BFF Open House Link Party#40 Wrap Up and Features

Thanks for another fun party! Not overlooking Valentine’s Day ( check back tomorrow!) but since it’s upon us and crafters are always ahead of the calendar, I’m highlighting some ideas that were shared that are perfect to get a jumpstart on Spring.

Welcome your guests with a very elegant monogrammed mat from Charm Bracelet Diva that looks like it came straight from Ballard Designs but for a fraction of the price:

I’ve seen these mini dress forms in stores for a pretty penny but Janet of All Trades shows us how to make them just as chic for a lot less:

You could even make one of these great sisal placemats from Donna at Loopy Loop Creations to go underneath your dress form:

And finally, this would be perfect for Valentine’s Day or any time of year. Check out this neutral and timeless necklace from Ellen at Creative Passage:

Hope to see you all again on Friday. Make it a creative week!

School Spirit Necklace and Bracelet

I mentioned in my post about my field trip to Shipwreck Beads that I picked up some things for a specific project. We’re going to a parent’s event at our son’s college and I wanted to show my school spirit so I made sure to pick up some beads in his school colors. Most people buy a tee shirt. I make jewelry. I know…

When I make jewelry, I have a general idea in mind but my “process” is to gather up the stuff I think I might use and take it from there:

I had some gunmetal Bead Landing chain in my stash that I knew I wanted to use, two shades of blue fire polished crystal beads and these great crystal studded beads I picked up on my trip..

I made four sets of these with the light and darker blue crystals and the crystal studded beads, then attached them to some of the chain with silver jump rings.

I had two different styles of Bead Landing chain (Michaels) so I used both and doubled them up to give some more depth to the necklace.

The center piece is actually half of a clasp but I’ll use the other half for something else.

Although this looks like a necklace on my Premiere Prop Co mannequin form, it’s actually the bracelet I made to go along with my necklace. You can find a variety of these jewelry props at Michaels.

For the bracelet, I used more Bead Landing chain, crystals, bead caps and white off set beads.

Sharing At: 

Disclosure: Premiere Prop Co provided me with props however, the opinions expressed are mine

BFF Open House Link Party #40 and BFF I Should Be Mopping The Floor !

In some ways, like the time between parties, the weeks just go faster and faster. In others ( ie work ..smile) they draaag on.

Let’s focus on the positive and meet this week’s BFF Kristi from ( and I both love and need to do her blog name) “I Should Be Mopping The Floor”. The rest of it goes : “But instead I’m pulling out the glue gun”.  Who can’t relate to that?

Kristi is a former event planner, part time graphic designer, full time wife, and mom to two boys. And she’s quite the creative genius. You may recall her re-purposed Keurig K Cup turned Valentine’s box I featured from last week’s party. Here are a few of her other awesome creations.

Love this painted and distressed coffee table that started out as a Cragslist find.

Got Mod Podge and aluminum foil? Cover a lamp base!

And you’ve got to see the incredible Toy Story themed birthday party she did:

Or the super Mario Cart racetrack cake she made for her older son’s birthday party. I want Kristi to throw me a party!

She’s got so much more including some great free printables, recipes, and hosts a weekly link party on Mondays called Mop It Up Mondays. I hope you’ll go visit!

Now, what’s everyone been up to this week? Please link to your specific post and no ads or shops please. Party On!

Field Trip: Shipwreck Beads

While Mr. C may tease me about my craft stash and how excited I can get over a new product or technique, he is extremely supportive of my creative pursuits. He’s surprised me with trips to favorite places and understands when we travel that I’ll have a list of paper / bead / art supply stores wherever we go.

We had gorgeous weather last weekend and we decided to go for a drive. He asked “Do you want to go to your bead place” which is about 90 min away from us. “Bead place” sounds like it might be a nice little bead store right? WRONG! In this case, it refers to  bead Disneyland, aka Shipwreck Beads, a HUGE bead supplied located in Lacey, WA. I think they do most of their business online but they have a ginormous retail warehouse. So you know my answer was YES PLEASE!

