Check out my latest little brainwave! A cool metallic dreamcatcher that looks it's woven with wire.
I've always loved dreamcatchers, but never tried one before. Probably because I didn't want to figure out the knotwork involved. (Q: is there an award for laziest crafter?)
So I came up with a simple five minute hack for the 'web' part of the dreamcatcher. After that, it was all embellishment - the part of crafting I really enjoy.
Here's the DIY. I began with a loose-weave metal strainer spoon. I found mine at an Asian market for less than two bucks. Try your favorite kitchen shop or dollar store for something similar.
First I squished the center of the spoon inward.
Then I flipped the spoon over and squished again, flattening the small inner bump. It created a pattern of concentric circles in the mesh.
I untwisted and trimmed the handle wires. Then I made small loops with the trimmed ends, like so:
Tip: that two-loop bail was the one tricky bit. Because the handle wire was so curly, I had to straighten it with pliers before turning the loops. You could simplify by just cutting the handle short, and turning a plain loop.
If you like the bright brass color, your dreamcatcher web is all done and ready to decorate. I took one extra step: a dark jewelry glaze to add an antiqued look.
Tip: If you don't have glaze or patina, a simple wash with brown or black craft paint will work, too!
Then I had a great time with the adornments. Metal feather charms, flying hearts, filigree and a tassel went into the final result.
And my dreamy catcher was ready to hang above the bed.
Of course, this is just an example. You might prefer to include more traditional elements. Bone beads, feathers, shells or other natural objects - there are lots of different styles when creating a dreamcatcher, with personal meaning for each maker.
Consult your own taste, aura, and sense of magic.
Now wouldn't this make a great gift, especially for a guy or someone who isn't really into jewelry? Or hey - I would even count this as a handmade Christmas ornament.
OK, people, thanks a bunch for visiting! See you again...maybe in dreams.
Here's a five minute craft for summer! Something fun and creative from the brain of my husband. A psychedelic painted sun hat!
The story: for 4 years, he has been wearing the same mesh sun hat for working outside. Even though it went through the washing machine regularly, it was stained and unsightly and, well, take a look at what I mean...
Ew, right?
A few days ago I spotted him heading for the back yard, clutching three cans of spray paint and the hat. I grabbed my camera and followed.
Hijinks ensued.
Isn't it awesome? His colors: teal, purple and bright chartreuse.
I loved it so much, I made one for me. They only take a minute, you guys! I started with this dollar store straw hat:
I went with a slightly different color scheme - I kept the teal and chartreuse, but added touches of bronze and antique silver.
The paint dried in 10 minutes and the hats were ready to wear.
They look super cute hanging in your house, too.
Tips:
*Start with just a light spray, don't blast on heavy coverage. (That way the hat will still breathe.) If you want deeper color, add one or two more very light coats.
*Don't paint the underside - you don't want to wear spray paint against you hair or skin.
*These won't go in the washing machine, but cloth hats can still be spot cleaned on the inside. (Maybe even hand washed in the sink; I have had good luck with hand-washing spray-painted fabrics.)
Okie dokie, I hope you liked Jeff's quickie idea. Try it, have fun! Give a sad old hat a whole new attitude.
This little box - formerly a grocery store cheese container - holds an awesome homemade gift for a kid!
That's right, people, you can make a super fun, easy, crafty kit for some lucky child. All you need: a handful of beads, a bit of craft wire, and a Sharpie. A great project for girls and boys - snakes are cool for everybody.
Check out the quick-as-a-wink DIY.
Begin with a piece of craft wire, between one and three feet long. (Some kids prefer loooong, crazy mismatched snakes. Some kids prefer shorter, regularly patterned, beautiful snakes. It's funny, but rarely do the two overlap.)
Twist a swirly onto one end, like so:
Find a flat bead that you can Sharpie on. Matte finish glass beads work well. Or choose plastic or wooden ones. Draw two eyes and two nostrils, and anything else that says snake.
Another option: make a simple snake head bead from air-dry clay. (You can add Sharpie details once it's dry.) I made some extra little disc beads to match.
Next, add your snake head to the wire.
Now gather a bunch of beads and mix 'em up. You can use random, unmatched beads - a wonderful way to use up those strays! Or go with a color scheme. Or even do as I tried to do here: choose some that look kinda snaky.
Include a few small disc-shaped beads if you have 'em - they make a nice rattle at the end of the tail.
Put the bead mix in a cheese box.
Tip: some of these cheese boxes have small holes in the sides. I seal them up with bits of tape.
Place the snake head wire in the box, on top of the beads.
Print up a nifty snake picture (or draw one), and glue it to the top of the box. I found this lovely vintage rattlesnake art over at The Graphics Fairy.
That's your finished kit! Give one to a bored kid and watch the fun begin.
Instructions for making a snake:
String beads on the wire until almost the end. With the last little bit of wire, use a skinny object like a pencil point to make a small loop or swirl. Like this:
Bend some curves in your snake and display proudly!
I hope this idea rattles your cage. See ya next time.
