New York Thousand Island State of Mind

Hello Everyone,

Here is my April 2019 project for Better Life Blog - Cricut and Silhouette Crafting. This month we used crayons and melted them with a heat gun to make a beautiful map art!  #vipcraftersclub

On my Silhouette, I used Oramask 613 stencil vinyl and cut out my home state of New York. I used painters tape and taped all around the stencil and the rest of the board, so that the melted candle wax stays within the stencil. I chose about 7 different crayon colors and melted one at a time and took a straw and just blew the melted colors around within the stencil. Once I got the look I was going for and it was dry, I removed the painters tape and any crayon shavings that were on the frame.

I then cut out on my Silhouette with Oracal 651 glossy vinyl the word "home" and the "anchor" and applied it to the board. 

I love how it came out. I will probably make another one to show all the different states and countries we have lived in since E has retired from the Military. 

If anyone would like one for their home state, please drop me a line.

Have a great weekend!!

Enjoying The Journey in The Bay

Hello Everyone,

I finished my first project for March 2019 at Better Life Blog - Cricut and Silhouette Crafting. I had so much fun and I learned so much from Nancy and everyone in the group. It was my first time working with Oracal  813 stencil vinyl with my Silhouette, weeding, working with Folk Art chalk paint and the first time using Dr. Ph. Martin's watercolor paint for making the cardstock butterflies. I love how it came out and can’t wait for next months project! #vipcraftersclub

I've already had inquiries from some people about wanting to purchase one. If anyone is interested, please drop me a line.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Beading for the Soul

Hello Everyone,

I know...I know. I have been MIA for a very, very long time. Please forgive me. I first lost my sewing mojo for no apparent reason at the beginning of last year. I know this happens to a lot of us and I have read about it on a lot of blogs and other social media pages that I follow.  I figured if I look at Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and other wonderful blogs I know this will spark ideas and thank goodness it worked. Well, this also sparked my beading and jewelry and mojo back too.  

Last Spring, my father passed away. It was unexpected and I was not prepared to lose him so soon. You always think you are going to have so much more time with your parents. I am just thankful for all the time that I did. I loved him so very much. It was a very hard summer of grieving and I know that he would want to be sewing and be crafty. 

I have been watching a lot of Candie Cooper who is one of the Bead Goddess' of Jewelry Making. This kit is sold out in her store, but, she has other beautiful earrings/bracelet kits, monthly clubs and gorgeous jewelry in her store. Have you watched her FaceBook Lives too? Or been to her Etsy shop?

"Attitudes of Gratitudes" Bracelet and Earrings Kit" by Candie Cooper (I chose this kit "Attitudes of Gratitudes" because I loved the name and the color.)

Well, Candie's FaceBook lives are the reason why I got back into making jewelry again. She has wonderful tutorials on her page too. Thank you Candie!!

Let me take you back a few years. When we were living on a Military post, and I started my crafty adventures (ie sewing, knitting, beading, etc.)  I started making bracelets and necklaces. Here are the post I did and here are some of the pictures from those posts. 

The bracelet I made for my Mom in the picture above broke.

I had also made a Fleur de Lis necklace charm necklace for myself once and it broke and was gone.

So, needless to say, for the longest, I wasn't making any bracelets or necklaces.

When I ordered this kit from Candie's Etsy Shop I couldn't wait to receive it. It didn't take that long to put the stones in and once you got the hang in using the prong tool it was easy. It looks so pretty alone on your wrist or stacked with other bracelets. The bracelets can look dressy or casual. The earrings are fit very comfortably in your ears too. I have very sensitive ears and when my ears don't like earrings they let me know. 

 Description: 

• Made in the USA chain
• Chain is oxidized silver color
• Total chain length 9" (6" row of crystals)
• Swarovski Crystal

Source: Candie Cooper

Source: Candie Cooper

 I used this prong tool to push prongs over to set the Swarovski Crystal.

Source: Candie Cooper

"Roses are Rose Gold Crystal Bracelet kit" by Candie Cooper 

Source: Candie Cooper

Source: Candie Cooper

Description:

• Made in the USA chain
• Chain is oxidized silver color
• Total chain length 9" (6" row of crystals)
• Swarovski Crystal

Now, that I have my crafty mojo back. I have been venturing into other crafts. I can't wait to show you what I have been making.

Have a great weekend!

Alisha

My Favorite Posts from 2014

Hello Everyone,

2014 is coming to an end and a lot has happened this past year. The Military moved us to Germany, I got a lot of sewing and crafting done. So, I thought it would be fun to look back at this year's posts and share the ones that you guys loved the most!

Here’s a look at YOUR favorites that you made so popular!

Small Snug Little Snowmen

Snug Little Snowmen

Lounge Pants

Vintage Apron Gift for our Sponsor

Another Travel Neck Pillow and Fur Baby Coat

Living Room Curtains for our Quarters

Rockstar Bag

Birthday and Anniversary Cards

Curtains are Done

My First Attempt at Digitizing

Summer Embroidery Owls and Fun in Sun

Another Button Down Shirt for E

Fourth of July Patriotic Embroidery Owls

Travel Neck Pillows

Edelweiss Backpack

Polka Dot Coat for Holly and Germany

Tested Embroidery Designs

I hope you enjoyed this recap of some of the projects I've done this year. I look forward to seeing all your recaps. I can't wait to start on my new projects scheduled for 2015 and seeing all of your new projects!!

Happy New Year!!

Fall Decorations

Hello Everyone,

We love Fall in our home. We didn't bring our decorations over to Germany. So, I am going to go down memory lane of  some of Fall decorations from back home.

Can you tell I love owls?? Here is our china hutch in our dining room.

Fireplace mantle

This is in our entryway - more owls and a raven on our hall tree.

This was the first wreath I made in 2008. I followed directions from Michaels and just embellished it a little more to our taste.

 

This is our centerpiece that  is on our table at from the beginning of Fall to Thanksgiving. 

I put this centerpiece together for my Mom when she had come to visit us when we were down at Fort Benning, GA. She found the galvanized bucket and I added some of the sprays and different flowers. I had this beautiful ribbon that I hot glued onto the bucket.

 This beautiful centerpiece is on our coffee table.



 Have a wonderful day!!

Christmas Decorations

I just wanted to show you all some crafts I made for Christmas and some of our decorations.

For the wreath, I used a typical Michaels standard wreath and added various sprays and stems. I hot glued them in so they would stay in.

The centerpiece was made using a wicker sleigh from Michaels with various poinsettia, snow sprayed twigs, ornaments and berry sprays. I also added two ornaments because E loves anything Santa and I love Snowmen.

I took pictures of Holly's and Patch's ornaments that are always on our tree.

E took this picture of our tree. I loved how he worked with the lighting to get this shot.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family!!