I Chose Creating

Sadly, I've been away from home since last week attending a family funeral, so I haven't had much chance to pop online and let everyone that voted for creating, rather than cleaning that I did manage to squeeze in a little bit more crafting before I tidied away my Blue Moon Beads stash. So, how about a quick peek at what I made?

I chose to stick with bronze components (well, they were already covering every available crafting surface.) This pendant is made very simply using Large Rope Rings - which came in a pack with several sizes - and some smaller Bronze Jumprings from the Blue Sky 2013 Collection. Set inside each circle are some faceted acrylic beads from the PB&J Bead Mix, hung simply with Bronze Headpins and a Bronze Jumpring.

Another little rummage through the bronze stash uncovered this beautiful, bud-like chain from the Urban Warrior Collection. Each of the little 'buds' is already attached to the chain with teeny, tiny jumprings - so the time consuming, fiddly bit is done for you. All I needed to do was cut my chain into a few different lengths, attach them all to a Bronze Jumpring and add chain! It took no more than ten minutes - and most of that was the rummaging!

So, what's everyone else been up to this week? Have you perhaps been finishing up your Counterfeit Kit? Or maybe you've been starting on Telling Tales? Do let me know.....

Beautiful Bronzes

I'm just stopping by quickly to share a little loveliness that I popped together this morning. In the middle of re-organising my stash from Blue Moon Beads, I had an idea. And let's face it, everyone wants an excuse to stop tidying, don't they?

The Blue & Bronze Teardrops were part of a pretty earring component set (I've still got some lovely filigree pieces to work with!) but I wanted to combine them with the pre-made Blue & Bronze Pendant from the Blue Sky Collection. Don't they work so well together?

So, to create the focal, I've attached the Blue & Bronze Pendant to a Bronze Twisted Jumpring. I then added the two Blue & Bronze Teardrops and a length of Blue Moon Beads' Bronze Chain to one side. I've added two lengths of Blue Moon Beads' Bronze Chain to the other side, to ensure that the necklace is balanced well. I hate it when my necklaces start to twist around!

Now, to carry on creating or to carry on cleaning?

The End Of An Earring Era

I never, ever thought that I would manage to keep up with a year-long jewellery making project - even if it was to make 'just one pair of earrings each week'. But, I did! And I have loved every minute of the Operation Tackle That Bead Stash Earring Along so much that I have encouraged everyone in the OTTBS Facebook Group to sign up for another challenge in 2013. 

In the meantime though, let me share my last three pairs of earrings from 2013, all made with some of the amazing beads, findings and stringing materials from Blue Moon Beads. 

I must admit that I'm a little bit in love with this first pair - they remind me of pink champagne and I feel happy every time that I see them! The majority of the components for these little lovelies actually came from a pre-made pendant (but we all know I can't leave anything in one piece, right?) All I added into the mix was a couple of luscious pink round beads and ear-wires, both from Blue Moon Basics.

This second set of earrings came together really quickly with a combination of elements from the Feather Jewellery Collection, the Mud Pie Bead Mix and some amazing tassel chain earring components. They make little swishy-tinkly noises as I walk. Great fun!

And finally, proving that sometimes less can be more, these cute earrings are made up of simple ear-wires, oval jump rings and some of the most amazing metal charms - loving the tiny touch of central bling in all that metal. The charms are from Blue Moon Beads' new collection, Urban Warrior, which is a little bit swoonsome! I guarantee that you'll be seeing more of that very soon!

A Little Eye Candy

So, we had a visit from an internet engineer this morning and normal service will resume shortly. Hurrah! In the meantime, let me say a quick thank you for all of the sweet comments that were left for me on my last post - and for the e-mails that I received from a few of you as well. It means so much to me that there are still people out there reading. Now, onto the eye candy.

During October, I was thrilled to find out that I was selected for the Blue Moon Beads Design Team. I was even more thrilled when a box filled to the brim - and I really do mean to the brim - arrived at my house. There were tins and tins of beautiful bead mixes, chain, charms and cords! Lucky old me!

This weekend, I finally had a little bit of time to sit down and start making. I've started sweet and simple, by taking some of the 'oh-so-cute' earring charms and using them as charms for a couple of necklaces. Because that's how I roll!

This first necklace uses a slightly chunky feather charm, along with some luscious beads from the Red Velvet Bead Mix.

The second uses another 're-purposed' earring charm, which I separated into two parts and re-strung on to matching antiqued bronze chain. And, because I used some of Blue Moon Beads oval shaped jump rings to attach the charms, the chain looks seamless and much more professional. Result!

