Then she made...

Passing Time

2012-02-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if my family is the only unlucky ones but we've certainly had our fair share of colds, strep throat, viruses, sinus infections and other weird, unexplained health things this winter. Fortunately for me, I've managed to mostly escape it with nothing more than a runny nose here and there. Well, maybe a few other things but I'll classify them into the TMI category and save you the details. Currently I'm home for the second time this week with a sick kiddo. The poor thing is struggling with weird symptoms that put her into extreme pain which then brings on massive amount of tears. We had to do blood work and x-rays today and now we wait. Waiting for the Dr. to call is one of the hardest things EVER!

The good part of the waiting is that while I've been trying to pass time I have finished up a few word art projects. Wanna see???

I made this one for my life-long friend, Judy. She asked me to make her a word art to cover her electrical panel that is by her back door. She's been very, very, very patient with me while I made this. I'd work on it, then set it aside. I even had to restart it once as I realized the words I printed out were too small and wouldn't work with the paint part. Needless to say, it's finally done and she can now cover that electrical panel and think of me and all the things she loves, like thunder, trees, cats, and ice cream ever time she heads outside.

My daughter and I also finished up these. Miss M, my 14 yr old daughter, made the one above and was going to make these word art panels and sell them as a fundraiser for a summer youth program that she wants to attend. She ditched the idea though because she realized babysitting was the easier way to stock pile her earnings.

Also, using the same theme, I made this one. I wanted one to keep in our kitchen. The statement, Arise and Shine Forth is a special statement for the youth at my church and we are focusing on it as a family too.

If you are interested in seeing the tutorials on how to make these projects you can check out these two post:

Robot Art and Family Word Art

All my word art projects are made using contact paper, canvases, and paint. I've got another big project in the works. It's a time consuming one though but I'm digging it so far.

Young Women & CTR Themed Jewelry

2012-02-22T13:07:00.001-07:00

Do you ever have projects that just sit, and sit, and sit? You start them and then some how, even though they are easy, you just don't get around to finishing them? Yep! That's what today's post is all about. I started on these Arise word pendants the first week in January. I got them all done, shaped, baked, painted, & glazed but then just never did the final steps. Today though, I'm making some killer progress.

My word pendant tutorial continues to get a lot of hits. It's a great little project that can be done by kids and thrown on a string or you can dress it up a bit for a more grown up version. Plus, with all the rage about the whole "one little word" project that so many do every year, it's a fun way to use your "word". I'm using my latest designs kind of in that sense. My church has a great youth program, I love it. I love that it gives my daughter a safe place to go, to learn, and to become. She is sometimes completely unaware of all the divine potential that is in her and the programs help her so much to connect to that and to build a strong, Christ-focused life. Every year our church comes out with a new theme that our youth, both girls and boys, focus on. This year it's:

"Arise & Shine Forth that thy light may be a standard to the nations."

I love it! I love that the light referred to is the light of Christ. That light is in all of us and it's our choice to let it shine. Anyway, hoping to keep the theme fresh on our minds, because I'm just a youth at heart, I made these:

I'm a huge orange fan so I like the orange with just a small hint of blue on the bead.

The brown ones are cool too because you can mix the colors up a bit with the paint. I'm still working on turning it into a necklace and earring set but that should be done soon. I know lots of YW leaders who are looking for camp craft ideas. These would be fun but keep in mind you have to have an oven to bake the clay. Plus they are easy but time consuming. You have to allow time to design, shape, cook, cool, paint, dry, glaze and then dry again before you can even start to put it on a necklace. So, if you are thinking of making these at camp I'd suggest you make and cook all the pendants before hand. Then let the girls paint them and turn them into necklaces. It's more work for you but you'll have a better end result - just sayin'!

Also, here's an idea to incorporate the word pendants for a younger age. "CTR" stands for choose the right and the kids that are in the age group from 3-12 at church are very familiar with those letters.

These pendants are a fun idea for Activity Day aged girls and well, I'm biased, but I think they are kind of cute. And, with that, I'm off to eat lunch and make some more jewelry!

P.S. I have decided to sell my jewelry again, if you are interested in my designs and the details, see the Custom Jewelry tab above. I'm also willing to sell kits, pendant pre-made, that you can just string together with your kids. Email me if you want more info. Thanks!

A Healthy Thank You

2012-02-20T08:56:00.005-07:00

So, I don't know about you, but when ever I want to send a "thank you" I always bake a plate of cookies - always! It's like it's second nature. Snickerdoodles. Chocolate Chip. Peanut Butter. I rotate between the three, make a batch, throw them on a plate and ta-da! Done! However, lately I've been more aware that not everyone likes cookies - WHAT???? I know, I was shocked too. But I do respect it and I even kind of understand it. This has forced me to think about my "Thank You" gifts.

Last week we had a meeting that I was in charge of at my church. We have these meetings usually once a month and they are just for the women's group, the Relief Society. I have a great board of women who help me put these meetings together, decorate for them and even help with the presentations. They are awesome women, I couldn't do my assignment (we call it a calling in our church) without them and they needed to be thanked - cookies weren't going to cut it though. So, instead, I made these ....

Cheesy? - Yep! Healthier than cookies? - Yep!

My husband rolled his eyes at me and said he "knew" I was going to do something like that. It's ok though, the response from the women who received them was positive. I got a thumb's up from one lady and great big thank you from another so I'll call that success. Plus, since I also attached a thank you note (not shown) it really was more about letting them know how much I appreciate them, because in the end, that's what it's really about - voicing an appreciation and letting them know their time, service, and talents are greatly appreciated!

Whether you make cookies or give fruit with silly sayings attached, I encourage you to remember to thank those that make a difference in your life! I really don't think people hear those two magical words - "thank you" - enough.

"Thank you" for reading - now, go enjoy your holiday, it's is Presidents day after all!

Nativity Tutorial - Wiseman 2

2012-02-19T01:16:00.001-07:00

Ok, quick question: Those of you that sign up for email updates, did you get a post with a little video in it today? For some reason, I got an update with that post in it, but it wasn't current. That was from a post way back in December. Just wondering if that happens a lot? Do you get an email from Then She Made every day or just on days that have new posts? Hmmm. Trying to figure out why that one went out.

Anyway, here is the next little nativity piece. Another Wiseman. Just a reminder, all of the bodies, for all the pieces, are pretty much made the same way, so, if you are following along, some of the steps on the tutorial are repeats from our first tutorial. And, if you are just starting to follow this project, our first tutorial has several tips and important info on using clay that you may find helpful. Be sure to check it out here: Nativity Tutorial - Wiseman 1

Also, just like last time, I've included a completed figure in most of the pictures, that way it will give you a better idea of what each step is accomplishing.

Supplies Needed:
Tin Foil
Wax Paper
Clay (Blue Pearl, Pearl, Beige, Gold, Chocolate Brown, Black & Red Pearl)
Sharp tool (tooth pick with work)

Step 1: (Not shown) cover your work surface with wax paper.

Step 2: Tear off a piece of foil and shape it so you have a small round ball, which will be the head, and a longer, thicker piece that will become the body. Both pieces should look like those shown above. Roughly the body should be about 2.5 to 3 inches tall. Set them aside for a moment.

Step 3: Take a piece of blue clay and condition it so it is soft and workable. Then, flatten it out like shown above.

Step 4: Place the tinfoil shape of the body on the flattened clay. Then, wrap the clay around the form as shown. Smooth out the seam line with your finger. (If you need more info on this step, refer to Step 7 on the Wiseman 1 tutorial)

Step 5: Once the seam is smoothed out, flatten bottom of body so that it has a flat surface. Make sure it is good and flay so the piece will stand on it's own.

Step 6: Next, shape two small pieces of clay into what looks like little boomerangs. Then attach them to the body for the arms. Once this is done, go wash your hands. (They are probably blue right now)

Step7: Now roll two small circles for hands, and cover your tinfoil ball in clay for the head. Attach these items to your figure. Plus, add a little ball for the nose. (these steps are shown in photos in tutorial 1 if needed)

Step 8: Next, condition a piece of Pearl clay and shape into a ball. Flatten the clay ball and smooth it out as much as possible. You will want to keep the thickness consistent.

Step 9: After it is flattened, carefully lift it up and place it on the head of your figure. You want to center it on the head. Now, look it over before you go any further. If it seems to big, or too long, remove it and trim it down.

I felt like mine was a little too big and so I removed it and trimmed off a piece. The, I placed it back on the head and continued. It looked a lot better once I made it slightly smaller. There really isn't a way to measure this, it's all done by sight and personal preference. Go with what looks good to you.

Step 10: Once you get it in place on the head, carefully fold the clay so it looks like folds in the fabric. Tuck under the sides slightly and put a small fold in the back. See photos above. Also, be careful not to flatten the top of the clay. It will look better if the clay is not flat to the head.

Step 11: Set the little guy aside for a bit and take a small piece of chocolate colored clay, condition it and then shape it into a trapezoid shape like shown above.

Step 12: Then, using your sharp tool or tooth pick, carefully draw, or make some indents, in the clay to make it look like a little box with a lid. See photo. Next use a tiny bit of gold clay and add in the details of the clasp and the handle.

Step 13: You can also use your sharp tool to add in some fine details if you'd like.

Step 14: Attach your gift box in between the hands of the little guy. Be sure to press firmly so it stays in place but be careful to not press so hard that it flattens it.

Step 15: Next, using gold clay, roll a small ball and then roll ball into rope that is about 3 inches long.

Step 16: Carefully press up the center of the clay rope into a triangle like shown above.

Step 17: Then, place the crown, centering the triangle part in the center of the forehead of your little guy and wrapping the ends around the back of the head. Hook them together and remove any excess clay. Then smooth out the seam with your finger until it looks like a circle or completed crown. (see second figure in photo above.)

Step 18: Next, take a small amount of red clay and roll it into a ball. Add it to the center of the crown to look like a jewel.

Step 19: Then, using your sharp tool or toothpick, press some small holes all the way around the jewel. Once complete, add in two small black clay eyes and draw on your mouth.

Step 20: Bake figure in preheated 275 degree oven for 15 to 18 minutes. And your done.

Piece 2 of your nativity set is now complete!

So, what do you think? Is it getting easier to work with clay? Are you feeling more comfortable with it? I think clay seems intimidating at first but once you start playing with it, you realize there are so many possibilities and it's not nearly as scary. Email me at thenshemade (at) gmail (dot) com if you have any questions.

Happy Is the Heart That Still Feels Pain

2012-02-17T07:32:00.006-07:00

Edited 2/18/12: I'm doing much better. All is well. I am well. Just needed some sleep and day off. Nativity tutorial #2 is on it's way.

Today was supposed to be our Nativity day but I'm afraid I have to postpone it a day or two. I'm coming out of a social event that has me dealing with some major anxiety. Like can't sleep. Can't eat. Heart racing. Chest pain. Full.blown.anxiety. It sucks.

Social events tend to put me in this place but it's been awhile since I've had a full on attack like this. I'm usually fine at the event, the anxiety kicks in when it's done. Anyone else have these issues?

I know it will pass. It usually does.

In the meantime I've got a line from an Ingrid Michaelson song stuck in my head "Happy is the heart that still feels pain. Darkness drains and light will come again."

Such truth!

In other news, if you are waiting on the next tutorial, we will be making a version - ours will be slightly different - of this guy.

You can start getting your clay colors ready, you will need:

Blue pearl

Pearl

Beige

Black

Gold

Hazel Nut (brown)

Deep Red Pearl

See you soon!

Quick Thoughts

2012-02-15T15:31:00.002-07:00

I promise I didn't crop her head off - she bounced right when I took the photo and I fell in
love with the image that was captured. It's very much her personality!

I'm bouncing my way through a busy couple of days ahead and just thought I'd leave you with one of my favorite scrapbooking layouts. I found it because I'm prepping for a class that I will be teaching tomorrow night and so I've been looking through a ton of old files, pictures, and albums. It's been pretty awesome to walk down memory lane. It's made me realize a few things....

1- I want to scrapbook again. I haven't done it for so long. I'm still working on this project. I think it's time to pull it out again. Putting my thoughts down for my girls is probably, besides unconditional love, one of the best things I can do for them. I wish so badly I had some advice from my own mom.

2- I think I need to do more research on my family's past. I've been loving digging through a bunch of old photos and reading the small stories that were recorded long ago. I love that I'm questioning the mysteries that seem to be lurking in the details of old photos. I also love, love, love - did I say love? - the show on NBC called, Who Do You Think You Are. It's about family history and connecting celebrities like Mariss Tomei and others to their family members that have gone before them.

My older sister, mom, grandma and great-grandma

I find it completely fascinating and want to connect to my past.

3- I need to do better about keeping a more current record of my own life. If I were to die today what would I want people to remember about me? Specifically my family. Would they only remember that I was on the computer a lot? Would they only remember that I liked to make things? Would they even know that I had thoughts and feelings and dreams?

