Ribbon necklace

Last week I saw Becca's post on Blue Cricket Designs about how to make a ribbon necklace. I had been wanting to find a tutorial for those and was so excited that she posted one. Michael's also had ribbon and beads on sale , so I headed right over, got some stuff, and made myself two necklaces this weekend. I decided to try and put my on spin on it and wanted to use more than three beads and also used clear faceted ones instead of wooden beads. So for the first one, I cut my ribbon a little longer than a yard- I added about 14 inches. I originally wanted the necklace to tie but I didn't quite add enough length for that. So I ended up folding my ribbon over a jump ring and tying a knot. I started with a bead and then began braiding. The ends of ribbon that were left after tying the knot blended into the braid and what didn't got smoothed down with a little glue on the back. I continued braiding and adding beads until I got to the end and then finished the same way I started. I then added a springring clasp. Here is my version:

I also made a second one exactly like the tutorial, but my ribbon is skinnier and the braid is tighter.

I'm linking up  here

and at other great parties on my side bar this week. Thanks for looking!

Ann Taylor Loft inspired bow cuff bracelet

Last week I was browsing around Ann Taylor loft for jewelry and fashion inspiration. I saw this cuff bracelet. In case no one has noticed, I'm into big chunky jewelry right now.

It's not a bad price, but I still thought that I could make one for less and that it would be fun to do also. So I did. Here's my version:

Mine does not have rhinestones. And to tell you the truth, I didn't notice the rhinestones in the Ann Taylor loft version to begin with.

I'm not a good tutorial writer, but I did take a few pictures of the steps and will try to explain.

I ordered a 2-inch aluminum cuff blank from here. I got a 99-cent fake leather belt from the Good Will. (I'd say this is a fabulous upcycle for this belt.) You'll also need some black felt. It was already in my stash, along with Beadalon medium curb silver plated chain.

I cut off a portion of the belt and glued it to the cuff blank with Fabri-Tac adhesive. Cut it a little wider and fold the edges to the inside. I used some binder clips to hold my "leather" on while it dried.

I glued some felt on the inside. I cut two strips from the belt a little narrower than the cuff. I cut one strip longer than the other. I stitched my strips together so they formed bands.

Then I stacked the shorter one on top and pinched them together. I wrapped them with a piece of the chain. I actually stitched the end of the chain to the back of the bows with needle and thread to start and then stitched down the end when I finished wrapping. I then glued my bow to the cuff. It was fairly quick and easy!

Here are couple of self-portraits of me modeling my $7.00 cuff. (Really it's cheaper that that because I still have part of the belt, some felt, and chain left over for other projects.)

Thanks for looking.

Quick and easy cookies

I have a compulsion to collect things or supplies for my interests to the extreme. I like to cook and have collected many, many recipes. I also now have a compulsion to "use it or loose it." I'm cleaning out closets, etc and getting rid of things I don't use. I've tackled the recipes too. If they are not hits, they will get thrown out.

Sunday I tried this quick little recipe and it was a hit. Hubby likes these.

Pebbles Cookie Crisps

1 pkg. (2 layer size) yellow cake mix

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup water

1 large egg

3 cups Post Fruity Pebbles cereal

Mix cake mix, oil, water and egg in large bowl with spoon until well blended. Stir in cereal. Drop tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake at 350 for 11 minutes or just until cookies begin to turn brown. Cool on wire racks.

I used a reduce sugar cake mix and they were still plenty sweet. (Hubby does not know it was a reduced sugar mix, hehe.)

For a chocolate version, use Cocoa Pebbles and chocolate flavor cake mix.

Linking these up to the parties on the side.

I will not be outdone by a craft

Kudos to those of you who make the beautiful singed chiffon flowers like these here and here.  I wanted to make some white ones and ordered some chiffon about two months ago. This week I tried on two different nights with two different pieces plus some chiffon scarves I picked up at a yard sale recently and failed miserably. My circles did not curl- they burned up! I did some research and discovered you MUST use SYNTHETIC fabrics. I had ordered silk chiffon.

I did have on hand some synthetic fabrics from my grandmother's stash that she probably used as linings. I tried this and it worked much better. Here is a blue flower I made out of that:

I used a brad from my scrapbooking stash for the center.

I also discovered that one of the scarves I picked up at the yard sale was synthetic and would work so I managed to get two flowers done.  I will admit I stitched them together and did not like them and cut more circles and had a second go. This particular fabric curls VERY EASY and will shrink up half the original size- so I've learned not to cut my circles too small.  Here are my flowers. One has a vintage jewelry piece for a center and the other has some pearls I stitched in.

And what about the silk chiffon that I can't use for this? They became these:

The one on the left is made from this tutorial and the right one was made by folding the circles into quarters and stitching them together at the bottom points.

Check back because I plan to work all of the white flowers into some jewelry pieces.

Repurposed yard sale jewelry

I've recently taken an interest in vintage jewelry and in shopping yard sales for finds. I've also taken an interest in jewelry, so I've combined all of this into this fun piece:

a fabric rosette bib necklace!

The chain for this piece is actually two bracelets. The bracelets are a yard sale find- I got twenty plus bracelets for $2.50! I took the clasp off opposite ends of the two bracelets so I'd have a matching clasp once they were attached. The chains have been sewn onto the felt base. Fabric rosettes were glued to the felt base as well. The rhinestone button in the center is from a thrift store cardigan purchase ( I like the cardigan but did not think the buttons went well with it, so that's another item to "remake" for another day). The cabachons on each side are earrings, also a yard sale find.  I took the backs off and glued felt circles to the back of the earrings. I then cut another set of circles and the chain is sandwiched between the two circles. This is fairly simple and I had a lot of fun making it.

Since I can't keep everything I make, you'll find this in my shop.

I'll also be linking this up to some of the great link parties on my side bar.

More memory wire bracelets

I'm becoming addicted to making memory wire bracelets. But hey, I am using that old stash of seed beads, bugle beads, and a few faceted beads here and there. Here are two that I've made this weekend.

I'll be linking up to some of the great parties on the side!

Crafting for charity

There is an upcoming charity auction at my hubby's work place. Items will be auctioned in return for canned food for a local food bank. I made this fabric bib necklace for the auction. I added a vintage clip earring and some pearls and other baubles for accents.

I love combining colors and fabrics. I had so much fun that I made another one to list in  my esty shop. You can see it  HERE.

I'm linking up at the parties listed on the side. Thanks for looking.

Beaded keychains

Here's another craft I've tried in my quest to use up leftover beads- keychains. I just love the blue one and I left it on my desk just so I could look at it for a week. I love colors. I used this tutorial from Tatortots and Jello. I made one of these for a Christmas gift and one for a charity auction. I'll probably be making more for Christmas (at least I've got a small start on Christmas projects).

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be linking up here and to the parties on the side.