Shakespeare paper beads

Since I had The Complete Works of Shakespeare text block left over from my book purse, I figured I better do something with some of those pages.

I'm not as happy with the look of these as some of my previous paper beads. I think having just text with no color variation is kind of boring. I'll likely be going back to magazine pages the next time.

More paper beads

Beads and sewing

I made some more paper beads this morning. I could make these all day if left to my own devices but that just doesn't happen around here.

I also made up another "busy bag".
I cut a denim slipcover from an old chair for the back and handles. The lining is cut from an old tablecloth that had a couple stains in all the wrong places.
I love recycling!!!!

Gifts for a friend

I can finally reveal the full picture from the sneak peek I gave last week.

Theresa got her gifts in the mail and is very happy, so I'm happy too!

Recycled Charms

These are for a challenge and swap. They are made from links off and old belt and my handmade paper beads. I can't wait to see what the others players come up with!

PS...thanks to Theresa for the coaster I used for my backdrop. :)

Charms, beads and quilts, oh my!

After nearly a week of no arts or crafts I was starting to go through withdrawals.

There has been quite a bit of chatter on the Yahoo groups I belong to about charms lately. I made these since ones today from some MahJong tiles I had laying around.
My only question is: Do I have these in the proper direction?

The next item I played around with was some more paper beads. I had used up almost all I had made before. They are so simple and very addictive to make. Now I really want to make some smaller ones. I'm thinking if I get some coffee stirring straws, they'll be thin enough to make some small beads on.

I have also started cutting fabric for a quilt. I've made an all flannel quilt using this pattern but this time I am planning on doing flannel on one side and denim on the other. Today in celebration of a 16lb weight loss...I cut up 3 pairs of jeans to put to good use in the quilt!


UPDATE: 26LB WEIGHT LOSS NOW!!!

Mixed-media canvas

Here's my latest mixed-media piece on an 8x8 gallery edge canvas. The cylindrical hanging bead is one of my handmade paper beads.

Thanks for looking!

BookArtz house swap

I'm over half way through making all my little houses for the chunky book swap I'm participating in on BookArtz.

The little house measures 3 inches wide by 7 inches tall. The little chimney is one of my handmade paper beads.

8/10/07 UPDATE:

I finished all 34 of my little houses! I'm proud of the fact that I didn't buy anything to do this swap. It was a self-challenge. I've been spending too much on supplies lately so I decided I wasn't going to participate unless I could do it VERY INEXPENSIVELY. I used cereal and cracker boxes as my substrate, painted pages torn from a book I altered...I used bits and pieces and scraps for everything. I guess you'd say that glue, paint and UTEE for the paper beads I had to pay for but that is from long ago so I wouldn't really count that.

Paper bead tutorial

So this is a VERY long time in coming. I had said a few days to my Yahoo group ABC altered book club.

First I made beads according to this tutorial.

1)Put dried bead on dowel. pencil, skewer, whatever it will fit snuggly.

2)Roll bead on a clear embossing ink pad such as Versamark.

3)Dip inked bead in UTEE.

4)Heat with heat gun.

5)Repeat steps 2 and 3.

6)Roll/dip in embossing powdwers, glitters, and PearlEx mixture.

7)Heat again...repeat if desired.

I generally work on one half of the bead at a time...let it cool then turn around and do the other side. I have 4-5 beads going at a time.