Pearl and crystal bracelet

This is a quick post for inspiration only. I made this bracelet using:

Rhinestone Beads silver 
10mm glass pearl strand 8" strand Purple
6mm Silver Color, Iron Jump Rings
Tibetan Silver Toggle & Bar, Lead Free and Cadmium Free
100 Eyepins, Plated Silver Color, Nickel Free 30mm long, 0. 7mm thick,

Spend a little make a lot, Seed Bead Necklace

Spend a little make a lot is my motto for this post as I've made a necklace that uses only £1 worth of beads.

You all know what I mean when I say that I'm drawn to packs of beads with lots and lots of colours in them. They shine and seduce and when you get them home you wonder what on earth to do with them. Well, this is what I've come up with. I'm in the process of doing the Video clip but for now I'll content myself with showing you the piccies.

I used
20g 6/0 Glass Seed Beads, Dyed Colors, Round, Mixed Colors, about 4mm 1 pack
6 Alloy Chandelier Components, Lead and Cadmium Free, Antique Silver Color, 34mm just 2 of these
Tibetan Silver Toggle & Bar, Lead Free and Cadmium Free, x 6 sets just 1 set

100 metres of Monofilament 0.35mm I used less than 4 metres.

12 crimps

2 jump rings

Here's the video to explain how to do it.

Tropical Orange Necklace

I made this today with some of the beautiful beads in our vibrant orenge selection of big beads. Although I tend to wear a lot of silver I love gold and I teamed it with these oranges to make this statement necklace.

If you want to make one you will need: You will not need the whole pack of any of them.

Spray Painted Acrylic Beads, Oval, Orange, Size: about 25mm long, x 8 for £1.20

Spray Painted Acrylic Beads, Tube, Orange, Size: about 19mm long, 12mm wide, x 6 for£1.00

Orange Handmade Lampwork Beads, with Stripes, Heart shaped x 5 for £2.00

Golden Color, Metal Bead Spacers, 4mm x 100 for £1

1 Metres Side Twist Chain, Lead Free & Nickel Free, Golden Color Size: Links: about 5mm long, 4mm wide, 0.9mm thick. £1

Tibetan Style Toggle & T Bar Antique Golden, pack of 4 sets £1

Tigertail 

Golden jump rings I used some from this pack:

20g assorted Golden, Jump Rings, £1

Golden Colour Brass Crimp Beads, Nickel Free, Barrel, approx 200 crimps £1

Spend less than £10 and you will have enough left to make another necklace. Perhaps not an identical one but a similar one.

Statement Necklace

I've been looking at the necklaces in the shops recently and I've noticed that big, statement, necklaces are all the rage. With this in mind I decided that I was going to design some from the fabulous beads that I have in my stash. You all know the sort that I mean. The ones that you buy because you can'r resist them. Now I have the inspiration I decided that 'resistance is futile'.

This is my necklace:

It is fabulous shades of golden olive. The findings are metal and the necklace has a good weight.
It is for sale on Craft Fairy.

Fair at Margam Orangery

Last weekend, together with tow of my beading buddies I had a table at the Glamorgan WI Craft Bonanza.

Lest you get confused that's not me in the photo but one of my buddies. I was behind the lens as usual and not in the photos.

We decided to go for a white theme this time as we have discovered that the cloths supplied by the WI are a dark green that kills the colour of the beads. These cloths are old ones that I inherited from my late mother so they have been well used and were perfect for our backdrop. One of the other advantages of using old tablecloths is that they tend to be big enough to cover the large tables that are used in the fairs. Big families needed big tables and hence big cloths.

A bit of a close up of the table.

We also decided that this time we would go for a colour theme. In the past we've put our own jewellery in sections but in the spirit of harmony and the fact that we know our own pieces we went for colour co-ordination where possible and I believe that the table looked better for it too.

