A & A Lasso

I got to make another wedding cord for two very close people to my heart! 

But unlike the first one that I did, I encountered challenges on this one...

Packaging

The cord

It was my first time to use my metal stamps hence the way it turned out... 

I realised the importance of using a tape. Nevertheless, it mixed well with the vintage finish and it looks cute in person, hihi.

A day after the photo has been cured I woke up with it reacting to the sealant that I used. It totally broke my heart! So I had to make another one and came up with this...

And I loved it! 

I think it was my creative angel's doing why I wasn't successful on the first photo... 

she knew the second one would be better!

I was so excited about this couple tying the knot, seeing the cord in the wedding was an extra bonus...

The light's reflection on the beads make it twinkle like stars -- so lovely!

Congrats to the very lovely couple!

Another handmade sprinkled with so much love!

ArtNouveauPh Exchange Gift 2013

This theme was supposed to be our group's Christmas exchange gift project. 

But since all of us were busy during the holiday season, I suggested we do the exchange gift in time for the Chinese New Year, which happened to be February 10 this year, and I'm glad that they all agreed.

I had a little challenge finishing this locket... not because of the project itself but because during the days I was working on this one, I've been having so much contractions that I had to set it aside and work back on it on days my body feels a whole lot better.

But though late, I'm happy I was able to finish it.

I'd say that this is a simple locket but made with so much love and patience...

and here's how it looks like with the chain...

It's a locket decorated back-to-back. 

I just took a photo of it opened so I can let you see how the front and back looks like. 

Really hopes my monita likes it as much as I enjoyed creating it! 

A Wedding MTO

It was my first time to make a wedding lasso (cord) for a couple getting married. 

It scared me at first cos I'm clueless on how to make one -- count, beads to use, design, etc.

But it was one of my kumares who asked me to make one for her, which she'll be giving to a close friend as a gift for her wedding day. So even with the lack of experience, I accepted the order.

She has no specific design in mind that she'd like me to do, that actually made this project a little more challenging for me, but she provided me with the following details I needed to start with: 

• Theme: Peach colored wedding. (I love the color!)
• Special request: A heart pendant with the couple's photo.
• Dainty yet vintage inspired so that it may also serve as an heirloom.

And provided me an encouragement that she trusts my taste and knows it'll turn out great. 

So together with my husband, I went and got the materials needed to make this project (thank God for supportive and caring husbands!).

Out of the info provided, this is what I've come up for my kumare and the couple...

Details:

My kumare wanted a heart pendant where she can place the couple's photo, unfortunately, I couldn't find a heart locket that would look good with the wedding lasso. I wanted to make something more appealing so I got this big heart charm instead. 

Now this love birds I think was really meant for this lasso! This was the last one available that time and I was able to get it while I was about to pay for my items! I used it for the middle part to hold the two cords together. Perfect, right? 

It took me quite an amount of time choosing the right beads, spacers and metal findings to use for this -- but boy am I so happy with everything I have chosen. 

The beads, spacers and metal findings all gave it the dainty yet vintage-y feel that I needed for the project, at the same time.

Since I wasn't able to find a nice locket to hold the couple's photo, I decided to use a setting. 

I asked my kumare if she could send me a photo of the couple and did a transfer of the couple's photo on my Nendo clay... tada! the finished project with the couple's photo!

...attached it just right below the lovebirds.

I used paints to add a vintage finish at the back part of the setting. Too bad I forgot to engrave the couple's names there, it would have been perfect... ☹

I hope my kumare, as well as the couple using it, loved it as much as I enjoyed creating it. 

Another project showered with love.

Recycled Project: My Tools Container

I'm back!

I wanted to show you a recycled project I made last night to hold some of my crafting tools.
This project was inspired by a very talented and good friend of mine, Jein, of Hush Potato. 

Here take a look:

Materials used: 2L bottle, cutter + scissors, ribbons and some glue.

