International Charm Day - a Tutorial ... I hope

Many of you already know that I have a thing for paper cranes, so in honor of

International Charm Day
(click above to be directed to the event blog)

I give you my step-by-step on taking a paper crane from ... paper to charm.

(fingers crossed)

Materials: Assorted Origami Papers
Petal Porcelain (or other preferred setting agent)
Paint Brush
Wax Paper
Needle (or straight pin)
Head Pins
Various small beads

Step 1: Select your paper.

I highly recommend using thin paper (thinner than copy paper, but that can still hold an edge - tissue paper is out). The sheets below are 6"X6" origami papers.



Step 2: Cut your papers into 1" or 1-1/4" squares:



Side note: The smaller your squares, the more difficult they will be to fold, but practice - I promise it's worth the effort.

(I used the 1-1/4" squares for the photo's below)

I like to cut up a bunch of squares in one sitting, so I'll have a nice stack to work with:



Step 3: Put on some favorite crafting music or pop in a movie
(preferably one that doesn't require your full attention and is good for a giggle)

Step 4: Fold yourself some little paper cranes - I usually fold at least a dozen at a sitting.
(more is better as I almost always have a few casualties in the dipping process)

Another Note: If you don't know how to fold a paper crane, I recommend CLICKING HERE. (There's even a printable PDF link on the page - don't be daunted by the instructions; they look more difficult than they actually are. Also, practice a few on larger 6"x6" squares first.)

The picture below shows a nutshell progress of the folds:



Step 5: Once you have your flock, take a photograph of them!



Sorry about the bad photo - happens when you wait till after dark to take pictures.

Step 6: Dip each crane in The Setting Agent.
(I generally dip them twice - one time I hold the crane by the tail and the other time by the head)

**** Sorry - I don't have pictures for Step 6 Through Step 14 ****

Step 7: Brush off the excess Setting Agent and allow it to dry completely.
(at this step, it is common for the beak and wings to want to turn up - try to push them down gently with the paintbrush as you are removing the excess Setting Agent - also, if you are really careful, you can sometimes "reshape" them once they are completely dry from the first dipping.)

Step 8: Repeat Step 6

Step 9: Repeat Step 7

Step 10: Carefully poke a hole through the bottom of the crane
(if you brushed the excess Setting Agent off, there will still be a hole in the bottom - you'll see)
up through the center of the back
(as close as possible - it's fairly easy to find the center as you will be able to see where you folded the paper)

Step 11: Feed a head pin through the hole, add a bead (or beads).

Step 12: Trim any excess length off the head pin.
(keeping in mind that you will finish the head pin off by making the end into a loop for hanging)

Step 13: Can you guess?!? Yep, finish the end of the head pin by turning it into a loop for hanging.

Step 14: Add a coat of clear varnish for shine
(optional ... you might choose to paint your cranes prior to adding the varnish if you used a solid color paper)

Viola!



Yes, I know, this isn't a crane from this batch - the first flock is still drying. Thank goodness I save ALL my photo's.

As an added bonus, I'm offering sets of six dipped cranes to two people. If you'd like to be included in the drawing, please leave a comment on this post by midnight EST time on Thursday, April 30th. I'll let Sadie draw two names from the hat (or bowl, or bag ... ) on Friday, May 1st

BONUS that'll be May Day ... the first day of my birthday month!

Have fun visiting all the participants from the first ever

International Charm Day!
(click above to be transported to the event link)

Thank you, Amber Dawn, for hosting such a FUN event!!

A Charming Day, A Swap & A-Dressing the Situation

Amber Dawn has come up with a great idea, but before you click the image below for the details, go visit Terisa at Running With Scissors to read her charming post - it's a lovely tribute to Amber and the perfect lead in to:



Love the idea ... if you do too, make sure to leave a comment on Amber's post.


