How to Make a Purse: Patterns for 20 projects from FaveCrafts.

Even if you are new to sewing, you can enjoy making some fun handmade purses and totes

Click on FaveCrafts to get link.

(along with instructions) with this "Free" eBook from FaveCrafts, called "How to Make a Purse: 20 Patterns for Sewing Totes and Purses." This is a great opportunity to learn how to make a tote or just add to you pattern collection.
    The book also offers some great inspiration for those last minute handmade gifts or for making that special purse to go with a costume like the one below which I am thinking of making to go with a fairy costume for the upcoming Labyrinth Masquerade Ball.  I will probably use a smaller flower and add some leaves onto the fringe.

So pop on over to FaveCrafts and check the book out for yourself and see if it inspires some creative ideas for you.  The site has hundreds of tutorials and patterns in paper crafts, jewelry making, crochet, knitting and so much more.

Technique Tutorial - How to do Wire Forming With Beadalon's German Style Wire to Create Funky Jewelry

At a trade show, I got to watch one of the demonstrators for Beadalon show how to do some simple wire forming using Beadalon’s 18 gauge silver plated pattern German style wire.

The demonstrator kindly gave me permission to shoot these pictures for my readers so they can see how easy it is to use this wire to do some simple wire forming to create some fun jewelry.  

Supplies Needed: 
Beadalon’s 18 gauge silver plated pattern German style wire
Round Nose Pliers

Flat Nose Pliers

Wire Cutters

Step 1: Cut the wire (length depends on your project)
Step 2: Using the flat nose pliers, gently straighten out the cut piece of wire.
Step 3:  Use the flat nose pliers you will begin to bend the wire. 

Step 4: The first bend is a right angle bend.

Step 5: Using the flat nose pliers create another bend that is 1/4" from the first bend.

You can see the bend in the picture below.

Step 6:  Make another bend as demonstrated below. Note the direction of the wire.

Step 7: Using the flat nose pliers to hold the wire and allow you to make the next bend with out losing the square shape that is important to this design.

Step 8: Make the next bend in the wire.  

Step 9:  Keep repeating the pattern until you reach the desired 

length (depending on what type of project you are making).

To finish the project, use the round nose pliers to make a loop on each end of the wire.  If you are making a bracelet, you may need to gently bend the wire to fit the curve of your wrist.  

As you can see in the examples below, the designer combined beads, and the fun Artistic Wire mesh to create a great bracelet.

For more projects or ideas, just check out the Beadalon or Artistic Wire websites for tutorials from your favorite Beadalon Designers.  I also found a great tutorial by Lilian Chen for a pair of cool looking earrings using the Beadalon German wire and some Swarovski Elements crystals at her blog.

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A Look at the York Blvd Parklet in Los Angeles County, California

York Blvd Parklet

The York Blvd. Parklet is one of the new micro-parks that are popping up in Los Angeles County.  A parklet is primary located in urban areas that have minimal space for a traditional park.

York Blvd Parket Seating Area

These parklets provide a lovely space for people to sit while they enjoy the outdoors or take a break from a busy day.

This particular parklet measures 20' x 6' and features some mosiac glass work that has been design and

donated by glass artist, Cathi Milligan, from the "The Glass Studio".  Cathi is well known for her glass beads, television appearances,  and her macrame book,   Mod Knots: Creating Jewelry and Accessories with Macrame.  She also writes for Craft Gossip.
    A close-up of this amazing glass mosiac shows some of the many interesting details contained within the design.  She has done an assortment of different designs along with some cool techniques (like photo transfers).

The stools in this parklet, feature more of Cathi's amazing glass mosiac work.

The deck itself is redwood decking and the planters are planted with a variety of succulents.  This parklet is conveniently located in a main shopping area that features some great restuarants and shops.

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Great Online Crafting Deals for Mother's Day

Today Amazon is having some great  Amazon Crafting Gold Box Deals on sewing machines, the Cricut cutting machine, and more.  The deals change every few hours so check it often to see what they have available.

Cupcake Decorating Lab by Bridget Thibeault Book Give-A-Way.

The folks over at the Craftside and Spoon blogs are having a give-a-way for a free copy of the new book "Cupcake Decorating Lab" by Bridget Thibeault.  It is a pretty good book for folks who would like to learn various cupcake decorating techniques.  So if you want a chance at a free copy or just to find out more about the contents of the book, check out the Spoon blog.

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Easy recycled aluminum soda can craft project ideas.

These are just a few ideas of different things you can make with recycled aluminum soda cans.
The first is a soda tab choker made by me from recycled soda can tabs that I got in a kit.

The second item is a pair of soda can earrings that are made by me.  The leaves are made from a "Red Bull" can that has been run through a die cut machine.  The earrings are accented with turquoise chips. I used the "Spellbinders" Presto Punch to cut out the leaves.

The third is a floral barrette made from recycled soda cans.

The fourth is a butterfly and a dragon fly that are cut out of recycled aluminum soda cans using the
Big Shot die cutter.

These are all really easy projects that do not take a lot of time to make.  What types of projects do you make from recycled materials?

Easy Recycled Paper Projects YouTube Tutorials

These are just some of the many easy recycled paper project YouTube tutorials that are available for learning to make some basic baskets and recycled paper jewelry.  This first tutorial is from Janice May.  She demonstrates how to make a tightly coiled magazine paper bead to use for jewelry projects.


This second tutorial is from Idunn Goddess, who shows how to make a fun basket from recycled newspaper.



The third tutorial is by Mariaamora2001.  It is a very basic recycled newspaper basket weaving project, using a slightly different style.



The fourth tutorial is by Gustamon.  While the video is in Spanish, you do not need to speak Spanish to make the project. There is no weaving, just roll and glue.  You can also change it by wrapping the newspaper around a balloon, then allowing it to dry.  Once dry, just pop the balloon.



These are all very easy and fun ways to use recycled materials for crafting and home decor projects.

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