DIY Jewelry: Hildie and Jo Leather and Silver Earrings

 

Faux leather earrings are everywhere and I have made some and love them, but nothing beats the real thing! It can get expensive to buy leather though so naturally if you see real leather that's already pre-cut and designed for earrings you buy it right? Especially when it's 60% off which was the case with the Hildie and Jo Leather shapes I got from JoAnn. Hildie and Jo is JoAnn's in house brand of jewelry making supplies and if you're a new or experienced jewelry maker they're a great resource. I loved the simplicity of these shapes but me being me, couldnn't just leave them alone! 

Supplies: 

• Hildie and Jo Leather Shapes (JoAnn)
• Hildie and Jo Jump Rings ( JoAnn)
• Misc. Charms and Metal Beads ( Stash )
• Head Pins ( Stash )
• Jewelry Pliers

NOTE: I won't go into basic jewelry making how tos in this post but You Tube is filled with them for the following: 

How to open and close jump rings

How to make a wrapped loop on a head pin

I had the heart charms in my stash and thought they'd be perfect with the silver leather and just in time for Valentine's season but also universal enough to wear all year round. Since I don't have pierced ears, the earrings I make for myself ( or my mom ) are clips. I used to stress about not having enough different pieces to adhere the clip backs to thinking "they'll all look the same". Then it dawned on me that for pierced ears, ear wires all look the same so I got over it. 

The construction of these is pretty simple. Thread Heart Charm and two small silver beads on head pin and close with a wrapped loop. Replace the jump ring that came with the leather shape and use matching jump rings to attach the the threaded head pin. 

Use jump rings to attach base to earring clip. DONE!

The same process was used for the black earrings. The leather on this was more natural since it's not painted so the edges were a little rougher as you'll see in these pics but when I was all done I just went around the edges with my scissors to trim up. 

Using the same process as with the heart charms, thread the beads on the head pins and close with a wire wrapped loop. Attach to leather with jump rings and attach earring clips. 

And I still have one more pair of leather pieces to play with! 

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Our Hopeful Home

BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve all! We made it through another week and I finally feel like my 2021 creative juices have started flowing. Check out my first 2021 project here. Thank you for your kind comments last week about my bestie who is doing a bit better day by day. We're not out of the woods yet so please continue to Mask Up and Wash Up! Let's take a look at some of the great ideas from last week!

If you are still in need of a 2021 calendar, then Common Sparrows has you covered with a Printable Shadowbox Calendar !

String Art is making a comeback and if you've never done it, it's easy, fun, and possibilities are endless. Love My Little Cottage has a great step by step tutorial for this String Art Heart and you're only limited by your imagination in what you want to make. So many shapes lend themselves to it. 

With Valentine's Day approaching, COVID still raging and all of us continuing to stay close to home, I thought this post from 3 Winks Design was perfect! And it includes some ideas for Newlyweds and "Oldlyweds" (a new term I'll be adopting) like me! 

For a special Valentine's breakfast or anytime, these Cheddar Swirl Bacon Biscuits from Morsels of Life would be a fabulous addition. Cheese and bacon wrapped in a yummy biscuit? Oh yes please! 

Thank you to everyone who linked up and let's take a look at what you've been up to this week! 

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Valentine's: Shadowbox Framed Layered Heart

 

This week's link party continues here.

I've been off to a slow start with 2021 creating. Other than a few birthday cards, I haven't done much. Between some non-Covid health issues and tests, one of my besties testing positive for Covid and worrying about her, and the events of the year so far, I've been stuck. Anyone else like that? Sometimes it just takes seeing something hit your inbox to get you unstuck and that's exactly what happened when I got an email from Maggie Rose Design Co. with a free SVG cut file for a gorgeous layered heart. If you have or are thinking about getting an electronic cutting machine, you really want to check out Maggie's site! As soon as I saw the design I fell in love with it and knew I wanted to make something using it. 

Supplies:

• Free Layered Flower Heart SVG File, Maggie Rose Design Co. 
• Five sheets of cardstock 
• Cardstock for background
• 12x12 Shadowbox Frame ( Michaels)
• Foam tape squares (Dollar Tree)
• Electronic Cutting Machine ( I used my Cricut Explore Air 2)

I went with neutral colors because I may keep this out beyond Valentine's Day. I used two sheets of cream cardstock, one black, one white and grey marbled, and one silver glitter. 

You'll be building your heart from the base layer up so think about that as you're deciding which paper to use for which layer. 

I imported the SVG file into Cricut Design Space and sized to fit centered in the frame. I made mine 9 inches. Cut your layers. 

Once you have your layers cut, you can begin building your heart. I started with a cream layer for the base and used foam tape squares to attach the black layer. 