As I am still steadily working on the Operation Tackle That Bead Stash Earring Challenge, where we're making a pair of earrings each week for 2012, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make myself another pair of earrings using some of my new stash. I combined some lovely, clear faceted beads from the PB&J Bead Mix, with Blue Moon Beads Glass Pearls, silver spacer beads and some ear-wires to create some earrings a little reminiscent of snowdrops. I love these so much, that I've worn them every day since I made them!

Autumnal Greens & Golds

It's been a little while since I've managed to join in with the monthly challenge over at Operation Tackle That Beadstash, but this month's beautiful combination of autumnal greens and golds made me determined to make something; anything. So I had a little rummage through my stash. I came up with lots and lots of greens and almost no gold.

What I did find though was a few bobby pins, some gold wire and a little package of mixed green beads leftover from other projects. I then spent a happy half hour weaving and winding. I love making a little something out of (almost) nothing.

Kasaviragas Karkoto {Tried & Tested}

Just popping in today with a Tried & Tested review of another tutorial that's perfect for using up some of your beading leftovers - Kisaviragas Karkoto by Panita. That's right, it's in another language - but please don't let that put you off! The diagram truly is exceptionally easy to follow if you have a little bit of beading experience and, of course, anyone who needs a little bit of help can just ask me!

The pattern calls for seed beads in Size 11 and Size 6, though I have successfully used Size 11 and Size 8 in my own version of the bracelet. To stitch up the full bracelet, with three rows, you'll need approximately three grams of each bead size. So, have a little rummage for all of those 'nearly empty' tubes of seed beads! 

If you're not sure whether you have quite enough beads for the full bracelet, I've found that a one row version looks just as cute and, of course, if you want to play around with the basic pattern to make some earrings, you'll need a much smaller amount!

You can vary the pattern a little by working with other sizes of beads, as long as you pair together two different sizes. Size 15 and Size 11, still work perfectly well, but you'll need a smaller needle and possibly a thinner thread. 

Can't wait to see the variations that you all come up with x

A Little Leftover Loveliness {Bead Table Wednesday}

Operation Tackle That Beadstash have declared the month of June to be 'Leftovers Month' and so, we are encouraging everyone to rummage around in their beadstash, and make something pretty with the random bits and pieces that they find. 

So, hoping to lead by example, I had a little dig around in stash over the weekend - and came up with several bags of wooden beads which were leftover from when I started beading. Nestled in there, amongst those cheap wooden beads, was a beautiful, little focal that I'd completely forgotten about - who said poking around in your past was a bad thing? 

It took a little while to sort the beads into usable piles - and there were a few truly ugly beads that had to be discarded along the way. There was then a little bit of trial and error as I worked through a couple of patterns until I came up with a design (and length) that I was happy with as a necklace.

In the end, I opted to string the beads onto a some copper wire, as it held the shape of the necklace far better than any of my beading threads - and it allowed me to shape a button clasp that wouldn't stretch with time. Happily, I think it compliments the wooden beads well!

I can't quite believe that, after all this time, the wooden beads that I had banished to the bottom of my beading box have finally made a re-appearance and I've turned them into a piece of jewellery that I actually like. Just the incentive I need to have another rummage!

Striped Peyote Bracelet {Tried & Tested}

One of the things that I hope will be highlighted by my new feature - Tried & Tested - is the people within the crafting community with experience and expertise who happily share their knowledge and enthusiasm with others. There is some amazing talent out there - and the lovely Tracey of Crystal Star Gems & Jewellery is no different. Every month, Tracey is posting a free tutorial on the Crystal Star Gems & Jewellery Facebook Page, each of them covering a new beading stitch at a level suitable for absolute beginners. 

And let me tell you, Tracey's Striped Peyote Bracelet Tutorial was amazing to work on! The photographs are fantastic, showing each of the steps in clear detail - and the instructions are well written without being too wordy. So, even though I only knew the basics of weaving in peyote stitch, I was soon beading away and, more importantly, enjoying myself!

Although it's an extremely easy piece to bead, I felt that I learnt so much from this one tutorial - including how to keep track of stitch counts, zip up flat bead work and decrease or increase in peyote using different sized beads. So to finish up with such a beautiful bracelet at the end, seems like a bonus! 

Tracey has now 'retired' the free version of this tutorial, but you can still purchase the Striped Peyote Bracelet Tutorial from Crystal Star Gems & Jewellery. At £2.99 it's a steal - and I promise you won't be disappointed. 

