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Puzzle Pins and Hog Hats

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Check out my nifty new brooches! They are nothing but vintage puzzle pieces glued to a couple of dime store pin backs. Awesome much?

This is the perfect piece for anyone wanting to show their Arkansas pride without wearing their Razorback hog hat around the neighborhood.

Not that anything is wrong with Razorback hog hats. I own several myself.

o-o-o-o-o-o

Local Peeps Tangent: Anyone in Chicago looking to acquire some individual state puzzle pieces? I’ll save you the time–go to Foursided Framing in Andersonville. Not only do they carry individual states puzzles pieces (and sooooo much more!), they have a six foot Barbra Streisand print on the wall. SIX FOOT. Clearly, you need to go. And while you’re in the ‘hood, go to Sonya around the corner and get your eyebrows threaded. And yes, threaded is a real word. And yes, it hurts like a mo-fo.

Friday Flower: Pumpkin Seed Brooch

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I have been so caught up in holiday hoopla that I was really struggling to come up with something floral to feature as a “Friday Flower” for today…but then, early this morning, Anne in NC made a comment on yesterday’s pumpkin seed necklace post; Just yesterday I saw someone with a beautiful brooch made from pumpkin seeds, painted maroon with tiny pearls in the center. It was beautiful. I guess I’ll need to get a pumpkin!

Well you just know what crossed my mind: DANG, WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?

An hour, 35 pumpkin seeds, some cardboard, dental floss and two glue gun burns later, guess what I’m wearing to work today!

The back is messy and Lola keeps trying to eat on the dangly bits…so I’ll make a few changes next time around, like incorporating some paint and pearls, but all things considered this has been a very productive morning.

Thanks Anne!


Leftover Halloween: Pumpkin Seed Necklace

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Y’all need to check out these amazing melon seed necklaces from Maya at Little Treasures. Can you believe she made her own beads from leftover seeds and magic markers? Too cool!

What I love about Maya’s necklaces is the contrast. She infused these bright, happy, clean colors into the natural, pale seeds. Don’t think I ever realized how beautiful seeds are until I saw those necklaces. They have the most interesting shapes and earthy, almost wood like tones. 

I wanted to try making one for ages but haven’t seen a decent cantaloupe in this neck of the woods from months. Luckily my jack-o-lantern provided ample seed for just such a project. Pumkin seeds are big, bountiful and free!

Initially I was going to dye my seeds, but then I got on a gold leaf kick and well, you can see what happened. Before this year is out you’ll probably see me gold leaf the light switches. That’s not sarcasm, folks.


Regardless of any gold leaf or magic marker dye jobs, if you have never tried stringing pumpkin seeds, check out Martha’s turtorial first. They are pretty easy to work with, but pumpkin seeds can split if you try to string them when they are 100% dry. I ended up leaving mine soaking in tea with a little vinegar and Mod Podge mixed in for added durability. Once the seeds are ready to go, piercing and stringing couldn’t be easier. The process goes fast, especially if you mix in your own beads. I love me some pearls but I could imagine making this necklace with some nifty glass beads or even just some decorative knots.

I love the glitzy golf leaf next to humble seeds. I love the weighty, jagged edges contrasting against the delicate waxen floss. I love the way this pale and pretty piece looks on a dark and wooly grey sweater.

It’s all about contrast.



This post will joining the party at these fabulous places. Take a moment to check them out!

Friday Flowers: Hair Barrette Necklaces

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Why should little girls have all the fun? Big girls can wear hair flair too!

No pigtails required 🙂

Last time I went scouring for art supplies at the beauty supply store I unearthed these wonderful plastic flower hair barrettes for a buck a box! Cute huh? Just clip them on an oversize chain necklace and add a few accent beads. For less than $2 and 5 minutes you have a funky new statement necklace!

And the fun goes way beyond flowers. Bring on the bows!

In their usual place, hair bows make everyone’s head look happy. But why not extend that happiness beyond a single little green bow on your head? Why not a WHOLE BUNCH of little green bows around your neck?

To make one of these ribbon chain necklaces, you will want:

  • A bunch of hair barrettes (I used 15, choose your length as you wish)
  • A bunch of 2” ribbon pieces tied into knots

I like pairing the bright shiny plastic with some dull, vintage bias tape, but that’s just me. Next batch I think I’ll try some juste twine or a strip of plaid flannel. Maybe some mohair yarn. Hmmm….

Instructions

Good thing these pictures can do the talking. You know, honest-to-gosh, I have been trying to type the instructions on this one for ten minutes and the end result reads: put the doo hickey on the thing and slip over the thing with the hole and snap it up.


Very helpful. I have a new found appreciation for people who write books about crochet and macrame.

The essential concept is this: the ribbon knot goes through the hole of one barrette back piece AND THEN slips over the hole of another barrette back piece. Snap one barrette closed and use the other open barrette to loop on another link in the chain….continue until you get a circle.

Hope that makes sense 🙂 You just have to try it and see how easy it is.