Perhaps you've already seen this one:



... maybe you're even signed up for it ... well, I've thrown caution to the wind and me, TOO! At this point I have no idea if I'll be trying to create an actual doll or a softie sort of creature ... thanks goodness there's some time ... if you haven't already signed up, click the image above for the whole scoop

Finally, please visit this post:



It was Monica and her Pink Artist Project that inspired me to not only participate in my very first call-to-artist charity event, but to actually start my blog ... I will forever be grateful to her. So, even though I know zero about making a dress, you can bet I am going to learn. Either click on the image above or HERE for her unique request.

Upcoming Events

Have I ever mentioned that I am the Queen of Biting-Off-More-Than-I-Can-Chew? I guess that's only a half truth as I always seem to pull things off right at the 11th hour ...

Currently on my plate:

Donna at The Cookie Sheet is having a Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway. The Prize is a signed 8 x 10 matted and framed copy of her original illustration and rhyme "Princess Pink". Click on the Cookie Sunshine picture above for a direct link to more details - there's still time for you to participate as the drawing is not happening until November 1st. (My part is done - with the exception of crossing my fingers every now and again - but I wanted to give YOU a shot at it, too)

Kathryn our lovely Collage Diva is hosting:

A Soul Journal Halloween Blog Part this

Sunday, October 26th.

The photo above will link you to her party announcement ... but you can find additional party suggestions, ideas, etc. HERE - HERE - HERE and HERE ... her pages may take a bit to load, but be patient as they are definitely worth the wait! Hope to see you there ...

And don't forget about the:

Terisa is accepting artist contributions until November 1st. Please click on the above image for complete details.

Just in case you haven't heard ... Stephanie & Susanna are hosting:

Dia de Bloglandia on November 2nd

Visist them HERE and HERE for some serious Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) information and inspiration ... there's still time to join the party, so head on over and sign up.

Finally, I wanted to remind everyone about:

Some amazing artists are already signed up, but there are a few spaces still available. If you are interested, click the above image and leave Amber Dawn a comment.

I know that Sunday is going to be here before I know it, so I am off to finish what I've started for Kathryn's Soul Journal Halloween Blog Party.

May your day be so full of smiles that your cheeks hurt!

Moonlight Squash Blossom & Pink Pretties

Not too long ago I was visiting Cat's blog and she posted a few items that she had just finished. All of the new pieces were stunning, but one just sang to me. For days I would go visit her Etsy shop just to drool (ok ... also hoping that nobody had purchased it, either) and finally last week I was in a position to treat myself to a prezzie ... drumroll, please ....

Tada!

My new necklace, Moonlight Squash Blossom, arrived in the mail on Monday:

here's a detail of the piece:

Pictures really don't do this stunning little work of wearable art the justice it deserves.

* sighs *

AND

This past weekend I also recieved my package of little pink pretties from

Amber Dawn's

Think Pink Charms Exchange:

Above is a group shot and the next four are close-ups.

(Feel free to click on any photo to see larger versions)

I can't begin to tell you how impressed I am with each of these amazing little pink creations and feel so lucky to have them. I will definitely wear them with PINK ARTIST PRIDE!

... and think about this ...

all of this came about thanks to a community of people answering

Monica's

call to artists for a very special project ... speaking of which, the drawing for

Love Squared

& other fabulous artful prizes is still happening ...
the drawing is open until October 15th, so go check it out.

Soul Journal - Days 7, 8 & 9 ... Plus a Charmed Sneak Peek

Did you think Sadie and I had thrown in the towel on our Soul Journals? Nope, just put them on pause for a bit.

Day 7

We were instructed to journal (in small writing with a ball point pen) on two pages using the prompt, "I forgot to tell you". Once done, we covered the entire two pages in tape (Sadie and I used plain masking tape, blue painters tape and duct tape). Somehow I forgot to take a photo at the completion of Day 7 ... oh well.

