Beaded Ornaments- great bead destash!

Well Merry Christmas everyone! Here is one of my big de-stashing of my beads project that I made for my Christmas tree. It was super easy and I used a TON of beads! That made both me and my boyfriend happy. LOL. Really this project is simply clear glass ornaments in 2 sizes, a hot glue gun, and beads, beads, beads!!

here are my pearls and silver variations

The blue ones are gorgeous!

These were a bit hit and miss. The pink/purple with the sisha mirrors reminds me of a microbe, but that is the scientist  in me. The all pink came out nice. The gold got messed up so it's a bit "ombre".

Can't win them all! But I now have some lovely new gems for my tree. they look wonderful!!

From our blog to yours! Merry Christmas!

Cheers,

Lauren

Peacock Feather Ornament: Iron Craft Holidays

I love peacock and their feathers. Just love them. The iron craft challenge was making something for the holidays. I actually had another project up and going but I don't know how to finish it. That will come later, got to think. Instead after putting up my Christmas tree I decided I wanted to make more ornaments, it is starting to become tradition. I have a huge stash of peacock feathers I decided to turn it into an ornament. :)

First I trimmed some off the bottom of the feather. Then I grabbed a clear ornament I got at Joann fabric. The hardest part of this project was simply getting the feather in the tiny hole. Easiest thing was to twist it with my finger. Then add the top back to the ornament. I had the stem go through the hole. Trim a little off the top. And it was perfect.

Hardest thing next was getting a decent photo without the glare. We actually had some sunshine in the apartment.

Soooo lovely. Yay!! I actually got inspired after this to make more ornaments. This time with beads. They are almost done too! Need some good after shots. I used up so much beads my stash has dramatically shrunk. Exciting!

Cheers,
Lauren

Iron Craft '13 #3: Hearts and Flowers

This new Iron Craft Challenge was hearts and flowers in lieu of Valentines Day! Yay I was so waiting for this challenge b/c I had these felt hearts my mother gave me out of her craft stash. (thanks mom!) So I had to come up with something with them.

There were a total of 3 and I wanted to do something with them but didn't like how they were see-through. But I got an idea

First I applied glue to one side of the ornament. Then glued on to white felt. Let dry!

Cut away the felt from the ends. Now I wasn't done here. I thought it would be fun to use some of my bead stash and add shiny things to the background of the design. 

Enter my bead stash (1 box of many-sigh). I picked pink, turquoise, and and orange AB beads. 

I selected thread that matched the color of each particular bead. This was for pink. I used a fine needle to bead and of course the miracle cream to prevent thread from tangling- thread heaven! 

I used a double thickness of the thread and simply start beading. I would bead in rows and tack down between beads. 

Here they are done!

Next I wanted to hang them up so I found some old (and I mean old!) thread and used a thicker needle and threaded a small loop in the part of the ornament.

I am in love with how these turned out! My favorite is actually the turquoise! 

Totally Can't wait for the next challenge! Giddy!!! 

xoxoxo,

Lauren

Embroidered Bellydance Ornaments

OOh I have been dying to talk about this project for weeks now. But I had to wait until I got them shipped off to my friends. I made embroidered bellydance ornaments! Squee!!!  So here is how it all began... I was the receipient of free thread from Sublime Stitching. While visiting their site I cam across their bellydance pattern and I was sooo excited. I had to have!

First, I cut out the patterns for the dancers at the size I wanted. I didn't want them too big. I drew the parts I wanted with purple embroidery transfer pencil.

I then ironed them to fabric to leave the pattern. Time to start stitching!

But of course I hooped them before I started to stitch. BTW I had a lot of floss from Sonja's Grandmother so every one was stitched with love :) 

Here is all of the finished people. :) they don't have bling yet. I have to bling them!

Enter Lauren's bling stash

This is Sonja, yes those gold beads are like zils. 

This is Victoria. I tried my hardest to find thread that matched her red hair!

This is Jenna.

Alicia

Sherry

Dana

April

Ok now I am ready to turn them into ornaments. I needed to kind of give them some sort of shape. I used my hoop as a start. Then I trimmed down. 

Like so. Now time to back with white fabric

Here is all of them on the backing fabric.

Pin and sew down. 

Trim excess fabric and clip all the curves

Ok ready to stuff!

Now we need to have a way to hang them up and also stuff them!

Not going to lie but I loved how they turned out! I am positively giddy. Now I should probably make some for myself..... LOL!

xoxoxo,
Lauren