Hi Everyone! 2013 has just been dubbed the “Year of the Ear” by Disney Parks as part of their Limited Time Magic celebration. It’s not surprising, since the Parks release some pretty fantastic ear hats and headbands we all can’t wait to purchase. The recent Disney Electric Holiday collaboration with Barneys New York even released couture Ears by runway fashion designers.

So, why don’t we create our own Mickey or Minnie Ears to celebrate the “Year of the Ear” at home? Let’s get started together!

You’ll need:

• Mickey and Minnie Ears Template (courtesy of Spoonful)
• Plastic Headband
• Hot Glue and Tacky Glue (such as Aleene’s brand)
• 1 sheet stiff Black Felt (or any color stiff felt you like)
• Scissors (dedicated for fabric)

Optional Items:

• Scraps of felt, fabric, ribbons, etc. to embellish your Ears

Instructions:

Only cut out the ear portion of the template. Cut out two Ears using the ear template and the stiff black felt (or any color stiff felt you selected). I made my Ears a little smaller to look better on my head.

Wrap both Ears around your headband leaving enough room between them for the iconic Mickey Mouse look. Using a hot glue gun, glue around the edge of the Ears and fold over, matching each side to secure. Allow to dry.

Now you can wear your Mickey Ears. How easy was that?

But, if you want to dress up your Ears, you can add your favorite embellishments. And if you like, use some Velcro on the backs of these embellishments to mix, match and change your Ears as often as you like.

Try these ideas for some fun Ear options:

~I made a little Mad Hatter Hat for my Ears. I you would like to do this, cut the hat portion of the template out of felt. (I used shimmery green tulle over white felt). Next, add a ribbon and secure around the hat as a hat band. Then, take a piece of card stock and snip it to resemble the “10/6 tag” and stuff it into the ribbon. Use a dot of tacky glue to secure. I also used a glitter headband and pinking shears to give my Ears a bit of a “Wonderland” look.

~I also made Haunted Mansion Ears: Cut out a black felt bat that can also resemble a bow. Secure to gathered tulle or a small, white lace doily. Then add this to center of your Ears.

~ For Minnie Mouse: Tie a bow and secure onto either Ear or in the center of the headband for the iconic Minnie Mouse look.

~For Sorcerer Hat Ears: Use blue felt with white, yellow or silver felt stars and a moon.

~For Princess Ears: Create a felt tiara (Aurora’s is an easy one to make) or a cone hat with a tulle veil coming out from the top.

~For Dumbo Ears: Make a mini clown hat out of yellow felt. Timothy and the Magic Feather are optional : )

~For Formal Ears: Fashion a black felt top hat and add to center of the headband.

~For Bride Ears: Just add some flowers and enough tulle to make it look like a bride’s veil.

~To create the look of the Barneys New York Mickey Ears, cut a larger version of the Ear templates and select a non-fraying fabric of choice. Then stuff with batting before gluing around the edges. You can add some black netting to the front if you want it to have the look of a trendy birdcage veil.

What will you wear to celebrate Disney Parks “Year of the Ear”?

Photo of Mickey Ears by Disney Parks

Photo of Couture Ears by Barneys New York’s Disney Electric Holiday

Photo of project by Fran Cassano

For Fran Cassano, paper crafts have kept the magic of Disney a part of her everyday life. Fran invites us capture our own memories through Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting… Break out the tools that have been gathering dust. And let’s figure out how, together!

The post Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting: It’s The “Year Of The Ear”! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hi Everyone! Can you believe that New Year’s is only a few days away? (Wasn’t it just Thanksgiving and Christmas?) Rather than post a craft this week, I am sharing four tips to add just a hint of Disney sparkle to your 2013 celebration.

1) Confetti In Your Hair:

I always mean to stop in front of World of Disney, where the Fairy Godmothers-In-Training offer to sprinkle your hair with pixie dust. So, when I heard the Harmony Barber Shop was sprinkling Mickey confetti in your hair before this year’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, I knew it was a must. Best part? Totally free.

