Red Twisted Oval Glass with Silver Wire Links

This necklace was a special request for a friend.  She wanted a red necklace and after looking through my collection, she picked these twisted glass beads.  I tried a different technique for this necklace.  I wanted the red to really stand out.  I didn't want to add a bunch of other colors or mix different shades of red, just to get the length for a standard beaded necklace.  The solution was to create wire links out of 20 gauge Artistic silver wire.  The only other beads I added were Swarovski Crystals in the same shade of red and silver rounds and spacers.  This gave the necklace a very airy look and you only see red!  She loved it!

First Attempt using the Quilling Technique

So now that I have my quilling paper organized, I can get started creating cards, right?  This is my first attempt at quilling.  I don't think it turned out to bad.  I love how you can take the paper strip, roll it into a coil, pinch one side and it instantly become a flower petal.  Put a few of those together and whalla, you have a dimensional flower!  If you pinch the opposite sides of the coil, it becomes a leaf for the flower.  I had so much fun making this card.  It took me an hour to make it, but hopefully with a little more practice, I will get much quicker at it.  Thought this design would make a wonderful wedding card.  I used Stampin Up Top Note die under the layers to break up all of the purple.

Quilling Paper Storage

The art of quilling or paper filigree has been around for a very long time and recently has become popular with paper crafters in the card making industry.  I found this craft and became very interested in it, because it will add a new dimension to my rubber stamped cards.

I went out and purchased the supplies I needed.  But of course before I can even start a project, I have to have everything organized and be able to storage my new items.  I guess that is just part of my OCD.  Here are the quilling paper strips that I purchased.  They need a home…

I started with a piece of foam core board 12 inches long by 3 inches wide.  I cut 2 of these and glued them together.  You could make this any size you like.  I made it 12 inches long so I could cover it with 12 inch wide paper.

Next I selected a paper that I liked and made sure it would wrap the hole way around my foam core boards.  I glued the center of the paper to the front of the foam core, making sure that the back of the paper would cover the foam core and wrap over itself.

I glued the paper to the back of the foam core top and bottom, creasing it at the top and bottom so it would lay flat.

From the top of the foam core, I measured down 1inch and drew a straight line across the entire board.  From that line, I measured down 1/4 inch and drew another straight line across.

On the top line, I measured every 1 inch starting at the left and put a mark.  On the line below, I measured in from the left 1/4 inch and put a mark.  Then continued to mark every 1 inch on this line.  You will end up with staggered markings at every 1/2 inch.  I pushed the T pins into the foam core board making sure to only punch through the first board.



.I turned the T pins vertically and used it to separate the paper strips and slid the quilling paper strips onto the pin. 

Then I turned the T pin back into the horizontal position.  This will keep the quilling paper from sliding off of the pins.  The T pins I am using are 1 5/8 inches long and the quilling paper strips are 1/8 inch strips. Each T pin can hold up to 8 packs of quilling paper strips.

I used my small scissors and made holes in each top corner.  I glued eyelets into the holes and put a 4 inch piece of ribbon through each.  I used the ribbon to hang up the holder.  Whalla!  You have a holder that will hold up to 24 different colors of quilling paper. 

Pink Cat's Eye Pendant Necklace

This necklace has the perfect colors for spring. It has Olive Jade beads, Clear Crackle beads and Pink Acrylic beads. The focal bead is a 40x30mm pink Cat's Eye pendant. The gold beads and chain components are gold plated.

The necklace is 56 inches long and can be worn in many configurations. I have doubled it in the photo.