My only bug with this table is that the cloth was not straight at the front. I thought that it was before we started but as we moved more and more things away from the front of the table we could see that it was slightly skew. Unfortunately, short of taking everything off the table it had to stay as it was. Lesson learnt. Next time have noting in front of the table when we decide if the cloth is straight.

Montersino Rules for Bread. Whoops this should be on my Food Blog!!!

These may well be 'Montersino Rules for Bread' but for me Montersino really does rule over the kitchen. So when I was watching one of his Accademia Montersiono programmes on Alive TV
( Italian language only) I gleaned several things form him that I think are important to note down here before I forget them.

1. The longer the raising time the smaller the quantity of yeast needed.
2. A biga must be left to develop for 18 to 20 hours. 
3. Add the salt at the end of the kneading process as the salt crystals make the gluten strands rigid and inhibit their production.
4. The amount of salt in the mixture affects the time that the dough takes to prove. If you want to lengthen the proving time of the bread add extra salt. This has to be within reason. I didn't quite catch the rule so I'll watch the programme again to get the formula right.
5. Use a medium gluten content flour if you want to have a crisp crust. The protein in the flour absorbs humidity and makes even the crispiest crust go soft.
6. When making a high humidity bread add the water a bit at a time. This can take up to 10 minutes. (Yes really)
7. There are more so I'll add as I go along.

Make a gift box - tutorial

In the last post I gave you a video on how to decorate gift boxes, and this one is on how o make them. It should have been the other way around really but that's femail logic for you.

So this post is on

How to make small gift boxes

It's a video tutorial again so I hope that you enjoy and learn and make lots of boxes.



Get your supplies from

www.craftfairy.co.uk

Enjoy and please let me see the boxes.

Tutorial on Decorating Gift Boxes

I'm a member of a local WI and this weekend I'm going to have a table at a craft show that they're organising at Margam Country Park. We are going to be in the Orangery so, if you are around then please come along.

Now why am I prattling on about the fair when this is a tutorial about decorating gift boxes? The answer is quite simple in a femail logic sort of way.

I am going to sell some of my handmade jewellery and I need some boxes to sell alongside the necklaces and bracelets so I though that I would get on and make some and make a video a the same time.

This is a very simple way of decorating boxes, but don't knock simple as it comes in handy at Christmas when you've lots and lots of packaging to do.

Happy Crafting

Yvonne

Tutorial - Midnight Blue Crystal Necklace

I've finally been able to get this video on Blogger. If you click the link below you will see the video. It's only 5 minutes long.

http://www.youtube.com/v/rK2I0RnMRxo?version=3&autohide=1&autohide=1&feature=share&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=WgZ2EHdDnJFjnWjtE5X_qQ&showinfo=1

Midnight Blue Necklace Tutorial

Boy was I pleased with the outcome of this necklace. It's one of the things that I like the best:

Minimum work, maximum impact.

So what I did was simple.

I made up a set of connectors with a crystal through the centre to make them really pretty.

I used:
Tibetan Style bead frames, x 8 (2 packs)
100 Eyepins, Plated Silver Color, Nickel Free 30mm long, 0. 7mm thick, If you use this size you will not need to do any cutting.
Glass beads - 6mm Abacus 
10 Silver Colour Lobster Clasps, Nickel Free, 15mm
6mm Silver Color, Iron Jump Rings, Closed but Unsoldered, x 120

Tools required:

Round nose pliers

You will have lots of things over to make the next necklace.

Thread an eye pin connector making sure to put a crystal in the centre. Using a round nose pliers finish the other side with a loop.

I made 16 of these.

Connect the crystal elements with a jump ring until you have  a necklace of your desired length.

Finish with a clasp and your necklace is ready to wear.

Here's the video, or there would be one if Blogger would caaept the code. Try this:
http://youtu.be/rK2I0RnMRxo

Grab Boxes now Live

Just had to share this with you. We have the perfect Christmas gift over on Craft Fairy.

A picture speaks a thousand words.

Get them here:

http://www.craftfairy.co.uk/grab-box-590-c.asp

Two more silky strand necklaces

Well, now that I have the bug, I decided to make two more, Pink and purple this time.

