A Gnome for the Home

Hi Everyone!

I love what you can create with Smoothfoam.  It's so versatile!  One of my favorite creations is this Home for a Gnome:

Home for a Gnome

It's so easy to create using one of the Smoothfoam half balls.  And, you can personalize it in so many ways.  But, it's just not complete without an occupant.  So, I created a little Gnome to live in the home!

Here he is looking over his new home!

And, here he is without his hat!

He actually has a twin brother!  They go everywhere together!  And, in the Christmas season, they work at the mall as Santa Claus!

So much fun!  Want to make your own Gnome?  Look for the instructions on the Smoothfoam blog.

Happy Crafting!

Terry

Bella Crafts Quarterly: Shell Necklace and Earrings

Hi Everyone!

Have you seen this new magazine?  


It's Bella Crafts Quarterly and it's free!  Yes, the digital version is totally free!  You can view it online or download it.  And, it's full of great projects, tips and craft techniques as well as interviews with artists and bloggers.

Their summer issue is out now, and among other great projects, they published one of mine!

Shell Necklace and Earrings

 I love the colors in these shells - iridescent greens with blues with hints of pink and fuchsia.  They remind me of one of my favorite summer places - the beach!  I combined them with some teal green stones and fuchsia crystals to pick up the colors in the shells.  It's perfect for summertime wear!

Take a look at the new Summer issue of Bella Crafts Quarterly!  Did I mention it's free?

Happy Summer Crafting!

Terry

Designer Crafts Connection: Handmade Gifts

Hi Everyone!

This month on the Designer Crafts Connection tour we're creating handmade gifts.  Nothing says you care like a handmade gift, but sometimes it's the last minute and you need one right now!  My "go-to" gift solution is usually a pair of earrings.  One size fits most and most of my girlfriends and family have pierced ears, so it's a gift that everyone likes. 

These earrings are a fun pair for summer wear - neon bright and swing-y!  And, they are so easy to make that you can make one pair for a gift and a pair for yourself!

Neon Swing Earrings

To make these earrings, you'll need:

Flexible bead stringing wire:  16"
Black glass beads:  4mm, 10; 6mm, 4
Swarovski Round Pearls:  Neon Yellow, 8mm, 2; Neon Orange, 5mm, 8; Neon Pink, 3mm, 12
Gunmetal crimp beads:  4
Gunmetal ear wires:  2
Wire cutters, crimping pliers, chain-nose pliers

1.  Cut the wire in half.  
2.  Center beads on wire.  See photo for arrangement.
3. Slide a crimp bead over both ends of wire leaving a two-inch long loop.  Crimp the crimp bead and trim one wire.
4.  Slide on a small black bead and another crimp bead.  Bring wire back through crimp bead leaving a small loop.  Crimp and trim.
5.  Open ear wire loop and attach to earring loop.  Close loop.  Repeat for the second earring.

There you go!  One quick gift!  

Happy crafting!

Terry 

PS  Check out what the other designers have created for gift giving!  Just click on the big blue DCC button!

Hot Trend: Stacked Bracelets

Hi Everyone!

One of the hot jewelry trends this year is stacked bracelets.  They can be three or four matching bracelets such as bangles with different charms, or a group with different colors but the same design, or three dissimilar bracelets with an underlying theme.  Whichever way you make them, they are big for summer wear!  

Jewelry Stringing magazine is featuring several different styles in their new Summer edition, including a set that I designed!

Stone Stackers

Check out all the great summer jewelry in the new issue and get ready for the season of fun in the sun! 

(As an affiliate of Interweave, if you use the link at the top of my blog, I get a small percentage of the sale.  And, you'll save 15%!)

Happy crafting!

Terry

Designer Crafts Connection: Herb Garden Sign

Welcome Crafters and Gardeners!

This month on the Designer Crafts Connection, we ask the question:  "How Does Your Garden Grow?"  You'll find projects, tips and new ideas to try in your garden.  I can't wait to see what the other designers have created.  Be sure to visit them with the Designer Crafts Connection button.  And, visit (and like) our facebook page.

