Make Something Monday, 012113: PinWheel Earrings

Welcome Back to Make Something Monday!!  Thanks for checking it out today...

PinWheel Earrings! =)

I wanted to first apologize for my absence of late- I have been sick and dealing with chronic injuries AND also been on a big push to create some new items for the AmrcnWldFlwr Designs shop, since Valentines Day is almost upon us, and Spring will be here before you know it!  Unfortunately, when I am dealing with my injuries~ and the conditions that I now live with because of them~ I find that I only have *so* much energy, and some things are forced to the back burners while I am recovering and working on my health.

I wanted to say that if you did stop by over the last week or two: THANK YOU!, and Welcome back! =)

Now, let's get on with today's super fun project: DIY Pinwheel Earrings! =)

I found this fun DIY over at the Mod Poge Rocks! Blog, where they featured this adorable tutorial from the Zest blog...and now we can be inspired to make our own!! =)  Yay!  Ready?!  Great, let's go...

First, let's gather our supplies:

• Scrapbook paper in a color/pattern that pleases you
• Mod Podge and an applicator
• Scissors, Ruler, Pencil
• Tiny buttons
• 6mm jump rings (I used silver)
• 1" fish hook earwires (again, I used silver)
• Eyepins
• glass beads in your choice of coordinating color(s)
• Round-nosed or rolling pliers
• Hot glue gun, and glue sticks

Now to create our pinwheels...
Step 1: Select your pretty paper. =)
Measure out your paper squares, 1 1/4 x 1 1/4.

Step 2: Cut out your squares.

Step 3: Fold the paper in half, to form the shape of a triangle.  Then, unfold, and fold again in the opposite direction.  Unfold again, and see that you have created an "X."

Step 4: Cut along each the lines of the "X" that you have formed, approximately 2/3 of the way into the center...

Step 5: Now fold in to the center every other point...

Step 6: Heat up your glue gun.  Once you have your four inner points and your four outer points, add a bead of hot glue to the center and secure the four inner points to form your pinwheel.  Then attach your button to the center.

Step 7: Here's where we Mod Podge! =) ...Coat each pinwheel, and let dry.  I suggest three coats, for strength and durability.  It also adds a bit of texture to your look, as well. =)
  
Step 8: Take a pin, and make a hole through one of the "folded" flap parts of the pinwheel, and insert a jump ring, as well as an eyepin onto the jump ring.  Using your pliers, close the gap on the jump ring, securing the eyepin inside the jump ring...

Step 8: Add whatever beads please you to complete the look. =)

If you use a 2" eyepin, around 10 beads should work great.  Using your pliers again, finish the other end of the eyepin by creating another loop, affixing a second jump ring to it.  Then connect your fish hook earwire to the second jump wire, and...

TA-DAaaaa!  You have a super cute Pinwheel Earring!! =)

You now have a fun, whimsical set of new earrings to wear, or give away and spread some fun and sunshine! =)

HOW FUN, Right?!?! =))

I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did!

Be sure to check back next Monday for another project to help make Mondays fun again! =oD ...OH, and be sure to leave a picture of your finished earrings, and a comment letting me know what you liked best, too! =)

Until next time...

May your imagination light your way,

~StacyLynn a.k.a. AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]

Wordless Wednesday, 010913

Welcome back to Wordless Wednesday!! =)

Today's images are a tribute to the holiday season officially coming to an end, and the business if the new year taking its place... a sort of "before" and "after"...

And now it's time to put the rest away, tidy up the house, and get back to the business of the new year...

Tomorrow, I'll showcase a few more new shop items. =)

Until then...

May your imagination light your way,

~StacyLynn a.k.a. AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]

Tithing Tuesday, 010813:

Happy Tuesday!! =)  Welcome back...

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tuesday here at Beholden To None begets Tithing Tuesday, a  reflection on ways to help, give, and honor the foundational purpose of every life: service.  Each week I highlight causes, organizations, and groups that catch my eye~ with their message, good work in their respective spaces, or efforts in aiding others~ and I do a little spotlight, with information that can help others spread the word and help, too. =) 

This week, I am here to write about something I heard about last month, and is drawing in it's last hour, so to speak.  Mozilla, the company responsible for Firefox, has joined forces with Crowdwise, a premier online fundraising platform, to offer the greatest fundraising challenge I've personally ever seen. =)  The idea is that the challenge is open to anyone who has a charitable cause they are looking to get the word out on, as well as raise donations for.  Mozilla is going to make their own donations, to $100,000.00, to the causes that raise the most during the challenge dates.  The challenge officially ends in two days, on January 10th.

