Beading and Stitching

Stitching

A little progress was made on Special Delivery, I am stitching the last elf.

Finally finished Garden Party necklaces pattern, Etsy and The Bead Coop.

New Patterns

Flower Garden Bracelet, made with bugle beads, seed beads and rondelle beads, ladder stitch and netting.

Little Hearts Necklaces, just in time for Valentine. Made with seed beads and bicone crystals, netting.

Little Hearts Bracelet made with seed beads and bicone crystals, netting.

Working on Butterfly Kisses Necklace pattern and hope to have it done in a few days.

The rest of my week...

Bob started a new job Friday, YEAH!

My perfect record at work was stabbed with a knife! Went in to work the other day and was asked "Did you get my message?", AAAAA No was my reply. They had changed the schedule and I didn't get a notice. But I called the boss lady and she said it was okay, because it wasn't my fault.

Kayden has been over several times this week, we made cookies, tents, played cars and cops. Kayden will say "Put ten up", which means put your hands in the air, LOL!

The tutorial I made for tile coasters and hot plates was featured at Craft Gossip.

Two Weeks in One Post

Two weeks ago...

New beading patterns!

Crystal Drop Bracelet, net weaving, made with size 11 seed beads and 4mm crystal bicones, simple but elegant.

Crystal Drop Ring, net weaving, made with size 11 seed beads and 4mm crystal bicones. Personally I think it turn out a little strange, but still pretty.

Dew Drop and Crystal Drop Earrings, net weaving, made with size 11 seed beads and 4mm crystal bicones.

Dew Drop Necklace, net weaving, made with size 11 seed beads and 4mm crystal bicones, simple but stunning!

Flip Flop Bracelet, right angle weave. The flip flops turn, so the throngs are on both sides. Made with size 11 seed beads.

Flip Flop Chain Necklace, with butterfly buttons, right angle weave and made with size 11 seed beads.

Flip Flop Earrings, there are two different patterns. Made with size 11 seed beads and right angle weave.

Flip Flop Necklaces, they turn so thongs are on both sides, made with size 11 seed beads and right angle weave.

Flip Flop Ring, made with size 11 seed beads and right angle weave. There are two different patterns, but only one shown here.

Can't wait for summer to wear my new Flip Flops!!!

I almost have all the pattern listed at Etsy, The Bead Coop, Art Fire and eCrater.

Macrame

Does anyone remember macrame? I made this necklace for KC. She found the bead when she went to Mexico with her family during Christmas.

Close Up

And here she is wearing the necklace.

Who is KC, well she is a friend of Dylan's but is Dara's age. After high school she moved in with her boyfriend and it didn't work out. And she asked if she could move in for about 2 months before she went to Fort Wayne for college.

Cleaning

Then I clean out my bedroom including the closet. Pull out things that have been in boxes for years.

I found a few of the out fits that I kept from with my kids where little and I just had to get Kayden in them. Here is one that I bought for Dara. Dylan also wore it. Kayden is almost too big.

Here is a picture of Dara in the same clothes. The back of the photo has not info, only Dara & Misty. That is the name of the dog. LOL!

Here is a picture of Dylan in the same clothes. The back of the photo says Dylan is 10 1/2 months old.

Found a jacket that I stitched tweety bird on the back when Dara was small.

Oh Kayden is 2 1/2 years old.

Last Week...

New Beading Patterns!

Lil' Bundle of Flowers Ring, made with size 11 and 15 seed beads and 4mm round beads, tri-angle weave.

Lil' Bundle of Flowers Earrings, made with size 11 and 15 seed beads, 4mm round beads and using the tri-angle weave.
Lil' Bundle of Flowers Bracelet, made with 11 and 15 size seed beads, 4mm round beads and using the tri-angle weave.

Garden Flower Necklace, made with size 11 and 8 seed beads and 4mm round beads.

Again I can't wait for summer to wear this one! I think it would look great with a sun dress.

Stitching

I made a little progress on Special Delivery.

And last but not least a video of Kayden in his flying car.

Well, that was my two weeks, hope you had a good one.

Tile Coaster & Hot Plate Tutorial

Items Needed

To make tile coasters and hot plates.