Why not try this idea for your New Year’s Eve? Take Halloween glitter spray or a glitter wand and add a little shimmer to your hair. Or, do as the Harmony Barber Shop did: spray hair with aerosol hairspray (theirs was tacky to the touch) and sprinkle metallic confetti in your hair. The tack holds the confetti in place. And you can simply shake it all out at the end of the evening. (Photo by Fran Cassano).

2) Icy Mickey Garland:

The day before your gathering, add water to your Mickey Ice Tray (or any shaped ice tray) and drop a few Craisins (or other small berry) inside the molds. Next, loop some embroidery floss or biodegradable cord in and out of the molds. Freeze. Use this garland to wrap around your punch bowl or your other chilled offerings. You can even string it in the shrubbery outside your door. (Ice Stars idea and photo from Spoonful, Mickey ice tray photo from DisneyStore.com).

3) Floating “Mickeys”:

• Add three blueberries to Prosecco, Champagne or other sparkling beverage (for the kids, add them to sparkling grape juice or ginger ale).
• Add three olives (or pearl onions) to your martini.
• Float three lemon slices over your bowl of Rrrrum Punch.
• In tradition, we Italians drink Sambuca with three espresso beans to represent health, happiness and prosperity.

4) “Lime Cordial! Delicious!” ~Jane Banks

Speaking of drinks, what’s better than a Disney-themed drink for your gathering? Here is a Lime Cordial recipe from Epicurious:

Ingredients

• 6 1/2 cups water
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup strained fresh lime juice (from 8 large limes)
• club soda or seltzer

Preparation

Heat water and sugar in a 2-quart saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved, then cool to room temperature.

Stir in lime juice and chill, covered, until cold, about 3 1/2 hours.

Pour about 3/4 cup lime cordial in a tall glass filled with ice and top off with club soda or seltzer.

(Jane and Michael Banks Mary Poppins photo courtesy of Pinterest).

See what just a little Disney sparkle can do for your New Year’s. What will you try in 2013?

I wish you and yours a very healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!

For Fran Cassano, paper crafts have kept the magic of Disney a part of her everyday life. Fran invites us capture our own memories through Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting… Break out the tools that have been gathering dust. And let’s figure out how, together!

The post Practically Perfect Disney Crafting: Adding A Little Disney Sparkle to Your New Year’s appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hi Everyone! Once a month, I like to break out my specialty tools and play around with what I can do with them. I have to admit, I have spa on the brain right now. So, for this week’s craft, I created embossed cotton rounds (the kind you use for astringent/toner/makeup, etc.) with Mickey, Goofy and Donald’s faces on them. Since Minnie, Daisy, Clarabelle and Marie have been getting a lot of attention lately, it’s Mickey’s pals turn for us gals.

I used the following (but definitely feel free to do a variation that fits your own theme):

• Sizzix Big Shot (or any similar die cutting machine will work)
• Cuttlebug’s Disney A2 Embossing Duo Set-Best Pals # 9922022 Embossing Folder (or Disney Themed A2 Embossing Folder of choice)
• Rubbing Alcohol (to clean the embossing folder)
• Cotton Rounds
• Small Treat Bag
• Small Piece of Cut Ribbon
• A Leftover Sticky Mickey Brad

Instructions:

Clean your embossing folder with the rubbing alcohol. Make sure folder is dry. Place one cotton round atop the portion of the folder that you want embossed. Position the embossing folder in the die cutter machine (per manufacturer’s instructions) and crank through. Repeat on individual cotton rounds as many times and as many designs as you like. Place completed cotton rounds in a small treat (or similar) bag and decorate with ribbon or brad for gift giving.

Enjoy your day and let’s spa together!

Craft Time: 15 minutes (or shorter, depending on how many rounds you choose to do)

Fran’s Tips:

~ Please note that this craft requires specialty tools.

Like so many of us, Fran Cassano’s life is sprinkled with Mickeys. From collecting Park brochures as a child, to creating ideas for her own Disney Fairy Tale Wedding, paper crafts have kept the magic of Disney a part of her everyday life. Fran invites us capture our own memories through Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting… Break out the tools that have been gathering dust. And let’s figure out how, together!

