Jewelrymaking: Fun With My Bead Show Haul

 

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend, and if you celebrated, a wonderful Valentine's Day. We had a very low-key one, but of course, there was chocolate!

I didn't take any in-process pictures, but had some fun over the weekend with some of the goodies I got at this year's bead shows. 

Since I don't have pierced ears, I make almost all of my own earrings. Clips aren't easy to find, and when I do, they're generally more dainty than what I wear, but thankfully, I can easily get clip earring backs at Michaels or online. However, it's sometimes hard to find "fronts", meaning something to which I can glue the backs. So when I find components that work, I stock up and was very pleased to find the silver ones shown here at one of the bead shows. The ones in the middle I found at Michaels, intended to be the hanging part of earrings themselves, but being flat on both sides made it easy to adapt them to my needs. 

As you can tell, I like bolder pieces. 

What are earrings without bracelets?! All of these are on stretch cord. I used black onyx beads for the black-and-silver bracelet, along with some bean-shaped silver beads, agate and glass beads for the one behind it, hammered and textured silver beads, and I don't remember what the small white beads are. I got a massive bag at a show last year for a steal. I also proceeded to spill a bunch of them and had fun finding them all on my floor! 

Since I wear a lot of black and white and neutrals, these work together, and with pieces I already have.

The great thing about making your own jewelry is that you can also remake your own jewelry! I usually go through mine once or twice a year, decide "I don't like this anymore", take it apart, make something new. But of course, that doesn't stop me from adding to my stash! 

Have you ever made or want to make your own jewelry? 

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Papercrafting: Layered LOVE Valentine's Cards

 

This week's party continues here through tomorrow. 

Busy as I've been, I found some time to make Valentine's Day Cards for family and friends. I had some great papers left from a stack I bought last year so I used them, along with a few new embellishments I picked up this year. 

Supplies:

• 110lb Cardstock (Recollections, Michaels)
• Seasonal Papers (Sweetheart Day Stack, Michaels)
• Coordinating Glitter Papers
• Adhesive Foam Dots, Glue Runner
• Misc. Embellishements
• Cut File
• Digital Cutting Machine

I always plan cards by the focal image I want to use and build around that. I went with this LOVE image from Cricut Design Space. 

In Cricut Design Space, I used the offset function to create two additional layers. I cut and assembled all of my focal pieces, then cut and assembled my cards following my go to 5x7 card and 4.75x6.75 panels. This stack had some great acetate papers included which I had fun with!

TIP: If I don't want to cut more papers for my panels, I combine leftover pieces and just measure them the same size as the panel. 

I found these embellishments at DAISO, and they were perfect for my cards!

Just added them to the letters etc.

These conversation hearts are from one of the acetate panels. 

That's about the extent of my Valentine's crafting this year, but I couldn't NOT show the people I love that I love them! 

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Cardmaking: Hanukkah Cards

 

This week's BFF Open House Link Party continues here. 

Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah and I always enjoy making cards for special friends. These may be my favorites yet!

Supplies:

• 110lb Cardstock (Recollections, Michaels) in Dark Royal Blue
• Coordinating Scrapbook Paper
• Gold Mirror Cardstock (Recollections, Michaels)
• Silver Glitter Cardstock 
• Menorah Cut Image (Cricut Design Space)
• Digital Cutting Machine (Cricut Maker)
• Coordinating Large Rhinestones (Dollar Tree)
• Foam Dots

My go-to card size is 5x7 so I cut the solid cardstock to 7x10 and scored in the middle. I had the foiled blue paper in my stash.  I found a beautiful Menorah image in Cricut Design Space. I deleted the flames because I knew I wanted to use abstract rhinestones (Dollar Tree) for the flames. In Cricut Design Space, I then created an offset for the Menorah which I cut from the gold mirror paper. 

I attached the silver glitter layer to the gold layer using foam dots, then embellished the "candles" with coordinating royal blue rhinestones. The abstract rhinestones just screamed flames to me and were the inspiration for this entire project!

The center candle of the Menorah is used to light the other candles, with the other candles being lit from left to right, one candle each night, so I chose one color for it, and used the two gold shades for the remaining flames. 

And there you go! 

Wishing all those celebrating LOVE, LIGHT, and crispy LATKES! 

Papercrafting: Layered Turkey Thanksgiving Cards

 

This whole trip down the Crafting rabbit hole started with card making. It will always be my first love and the "ber" months, are my favorite cardmaking time of year. Sharing this year's Thanksgiving cards sent to family and "framily" (friends who are like family!). 

