THE CAROL DUVALL SHOW ONLINE - ANYTIME!!

In my traveling, I've met many fans of the "Carol Duvall Show" who've expressed their disappointment in hearing that the show is a thing of the past. I too was disappointed to see the show removed from HGTV's programming line up beginning in February.

I was able to chat with Carol at this past CHA show in January. We both agreed that there were thousands of people just left in the lurch and hanging.... Well....hang no more! I have just found out that you can view complete episodes of the Carol Duvall Show - Online....anytime by visiting this link: http://hgtv.com/carolduvall


Programs can be searched by topic or your favorite guest. So join Carol, myself and all of your other favorite guests - Online - ANYTIME!! We're just a click away!

PS. Dont forget to set your tivo's for the upcoming DIY CHA show special. See myprevious blogs for more information and dates! (you can probably check the diynet.com website too!)

See ya - Im off to Hong Kong Inn for some chinese food.... my favorite!

BIG FISH???? UGLY FISH?? UNIQUE FISH?? WHICH?

I sent this picture to a couple of friends with the title..."Can you say BIG FISH??" and they both came back and said "UGLY FISH!!!" Hmmmm....ugly fish?? how about "Unique Fish"?. This fish is a spoonbill paddle fish and this is the time of year they migrate up missouri rivers to spawn. It's also the type of fish that caviar is made from....



Generally, I share some tips and techniques but this time, I thought I'd share a little bit of the personal side of life. When Im not in my studio and when it's warm enough (okay...that's an understatement - it was frigid the day I caught this fish) Im usually hanging with the family on some farm pond fishin for bluegill, catfish, bass - sometimes snake...... just about anything that will hit on a hook and worm.



It's been about 3 years since my husband Dana and I have taken a "get away" just to ourselves. He'd been wanting to go "snaggin" for quite sometime, so he booked us a guide and a couple nights stay at the (get this...) "Old Oar House Inn" and we headed to the Lake of the Ozarks.


For those of you not familiar with snaggin, basically, you take a couple of huge treble hooks about a foot apart with a weight tied on the end and drop it in the water as you troll the bottom, all the while you are "yanking" the hooks thru the water in hopes to land the big monster. (a major calorie burner - much more fun than the treadmill....) I asked Anthony our guide what it would feel like when I snagged the fish and he said - "feels like you just snagged a car!" He was right!!!! and HANG ON!!!!You're goin for a ride - backwards - as you reel as fast as you can towards the fish. Believe it or not, this fish is by far NOT THE BIGGEST - it only weighed 30 lbs, but I was happy with it anyways - he was a KEEPER! and my first keeper of the day. Dana's biggest was a female weighing just over 50lbs.



Anthony did a fantastic job as a guide - we had our limit by noon and we warmed up at the Ole Oar House bar & grill. If you like the movie "Grumpy ole men" then you'll love this place - It's quite a hoot! If you go - say hi to John Boy and Ben for us - a couple of retired guys who love to play practical jokes....and dont forget to check out Anthony's website at www.catfishingguide.com and make sure to tell him who sent you. Oh...and bring your catfish bait too - you'll catch a whole mess down by the cleanin station!

That's all for now....back to beading........................................

New Project Sheets Available

If you love chunky and funky...I know you'll enjoy this Brass Ring and Faux Stone project sheet just made available online from AMACO. To see the full PDF version click here. This project features a variety of AMACO products along with the bead rollers.


For those of you who enjoy memory crafts that are a "little "out of the box", then you won't want to miss the Princess Diaries project. Again featuring a variety of products from AMACO (ArtEmboss metals) in combination with wooden purses from Judy's Stone House Designs.


Judy and I won the Innovations "BEST OF SHOW" award at CHA Winter 2006 for our combination of her purses and my mini album journals. Be sure to check this out. Full project instructions can be viewed by clicking here. Don't forget the metal can be die cut!

Hope you enjoy!!



PS! Dont forget to pick up your bead rollers - an my new book! Click here

Hello from Michigan

Hello from Michigan!!! WOW it's cold outside!!! I'm taking a breather and thought I'd blog a bit about today's events. As I had mentioned before I worked with a great team of ladies and one guy training them on the In's and out's of working with AMACO's ArtEmboss Metals and WireForm mesh's. We also made some roses from Craft Porcelain. This material is not really porcelain at all, rather is an airdry clay that is easy to use, dries in about 24 hours to a porcelain like finish. It can be painted, watercolored, stamped, Rub N Buffed....nearly anything your imagination can think of. Check out my website for more information for tips and tricks in working with it. You can also order it from my website as well. This medium is a favorite among the Carol Duvall viewers and one of my most responded to shows. I also have project sheets from the show to give you a jump start.



