7 posts tagged “craft”

xmas magnets from notmartha

so last night, i was able to finish up my new project. it was marble magnets, also known as bubble magnets.  they had piqued my interest for quite some time...but when i first thought that it was possible to make them, i quickly dismissed the idea since i was getting married in less than 2 months at that point and had no desire to pick up any more "things to do" since i already had so much to do in anticipation of the holidays quickly followed by my wedding.  then just recently i wanted something a little different to do, and returned to the marble magnet idea.  they are incredibly easy to make, and i found great instructions and inspiration for my own magnets at notmartha. (wonder which martha she's referring to?) the magnets shown here at the right are hers.

this morning, before work, i was able to see the fruits of my labor completed. and for the most part, they turned out rather well.  i apologize for the lack of pictures....i haven't been able to find my digital camera and the hubs has yet to unearth the dock in order to hook it up to the computer.  but i'm hoping to work on a new batch of marble magnets this weekend (along with some other projects) so i will try and get a picture of the new batch then.  it's very exciting to take on a new project and have it turn out on a positive note.

what i love about these marble magnets is the ease of making them.  plus, the shape of the glass magnifies the image that you use and so even a small design or picture works well. i can't wait to make more, and hope to make some in a slightly larger size, too.

*trial and error*

a few of the magnets in the bunch turned out a little blah. it was my choice in paper, it seems.  some of the papers i chose to use were rather thin, so once i applied the glue and the magnet on the underside of the glass gem, the magnet showed through and pretty much diminished the design that i had originally chosen.  next time, i will have to properly line the back side of thin papers with some white cardstock so it won't happen again.

so to follow up on today's QotD, last night i started a new project. it's something i have wanted to do for a while, but i really didn't know how easy it was to do until i took the time to look it up.  and it is SO easy it makes me wonder why i had put it off for so long! it does involve paper...just a little bit, and it's kind of time consuming. last night i was only able to do the first half and the second half will get done tonight. (hopefully!) if the end results are good then i will divulge what exactly this new project is.  in the meantime, craftiness ensues! aside from the new project, i've still got some other projects to finish up, and i just found out that i need to make more baby announcements for my friend! the one i mentioned a few posts back. maybe this time i will remember to take a picture of it to share with you all. :D

What's the last thing you usually do or think about before you fall asleep?

i know it sounds kinda stupid, but i usually think about some sort of crafty goodness.  last night, for example, i kept thinking about the new project i started on last night.  hoping that the end results will turn out the way i hope they will.  which, for this new project, judgment day will be tomorrow. but usually it's about ideas i want to try...crafty things i want to do or an order that needs to be filled...

other than that, it's usually thinking about what i need to do the next day or falling asleep while watching tv with the hubs.

craftmemo

a couple of months back, a friend of mine put me on to CraftMemo. it's a site that allows you to keep track of practically everything in your crafty world inventory.  it helps you stay on top of what you've got, how much it costs, your suppliers and vendors, your projects, and even helps you price out your projects so you know how much to sell them for (should you choose to!)  no more adding, subtracting, dividing, or multiplying to figure out the cost of your creations!  no more shuffling and hunting to see what you've got to make that project!  no more frustration trying to rememeber if you have or don't have a certain something! no downloading or installation of software is required, either. all you need is an internet accessible computer and all that is required of you is to sign up and enter the information of all the things you have. you can even upload pictures so you know exactly what color, shape, or style of what you've got. then just keep updating it when you use or acquire items. once something dips below 5, it'll let you know what you are running low of upon login.

for my friend that found CraftMemo, it was a godsend, and she shared it with all of her crafty friends, myself being one of them. for me, it allowed me to track all my paper supplies, stamps, and other odds and ends in my stash.  no more trying to remember if i had this stamp set or that color cardstock.  all i have to do is log in to see what i've got. my crafty life made simple. :D

craftmemo inventory snapshot

craftmemo project inventory

craftmemo project gallery

my ling piece, "tendrils"

since i became a user on etsy.com, i have always noticed LingGlass whenever i looked through the jewelry category. a few weeks later, etsy began to feature sellers and LingGlass was one of the first to be featured. mother to a young child, Chu Ling is based in Singapore and works her crafty magic with metal and glass. her tagline is "wearable art with a distinctive style." 

the picture at left is a picture of my Ling piece that i purchased back in june.  it's called "tendrils." so pretty!! prices vary by the piece. her prices are so reasonable, and are usually for the pendant only, but a chain or cord can be added to your total for a small charge. unless you're in Singapore, be prepared to wait to get your piece! but it's so worth it once you have it in your hand.

lately, her pieces have been accented with beads, or a patina finish for that "vintage" look. fused glass pendants are also available.

please take a look at the LingGlass (url: lingglass.etsy.com) shop on etsy.com if you think it might be your cup of tea.  she's constantly adding new items, so check back often!!

Etsy logo

have you discovered it? etsy.com is a site to "buy and sell all things handmade." while handmade can mean a lot of things, you can be certain that whatever handmade item your heart desires, it can probably be found on etsy. if not, you can request exactly what you're looking for via alchemy at etsy.com, where what you "seek is either here or nowhere."

i first stumbled upon etsy.com last fall, when i found a cute journal and necklace by michelle smith. by that time etsy.com had been open for several months, and since my discovery of it, it has grown by leaps and bounds.  not only can you shop by category, you can shop by color or location. feel like taking a chance? click on "sampler" and it will bring up 100 random sellers from the etsy community.  if you're a seller and want to commune with other etsy sellers to team up and spread the word, there are etsy street teams that you can join.  whether you are a buyer or a seller, etsy is sure to please.

etsy gave me a kick in the pants, actually, to start doing something i have always wanted to do. that is - to sell my cards and other crafty wares.  while i have been saying this since my discovery of etsy, i only began to sell them at the beginning of the summer. the beginning is always rough, and with personal, behind-the-scene happenings, i have not been able to keep the shop up to date as much as i would like.  but on the bright side, all that will change shortly!

*shameless plug*

explore etsy.com, and please visit my etsy shop, too! some of the photos on the right are samples of the cards that i have created. i also do custom work, so feel free to email me at sillyduckiepaper@gmail.com for any inquiries. thank you!