Speaking of easy…here is another version. Just gather some bits of black ribbon, tie them in knots and clipped on the barrettes. It’s very Mid-Eighties Madonna, no? Who knew barrettes could be simultaneously opulent AND trashy?

Priced at $1.00 a box, and with so many colors, I see plenty more of these necklaces coming down the pipe very soon!

 


Pipe Cleaner Cocktail Rings: Liberace Style

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Y’all have heard about my obsession with Liberace. Not only could the man play the piano, he did it wearing rings the size of club sandwiches! Honestly, who doesn’t love a big fat cocktail ring? Especially when it was made by loving little hands.

Must give credit where credit is due: I learned about these rings at my BFF’s bridal shower, from Masha, who saw this clip on the Martha Stewart Show. Martha’s guest, The Pipe Cleaner Lady (that’s really her name!), breaks it down nicely. You can tell she has shown thousands of people how to do it. Be sure to check out her website for all kinds of cool ideas.

My fall themed variation is a little different. I found that twisting two pipe cleaners together made them thicker, stronger, and less likely to snag. Try it out and see for yourself!

Materials:

  • 12 pipe cleaners, but I suggest you get more. Once you make one of these babies, you will want to make more in a hurry!

Instructions:
 1.    Twist two pipe cleaners together making one long strand. I chose warm colors similar in tone, but you have fun and pick for yourself!
2.    Repeat process four more times, resulting in 5 double strands of pipe cleaners.

3.    Take two green pipe cleaners and twist together 2” in the middle. This will leave four long ends.
4.    Bend the green pipe cleaners in half and insert the ring finger of your non-dominant hand, forming a loose “X”
5. Pinch and twist the green pipe cleaners around several times. The end result should be a ring around your finger with a helicopter propeller on top.
6. Use the green pipe cleaners to attach the five double stands you previously twisted. Note: TWIST HARD on this one. This particular twist is important and your final ring will go all loosey goosey if this juncture is not secure. Little hands may need help with this part.

7. Take the tip of a double strand and pinch it in toward the center.
8. Continue your pinch and roll up the double strand similar to a snail, winding as tight as you can.
9. Repeat on the other strands until your petals are done. Arrange as you see fit. I like the asymmetrical look, but some prefer to cup them toward the center, similar to a rose or a dahlia. Y’all have fun with that.

10. For stems, take the four green pipe cleaners and loop them back toward the center/under the petals. Twist to secure.
11. Pinch and twist the green loops together forming the stems.
12. And there you have it!  I dare you to make just one of these. Once you conquer the flower ring, move on and experiment…sparkle rings, bracelets, cat hats…the sky is the limit!

This is a super fun party project for kids and adults. It can be simplified or expanded in so many ways. I made these at an annual picnic with hundreds of kids of all ages, and everyone caught on pretty quick. I did a couple demonstrations and then the ripple effect took place….before you knew it the older kids started showing the younger ones and so on and so on. Don’t you love it when that happens?

 Side note: look, I am not advertising for anyone here, but I spent a good deal of time researching deals on pipe cleaners and this appears to be it. Of course, you can always buy cheaper at the craft store with a 40% off coupon (you know who I’m talking about!)…but if you are buying large quantities for a party, this online source has quality stuff at a decent price. Feel free to do your own research; I’m just trying to save some time.

Swiss Candy Jewelry

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 I call it Swiss Candy Jewelry because it loosely resembles Swiss cheese and the Haribo Gummi candies they sell all over central Europe.
Similar to the process used in the Sparkling and Melting Flowers, this tutorial uses the magical properties of #6 recyclable plastic.

Materials:
* Five #6 recyclable plastic cups
* Heat source (like a well ventilated oven)
* Chain or wire to use as necklace base and links
* Pliers

Cost: Free for me (I already had cups leftover from a party and an old junk necklace, but I imagine this could be assembled for less than $10)

Time: 60 minutes for the blue statement necklace, 20 minutes for the pink pendant

1.    Remove the bottom and top rim of the plastic glass.
2.    Cut rounded shapes, roughly the size of large rose petals
3.    Punch holes

4.    Warm in oven at 180F (see bottom of previous post concerning plastic in the oven)…watch it carefully, it will shrivel and buckle quickly (mine took 25 seconds)…working in small batches in an outdoor toaster oven would be a good idea
5.    Remove from oven and sift out pieces with at least one sturdy hole towards the top (be prepared to discard quite a few)
6.    Assemble jewelry making supplies, including pliers and chain or wire, long enough for your neck
7.    Link individual pieces on to the chain/wire, making sure that individual pieces curve outward and not directly against your neck (could get itchy)…if you want to know more about basic jewelry assemblage, check out this tutorial
8.    Ta Da!

Variation in pink.  I love the contrast between the round/opaque/ vintage pearls and the very thin/translucent/modern plastic.  Also love asymmetrical jewelry of any sort…try it, it’s not so easy to find the right balance!