Happy March

Well, this first Monday in March I awoke to some SERIOUS lake effect snow!!! It was a surprise to even the meteorologists, apparently. Being near to a huge body of water (very near, like six city blocks) sometimes gives us weird weather anomolies. My mom, who lives about 20 minutes away from me, thought I was kidding when I said we had a foot of snow. She said they had a dusting. Hmmm. If this is winter's last hurrah, I can deal with it. Time will tell if it is or not, though...

In other news, my friend had her baby this weekend!!! She has two wonderful, active, crazy, funny, wild boys and was hoping for a little girl--and that is just what she got!! I have a pretty nasty cold, so I haven't gotten to see her--but I did run out to the car and take a peek when they picked up their boy (who is in my daughter's 4k class, and I brought home with me so they could take their time getting back from the hospital [did I mention a foot of snow?!]) with a scarf over my germy face. She was sleeping like a tiny little angel, what a beautiful little baby!! Can't wait until I am better and can hold her and check her over a little more. I said if I don't get well soon, they'll see my weird face peeking in their windows!

We have continued to work on the house. I put down my craft heat gun and picked up a hardware heat gun and stripped the paint off of the back of our front door so it would match the decorative, original 100+ year molding that my husband painstakinly stripped 9 years ago. As I did it I sang in my head to the people that will someday own this house, "I am making things pretty for you!!!" I wonder if the owners of my next house were doing the same--getting it pretty for ME! What a fun thought!

Although, ahem, I did crack the window--I think my heat gun on this side and the winter air on the other side was a little too much for it to bear. I didn't even think about it until I heard the "crrrrrrrriiiiiiick" and watched the spider cracks race through the window. Darn. Made more work...... (and I still have some work around the doorknob, but I wasn't up for removing that right then! Then the sanding, staining, etc etc!!!)

GUESS WHAT!! My resin is put away! I know you are shocked, I am as well! I still have to finish some pieces, glue on bails, etc. It does feel kinda good. Sort of freeing.

And it gave me time to work on something else! I fooled around with some wire and beads and made myself this business card holder for my craft fairs. It is pretty free form, but I think turned out nicely--it is not too crazy, is it?

Well, as the snow piles up around me, I have thoughts of newness, and accomplishment, thoughts of Spring!! Let's hope Mother Nature catches wind of my thoughts soon, and follows suit!!

Can I Do It?

Ok, I think I've come to a conclusion...

I just need to put the resin away to where I can't get to it...

I have so much to do to prepare for putting this house up for sale, yet I spend so much more time foolin' with my resin! Not like my shop sales can make up for the time I spend.

Yes, I do love it. Yes. But there are THINGS to be done!! I have some pieces to finish. Then AWAY it goes. I still have items to list on etsy--I make them faster than I can list (because it is more fun to make them than to list them!! ha ha!!)... so I think I just need to put it away and list what I have. Then maybe I won't get so distracted by the glitter, what-not and hoo-haws scattered about.

Not that I can TOTALLY stop with any jewelry. I just mean the resin. Because it draws me in and keeps me there!

Because then I'll have more time to pack and, urg, clean... So resin, by this time in two days, you're packed up and hidden (I have to hide my chocolate, too, for the record. It does help, even though I KNOW where I've hidden it from myself!)!!!

Can I do it?????

Almost Finished

Well--after yesterday's frustrations, today I got more done! :-) I finished my beadwoven bracelet last night as we watched an interesting and very sad documentary called "God Grew Tired of Us" about the Lost Boys of Africa. We got it from Netflix (which I love, by the way. We have this instead of cable). My husband said this morning, "You just want to hug those boys and men." True. Some people have amazing strength within them which is very inspiring. Sometimes it is so painful to realize how blessed I am while others around the world suffer so.

My husband took girlie to a birthday party, so I sanded my resin while my son played GameBoy. Tronsgirl's package is going out tomorrow, yay!! I put away my resin stuff for now--as much as I love it, I want to get to my other mediums--it keeps sucking me back in when it is out! I still have to clean up my bead stash, as well as photograph and list some etsy items... but I feel in control of my little mess of stuff here now (or maybe it seems quite a bit less important in the big picture)! :-)

Tomorrow is Monday, a new week dawns!

Half-Finished

Did you ever have one of those days where you just wander around getting nothing accomplished because you are in the middle of so many things and you don't know where to start? Here are a few things on my partially-finished list that I have been struggling with today:

*A partially completed beadwoven bracelet

I tend to do this type of work at night in front of the tv. Although I haven't given up my tv time (amazing, huh?!), I have been too beat to pick this up and bring it with me. You know how heavy a needle can be.... (oh boy!)

