Sacred Heart Altered Tin Class, June 2nd, 2013 in Lower Manhattan

I am so excited, I can't sit still!   I have been blessed with the opportunity via my girl, Mia Roman to teach a class in New York City at the  Clemente  Soto Velez Cultural Center, located in Lower Manhattan, NYC!
Wow!  I love teaching, and I love NYC!  A perfect match, and I do hope that you can attend and let me show you how to make this table top Sacred Heart Shrine.

Here is an example of what your will be making.

Your class and kit will include all the materials to make the above shrine.  I will be showing you my antique, distress and faux tin embossing techniques.  Not only is this process fun, it is also very easy, and these techniques can be applied to almost anything.  You will be walking away with a completed project and lots of inspiration to add to your own art background.   Class is limited to 22 people, so please book early.  I have provided a pay pal button on the side of my blog to reserve your spot.  Come and join other Sacred Crafters, Artists, and all around lovely peeps in this fun and informative class.  You are only limited to your imagination and may your intuition guide you to your finished shrine.  

Class cost is $35.00 per student (price includes your shrine kit)

Supplies to bring:

Scissors,

Glue gun (optional)  I will have a few on hand, and I have plenty of glue sticks. 

If you want to personalize your shrine, bring tiny pics, and or  broken bits of jewelry.

I hope to see you on June 2nd, and please feel free to share this class information to a friend.

Salute, and Viva La Arte!

Yoli Manzo  

Happy April 1st! #Gelliarts painting tutorial

Happy April everyone!  Lately,  I have been on a creative roll!  I feel bad, because I don't post on my beloved blog as much, but with all the other easy social media sites, I just can't keep up anymore!  If you would like to keep up with me, you can find me here, here, and Here I am always posting pics of my latest creations.  However, I do want to make a commitment to reserve this blog for tutorials, techniques, and features of products that I feel are mind blowing. :-)

Speaking of which, I was introduced earlier to Gelli Arts Gelli plate.  A friend of mine brought hers in to share, and I couldn't stop daydreaming it.   If you haven't heard about it, it is a very easy way of mono printing with a gelatin plate. I haven't been the same, since! At first I tried to make my own "version" by rolling some paint on a flat surface to try and get the same effect.... Fail!  the gelatin has a little "give" to it and just distributes the paint to paper so much more easier and with more consistency.   

There are soooo many tutorials out there, look up Gelli arts at their site, pinterest and Youtube.  This product is inspiring lots of big named artists, as well as the newbie!

Mmmkay, the day before Easter, I thought I would decorate some eggs with my adorable nephew who is 6. I thought this would be the perfect project for him and I to do.  Very easy and quick enough not to bore a brilliant little mind.

Items used:

Gelli Plate

acrylic paints

plastic easter eggs

Sharpie paint pens.

Brayer.

Basically, you pick 1 to 3 colors and  spread them around with your brayer onto you Gelli Plate.  Note:  A little paint goes a long way. :-)

Then you roll your egg around the plate and load it with all the beautiful color.  Set aside to dry, and if you want, repeat the process with more colors, till you get the desired colors you want.

After they are dry, we came back with a black and white paint pen, and doodled on our eggs,  This is what we came up with.

This is step one, rolling our egg on our Gelli Plate.  

Here are some more!  (waiting for paint to dry)

 After they were dry "enough"  we doodled them with paint pens.

Here is a close up of one I hid in our water fountain.  (Good times)

Another favorite.

These were so much fun, and this project ignited even more insiration!  This tool is not limited to just paper prints.  Think Fabric, ATC cards, clothing, mail, etc.  the list goes on and on.  Please feel free to share your stories!

Salute, and Viva La Arte!

Yoli

Quickie Christmas Loteria Banner Tutorial

Still haven't put up all those handmade decorations?  How about, haven't even started?  I know, I know, it happens to me all the time.  Since all my familia and friends know that I have glitter and paint running through my veins, they would probably give me the side eye if I bust out with a store bought  "sell out" decoration!

Ok, I kid, they probably could care less, but I always self impose expectations on myself.  And, being the procrastinator that I can be, I needed to act fast, so I came up with this super quickie Loteria Banner idea.  It's amazing what I can come up with when backed to a corner!  

Supplies:  Loteria playing cards. (you can find them online, or your local Mexican/Latin Market.
Tinsel.  (I bought yards of it at my local Dollar store
Glitter Glue
Hot glue gun
Hole Punch
Ribbon

Directions:
1.  I decided I wanted to spell out "Feliz Navidad" on my banner, but you can put whatever Salutation you wish.  Using my phrase, I picked out enough cards to spell out Feliz Navidad.  (12 cards)

2. Using my gold glitter glue, I wrote out a letter on each card and let dry.

3.  Using a standard hole punch, I punched 2 holes (on each upper corner) on each card.

4.  Got out the ol Hot glue gun and glued tinsel around each card, careful not to cover the holes.

5. Ran some pretty ribbon through each card and hung on my mantle.

 DONE!

