Royal Cardinal Wall Hanging and Ornaments

Hi Everyone!

Merry Christmas!

I have some new kits out with Herrschners just in time for Christmas.  I had such fun creating cardinals in different poses for these ornaments and the wall hanging.  My editor wanted me to use a bright background and I just love how the yellow color works in contrast to the reds and greens.  I hope you enjoy them, too.

Royal Cardinal Wall Hanging

Royal Cardinal Ornaments

Happy Stitching!

Tierra Cast Finishing Touches

Hi Everyone!

I have been making jewelry for about twenty years and one of the first things I noticed out in the jewelry stores were the wonderful findings from Tierra Cast.  They are a local company to me in Santa Rosa, California, so they were in the local bead stores that I frequented.  If you can't find them in your local bead shop, there are many online from places like Artbeads.  These findings are always great designs and quality workmanship.

I was thrilled to receive a sample of their newest findings - Finishing Touches.  These are crimp ends in some wonderful styles.  You can use them for necklaces, bracelets or earrings.

There are some great designs out there already using these crimp ends with beads and leather and tassels and fringe, so I wanted to see if I could make some earrings with fabric.  To me, some of these crimp ends look like little fiesta skirts, so that was my inspiration.

Here is the first one:

Cotton Print Fabric Fan Earrings

To make your own fabric fan earrings:

1.  Tear a strip of fabric and stitch a running stitch along one edge.
2.  Gather the strip and tie the threads creating a fabric circle.  Overlap the edges and add a stitch to keep it overlapped.
3.  Fold the circle in half and insert into the finding.
4.  Squeeze the finding closed.  Glue can be added before insertion if you like.

Here's another set:

Denim and Muslin Fabric Fan Earrings

The denim over the muslin on these earrings is a die cut flower folded over the gathered muslin circle.

These are so easy to make.  I've got a lot more ideas and fabrics to try!  If you try this idea, I'd love to see your photos.

Thanks again TierraCast.

Cheers! Bottle Bag

Hi Everyone!

Need a quick hostess gift?  Just pop your favorite beverage into this easy bottle bag decorated with Joy embroidered iron-on letters.

I painted these letters with two kinds of DecoArt paint - a red acrylic and a glitter paint.  For all the instructions, see the Creating with Joy blog.

Of course, there are lots of options for making this in your own style - use your favorite word for a toast - and paint with your favorite colors.  This would be great for New Year's or any festive occasion.

Cheers!  All the best in your holiday festivities!

Bottle Bag

Over-the-top Sparkle

Hi everyone!

Beadwork showcases some Fast and Fabulous necklaces in their December 2019/January 2020 edition that are just the thing to add some glitter and glam to your outfit for a party or night out on the town.  Whether you want understated elegance or a full on statement necklace, there is something for everyone!

Here's my contribution to the glitter - my Silver Sparkle Necklace.  It's got a lot of swing to it, making it perfect for dancing.  These silvery glass beads have a unique cut called step faceting, so they really catch the light.  They are like mini disco balls!

Silver Sparkle Necklace

I decided this necklace wasn't complete without a pair of earrings, and I had some extra beads, so - voila!

Silver Sparkle Earrings

Now, I'm ready for some dancing!  No, wait, maybe a bracelet...


I got my copy a little early, so the issue isn't available generally yet.  But, in a few days, you should be able to find it on the website here.  As usual, it is filled with fabulous designs in bead weaving along with the Fast and Fabulous sparkle.  I love the ornaments on the front cover.  One of these days, I'll try one of those!

 If you like the beads I used, you can find the Silver Iris faceted 4mm beads here and for the 8mm beads, go here.  Or, search halcraftcollection.com

Time to get your sparkle on!

Happy beading,

Terry

Gone Country

Hi all!

I haven't shared my Joy Embroidered Letters projects with you in awhile, so here goes.  When I started looking at what I had created lately, I noticed a predominate influence.  I've gone country.

My kitchen is being slowly transformed into farmhouse style, so these projects went right along with that.

This is so easy to make - you need a frame, some scrapbook paper and Joy letters.  All the instructions are on the Creating with Joy blog.

To go along with the plaque, here's a little crate to display your homegrown produce or flowers.

Here's some of our goodies this year.

You can also put some canning jars in the crate and fill them with your favorite flowers.

It's so easy to create your own farmhouse-style accessories.  Here's the link.

Yes, I am lucky to be on the Creating with Joy design team, and I receive compensation for these projects and lots and lots of letters!

Love is the Key

Hi Everyone!

I am so excited to share that I have been published in Beadwork magazine again.  I just got my advance copy of the October/November issue.  I hope you will look for it on the shelves soon.  There are so many wonderful designs and information in it.  I am so blessed to be included in such splendid company!