I've Been Beading {Ten Things On The Tenth}

If you love Shimelle as much as I do - and I'm sure that you do - you'll be aware of her blog series Ten Things On The Tenth. It's a simple idea, we share ten things - any ten things - on the tenth of the month. Simple, but I've never managed to organise myself enough to actually join in.

At the beginning of the year, I realised that by concentrating so much on my papercrafting, I hadn't really progressed much with my wireworking and beadweaving. I was feeling guilty about my ever growing stash and headed on over to the Facebook Group for Operation Tackle That Bead Stash with a bit of a challenge in mind - creating a pair of earrings each week during 2012.

The ladies, thankfully, took up the challenge with relish and we've all been busy beading, bending and, um, bragging about our makes. It's been just the motivation I've needed to start working with my beads again and the photographs you're seeing here are the earring sets that I made during our first ten weeks of the challenge.

If you're interested it's never to late to join the challenge. There are plenty of new members to the OTTBS Facebook Group, who are catching up - and a few of us who need to catch up because we slacked off over the Easter Weekend. And, yes by 'we', I really mean me. *Blush. Blush*

You can also post your own Tenth On The Tenth. Your ten things can be absolutely anything you feel like sharing. Just head over to see Shimelle and link up your own blog post or projects!

The Bead Swap Blog Hop

Yesterday I mentioned the bead swap organised by Sarah at My So Called Junky Life and revealed the Pretty Packaging that I made to parcel up my beads for Sarah. (Which, thanks to a certain Curly Scrapbooker, has quickly become a Pinterest favourite. Thanks Jo!)

Today, I'm able to show you the beautiful package that I received in return and, of course, the beads it contained. Since I was partnered with Sarah herself, I knew that I'd be in for a shabby chic treat and I was not disappointed. Just look at that ruffle and those gorgeous rhinestones! *swoon*

Inside, I found the cutest, little birds nests. I wasn't able to get a good photograph of them - because of their teeny-weenyness - but they're sure to be on show at some point! There was also a dinky bag filled with the most luscious beads - freshwater pearls, glass sparklers, rhinestones, cute charms and lovely findings. I'm a very lucky lady!

I haven't had chance to make anything with my new stash, but I'll be sure to share when I do. In the meantime, you might like to pop over to My So Called Junky Life to see photographs of the beads that I sent - because I'm a doofus and forgot to take photographs - and you'll also be able to find links to the other swap participants. I've found some fabulous new blogs to oogle!

Tackling That Beadstash....

A little later than expected (due to the fact I forgot to hit the publish button after writing my draft blogposts!) I've introduced a new feature called Bead Busting Monthly over on the Operation Tackle That Beadstash blog.

When Sarah started the blog, her main aim was to help other beaders to tackle their bead stash one goal at a time. As the blog has grown, our individual goals have become a little less prominent and the contributing team has made a decision to go back to it's roots. But we wanted to make sure that we involve the blog's followers too - after all who doesn't want to see the beautiful things other people are making? And we all need a little bit of encouragement to dust off the beads we've been keeping for a 'special' project and just use them, right?

As for my own goals, this month they are quite simple. I'd like to focus on completing the bead embroidery piece I started for the April Moodboard; I'd like to create something for the May Moodboard and I'd like to finish a blue version of my Safety Pin Bracelet - the beaded pins have been sat there for months!

Wanna join us in some bead stash busting? What will your goals be?

The Month Of Works In Progress

I've been a little bit on the quiet side this month and I've realised that this is because I much prefer to share finished projects, than works in progress. There's just something wonderful about proudly showing off a completed project! But, this month has been a month of works in progress and I've decided to share. That way, when all is done, I can feel extraordinarily smug.

We're about halfway through the redecoration of our hallway. I say that lightly because, really, we're in the finishing stages. We've lived with holes in the walls, no carpets and more dust than you can believe for at least the last three years. We're finally at the painting stage, but who would have thought a hallway could have so much woodwork? *sigh*

There's been a little re-organisation of the craft space as well - am I the only crafter that seems to spend more time organising than crafting? I'm making an effort to use more of my stash, so I've been methodically working through my huge box of paper scraps. Larger pieces are now back with my full sized sheets; smaller pieces are now in a dish on my desk, so that I can rummage through them easily and I've made a huge stack of ATCs - there's well over 100.

Of course, the box looks just as full as it always did, even though I can't figure out why! I swear the scraps are multiplying faster than Tribbles.

My buttons and brads are now out of their packaging and displayed in a little, vintage dish just at the side of my desk. It makes looking for the right one just that little bit easier and reminds me to use them. Plus, a little bit of eye candy never hurt anyone, right?

