Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Bingo, Bango, Bongo, Bangle

I finished this bangle this morning and I had to share it. Isn't it pretty?!

I have to give credit where credit it due...this is a design by Mabeline Gidez. She is a talented, local bead designer. I had the happy pleasure of taking one of her classes over this holiday weekend.  If you would like to see more of her beautiful work here is the link:

http://www.mabelinedesigns.com/docs_html/patterns.html

In order to make this creation she had us use two drop peyote for the underside and on top we used a netting stitch. The result is spectacular!

Topside, netting
Underside, two drop peyote


Monday, July 8, 2013

Long time, no see...

I have not posted much in a while but I'm back. I've been on a card-making vacation as it were and looking for a job in the interim. But I have picked up another hobby that I've grown to love...beading. In particular, bead weaving. Basically taking bead thread and beads or crystals and arranging them in a beautiful pattern. There are some very talented jewelry makers out there. I am just a copy-cat in comparison. In the short time I've been away I have created some very nice pieces from other creators and have completely fallen in love with the hobby. They are nice enough for me to wear everyday or special occasions. I've been busily learning new techniques wherever I can find a pattern. (usually YouTube and magazines) I thought I would share some with everyone. Keep coming back I promise to get a post in every couple days.I recently took a class for a bangle . I will definitely post that pretty piece in a few days when it is complete.

Note: The pictures do not do these pieces justice. I still haven't quite figured out how to best photograph these pretty little treasures. But I will keep trying. 


This first is one that I recently made. I got the pattern from my Bead and Button Magazine, taught me how to use Pondo or African Circle stitch. I was so excited by the outcome of this sparkly bracelet I wore immediately after I finished it. 
  
This was one of my first sets. This pattern came out of my Beaded Allure book. For this one the pattern called for a Picot stitch. I love it and wear it when I am going out or during the day. It works for either one.

 I LOVE the color purple. So you will probably see it represented here A LOT! I do try to go outside my comfort zone when in comes to color. One of my favorite recent additions Also from Beaded Allure.

This set I made sort of on a whim. I liked the pattern so much. It looks like something a bride would wear on her wedding day. Also from Beaded Allure. I used crystals in the netting instead of the pearls that were part of the original pattern. I think it gives it a lighter feel.



Saturday, January 12, 2013



It's a Magical Paper Escape Every Month!


Sweep away the mundane-your creativity carriage awaits!
I'm Paper Pumpkin . . .
I come to your door each month (a fully decked-out creativity carriage). I'll help you to escape your life with some paper fun.
I come in a sweet box, but you'll really love what you find on the inside:
All the stamps, ink, paper, and accessories to create pinable projects. Create stuff like cards, journals, décor, and more!
Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone (even you) can enjoy!
Get Started
It's so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program starting Monday, January 14 by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family-every month!
Of course, you'll want to know more. So here's the nitty gritty:
  • Each month we send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
  • Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
  • Each kit gives you and your customer a 30-minute creativity escape.
  • We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.  
  • You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let's say you sign up on May 10th, we'll send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, we'll send your first kit around June 15th.)
  • A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!) The commissionable amount is $14.95 for each Paper Pumpkin.  
  • There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.
  • Starting in early March, we'll offer a Try-It kit if you'd like to try Paper Pumpkin for one month.
Here's How You Order
Sign up for your monthly Paper Pumpkin starting Monday, January 14 by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it.
Starting in early March, you can try Paper Pumpkin for one month by visiting our online store.
A Free Gift in Your Very First Kit
The Welcome Kit is the very first Paper Pumpkin you will receive in your first month of membership. The Welcome Kit includes a free gift-a clear acrylic block!
Questions? We've Got Answers
Why are we offering Paper Pumpkin?
Paper Pumpkin is the perfect introduction to Stampin' Up! We designed it for crafters that want to create a project each month, but aren't quite ready to build a stamp collection (yet).

How does shipping work with Paper Pumpkin?
Your Paper Pumpkin will be automatically shipped to you each month (so fun!). Because we are auto shipping these, the pricing structure is slightly different from our other Stampin' Up! products.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Advent Calendar

I got my newest set of stamps called 25 and Counting during the big sale Stampin' Up! had a couple weeks ago. I was so excited to be getting this set. It was one that I had looked at over and over, so when it went on sale I grabbed it right away. I am so happy I did.
Supplies
  • Magnetic dry erase board
  • 25 Party favor tins (bought at Micheal's in the do-it-yourself wedding section)
  • Magnetic strip with adhesive back
  • Stampin' Up! ink Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Gumball Green, Island Indigo, Basic Black, Wild Wasabi, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip
  • Stampin' Up! CS whisper white, very vanilla, Be Of Good Cheer DSP, Festival Of Prints DSP
  • Rosettes using Be of Good Cheer DSP, Clear Designer Vintage buttons.

My newest creations


Since I have some time on my hands I decided to peruse Split Coast Stampers website http://www.splitcoaststampers.com
to see what new ideas I could find and try out. The great thing about Split Coast is they have different challenges. One of my favorite is the Color Combination Forum. The administrators choose from the Stampin' Up! color repertoire and set stampers off the create cards using those colors. The results are usually creative and beautiful works of art. This weeks Color Combination Challenge is to use Whisper White and Very Vanilla. You never really know if you are up for the challenge until you are creating something that you actually want to share. These are my submissions for this challenge. Fun and easy card creations that can be done in minutes. Check out more beautiful creations at their website.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Now December's Here

Everything is "secrets"
Now December's here:
Secrets wrapped in tissue
Whispered in an ear.
Secrets big and bulky
Secrets small and slight
In the strangest places
Hidden out of sight.
Packages that rattle,
Packages that squeak
Some say "Do No Open"
Some say "Do Not Peek".
Secrets, secrets, secrets
With Christmas coming near
...except it is no secret
I wish that it were here!

by Aileen Fisher 
http://opossumsal.homestead.com/december.html


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Finally Saw It!!

Today I went and saw the final installment of the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn part 2. I have to say it was a good movie. It was a little sad to know that this was the final film to be released but it was also nice to finally put it to rest. Time to move on to new interest! I am looking forward to many of the movies that I saw in the previews. In particular Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games. Very excited to see the next one.