*A bunch of items to be photographed and listed on etsy
I can't sell 'em if they ain't listed, right???




*The top of my seed bead/glass bead dresser (yes, DRESSER--not box, DRESSER!) needs to be cleaned up

The upside is that I DID clean up my craft room a bit... just didn't get to the dresser.



*A bunch of items to be sanded, drilled and glued--including one special order that was ordered and paid for a while ago (sorry Tronsgirl!)--the star doggie
I have no excuse! I MUST mail it out Monday morning!!!

I did get some more resin pieces made--yes, that means they'll hit my sanding pile tomorrow morning, most likely--why do I do it to myself?
Those pink things are bottle cap magnets! I like how they turned out, they were a lot of fun. They are sea life and look very 3-D because I used several layers of resin. Fun!


And I have been thinking about this delightful mix of bead soup I ordered. Crystals and fire polished beads galore. But I'm not allowed to touch them (figuratively) until I finish what I already started. Although you can see that I poured them on a plate and looked through them. I also accidentally dumped half of them over, but that is another story... Anyway, ideas with these beads are cluttering my brain!


ALSO, found these adorable brads! I can cut the backs off, and solder them to my glass pendant frames, so THAT is also on my mind and something I am not allowed to start until I get some of this other stuff finished! They are SO CUTE!!!

Other things I accomplished today (maybe it will make me feel better to list my accomplishments):

*Took a shower

*Watched episode of Clean House on cable

*Went to hardware store with family and talked husband to going through Wendy's drive-thru

*Organized icons on computer desktop

*Twittered

*Watched last half of an episode of Top Chef and first half of an episode of Housewives of Orange County

*Updated blog with a rather whiney post

Sigh--NO, not making me feel better, I think I should stop now! Well, tomorrow is a new day, right?!?! And this sure beats having a creative mind block! ;-)

Happiest of New Years!!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a nice new year! We enjoyed our movie with the kids. Kung Fu Panda was pretty funny--but I am a long-time Jack Black fan! Though animated, it was a great role for him!

I almost fell asleep while reading a book--I turned my light off at 11:58pm. How anticlimactic!! Couldn't I just wait the two minutes? I didn't feel like I needed to. I have had a "new years" feeling for a little while now, and didn't need the clock to show me. It feels like a year of changes for me, but in a good way! I feel that things that have been stagnant for a while are moving forward. It is a good thing!

Today I visited my parents (my father currently has a low immune system, so we have to limit his exposure to my kids and their germs!) while my husband took the kiddies to his folks'. Had a nice visit, and came home to an empty house where I worked on some soldered pendants and got some Valentine's Day resin started, as well as a resin special order from my pal, Tronsgirl.

All in all a mellow but productive start to the new year. Doesn't need to get better than that!! :-)

Resin Tips

This blog entry was inspired by my Twitter buddy, SuperTeeTee !

There are many pieces out there on basic directions for making resin jewelry. I recommend this one by resin goddess, isewcute !

This is just a list of my tips—my “been there done that” advice. There are so many ways of doing things, I do not recommend mine over others. This is just the way I do it. These ideas are for you to take or leave as you wish. As a matter of fact, some people might read this and think I do it “the hard way.” If you have easier tips, please share!

Please follow all directions and precautions given by manufacturers of resin, this includes proper ventilation, gloves and a mask while sanding!

I want to recommend the ultimate resin how-to book by Sherri Haab, The Art of Resin Jewelry (I must admit I am a bit envious that it is now being sold with a DVD!!). It is awesome and exciting!! She also has a great website…

My first frustrating batch of resin was STICKY. It never cured. So disappointing!! I am not a very precise person, and I realized I would really have to change that if I wanted to succeed in resin. To measure the resin, I ordered these fantastic little disposable medicine cups .

This allows for very precise measurements of the resin and hardener, which is vital. I use Easy Cast resin, which I find at Michael’s. I always use the 40% off coupon (did you know they accept Joann 40% off coupons as well?) which really knocks the price down!

My Michael's also sells one resin mold, which is a nice starting place. If you really get into it, you can get more from the internet. My favorite site doesn’t seem to be up right now, I’ll keep checking and get back to you in later posts. Sherri Haab’s website also sells molds, as well as sites on ebay, etsy, etc. I have also found silicone (they must be the rubbery material!) ice cube trays at Dollar Tree, which work great with resin!

A word on Mold Release… I do not take responsibility for your decision on this, but I find I don’t really need to use it on my resin-specific molds. I do have it, though, and I used it at first, so maybe that primed my molds, or maybe they just didn’t need it to start with. I found this at Michael’s, right next to the resin.

