Green Button Rings

 I don't know about you but when its hot and humid, I can't wear my normal rings, but I also can't go without....so what's a girl to do but make some button rings!

Mothers Day Ribbon Flower

 Mothers Day is just around the corner and if you are looking for something simple to make, why not these cheerful ribbon flowers? 

DIY Ribbon Bookmarks with Gwen Studios

These ribbon bookmarks are a great way to bring new life to old jewelry.
A quick and easy craft for the whole family.
Make a bunch (like I did) and tuck them in a book or gift them on their own!

* As a design team member for Gwen Studios,
I am provided with product to work with each month.

To get started, you will need the following:

• Any Gwen Studios Ribbons, 1" or smaller
  Ribbon Clamps (2 per bookmark)
• Jewelry pliers
• Scissors and a ruler
• Assortment of old jewelry, lone earrings, charms and beads. (2 per bookmark)

Measure and cut your ribbon at 10". Final book mark length will be about 9". Make sure you are using sharp scissors when cutting your ribbons to help deter fraying on the ends. 

Fold the ends of the ribbon at about ½". If you are not able to get a crisp fold, add a little bit of double stick tape under the fold. Use your thumb and finger to firmly hold the ribbon in the clamp while you crimp one side with the pliers. Then you can finish crimping the rest of the clamp. Repeat process at the other end of the ribbon.

Attach your made charms to each end with jump rings or lobster claw clasps. 
So pretty!

So as you can see here, I got a little carried away in making the book marks.
I couldn't help myself! All the ribbons are just so pretty and compliment the charms so nicely.
See a ribbon that you like? Click any of the links corresponding with the numbers above.

1. Plum Fancy Trim    2. Pink Satin     3. Sweet Shop    4. Rhinestone Fancy Trim     

5. Mint Green Burlap     6. Sweet Shop      7. White Fancy Trim     8. Emerald Green Satin    

9. Sweet Shop    10. Tropical      11. Pink Burlap     12. Sweet Shop 

Find your favorite Gwen Studios Ribbons at your local Walmart and online at Walmart.com!

Head on over here  to see more creative idea's to make with ribbon!

DIY Bridal Accessories with Gwen Studios

 Weddings don't need to cost a lot of money and there is no need to hire anyone to make your dream a reality. These gorgeous ribbons and trims from Gwen Studios can help you make the most of your day.
From a ribbon boutonniere or small bouquet, to an embellished headband. 
You too can create the perfect Wedding!

As you can see, I received a gorgeous array of fabric, ribbon and fancy trim.
Beautiful soft pinks, lavender and lots of sparkle available exclusively at your
local Walmart and online at Walmart.com!

Making the Boutonniere 

You will need: 

• Gwen Studios 7/8" Ivory Satin Ribbon
• Gwen Studios 3/8" White Satin Ribbon
• Gwen Studios Plum Fancy Trim
• Gwen Studios Sagebrush Green Satin Ribbon
• Gwen Studios Mauve Voile Fabric
• Gwen Studios Blush Pink Satin and Rhinestone Trim
• Ruler
• Floral tape
• Floral wire
• Sewing needle and color coordinating threads.
• Beads or charms

Instructions:
Begin by wrapping one end of your ribbon around the ruler and knotting it twice. Wrap the ribbon as shown below, pulling the end through to create a knot.  

Repeat until you have at least 13 knots. The more knots, the bigger the bloom.
Try experimenting with different sized rulers to create a variety of sizes.

Here's a video to better show you how its done: 

Use a needle and thread to secure the knots so they stay aligned.

Stitch a piece of the 7/8" Sagebrush Green Ribbon in place as shown. 

Slide the knotted ribbon off the ruler. Place a length of floral wire at one end as shown.
 (twist a small loop at the top of the wire to attach any beads or charms later later.) 
Use a needle and thread to secure your ribbon as you roll it to form your flower. Taper the bottom of the flower, stitching it shut, then wrap with the floral tape.

See how I made the leaves here: 

When you are finished making your ribbon flowers and leaves, arrange them as desired. Then bind the stems together with floral tape before finishing with a strip of the Mauve Voile and a bit of  Rhinestone Trim.

Making the Headband

You will need: 

• Gwen Studios Plum Fancy Trim
• Gwen Studios Blush Pink Satin and Rhinestone Trim
• ½" - 1" wide headband
• Sewing needle and coordinating thread
• Quick drying adhesive

Instructions: 

Simply layer your desired ribbon and trims. Adhere them with the quick drying adhesive.
Attach the to the headband with a needle and thread.

I was only supposed to share with you one or two projects but I couldn't help myself.
I'm absolutely in love with the Rhinestone Trim!
The whole time I was playing with it, I was singing , "Diamonds are a girls best friend."  

