Fun and Friendship

Well it was another Fun, and Furious Crafting weekend...I attended by 2nd All Night Scrap...but I was MUCH smarter this time...I went home to bed early then came back refreshed and worked all day.

Now THEY (the wonderful ladies that invited me) scrapbook...I'm working up the nerve to actually do a 12X12 page...but in the meantime I craft alot.

So the tally for this session...

8 BD invites (2 are pop-ups)
2 Birthday Cards
1 Musical Notes Card
4 Popsicle Cards
2 Wedding/Anniversary Cards
2 Sets of Paper Jewelry

I also got a crack at the Cricut and I REALLY, REALLY want one...but they are REALLY, REALLY expensive (cuz of course I want a bunch of cartridges...LOL).

Here is a little tease...something you've seen before, but didn't they come out beautiful?

It's All About the Girl" Earrings

I designed this set for a little girl that just had her ears pierced. Do you remember that first girly girl moment in life...the anticipation and touch of fear getting your ears pierced? Staring at yourself in the mirror cuz you just felt so beautiful and feminine. And waiting until you could take out the boring posts and FINALLY get that first pair of dangly earrings.

It was all soo important! As only things can be to children. A friend asked me to make her daughter a fun set of danglies for her daughter. What started out as a desire to give her a selection of cute adorable 'danglies' turned into a interchangeable set! She was thrilled with her set as any tween would be!!

One thing I found out while looking for cute charms...is the current style is for seriously LARGE ugly metal charms (for bracelets)...it was quite the challenge to find something fun for a little girl...that definitely hasn't started the 'diva' phase yet.

Been Creating...Not Posting

Things have been a whirlwind here in LisaTown. Thanks for being loyal...I really appreciate it! I HAVE been making things but just haven't had time to post. Why? You ask...well...


I am running that EtsyGreetings Contest...and due to that (and good karma) I have been making a number of sales in my shop....so packing (customizing) and shipping orders. And then because I always feel like I'm not doing enough I decided to give the push to get the EtsyCrest Blog off the ground...LOL.


Oh yeah and I'm leaving for vacation in like 3 days and haven't even started packing...how about them apples. So what have I been making...let' see. Gifts, lots of gifts...I'm still behind from Christmas!


Here are a few bracelets I 'threw' together this morning. I didn't plan on it until after they were finished, I basically was using up scraps around the table (cuz my craft area needs to be neat before I go...well neater)...but they could be used for the next three holidays: Valentines Day, St. Patricks Day and Easter!!!





I've also finally got a reasonable set-up to take pictures in natural light!! Unfortunately once I redo that room the piece of furniture by the window is gone...but I'll take it for now. What do you think of my new picture style?


Some of you may recognize this box from this post. Well the candy has long ago been eaten and the gorgeous box was just hanging around...what a wonderful Gift Box I thought! So this is my own personal form of upcycling! And the colors match perfectly! I'll stuff the box with a bit of pale pink tissue and lay the bracelet out...ready for the recipient to open!

Paper Bead Bracelets - $5-6

I've been making these paper bead bracelets for a while now...they make the easiest gift ever. I am not a jewelry maker by any stretch of the imagination! They can easily be made to coordiate or match anyone's taste and quickly become addicting.


The story (and I do love a good one) is that I was organizing the activities for my Women's club last year...and everyone wanted to learn how to make jewelry. I contacted a few local jewelry makers that taught...and asked how much it would be to teach us how to make a bracelet or something simple...they wanted $15 per person minimum. Well that is just beyond the reach of many of our retired pensioners and SAHMs (inlcuding myself). So as usual I started researching for an alternative. I met mariiam at SCS and she was so kind to show me how to make these bracelets. I made up 50 kits, teaching materials and diagrams and off we went! I changed the design considerably from mariiam's because I got a great deal on glass beads at WalMart (of all places) and wanted to use what I found. Eventually I took a 1hr. class at Michael's and learned the basics of making earrings, so added those. About a month later Mariiam wrote me and complimented me on my variation!

I sold 3 bracelets at the craft show...I thought I might sell more, but was happy with that. I do think it is a MUCH better product sold for $10-12 as a set including earrings than just a bracelet alone. So for my next craft show (or on-line) I plan to offer them as sets and include earrings.

I am still working on the correct price for these...they are very inexpensive to make but then again most jewelry is...when you start bead shopping and find out those Swarovski crystals bought in bulk are only like $0.10 a piece you wonder at that $40 price tag for a simple crystal bracelet. But then again you never want to price your item too cheaply because then that is exactly what people think it is...cheap! And your time and design IS worth something.

Fair Awards...I won...in more ways than one

I finally have had it out with my camera and it has relinquished my pictures!!! Now the scanner is giving me trouble...bright shocking green comes out pastel and cream cardstock a weird sort of gray...but that is neither here nor there. Here are the results from my fair entries...my first ever.

