Gold Filled Bracelets with Pearls and Gemstones

It's fun to have a stash of beads and findings to create the jewelry in my mind.  Also it's convenient when I have gifts to give and cannot think of what the recipient would enjoy.  Hopefully, a handmade bracelet will be more appreciated than a generic gift card.

I generally make my bracelet 7" because that is the most common wrist size.  I started this one with a gold filled charm, in this case I chose a sweet flying bird.  I paired it with pearls and a heart chain. The heart clasp and a tiny Peruvian opal dangle added extra charm.

The second bracelet highlights an extremely blue larimar bead and a gold filled flower charm. I felt that these enhanced the luster of the soft pink pearls.  

These close-up photos show why I get so excited when I take out my jewelry supplies. I've purchased most of my metal parts and gemstones from HM Ben Franklin Crafts over the many years that I have imagined what jewelry I want to wear or give.

If you think you can't make jewelry like this, just go to HM BFC and see if you can sign up for a simple wire wrapping class and pick up some bead strands plus gold filled or sterling 24 gauge wire.  Oh, and don't forget to get some jewelry tools...a round nose plier, flat nose plier and wire cutter are all you really need.  Come on, I know you want to try jewelry making and I know you CAN do it!
 

Resin Shell and Gemstone Decorated Jars

After buying lovely wood topped glass jars from Daiso, I had the brilliant idea to decorate them using quick setting LED resin (sold at HM Ben Franklin Crafts).  Since I had shells (purchased at HM BFC) and crystals in my collections of natural small objects, I decided to start my creations with those items.

It was easy to arrange the shells on the wood top and apply the resin around them.  A quick exposure to the LED light hardened the resin instantly, securing the shells in place.

Recently, a friend gave me some shell chocolates (with candy coatings like M&Ms) and I thought they would look amazing (and tempting) in this shell topped jar.

For the second jar I decided to use the resin to attach some crystals ( flourite and amethyst) to the jar top.

The flourite crystals look almost like rock candy but you will surely break a tooth if you try to chomp on one.  I think this jar will look splendid on a display shelf.  I am so pleased with these resined wood topped glass jars that I am already planning more...perhaps some with acorns or tumbled stones.  Because the jars at Daiso are only $1.50, you should buy a bunch when you see them and then decide later what to do with them.  I wish I had hoarded more....hahaha!
 

Macron Girl Birthday Card

These cards were inspired by a pack of Daiso decoupage tissue. One of the sheets in this pack had colorful macron cookies on it. Since I had success with other decoupage projects using these thin but strong tissues, I decided to make some macron birthday cards. The macron printed tissue was decoupaged ( I used a Japanese decoupage solution from HM BFC but Modge Podge or watered down white glue can be used) onto white card stock. Once dried, I sized and cut the macron decorated card    stock to fit the colored card blank.  Next, I stamped and colored the Neat and Tangled images and then fussy cut them out.  The images were reassembled to fit the layout of the cards. It was easy work to adhere the images with foam adhesives and add the die cut words (Pebbles and happy Birthday tag from my stash).      

Oh yes, the Hero Arts candle stamps were printed, cut out and adhered to the macrons or tea cups.  The macron tissue had some script words, 'Macrons' which I chose to hide under the cut out images.  I may add some glitter to the macrons or glossy coating to the tea cups for extra pizzaz.  For now, I am just happy to have two new cards for my birthday card stash.  Hope you'll give decoupaging a try.  I think you'll find lots of interesting ways to incorporate it into you crafting.

Floaties Shaker Sending Hugs Card

The start of summer seems to be an appropriate time for these shaker cards with critters on floaties.  The images are stamped Lawn Fawn images that were colored with Copic pens and die cut.  For the background I used papers from Whimsy slimline paper packs, Taffy and Rainbow Magic.  Heiko cello bags were used to form the clear package for the sequins. Regular clear tape was used to seal in the confetti with the Whimsy papers. The cello bags with confetti were adhered to solid colored card stock cut to fit the cello confetti packs. I opted not to form a standard card and made the card more like a long postcard so there wouldn't be the need for additional postage.  

