Saturday, December 24, 2016

Happy Holidays to my ETTEAM with a Celebration of Handmade and Vintage


Christmas photo  https://unsplash.com/@aaronburden
                                                      https://unsplash.com/@aaronburden

This is a selection of ETTEAM items that make great additions to your home or as a gift. What makes them special is they are handmade or vintage.  That is ETTEAM?  We are a small,  structured close-knit team on Etsy an online selling site. This team offers mutual promotion on social media off Etsy, a sense of community, discussion and support, lots of exposure and warm helpful people. We're a team for advice and learning as well as promotion. We strive for fairness. Everyone participates.

These items are picked by member Charlene Sevier.  
Now, look at the picks---

for ETTEAM


Crew socks
etsy.com


Boho jewelry
etsy.com


Silver necklace
etsy.com


Lip treatment
etsy.com



White light
$46 - etsy.com


Plastic ornament
etsy.com


Ceramic plate
etsy.com





Pocket-sized hand-cut and painted wood bears
etsy.com




I feel like I know these folks personally.  In fact, some I have known online for probably at least 10 years.  I even got an invitation for coffee from one of the members when she saw I was in her town on a recent camping trip.  I am sure you would be happy and satisfied with a purchase from any of the Etteam.  Gives us a try!  I know you will be happy.



Christmas photo https://unsplash.com/@benwhitephotography
https://unsplash.com/@benwhitephotography
Happy Holidays to all BayMoonDesign blog readers and  ETTEAM members.  

Friday, December 16, 2016

We're All Ears :: December Inspiration Use your Leftovers Challenge


We're All Ears :: December Inspiration

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Use Your Leftovers challenge sponsored by Erin Prais-Hintz!

This is a perfect challenge for me--use some of my bead leftovers and I have lots.  I usually have multiple beading projects going at the same time.  My beading table is always a mess unless I have cleared it for public viewing which is rare.  The only positive about my mess is that I keep it contained all in one room which I refer to as the "jewelry room".  The door is usually shut when I am not in it because I have 3 beloved cats who could potentially die from swallowing beads, wire, etc.  These cats also like to stretch out all over the table and cause everything to go flying.  The cats are only allowed in there when I am there to supervise.  


My messy beading table
My messy beading table

There is only one thing to do with a bead table mess like that this and that is to play: Leftover Transformation Game.  


This is how to play:

First, take a picture of the craftermath from your bead feast. Done

Next, find a divided box, bin, baggies or small bowls and go through the stash on your festive table picking out coordinated sets that you can use to create earrings. They don't need to be same. Put these pieces together with ear wires, chain, findings, etc in each division of the box. Work quickly! Don't take too much time, just focus on filling the sections.Think of this like your staging area for Leftover Transformation.  Done

Divided Box with Earring Parts
My Divided Box with Earring Parts

Now, kick your creating into high gear! Consider this a Quickfire challenge...Put on some fun music...Set a timer (challenge yourself to see how many pairs of earrings you can create in an hour...or 15 minutes... or make one pair a day for 7 days... whatever works for you!). DON'T THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH (leftovers are supposed to be easy!), just make it happen. Sometimes the best things happen when you are on a deadline and you can't afford the time to overthink! Done

Once I got all of the parts assembled in the box. I decided to focus on earrings that used similar parts. Once I had all of my jump rings, headpins, ear wires and silver out, I focused on using those parts. It turned out to be much more efficient than my usual method of making several very different earrings over a period of days. I created these earrings in a few hours.

Modern Navy Blue Pearl Earrings by BayMoonDesign
Modern Navy Blue Pearl Earrings by BayMoonDesign
For my first pair I made these  fresh navy blue earrings for those who are looking for long oval dangles that have a very retro look to them. These blue earrings feature navy pearls and sterling silver. I love how the sterling silver compliments the blue pearls. The blues in these pearls are gorgeous. I love how these blue geometric earrings are modern looking as well as having a retro look.

Anchor Earrings by BayMoonDesign
Anchor Earrings by BayMoonDesign

These are fun robin egg blue earrings with a nautical theme. I love the look of the light blue cultured sea glass with a silver anchor layered on them. I put them on large sterling silver hoop ear wires. 


Starfish earrings by BayMoonDesign
Starfish earrings by BayMoonDesign
Next, I used slightly darker blue cultured sea glass beads and layered sterling silver starfish on them.  I use sterling silver ear wires. These are pretty light blue starfish earrings

  Light Green Geometric Earrings by BayMoonDesign
Light Green Geometric Earrings by BayMoonDesign
The last pair that I made are geometric light green earrings. I love the look of the green cultured sea glass with the sterling silver bubble charms layered on them. I also used sterling silver ear wires.


Christmas present
photo credit:: https://unsplash.com/@benwhitephotography

These earrings are great for stocking stuffers.  They also make wonderful gifts for teachers, co-workers and friends.  They are available for purchase in my online store just in time for celebrating all the winter holidays and festivities!

Now, let's see what tasty Leftover Transformation creations are posted on at the blog party.  


A fun challenge--thank you  Erin Prais-Hintz.  


Sunday, December 11, 2016

6th Annual Ornament Blog Hop

Christmas tree
photo credit :: https://unsplash.com/@joannakosinska
               
This is the 6th Annual Ornament Blog Hop sponsored by Heather Powers of Humblebeads.