Sometimes I need a little protection. From malevolent spirits; from dragons; from windstorms generated by sad ghosts; from haunted ladies who walk weeping at the full moon.
So I make these shapely, swirly amulets to hang in doorways.
The charm is a Hamsa hand - an image of an open right hand, used for centuries to ward off dangers and the evil eye. I also make them using the Nazar or blue bead evil eye amulet.
My hanging door amulet is so simple to make! The secret is memory wire - it's what creates the springy swirl on the long stem of beads. You will need:
a Hamsa hand pendant (or a blue bead amulet)
some small blue beads
2-3 coils of bracelet memory wire
a cup hook
heavy duty wire snippers
round-nose pliers
The DIY:
1. cut a length of memory wire and make a small loop on one end.
2. thread blue beads onto the wire until nearly full.
3. when you have about an inch of wire left, add your amulet, then one final bead.
4. with the last bit of wire, make another small loop to finish the strand. Optional: add a bead dangle to the loop for a little extra movement.
Here's a closeup:
In the version above, I chose antiqued silver rounds as the final two beads, bookending the pendant.
5. screw a cup hook into your door frame. Slip the top loop of the beaded strand onto the cup hook. That's it!
Here's how it looks hanging in the doorway of my bead studio:
For a different version of spooky protection, here's a link to another tutorial - my beaded evil eye amulet made with craft wire and simple glass beads:
A handmade door amulet makes an awesome gift! Just right for lots of occasions. A new home...a hostess...a dude who isn't into jewelry...a Freshman dorm room...a wedding gift...
Or make one for yourself, for when the Big Bad draws near.
I surprised myself with this project. Never having tried fake stone before, I was unsure. Could I pull it off? Using Crayola air-dry clay from the kiddie craft aisle?
But golly, I love how these turned out!
I've thought of a bunch of ways to use my lovely Easter Island heads. How about:
Mounted grouped in a shadowbox frame.
Turned into way cool Xmas ornaments.
Embellishments for decorative boxes.
Slightly insane statement rings.
Brooches or hat adornments.
Got other ideas? Add them in the comments!
For today's tutorial, I'm going to show you my necklace version. Check it out!
The DIY is madly simple. I started with this awesome silicone ice cube tray, a great yard sale score for fifty cents.
Then I marbled small batches of air-dry clay. I did it differently each time; some versions are just black and white, others have some blue mixed in for spice.
I squished my marbled clay into the mold:
Remove them gently - see my tips to follow - and allow them to dry. And voila, stone heads!
It took some trial and error to get this right, so pay attention, class.
Tip #1: Marble gently - too much mixing will muddy the look. Try twisting the colors together instead of kneading.
Tip #2: For a rougher stone texture, use crumbles of dried-out clay in the mix. This discovery was a happy accident! My blue clay had dried up in a poorly-sealed package, so I tried it...fabulous. Now it won't go to waste.
Tip #3: After marbling a batch, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, drying out. The drier, stiffer clay is easier to unmold.
Tip #4: Take your time removing it from the mold, and expect some stretching. Place it on a flat surface and gently push it back into shape. (If it turned out really deformed, no prob! Just squish it back into the mold and try again.)
To attach the pendant bails, I used my magical aluminum tape method (tutorial here).
Okay, guys, that's the story of the Easter Island pendants. Hope somebody tries it. Have fun!
Hey, I bet you know someone who loves to tinker with car engines. What if you could make that wonderful person a gift that doubles as an auto mechanic's tool?
Such as this keychain.
That interesting-looking base is a mechanic's tool called a spark plug gap gauge. I am told that it gauges spark plug gaps. (Me, I have my doubts. I think it's some kind of secret decoder disc. Definitely espionage-related. Shh. Don't spread it around.)
Anyway, isn't it cool looking? I would wear one myself...take a peek at this pretty, steampunk-esque necklace version:
But it's not about me! It's about that mechanically inclined individual who is super hard to buy for. You can make that person this awesome gift in 5 minutes or less - NO TOOLS NEEDED! Just your two little hands.
Here's the simple DIY.
Add the spark plug tool onto a really big jump ring. Then add a charm or two or three, like so:
Swivel the jump ring closed. With a jump ring this large, you can just use your fingers (if you like, get an assist from a pair of jewelry pliers).
Now simply add it to a necklace or carabiner, and you have made your five minute spark plug gap gauge jewel!
Tip #1: Get these at any auto supply store - they are usually on the counter and cost a couple of bucks.
Tip #2: There's a reason for the extra-big jump ring, so don't try to go smaller. It allows all the charms to swing free of the measuring tool when it's being used for...whatever it does.
Tip #3: For a key chain, avoid charms made of fragile materials, because it will likely live in a pocket with a mess of coins, keys, nuts and bolts.
For a manly necklace, string your focal on paracord, ball chain or suede. Or try a strung necklace, as in this one made of leather and antiqued bone beads:
Okay, that's the big idea - have fun and please let me know if you figure out how the decoder function works.
