Love My Grandkids

Metal stamping

This is my first attempt at stamping metal blanks.  As you can see, I need a little practice aligning my letters and learning how hard to hit them.  It's not as easy and you might think, but I think the imperfect look is okay, afterall, it is supposed to look hand stamped and not machine done.  I mixed metals using  2 sterling silver rounds, a copper round, a sterling silver square and a fancy edged brass piece.  I added a small floating heart charm to let them know how much I loved them.  I will definitely be experimenting with many more of these necklaces.  It's really fun and makes a great, personalized gift.

Miscellaneous Cards

Birthday Cards

I made a collection of birthday cards for gifts for a group of my girlfriends.  These were simple 41/2 by 51/2 cards that I left blank on the inside for a personal message.  I love to have cards around that I can grab and use on a moments notice and, I like the idea that they are handcrafted.  I used the same designs for each person, but switched up the colors so they would be individual.  I love using stamps, punches, buttons and ribbon on my cards.  My friends expect handmade gifts.  How can I disappoint them!  Below are a few more designs I used.

Sodalite

Sodalite Necklace

This necklace is a simple design that is comprised of sodalite beads only . I used a few large nuggets separated by a rondelle-tube bead-rondelle to emphasize the front of the necklace and finished the rest of the necklace with a pattern of  tube beads and rondelles.   I like the solo coIor and feel like this necklace can be worn with many things.  I finished it off with a simple hook clasp with a rope design.  Sodalite is a semi-precious stone that is light to dark pure blue in color with white calcite running through it.  It is mined in Namibia, Brazil, Canada and the USA.  Sodalite is known to have healing properties. Sodalite balances the mental and emotional bodies. It fuels a person's creative processes and also enhances wisdom.  The necklace hangs slightly heavy and feels nice to the touch. 

Personalized Birthday Card

Handcrafted Birthday Card for my Niece

I designed this card for my niece's 15th birthday.  I enjoy personalizing cards by adding their name and photo.  I used chipboard letters in two different styles for her name.  She is a beautiful girl so adding her photo really made the card special.  I like to embelish the envelope too if it doesn't have to be mailed.  Buttons are a favorite of mine.  The inside of the card has a quotation about birthdays.  I think cards make a nice keep-sake which can be saved or used later in a scrapbook.  I don't recall the paper I used because I made this quite some time ago.

One of My Favorite Pieces

Malachite Necklace

I designed this piece to donate for a silent auction fundraiser to benefit the Sacramento Rotary Club Breakfast for their yearly event Fiesta del Mayo.  The center pendant is an opaque gemstone call Malachite.  Malachite is found where copper is mined.  It is a green color with variations of greens running through it.  The "40mm donut" pendant is attached to the necklace by teardrop seed beads.  The necklace is made of malachite rectangle beads, gold pearls and seed beads.  The accent metal circle on the side matches the clasp.