Fall Jewelry

Hi Crafty Friends!

I'm back from vacation recharged and ready to work! Good thing because I've got a pile of projects to design in everything from needlepoint to beads to new products. I love the creative life! 

There are new fall magazines out that are full of crafty goodness! Here's one! 

Jewelry Stringing magazine just released their fall issue.  My Moroccan Windows necklace and earrings made the cut!  It's under their Wanderlust section, where you'll find other travel-inspired jewelry.  I love their design calls because it always inspires me to step out of my design ruts and challenge myself.  On this necklace, I combined bright red and yellow with gold metal beads and turquoise.  It always amazes me how versatile turquoise is! It goes with everything!

Moroccan Windows Necklace

I hope you are making time for some creative pursuits whether it's crafting or cooking or gardening! It's so important for your peace of mind to have that outlet.

Happy Creating!

Terry

Burlap Fabric Blog Hop:

Hi Crafty Friends!

Burlap continues to be a hot trend!  I've always loved the rustic, country look of it. So, I was excited to participate in this blog hop!

Burlap Fabric has provided us with a generous box of samples in order to create a project or projects for this blog hop.  I received lots of red burlap yardage and ribbon and debated whether to use it to create something for a holiday like Christmas or Valentine's Day or a project for a wedding or birthday.  I finally decided to go with Christmas.  I love decorating for Christmas and I'm a country girl at heart, so it fits right in with my own style.

Burlap Country Christmas Set

Materials:

Burlap:  red burlap fabric, natural burlap fabric, 1 1/2" natural burlap ribbon, burlap treat bag

Print cotton Christmas print fabric in tan, red and green 

Smoothfoam™:  3" cube

DecoArt® acrylic paint:  Berry Red, Napa Red, Khaki

Bamboo skewer

4" terra cotta saucer 

Buttons

Artificial greenery 

Handful of fiberfill

Embroidery floss:  dark red, off-white

Scissors, large sewing needle and heavy thread, glue gun, wire cutters, scrap paper, paintbrush


1.  Push bamboo skewer into the center of one side of the Smoothfoam™ cube.  Paint the skewer and the cube with Berry Red.  Let dry and paint over with one coat of Napa Red leaving it streaky.  Paint the saucer Khaki.

2.  Cut a 6" circle from red burlap fabric.  With needle and thread, sew a running stitch 1/4" in from the edge of circle.  Pull up the gathers and tie the threads to create a yo-yo.  Cut a 4" circle from print fabric and make a yo-yo.  Layer the two with the gathers up and sew or glue a button to the center.  If gluing the button to the yo-yo, thread and tie floss through it first. For these projects, make three layered and one fabric yo-yo.
 
3.  Tree:  Cut a standard sheet of copy paper in half cross-wise and fold in half lengthwise.  Draw a triangle and round the corners.  Unfold and pin to two layers of natural burlap and cut out your tree.  With dark red embroidery floss, make a running stitch around the tree 1/2" from the edge.  Leave it open at the bottom and stuff with fiberfill.  Finish running stitch and tie ends in a bow.  Slide the tree on the skewer and decorate with a fabric yo-yo and buttons. Wrap the cube with burlap ribbon and glue a layered yo-yo and greenery on the overlap.

4.  Treat bag:  Put a crumpled piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap inside the treat bag.  This will keep the front and back from being glued together.  Glue a layered yo-yo to the front of the bag.  Glue pieces of greenery under the yo-yo.  Add a tag with brown paper and twine.

5.  Candle wrap:  Wrap a piece of burlap ribbon around the candle, overlap and glue.  Glue a layered yo-yo to the overlap and add greenery.  Place on or in the saucer.  

I'm looking forward to creating more designs for this set.  A swag with red ribbons and more yo-yo's is next on my list.  Then, maybe more ornaments!  

There's a great give-away from Burlap Fabric where you can enter to win $100 worth of product!  Just click on the link below to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Happy Crafting with Burlap!  Here are the rest of the designers participating in the burlap hop.  

