Handmade Cuties

Turtle Beach (Laniakea)

2013-06-19T11:02:00.000-10:00

Laniakea Beach, Oahu HI

Just for Fun Charms

2013-06-18T09:57:00.000-10:00

The kids are having a get together this week and it involves a few games and prizes. I thought it would be a good time to experiment with some crafts and add these to the prize basket.

I wanted to make clay pendants. Here is my first attempt. I used Sculpey III clay, rubber stamps and acrylic paint to make these. I started with a roller to create a uniform thickness but ended up just squashing down the clay with my fingers. I couldn't find a mold small enough to make the shape so again I did the "squash" technique. These are quite ugly but maybe I'll give it another try later. I still need to add some clear varnish and definitely less squashing and more love.

I also made some bow charms. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet. Maybe add a chain or zipper pull clasp.

Can you tell what material I used to make these bows?

Are you thinking about it?

This is what I used...

Rubber bracelet thingies!

Did you guess it right?

I made the bows by cutting the bracelet into small rectangles, wrapping wire around the center of the piece (wording towards the back) and slipping a jump ring through the wire. Easy peasy and I like it much better than the clay charms. I don't think the kids will notice that their bracelets are gone.

Have a wonderful crafty day! Thanks for stopping by :)

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Summer Saturday ~ Three

2013-06-15T10:31:00.001-10:00

When Father's Day rolls around in June, we have a tradition to follow. Do you have a special way to celebrate this day? Here is how we do it...

Every year for Father's Day, my kids buy dad a brand new pack of clean white underwear. While dad is at work, they "secretly" dye, doodle or paint on his new undies as well as some of his old ones. I say "secretly" but after doing this year after year, my husband expects to receive colorful briefs for Father's Day. He is never pleased and moans and groans when he sees his new pink, purple, green designer clothing and recalls embarrassing stories of *gasp*, people seeing his pink undies. The kids LOVE it!

Father's Day 2012

I am so sad that this year we didn't have time for this fun tradition but the kid's each made a wonderful book for him instead. This printable book idea came from Washi Tape Crafts.

We still plan to follow through with our tradition, a little late, but this year it might really be an unexpected surprise!

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I Love Your Smile!

2013-06-14T20:13:00.000-10:00

Happy Friday! I hope you had an extraordinary week full of laughter, fun and great memories. Thanks for sharing your smile with me.

Crazy little Love birds
[Stephanie]

ChatterBlossom
[Jamie]

Mo's Blog
[Mo]

crafting this and that
[eva]

Creations by Shirl
[Shirl]

I appreciate your wonderful comments and your support! Enjoy your weekend!
*****

"I LOVE YOUR SMILE" list : Comments are tallied each week by one of those fancy-schmancy blog apps (on the side bar) and on Fridays, I link up to the top 5 commentors. Although I don't list everyone, I do appreciate all of you so thank you, thank you everyone for your support. I hope you leave a comment and come back soon!

I'm tallying up your comments (June - August). The top smiley commentor will receive a goody! Check out where you rank on the side bar...

Tweet #HandmadeCute

Weekly Round-Up: Summery Things

2013-06-13T16:37:00.000-10:00

After a romp on the beach in the hot sun, swimming among the ocean life and collecting pretty shells...

Sea Star Zipper Pull Charm

...enjoy an ice cold, sweet delicious treat...

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Zipper Pull Charm

...and spend the evening sipping on a refreshing lime margarita!

Lime Zipper Pull Charm

...Ahhh Summer!

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Beach House

2013-06-12T12:07:00.000-10:00

Beach House made of drift wood and sea weeds

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Easy DIY Sport Party Favors - Cute, Fun and Annoying!

2013-06-11T08:00:00.000-10:00

It's party time and I need quick, simple favors to give to the kids on the volleyball team. Here is what I came up with. A whistle charm that requires just a little bit of supplies.

* Plastic whistles with cord from the party store. Or use your own cord.
* Zipper pulls (lanyard clips)
* Sport Ball Beads
* Another type of bead that you have in your stash
* Clear fingernail polish or glue for sealing knot
* Big eyed needle

Take off the pretty cord from the whistle and cut it into 12" (or so) lengths. I have stubby fingers so I didn't want to fiddle-faddle with a short cord.

Slip the whistle to the center of the cord and tie a knot. The loop knot kind.