Ok—so I use those medicine cups for measuring the resin. In addition, I get Popsicle sticks from the Dollar Tree, and plastic “party” cups from the grocery store. I also keep a nice supply of toothpicks handy.

If I am mixing up a very small batch of resin, I measure it into the medicine cups, and pour the hardener into the resin to mix. I have a timer, so I do not estimate, but time EXACTLY two minutes of mixing. I have found mixing it a key to proper curing (and not that sticky mess!). THEN I put it into a new, clean, medicine cup, use a new, clean popsicle stick, and mix for an additional two minutes, on the timer. The directions say one more minute, but I do it a full two. Then it is ok for me to use.

If I am mixing a larger batch of resin, when the combined amount of resin and hardener won’t fit into the medicine cups, I cut the tops off of the plastic drinking cups, and use two for my two mixing containers. I find if I cut the tops off, it is easier to pour. The top is more flexible, and I can squeeze it a bit to make a spout. I will also use my Popsicle stick to “drip” resin into small spaces.

Bubbles!!!! I used to use a hair dryer WITH A DIFFUSER to remove bubbles. The diffuser kept the dryer from blowing the resin to smithereens!!!! I recently received a heat gun on loan from a friend, and that thing works GREAT!!!!!! It is amazing how quickly the bubbles disappear.

Now that I am in winter, I see many more bubbles, and the resin takes longer to cure. Resin likes warmer temperatures!!!

I am typed out for now…. Soon I will do a “tips on finishing resin” entry (my least favorite part)! It will take some time for your resin to cure, and by then hopefully I will have that entry done!

Questions and comments are more than welcome!

Tis the Season for Kid Craftin', Fa la la la la....

Well, despite the freezing weather (a whopping 2 degrees below zero--NOT counting the windchill!) my girlie wanted to mess with polymer clay today! Clay does not like the cold temps, so it took some effort to get it soft enough to work with. A Twitter pal later gave me the tip she had heard from professionals, to warm it up inside my bra!! Hey, it just might work!!

I think it is just great to give the kids some extra clay and see what they come up with. It is so good for them, and it makes a lasting item since it gets hard when baked! We worked together to make this kitty cat, which she has decided to give to her brother for Christmas.

This is my favorite polymer clay item made by my son when he was 4 or 5 years old. The arm broke off, so I had to hold it up there for the picture! It just makes me happy to look at--this funny dancing guy! It also reminds me of good times spent together with him.


We have worked on other Christmas gifts together. These are shrinky dink pins made by my son. I should have gotten the white shrinky dinks instead of the clear, since you can see the pins right through them!

This one (below) was a big hit with the kids!!! These are just bottle tops which they filled with white glue then added little toys, shells, whatnots and etcetera. They sprinkled with glitter. I added some clear resin just because that is my thing, but it wouldn't be necessary. They really had a good time doing it. I glued scrap magnets (sales, etc, that get sent in the mail, etc) to the back. I was worried they would be too heavy for those magnets, but it worked fine--although I did glue the magnets to the entire back, not just parts.
My girl loved the Pikachu (from Pokemon) pin that my son made from Shrinky Dinks for the pin shown above, so he made her a smaller one for a necklace in secret. I punched a hole (use a regular size punch, as the hold will shrink, of course!) and added a jump ring and ball chain. I think she will love it, and he is proud.

Part of the fun of Christmas is making gifts for each other, so maybe this will give you some ideas--leave comments if you have ideas of your own to share! I am *always* looking for new ideas to keep these guys busy!!

Putting One Foot in Front of the Other

Well, even though it is 14 degrees this morning, I ventured to walk to the post office. It is about five blocks one way--and I realize that walking through ice and snow makes your legs feel like you just ran a marathon in sand. BUT it was quite beautiful, with no wind, so the cold did not get to me, and I was able to enjoy the pretty part of winter.

I know those of you that know me probably just fell off of your chair--but it is true! I am trying to take the "bad" with the good and appreciate the whole experience.

Well, sometimes.

I am probably just so glad that I don't have to drive in a blizzard like yesterday!

Now that that trip is done, how should I spend my two hours (less now) with Girlie at school? I have many projects to work on. As a matter of fact, I am going to swallow my pride and show the horror that are my work tables (trust me, the other one is even worse!)... how can I get anything accomplished?! Well, my ideas and need for clean up surpass my time to actually do them!

One thing I need to finish are these sports pendants I made from resin for my craft fair on Saturday. They are pretty simple, but I thought they might appeal to girls in sports... now they need to be sanded several times and drilled. I like drilling, but sanding isn't my favorite... so maybe I should do that first!

