Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Free Doodle The Witches Hat

OK! Here we go with another Halloween Doodle to go with the Boot!
Just right click and save to your your computer and then print out and have fun
creating in what ever medium you may want.  Just remember to give
A Crowe's Gathering credit as the designer, that is all we ask.

Happy Creating to all!
and
Be Safe, Cool and Creative!!!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Hand Dyeing 101

Hand dyeing dates back to ancient times. Our ancestors used beads, shells and other materials to produce results similar to tie dyeing. Could Joseph's "coat of many colors" have been an example of early tie dyeing?

Our ancestors also used materials that were extracted from plant roots and from flowers, leaves and berries. These included blackberries, safflower, marigold, red cabbage, sage and indigo. We still use these natural dyes today. However, synthetic dyes produce more permanent, accurate and consistent results.

Tie dyeing emerged again in the 1960s as a new generation sought to express its freedom and individuality. Individuals produced custom results through different techniques and colors, creating their own personal statements on clothes.

What Is Hand Dyeing?

Simply stated, hand dyeing refers to the process of imparting colors to fibers using a dye by hand. The choice of dye you use depends on what you dye and what results you wish to produce. Here is a brief overview:

•Fiber-Reactive Dyes -- Fiber-reactive dye is the most permanent of all dye types. One popular brand used by many artists and craftsmen is Procion MX Dye. Extremely popular for tie dyeing, this cold-water, fiber-reactive dye can be used in many ways including tie dyeing, batik, airbrushing and screen printing. Procion comes in concentrated form and is mixed with cold tap water to produce vivid, almost electric results. T-shirts are commonly used with this dye and can be washed with other garments without the dyes bleeding onto contrasting colors such as black. Most times, fiber-reactive dyes are the dyes found in tie-dye kits and in one-step fabric dyes.

•All-Purpose Dyes -- In contrast to the Procion dye's preference for cold water, all-purpose dyes are used with hot water. They are mostly used when dyeing nylon, cotton or rayon. All-purpose dyes are sold under many brand names including Rit dye.

•Acid Dyes -- They sound a little scary, but acid dyes can be easy to obtain and very economical to use. An example of an acid dye is food coloring. Food coloring can be used to dye certain blends of wool, silk and nylon. Heat is required to produce washable results. Dyeing silk ribbons with sweetened drink mix such as Kool-Aid is a wacky sounding but fun technique.

•Natural Dyes -- Natural dyes simply fascinate me. They are best suited, however, for projects that do not require a lot of washing as they are less permanent than synthetic dyes. Generally speaking, wool is the best fiber to use with natural dyes, so dyeing yarn to use with crochet or knitted projects is an option. Many times a mordant will be used with natural dyes. A heavy-metal ion, a mordant is a substance that helps hold the dye to the fiber. It can be complicated to use and highly toxic. Dyeing with natural dyes produces less accurate results than dyeing with synthetic dyes, and results can be difficult to replicate.

Different Methods of Hand Dyeing

There are two basic methods of dyeing fibers with the dyes mentioned above. Fibers can be dyed using the immersion or direct-application technique.

•Tie Dyeing -- Tie dyeing is probably the most widely used method of direct-application dyeing. Concentrated fiber-reactive dyes are mixed with water and applied directly to the fiber with squirt bottles. Additionally, the garment is tied in places to prevent the dyes from reaching them, which produces an endless array of unique patterns and designs. Fabric can be tied off with string or a rubber band.

•"Scrunch" or Low-Water Immersion Dyeing -- Also know as "crumple" or "crackle" dyeing, low-water immersion involves the use of a small or "low" amount of water mixed with dye while you crunch the fabric together. A dye mix is poured over crumpled fiber, and colors are allowed to bleed and spread to produce unique and varied color gradations.

•Batik -- This method is similar to tie dyeing in that you directly apply fiber-reactive dyes in squirt bottles. Beeswax and paraffin waxes are used to draw designs onto the fibers. The wax will act as a resistant when the dye is applied.

This was some information that I had found and thought I would share with you all.