Now, how many more colours of this fab silky thread do I have?

Lilac Strand Necklace

This is the latest of my necklaces. I decided to go for lilac this time. Love it.

It is priced at only £12. The perfect price for a Chrissie or birthday gift.

Christmas Pressie Idea

I bet that you're all stuck for Christmas presents. Well, think no longer as here is a quick and easy gift that you can make yourself. The cost to you will be small but the thanks and appreciation will be huge.

To make this bag you will need:

Small NATURAL JUTE Shopper 250 x 110 x 290mm
Garden Pastels Assorted Buttons approx, 50g - You will have anought left over to make more bags
Celadon Grosgrain Ribbon, 3m x 9mm Again lots left over
Celadon Double Faced Satin Ribbon, 5m x 3mm and again
Double sided tape

Lay your bag flat on a worksurface. About 6cm up from the bottom seam  put a strip of double sided tape.
Now use 3mm tape and put a few strips at random heights vertically down the bag front as seen in the picture.
Stick your ribbon to all of the double sided tape.
Using double sided tap again, stick buttons to the bag.
For added security, sew the buttons into place.

Necklaces for me and for sale

I've been making some necklaces this week as I was inspired by the ones that I saw on the East web site. So, these are my take on them.

The one really good thing about these necklaces is that they are perfect for using up those precious bits and pieces that you just couldn't resist, but then don't know how to use.

If you want to buy them, then please click here.

Here is one that I was inspired to make after seeing a TV presenter wear a similar one:

This is also for sale at the same place.

All Hallows Church

Yesterday i had a table at a small craft Fair at All Hallows Church in Miskin. It's not the usual huge stand that I have at craft fairs but I wanted to make it as striking as possible given that there is not a lot of time to set it up.

What I did was to put a cloth on the table first.
I then added the 4ft gridwalls for height and covered them with another white table cloth.
I pinned my beautiful corsage roses to the cloth and boy, did they stand out.
I had packed my ribbons, buttons and felt, etc into boxes. All of the boxes were the same size. It looks messy if you use different sizes.
I then added the price labels so that everyone could see what they had to pay.

What would I do next?
Cover the boxes with adhesive film so that they don't look so much like boxes. I think that pink of white would be fine. It will also make them stronger.
Tape the prices to the front of the boxes so that everything looks straighter. I am not a fan of higgledy piggledy.

Any suggestions, anyone?

Poppies for Remembrance

Christmas preparations are well underway and I am surrounded by red, green and some gold. So I thought that I would keep the Christmas colours going for a while with this green, red and cream card. It is also almost November Remembrance Sunday so this card is perfect for that too.
.

The stamp is from Stampinback and available here.
The ribbon is available here.
The buttons here
The sentiment here

To make this card you will need to stamp out the poppy on to a piece of watercolour paper or even hammer card. I used Stazon in Stone Grey to do this. Colour in the image.
Stamp out the saying and mount with red card.
Use some scrapbook paper to cover the base card and leave a thin margin all around the edge.
Use double sided tape to stick the ribbon to the card.
Mount the stamped poppy onto a piece of red card and stick onto the base card with foam pads. This will give it height.
Stick the sentiment and the buttons to the card and you're finished.

Inspirational

Yesterday's post was for a rightangle weave bracelet using stretch elastic. I showed my friend, Janet how to make one and this is her fabulous bracelet using some left over pearls. What a wonderful way to use up things that otherwise would be left to waste.

How to make a quick and easy bead bracelet.

On the Craft Fairy site I have some beautiful two tone acrylic beads that I have been itching to get my hands on for a while. I just love the two tone sheen that they have and I decided that they were the perfect look and size for this quickly beaded bracelet.

The beads come as mixed packs but I sorted out the pinker of the beads and made this. It is a basic right angle weave, but to dispense with the need for a clasp, I used stretch elastic to make this bracelet.

