Key To My Heart Wall Art

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I love it when a plan you didn’t have comes together! But first...if you're looking for the BFF Open House link party, it's still going on right here . Great ideas to check out and link up your own.

So. I had this big antique metal key in my stash and wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it and then I was going through my stamp stash and ba-da-bing.

The stamp has the sentiment that brought everything together but more on that later.

I had this fantastic black and white glass heart in my Blue Moon Beads design team materials. LOVED it from moment I saw it but wanted to save it for just the right thing.

I pulled it out along with some antique gold chain, findings, and this metal tassel pendant. All by Blue Moon.

I attached pieces of a toggle clasp from the findings package to two lengths of chain and glued them to the back of my key.

While that was setting, I worked on my focal point. Using the glass heart, metal pendant, another key from my stash, some ribbons and an antique book ring ( 7 Gypsies) I just kind of played around until I liked the result. This involved more findings from the same package.

I tied my focal to the book ring and then the book ring to the chain and finished up with some strips of leftover drop cloth. And now we’re back to the tag using the stamp that started it all.

Small manila tag, dusted and swiped with Distress Ink ( antique linen) with a scrap of leftover paper and a piece of washi tape. I  debated about saving this to give Mr. C. for Valentine’s Day but decided I wanted to look at it now. It’s hanging in our bedroom where we both can see it. From the moment I got this key he’s claimed it as his. Well who knew he was right? ‘Cause he does hold the key to my heart.

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Bejeweled and Altered Mini Composition Book

This is one of those projects that was born of necessity. Just because something has a practical use, doesn't mean it can't be pretty right? 

On the personal side, I am supposed to be watching my blood pressure. Haven't been the best at that and with the New Year, I'm trying to be more diligent. I'm sure there's a whiz bang iPhone app that I could use but sometimes you just need to go old school. So I altered a mini comp book to keep right next to my sphygmometer er, blood pressure thingy. It's 4.5 by 3.25 so I can easily drop it in my handbag when I go show my doctor how diligent I've been.  

I pulled a sheet of paper from my stash, traced around my book, cut, glued on w/ Mod Podge .

Of course that wasn't nearly enough stuff. I chose this great wood and metal pendant by Blue Moon Beads as my journal's focal point. Its flowery design went well with the paper: 

Glued it to the center of one of  flower on the front and then added coordinating black and white washi tape from my stash. As a closure for my journal. I slapped some of the washi tape onto a binder clip. See? Practical and pretty! 

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Double Strand Hammered Metal Connector Necklace

So apparently I really have lost my mind because I had this ready to post in DECEMBER and thought I had. That’s the sound of my palm hitting my head.

I made this necklace ( shown here doubled) with Blue Moon Beads and Bead Landing chain. The lightbulb went off yesterday when I was wearing it and someone asked me if I made it. That made me start thinking about when I made it and I realized I never posted it!

Whenever I’m making jewelry, I gather up what I think I’m going to use so here are the things I started with. The blue grey beads came in a pack of 23 coordinating pieces as shown on the card.

I cut different lengths of chain and made varying sections of beads and then randomly put them together with jump rings and hammered silver connectors:

I made it really long so I could either wear it that way or double it. It’s hard to get a good photograph of it the long way but I’ve mostly worn it doubled anyway.

A mind is a terrible thing to lose!

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Easy Filigree Metal Bead Bracelet

Fighting off some sort of bug today so wasn’t up for tackling anything too hard. Sometimes though, the easiest things turn out to be those you love the most.

I fell in love with this Mud Pie bead mix from Blue Moon Beads the second I saw it. My colors and style 1000%.  This is one of the mixes that’s available exclusively at JoAnn’s.

It’s a mixture of filigreed metal, wire mesh wrapped, and metallic colored beads. I decided the beads were so awesome they needed to be used simply. What’s simpler than stretchy cord? I keep seeing fun stretchy bracelets at places like Nordstrom for $50 and up. If you can tie a knot, you can make enough of your own bracelets to match your entire wardrobe for the price of one.

I started stringing with no patter in mind. Just grabbed beads from the tin until it was the right size.  I don’t pre-cut my cord, but leave it on the spool and string my beads on until I’m happy with the size.

I had these smoky grey faceted charms in my supplies and decided they’d go great on this bracelet. I added these after the bracelet was complete and put them on using silver jump rings. Again, just kind of eyeballed the spacing.

While I was provided the beads for this project as a member of the Blue Moon Beads design team, the pricing is such that these are an affordable way to achieve a high fashion look.

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Bead Embellished Stamped Ornaments

When I received a supply of beads from Blue Moon Beads to play with, I knew I’d use this collection for something Christmasy. I wasn’t sure what. Then after playing with my French Script paper mache ornament idea, I knew.

OK I mostly knew! I gathered up some of the supplies I’d been sent. My “creative process” is to have a bunch of stuff out and then see where it takes me.

This idea came from a mixed bead tin called appropriately, Red Velvet. I mixed in some glass pearls that were also in my supplies.

I grabbed some eye pins and then added some of my bead mix.

I stamped my plain paper mache ornaments (more detail here) and then pierced the bottom of each ornament with a needle. Threaded my beaded pin through and secured with a dab of super glue. Then went around the edges with metallic red glitter.

Embellished with self adhesive rhinestones and pearls, but I think the beaded ends make all the difference.

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Frosty Blue Wire and Bead Crocheted Bracelet

Do you ever finally get around to trying something and then kick yourself for not doing it sooner because you thought it must be much harder than it actually was?  Raise your hand and fess up.

I have wanted to try: 1.) Crocheting with beads and 2.) Crocheting with wire (and beads) but thought “Oh no. It has to be really really REALLY hard”. I was wrong.

I found a video on You Tube. Most people go to YT for laughs or clips of things they missed. I go for craft tutes!

I used a thinner silver beading wire ( 26 guage) and this bead mix called “PB&J” from Blue Moon Beads. I thought this color combo was perfect for jeans and sweaters and Winter.

Following the tutorial, I went to work and made this in about well I don’t know exactly how long but it was less than an hour!

I was worried about it being too small so I actually ended up making it a little bigger than I needed but I overlapped the ends and secured them with a lobster claw clasp. Problem solved.

I may even branch out of my usual neutral wardrobe colors and look for a frosty blue sweater to match my new bracelet!

Design Team Member

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As a member of the Blue Moon Beads Design Team, these products were provided for my use. All opinions are mine.