The Craft In Me

Front Door Winter Sparkle

2011-11-27T20:12:00.035-06:00

The chilly and crisp air is definitely upon us.

I enjoy celebrating the changing seasons, so for winter I chose these easy sparkly snowflakes for our front door.

My photos are not detailed but this project is easy and inexpensive.

Materials:
Acrylic snowflakes
White spray paint (optional)
Glue
Glitter

All you need are these clear acrylic snowflakes you can get from the Dollar Tree. The large ones are a dollar and the smaller ones come in a 3-pack.

First I spray painted the snowflakes white. Spray painting them white is not necessary I just think colors appear more vibrant when they have a white base underneath.

Use any type of glue, I had Tacky Glue on hand but any spreadable glue should work.
*I first tried spray on glue but that doesn't give a good coverage for the glitter so I recommend brushing on thick glue.

I used a few different brands of glitter in three different shades of blue. I don't think it matters what kind of glitter you use, just pick out whatever color scheme you're going for.

I worked on one snowflake at a time and shook on the glitter and let dry.

To hang, I used double sided foam sticky tabs. However, some of my tabs did not hold up.

My front door faces south and I guess the sun heated up the stickiness a bit and the snowflakes fell, so I just used a hot glue gun to attach the snowflake to the sticky tab.

Enjoy the sparkle!

This project linked to...

3D Canvas Art

2011-09-10T20:41:00.044-05:00

I love texture. It's a great way to enhance a plain picture.

For this project I used a plain white 8" x 11" canvas, 3D paint and a star fish.

The colors are creamy off white, light blue and dark blue.

Here is where I first started the dots.

I filled in the dots and left it blank were the starfish would be.

The star fish was glued down with a hot glue gun.

Although I enjoyed this project, it took a bit longer than anticipated. I probably spent about 2 to 3 hours creating the dots.

I continued the dots a bit over the edge of the canvas.

Close up the dots almost remind me of water droplets.

Linking to...

No Cork Bulletin Board

2011-07-15T14:04:00.024-05:00

I needed a bulletin board over my computer and desk space and I wanted something a bit large.

A few weeks ago I picked up some fabric at Hancock's and just put it aside because I wasn't yet sure of what I wanted to use it for.

It's a nice and sturdy canvas type material and I love the design and color.

So, if you've worked with cork before you know that it is not on the cheap side of craft materials.

And, even if you do buy some - it's so totally thin and pretty much defeats the purpose of using cord with push pins.

My solution - foam board.

It's a large board that to me resembles styrofoam pressed in between two sheets of cardstock material.

It comes in different thicknesses, this one is 1/2" thick - plenty of push pin room.

I picked this one up at Michael's for $6.

I applied some regular craft tacky glue to the board and secured the back edges with thumbtacks.

These thumbtacks are super cheap, I got a whole box at the Dollar Tree.

After I glued and secured the back with tacks, I trimmed the sides of the board all the way around with the rest of the tacks for a "nailhead trim" look.

It took me about 30 minutes to trim the sides with the thumbtacks and goes by quickly if you're doing it while watching tv. Also, I didn't even use the whole box, there was plenty left over.

It works just as good if not better as a cork bulletin board.

Linking to...

Stretch Rings - A New Obsession

2011-06-19T14:51:00.035-05:00

I have a new obsession - making stretch rings!

They are incredibly easy and fun to make.

It all started with two rings I purchased.

This first one from Gordman's, it's so comfortable.

See how it stretches......

The next I purchased from Hobby Lobby.

It was so pretty, yet seemed so simple to make, so you know I had to try it out for myself.

Now, I experimented with two different stretchy string materials.

The first was Stretch Magic, it's clear and has good elasticity.

The drawbacks are that it does not securely hold a tie very well - I had to use glue to make sure the tie stayed tied.

So, I then discovered this! Gossamer Floss!

I believe this is exactly what was used on the rings that I purchased.

The thread is so soft, super elastic, and it holds a secure knot that's almost unnoticeable when the ring is finished. If you're making stretch rings, this is the material you want.

I can't stop making them, they're very addicting.

The best thing about making stretch rings is that you don't have to be specific about sizing.

I'm off to make more!

Linking to...

Iron Foam

2011-05-29T17:08:00.036-05:00

So I've taken a long blogger break, which was very much needed. But I'm back now to bring you a post that I'm excited to share.

I had an inspiration the other day while wondering through Kirkland's. This picture with a simple iron design in the center. So I whipped out my phone and took a quick photo.

The iron in the photo probably wasn't real but what we're going for here is the "look" of iron.

I've had the idea for a while to cut fun foam into an iron look and this design fueled my fire.

Now, usually this fun foam comes in thin sheets but I found this thicker sheet at Michael's. It' about 1/4" thick. But I imagine if all you had was thinner sheets, you could cut two or more sheets and glue them together.

I needed a template before slicing into the foam so I made one using cardboard.

So I sketched out a freehand template on cardboard, not bad huh?

But as soon as I started to cut the cardboard with an exacto knife, it was so tough and it was taking forever. Plus, knowing that I had to cut through this cardboard and then cut the foam too, I just took my chances with cutting the foam freehand without the cardboard template.

Using pencil, I drew the design on the foam and then used an exacto blade to make the cuts.

The pencil shows up well on the foam even though the foam is black.

I was so happy it was turning out great.

Now for those jagged edges.

The scissors I used did not help much with trimming.

So, bing!, I had an idea to use sand paper to smooth the edges. It did the job well.

This was turning out to be sort of a sculpting project but my background in clay and pottery really enjoyed this step.

This next step wasn't necessary but it gave it a finished look.

I spray painted it using Rust-Oleum black metallic spray paint.

Lastly I placed scrapbook paper behind it. I'm still not sure if I will hang as it is or place it in a frame like my inspiration photo.

Also, I can't wait to try other designs. It would look great carved with an initial too.

Linking to...

Decorative Spheres

2011-03-20T08:09:00.033-05:00

We've all seen decorative balls in stores and online. However, very few of us want to spend the money on them. Besides, it's so much more fulfilling to create your own especially with a spin on them, like I've done here.

Flipping through a magazine I came across mosaic tiled spheres and was really drawn to them.

Knowing that all you need is some small tiles and grout, I wanted to create them but with a twist.

So I immediately thought of crushed shells for this project. They have the shiny resemblance of the tiles but I really hadn't seen a sphere like this before.

