Making the Pendants: A Bit More Detail

To make these pendants I first started by gathering photos from friends and family.  Finding the right picture was a bit tough.  I needed one that had enough contrast that when I changed it to black and white it would show up clearly on a see through piece of paper aka transparency. I also needed photos where the subject was centrally located so I could trim the photo to fit in desired pendant. (Allison, this is why you haven't received yours yet, I can't make the photo you game me work.) 

After I had an idea of the photos for each person I went to Michael's and looked for pendants that would best fit the shape.  There were 3-4 to choose from that varied greatly in size and shape.  I tried to modify a pendant that had glitter or confetti in it by cutting off the back plastic of the pendant, but didn't get good results.  I would stick with the pendants that open and a photo can be placed inside easily.  I ended up going to Hobby Lobby for the last few pendants, as I cleared out the selection at Michael's.  They had a few but they were less unique - just a circular metal ring that holds 2 pieces of glass, or there were rectangles. I also picked up some chains that coordinated with the pendants in the jewelry making isle to put the pendants on.  Some had clasps, others didn't, so pay attention to that.  If you have a bit more money you could purchase chains at a jewelry store.

Once I had the photos, I pasted them into word (lame I know, but I didn't have to learn or purchase a new program to edit the photos for this project) then adjusted color/brightness/contrast to black and white.  I made several of each photo some high contrast, some lower contrast, because I didn't know how the picture would look on the transparency.  I made sure to have the document size at 100% so I could adjust the size of each picture to fit in the pendant with out actually having to print a lot of copies.  I just held the pendant up to the computer screen to adjust the size.

Once I had the color and size right I printed the document. I used this as the master to copy the photos onto transparency paper. If you have a printer that prints on transparency paper you could print directly to that.  You can go to FedEx for this too, they can even do colored pictures onto the transparency, which looks pretty cool too!

After I had the photos on the transparency paper, I chose which version I liked best.  This was different for each photo as they all had such different backgrounds to begin with.  To cut each image out I traced the shape of the pendant using a visa-vis marker (one that comes off with water), then cut just inside that line.  It took a little bit of trimming to get them just right, but I also didn't have to make the edges perfect, (counter intuitive to my perfectionism)  if I was close you couldn't see that they weren't straight or just a bit off.

Next was the process of attaching the pendant to the chain.  For this I needed needle-nose pliers.  For some of the pendants I also needed an extra ring to attach, others had a ring on it that could be opened and reclasped around the chain.  If the chain was long enough I didn't put a clasp as it slipped over the head easily.  Some of the shorter chains needed a clasp added. 

That's It!  Super easy, not too time consuming, and a completely original piece of jewelry!


Materials List:
Pendant
Chain Necklace
Clasps for Chain
O rings to attach pendant if needed
Photo
Transparency paper
Scissors
Visa-Vis or other marker that wipes off with water
Needle-nose pliers
Computer & Program for minimal editing of photos

Painting at the Palette

For my mom's birthday (in August) I took her to The Palette (in October), and am finally sharing it (in December).

The Palette is a painting studio where you are led through a simple step by step process of painting a masterpiece! Lots of music, very little pressure, and a complementary glass of wine all make for a successful finished product.

We had a lot of fun, and I only mistook my pair water cup for my wine cup once... or twice.

Creativity for Christmas

This year I made photo pendants for some of my Christmas gifts. It was super easy too! Just took a photo of their kid(s), copied it on transparency paper, then cut to fit inside a glass pendant.

Happy 40th Rob!

My sister-in-law's husband Rob celebrated his 40th birthday last weekend, of course the event couldn't go unnoticed, or even creep by quietly!  What a fabulous party it was!  Myla wanted Rob to have a giant water slide bump and jump, and it was a huge hit with all the kids.

Christie and I spent the entire morning making Rob's bouquet and birthday cake.  The bouquet was an idea I found on pinterest months ago and had been saving specially for this day.  The cake was an idea Christie found and modified.  Since we had a Jack Daniels theme going we spice the home made butter cream frosting with a few teaspoons of Jack Daniels, and WOW! it was amazing.  We had so much fun creating these two special gifts for Rob.  Rob absolutely loved them, and they were a big hit at the party.



The next one will be Carrie's( years away), and we are already making plans for her big day cake and goodies.

Learned: Using fondant was way easier than I thought, hot glue guns are miracle workers, and a morning spent crafting makes for great memory making.

The Easter Story Cookies

My mom sent me a recipe for Easter Story Cookies, cookies that you make where each step in the process represents the story of Easter, hence the name...

So the kids and I set out on our first batch:

Step one: Crushed pecans represent the beating Jesus endured after his arrest.

Step two: Vinegar, represents the sour wine Jesus was given to drink on the cross.




Step 3:Egg Whites, represent life, the life that Jesus gave for us.


Step 4: Salt, represents the tears Jesus followers shed when he died.

Step 4: Sugar, representing the sweetest part of the story; Jesus loves us and gave his life for us so that we could belong to him.


Step 5: Beat on high speed till white peaks form, representing how we are made white as snow through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Step 6: Fold in broken nuts, drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Step 7: Put in the oven and seal with tape, representing after Jesus died and his body was placed in the tomb, the tomb was sealed.

Step 8: The next morning unseal the oven and take the cookies out, and enjoy!


A special surprise is the cookies should turn out hollow, representing the empty tomb, because HE IS RISEN!