This is an inclusive creative challenge.  Participants may make something inspired by Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Winter Solstice themed decorations along with traditional Christmas ornaments. 


I made a traditional Christmas ornament   For my ornament,  I grabbed a lesson from Heather Power's book Bead Making Lab.  In her book,  she demonstrates how to make a blue bird of happiness.  I used white air-dry clay which is a new material for me.  I found it easier to work with than polymer clay.
Blue bird made from white air dry clay by BayMoonDesign
Blue bird made from white air dry clay

 After applying a little more teal blue paint,  I drew some feathers with a black fine-point permanent marker and applied some gray acrylic craft paint to create my blue bird.  I love the folk art appearance that bird has after the gray is used.


Christmas ornament by BayMoonDesign
Blue Bird of Happiness Ornament by BayMoonDesign

For the ornament portion of this, I adapted directions that Heather Powers posted on a nest ornament blog that she did a while back.  My ornament is similar, but it is different too.

Supplies:
Blue bird-Bay Moon Design
Disk bead - Bay Moon Design
Czech glass leaf
3 red 4mm red crystals
1 brass 3" headpin
1 brass 7mm jump ring
34" brass color 18 gauge wire
3" brass color 22 gauge wire


Directions:
1. Cut 4" of the 18 gauge wire, create a large spiral on both ends and hammer with a ball peen hammer.

2. Form a 2" circle with the remaining wire, wrap the wire around into a circle two more times to form the wreath/nest.  Continue wrapping the wire around the nest to form the texture on the nest. Leave a 4" tail of wire.  Form a loop at the top of the nest and wrap the remaining wire around the loop.

3. String the 3 crystals on the 24 gauge wire, center and twist the wire to hold the crystals in place.  Wrap the wire under the top loop.

4. Put a headpin through the Czech bead and make a loop and put the loop through the wire of the nest to attach securely.

5. Attach the wire hanging to the nest.

Christmas ornament by BayMoonDesign
Blue Bird of Happiness Ornament on Handmade Hanger by BayMoonDesign

I plan to give this ornament to by daughter for her Christmas tree.
Christmas tree
photo credit by :: https://unsplash.com/@evelynchin


A special thanks to Heather Powers for organizing this blog hop and also for sharing her knowledge and skills.


Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Tiny Treasures


Unfinished Cigar Box by BayMoonDesign
Unfinished Cigar Box by BayMoonDesign
Way back in September the Art Jewelry Elements challenge inspired me with the inspiration of trees as the theme. This challenge also inspired me to try something new. I was gifted some green scrapbook paper with trees on it along with some other prints.   I thought this paper would be perfect to cover a cigar box that I had sitting in a closet. 
I also had some scrapbook paper that looked like old newsprint that I used to line the inside of the box. I had never done this before and I was pleased by how it turned out. At the time of this original blog, I said that I planned to put feet on the box, a knob, and hinges. It was going to be a gift for my son.  I thought it could hold some tiny treasures.

Finished Tree Inspired Box by BayMoonDesign
Finished Tree Inspired Box by BayMoonDesign

I used Tim Holtz Idea-ology Foundations metal feet, his Curio Knobs, and Hinges  The Curio Knobs are sold in threes.  I selected the white one for this box.  I had a sticker with the word "treasures" which I thought would be perfect.

 Inside of the Tree Inspired Box by BayMoonDesign
           Inside of the Tree Inspired Box by BayMoonDesign


To create a box like mine, you need the following Materials:

Cigar box (Some cigar stores will sell these to you.  You can buy online also.
Enough sheets of scrapbooking paper to cover your box
You can also use any other kind of paper, but scrapbooking paper works best because of its thickness and durability.
Paper trimmer
Pencil
Ruler or measuring tape
Mod Podge
Brush
Paper Towels

After removing hardware from the box, I steamed some of the stickers off the box and did a little sanding.  I measured the surface of each flat area to be covered with paper and cut the paper to size.  I used a brush to apply the Mod Podge.  After the Mod Podge dries, an outer coat should be applied.  The paper may get bumps on it when wet, but it dries flat.
Lid of Bird Cigar Box by BayMoonDesign
Lid of Bird Cigar Box by BayMoonDesign
I decided to make a treasure box for my son-in-law.  He loves birds and my friend gifted me beautiful bird themed paper that I knew he would love.  I started with the inside of this box and measured the area to be covered.  The natural wood of the box looks great with the paper so I left as is.

Inside of by Bird Cigar Box by BayMoonDesign
Inside of by Bird Cigar Box by BayMoonDesign

Front of the bird box by BayMoonDesign
Front of the bird box by BayMoonDesign
You can see I matched up the pattern of the paper when I made the 3 panels  for the front of the box.

Bird box by BayMoonDesign
Bird box by BayMoonDesign
I also matched the pattern on the sides and back.  I love the knob that I selected for this box.  It seemed perfect.


Purple box by BayMoonDesign
Purple box by BayMoonDesign
  I made one for my daughter.  She loves purple so the purple paper that I was gifted was my choice for her box.  The crystal knob looks feminine and I thought it worked well on this box.  


Inside of box by BayMoonDesign
Inside of box by BayMoonDesign
I really enjoyed working on all three of them.  I am giving them as Christmas gifts. I hope to make myself one next year.

Which box is your favorite?