Homemade Christmas Gift #3 (2011)

.Initial necklace.

Yes, stamped metal is still going strong:)

I had one more silver disk from gifts a few years back,

so I added an initial and a crystal the color of her birthstone and added it to a chain.

.simple and sweet.

Farmer's Market finds

When my sisters came to town a week or so ago, we hit the Salt Lake City Farmer's market.

I love this market...there are so many amazing crafters...and yummy food.

We spent lots and lots of time looking at all the beautiful jewelry...

and of course we picked up a few pieces along the way.

Our favorite booth was this amazing jewelry designer, Cynthia Wainscott.

Her little company is called Exotic Peru and she can be found on Etsy.

She also does in-home shows.

I bought this gorgeous necklace from her...

She even changed the clasp for me so I can wear the necklace at different lengths.

She is so sweet and super talented.

We also spent a long time looking at the amazing glass jewelry of Sarinda Jones of Reflective Art Studio. My two older sisters bought necklaces from her as well. I fell in love with her table sculptures...she had one in greens and blues that was amazing. If you are going to be in Utah in the next few months, you must go see her stuff in person.

There was one more booth that we all were loving, Wildflowers by Heather. These necklaces caught our attention immediately...

But she also has tons and tons of beautiful glass beads for necklaces and bracelets. Another must check out...

It was such a fun day...and I'm thinking I may have to sneak back down there to pick up a few more things...and maybe find some new favorites!

Do you have a farmer's market you love to shop at?

sister Easter basket exchange

Last year my mom thought it would be fun to exchange "Easter baskets" among the sisters. There are 5 of us, plus my mom and 1 wonderful sister-in-law. It was a lot of fun...so this year we kept the tradition going.

This year I drew one of my younger sisters.

This is what I did...(our budget is $15...just a small amount to do something fun...it's even more fun to see what all you can do for $15)

She had seen a picture of these cute little guys from the Wood Connection and told my mom she loved them...so I painted up a set for her.

Then I found these great glass shapes at a scrapbook store (for 75 cents a piece) and knew they would be perfect...I really wanted to make one with her initial on it...and when I found this S pattern in my scrapbook paper stack I was thrilled...and I just love the colors in the paisley...she can wear it with so many things.

I just modge podged the paper to the back, then added the the bails with diamond glaze. I only bought 1 chain to keep my cost on budget, but she can easily switch the 2 pendants.

All packaged up and ready to go.

My total cost for all I bought was just under $15. I didn't have to buy any paint, paper or supplies to make the stuff which was great. I hope she loves it all.

My mom has me this year and I can't wait to see what she came up with...she is crazy creative and crafty, so I am very excited!

Photo Pendant

I bought some square pendants at hobby lobby awhile back. They were half off so I think I got 2 for like $1 or $2. I decided to make myself a little photo pendant with Lil D's face....'cause c'mon, he's so stinkin' cute.

Here are my supplies:

Diamond glaze (this stuff lasts forever)

a wallet size photo of Lil D, so his whole head will fit in the pendant

silver pendant

I cut the photo down to fit in the pendant. I think it's about 1" X 1".

Then I filled it with the diamond glaze.

and let it dry overnight.

Then I simply slid it on a silver chain I have and away I go!

These little pendants are so great. They come in a few shapes, and are really inexpensive. You can put just about anything in them...photos, flowers, words, a special date...

Love it!

Be sure to stop by tomorrow....

I am having a fantastic giveaway that you won't want to miss....

just think DRESSES!

All jewelry half price....T's ETC

I'm clearing out my inventory in my Etsy shop

T's ETC

I'm feeling the need to start fresh and try some new things...

...so...

It's time to clean it all out!

I have marked everything down 50%

and

all shipping is just $2.00

The glamour cuff was $40.00

now:

just $20.00

still too much...

get the mini glamour cuff for

$12.50

All of my necklaces are only $15.00

(it's a steal)

And the changeable dangle necklace is too good a deal to pass up.

dangles range in price from $5.00 to $6.00

and the chain is only $2.50

go check it out and get yourself something fun!

homemade Christmas Gifts #4....I can finally post...

since my mother-in-law should be in a car on her way to

my neck of the woods and hopefully off the computer...if not...

CAROL...LOOK AWAY!

I have made a few of my dangle necklaces...and I love them.

I decided to give one to my MIL for Christmas,

but wanted to make a dangle special to her.

A family charm dangle.

(Each family member is represented by the color of their birthstone in a variety of beads)

I started with her birthstone...then added each of her children.

Hanging off of 2 of her children are their kids...the grandchildren.

and their spouses are hanging next to them.

I added a few extra charms...a family tree and a LOVE charm.

I added a traffic sign for Mr. T, a golf bag and club for his brother and the simple word "daughter" for the only girl.

I really love how it turned out.

AND

the beauty of the dangle...if you don't want to hang it from your neck...

why not hang it from your purse.

and of course, you need some earrings to match.

