Love,

Natalie

Click here to view the embedded video.

Send me photos and any other ideas you have! Can’t wait to see! UPDATE: here is a great crafty post from Julie Golob on more  firearm-related decorations you can create at home: https://www.juliegolob.com/christmas-fun-on-the-range-easy-ornaments-how-to

All photos by Brandon Lippard

Supplies: Shotgun shells, glue (I recommend Gorilla Glue), craft brush, exacto knife, ornament hooks and last but not least… GLITTER!

Glue time.

Spread time.

GLITTER TIME!!

Dry time.

(Pretty glitter picture. Thanks, Martha Stewart!)

After the shell is dry, carefully cut a little hole near the top of the shell and rotate the blade to make the hole a bit larger. You will then insert the ornament hook in the hole and secure it around the rim of the shell.

Decoration time!

Holiday sparkles

More sparkles!

Merry Christmas!

Lots of love to you and your family!

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The Serbu .50 cal as modeled by the amazing and talented Julie Golob. (See what I mean by giddy anticipation?)

And this is the round it requires:

Not at all intimidating. Not in the least.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Good times. Some of the other girls shot the .50 as well. These are probably my favorite action shots of the whole weekend:

Lacey Duffy from NRAWomen.tv shows us how it is done.

Annette Wachter (30 cal gal) is a seasoned pro. This is nothing new to her.

Gabby from Armed Candy was just as wowed as I was.

For Marti Davis, our resident pro hunter and Womens Outdoor News contributor, this was just a walk in the park. This chick knows how to shoot a rifle.

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I think my most favorite memory was when my Daddy gave me my first hunting rifle. A Marlin 30 30 and its still my favorite to hunt with today. He is a retired police officer and was shot while on duty in 1978 and I can remember how proud he was when I made him a scrap book of the ordeal but sharing our love of firearms, hunting, fishing, and law enforcement has been a real blessing. -Tammy, reader

 

Barb Baird and Dr. Floyd Boschee

My dad taught me so many things — how to throw a spiral with a football, how to run hills, how to paint a house, how to serve a tennis ball and how to write a history report. Of course, by being there for me all my life, he taught me so many other things — without even knowing it, I’m sure. Lately, though, I’ve been on the teaching end of things and have been working with him on learning to shoot a gun for self-protection. Last fall, we even went to the range and he shot my pink AK-47. Among my two sisters, Dad and me — he was the best shot!  -Barb Baird, Founder, Women’s Outdoor News

 

I was lucky to get to visit with my Dad the week before he passed away. Years before, I had won a Mossberg shotgun in a raffle put on by his Shriner unit. Since I lived in MA at the time, he offered to buy it from me instead, with the intent that I could use it when I came to visit in PA. During that last week, he had me go up to the gun case and get the gun. It was still brand new, never shot – and he gave it to me. It means so much to me to have that thing we shared now – since it was my Dad that taught me to shoot. -Tara, reader

 

My father died when I was very young. but he left me his German Diana competition air rifle and a Sollingen Steel hunting knife. That rifle was my first firearm and I learned a lot with it. It is a break barrel and I hope to pass it on to my daughter when she grows up. – John, reader

 

When I was just around 12, my daddy took me shooting for the first time at my cousin’s house. Then a couple months ago he took me target shooting, and I did as good or better than him. Another recent time, he took me to a fellow firefighter’s house to shoot with the men. He’s taught me how to ride a dirt bike and 4wheeler. He’s my hero – he’s been a firefighter for around 25 years. ♥ – Joelle, reader

 

Karen Bartuch and her dad.

My dad was in the Army but rarely talked about it – not because he didn’t enjoy it – he is just extremely private. My mom lived in France with him while he was deployed, my oldest brother was born there. He did however, talk about how while in the Army he gave haircuts for a quarter! and he still had the pale pinkish ancient clippers that he did the haircuts with – he was very proud of that! He also had a very old toolbox filled with pennies and a few knives and bayonets (one of which was from my great uncle who brought it back from the war – it had a swastika on it). For some odd reason, those two things – quarter army haircuts and bayonets – lead to my perpetual curiosity about history, war, military operations and eventually guns.  – Karen Bartuch, President, Women’s Tactical Association

 

When I was 10 my dad started teaching me how to shoot. I was so excited learn because all of my older cousins knew how and I felt left out. The first gun I shot was a little 22 pistol and I remember feeling so accomplished that I finally shot a gun. After a few weeks of learning how to shoot and use the gun properly my dad took me hunting. We went to one of my families favorite hunting spots and in about 30 minutes I shot and killed my very first pig. My dad was so proud of me that he bought me my first gun. A Walther PPK. I was so happy and even til this day its my favorite gun to shoot at the range. Every Fathers Day since then we go out hunting and continue to make new memories. -Jamie, reader