Decorate the cord with beads of your choice. I used volleyball beads and acrylic spacer beads. (I added the beads to one side of the cord first. I didn't need the needle to do this. Then with the big eye needle, I slipped the other cord through the beads. The two cords were too thick to go through the beads in one one pass.) Both ends of the cord should exit out of the last bead you added.

Knot the cords close to the bead. Tie another knot about 1 cm. higher leaving a loop between the two knots.

Dab, dab, dab your top knot with glue or clear polish (with sparklies if you like).

When the polish is dry, snip off the excess cord close to the knot and slide the zipper clasp through the hole.

When you're done, you'll have colorful sport whistle and ball charms to give out to the entire team. I thought it would have been nicer to use the team colors but I was only able to find assorted color whistles. You could use cord and beads that coordinate with your team's color to make it more personal.

The annoying part comes in when the kids continue to blow the whistle all day long. When the adults start to become irritated by the constant fweeeeeeeeee! noise, you'll know it's time to leave the party.

Have fun!

Tweet #HandmadeCute *

Summer Saturday ~ two

2013-06-08T08:00:00.000-10:00

It's a sci- fi PG-13 movie about aliens and the end of humanity. I sit in the last row of the theatre as an "invisible parent" chaperone while the newly hatched teenagers sit as far away from me as they can without looking up into Will Smith's nostrils.

My younger not-yet-13-year-old is sitting next to me, protectively guarding her popcorn. I couldn't leave her alone at home so I bring her along and buy her the kid's snack tray - popcorn, a box of candy and fruit punch. She loves it. I tell her to close her eyes if the movie gets scary but she won't because the popcorn might disappear into my mouth.

The spaceship crashes! Gigantic baboons on the attack! Oh no...poisonous leaches! Destructive thermal earth shifts! A zombie dead sister! ALIEN!

Finally, I get some popcorn. It's soggy.

The teenagers are giddy with glee over the movie. My little one is bouncing with sugar overload. And I leave with a line from Will Smith that I will use with my kids when the aliens attack.

“Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me. Danger is very real. But Fear is a choice.” Will Smith, After Earth

What do you think of this quote?

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I Love Your Smile!

2013-06-07T13:49:00.000-10:00

Happy Friday everyone. I hope you had a wonderful week and have fun plans for your weekend. This summer is turning out to be a busy one especially for my older daughter. I don't know how it turned out to be so busy but it has and I'm pretty proud of my girl for trying so many new things. I gave her a month off of piano thinking she could relax a bit but her days quickly filled up with a list of activities that she chose to do such as volleyball, 4H, volunteer work for the Oahu SPCA and fundraising activities for her school. In addition to that she has summer homework assigned by the school and her father and I think it would be beneficial for her to start studying for the SSAT exam for high school. Some days, she really needs a smile and, thanks to you, I am glad to have extra smiles to share with her.

I Love Your Smile!

Mo's Blog
"Random Rambling from the creative mind of Mo."

Crazy little Love birds
"Embracing life's little moments with my loves by my side. It's a beautiful life."

ChatterBlossom
"Accessories with a story to tell."

Creations by Shirl
Paper crafts and cards from the "Big Island of Hawaii".

crafting this and that
"a journal of two friends and their creations"

Thank you my blog friends for your support!

"I LOVE YOUR SMILE" list : Comments are tallied each week by one of those fancy-schmancy blog apps (on the side bar) and on Fridays, I link up to the top 5 commentors. Although I don't list everyone, I do appreciate all of you so thank you, thank you everyone for your support. I hope you leave a comment and come back soon!

Tweet #HandmadeCute

Free Brick Stitch Strawberry Ice Cream Cone Pattern

2013-06-06T10:22:00.000-10:00

What is your favorite Ice Cream flavor? I go through flavor stages but I often select ice cream with chocolate or coffee. I like nuts too.

As a kid, I loved strawberry ice cream so here is a throwback to my childhood days...a seed bead pattern for strawberry ice cream - in a cone please.

These are the materials I used to complete my beaded design.

* Toho seed beads size 11/0

* 4 mm. acrylic faceted bead

* 6 lb. Crystal Fireline

* Beading needle

Measurement of finished work is approximately approximately 1.75 cm. at its widest point and am 2.25 cm. height.

