Thursday, February 13, 2025

BFF Open House

 


Happy Friday Eve, Valentine's Day Eve, and Galentine's Day! Sending warm thoughts to the Chicagoland area and surrounds because our son let us know "It's FREEZING" as we remind him "You chose this!". It cooled down a bit here in the desert too but nothing like that no thank you!

This week I shared:


And you've all been busy prepping for Valentine's celebrations so let's take a look at some wonderful ideas! Wishing you all lots of love. Self, family, partner, kids...LOVE. Now, more than ever. 

Artsy Va Va shared this pretty Watercolor Heart Canvas that would work for Valentine's or anytime. The background makes it pop! 

Simple Everyday Mom shared these adorable Love Monsters that again are fun for V-Day but could work for anytime with these or different colors! 

Galentine's Day...the day before Valentine's Day to celebrate our girlfriends who play such important roles in our life...continues to gain traction. Rose Bakes shared this great Galentine's Charcuterie Board to celebrate! 


Finally, who wouldn't want to have a plate of CHOCOLATE WAFFLES like these from Recipes Simple? That who would be me! 

Thank you to all who linked up. Wishing you a weekend filled with love!









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Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Home Decor: Gothic Valentine's Day

 


This was actually my first Valentine's Day project this year and I've forgotten to post it! When I showed it to Mr. Chocolate his response was "Isn't it a little early for Halloween?" and I had to remind him that he's married to someone who loves the macabre and that there is a sub-genre of Valentine's decor that's Gothic! Besides, my decor style is best described as "Do what you like".

Supplies:
  • Ornate Frames (Dollar Tree)
  • Multi-Surface Paints (Craft Smart and Waverly)
  • Vinyl (Cricut)
  • Embellishments 


These frames from Dollar Tree were my inspiration. Have you seen them? Have you picked any up? I got the oval and rectangle shapes. But Carol, why do you have gold paint if they're already gold. I'll tell you later.


This is what it looks like when you take the frames apart. There's a two-part backing. 


I painted the frames with the Waverly No Prep Paint which worked so nicely on these because they're plastic! The color is Silver Lining. Here's where the gold comes in. I dry brushed it over the silver to give it a good gothic aged look. 


I found images I liked in Cricut Design Space, sized and cut them from white vinyl. Then I applied them directly to the backing from the frames. 


Put the frames back together and:



Yes, I kind of goofed on the Til Death Do Us Part vinyl placement but hey, "handmade" isn't always perfect, right?

I'm still not sure Mr. Chocolate gets the concept, but my Other Child (my girlfriend's eldest) totally gets and appreciates them! 



Sharing At:










Monday, February 10, 2025

Cardmaking: Layered Rose Heart Valentine's Day Cards


My first creative love is cardmaking. I've written before how it makes my heart soar when someone receives a card and lets me know how much they like it and I'm honored whenever people display them as part of their annual seasonal decor. The post-office doesn't always love me, I'm sure, but I support them by buying stamps on stamps!

I love (pun intended) making cards this time of year because showing love to friends and family is also part of Valentine's Day. This year I chose a Layered Rose Heart SVG via my Creative Fabrica subscription. 

Supplies:
  • 110 lb Cardstock (Recollections, Michaels)
  • Valentine's Themed Papers (Sweethearts Day Stack, Michaels, last year)
  • Coordinating Glitter and Foil Cardstocks
  • Foam Dots
  • Adhesive Tape Runner
  • Embellishments

 


I usually pick up a new themed stack every year but I am also trying to be good and I still had plenty of sheets from this stack I bought last year. It includes printed transparencies,  as well as papers.





I cut the base layer of each heart from white cardstock and the other two layers from glitter and foil cardstock. 


My layer construction was solid white, then glitter, then foil, attaching the glitter layer with foam dots then the foil layer with glue using a fine tip on the bottle. 


I really like how the glitter layer peeks through!


I layered a paper panel, then a transparency panel, then my layered heart. 


Time to embellish! Since the cut of the heart was intricate, I wanted to keep it simple and had picked up these pink and red self-adhesive rhinestones from DAISO (Japanese Dollar Store!) and placed these as shown. Done! 




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Sunday, February 9, 2025

Tucson Bead Mineral Gem and Fossil Show Season

 


Late January / early February every year, countless vendors come to Tuscon for one of if not the biggest gatherings of gemstones, beads, minerals, fossils and other components in markets and shows in multiple venues. Tents start going up in December. Whether you're looking for finished jewelry, fine gems, gemstones, beads, findings, components,  a rockhound looking for raw materials, a collector looking for massive pieces to add to galleries or a home, a fossil collector...there's literally something for everyone! Gift store buyers, hobbyists, professional jewelry designers, you name it, they're all here at one or more of over 60 venues! 

I've wanted to go since long before we moved down here. Until you actually see it, it's really hard to appreciate the scope and the amount of work that goes into it. Every continent and multiple states are represented. I remembered this year to take pics to share from the three shows I went to. If anyone has made it to every venue in one season, I tip my hat to them because it can take several hours to get through some of them! Most are open to the public and don't have an entrance fee. There are some that are wholesale only and many are a mix with pricing tiered by wholesale vs retail while others will give wholesale pricing to the public. 

The first show I went to this year is the first one I'll probably always go to because there's a vendor there whose findings I stock up on US Bead Warehouse. No affiliation with them. 

This is an indoor venue held in the conference center of the casino. A combination of artisan made finished jewelry, a great selection of handmade lampwork and blown glass beads, gemstone beads, findings etc. It's also part art fair with things like handmade cards, clothing and household items from several countries etc. 


Numerous vendors with tables of beads! 


Finished Jewelry
Several vendors with chain from silver plated to sterling and copper!


As mentioned, other great finds like these quilled cards!


This show has two large tents with food trucks in between them! Again, an eclectic mix of raw (I mean RAW) materials to finished fine jewelry and art. 


Slabs of encased fossils, boxes of raw gemstones, geodes, polished home decor items.


Fossil skeletons! I love to see the kids who've tagged along stare open-mouthed at these and always want to have their pictures taken. 



And of course, beads beads and more beads. 


This one is HUGE. You'll see why it needs a LOT of space so it's mostly open air tents. 


Large geodes to display. Amethyst here. And these aren't even the largest. There are even larger ones, mounted on stands. Things you'd see in hotels, office buildings, galleries, or high end homes. 


Mr. Chocolate has loved gorillas since childhood so I had to take a pic of this for him! 



Sculptures from every culture! 


Lamps, bowls, home decor items in every size and price point. 


More tables on tables on tables of beads!





Mr. Chocolate should have come to this show with me because he LOVES Bumblebee Jasper and they had lots of cool pieces from sculptures to tumbled loose rocks, cabochons, beads, and I got him this slab which he totally loves. Glad I went with it because I came home to a very nice new upgraded air fryer / oven / dehydrator that has fourteen setings as a surprise!

At any rate, I hope you've enjoyed getting a peek into this annual event. I never stop wondering at the the things nature produces.