But, in the spirit of DIY, I spent many hours yesterday composing three collages inspired by the circles & rectangles in the pieces above.  They’re 12 x 12 sheets of white cardstock with colored cardstock shapes.  I just cut shapes, played with patterns, and glued all the pieces when I was happy with the overall look. 

Perhaps I’ll gift them.  Or maybe I’ll work them into my living room or son’s room.

So far  I made this lid holder for my cupboard.  I originally had my lids resting awkwardly in a pot.  Now I can grab them more easily.  All I did was lay the two metal pieces at about a 130 degree angle to each other (no cutting, gluing, or drilling!)  They’re securely jimmied between the wall and the metal pan holder.

Bead Trends, Scrapbook Trends, Simply Handmade Magazines

Bead Star Magazine

Lark Books

Book Authorship Opportunities

North Light craft books

…more to come!!

Here are earrings I originally made to sell on my Etsy store, but decided to give them as Christmas gifts instead…hopefully I’m not ruining any surprises!

…a little paper, “Christmas” stamp, ribbon attached with staples, a felt tree, and a metal word glued on.

…paper, snowflake stamp, black ink, clear embossing powder, and Stickles glitter.

Materials: 11 large beads (I used semi precious Blue Onyx from Blue Moon Beads ), 26 smaller beads (I used fire-polished crystals), eye pins (one for each bead), clasp.

Instructions: Put a bead on an eye pin. Make a loop snug against the bead. Put the eye of the next eye pin in the loop and close it. Repeat for desired pattern & to desired length. Attach clasp.  Attach front dangle so that it ‘s centered and loops around two eye pins of the main necklace. For the large bead on the dangle, I made a loop at the bottom and smushed it against the bead to hold the bead in place, but you could also use a head pin.

Materials: Ear wires, bead weaving thread (two strands about 18 inches each), beading needle, bead stopper, 2 6mm round crystal beads (color A), 2 4mm round crystal beads (color A), 8 4mm crystal beads (color B), 94 seed beads.

Instructions: Take one strand of bead thread and place a bead stopper at one end and the beading needle on the other. String: 6 seed beads (for top of the loop), 1 6mm bead, 10 seed beads, 1 4mm bead (color B), 3 seed beads. Now skip the last 3 seed beads you just placed on the thread, and beginning with the 4mm bead send the thread through all your beads. This will create a fringe strand with a triangle of 3 seed beads at the bottom. Next, take your thread down through the 6mm bead. You have created the top loop.

Now you will add the second fringe strand. String: 10 seed beads, 1 4mm color B, 1 4mm color A, 1 4mm color B, 3 seed beads. Again, skip the last 3 seed beads and string through all beads up through the top 6mm bead. Now tie a knot between your working piece of thread and the loose end of thread.

Now the third fringe strand. String: 12 seed beads, 1 4mm color B, 3 seed beads. Again, skip the last 3 seed beads, thread through all beads up to the top and around the top loop. Tie a knot between your working piece of thread and the loose end of thread. Add a dot of glue to the knot. Attach to ear wires.

*Variation option for smaller seed beads* 8 seed beads on top loop; first fringe: 12 seeds, 4mm, 3 seeds; second fringe: 14 seeds, 4mm, 3 seeds; third fringe: 16 seeds, 4mm, 3 seeds.

*Note* I created these patterns. They’re a variation inspired by a friend’s earrings that she asked me to restring. I don’t know where she originally purchased them.

Last class I taught a mini-lesson on designing jewelry that looks best with your clothing & body type. I cited info from the book Jewelry Just For You! Projects That Flatter Every Face Shape and Neckline and this link on jewelry & body types. I also demonstrated how to make jewelry with knots in between each bead.

Each year around September I begin thinking, “I need to get a head start on Christmas shopping.” So this year my first goal is to finish all my Christmas cards by the end of September. So far I have 11 cards completed. Here are my favorites.

Purple Toilet: This is a photo of a purple toilet turned planter. My husband & his roomate in college painted this toilet and filled it with plants. The green paper is punched so it holds the photo. The “Merry Christmas” patterned paper has each letter filled in with Glossy Accents to make it dimensional & shiny.

Snowman: The snowman stamp is embossed and filled in with Glossy Accents. The patterned papers are torn and adhered. The word “wonder” is raised with foam. The snowflakes are punches, and the “sewing” is rub-on tape from daisyd’s.

Merry & Bright: The squares are cut with a punch. I used scalloped scissors to cut the red patterned paper. “Merry & Bright” is stamped with black ink and embossed with red tinsel embossing powder.