I picked up my items from the fairgounds!

Blue Flower Card...1st place in the Rubber Stamped Card division

Blue Snowflake Box...2nd place in Rubber Stamped 3D (okay the item that won this...and Grand Champ of the division...was a multi-layered stamped and embossed poinsettia...four of them mounted on a board to represent the seasons...so I was very proud of my 2nd).

Black flower Card...5th place in Cards non-rubber stamped. I was surprised by this...several people gasped when they saw it while I was waiting on-line...but then again this particular category was packed with entries. Perhaps because it was ATC size it had less impact.

Magnolia Paper Jewelry...5th place...again a packed category and while my jewelry is fun and trendy it really can't compete with fine jewelry and metalwork! So I was happy to place in the ribbons at all.

Virtual Stamp Night - in lieu of the real one

Well over on SCS they have Virtual Stamping Nights with challenges and what not...well they aren't planning on having another one until SEPTEMBER!!! I just couldn't wait that long.


So my friend Brenda of HodgePodgerie and I did our own...with the wonders of technology and Free Long Distance we had quite the time! Not sure how much 'crafting' we accomplished and the 45 minute time limit went right out the window, but in the grand scheme of it all it is sharing time with friends...making beautiful things...and sharing them with others!!

So here are the results so to speak!!

Amy Butler criss cross card by Brenda (she plans to have a whole Amy Butler collection of things in her two etsy shops...MyHodgePodgerie and PlayinWithPaper in the next few days.

Brenda's Amy Butler Criss Cross Card















My Criss Cross Cards...using the My Mind's Eye Magnolia Collection (I am REALLY loving this paper). I criss crossed them both ways so I could use the same piece of paper.














Brenda's An Iris Fold with a Twist Card


My Iris Twist was so bad I'm embarrassed to post it (I thought I could do it without the template...yeah right!)
















The insides of my Criss Cross Cards...not sure which I like best!

Finally I decided to make a Paper Bracelet and Earring set to match the criss cross cards I made (it was VERY, VERY late here by then...Yawn.

We tried to do the Origami Shirt...Brenda's turned into a mess of folds and creases, as did mine...soo I guess that technique might need a little work! Hopefully we can do this again next month...it is soo much fun!


Keep posted, I have so many ideas right now, just so little time...I want to do a circle scrapbook...and a really cool packaging of my cards!

Latest Creation...Earring Cards

As you all know I am highly addicted to the paper bead Jewelry. I just had an order come in, but I didn't have any jewelry boxes. I tried to see if anyone on Freecycle had any, no luck. So I had to come up with something...well better than just jumbling it in a cello bag.

Earring Cards!

These two items over on SplitCoast (and a set of Snowman Earrings) were my inspiration.

I apologize for the blurry picture...I had to get these out the door and my lighting was terrible. Anyway, the card is ATC size (2.5"X3.5") although mine is folded over. I used white cardstock for the base then used my Mega Oval punch (god I wish I had the scalloped oval...sigh) to punch a bright green background out of The Paper Company Brights Green. I used a small bow embellishment to hook the earrings to and use glue dots to secure on the card. The paper earrings and the striped strip at the bottom are from the DCWV Stack 3 collection. The caption "for you" is from the TAC All Occasion set and stamped with Palette Claret in the bottom right corner.

Fraternal Twin Friday!!!

This pretty necklace by ReindeerGirl has a 1 inch (25mm) x 1 inch (and 5 mm thick) crackled glass square focal, with clear glass edges and a more metallic or foil-like silver and cerulean blue crackled center. It is reversible, with one side being much more densely silver, with flashes of blue, and the other with much heavier blue tones in the crackle. Above the focal is a 6 mm faceted clear glass bead, and below it dangle 4 bright blue matching glass rondelles dangling on a silver wire wrap. The pendant is strung on a 1/2 inch wide pretty sheer silver nylon ribbon, and finished with sterling silver caps and a lobster claw clasp. Finished length of ribbon is 16 inches; the entire length of pendant as worn is 20 (to the bottom dangle). Brrrrr!!! Beautiful!! :) Sure to get compliments!

I think it compliments my Black and Blue Speckled Flowers card...I even think her orange background picks-up the swirls in the black background of the card.

I love how the swirls are light on the black background and dark on the light blue background. The light blue flowers are hand stamped and watercolored and I think the black does highlight the flowers beautifully and the black sparkle center adds 3-D pop!

Design from the Heart

I finally realized, that design for me must come from the heart. If I try to design something just to sell on Etsy...I just can't...the final product is blah...not even worth a PIF. However whenever I have someone in mind, the creation just happens, effortlessly. So I have finally gotten behind my creative mojo and whenever I design something, I made two or three. Afterall it takes about the same time...and then I have a product AND a story.

