Crafty like a Fox

Earrings

2006-07-14T06:26:00.000-07:00

Strung with invisible bead wire (or just use regular ole fishing line.)

These are a combination of Swarovski pearls, Swarovski crystals and fire glazed Czech crystals. They went together really fast and I liked experimenting with the different lengths. In theory, you can repeat the pattern over and over as much as you want. Not that anyone needs nine inch long earrings. Im just sayin...

More scenes from the practice space

2006-05-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

How to turn a cheap craft store tray into a Mothers Day gift in nine easy steps

2006-05-13T22:52:00.000-07:00

Before:

After:

Steps:

1. Return the tray seen in the first picture and exchange it for the one in the second picture.

2. Paint bottom of tray and allow to dry.

3. Cover bottom area to protect paint. Stain the rest of the tray and allow to dry.

4. Leave bottom area covered. Spray with a finishing gloss, three times, and wait forever for it to dry.

5. Print and cut photos for the bottom of the tray. When your satisfied with the arrangement, glue them down with craft glue.

6. Do the same with flowers, or whatever else you might choose (I had a theme and color scheme to coordinate.) Must glue them down or they'll swim when you pour the resin.

7. Once everything is glued down, mix the resin according to package instructions and pour. Exhale over resin to pop any bubbles for a clear, even surface. (Dont inhale over resin unless you want a fine headache and a buzz.)

8. Cover tray with a box (or clothes basket veiled with plastic) to prevent any dust from resting on the resin as it cures.

9. Take lots of pictures and post them on crafty blog. Then wrap the tray and give it to mom.

Materials used:

1 raw balsa wood tray. $5

1 can of stain $3.50

1 can of clear gloss spray $4.50

3 colors of acrylic paints $.69 each

Envirotex Pour On Finish 16oz. $20 (but I had a 40% off coupon!!)

1 branch of silk flowers $2 (on sale)

Six B&W photos (printed from the computer. dont use originals)

Total process: 5 days, with lots of down time waiting for things to dry

End result: Perfect mothers day gift for mom. I hope she likes it!

Daisybot

2006-04-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

daisybot
Originally uploaded by Lucky Haskins.

I wanted to show off something Mike made for me. He gave it to me this weekend. It's a little blue robot holding my favorite flower, a daisy. It's made out of polymer clay and tin foil.

Thanks Mike!

"I've not seen birds quite like these anywhere in the USA."

2006-04-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

Danulai and I were at a craft fair this past weekend and had the pleasure of meeting the gentleman behind Birds At Rest. Not only are his wooden birds really neat, there's a great story behind them as well.

Meet Armstrong

2006-03-30T17:17:00.000-08:00

This is an alien magnet I made earlier today.

Another Robot

2006-03-29T21:09:00.000-08:00

After finding a little teddy bear at the craft store, I was inspired to make this baby bot. He was built up in aluminum foil first. With foil creating his head, his body and legs. Then I made wire arms, and covered everything in clay, using clay to join the pieces. I wasn't entirely happy with how he turned out after the first bake, so I added some clay and re-baked him (something I did for the first time. I'm not sure what to call him.

Iridescent Set

2006-03-26T15:09:00.000-08:00

iridescent
Originally uploaded by Lucky Haskins.

This is how I spent my Sunday afternoon. I found the beads at Michael's with the help of Mike, who keeps an eye on the bead sales when he goes to pick up clay. The necklace was made with iridescent beads and black seed beads, the earrings were made with iridescent beads and dark blue seed beads, and the bracelet was made with various iridescent, silver-tone, black and purple beads spaced by dark blue seed beads.

I like how the bracelet turned out, but I'll have to do some reading up on how to connect earrings to the hooks. I just looped the wire around which isn't the most secure thing.

Helpful Beading Linkage

2006-03-23T20:29:00.000-08:00

For all those that enjoy beading and jewelry making, I wanted to share this link. Fire Mountain Gems has THE MOST FABULOUS catalog Ive ever seen, and its FREEEEEEE.

Seriously, its better than the Wish Book from JCPenney's.

More than 500 full color pages of everything beads, silver, findings, displays, tools and anything else you might need. Their prices are great (buy in bulk and save more) and Ive heard only great things about their customer service.

That said- Im placing my fisrt order on Monday, so maybe my praises are slightly premature. Still, I have faith.

Anyway- its free- its fabulous- I read mine page by page like a novel.

You'll see.

Fire Mountain Gems Free Catalog

Meet Bloop

2006-03-21T21:19:00.000-08:00

He's about 4 inches tall and was my most advanced clay creation yet. First I made bases for the body and head with aluminum foil, then I used wound armature for the arms, hot gluing it to the foil. Then I built everything up with clay. This picture was taken just after baking. After that I sanded him.

If you're looking for information about Polymer Clay

2006-03-20T21:14:00.000-08:00

Ok, it's not the prettiest website in the world, but Polymer Clay Central has cool contests, and a great explanation of how to do a skinner blend.

Daisy, Daisy... tell me your answer true

2006-03-19T22:05:00.000-08:00

I intended this to be a magnet for Danulai, but the magnets on the back won't hold it up. I'm going to try to make her a smaller one. Shhh... Don't tell her. This was made with White, yellow and moss colored sculpey II polymer clay.

Only crafty enough to be dangerous

2006-03-17T21:49:00.000-08:00

Hola.. Im Jen. I was invited to join here and show off some of the crafty things I do. Fair warning though, I do a lot of stuff, but I don't do anything really well. Still, no harm in trying.

Here's a couple necklaces I made today. I've also been known to knit, sew and bake. I'm always looking for something new to try. For example, there are corn bags in my future. No really, I mean it!

Peridot-green colored crystals with larger blue/green beads and tiny silver accents.

A choker with black tear drop beads, tiny bronze colored crystals and silver accents. About 16 inches in length.

Genuine Lapis chips. Very chunky. Not generally my style but I liked it much better when I put it on.

I mostly make jewelry to sell so I can buy more supplies and make more jewelry. Comments always welcome. Thanks for inviting me!

*ps.. sorry if the photos seem too big. im pretty new to blogger. I'll figure out the kinks eventually.*

Like putty in my hands

2006-03-16T10:17:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to introduce myself, I'm the newest member of "Crafty like a Fox," I'll mainly be working with Polymer Clay and maybe electronics, we'll see.

rednecklace

2006-03-16T10:08:00.000-08:00

rednecklace
Originally uploaded by Lucky Haskins.

My most recent beading project. I kind of like this because the length will go well with a black shirt I have.

I'm having trouble finding beads I like. If you know of any good bead sources in southern Wisconsin or northern Illinois, hook me up!

bracelet

2006-03-10T17:59:00.001-08:00

bracelet
Originally uploaded by Lucky Haskins.

And, the bracelet. Again, forgive the colors. I like my bracelets tight on my wrist for reasons similar to my reasons for loving choker necklaces.

Necklace on my neck

2006-03-10T17:59:00.000-08:00

necklace
Originally uploaded by Lucky Haskins.

This is the necklace being work along with the halter-top necklace I made it for. I love choker necklaces, the closer the better, because if my necklaces are long I tend to fidget with them. In retrospect, though, I should have made it longer to fill up the space better. Or maybe I'll just get a new bra and attempt to fill it a little with cleavage.

necklaceandbracelet

2006-03-10T17:57:00.000-08:00

necklaceandbracelet
Originally uploaded by Lucky Haskins.

This is my first necklace-and-bracelet set. It's one I started last summer and finished tonight. The colors in this picture suck, so try to imagine spring-green beads instead of pea-green ones.

Beginning Post

2006-03-10T16:56:00.000-08:00

This is a blog I started to keep track of my craft projects, things like knitting, beading, rug braiding, crochet, and anything else I get involved in.

It'll be fun!