You will only need two things to make this bracelet and what is more no tools.

Colorful Acrylic Beads, Rubberized Style, Round, Mixed Color x 50

Crystal Thread, Clear, Elastic, 1.0mm in diameter, 6m/roll

As soon as someone helps me out with a raw diagram I will post it to explain all to you.

Lace Trinket Jar

I though that I would use some of the beautiful really wide lace that we stock on the Craft Fairy site for today's project. It comes in two colours, but this time I chose the ivory lace as I wanted to make something that would be soft.

What I made was this trinket jar. It is decorated with a ribbon flower and the instructions for making one can be fould on this link.


What you will need are:

Scalloped Lace, 22 cm wide - Ivory
Wired Ribbons
an old clean jar
double sided tape
double sided foam pads
a ribbon flower that you can see on this link:
Fabulous folded ribbon rose video

Cut the lace so that it is the same height as the jar and wide enough to wrap around the jar with about half an inch of overlap.

 Put a piece of double sided tape along the lenght of one side of the jar and another around the outside of the mouth of the jar. You will need another piece inside the mouth of the jar.

Stick the lace to the jar. Use another piece of tape to stick down the overlap.

 Stick the ribbon to the outside of the mouth of the jar and then fold over and stick to the inside.

 Now, stick the flower to the side of the jar and you've finished.

Hearts for Christmas in Shabby Colours

Christmas, gulp is coming, and I feel the need to make beautiful decorations for the house. So this is the latest.

It really is a quick and simple heart to make and will look fabulous on a few dried twigs. 

To make it you will need:

Felt hearts in light stone

Buttons from the natural selection.

A length of tan and brown saddle stitch ribbon

Cotton thread.

Wadding

To make this heart:

Sew the buttons on to one side of the heart shapes. Use both and medium and small buttons.

Stitch around the edges with blanket stich. Leave enough room to fill the heart with wadding and to stitch in the ribbon.

Finished.

Have entered this for the 'Fab 'n' Funky' Button it Up challenge.

Lace with Style

I have always known that the lace that we sell on the Craft Fairy web site is beautiful, so it was a sheer delight to receive this photo from one of our customers, Jeanette. She's wearing this fabulous shawl that she made using the leaf guipure lace. I have to admit to being really envious. I do hope that this has spurred you on to make something similar yourself.

Spiral Rope Bracelet for fun

A couple of years ago I dragged my friend along to a jewellery making course.  Just for fun I said. Little did I know that I would love it to the point that I wanted to bring the beads to the Craft Fairy web site. I plotted and I planned and now they have arrived. So, of course, I had first dibs and this is what I made. It's a simple spiral rope and it is finished with cones and a toggle clasp to make it a bit more up to date. No fuddy duddy beading for me thank you.

I'll put a tutorial as soon as I've time after doing the Bristol Parchment Craft Show tomorrow.

How to make pearls pop

Well at least I think that 'pop' is the current phrase for making things look special. I decided that for this necklace, I would use pearls in a more modern way. I think that I achieved this by pairing them with some of the fab new beads that we are currently stocking on Craft Fairy. We have kept our prices so low that you can buy all of the things that you need for less than £4.

The materials used for this necklace can be found on these links:

Pale gold pearls

Drawbench beads in light olive green

golden eye pins

Some tools to make the links

So simple that there is probably no need for an explanation.

Shabby Ginghams

New in and hot are these wonderful shabby ginghams that have  just hit the Craft Fairy web site. I have tried and tried to get these and not success at last. Love them.

They almost vlook like they've beed dipped in tea. You crafters will know what I mean.

Bags More Ideas

Last weekend I exhibited at the Hobbycraft Show at the Cardiff City Stadium and had a wonderful time. I met lots of wonderful crafters and I hope that I was able to inspire them with what we had for sale. I believe that the most popular inspiration was the bag designs. You've all seen them before, but to may customers they were new. So it has spurred me on to come up with more designs and this is the latest. It's artistically arranged in my garden of course.