Repeat with the remaining layers, taking care as you get to the more detailed final two layers to position your foam squares where they won't show. 

This is with the third layer applied and you can see how it's coming together ( oops excuse that errant foam square!). 

When you're all done you can see how all of the layers work together and I was so happy with how this turned out! 

To complete, adhere your background paper to the inside of the back of the frame and then I added a strip of tape to secure my layered heart. In this pic, I hadn't yet attached the layers so they're not lined up precisely. 

One of the skills I have on my 2021 list to learn is how to make my own layered files but as I do that, I remain grateful for Makers like Maggie Rose who share their creations! 

Sharing At: 

A STROLL THROUGH LIFE

Our Hopeful Home

BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve all. 2021 is chugging crazily along and while I still haven't been making much, I'm grateful for the gift of creativity and the ability to be inspired by the projects you all share here. Thrilled that vaccine rollout has come to our state and hoping by the time this posts I will have gotten my Mom signed up. My bestie and her husband were both diagnosed last week:(  As my BFF said: "This sh** is scary". Please please please continue to mask up and wash up! 

Let's see some of the ideas from last week's party! 

My Home of All Seasons has a great post on transitioning from Christmas to Winter decor if you (like me) haven't put your Christmas decor away yet. Or pin for next year! 

Don't have a digital cutting machine? Priyam from Simple Joys is your go to source for paper cutting without one. Can you believe she made this paper chandelier without one?! I'm not sure I could do as beautiful a job with one and I have both a Cameo and a Cricut Explore Air 2! 

I keep a stash of organza and muslin bags on hand for small gifts, especially jewelry. Eccentricities by JVG shows us how to have some fun with plain muslin bags using Freezer Paper Stencils. I love that you can tailor these to any occasion!

I love cream cheese in frosting. I think it gives that extra body and cuts the sweetness just perfectly. And yet, I've never made a Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting and can't wait to try this recipe from The Kitchen Is My Playground because it looks delish! 

OK let's see what everyone's been up to this week! 

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BFF Open House First of 2021

 

Happy New Year officially since last week's party was on NYE. I hope you had a safe and happy one and that the New Year is treating you kindly so far. I haven't been as creative as I would like...I've spent more time looking at the beautiful artwork at the hospital where I've had to go for a few tests ( not COVID ). Lifelong respiratory issues. Will get back to creating soon!

Let's take a look at some ideas from last week's party to get the New Year off on a fresh creative foot! 

I love the simplicity and elegance and message of this beautiful card from Linda at Paper Seedlings. 

This is the time of year that so many are cleaning out / organizing. This is a great post by The Organized Dream on how to re-purpose some of those things we always seem to have plenty of...Old T-Shirts. 

This is the perfect thing for Mr. Chocolate and me: Bourbon Bacon Jam! I love bacon, he loves bourbon, match made in culinary heaven. From Homemade On A Weeknight. YUM!

Finally, as we all strive to eat healthier this time of year, there's no reason you can't do it in a way that's also delicious. Check out this Hight Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread from The House on Silverado. 

OK let's see what you've all been up to so far in the New Year! 

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BFF Open House HAPPY NEW YEAR !

 

Courtesy of Gina C Creates

New Year's Eve Greetings everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. One of my son's packages finally arrived YESTERDAY! Still tracking the other. It was the one w/ all the homebaked goodies which managed to survive in tact. It was special when he opened one container that was filled with a cookie I only make at Christmas and to see his face on ZOOM as he said "Smells like Christmas". 

While I always marvel at the end of a year and wonder how we got there so fast, I don't think many of you will argue about saying "Good Riddance" to 2020. Gina C Creates has some fun NYE props like the "Happy New Year" graphic above if you're looking for last minute ideas. We are doing "Nacho New Year" tonight and will I'm sure be asleep by 10! Whatever you do, Happy Happy. 

Let's see some ideas from last week's party!

Satsuma Designs has a great post on ways to celebrate NYE with kids. Love these Faux Fortune Cookies! 

Got burned out bulbs? Or maybe pick up some on sale post-Christmas, but Mary Jo from Masterpieces of My Life has THE perfect use for them. Maybe a New Year's Day project to get a jump start on next year!

With all of the extra boxes from this holiday season, that's a lot of cardboard to recycle or re-purpose which makes this idea from Howling Liz just perfect! Cardboard Canal Houses or you could start now on a Faux Gingerbread House for next year! 

If you need a last minute dessert for tonight or want to plan ahead, check out this "Death By Peanut Butter and Chocolate" (my preferred way to go) from Marilyn's Treats! 

Thank you ALL for making 2020 bearable by sharing your creativity and talents here each week. I don't get to comment on every link but I look at them all and am so honored you choose to share your work here. 

Be safe! Mask Up! Here's to 2021! 

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