Aveda! 50% off (Christine McConnell services only)

If you live in Southern California, you won't want to miss out on using this coupon offered by Christine McConnell, stylist in the Aveda salon in Riverside. Please visit her website here:

www.christinehmcconnell.com

She isn't merely a trained stylist. She is a gifted artist who was born to bring out the best in you!
Print off the coupon and get ready for a real treat!

Pretty mailing label idea!

I was out of mailing labels the other day, and an idea came to me that I thought you might like. I saw some paper doilies in my desk and decided to use one of those to dress up my package. I got a compliment from the person I sent it to, so I am mailing out another package with a doily label today!
You can either apply it with a glue stick, or put clear tape over it to make it really secure.

OOAK Baby Fairy in Antique Teacup

I posted a baby in an antique teacup on my website last night for a very reasonable price of $40. The teacup itself is worth more than half of that amount. I found the teacup in an antique shop in the city of Orange. It was made in Czechoslovkia. The baby is nestled in "fairy fibers" which sparkle like magic. The baby is tiny, only 2 inches long (not counting the tip of her hat), yet very detailed. Here's the link to my site:
www.toodlesocks.com

Bunny Contest Winners!

Congratulations to Jessica Perry on winning her pick of the two bunnies in the contest! Gina Gill came in second and will get the remaining bunny. Congratulations to her! Thanks to all who participated!

Bunny tutorial add ons

Here are 3 photos I forgot to add. You can do these steps after the bunny is completely finished. Just apply the Future Floor wax and then lightly sprinkle the Glamour dust on it. It really adds a lot of sparkle to the bunny! You can use any other type of glitter you might have if you don't want to buy a bottle of Glamour Dust.

Also, I used some old powder blush to blush my bunny's cheeks. This was before I realized that I had his nose the "Y" upside down, which I later corrected.

I think I have covered all of the nuances of making this bunny now! Please write if you have any questions!

Free polymer clay bunny tutorial!

Are you ready? I have finished my bunny tutorial. It's rather long, but I tried to show you each step. And, don't forget to enter the contest! It's all free and you could win! Here are a few additional things that I would like to tell you about making the bunny. If you want to keep the bunny white, and not antique it, wash your hands really well and make sure your working surface is very clean. Polymer clay picks up any debris or dust like a magnet. I like to work on a piece of white paper just to keep my area extra clean. If you don't want to antique your bunny,just stop skip that part and continue on to the painting. I used a filed down toothpick to show you how to dot the eyes if you don't have a stylus. I missed showing the photos where I applied Future Floor wax to the egg, and sprinkled Glamour Dust on it. I can't seem to be able to insert them where they should be, so just do it like you were in kindergarten playing with glitter!

Bunnies and contest!

The first bunny is the one that I made for the tutorial that I plan to post within the next couple of days. I kept it very basic so that even a beginner can make a similar one. Bunny 2 is just a different version of the same bunny, with a longer and more obliging face, just like I like them!

Now, if you sign up as a follower and send me your home address, I will put your name in the hat for the contest I am having to win your choice of one of these bunnies as well as 3 "Peeps," or chicks that I am going to show you how to make. First, I have to get the bunny tutorial finished. I worked on it all day today!

If the aged look is not your style, just skip the part where I apply the antique medium. Your bunny will look more contemporary.

How often do you find anyone, especially a Made In America site giving anything away?

I should mention that these are miniature bunnies...a little over two inches high.

Don't worry, if you don't have your supplies yet, the tutorial will be here when you are ready!

Thanks for following me and my art.

Supplies and a contest!

First, I just want to make sure you have what you need to make the bunny and peeps. If you want your bunny to look vintage, you should buy a bottle of antique medium.....any kind will do. Mine is Folk Art and the bottle has lasted me for years! You should have a bottle of black paint for the face and if you want to put some sparkle on your peeps (for a sugar look), get a bottle of Glamour Dust at Michael's. I use Future Floor wax and then sprinkle on the dust. Just don't use clear finger nail polish because it eats polymer clay! I am going to tie a ribbon around the neck of my bunny. So look around your house for a piece of ribbon or you can usually get a spool of it at Michael's for 50 cents.
Here's a list:

1 bar Sculpey white or ivory
1 bar Sculpey yellow
black acrylic paint (Apple Barrel is cheap and will work fine)
Glamour Dust (use a 40% off coupon to buy this at Michael's)
Future Floor Wax or Sculpey matt glaze
2 toothpicks
a liner brush for the bunny face
An Oven!


I am going to have a drawing for my bunny that I make for the tutorial.......ok, and the chicks too! All you have to do is sign up as a follower of my blog (if you aren't already signed up) and send your name and address to mailto:SABartocci@gmail.com I will put all of the names in a box and have my husband draw a name. I promise I will be honest. I am going to start on my tutorial tomorrow, so you can make your bunny and chicks this weekend! Think Spring!

Bunny tutorial? Peeps too?

I'm thinking I would like to do a simple bunny tutorial here on my blog. How about a bunny holding an egg? I will keep it simple for those of you who haven't tried sculpting. So, go get a bar of Sculpey and let's do it! We have plenty of time before Easter! We might even have enough time to make some peeps! Michael's has their own brand of clay bars, so you might want to try that. If I need Sculpey, I try to get it when it's on sale at Michael's, but you can use one of their 40% off coupons to get a bar if they are not on sale. You can sign up for Michaels or JoAnn fabrics coupons online and print them off. If you want to make peeps, you will need some light yellow.

This will be fun! I love to teach. If you are more advanced than a simple bunny, you can always print off my tutorial for a beginner.

I am working on a new fairy and have listed some jewelry on my website. So much to do!

New OOAK necklaces and pendants listed

Yesterday, I started out sculpting a new fairy, but I got side tracked and worked on listing some of my new necklaces on my website. Working on a website is tedious work and I still have a long way to go, but if you would like to take a peek at some more of my necklaces please go to:

http://toodlesocks.com

More new ones to come!