Beadwork October/November 2019

I'm in the 9 Easy Mindfulness Beaded Jewelry Designs that is across the top of the magazine.  These are the Fast and Fabulous designs that are mainly strung designs.  I like that Beadwork incorporated stringing in their magazine along with the woven designs.  Someday, I'll take the time to try one of those fabulous designs.  For now, I am enjoying incorporating different kinds of beads - ceramic, wood, clay, glass - along with a little wire, a little fiber and some patina in my jewelry designs.  Here's what I came up with for this issue:

Love is the Key

It was so much fun designing for a mindfulness theme.  "Love is the Key" represents my philosophy on life's journey and it flowed out in this design.  And, of course, it's in my favorite shades of blue!

Here's a photo that I took showing the necklace in a little different view.

Thanks for stopping by!

Helping out

Hi folks!

After so many years of creating, things begin to pile up.  I'm at the stage in my life where I am going to start divesting of all these treasures.  It probably should have been done a long time ago, I know.  I was especially reminded of that this summer when my family cleaned out my Mom's house in order to sell it.  We are a family of savers, recyclers and re-users, but you can only use so much!

So, stay tuned as I sort and compile and de-stash.  I'll have some boxes of craft books, magazines and supplies that you may need more than I do.

To make a start, I donated this necklace and some matching earrings to my church festival as a silent auction item.  I'm sure that's better than gathering dust in my craft room.

Looking forward to a clearer space in which to create more fun projects!  What do you do with your extra craft projects and supplies?  Love to hear your ideas.

Countdown to Christmas!

Hi Crafty Folk!

Sometimes I lose track of the time!  This Countdown to Christmas Wall Hanging was designed back in March.  Sometimes Christmas designing is done six months ahead for magazines or catalogs!  It can be confusing!

But, I'm on track now!  Yesterday was the 25th, so we have just under five months until Christmas!  And, plenty of time to make this new design!

Happy Stitching!

You can find this cheerful snowman on the Herrschners site under Plastic Canvas.

Christmas in July Plastic Canvas Designs

Hi Stitchers!

Herrschners has released a few more of my plastic canvas designs, and I can't wait to share them with you.  It's like Christmas in July!

The first is a look through a window at a winter scene:

And, the second set is more Christmas-y - fun ornaments that hold candy canes!

Check them out on Herrschners and have fun stitching!

Summer Plastic Canvas Designs

Hi Everyone!

Herrschners has come out with a few of my plastic canvas designs.  Head on over to their site to see them and all the other new designs.  They have a lot of cute, summery ones.

Here's a Pueblo House Tissue Cover.  You can place those little appliques wherever you want on the box.

And, some Pueblo Pottery Coasters.  Those were fun to design - I love Southwest motifs!

And, last, another set of coasters of Country Barns:

Have fun stitching some summer designs!

Joy-ful ideas

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for stopping by!

Over on the Creating with Joy blog, there are always great ideas on how to embellish your projects with Joy letters and embroideries.

Here's a few that I have created recently as a member of the design team.  (I receive compensation for these projects and a lot of letters!)

I like to create games for the grandkids.  Here's a Bowling Game that I designed using chocolate milk bottles.  I love when you can reuse things.  This uses some multi-surface paint from Plaid.

And, for the graduate, I made a Mortarboard Gift Box, which can hold a gift card, or your graduate's favorite gift - cash!

Here I've use some Kunin stiff felt and a recycled box.  Add your favorite saying and personalize it with the school colors of your grad.

And, back in April, I created a sign for the yard to point the way to the Easter egg hunt!  Joy letters make it so easy to create a sign!

There are so many ways to use JOY letters - games, signs, gifts.  Stop by the Creating with Joy blog and see more ideas from the design team!

We're All Ears:: Encapsulated Potential

Hi everyone!

Thanks for stopping by.  Today I created a pair of earrings inspired by Erin Prais-Hintz on the We're All Ears post from May.  This is the photo inspiration from the post.  It is Ruth Asawa's wire sculptures.  Read more about her and her amazing art on Erin's post.


Here is a set of earrings that were inspired by Ruth Asawa's sculptures:

This doesn't show any encapsulation, but I like the way they came out.  Getting the globe to sit well on the wire was solved with the bead caps that sit inside the mesh bead.  The next photo shows how they sit in the large hole.

This was a fun challenge, but I was too late to post a photo on the blog.  Go here to see the other designs inspired by this amazing wirework.

Steampunk Butterfly

Hi Everyone!

Today I'm participating in a really fun blog hop using new products from {a vintage girl}.  These vintage and steampunk chipboard shapes are designed by Candy Rosenberg.




