Giving up control, once in a while!

My new guest room chair

Hi to all,

My new guest room chair has a long story attached to it.  I will just give you the highlights.  This chair was picked out by my daughter, Tori on a trip to Home Goods.  It's a great chair, isn't it? 

This chair is the beginning of a decorating and a personal adventure for me.  Tori is going to redecorate my guest room (her old room) completely.  My input will be very limited.  It will be her vision and  I will have to give up all artist control of the room.  This means getting rid of things that I have a 25- year attachment to.  (And it is probably about time for some of the stuff!)  Really difficult for a type-A personality like me.   But, change is good!  And I think the room will be beautiful.  All of my relatives will appreciate it, I am sure.  I will keep you posted as the redecoration progresses.

 Megan Brizzolara from California is one of my fellow Etsy artists.  She is a nurse by day and a crafter at night.  Megan purchased paper beads from my Etsy site annemadethis; she reworked the beads combining them with her own and crafted this great necklace.  You can visit her shop by clicking on Nutmeg5.  Since she has purchased more beads, I am looking forward to some new creations!

From Megan's Etsy shop Nutmeg5

Enter now for a chance to win a Recycled Paper Pendant

This is our second free giveaway at annemadethis!

This month annemadethis is giving away the recycled paper pendant was crafted step by step in my January 14th blog. Entering to win is easy. To enter just leave me a comment on my blog. Each comment equals one chance. If you leave a comment linking an item from my Etsy shop, that equals two chances. Enter as often as you wish. Every comment is a chance to win. The winner will be announced on March 15th here! Here's a picture of the pendant. I will put it on a rubber or faux suede black cord for you with a magnetic closure, you choose. It's a funky interesting piece you will love wearing!

anne

Collage Art Paper Beads

I shut my eyes in order to see.

                                                      --Paul Gaugin



Tahitian Women on the Beach   1891

Hi everyone,

The other day I was sitting in my work area/studio and I was trying to think of an idea for decorating my paper beads.  What could I do to make them stand out from an ordinary paper bead?  On my work table, I left over materials from previous projects all scattered about.  What about a mixed media collage on the bead?  And then I started.

I began by layering tissue and glue on the finished paper bead, then small pieces of paper, plastic, ribbon, string, thread and glitter. I coated the whole thing with an ultra thick gloss. And my collage art bead was born!  Another way to use those scraps of paper and bits and pieces of string, yarn etc. left over from other projects. What do you think?

Be sure to check my blog again in a few days.  I will be announcing the Pendant Giveaway.  You will have chance to win a recycled pendant and a paper bead bracelet.  Two ways to win!

I love comments, so please give me your feedback.  And visit my Etsy shop.

anne

And the winner is...

Are we to paint what's on the face, what's inside the face or what's behind it?                                                

                                                       --Pablo Picasso



Dora Maar      Picasso 1937



annemadethis giveaway winner!

And the winner is...    Kim for her comments on December 29th about my circular pendant:

Congratulations Kim! Please contact me at annemadethis@gmail.com for

mailing instructions for your bracelet.  Thank you for participating.

Stay tuned for another annemadethis giveaway!

anne

Recycled Paper Pendants

Everything begins with an idea

                              --E. Nightingale

Hi to all,

The other day someone asked me about making my recycled collage paper pendants.  You can get a look at them on my Etsy site; there are a few designs there and this link will take you to one of them.  Below is a picture of some of my recycled pendants.

Recycled Paper Pendants by annemadethis

So Pam, here is my "how-to" on making the pendants.  These are the supplies & tools you will need:

small piece of corrugated cardboard (at least 3"X 3")

2- eye pins not more than 1" (I prefer to use silver plated findings, they always look nice and shiny)*

1-1.5-2" head pin*

1-5mm-6mm jump ring*

1-bail*

a few small beads

magazine scraps

Tacky glue

Triple thick(R) gloss glaze

2 toothpicks

styrofoam egg carton

paper plate

Optional:  stamps, paint

Tools: scissors, jewelry pliers and wire cutters, 1/4" soft and 1/4" stiff brush, hot glue gun

These are some of the tools and supplies you will need.  This photo may help you locate them in your craft store.



1. Take corrugated cardboard and measure into 2- 1' X 1 1/2" rectangles.  (see below).  Cut the two small rectangles out.

2. Take one rectangle, line up the 2 eye pins in the center of the rectangle as shown below.

3. Now using a hot glue gun, set the two pins in position.

4. Using the hot glue gun again, glue the two rectangles together (like a sandwich), with the eye pins on the inside.  Make sure both eye pins stick out and the rectangles are lined up evenly. 

5. Now the fun part begins!  Cut your magazine scraps into strips about 1/4" and about 3 1/2" long.  Squeeze some tacky glue in a paper plate.  Using the tacky glue, glue one strip around the rectangle in one direction and then take another strip and wrap it around the other way.

6. Continue this process until you cover the entire piece of corrugated cardboard, all sides and front and back.

7. Now you can decorate your pendant with tiny snippets from magazines, newspapers, and scrap paper.  Cut out words, tiny pictures numbers or designs, really anything you want.  You can also use paint or stamping to enhance your design.  Remember to decorate both side.  Let glue dry.

                                                                                    



8. The next step is glazing the pendant.  Squeeze out a little Ultra-thick (R) on a paper plate . Hold the pendant by the eye pin or with a toothpick, use the stiff 1/4" brush to cover the pendant with the Ultra-Thick(R) glaze.   Cover completely and let it dry at least 30 minutes.  If the weather is very humid, the pendant may need to dry overnight.  Use toothpick and the egg carton to hold the pendant while it is drying.  You need to put two coats of the Ultra-Thick (R) glaze on the pendant.

9.  While pendant is drying, we are going to assemble the beads which hang below the pendant.  String beads on the head pin.  Use the remainder of the headpin to form a loop.  For more detailed instructions on how to make headpin loop, go to this link.  Then using a jump ring attach the headpin to the eye pin on the bottom of the pendant.  If you are not sure about these last directions, go to the links, that will help.

10.  Last step is to put on bail.  Attach bail to the top eye pin.  Now you can wear your pendant on a chain, a ribbon or a leather cord.  And here is your finished pendant.  Enjoy it!!

Try making the pendant, let me know how it goes--send me a picture of your creation.

Don't forget the free annemadethis giveaway.  Read my December 27th blog for entry directions.  Drawing will be on January 25th!

anne