Child Labor? Say What?

Thought it might be fun to show you my current stamping process ...

location: dining table & kitchen counter
(I should have took a picture of the unhappy husband ... what? hammering is not music to your ears? oh really?)

some handy tools: sharpie, 2 lb. "drilling" hammer, double stick tape
Jason also gifted me a metal-ish plank that was building infrastructure in its previous life (I think). It is the most awesome thing to stamp on ever. Goes to show you, tools can be created from all kinds of found objects!

A good heavy hammer is also a must. It makes the job a lot easier and it gives you a nice workout too! Can you imagine me with one nice super-toned arm? Ha!

Yes, I train them young.
This is my baby, Rayli, dapping away. Look Mom, I don't even have to look! I have to say her rates are cheap. I miss being a kid and thinking Skittles were currency. I once gave her $5 for helping me and she said, "I can't eat paper. I quit."

Action shot.
And look, no dress code required.
Show up to work in Dora Explorer pjs. You don't even have to comb your hair :) I'm such a super boss right?!


This is another employee of the month.
This is my Jazzy-Cakes, busy concentrating on the details.
I usually like to use Patina Gel to darken the stamped images but good ol' Sharpie can do the trick especially if you are short on time!

Time to polish away with a Sunshine cloth!
Go Jazzy Go!
She was thrilled since yellow is her favorite color ...
I must say, she is a gem to work with and she likes to get paid in Pokemon cards :)

Another must have ... a TUMBLER!
It's like a magic machine.
Dirty stuff goes in and shiny goodness comes out.
No extra work required and all I use is some Dawn dish washing liquid and maybe a few sprays of Quik-Brite. I've had this tumbler in my stash back when my kids wanted to tumble rocks.
If it ever dies, I'm gifting myself a Lortone tumbler.
I've heard they are the best of the best and they last a long time.

Making jewelry is fun ...
but making jewelry with your kiddos & people you love ... AWESOME!

For me, it isn't always about the finished piece, many times I find meaning and worth just through the process itself.
Hey, kind of like life right?

♥

Cuff 'Um Dan-O

Finally got some creative juice flowing and
oooh, oooh, oooh it feels good!
Another perk of working at a bead store ...
getting to clock out early and take a workshop!

(It's hard to call it work because I'm surrounded by friends & I ♥ what I do!)
*If you are going to get a job, I highly recommend doing something you enjoy :)

So here it goes ...
*My Skull Cuffcake*

Technique: Rolling mill
(think super sized pasta machine made for metal)
Material: Sterling Silver 18gauge Sheet

Shout out to Cupcake Jamie who bought me a skull punch!
She's awesome & my jewelry yoda.



Out of all jewelry mediums,
I have to say working with metal is one of my favorites.

Why???
1. I'm lazy and I like immediate gratification.
With wire, I don't have to worry about sewing in loose ends, crimping, or any other "finishing" techniques. Whew! I'm not saying metal=cakewalk but it sure beats having a tangled mess of thread (yes, speaking from experience here.)***

2. Metal can be forgiving.
Sand it, texture it, tumble it.
Magically turn those errors into design elements.

3. I love the look & feel of it.
For me, metal can be simple & sleek or it can be intricate & delicate.
It can be dressed up or dressed down.
Lately, I've been into layers of chain, multiple bangles, & lots of charms. Sounds fun? You betcha!

[Metal = sterling silver, fine silver, gold-filled, copper, brass, etc.]


I'm thinking, I may oxidize it and use a steel brush to give it a grungy/industrial look but we'll see. I'll post pics if I do.

Well, this project got me going again and I am ready to make more!!!
It made me feel like I could be creative again ... and not suck at it!
I was feeling pretty uncreative & suck-tastic lately
but this was a perfect pick-me-up.
A total "create without boundaries" type of project. Yay!

If you are interested, check it out here :)
I would love to see ya there!

*disclaimer: I still love needle & thread, crimping, and finishing ... Just not when I'm lazy or on days that start with the letters T or S.

Creative Juice

Okay so it's finally time for a *crafty* post. Woop woop!

The yummy ingredients:
Vintage lucite discs
Shell flowers
Gold-filled & vermeil beads, wire, chain, & findings

Technique:
Binding (a super duper easy way to jazzy up any jewelry project or component)


I'm pretty happy about how they turned out and I have some ideas for a similar necklace project. I will definitely post pics if it works out ... if not, it will end up in my jewelry graveyard :(

and since we are talking *creative juice,* I must share my daughter's work-in-progress. She's sketching a mural on her bedroom door based on Ed Hardy's tattoo designs. Right now it's in pencil but Grandma took her on a Ben Franklin run for paint so it will be in color soon. I'm glad she's enjoying this creative outlet and I am totally letting her do her own thing on this.


Until next time blog world ...
enjoy life and remember to do things that make you happy :)

Rayli's Jewels

So even though I should have been studying or cleaning house ...

Rayli convinced me it was time to make some jewelry!

[YAY says Rayli!]

So she designed three bracelets that I whipped out for her.

I must say, she likes her jewelry big & chunky (well, for a petite 4-yo) and she insisted on wearing all three bracelets on one arm.

[she must get it from her mama ha!]

Rayli's Charm Bracelet

I chose the chain but she cherry picked all her charms from my stash.

Did I tell you I had a bead/charm/shopping habit?

The fun part was making sure I jump-ringed all the charms onto the chain so they would sit facing the same direction :/

Next were two bracelets made with Swarovski crystals.

Light Rose 6mm cubes (which I was happy to give up since they are my least favorite shape) and my new favorite, the 8mm-ish Graphic Cube. They look like chunks of ice.

Some basic wire wrap, charms and chain ...

I wonder if her older sisters will be interested when they get home.

I must say it was nice making something easy. A majority of my time is spent attempting to work on intricate projects that tend to involve 8,000 feet of wire and a ton of patience. This can explain why I have a drawer full of unfinished pieces. But guess what? I still felt a sense of accomplishment (that "Yay Me!" feeling) finishing these three bracelets. Rayli loved them and that's all that really mattered. So it doesn't always have to be about the level of difficulty ... as long as love and heart are there to back it up - it will always be fabulous :)

Sadly, it's time to head to class and work but I will get those pliers out again soon!

New Hair Cut!!!

For Mrs. Yum Yum! It's funny how a "puppy cut" actually seems to melt the dog years away. We got Mrs. Yum Yum in 2002 (she's the same age as Jazzy) and Aiyanna got to name her.
It was either Mrs. Yum Yum or Fuzzy Gingersnap Cracker.

(grooming by Yuppie Puppie at Salt Lake Shopping Center)

Check out Aiyanna's new grill!
The tween has been begging for braces since the 2nd grade. When I say begging, I mean BEGGING! Every Christmas, birthday, special occasion, allowance payday = BRACES! So, she finally got them and she is thrilled! She even takes pictures with me now :)

And I know I may be late on this trend but I am loving plaid lately!
At first I thought I may be too round to wear anything patterned but I'm trying to get over it. Those who know me would be shocked to see me in something other than a black tee and jeans
... oh how I wish I were fashionable!

Yes, I do still love making jewelry!
But no, I haven't had time ... phooey!

I did manage to use these awesome pendant charms that J&J brought back from Cali. The star was a gift from cupcake Jamie :) and the two keys were just too cute not to get.
I love the layered look ... and I love baby rolo chain too!

These are the only kinds of projects I have been able to squeeze in lately. I did wire wrap the clasp and ring on... so that counts right ;) ?