Horse Hair Bracelets

My newest endeavor:  Horse Hair Bracelets!

My daughter's teacher had to put down her sick horse a few weeks ago.  She thought it would be nice to have a bracelet made from his hair as a memento.  She knew that Dria and I had been making jewelry together so asked  if we could help.  Let me tell you, it was quite challenging.  For one, we were used to working with beads and wire.  Doing some research I had found some tutorials on how to make the bracelets from horse hair.  Only, neither of us could braid a round braid.  That made it difficult as the end caps we had were circular.  Finally, after many less than terrific attempts, I found some end caps with flat rectangular openings---like the shape of the flat braid we were trying to fit into them.  Alas, some success.  Although this is not my finest work I am fairly pleased with the last one I completed (the one with the belt buckle clasp).

Steampunk Charm Swap

A quick blog post today showing you some charms I made for a swap on a yahoo group I belong to.  We had to make eight each of two designs.  Already sent mine in but made an extra each for myself---here they are.  I stamped the gear onto a metal round with Stazon ink.  Used paper from an old math book for the background paper in that charm as well.  The bottle is simply filled with tiny watch parts.  I call it "Time in a Bottle."  One of those is going on my Etsy shop.  

I also made some steampunk angel ornaments unrelated to this swap but if you want to see them they are on the previous post :)

Supplies/Tools:

tiny light bulbs

Technique Tuesday gear stamp

Stazon Jet Black Ink pad

jump rings/clasps

metal rounds

Blue Moon Connectors

tiny glass bottles w/corks

eye screws

E6000 glue

tiny watch parts

old paper from math book

Steampunk Angel Ornaments

Hello All, I know---haven't posted in awhile.  Doesn't mean I haven't been creative, though!  I really wanted to do an Angel Steampunk theme for Christmas.  This is what I came up with:

Okay, so again---having problems with blogger rotating the pics back to their original direction even though I changed this in Photoshop.  Anyone know a way around this please feel free to let me know!

Back to the ornaments.  Obviously, I have been on a jewelry tangent lately.  Dria and I have been making jewelry together the past couple of weeks.  We even made some bracelets out of horse hair (long story I will save for another post).  These ornaments just sort of evolved.  As I said, I have been thinking about an Angel Steampunk theme so I made myself a necklace with pieces I have honestly had laid out on one of my work spaces in my craft studio for months! Once I made one I had to make 3 more, each a bit different dependent on what I had in my stash.  Then I made them into ornaments using fragment charms, alcohol ink and a Gears Stamp by Technique Tuesday using a technique featured on Tim Holtz' tag #5.  Really cool technique where Archival ink actually removes the alcohol ink---go check it out!

Once completed I just had to make containers for them (it's all about presentation, right?)  Yup, those are re-purposed embossing folder packages.  All I had to do was cut and emboss matching paper to have as a background.  Each Angel has a lobster clasp on it so it can be taken off the ornament to wear as a necklace.  Love this dual purpose ornament!  Fun little pressies for friends!

I am linking them to the following challenges:
Flutter By Wednesday's
Let's Ink it Up: Christmas Projects
The Artistic Stamper:  Christmas
Just Some Lines:  Handmade Gifts
My Sheri CRAFTS:  Decorate for Christmas




Hope you like them.  Will most likely be putting one in my Etsy shop very soon..............

Supplies/Tools:
Cuttlebug Gears Embossing Folder
Alcohol Inks
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Fragment Charms
jump rings
jewelry gears
ball chain
Gear Stamp by Technique Tuesday
Ranger Archival Ink pad
Blue Moon Face beads
heart wing charms
various Industrial Chic charms (forming bodice of Angel)
spacer beads
copper metal sheets
Alterations ATC die by Tim Holtz from Sizzix
lobster clasps
copper wire

3 Wicked Little Girls........

all grown up and still causing meyhem............

A quick little post for two challenges:

Fun with ATCs:  Halloween ATC 
Creative Card Crew: Spooky Fun

So, had some spooky little fun doing a casual ATC trade with friends.  These are three separate ATCs.  Just loving those ATCs!

I used the Cricut to cut out the Spooky Frames.  The Silouettes are from some halloween paper.  Embossed the background cs with a dotted embossing folder.  Added the confetti spider and web then inked the edges with Tea Dye Distress Ink.

Textured to Perfection

Today's post is for the Textured to Perfection Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.  As the title suggests, the challenge is to use texture in an innovative manner.  Also, I am entering this in Charisma Cardz Challenge:  Black and Orange.

I added these close-ups so you can get a better idea of the depth and texture the Bark roll provides.