Oddly with me being a crafter, one thing I don't like purchasing is Styrofoam balls. I mean, they are just unreasonably expensive. I guess it's because they are so useful, you can do so many things with them. But, I gave in with this project and picked up a package of 6 Styrofoam balls.

Now, I didn't just want to create one ball, I wanted a collaboration, if you will.

So, I needed another natural material that would compliment the shells. I already had a bag of green pebbles in my craft stash, and so I thought of another natural object that would complement both and I went with black sand.

These materials can be picked up in the floral section at Michael's, ironically right across from those pricey Styrofoam balls.

First, the balls needed to be painted so that in between the rocks, sand and shells, you would not see the plain white Styrofoam.

For the pebbles, I chose a metallic because the pebbles were a little dark and needed some reflection to lighten it up.

The shells naturally have a pinkish hue so I painted the ball pink.

As for the black sand, I had on hand a dark grey metallic spray paint so that worked perfectly.

Now for the adhesion.

The sand is not heavy so I simply applied spray adhesive to the Styrofoam and dipped into the sand. I gave it about 2 to 3 coats of glue and sand. I pierced a tool into the Styrofoam while painting for an easy hold.

Out of all three of them, the sand was the easiest and quickest.

As for the pebbles and shells, since they were heavy, I needed a thicker glue. I first tried a hot glue gun but the drawbacks are that the hot glue drys to quickly to apply the shells and pebbles, plus it melts the Styrofoam.

I used a glue that is fairly similar to E-600. It's thick enough to hold the material and dries fast but not too fast.

After applying the pebbles and shells, I went back to fill in tiny spaces that were peeking through.

I like their turnout, all I need now is a nice decorative bowl to place them into.

Linking to...

http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com/

Night & Day Room Transformation

2011-02-22T12:32:00.008-06:00

Here is a previous picture of before we moved in the house, which is currently my daughter’s room.

As you can see it was totally trashed out, but there was still much potential.

I did not do the construction work myself but here are a few pics of the process.

After all the junk was tossed and the carpet ripped out, a nice awakening peachy color was painted on the wall.

This bright peachy color was what my daughter wanted and it fits her so well.

That hideous ceiling fan had to go. New carpet and new windows were installed.

And now she has a room to grow and have fun in.

Windows facing the South and West gives this room plenty of light.

This cute beside table is from Big Lots. The beaded pink candle lamp was a thrift store find a couple of years ago.

The dresser is at home surrounded by familiar colors.

This wooden cubby I placed at the foot of the bed kind of stages itself as a footboard with storage.

The room is complete except for minor details like hanging this wall mirror.

The curtains are by way of my mom, a DIYer like myself. They are a simple shear white complementing the bright vibe of the room.

And the green flower picture hangs nicely by the window.

And of course the desk is what completes the whole room!

Linking to...

Drab to Fab Desk Makeover

2011-02-22T12:17:00.019-06:00

I’m bursting with excitement over the desk transformation I did for my 9 year old daughter!

We have had this desk for almost 5 years now. It was purchased from a garage sale at a steal for $15.

I couldn’t wait to give it a makeover but we were living in apartments so I knew I couldn’t give it the proper attention it needed.

Well the time has come, we absolutely love our new home and pictures of my daughter’s room are soon on the way.

So, here is the before. A plain and simple desk but with good structure and storage, it just needed a little love.

BEFORE:

I have always admired the drawer pulls detail. I even thought they were one piece until I disassembled them and found it was composed of two pieces. Although I did not end up using them here, I am definitely saving them for a rainy day.

Oh, and the chopped up trim, I never cared too much for the style.

So, I just took a hammer to it and it was gone.

The process took about 2 days. First the sanding, washing, and yes of course primer was must in this case.

AFTER:

I love absolutely love it!

I used paint that was left over from the trim in the house as the base color.

The blue, green and purple are basic acrylic craft paint.

My daughter decided on the stencil and she picked out the drawer pulls too.

After it was dry, I gave the blue drawers, green top and purple cubbies a good coat of clear glossy spray sealer.

Now it just needs the perfect chair to make it complete!

Linking to...

Wooden Stars

2011-02-12T21:47:00.022-06:00

Copper and tin stars have long been on my radar and I have wanted to get on the band wagon for some time now. Now that I have my own house I totally have reason to go for it.

It's an intention to find a real one to accompany this wooden one but when I saw this wooden star hanging up in Micheal's at a 3.99 price tag, I couldn't resist. I had my star plus I could put my own creative spin on it at the same time.

The copper stars are really my favorite but since it would be placed in the living room, it would not really complement the color; which is kind of a caramely suede color. So I thought a faux tin patina wood fit best.

First I had to fill in the hole with wood filler.

Then gave it a white primer base.

I wanted a black undertone, so I then sponged on black acrylic paint.

After glazing with silver metallic paint, I lined the edges and corners with black for highlights and to give it depth.

Painting was easy and fun.

I hung it up next to the front door.

I had so much fun with this star I decided to run out and get another to hang in the bathroom.

My bathroom is a pale yellow with black and white tile so a black star would accent perfectly.

I'm not sure if it's noticeable in the picture but I wanted a rough texture so I simple added sand to the black paint.

Then I remembered a small wire cage I picked up at the thrift store a few months ago. I put it away because I knew it would go well in the bathroom after I moved into the house. It was only a dollar, and all it needed was just a coat of paint. Black of course to complement the rest of the decor.

Little by little, my house becomes a home. :)

Linking to these PARTIES...

Craft Randomness

2011-02-06T19:50:00.029-06:00

Whilst I was cleaning and organizing my craft space, which by the way is a long work in progress, I came across a few crafts that I'd done and just put away without a proper posting.

This dice is a spin off from my hard rock candle post.

It's a simple 2" wooden block that I painted black.

Then I nailed upholstery tacks in the pattern of dice.

Here I used old cut up jeans to make these magnets.

I cut up the red and leather Levi tag and glued to the pebbles.

This plant holder, believe it or not, is a Styrofoam cup.

A quick few coats of acrylic paint, I then pierced small grommets right into the sides. I secured them with hot glue.

And lastly, dressed up soup cans. Obviously recycling cans into supply holders is nothing new, but I can't help but smile at the cheerfulness they bring.

No doubt, the best cans to use are the ones that have the pull off top because they leave a nice beveled edge.

I painted the cans first and glued on left over fabric finished with black ribbon.

Purple is my favorite color. I painted the purple and white, dotted the black lines and added left over purple daisy ribbon for fun.

I love this teal color.

Here I added ribbon and this fun rhinestone collage for some sparkle!

Linking to...

3-D Wall Decor

2011-01-28T16:12:00.025-06:00

Originally I was going to use this as a decoration for my bedroom, except with a more sophisticated feel.

But as I began putting it all together it felt more of a bright, fun & cheerful project, which is the vibe of my daughter’s room so I decided to make it for her.

That’s one of the many reasons I love to craft – anything goes! You may start with a great idea in your head, and halfway through the project, it can take on a whole new direction.

So anyway, beginning with a regular frame I had in my craft stash, I removed the inner glass panel and painted the frame white with acrylic paint. Topping it off with a shiny clear glaze.

Next up, the flower. This is a large silk flower that I picked up from Michael’s for about two dollars. It was attached to a long stem so I just cut off the stem and snipped off the greenery so all was left was the flower head.

I inserted this nice lime green scrapbook paper behind the frame. It’s got a good weight and a slight glossed finish; so I knew it would fit this project perfectly.

To add the finishing touch, I had this cute ribbon on hand also and glued that down on top of the green paper.

Next, just eyeballing it, I glued the flower to the center of the paper using a hot glue gun.

Some of the petals were popping up a bit too much so I simply glued them down too.

I left the glass panel off because the flower was too thick for it to fit back on.

Linking to these Parties...

Happy New Year! Plus Before & After

2011-01-01T11:09:00.029-06:00

Happy New Year all!

It's great to be back in the blogging world, thank you for your kind words and thoughts for my new home.

I just spent the last two days moving in my new home. I can't express how excited and thankful I am for this new chapter in my life. It is the perfect time of year to start off fresh with new hopes and goals. The house went under about 3 months of renovation, and now I am finally here. I will post before and after pics of the house after settling in.

But for now, I want to show off my daughter's dresser I painted before the move. We've had this dresser for about 5 years now. It was purchased used and I painted this simple purple scheme.

Before:

(kitty didn't get a makeover)

My aim for this makeover was something bright and cheery which would match her personality, the peach matches the color of the room.

Initially I pictured the colors more bold, but it turned out with a kind of vintage flare.

After:

I used regular acrylic craft paint for the white, peach and the top.

The circles are different sized cut outs of scrapbook paper and mod podged onto the dresser.

The swirly pattern I proudly did free hand :)

Actually, my inspiration for the swirly was from a photo I found online, I can't remember what site but here is the inspiration photo.

Inspiration:

My daughter and I liked how the swirly pattern comes from the corner.

I think it turned out great, I just need to find those two bottom knobs and it will be complete!

Linking to...

Good News to Share

2010-11-15T12:09:00.006-06:00

I will be moving into my very first home within the next few weeks! Which of course, means packing, organizing, cleaning, tossing out junk and much more packing.

This house is truly a blessing straight from God and I am so thankful my daughter and I will finally have our own home.

I am taking the next few weeks to focus on preparing for this new adventure. But rest assure I will have many crafty posts soon after we settle in!

Jalinda

Easy Ornament for Christmas

2010-11-02T12:06:00.014-05:00

Recently I was doing my weekly stroll through Michael’s eyeing all of the Christmas ornaments and came across a lovely glittered wire sphere shaped ornament. And of course I said to myself, as I so often do, “I can make that”.

My version is not a sphere but that’s definitely on my list to do.

Here is my take and, yes, it was too easy!

All I used is this thick copper wire, I think it’s .36 gauge. This particular wire I got from Hobby Lobby in the section where they sell clock mechanics. It comes in a thin tube and it’s about $10 for about 10 sticks.

So using my jewelry pliers I formed my curly swirly, which took all of about 5 minutes.

Then I sprayed it with adhesive. It’s best to hold the wire by a hook because this adhesive is very sticky. And making sure to spray at all angles so all sides are covered.

Then you simply sprinkle on the glitter.

After the first coat, I sprayed with more adhesive and added more glitter.

I applied about 3 coats in all.

It’s so sparkly and lovely, I can’t wait to try other colors and shapes!

Linking to...

Updated Picture

2010-10-26T12:01:00.017-05:00

I originally bought this picture from Family Dollar a few years ago which in fact they have some really nice pictures and frames under $10.This picture has been hanging in my office at work for a few years now.

I have always loved it, but it was time for an update.

Removing the backing was a little difficult but I eventually removed all the innards and got to work.

Using the same technique as my clock and pot I spruced up the outer and inner frames in red.

I then used black and silver paint and brushed over the middle pottery picture.

I really liked the pattern of the 4 squared papers on each corner so I wanted to keep that theme.

Using red and a contrasting sage scrapbook paper, I glued those in the corners.

Next I found a Fleur de lis image online and printed that out.

The fleur de lis was cut out on this silver crinkled paper.

Then I distressed the edges with more black paint.

Using mod podge I glued the Fleur de lis to the middle.

Near the very end, I decided it needed a little more something. Since the backing was basically made of cardboard, I pressed 4 upholstery tacks in the corners and 3 on the Fleur de lis. I also added some black embossing powder around the Fleur de lis to make it pop.

All in all, I think it turned out well!

Linking to...

What to do with a cracked mirror

2010-10-10T18:22:00.031-05:00

Two solutions for a cracked mirror:

This mirror got cracked a year ago during a move. Granted the mirror has only one crack and it’s in the corner, but I still could not live with this imperfection. I also could not throw away a perfectly good mirror so there had to be a clever way to save it.

My first solution was to hide the cracked portion behind some curtains. Giving it sort of “window” feel. It was easy enough, I just hung a curtain rod and curtains like a regular window and easy peasy, no more crack.

But knowing that I wouldn’t be keeping this look for long there had to be another way to disguise the imperfection once more.

Initially, and I still may end up doing this, I was going to mod podge some fabric along both sides of the mirror which would hide the crack and still be attractive enough that it would just look like a decorated mirror. But, I could not find just the right fabric I had rumbling around in my head. So, I’ll wait till the right print comes along and then go for it.

Meanwhile, my creative juices searched another pathway to ingenuity. I don’t remember how I came to this conclusion but I decided to use paint.

Since I’m a lover of swirlies and scrolls I could simply incorporate the crack right into a nice swirl pattern! Yes, this could work!

Oh, and I painted over the golden frame too. The mirror did not start out gold, I had been using this golden glaze on everything around the house and the mirror was one of the many victims.

Using regular craft paint, I painted the frame and the swirls black.

Painting on a mirror is somewhat challenging because I couldn’t pencil in a sketch first so I painted free hand.

Painting right along the crack. You can't even tell it's there.

I'm not quite finished and will post complete pictures when it's all done, but what a perfect disguise!

Please excuse the not so clear pictures. Photographing a mirror has no perks! The only way to get a halfway decent shot is to lay the mirror on the floor because it will give somewhat of a plain background.

But like I mentioned, I'm not finished, it definitely needs more swirls and a spritz of Windex.

I could have done both sides but I really liked the one side deal, it adds a bit of artistry, don’t ya think?

Linking to...

http://www.decormamma.blogspot.com/

Terracotta Transformation

2010-10-04T19:44:00.036-05:00

Here we have your basic terracotta pot.

I needed a larger pot for a plant I have in my office.

Not sure of how the transformation was going to take place but I knew that I couldn't get enough of the technique I used a few posts earlier on my red clock.

First, I brushed on a few coats of white craft paint as a base and primer.

I knew my fleur de lis stamp would be a perfect accent for this project.

Applying the black and silver paint to the stamp, I let the imperfections be to add some character.

I then painted the pot using about 3 different shades of red over the first stamped image.

And after that dried, I stamped over the image a second time.

See how flat the paint is before brushing on polyurethane.

And of course the polyurethane is what gives it that beautiful dimension.

It takes about 24 hours or more to let the polyurethane dry.

The polyurethane brings out the red brush strokes and gives a nice shine!

Linking to...

I'm still here

2010-10-04T12:02:00.004-05:00

To all my awesome followers and visitors, just to let you know I’m still here and there will be more crafty posts to come. It’s just been an eventful couple of weeks for this busy mommy.

There are a couple of projects that I can’t wait to show off later this week so, please stay tuned!

Here’s a little hint: One involves a terracotta plant pot and one involves a serious mirror transformation.

Pumpkin Bling

2010-09-19T18:51:00.021-05:00

Here is my take on pumpkin decor. I don't have a full tutorial this time but the process is pretty self explanatory.

I used a real mini pumpkin and painted it white with regular acrylic paint.

I didn't have a small squeezable glue bottle so as an “adhesive” I used a small bottle of glitter paint because it had a tip small enough to make dots for the rhinestones.

So I glued the rhinestones on in between the pumpkin indentations and let dry. I also painted the stem silver.

Next time a may glue the rhinestones in closer together, I just wanted to make sure I had enough to cover this time around. And I also thought about gluing the rhinestones all around the stem too.

Happy Fall!

Linking this project to...

Like mother, like daughter

2010-09-19T18:40:00.010-05:00

I thought I'd share a couple of projects my 8 year old daughter did all on her own. She often asks to join in my crafts. This time she did this without mommy.

First here is balloon man.

Using a glue stick, she glued on googlie eyes, a puff ball for the nose,

and taped yarn on for the smile.

He's so cute, the smile is just perfect.

And here is the luminary.

Today we were cleaning up my craft supplies, in which I found stuff that I'd totally forgotten I had, not even opened, but that's a whole other story.

So, she placed these blue marbles into a glass votive, placed the LED light in the center and topped off with a small wicker basket.

I'm so proud! :)

Giraffe Glitter Paper - Make it!

2010-09-11T19:18:00.037-05:00

This glittery giraffe print paper was fun and I love the results.

Wrapped around a candle creates stunning decor.

Materials:

Plain cardstock

Plain candle

Martha Stewart Fire Opal glitter

Mod Podge

I cut out a strip of paper.

I hand drew the splotches. The spots don't have to be perfect. You can find a giraffe print online to use as a guide or simply print out a giraffe print and skip this step altogether.

I then painted in the splotches with my favorite metallic paint.

I poured some Mod Podge into a bowl for easy access. This particular Mod Podge is an antique kind but it doesn't matter since the paint and glitter are gold.

I painted over the gold with the glue, a thin layer is best for a nice even coverage.

Cover the glue with glitter.

I must note that I love this Martha Stewart glitter - it's very fine which makes coverage even. And it's not just one color, there are several tones complimenting each other.

I did a few spots at a time. I love seeing a project come to life a little at a time!

It doesn't take long to get all of the splotches covered.

Here's the candle.

To hold the paper in place, I used a nail which this idea is from my other candles.

Wrap the paper completely around the candle and tack down with the nail.

You can vertically adhere a nice ribbon if you wanted to cover the seam, like if your candle were in front of a mirror.

Linking to...

Giveaway Winner!

2010-09-08T21:13:00.005-05:00

Congratulations to..............

Lanie @ laniejandco

Thank you to everyone who entered and checked out Jennifer @ her LaughingChicken etsy shop!

Lanie - email me by Sunday, September 12th to claim your prize!

Clock Makeover

2010-09-05T20:29:00.030-05:00

Clock Makeover

This clock is about ten years old and I have always loved its cute shape. I remember getting it on clearance at Wal-Mart for $10.

It was getting a little dingy and scuffed up so naturally I wanted to give it a nice fresh coat.

So I lightly sanded first.

And then I decided to paint it a nice clean matt black.

And here’s how that turned out.

Blahhh!

And this was only after a measly one coat, but I could tell that a couple more coats of paint wasn’t going to help this mess.

I mean, it doesn’t look terrible, it just looks so serious. And the point of a makeover is to make something look fresh and nearly new, a sort of upgrade, if you will.

The only thing this black paint did was take it from ok to “ehhh...”

Where’s the wow factor? There wasn’t one.

So.... Makeover #2.

Since I decided to give it a much uplifting color, I had to give it a bright undercoat first.

After its white undercoat, I painted the clock a regular matt red which I regret not getting a picture for the before.

I knew that it needed a nice glossy finish but I didn't want to use a spray gloss because that would mean I'd have to mess with taping up the glass face.

I know, pretty lazy, huh?

So, what I ended up using was a wood stain/polyurethane. Using a sponge brush I brushed the wood stain on. Other than the few drips, I must say I am pleased with the results. I like how the stain gathers in the creases, it really adds to the whole dimension and texture thing going on.

This paint process was similar to the recent lamp project I did, here. The varnish will be tacky for a few days but will then be dry and remain glossy.

And now for the wow…

Much better!

Linking to...

Giveaway featuring LaughingChicken

2010-08-31T20:19:00.028-05:00

Welcome to my very first GIVEAWAY, this is so exciting!

I’d like to introduce to you Jennifer’s beautiful knitted scarves, wraps and shawls from her Laughingchicken Etsy shop. I love the warm rich colors. Fall and winter are soon on their way, it’s always nice to wrap up in a cozy and styling scarf tossed over your shoulder.

Here's a bit about Jennifer -

From as far back as I can remember, I have always loved to craft! When I was a little girl, I didn't just play house, I played "17th century house" or "middle ages house" and incorporated some craft into it from that era. So now I am just a grown up girl still playing my favorite game!

People always ask me, "where did laughing chicken come from"? My mother didn't teach me how to cook, but she did teach me to look at life with a sense of humor. We always had a rubber chicken hanging in the kitchen, and I still have one today. It is a reminder to look for the fun in everyday things.

Right now my everyday fun consists of life filled with family, friends, faith, and knitting something beautiful every chance I get! I think I do things backwards where knitting is concerned...Rarely do I find a pattern and then look for yarn to make that item. Instead I find interesting yarn and then see the item in my mind that it should become.

One of the best things about knitting is sharing your work with others. It's a wonderful feeling when someone wears something I have created, and I am so excited to be sharing my work with Jalinda's blog readers in this giveaway! - Jennifer

Check out a few of my favorites from laughingchicken:

Here’s how to enter:

Be or become a follower of this blog.

Leave a comment on this post telling me which scarf, shawl or wrap you’d like to have.

US residence only please.

For a second entry, simply publish a post on this giveaway (just put your post link in the comments).

Giveaway anything up to $50 - Giveaway ends September 8, 2010, 9pm CST

- Jalinda

Luminary 1-2-3!

2010-08-30T05:26:00.026-05:00

Make this easy luminary in minutes.

I picked up this awesome velum from Michaels.

Once I saw the swirls that was it, I had to have it!

I cut the velum to about 10" high. Then rolled up and simply stapled to keep it closed.

This velum looks great all on its own with it's foggy color, however, I added another thinner piece of velum to give it some additional color.

The second velum doesn't need to be stapled, just roll and drop inside of the first velum roll.

It's not too big of a difference just adds a hint of color.

And then I glued ribbon to the top and bottom ends. This is an extra but not necessary step. I kind of think it looks great without the ribbon, but it's nice to have that option. :)

I'd recommend to use an LED light for this luminary. But if you want a real candle, find a small candle and place inside of a glass holder to keep the flame away from the luminary.

Easy and fun!

Linking to...

100 Followers Plus!

2010-08-25T00:22:00.006-05:00

A big THANK YOU to all you followers, what an exciting milestone to reach!!!

Blogging is such a fun way to express my craftiness and I'm happy to know that there are so many others who love crafts just as much as I do. So I hope you look forward to more crafty tutorials to come.

Also, I will be having a Giveaway very soon to celebrate this memorable event so please stay tuned.

Thanks again 100 plus followers! :)

Cardboard Box Transformation

2010-08-22T17:21:00.022-05:00

Initially this box was meant as a mail holder but for now it's working quite well in my bathroom holding soaps, brushes, and the like.

This project I used in a blog swap with Craft Envy is a great craft for recycling, I really enjoy how it turned out.

Using scissors I cut about 10” off the bottom portion of a tall cardboard box and leaving a few extra inches for some wiggle room.

I gave the two opposite sides a nice rounded shape to add interest.

Cutting the cardboard was a little more challenging then I imagined, it helped to score the box a few times before making the cuts.

I primed the box and let dry.

Next was the black paint. I first painted it using regular acrylic paint and a sponge brush. But for the final coat, I finished with spray paint. Let that dry.

The fabric.

I’ve used this fabric so many times simply because I love it, plus you can’t go wrong with black and white.

I cut a square the size of the front of the box leaving about 1/2" around the sides.

Using Mod Podge, I applied the fabric to the front. And glued on some black ribbon around the fabric to clean up the edges.

It is not shown here, but it’s best to paint the front of the box white, underneath wherever the fabric will go. Otherwise the black shows through the fabric and the color is not so bright. (Yeah, I learned that the hard way)

Here was my favorite part, adding this simple curved drawer handle.

It works so perfectly with the cardboard because it doesn’t even need screws.

The “screws” on the front are non functional, they’re just for looks.

Applying more Mod Podge I glued the drawer pull right onto the fabric and placed the box upward to let the drawer pull dry in place.

I thought the box works great as a mail holder.

And since the box is lightweight, I simply poured a cheap bag of pebbles in the bottom to give it some weight.

A great way to recycle and make it your own!

Linking to...

Fun Foam Peace Sign

2010-08-22T16:48:00.012-05:00

I made this fun peace sign wall hanging for my daughter. The materials are simple and the design can easily be changed with her growing age.

These Funky Foam sheets are such a great material.

It comes in fun colors and is ever so easy to use.

First I cut out a round shape - I just used a large round plate on hand, but you can also use a compass or other round template.

Then with a pencil, I free hand drew the lines for the peace sign.

And as I mentioned, the foam is very easy to cut so with scissors I cut out each section by hand.

I wanted to add some layering and more fun color so I used this bright green fabric.

Using plain old school glue, I glued the foam to the fabric.

After letting the glue dry for a few minutes, I cut out the green fabric sections just like I did the pink foam.

And lastly the glitter, who doesn't like a little sparkle?

With a glue stick, I placed a random pattern of different sized dots all around the peace and covered them with lavender glitter.

Simple and fun!

Linking to...

Thrift Store Lamp plus shade Revamp

2010-08-07T21:50:00.021-05:00

Ok, so this lamp from my last thrift store find went quite quickly along with a spruced up shade.

For the lamp base, I didn’t want much difference in color so all I used was some wood stain.

Even though the lamp had some sort of veneer which was not wood, I tried the stain anyway.

The stain is still tacky and shiny so I guess the veneer is not absorbing it quite well. If it is still not dry within a couple of days, I’ll use regular paint in a similar color and spray with a shiny protective coat.

That’s why I love a good thrift store craft, if it doesn’t work the first time, just paint it until it does work.

But for now, I like it! It’s shiny, simple and beautiful.

As for the shade, I already had this on hand, ideally I'd like a larger shade for this lamp base but I like to use what's on hand and make it work.

As I’ve mentioned before and by looking through my other crafty posts, I can’t get enough of swirls.

So using a pencil I sketched my free hand design on the lamp shade.

Then using brown acrylic craft paint I traced the penciled lines.

A steady hand and a few minutes later I had this.

They complement each other well.

Linking to...

Thrift Store Finds

2010-08-07T18:49:00.007-05:00

Welcome to another post of thrifty finds. It sure is great to hand over a $10 bill and still get change for 2 awesome pieces to furnish a home.

Like this beautiful swirly wine rack.

Not that I have a collection of wine waiting for storage, but I just couldn't pass up these beautiful metal swirls. It really is pretty all on its own.

I just love swirls!

The nice metal finish goes perfectly with the design so I decided it didn't need any painting.

Price tag: $2.99

I haven't found a place for it yet but there are many other ways besides wine that you could store in the circles.

You can place some rolled up hand towels and add this to a bathroom or hallway area.

And for quilters you could place rolls of yarn in the circles too.

Now, number two:

Ain't she a beaut?

I couldn't pass this up either. The shape reminds me of a ceramic vase.

Just a bit of dusting and touching up and this lamp will be well on its way to a nice piece of home furnishing.

Yeah, that price is the icing on the cake!

I can't wait to get started. Details in my next post!

Blog Swap with Craft Envy!

2010-08-03T21:15:00.017-05:00

Welcome to my first blog swap with Nicholette and Vanessa from Craft Envy! They have an awesome blog and I'm happy to have them here today!

Hello "The Craft In Me" fans! Nicholette here from Craft Envy and I'm so excited to share a fun tutorial with you! Be sure to come over and visit us at Craft Envy, especially at our Saturday Spotlight linky party.

Handprint Thank You Cards

I wanted to create thank you cards for my son's birthday that he could help with so this is what I came up with...

This is a super simple project that requires very little, as long as you can get your kid to cooperate!

1. Have your child make several hand prints with acrylic paint. I had to make a ton because my one year old didn't quite understand what I was trying to get him to do.

2. Let the prints dry. Choose the best one and make photocopies of it (or scan it and print it).

3. Cut out the prints and fold a piece of scrapbook paper or cardstock and cut in the shape of the print.

4. Make some little "Thank You" text and glue in the center of the palm. It's as easy as that!

Thanks again Nicholette and Vanessa!

Earring Display

2010-07-31T22:34:00.026-05:00

I have seen some cool earring display holders in blog land and needed to create one. My current collection of jewelry was literally in a jumbled ball sitting in a dish and every morning I'd spend precious minutes fighting with this ball of metal only to end up wearing the same thing over and over after frustration of not finding a matching piece.

So, I came up with this very inexpensive solution.

Here are the materials:

1” thick Styrofoam sheet

Mod Podge

Scrapbook paper

Sponge brush

Nails

First I cut the Styrofoam to the same size as the scrapbook paper, which was about 12” x 12”. This particular Styrofoam was part of some toy packaging and I've been saving just for projects like this.

Then using Mod Podge I glued the scrapbook paper down to the Styrofoam.

I glued the top which help with durability since the earrings will rub against the paper.

Note: Before gluing, I painted the sides with regular acrylic craft paint.

While the Mod Podge was still drying, I placed the staple shaped nails right into the board. No hammer needed, they just press easily through the paper into the Styrofoam.

I think the staple nails work best when they are placed at an angle or straight up and down.
The straight nails are added at the top for hanging necklaces.

Here is also one I made in pink.

Of course you can get as simple or as elaborate with these as you want which is exactly what I plan to do so please stay tuned!

Linking to...

Thriftstore Purse Find

2010-07-24T17:24:00.013-05:00

You’ll most likely find me sporting a classic brown leather purse. Which is becoming harder and harder to find these days in the midst of blinged out shiny decaled purses. Don’t get me wrong, designer fashioned bags can be very cute, but just not my style.

So I usually stick with the basic brown shoulder bag, but it does need to at least have a cute shape - like this one I snatched up during a quick thrift store trip.

It has plenty of compartmental space which is a key ingredient in a great functioning purse.

The brassy clasps were a bit dingy and worn. So thinking back to my recent painted owl project, I decided to whip out the acrylics and get painting!

First I taped off the purse around the clasps. This clear tape was what I had on hand and did the job quite well.

I also took apart the metal wire components that hold the straps in place.

Using a basic white acrylic paint, I used that as a primer.

Then a couple coats of this awesome silver toned paint and I was in business.

I love this paint, I have it in gold and this silver tone.

This particular paint is a little on the thick side so I let it dry completely for a couple of days before putting my purse to good use.

Now I can enjoy every part of my “new” purse.

Cute 3-In-One board

2010-07-18T13:32:00.031-05:00

Cute Multi-Board!

A White Erase board, Chalkboard, and Bulletin board all in one.

I made this board for my younger sister, much younger, we're about 17 years in difference. It's perfect for a pre-teen!

Here are the materials:

Large foam board

Chalkboard paint

Cork board squares

White erase stickable sheet

Spray on glue

Cute fabric and ribbon

Starting off with the chalkboard paint, I painted a width of about 5 inches down the board. Giving it about 3 coats and let it dry.

Then I took the white erase stickable paper, I love this stuff! If you're not familiar with this, it's kind of like contact paper where you cut however much you want, just peel off the backing and stick anywhere you like.

So after applying the chalkboard paint and white erase sheet on the board, I cut my cork board to the right size and then applied the fabric to my cork board with spray glue.

Then hot glued the fabric-covered cork to the board.

Next I hot glued this cute ribbon down both sides.

To hang, I found these hanging hooks that work so well with the foam board. They have two protruding spikes that easily punch into the back of foam board – but I ended up hot gluing them on for extra hold.

Linking to...

Owl Makeover Before/After

2010-07-03T21:02:00.034-05:00

I found these brass figurines glancing through the thrift store shelves a couple days ago.

I hadn't known these owls for long but I could tell it was time for a change and I knew the perfect transformation for these little brass birds.

They first needed some cleaning so with an old toothbrush and some detergent I prepped them for their shiny new coats.

There was no skipping the priming step, it helps with adhesion plus it allows the bright paint to stay true to its color with minimal coats.

I initially thought to use spray paint for a nice even coverage. But since I was going to paint three different colors and I wouldn't need that much paint I decided to use regular acrylic craft paint and a paint brush. The acrylic paint and brush work well since there is a lot of texture to the figurines which doesn't show many brush strokes.

The soft bright colors give them a clean and ceramic look.

Hooo hooo!

Linking to...

4th of July Appreciation!

2010-06-20T18:05:00.028-05:00

Many of us, and I'm referring mostly to myself, take our freedom for granted too often. With Independence Day approaching, I came up with this chalkboard plaque to remind myself of the day-to-day things that I can easily take for granted. It's fun for my daughter too. It gives us a chance to highlight something daily or weekly to focus our gratitude on.

First I stared off with a wooden board from Hobby Lobby. It cost $2.99 which is not bad. But I can also picture this with a stressed and weathered piece of wood too, it could give a lot of character.

I primed the board first.

Next using a sponge brush I painted the wood red.

And then used chalkboard paint on the bottom half of the board.

For the flag written message, I initially wanted to use a patriotic scrapbook paper but surprisingly the craft stores did not have a large variety of patriotic paper.

So, I decided to print my own. I found some patriotic clipart that would also leave room for a visible message.

I came up with this “With My Freedom I Will...” message and added a few bulleted highlights.

I printed the clipart and message out on a colored printer.

Then used a couple of coats of mod podge to seal up the paper.

Linking to...

Wedding Candle

2010-06-11T20:39:00.024-05:00

As I've mentioned before I have been on a candle kick but it seems to be slowing down, at least for the time being...

Ok, so I've always been a fan of crafts that are easy and simple yet leave stunning results, but this one is almost too easy. It requires no skill what so ever.

Up to this point I've liked the fact that my candles so far have all been burnable, this one, not-so-much. It's one of those just for show candles. And it's too pretty it be burned anyway.

I can picture this candle placed on a mantle with a framed wedding picture surrounded by some wedding keepsakes.

For this project, I used a white pillar candle which stands about 8 inches tall.

For the decorations, all I used were these stick-on rhinestones I found in the scrapbook section at Hobby Lobby.

The pack contains 4 different swirly designs.

The rhinestones are all connected so you don't have to worry about placing each individual stud.

All you do is peel and stick – literally – and you're done!

I think it's a bit more sparkly in person, but you get the picture. :)

Linking to...

Sister Sister Sunday

Copper Textured Earrings

2010-06-06T16:06:00.047-05:00

These copper disc earrings are simple to make and turn out fabulous.

Materials:

Copper sheet

Hammer

Scissors

Hole punch

Copper Earring components

First I started off using the same copper sheet used to make my copper candle.

Cut a piece of copper about 5" x 3".

Next I crinkled and wrinkled the paper in several places.

Unfold and re-crinkle to get folds all over.

After unwrinkling and laying flat, I then placed the copper sheet on a hardback book and began hammering away.

Here is the result.

To get a bit more texture, I repeated the crinkling and hammering process a couple more times.

To make a circle, I just used the top of a spray glue can as my template, but you can of course find any template to fit your size.

After tracing the template, I cut out the circle with scissors.

Using a paper hole punch I made the earring hole.

Because the hole punch leaves a slightly protruding edge around the hole, I hammered it to make it flat again.

To add some interest, I then created a slight curve to the disc just using my hands.

You can also gently press the disc against a bottle to create a curve.

Lastly, add a copper jump ring and an earring hook.

Simple and classic. Copper is such a beautiful material to work with, there are so many possibilities. I can see these nicely paired with some turquoise.

Now of course you can create an endless array of forms; oval, squared, you can even layer them too.

Enjoy!

Linking to...

Copper Wrapped Candle

2010-05-30T21:23:00.017-05:00

Ok, so I'm admittedly on a candle kick lately and really do not see evidence of it ending any time soon. But that's ok, I've learned to go with whatever my creative mind is most focused on.

Materials:

36 gauge copper sheet

Candle

Cut tacks

So, this copper wrapped candle has a similar “coat” form to my Hard Rock Candle.

Hobby Lobby was the only place I was able to find copper on hand, but there are plenty of online stores who sell various thicknesses of copper sheeting.

Using the copper sheet I cut a strip to be wrapped around the candle. I then rounded off the edges. Handle the copper carefully, the edges can be quite sharp.

And using the same cut tacks from my previous Nailed Candle post, I carefully punched them into the copper and wax.

It helped to press beginning holes to guide the tack easily through the copper and wax.

I had a bit of trouble getting the tacks completely through the wax so taking advice from my daughter, I used a hammer to knock the rest of the tack into place. Hammering a candle felt a little funny at first but it did the perfect job.

Finishing with the tacks lining the top and bottom edges of the copper the candle is complete.
I like the natural rustic feel.

And although I have not fully tested this, I like the fact that all the candles I have embellished so far are still able to be burned since the materials are metal based.

Linking to...

Versatile Blogger Award

2010-05-23T18:58:00.008-05:00

A big THANK YOU to Brittney @ http://brittneysbudgetcrafts.blogspot.com/ for passing on the award!

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic! (in no particular order...)

4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

7 Things about me…

1. I am a mom to a beautiful 8 year old daughter and work full time.

2. I’ve always been a crafty person, I love creating things with my hands. Partly because I love to personalize things and partly because I don’t want to pay full price for something I can make just as cute.

3. Pottery is my other crafty love. Take a look-see: http://www.potteryokc.com/New.html

4. For the most part I am quiet, not a very social one. But blogging gives me a chance to express myself.

5. At one time in my life, I did not throw up for 7 years because I can’t stand the feeling of hurling. (TMI?)

6. I have yet to see the movie Avatar. I am not much a movie goer unless there’s something I REALLY want to see.

7. I LOVE chocolate!

And now I pass the award onto these wonderful blogs:

http://1craftymommy.blogspot.com/
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/
http://www.craftedition.blogspot.com/
http://www.avidaccents.blogspot.com/
http://thesimpler-life.blogspot.com
http://www.decormamma.blogspot.com/
http://funtocraft.blogspot.com/
http://www.homemademamas.net
http://www.iamonly1woman.blogspot.com//
http://betterafter.blogspot.com/
http://makethebestofthings.blogspot.com
http://madincrafts.blogspot.com/
http://sewcando.blogspot.com/
http://craftskeepmesane.blogspot.com/
http://www.beckieandbrad.blogspot.com/

Tornado Season in Oklahoma

2010-05-16T20:51:00.014-05:00

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A

Oklahoma City! May 16, 2010

Golf ball sized hail! I must say in all my years living here in Oklahoma, I have never been through a storm this severe. It wasn't a tornado, thank the Lord, but extremely high winds, golf ball sized hail, and just plain scary!

Taking a couple of videos, I know I should NOT have been that close to a window – that hail is nothing to play with – just take a look at my car.

The weather men always tell you to stay away from windows and to take cover in the center of your house. As my daughter took cover in the bathroom I kept running back and forth from her to the window. It lasted all of about 10 minutes and then it's over.

Now I know that this was minor compared to a tornado, this is just my first hand experience.

The storm came out of nowhere. My daughter and I had stayed in all day and I barely looked out the windows. The TV was off for the most part, we were just enjoying our lazy Sunday afternoon. Mid afternoon I noticed it was getting a little dark outside, peeking out the window I noticed the clouds making suspicious formations – but living in Oklahoma during Tornado season, I didn't think much of it.

Opening the front door to get a better view I noticed a squirrel just a few feet away digging like crazy. I yelled to my daughter to come see him digging away and thought it was odd that he wasn't that scared of us being so near him, well now I know why. His little animal instincts were probably telling him to find one last nut and to soon take cover.

That's when we turn the TV on to see if a storm was near. Well yes it was, the forecaster said that roofs had caved in just a few miles away. Within in no longer than 10 minutes the hail began.

After the storm:

My back window COMPLETELY busted!

Glass everywhere

Glass, hail and leaves

Dents and dings

Hail reached all the way to the front

Cracked front windshield

Hail and leaves

Leaves COVER the ground
This was definitely an experience, and alot of other cars were damaged. It's a pain having to clean up everything but in all I am very thankful my daughter and I stayed safe!

Hard Rock Candle

2010-05-13T19:18:00.028-05:00

Give your candle some edge with this hard rock inspired candle.

So last week I showcased my Nailed Candle.

Now I'm taking it a step further and it's just as easy.

This candle kind of reminds me of a studded leather jacket.

The only materials are a candle and upholstery tacks.

I was able to find a black candle at Hobby Lobby and the tacks I picked up from Jo-Anns fabric but you can also pick them up at Lowe's.

And of course you can do any pattern you want but this one I think resembles the buttoning up of a jacket.

First I began with the two vertical dotted lines.

Next simply add the top and bottom horizontal dotted lines all the way around the candle.

Rock on!

Linking to...

Lamp Revamp

2010-05-09T21:56:00.025-05:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day. I did, it would be nice if it lasted another week!

This lamp I've had for a couple of years now so it was time for a change.

I decided to spray paint the base a basic black.

And used black and white fabric for the shade.

Using spray adhesive, I adhered the fabric to the shade and finished the edges with a simple black ribbon.

Black and white, always a classic!

Linking to...

Nailed Candle

2010-04-29T20:54:00.039-05:00

I am so excited about this candle!

It was soooo easy and turned out beautiful!

The only materials needed are a candle and nails.

These nails are called Cut Tacks which I got for under a dollar at Lowe's.

All you do is press the nail into the wax, it's that easy.

My only suggestion is if you were to do many of these candles, you may need something like a thimble to protect your thumb from pressing the nail over and over.

I'm a big fan of swirls so this was my first design but I plan to try alot more different designs.

And I love the contrast of the dark nail against the vanilla toned candle.

This was also done free hand but you can punch the wax with a pencil before actually creating the holes with the nails.

Now I hate to say this, but so far the cheap-cheap candles don't hold up well when piercing the nail into the wax.

But I'm still in the experimentation process so I'm still trying to figure out which materials work best.

Super easy!

Linking to...

http://iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/

Flower Bulletin Board

2010-04-18T11:55:00.040-05:00

Here's a spin on a typical squared bulletin board.

I put this up for my daughter's pictures and scraps of paper. Of course you can personalize this with any type of fabric.

I cringe every time I throw away Styrofoam, besides it being horrible for the environment, it really is a good crafting medium.

Even without using the cork board on top this is a great way to recycle Styrofoam.

Materials I used:
Styrofoam
A roll of cork board
Fabric
Hot glue gun
Mod Podge
Vacuum (you're gonna need it)

Initially I wanted to use JUST the cork board, but it was on the thin side so it needed some extra thickness. That's when I turned to this Styrofoam. There was a ton of it left over from my daughter's giant doll house we put together. I knew it could be used for something, and this was it!

First I free hand drew a flower peddle on the Styrofoam and cut it out with a knife.

Here is where the vacuum comes in, this stuff gets everywhere!

A plastic lid was used to trace the middle circle.

So with all that cut out, now on to the cork board.

Simply trace and cut.

I hot glued the Styrofoam to the cork board.
* (I recommend using a regular glue for this step since the hot glue melts the Styrofoam, and gives off fumes).

Any one up for an oatmeal cream pie? :)

On to the fabric.

These vibrant fabric sheets I picked up from Joann's, which was actually my first time there, can you believe it?

I was happily surprised that in the fabric section, they have a nice variety of squares of fabric for $2, perfect for crafting!

Anyway, I used iron-on bonding strips to bond the fabric to the cork board.

Again, this step can be substituted for another type of glue.

After fabric is attached to the cork, cut around at least ½ inch of fabric.

Then snip all the way around.

Use Mod Podge or glue down the sides.

To hang, I hammered a nail in the wall and simply punched each petal into place.

Complete & cute!

This project turned out a bit lengthy - this was my first go at it, and I'm sure there can be substitutes and shortcuts made.

Linking to:

Starfish Earrings

2010-04-14T12:33:00.012-05:00

These unique earrings are made from real starfish (not live of course).

Ok, so since these are real starfish, they are on the delicate side, so I wouldn’t go outside to play baseball while wearing these :)

The starfish naturally has a hole (the mouth) in the center.

I used a small drill component to gently twist through the hole.

I know, it looks gruesome but don’t worry the starfish is in a better place now :)

Here are the jumprings, I hooked them all together before attaching to the starfish.

The largest jumpring attaches to the center of the starfish.

Add an earring hook and these fun earrings are complete.

They are fun, it almost looks like they're dancing!