The post Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting: Mickey’s Pals Embossed Spa Cotton Rounds appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hi Everyone! I came of age in the 1980s, so Disney’s latest foray into 8-bit fun is made for someone like me. So, when I saw the Disney PIXEL’D App for iPad, I just knew I had to download it.

But, while I was playing around with the app’s functions, I couldn’t help but see something else that I first discovered in the 80s: counted cross-stitch. For those of you who do not know what counted cross-stitch is, it’s a counted-thread embroidery using X-shaped stitches to form an image on fabric called aida cloth. Using a chart or an image-stamped cloth, you count threads in each direction so that the stitches are all uniform. (Think of those cute project kits you could send away for, for a buck, in the old DMC ads in Seventeen Magazine).

So, what does an 8-bit Mickey have to do with cross-stitch? Nothing…on the surface. But, I found that when I enlarged the grids within the app, the boxes reminded me of easy stitching charts. And I began to create my very own DIY counted cross-stitch patterns. The themed images were perfect to do this with.

When completed, these are just right for a handmade embellishment on scrapbooking projects…or even card fronts. How about on a tote bag or a fleece scarf?

I can also see the kids making a piece of art on this app and then you stitching it for posterity. As you know, I love the idea of taking something geared for kids and using it for your own purpose, too. It gets everyone crafting together.

Since I am a huge Once Upon a Time fan, I picked the two apples for this week’s tutorial~the Poison Apple and the Snow White Apple.

Disney PIXEL’D is free in the App Store and there are so many characters and backgrounds you can create charts for. If you do not have a device that supports Disney PIXEL’D, I’ve included the Poison Apple and the Snow White Apple Charts I created, here for you.

Instructions:

1. Download Disney PIXEL’D in the App Store
2. Tap open PIXEL’D, then tap Draw
3. Tap the Stamp icon (third one down, on left)
4. Select/scroll to your favorite image
5. Let’s select Disney Princess and scroll over to the two apples
6. Tap the red Snow White Apple or Poison Apple, then tap anywhere on the grid
7. Then take your thumb and forefinger and finger gesture open, touching the apple to make it larger. (This is the same gesture you do when enlarging a photo someone sends you on a smartphone or tablet). (See how the boxes enlarge? That is how you will count your stitches when stitching the image on the fabric).
8. Then save it to your Gallery, where you can access it there or email it to yourself.
9. Next, grab your PIXEL’D chart of choice, assemble your embroidery tools and begin your cross-stitch project. Here is a downloadable beginner’s how-to cross-stitch guide from DMC, makers of fine embroidery products. This goes over all the tools and steps you’ll need to create any cross-stitch project. It’s one of my crafting go-tos

I am having a great time using Disney PIXEL’D. So far, I created charts of the following:

• Aladdin Carpet
• Beast’s Rose
• Belle’s Rose
• Briar Rose’s Owl (can also double for Pooh’s Owl or Archimedes)
• Briar Rose’s Rose
• Chip
• Donald’s Hat (which will make an appearance in a later project)
• Mickey’s Glove
• Mickey Hearts Argyle
• Snow White’s Blue Bird
• Steamboat Willie Cow Xylophone

And with Wreck-It Ralph coming out in November, I can see us all creating even more easy 8-bit originated, cross-stitched embellishments together.

Enjoy your day and craft away!

Craft Time: Varies. Take your time and have fun making your own charts and projects.

Fran’s Notes:

~After you completed your stitching, cut your cloth with you pinking (zig zag) shears or paper edging scissors you dedicated to fabric. Make sure you use an adhesive with a stronger bond and glue around the fabric’s edge. Allow to dry thoroughly, because the adhesive will come through the aida cloth.

~Jo-Ann and Michaels has a great selection of embroidery tools. Don’t forget to use your coupons! (There is no A.C. Moore in my area).

~In Disney PIXEL’D, you also have the option to make in-App Expansion Pack purchases (I personally bought the Vintage Mickey to do Steamboat Willie projects).

