Economy of clutter ahead on show

Information on making the economy of clutter work for you, making lightweight leather jewelry, and working with chalk paste will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and noon Thursday (all times Mountain).

Kathryn Porter is a book author and has coined a phrase she calls Clutternomics -- or making the economy of clutter work for you. She'll explain how to de-clutter our homes and lives so we can have more room and more time for the things that are truly important to us. She’s from Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Owner and designer, Jen Fox will show how to reimagine tired or dated leather garments or old purses and turn them into lightweight leather jewelry. She does this with special paint pens. Her company is Jen Fox Studios in Albuquerque.

Kristine Widtfeldt is the CEO of Chalk Couture, and she’s going to demonstrate how to apply removable, colorful Chalkology Paste onto different elements of a Chalk Transfer to create a custom chalkboard Pantry Sign. Widtfeldt is from Midvale, Utah.

Information on a 12-needle felting machine, tips for going into business and how to tint fabric using crayons will be the featured topics on “Creative Living” noon Tuesday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Michele Muska is formerly with the Simplicity Creative Group in Antioch, Tennessee, and she’s going to demonstrate the new 12 needle deluxe electric felting machine as she quickly makes a felted flower pin. She’ll show how to layer lace, silks, velvets, rovings and yarns to create a one-of-a-kind design.

Gary Barnes has successfully built three businesses from the ground up. He will share his success with others by telling things they don’t teach you in business school. His company is Gary Barnes International, and he’s from Denver.

Evelyn Terhune formerly owned Ozark Crafts in Gilbert, AR, and she demonstrated fabric tinting with crayons, which is a great technique that even younger children will enjoy as much as the older ones will.

How to use chalk paste

The Chalk Transfer is a reusable adhesive silkscreen that can be used on chalkboards, windows, mirrors, tile, whiteboards, appliances, painted furniture and so much more.

Tips for prepping the Chalk Transfer

• Cut the design down into its individual parts, if applicable.

• Write a word, letter, an X, or place a sticker on the back to ensure replacement on the correct side after use. (Always place the sticky side of Chalk Transfer to the shiny side of the backer whether it is white or clear.)

• Use a blow dryer to warm the back of the Chalk Transfer before peeling it from the backer the very first time of use. This will help ensure that no damage will be caused to the Chalk Transfer.

• If using on glass, hard, or glossy surface, or a non Chalk Couture Chalkboard, you will need to press the Chalk Transfer to some sort of fabric, such as a terrycloth towel, to get a little fuzz on the back of the Chalk Transfer, then adhere to the surface. This prevents the Chalk Transfer from bonding too strongly to the surface, ruining the Chalk Transfer.

Cleaning and storing Chalk Transfer

After peeling the Chalk Transfer away from the surface, rinse off the Chalkology Paste immediately. This can be done in the sink or on a cookie sheet (which works well with larger Chalk Transfers and helps ensure the Chalk Transfer won’t stick to itself by accident). After all visible Chalkology Paste is washed off, wipe both sides with a disinfecting wipe to remove any Chalkology Paste residue. Lay the Chalk Transfer, sticky side up, out to dry. Once the Chalk Transfer is dry, replace it on the backer (on the shiny side) and smooth it out using a Chalk Couture Squeegee.

Chalkology Paste is a water-soluble crafting paste that goes on wet, dries hard and washes off of nonporous surfaces with water. If used on natural wood that is not painted, there may be residue that cannot be removed. It is used with our Chalk Transfers to give a beautiful, unique design each time. Once it is dry, it will not smear or smudge and has a durable yet smooth finish. It can be layered, glittered (while it’s wet) and even written on once it is dry.

• Chalkology Paste has a two-year shelf life.

• If Chalkology Paste has thickened, add a small amount of water and stir well.

• Do not freeze.

• Clean the rim after use to ensure the lid can be tightened completely for best storage results.

• Use the liner included in the jar every time to keep the Chalkology Paste from drying out.

“Creative Living” is produced and hosted by Sheryl Borden. The show is carried by more than 118 PBS stations. Contact her at:

[email protected]