As I didn't make anything new over the last two days, I've decided to show you a couple of the necklaces that I made around Christmas.  It was a very busy Christmas season.  I only did one craft show, but a couple of stores my stuff is sold in were fairly busy, and a lot of friends were buying from me and I've given a lot as presents.  The first one is the one I kept for myself.  I just love it.  It goes with everything, and depending what kind and what length of chain you put it on - it could be an everyday piece or little more special.  Lookie:

These other ones are made on rummikub tiles.  They are about 1-1/2" x 1", and it is a lovely size to work with, and it seems perfect to show off the pictures.  I have used a huge variety of images throughout the Christmas, there were whimsical ones, funny ones, modern ones, name it - it was there.  A lot of them were turned into key chains, and the ones with manly images were very popular.  Women loved the key chains with images of nests with words "nest", or "Home Sweet Home" next to them.  Like this first tile, only made into a key chain:

These next two were popular as well.  Isn't this little girl just adorable?


And here is the last one:


That's it for today.  Blog ya' later,

I save a lot of stuff.  I save toilet paper rolls and paper towel rolls to make castles with kids, I save jars and cans to make pencil holders, ornaments and who knows what else.  I would never throw out a pretty box or an outdated calendar with beautiful pictures.  You should see all the bottle caps, clock gears, aluminum pull tabs and old kitchen utensils piling up in my craft room.  I see purpose for all of those things.  It is not junk.  It is my treasure.  One of these days I will use it all and then you'll see.

I go to thrift stores, flea markets and garage sales religiously and collect little bits of what I think could be used at some point when I have time.  The biggest score, however, would be a bag of scrabble tiles, mahjong or rummikub tiles.  They make so many pretty things. I have my friends on lookout for me too.  When they go thrifty shopping, they know what to look for.  :-)  Wanna see what I made with these lately?  Don't forget - you can click on a picture, enlarge it, then you can click again and make it even bigger.  Lookie:
These are scrabble tile pendants (or earrings, I might change my mind), all made on real upcycled scrabble tiles salvaged from less than a rewarding life in the depths of thrift stores, repeatedly overlooked and ignored by shoppers.  Here is a close up of these beauties:
All these little pieces awake with new beauty and appreciation after their make over.   
These are Wizard of Oz dominoes.  Eventually, they will be key chains.  Or pendants.  Or magnets.  Or little bits in my shadow boxes to adore the walls of my studio.  Here is another set:
These game pieces will be drilled tomorrow night by my wonderful hubby using my trusted Dremel. Hopefully right side up.  Shhhh, I might tell you that story some other time.

Anyway, blog y'a later, 

 

Here is a close-up of the leaves, bleached with water (how cool, eh?) and highlighted with a white gel pen.

2012 was not a good year for me. It was not even an ok year. Come to think of it, 2012 was one of the worst years I've ever had. And those of you who know me, they can tell you - I've had my share of tough times before. But never this much death and grief has piled up in ONE SINGLE YEAR. Never.  Between April and December, we have dealt with 4 (yes, four!) deaths of people that were very dear to us.  A favourite cousin of mine, my mother, my husband's step dad, and a very dear friend of mine, well, a sister really.  A bit too much, don't ya' think?  I was so glad when it ended. I hope it ended.  2013 has to be better, I can not see it being any worse.

Through all of this, I have crafted, but never posted anything.  Blogging was not on my mind.  I would like to get back into it.  I really, really would, but life has a way of getting in my way.  So no promises this time, ok? 

Here is a quick project I did yesterday.  It was made with some pre-order stuff (these cute umbrellas, as well as clouds embossing folder) from Stampin' Up Spring catalogue.  So much stuff I like in there!  Check the sidebar of my blog for the catalogue if you haven't seen it yet.  I also used some of the retired stuff, some other SU stuff, as well as some non-SU stuff ("Puffy Clouds" die from Memory Box).  


I almost never do the inside of my cards.  Ask my husband.  Every time I make a card and go to him to show it off, he opens a card, hoping to find something, and almost never, ever, there is anything there.  Well, just for you honey, here ya' go....




I am looking forward to 2013 and moving on. I would like to craft and blog more.  The only resolution is to cherish every day that comes my way and is filled with happiness.