Tile - 4.25" x 4.25" coaster ($.16 each) and 6" x 6" for hot plates ($.40 each)
Mod Podge (I think was around $4.00 for the large bottle)
Tacky Glue (another $4.00)
Clear Glossy Vanish (can works better, around $3.00) Heat Resistance for Hot Plates
Scrapbook Paper or Photos ($.70)
Cork Sheet ($3.00)
Brushes ($1.00)

My first attempt was from other blogs and youtube videos. They said to use a lot of Mod Podge on the tile then work out the bubbles. They also said to do several coats of Mod Podge on top of the paper or photo. Then three coats of varnish on top of the Mod Podge.
Dara's coasters were my first run and you can see a lot of lines in the sealant.
Second attempt I put an even light coat of Mod Podge on the tile, I didn't have any problems with bubbles and it dried quick.
I did 5 layers of Mod Podge on top of the paper and did a light wet sand to try to get rid of the lines then 3 coast of vanish.

While working on my second attempt I realized that it was crazy to put on 5 coats of Mod Podge, sand then 3 coats of vanish on top of that. It was sealant on top of sealant.

I tried spray varnish first and it seem to work great on the first two attempts, but the third time I had bubbles in the varnish.

Finally I did it my way...

First clean tile with a damp cloth to remove any dust or dirt.

While tile is drying cut paper or photos. I cut my paper 4 by 4 inches for the small tile and for the larger tile 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches.

Apply a thin even coat of Mod Podge on top of the tile using a sponge brush.

Place scrapbook paper or photo on top of the Mod Podge. Run your finger along the edges of the paper to make sure it seals to the tile. Wait 15 to 20 minutes to let it dry.

Glue cork sheet to the back of the tile, this will keep the tile from harming your furniture. I cut my tile the same size at the paper. I first tried hot glue, but it did not stick.

Apply varnish with brush. I put one layer across the tile, then one layer with strokes up and down the tile. (I felt I had much better control using the brush then when I used the spray, also a lot less fumes).

Wait 15 to 20 minutes between coats. I did 3 to 4 coats of varnish.

Once they are dry they are not done curing. So DO NOT STACK or use the tile yet, your glass or cup may stick to the tile. Let them lay flat for a day or two, before using or stacking.

This last little tit bit was not found in any one's blog or youtube, I learned this one on my own. ;)

Hot Plates

Everything is the same with the hot plates as the coasters, except you will need a varnish that can take the heat. I could not find a varnish in my small town that was heat resistance. So, my first attempt with the hot plates I tried engine paint. I put about 4 layers on each tile and they take 7 days to cure. Once they were cured I tired them out and it worked great!

But I left them on the kitchen counter top and when Bob (my hubby) did the dishes he put them in the dish water. This was not good, it did something to the varnish, I tried to put another layer on top, but when it dried it cracked the varnish.

I did notice as the hot plates cured they became yellow. I ordered a different heat resistance varnish I found on line, but I haven't tried it yet. I am waiting for it to get a little warmer in Northern Indiana, before I make more.

NOTE* Do not put these in your dishwasher or dish water. Just wipe clean with a damp cloth.

I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial, comments are always welcome.

Now listed at Today's Creative Blog.

Tile Coasters and Hot Plates

Coaster and Hot Plates

A new hobby, as if I needed more. Thought I would try my hand at making coasters and hot plates out of tile and scrap book paper. I bought a set for Dara and gave them to her for Christmas, she really liked them and asked for more. I told her we could make them. She looked at me and said I could make them. When she was in High School I bought her a lot of scrapbook paper, because she said she wanted to start doing scrapbooks. Well, I think she did one or two pages and was done. So, I told her to bring over her paper and I would pick up the rest of the material and make her some more. Well, I got a little carried away and made a ton of them. Here are a few of pictured below...

Surf Board Coasters

Palm Tree Coasters

Fun in the Sun Coasters
Hot Plates

The two on top I made for Dara and the one on the bottom will be for my MIL for Mother's Day.


Hot Plate, I made a couple of these and will be keeping at least two of them for myself. I also made a set of coaster just like this for myself.

I made these coasters for my friend Nikki, for her birthday in March.


This set of coasters are for my MIL, for her birthday in February.

Dara's Coasters

I also made one with the cars for Bob for his computer desk and one for Dylan for his bedroom.

I will be making a "How To" next week (I hope) on how to make the coasters and hot plates. I searched the wed and found a lot of helpful info before I started making them, but there was still a lot of try and try again, before I got it just right.

Stitching

Special Delivery, progress picture.

Well, that was my week. Hope you had a great one!