As instructed, I cut the bottle using my cutter (be extra careful in doing this cos there's a risk of getting your fingers cut either by the bottle or cutter) and attached some ribbons on top to add some design and to cover the sharp portion of the bottle. 

Due to lack of some materials, I decided to do something made of clay for it's main decor.

I didn't know what to do at first cos of my missing mojo but I'm glad I still ended up with this...

I made this using Nendo polymer clays, Nendo liquid clay and applied a dash of mica powder.
I love using Nendo polymer clays especially when I'm making flowers cos the petals are super flexible and the project much more durable.

For the liquid clay I used it this time as highlighter... This is also the first time I tried using it to attach one clay to another -- and mind you, it works so well! I can't wait for my blank pen tips to arrive from Purplenook... I've lots of projects in mind that I wanna try using the liquid clays! 

And here are the photos of the finished recycled project:

I experimented by stringing some beads to it too... better?

Tada! A new and bigger container!

What I love about this container? Not only is it able to hold all of my sculpting tools, I also find it more convenient to use every time I am working with my clays!

Plus it's much more cost effective and Earth friendly too! ☺

Thank you so much Jein for the tutorial.
For more Hush Potato projects, check out her blog HERE.


Have a crafty week everyone!
xoxo

Bridal Shower MTO

Due to busy schedule (work, small business, home responsibilities) I rarely get to accept MTO requests... 

But when the request is from someone really close to me I always make it a point to make time,

no matter how scarce time or resources may seem.

On July 27 I accepted an MTO request from one of my cousins, Jacq.

The project was for her friend's bridal shower party last August 18. 

This task didn't require the use of clays; it was purely beads, metal findings and wires.

Geared with everything I've learned from the best beading mentor I know, Mr Em Mariano of Fun Dynamics, I head on with the project.

My cousin, Jacq, specifically requested for a bracelet.

The charms were carefully chosen to signifying love, key to the heart and prosperity.

And because it was a beach themed party, blue of course was the perfect color for the beads!

Choosing the right packaging for the bracelets came as a challenge too!

She initially wanted a box but not the plain brown one... 

I on the other hand didn't think the colorful-shiny type boxes fit the event's theme so I kept thinking;

and that's when I came up with this packaging idea...

Pails! 

Don't you think they're perfect for the theme?

Oh! and I'd like to say thank you to my wonderful IG friends who helped me finally decide how to go about the final look of the pail with the bracelet in it. You guys are the best!

And since I've had the chance to be introduced to the soon-to-be bride several times --

first was during our wedding, then several other gatherings after, I thought of making her a special handmade gift too! 

Tejae Floyd inspired ♥ coupled with techniques I learned from my mentor Ghie of Trinket Tales

All in all, I had fun making this project for Jacq.

I'm also happy cos she chose to have me make this project for her -- for her friend's party.
I hope they liked it...

It was indeed a project sprinkled with so much love.

And to the soon-to-be-bride, Alicia, I wish you happiness and lots of wonderful years full of love.

Best wishes from The Joyful Crafter ♥

xoxo

TJC: Wired.and.Beaded.

Another late post for Tuesdays Jabbering Craft (TJC) as today is already a Thursday. Still fits -- only this time the "T" would have to stand for Thursday, haha!

Anyway, this is going to be a quick one because I still have lots of things that needs to be done offline. I just want to share to you what I've been trying to do this week. 

I have been beading and wiring! Oh and crocheting too! Not clay related this time... just touching base with what I loved first before I got myself into clay-ing. Ü

I tried to do another one but since I didn't have much biggie beads around, I just made do with what I have to practice a technique...

I must admit I didn't quite like it -- the middle looks too busy. And the swirls -- BIG! But I love the colors... Plus it's not as bad as it is up close, hihi! I gotta practice... Practice makes perfect, right? 

Oh and I got myself new set of beads so I can keep practicing til I improve... Ü 

How about you, what have you been up to lately?