Project, Prizes & PIF's

Nothing like biting off a little more than I can chew ... I recently saw THIS post at Crafting with Cat Hair ... and somehow I am determined to make at least one doll to contribute. In a nutshell, Craft Hope is currently taking donations of handmade dolls for the children of Casa Bernabe, an orphanage in Nicaragua & the deadline is June 13th. Click the image above for the whole scoop.

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It often pays to follow the rules ... case in point, Saucy from Saucy's Sprinkles (found HERE) offered up a few pairs of cupcake earrings for getting the word out about her Jonas Brothers concert giveaway ... I was game & a lucky recipient of these ADORABLE made-by-Saucy cupcake earrings:



too sweet, eh?!? If you happen to be a Jonas Brothers fan (or know one) there is still time to enter the giveaway ... just go HERE for all the details.


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And remember Amber Dawn's International Charm Day? If not, go HERE. She had some wonderful giveaways including a signed copy of this:



The first round winner never claimed the prize, so there was a second drawing ... and I was drawn!! The book just arrived yesterday and I have to tell you it is chock full of goodness. I stayed up way too late last night ooohing and ahhing over it. I can't wait to try my hand at some of the projects.


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Plus, Lorraine from Love of Collage posted a mini charm swap (HERE) in honor of International Charm Day & I jumped at the chance. Lorraine sent these little beauties:



In exchange for a couple of my dipped crane charms ... my package just left the states this past Monday, so I am hoping that she'll receive them before the end of the month.


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As if that isn't enough, I have signed on for two Pay it Forwards ... the first with Bairbre Aine of Don't Interrupt Me When I'm Talking to Myself and more recently with K of Urban Craft

Now it's my turn to pay it forward.

Here is how it works . . . I will make a handmade gift for the first 6 interested people who comment on this post (because I signed up for two PIF's). I'm not exactly sure what the handmade gift will be, but if there's something that you'd really like me to make for you, just let me know and I will at least consider giving it a whirl. