Monday, September 30, 2013

Terrific Tuesdays #83



My favorites from last week:

 
DIY Framed Burlap Monogram by Mr. and Mrs. Winslett


Children's Teepee by Creative Passage






Now let's see all the terrific things you've been up to.

1. Link up!  No shops, or link parties please.

2. Comment, comment, comment

3. Grab my button or add a text link.



How to Make Blue Sparkle Earrings and Bracelet

How to Make Blue Sparkle Earrings

I've got one last post to share with you using the Tis the Season line from Prima Bead. Actually I have a few more things, but I'll wait until it's closer to Christmas to share the others.

I thought these fun sparkly charms were really cute. They kind of have a New Year's theme, but really they could be worn any time of year.

Want to make your earrings and bracelet? Thanks to these ready made charms you can whip them up in no time. This is perfect for beginners, since there's no loop making. And perfect for all you veterans out there who just want to make something quick.


Here's what you need:
2 packs of charms
2 earwires
chain
lobster clasp
jump rings

How to Make Blue Sparkle Earrings
Let's start with the earrings. They are very similar to my Snowflake Earrings, I just added a few more charms.

How to Make Blue Sparkle Earrings
I began by attaching 3 links of chain to the earwire using a jump ring. Then I decided which charms I would like to use for the earrings, making sure I had two of each so they would match.

How to Make Blue Sparkle Earrings
 
Next just attach the charms to the chain, using the jump ring that comes with the charm.

How to Make Blue Sparkle Earrings
 
I love this style of earring, it's so easy and simple and you're done in a matter of minutes. The ready made charms make it even faster.

Next up, the bracelet....

How to Make a Blue Sparkle Bracelet

How to Make a Blue Sparkle Bracelet

I cut the chain the at 7". Then added the lobster clasp using a jump ring. That made the finished bracelet 7 1/2". Adjust the size to fit your own wrist. I also added a jump ring to the end of the chain to easily connect the bracelet.

How to Make a Blue Sparkle Bracelet
 Then start adding the charms. I spaced them alternately 4 and 5 links apart.

How to Make a Blue Sparkle Bracelet

That's all there is to it. It's such an easy project.

Have you made any jewelry lately?

Check out my Jewelry tab to see my other creations.




I am a Prima Bead Blog Team Member. I am also an affiliate of Prima Bead. I receive product from Prima Bead. In return, I create jewelry pieces from that product, and share about them through my blog and other social media outlets. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.



Friday, September 27, 2013

Snowflake Earrings and Necklace

Snowflake Necklace

If you remember, the challenge for September as a Prima Bead Blogger was to create pieces from Prima Bead's Tis the Season line. I showed you my Christmas Tree Advent last week.

This week I'm all about snowflakes. Last winter I saw a lady wearing some super cute snowflake earrings and when I saw all the snowflake charms from Prima Bead, I knew just what I wanted to make.

Here are the snowflake charms I received, minus a couple that I used before I started the earrings.
I was originally going to include the blue charms, but I liked it better with just the snowflakes. I ended up making a earring/bracelet set with the blue charms that I'll be sharing soon.

 The center snowflake is my favorite. When my six year old saw it, she immediately claimed it as hers and told me to make a necklace for her. She told me exactly how she wanted it, and this is how it turned out. Pretty good little designer, isn't she?

Snowflake Necklace

This necklace is so easy. Basically you cut a piece of chain the length you want the necklace.

Using jump rings, add the clasp and the charms. For this necklace, I attached each jump ring to a specific chain link. This way they don't slide around. They stay separated so you can see each charm.


It's so pretty! I may have to sneak it from her and wear it occasionally.

 

Snowflake Necklace

 Now let me show you the earrings I made. They are somewhat similar in style to earrings I've made in the past.

Snowflake Earrings

Here's how to make them:

Snowflake Earrings

For each earring you will need:
3 snowflake charms
piece of chain 3 links long
4 jump rings
earwire

{These are the product numbers for the charms I used: 34742142, 34742145, 34742133}

Snowflake Earrings

Start by attaching the chain to the earwire with a jump ring.

