Indigo Dying Kit

I was inspired by Melony Bradley’s Indigo project above – so much so that I ordered a kit. It arrived yesterday and I cannot wait to play with it.

centers.

Everything you need to get started is in the kit.  I am going to the thrift store today to find somethings to dye.  I can’t wait to get started – so excited about its arriveal I had to blog about it before I even begin.  So, stay tuned for next weeks post.  Indigo dying dates back to the ancient societies of Greece and Rome when India supplied this form of hand dying to the early Europeans. It is believed to be the oldest form of hand dying and arguably the most beautiful. Jacquard’s Indigo Tie Dye kit comes with everything you will need to produce beautiful results. The one pound package is enough to dye 15 t-shirts and can be reserved by storing in a 5 gallon bucket with a tight fitting lid, easily found at many home improvement centers.

Everyday Journal for a little boy

Today we are having a blog hop to showcase the Buttons Galore and More buttons that coordinate with Laura Kelly Pirate Island and Princess fabrics .  The Laura Kelly button blends are custom dyed to match the fabric.

Rules to this hop – Visit each blog, leave a comment if you want.  Go back to the Buttons Galore and More  blog.  Leave a comment on the post saying what is your favorite project and  if you would want the BOY prize or the GIRL prize.  It is that simple.  After you visit this blog please go to Jen- http://www.100directions.com and check out her fun girly project.

These are the blogs participating in the hop

Laura Bray www.katydiddys.blogspot.com

Cristal – www.blueyecicle.blogspot.com

Keri Lee – www.pinklemonade.typepad.com

Laura E – www.lauraevangeline.blogspot.com

Jen- http://www.100directions.com

Allie –http://welltrainedpaper.blogspot.com/

Ann – http://www.creativitystirsthesoul.com/

Elise – http://mamacowcreations.blogspot.com/

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Lamp Work Beads

I recently I participated in a jewelry swap called “Creative Canape”.  The participant in this swap exchanged handmade beads and other components to create a nice mix to send to their partner.  I was paired with Lynne Bowland www.islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.com and she created some fabulous lampwork pieces and enameled beads.

Bright swap pieces

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could not make up my mind what to send so I sent two different canapes.  I am even like this when I entertain.  I can never decide what to cook so I make a ton.

Handmade Clay beads

Both swap sets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now these were the beads that I received.  Little did she know that cobalt blue is my favorite color, especially cobalt glass.  I sat the beads on my desk the day they arrived.  I added beads, I took beads away, rearranged beads and simply could not make up my mind what I wanted to do.

Bright swap pieces

Handmade Clay beads

Both swap sets

pendant

earrings

earrings and pendant

Now this is what I ended up with… and I bet you are going to be surprised that I did not even use one of the cobalt pieces.  I was not “feeling” it and did not want to create something that I was not happy with and/or made and took apart 25 times.  So, what I decided to do was create a pendant and a matching pair of earrings.  I am very happy with my decision to save the other pieces for when my mojo is flowing because the beads she created are beautiful and I need to do them justice.  So now when the bead fairy sprinkles me with some mojo I will share my creations.

pendant

 

earrings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

earrings and pendant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please take a look at the other participants and their canape creations!

Keri Lee Sereika www.pinklemonade.typepad.com

 

Beth Emery www.storiesbyindigoheart.blogspot.com

Niki Meiners www.nikimeiners.wordpress.com

Karan Parker www.karanskrafts.blogspot.com

Liz DeLuca www.creativeartyfacts.blogspot.com

Lynne Bowland www.islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.com

Judy Turner www.silver-rains.blogspot.com

Erin Grant www.Erinsjewelrycreations.blogspot.com

Bryna Lumb www.brynasbeadbox.blogspot.com

Rochelle Brisson www.acreativechelle.blogspot.com

Linda Youkman www.lindysdesigns.blogspot.com

Carmen Lau www.littlemake.blogspot.com

Cheryl Foiles www.getyourbeadon.com

Kelli Jacobson www.CreativeMoonJewelryAndThings.com

Elena Gianni www.ilmondodipucci.blogspot.com

Tania Hagen www.pelimadesign.blogspot.co.nz

Cindy Muse www.cindyshandworkcrafts.blogspot.com

Stephanie Woods www.skwds.blogspot.com

Lisa Lodge www.pineridgetreasures.blogspot.com

 

DIY Gift Basket with Sizzix Die Cuts

Gift Basket with Sizzix Die Cuts by Niki Meiners

Get creative when making a gift basket by taking a plain basket and embellishing it with a little ink added to Sizzix die cuts.  I used my Big Shot and a few die cuts to take this plain brown basket from drab to fab.  To make the die cuts pop even more I added chalk ink to to them.

from drab to fab Niki Meiners

If you are visiting from the Designer Crafts Connection make sure you  check out the other blogs, rumor has it that there are a few blogs with blog candy.  So be sure you click through them all.  To visit the other blogs click the logo in the side bar.

