Even 25 more signs why you may love to create!

We here at iLoveToCreate loved Vickie Howell's blog post on 25 signs that you may love to create, so we compiled some of our own. Thanks Vickie for inspiring us and others to join in talking about our crazy crafting obsession!

1. You buy jewelry just to take it apart, because you can't find that same bead elsewhere.

2. When you are at your local craft store, you answer product questions for people because you know more about the products than the actual employees do.

3. You go into a deep depression any time one of your favorite design/craft shows gets canceled.

4. You save gift cards after they are used up because you may need to use it in a future craft project!

5. You have evidence of a Tacky Glue spill somewhere on your carpet.

6. Your dream vacation involves attending the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Trade Show.

7. You look down and realize there is a flake of glitter in your cereal, coffee, etc.

8. You've ever had to worry about whether or not you left the glue gun on.

9. Nothing in your house or wardrobe is a basic color. Every pair of flip flops is glammed up and every table runner is painted with Soft Paint!

10. You've ever pulled an all-nighter while crafting.

11. You subscribe to multiple crafty podcasts on Itunes.

12. Your computer home page is www.ilovetocreate.com

13. You talk about your favorite crafters in casual conversation as if they were your best friend even though you've never met them.

14. You waited in line for Michael's to open when the Crafty Chica product line came out.

15. You save your greeting cards to use in collage later.

16. You've ever made an ornament out of a random found object (and then given it away as a gift!)

17. You don't invest in play toys for your pet because they prefer playing with your craft supplies (beads, buttons, etc). Bonus points if they've eaten the craft supply!

18. You have trouble sleeping because your brain is swarming with craft ideas!

19. You think the paint your own pottery studio is a perfect setting for a first date!

20. You can think for multiple crafty uses (off the top of your head) for toothpicks, garbage bags, dowel rods, baby food jar lids, and shoeboxes.

21. You don't understand why Katie Perry or Lady Gaga's unique wardrobe choices appear on Worst Dressed Lists.

22. Your child comes home from college to discover you changed their bedroom into a craft room.

23. You save all your old t-shirts because you will one day make a quilt out of them.

24. You cried when you met Crafty Chica or another craft celebrity.

25. You have a natural high when you sort through a bucket of buttons or beads!

What signs are there that make it evident that you love to create?!? Share with us in the comment section below!

Did you hear the news?

We have a new name!! Check out the press release we issued below to find out why and how exciting this news is for us (and hopefully you as well!!)

Duncan Enterprises, a privately-owned Fresno-based company will change its name and begin doing business as iLoveToCreate™, a Duncan Enterprises Company on July 25, 2009. Better known as Duncan Ceramics (aka - the colorful building on Clovis and Shields) within the Fresno community, the company has been a pillar of strength and stability throughout its 63-year history.

“Our business is strong and it will only continue to grow stronger,” said Larry R. Duncan, President & CEO and grandson of the founder. “We ended our fiscal year with double-digit growth over the previous year and our projections predict continued growth. Our team is absolutely dedicated to success; that dedication has allowed the company to remain family-owned and private for 63 years and counting!”

What began with one woman, Erma Duncan, wishing to share her passion of ceramic arts with others, has become an entire company of team members and associates, located domestically and in over 40 countries throughout the globe, all dedicated to sharing that love of creativity with the world. The company was founded in 1946 as Duncan® Ceramics and nine years later was officially incorporated as Duncan Ceramic Products, Inc. After 20 years, the company diversified in 1975 with entrance into the crafts industry and officially changed the company name to Duncan Enterprises. Since then, the company has experienced the launch of several organic proprietary brands, including Scribbles® and Crafty Chica™, and has experienced the acquisition of still more brands, including Tulip®, Aleene’s® and Rainbow Rock®.

“I believe that our new business name will support our continued growth and diversification while also allowing us to more distinctly promote our brands in the marketplace,” said Duncan. “Our overarching goal is to be the best in the world at developing proprietary new product lines that ignite consumers’ creativity and I am confident that this change will dramatically affect our ability to achieve success.”

iLoveToCreate™, a Duncan Enterprises company, is a privately-held, family-owned, Fresno, California based company that has been a leader in the ceramics arts and crafts industries since 1946. As a manufacturing, marketing, sourcing and distribution organization, iLoveToCreate™ maintains a solid reputation for excellence in product development, quality, education and health & safety. Not one to rest on its reputation, iLoveToCreate™ always strives to explore new avenues of creativity for its core brands, Duncan® Ceramic Arts, Tulip® Fashion Art, Aleene’s® Crafting Adhesives, Crafty Chica™ and ilovetocreate.com™.

CHA sneak peak

CHA only a few days away, so leading up to it, we will be sharing on our blog a few fun photos and mini sneak peeks of our booth to get you excited.

Of course, we don't want to give too much away (we want to keep you guessing some, after all), but here's some little details to get you excited :)







Tune in in the next few days and we'll show more!

Have you entered the Craftzine/Crafty Chica challenge?

There's still time to enter the Crafty Chica Challenge! Take an existing tote bag you have and glitter it up. Then, add it to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr Group. The Grand Prize winner will receive a prize pack for your very own Crafty Chica Party for you and five guests! Deadline for entries is July 17th. To find out more about the prizes and the official rules, visit the contest page.