 

My Dad had a very old pistol that he kept for safety reasons and he always had it in the glove compartment of our car when we traveled. The night my husband of 44 yrs. now proposed to me and we were waiting in the house for my parents to return for Mike to ask Dad’s permission Dad chose to bring that big old gun in from the car. Every ounce of color drained out of hubby’s face as he mouthed to me, “How did he know?” Our kids love that story. Of course he didn’t know, it was coincidence but it’s a fun story to tell. -Barbie, reader

 

Back when I was in high school I spent summers both shooting at our local gun clubs with my Dad. Every August we

Julie Golob and her father.

would volunteer to work the Miller Invitational which was one of the premier matches on the circuit. All the big names in shooting made it this match that was dubbed the “unofficial warmup” for the USPSA Nationals. I remember one year I took on co-chief range officer duties with my dad. Dad encouraged me to not only design a course of fire, but also help build all the props.  He said, “You just tell me what you want and what you need and we’ll figure out how to do it.”  I didn’t realize it then, but by giving me the reins, he was helping me learn about responsibility. Through the entire process, dad didn’t take charge or push. He let me plan it all and then we worked together to make it happen. The stage was a fun house, complete with giant clown head props, a hall of mirrors and a merry-go-round carousel with moving targets. It ended up being a lot of fun to shoot and work.  I learned so much but the best though was being able to share it together. – Julie Golob, Smith & Wesson Team Captain, Champ shooter and author of Shoot!

 

 

My best memories of shooting with my dad was going out every evening in the old HQ holden ute shooting foxes and rabbits, with his old Sako 17 ( which is still his pride and joy) bringing the kill home. Dad skinned them and I pegged them out and salted them . It was a blast! ♥ my dad -Emma, reader

 

 

Natalie and her dad.

As you may know, connecting with my dad was the reason I started shooting just a few years ago. If you have a story or memory to share about your dad, grandfather or other father figure, please leave it in the comments below. We would love to hear them. Happy Fathers Day! – Natalie

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Bullets and ballerinas: First they dance, then they shoot

  

MORE PHOTOS »

After a morning of ballet at The Dance Spot in Fullerton, some of the class headed to Triple B Clays in South El Monte for a shooting lesson. Cindi Hubbard, who has studied ballet for 22 years and is also a champion shooter, demonstrates proper stance and gun mount to the women.

JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The art of ballet and breaking clay birds with a shotgun might not seem to have much in common, but Cindi Hubbard doesn’t see it that way.

Hubbard, 54, of Yorba Linda, has been studying ballet for 22 years at The Dance Spot in Fullerton. She also is the top women’s sporting clays shooter in the Western United States. Think of sporting clays as golf with a shotgun. Shooters tour a course with stations where clay targets zip by, away and in at a dizzying array of angles.

Over the years, Hubbard has gotten close to the women in her ballet class, especially teacher Deidre Madrigal. Hubbard came up with a plan she calls “Ballet to Bullets.” After ballet lessons, they would pack off to a sporting clays course and learn to shoot a shotgun, many for the first time.

The lilting piano notes and dance commands of “glissade, echappe and jete” are replaced a few hours later by the command “pull” and the crack of a 12-gauge shotgun.

At first, there was fear and nervousness. Hubbard understands.

“I was totally afraid to touch a gun until I was over 40. I was raised in an anti-gun family,” she says.

Read the rest of the article here:

https://www.ocregister.com/articles/hubbard-348070-women-ballet.html

And check out their slide show:

https://www.ocregister.com/articles/hubbard-348070-women-ballet.html?pic=2

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I have compiled a little group of my favorites so far, but it is a working list, so if you find something that fits this bill, add it in the comments and I will repost it.

For Her:

Personally, I love gun jewelry that is just a little unexpected, if you know what I mean. I like conversation pieces- little things that people who are in the know would get, but outsiders would find cool, too.  These are some of my favorite Valentine-worthy selections:

Hot Caliber Jewelry

Hot Caliber Jewelry - The Impact Earring: $250

The Bolt Face Necklace

From our friend Annette (AKA 30 Cal Gal), the Bolt Face Nekclace: $65

Bang Bang Boutique Range Bag

The Official Girl’s Guide Necklaces

Gold plated and silver necklaces from $75 to $120

• Silver Handgun
• Gold Handgun
• Silver AK
• Gold AK

For Him:

Hot Caliber Jewelry - Cufflink: $225

For Both of You:

Chocolate Weapons!!

Yummmmmm....

