Start Christmas Crafting Now

I admit it - I craft and read more than I blog. But I have been taking pictures of my work and will post with some instructions soon.

Today I want to talk abut Christmas Crafting.  It is time to get started.
I like to make gifts for my friends and family. A handmade gift shows love and thought.

 A handmade gift shows love and thought.

I now make origami gift bags, mainly for jewelry but this makes things extra special. (instructions in upcoming blog.

  

I often have trouble making gifts for the men in my life.  This year I am making my nephews braided bracelets with Kumihimo in school colors.

   

I also crochet afghans, who doesn't want a 'cozy' blanket for snuggling up?

   

 

And I make for colleagues Christmas themed projects. Christmas themed gifts I have made in the past, polymer clay sculptured angels & fabric Santa wall hangings & cross stitched cards & Soap.

One year I made some Halloween soap.  I wish I still had one to showcase in a photo.
Using clear MP glycerin soap base I put a rubber super ball with an eye on it (an eyeball). This was before I knew about embeddable paper for soap so I shrink wrapped the soap and printed a label on transparencies.  What made the soap even more fun was what the label said: "I saw what you did in the shower".

Don't forget that baking is a handmade and crafted gift.

In the upcoming weeks I will post a photo and instructions for the project. Please check back.

Right now there are a lot of Christmas Crafting Sales online to consider. Here are a few:
Herrschners Christmas Stitchery Sale
Christmas Earring Designs
Factory Direct Craft Sale
Halloween and Christmas Craft Supply Sale
11 Christmas Gift Ideas, Free Book 
Holiday Fabric Sale

Easy Peasy Idea!

Make A Jingle Bell Bracelet with Memory Wire.

       

 

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Crafts: Bobbins, 1-Step Looper, Jewelry Adhesive - I Love These Products

Some times a product comes to my attention and I wonder how I ever did without.

Over a decade ago I found GS Hypo Cement. A fantastic product with a syringe precision applicator. I use it for jewelry making usually to expel glue inside a bead but the possibilities are endless. Hypo cement works on glass, plastic, metal, sealed woods and ceramics. I consider this a must have supply. The cap has a thin pin that inserts into the syringe and that has recently become an issue - as I have 'ahem' matured I have a very hard time seeing the syringe opening. Now to my FIND.

 Behold the 1-step looper.

This tool makes a consistent size wire loop. Better than looping pliers you don't have to mark the same spot on the pliers. Just place a headpin or wire in the hole on the side and squeeze the plier.

The 1-step looper takes some practice to become comfortable using but the reward is the ability to have a round loop made rapidly and easily.  Now my connecting loops are identical. Making two loops on either side of a bead is a breeze, Insert the wire, make a loop, slide on a bead and make another loop. Using this tool is so easy, like a daisy the pleasure is in the simplicity.


Another recent find is thread spools or bobbins. I found this product when I decided to make some kumihimo braids to I wanted to use a pattern for a square plate and needed a new one. These bobbins spare irritation by avoiding tangling of threads. Made of flexible plastic and easily opened they come in 3 sizes, 8 bobbins to a bag. I find the 1 7/8" spools the easiest to work with but other sizes available are 2 1/2" and 3 1/2". Again, how was I oblivious to this wonderful tool?  I keep buying more because they have made weaving, braiding, kumihimo and macramé more enjoyable.

Extra tip, using a weight when braiding with kumihimo is a great help but the weights are pricey.  I have developed an alternative and hope to have available for sale soon.

Have fun and let me know if you have found a great crafting or jewelry making tool.