As a designer participating in this blog hop, I received free product to use in my designs.  I used the Wicked Wings, letters from the Alphanumeric sheet and a gear from the Trinkets sheet.  In addition,
I used a canvas, various paints including some from Paper Artsy (from a Seth Apter class) and Perfect Pearls metallic powders.  I created the face using a push mold from Sculpey with some clay from Crayola.

I painted the canvas in layers starting with a dark, brownish red and layered with orange, brown and cream colors added on with a toothbrush.  The chipboard pieces of the butterfly and letters were painted with metallic with added layers of the same paints.  The face was also brushed with metallic and brown.  The body of the butterfly was cut from the chipboard in between the wings.  The arms are pieces of corrugated cardboard.  As the butterfly image morphed and developed (I started out thinking I was creating an angel) as my art pieces tend to do, I decided "emerge" was a good word to go with the butterfly.  Then, it needed a chrysalis from which to emerge.  I played with more corrugated cardboard, but that didn't look quite right and finally decided on twisted pieces of natural tissue paper.

"Emerge"

by

Terry Ricioli

Thanks, Candy, for the opportunity to play with your new products!  I had so much fun!  Happy Birthday!

Now, browse our blog hop and see all the other fabulous designs using these fantastic new products.

Beachcombing Necklace

Hi everyone!

Thanks for stopping by.  I am pleased to be able to share one of my necklace designs with you today.  This one is published in the June/July issue of Beadwork in the Fast and Fabulous section.

I love the ocean and visit as often as I can.  But, when I can't visit, I like reminders of it - a shell, a piece of driftwood, a shiny rock or sea glass.  With this necklace, I've created a collection of elements you might find on the beach - a piece of driftwood, different types of shells and sea glass beads.  But, the matte beads in the necklace weren't churned by the ocean.  I used etchall® dip 'n etch to create the soft, matte surface on shiny, glass beads.  It's so easy and quick to do this (15 minutes!) and I love the look.  Go to this post to see the easy process or search my blog for etched jewelry.

Beachcombing Necklace

Close-up showing etched beads

Close-up of the bottom of the necklace

I really had a lot of fun making this one.  It's a freeform style that's open to whatever you have around as far as shells, wood chips and beads. And it's all knotted making it easy and quick to do.

Here it is hanging on a wooden stand:

The editors and photographers at Beadwork did a fabulous job of photographing and showing the details of this necklace, so I hope you'll check out the magazine.  You can get it in print and digital.

Happy Creating!

Rinea Foil Blog Hop

Hello!

Today I'm participating in a blog hop with the Designer Crafts Connection.  We're featuring Rinea Foiled Paper in our designs.

It was so much fun to create this card for the hop.  My inspiration was this dancing girl paper doll.  It's a happy card that you could use for a birthday or spring.  Rinea foiled paper is the perfect material for a bright and cheery card.

"I hope you dance"

To create this card, adhere two layers of Starstruck to your card blank.  The Marigold Orange layer is 1/8" in from the edge, and the Turquoise is 1/4" in from the edge.  The sizes will depend on your card blank.

Cut small pieces of Emerald and Starstruck Jade and layer on the bottom of the card.  These were cut freehand.  This is a good place to use up some scraps.

Die cut flowers of your choice from two or three different pink Starstruck foils (Fuchsia and Blush).  Arrange and glue flowers at their centers leaving petals free.  Add glue to centers with a toothpick and add sequins.  Add more sequins on the background.

Paint dancing paper doll dress with a wash of pink paint.  Let dry and glue in the center.

Write a sentiment on the inside of your choice.  I like "I hope you dance".

Join the blog hop and see all the other beautiful projects here when we hop on April 18.

Foil Paper Irises

Hi folks!

UPDATE:  I made it into the finalists (WooHoo!) in the Best Blogger Contest!  Go here
to see all the project finalists and vote for your favorite!  I'd love to have your vote!

Today I'm sharing a flower sculpture that I made with Rinea foiled paper.  This paper is perfect for making flowers because it cuts and shapes easily and holds its shape.  And, you can't beat the beautiful colors!  I'm looking forward to making more flowers with Rinea foil.

Foil Paper Irises

This design is now on favecrafts.com.  You can find the instructions here.  This project was created as part of the Best Blogger contest sponsored by FaveCrafts.  Finalists will be announced on April 15 and then the contest is open for voting.  There are some great prizes for the winners, so wish me luck!

Need more craft ideas?  Select a free newsletter from FaveCrafts and enjoy more project ideas.  (This is an affiliate link and I get a small amount if you sign up for a newsletter.  Thanks!)

Working in Wire

Hi!

Thanks for stopping by!