Next we were off to a Glass and Art supply store...OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS!!! What a treat - can you say...Dichroic?? in any color imagined...okay, so I dont do dichroic- YET!! But this shop sure did inspire me.!!! Full of supplies for working with PMC, textures galore- this shop was a treat - not so much for the credit card...it said..OUCH!!! Then totally non-work related....we went to Burlington Coat Factory. We don' t have those in Southern Missouri - my kinda store. Can you believe I bought 3 handbags??? I've never bought three handbags at one time before. They really inspired me. I've noticed lots of RED expecially when wearing denim. I purchased a red handbag with plans on adding some decorative beaded handbag charms. (I think I'll go get those sassy red checked wedge shoes at Target that match!) The denim handbag will have a southwestern feel when I finish with it and the linen one...well I just plain needed a new handbag that goes with everything. I didnt spend over $16 for any of the handbags. I love being able to take something, add a little embellishment and call it a DESIGNER! Dont you?
Be sure to email me with your thoughts, creative ideas or share your designer creations!!!
Going back to warmer weather in the morning!!! .....so long..... (and to my hubby Dana - handbags? what handbags? !) - guess he'll find out about the handbags tomorrow....ssshhhh!???

THE BIG KICK MEETS ARTEMBOSS METAL

Thought I'd share a couple of quick techniques and give you a sneak peek before I leave to do a sales training for one of the major craft distributors. We will be using AMACO's ArtEmboss Metal and WireForm Metal mesh. Metal is HOT for scrapbooking and paper crafts and comes in larger sheets for big projects or smaller card size sheets (called Keepsakes & Cards) for papercraft projects. By combining the metals and mesh's with the Big Kick (TM) die cut machine from Sizzix you have everything you need to create QUICK & trendy embellishments. If you are like me - always waiting till the last second, these projects are for you. You can literally make in 10 minutes or less.

• For an artistic flair - heat copper with heat gun to reveal random colors. BE CAREFUL COPPER WILL GET EXTREMELY HOT and burn ya! Then use a Metal Stamp Art Pad to stamp your favorite collage of images. These make great tags to embellish. Great for Altered Arts too!


• Texture can be added to metal thru the pasta machine. Place metal between a sandwich of craft foam and texture plates on a thin setting (#2 on AMACO machine).


• Texture can be distressed by lightly sanding off color or using 92% rubbing alcohol to remove portions of color


• Paint textured metal - allow to dry then sand to distress


• Use brass stencils to emboss or deboss metal
  
• Color metal with Jacquard Pinata alcohol based inks and a make up sponge.


• Paint Embossed areas with metallic paint such as Lumiere by Jacquard (works great when using a toothpick)


• Faux Enamel: Add Pearl Ex powders (also from Jacquard) to Fimo Liquid Gel then use a toothpick to paint in recessed areas of the stencil

Vintage Gift Card:
Embossed Box of Cards from Die Cuts with a View
Sizzix: Tag, Scallop, Curves (the large one
Amaco: Pre-Embossed Metal Accent sheets; Keepsakes & cards metal mesh, Fimo Gel, Silver Metal tape
Misc: small metal heart, fibers of choice, vintage photo, Chalk ink


Print the vintage photo on plain paper. Apply generous amount of Fimo Gel to top and heat set. Cut to size with sissors. Wrap outside with tape.


FRIENDS Card: Box of Cards from Die Cuts with a view


Sizzix: Flower Power
AMACO: Artemboss silver aluminum and sparkle mesh
Misc: paper of choice, brads, ThermOWeb zot dots





Tear bottom of card. Glue paper to back of card. Die cut one silver aluminum flower and two mesh flowers. Glue scrap of mesh behind silver flower to cover center. Add flower where desired with Zot Dots.





This card is similar to the above with the exception of using a Sizzix metal embossing stencil thru the Big Kick. Directions for using these stencils come with the big kick. Embellish with Flower die cuts or your favorite charms.

Once the metal was embossed, I slightly sanded the surface to reveal the silver underneath. This is a great technique for highlighting.

I'll chat with you again when I get back. In the meantime, dont forget to check out my website for tips and techniques in using Fimo polymer clay. Check out my Project of the Month Club CD Roms too- they're packed full of fun whimsical projects that have never been published!!!