The website http://www.crowdrise.com/firefoxchallenge has the list of participating fundraisers and charities vying for the top spots.  The charitable causes covered in the challenge run the gamut, whether your concern is for people, places, animals, or the environment~ they've got you covered.  Among the many challenge participants fundraising are some celebrities you may know (Edward Norton, Seth Rogen, Kristen Bell, and Jimmy Kimmel, to name just a few), some causes you've known all your life [also represented by some celebrities championing said causes] (Nature Conservancy, American Cancer Society, Toys for Tots, and Operation USA), and many you've likely never heard of, but might be interested in helping out.

There are 3 that I would like to highlight:

•  Homes For Veterans (A NJ Non-Profit Company) ...They are a 501 (c) (3) organization whose website mission statement reads:
  

  "We build and donate homes for disabled veterans who lost the ability to be freely mobile due to war injuries. Disabled veterans that have their own homes we will renovate the home for barrier free living at no cost. Building specially adapted homes to accommodate their combat inflicted disabilities is accomplished through donations from Americans that want to show their appreciation for the service those brave soldiers gave to our country."

• Rob Machado Foundation, in conjunction with Water For Waves ...Rob Machado is a Caifornia-based surfing icon who is striving to help save the world's water bodies and supplies. For this fundraiser, along with help from Water For Waves, they are working to raise funds to help the many victims of Hurricane Sandy who are still struggling to recover.
• ISF: Ian Somerhalder Foundation  ...ISF is a foundation that brings together people from all age groups and walks of life to collectively make change that would be less possible acting as individuals.  "The IS FOUNDATION aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures."  The ISF Groups "span across all continents, creeds, languages and passions, forming an ever growing family of more than 200 groups world wide, all working as a united force to radically transform the world. Where people who love the planet and those who hold hands with paws come together to create a real future for all life on this miraculous planet we call Earth." 

 "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."  ~Anne Frank

If paying it forward, helping out, making a difference, or balancing your karma are on your TDB1D List, this is a good place to begin.  But hurry, the challenge fundraiser ends day after tomorrow. =)

May your imagination light your way,
~StacyLynn a.k.a. AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower] 

Make Something Monday, 010713: Ticket Stub Hub

"Creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." 

~Albert Einstein

Welcome Back!  It's Monday, and you know what that means:
Make Something Monday! =)

 

Today's project is one I wished I had done last year, and as such, made a point of picking materials up for this year.  We're going to make a Ticket Stub Hub! =)

  

What, do you ask, is a ticket stub hub?

Are you like me?... Do you collect memory tokens~ in this instance, ticket stubs from movies, concerts, and other shows and events that you might attend throughout the year~ but only to have them end up in a drawer- or worse a shoe box that gets lost in a closet somewhere??  I have an elegant solution, and it's a fun project creating a neat little home for the little guys, too! =) 

First, let's gather our materials...

• a shadow box (I used one I found at Michael's during their holiday sales)
• whatever papers and decorations you like to use to dress up your "stub hub"
• Mod Podge (of course! ;] ) and an applicator
• a ruler, pencil, and scissors  

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[Flower's Note: You will also want to have a way to notch a slotted opening at the box's top if you don't want to have to continually open it form the back to add new stubs.  I am writing this post from a friend's house, and being on the road, I don't have all the tools and accessories I would normally have to make pretty things. ;)  i.e.though I wouldn't recommend it, I used a hammer and a metal paint scraper to make a slot in this ticket box.]

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unpack your shadow box from its packaging.

 

 Next, take the back off the shadow box, and use it as a template for the paper you'd like to glamorize your box with. =) 

 

 

Using the miracle that is Mod Podge ;), attach all your embellishments to the box.

And Voila'... your stray tickets have a new home!! =)) ....

YaAaY!!... Easy, right??... And HOW fun!

It makes me happy to be able to have a place to be able to continue to see the wonderful and fun things I will do throughout the year, even after the events have passed... I think I'll place this right next to my "Great-Full" Jar!! =)

2013 is gonna be a banner year, I can feel it!  It's already shown itself to be more fun than last year! ;)

May your imagination light your way,

~StacyLynn a.k.a. AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]  

Symphonic Saturday, 010513

"...I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.”
~Albert Einstein

That's what Symphonic Saturday is all about! =)

Welcome back!  Today, I decided to start the new year off with some of my favorites, old and new, ...songs that really move me right now...