With thanks to:

Disney PIXEL’D © 2012 Disney

The Joy of Cross-Stitching Copyright © DMC

Like so many of us, Fran Cassano’s life is sprinkled with Mickeys. From collecting Park brochures as a child, to creating ideas for her own Disney Fairy Tale Wedding, paper crafts have kept the magic of Disney a part of her everyday life. Fran invites us capture our own memories through Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting… Break out the tools that have been gathering dust. And let’s figure out how, together!

The post Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting: Stitched Embellishments Using the Disney PIXEL’D App for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hi Everyone! Did you know that there is a huge connection to Disney and the Olympics? John Hench crafted gorgeous sculptures and the landmark torch for the 1960 Winter Games in Squaw Valley~a Disney production from opening to closing ceremonies. Animator Bob Moore created the adorable Sam the Olympic Eagle for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Sam graced quite a bit of my favorite items from that year.

With this year’s Summer Olympics in full swing and all the talk about upcoming Walt Disney World runDisney events, I wanted to create something special for all of you under my Storyboarding Your Life subheading. Here is my Olympic-themed tribute to the WDW Radio Running Team as a Digital Layout.

I created this layout using PowerPoint. I love PowerPoint for digital projects because it offers so many similar effects without the complexity (or cost) of Adobe’s Photoshop. I also like that the slides are the same size as 8 1/2 x 11~which has fast become my layout size of choice for printing and storing purposes. But, most of all, if you know how to insert a photo or image into Word, you are on your way to becoming an expert digital scrapbooker.

To get you started on your own digital scrapbook page, here are a few tips when using PowerPoint:

• Start with a New Slide, click Layout, then select Blank.
• To Insert photos, clip art or other images: click the Insert tab, then click Picture (just like you would in Word).
• I like to insert most (or all) of my images onto the slide.
• You can even crop your images within PowerPoint by using the Format tab and clicking Crop. In the first demo image with Lou, I began cropping the photo.
• Here is how you change the size of the images. When your images are “highlighted” on the slide, drag and pull the circles and boxes on the sides and the green ball at the top (which reminds me of the antenna of the Green Aliens from Toy Story). In the next demo image with Lou, I use red arrows to show you what to look for and what it looks like after you’ve tilted the green ball.
• To add a colorful background, you can click the Design tab and select your favorite color palette(s).
• I like the “get lost” in trying out the different tabs and options. You can always click Undo, but it’s best to just have fun with it.

Pretty soon, you’ll be going for Gold!

Happy (Digital) Crafting!

(Squaw Valley and Sam the Olympic Eagle images courtesy of D23; WDW Radio Running Team photos courtesy of WDW Radio Running  Team Facebook page)

Like so many of us, Fran Cassano’s life is sprinkled with Mickeys. From collecting Park brochures as a child, to creating ideas for her own Disney Fairy Tale Wedding, paper crafts have kept the magic of Disney a part of her everyday life. Fran invites us capture our own memories through Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting… Break out the tools that have been gathering dust. And let’s figure out how, together!

The post Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting: WDW Radio Running Team Digital Layout appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hi Everyone! As tradition goes, an Advent calendar is a special calendar which is used to count or celebrate the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas. So, to “wrap up” the Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting posts for “Christmas in July”, I thought it would be fun to share an Advent-style countdown calendar in anticipation of the WDW Radio Cruise this November.

I used the following (but definitely feel free to do a variation that fits your own theme):

• 10 White Envelopes
• Glue Lines or similar adhesive
• Dimensional foam dots
• 1 page Disney Cruise Line themed scrapbook paper with titles. Or you can create your own titles.
• Large scraps of scrapbooking paper and card stock in coordinating colors
• A print out of the numbers 1 – 10 and “Days Until” on different card stocks. I made mine in Waltograph font (we will cover how to obtain different Disney fonts in a later post). You can also use number stickers.
• Different sized craft punches for layering (I have a 1 1/4″ square and a slightly larger scalloped square). You can also cut what I use these for, free hand.
• Large Mickey Silhouette Head Template (Download the one on this page, and in your printing feature, uncheck “fit picture” and use the 3×5 print setting to make a template).
• Simplicity’s Disney Mickey Mouse Silhouette Ribbon, 1″ wide, 3 yd. long
• 1 Disney branded treat (think Disney PEZ; licensed cookies or candy from Walmart, Target or local supermarket…) OR
• Small Disney branded toy, notebook, lip balm, or Silly Bandz

Instructions:

Create a sign using your Disney Cruise Line themed paper. I cut around the wording and borders, reconstructed it into my sign and made it stand out using dimensional foam dots. I also added “Days Until”, so it reads “Days Until Our Disney Cruise”.