The words were cut from foil card stock with dies from an Elizabeth craft set that was given to me by a sweet, crafty friend.  Most of the sequins were purchased from HM Ben Franklin Crafts. I am especially fond of the jar of unicorn shaped sequins which are a Sierra Pacific product.  The critters on floaties and words were glued down with Fabri-Tac 3 in 1 clear gel glue.  HM Ben Franklin Crafts also carries colored envelopes for slimline cards.  I wish my photos didn't have glare spots but they are impossible to avoid on this type of card.  Recently, I saw cello bags specifically for shaker cards selling online for about $9 oer a oack of 5. The Heiko cello bags at HM BFC have FIFTY in a pack for about the same cost! Wow! A great bargain and the Heiko bags are useful for so much more than shaker cards. Make just one shaker card and you'll be hooked on this simple and fun style of card making....guaranteed!

 

Par-tea Time Birthday Card

New Lawn Fawn products always inspire me to create something fun.  This card was made for a friend who has an upcoming birthday and is a tea lover like me. I started the background by decoupaging a section of rose design tissue paper from a Daiso assorted paper pack (only $1.50 for 5 12x12 sheets!). Refer to the previous post to learn about decoupaging.  Next, I used the LF scalloped edge rectangle die to cut out the white card base ( keep the die just shy of the top edge so that the card won't be cut in two). I really like the stitching lines that the die impresses. Once the decoupaged rose paper is dry, cut it to fit on the card front.  The tea cup was easily die cut as was the spoon which is nice, cut from silver card stock. I put a darker blue paper behind the die cut face of the tea cup. The cute animals were stamped, colored with Copic markers and die cut. The pieces were adhered with foam adhesives and lastly the word strip was added.

For the inside of the card, I used my Misti stamp aligner to print the words and cake plate. The cake was added later. I am happy with this simple card because it really does suit the recipient....hmmm, now I think I need to get her something with a tea theme for her birthday.

 

Vintage Look Gift Bag

Whenever I'm asked if I'd like a bag for my purchases, I ask to see the bag.  If it's a plain sturdy bag with good handles, I always say yes!  This bag had no printing on it and ribbon handles that were detachable. (Decorating is so much easier if I don't have to deal with the handles.) Recently, I purchased from Daiso (for only $1.50 each ) packets of Decoupage printed tissue paper. Each packet had several large sheets of lovely decorated tissue paper which when applied to the bag with decoupage liquid adhesive seems to become part of the bag paper. I applied the liquid to the bag, applied the tissue and then applied more adhesive liquid over the tissue. I purchased my decoupage liquid adhesive from Japan but I think HM Ben Franklin Crafts sells it too, and watered down white glue or Modge Podge should work too.

After the bag was dry, I trimmed off the excess tissue from the bag.  I applied more adhesive to the edges of the bag where the tissue was loose. I 'discovered' a whole container of postal tags in a drawer...score!..so I stamped postal words on the front and back and added a Tim Holtz heart trinket and tied it to the bag handle. I don't think I got the tea drinking lady large stamp or the tea themed masking tape from Japan, but they did have Asian writing on the packaging so maybe I did. LOL!

To finish off the bag I decorated the back too with the same tissue and added a sticker and masking tape to cover up the images I didn't like. A final addition of striped ribbon pulled the whole bag together.  I think this 'new' bag will make an impressive presentation of a vintage tea cup, some good quality tea and perhaps a tea strainer. Oh, maybe I should include some tea cookies!

 

Cat Birthday Cake Card

I made this simple card with the idea that it would be for a male....so no frills or fancy pop-ups. Really, even my sons don't cherish my handmade cards. I doubt they've kept any of them.  Harrumph! Anyway, both my boys have two cats in their households. One cat in each pair believes she is human and entitled to all the goodies and comforts that we enjoy. Of course once I saw the clear stamps in the Ai set, I couldn't resist making birthday cards from the hilarious images and words.

I started by stamping with permanent black ink onto a white card blank that I made from watercolor paper.  Using my smaller stenciling brushes, I scrubbed on some Distress Oxide inks onto the background and then sprinkled it with water before blotting to create a splotchy look.  Next, I used Derwent watercolor pencils to color in the image before 'painting' with water.  I was so tempted to add sprinkles and glitter, but I refrained myself.  I hope the humor rather than the beauty of this card will add pleasure to my sons' birthdays. Here's to many, many more birthdays (and cards) for my wonderful sweet boys! (They are actually my young men...LOL!)