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

Chair makeover

When I first moved to California I drove here in a car with all of my stuff.  Whatever didn't fit in the car, didn't come.  So, needless to say, I did not come with any furniture.  After my dad and I moved all of the boxes into my new place we went to sit down only to discover that there was nothing to sit on besides the floor!  That day we went thrift store shopping and I came home with my first piece of furniture...this chair.

 Pretty?  No it is not.  But it has sentimental value (and is comfy) so I have kept it.
I decided it was time to fix up the chair and "pretty it up" to match the room it is in.  I sanded it and gave it a good paint job (to match the desk I use it with) and recovered the seat with upholstery fabric.  I think it looks much better after its makeover.  What do you think?

Here are a few "in between shots"

Linked to:
The DIY Showoff



Metamorphosis Mondays

and sorry I forgot this one before:

baby tin

Today I am sharing a tin I altered a while back for a friend. She had her 3rd child in April. I know how the details and milestones of that first year get lost in all the activities and things going on when you have older kids. (Not that I am a victim of youngest child syndrome or anything...*wink*). So I made her a scrapbook tin. The poem sums it up pretty well, but basically you write little things you want to remember on scraps of paper and you throw them in the tin. Later you can take those papers out and remember the moments to scrapbook them. The tin is also good for holding cards that people give when the baby is born or other small mementos.paper: Stampin' Up: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip; Crate Paper: Cowboy Collection Sheriff and Bull Rider
ink: VersaMagic: Mango Madness
other: Mod Podge, letters are from a Cuttlebug alphabet.

Poem:

Baby books are great ideas
but sometimes you're too busy
living with a little one
can put you in a tizzy
Milestones pass too fast at times
to find the proper page
So jot a note of each event
with date and baby's age
Like "took 3 steps on June the 1st"
or "teething 5th of December"
Then drop it in this memory tin
to help you to remember.

Card cheer tin

When card tins first became popular I bought a bunch and made a few to give them out as gifts. Of course then I never got around to making one for myself. When I saw this K&Company paper at my local Scrapbooking store I knew it was exactly what I wanted for a tin for me! (I actually wanted the striped paper that matches it also, but the store didn't carry it and I can't find a local store that does) The paper is from the Wild Saffron line.

I used Mod Podge to adhere the paper and I also put a layer on top of the paper. I inked the lid up with Mango Madness VersaMagic Dew Drop . I put two flowers with a brad in the middle on the lid. I love the vibrance and color of these flowers, but they didn't look right on the side. The lid is the perfect place!

This tin is going to be a great place to put all the lovely cards and notes I get and want to cherish. I am one of those people that takes out old notes on a bad day just to cheer me up.

Now if only I could find cloth in the same cool pattern as this paper. I would love throw pillows in that pattern!

altered lip gloss box

Here is another project from this past weekend. This window box is one I got with a free lip gloss sampler. (What is better than free product that comes in a cool box to alter?!?!?!) I covered the outside of the lid and the bottom inside with paper from My Mind's Eye. Each panel of the box has its own separate piece of paper. I used mod podge to glue the paper down and then also on top of the paper to give the box a smooth and shiny look. If I did this again I would sand the box before covering it because the shiny covering on the box wasn't good for making my designer paper stick.

I haven't decided what gift I will put in this box yet--I want to give it to someone who will appreciate it ;) My friend Jami also suggested making it into a shadow box...so who knows?