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.  

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.  

Mugswap2013

I did something really fun.

Really, it's kind of ridiculous how much fun it was.

I was part of #Mugswap2013 hosted by A Cuppa Kim.

The way this works, in case you don't know, is that we all pretty much throw our names in a virtual hat and each of us is given the name of someone that we should send a mug.  Folks were asked to provide a little basic info about themselves, their Instagram name, blog address, etc.  Until your mug arrives, you have no idea who is your sender!  You only know who you are sending to!

The person I was assigned to send a mug only said that she was a pretty happy person and would love anything.  Her Instagram account had 0 posted pictures and her blog was mainly posts about running times and workouts.

I initially set out to find a great Runner's Mug!  But, despite hours and hours of online shopping, I really couldn't find anything that seemed special.

See, not special.

So, I hit the streets!

I tried Anthropologie, World Market, TJ Max, Marshall's, Specialty Gift Shops, Art Galleries...  The hunt was a blast!  I found a whole bunch of lovely mugs... but not THE mug.

See... lovely.

In the last moments before I had to pick up Baby Girl from school, I drove to the Square in Marietta to see if there was a quaint gift shop that might have a great mug.  I noticed Dupree's, the antique shop.  There is never parking on the Square in Marietta.  Never.  But, just as I rolled around, the spot directly in front on Dupree's opened up.  Not only that, but I was actually able to successfully parallel park my gargantuan "mini" van in the spot with only one smooth move.  I don't really believe in "signs" - as in signs from "fate" that something was meant to be... but if I did, I'd say this was a sign!

See, there's a shot from inside the front door of Dupree's 

looking upon my van.  Could NOT have been closer!

I had a great time looking through all of the cool stuff the shop had to offer -- it's a big shop!  But I knew I'd found the mug when I stumbled upon this beauty.

I know, I know, some folks think she's creepy, but I think she's lovely!  And, to top it all off, I fell in love with a vintage tin that I snagged to pack her in.

So, I wrapped her in tissue and nestled her amongst hand-made pompoms and tucked her into the tin.

I put the tin in a large box that was mostly-filled with halfway blown up balloons and added a few Kind Bars, a gourmet chocolate bar and some other goodies.

I couldn't bear to leave the box unadorned... Then, off she went on her journey to Florida.

I started stalking the mail carrier.  Waiting for my mug.  I had so much fun on my journey to find the perfect mug for my partner I had forgotten to wonder what I'd be receiving... until the giving was over!

Days and days and days passed and still no mug.  And then, one day, a sweet e-mail from a stranger who hadn't heard from me that I'd received my mug.  She'd shipped it a while back and received confirmation of delivery.  I searched the house - interrogated the kids and hubby.  No one had seen a box come to the door.  Until.... my hubby checked the mail box.  There, shoved inside, was a box.  It had been there for several days as the postal carrier shoved mail in around it.  I'd never considered that the carrier would shove it in my mail box... I'd expected it to come to the door!  Not to mention, I didn't realize that no one was checking mail.

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I WAS!!!

I anxiously opened the box and the perfect mug was nestled in a blanket of bubble wrap.

Isn't she perfect?  

A sweet note by e-mail from her sender said that she hoped it represented my love of comics and being a mom.  I don't know if she spent as much time pouring over my blog, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. as I did over my partner's, but she nailed me.  And, each day I've enjoyed a special cup of coffee and remember that somewhere out there is someone I've never met who - at least for a moment - totally got me.  It was a pretty cool day!

As of yet, I haven't heard back from my mug's intended recipient.  I hope both she and the mug are safe and so happy together there hasn't been time for a note in return!  But probably she's just busy training for her next marathon and being a mom to a cute bunch of kiddos and that's okay!