There's also been a little bit of beading. I've been working on my first piece of bead embroidery for this month's Monthly Moodboard over on Operation Tackle That Beadstash. I'm even using a pattern shared by one of our contributers, Liz, which was featured in Bead Magazine. For my first piece, it's coming along really well (just not fast enough) so Liz's instructions must be fantastic!

Okay, I'll admit it. That's a brad in the centre of my beading. It just worked so well with my beads!

Inspiration Everywhere

Last week's Layout Challenge at The Studio Challenges was instantly inspiring. I knew exactly which photograph I wanted to use and it took mere minutes to pull together the right elements for the page because my Counterfeit Kits were ready and waiting.

I used my version of the Babbling Brook kit, plus a few embellishments that I pulled from my version of the Wildflower Kit - and look - a patterned paper background! Unbelievable! That's twice in a row! There was also an additional challenge to accompany the sketch of using a ruffle somewhere on your layout, so I made my own ruffled ribbon out of some cream satin and added it beneath my photograph. Then I clustered all of my embellishments together to form a focal point and to break the lines of the layout a little. I included one of my handmade rolled roses, some polymer clay leaves, one of roses from my original kit and a cabachon glued onto a chipboard button. Lots of extra used in such a small space. Loving it!

But, there was something missing. Just beneath the cluster of flowers there was a little space and every time I placed another flower there it just didn't look right. I was at a bit of a loss and put the layout to one side for a whole week before inspiration struck.

I'd headed back to The Counterfeit Kit Club and noticed the Inspired By Etsy Mini Challenge then and immediately went to search through my favourites. When I came across these beautiful Temple Lotus Hoops by Lala Design Studio, I knew I'd found the cutest, little addition to my layout. One dinky, pink glass teardrop bead and I finally had the perfect layout.

*happy sigh*

Thanks, You Are A Star! {The Altered Element}

I'm feeling especially thankful for the wonderful gifts that I've received from family and friends over the last few days so, inspired by this month's celestial theme over at The Altered Element, I've started to put together some cards.

To start, I sifted through my scraps of Bazill Smoothies Cardstock to make a card base and then found a few co-ordinating leftovers from scrapbooking projects. I then trimmed my cardstock and papers to size and added some definition to the edges by adding stitching and by using a variety of inks from the Tim Holtz Distress Inks Range.

To make my greeting, I used some Alpha Beads (which are, unfortunately, no longer in stock) along with some smaller beads from the Blizzard Glass Bead Mix as spacers between each word. These were threaded onto some Silver Coloured Copper Wire and I fixed them in place with a little superglue.

I then bent the wire around a layer of card and began fixing each of the card and paper pieces to the card base. At this stage, I decided to add a little extra sparkle to one of the papers by dotting some Cosmic Shimmer Twinkles around the edge. There can never be enough sparkle!

To finish off my card, I embroidered a star onto some card using some White Venus Embroidery Thread, cut it out and added it to the top of the card using some Mini Mounting Pads.

This will be my last Design Team project for The Altered Element before the shop officially closes at the beginning of January. It's been a huge amount of fun and I shall miss the team dearly. But, don't forget that you can still order from The Altered Element until midnight on the 1st January 2011 - so don't miss your chance to pick up some bargains in the closing down sale.

Fringe Necklace (The Altered Element}

I've spent the last week in label sticking, envelope stuffing miserableness, so you'll have to forgive me for my lack of blogging. However, I'm sneaking in one last recycled project for The Altered Element DT - a super cute, fringe necklace made with the beads from some 'recycled' jewellery and some rather lovely, leather thong.

I have a massive collection of beads that I've saved from broken necklaces or from old and outdated pieces that I've found at my local car boot sale. I've been wanting to make a necklace using some of the larger beads for quite some time now, but couldn't find a leather thong thin enough to fit through most of my beads.

However, at just 1mm thick and only 30 pence per metre, the leather thong from The Altered Element is perfect (and it comes in dark brown or natural/nude too!)

To make your own version of this necklace you'll need at least two metres of leather thong, some recycled beads (or maybe a selection like the Dress It Up Beads which come in a wide range of colour mixes.) You'll also need some end caps, some jump rings and a lobster clasp to finish your necklace.

To start, simply cut one piece of thong to the desired length of your necklace, then cut additional pieces of thong to a variety of lengths for the fringe. Add beads to each smaller piece of thong and then, keeping the longer pieces towards the middle, add them to your main length of thong using lark's head knots.

To complete your necklace, fasten an end cap to each end of the necklace, then add a clasp using a couple of your jump rings. Done!

