Beadalon & Katydids Beading Contest

April 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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Hello there!  Ok, so ever since I had to get my driver's license last week, I've been thinking about how to smile without showing your teeth.  That's the rule now—can't show your teeth in your driver's license picture because of photo recognition.  How messed up is that?  Whatever.  Actually teeth has been the theme around here it seems.  Strange.  Over the weekend I bought a shoebox full of junk jewelry for $1, but in the mix of gems was also Grandma's bridgework.  Yowza.  I cringed when I saw the teeth and metal…………tangled in chains.  These are the days of a jewelry maker's life.  Crazy.  Also, I've had Gaga's Teeth song blaring down in my studio.   It's catchy.  Believe it or not my aunt introduced me to it. Play with smiles and pictures over on PhotoFunia!  Show your teeth…or don't–it's fun either way.

ClocksIn other news, my girl Katie Hacker is having a beading contest.  See those sweet little rings in the drawer?  Those are Katydids!  This is a fun, easy challenge to see what you can fill your Katydid's components with.  Resin, clay, beads, paper, Mod Podge, you name it!  Make it super simple or extra complicated.  The winning loot Beadalon and Katie are giving away is worth a try, people!   I know it's scary to put your work out there sometimes, but this is a chance to be brave.  What do you have to lose? I started fiddling with some pieces this morning.  Now I just need a little bit more time to finish up. šŸ˜‰

*P.S. I've seen Katydids at Michael's Craft store and they come in different shapes.

Filed Under: Beads, Crafting

Easter Egg Craft Idea…

April 8, 2011 By 1 Comment

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This week at Crafty Book Club we decorated paper mache' eggs and we had FUN!!!

(like we always do)

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Inspiring craft books centered around Spring, eggs and flowers!  I love our library for letting us have this crafty club.

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Gather up your Folk Art paints, Extreme Glitter, flowers and leaves, scraps of ribbon and chenille chickadees.  This is a great craft to use up odds and ends in your stash.  Old clip-on earrings, felt scraps cut into leaves, birds and buttons are all great embellishments!  If you got it, use it!

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I also put out a display of retro eggs that my mom made years ago.  The pink bunnies are so sweet.  And who doesn't love vintage images Mod Podged  on simply colored eggs.  All through the night we shared easter egg stories.  Tales of "Leg" hosiery eggs filled with money and broken eggs emerged…

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Two of my favorite teen crafters tried out the Hot Glue Gun Helper mat and tools.  They loved it!  Have you seen this tool?  It's awesome!  Compatible with so many types of glues and crafting.  Check out the video about it here!

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So many button choices….so little egg surface.  Stencil spouncers are great for making polka dots on the eggs.

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So pretty!  The one on the right has metallic Folk Art paint with blue and purple Extreme Glitter brushed over it.  Now that's an egg that knows how to party!

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Blue chick and felt flowers are from Hobby Lobby in the Easter crafting aisle.

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Complimentary colors of lavender and yellow–works every time!

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Decisions, decisions.

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The row of crystals on the butterfly was brilliant!

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My Mom taking the Hot Glue Gun Helper on a test drive while working on her egg.  She loved it!

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She painted the polka dots on her egg to match the ribbon!  So cute!

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Aqua and brown are never wrong!

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It took approximately an hour and a half to make this project.  There were lots of hair dryers and hot glue guns plugged in around the room and that helps to speed things up.

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My Mom's egg with a pair of sweet pink chicks.

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Blush pink egg with rose colored Extreme Glitter for a romantic egg.

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This one matched her pastel yellow purse perfectly.  So cheerful and happy! 

Filed Under: Crafting

Tortilla Soup and Day of the Dead Crafting

April 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

DSCF7862 I love cooking for my friends.  The weekend went so fast, but I couldn't have ended it better.  Eating and crafting with my best pal.  Last night I tried a new recipe which was risky, but I took a chance.  Tortilla Soup.  AMAZING!

DSCF7863 Can I just say fried tortilla strips are my new favorite thing?  They are the perfect crispiness!  The only thing I added to the soup was a can of corn.   It went together really easy and I liked that it was a hearty, but somewhat "light" soup.  Good for Spring.

DSCF7864I got the "Survivor" place-mats at Meijer.  You love the way they set the avocado off, don't you?

DSCF7871 Within seconds of finishing eating, the table looked like this.  Kaboom.  Craft explosion.  I was so inspired by my trip to the Pilsen district in Chicago last Sunday.  I have been on a mission to make some Day of the Dead art.  By the way, the link above is the guide I used when visiting West Pilsen and it was really, really helpful.  The area is full of interesting things and so fun!  I went to bakeries, botanical shops, cathedrals, taquerias, a pinata store and the National Museum of Mexican Art (which was really incredible).  They also have great vintage clothing stores!DSCF7865 We ended up making bright crosses embellished with flat back crystals, old jewelry torn apart with my trusty Beadalon ergo pliers.

DSCF7868 And sequins.  Gotta have sequins.  The crosses are from Hobby Lobby.  We also used Folk Art paints and Extreme Glitter along with Mod Podge to adhere the flat-back crystals and paper embellishments.  Mmmmmmm.

DSCF7866 A little nod to Rocker….love of my life.  Thank you Crafty Chica for the chihuahua card!

DSCF7870 My friend loves baseball.  After she glued it down she said, "watch this thing be worth hundreds in a few years if only left untouched."  We giggled. "Cest la vie," I say!

DSCF7867 She went home and back to reality I went working away on some upcoming projects.  I'm so thankful for my friends.

It's been a fulllll day today.  Before I close, thank you Lark Books for a neat little interview and thank you everyone who has a copy of Metalworking 101 for Beaders.  I'm off to help some students with metalworking tonight as a matter of fact.  It's pouring rain.  I think I'll sneak a bowl of leftover soup before I head out.  Viva la Vida!