Today I'm sharing some wirework that I did for the Now That's a Jig! monthly challenge with Brenda Schweder and the JigUFacturers.  I got to work with the jig when I participated in the Project Embellish challenge at Creativation in January.

This month's theme was desert greenery-inspired.  Here's the photo collage from the challenge.

There is such variety in the desert, and sometimes, you get the impression that there is no color.  You just have to look a little harder for the color in some seasons, but the textures are always there.

I don't have a Now That's a Jig! (yet), but working with the small plastic jig I had and some pliers, I shaped a saguaro cactus in brass wire.  Then, I took a smaller gauge of wire and wove it across the frame.  I bent the smaller gauge with pliers back and forth to crinkle it.

Here's how that came out:

I brushed the brass wire with Moss Patina from Ranger Inks.  It turned out pretty bright, and needed some bright cactus flowers.  I used some howlite beads and tied them on with waxed thread.

Saguaro

Right now it's hanging from a brass jump ring and silk ribbon, but that may change.
This was a fun challenge and like all challenges, stretched my creative ability.  What creative stretches are you trying?  Gotta keep those artistic muscles in shape!

Burlap and Lace with Sparkle

Hi Everyone!

Today, I'm creating some quick and easy wedding ideas using trims and accessories from Expo International.

Here's what I received:

When I saw these trims, the colors just said wedding décor to me.  But, I like a more rustic look , so I decided to add some burlap to the lace and sparkle.

I wrapped a mason jar to hold a bouquet or a candle and made a matching napkin ring, which combines burlap ribbon with the lace and the daisy trim that I received.  I love the fresh look of the daisy trim against the burlap.  It would be so cute for a country wedding or bridal shower.

Napkin Ring and Wrapped Mason Jar

These are very easy to create.  Just cut the burlap ribbon to fit the jar and napkin.  Then, glue lace to the back of the ribbon.  Glue the ends to create a ring, then adhere the daisy trim.

This embroidery hoop orb decoration can be used to decorate the table or hung above it.

To construct this hoop decoration, paint an embroidery hoop white, then sand the edges to show some of the wood.  Glue the smaller hoop inside the larger with hot glue.  Glue ivy and flowers of your choice inside the hoop and on top.  Glue the bird among the flowers inside the hoop  Add pieces of burlap ribbon, pieces of lace and loops of the rhinestone and pearl trim in the top arrangement.  For this hoop decoration, I used the white dove accent, the rhinestone and pearl trim and pieces of the organza and lace trim.

Here are the links to the trims I used:

Krystal Rhinestone Daisy Trim
Alessana 1/8" Rhinestone and Pearl Trim
6" x 5" White Dove Bird Accent
Organza and Lace Trim

And, there were a few that I received that I didn't use in this set:

3-D Mini Bow Sequin Applique
Sequin Trim
Asai 1/2" Centerpiece Rhinestone Trim
Lorlana Baby PomPom Fringe

Be sure to check the Expo International facebook page.  There are frequent giveaways of selections of their wonderful trims.  Here's the current one:

Expo International Inc.

4 hrs ·

Our next spring assortment pack is ready! We’re giving away this awesome assortment of fun trims and patches to one lucky winner!

1. Like and follow this page
2. Invite 2 friends to like this page.

Tag a friend who loves FREEBIES!

giveaway winner will be announced Friday March 29. Continental US residents only over 18, please.

Giveaway not sponsored or affiliated with Facebook or Instagram.

So cute!  But, better hurry and get in soon!  The deadline is noon on Friday, but if you miss this one, there are a couple of giveaways a month.

Designer Swag Bag Challenge

Hi Crafty People!

Today, I'm participating in a blog hop using products we received in the Designer Swag Bag at the Creativation show.

We received some wonderful products at the show and in appreciation, we are creating a project using five of them.

One of the items we received is a Book Box from Graphic 45.  I decided to paint the box with some beautiful Spa Blue paint from DecoArt.

We also received other paint and pouring medium from DecoArt.  Go to this project on my blog for the project I did with those.

After I adhered a piece of coordinating paper to the top of the box, I added a piece of turquoise blue Rinea foil paper.

I love this set of colors and they were perfect with the paint and paper I had already used for the box.  I die cut some flowers and leaves using the turquoise and jade foils.

To adhere the paper and foils to the box, I used Beacon Quick Grip.  Beacon creates a variety of glues for any craft purpose.

And, for the centers of the flowers, I used Sculpey's Souffle clay and molds.

Here's the flower-decorated box I created with these products.

Thanks to all the companies who donated product to our Designer Swag Bag.  I look forward to working more with your fine products in the future!

Check out these blogs for more great designs:

Erin Reed

Janet Trieschman

Ann Strecko Koeman (Annmakes)

Susie Bentz

Donna Budzynski Marjolaine Walker