Folded Petals Tutorial

I love using wool felt to make flowers, but I really like my flowers to have some dimension.  Flat flowers just don't seem as happy to me!  I found a way to make a pretty popped up flower and it's super simple too!  Thought I'd share it with you...

You'll need-

6 felt circles (5 for the flower, 1 for the base)

scissors

hot glue gun

pretty button

pinback or bobby pin if you wish

I even made a smaller one for a necklace...

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Fabric Covered Bead Necklace Tutorial

I love creating these pretty little beads to add a romantic feel to any outfit.  I just love a long necklace...

You'll need-

3 wooden beads with large center hole

3 long scraps of fabric less than 1/2 inch wide

large needle (I used a plastic canvas needle)

bit of ribbon

fabric glue (hot glue works too)

22 inch chain that you can seperate in the center

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Tutorial - Faux Broken China Necklace

I love to come up with out of the box recreations of things I love...my latest creation is a lighter funky alternative to broken china jewelry.  Made with shrink plastic, stamps, ink, markers and utee. This necklace looks fabulous and is fun to make!

Supplies- White shrinky dink paper (sanded), pretty floral stamp, permanent markers, utee (or clear embossing powder, 1/8 hole punch, chain and jumprings.

Let's begin!

step 1 - use a semi dark ink to ink your stamp

step 2 - press down onto sanded shrinky dink paper

step 3 - begin coloring the stamped image lightly with permanent markers

step 4 - cut out a section to resemble a broken piece of china.  remember to cut your piece approx 3 times larger than you'd like your pendant.  this one is 3.75 inches long

step 5 - using your 1/8 hole punch put two holes on either side of your shrink paper (for the jumprings)

step 6 - place in 350 * oven bake until it shrinks 2-4 minutes (or what ever directions your paper says to bake)

See how bright the colors become!

 ALERT!  Amazing techinique you can you for so many things

step 7 - sprinkle the entire pendant with a decent layer of utee or clear embossing powder

*notice how it's covered up to the ends to prevent dripping over in the oven.  place back in 350 degree oven and watch it.  you'll see it bubble up get clumpy weird then smooth out like glass...take it out when it's smooth. (be careful it's ridiculously hot until it cools and hardens...like 2 minutes)

 

see...smooth and pretty

  Step 8  - Attach jumprings and chain of your choice and voila...fabulous faux china necklace!

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Tutorials Anyone?

I always have people ask me "how did you do that"?  Well this week I'm going to start sharing!  I'll be including tutorials for handmade pretties that make me smile...first up Fabric Bracelets.  Stay tuned :)

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Felt Addict...

My name is Taryn and I'm addicted to felt. It's true. I've been playing with this eco friendly felt (made from 100% post consumer plastic bottles) and I'm just in love. Maybe the colder weather makes soft fuzzy felt more appealing, who knows. Whatever the case may be, I'm finding more ways to create with it every day. I've even opened up a new etsy shop dedicated to my eco friendly creations http://www.lolapetals.etsy.com/ ! With all the handsewing I've been doing with this felt I found I needed a handy pin cushion so I created this eco friendly pin cushion ring! So cute and handy too :)

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Okay...I'm blogging now. I promise.

I tried blogging a while back...didn't really happen. But I'm giving it another shot! This time I'm creating this blog to share my creations with you...whether it's my new favorite margarita or my latest crafty fashion...I'm bringing it all to you guys. Let the fun begin!

My fab summer margarita...

Limeade Yummies

6 oz Frozen Limeade Concentrate
6oz Water
4oz Tequila
2 oz Blackberry (or any flavor you like) Liqueur

Serve on the rocks or blend with ice...yummy!

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First Snow

Okay, so after tons of "Holiday gift Bazaars" I saw my first few snow flakes today with my son and now I'm finally feeling in the holiday mood! I'm going to be creating a beautiful new snow inspired poppy brooch tonight and will post it asap. Let it snow!

**look for my first holiday "free gift" contest soon**

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