'Stuff' Revisited

I just had to go back and do more with those 4 photos of Elora that I used before, now that I have a greater arsenal of digi-scrap materials at my disposal. I like this one a lot better than either of the last 2 pages I've done. And I should, since I spent way more time on it! I think I might actually print this one... ^_^ Now, I'm thinking I need to get started designing Elora's birth announcements...

Ok, I'm learning, I'm learning!

After talking with some of the girls at work, I checked out a few sites with free digi-scrapping supplies.  My first foray into the world of the Shabby Princess was magical! So many wonderful digi scrap kits! Kelly sent me to check out the site, shabbyprincess.com and I simply fell in love. I've heard the name thrown around both the shop and the blogosphere quite a bit, but I never knew what they were talking about (uninitiated as I was). Well, now I do, and now I'm hooked! I've already downloaded two scrap kits, though I've only gotten to play with one of them. This isn't my best work ever--the colors kind of blur together so it doesn't really pop--but I'm learning, and the learning process is fun. Stay tuned for future experiments!

Digi-Scrapping?

After 2 weeks of motherhood, I find that the only crafting I can do is on the computer, so I'm beginning to toy with digital scrapbooking...

Some Recent Creations

Kelly's Bridal Jewelry
My friend Rex is getting married this summer, and I offered to make the bride's jewelry as a gift for his fiancee, Kelly. After chatting back and forth with her a bit about colors and design, this is what I came up with:

I sent her some pictures of everything (before it was tied off) for approval, and she gave me the green light so now they're done. All I need to do now is to pack them up and get them in the mail to the lovely bride. I can't wait to see pictures from the wedding!

Aunt Monica's Necklace
While I was home this winter, my Aunt Monica found this pendant...

...and asked me to make it into something for her. I've been sitting on it since then, waiting for inspiration to strike me. It struck this weekend:

I'm thinking I'll send it to her for Mother's Day.

Progress on the White Tiger

I haven't forgotten my cross-stitch project amid all the crocheting and jewelry-making. It is coming along, slowly but surely. In case you've forgotten, this is what it looked like the last time I posted a picture. This is what it looked like on January 31:

And this is what it looked like yesterday:

I wish that I had taken regular pictures like this of my snowman cross stitch. It's just so cool to have a point of comparison ("I have accomplished this much"), and a time line to go with it. What will it look like 2 weeks from now??

More Pink & Red

Four and a half necklaces, one pair of earrings, and one bracelet later, I have finally run out of steam. And actually, the only reason it's four-and-a-half and not five necklaces, is because I don't have the materials I need to finish that last necklace the way that I want to.

There are two necklaces here, a red one and a pink one. I was just playing with different ways to show them. I like this pink one...I'm having fun playing with freshwater pearls.

Necklace and matching bracelet in pale pink, with the last of the rose quartz I ordered for Mary's set and gold wire wrapping. I like the way the flash lit up the glass beads. I just hope I didn't make it too long...

More light pink, this time with the rest of the glass beads from the wire wrapped one, and the rest of the pearls from the tri-strand. I got a little crazy and put a magnetic clasp on this one.

And this is the one that isn't finished. It might look finished to you, but alas...it ends just beyond where the photo ends. As pretty as it is, I want to finish it right, and not just throw it together with something that I have on hand, but wouldn't look as good as what I envision. At least I got the earrings done, right?

In Honor of Valentine's Day

I was in a jewelry mood this morning: one red and one pink, in honor of Valentine's Day. I started this red and black crystal necklace days--maybe even weeks? yes, weeks--ago, and finally had the inspiration to finish it this morning.

I was a little sad, though. The black crystals are actually vintage Swarovski, and I've been hoarding them for years. I had a ton at one point, but now I'm down to only a few--just enough for one more necklace. So, I hope this piece goes to a good and deserving person who will appreciate it for the treasure that it is. Maybe as a Valentine's day gift?? :) Anyway, when I got this one finished, I found that I had not exhausted my well of inspiration, and so I created this:

I'm especially pleased with it, because wire wrapping is a little intimidating to me. Doing links, as I did for the red and black one, is one thing; wire wrapping a pendant like this one, complete with decorative spirals, is something else entirely and that "something else" usually scares me. But I did it, and I'm really happy with the results. Yay! Maybe I will have more courage for that sort of thing in the future.