The Grand Prize winner will receive a prize pack for your very own Crafty Chica Party for you and five guests!

The prize pack includes:

* 30-minute crafty conversation/coaching session for your party (or just for you) with Kathy Cano-Murillo.
* $100 discount off of the Crafty Chica Art Cruise package.
* 6 sets of Crafty Chica Mojito Papers.
* Crafty Chica Wood Boxes (great for making a shrine for something you love).
* 1 set of handmade invites and a paper banner handmade by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica!
* 10 jars of Crafty Chica Glitter.
* 1 Crafty Chica Wish Granter Empowerment Guardian for you to decorate to bring cheer to your party!
* 1 copy of Kathy's book, Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing.
* 1 mixed CD of music to craft to, chosen by Kathy.
* A blog post about your party on Kathy's blog.

Three (3) runners-up will receive a Crafty Chica bobble head and a $25 MakerShed Gift Certificate.

Deadline is extended to 07/24/09.

Head on over to the Crafty Chica Challenge Flickr group.

Official Rules

1. No purchase necessary to enter. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning.

2. Contest begins at 12:01 AM Eastern Time (ET) on 6/19/2009 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 07/17/2009. Everyone may enter by submitting their information to the 'The Crafty Chica Challenge' Flickr group so it is received by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/17/2009 07/24/09 (deadline is extended).

3. Prizes: The Grand Prize winner will receive a prize pack for your very own Crafty Chica Party for you and five guests!

The prize pack includes:

* 30-minute crafty conversation/coaching session for your party (or just for you) with Kathy Cano-Murillo.
* $100 discount off of the Crafty Chica Art Cruise package.
* 6 sets of Crafty Chica Mojito Papers.
* Crafty Chica Wood Boxes (great for making a shrine for something you love).
* 1 set of handmade invites and a paper banner handmade by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica!
* 10 jars of Crafty Chica Glitter.
* 1 Crafty Chica Wish Granter Empowerment Guardian for you to decorate to bring cheer to your party!
* 1 copy of Kathy's book, Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing.
* 1 mixed CD of music to craft to, chosen by Kathy.
* A blog post about your party on Kathy's blog.

Three (3) runners-up will receive a Crafty Chica bobble head and a $25 MakerShed Gift Certificate.

4. Winners will be selected by The Crafty Chica from among all eligible entries received. Winner will be notified by e-mail, mail or phone. If a prize or notification is returned as undeliverable, the corresponding prize will be awarded to an alternate winner. Winner may forfeit prize if Sponsors are unable to contact him or her within 7 days of first attempted notification. No prize substitutions will be permitted, except Sponsors may substitute any prize with one of equal or greater retail value. Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use each winner's name, prize won, hometown and likeness for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity including online posting without additional compensation.

5. Contest is open to adults, 18 or older. Employees of the Sponsors, their affiliates, subsidiaries, distributors, retailers, advertising and promotion agencies, and the immediate families of each are not eligible to enter or win. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited by law.

6. By entering The Crafty Chica Challenge you agree to receive e-newsletters and other marketing information from the sponsoring partners. Your email address will not be shared with any other third parties. The Sponsors' respective Privacy Policies are amended so that by entering the The Crafty Chica Challenge, the entrant agrees that entrant's personally identifiable information may be available to the Sponsors and, as a result, participant may receive e-newsletters and other marketing information from the Sponsors, subject to entrant's ability to opt-out as described in each Sponsor's Privacy Policy. Entrant's personally identifiable information will not be shared with any other third parties. Entrants agree to be bound by the terms of these official rules and by the decisions of Sponsors, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this Contest. Prize winner may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release and a Publicity Release within 7 days following the date of first attempted notification. Failure to comply with this deadline may result in forfeiture of the prize. Acceptance of the prize constitutes permission for Sponsors and their respective agencies to use winner's name and/or likeness for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. By accepting prize, winner agrees to hold Sponsors and their respective directors, officers, employees and assigns harmless for any injury or damage caused or claimed to be caused by participation in the Sweepstakes or acceptance of the prize. Sponsors are not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the Sweepstakes or in the announcement of the prize.

7. Sponsors are not responsible for lost or late entries nor for electronic transmission errors resulting in omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions or limitations of any kind, or inaccurate transmissions of or failure to receive entry information by Sponsors or presenter on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site or any combination thereof. If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsors which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, the Sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. Caution: Any attempt by a contestant to deliberately damage any Web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the game is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Sponsors reserve the right to seek damages from any such contestant to the fullest extent of the law.

Our employees love tie dye!

Check out Frank Peters (our R&D manager) and Lauren Binci (our new product development manager), hamming it up wearing their custom Tulip® One-Step Fashion Dye™ t-shirts in the office for casual Friday! Frank said Debbie (you may remember her from our post on Adam Lambert) made him the shirt. Debbie's always trying out new techniques and having fun with tie dye! Lauren is also very creative and whipped up a tie dye shirt, and then sewed her custom shirt using one of her corsets as a guide.

We absolutely love seeing our employees wearing our products here at I Love To Create!

Have you used our dyes or other products in a project recently and want to shout it from the rooftops? Leave a link to it in our comments section or shoot us over an e-mail at ilovetocreateblog@yahoo.com . We'd love to see what you love to create!