Day 8

We sanded the tape to scuff the surface, put a light coat of gesso on and then painted (with a dry brush) and wiped off the paint - I used yellow and pink to make some sort of seriously Easter egg-ish washy finish. After the paint dried, we sanded the pages some more. This is how mine ended up:

oh! we also picked a flower and pressed it somewhere in the book ... hmmm ... wonder where it is.

Day 9

Time to revisit the pages started on Day 6 ... we were to add a lighter color (I actually chose three - magenta, a really light powdery blue and a glitter paint) - wiping and dabbing along the way. Once the paint was to a point that we liked, we had to grab a pen or marker and write: 8 words describing your pictures, circle one picture, draw a messy square around four, draw a dotted line around two and draw a broken "stitch" line around one. Work them till satisfied ... I started off with my handy dandy fine point Sharpie. I thought I was done when I finished the prompts ... UNTIL ... I saw the white Uniball that Sandy had sent along with the Mad Hatter Winning Package of goodness ... oh, I do believe that I am in LOVE ... ok, here's Day 9 fini:

and a close-up to boot:

... and it should also be noted that Sarah asked how many of us found and put together the word "ART" ... uh, guilty (yes, I have been known to state the obvious on occasion)

And for the Charming sneak peak

... this is where I am with the Michelle original designs/glass/Sculpy prototypes that I am working on for possible inclusion in Amber Dawn's latest Black and White Charm Swap:

Not so easy to photograph ... If they don't end up working out (or making the cut for the exchange) I know that I can easily turn them into little tiny magnets ... something about them appeals to me.

... Remember ... you can click on any image to see a larger version ...

... and all Large Itallic words (except these two) are actually links ...

Here's hoping all is well in your little universe!

Babies ... so Charming

Can't help it ... sometimes I think I'm so clever (humor me and nobody gets hurt) ... last night there was an amazing sunset. I thought I'd try to get some photo's when this little guy decided to steal the show:

With all the rain we've been having the frog mama's and the papa's have been behaving like bunnies - there are nearly a gazillion baby frogs around (most of them pretty good at hiding) ... this brave little one posed for the paparazzi. Unfortunately, I forget how humid it would be outside, so the first few shots are foggy with lens condensation ... ah well, at least this shot is a keeper. The sunset shots ... not so much.

In other news, Amber Dawn is hosting another Black & White Charm Exchange ... I was slow getting started. The first submission was weak in the creative sense, but I still think it ended up cute (but not original quality enough for the actual swap). Check it out (the photo is larger than actual size):

The ring is the small end of a closure. If you remember the charms that I did for the Think Pink Exchange, you'll recognize the inspiration ... this one is a tad boring in comparison. :)

Next I broke out one of my tiny crochet hooks (7/1.65mm) and some black #10 cotton thread and came up with (again, photo is larger than actual size):

It's sweet ... but still didn't rock my world. AD had some concerns about it possibly snagging and the durability ... I'm not so concerned about that (plus I was thinking that I could dip it in the setting agent that I used on the paper cranes and could actually shape it and be certain that it could stand up to some serious wear). I think I would like the nest idea better if I used a natural colored cotton thread with some metallic thread laced through it here and there ... not an option in a black and white challenge, eh.

Back to the drawing board ... tonight I have been playing around with another design. Materials: shrunk down Michelle originals (thanks for the suggestion AD), decorative clear glass beads (the round ones with one side flat), Sculpy and paint ... I think I might be on the right track ... I'll share photo's when good light and I are on the same schedule. If you are interested in participating in the swap, visit Amber Dawns Black and White Charm Exchange post and leave a comment to let her know that you are interested.

Hope all is well with you and yours ...

8/31 update:

I have been playing around with the glass/sculpy pieces and haven't quite got something I like. I haven't completely thrown in the towel as there are a couple of tricks up my sleeve ... will post when I'm a little happier with the outcome. In the meantime, I have been thinking knots ... I did a search for macrame owls and found a couple instruction sheets that look promising. Since I need a break from the other ones, I plan on giving it a shot tonight after dinner - fingers crossed!