Happy Creating to All!!!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Labor Day Coloring Page


Here is a Coloring page for Labor Day Coming up!
Just right click and save to your computer and print out and
let the Kids have all kinds of Fun!!!!
Happy Creating!!!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Burrito Pie



Ingredients


2 pounds ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 (2 ounce) can black olives, sliced
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chili peppers
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
1 (16 ounce) jar taco sauce
2 (16 ounce) cans refried beans
12 (8 inch) flour tortillas
9 ounces shredded Colby cheese

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2.In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the ground beef for 5 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, and saute for 5 more minutes. Drain any excess fat, if desired. Mix in the olives, green chile peppers, tomatoes with green chile peppers, taco sauce and refried beans. Stir mixture thoroughly, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

3.Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture in the bottom of a 4 quart casserole dish. Cover with a layer of tortillas followed by more meat mixture, then a layer of cheese. Repeat tortilla, meat, cheese pattern until all the tortillas are used, topping off with a layer of meat mixture and cheese.

4.Bake for 20 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is slightly brown and bubbly.

Today's Inspirational Quote and Did You Know!

Today's Inspirational Quote:


"If you want happiness for an hour---take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day-----go fishing.
If you want happiness for a month--get married.
If you want happiness for a year----inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a Lifetime---help someone else."

--Chinese Proverb--


Did you Know.......

that today is invite an Alien to Live with You Day?
On the birthday of Robin Williams, the alien Mork of
"Mork and Mindy," invite an alien to live with your or,
at the very least, invite a stranger to lunch!
Williams was born on July 21, 1952, to Chicago, Illinois.

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!!!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

A Free Doodle Pattern

Here is a new Doodle Pattern that is free, just right click and save to your computer and then have your fun
crafting away. You just CAN NOT RESALE pattern as is, but you can sell as a completed project
at craft fairs, craft malls, your websites and blogs. Mass production you will need written permission.
All we ask is that you give us credit as the designer. Enjoy and have fun
using in many different mediums.

Happy Creating from A Crowe's Gathering

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!



Friday, July 16, 2010

If you like Buttons here's a Sale

Button Galore is having a great sale on there buttons and if you like
to accent with Buttons and Charms, you will need
to check out this site at:

Here's some of the items that are on sale.

these are the pet eyelets that are .50 a package.

These brads are to only .50 a pkg.


I love Button Frames and there's so much you can do with them
and they are only .75 a pkg


Plus these celebrate tags are only .75 a pkg.
and they are regular 3.49 a pkg.

Just wanted to let everyone know about this great sale, so stop by and
check it out.

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!
Pam - ACG



Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Little Mermaid 2 Coloring Page

Little Mermaid 2 Coloring page.
This is a free coloring page for the kid and adults or just anyone who
like to color. All you need to do is right click on the picture and save it
to your file or folder on your computer and then print it out and your
ready to go, it's just that easy!  Enjoy and have fun...


Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Recipes and Tips for the Crafter

So many times we run out of things at the most inopportune time, or your in a small town and you don't have access to a lot of products and you have to order what you need.  What ever it maybe we have all been in that situation at one time or another.  Here are a few things to help you out when your in a pinch.

Have you ever ran out of Snow Paste and it's midnight, nothings open, well here is a tip and I use it all the time now, I just seem to like it so much better than the store stuff.

Materials Needed:
2 Styrofoam balls (the coarse kind)
Container
White Glue
Craft Stick

You sand your Styrofoam balls together over a container for the shavings, once you have the amount of shavings you need, add your white glue and mix to farm a paste.  That's it, how simple is that.  Store in and airtight container.
Sometimes I will add Mica Flakes or Glitter for some variations. I pick up Styrofoam at the dollar store or when I find it on sale, so I always have a supply of stashed away.

Grubby Snowman Heads
Materials needed
Styrofoam Balls approx. size 2.5 to 3.0 inches
Joint Compound or Plaster

You can coat your Styrofoam balls with your joint compound or plaster and let dry. I like to insert a stick in the styrofoam balls so it is easier to coat the balls and let them dry. Once your heads are dry then you are ready to paint them, you can hand paint or spray paint the heads completely.(This also will help your joint compound and plaster cure and get hard.)
Add your faces and ear muffs, hats and what ever else you want to decorate your heads with and also remember you can shade your snowman heads too. If these are going to be an ornie then attach your hanger and your ready to go.