Bead Count: 86

No. of Colors: 4

Bead Legend (Toho)

1: Opaque Lustered Cherry (#125)

2: Ceylon Tomato Soup (#906)

3: Opaque Lustered Lt. Beige (#123)

Pattern Created using BeadTool4, www.beadtool.net

To download and print this PDF pattern, please go here.

This is an original HandmadeCute design. You are not allowed to copy, reproduce, share, alter or sell this pattern. If selling your completed beadwork from this pattern, please credit the design to my shop, HandmadeCute at www.HandmadeCute.Etsy.com or my blog at www.HandmadeCuties.blogspot.com.

Feel free to share your completed ice cream cone on my Facebook page.

Thank you and have fun!

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Art on the Zoo Fence

2013-06-05T20:28:00.000-10:00

Art Show Honolulu Zoo

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Etsy Treasury Collection

2013-06-03T09:55:00.000-10:00

I adore this sweet, retro style Treasury with it's soft pink hues. It makes me think of innocence and the smell of baby powder, of a tender coming of age story (before the corruption part comes in) and tiny fluffy bunnies. What does it make you think of?

'See what she ♥.............' by PrettySang

Love it!

Newborn Headband, Baby Headb... EmersonandIvy $11.95	Blooming Love Print thimblepress $12	Victorian silk dress ladyjanecoutur... $265	Elegant Floppy Hat for Child... BowPeepBoutiqu... $19.99
Violin Pendant ScarletsLovedC... $15	spring crochet basket, natur... Napolinea $10.25	Pink Rose with Bow Zipper Pu... HandmadeCute $6.5	Teddy Bear Rat Larisa Patter... SoftlyBearPaw $9.95
Baby pink ring with chrysant... ZsBcreations $14	Resin Flower Bobby Pin Hair ... CabochonsJewel... $5	Urchin : Air plant LBrandt $6	Tooth fairy pillow, house pi... LittleFairyCot... $18
Pink wood earrings - pink ea... GentleDecision... $13.5	Moncherie bracelet , multi c... WoolyCA $25	Needle Felted Owl, grey blue... feltjar $25	Love Ceramic Ring Dish White... Ceraminic $15

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

Thank you PrettySang for including my Pink Rose with Bow Zipper Pull in this gorgeous collection.

A Set of 6 Lucite Lavender Bell Flower Accessory

by PrettySang, Etsy

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Summer Saturday - one

2013-06-01T18:01:00.000-10:00

I usually don't do a post on Saturday but since I am sitting in front of the computer, I thought I would do one about the random things that we've been up to.

The kids are outside playing with dad in the carport because it's so hot in the house. While they are having fun with moon sand, I'm taking the time to finish up a special beaded charm request. It's been really muggy lately - the skies are dark and heavy so I'm waiting for a big cooling rain to come. Unfortunately, we've had sprinkles here and there but not enough to wash away the heat.

Howy
(source: Oahu SPCA)

Yesterday my older one volunteered in the cat house at the local SPCA. She adores cats and I'm afraid she might one day be a mad, crazy, insane cat lady but after yesterday's experience, I think she realizes the muck and yuck that comes with taking care of a bunch of meowing felines. She is lucky that we clean up after her messy cats but hopefully now appreciates what we do for her sometimes obnoxious pets.

Today our younger one played volleyball in our neighborhood's Police Activity League (PAL). The team lost but everyone enjoyed the game. This is the most energetic and enthusiastic sport team that I have seen in awhile. The kids cheer each other on, give high-fives, burst out in laughter and do silly cheers even while they are losing. It's great to see them having so much fun.

My younger one is really reserved and quiet. She joined this team not knowing anyone. She gets nervous when going to practice but a few of her teammates have been really friendly with her. I am happy to see kindness and empathy in kids so young yet old enough to do that "exclusive friendship" thing.

Our day usually ends with my husband visiting his father, who is in a nursing home, and me cooking dinner and helping the kids with homework. But, now that school is out...we're just gonna kick back and relax until dad gets home...with dinner!

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend. What have you been up to?

*****
Tweet #HandmadeCute

I Love Your Smile!

2013-05-31T14:15:00.000-10:00

June's heat has invaded the last day of May. Can you feel it where you live? It is so hot that I am able to hang the laundry in the sun and it dries in an instant. I no longer need to water the lawn because the grass is brown and crunchy like crispy cake noodles. The drink that quenches my thirst is lemony iced tea and these are the people who put a smile on my face...

