Stardust Necklace

Are you sick of these necklaces yet? I surely hope not, because I have a few more to share (and maybe one to give away soon). How about a little blog candy? Yum yum!

This particular pendant didn't turn out as planned, but I love the results. I wore it 4th of July (and will definitely wear it more often!). It was supposed to be red, white, and blue, but alas, that was not to be. I began by cutting a piece of Cranberry B&T for the base of the necklace. Then I had fun with my Pazzles making the circles a bit smaller with a zigzag cut. When I layered the blue onto the Cranberry, I just didn't like how it looked. Instead, I kept the blue stars and let the washer show through. The three tiny white stars are rub-ons, and the three gems completed the necklace.

So am I the only one whose projects don't turn out like you planned? I'd love to hear your stories (successes and failures)!

Today, the girls and I are headed to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to meet our cousin Megan, who is in town for a day or two. (Go, Braves!) We can't wait to see her and the gardens too! Yesterday we collectively picked two gallons of blueberries. Too bad we don't have time this morning for blueberry pancakes! We'll definitely have some soon though. We also had a blast hanging out with my sister and her boys at Vogel State Park! Gotta love the summertime!!!

Boom-Di-Ada Necklaces

Our older daughter couldn't be outdone when she saw that Sister was getting a necklace! She chose her favorite Boom-Di-Ada paper pack so that we could make her necklace (at far right) and two others for her best friends. We tricked these babies out with some Glitz Gel glitter glue and Sparkles, plus finished them off with Buttercup buttons.

I really love how they turned out! Each necklace is unique yet they look great together too. Ansley wears hers all the time, and I hope her girlfriends like theirs too.

I am going to have to start tackling matching bracelets now! I haven't forgotten about the tutorial either. Now that we've gotten a new router for our WiFi, it will be much easier to post. Also, I've been busy with church and blueberry picking, plus trying to rearrange our basement. A woman's work is never done, is it?

Veranda Necklaces

As soon as our younger daughter saw the first washer pendant necklace I made, she started asking if we could make one for her. Of course! After completing the swap necklaces, we got right to work. She chose the Veranda paper pack and wanted the design with the birds. (Hers is the one on the right.) I'm not sure how well the birds show up, but she loves her necklace! In fact, we had to make another one (middle) for her BFF Leilani.

The necklace on the left is mine. I used the gorgeous Veranda Creative Basics paper pack and covered it with Glitz Gel, then embellished it with a pewter Filigree Charm (minus the brad). I added a small Sparkle to the center.

If you look at it at an angle, can you see the sparkle and glitter of the Glitz Gel?

Want one for yourself? Ask me how!

CTMH Swap Necklaces

If you read my blog often or saw me at Convention then you may have seen these necklaces I made. (I made one with the Silhouette papers for the Operation Smile silent auction. You can see it HERE.) They use washers (from the hardware store) as their base, and I found the idea with instructions on Splitcoast Stampers. (Try doing a search if you're interested in learning more, or keep coming back here because I plan to post a tutorial later this week.)

I made 45 (yes, that's right, forty-five) necklaces to swap at Convention. Needless to say, they are all gone.

Sorry the photo at right didn't turn out better. I have several more necklaces to post this week, plus instructions, so please come back. I am really pleased with my addition of a button to the original idea. I'd love to know what you think. (I'm also considering selling some so let me know if you're interested!)

Also, all of my hostesses for the rest of the year will receive their very own necklace as part of their thanks for having a gathering, class, or workshop with me (in addition to the fabulous hostess rewards that Close To My Heart already offers).

This project qualifies me for the Heart 2 Heart ABC (Anything But a Card) challenge this week. If you're not familiar with this awesome blog, please go check it out. It is always inspiring!

CTMH supplies used: X7132B Cherry-O paper pack; Z1097 Nature’s Ambience rub-ons; Z1104 Sparkles and/or Z1313 Glitz Stardust glitter glue; Z679 Liquid Glass; Z1206 Basic or Z1284 Winter craft buttons

Other: 5/8" washers from the hardware store; Mod Podge; braiding cord (could use CTMH hemp)

Happy Birthday, America!

God bless America, land that I love! May you and yours have a happy and safe 4th of July weekend! Don't forget that freedom isn't free and remember our troops this holiday weekend.

The girls are attending a birthday sleepover while Hubby & I party at my sister's BBQ. (Remember when all the parties used to be here?) Though I don't feel up to partying with my awful head cold, I figure I can sit around, visit, and watch the action. Both girls serve at church Sunday, then look for us at the lake. Enjoy your weekend!


This little festive rosette was so fun to make and came together in a snap. Jeanette Lynton's Color Me Monday "Fireworks" palette and the Cherry-O paper pack were my inspiration, as was a 4th of July rosette banner that I saw somewhere on the web. I think this qualifies me for the H2H challenge this week too (patriotic stripes). I started with a 4.75"x12" piece of B&T that reminds me of cotton ticking and distressed the two long edges with Desert Sand ink. I cut a piece of the Tulip & Crystal Blue B&T at about 3.5"x12", also distressed with Desert Sand, and glued it down the center of the first piece. Fan-fold this piece, tie together in the middle with hemp, and then open up and glue the ends together to make the rosette base.

On the Cherry paper I stamped "4th of July" from the retired July Word Puzzle stamp set after inking it up in Tulip & Outdoor Denim (rock 'n roll technique, modified). I used the "out of the box" technique for cutting out the circle: I didn't cut all the way around so that I could hand-trim around the little cherries. Can you see the shine of the Liquid Glass on those two? I cut the scalloped circle a bit larger (maybe too large) with my Pazzles on a piece of scrap Outdoor Denim (from the You Rock paper pack).

After letting the rosette dry, I attached the center medallion. It needed a little something, so I added the Outdoor Denim twill bow at the top and then hung it on our front door. Happy 4th of July, y'all!

P.S. As a follow up, I was so excited to be named a "Friday Five" at the H2H challenge blog! Thank you!!!

Shades of Green & Sketch 70 Challenge Card

The challenge today over at 365 Cards (day 120) is to create something using three shades of green. Mmmm do I love greens (most shades anyway)! I remembered that Jeanette Lynton had posted a Color Me Monday combo with greens in it, and I found this gorgeous inspiration: Ponderosa Pine, Topiary, Sweet Leaf, and Colonial White.

When I saw this week's sketch (Sketch 70) over at Card Patterns, I knew that I had to make something with it, so I combined these two challenges. The great part was that I used up several scraps, plus tried out a new (to me at least) technique, homemade glimmer mist. Here's a close-up of what I created:

The shimmery mist was easy to make. Fill any small spray bottle (I bought Mist-It Ultra Fine Mist Sprayers) about 75%-90% full of ispopryl rubbing alcohol. Then add Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint and shake well. Finally, mist this gorgeous spray onto your projects. (You can also add reinker to color your spray. Ooh la la!)

CTMH Supplies: D1306 Treasure Life stamp set; Ponderosa Pine & Colonial White card stock; Stardust paper pack scraps (Topiary polka dots); Emporium paper pack scraps (Sweet Leaf floral pattern); Ponderosa Pine, Topiary, and Sweet Leaf inks; Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint (for shimmery mist); Basic craft buttons; Sweet Leaf designer ribbon rounds; Z1094 embroidery floss (Topiary)

P.S. I forgot to mention that I cut the background scalloped matte with my Pazzles.