Jewelry Wall Art

I rarely wear jewelry, I have earrings that I wear 24/7 and my wedding ring. Occasionally I will wear a few pieces that I bought specifically for an outfit. It's not that I don't have other jewelry to wear, I do, its that I just don't think about putting on a necklace, or changing my earrings. I think part of this reason is all the jewelry I own is tucked in boxes inside drawers, and I just forget about it.

A few months ago I saw a neat display of jewelry in a store, it was pinned on plain cork board. Since then I have wanted to do something like that with all mine, I thought if I at least got it out where I could see it, I might actually wear it.

So here is what I did: (the pics are uncharacteristically blurry for my new IPhone..not sure whats up with that)...







This one is my favorite, it has the necklace and earrings I wore for our wedding, and the cuff links and pocket watch Brian wore.

The Cheapest Computer

During my jam and butter project Maddox entertained himself quite well. This was by far the most creative of the day.

Learned: Maddox has toys in excess, but he chooses pizza boxes, shell casings, spare parts, and vacuum hoses to play with instead. So I have started collecting random interesting pieces to give him for Christmas.

Butter Makes Everything Better

Today I made my first batch of butter. I picked up some heavy cream at the local diary, then I literally just whipped it up!

I have made whip cream before, and for butter you just keep whipping until all of the sudden the whipped cream looking stuff turns to chunks with what appears to be water but is actually butter milk!
Next you have to wash the butter to get all the butter milk out of it (the butter milk is what makes butter turn rancid quicker). This step requires a bit of muscle, as your mixture is the texture of firm butter and you have to mix in ice water and mush it around, rinse and repeat. You continue this process until the ice water drains off clear. I used my mixer for the first several washes then used a spatula to really mush it around.

For my final step I added just a bit of salt and stirred again. And Voila...BUTTER!!!


I pressed it into my old butter container and put it in the freezer till we use up what is in the fridge. I ordered a butter bell from a friend who does pottery, so when that comes in I'll put it in there!

Something Old

I have had this old sewing machine since my grandma moved out of her house a few years ago. I love it and have wanted to put it in the house somewhere, but we have a small house that is overcrowded already. AND I wanted to find the perfect spot for it. Needless to say it has since sat in my garage..., buried under boxes of books, sitting dejected behind many other forgotten treasures.

Alas yesterday was a special day, the day it found the beginning of its purpose...

I unearthed it from is lowly spot in the garage, and hauled (it is quite heavy...)it into the house. Then disassembled the tangled web that was the computer/phone/modem/wireless router, cleaned the disgusting accumulation of dust from every surface in that corner, as well as ever surface of the sewing machine, and tossed the old computer desk making room for the antique sewing machine...

I dreaded reconnecting all the wires, sure that I would mess up and not be able to use the phone or Internet... amazingly I did it!
I am not sure if this will be the final placement of this piece of furniture or not, but I am so happy to finally have it in the house where I can enjoy its design and sentimental value.

Learned: Sometimes you just need to DO it and not worry about it being perfect.

Remodeling The Bathroom

Over spring break I decided to remodel the bathroom. It was the only room in our house that has not undergone complete renovation... Brain pointed out to me that I always start these big projects when he is working his 12 days straight, and is unable to help. Thankfully Summer came over to help with the demolition, even though she was giving her own bathroom a face lift! Also my dad came over to help (as well he should since he was the one that suggested the project be expanded from just floor and vanity, to include the shower) It was so nice to spend a few days with my dad too!

Maddox was a good helper (most of the time), and only lost patience after 5 days.

The whole project has lasted 12 days. I started on Wednesday during break, and it was just finished last night. By the end of the first weekend we at least had a working shower so we could stop traveling to the parents in the evenings.

Currently we have a fully functional bathroom, all that needs to be done now is the baseboard, knobs, and towel hooks. But I really consider it done!

The best part of the whole thing was that it cost us less than $1000 when all was said and done!

Well.... enjoy the pics!



Learned? A project I thought would be finished in a week, but took a lot longer... reminded me I am not the best judge of how long things take....

Spring Break, Spring Break, Oh How I Love Thee

I love thee for you come none too early,

The guarantee of having only 2 children to raise,
The promise leaving the work email closed,
The joy of not hearing another excuse for why work from January is still missing

I love thee for you come none too early,


Whether you bring sun or rain, I'll enjoy it just the same,
Spending mornings snuggling kids rather than rushing them out the door,
Enjoying a run to start my day followed by fun at the park with the kids and the dogs

I love thee for you come none too early,

Having a few spare hours to spend with friends,
Maybe a trip out of town for the day,
or even a trip to be spoiled at the spa,

I love thee for you come none too early!

Fatter the Flakes Fall

Silent, softly falling snow,
Covers the crisply frozen earth,
Plush pillows hide the children’s toys left outside one day too long,

Still fatter the flakes fall.

Boisterous laughter accompanies children’s play,
Man of snow, with coal for eyes, image of imagination,
Warm cups of cocoa remedy the winter’s chill,

Still fatter the flakes fall.

Frisky puppies frolic in the newly fallen snow,
Paw prints tell the story of the afternoon’s adventure,
All too soon to be erased, as their makers warm by the fire,

Still fatter the flakes fall.

Steeply sloped sledding hill beckons riders to the top,
One more climb, one more thrill,
Atop the red toboggan, speeding down the hill

Still fatter the flakes fall.

Silent, secure in the warmth of home,
Covers pulled tight from chin to toes,
Plush pillows transform the window seat, a cozy winter bed.

Still fatter the flakes fall.