Anyway, I'm rambling here but seriously I'm so thankful that I have the opportunity to teach tomorrow. This opportunity has me really thinking about so many things and has inspired me to take action - I love it when that happens. It gets me out of my rut!

I'll be back on Friday with the Nativity Tutorial!

Love is in the Details!

2012-02-14T11:30:00.004-07:00

I've heard it said multiple times that Love is in the Details. I hope it's true because today is Valentine's Day and I've tried to put love in the details of what is normally just an ordinary Tuesday. We don't really have big family traditions on this day of love however, we do always try and celebrate it in small ways. Like for example; I will wear perfume today - whoa! I know, that's a huge thing right? No. Not really. But when your everyday wardrobe consist of a baseball hat, jeans, a hoodie and slippers, well, perfume really isn't the priority. Today it will be. My husband will like the small detail of a nice smelling wife even if it's only one day a year - hahaha!

Seriously though, here are some LOVE-ly details that have been occupying my Valentines Day and hopefully filling my children's hearts with joy and happiness and their brains with the knowledge that their mom does, indeed, love them greatly!

1- School Valentines: These started yesterday when I went to the store to buy the supplies. Seems I wasn't the only one who procrastinated because the lines were long and the people were grumpy. However, the store was on top of it's game and had plenty of Valentines supplies to meet every shopper's need. I purchased gummy hearts and pretzel sticks and then spent several hours making 128 of these little arrows. Yep, 128! When you have twins you get to do everything in large numbers. I'm not going to lie, cutting those sticky little things was a pain but love is in the details, right?! My little Jet was the one who asked for these. She found them on Family Fun and at the time I was thrilled to have a creative break. I didn't have to come up with anything clever or think of anything new as the work had already been done for me. All I had to do was the manual labor.

2- Heart Shaped Food: Did you ever think you'd visit my blog and see raw eggs? Nope, me either. I guess there's a first for everything. This morning I made my twins fried eggs. They love fried eggs for breakfast but I don't make them regularly. However, love is in the details so they not only got fried eggs but they got them in the shape of a heart. Awww! I thought it was a good idea however I handed the plate to my little Jet and she dug right in. There was no comment on the shape so I asked, "Do you know what that is?" She replied, and quite sarcastically too, "It's a fried egg!" She didn't verbally add the "DUH!" but I swear I heard it. I had to point out that it was in the shape of the heart and then we hugged and fully enjoyed this great mother-daughter bonding moment. Actually, that part isn't true. She just kept eating.

FYI: Did you know you can use your metal cookie cutter shapes to cook all kinds of things? Try it. My two favorite things to use them on are eggs and pancakes. Just make sure you spray them with non-stick cooking spray first otherwise you'll have an epic fail. Trust me on that one.

3- More Heart Shaped Food: I packed PB&J for lunch today and of course used a heart shape cookie cutter to cut it into the shape of heart. The twins probably won't notice it's in the shape of a heart. Instead they will just be thrilled that the crust has been removed. I never remove the crust. I also used a tiny heart shape cookie cutter to cut cheese. Now these cheese hearts are cute and I'm guessing the girls will notice and fully enjoy them and their shape. Besides, the cheese is really, really good. It's a new blend, Cheddar-Mozzarella and it's delish! This little detail of love will be a hit!

4- White Chocolate Raspberry Scones: My Miss M, she's 14, asked me last week if she could take a treat to her seminary class on Valentine's Day. Seminary is a religion class that she goes to every day before school. She wanted scones. No problem except these are best fresh out of the oven and her seminary class is at 6:00 A.M. But love is in the details so when I woke up at 3:45 A.M. and I just did my best to channel the Happy Homemaker mom that is buried way down in my little toe and I baked away. She was happy and so were her seminary friends. She also asked for treats for her biology class. Happy Homemaker mom was long gone by then so she got store bought cupcakes - it's all good, right?!

5- Heart Attack: Next we are off to buy hearts at the dollar store to decorate their rooms. Sorry no picture on this one yet. Hubby is helping and we are going to give them a "heart attack". It will be fun and then after that I'm all detailed out and will gladly climb into bed for a long nap.

Dinner will most likely be mac and cheese from the magical blue box but I'm not worried. When I dish it up I'll serve it on a plate instead of a bowl and I'll arrange those orange noodles into the shape of a heart and call it good. Hmmm, maybe some red food coloring will make it extra special - aaah, yes, just another detail!

So, what are you doing to put "love in the details" of your day? Please share and I wish you all a

Happy Valentine's Day!

And the Winner is...

2012-02-13T08:46:00.000-07:00

Lucky #7 - "I have so many events/pictures I want to put together into scrapbook pages... I've made scrapbooks... But I've always wanted to try digital scrapbooking. Janice."

Janice, congrats! Now you get that chance to give digital scrapbooking a try. Email me for details on how to claim your prize!

Also, just a big, giant, THANKS to Elizabeth Mindemann for sponsoring our contest. If you didn't win, but are still interested in trying digital scrapbooking, contact her. She can help. Plus, you can try out Studio J for free without any commitment!

Tomorrow we are back to regular crafting and posting so stay tuned!

Last Chance!

2012-02-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder, today is the last day to enter into the drawing for an awesome Studio J digital scrapbooking pack that is being offered by Elizabeth Mindemann. It includes:

5 two page digital layouts

5 memory Protectors

Free Shipping and handling

The cost value is $55 - that's pretty awesome

Be sure to leave me a comment on this post: A New Friend and A Giveaway

And, if you are interested in seeing more of Elizabeth's work, go to her blog at http://ejoym.blogspot.com/

or find her on facebook. You can also go into Studio J and play around with the ideas, no commitment needed, at http://elizabethmindemann.myctmh.com/

Seriously, enter quick as the contest ends today!

Heart necklace tutorial and giveaway news!

2012-02-09T18:37:00.003-07:00

I feel like I'm so behind on my Valentines day posts and Valentines day is just next week. So, before any more time passes, here's a quickie necklace idea for you. Plus, keep reading for more giveaway news.

Valentine Sticker Necklace Tutorial:

So, I have three girls. No boys. Just girls. They aren't really girlie-girls but they do like jewelry and even more, they like to give a way jewelry to their friends. So, making Valentine necklaces was a no-brainer. A hit all the way around. Plus, you know me, I like to make simple, easy, and quick things and these little cuties came together in a matter of minutes. Here's what you do...

Step 1: Gather your supplies. You don't need much but you do need epoxy stickers. They are a little thicker than normal stickers and seem to have what looks like a glossy epoxy over them. Kind of 3-dimensional. Here's a list of what you will need...