You will see that I've used a different bag this time. Well you do need a bit of vatiety in life and a girl can't have too many bags.

All of the following items are linked to the website.
You will need:

Natural Sage Coloured Jute Bag

Red Ribbon with Green Saddle Stitching
This is a 23mm wide fairly soft ribbon which allows you to make the folds easily.

A piece of Light Stone Felt

Embridery Cotton

Buttons


First of all, make the roses  as described in a previous post. I make three widths of rose so that they would look better on the bag. All the same size is not so good. Look at the picture below to see what I mean. The graduating in size looks best.

Sew the roses to the felt as shown. Then stitch a line of embroidery thread to make stems. No need to be too precise here.
Sew the felt to the bag with blanket stitch.

I then added some large red buttons because I love buttons and because they look good on the bag.

Organizing my Stand for the Stitches Trade Show

Every year I do a trade show at the NEC, Birmingham. I fully realise that there is a year between the shows and I always intend to improve on things for next year, but guess what, Next year is here and I am still not happy about what I am going to do.

So, my stand is only 5 metres by 1 metre. Small! So how come I managed to make it look so empty last year?

This year I have decided to miss out the wall lining in favour of the grey and to fill the stand with more colour. So I wlll take my gridwalls and they will provide me with hanging space and I won't have to pin things to the wall. Yeah!

So, this is it. 2013 show. Not the same as last year at all.

Red and Gold Inspiration

Many of you may now know how excited I am about Craft Fairy selling beads and findings. How could I not be as I love all that sparkle soooo much. I have finally uploaded most of them to the web site and now I can get on with a little craft therapy. So to start I've made this bright necklace using big textured pearls and acrylic beads. As they say here in Wales, 'Lush'.

If you feel inspired too you will need the following:

Golden textured pearls. 16mm
Spray Painted Acrylic Beads, Octagon, Crimson, Size: about 25mm 
8mm Golden Color, Iron JumpRings, Closed, Unsoldered, x 100
Golden Iron Eyepins, Size: about 0.7mm thick, 4.0cm long, hole: 2mm approx 100
Tibetan Style Toggle & T Bar Antique Golden, pack of 4 sets
Golden Color, Iron Bead Spacers, 4mm x 100

Rhapsody in blue

Well, here's my latest collage. I went for blue this time.

 

Strangely enough, the blues, rather than looking cold as blue is supposed to do, look clean, fresh and springlike. So, what do you prefer, orange or blue?

Orange Extravaganza

Orange is not usually a colour that inspires me as it isn't a colour that I can wear. However, the day has arrived when I wish that I could wear it as some beard to die for have arrived at Craft Fairy headquarters and I just had to out them together in this collage of colour.

So, now all that I have to do is use this as inspiration for a little crafting. I can't wait.

Chiffon ribbon

We'll you might see from the last and this post that I have at last discovered how to use picsart. So I do hope that I don't bore you all to death with my piccies. These chiffons are lovely though so feel free to share.

Seeing Spots

We've just had a delivery of the most amazing spotty ribbons and we now carry almost the whole range of these fabulous satin taffeta ribbons. I also decided to play around with collages and this is today's creation.

Beware as there may be more.

Cover up with Hearts

How many of you have little girls who fall over and make a hole in their tights. Result ruined tights?

Not any more as you can cover up that unsightly hole with a felt heart and very often it will look better than it did before. I saw this fantastic pin on Pinterest and thought that it might inspire you.

Buy Craft Fairy felt hearts here.

Hearts are not just for Valentine's Day

At the risk of repeating myself,  Hearts are not just for Valentine's Day. You'll think this too when you see these beautiful hearts that I have pinned into my felt board on Pinterest. They are by a really talented lady, whose blog is called Beedeebabee. To be honest with you these hearts are just a snapshot of her talent. She sells on Etsy too and makes fabulous things.

So, I just had to cut out some felt hearts so that you can make something as beautiful as these.