Feliz Navidad Mi Creative Homies!

Easy No Sew #Mexi-Christmas Stocking Tutorial

Hello and Season's Greetings! It's that time of year again, and it's also a great time for another easy Sacred style Tutorial!

Ms. Crafty Chica had sent me a few of her Iron On Appliques and asked me to do a tutorial for her.  I did my first tutorial inspired by Dia De Los Muertos, (You can find it here) and with Christmas approaching, I thought I would also kick down a #Mexi-Christmas tutorial.

As always, I like to keep the process simple, so here ya go!

Supplies:

Crafty Chica Applique

Your favorite Glue (I used Liquid Fusion, works great on fabric) by ILoveToCreate

Fabric Trims of your choice

Blank Stocking.  (I purchased mine at a Dollar store)

All you do is center your applique and iron or adhere with glue, and select your trims of choice and glue around the top of the stocking.  DONE!

Last step is to stuff with goodies!!

I can't even look at a plain Jane stocking anymore!  Feliz Navid!!

I hoped you enjoyed this tutorial.  Please feel free to share and/or Pin.  

Big Shout out to La Crafty Chica for keeping it crafty, sparkly and full of Vida!

 Click here to see if a Michaels store in your area is carrying the Crafty Chica line. LINK: http://thecraftychica.blogspot.com/2012/09/craftychicaproductsmichaels.html



*I received this complimentary product(s) from CraftyChica.com as part of the Crafty Chica Design Team and was asked to share an original DIY project.*

Tutorial: Crafty Chica Sugar Skull Collage.

Hello my Sacred Artistas and lovers of all things Crafty.  I was given the beautiful opportunity to play and create a tutorial for you utilizing the wonderful products by Kathy Murillo, aka "Crafty Chica".  I was so excited, for I have been in need of a good challenge as well as a chance to play with some of her new products!

I was given a couple of sets of her colorful Iron on patches.  This gave me a chance to create two separate tutorials, So this will be El Tutorial number 1.

Don't sew or have a sewing machine or Iron?  No problem!  Iron On's are not just for fabric!  I wanted to create something outside the box, so I came up with this framed Collage. Using whatever I could dig up in my Studio.

Today, I will be showing you how to make this:

Of course you start off with one of these:

I used the larger piece, but hey, this pack comes with three in total!  That is a possibility of three different projects.  I love me some options!

I love getting a lot of bang for my buck, so I always challenge myself to use what I already have, and or try and find items on the cheap.  Here are the rest of your supplies you will need for this project.

Scissors, a sturdy glue, glue stick, broken bits of jewelry,  two different fabric trims, glittered scrap booking paper, two paper butterflies, two skully beads  and one frame.  (I purchased mine at the Dollar store)

Oh, and if you want to dedicate your piece to someone, I used some plastic alphabet beads.

1st step is to remove the glass from your frame.  You will not be needing it, however I did use it to trace my glittered background paper so that it fit perfectly in my frame.

After you cut it to size, use your glue stick and glue it to the backing of your frame.  Once it is glued, center your Crafty Chica Iron On Patch and glue it with your sturdier glue. When it's nice and secure, place and secure inside your frame.  (Trust me, you want to embellish after it is inside the frame.  I had a couple of redo's due to me over embellishing, and it not fitting inside frame)

Here is what it should look like at this step:

Step 2:  Now it is time to get busy.  Pick one of your trims, I use a very small red trim, and glue it around the inside of your frame.  (Like the pic below)

Step 3:  Next I glued a piece of jewelry on the center top and I layered it with a resin flower I purchased at a bead store.  After the glue was secure, I used my 2nd trim and glued it around the outer part of the frame.  See pic below.

Step 4:  I glued my skully beads to the tops of my paper butterflies, and then I glued them to each side of the Crafty Chica Sugar Skull Iron On Transfer.

I love the texture and three dimensional look this gave my collage.

Yeah, That is it!  You are done.  Of course you can go even further and embellish your heart out, but I just wanted to show you how easy it is to use just a couple of elements to make this standout piece.  I absolutely love how this came out, and I love the fact that we finally have more options in our craft stores, than just the usual pirate skulls.  (Yay)

While making this, I decided to dedicate it to my Abuelitas,  who have passed on. I was blessed with two amazing grandmothers, and I miss them dearly.  One was an amazing cook, and the other loved to sew and crochet. :-)  Both were very inspiring ladies! I am so going to include this in my home altar.  But I also think this would make a fabulous gift for someone you dig!

I hoped you enjoyed this tutorial.  Please feel free to share and/or Pin.  

Big Shout out to La Crafty Chica for keeping it crafty, sparkly and full of Vida!