Punch or cut out all the numbers and a slightly larger sized layering piece for each. You can also use number stickers for this. Using dimensional foam dots, layer the numbers and pieces together atop the envelopes however you like. I made mine vertical, so I can affix them to the ribbon at a slight angle (much the way you would display holiday cards). This will be your calendar. Now, snip enough ribbon to string the envelopes together in 2 groups of 5.

Next, use your Mickey Silhouette Head template and cut out 10 Mickey Silhouettes out of coordinating card stock scraps. Write a countdown idea for the day on the Mickey. Stuff one each of these into your envelopes. You can even enclose a Disney themed treat or small gift. (I chose some Princess Bandz I got at last year’s D23 Expo).

Here are some ideas to write on your Mickeys:

• Dedicate a special, Disney themed tote for all your embarkation “Bare Necessities”. Don’t forget a travel bottle or mug (for the drinks area).
• Make your cruise activities and packing lists…”check them twice”.
• Create a decorative magnet for your stateroom door.
• Listen to your favorite Disney songs.
• Take a picture of your family getting ready for the trip.
• Make a gift for your Fish Extender group friends.
• Visit WDWRadio.com for ideas on what you can do aboard the ship.
• Need to make a pre-cruise order? Use this promo code at DisneyStore.com for Free Shipping on $75 or more: SHIPTODAY
• Bake some Pillsbury Disney Shape sugar cookies.
• Watch your favorite nautical themed Disney movie.
• Enjoy this Mickey-themed treat. (Enclose a packaged Disney item in the envelope).
• Instead of making Mickey Pancakes this time, make everyone a Disney Parks themed dinner (we love the whole grain, Cars themed Perdue Nuggets).

Next, take the sign and the strung envelopes and hang wherever you like. I like to put my countdown calendars near my table, where we congregate at different times of the day. It’s a great way to get everyone talking about the upcoming Cruise. Where will you hang your Countdown Calendar?

With Warmest Regards and a Merry “Christmas in July” to all! Happy Crafting!

Craft Time: 2 hours start to finish

Fran’s Notes:

~You can create a countdown like this for an upcoming Disney Parks trip or any vacation. You can also do this for other holidays, birthdays, anniversaries or even the first day of school. Just change the ideas you write on your Mickeys to celebrate your event.

~You can make however many numbered days you like. I chose 10, because it is the traditional “countdown” number.

 Tell us how YOU countdown to a Disney trip in the comments below!

Like so many of us, Fran Cassano’s life is sprinkled with Mickeys. From collecting Park brochures as a child, to creating ideas for her own Disney Fairy Tale Wedding, paper crafts have kept the magic of Disney a part of her everyday life. Fran invites us capture our own memories through Storyboarding your Life: Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting… Break out the tools that have been gathering dust. And let’s figure out how, together!

The post Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting: Advent-style Disney Cruise Countdown Calendar appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hi Everyone! WDW Radio’s “Christmas in July” is bringing us a lot of goodies. And speaking of treats, who doesn’t love a good gingerbread cookie? A few years ago, Disney posted one of the best recipes for gingerbread I have ever tasted. When I bake these, people always ask for the recipe. For this project, I am sharing the recipe with you, by way of a scrapbook-type page. I often do these kinds of “practical” crafts~crafts that can also be used for a specific purpose. Hopefully this will start a nice tradition of scrapping favorite recipes into your own family cookbook album or as an item to give friends. So, let’s get started, together!

