Paper Crafting meets Jewelry Making

I love when I can combine crafts that I like together!  Today's project is a bracelet made out of wooden mini spools, and strips of designer paper.  I didn't take pictures along the way, but the process is really simple if you want to make your own.

Supplies:

1/2 " wooden mini spools (2 packages)

Black acrylic paint

3 pieces of designer paper (I used 3 pieces from a pad of 365 degrees 6x6 paper pad by Pink Paislee)

clear stretch magic cording (7mm)

Mod Podge

Something to apply the Mod Podge with

You can buy all of these supplies at any craft store such as Michaels.  Make sure the paper you choose has a small pattern because you only use a tiny piece for each one.

I started out by painting the wooden spools black.  After the paint dried I cut the paper to fit.  You would be surprised at the small amount paper you need to use--this would be great if you have extra scraps from card or scrapbook projects.  I applied the paper with Mod Podge and then also covered the whole spool and paper on the outside to protect.  When that was dry I strung the spools with the clear cording.  Pretty easy, right?!  

I think this bracelet will make a great addition to an outfit with my t-shirt skirt from this post.

I did not come up for the idea for this bracelet.  I try to give proper credit when I can, but when I went to where I first saw the bracelet, the picture wasn't there anymore.  If this was your idea let me know and I will give you credit!

I linked up at these link parties:

Whatever Goes Wednesday

Tatertots and Jello--Weekend Wrap-Up

These Creative Juices

A Crafty Soiree

Feature yourself Friday

Sunday Showcase

Motivate me Monday

Weekend Book Review--Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes

     I was very excited to get to read and review Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes, because it was written by one of my favorite authors, Robin Jones Gunn.  As a teenager I waited impatiently for each book in her Christy Miller series to come out.  In my early 20s I did the same with her Glenbrooke series. I resisted reading any of the books in her Sisterchicks series because the characters are in a different season of their lives than I am, but decided to give this one a try.
     The main character, Summer, gets an "abnormal" test result back from the Doctor and decides to live in denial for an extra week and go visit her long time pen-pal, Noelle, in the Netherlands.  The two ladies embark on a few crazy adventures while siteseeing that leave them and the reader laughing.  Robin Jones Gunn doesn't write her books on a shallow level though and throughout the book we see the characters help each other learn more about themselves (isn't it true that sometimes we know things about close friends/family that they haven't realized about themselves?) and more about trusting God at a deeper level.
    Although I won’t be rushing out to find other books from this series, I enjoyed reading this book.  I like how the characters seem like real people that I could sit down and hang out with and how they are struggling with real issues.  I also like how the author digs deep and uses her books to help the reader grow as the characters in the book grow.

To buy this book check out these links:
Christianbook
Family Christian Stores

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. The review is my honest opinion of the book.

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CHA post #4 A few last pictures

Doodlebug Designs had a photobooth...what a GREAT idea! 

A few So. Cal. friends (and Taylor) relaxing after a long first day at CHA

Lisa and I both worked the La-La Land booth.  She is a actually a designer for them.  Check out her blog, The Craft's Meow.

Rachel and I loved the EK Success booth.  They were introducing SMASH books.  They had a box with fun props to take pictures with and took a picture of us to put on the Smash wall.  They were kind enough to also take a picture with Rachel's camera.  I tried to find a link for more information on the SMASH books, but couldn't find one.

Hope you enjoyed my thoughts on Winter CHA 2011.  If you missed my first 3 posts check them out here:

CHA #1

CHA #2

CHA #3

CHA #3 Other Favorite Booths

Here are a couple of my other favorites besides the Silhouette booth and La-La Land Crafts:

Hero Arts

This booth was so fun to visit.  Hero Arts featured new papers that coordinate with some of their stamp sets.  As someone who has trouble picking what paper to use with what stamps I really appreciate this!  The make-and-take at this booth was my so much fun to make!  We stamped 2 flower and 1 leaf image on felt and then cut, added a swirl, and layered.  The last touch was a jewel in the middle.  I took this home and put an alligator clip on the back and have been wearing it since.  I have gotten so many compliments on how cute it looks!

They were also giving out flower pins that Hero Arts fans had made.  These were also stamped and then sewed.  ADORABLE!  I went home and added a clip to this one also.  I left the pin on, but will probably not wear it as a pin. My youth group girls told me pinning a flower (or any other pin) on my clothes makes me an old lady ;)

Our Craft Lounge

Love the sweet ladies of OCL and their adorable stamps!  Here I am making their make-and-take and apparently I was really excited to be using a copic marker. :)

...and me with my friend Joy who is one of the owners.  You can see the booth in the background.

CHA #2 Silhouette

I didn't have much time to take pictures while visiting booths because I was too busy oohing and aahing over all of the cool stuff that is coming out...too bad I can't show you most of it ;)  My friend Rachel who I walked around with for a whole day took some amazing pictures (and her camera wasn't bothered by the awful picture lighting) so be sure to check out her blog, Gingerbread Gal, if you want to see more.

My absolute favorite tool that I have to have is the Silhouette!  I will save the commercial and send you to the Silhouette site for more details, but it is basically a fancy cutter that can cut all sorts of shapes on fabric, paper, vinyl, heat transfer, contact paper, etc.  The possibilities of projects you could use a Silhouette for are endless!  The first day their make-and-take was an apron.  We got to use the Silhouette to cut out a fancy flower and butterfly on a heat transfer sheet and put it on an apron.  The silver parts are the heat transfer that the Silhouette cut out.

I went back the last day to take a picture of this wonderful machine and they were making 3D flowers out of paper...so fun!

CHA Part #1 La-La Land Crafts

    As some of you know I got to attend CHA this year and help with the make-and-takes at the La-La Land Crafts booth.  What a fun time!  La-La Land was a new exhibitor at the show this year and it was exciting to watch people use this company's stamps for the first time and fall in love and also see fans come by and share their excitement.  The most popular line is the Marci and Luka stamp line.  This little girl and boy can be colored with different skin tones and hair color to look like anyone's daughter, niece, son, grandson, etc.  Here is a picture I took of a few of the stamps.  I think my favorite has to be Doctor Marci...or maybe Ballerina Marci....but I also like the Sugar 'n Spice Marci....well you get the picture, I can't just pick one ;)

Here also are a few of the cards that were on display at the booth.  Don't these stamps look like they are a blast to color?!?!  They are!

Here is the make-and-take from the first day.  The stamp is Capri Marci.  She is colored with Copic Markers.

Here are Kim and I in action showing two ladies how to color Capri Marci.

Check back in a few days for more pictures and descriptions of my other favorite booths and favorite new products shown at CHA.  While you are waiting check out the La-La Land Crafts blog to see beautiful cards, the newest stamp release, and (for a limited time) even buy digis of the new stamps.