Dimensional Heart Stickers
Waxed linen cord (or string)
A hole punch (I like my cropadile)

and some optional items are:
Jewelry findings like clasps, crimp beads, decorative beads, etc...

Step 2: Pick two stickers that are the same size. I used two identical stickers but you could use different designs, they just have to be the same size. Take your stickers and carefully stick them back-to-back. Press them together firmly. Tip: Go slow and make sure you line them up really well, otherwise it won't look as good.

Step 3: Take your hole punch and carefully punch a hole through both stickers. Just be warned a normal hole punch might not go through both stickers, if you have a cropadile, I strongly suggest using it.

Step 4: Next, attach your heart to your string. You have have two options here. See below.

Option 1: As shown above, just cut your string and thread it through the heart. Then, tie a knot on the end and wear it as is. Make sure your string is long to both go through the heart and fit over your head. This one works great for kids to make because there are no jewelry findings to work with. They can make a bunch of them pretty quickly.

Option 2: This option makes it a little more fancy. After you poke the hole in the sticker, attach it to a jump ring. Then thread the jump ring onto your string. Add in some other fun things like a little beaded charm and then finish it off by using crimp beads on the ends of the string and add a clasp. This option isn't as simple to make but definitely looks more finished. Even an adult would wear this one.

Easy right? Yup. And, if you want, you could attach a cute little valentine note and say something like: "Valentine, you've got my heart on a string!" Awww!

Giveaways:

Remember my Jewelry giveaway from last month? Well, I never showed you what the winner got. The winner, known respectively as AH, wanted a textured bracelet in brown. Since all my jewelry is custom made, I made it after I got the final word on what she wanted. The first try, not so good. I hated the color brown I used. The second try. Bingo! Loved it and just felt like she needed earring too and what the heck, let's add a necklace. I hope she likes it! Here it is...

Also, just an update on the current contest. Don't forget to leave me a comment on this post: A New Friend and a Giveaway. The contest will close on Sunday so if you want a chance to win a digital scrapbooking kit that includes 5 two-page layouts from CTMH's Studio J go enter now. It's a pretty awesome give a way. A $55 value. I wish I could enter as I'd love to win. Plus, it looks super easy to use!

If you want more info about what Studio J is you can find out by going to Elizabeth Mindemann's Close To My Heart page.

You can also stop by her blog, ejoym.blogspot.com or her facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/brokentreasure?ref=ts. Be sure to tell her you are stopping by via Then She Made.

A New Friend and a Giveaway!

2012-02-08T10:40:00.006-07:00

Contest is now closed!

One of the coolest things about blogging is being able to meet people you'd never have the opportunity to otherwise. Now, the word "meet" might not be accurate, I very rarely meet these people in person, but online there is a whole lotta love and friendship floating around and I love that I've had the opportunity to be involved to some degree.

Case in point, meet Elizabeth Mindemann

Elizabeth and I have been emailing back and forth since about Christmas. I connected instantly to her when I read her bio, she wrote this: " I, on my best day, am far from who I want to be but by the grace of God I am not who I was yesterday." If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know these words could have come from my mouth. I couldn't agree more and feel the same way. So, I kind of think Elizabeth is pretty awesome, we think the same! Elizabeth is the wife to a youth pastor, a mom to three cute little ones and an artist! She loves paper crafting and digital scrapbooking. She's also is a consultant for Close To My Heart (CTMH)

She made the above digital scrapbook layout with Studio J. It's super cute and has me wanting to scrapbook again.

If you feel the same, maybe you are a scrapbooker who hasn't scrapbooked in a while or maybe you are new to the whole digital scrapbooking world, you'll be happy to know that Elizabeth is sponsoring an awesome giveaway that is open to all my Then She Made... readers. Yay!

She'll be giving one lucky reader their own CTMH digital Studio J 5 pack. If you aren't sure what that is, here are some details:

Studio J 5-pack includes:

5 two page digital layouts
5 memory Protectors
Free Shipping and handling

The cost value is $55 - that's pretty awesome

She also included some information about what she loves about Studio J...

You do not have to download anything to your computer (no program, pages or embelishments) in order to use the program
You can access Studio J from anywhere you have internet access (backyard with Iphone or pad, hotel with laptop, vacation, etc.)
There are so many video tutorials on youtube and super layouts to "scraplift" on Studio J's blog and facebook page

Plus, here's a link you can go check out about using Studio J. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-CtgEsvM34 and if you want to play around with Studio J and try your hand at designing, you can. Go to her site and see what you can come up with. There is no commitment to buy, you can just play.

So, what do you need to do to win? Two things:

1- Leave me a comment telling me why you'd like to win

and

2- Go visit Elizabeth and tell her I said hi. You can find her at http://ejoym.blogspot.com/ or on Facebook plus you can see her consultant page at CTMH

Make sure you do these things before Sunday, February 12th because that's when the contest will close. Also, while you are saying hi to Elizabeth you could ask her about other CTMH products and specials. I think digital scrapbooking is pretty cool but I'm also still a fan of traditional paper crafting and stamps and I'm thinking of ordering these...

kind of hard to see but I think these background stamps would work great with some upcoming clay jewelry projects I want to do.

Anyway, stop reading and go comment so you can enter to win your own Studio J 5 pack! And, thanks Elizabeth for this awesome opportunity and your friendship!

Contest is now closed!

Another Easy Heart Wreath

2012-02-05T18:54:00.001-07:00

I mentioned in my last post that I had started out making a different style of wreath, however, I ran out of fabric and had to switch gears. The result was the foam pipe wreath with just wrapped fabric. It turned out cute but I still wanted to make the other one. So I did. It's another super easy, no sew, no glue project and this is what it looks like when it's done.

Both wreaths are slightly too country for me so they will most likely be passed on to friends however, I did enjoy making them. They satisfied the creative need and the end results are kind of cute. If you want to try your hand at this one here's what I did.

You will need...

- A wire heart - found mine at Hobby Lobby for $2.49
- fabric cut into several strips. The strips should be about 5 to 6 inches long.

FYI: I used three different colors of fabric because the wire heart I bought had three lines all the way around the frame. If you don't have the wire frame you could make this same style from the foam, or a shaped clothes hanger, just use one color of fabric instead.

Step 1: To start, take one strip of fabric and fold it in half

Step 2: Once it is folded in half, take it and place it over a section of the wire frame.

Step 3: Grab the folded part and pull it underneath the wire. Separate the folded part so it creates a loop. Place your fingers in the loop to open it up. Be sure to keep the other part of the fabric, the ends, on top of the wire. Then, taking the ends, tuck them through the loop and pull the fabric tight.

