The other day I was at the mall and I saw the cutest birdie necklace. So I can’t take full credit for this idea. Actually, I can’t take any credit for the idea! It was completely inspired by the necklace I was too cheap, cheap to buy! Of course, mine is 100% hand made and ended up looking completely different than the one in the store…. Even though it was very challenging to make, I am happy with the way it came out.  If anyone is interested, I may do this as a tutorial. Although it was sort of difficult and gave me fits, now that I have done one, I think I could do it again using a lot less expletives!

Here it is:

so tweet!

Anyway after I got this all finished and I was taking pictures it really  reminded me of a poem I wrote many years ago. Even though I am not a poet (and I know it!) I’m going to share, just because I think it totally goes with this sweet necklace…

…i saw today a bird in a cage

and i saw myself

reflected

in its fluttering wings and sad song

its colors

we both knew

would be more vibrant

in the branches of a tree

closer to the blue of the sky

its beady eyes looked at me

through iron bars

there was no fair trial they seemed to say

then looked away

as my hand reached up in peace

my hand with a mind of its own

my hand that held the key

simple it was

and my heart with the bird

was set free.    -kp 1988

So, if you like the necklace, and would like to see it as a tutorial, send me a comment and I will do a step by step project and post it here within the next few weeks!

TTFN

p.s. clue #8 Like in a wedding, it will be something old, something new, someone borrowed and I was blue.

a pendant/pin by me, kristen. Made using my paper jewelry technique and wood icing.

Here is a pendant /pin I made. It is different because  I have been experimenting  with wood icing on paper. I will tell you all about the process soon, as it will be one of my upcoming tutorials. As you can see from the picture, the painting is dimensional.  I really like the effect and it is easy and fun to work with.  I have done a few pieces and it seems to be working out great! Look here this weekend for more pictures and projects.

Clue # 2:  I am going around the block.

Happy Friday! I was not going to post a new tute until Sunday but I had this idea and I couldn’t wait! I have always loved “Nesting Dolls”. I didn’t even know until recently, that they are called Matryoshkas. My good friend, Elana, is from Russia. She went home to visit her family at Christmas and I asked her to bring me some “nesting dolls”.  She just gave me a blank look until I described what I wanted, then she smiled and said, “Oh,  you mean, matryoshka doll!”  Yes, that is exactly what I meant! And she did bring me back a beautiful set. (Thank  you Elana. I love them!) I have been wanting to create some cute charms or do some illustrations of these beautiful, whimsical, colorful dolls ever since and, well, this is the first thing that ‘came out’. I thought it would be pretty simple and it really is! Once again, I try to create projects that are versatile and that you can ‘make  your own’…. Make some big and some small, try different color schemes or  make up a few different sizes  and string them on a necklace…whatever you want. But, whatever you do, have fun!

matryoshka doll earrings by me, kristen!

Here is a short list of things you will need:

1) air dry clay

2) eye pin(s)

3) acrylic craft paints

4) small detail paint brush

5) wire cutter

6) earring hooks

the supplies you will need for matryoshka doll charm(s)

get a pinch of air dry clay

(about this size)

roll your clay. you want to make a pear shape.

pinch it a bit. be gentle and use a bit of water if you need to smooth it, but only to moisten, you don't want it too wet.

it will look something like this...

cut your eye pin down to approx. 1/2 inch.

insert your eye pin into the top of your pear shaped, wet clay. let dry overnight or until completely hardened.

letting it dry overnight. tick tock, tick tock...... waiting is the hard part.

after it has hardened overnight, paint it in the base color of your choice.

paint the face. this is where you can get really creative! make her as simple or as detailed as you wish. maybe give her rosy cheeks and a little heart shaped mouth...black hair or blonde? If you are not sure, then make a few little sketches first. remember, if you make a mistake, you can always paint over it with your base color, let it dry and start over!

here is my example with her finished face and the start of the body design...

here she is with her body design completed, i used hearts, swirls, flowers and dots...

now add a little something to the back.

add your earring finding or a jump ring...(and I added one, quick coat of glossy mod podge.)

if you want earrings, make two!! awwwwww. pretty darn cute huh?