Filed Under: Crafting, fabulous, Food and Drink, Friends

Hello Saturday!

January 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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I awoke to the prettiest snow coming down around the cabin and pumped to do some chores around here.  Laundry especially.  I was heading down the stairs (outside) with an arm-load full and WHAM!  Next thing I know I am on my back!  Ugh.  It scared the silly outta me!   Then I laid there in shock assessing the situation, and here comes the throbbing on my lower back and arm.  So I roll over, LOL, leave all laundry behind and crawl up the stairs into the warmth. I remember thanking the sweet Lord I wasn't hurt over and over…feeling dizzy…and the sting of cold…and promising I would be more cautious, salting the stairs and then…more dizziness and heat and then…I fainted.  It was crazy!  Why did I faint?  I have no idea.  But, I'm here and awake now, blogging with Sleepless in Seattle playing in the background and it's Saturday, so life is good!  Stiff, but good.  It is in these moments that a LOUD AND CLEAR familiar voice inside my head says, "you better take a couple aspirin."  My mother's and so I did.  Moving on. 

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Do you ever go to the thrift store or flea market?  It's one of my favorite places to buy stuff to paint on.  This is a little heart mirror I got for a quarter.  Actually, once upon a time there were three and they spelled Peace, Love and Joy with Scrabble letters.  They were cute.  The other two found good homes.  When you are on the prowl for pieces to transform, go for the non-varnished/shiny ones.  You don't have to sand them first that way and can jump straight into painting.  This one was base coated green and then topped off with two coats of Extreme Glitter.  The letters were glued on with Dazzle Tac.   Mod Podge Rocks has all kinds of ideas for revamping thrifted finds. I think you'll love it.

Ok.  Sigh.  Momma's off to shower and find a stiff drink to loosen up this stiff back.  LOL.  Kidding, but maybe later… it is Saturday and all.

Filed Under: Crafting

Dazzling Geodes

January 18, 2011 By 1 Comment

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The Craft and Hobby Association's trade show is fast approaching and I'll be there with Plaid showing off their fantastic Dazzling Geodes line.  If you are coming to the show, stop by and make a necklace using these awesome components! 

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The geodes come in all different pretty, earthy colors.  You can put a jump ring on it and string it on a piece of leather or layer it with some of the other pieces like this:

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There are also little glass ovals that are really cool.  I glued them on ring blanks with flat back crystals—it took all of five minutes and they looked jazzy.  Check out the project book that is with the line.  It features ideas that the folks at Plaid and I collaborated on.  Like this!

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And this!

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There are pinch bails, prong settings, links, chain, charms, pendants, and tons more that make assembly really easy.  You could also use the flat geodes for decoupaging to.  Joann Fabrics has the Dazzling Geodes line in case you're hot to get some!

Filed Under: Crafting, fabulous, Jewelry

This pioneer gal knows how to start fires and write a Valentine!

January 12, 2011 By 2 Comments

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If you would have told me ten years ago that I'd live in a cabin complete with a rock fire place and hefty wood pile outside (in which you helped stack and have to worry about covering with a tarp…as well as your dog whizzing on said pile)…  Well, I would have said, "dude, you are like…. crazy!"  Because it was ten years ago and we did insert the word "like" any chance we could.  I might still do it from time to time.  Totally.  But, tonight finds me curled up next to a fire that I started (I had to read how to in a magazine) studying and reading about art history.  With a pile of wood I carried up the stairs, is also a bit of newspaper aka…kindling.  This gets me to the point of this post.  My friend surprised me with a truckload of wood for Christmas.  Best gift ever!  Second best gift from my aunt and uncle is this…

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A wheel barrow full of kindling bundles.  Not just any kindling though!  These bundles are hand picked grasses, pinecones, bark pieces, sticks, evergreens, dried leaves bound with a pretty red string.  Not to mention they burn like the wind!  So I was thinking girls, if you are looking for a sweet valentine for your man-friend this year, kindling bundles may make their heart flutter (or they might look at it like …?..).  But, let's say they go with the flutter—You could even tie some little paper hearts to the bundles.  And why stop there?  When writing your valentine, you can play with the word burn or fire…  My heart burns for you… or….you fill all my burning desires….or…..Fire me up, Valentine!  I'll stop there.  (giggling…and red faced)  You get the idea.  I do love me some cheesy Valentines though.  "Melts" just came to mind also.  Wahhh! Stopping.  So, with fire crackling, I should get back to my studies.  Warm wishes and smiles from me. 

Filed Under: Crafting, Get Crafty

Picture Blocks…

August 9, 2010 By 2 Comments

Hello Crescendoh.com readers!  Thanks for clicking over…   It's an honor to be featured on Crescendoh-thank you, Jenny.  Dear readers, I do hope you find some fun ideas over here from food to crafts, I love living a creative life.

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These photo blocks seem really timely since I have a few friends with babies on the way.  I can see them tucked in a nursery with pictures of grandma and grandpa or siblings.  Although, I think they are fun for big kids (like me) too.  You can find sweet little blocks in antique stores and ebay for around $1 each. 

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I pulled the twirly wire photo holders from a pre-made photo holder.  Michael's has some unfinished wood blocks with the coils right now for 99cents that you could use (they were tucked in a dollar rack at our store).  Drill a hole in the center of the block, string some beads and even a thimble on the wire and glue them in the hole.  Done!

A moment of silence now as this week I have managed to lose my SD camera card that had 1090 pictures on it.  Shame on me for not downloading them sooner.  Argh.  Lesson learned.  Although, maybe now that I have admitted to losing it to the world, it will turn up!  Fingers crossed.  
 

Filed Under: Crafting, fabulous, Get Crafty
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