 Click here to see if a Michaels store in your area is carrying the Crafty Chica line. LINK: http://thecraftychica.blogspot.com/2012/09/craftychicaproductsmichaels.html



*I received this complimentary product(s) from CraftyChica.com as part of the Crafty Chica Design Team and was asked to share an original DIY project.*

Mexican Paper Flower Tutorial!

Well looky who has a tutorial for you??  Yeah, I know it's been a while.  Ok, it's been a long while, but check it out,  I meant well!  I mean, I have been busy learning new tricks to share, right?  Well that's my excuse, and I am sticking to it!

Actually, I have been computer impaired and have been using my janky netbook in place of a computer, and well, lets just say, I rode that little pony as long as I could, but the poor little beast finally gave out on me, and I was limited to my internet through my microscopic smartphone.  So.......... Long story short, I bit the bullet and went and purchased me a gigantic lappy, a tablet and state of the art fancy pants printer, fax, scanner.

All of this brings me back to you!  I have missed yall, and if you are still here, bless you!  Ok, enough of my ramblings and onward to one of my favorite crafts!

So, I am penning this Tutorial, Mexican Paper Flowers, but feel free to insert your indigenous origin, and make it your own.  :-)

When I am done with you, your final product will look like this...

 And this.

Pretty, huh???

Ok, so to start off, I purchased a multi pack of tissue paper at the Dollar Tree, but you can find tissue anywhere, I just like to keep my craftyness on the cheap. This pack came with 25 sheets.

You willl also need some pipe cleaners and scissors.  (Thats it)

Step 1.  Stack about 7-8 sheets on top of each other.  (for this tutorial, I was making large flowers)

 Step 2.  You are going to start at the end closest to you and start folding accordion style, back and forth till you get to the opposite end.  See pic below.

 Step 3.  Grab a pipe cleaner and wrap around the center of your folded papers and twist nice and tight.

Below, is a picture of a bunch of them.  (I had to make 45 for a recent party.  Ayyee Dios Mio!)

Step 4.  I cut the ends of each side of my gathered stacks into an angle.  This step is totally optional.  You can also get fancy and cut them rounded, pointy, or just leave them "Be"

 Step 5:  This is where the magic happens.  You are going to start at one end, and slowly and carefully, pull back each layer of tissue towards the center of your flower.  (where your pipe cleaner is cinching the center of the flower base.)  Just chill and take your time at this step.  Otherwise, you are bound to tear your paper. When you have separated all your layers, turn your flower around, and do the same thing to the other side.  When you are done, your flower is done!  Pull and shape it up till you get the fullness of and desired shape.

Tada........  This is what you get.   If you want to go for a Pom Pom effect, just add two completed flowers together and join with your pipe cleaners.

The End. 

There are so many variations you can do with this Tutorial.  You can use all one color, you can cut your sheets down, and make smaller flowers. etc.  I love color, and these flowers give a lot of WOW factor on the cheap!

Tell a friend, and or feel free to share!

Salute,

Yoli

Happy June 2012!

OMG,  Does my blog have tumble weeds rolling around here or what?  I just looked at my last post, and yeah, hi, it was in December of 2012.  Hopefully you wonderful followers have not given up on me.  I am still around.  Social media is a tricky and fickle thing for me.   I used to blog faithfully.  That is until Facebook entered my life about 4-5 years go.  Oooh, did that addiction run deep!  I mean, it was like instant "gratification.  I knowI wasn't only one that fell off the Blog wagon, a lot of the bloggers I followed were also on Facebook and well, since I read and conversed with them all the time, blogging fell to the wayside for me.

Of course, since my attention span is very limited, the next addiction became some of those phone app games!  Grrr, thankfully, that didn't last too long.   However, I do have about 15 "Draw Something" games waiting for my response.  Ooops.

Moving right along my Social Media confessional, my latest Social Media addiction is.......Pinterest!   OMG, I am totally hooked!   I mean, it is pretty bad.  I have only been on for a couple of months and my pins are getting really up there.  I know my numbers pale in comparison to some very seasoned pinners, but I do work full time, and am very busy outside of my computer with social groups, volunteering, crocheting, and crafting.  So considering those distractions, I am still in awe, and or embarrassed at all my pinning.  Especially when my clients take notice. hehe,  Oops again.

I do have love for this blog, and I do miss posting, so I am going to make efforts to post a few times a month, as well as bring to you some of my favorite "Pins"  if you are on pinterest, feel free to follow me, I will follow you as well.  (until I take the time to add the Pin Button,  you can find me here.  http://pinterest.com/sacredyoli/

Some of my favorite pins to collect are:  Tutorials, Patterns, Inspiring art, art blogs, cultural images, Dia De Los Muertos, La Virgen, Frida Kahlo, and anything colorful and shiny!

Hope to catch up with all of you soon!

Yoli


A bag I just finished and sold to a beautiful Sacred Client. :-)