Angela Holt   angelaholtdesigns.com
Anita Scroggins   theflamingochronicals.blogspot.com
Beth Watson   bwdesignstudio.blogspot.com
Carmen Flores Tanis  florestanisstudio.com
Cherish Flieder  somethingtocherish.com
Cindi Bisson   fatcatcreations.blogspot.com
Jennifer Priest  hydrangeahippo.com
Julie McGuffee   juliemcguffee.blogspot.com
Kristi Parker   kristiscreativecafe.blogspot.com
Lisa Fulmer   lisalizalou.com
Madeline Arendt   madelinesthoughts.blogspot.com
Marilyn Gossett   marilyngossett.blogspot.com
Michelle FraeCummings   faeriedustdreams-michelle.blogspot.com
Sue Eldred   sueeldred.com
Susan Brown  sbartist.com

Designer Crafts Connection: Party Decor

Hi Crafty Friends!

This month on the Designer Crafts Connection, we're creating party decor.  I can't wait to see what my fellow designers will create!  We're sure to see some fabulous ideas!

I'm enjoying the summer here and bright, fun colors are what I want to create with right now - something easy, something fun.  So, I created some pinwheels with samples I received from Rowlux® Illusion Film.  I think the shimmery patterns and bright colors will make the perfect summer party decor.

A Bouquet of Pinwheels

To make these bright and colorful pinwheels, you'll need:

Rowlux® Illusion Film

Head pin

Beads

1/4" wood dowel or chop stick

Paint for stick

Tools:  scissors, metal ruler, hand drill with small bit, wire cutters, round-nose pliers, push pin, paintbrush, circle or other shape punch


1.  Cut a square of the film.  With a metal ruler, mark the diagonals.  Leave an inch in the center uncut and cut the diagonal lines.  

2.  With a push pin or other sharp pointy tool, make a hole in the center of the square and every other point of the square.  Punch a circle or other shape from a different color film and poke a hole in the center.

3.  Drill a hole in the end of the dowel.  This must be done slowly and carefully.  I used a small hand drill.  You could use a regular drill.  Covering the area with masking tape will help to prevent splitting.

4.  Paint the dowel and determine how long you want the stick for your pinwheel.  Cut the dowel with heavy scissors or a hand saw.  Sand any rough edges.

5.  Slide a bead onto the head pin, a punched circle and pick up each of the four corners of the pinwheel.  Slide a few more beads onto the pin and push it through the center of the pinwheel.  Add another bead and slide through the hole in the dowel.  Add another bead or two and check to see if the pinwheel will rotate without hitting the dowel.  Add more beads if needed.  The beads help the pinwheel to rotate smoothly.  Make a loop in the wire to hold.

6. Try different sizes and colors!  Arrange in a flower pot with tissue paper for a table decoration for a pool party or birthday!

To find out more about the Rowlux® Illusion Film, go to their Pinterest page.  There you will find ordering information and more projects to make with this versatile film.

Come back on the 13th for a blog hop promoting Burlap Fabric.  The rustic look of burlap is so popular now for decorating and you are sure to see some wonderful ideas and projects using it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Terry

Flip Flops

Hi crafty friends!

Do you love flip flops as much as I do?  I practically wear them year round!  So, I think it is natural to decorate with them. Here's a pair I created for Smoothfoam.

Flip Flops for Smoothfoam

You can find the instructions here.  These bright and colorful flip flops have a Smoothfoam base covered with cheery retro flowered Kunin felt.  I just love the bright and colorful pattern.  But, there are other patterns of felt that would work, too.  To see more Printzfelt(TM) patterns, go here.

And, while you can't wear them, you can decorate with them.  You could use them for so many things.  Add a couple of wire swirls and use it to hold your summer photos.  Or, add them to a bulletin board or a sign.  How about decor for a pool party?  What would you do with these fun flip flops?