Blog Hop - Wishes

 ~ EaSy JaCkEt EmBeLLiShMeNt ~

This design idea is so easy-peasy,

it doesn't even need my dialogue! ;)

I "wish" embellishing was always

this simple! Click through the blog hop

today and check out more WISHES design ideas

from some of my fabulous artistic friends!

 

 

Blog Hop ~ Cousin(R) Slide Bracelet

Today's Blog Hop features the

easy-to-make slide bracelet from Cousin(R)!

 

Cousin(R), a wholesale division of Enterprise Art

(which has been family owned for 40 years),

has a new slide bracelet line available 

in JoAnn stores now!

This line consists of precut lengths of bicast

leather in several colors, and unique metals accents and

spacers that simply slide on ... then

each bracelet is finished with 

silver or gold end closures that are

~ oh so simply ~ glued on!!

 

Immediate gratification!

Happiness in a flash!

Now that's exactly what I'm looking for!

 

The video shows you just how easy

it is to make your own

slide bracelet ... here are some

step-out photos that I wanted to share:

Choose your metal accent(s), end closures,

and precut bicast leather strap.

Remove the spacers from the strap.

Simply slide your metal accent onto

your strap, and replace the spacers.

Use glue (E6000 and Amazing Quick Hold

are both good adhesive choices) to attach the end closures.

Allow to dry thoroughly.

Make an original piece for every outfit!

What a magnificent idea!   Mother's Day is

right around the corner ... I'm already drooling

over all the great metal accents to choose from!

Loop through the Designer Connection

Blog Hop ring to see what other

amazing slide bracelets you can create

with this new line from Cousin(R)!

~ Peace and Flash Happiness ~

 

DCC Blog Hop - Handmade Flowers!

April's theme is

~ Handmade Flowers ~

and as an additional challenge,

handmade flowers using items found

in or around the house.

 

Four growing children means I have

a plethora of outgrown clothing

at any given time.  I thought this challenge

would be the perfect time to use

that pair of old jeans I'd set aside!

 Supplies Needed:

old jeans ~ scissors ~ needle and thread

paintbrush ~ permanent marker ~

~ assorted buttons ~

~ green tulle ~ flower stencil or cookie cutter ~

~ DecoArt SoSoft Fabric Paint ~

~ DecoArt Glamour Dust

Ultra Fine Glitter Paint in Ice Crystal ~

~ Swarovski Crystals ~ E6000 ~

 First, cut along the seams on one leg

of the jeans.

 Use a flower stencil or cookie cutter to

outline flower shapes onto

your piece of denim fabric.

Cut out the flower shapes.

Choose several colors of

DecoArt SoSoft fabric paint.

Apply two coats of fabric paint

to each flower cut out.

 Apply glitter topcoat and

allow pieces to dry thoroughly.

Next, gather the fabric in the center

of the flower cut out

and stitch a button on to secure the fold.

Attach three buttons to the center

of each flower cut out.

~ Repeat for other cut outs! ~

Attach flowers to jacket or vest

for a little added pizazz! 

Hide your stitches behind the buttons.

Cut a length of tulle into a square.

Fold in half diagonally into a triangle,

then continue to fold and gather into a leaf shape.

Tuck tulle "leaves" behind the flowers

and secure with needle and thread.

Additionally, I used a single stitch

here and there to tack down

the flowers so they wouldn't curl.

 Attach Swarovski crystals to the

center threads of each button

with E6000 adhesive.

I added Swarovski crystals to the

center of each of the metal buttons

on the denim vest, just

for kicks.  And because the game was on

and I needed some busy work to do.

I enjoyed this challenge ~

I love that I was able to create something

fun and simple with items

I already had around the house!

Cost?  Zero!! :)

~ Peace and Happy "Recycling" ~

DCC Blog Hop - Buttons Galore! and More

Hop through the web ring and comment
on your favorite BGM projects
to be entered for a chance to win!
BGM buttons and a container from Viewtainer
VIEWTAINER containers have clear walls, come in fun bright colors
with an easy dispensing cap and NO spilling! Proudly made in the USA!
 

 
I'll admit it ... I have a button fetish.

I LOVE buttons.

I have jars and jars of them.

I love to pour them out and sift through them.

See?  Lots of buttons.

And I couldn't have been happier or

more excited when Buttons Galore! and More sent

me some of their buttons!!

* LOVE *

The arrival of the buttons happened to

coincide with my daughter's

new earring purchase for competition dance.

(Doc and I made her wait until

after Nationals last summer to pierce

her ears, and then she had

to prove that she could take care of them.

So other than the spontaneous

purchase of birth stone mouse ears while

we were at the Happiest Place on Earth! last

summer, she hasn't been allowed

to purchase new earrings or remove hers).

She wanted to keep the earrings

in a small box so she could pour them out

and sift through them ... ah hem...

(I'm not sure where she gets that).

So I used an inexpensive wood

picture frame and a sheet of plastic canvas.

Added a little paint and glue,

and a LOT of buttons,

and ... voila!!!

She loves it.
Here's how I made it:

 
 I painted the frame with two coats of
acrylic paint, then sanded the edges.

Next, I arranged the first layer of buttons

onto the frame, starting with some of

the larger buttons, and attaching

them with Aleene's Tacky Glue.

 

 

 I continued around the frame with the buttons,
using some of my own stash to fill in
the blanks (since they're not as pretty as
the Buttons Galore and More buttons).

Here are the links to the BGM buttons:
I used their Stitched Buttons,
their Spring Buttons, and their Color Mixes.

 I used the cardboard insert from the frame
as a stencil for cutting the plastic
canvas to fit the frame opening.

 Insert the canvas into the frame
opening and bend the brads back to secure.

 To add extra sparkle, I randomly placed
Swarovski crystals onto the buttons,
and I brushed on a few coats of 
Extreme Glitter Hologram paint.

She loves the earring holder!
I can tell.  Every time I go into her
bedroom, the earrings are rearranged.

 
~ Peace and Buttons and Earrings and Stuff ;) ~

DCC Blog Hop ~ First Monday!

~ Designer Crafts Connection

FIRST MONDAY post! ~

Costume Jewelry ~ Making a Brooch

When I use the word COSTUME in

costume jewelry, I am really

talking about the type of costume

one would wear if one were on stage ...

say ... in a Church Lady number,

for example.

 These are three of my favorite Church Ladies.

I just love these girls.

This Church Lady in particular

needed a brooch that was big

but not distracting.  ?

 I bought an inexpensive ring with a large

filigree base from the discount

 jewelry store.  I found a string of pearls

at a flea market and cut the string

to remove the pearls.

I used a needle and upholstery thread

to attach the pearls to the ring,

until the ring was completely covered.

 Then I used wire snips to remove

the adjustable metal ring band

from the back of the ring,

and I applied a hinge pin with E6000

adhesive.  Perfect ...

Quite big, actually, and yet not

distracting.  Cool.

Check back on March 9th and hop

through the web ring to see what our creative

group of artists and designers

made with Buttons Galore! buttons! 

~ Peace and COSTUME Jewelry ;) ~