To make the diamond bracelets below, follow the same layering technique as above. Then attach some jewelry findings of your choice. Click here for a quick tutorial. 

The Rhinestone hairclips were super simple to make! Just a bit of adhesive and sparkly trim. To keep the adhesive from gluing your hair clips shut, use a bamboo skewer  to prop open the clips until the glue has set. 

See more DIY Wedding inspiration at 
Designer Crafts Connection.

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post  for Gwen Studios. 
 I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas. 
 The views and opinions are my own. 

DIY Faux Suede Ribbon Bracelets

I had so much fun making these bracelets! Super easy too!
Can you believe they are not real suede?
How awesome is that?
I think they look edgy and cool. Perfect for any outfit, any day. 

Supplies Needed: 

• Gwen Studio's Faux Suede Ribbon
• Ribbon clasps
• Jump rings and other jewelry findings
• Pliers

For the black studded bracelet, I wrapped the ribbon 3 times around my wrist before crimping the ribbon clasps to the ends. 

Instead of a jump ring, I added the bit of chain. It adds a bit of class to my rocker- chic bracelet! 
Don't you think?

For the brown and white with gold bracelets, I used the wide ribbon clasp.
This easily creates the effect of a double wrap bracelet. I used the same color ribbon, but you can most definitely mix or match to your liking. Leave a bit of the ribbon exposed (as shown) so you have space to crimp the clasp. Then add your other jewelry findings. 

These would look great with denim or any boho gypsy outfit! 

  

Like I said, super easy! Which bracelet is your favorite?

These Faux Suede Ribbons are from Gwen Studio's and can be found at Walmart.

For more ribbon craft idea's, 
visit

Designer Crafts Connection

Making Jewelry with Rinea Foiled Paper

Hi! Welcome to my blog!
Today I am participating in a product showcase blog hop featuring  Rinea!

Rinea has this foiled paper that is stunning to look at but equally fabulous to create with!
It can be folded, torn, dry embossed, wet embossed, crumpled, sanded, curled, stamped and more!

Here I have used the foiled papers to make some gorgeous beads for jewelry making.

To get started, you will need the following:

1. Love variety Pack 
2. Turquoise/Gold Glossy Solid 
3. Scissors
4. Tombow mono liquid glue
5. Bamboo skewer
6. Straws, assorted sizes
7. Washi tape
8. Gold leafing flakes
9. Diamond glaze
10. Wet wipes
11. Jewelry making supplies-beads, string, elastic cord...

How to Make a Crystal Ring from Resin

 Welcome!
I love all things to do with crystals and I love working with resin, so  I decided to try making some crystal jewelry!
Enjoy! 

 Supplies needed:

1. Amazing Mold Putty
2. Amazing Clear Cast Resin
3. Violet Alumilite Dye
4. Gold and Blue/Green Alumidust
5. Gloves
6. Craft mat
7. Tape
8. Crystals
9. Ring blanks
10. e-6000
11. Scissors
12. Small paintbrush.
13. Glitters and gold leafing foil.

 Gather 3 crystals and tape together as shown.

 Next, open your containers of the Mold Putty and remove equal amounts of both the yellow and white putty. Mix together until all of the white is gone.

 Round this into a ball and quickly insert your wrapped crystals. Leave to set- about 10 minutes. 

 The Clear Cast Resin takes at least 24 hours to set, so give yourself a couple of days or more to make this project. The more patience...the better the outcome.

 A little bit goes a long way for the dust. I use a toothpick to measure what I need.

*When using the 1 oz. bottles of the dye, I generally don't cut the applicator tip which allows the dye to dispense. I do this because the dyes are super concentrated...so I use the tip of a pin to add color as needed. 

 All the resins come with mixers and measuring cups.
You will need to measure out equal amounts of bottle "A" and "B". Mix well and then add a tiny bit of color to the resin and mix again.
I used the provided mixing tool (the popsicle stick) to slowly drop some colored resin into my mold.

(I had other molds ready for any extra resin so not to waste a drop.)

Add a little bit of gold and blue/green dust into the mold now.
 Then set aside onto a flat surface for at least 3-5 hours.
This will give the resin some time to firm up some before you add the next color.
Clean cups and sticks with baby wipes. 

When ready, mix your Clear Cast Resin again. Add the tiniest amount of color or keep clear. Pour into the mold. Sprinkle with dust and glitters if desired. Leave to set over night.

 Remove the hardened resin from your mold. With scissors, trim off any stray resin strands.
With the first paintbrush, paint some newly mixed Clear Cast Resin around the base. Attach the gilding flakes to the crystal base with the second brush.
Finish the crystal with a over all coat of resin and leave to set overnight or until its no longer tacky.