* here is a view of the back and front!

valentine angel pendant by me, kristen!

Here is another angel that I recently made as a paper pendant. I think she has such a sweet and angelic face! Sorry I don’t have much time to write tonight, weekdays are super busy for me now that school is back in full swing. I will post more this weekend….look for a new tutorial on Sunday night!

Here is my first ever blog craft tutorial ! You can make this sweet angel pendant/pin with a few supplies and a bit of time!

Here is a list of items that you will need:

1. poly shrink plastic

2.fine black sharpie

3. colored pencils

4. 24 g. craft wire

5. wire cutters, round nose plier, 1/8 hole punch

6. a few beads (with holes big enough to fit on the wire)

7. pin back

8.industrial strength glue (I use quick grab or e-6000)

* for shrinking the plastic, I use a craft heat tool and a couple of blocks of wood. You may want to use and oven-follow the shrink plastic instructions…

start with a piece of shrink plastic approx.3.5x4.5 inches. sand one side until sheen is gone.

draw your image on the sanded side using your sharpie marker. (if you are satisfied with your drawing, I recommend making a copy of your image so that you may trace it again in the future).

cut out your shrink plastic image

color (the rough side) using your pencils

punch holes for the arms, legs and "hair".

this is what the rough side looks like once it is all colored and the holes are punched.

now you can shrink it using a craft heat gun (you may also use an oven or toaster oven-follow manufacturer directions for this procedure).

shrink it until it is flat. let it cool before handling.

add wire and beads for hair. "curl" hair using round nose pliers.

continue adding wire to make hair full and cover up the punch holes and add arms and legs.

make a separate little heart on scrap of plastic, cut out and shrink.

glue on a pin back and/or bail on the side that you colored on-the opposite side (shiny side) will be your front.

Isn't she cute?

If you don’t want to make one yourself, you can purchase one that I have made by visiting my Etsy shop!

January 5th already? Is that even possible? Aargh! I start back to school in just 6 short days and my biggest consolation is that it will be summer in the blink of an eye…Well,  I know I have been remiss in my blogging but I have made a promise to myself that I would post something at least 4 times a week. Now I can’t say for sure what I will blog or how long the posts will be, but I am going to put something up to at least keep the visuals fresh. Of course my ultimate goal is to have a blog with tons of art and craft ideas and instructions along with interviews and pictures of great artists and craft-apreneurs. I hope to strive more towards those goals once I am finished with school. But in the meantime, I hope to continue to post my new art and chat about my oh-so-exciting- life!!!

TTFN,

kristen

"The Fun in Fungi"

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Sometimes the best things happen! I found this great shop, online,  called Owl Necklaces and I met this really nice person, named Deb Zeitlin. We started to correspond and now we are helping each other and promoting each others art! She is going to show (and sell) some of my pieces on her website and I am going to take some of her things to my shows! I think this will work out just peachy for us both and I am so excited to be able to carry her adorable owl necklaces . Please visit her at http://www.owlnecklaces.com

here is before and after photos of one of my wearforartthou paper jewelry designs.

one day it would be fun to see some of my designs in metals too!

My Etsy shop is now up and running. Hooray! It’s I feel as though I have found where I need to be. I tried cafepress, which is really totally different, and that has not been all that great for me. I have now made the decision to close my cafe press shop. But I just have a good feeling about Etsy and think it is definitely more ‘my style’. I will be adding to my shop daily and am working on, not only, different designs but different items. For now, I have some  of my new “paper” jewelry pendant/pins up for sale. I need to get some bracelets and hair-clips up soon too , but I have been so busy working on putting together a catalog of the designs that I want to continue to offer. I am still in the design phase of this new line because I have only been making it for about six weeks! It is a very new ‘venture’ for me. It’s crazy how much I love what I am doing ! Please visit http://www.wearforartthou.etsy.com when you can and give me your thoughts, comments and suggestions!

Here is my first catalog page for my new mixed media jewelry line! Just thought I’d share it. I still have lots of work to do and am still in the designing phase but I am having a great time. Stay tuned… more to come