Make Valentine’s Day Paper Crafts

Valentine’s Day is often celebrated by giving confectionary delights and bouquets of flowers.  Presenting them with homemade accessories makes them even more special.  Custom gift bags are very easy to make with a bit of paper and scrapbooking embellishments.

Here is a gift bag, a card and bonus mini cards that will really show your Valentine how much you care!

Supplies:

• Core’dinations Ebony & Ivory Cardstock
• Gift Bag
• Felties Valentine Pink Owl
• Felties Valentine Peace Hearts
• Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue
• Red Marker
• Thickers Alphabet Stickers – Cherry
• Gingham Ribbon
• Fiskars Paper Trimmer
• Sizzix Big Shot Die Cut Machine
• Sizzix Polka Dot Embossing Folder
• Core’dinations Sand it Gadget
• Core’dinations Dust Buddy
• Clever Lever Scallop Punch

 

Directions:

1.   Assemble the pink owl.  Adhere pieces together and set aside to dry.

2.  Cut black paper to fit your gift bag.  Cut pink paper to size  similar to one shown. The main card is 6×6″ and the small cards are 3×3″.

3.  Place cardstock in embossing folder and follow manufacturers directions on how to emboss.  Remove from embossing folder.

4.  Use the Sand-It gadget to sand the paper.  Use the Dust buddy to remove the dust.  (I like to tap my Sand-It gadget on the inside of the garbage can to remove the excess dust that can build up on it.)  Repeat this step for all of the cardstock you wish to emboss.

5. Adhere your completed owl to the gift bag and add the sentiment of your choice.

6. Adhere the paper pieces to the 6×6″ card base.  Adhere heart and add sentiment of your choice.

Use the scraps of the paper to make the mini cards. The circles are made with Clever Lever punches. Embellish as desired.

If you would like to see a photos on how to sand the Core’dinations card stock, check out this card.   I also made that project and the project above for Crafts Unleashed with material provided by them.

 

Make a Valentine necklace

Welcome to 365 days of Crafts.  We are pleased to be a part of the blog hop.  “Love Cast in Clay”

The piece I created was made with Amazing Mold Putty that I used to make molds of buttons.  I placed straight pins through the clay before curing.  I painted the clay and highlighted the texture with Lumiere paint.  Glass beads and Wire are from Cousin Corp.

If you are here to participate in the blog hop and would like to win the BLOG CANDY (aka a prize)

The AMP blog and the Creative Paperclay® blog will each pick a winner – they will receive on 16oz package of Creative Paperclay® and a package of Amazing Mold Putty.    retail value is $25

Rules to get candy:  They must leave a comment on all blogs and become a follower of all blogs…

Blog Hops:

 1 Febrary 2011

1.	Creative Paperclay
2.	Terri Sproul ~ Team Leader
3.	Amanda Marks
4.	Lori Williams
5.	Barbara Moore
6.	Gini Cagle
7.	Brenda
8.	Jennifer Ingle
9.	Lyneen Jesse
10.	Aimee Fleck
11.	Robyn
12.	DeeDee Catron
13.	Debra Buckland
14.	Carole Lassak
15.	Jan Hennings
16.	Tamara Dozier
17.	Niki Meiners
18.	Edie Cournoyer
19.	Susan M. Brown
20.	Sandra Strait
21.	Peg Rounds
22.	leslierahye
23.	Amazing Mold Putty

CHA Winter 2012

Wow, it has been 20 days since I last posted.  Guess that is not that unusual this time of year.  The month before CHA is fill with lots of creativity and tons time.  Last minute art requests and tweaks to others all ready to go are the norm.  With this post going live before the show I do not have any pictures to share.  But I promise I will post lots of good ones soon.  So for now I leave you with a picture of Gigi.