Once the fabric is pulled tight, you should have something like what is shown in the photo above. Pushing it through the loop and pulling tight will automatically make a little knot and hold the fabric in place.

Step 4: Continue to add the red fabric all the way around the outer edge of your heart frame.

Step 5: Next, following the same steps, add all of the white to the center wire.

Step 6: After your white is in place, again using the same steps, add your final fabric- mine was small hearts - to the inside wire. (I was running out of light so I took a picture without the white fully completed, you should get the idea though)

When you are done adding all your fabric it will look like the photo above. It should be full and the fabric should be pushed pretty tightly together at the knots.

Step 7: Add a bow. I used raffia but ribbon would work too and then hang it up!

And that is it. You're done! This wreath does cost a little more than the foam wreath, about $5 unless you already have the fabric, and it takes a little longer to make but it's still super easy. And, as you know, I'm all for easy, do-able crafts.

Enjoy!

Look Ma, NO glue!

2012-02-02T20:44:00.003-07:00

I was surprised at how many people could relate to my last post. Seems I'm not alone in my perpetual state of optimization! I'm still trying to get it all worked out but in the mean time, the computer is kind of put back in order and is up on a desk. It's not in it's new home yet, the computer zone is still a work in progress, but for now it's at least usable which means I can BLOG!!!

I know there are a gazillion and one heart wreaths out there but I thought I'd share another. (Now there are officially a gazillion and two!) The cool thing about this one though is I made it with just stuff I had and I didn't need glue or any adhesive - it truly was a very easy and quickly made project.

Here's what it's made out of ...

Do you recognize some of those parts? They were my giant spider legs. I had to take him apart because of storage issues but I kept all the elbow connectors and foam pipe covers. Lucky for me, that was a wise choice. So, to make the heart you will need...

2 foam pipe covers, each should be about 20 inches long
2 elbow connectors
fabric
Ribbon
Scissors

Step 1: Cut the ends of your foam on an angle

Step 2: Add an elbow connector to one piece of foam, pushing it in firmly. Then, add the other piece of foam so that the two pieces are now connected and make a "V" shape.

Step 3: Repeat those steps for the other ends of the foam only this time, bend your ends in so once they are connected they are rounded at the top and make the shape of a heart.

Once it's connected together, you should have something that looks like the photo above.

Step 4: Cut long, thin strips of fabric (step not shown)

Step 5: Take one end of the fabric and carefully push the end into the seam of the foam.

Step 6: Next start wrapping your fabric around the foam shape. Please note, the photo above shows just a small piece of fabric but you will want to use longer strips. I started out with a different project in mind and quickly realized I didn't have enough fabric to complete my original idea so I switched gears and decided to just wrap it instead.

Step 7: Once you get the whole thing wrapped, just tuck the end of the fabric underneath one of the layers of wrapped fabric like shown above and ....

Ta-da!!! You have a very simple heart that is made in a matter of minutes for low cost, or in my case - no cost and without glue.

Now, you could leave it like that or you can dress it up a bit.

I just added a very simple tulle bow, attached it with a straight pin, and hung the heart from a piece of black ribbon. Super easy!

P.S. I mentioned earlier that I started out with a different project in mind. I couldn't finish my original idea because I didn't have enough fabric. However, if you have a lot of fabric, you could tie the strips of fabric on like this....

This way is super cute as it leaves little fringed ends all the way around. After picking up more fabric, I've got one of these in the works for a friend so I'll show that tutorial soon.

In other news, we are looking at having a big snow storm tomorrow. Rumors of a snow day are in the works and I'm so excited. Snow day = craft day and so I say bring on the snow!

If You Buy a Family a TV

2012-02-01T10:37:00.004-07:00

Have you ever read "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie"? If so than you may be able to relate to my current situation. I feel like I'm living in a home decorators version of that book. As you know, if you've read the book, the mouse never seems happy with just the cookie. He always needs something else. So, my home decor version goes something like this... (warning, it's not written nearly as cute as the book)

If you let a family buy a tv..... (yes, we just bought a tv - haven't had one in years.)
The family will need a new table to put the tv on.
The table won't work so a different one will be moved in from another room.
Once the table is in place, the mom - that's me - won't like how the couch is lined up in the room.
The mom will move the couch to better fill the space.
The space is better filled now but there are empty areas that need book shelves.
The mom brings shelves in from another room.
The shelves are in place and neatly arranged with books and old cameras but the mom notices that the computer area is too close to the couch and shelves.
The computer area MUST be moved!
The mom disassembles the computer, moves the desk and realizes she now needs two desks instead of one.
Another desk is brought into the room from another area in house and all seems well - but it's not.
The desks need something. Something to tie them both together and to make a bigger work space.
The mom - that's me - takes on a building project and....

so it goes...the area with the new tv looks great but everything else, including several other rooms and areas are now bare and in need of being rearranged and redecorated. Not to mention that my computer, the one I use to blog and edit photos is still disassembled, on the floor, in pieces. It's waiting for it's new home to be built.

My husband calls this, lovingly of course, the perpetual state of optimization.

I'm now in the process of relocating half of my craft and jewelry making supplies, building a computer zone and baking chocolate chip cookies while I try to stay sane in the midst of all the transitions.

And all of this happened just because we bought a tv!

Clay Colors for Full Nativity

2012-01-26T09:36:00.003-07:00

I thought I'd very quickly address the following question....

"I am so excite to try this! Thank you so much for sharing. I do have a question - I will need to order the clay online because it isn't sold locally. Is there any way you can share the list of colors for all 12 figures so I can place one order and save on shipping?" - Michelle

So, in case others out there are in the same boat as Michelle, I thought I'd list out the colors of clay that I use for the whole Nativity set. Keep in mind that some colors you will use more of than others so I will do my best to guess at the quantity of each - these are just best guesses.

Leaf Green - 1

Moss Green - 1

Beige - 2

Deep Red Pearl - 1

Black - 1

Pearl - 2 (maybe 3)

Jewelry Gold - 1

Gold - 1

Lilac - 1

Purple - 1

Chocolate - 1

Hazel Nut - 1

Suede Brown - 1

Tan - 2

Blue Pearl - 1

Keep in mind, that's a lot of colors. And, honestly, every time I make a new set my colors vary. If you feel like that is too many colors or too expensive, then consolidate some of them. For example, Chocolate, Hazel Nut and Suede are all browns. You will not use a full clay block of any of those colors so you could eliminate a few of them and only buy Chocolate. Or, the Golds, you could just buy one of them instead of both. Just use your judgement and buy what feels comfortable. You can always tweak it as we go and maybe you'll want to make yours a different color than mine and that is just fine too.

