candiecooper, Author at Candie Cooper

Teen DIY Jewelry Making

January 5, 2016 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

Over winter break, I had an opportunity to work with kids and teach them jewelry making. It was a great experience. Fourteen girls, but I learned that boys wanted to make jewelry too so in the future we will maybe do a metalworking class. I love that.

We made necklaces, bracelets and earrings over two days. They learned all the basics. I’m so proud of the results–you can see them in the slideshow below. But real quick–I wanted to give you the link to a tutorial I did well over a year ago–

But real quick–I wanted to give you the link to a tutorial I did on the above necklace well over a year ago–you can see it here. All the components are from JesseJamesBeads.com and the findings are by Beadalon.

Filed Under: Bead Love, Beads, Tutorials

Happy New Year!

January 5, 2016 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

Is it really already January 5th?

Alas.

This year is already flying by!! I’d love to dig my heals into the ground, but I’m trying to just go with the flow this year and march to the beat.

Join me, won’t you?

I really just wanted to thank you for being here and checking in on my blog. Thank you for the comments and nice notes, for buying my books, taking my online class, and following me on social media.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Really.

Here’s to a great, creative year!

Cheers.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

DIY Leather Bracelet

December 18, 2015 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

Yesterday, I spent eight hours at the hospital waiting for a procedure to be done on one of my family members.Hospital waiting rooms. Quite possibly one of the most nerve-racking places for me on the planet. As a highly sensitive person, I try really hard not to soak up what’s going on around me (or else I might not get out of bed. Ever.). Yesterday’s group wasn’t too bad. But, my mom said, bring something for us to work on…so I did.

Leather cuffs from LeathercordUSA.com to doodle on. It was the perfect waiting room craft.We used Sakura markers–Pen-Touch in gold, black and white. We like the extra fine and fine tip ones.This is my moms that I doodled on top of with the black.

I made the black and gold one (took me about five minutes).

The end verdict was, we want to make more for ourselves and think this would be a great teen craft. I even whipped up a slide show while I was in that waiting room–let me know if you like it!

On an end note, the doc was really happy with the procedure so we are feeling blessed. I hope you like this tutorial!

Filed Under: Jewelry, Leather

Easy Chex Mix Recipe

December 16, 2015 By candiecooper 1 Comment

This is the view from my desk. It’s officially holiday crunch time. Literally and figuratively.

Every year (but, it’s become more of a year-round recipe), my gram or parents make a batch of this. We eat it for breakfast, for lunch, as a snack, for dinner… Chex Mix. It saves during the holiday hustle. I’m not saying it’s healthy. There’s a ton of butter in it. But, I love it because it’s filling plus I get fiber and protein. Be warned, this recipe is pretty simple on flavor too. That’s another reason I actually love it. I’ve tried the other recipes, but quickly I get tired of the ranch seasoning or whatever spices are in it.

This makes a ton–you could always half it. Enjoy!

1 box each of rice, corn and wheat cereals (the smaller boxes–not the huge ones)
1 stick + 1/4 stick of butter
1 1/4 C. Worsteshire
Large can of peanuts
Red hots (optional)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees

Pour all of the cereals and nuts into a big pan and toss.

Melt the butter, mix with the Worsteshire, then pour over the mix.

Stir.

Bake 15-20 mins stir, repeat 3 to 4 more times

Let cool and store in tins. You can also add in red hots.

Filed Under: Crafting

Make your own Boho Pottery Dishes

December 15, 2015 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by ACTIVA Products–makers of the best air dry clays!In college, I took a few courses in ceramics. I had the best instructor–Dana. She got me hooked on “hand-building” which simply means using your hands to construct a piece from clay instead of the pottery wheel. This is a really easy project that you can do at home.
I’m using ACTIVA Plus clay in jet black. You can buy it at your local craft store or online and it comes in other colors; white and terra cotta.
This is my craft-only rolling pin. I roll the clay out to about 1/8-1/4″ thick. It may take a couple tries to get it just right.
For texture and design, you can stamp it with these wood block stamps. The black ones are the real deal from India. The white ones are from Plaid Enterprises–I saw them in Hobby Lobby or you can get them online. Stamp your piece so you get an all over pattern.
You can use an extra large circle cookie cutter to cut out a circle or use a knife with round template (like a plate).Stamp the edge a little more if you like…
then dip your finger in water and run it along the edge of the clay to smooth out.
Drop your piece into a plastic lined mini pie plate (or other bowl form) and set in the sun to dry.
Once the front is set up, you can pull them from the pie plate, flip over and leave to dry completely. You could also put them by a heater.
To finish, I sprayed them with clear Krylon gloss spray paint. Then, I dipped a paper towel in water and Apple Barrel white acrylic paint and rubbed over the surface of the bowl. Use a dry paper towel to wipe up excess paint. Optionally, you can seal them again with the Krylon gloss paint.

Why spray them with gloss first? Because this seals up the clay surface so the paint doesn’t get too settled into the porous surface.You know I love jewelry–and these bowls are just the thing to keep on my dresser to hold it all. Now I only need about seventy-five more.

**These are not food-safe. For pretties only.

Filed Under: Get Crafty, paint, Tutorials, Uncategorized

Bluebird of Happiness Necklace

December 14, 2015 By candiecooper 3 Comments

Have you ever started making something and you don’t know what you’re doing or where you’re going, but you just dig in? That’s how this necklace came to be. I made it on the show floor in Tucson two years ago (the first year I worked with JesseJamesBeads.com). I had just read the Happiness Project book by Gretchen Rubins.

Happiness.

I’m no stranger to soul searching, contemplating (ok, over-thinking sometimes) and trying to figure out what really makes me happy. As someone with a diagnosed mild to moderate anxiety disorder (aka worry wort), I think this comes with the territory.
Back to simply digging in on this necklace, I think it’s kind of a metaphor of my happiness: Stop talking and thinking about it and just dig in. Choose to do what makes me happy.

And that’s the cool thing about jewelry—it serves as a reminder. In Gretchen’s book, she talks about having a bluebird of happiness reminder (paper weight, I think). This is mine. I wear it because it makes me happy, as a shield (you will not steal my joy) and when it’s not being worn I hang it up where I can see it.

Tassels from Woman Shops World on Etsy

Large Beads from JesseJamesBeads.com

Filed Under: Bead Love, Beads, Jewelry

New Kids Jewelry Craft Videos Available Now!

December 9, 2015 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

You guys know I have a passion for teaching children how to make things–jewelry especially because I started making it in sixth grade! That was practically yesterday (cough-cough, eye roll).

I’m excited to announce one of my new videos with Interweave called Rainy Day Projects: Bead Crafts with Kids. These videos take you step by step how to make three projects as well as give you ideas for choosing materials and avoiding craft fails. Even though the projects are geared towards kids, I think you might want to make a couple of the projects yourself! Macrame bracelets with buttons, hammered pendants, and rubber band and bead bracelets.

We all know the pressures that kids are under these days and I always think it’s a good idea to encourage making things with their hands. Allowing children to be creative, make their own color choices in a positive environment also helps boost their self-esteem. It’s good for everyone. I could go on, but I’ll get off my soap box here.I hope you’ll check it out at the Interweave Store here. Thanks in advance 😉