ChatterBlossom
[Jamie]

* The Joy of Crafting
[Joy]

* Creations by Shirl
[Shirl]

* Crazy little Love birds
[Stephanie]

* Jon Bear and Carlyn Girl's Small Adventure
[Jon Bear and Carlyn Girl]

Have a great day and enjoy your weekend!

P.S. I'm tallying the comments for the entire summer (June, July, August) so I can do a giveaway in September for the most smiles shared.

*****
Tweet #HandmadeCute

Weekly Round-Up: Stars and Patterns

2013-05-30T11:55:00.000-10:00

This week I had fun incorporating stars into my designs and posting patterns in my shop.

For this star design, I used 4 mm. Druk beads (Czech glass) to make sparkly ornaments. I know Christmas is far away but these stars are larger than my usual pieces so I call them ornaments. They measure about 3.5 cm. in diameter and though bigger, I think it would work well as charms too.

Beaded Star Ornament

This panda is a familiar face but I made it "fun-er" by adding a link chain and bright, colorful acrylic stars.

Beaded Panda Zipper Pull / Charm

Etsy just made listing and purchasing patterns much easier. Instant downloads are now available once payment is confirmed...hooray! Now, if you want to make your own panda, you can!

Brick Stitch Panda Pattern

I saw a REAL raccoon for the first time when I went to the Plimoth Grist Mill in Massachusetts. The raccoon, named Miko, was fishing for herring that came back to spawn in their home sweet home. The entire herring spawning story is amazing but for someone who has never seen a raccoon before, well, that was pretty cool.

Brick Stitch Raccoon Pattern

I hope you like this week's round-up. Thanks for visiting. Have a great day!

Gnarled Monkeypod Tree

2013-05-29T07:00:00.000-10:00

Summer is...

playing around the mystical monkeypod tree with its gnarly roots at the Honolulu Zoo

I Love Your Smile!

2013-05-24T16:46:00.000-10:00

Our home is full of noise and activity just like it should be during summer break from school. And, the summer heat is here too! I'm sniffling and coughing with a cold but needed to get the kids out of the house so we ventured to a "far away" library (for a little more excitement) to get books that hopefully will engage them until I feel better. Stopped to get icy smoothies that gave the kids brain freeze (they'll never learn to drink slowly!). The heat, my head cold and the constant buzzing of the children makes me feel like I'm on mind altering drugs (not that I know how that really feels)...but I'm looking forward to a fun summer!

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it."

~Russell Baker, Pulitzer Prize Writer

Thanks for sending cool summer smiles my way.

Mo's Blog

Random Rambling from the creative mind of Mo

[Mohala Johnson]

[Shirl]

[Jennifer]

[Jamie]

Happy Friday!

{It's Friday isn't it?}

Weekly Round-Up: More Zipper Pulls

2013-05-23T14:04:00.000-10:00

Summer break is here. The day started with sibling bickering, stuffy noses and sore throats but, thankfully, the animals have settled down. Chores done, a few summer rules (threats) and now we can lounge a bit and be lazy in the warm air. The fans are going full blast. Hopefully, we'll all kick this cold very soon and start having fun.

My sleepy eyes can't focus on beading today but I did add these to my shop this past week. I hope you like them.

Lampwork Dalmation with Beaded Heart Zipper Pull / Charm

Good Luck Frog and Beaded Stars Zipper Pull / Charm

Pink Rose and Beaded "Bud" Zipper Pull / Charm

Beaded Watermelon Zipper Pull / Charm

Have a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by!

Re-Cutified

2013-05-22T09:18:00.002-10:00

The Squinkies made into charms project.

I Love Your Smile!

2013-05-17T09:19:00.000-10:00

Happy Friday. How is your day going so far?

I wanted to share this Maya Angelou quote with you...
“If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good morning' at total strangers.”

It makes me laugh and feel bad at the same time. My daughter sometimes tells me, "Mom! You're so grouchy but, when you answer the phone, you sound so happy." I jokingly offer her the phone and suggest that she call me whenever she wants to talk about something - even if we're just a few feet away.

With much appreciation, I thank you for sharing your smile with me even when you're having a rough day. I'm smiling back at you and will remember to pass on a big smile to the people I love.

crafting this and that

eva

Crazy litte love birds
Stephanie

* heidi's wandering
heidi

* Creations by Shirl
Shirl

* Yuli ConversationS
Yuli

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to visit and comment on my blog!

