Carol Duvall Holiday Workshop Chat 11/16/2002

HGTV: Welcome to HGTV's hosted chat room. Today, the guests from the Carol Duvall Holiday Workshop, including Mary O'Neil, Dee Gruenig, Lisa Pavelka, Priscilla Hauser, Karen Thomas, and of course, Robb Weller, are here to answer your questions. And although we miss Carol a lot, I'm sure they'll have some great ideas for you. Fantastic show, everyone! Thanks for joining us in the chat room.

Robb Weller: We had a wonderful time on the show today and hope we can answer the many questions we're sure you'll have.

Question: Carol, get well soon. Missed seeing you on show today. Robb was good but ...no Carol. The show was great . Karen Thomas project from today's show was not on the HGTV instruction page. How do I do that?
Karen Thomas: It's on its way. Glad you enjoyed the show.

Q: Today's show was terrific! Can't wait to see Sunday. Ms. Mary had a great idea for the old ornaments. Can't wait to try it. Miss you, Carol, and heal real quickly!!! Will plastic ornaments hold up to the winter weather if we hang this on our door? Robb did great, but he ain't no Carol!!! Hope sock monkey gets well quickly, too. Are there how-to pages for any of the ornaments shown on the tree?
Mary O'Neil: As far as I know, the wreath made of blue ornaments were all plastic. If my knowledge holds up they're good outside. If they get scratches on them, just lightly touch with craft paint. There are instructions for some of the ornaments on the site. Find them under "Viewer Ornament Gallery" from the Workshop page.

Q: Robb, those were big shoes to fill, but you did a great job. Good thing that they weren't high heeled shoes. It's always fun when Priscilla, Mary and Dee are on. I can't wait to begin the projects. Are you planning to have any projects from Definitely Different Studios on the show? I visited their website (definitelydifferentstudios.com), and they have some really nice craft projects that I would like to make. Carol, take care and get well soon.
Robb: Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad they weren't high heels, too. We will look into the suggested studio but not for tomorrow's live show.

Q: Does anybody know any quick ideas to decorate an outdoor tree for Christmas? It also has to be relatively cheap.
Mary: Where's Carol when we need her?!? I'd think if you decorate with things the birds can enjoy, it'd be nice. Pinecones, peanut butter, suet cakes.
Priscilla Hauser: You can spray tin cans in bright, happy colors; string them with yarn or ribbon, and you can also put the peanut butter on them and that would be a very inexpensive way. You'd only really have the cost of the peanut butter and the bird food.

Q: Dee, you are very creative, I have the rainbow sponge kit from Posh. Do you have a book on using the sponges from Posh?
Dee Gruenig: Better than a book, I have two brand new videos on the Rainbow Sponge. One on dye-based ink and one on metallic inks. They're also in DVD. Just check www.poshimpressions.com for that information. Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy the sponge.

Q: I've been looking for the sock monkey socks, but haven't found any gray socks with red heels and toes. Where can I find them?
Lisa Pavelka: I think I know. There's a company called the Vermont General Store. I think they carry the socks, as well as other nostalgic items that are hard to find. Also, if you search the HGTV.com site, you'll find other sources as well.

Q: I am trying to glitter my purple Christmas balls, and the glue just peels off -- help?
Lisa: Brush the ornament with a thin layer of liquid polymer clay and roll the painted ball into the glitter, then bake according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Q: How to make angel from book with folded pages - help!
Robb: That was a project from that Marie Clapper did on the show from Clapper Communications. Search HGTV.com for Marie's name and see what comes up.

Q: Mary O'Neil, did you hot glue the tops of the Christmas bulbs on before you secured them to the frame?
Mary: I did it on most of the ornaments. It would probably be smart to glue them all. And you might let the glue cool before attaching to the wreath.

Q: I'm a long-time fan and was very sorry to hear that Carol is ill. I hope she is well soon. Any chance we will see some more painted crafts? I love the theorem project Rosemarie Carsello does with Carol. I have tried a few and they turn out so beautifully and are so fast. By the way, I think Rob did a pretty good job!
All: We think Robb did a pretty good job, too.
Robb. Thank you for the compliment. It was great working with our crafting superstars. We're glad to say that Priscilla Hauser is back on tomorrow's live show and will be painting birdhouses and wreaths, so get ready!

Q: I so missed seeing Carol! Please send get well wishes on my behalf. Robb, you did a GREAT job filling in...the show was so fun. Did you get much notice that you'd be hosting?
Robb: Ten minutes. LOL. We knew earlier in the week that Carol was going to be unavailable this weekend. But we are pleased to report that she's doing absolutely fantastic. I've spoken to her since the program and she is ahead of schedule in her recovery. She really missed being here today. She did give me a few hints for tomorrow. And I gladly accept them.

Q: I wonder what type of paint was used on the metal tins? If they used spray paint how did they keep it so neat?
Dee: Sand it if possible to rough up the metal surface. Spray paint if possible. They are available in metal colors. I used an already prepared tin purchased in a craft store.

