Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Necklaces for Christmas!

I mentioned in a previous post that I participated in the It's Just Emmy Christmas Exchange recently.  The ice was to make something that the recipient would be able to replicate and give out as Christmas gifts.

One of the items I made is what I'll probably be giving a lot of this year:  Necklaces!




This one contains a lyric from my very favorite Christmas carol.


It's pretty easy to make.  Here's the step-by-step:

1.  Select a Pendant Tray at your local craft store.  I chose these 1" round ones by Bottle Cap Company that I purchased at Archiver's (full disclosure, I work at Archiver's).  I particularly liked that I could get the matching cabochons or photo seals, which makes it much easier than having to use UTEE or Glossy Accents to seal the image.




2.  Find, create or purchase an image you want to use.  I created this one.  Print it at the appropriate size.  In this case, it was 1" circular, which was available as a "Collage" option at the Archiver's Memory Lab.  So, I got 15 of these on a 4x6" print for less than 30 cents.



3.  Punch or cut out the image to the appropriate size.  I used my 1" circular punch.  Although, the picture above is misleading, I actually use my punches upside down, so I can easily center the image.  


4.  I used Ranger Glossy Accents to secure the image to the pendant tray and then again on top of the image to secure the cabochon.  Glossy Accents dries completely clear very quickly.  I usually make sure to press down really, really hard on the cabochon to make sure that there are no air bubbles caught underneath.  





5.  I secured a chain for the necklace.  I prefer to wear mine long.  So, I purchased these Tim Holtz Idea-ology ball chains that are 36" long.  I trimmed it to 25" and added a closure.  





Friday, November 22, 2013

Another Awesome Exchange

I did it again.

I signed up for another "swap."

I'm obsessed.  It's possibly an illness.  But it's all for a good cause.

This one was the It's Just Emmy Christmas Exchange, aka #ijechristmasexchange.  It cost $5 to participate and all of that money goes to help a family adopt a child.  You can read all about it on her blog.  She hasn't announced another exchange yet, possibly because she just brought home her sweet new baby girl, Georgia.

The idea for this exchange was to make something that your buddy could replicate and give out as Christmas gifts.

I was indecisive.

I like to make things - all kinds of things.  So, I made as many as I could in the time I had.

In the end, I included 3 homemade items, plus handmade pom pons (just for fun) and a little something extra, a Basic Grey 25th & Pine Capture book with embellies so my buddy could have a December Daily.


I'll detail how I created each of the other gifts in separate posts, so I can be detailed.  And include pictures.  And have a little more time.  



Gift 1.  Snowman Candy Bar.   
This isn't a picture of the one I sent.  I forgot to take a picture of it.  This is another (slightly different) version.  





Gift 2.  Christmas Necklace.   
This is just the beginnings of the necklace.  I mailed off the exchange before taking a picture of the finished product.  I'll be recreating this necklace again tomorrow and I'll post pictures along with a tutorial.  




A sneak peek of the graphic I used in the necklace.  I created this using Rhonna Designs app.  





Gift 3.  Wall Art. 
I created the chalk art print using the Rhonna Designs app and printed it at 8x8" where I work, Archiver's.  The wooden plaque is stained with Pewter Distress Stain.  Below it you can see a little corner of the wall art I created using a photo of my sweet grand baby.