"I LOVE YOUR SMILE" list : Comments are tallied each week by one of those fancy-schmancy blog apps (on the side bar) and on Fridays, I link up to the top 5 commentators. Although I don't list everyone, I do appreciate all of you so thank you, thank you everyone for your support. I hope you leave a comment and come back soon

Weekly Round-Up: Kawaii Style

2013-05-16T17:27:00.000-10:00

The recent additions to my shop were inspired by my mess of beads. I was feeling quite overwhelmed because my work space [dining table] was covered with craft bits that were quite unorganized. My poor family is not allowed to eat at the table when I am crafting so we sit around a folding table on the floor [like a Japanese tea restaurant, I say]. I've often thought about moving my supplies to another room but, I like that I'm in the center of everything where I can interact with the kids and husband while they do their thing and I do mine. In the meantime, as my beading supplies grow, I'll need to figure out how to keep an orderly and functional space for all of us to enjoy. If you have any hints for me, I'd love to hear about it!

While sorting through my stash, I came across beads and charms that were stuffed into a box and left to die. I decided to incorporate these pretty findings with my bead woven charms to create a kawaii look.

Pink Fairy Doll with Pastel Stars, Zipper Pull / Charm

Pink Rose with Bow, Zipper Pull / Charm

Heart and Key, Zipper Pull / Charm

I hope you like these new additions because I got a whole lot of beads to work with.

Thank you for stopping by today!

so much JOY!

2013-05-15T08:01:00.000-10:00

Handmade card by Eva, crafting this and that

Move Mountains!

2013-05-08T09:10:00.000-10:00

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Etsy Treasury Collection

2013-05-06T11:59:00.002-10:00

May is a special month for me. I celebrate being a mom and the joy of raising healthy, happy children. I celebrate the day I was born...oh so many years ago. I celebrate the beginning of summer break and fun days with the kids.

Iryna Merkulova honors this wonderful this month with a MAY treasury. This collections makes me want to go outside and run around in the green grass and sunshine. Would you care to join me?

'MAY' by irusichkaus

vorobchyk $20	berly731 $32	designsbysusan... $14.99	JazzyAppleGal $3.99
whiskeykittens $16.99	xoUda $21	WreathinkGifti... $50	ButtonUpp $5
EpiphanysCorne... $30	PearlsandCurls... $6.5	grillo06 $12	tintiara $15
edolena $9	BlueMonsterSup... $2.5	HandmadeCute $8.75	MommyandMeBout... $6.5

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Thank you so much Iryna for including my football earring in your collection. Please click on the photos to view the listings.

The next collection is a treasury that summarizes my thoughts of May...fun, colorful, carefree and happy. It is called Whimsy is me...and the creator is Maui artist, Pamela of Gracious Art. Here is a painting that I love from Pamela's Etsy shop. It's entitled Granny Fairy...because granny fairies do exist!

Granny Fairy by Gracious Art, Etsy

Treasury: Whimsy is me...

Curator: Pamela from Gracious Art

Featured in Treasury: Brick Stitch Watermelon

Finally, for those of you who enjoy the sweet face and company of your pet, you will fall in love with Agnieszka Sojko's shop called Afafil and you will adore her treasury entitled, cocker spaniel. Every time I visit Afafil, I die of cuteness.

Vomi Cocker Spaniel needle felted dog by Agnieszka Sojko from Afafil

Treasury: cocker spaniel

Curator: Agnieszka Sojko from Afafil

Featured in Treasury: Cocker Spaniel Charm

I hope you enjoyed today's collection of Etsy Treasuries and the fabulous people behind them. Thanks for stopping by!

I Love Your Smile!

2013-05-03T16:33:00.000-10:00

I spent a wonderful day at the park today but came home just in time to do my favorite post of the week. I hope all of you had a great day full of smiles and great fun. If not, have faith in the little things and let it lead you back to happy :)

Thank you for sharing the power of your smile with me!

ChatterBlossom [Jamie]

2 just B you [Kim]

*crafting this and that [Eva]

*Yuli ConversationS [Yuli]

*thistlebear [Jennifer]

Smiling back at you!

***

"I LOVE YOUR SMILE" list : Comments are tallied each week by one of those fancy-schmancy blog apps (on the side bar) and on Fridays, I link up to the top 5 commentators. Although I don't list everyone, I do appreciate all of you so thank you, thank you everyone for your support. I hope you leave a comment and come back soon