Let me know if you have more questions, and in the meantime, I've gone back to doing Valentine's stuff. Fun stuff coming soon!

Nativity Tutorial - Wiseman 1

2012-01-24T23:12:00.004-07:00

Ok, are you ready? I am. Here is the first of several tutorials for the clay nativity set. I'm starting with a Wiseman. Now, I must admit, the people in the set are all pretty much made the same. Same bodies, heads and arms so once you know how to make one, you can probably figure out the rest. However, the differences are in the details so I will still share each piece as a different tutorial.

And, just to help visually, I've tried to keep a completed figure in each photo so you can see the progress as we build our little man. Hopefully that won't confuse anyone.

To start this project you will need to have a few things on hand, these items will be used for each piece of the Nativity Set that you make.

- Clay: There are lots of brands out there. I prefer Sculpey but get the kind that you like. You will need, and want, lots of different colors. (specific clay colors for this guy are listed below) The price I pay for a square of Sculpey in Colorado is $1.99. I've seen it as high as $2.47. I always try and buy it while it is on sale. Hobby Lobby, this week (1/22-1/28) has all their clay on sale for 30%. Tip: When buying clay, lightly squish the package before you buy it. If it is rock hard, pass on it. You can buy clay softeners but honestly, it is just best to buy soft clay to begin with.

- Wax Paper: Always, always, always cover your work surface with wax paper. Most oven bake clays are non toxic but it will leave a residue that is hard to clean. Wax paper will become your friend when you work with clay. And, change it often. Little fragments of clay can stick to it, so if you just worked with red and are now using white, if you don't change your paper, you'll get pink.

- Aluminum Foil: I wanted to type Tin Foil but I realize they don't call it that anymore. Anyway, you will need it for each piece you make.

- Oven: Sounds silly to have to mention that but we are working with oven-baked clay so you need an oven. That's just how it goes.

- Baking sheet: If possible, dedicate one baking sheet for all your clay work. It is best not to cook or use clay on areas that you cook or prepare food, so having a cookie sheet for just clay is a good idea.

- Sharp pokey tool: How do you like that description? I use a paper piercer from Lasting Impressions. It's a scrapbooking tool that I use for clay instead of paper. If you don't have one, don't worry. You can use something like a toothpick

Let's start...

Step 1: Gather the supplies listed above as well as these specific colors of clay.

Leaf green - body & arms
Beige - head, hands & nose
Deep Red Pearl - gift bag
Jewelry Gold - tie on gift bag & hat jewel
Pearl - hat
Black - eyes

Step 2: Prepare your work surface by laying out a piece of wax paper.

Step 3: Tear off a piece of foil then roll it up, crinkle it, and shape it so that you have a small round ball and also a longer thicker shape (see photo above). These are the forms for the head and the body of the Wiseman. I never measure but the body is roughly about 2.5 to 3 inches tall. Once you have them the shape you want, set them aside for a bit.

Tip: You might wonder why I use foil. I do this for several reasons, it helps the clay cook more consistently. Clay cooks for about 15 mintues per 1/4 inch. If the whole figure was solid clay the cooking time would be forever and the outside of the figure would discolor and possibly burn. (trust me on this) Also, it helps keep the cost down. Making solid figures with clay would cost quite a bit more.

Step 4: Take your clay (Leaf Green color) and break off a piece and condition it. "Condition" just means that you are going to knead it, squish it, and play with it until it gets workable and soft. If you have a pasta machine, you can dedicate it to clay usage and run your clay through the machine a few times. This will help you condition it as well. Once the clay is soft and workable, flatten it out like the photo above. Don't worry if it's not perfectly smooth, just try for a consistent thickness.

Step 5: Next, take the foil form for the body and center it on your clay. Then wrap the clay carefully around the foil like shown. Only wrap it until one end of the clay meets up with the other side. You can see in the photo above that I have more clay than I need. Don't keep rolling. If you do, you'll just waste clay and make your figure look, well, very plump.

Step 6: As shown above, use a sharp tool and carefully remove any excess clay. Then smoosh the edges of the clay together so you have something similar to what is shown in the second picture. At this point, you can see the seam.

Step 7: Next, you need to merge and smooth out the seam so it's hidden. Do this by rubbing and pushing the clay into the other part with your finger and then just smooth out. Once it is fairly blended together, just run your figure down, always going in the same direction from top to bottom, around the whole piece. This will help smooth out any imperfections, bumps and even finger prints on the clay.

Step 8: Now that the seam is hidden, you need to shape your clay. Try for something similar to what is shown above. You want to keep in mind that you need a wider, flat base at the bottom. If you don't have this, your figure will tip over easy.

Step 9: Your body is now done but he is missing arms - poor guy! To make the arms, pinch off a small amount of the left over clay and shape into what kind of looks like a boomerang shape. See the photo above. Do this twice, he needs two arms.

Step 10: Attach your arms to your body by lightly pressing each piece into the shoulder area of the body form. Don't press the rest of the arm in place yet, you need it keep it fairly loose so you can add your hands and gift.

Set your body to the side for a minute, it's time to work on the head and hands. But, before you start GO WASH YOUR HANDS! Sorry to yell, just had to get your attention. Some of the clay colors tend to bleed and will discolor your hands. If you don't wash them before you switch colors then your next clay color will most likely pick up that color off of your hands. Trust me, I speak from experience! You don't want your man to have a green face.

Step 11: Next, break off a small amount of Beige clay and condition it just like you did with the green. Make a small, flat circle and place the foil ball in the center.

Step 12: Then, just like you did with the body, fold the clay around the foil and smooth it out to hide the seam. Be sure to pinch or cut off any extra clay.

Step 13: Next, pinch off two small pieces and roll them, individually, into small balls. These will be the little man's hands.

Step 14: Attach your hands and head to your body. You do this by lightly pressing the pieces together. You need to press hard enough to get them to stick together but you don't want to press too hard or you will squish it out of it's shape.

Step 15: After your head is attached, roll a very small piece of beige clay into a tiny ball for the nose and attach it to your face - well, not your face but the figures face.

Set him aside for a minute, now we are going to work on his little gift.

Step 16: You will need your Deep Red Pearl and your Jewelry Gold clay colors. We'll start with the red. Pinch off a small amount of it and condition it.

Step 17: Once it is conditioned, shape it into a small oval. Then, near the top of the oval, lightly press the clay inwards and shape the top to look like the photo above.

