52 Crafts in 52 Weeks – Week Fourteen

After all my good intentions of catching up with my craft challenge and blogging, I had a week that was far too busy for anything other than sheer survival!  My dear Mom awoke early the other morning with terrible pain in her lower back - she couldn't move!   Gradually the pain increased until my dad had to take her to the hospital...apparently chronic lumbar disc injury!  She was ordered to 3 days strict bedrest which proved to be quite a challenge!  Thankfully she is slowly recovering now, but those few days were very busy ones for Nancy and I while Dad was at work.  In them we also had to fit in a monthly shop for our larger-than-normal family and a repack of the kitchen cupboards to accomodate all the groceries! :)   The Lord helped us through, and here we are - still smiling and happy ( though more than a little tired!)

   But now...52 crafts in just 52 weeks – can we do it?!  

I thought I would also tell you about a new and exciting activity that occurs around here once a week.  We recently made a new friend through our music lessons, and she just happens to live very, very close by – in fact we’ve been walking past her house every day when we take the pooches for their run. 

As she is homeschooled and is about the same age as Nancy, we have become quite friendly with her.  We enjoy practicing our instruments together for an hour or so when we can, and furthermore we have begun crafty days together.  She comes to our home every alternate week to do a bit of baking and crafting, and every other week we go to her place.  That way we can take turns hosting.

Last Wednesday was our first session.  Ideas magazine came to my rescue when I found myself faced with finding and organizing a fun, easy craft in just a few days.  As we live fairly far out of town and only travel in when absolutely necessary, I had the added challenge of finding something we could do without having to go out and buy anything.

I decided to have us make some pretty paper beads to use for jewellery.... 

  The process...

What do you think of our lovely bracelets and necklaces...?

Miss I’s stunning bracelet...  You can make a single strand bracelet, or make a long necklace and double or triple it around your wrist for this effect...

 My sister, Nancy’s bracelet, which she could also use as a necklace...

 

I moved completely out my comfort zone, being a pastel kind of gal myself and created a very interesting necklace!  I wouldn’t ordinarily use these darker colours, but I find I actually quite like my design!

Nancy and I plan to make a whole lot of these paper bead strands when we have extra time (ahem) – they would make gorgeous gifts!  This project does take quite a long time - the preparation especially.  But if you have a free afternoon coming up with your name on it, think about trying out this lovely craft...

P.S.  When last did you visit my Pinterest page?  I have recently added a whole new section on recycled crafty things.  (Under the header ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’.) You must definitely take a look at some of the stunning crafts I’ve pinned!  It is incredible what those clever people do with old ‘junk’ items!

Till tomorrow ~

Kelly

Debbie’s Designer Challenge – Purses, Beads or Jewellery

 Hello friends! Deborah from Debbie’s Designer asked me to join her designing challenge for ‘Purses or Jewellery’.

I made this pink necklace some time ago for my very dear friend, Heidi-Mari.

I got the idea for this necklace from Ideas Magazine October 2006.

 

 

The instructions are as follows:

250cm Pink organza ribbon (1 cm wide)

Darning needle and embroidery needles

Selection of pink and white glass beads in a variety of shapes and sizes

Matching coloured sewing thread

Necklace clasp

1. Cut two 65cm lengths of ribbon and two 50cm lengths. To decorate each length, thread one end of the ribbon through the eye of a darning needle and use it to thread beads onto the ribbon. To position each bead, tie a knot in the ribbon and gently pull it taut before pushing the bead over the knot to secure. Continue in this way until you have the desired number of beads on the length of ribbon. Repeat on the three other ribbons.

2. Using matching-coloured thread, sew four lengths of ribbon together at either end with a few small running stitches.

3. Carefully insert the ends into the section of a necklace clasp, fold the ends of the ribbon over and secure with neat hand stitches. To cover stitching, cut a small strip of ribbon, fold it in half and place on top of stitching. Sew it in place on either side with tiny slip-stitches.

You’re done!

Please hop over to Debbie’s blog here to take part in her challenge!

Kelly-Anne

Valentine’s Day Beaded Candle Holders

We are having a dessert evening this coming Monday to celebrate Valentine’s Day and more importantly my mom’s 40th birthday! We have three other families joining us, each bringing a different pudding. We too are making two or three puddings. It will be held here on the farm outside on the patio. We have decided to use candles to light up the area. My mom decided to make beaded candle holders out of old Purity jars to for this purpose!

Why don’t you try making your own?

You Will Need:
1 Purity jar
Pliers
Assorted beads of different colours
Wire
A Tea light

Cut two pieces of wire, one to wrap around the jar and the other for threading the beads onto (the handle).  (Make the handle quite long otherwise the flame will burn the beads!)

Make a loop on the one side of the handle and thread on the beads.

Make another loop on the other side and attach to the wire around the jar.

You’re finished!

Pop in the tea light, attach a piece of ribbon to the handle, and hang in the tree!

We made about fourteen of these candle holders! They are fun to make and pretty to see!

I will post pictures of the pudding evening very soon!

Blessings,
Kelly-Anne