Supplies: 

• Craft Smith Rose Gold Paper Stack (an older stack from Michaels)
• Recollections 110lb Cardstock, Cream (Michaels)
• Recollections 65lb Cardstock, Kraft (Michaels)
• Recollections 65lb Cardstock, Metallic Copper (Michaels)
• Coordinating Glitter Papers (Online)
• Foam Squares (Dollar Tree)
• Self-adhesive Rhinestones (Stash)

I always cut my components first. I have a tendency to make heavy cards and I'm trying to skinny them down because postage keeps going up! Still, even when I do need two stamps per card, it's less expensive than buying cards. 

My cards are generally 5x7. I cut the solid copper panels 4.75x6.75 and the patterned papers 4.5x6.5. Layered as shown.   

The layered turkey is a Cricut Design Space image from my CDS subscription. I cut the base layer from kraft cardstock, and the detailed layer from a coordinating glitter paper. Attached these using my tape runner. 

I used foam squares from Dollar Tree to attach the turkey to the base. I also did the GOBBLE sentiment in Cricut Design Space. 

To finish, I went to my rhinestone collection and found these antique gold ones that worked. Added these to the "GOBBLE", and done! I thought I was going to use the sequin mix shown above, but once I "rediscovered" these rhinestones...

Gobble til you wobble! 

Gingerbread Week: Gingerbread Nutcrackers

 

Welcome to Day 2 of my impromptu Gingerbread Week! It's clearly a theme this year everywhere I go. Today I'm sharing what I did with some plain ceramic Nutcrackers I found on sale at JoAnn (RIP!) after Christmas last year. 

Supplies:

• Ceramic or Wood Nutcrackers
• Multi-Surface Acrylic Paint
• Acrylic Paint Pen
• Puff Paint
• Misc. Embellishments

I found these at JoAnn for 70 or 80% off after last Christmas. This technique could just as easily be done with wood Nutcrackers or thrifted ones. 

At the time, I had yet to find the viral Rustoleum Nutmeg spray paint, nor could I find the exact color I wanted in brush paint so I did what we Makers do and mixed my own! Added some of the Espresso to the Fawn until I was satisfied. 

I covered everything but the edges of the base using a sponge spouncer. 

Then, I grabbed a white acrylic paint pen and just doodled my way around my Nutcrackers! The thing I love about these Gingerbread projects is, there's no one way. No right or wrong. 

For no particular reason, I painted the edges of the bases gold. Then I grabbed some Tulip Puffy Paint and added more detail to my Nutcrackers. 

And, of course...these weren't complete until I added a little bling. My tried and true Creatology Gems (Michaels) for the win! To finish, I added a white pom-pom to the top of their hats. 

Come back tomorrow for another fun Gingerbread Project! 

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Welcome to Vintage Charm Party #517!

Gingerbread Week: Sweet Shoppe Galvanized Metal Houses

 

This week's BFF Open House continues here through tomorrow. 

Gingerbread is so very on trend this holiday season. It's everywhere and on everything. Natch, as a Maker, I had to play! I ended up having so much fun that I decided to do a Gingerbread Week of projects!

I mentioned when I shared my Christmas Card Box that I was incorporating a Sweet Shoppe theme as part of my Christmas Decor, so this is part of that. It won't all come together until after Thanksgiving.  

Supplies:

• Little Houses (I found these Galvanized Metal ones over the Summer when Dollar Tree had them on clearance for $.25!)
• Acrylic Paints 
• Dotting Tools
• Decorative Gems (Creatology, Michaels)
• Mini Gingerbread Figures (Ashland, Michaels)
• Adhesive
• Glitter
• Oversized Bottle Caps

As I mentioned, I picked up these little galvanized metal houses over the Summer when Dollar Tree was clearing out a lot of their galvanized metal pieces. Had no clue what I was going to do with them (story of my life), but for a quarter each? No brainer. You could even make similar from cardboard or use a wood house cutout. Grabbed my Waverly No Prep Paints in Truffle and White and painted the base white and the house Truffle. 

I picked up these cute Gingerbread minis at Michaels (on sale of course!!) and thought they'd be perfect for the idea I didn't know I had. 

I had these oversized bottlecaps in my stash from a previous pickup somewhere and they were the perfect size for the opening in the metal houses. I used JudiKins dimensional glue and some glitter on hand to line the edges of each, and also to glue in the gingerbread pieces. I used E6000 and hot glue to attach the bottlecaps to the metal pieces. 

Then I got out my ball styluses to dot the houses with white paint. You can also do this with paint brushes. 

Attached the Gingerbread Cookie pieces to the top of the house with E6000 glue. Any strong adhesive will work. 

If you've followed me for a minute, you know the requisite "It Don't Mean a Thing, If It Ain't Got That Bling" applies so I grabbed my Creatology Gems from Michaels and added them! I swear, the jar is going to last me for the rest of my life. 

Almost done!

To finish, I used Tulip Dimensional Paint to add some snow atop the bottlecaps. Now, all done!

Stay tuned this week for more Gingerbread ideas!