Creativity In A Nutshell

I wanted to share this beautiful treasury with you all:

Hello Ladies and Gents!
Life has a way of getting away with me - and carrying me off in its currents. Luckily for us all I managed to snatch some time back! Here is a picture of some lovely scrabble tiles, which have already been magically transformed into earrings. These earrings will soon debut on my blog, and then in my Etsy shop! Yay!

I wanted to let you all know about a sale over at Artbeads.com
5% off orders of $25
10% off orders of $50
15% off orders of $75

I got to select some new goodies to make some great tutorials for you all via Artbeads - check out some of the stuff I chose:
Antique Brass Pendant
Some Pretty Swarovski Stuff

Remember this sneak peak?



What's The Plan, Stan?
I'm so excited to share this tutorial with you, using some great Valentines Day Beads and Components from Artbeads.com. I love these earrings, and I know you will to.

Ingredients:

• 2 8mm Swarovski faceted rounds
• 2 Copper headpins
• 2 Copper earwires
• 2 Copper Plated Heart Key Charms
• 2 Copper 10 mm open jumprings

Tools Of The Trade:

• Wire cutters
• Chain nose pliers
• Round nose pliers

Process:

• First, place your swarovski crystals on the headpins. Finish with a wrapped loop.
• Next, open your jumpring, and add one swarovski crystal loop to each jumpring.
• Place the copper key charms on each jumpring, on either side. 
• Add the earwires.

C'est Fin!

*I have recieved these products free of charge from Artbeads.com to honestly review in this blog. I have not been paid for my endorsement as it pertains to the products received*

**Today is the first day of the Valentines Day Sale at Callie's Creations!**
Be My Valentine Earrings Just $10.50
With Love Scrabble Tile Necklace Just $19.00
Hearts of Porcelain Set Just $16.00
Key To My Heart Set Just $20.00
Je t'aime Scrabble Tile Pendant Just $6.00

It seems like I have been waiting for ages to receive my package of goodies from Artbeads.com ! Well, today I got it, and let me tell you, these beauties are just fantastic!

What's The Plan, Stan?
I sadly forgot my wire snips at home :( so I could not get started on all the beautiful projects I had planned tonight. Instead, I will tease you with photographs of some of these darling beads n things, with links where you can find 'em.
** Sweetheart Sale: You can save 15% on orders of $60 or more RIGHT NOW at Artbeads.com - it's a pretty good deal, especially with free shipping. They have lots of great Valentines Day Beads and Findings to peruse through.





NECKLACE GIVE AWAY:
I also wanted to let you know about this great Valentines Day necklace giveaway over at Every Heart Crafts

C'est Fin!

More Stuff on the Information Highway:

Yesterday, I spent 2 hours and 15 minutes in a car. Driving to my school. Realizing I forgot a bag full of clothes. Driving back home. Then back to school. It was, in a word, great. Ohhh well. I'm here. The problem is, I forgot to bring my chain-nose pliers. Great. I'm sure that someone around here will have some I can borrow...

Today I posted this darling little scrabble tile pendant:



I hand-painted it about a month ago, inspired by some really beautiful japanese origami paper, then sealed it and added the gold plated bail. I think it would make a really nice Valentines Day gift, so it's part of my Valentines Day sale, starting on Tuesday! Full price, it's $10.00 , however, Tuesday the 2nd through Sunday the 14th, it will be just $6.00!

Want to learn more about my scrabble tile jewelry?

On a side note, the Dirt Road Artists now have a fanpage over on facebook! We will be adding photos of our great products on Etsy, info on our swaps etc and all kinds of good stuff! Check it out!

Valentines Day is on the way!
and I'm celebrating over at Callie's Creations with these four fantatic Valentines Day gifts, *On Sale* starting on Tuesday, February 2nd, until Sunday, February 14th.


I'd like to introduce you to Ginny! She's a tallented ceramics artist from Northern California. She opened her Etsy shop, aptly called Ginpins in 2006.
I was perusing through her shop and I just have to share these fantastic and beautiful jewelry components, currently for sale. I'm green with envy for whoever gets to purchase them!

Hello Everyone!
It's the end of winter break and back to classes for me! I start on Monday. Wait. Let me try that again with a little more enthusiasm. I start on Monday! Huzzah!
Better?

I wanted to share some Valentines Day Love with you all!

These are earrings I made for my best friend, who can and does work magical wonders with knitting needles and all varieties of yarn. I never cease to be impressed by her tallent and skill.

After a bit of deliberation, I have decided to go forth with creating a College Student Crafters Team.
My over-arching goals are:


To support college student crafters with networking
To share skills - with crafting, networking, selling etc
To connect with college students all over
To promote each others shops

As the group becomes more established, I would like to look into:

Creating a team blog
Doing team swaps and competitions
Creating a team shop
Creating team  events

Check out this College Student Crafter's Etsy Shop, Bubbleberries
Elizabeth, the creative genious behind the Bubbleberries, is a sophomore, yet manages to craft and sell her wares online.

Check out her adorable  Mr. Ted the Cuddly Bamboo-Yarn Teddy Bear

In my search for unique beads and findings, I have found another great shop on Etsy!
Check out Softcover Jewelry Supply based in LA

I have been looking for flowers to include in my jewelry designs. I have found a few lucite flowers that I like, but I really like these flowers, from the Softcover shop:

Large Metal Rose Cabochon


Enameled Metal Rose Cabochon

Lion Head Silver Ox Stamping

She also has a really great deal on the Copper Cub Chain

Today it was finally sunny out! I was able to take some beautiful pictures, and I'm giving you a sneak peak of the treasured you can expect to find their way onto my Etsy shop in the coming days.

This Valentines Day, you don't have to run out and buy heart-covered wrapping paper. You probably already have the supplies to make your own unique and recycled gift wrap.



What's The Plan, Stan?
I made this wrapping paper that works for Valentines Day but doesn't really scream Cupid.

Ingredients:

• Rubber Stamp (I used a really fun Owl stamp I got from the dollar bin at Michaels a few months ago)
• Ink Pad (you can use all kinds of colors - I just used black ink)
• Tissue Paper, Craft Paper, Old Wrapping paper (shhh it's a secret, but I just used the tissue paper from a giftbag I'd gotten a while ago)

Tools Of The Trade:

• Creativity
• Hands

Process:

• Ink up your stamp

• Plot your image around the paper - spreading it out. I found I could get three ok stamps with one go before having to re-ink. The first stamp will be darkest, then lighter etc.

• 
  
  Work your way around until the entire page is covered
  

Wow! I can hardly believe how quickly time is passing. I am going to back to classes before I know it!

I want to share a great treasury with you from the Dirt Road Artists Team on Etsy. This one was made by Phyllis, creator of Montezumamudd (see my Tiers of Purple Necklace?)

I also wanted to share with you some fantastic goodies I got in the mail yesterday!

I mentioned my love of Zombies Unite, a great jewelry supply shop on Etsy a while ago.
Well, I just got my order from her and I am oh sooooo happy! Seriously, check out these fantastic finds - all vintage. All I could think of was, "The lions go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah!"



I also got my order from Artbeads.com yesterday. The were copper charms are so adorable and perfect for the designs  I have in mind:


I hope you all are having a great weekend!

*Who Doesn't Like Free Jewelery? Especially When it Rocks!*

Valentines Day is a holdiay of love. It does not have to be that mushy gushy holiday with bright pink roses and chubby cupids, though I don't mind the boxes of chocolate (and if you're into the flowers and the cupids then props for you).
I look at Valentines Day as my chance to pay-it-forward and show my love to everyone... so to speak :)

What's The Plan, Stan?


For this Valentines Day, I am offering up a gift to you! You have a chance to score these beautiful and quirky hand-made scrabble tile earrings, "Team Cupcake", totally free!

Your mission, should you choose to accept (and why wouldn't you?!):

• Leave a comment on this post, telling me your favorite item from Callie's Creations on Etsy, and why.
• Be sure to inclue your name and a link to your own blog, if you have one.

You may enter to win up until midnight, Sunday February 7th. I will select a winner out of a hat (with fingers crossed for you all) on Monday, February 8th. I will get in touch with you when you win and mail out your sweet new earrings!

Want to learn more about my scrabble tile jewelry?

Good Afternoon Readers

A month and a half ago, my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew moved to Texas. I have been missing them ... especially today, when it is sunny and beautiful outside, and I would have take thn the kids outside and gone sledding...


On more bead and jewelry related things... ...

I have joined the Dirt Road Artists Team (DRAT!) on  Etsy!
I have found it to be a super supportive and fun group of crafters, looking for more members.
Check out some of the other team members:

• Montzuma Mudd
• Ginpins
• LifeShades
• StainedGlassAngel
• AzJude
• PWOriginals

Phyllis (Montezuma Mudd) created this fantastic treasury (see my Sterling Silver Flower Drop Earrings?)

Jude (AzJude) created this delightful treasury (see my Computer Lady Upcycled Necklace?)

I've been at it again! Today was a photography kind of day - I figured I would shake off the dissapointment blues. I am really pleased with some of these new pictures! Check them out for yourself and let me know what you think!

Over the past month I have been inspired to create upcycled jewelry using scrabble tiles.
All of my scrabble tiles are created by me :) You can purchase my scrabble tile jewelry in my Etsy shop, Callie's Creations.

Many of them are drawn in india ink and then lightly colored for a vintage or aged look, then finally sealed.

Every single one of them is unique and one-of-a-kind.


More Similar Fun Stuff!

• Indie Girl Handmade Scrabble Tile Necklace
• Coffee Equals Happiness Scrabble Tile Earrings
• Fly Scrabble Tile Charm
• Tree Girl Handmade Scrabble Tile Necklace
• With Love Handmade Scrabble Tile Necklace
• Belong To Paris Handmade Scrabble Tile Necklace

More Stuff on the Information Highway:

• Stamping Scrabble Tile Tutorial 
• Project: Scrabble Tile Bracelet

Apple Blossoms are the herald of spring - and even though it's snowing like crazy here in New Hampshire, this lovely necklace just reminds me that spring will be here soon enough.

Today I made this fantastic necklace, soon available for purchase in my Etsy shop. It matches my Copper Butterfly Earrings


Want to see the completed necklace?
C'est Fin!