These pics don’t do the place justice.It’s located in a warehouse / office park and it's wall to wall beads, findings, packaging, etc. Gemstones, sterling, pewter, Czech fire polished, seed beads, wire, chain, tools, findings, you name it. If there’s something associated with beading or jewelry making they have it.

I’m always overwhelmed whenever I go there because every time I’ve been they’ve added more.

One thing I love is that whether you’re buying in bulk or for a specific project, they offer almost everything by the piece / strand to huge quantities.

They even have an area where those not shopping can sit and wait, as well as a café and espresso bar in case you’re there so long you need to refuel.

It’s very easy to become overwhelmed but you will not leave empty handed. Of course I didn't!

I stocked up on some things I’ll use all the time like jump rings, spacer beads, Jablonex and Preciosa crystals, and then a few things for a specific upcoming project. I’m good for a while!

Monster Birthday Card

I don’t often get the chance anymore to make kids cards, so I had fun making this birthday card for my nephew. 

I created the focal piece of the card using both My Memories Suite and Printshop Deluxe. I’m having a lot of fun with digital software.

Embellished this little guy’s spots with iridescent Stickles to make him more “scaley”.

Finished with a layered accent party hat and coordinating scrapbook stickers from K and Co.

$25 Giveaway from Sneakpeeq!

I’m excited to share a fun giveaway with you all today! Have you heard of sneakpeeq? No? Well you have now!

Sneakpeeq is the largest and fastest growing social shopping company on Facebook. They  have over 300,000 users to date and are rapidly growing, strategically partnering with 600+ brands in the fashion/home decor/gourmet food categories.

Each day you get recommendations of things to sneak a peeq at, you'll see the retail price, and then you get to peeq  at a special price being offered. The items are only available for a short period of time and when they’re gone, they’re gone.

Here’s one of my peeqs that I might need to get for my son’s college roommate who has a little trouble getting up in the morning.

It’s an alarm clock that runs away so you have to get up to get it!

Dangerous for me is that they have tons of chocolate ! I mean LOTS of chocolate!

So here’s the fun part. The folks at sneakpeeq are offering one of my readers the chance to win a $25 gift card usable at their site.

In addition, everyone who signs up will receive 20% to new sneakpeeq users.

Here are the rules:

• Enter the giveaway by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/xoX4VZ and joining sneakpeeq (Sneakpeeq’s rules)
• You will get 20% off just for entering.
• Only new sneakpeeq users can enter the giveaway
• 1 grand prize winner will receive the $25 gift card
• Sneakpeeq  giveaways are currently limited to the U.S.
• Leave a comment on this post telling me that you've entered

The giveaway will be open for two weeks and will close on Tuesday February 21 with the winner announced on Wednesday February 22.
 
Have fun “peeqing” and good luck!





This is a sponsored post; all opinions are mine

BFF Open House Link Party #39 Wrap Up and Features!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! There were once again some incredible ideas shared at Friday’s link party. I continue to be amazed at the creativity out there! Here are just a few highlights:

If you’re the owner of a Keurig coffee maker, save the boxes your K cups come in and make a cute storage container like Kristi from I Should Be Mopping The Floor ( me too) did for Valentine’s Day:

And wouldn’t this shabby chic dishtowel from Bev at Flamingo Toes look great hanging next to it , or could go inside it as a fun gift!

Since we’re getting close to Valentine’s Day, chocolate has to be involved right? You just have to be careful not to eat this fun chocolate play dough from Blue Skies Ahead which would be an alternative to sweets to give the kids:

You can definitely eat these gorgeous chocolate heart filled peanut butter cookies from Jenn at Rook No. 17:

You have to see the genius trick she used to create the heart imprint!

And be still my chocolate and peanut butter loving heart with these Peanut Butter Cup Brownies In A Jar from Tonia at The Gunny Sack:

Oh. My. YUM!

Finally, I adore this piece of altered art from Doreen at Altered Artworks, inspired by a famous line from the movie Jerry McGuire: You had me at hello.

Thanks to everyone who linked up and hope to see you all again on Friday! Make it a creative week!!