Q: Where can you find glossy card stock in the length that Dee was using? Never have seen that before.
Dee: There are paper houses in larger cities all over where the public can go to buy reams of paper. That's the best way to get ChromeCoat or King James brand glossy paper.
Mary: You can also buy over run paper in big print shops.

Q: Where can I find the paint for dishes that is safe for the dishwasher and food? Thanks.
Lisa: Pebeo makes dishwasher- and food-safe paint.
Mary: There's a new inkpad available. It's called Staz-On. It's available in most craft stores...made by Tsukinko

Q: I love your show. I have yet to try the Temari ball ornaments. Could you have a guest show us once again how to do make a simple ball ornament? Thanks, Carol, for your love of crafting and eagerness to learn.
Mary: None of us have made Temari balls. We'd like to see more in the future, too. Meanwhile, why not look it up on HGTV.com? There are many Temari projects on the site.

Q: I can see how the idea of the Christmas tin greeting could be adapted to have small magnetic pictures of a family. It would be a fun way to send holiday greetings to loved ones.
Dee: What a wonderful idea!

Q: My cable company went off the air, and I only got to see the last 8 minutes of the show today. Are you going to re-air it so I may tape it?
Robb: Yes. Next Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m. EST. Make sure you watch the whole show because there were some fabulous ideas and we all inspired.

Q: Where are the directions for the Origami frame shown on today's show?
Karen: A diagram will be available on the HGTV.com site. You'll need an updated Acrobat Reader to open them because they're in PDF form. You can go to Acrobat.com to update your Reader software for free.

Q: I would like the directions for the stamped clear ornaments that a audience member showed at the end of the show today. Thank You!
Robb: We don't have the instructions, but the clear plastic ornaments are available in craft stores. They're easy to put together. Just add in some decorations and snap closed.

Q: It was fun seeing you in front of the camera, Robb.
Robb: Thank you although it's a lot easier producing the show than hosting it and I want Carol back... NOW. LOL!

Q: Priscilla, I like your painting. How long have you been painting?
Priscilla: About 50 years.

Q: I enjoyed the show--no questions today--just want to say, "Hi, Priscilla, from an Alabama friend!"
Priscilla: Oh thank you! I wish I knew who you were.

Q: To Karen Tomas - Could you suggest some internet sites for origami paper?
Karen: But of course! Go to www.yasutomo.com. Just type the word "origami" into a search engine and a lot of very interesting paper folding sites will come up.

Q: Many of your guests use what has been described as "industrial strength sticky tape" (with the red peel-off backing). My craft stores have nothing like it and without a product name, I can't locate it on the internet. Help!
Mary: That tape is sold under many names. I think redline tape is the generic name. Small individual rubber stamps stores will stock it, but also go to www.hotpotatoes.com and look under "Accessories" and purchase it there from me.

Q: Are the instructions for the marshmallow snowmen online? I didn't see them.
Robb: Yes. They're there now. Have another look.

Q: Where do you get the tin mint boxes in bulk?
Dee: Yes. We have them on Posh Impression's website. Order them from www.poshimpressions.com

Q: Could you spray them (the ornaments) with acrylic spray to protect them?
Mary: If you want to spray them, you could but why would you? I've actually hung one of those wreaths outside for several years in a row during the holiday season and never had to put anything on it to protect it.

Q: Lisa, the instructions for the dreidel mentions using a pasta machine to condition the clay. How do you clean it after use?
Lisa: You want to wipe the roller with a baby wipe or with rubbing alcohol. And check it underneath because clay builds up under the rollers. Once you use a pasta machine for clay, it should be dedicated for clay use and not used for food.

Q: Do all of you talented people make most of your gifts to others?
Priscilla: I enjoy making gifts, especially for my grandchildren, but more than making the gifts for them, I enjoy making the gifts with them.
Dee: I like to spend my time crafting photo holiday cards and sending them to all my friends.
Lisa: I try to make as many gifts as I can, but I usually end up at the mall.
Karen: I enjoy making cards, and my mother loves all my handmade gifts. Still. LOL.
Mary: My intentions are always to make more gifts than I really have time for. I give cookies away.
Robb: My wife shops via catalog

Q: Robb, you did a good job filling in for Carol. We missed her, but were glad you stepped in. My question: Is it really that easy to paint on a candle? Also, here's a silly question, but I have to ask... Can you actually burn a candle you've painted? Or would that be a bad idea?????
Robb: Here's our expert Priscilla Hauser. And I thought it was very easy to paint on the candle.
Priscilla: As long as your painting on a fat candle rather than a taper, there is no problem. The fat candle burns down on the inside.

HGTV: Well, everyone, thanks for joining us for our live chat this afternoon. Thanks for sticking with us, since we were experiencing some technical difficulties on our end. Also, thank you, group from the show, for answering everyone's questions.

Robb Weller: We'd like to thank everyone for their terrific questions. And we're very flattered by the number of people in the live chat today. On behalf of Carol Duvall and all of us, have a happy holiday season.