Fun for the Kids (or a really silly office)

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After one of our Facebook friends, Tiffany Kluempers, posted the result of her chick-ified (that’s a technical term) firearm, I was inspired.  I contacted her and she insisted that the process was easy and that using non-acetone nail polish remover would not damage the finish on metal or polymer. I then asked you, my beloved readers, to chime in on which color of nail polish I should use. Pink won out over baby blue, orange and lavender, not only in number but also in plucks of the heartstrings. Several people suggested I use pink in support of breast cancer survivors. Incidentally, you can also do that by purchasing a Julie Golob S&W M&P 9mm.

Supplies:

• Firearm

• Nail Polish color of your choice. Brights are fun. Dark colors can be a cool, subtle change.

• Non-Acetone Nail Polish Remover (Note: MUST BE *NON*-Acetone in order to keep the original finish on the gun in tact)

• Cotton Swabs

• Cotton Balls

• Paper or Cotton Towels

1. Remove your mag and clear your firearm.  Lock the slide back and keep it in this position for the entire process. Feel free to insert your cable lock (not pictured) as added security. Especially if you’ve got little ones running around.

2. Clean the area of the gun you wish to chick-ify by wiping it down with the paper or cotton towel.

3. Take your nail polish and begin filling in your specified grooves/lettering/symbol with nail polish. Painting outside the lines in this situation is perfectly acceptable.

4. After 30 minutes, check to see if you feel that you need another coat. If so, go to town on that gun. I used three coats on my LCP to ensure the nail polish would be bright enough to see.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 with your magazines.

6. Let the nail polish dry overnight – it seems like forever, I know, but trust me on this one.

7. Wake up and be excited about finishing your project. You’re almost there!

8. Now that the polish is completely dry, use your NON-ACETONE (!!!) nail polish remover on a cotton ball to wipe away the excess nail polish. Use the cotton swabs to clean the more detailed areas of the lettering.

9. Voila! You’re finished!! Now take pictures and post them on our Facebook wall. Can’t wait to see!

Thanks again, Tiffany, for this super fun idea.

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These two 14k gold vermeil necklaces are the first Girl’s Guide to Guns-inspired creations in my jewelry line. You can purchase them at my Etsy store here:

The Sig Necklace

https://www.etsy.com/listing/64566169/sig-necklace

The Glock Necklace

https://www.etsy.com/listing/74253688/the-gold-gun-necklace-as-seen-on-whitney

Both necklaces are also available in silver.

Use the code GIRLSGUIDE for *Free Shipping!*

If you’ve got suggestions for future pieces, let me know: Natalie{at}girlsguidetoguns.com

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• Joan of Arc – for pioneering the idea that ladies could be leaders long before it was ever a cultural consideration. Just imagine what she could have done with a gun!

• Dale Evans- classic and classy, Dale was the cowgirl our moms wanted to be when they were little girls. She symbolized a strong, yet soft and feminine chick who knew how to handle a six shooter. Plus she married Roy Rogers and that’s just awesome.

• Angelina Jolie- Simply said, she makes chicks shooting guns look fabulous. The roles she chooses are often smart, gun-toting women and that message in pop culture is fabulous for those of us who love it as much as she does.

• Brad Thor -Here’s to a guy who knows how to write strong, classy, gun slinging women! And this is your cue, if you haven’t already, to go pick up your copy of his latest novel The Athena Project!

• Kim Rhode – This 4-time Olympian and 6-time National Champion skeet and trap shooter is nothing less than inspiring. We’re rooting for her as she blasts through her next Olympic qualification on her way to the 2012 games.

• Julie Goloski-Golob – This chick has a laundry list of amazing contributions she’s made to women in the shooting sports. Her resume boasts her role as Smith&Wesson’s team captain, World and National Champion Shooter, Army Female Athlete of the Year, and much more.  We here at Girl’s Guide are proud to call her a friend.

• Karl Lagerfeld for making these:

• And finally, the woman who started it all, the lovely Annie Oakley – for obvious reasons.

We’d also like to mention our friends Vicki Kawelmacher of Women’s Shooting Academy, Karen Bartuch of Women’s Tactical Association, Jessica Brooks of Barnes Bullets, Barb Baird of Women’s Outdoor Media Asssociation,  Aysha Webb at American Defense Enterprises, Niki Jones who founded Sure Shots, Karen Ziegler co-owner of Red’s Shooting Range, Juliana Crowder of www.theglockgirl.com, Tracey Splechter of the Outdoor Connection, Regis Giles of GirlsJustWannaHaveGuns.com, our guest bloggers (you know who you are), and so many others who are leading the charge for women firearms owners everywhere.

From Girl’s Guide to you- Happy International Women’s Day!

Love, Natalie and Katie

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