So, instead of just thinking about what to do next, much like my trip to the post office, I will just get started--which can be difficult for me! Just put one foot in front of the other.... :-)

Gettin' Stuff Done--Well, Some Stuff

(I added a picture to yesterday's blog of myself on stage with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law.)

So today I need to clean up my new soldered pendants! I really really (super duper really!) enjoyed making them, I am so happy I decided to take the dive into it! I'm grateful to my friend and sis-in-law for letting me puruse their scrapbooking scraps. My mother-in-law's stash is next!!!

I also added the last layer to a number of resin pendants shown here in their molds, and even a few ornaments for family members. I didn't mix enough resin to do as much as I planned, but I did not mix more. It is kind of a process. Plus I need to stop creating and do the less fun part and start pricing as I have a craft fair this Saturday.

So I feel fairly accomplished in this craft room--but hmmmm, I suppose that non-essential stuff like laundry should be taken care of next! ;-)

Lunch with Santa

Q. What is Santa's favorite hobby?

A. Gardening, because he likes to hoe-hoe-hoe

We had lunch with Santa yesterday, at our County Zoo. I got called on stage to help with a song, but I did ok as I was sandwiched between my sis-in-law and bro-in-law. My mother-in-law had to do the slide whistle, which would have been worse! ;-)

Today husband has the gang over to watch football and eat chili--which means the kids have a friend over and I get to play in my craft room.... so off I go. I have some resin to finish, plus I hope to make my first attempt at soldering. Wish me luck!!

Friday Ramblings

Well, I don't shop on Black Friday. I am not a "crowds" kinda person--tho' I do love a bargain, so it pains me that I can't stand going out today. Also need more resin, but it will have to wait!!!

I am having a big big big sale in my etsy shop (http://tinyurl.com/6oqorg) for the weekend (FREE shipping and buy one, get one 50% off), so hopefully other people like to do their Christmas shopping on-line. I made one sale, but it was last night! I had already activated the free shipping, so she will get that part of the sale. She purchased one of my favorite items.

I listed 18 new things on etsy yesterday in preparation, and I am a little computered-out after that! :-)

So today will be a cleaning day--hopefully will get the tree up this weekend so I had better get the livingroom picked up and swept. Watch me run and do that...

My son is still sleeping (9:20am) if you can still believe it! He must've REALLY needed it, so I am glad he is getting it!

I am hoping my soldering gun will arrive today (tomorrow at the latest). I am very excited. Although I supposed I should clear a space in this all-purpose room where I do my projects!

I plan to help the kids make some Christmas presents today for Grandmas and Godmothers using shrink plastic. I'll let you know how that goes...

Happy Friday!

First Snowfall of the Season

How appropriate that the morning I popped out my long awaited resin snowflakes we would wake to a white, snowy world!

I like the resin ones better...

Ok, I guess it was pretty and all. And it was only 2". And we will be above freezing for our highs all week (by a few degrees). And I didn't have to drive in it when it was coming down at its worst. The kids were really excited. I didn't have trouble finding snow pants and boots (because I was in denial and didn't do it last night!!). Shoveling was not hard. Ok, how's that for bright side??? I'm trying!!!

Husband is in Tampa for the day, but he won't get to see much of it, airports and meetings all day. Left early this morning and will be back later tonight. Wouldn't want to trade, even tho' it is Tampa and we snowed!!!!

I am waiting for the plumber to call. Perhaps that sours my snow-mood as well....

Sadly, although I was able to pop the resin snowflakes out--the mold couldn't stand the pressure and cracked in many places! What a disappointment because I LOVE the way they turned out!! I know she didn't pay a whole lot for the mold, really I would consider it worth it for a one-use-mold. Now THESE snowflakes make me happy!! :-) I think they will make nice pendants, magnets, and my friend suggested a large ring. She likes large rings, and can't be the only one out there. I will have to keep one for myself, especially since the mold is gone... but which one?!

Slow as a Snail Saturday

Wow, I am having trouble getting motivated this morning! I don't know what it is!


Last night I went to my friend's house--a different college pal. She is the Queen of Rubber Stamps, tho' she will tell us she hasn't done it in forever. But she has a lot and loves them (they are her vice, we all have one! At least...) and spent some time stamping notes to stick in with my etsy sales. I am also running a promotion that if a buyer lets me know a purchase is a Christmas present, I will include an organza bag and blank gift tag so the wrapping is all done--so she has a tag punch and we stamped some tags. What a pal! There was lots of laughing and catching up as well. She made the BEST popcorn, I couldn't stop eating it... her secret was Orville Redenbacher's Popping and Topping Oil (http://www.orville.com/products_oil.jsp#products). I did NOT check the nutritional label (she assured me it was horrifying). Some things are best left just to enjoy... Here she is stamping for me with her daughter looking on!