I used the following (but definitely feel free to do a variation that fits your own theme):

• Glue Lines, tape runner (or similar permanent adhesive)
• 1 piece 8 1/2 x 11 Disney or other patterned scrapbook paper (or a piece of 12×12 scrapbook paper cut into 8 1/2 x 11)
• 1 plain Recipe Card (or you can use a stamp like I did, or a template like this)
• 1 Cookie Recipe. I’m using a Gingerbread Cookie Recipe from Disney’s Grand Floridian, link here (courtesy of Disney Parks).
• 1 Cookie Sheet embellishment template (I used one courtesy of Scrapbooks Etc., but you can also make your own)
• 1 piece 8 1/2 x 11 white cardstock
• 1 small gift card envelope to enclose full, detailed recipe (if desired)
• Scrap pieces of card stock in your choices of colors for Cookie Sheet and layering. I selected variations of Mickey Reds, artichoke green, browns and silvers.
• Disney Dimensional Mickey Alphabet Stickers by EK Success (#53-50001) or alphabet stickers of your choice
• Holiday photos of your choice (I have photos of a wreath, an ornament and cookies)
• Paper scissors and craft tweezers
• Decorative edging scissors. I’m using my Mickey edgers.

Instructions:

Let’s start by cutting out your cookie sheet template with the heart cookies and the rolling pin. This time, I am just cutting my papers around the template without outlining because they are so small. Next, I cut out little free-form icings out of white paper for the heart cookies. Affix the pieces all together and put aside.

Next, write a part of the recipe on your cards (here, I actually squeezed the whole thing in). If you have some excess space, use decorative edging scissor for a little bit of texture. I used my Mickey edgers to make a “spiral bound notebook” look. Layer this on top of some card stock. I cut mine with a 1/4 inch edge for the recipe card.

Take the full recipe if desired, and fold it into the gift card envelope and affix to the back side of the page with adhesive.

Then, affix the recipe cards, the cookie sheet and rolling pin to the 8 1/2 x 11 page anywhere you like, leaving room for other embellishments.

Select which holiday photo you would like to use. I ended up using a photo of the finished gingerbread cookies from a previous holiday I made them for. But you can use a wreath or an ornament photo, whatever you like to make it your own.

I wanted to play around with my images, so I cut the individual cookies out of the photo to make a large layering piece embellishment. Deconstructing and then reconstructing a photo is a great way to reframe how you see and display your images. There is no wrong way to do it. Let your imagination guide you. For me, the different sized circles of the cookies are perfect for this. I then rearranged my cookies and affixed them over an artichoke green colored card stock. I cut the paper around the cookies free form just to give them a hint of pop from the page. Add this under the recipe cards on whichever side. (Can you find the Hidden Mickey and/or Hidden Minnie I made from my cookies?)

Finally, take the alphabet stickers and create a title. I went with “let’s make gingerbread COOKIES”. What will you choose?

Now, preheat your oven and make some delicious Disney Gingerbread Cookies for your own “Christmas in July” !

Happy Crafting and Happy Baking!

Craft Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes for prep and assembly of Recipe Card page

Fran’s Notes:

~When working with small pieces of card stock and bits of adhesive, I like to use tweezers for more precision. EK Success “Bee” line and Martha Stewart Crafts make excellent tweezers.

~I like writing recipes in my own hand if I’m passing them along. It’s also fun if you let the kids write the recipes, too.

~ If you would like, you can use non-permanent adhesive, so your recipient can remove the recipe card (s) while baking or to put them in their own recipe box.

~This might be a nice idea to incorporate into a holiday cookie swap. Break out all your supplies along with the sugar, flour and eggs. Family (and friend) collaborations like this can become a cherished item to pass down or share with others.

Like so many of us, Fran Cassano’s life is sprinkled with Mickeys. From collecting Park brochures as a child, to creating ideas for her own Disney Fairy Tale Wedding, paper crafts have kept the magic of Disney a part of her everyday life. Fran invites us capture our own memories through Storyboarding your Life: Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting… Break out the tools that have been gathering dust. And let’s figure out how, together!

The post Storyboarding Your Life: Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting-Disney Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Page appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.