Snowflake Earrings
Next attach each charm to the earring with jump rings.  I added one to the jump ring that attaches the chain. The second charm I added to the first link of the chain. And the third charm I added to the last link of the chain. That's it! Easy Peasy! Now make your other earring.

Snowflake Earrings

I love these earrings because they don't have to be worn just around the holidays. You can use them all winter long. I'm just waiting for the snow to come...






I am a Prima Bead Blog Team Member. I am also an affiliate of Prima Bead. I receive product from Prima Bead. In return, I create jewelry pieces from that product, and share about them through my blog and other social media outlets. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

My Living Room

This is the room that I've been stressing about sharing with you all. I know everyone has different opinions regarding hunting. From the pictures your about to see you will know our opinion. Hunting is my husbands absolute favorite thing to do and you can tell by looking at our living room. But to tell you the truth, the biggest trophy in our house belongs to me. I'm not a die hard, but I do enjoy hunting from time to time.

I've never gotten a negative comment, and I don't want to start now. So if you have a different opinion of hunting than I do, then let's just agree to disagree and leave it at that.

One of the biggest things I've had to come to terms with is the fact that just because there is taxidermy all over our house, that doesn't mean that I have to decorate with moose decor. I did for the longest time, and I still have a few remnants. I just couldn't figure out how to mesh hunting with the stuff I like. I finally decided that I would add what I liked to the room and not worry about if it has a hunting theme. It works for me. 

Let's start with this little cabinet. I found the bucket lamp at a yard sale for $3. The cord is frayed so I don't dare turn it on until that's fixed, but it looks so cute. The books were from my Grandpa's. He was a reader just like me. I grabbed a few that I thought would look nice stacked together and that had titles that I might actually open and read sometime. Then there's the temple picture block and a little pine cone to tie in with the rustic/outdoors theme we have going on. 




Pulling back you can see some of the taxidermy. These ones are Utah deer.  The clock on the wall is pretty cool. It's a slice of a log with an elk picture on it.


Coming around is the fireplace. My husband built it! He did an amazing job and even a few years later, I find myself just staring at it and enjoying it. It adds so much to the room.


Here are some more trophy's. The one on the left is a whitetail from Kansas. The middle is from South Dakota and the weird one with the deformed horn is a Utah deer. You might remember the pillows I made. Check it out here. See that little table on the end of the couch. The top opens up and it's the perfect place to hide wii controllers and remotes. Sitting on top of it is a basket with crossstitch stuff in it.


You can see over to the entry way. I just noticed a baseball cap sitting on the railing. Ha! And I thought I picked up so good :)


Here are the big ones! The elk on the left is mine. It's the biggest thing anyone in our family {including extended} has killed. I wish I could take all the credit, but my husband is the one that did all the work of finding it. All I had to do was hike and pull the trigger.

Up on the ledge we've got a collection of turkey tails. It's a lot easier and cheaper to stack them up there than mount them each year.


Next to the railing we have this little table thing. It used to be our entertainment center. After we built the fireplace, we didn't need it so we took off the top, cut it down to a shorter height then attached the top back on. It's a perfect catch all. We've got movies in the side, and in the doors. We've got games hidden in there and most of the scrapbooks fit perfectly in the middle.

On top are some beadboard picture frames. You can find the tutorial for those here.

Now we're coming up on my favorite wall.


It's what I call my wall, because it reflects my style.  We, of course, have pictures of the kids.

On the bookshelf is a beadboard board with a knob. I change out the embroidery that hangs on it with the seasons.


You may wonder why I have sheep in my decor. My grandpa was a sheep rancher. My grandma in her later years collected stuffed sheep. This is the one that I inherited from her. Every time I look at it, I think of them and that's reason enough place it there.


You see that little ceramic sheep? I painted it when I was a little girl. The mini bail of wool I got from my grandpa when I was a young girl as well.

And yes, I do have a sewing basket on my piano. My sister actually thought to put it there and I love it. It adds some color and it's so convenient to have right in the living room.


