The super cheap, super fast, super cute, and super easy ring

You will also need elastic.

Chipboard Chunky Necklace

Roberts (our big local craft store) is going out of business. Sniff. But, I have been stocking up on some goods as they are closing out their merchandise. With some of my goods I came up with this necklace.



Supplies:
Chipboard shapes
Largish Jump Rings (I had square ones)
Pliers
Scrapbook Paper
Modge Podge
Diamond Glaze
Big Bite
Necklace Chain

So, first I laid out the shapes in a way that I liked.
Then, I traced the shapes onto scrapbook paper and cut them out. Then I applied to the chipboard with mod podge. After that I filed the edges to give it a more worn look.




Then, apply a layer of Mod Podge to the top of that and let dry. After that is dry,
add a lay of Diamond Glaze and let sit at least overnight.

Repeat for the opposite side, because the chipboard will flip. Choose the same paper or coordinating paper.

Then I used my Big Bite to punch holes through the sides.




After that I put about 5 jump rings in between each chipboard piece. Then I used my pliers to cut the chain to the length I liked, and attached the chain with more jump rings. Then I used one final jump ring to attach the chain together. (It is long enough that it slips over my head and doesn't need clasps or anything)

Polymer Clay Pendants

I love making these polymer clay pendants. The original tute is here. Here is my version:
Take your polymer clay and roll it out using a spray can. You can mix colors or leave solid. Then stamp an image onto the clay.You can get creative on how to cut it out. A steak knife, exacto knife, or look around your house. I took the bottom of a glitter jar and here and it gave sort of a bottle cap effect.You can also get the hole into your pendant a couple of different ways. Here, I took this end clasp here to make necklaces and punched it through two times to make a hole.Or you use a paper pierce or something else sharp to wiggle a hole into it.When you have made all that you want to, bake according to instructions on package. I might do a little longer than suggested so it is not still soft. After they cool down, paint with white paint, then wipe most of it off, leaving only white in your stamped image.
After that dries, you can spray with spray shellac to give a shiny finish.
I bought big jump rings, opened them up and put them through the hole in the pendant, then closed them up using pliers. Then you can slip them through a chain. Another idea on how to attach to a necklace is here: (Toward the end of the video, they say how to attach it)

Ribbon Necklaces

So, on my project list was these ribbons headbands. But, of course I got distracted and decided to use ribbon to make a necklace for my woodsie pendants using the same concept as the headbands. Ribbon necklaces are popular, and you can make ones that cost next to nothing.
I don't why I'm obssessed with pendants but I love making them. Not that I can wear them because as I uploaded pictures, my baby already ruined the first one shown. Oh well.

I finished mine two ways. Here is the first one:

Thread your pendant onto a ribbon cut to your preferred size.Dip one end into E-6000. I like this better than jewelry glue because it washes off your hands when you are done.Didn't get a picture of this, but put your end with glue into an end cap with loops. (Findings aisle at the craft store), then squeeze shut with pliers. Let dry. Then open up some jump rings and attach to the loop.Then you add the clasp of your choice to your jump rings.The other way I used my sewing machine. Cut the ribbon to length and then cut a piece of elastic the length you desire. You can also use a ponytail holder.

Fold the ribbon around the elastic and pin.Using a zig zag stich, go back and forth a few times to sew together.Repeat on other end and there you go.Sorry for the crappy picture. It's hard to take pictures of yourself or make your kids take good ones. I'm not sure if I love the back. Maybe the ponytail holder would look better. Or shorter elastic. Or you girls with long hair could pull it off. I will have to think on it. Let me know if you have any great ideas.

Scrapbook Paper Wooden Pendants

One of my favorite projects of last year was Makes and Takes Scrabble Tile Pendants. I love how versatile and fun these are to make and wear.

And, one of my favorite blogs is Lil Blue Boo. She seriously makes the cutest things I've ever seen. On my project list was her wooden pendants. So I found these at Michaels for about $4 to try this out. And I think I used my coupon. Anyway-200 of them=cheap. They have circles, etc. but I bought this bag with a variety of shapes.

But the problem was that I couldn't find the gel medium she has in her tutorial. So, I got to thinking-what kind of baby would I have if I married the Scrabble Tiles with the Wooden Pendants?

And this is what I came up! It was almost as exciting as having a real baby. Just kidding. (Mostly)

So, here are the steps.

1) Trace around your wooden shape onto scrapbook paper and cut out.

2) Apply a thin layer of Modge Podge to the wood and press your paper on. Then let dry for a few minutes.

3) Apply a thin layer of Modge Podge on top of this to seal the paper. Let dry for a few minutes. You can then trim around the edges if you have any extra paper. (This is where your Tim Holz scissors are amazing!)

4)Then you can apply your Diamond Glaze. I couldn't find any around here, so my sister had to bring some from Utah. I think they make similar products now like Glossy Accents etc. Let me know if you like one that you try.

5) Let this dry for at least 4 hours.

6) I hate it when my pendants turn over and show their ugly backside, so I repeated these steps to have a two-sided pendant. So this way it doesn't matter if it flips. Just have the same or similar paper on both sides so it still coordinates with what you are wearing. This is the back side of the pendant shown above.

7) To make it into a pendant you have a few options. The wood is pretty thin, so my 1/8th inch punch actually did punch through. It didn't really like it, but it did it. My Big Bite, however punched though it with no problem.
Then you can add a jump ring and then attach to your necklace. I didn't have any jump rings on hand, so I glued a bail to the top of it with jewelry glue instead. You could also drill on hole on top.

The possibilities are endless.

For this ring I took 20 gage wire and twisted into a ring like so:

Then I hot glued the star onto the top so that part wouldn't show or rub your finger.

For this hairclip I just hot glued this star onto a clip. Cute for little girls and big girls. Seriously, I would wear this. Wouldn't you?For the keychain I punched a hole with my Big Bite and slipped a keyring into it. Now go make a whole bunch and see how fun they are.I like them because they are a little chunkier and you can use a bigger pattern than the Scrabble tiles. Plus, you don't have wait to find a Scrabble Set at DI. Scrabble tiles shouldn't have all the fun anyway, don't ya think?

What are you making this week?

Luckily, we still go to parents houses for Thanksgiving and I've never had to prepare the feast by myself. Tomorrow I am going to make Pumpkin Cheesecake (recipe from Joy), Pie Pops (minus the sucker stick part. I never have good luck with those things. They will be more like pie cookies) for the kiddies.

And I can't believe I'm saying this (and neither will the people I'm eating Thanksgiving with), I'm going to try to make a cranberry sauce. Out of real fresh cranberries. The direction is on the bag, and then I will add orange zest to it. I'm not a real traditionalist when it comes to Thanksgiving. We are all about Stove Top stuffing, no sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce etc. But Rachel Ray inspired me to try a real cranberry sauce. We'll see how that goes.

Every year, the women in my family also do a craft. This year we are trying the Scrabble Tile Pendants, which I saw at the craft fair for $5 each. I think we will be able to make them for less than 25cents each. Happy Thanksgiving!