Grubby Jars

Material Needed
Jar
Old Cookie Sheet
Sponge Brush
Wax Paper
Glue
Cinnamon
Ginger, Nutmeg, allspice - optional
Spray sealer

Take your jar that you want to have the grubby look and paint a thin even coat of white glue over the whole jar. Then put your spices in the bottom of the cookie sheet and roll your jar in the spices until the whole jar is covered with spices and tap off the excess and let dry approx. 1 hour. Then repeat the process until you have achieved the desired look that you want, once that has been completed use your spray sealer and seal your project and let dry and you might want to put two to three coats, letting each one dry completely before you put the next coat on. The type of spray sealer is for your desired look, I like the Satin or Matt sprays the best, gloss and high gloss are just to glossy for me, but it is your preference and the look that you want.
Variations: You can use instant coffee grounds to dust with and it will make a darker look for your project.
You can also mix glue and your spices together and paint this on in thin layer and let dry and repeat the process until you have the desired look you want and then seal once completely dry. If you put this mixture on to thick it will slide down the jar and glob around the bottom and peel off, so your key to success is to apply think layers and let dry dry between applications.

We hope these tips and recipes help you with your up coming projects.

Enjoy and Happy Crafting



Monday, July 12, 2010

Little Mermaid 1 Coloring Page

Here is a Free Little Mermaid Coloring Page for the kids,
all you need to do is right click the picture and save it to a file
or folder on your computer, then print it out and the kids can have
fun coloring, it's just that easy.  Hope they enjoy!!!!

Did You Know and Quote for the Day

Did you know...

... that today is USA Woman VP Day? In 1984, Democratic

presidential candidate Walter Mondale chose Geraldine Ferraro

as his running mate. She was verified at the party convention

a week later on July 19th. Ferraro became the first woman to

run for vice president from a major party.
~~~
Today's Inspirational Quote:
"If you think somebody cares about you and believes your life

is worth saving, how can you give up?"

-- Geraldine Ferraro --

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Dutch Babies Yummy Good

Dutch Babies

Ingredients

2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar for dusting

Directions

1.Place a 10 inch cast iron skillet inside oven and preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
2.In a medium bowl, beat eggs with a whisk until light. Add milk and stir. Gradually whisk in flour, nutmeg and salt.
3.Remove skillet from oven and reduce oven heat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Melt butter in hot skillet so that inside of skillet is completely coated with butter. Pour all the batter in the skillet and return skillet to oven.
4.Bake until puffed and lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Remove promptly and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
 
Prep Time:

8 MinCook Time:
12 MinReady In:
20 Min
 
This looked so good I must be really hungry..lol not a good time to go looking at recipes.
Enjoy!
 
Be Safe, Cool and Creative!
ACG-Pam
 
 

Home Made Vanilla


Home Made Vanilla

This is to die for and the best vanilla ever and it is so easy to make and a lot cheaper and it's fresh.

Ingredients

10 vanilla beans, split lengthwise
1 liter vodka

Directions

1. Place the vanilla beans in the bottle of vodka and seal. Store in a cool, dark area such as a kitchen cabinet for 3 weeks, shaking the bottle every week. Three weeks is the minimum, store it 6 months for the best flavor. After using, replace with more vodka. The same beans will continue to flavor the vanilla for up to a year.
I have been making this for a while now and it just gives an awesome taste and the vanilla been, well you just can't get any richer taste. You can also bottle this and makes a great holiday seller too. I hope you all enjoy!

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!

ACG-Pam


Monday, July 5, 2010

Our New Paypal Store Front

We now have a Paypal Store Front where you can purchase some of our product right from our blog.
The Store Front is located at the bottom of the blog. If you have any questions regarding shipping or other
questions please e-mail me before completing your order. If you click on the box in the upper right
corner of the store front it will tell you the shipping and this is included in the shopping cart. Once you have
decided to complete your order just follow the instructions, it's just that easy.
If you have any questions you can e-mail me at acrowesgathering@yahoo.com
and we will be more than happy to help you. We can also do special orders and we will be adding this product to our Wholesale site soon too. But if you qualify for wholesale you can also e-mail me at the above
e-mail and will be able to give you the pricing information.  We are still working out the bugs, so if we
over charge you for shipping we will refund the difference to you via paypal.
We Thank you for shopping at ACG and our Paypal Store.

Be Safe, Cool and Creative!!!