Something we figured out quite a few Christmases ago...Her kids birthstones (in order) make a traffic light...AND....Mr. T is a transportation consultant (civil engineer)...so we have always loved that little connection. So of course I had to make the earrings (not just to go with the dangle) but to look like a traffic light.

Anyway...it's my final gift...I am officially done and enjoying some peace and relaxation with Lil D as we wait for the fun to begin really soon!

I hope you have been able to get all your projects done in time to enjoy some fun times with your family and loved ones!

Ear bling requests

A friend of mine bought this necklace at Down East Outfitters.

She wanted some earrings to go with it and enlisted my help...

Here's what I came up with:

I love them...so does she.

I'm thinking I need to make myself a pair...and maybe I'll copy the necklace and make one of those for me too!

New earrings in my Etsy shop

I've been madly making earrings for our Holiday Boutique that begins tomorrow. I have also added some of them to my Etsy shop...so go take a look.

All earrings are $5

Or...if you live in or around Federal Way, WA...come to the boutique and see them in person.

I've also finished up some mini glamour cuffs and have put them in the shop too!

Lots of great colors for Christmas!

($25 a piece)

I'm linkin' to Get Your Craft On at Life as Lori

The Mini Glamour Cuff

One of my favorite pieces of jewelry are my glamour cuffs. They look great dressed up or with a simple t-shirt and jeans. I really just love them...but something a little smaller has taken their place...

Okay...so it's pretty much the same thing...just a smaller version of its self.

One of my step-sister's is getting married in November and she is letting me make the jewelry for her bridesmaids. They are wearing these little black wrap dresses and we thought a little bling on their arm would be perfect...but just a little. So I thought a skinnier glamour cuff would be perfect.

I made an olive green bracelet for a friend to see how they would look...let's just say, I ended up making myself one the next day because I just LOVED it that much.

It is just so sparkly and sweet.

I could seriously wear it every day!

Now I just need to figure out some cute earrings to go along with it...

Stay Tuned!

a break from the mess...

I snuck downstairs on Friday (away from the mess and dirt) to make a bracelet for my neighbor (she's having a little girl in a month...named Aubrey)...

(I made other ones...here)

I got "stuck" down there for a few hours and made up a few more items for my etsy shop.

(I'll try to have them listed in the next day...in case you are interested)

double strand fresh water pearl necklace.

double strand glass pearl necklace with flower.

burgandy bauble dangle for this necklace (scroll down).

and a fresh water pearl dangle.

and then I found these great yellow stones...and just had to put together this yellow and blue necklace...looks so great with my blue capris AND my yellow skirt (so I'll be making another for myself:)

I might have to sneak down there again tomorrow...while the floor is getting laid...

I'm linkin' to

Just something I whipped up at the Girl Creative

and

Motivate me Monday at Keeping it Simple

and

Market yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Don't forget to enter the freakin' cute tote giveaway...ends April 23rd!

Taking advantage of the craft closet...

Don't forget to sign up for my necklace giveaway...it ends on Thursday, March 11th

I know I am supposed to be working on the long 'ol list over there on the right...but there are a few things that are standing in my way. One of them is a HUGE project, but no before and after pictures would ever do it justice. I am in the process of scanning all of my scrapbooks from birth till the day before I got married...that's 25 years worth of scrapbooks...it's A LOT of books. I'm scanning them so that I can eventually print them in hard bound books which will take up MUCH less space AND so I can get rid of the actual scrapbooks. I NEVER look at them as they are and they are taking up a lot of space that I need...Anyway, scanning 70+ pages per book is taking FOREVER...so, while I sit at my craft table putting page after page on the scanner, I figured I should pull down my well organized beading area and get creative...

*********

I made this necklace for my sister last summer some time. I accidentally cut the tail of the beading wire too short and it was buggin' her neck, so I finally got around to restringing it...

Then I fixed this necklace I made myself, that Lil D so kindly broke for me over 6 months ago.

then I figured, as long as I had my jewelry stuff out...might as well make some more...

A neighbor of mine was wearing a necklace this past fall that was simply a long chunky chain with a bauble of beads hanging on the end. Turns out...that they were 2 separate pieces...

So...I took some of my chain and made a simple necklace with a toggle closure.

Then...I wire wrapped some white glass pearls on to a separate small piece of chain and attached it to an oversize lobster claw...

Hooked it on the chain...

Wallah...

What I LOVE about this necklace...I can make an endless amount of "bauble" type things in any color, beads, etc and then change it out for whatever I want to wear it with...LOVE IT!

I am going to make a few more and will take pics along the way so I can do a tutorial for it. It is super easy to make and I can't wait to show you all the fun "bauble" ideas I've got in my head.

(and like all of my beading sessions...it led to another trip to the bead store last night after Lil D was tucked into bed...and a long night on etsy searching for more supplies:)

I will probably put these up in my etsy shop once I get some more made.

I'm linking to

Show and Tell

Whatever goes Wednesday

Get your craft on

Strut your stuff Thursday