This is my Spooky ATC.  I used Bark Roll which I found in the floral department of m local craft store.  It came in either bright green or light beige.  Here I used the light beige and colored it with Wild Honey Distress Stain.  I then used it as the background on my ATC.  The Skull image is from Stampin' Up! and it was stamped on acetate and heat embossed with black embossing powder.  I stamped 'spooky' (also a Stampin' Up! stamp) on old text paper then embossed with clear embossing powder.  Inked it over with Wild Honey Distress inkpad then ironed off the clear embossing powder using newsprint.  I embossed 'spooky' again on acetate using black embossing powder and layered it over the spooky on the text paper for a reverse shadow effect.  Hope you like it.  If you want to join in the fun hop on over to Moxie Fab World!

Thanks for the 'likes'

Thanks to all that recently voted for my project in the Graphic 45 Halloween Rejuvenation Challenge.  I believe I came in 3rd---behind 2nd place by 12 or 13 votes.  I really enjoyed the challenge and watching the live voting.  I met some new friends along the way, too.  In the words of Wendy Vecchi, "It is amazing how art can change strangers into friends!"

Again, thanks all---I am truly grateful.  A magical way to start off Autumn, wouldn't you say?!!

Please Vote: Graphic 45 Halloween Rejuvenation Challenge

Hey all, today is the last day to vote over at Graphic 45's Facebook page.

Please hop on over there and "like" the picture of my project (that is, if you like it) here

Scroll down to my last post if you want to see all the close ups (it's worth it, you can't see a lot here).

It has been kinda a close race and would appreciate any support I get.    Really, every vote will count on this one!    THANKS :)

G45 Halloween Rejuvenation Challenge

Another creative challenge I have entered:  Graphic 45 has challenged us to 'rejuvenate' an object from around the house using G45 paper to create a Halloween project.   I have used G45's Halloween in Wonderland papers. Please help me out by voting/liking it on FB link below.  Here are pics of my project:

the before picture

 I picked up this frame months and months ago at a thrift store.  They let me 'have' it for a whopping $1.50 cuz it was missing the frames hanging on the left so it was obviously useless, right?? Wrong! 

completed project--front side

close up of Alice

close up of backside made with Halloween in Wonderland paper---cut out the individual cards and mounted them over Tim Holtz filmstrip ribbon

completed project backside

closeup of memory frame with 'drink me' bottle (filled with glossy accents with Lettuce Alcohol ink mixed in)

backside of memory frame with key and keyhole

Rickety tree die used for tree (got this from a new crafty friend, Leiann); Cheshire cat cut from Halloween in Wonderland paper.

Pocketwatch from Tim Holtz Alterations collection; image from G45 papers.

closeup of pocketwatch; paper from G45

another closeup to show the cut out watch face (from G45 paper) inside mini pocketwatch

The fun thing about this challenge is that people will be able to 'like' their fav project on Graphic 45's FB page.  You can view mine here.  You will have to login to FB once you get there so the 'like' button will show up.  The winners will receive G45's Christmas Emporium line, how cool is that??!!

Also adding this to this month's challenge at Alter it Monthly:  Trees

As always, tell me what you think.

Wedding Card

Another quick post today:  A wedding card for my brother Devin and his new wife, Sarah.

                                                                  a close up for detail

Rummaged thru my stash for this one.  Used the Top Note Die from Stampin' Up!  Ran it thru the Cuttlebug with Tim Holtz' Damask Embossing Folder.  The Love acetate overlap is by K&Company.  The card base is from DCWV Tattered Time paper stack.  Misc. other supplies.

I am entering it in this week's challenge at Shopping Our Stash:  No coloring Allowed.

The inside says, "Welcome to the Wedded Bliss Club".  Hope they enjoy it!

Get It In Gear ATC

Okay, so long time no post.  I think the saying on my project here, "get it in gear" is quite fitting :)  I am finally getting around to crafting again---and loving it!!  Here I have done an ATC and altered a photo clip stand to match.  I am posting this for two challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show:  ATC
Simon Says Stamp Blog:  Dies to Die for

before pic of photo clip stand

after pic

up close pic of ATC for detail

entire project

Supplies used:

Distress inks by Ranger:  Peeled Paint, Broken China and Tea Dye

Gears mini Movers and Shapers Die by Alterations from Sizzix by Tim Holtz

ATC die by Alterations from Sizzix by Tim Holtz

Gears from Idea-Ology by Tim Holtz

Alcohol inks by Ranger:  Expresso and Copper Mixative

Gears Embossing Folder by Provo Craft

blue acetate

text paper from old math book

sentiment stamp by Technique Tuesday

copper embossing powder

  

Hope you like!  And now, back to my craft studio...............