She also generously is letting her heat gun live with me for a while! I have some plans with shrink plastic and embossing powder. I will elaborate when I actually get a chance to work on it! AND I got to sort through her scrapbooking scraps for my soldered pendants. She asked if there was ANYTHING ELSE from her house I wanted to take home. She is funny like that. Ha. Ha.

I have one more layer for my snowflake resin pieces. I am feeling a little nervous about popping them out... the mold seems a little resistant to the one finished one I tried to get out. I will continue. Either the plastic is not quite resin friendly--or I just need to let them cure even LONGER than I expected in this cold weather. I sure hope they work...

I realized I won't quite put the resin away, I wanted to do some sports related resin pieces for younger girls to have ready for my craft fair in mid-December. I'll have to head to Michael's to get some more resin before I start that, though. I really AM feeling ready to put it away for a while, but feel I should really finish that thought. I am planning to put little soccer ball, basket ball and ballet stickers in them. My friend mentioned above gave me the idea.

Hmmm, best get moving! All of this talk about what I need to do is getting the blood flowing (and that last dose of caffeine might have helped, too!).

Too Cold for Me, Too Cold for Resin?

Well, I will try not to waste too many words of this blog complaining about the weather--let's just say I am not a winter person (understatement!!). But this morning was a balmy 17 degrees with a windchill of 4 degrees! Goodness!! My poor fella had to really be bundled up this morning. I was silently grateful that my girlie doesn't have 4K today, and we could stay inside. Fortunately, my door faces the door to school, right across the street. So my BIG second grader can walk to the corner and cross with the crossing guard while I watch from my door.... so I got to stay toasty.

Well, the cold weather brings up a creative issue with me. Well, maybe not creative, but functional?? Resin takes a lot longer to cure when it is colder!! My snowflakes that I started yesterday are ready for a second layer at least, but if they were all done, they wouldn't be ready to pop out... In the warmer months, they would have been cured. It is difficult for me to be so patient!!!

I think what I will do to solve this problem is switch gears a bit... I have the snowflakes to finish up, and a couple of other Christmas projects using resin--then I might pack it away for a while (I say "might" because it is hard to stop an obsession!!). What I plan to try is soldering pendants. I put in my order last night, and am truly giddy with excitement!! I read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Soldered-Jewelry-Accessories-Fashioning/dp/1600590306/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227283361&sr=8-1 which I got from the library, and am fascinated! I know there are a lot of artists on etsy already doing this kind of work, and I can't help but try to join them. It looks like so much fun. When my heart really beats, I know it is something I HAVE to try! Yes, I get that excited about it!!!

As the winter progresses, I want to spend a little more time with my polymer clay (which just got so mushy in the summer heat--tho' might be harder to work with in the cold as well...) and also work on some off-loom bead weaving jewelry. And get my craft room organized. And, um, the whole house. Hmmm, I seem to have a long project list again!!! :-) No doubt the organizing will get dropped off, always seems the first to go!!!


I also need to include a picture of my fella sans winter gear because he got his first hair "style." It was a surprise to me when he came back from getting his haircut with my hubby. But it is getting a little long to spike up, so it was time for a picture before it was too late!! It is funny to me to be sharing my gel spray with my little guy! Now if I can only get my girlie to let me comb her hair without a fight! Good luck with THAT one!!

Visiting with a Friend

Today I had the extreme pleasure of meeting with my long-time friend for a visit while our girls were in school (hers is in full day like my son, but my daughter is in for 2 1/2 hrs 4 days per week). I have known her so long, we spend most of our senior year of college together!! I graduated in December of '93 (and she Spring of '94 I believe!), so we have known each other a good, long time and she is a person I know I will be friends with for the rest of my life!! It was so great to see her and catch up in person, tho' we e-mail frequently.

She also has a shop on etsy: http://www.tronsgirl.etsy.com/
The thing about her is that she could always spot a trend before it became trendy! She is one to watch!! :-)

Very exciting to me--she brought me a new mold to use with my resin! SNOWFLAKES!! I went glassy-eyed with ideas as soon as I saw it, and she had some great ideas, too!! My girlie got some Caillou DVDs from the library--I think we may have to pop them in this afternoon and she can watch them from her couch-cushion fort. Then I can get the first layer of resin down and curing for these snowflakes! Keep an eye to my shop for the finished product! Can't wait!!!!

Isn't that a cool mold?!

Here is girlie in her fort, soon to be watching Caillou!