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do! =)

"Feelin' Good" by Miss Nina Simone

"Live Like We're Dying" by The Script

"Capricorn (A Brand New Name)" by 30 Seconds To Mars

"Wasted" by Carrie Underwood

"Home" by Phillip Phillips

Can you feel it??  The incredible energy this new year has brewing through it, and the immense momentum a New Year turning over can have.??... =oD

See you Monday for a fun Make Something Monday project craft you can use all year long!! ...

Until then...

May your imagination light your way,

~StacyLynn a.k.a. AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]

New Shop Items, 010313

“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
  ~George Bernard Shaw

Happy Thursday! =)  How is your new year coming along so far?...

I know it's only been three days, but it'll be three weeks before you know it, and I already feel like mine has been very full, indeed... With a flurry of new goals and their "tid-b1ds," as well as gearing up for many new adventures coming up for me in 2013, I've been beginning to put those pieces into place (even if only in my own head, to start)...

One of my many adventures, in this instance carrying over from last year, is my Etsy shop: AmrcnWldFlwr Designs~ this blog's inspiration. =)  I have many new items in the wings, waiting to be created~ or simply to be listed, but I wanted to spotlight a few things here today that were recently added to the shop.

This is a set of four hand-stamped natural stone butterfly coasters.  I especially love how the color combination came out in this set! =) 

These adorable magnets were made by my partner-in-craft, Lori. 
The "Wizard of Oz" holds a dear place in my childhood heart, and this fun, vintage-style functional art makes me happy. =oD

  This sweet, blank-inside note card is hand-crafted, and is so lovely in its blue shades and with the George Herbert quote "Take the gentle path."

I LOVE origami~ Don't you?!? =oD  

These crane earrings are a symbol of good fortune and happiness... Sound good for the new year, doesn't it?? ;)

As I mentioned, I have a bunch of products and projects coming up the pipeline, and will be adding new items to the shop weekly for the foreseeable future, so be sure to check back~ both here and there, to see all the new great and creative things coming up! =)

Check back here at Beholden To None Saturday for a Symphonic collection to keep the new year creative inspiration and momentum rolling...

Until then,

May your imagination light your way,

~StacyLynn a.k.a. AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]

  

Wordless Wednesday, 010213

Welcome back to Wordless Wednesday~ and Happy New Year!! =))

I hope you enjoyed a very wonderful holiday season, and that it was for you~ like me~ an amazing way to end the passing year!! =)  Here we are, in 2013, and two days into this new year... I don't know about you, but I am ready for it, and ready to make some amazing things~ and make some amazing things happen, too~ in this new year!!... Let's start with Wordless Wednesday, because it is also this week's Make Something item, as well!! Ready?... Here we go...

My Sister, Holly, and I started a new tradition this New Year's Eve: We made Great-Full Jars. =)

The idea is to start out with a jar- a mason jar, a small paint can with lid, or any nice glass vessel with a lid will do.  Decorate it with anything that inspires you.  In our case, we made this a group project during our NYE festivities...  We used pretty scrapbooking paper, magazines and catalogs, and other fun things, and each created a jar that spoke to us, that we would want to look at each day, that would bring a smile~ and would also motivate and remind us of the first function of the Great-Full Jar.  Every day (or every week, if once a day seems overwhelming), add a note in the jar.  On that note, write one thing down for that day (or week) that was good, sweet, kept you sane, made you smile or laugh, made you feel good, or taught you something important.  Gather up those memories into your designated jar throughout the year... The second function of the Jar comes on the next New Years', when you take out all the treasures you've tucked into the jar throughout the year, and read about and remember what a Great, Full Life you lived this year!! =)) ...It's also great to dip into, as well, when you might be experiencing some hard or challenging times, and need a little help remembering all the good stuff Life has brought your way. =)

I hope you and yours enjoy this project as much as I am enjoying it!! =)

Tomorrow, I will post a few new items in the AmrcnWldFlwr Designs Etsy shop, complete with a couple hints on upcoming items~ in preparation for upcoming events and holidays.  And next week, I'll be back on schedule, with all kinds of new, fun, and creative things~ so please come back and check it out! =)

Until then... Keep adding memories to your Great-Full Jars! =)

May your imagination light your way,

~StacyLynn a.k.a. AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]