Step 18: Next, take a small little piece of the gold clay, condition it, then roll it into a small rope. It really doesn't need to be very long, and you want to keep it thin so it's the right proportion for your bag. Then, carefully wrap it around the narrow part of your little red bag. See photo. After it's in place, you can take a tooth pick or your piercing tool, and using the side of it, press flat marks into the clay to make it look more like a rope.

Step 19: Attach your little gift bag into the hands. Again, press it hard enough to make it stick, but light enough so that it doesn't squish out of shape. At this point, I press it into the body as well as into each hand. Then, lightly press the arms into the body and smooth down/out any finger prints.

We're almost done, are you still with me? I know, there are lots of steps.

Step 20: Pull out your Pearl clay, Pearl is the name of the color. Condition it just like you did with all the other clay, then roll it into a really long rope. Make it longer than you think you need. My first one, the one shown, was actually too short.

Step 21: Next, take one end of the rope and press it carefully into the back of the head. Be sure not to flatten the face when you press. Then, carefully start wrapping the rope around the back of the head. Wrapping the outer edge first and work it into the center. It will form a spiral as you wrap. When you reach the center, pinch off any excess clay and smooth out the tip by pressing it into the center of the spiral.

You should have something like what is shown above when you are done.

Step 22: Next, roll two small, tiny little balls out of black clay and attach your eyes.

Step 23: Using the Jewelry Gold clay, shape a small diamond and press it into the center of the hat.

Step 24: Using your sharp piercing tool or tooth pick, carefully draw in a smile.

Step 25: Preheat your oven to 275 degrees. Place your little man on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Do NOT over cook or he will turn brown, trust me on this. Also, I always line my cookie sheet with a piece of paper, just printer paper, before I put my uncooked clay on it. This keeps the residue from your pan and will also help so you don't bleed colors with other projects. And, just a reminder, it's a good idea to dedicate one cookie sheet to be used for clay only. You don't want to cook food on something that you've cooked clay on.

Step 26: Let the little guy cool and then admire your work. Congrats! You're done with your first piece - only 11 more to go!

Email me if you are stumped or have questions!

Nativity Club Tutorials

2012-01-20T13:58:00.002-07:00

I've had a lot of requests for a tutorial on my Nativity set. Well, what's that they say... "ask and ye shall receive." I do realize it's a little late in the month for those of you who are doing your own Nativity Club, however, it's better late than never. Right?

Here's the deal though. These aren't hard to make but they take some patience and commitment which means they also take a lot of time. So, instead of giving you one big giant tutorial on all 12 pieces at once, I'll be breaking it down and doing one piece a month. I think that will be more manageable for me and less overwhelming for you. I'll put the first tutorial up within the next couple of days and then each month, I'll post them at the first of the month. Sound good?

Ok! So who's in?

P.S. if you are new here you can read about them HERE and then the follow up Q&A HERE

Knee Deep In the Hoopla!

2012-01-18T09:19:00.001-07:00

Anyone else remember that album? Starship came out with it in, I think, 1985. I wasn't very old then, just barely a teenager but boy I thought Starship was pretty dang cool. I think I still know every word to "We Built This City." Oh ya, back to my point, Starship wasn't really what I wanted to share, I just thought of them because I feel like I'm knee deep in somethin'! Hoopla? Maybe. Something else? Yep. A mess to be exact. I'm not a clean crafter and have paper and piles spread everywhere right now.

I'm preparing for a church event that is tomorrow and am currently working on these:

If you are new here, you can read about them and get the tutorial on how to make them from just 1 - yep, ONE - sheet of 12x12 paper here. Paper Baskets

They work great for all kinds of things, and with Valentine's Day just around the corner, mine are getting a new look with a love theme. Awww! I'm also working a some new treat holders too but can't post those until after the event, they are top secret and all.

And in other news, remember the drawing from last week. The winner, AH, made her decision and has picked this...

She wanted it made it brown and I'm almost done. I'll be sure to post it before I ship it off. For now though, it's back to the... hoopla!

Smiles,
Amy

P.S. Thanks for all your nice comments about my Country Woman Magazine post. I really appreciate you all sharing in my excitement.

I'm a Country Woman

2012-01-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

So, I knew this was coming. I answered their questions about two weeks ago but I wasn't sure when it would be posted. I was kind of thinking February. Needless to say, tonight when I opened the website I was very, very excited. In fact, I was so excited that my husband and daughter are now making fun of me - I guess I kind of freaked out. It's ok, I can take the teasing!

Thanks Country Woman Magazine for including me in your Blog & Crafter Highlight series and for showcasing a few of my creations. What a great way for me to start my week!

Gear Heart Pendant Tutorial

2012-01-14T21:00:00.001-07:00

Ok, here it is!
Your votes were tallied and here is the tutorial that you wanted to see first.

Let's get started shall we?

The original Gear Heart Pendant was done in browns and copper but I was out of those items so I went for the black and silver on the tutorial. The idea is the same. The steps are all the same. The colors are just different. Which, really, is kind of cool so you can see some options.

Here's what you will need...

Black polymer clay

Red polymer clay

(I like Sculpey, and no, I'm not paid to say that. It's just my personal choice)

1 - necklace or a chain to make a necklace

1- Silver head pin (Jewelry finding item)

1- Large gear (Tim Holtz found at Hobby Lobby)

1 - Small gear (Lisa Pavelka at Hobby Lobby)

2- Small brads, brushed nickel finish (scrapbooking item)

1- Jump ring, brushed nickel finish

and it will help to also have...

Needle nose pliers and wire cutters

item to poke a hole (metal rod in picture)

wax paper

And, here's what you do...

Step 1: Put your wax paper onto of your work surface. Clay is non-toxic but it's best to always protect your surface area. Plus, it will keep things clean. Next, break off a small chunk of clay from each color and do what is called "conditioning". If you haven't used clay before, basically you are just going to play with it for a bit. Squish it, roll it, knead it. Get it soft.

Step 2: From the clay that you just conditioned, take another small amount and make the above shapes. A small heart from the red and a rectangle from the black. I don't have measurements but keep in mind that you don't want them too big. If it helps, the black piece is just slightly bigger than a quarter.

Step 3: Next, take your large gear and very lightly press it into the black clay. Don't press hard. Press just enough to kind of hold it in place. If you press too hard, it will squish the clay too much and will ruin your design. Also, play around with the location of the gear. I preferred mine off center.

Steps 4 and 5: Then, carefully place your heart in the center of your gear. I say carefully because the heart is small and it's easy to squish. Next, add your small gear to the heart. Again, press it in place lightly and set it aside for a moment.