My herb garden has taken off this year.  It's been in about two years now.  But, it needs some decoration.  First of all, I need a sign for the garden.  Among my hubby's home repair stash, I found the perfect material for my sign!

It's a metal vent screen made to cover the openings in the foundation of your house.  They come in a couple of different sizes.  You can find them in hardware stores. 

I wanted a rustic look for my sign, so I painted it with a rust finish.  It would look great in any color.  Just make sure you use a paint that will adhere to metal like a spray paint, metal paint or metal patina.

Now, you can add a word to the sign and, since it has a nice grid, you can wire or tie on almost anything.  I considered a number of ideas - beaded wire, fabric, rope, twine - and decided on some raffia-covered wire that has a nice rustic look.  I found this wire in the floral department of JoAnn's.  I shaped the wire into the word "herbs".  It's easy to bend and shape the wire with your fingers and some pliers.  Before you start, trace around the screen on some scratch paper and write out the word to have a pattern to follow.

Lay your word on the screen and check for fit.  Make any adjustments you want and attach the word to the screen.  I used some rusted wire (Darice Rustic Accents) and wrapped it around the letters in several places.

After you attach your word, add wire or twine for hanging the sign.  And, you're done!

Herb Garden Sign

Here it is hanging in my herb garden.

I hope you'll try this idea for your garden.  What word will you use?  I think I'll try "Bloom" using some wire and beads or maybe "Grow" making each letter with different media...so many possibilities!  And, does anyone know what to do with Lemon Balm?  Mine is growing like crazy!

Happy Crafting and Gardening!

Terry

Craft Ideas: Multi-Stone Bracelet

Hi Crafters!

I have to tell you, I love magazines!  I try to pass them on after awhile so that there aren't too many precarious stacks gathering dust.  I recently let go of some I'd been hoarding and sent them off to a senior center.  But, it was hard - I never know when that particular magazine might provide inspiration or guidance for my next project.  My only thought was - now I have room for more!

One of my favorite magazines is Craft Ideas.  It used to be Crafts 'n things and it's a general craft magazine that's been around a long while.  Not only do you get four issues in print format each year, but they produce digital editions eight times a year also.  That's a lot of projects!  And, you don't have to dust digital magazines!

They just recently released their digital edition highlighting fabric.  There are lots of small projects like pincushions, bags and organizers that would be easy and quick to make plus some larger projects like quilts and stuffed animals.  There's an amazing variety of ideas from a cute bow tie for your doggie to easy felt purses. 

Also included in the Fabric Arts digital issue are some projects that are not fabric-oriented like a crocheted beanie, a room divider, cards, tags, a painting project and some jewelry designs.  Included in the jewelry designs is a bracelet that I designed, a multi-stone bracelet.  This is an easy project for the beginning beader and you can use beads you have left from other projects in any color.  The key to this bracelet is mixing the colors and shapes.

multi-stone bracelet

So, check out Craft Ideas for all kinds of crafty inspiration!

Happy Crafting!

Terry

Crochet Button Bracelet and Earrings

Hi Crafters!

Today I want to show you a design that I had published in Bead-it Today.  If you haven't seen this bead magazine in your local stores, here's a link:  www.bead-it-today.com.  It's inexpensive ($3.99) compared to some of the other beading magazines and specializes in quick and easy, budget friendly projects.  There are some fun and informative articles about beading also.

My design features buttons, which I love to add to my jewelry designs.  But, these buttons are extra special because they look like crocheted flowers.  I have a special place in my heart for these, not only because I love the vintage look, but because my Grandma Rachel used to crochet the most beautiful, delicate roses and flowers in thread crochet.  I combined these crochet flower buttons with brass filigree (another of my faves!), yellow opal beads and some vintage twill tape that I inherited from my other grandmother, Grandma Irene.  (Yes, we are multi-generational savers!  I inherited the gene!)

Design by Terry Ricioli

This design was featured in the April issue of Bead-It Today and entitled "Classical".  If you can't find the magazine at your local craft store, check the website for back issues.

Happy Crafting!

Terry