beadworkbybetsy

This pendant is an original design for Ginny.  She loved it and commissioned me to make 10.  It is possibly a necklace version for J.E.M. and Jewels of Hope.

I am surrounded by many crafty people.  Two of my birthday presents involved knitting, a craft I have not allowed myself to get into.  There is just not enough time to try everything that looks like fun to do.

A scarf, knit by Carol, my mother-in-law

Carol spent Christmas in Minnesota and learned to knit.  Then she decided to make scarves for all of her girls.  Mine looks fabulous with my red coat.  This yarn is a special kind that creates the ruffle affect as you knit.

A cuff bracelet, knit by Pete's sister, Molly

Molly actually might have meant it as a Christmas present.  Either way, when I saw her making one in October I told her I would love to have one.  I love having a piece of jewelry made by someone else.  Not store-bought.  One-of-a-kind:)

Ruth (6 1/2) has really taken to crafting.  I am in the process of sanding down a thrift store find (a $15 desk) so I can paint it and fill it with craft supplies just for her.  She'll have her own dedicated space to make cards.  I forgot to take a before picture of the desk.  I planned to get it finished before she wanted to make valentines, but Little League has begun so that didn't happen.  Painting a desk moved down my list of priorities.  Plus, I wanted to make valentines for my kids and hubby (post to come soon).



Because Elijah and I have January birthdays, Ruth made a couple of cards that were for both of us.  Each of these has a picture she drew and colored all on her own.  She followed directions in an animal drawing book to make both the guinea pig and the rabbit.  Notice the use of decorative scissors and also the right side fold?

Me with Ruth and Elijah

Elijah loves birds.  I think it is sweet that Ruth planned a card for him around one of his big loves.  She wanted to have a tree on the front with a surprise inside.  And because she is only six, she didn't know her spelling of "old" made a cute play on words with her drawing.  I love it.  She also taped a nickel to the card as part of the gift:)

I can't believe I haven't blogged since November.  My New Year's resolution should be to be more consistent - go for more quantity.  The problem is I have so many craft ideas and I start things but schooling the kids gets in the way of finishing what I start.  I made some jewelry over Christmas that I have yet to share.

 My oldest son turned 10 last Tuesday (Jan. 18).  I crafted with Ruth the Saturday before and managed to make him a card.  He loves catching crabs at the beach, so I used a crab stamp I found on the dollar aisle at Jo-Ann.  I also used a CD envelope and primary colors.  There's a little bit of glitter to act as sand and I used the masking technique to get my lid stamped on the jar.

It felt good to start AND finish a card in one craft session.  Ruth and I also stamped, colored and water-colored images to make other cards, but that is for a future post.

On October 20th my hubby turned 38.  Sadly, this marked the end of a year of him quoting Monty Python.  We all made cards for him.  I included photos of the sentiments the kids wrote because I love seeing the phonetic spellings.  Pete, being terrible at spelling, enjoyed reading the cards immensely.


Elijah was inspired to make a card by cutting paper because he thought about how much Pete enjoys this animation of Star Wars.  The song is also pleasant to listen to, too.  I really like the thought Elijah put into the card, but the sentiment sounds like he's a teenager.



Luke used a pre-stamped image that I made for Ruth.  She has a stash of stamped card stock that she can cut and use whenever she desires to make a card.  Wrestle = resl.


Ruth likes adding ribbon and tags to her cards.  I can't imagine where she gets the inspiration for embellishing!  God blessed me with a crafty daughter, for which I am very thankful.  She told us that she added the tag because she wrote too many xoxox's and ran out of room to sign her name.  The image was stamped using Bake Me a Cake by Lawn Fawn.


When you read the left side and then the right side, this is what Ruth's message says: "I love you so much.  I like when you hug me and kiss me and ask silly questions."


I didn't know how I was going to help John make a card and get dinner made on Pete's birthday.  While I was in the kitchen I could hear Ruth saying, "What do you want to say to dad?  I love you?  Do you want to sign it xoxox?"  At that moment I knew she was helping John to make a card.  She drew light sabers because that's what John wanted.  They both decorated the card with lots of stickers.


My card to Pete included some sewing, some eyelets, and has a book mark that he can remove and use.  The image is from a sheet of paper I bought at Stamp Fever.