Colours Of The Rainbow

Each week on Operation Tackle That Beadstash, Liz puts together a Monday Moodboard with the aim of inspiring contributors and followers alike to dig around in their bead stash and make a little 'something, something'. There's a new one up today, so check it out!

A little while ago, Liz posted a rainbow themed moodboard and I managed to find a small tub of plastic seed beads that had come free with a papercrafts magazine. At the time they had been separated by colour, but at some point I must have mixed them altogether - perfect for making something multi-coloured. Mainly because I could never be bothered to try separating them again. Ahem!

I had intended to turn them into one of my safety pin cuff bracelets but, in the end, I had far too many safety pins for one bracelet and not enough for two. Having spent so long threading the seed beads onto the safety pins, I was loathe to start all over again. So I've had a pot of safety pins, sat in all their multicoloured glory, on my desk for several months.

The other day, I came across a length of pure white ribbon and decided to try threading it through the backs of the safety pins to create a choker style necklace. Lo and behold, it works - and it looks pretty cool with my white shirt for work.

Now, I must confess that I started writing this post with the intention of scheduling it as this week's Finally Finished Friday, but figured that if I posted it tonight, I'd have extra incentive to complete another project by the end of the week. I'm pushing myself people!

A Small Start {Finally Finished Friday}

Although starting a new job seems to have caught up with me this week and the energy with which I enthusiastically tackled spreadsheets last week begins to wane, I didn't want to have to admit defeat in the very first week of my attempt to finish some of my (many) works in progress.

So, I'm starting small and have finally finished a small pair of earrings, using the leftover pink crystal beads from an earlier bracelet project - a project which had also been on my 'to do' list for a long time.

Finishing these wee beauties might have been a fairly simple task, but I still feel a sense of achievement and I've finally crossed one 'work in progress' off my list.

Pretty Pinks

The Operation Tackle That Beadstash Team have been busy creating pieces this week to fit in with our new Moodboard Monday feature.

Every other week, we're showing off a new moodboard to encourage the team and, of course, our readers, to create something inspired by the colours, textures or themes of the moodboard. Inbetween, we're showing off our creations. Because that's what we do, you know?

If you could do with some inspiration, want to know how my piece was inspired by the moodboard or just want to see what the rest of the team made, do pop by and say hello. We would love to know your thoughts about the blog and our new features.

Creative Ingredients

Inspired by a prompt from Shimelle Laine's current class on photography for scrapbooking - Love Your Photos, Love Your Pages - I got a little creative with my creativity earlier this week and ended up with what may become one of my favourite photographs of my craft room.

The class is, as always, really inspiring, so it's a shame I haven't had more time to work on it. I think I'll be adding new photographs from the class to some older photographs and dedicating a mini-album to my little craft room. If something deserves mention in a scrapbook, it's your very own space to scrapbook in, right?

Safety Pin Cuff Bracelet Tutorial {Waste Not Wednesday}

I've had a large bag of mixed seed beads in pinks and creams languishing in my beading stash for several years, leftovers of several projects. Unfortunately, all of the beads are slightly different sizes and shapes, which made it difficult to think of the perfect use for the mix - and I definitely wasn't going to spend my time trying to sort them! Definitely in need of a Waste Not Wednesday.

When I came across some safety pins for only a penny each at my local haberdashery store, I had a eureka moment, bought 150 of them, and sat down one evening to make myself this cute little cuff. And I still have enough safety pins left to make another one in a different colour. Score.

You'll need:

Safety Pins, Seed Beads, Beading or Sewing Elastic, Glue - and lots of patience. This isn't a difficult project, but it is a little time consuming.

1. Open one of the safety pins and randomly thread seed beads onto the pin. Leave a little bit of space at the top of the pin, so that it will close. Now close it. Simple, see?

2. Continue threading seed beads onto the safety pins until you have enough to span your wrist. I only used half of mine in the end, but the number you'll need will depend on their size and on your wrist measurement.

3. Thread the elastic through the safety pins, alternating between the tops and the bottoms of the pins so that they nestle together neatly.

Top Tip - If there's not much of a hole in the tops of your pins, guide the elastic between the edges of the metal and pull gently. The elastic should 'pop' into the gap and fit snugly.

4. When you reach the end, secure the thread with a surgeon's knot and dab with bit of glue.

5. Repeat with the other side of the bracelet.

It's by no means a new idea, but the different sizes, shapes and finishes on the beads only seem to make the cuff shimmer all the more. And I've finally made a dint in my bead stash!