The following paper bracelet just came together...for the next door neighbor Lola. I just love Lola, when we moved in Lola (then around 6) leaned over the fence and told her whole life story...and her sisters, mom and dad!! Anytime I'm out weeding she makes a point of coming over to say hello. And now that she is a big girl riding her bike she visits us most days...as I'm out playing with the kids.

I knew it was really important to her and when I handed her a gift...a mere card and a small paper and plastic bracelet. She gave me a BIG hug and huge Thank You...because for her it really was the thought that counted! So Happy Birthday Lola...you are definitely a "10" in my book.

I have never created one of these paper bracelets so fast, typically I agonize over the design...and size. This one just came together. Sorry for the blurry picture I had to scan it quickly then take it over so I didn't MISS the BD.

The paper is from the Paper Company Stack 3 (like most of my stuff lately)...and then there are pearls and some glass beads. Unfortunately I went to look and see if they carry them anymore...they don't sigh.

The card isn't one of my best but it'll work. I wanted it to match the bracelet. I used the same Paper Company Stack 3 paper. I punched the Bazzil Pink square with the Pink Scallop Square punch from Marvy Uchida. The lime green brads are Memory Makers pastels.

The BD cake and present were the TAC Stamp of the Month. We'll probably see it in the next catalog. The Happy Birthday is part of the retired TAC All Occasion set.

Finally some time to stamp

Whew Christmas is over and I while I'm sad to see it go...I'm kind of glad I'm allowed to unbanish my stamping stuff back from the basement where it has been living a lonely existence...while that table was being put to use! I swear I'm going to talk about Stamping Stuff soon however, I'm a bit worried. All I've done this past month is make jewelry!!! And I'm bummed because NO ONE was as excited about my cards as they are about the paper jewelry :-( That said...I made a card (hey I still LOVE to stamp and NO ONE is going to stop me), bracelet and earrings for my Mom's friend's BD...they want the jewelry...they are going to put up with a little stamping...heh, heh.

Stamps: TAC So Girly, TAC All Occasion
Paper: DCWV Stack 3; The Paper Company Jewel Tone Purple
Ink: Brilliance Moonlight White
Accessories: Mega Scallop Square Punch

So I made a fun and quick card (Is that all I do lately?) for Diana, with my favorite set...except this is the LE version so it fits inside the window. I wanted to make the card purple but wasn't thinking *imagine that* so couldn't stamp it in black *duh*...viola white (It's popular right?). I kind of like it...and note the paper layer is the same as the "beads"...hey I can't color coordinate IRL...but I can SOO do it in my artistic life.

Paper: DCWV Stack 3
Accessories: magnetic clasp, beads, earring hooks

More Paper Bracelets...I think I may have an addiction

I may have a serious addiction to these. I found these glass bicone beads on sale at WalMart of all places...they were like $0.50 a pack on clearance. I think I will give this bracelet to my sister for Christmas. Topaz is her Birthstone and the green bead sort of looks like Topaz...and the rest are colors she wears.

Now this bracelet has an actual clasp...I am still no jewelry maker but I was pretty proud of the way I finished this piece. I still need to make my mother her grandmother bracelet (the whole reason I started down this jewelry path).

I promise to get back to more stamping, but between Christmas Cards, last minute gifts and cooking I haven't had much time to explore. I feel like all I've been using this past two weeks is a set of Snowflake Stamps permanently mounted and the Kaleidacolor Blue Breeze stamp pad. This week alone, I 've made two snowflake Paper Purses, gift card holders...and bracelets! Unfortunately didn't get pictures before giving them...I'm just not camera functional at 2AM my new time to get everything done.

I read about these ladies on SCS who have 5 kids and I have no idea how they do it...I have two and I barely get time to take a shower. Thank God I don't need much sleep "me" time is after everyone else is finally in bed and most of the chores are done. But then I think the best creativity comes out under stress and duress...my best short stories were written two hours before they were due!!

Oh yeah and...

Paper: TAC Rustic Chic
Accessories: 5mm sliver beads, 6mm citrine, turquoise, smoke glass bicone beads

Paper Jewelry?

Recently I've been inspired to make paper jewelry. Okay the truth of the matter is this. I NEED to clean up my stamping table which also happens to be the dining room table...cuz we might need it for Christmas! Ha! Because I'm a Paper Hoarder and can't throw away scraps...especially if it is beautiful paper...I've borrowed this incredible idea from mariiam from SCS. It uses up 1/2"x1/2" scraps...amazing. And the result is incredible...and addicting! This bracelet was strung on stretchy cord...but a kind friend has shown me how to make it with a clasp!

What do you think?

Paper: DCWV Stack III
Accessories: various glass beads and faux pearls