Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

May 31, 2014

Recently Completed Projects

This pretty silver locket was included in that awesome bag of stuff I got from my friend Monica awhile back. It was all tarnished so I polished it up nice.

Then I added red suede-like paper on the inside with some steampunk gears and a key.

Spotted this design online and it was a very quick, two day work up for my bff Liz.  It fits easily in a 4x6 frame.  

My stepdaughter loved the black & red egg I made for Lady Axe so I offered to make her one too. That meant hunting down another skull & cross bones cabochon, which I finally found on ebay.  The seller also had a purple and black one so I got that too.  

I used lilac paint and then purple glitter paint on the outside and trimmed the edge with chain, similar to the red & black one.  I gave 'em both to her.  

Marsha commissioned 15 beach-themed bookmarks and 2 bracelets. I assumed that beach-themed paper supplies would be easy as pie to find here, but I was wrong.  There were lots of cutesy pie, cartoonish fish, flip flops, umbrellas, shells, sunglasses, etc. but not a lot of more upscale items. I couldn't even find a nautical map to buy!!  I bought what I could and dug out the rest from my supplies stash.  I made them all in one day.  I didn't take pics of all of the backs, but there are sea-themed quote stickers on each one.  Sorry for the bad pics.







The 2 bracelets were to have a sea theme and the other with 'faith' and a music charm.  Do you think I could find a music charm anywhere?  Liz came through for me by finding one at her local bead shop in Northern Vermont.

I wasn't sure if E6000 would dry enough to be waterproof so this windspinner project started off using LockTite which is supposed to be the best waterproof super glue for glass to metal.  I let all the pieces dry for a couple of days and when I picked one of the discs up, all the glass blobs popped off!!!  Slight delay as I re-glued them with E6000 and so far they've held up through some rain and wind.  We'll see how they do by the end of the summer.



I found some amazing beads 50% off at JoAnn Fabric and Crafts and used one to make another useless hanging thing that's based on a picture I saw on Pinterest and which were for sale in the Moonbeams & Mayhem ebay store.  I have no intention of making these to sell because this one was a pain in the ass.  Seriously.  The frustration to figure out how it was made and adapt it to my supplies on hand and skill level (which, to be honest, ain't so hot when it comes to seed bead art), wasn't worth it.  Also, I had to deal with thread and eye pin breakages at really bad times.

This heart hanger was leftover from that Christmas shelf I made a couple of years ago.  It was already curled on the ends but I had to unbend them in order to get those beads on there and I didn't do a very good job of bending them back.  The steel was difficult to work with.  Then I painted the heart part black and glued wood beads on each end to keep the beads on.



It really does look better close up and in real life.  Used a bunch of the JoAnn Fabrics beads for the bottoms of each strand, with glass pearls, Czech glass, square lavender beads and silver beads of different shapes.

The weather's been so nice and I've been between projects so this is all I've gotten done in May.

20 comments:

  1. WOW you have been busy!! I am impressed. Loved your hanging dangly things. ♥

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    1. So many crafts....so little time. lol Thanks!

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  2. I liked your useless hanging thingy. I would think people would pay quite well for such things. Amazing what you can make when you have the desire and know how.

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    1. Thanks! There is definitely a place for useless hanging thingies.

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  3. Would love to come to your craft table one of these days! I love the bookmarks since I still read a lot of physical books. The sea theme would have been my choice, too. I like the silver locket, too. You're a prolific crafter, JoJo.

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    1. Like i've said before, 'it's a sickness'. I love making things so much! Thanks!!

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  4. You have been one busy and very creative girl. I am gaga over that silver heart, love the way you've dressed up the interior of it. You truly do have an amazing knack with creating Steampunk art. It's phenomenal !

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    1. Thanks! You like the silver heart? Cause I have no idea what to do with it. Let me know if you want it.

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  5. Oh, what a lovely haul of treasures you've created. Love me the sea themed bracelet...can never have too many bracelets.
    Yes, what you did with the locket is amazing. Reminds me of course of my favorite steam punk key, hanging proudly from my rear view mirror :-) Makes me smile every time!
    Tina @ Life is Good
    On the Open Road! @ Join us for the 4th Annual Post-Challenge Road Trip!

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    1. Why thank you! I do love making steampunk themed things! I'm working up a few more projects in my little brain too. I am seriously considering breaking out the other card table and spreading out my altered art supplies and doing more of that.

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  6. Hi JoJo,

    Although I probably wouldn't wear bracelets, I'm tempted because when I see your creativity, I think, what the hell, if I can get away with wearing a pink tutu, why not....

    Seriously, you are a marvellous talent. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and hopefully you continue to have nice weather.

    Gary

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    1. Thanks Gary! I would love to be in a position to be wearing jewelry again but I rarely go out. At least when I worked I could wear it every day.

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  7. Hi Jojo!! Heaps of creative stuff happening
    at your place. Love the beading and everything
    you've been up too.
    Cheers, Anita.

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    1. Thanks Anita! I have a beading project that got stalled out last week when I got sick. I hope to work on that this week.

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  8. You've had quite a productive month. I really like the wind spinners, and I'm glad you found a glue that worked. How frustrating when you buy what's said to be the best, and then it isn't.
    Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks Debi! The wind spinners throw lots of pretty reflections around so I'm glad i made them. We've had a lot of rain and wind since I hung them outside and they are holding up well!

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  9. How lovely.I love your bookmarks. I saw a craft thing on FB about cutting cd's into pieces and using them like mosaic pieces to cover an old jewellery box but I bet you've tried that already.

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    1. Yes I tried it....on a frame. It's not worth the effort at all. The pieces are razor sharp and the pretty reflective coating flakes off too easily.

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  10. It's good that you are getting commissions. Are you selling any of your other treasures anywhere now?

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    1. Not yet....I have been meaning to open an Art Fire store online but haven't. Yet.

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