 The easiest way to attach the ring is to place the crystal back-into-the-mold, and adhere the ring with adhesive. That way everything stays put as the glue sets.

 Here, I made molds from crystal clusters. I used these molds for any extra resin that was left over from making the ring. So beautiful. Like a cross between my birthstone Amethyst and Aquamarine gemstones. One of them reminds me of a galaxy too! *Swoon*

The best part about making crystal jewelry from resin is that its so much lighter to wear and if you drop them, they won't chip!
Plus it looks fabulous. Don't you agree?

See more resin jewelry idea's here.

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Creating with Rinea Paper Foil!

Hi Everyone!
I'm so excited to join in on another Rinea Foil blog hop as I really love their line and can't wait to show you what I made!

If you have never heard of Rinea Foil, you've been missing out!

Rinea® paper-foil is a specialty craft paper imported from Germany. 

It is made up of a thin sheet of paper sandwiched between two layers of thin aluminum foil - the paper gives it sturdiness and stiffness while the foil gives it the shininess and the malleability to maintain the shape however you bend or fold it.

 It is more than just origami paper due to the specific thickness and the quality of the foil used, making it ideal for many interesting crafting ideas. 

The paper comes in a variety of colors with shiny, matte, and embossed surfaces giving you endless options to spark your creativity!

So once you start playing with Rinea Foil you'll find that the possibilities of what you can create are endless! I actually had 4 projects in the works but narrowed it down to these two with a special giveaway at the end!

Project  #1 is this lovely embossed earring holder.
Supplies used:

1. Rinea Glossy Silver Foil.
2. A wooden frame from the dollar store.
3. Tacky glue.
4. Strong clear adhesive.
5. The dull end of a narrow paint brush and 1 cotton swap.
6. Scissors, a pencil, a stapler 
7. 26 gauge craft wire.

Remove the inner plastic and wrapping of your frame.
Trace frame onto foil with at least a 1" border inside and out. Save the scraps for later.

Sketch your design onto the front of the frame.
Trace sketch with a continuous line of glue.
Let glue dry until clear and hard. This can take up to 8 hours or just overnight.

Working in sections, apply the clear glue to your frame and lay down the pre-cut foil.
Smooth the foil into the grooves with your fingers- not the sticky ones!
Apply glue to the remaining foil and fold over onto the sides and back of frame.

With careful pressure, use the cotton swab and paintbrush end to guide the foil around and into the grooves of the raised design.

To create the loops for the earrings, Just twist some wire around the paintbrush handle a few times.
Repeat once or twice.

Lay your looped wire across the back of your frame and secure the ends tightly with the stapler.
 Feel free wind the excess wire through the staple if desired.

After you have stapled down all your wires, coat them with glue and cover with the foil scraps.
Add some wire at the top if you wish to hang your frame.
Ta da! Done!
Add your favorite earrings and enjoy!
I love how it looks like old embossed tin! Don't you?

So here's project #2. A colorful foil and crystal prism!
I "Love" crystal rainbows dancing in my kitchen and home.
Bobbing and twirling like little bits of magic.
Best part? The demo here is my giveaway!

Supplies Used:

1. Rinea Foils- Star Struck
2. 1" and 2" circle punch.
3. Fishing line.
4. Crystals and beads.
5. A glue stick and scissors.

Punch  (3)  2" circles  from 2 different colored star foil. = 6 circles.

 To achieve the 2 foil punched rings....
Fold a 3"x 6" foil in half.
Punch the 1" circle dead center.
Align the 2" circle as shown and punch.

Fold the six 2" circle in half.
Smear some glue onto one of the halves and place a second half on top, lining up the edges.
Repeat until all six are glued/stacked.
Don't glue the closing flap yet.

Always measure more fishing line than you think you need. So about 36" is a good start.
Thread one bead onto the fishing line. Bring ends together.
Now you can start threading your crystals and other beads.

Place the un-threaded fishing line into the open crease as shown.
Generously apply the glue stick to both of the circle flaps.
Pinch together and hold for about 10 seconds.

Add a few more beads then more crystals, pushing them up further on the line.
Apply the glue stick to both foil rings.
Place one ring just under the crystals, glue side up, then place the other ring  firmly on top, making sure the fishing line hangs securely right down the center.

Wipe away any excess glue and open up the foil circle.
Hang in a bright window to catch sunlight and fill your home with cheery rainbows!

Make sure to leave a comment for your chance to win this window decoration! 

 International welcome!

Here are some other variations of this projects. So pretty!

Thanks for coming by! I hope I have inspired you to try Rinea Foil!
Please visit the Designer Crafts Connection blog  for more creative ideas.