I'm baaaack...

Sorry for the long absence but I recently had surgery on my right thumb (from all the wire wrapping, I fear!) and had to get a cortisone shot in my left, then I had cataract surgery in both eyes, the last two days ago! The doctor said I had the eyes of an 80 year old (I'm over 20 years younger!) and that they were brown cataracts...EW...! I had my eyes done for monovision, which means one eye sees close up and the other sees distance. Your brain kind of takes over and that way you don't need eyeglasses to read. My eyes are very dry, and I never was able to wear contacts. I had started noticing my vision getting bad, but I didn't think it was cataracts! I am very happy so far though! Now that my hand is better, I can get back into close up work.

Here's my latest work. Be patient, there are a LOT of pictures on this one. Even though I haven't posted much, I've still made a lot of pieces! I've been trying to be a little original and come up with some different things than I usually make. There is quite a variety here! :) Hope you enjoy exploring.

This is Howlite with copper. Based on a tutorial by Oxana Crafts on Youtube. Contact me for further information on any pieces you see! They are available unless specified otherwise. <3

Also based on Oxana's tutorial. I think this is Rose Quartz. I really love the way this came out!

I wish I knew the kind of stone this is but I don't. This is based on a free tutorial by Julie Hulick. She does MAGNIFICENT work...I love her style so much! She has a ton of both free and paid tutorials that you can access here!

The other side of the pendant above. Even the back is nice with this tutorial! 

Same tutorial from Julie Hulick. This is a stainless steel washer with Pebeo Prisme and Moon paints. I love the vibrant colors! This tutorial makes it reversible...See the other side below.

Here's the other side of the stainless and Pebeo pendent. 

Then I went a different direction. These are my Glam Ladies. This one has a silver butterfly with Swarovski crystal wings. 

This Retro Glam Lady has a copper butterfly. Blends in a little too muich!

This is Myrtle the Mermaid, as you can see from the SeaStar in her hair. ;) 

 Then I went still another direction!

You can see how tiny these are by the nickel. Glass beads and wire Cinderella's Glass Slippers.

There are many ways to customize these. This one has a tiny butterfly on the back heel...

..As seen on this one.

Then I started making them much larger! The tiniest one is the one above, by the nickle.:) The biggest one is a gift for someone's yard, in copper and purple glass beads.

 And then I went a whole different way!

It was brought to my attention that these are not lion faces, they are Cheetah faces. So these are my Lyin' Cheatahs. :D 

Had to do the white lion in silver wire...

THEN I went still a DIFFERENT way! :)

 Then I made some horses...!

Pre patina'd copper wire with a Swarovski dangle.

That suddenly turned into Unicorns!

Swarovski dangle with copper beads and wire.

These are sterling and silver filled with Swarovski crystals. Fell in love with making these!

They've all been hammered for strength.

THEN I went still ANOTHER way! 

Copper Weedy Seahorse with copper SeaStar The star is a tutorial by Lan Anh on Youtube. Very simple to make...once you make the star even..

Yes, I made a few. :) Most have Swarovski crystals mixed into their bodies and/or for their eyes.

AND THEN...I made Weedy UniSea...I mean Weedy Cornihorse...I mean..lol.

I don't know what to call it but I like em. :D 

How could you tell!? I got carried away with one of their horns ..

Some more of the SeaStars. I love these. Found a cute anchor clasp to go along with one of them.

And THEN...

I made a few tiny Mermaids...they are about 3" tall.

 Last one! Thanks for hanging in there, there were so many pictures! Let me know what you think...and if you want more information, please feel to contact me, either here or on Facebook! 

Christmas Cards 2016

Well, my recipients have all gotten their cards...I got them out a lot earlier than normal this year! I thought I would use my Cricut but ended up using die cuts and my elderly Big Shot for all of them! I used the die cuts so much I fear some have dulled! But here's the ones I sent...I had several different varieties this year!

With white cardstock and silver, below. I just got a magnetic platform for my Big Shot which I really like...nothing slides around.

Sorry for the glare! I used one of Martha's doily punches for the red doily underneath.

This was one of my favorites. I want to call your attention to the envelopes...they were mostly made with uuuuggggllly paper that I stamped with ink to make Christmassy! :)

Another doily with Martha Stewart's doily punch. And a stamp/emboss kit I got at Tuesday Morning. Love that place for discounted craft supplies!

The insude of the card above. Ugggglllyyy envelope...:)

Then I did a multitude of the reindeer cards. Thought these were cute.

Ugly envelopes again...:D Everyone got a candy cane on their card, with a tiny bow.

Ahh, but these came out so cute...! A die cut set. Had the inner sentiment too.

The inside of the one above. The only problem is there is no where to write inside! But so cute...I can use the inner die cut with other cards, as well, in the future. I made a LOT of these.

Another tree with it's homemade envelope. These were cute together...a red cardinal in the envelope's tree.

The inside of the one above. This was my first one and I actually used the wrong die cut on the front. The others, I used the larger one and cut it in half for the front. I still like it though.

The "Be Jolly" is a sticker left over from last year. So cute! Real felt hat...

The inside. Not quite as ugly of an envelope. :D

One more tree...they all got a candy cane decoration, too.

The inside of the one above.

Another...

The inside. tried to color coordinate...

The inspiration for this came from Pinterest. I love the alcohol ink colors! More about how it is made below.

A variation on the sentiment.

Also made a few going the other direction...

I was able to get two envelopes out of one sheet of 12"x12" with these and the Christmas tree cards..

When I first tried making these, I tried using thin aluminum (flashing for the roof) in an embossing folder with the alcohol ink, but I was afraid it would be too sharp. I ended up using paper with a shiny silver finish on it and it worked beautifully with the ink...even though I got it at the dollar store...:)

I crimped strips of the same silvery paper for the tops and then cut thinner strips for the ornament hangers. I used two different embossing folders, one for the ornaments, one for the background white paper, which I love that has swirly snowflakes on it. The sentiment was stamped with Stazon gold ink on Dollar Tree shiny photo paper and cut out with a die cut and my Big Shot, then added with some foam adhesive for dimension. Simple but effective!

 That's it for now. Thanks for visiting and keep checking back for more!