Day 30: I DID IT

Well, I am finishing up my 30 day challenge with a set of embellished bobby pins, which I am IN LOVE WITH.  Glue.  I love to glue stuff to other stuff.  Anyway, this challenge taught me that I could do something for 30 days.  I'm thinking about doing a 30 day fitness challenge.  Scary!  But, I think that I can do it, now that I've made something every day.  Being creative with my body may be a little bit more challenging, but I think I'd like to try before the weather gets warm and I have to unveil it to the world!

So here are the beauties of the day.  Thanks for hanging in there with me while I figure out this blogging stuff.  Hmmm...after I post these, what will I do next??????

Day 29: Vintage Button Bobby Pins

These are so pretty.  Bobby pins that you can GLUE STUFF TOO!  That makes me very excited.  These are vintage mother of pearl bobby pins.  I love them.  I wish my hair was longer, so I could do something with these!

Day 28: Mint Green Earrings

Don't know how I feel about these, but I made them anyway.  There is no telling what people will like.  I made a melted pony bead necklace that I thought would be thrown out, but it got bought!  And fallen in love with, to boot!

Day 27: Mint Green Set

I feel that I am too busy to post, but I am trying to be sure that I set aside time to each day.  It's a bitch!  Anyhow, I made this set in mint green, the new "it" color for spring.  I am behind a day or 2 or something.  Wha' happened?

Day 26: Gray Pearl and Black Necklace

Attended my daughter's band concert and when we got back, for some reason I got an idea for this necklace set.  And then I had to listen to Kriss Kross "Jump."  Try it.  You'll feel better. :)

Days 25: Painting and a Cluster

When I say painting and a cluster, I'm not talking about my house painting gone awry.  This time, I continued on with the painting over the olive green, and managed to get my hallway done- whew!  And, tonight, I also managed to get into my jewelry room to make up this cluster necklace that has beads reclaimed from other necklaces.

My current painting progress, and the necklace.  I'm too tired to write anymore.  Time to snuggle down and watch an episode of Breaking Bad, methinks.

Day 23-24 (and possible into perpetuity): Painting the Living Room

Let me make this perfectly clear.  I despise painting as much as I would despise having bamboo shoots shoved under my fingernails.  However, my walls have deteriorated to the point of no return.  They must be painted.  Not only are they olive green (a real hit with the teal carpet the house came with) but they give off a depressing air.  The color I chose, quickly and nearly at random is called "malted milk," but it's looking pretty apartment paint white to me.  It had better darken up a touch.

So, in the spirit of spring, I got a mad whim to go and paint these horrendous walls.  Why is it when you decide to paint you see the GAJILLION marks on the walls.  Where have I been?  I didn't see all of them till now, and now they stick out like crazy.


What the hell was I thinking?  I HATE PAINTING.  Now, 72 bucks deep into paint later, here I am working on the walls.  Yes, they look better.  Yes, it gives off a brighter vibe.  Yes, I suppose I'll like it when they are done.  There is olive green everywhere.  E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E.

Here's a peek at just 2 walls, which have taken 2 coats (so far).  I only have 7 or 8 left to go.  Sigh.

My daughter is also going to be in a presentation at school, where she has to be a female photographer from the 40's.  She requested a feather hat, but this fascinator will do nicely, I think.  I can't wait to give it to her!  Excuse my grungy modeling job!

Day 22: Blue Chain Dangle Earrings

Today was a rough day.  I had to supervise the lab all day while my students worked (BRAIN DRAIN) only to come home to my daughter commenting, "Mom, your makeup makes it look like you have dark circles under you eyes."  Swell.  So, not much energy to put out there into the universe.  The first pair of earrings I tried to make were broken, but this is the second pair, which turned out pretty fine.

Day 21: Crochet Cotton Necklace/Bracelet

The crochet hook I used for this was so small, you can't see the hook at the end.  It looks like a torture device, but made this pretty necklace/wrap bracelet.  I am feeling pretty good that I made it so far on this challenge.  I've been cranking stuff out like mad!  This is such fine detail work- I'm surprised I'm not even (more) blind. :)

Day 20: Starfish Pendant

It is 84 degrees in Michigan in the middle of March and snowing in Arizona.  What the heck?  With these temps, my kids are begging me to open the pool already!  I guess I must have been feeling in a beach-y mood when I made today's creation.  A friend of mine gave me a bunch of crafting/jewelry items that she just wasn't into any more, and from that stash, this necklace was born.  I really love the pendant.  It's very colorful, which attracts me.  On the downside, it didn't take very long to whip up, so now I need more inspiration, or I'll be stuck doing chores all night.

Day 19: Gold Pendant Button Necklace

I am helping Emilee with her homework tonight, and thankfully I had a little bit of time to create something pretty. :)  However, I'm worried that I'm repeating myself, since I made a vintage button necklace, but darn it- THAT ONE WAS SILVER, and this is gold, so it counts.  Everything counts. :)

One more pretty thing.....

Days 15-18: I've Been Too Busy To Post!

But I've been crafty!

Here is what I've been up to:

Patching my daughter's holey Tom's

Making a tiger eye cocktail ring

Helping my son build a birdhouse

Made a pair of pearl and chain earrings

And finally, taught my middle daughter how to hand wire dangle earrings.

Day 14: Chunky Chain Bracelet

I was feeling a bit more crafty, and less under pressure tonight, so I threw on How I Met Your Mother (Netflix reruns- I've never seen it till now), and this chain bracelet was born.  I got out my grab bag of chains and just started attaching them.  I like this one! There is something about the twisted pile of chains that appeals to me.  I've made several necklaces with twisted piles of chain, but this is my first bracelet.

Yup, the galaxy nails are still rockin' it out tonight.

I love this kind of clasp- I can actually put this on by myself- AND take it off.  Important stuff!

Day 13: Galaxy Nails

I'll be honest with you- I have kids recovering from a nasty cold, and I think I'm coming down with it.  So, tonight I bring you "Galaxy Nails," the only craftiness I can muster up.  I paint my nails all the time, and it has become a thing at the school where I work.  The girls I teach always are commenting on my nails, so now there is some pressure for me to keep it up.  I've done water-marbling, french manicures, all colors of paint, and tonight......TA DA!

Galaxy nails are brought to you courtesy of China Glaze 108 Degrees as a base coat, and Nicole Katwalk glitter on top.  Yeah, they might be over the top, but hey- you only live once.  I also made the ring a while back, so that should count for something.

Day 12: Bus Ring

I got a big stash of buttons, most of them vintage, from a senior center.  In the stash was this awesome Greyhound Bus Lines button with a metal shank.  I cut the shank off and glued it with E6000 to an adjustable band.  This one is SOOOO cool.  I love geek jewelry- just haven't had the inspiration until now.  It's my first foray into the GEEKERY category on Etsy.

Now, I have to figure out what to make this evening to catch my blog up to Day 12.  It's kind of exhausting making something every day!  But I CAN DO THIS (can't I?).

Day 10 and 11: Ummm....uh.....

So, on Day 10 of my craft challenge, I got kind of busy.  I had to go shopping for a new bed for my daughter, and after shopping, I went to drink wine and visit a friend- HEY, these things must be done to maintain sanity.

However, I guess I did a few things to further my creativity.  I spent quite a bit of time photographing all the baby knits my mom made on her 3 week vacation in Florida.  The woman is her own cottage industry.  You should see the adorable little things she has made.

In addition, I went shopping at IKEA and bought a beautiful print FOR 99 CENTS that inspires me, and a new light for my lightbox, which I got set up in my craft room.  So, take that craft challenge!  I'm also posting a ring I made the other day, just to add to this day as far as making stuff.  I made it 2 days ago, but this is my blog and I'll do what I wanna.  Have a great day!

My great new lightbox finally has the right lighting

This print was 99 cents!  So lovely- I just have to find a place to hang it!

This wire wrapped ring I'm keeping.  It reminds me of coffee- my fave beverage!

Day 9: Pale Pink and Pretty!

When I was first learning how to make jewelry and wire crochet, I bought these really pretty pale pink pearls (what alliteration!).  Anyhow, the necklace never sold, and I hated it after a while, so tonight I chopped it up, and restrung it on beading line and hung it from a suede cord repurposed from another necklace.

Have I mentioned that I am trying to complete this 30 day challenge WITHOUT BUYING ANYTHING NEW.  That's how big my pile of junk is in my craft room.  I could technically be busy FOR DAYS just by using up what I have.  That's part of the challenge.  To rip apart things, dig through things and see if I can make something of them.

I put it up for sale- here's a pic.  I'm proud of myself.  9 days- nearly 1/3 of the way through!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94912076/necklace-pink-pearl-suede-free-earrings

Day 8: Harry Potter Artwork

I am cheap.  Really cheap.  And when I need art, I turn to BlockPosters.  It is a really cool site (not sponsoring me, or anything).  You can upload a photo and it will blow it up HUGE (I'm talking from a few sheets of paper to covering an entire wall!) and divide onto regular sized sheets of paper.  You just trim, tape and frame.   I've used it for several art projects around my house.

I was wanting something inspirational, so I chose a quote by Dumbledore (from Harry Potter).

"Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light." ~Dumbledore

I wanted to paper to looked aged and like it was actually from Hogwarts, so here is the process. :)  Enjoy making your own artwork!

My ugly tulip picture, and the printed quote, ready to trim!

I tossed what was left of my cup of coffee on it, then ironed it till it turned brown.

All trimmed, taped and framed (modeled by my fab daughter)!

The finished product now hangs in my living room- LUVS IT!

I used the same technique on a pic that hangs over my bed.

Block poster on the wall above my fireplace.  Now, get out there and make your own artwork! :)