Step 6: Now we need to make some wire staples. Take your head pin and bend the end into a small hook.

Step 7: Once you have the end bent, take your wire cutters and cut off the end to make a small staple. Repeat two more times so that you have three staples total.

Step 8: Then, using the ends of your needle nose pliers, or tweezers, push the staples into place. I put one through the heart and small gear and then two over the rim of the large gear. These staples will cook into your clay and help hold everything in place. Plus, they look kind of cool too.

Step 9: Now it's time to attach the side chain. You'll need to cut a small piece of chain off of your necklace.

Step 10: Take one brad and attach the chain to it. My chain didn't have very large loops so I just put one arm of the brad through the loop and slid the chain to the back of the brad.

Steps 11 and 12: Next, take your brad/chain combo and push it into the side of the pendant. Then, repeat that step by adding the chain to the second brad and pushing it into the bottom of your pendant.

Step 13: Now that the brads and chain is in place, your last step before cooking is to poke your hole at the top. Don't skip this step. Trust me, I've accidentally forgotten this before and ruined my whole design.
ugh!

Step 14: (Not shown) Preheat your oven to 275 and bake for 15 minutes. Tip: If you plan to do a lot of clay work, it is wise to dedicate a cookie sheet to just your clay. If not, use an old cookie sheet and place a few sheets of paper down, then put your un-cooked clay on top of the paper and bake it like that. I have a dedicated cookie sheet but I still cook my clay on paper.

Step 15: Once your pendant is cooked (don't over cook or your clay will burn and discolor) let it cool. Then, add your jump ring through your hole at the top and attach your awesome pendant to your chain.

Step 16: Wear it!

See, that's not too hard is it. Actually, I think they are pretty fun to make. If you end up making one, let me know how it goes.

A Fruity Valentine

2012-01-10T17:23:00.003-07:00

So, I don't know about you but every once in awhile, usually around holidays and special occasions, I like to add little themed treats to my kids lunches. However, our school has requested that all items be healthy. Ummm, Hello!!! That's not always easy. I'm a sweet-treat kind of gal and to be honest, I really don't mind if my kids eat a piece of chocolate or a heart shaped rice crispy treat every now and again. Anyway, in an effort to better support their request, this is one of the treats I'll be putting these in my kids lunches over the next few weeks. Here's how you make it... it's easy!

You will need a few things...

- pineapple
- kiwi
- food skewer
- plastic bag
- cutting board
- knives
- heart shaped cookie cutter
- ribbon

FYI: The cookie cutter isn't really needed so don't fret if you don't have one. You can totally do this free-hand.

Okay, so let's get started.

Step 1: Cut a slice of pineapple. Then carefully trim off the rind .

Step 2: Cut the outer edge of the pineapple into the shape of a heart. I free handed this as I didn't have a cookie cutter the right size. After the shape is how you want it, take a small cookie cutter (or free-hand cut it as well) and core out the center of your pineapple slice.

When you are done getting the core out, you should have something that looks like the photo above. Then set the pineapple heart aside for a bit.

Step 3: Next, take a kiwi and peel it, than slice it. Because kiwi is pretty soft, make sure your slice is fairly thick. Then, using your cookie cutter, cut your kiwi into a heart shape.

Step 4: Place your kiwi heart into the center of your pineapple. Then, take your food skewer and run it through the middle of both the pineapple and the kiwi.

Step 5: After the fruit is secured on the skewer, put it in a bag and tie it closed. This will help to keep the juices under control and make it look more like a special treat.

To finish it off, tie on a cute bow and add a special message.

You could say something really cheesy like, "This may sound "FRUITY" but won't you be my Valentine." (Yes, I know, go ahead and roll your eyes, it is really cheesy)

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!!

2012-01-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Where in the heck did that saying even come from? Anyway, no chicken dinner here but we do have two winners.

First, I've tallied the votes and it was close! Remember you were voting for which item you'd like to see a tutorial on first. I had two pieces that were neck and neck. The Swirl Bracelet and the Steampunk Gear Heart. But, one came out 1 vote ahead!

drum roll please....

The tutorial you'd most like to see first is..... The Steampunk Gear Heart! I'll be posting the tutorial by the end of the week.

The second part of this is, as promised, I took all the votes that came in before 11:59pm on Jan. 8th and did a random generator. There were 96 votes and the lucky number is.......

Comment #15 - which was from AH, says -

"Ooooo...the swirl bracelet! I have been in love with that piece since you posted it."

I'm so excited to be passing along a piece of my jewelry. Congrats to AH!!!!

AH- email me right away so I can send you your prize.

Ok, that was really fun for me. I've never done a contest before. However, now it's time to go back to regular crafting. I've got a Valentine idea for you for tomorrow so be sure to come back.

Contest Update

2012-01-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

There's only a few more hours to vote for which jewelry tutorial you'd like to see first. Which also means there's only a few more hours for a chance to win a custom piece of jewelry as well. The voting will end tonight at 11:59pm. And, if you are new here and aren't sure what I'm talking about, here's all the details: Vote and Win

In the meantime though, I've noticed several of you have mentioned that you'd like to see a tutorial on the word pendants. Just a heads up, I've done a tutorial on them before. You can see it here: Word Pendants

Check back tomorrow to see the final vote and find out who wins!

vote and win

2012-01-06T09:17:00.002-07:00

Just a quick reminder, I'm still in search of votes from all my fabulous readers. I get several emails asking me to show tutorials on how to make my jewelry but very rarely do they specify which piece. So, the big question.... which piece would you like me to do a tutorial on first?

To vote, check out my jewelry items on my jewelry page, remember the name of the piece you like and then go here and leave a comment telling me which tutorial you'd like to see. By doing so you'll automatically be entered to win one of my jewelry pieces - you choose which item. Cool, right?! Hurry though, voting ends on Sunday, January 8th.

Valentine Ideas

2012-01-03T10:40:00.004-07:00

I've been noticing Valentines things every where lately. We are still weeks away but I guess it's never to early to start thinking ahead. However, before I start posting my new Valentine projects I thought I'd revisit some of the favorites from last year. These projects all have tutorials and are super easy to make. Enjoy!

Guitar pick and Maze Valentine's

Ribbon Rosette Valentine welcome sign

Mentos Gum container turned Snowman Valentine

Brown Paper Hanging Hearts

Fry Box Valentine

Hershey Kiss Roses

OH, and don't forget to vote on which jewelry tutorial you'd like me to post next. All votes/comments will be entered into a drawing for a custom made jewelry piece. See the details here: It's a New Year! Wanna Win Something?