriends, for fun times with your friends, and for family, husbands, children and/or pets. Thanks for all you do and for being a friend to everyone blessed enough to know you.

Lazy, Crazy Mosaics

(or is it just crazy to bake polymer clay when it is 100 degrees outside?!)

Call me crazy, but I'll bake polymer clay crafts on a 100 degree summer day - but stay away from the oven if it involves food prep all summer long!


And, you might as well go ahead and call me lazy, because I decided to mosaic with polymer clay so that I didn't have to mess with messy grout. But I think this makes a wonderful girlfriend gift, especially if you've been to the beach together!

Warning: polymer clay crafts may be addictive like this project I made on the Carol Duvall show several years ago. Check out HGTV.com for the instructions.

Candleholders aren't the only clay mosaic project you can make for your female friends (but they do make gorgeous gifts!). Carefully cover one side of a piece of glass with translucent polymer clay. (I used FIMO.) Press sea glass, glass globs and shells into one side. Add any extra clay to hold them in and press on sand to give it texture (and hide your fingerprints). Before you bake, add a wire hanger and you'll have a beautiful beach sun catcher - perfect for a fabulous female friend!

My beach shell collection hasn't had any new additions from summer vacations, but thankfully I can find more summer supplies at a local Michaels or Hobby Lobby. So, turn on a fan, get comfy, pull out the shells and sea glass and mosaic away for a perfect summer girlfriend gift.

Wrapping up Cyndi's baby shower gifts

My girlfriend Cyndi is about to have her baby. (YEAH!!) Being a first-time mom at 39+, it is an exciting time of celebration for her, her husband and all of her girlfriends (who consider ourselves to be very blessed to know her!). Read more about her very special shower!


Last night, in her pre-baby insomnia, she found a web site that made her think of me - NameMaker.com (photo from their site). The reason she thought of me, was that for her shower gifts, I made custom wrapping paper for each gift. The They Might Be Giants - ABC's DVD/CD had ABC's on the paper. The Baby Book on being a loved baby were covered with scanned images from the bear drawings in the book. The Sculpey Clay Baby Handprint Kit had blue baby handprints all over the paper. (Cyndi's really crafty, so of course I had to give her a craft-related gift!)

With a decent printer, you can easily make personalized wrapping paper. I used Publisher to layout scanned or created images, but you can use any software you prefer. Print on the largest paper your printer will accommodate and piece/tape together as needed. Add a nice ribbon and suddenly the paper becomes part of the gift (and expresses the extra effort you made to recognize the special event!).

I know Cyndi appreciated the effort and even said she was planning to scrapbook part of the paper with her memories of the shower. If you're not up designing and printing your own custom wrapping paper, consider your options - Kinko's, local printers, Namemaker and other web sites. Check out Cafepress to buy custom gifts or create your own. (I ordered some CafePress Girlfriendology shirts, mugs, journals, etc. and the quality, speed and cost are very impressive!)

Thanks Cyndi for thinking of me and Girlfriendology in your night of sleepless surfing! Good luck this week for the big arrival of beloved baby Daniel! And thanks for inspiring my creativity!!

What GIFTS are great for GIRLFRIENDS?

I just got back from NYC last night and the NY International Gift Fair. As I walked the show, I searched for great girlfriend gifts - especially whose inspiration could be recreated in handmade gifts. Here's a few ideas. I'd love to hear yours!

* Jewelry, of course, is always IN. (What girlfriend doesn't love to get/wear jewelry?!) The trend in jewelry is large/multi-sized loop chains and fun, decorative charms. Why not try making these? I've taken armature wire and made it into shapes, then flattened it by hammering it. (Often using my cement basement floor as the hammering surface!) Then, if you'd like, you can drill holes in the flattened areas and use smaller wire to attach. Add some jewels and other elements to make it totally cool and custom!

* Almost everything in the design world is being influenced by the natural/eco-friendly lifestyle. (No longer a trend, this is now accepted as our lifestyle.) To be honest with you, when I was in the craft/hobby industry there was no motivation to include any project ideas using recycled materials - they didn't pay endorsements or hire you to demo them. (Someone should change that!) Now, as a creative not bound to those pay programs, I love using recycled materials. At the Gift Fair in NYC, I saw recycled cans made into animals, rolled up paper tubes became picture frames and foreign newspapers were made into decorative gift bags. You're creative! Look around. What do you have that you could use? Recycled cans, paper, glass. Or natural twigs, stones and fibers. Have fun being a natural (and creative!) girl!

* Other creative inspirations from the show: adhering pieces/layers of silk flowers to walls or surfaces (like frames or clothing), wool felting in all kinds of shapes and designs, glitter on all types of surfaces (like the glitter paint pens I talked about previously from DecoArt) and lots of shells. Sometimes shells were even with jeweled items - like mixing simple shells with Swarovski beads. Sounds a little bizarre but it was gorgeous and very visually appealing.


* Trend shopping finds in NYC: Monkeybiz Beaded animals from South Africa in ABC Home & Carpet are always amazing. Dishes in Fishes Eddy (across from ABC) featured hula girls, silly handpainted dogs and pigs, strange drawings of politicians and bees. From textured pottery (by Jonathan Adler - who got Oprah to try throwing pottery!) to irreverent and intriguing art from Cite like the 'shopping bag' above and these rose 'kits' - it is all interesting and inspiring.

Take a trip to a local city or visit stores you've never been to. Experience diversity in your shopping trend inspiration. You'll be glad you did! (And then tell GirlfriendologyToo about your adventures!)

Crafting a creative career --- is best with girlfriends!

Last night my beloved friend Lisa Galvin came to spend the night (on her way to a rubber stamping convention! Photo from her Carol Duvall taping.) Six years ago we met at a craft/hobby tradeshow. Now, at tradeshows, we often share a room and travel together. She is a wonderful friend, a trusted advisor and a talented designer. We, along with Katie Hacker (another great designer and author) have a mastermind group where each month we update each other on our goals and accomplishments, as well as share our challenges and advice.

In the past six years, Lisa, Katie and I have 'worn many, MANY hats.'
* Lisa began as a designer, started publishing designs in magazines and books, did a couple books (see below), took leadership positions in creative designer organizations and now reps craft products to stores in several states.
* Katie worked for a publisher in the craft industry, went freelance and did lots of books (a few of hers below) as well as magazines, published a creative newsletter, demos, is a regular on PBS (Beads, Baubles and Jewels) teaches and develops products. She specializes in beading. (She is busy - especially with sweet little Lily!)
* I went from a career in corporate marketing into the craft industry as a designer, TV demo'er (Carol Duvall/HGTV, DIY and Shop at Home; plus QVC, PBS, A.C. Moore), wrote for magazines/books, authored a book, published an industry newsletter, and did marketing and product development for dozens of companies in the craft industry. Like I said, we've worn MANY hats.

Why do I tell you all that? Well, we crafty women need to follow our passion. We can't help it! You can craft a creative career. Look at all the others who have done it before - that's proof! Follow your passion. Live and work blissfully. Go for it! And encourage other creative women along the way! Creative and supportive girlfriends are the best!

Lisa & Katie's Books: