Now that I know the magic of the Cuttlebug Machine I can make all the jewelry I want. Lately I have been attracted to the tough-but-cute cuff bracelet, the kind Wonder Woman is famous for. For this one I proclaimed my love for my favorite animals~birds. Make your own, here’s how…

How to make an embossed bracelet:

1. Buy two pieces of thin sheet metal (tin and copper) from a hardware or hobby store.
2. Determine the correct size for your arm by wrapping a piece of paper around your wrist…be sure to leave allowance for folding the metal over an eighth inch all the way around. The metal is sharp! You’re going to want to protect yourself.
3. You’ll need 10mm letter punches if you want to put your own words on the bracelet (buy them here.>>) Otherwise you can run both layers though the Cuttlebug.
4. Cut the metal bands using tin snips or heavy duty scissors—watch the edges! They’re sharp!
5. Select the patterns you would like embossed into the metal from the large line of Provo Craft embossing folders. For mine, I chose the Typeset Folder, ‘cuz you know me and the letters.
6. With a rubber mallet punch the words into the tin and emboss the copper with the folder.
7. Using the rubber mallet and the edge of a work surface, hammer the edges over to hide the rough edges.
8. Adhere the two metals together using brads, and you’re done!

Now get in that invisible jet and go save the day!

I can now die happy. I was able to figure out in one afternoon how best to make needle felted mushrooms without stabbing myself to death. No secret, really…just work slow and be happy.

All there is left to do is trim off the fuzzies, sew on a jump ring and attach to a necklace. Ahhh…bliss.

Alright~you got me…I should be nose-to-the-grindstone in my novel rewrite, but I discovered how to needle felt. Holy Crow! (As Aunt Midge always says). I’m in love!

Check out these little pouches I just made while taking a break from the book. They are so small, in fact, that I am hanging them on beaded chains and calling them modern craft lockets. When I get home I’m putting pics of my favorite peeps in there.

Now back to work!

Every time I screen print I use up the last little bits of ink on scraps of paper and fabric. These bits and pieces are super handy when I am looking to put my signature on some project. One day last week I was covering buttons with fabric and turned to my box of scraps to see what was there. I was so delighted with the buttons I wanted to put them all together! Follow this link to a tutorial on how to make fabric covered buttons.

I just love the YUDU. The ink colors are beautiful and non-toxic. The set up is so easy I can break it out and have it all cleaned up in under 3 hours. (That includes designing, burning screens, and going to town on anything within arm’s reach.)

The summer vacay bug has bitten, and I am getting really excited to go camping. So much in fact I made three charms using Sculpey and stamps I own.

Make your own charms out of Sculpey:

1. Purchase desired colors of Sculpey at a craft store
2. Buy or use inking stamps. The bolder shapes and simpler lines are easiest to work with
3. Follow directions in working with Sculpey. I found that kneeding the clay in your had to warm it up makes it very easy to work with
4. Press into the stamps
5. Cut away excess
6. Use a pencil or pointy end to poke a hole in the clay where you want it to hang
7. Bake according to directions on the box

Zooming around on the internet looking for info about Sculpey, I ran across this funny little animated short…check it out.

Sculpey the Slug — an animated short from KMPer02 on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

Until Tomorrow~Sarah