Valentine Crowns & Other Fun Stuff

Check out these wool felt crowns I made for a couple of my friends for Valentines Day. So fun to make these. You can put detail into the decorations or do something simple. I bought the wool felt in red, cream, green and ochre. Need to cut out some more.
The two little crowns have different beading around the bottom and different hearts but otherwise they are the same.

This one is larger and it is mine! There is pink tinsel around the bottom below the white ruffle and pink flowers. I have been saving the vintage rhinestone heart pin for one of these beauties.
These are crocheted bracelets. My friend Jeanne made some and I thought they were so cool. I did change up the closure on mine. She had crocheted a loop to slip back over a bead. Since I am new to crochet I had to figure something else out. Saw a video on youtube for a crocheted multi strand necklace. It was strung this way and used the bead cones to bring it all together with a closure. It worked for me!

These are really quick to make since your just using the chain stitch of crochet. Just have to thread all the beads on before you start.
Finished this scarf. The yarn was different for me to knit with. Never used anything like it. After I got the hang of it (knitted between the balls) it was fun. Used one skein of yarn. Although I think if I do it again I will either make it skinnier (so it will be longer) or use another skein of yarn.

Winter Wonderland in Texas

Here in Rowlett we got five inches of snow last night. It is so beautiful! This has been a crazy weather week in Texas for sure. Ice started on Monday night and had to stay home for two days. Finally got to get out and go to work yesterday. Things were still messy though on the roads and our parking lot at work was like an ice rink. Today we have snow!

This is out behind my house by the lake.
All bundled up!

I caught some birds taking off from the lake. Part of the lake is frozen near the shore.
Alan holding Duke our dog.
Duke running through the snow. It was so funny to watch him. He was excited about being outside and things being so different than usual when he's out. I finally had to take his sweater off him because it was wet. When we came in the house the fur on his belly was matted with snow. I had to wet him to get it off. Just drying him with a towel was not working.

Blair walking down to the lake.
My baby covered in snow!
The lake frozen at the edge.

Well, I am staying inside where it's warm and hope to get some art projects done. I will post what I create later.

Wool Hearts & Soldered Pendants

These little cuties came from the scraps of the wool crown I posted the other day. When I cut the peaks on the crown I had these pieces left over. So I cut them into hearts. My friend Jeanne told us this idea when she showed us how to do the crowns. Works out great!

I sewed on buttons, rhinestones, seed beads, pearls and seam binding ribbon to finish them off.

These soldered and resin pendants were done in the online class I took from Stephanie Lee.

These two I made part of the chain also. This was a great class and I highly recommend it if she offers it again. She showed us how to make the nest from wire and how to add the beads (eggs). Flooding the brass base was a challenge. It takes some practice and I need more! The patina hides some of the flaws and that helps.
The boy in this round pendant I mounted him up so he looks dimensional inside the resin.

I made nest earrings and the other nest I will make into a pendant with a dangle below. That is why the wire has been left long. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the whole thing in the beginning.
Two of these are not filled yet. The one with the four eyelets I might make into a bracelet.
These have German glass glitter, pearls and charms inside. There is also a few star beads in the wish one.

I really liked making the nests. It was not hard at all.
This butterfly necklace I gave to a friend. She loves butterflies.
This one was a gift to my niece for her birthday.

Fun Art

I made this wool felt crown last weekend at my friend Jeanne's house. She gave a class to several of us. I worried I would not like the sewing part but it was really fun. Not tedious like I thought. I hand sewed all the pearls and seed beads on plus whip stitched the crown together. Everything else was glued on. I think it came out great.

This is a close-up of the focal piece of jewelry I used. It is a vintage pin I think I got at The Cattle Barn last year sometime. I pinned it on instead of gluing it. So if I ever want to take it off I can.
Detail of the pearls and seed beads.
Detail of the trims. Rhinestone strand, fringed tulle, a fancy gold trim and a sequin flower trim.

Played with encaustic wax at my last art group meeting. This is on a wooden stamp base. I painted the sides and back with black acrylic paint. The front is clear and blue wax. I color copied the birds and the background and attached everything with the wax. The trim on the right is a scrapbooking border. I scratched into the cooled wax and then rubbed black oil paint in the cracks. Wiped off the excess with a paper towel. It was a fun technique.
This is a tin can. I did this at another one of my art group meetings. It is based on ones that Lisa Kaus http://www.lisakaus.com/ does. I want to find some bigger tins and make some more. I am going to make some for Valentines Day. I will post those when I get them done.

I had to show this. My friend Jeanne sent it to me in the mail. Love it!! She bought the scarf I think, but she crocheted the flowers and trim. wonderful!!! She has been adding flowers to gloves too. I received a black pair of those. She is soooo creative!!

Valentine Banners

I finished the Valentine Banners. They will be for sale at Stamp Asylum starting Thursday. Come by to see them in person because these photos do not do them justice. They are really cute!

Look What We Got Yesterday

SNOW! Not much but it was pretty to see it falling and collecting on the trees. East and North of us got more in accumulation. First snow of the year is always special though.

Down at the creek by my house.

Field at the end of my street.

More in the yard. The people across the street built three snowmen in their yard. They were really cute and I should have gotten a picture but didn't.

This was what I was working on while it was snowing. All day I made rosettes for Valentine banners. I will post a photo of the completed banners when I finish them. If you do not have the die by Tim Holtz that cuts the rosettes you need it! The die makes it so easy. I also learned a trick from Absolutely Everything. http://www.absolutelyeverythingblog.blogspot.com/ Kate puts Tim's tissue tape on the back or front of the cut out strips. This helps reinforce them. Then they do not have a tendency to tear along the perforated lines. They can do this when you use to thin a paper. It also adds a decorative touch to the finished rosettes. Try it!

Of course if you don't have the tissue tape, Stamp Asylum does. Call (972 596-1224) or stop by the store and we will see you get some. The dies are still on back order but should be in stock this month. We can always call you when they come in if you let us know you want one.

Happy New Year

Hope everyone had a great holiday and is ready for 2011!