Another view.  You can see my stack of briefcases and silverware box. You can read more about them here.  It's so handy to have all the piano books right there, but out of sight.


Well that's it for the living room. I always like to hear your comments - just remember to play nice on this one.

Next week, I'm hoping to share the kitchen. And soon I'll share my craft room and my son's room too.



See other rooms in my house:
Pink Girls Bedroom
My Entry
Master Bath
Princess Bedroom
Lavendar and Blue Girls Room




Monday, September 23, 2013

Terrific Tuesday #82



My favorites from last week:


Candy Corn Ornaments by I Gotta Create! These are so cute and fun! Makes me want to finally dig out my fall decor.

Rustic Copper Washer and Leather Bracelet by Jewelry Making Journal. This really caught my eye. I love the simplicity of it.



Now let's see all the terrific things you've been up to.

1. Link up!  No shops, or link parties please.

2. Comment, comment, comment

3. Grab my button or add a text link.



Friday, September 20, 2013

Christmas Charm Advent Tree

Make your own charm advent calendar. Count down to Christmas by adding an adorable Christmas charm each day to a wood Christmas tree.



Thursday, September 19, 2013

How to Build a Bookshelf

Learn to build a bookshelf with this easy to follow tutorial. I'll walk you through each step and you can create a bookcase of your own.


My 6 year old has been bugging me about having a bookshelf in her room for ages. All the other kids have one, so she felt left out.

I finally made one for her for her birthday. That was back in July - I'm just now getting to the tutorial.

How to Build a Bookshelf



I actually built and painted it all on the 4th of July.

I know... I'm not a very exciting mom, but my daughter was at her cousins for the week and that's the only day I could do it and have it be a surprise. 

Plus my husband was working, so other than a bbq that night we didn't have any fun plans.

It makes for a long day, but you can totally finish it all in one day.

This bookshelf is a variation of my son's bookshelf.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details. 

Supplies needed for a bookshelf:


  • 2 - 1 X 12  boards 8' long
  • 1 - 1 X 3 board
  • 1 sheet 1/4" backing 24" X 48"
  • 1 1/4" screws
  • small finish nails
  • wood glue
  • primer
  • paint
  • measuring tape
  • drill
  • miter saw/circular saw/table saw
  • kreg jig
  • sandpaper
  • pencil



Bookcase cut list:


2 sides - 1 X 12 @ 33 1/2"
1  top - 1 X 12 @24"
3 shelves - 1 X 12 @ 22 1/2"
1 back - 24" X 31 1/2"
1 footer - 1 X 3 @22 1/2"

Building the bookshelf

To begin, lets start by cutting our top and sides. You can get this out of one board.



Next drill your pocket holes into the top of both of your side boards.

I like to have a scrap of wafer board or something similar on the bottom of the jig so that my clamp doesn't dent up the wood. 

I like to do four holes, two at each end.


Next attach the top to the sides using a little wood glue and screws.

It helps to have a extra pair of hands to help.


This is what it should look like so far.



Next cut your shelves out of your other 1 X 12. Then drill holes on both ends of each board.



Then start screwing them in place adding a little wood glue to the ends of the shelves.

If my measurements are correct there should be 9 1/2" between each shelf. 

I basically measured, drew a line and then placed the shelf on the line. 

I started with the bottom, then I did the top shelf and then the middle. 

The spaces between each of the shelves didn't end up exactly the same, but they are straight so I guess that's good enough :)


Now it's time to add the footer. You'll want to measure your bookshelf.

It might be a little different than the cut list measurement.

Mine was slightly longer and I had to cut another.

Add two pocket holes to each end.

Add a little wood glue and screw in place.


Now all we need is to add the back. Just cut it to length.

I like to leave the space under the bottom shelf open in the back.

So if you're wondering why it doesn't cover all the way to the bottom that is why. 

I decided to paint first then attach the back after. It just makes painting a little easier.


I painted the back white for a little contrast. And of course it had to be pink for my princess.


Does this look like something you could tackle? What color would you paint yours? Or would you stain it?


MORE STUFF TO BUILD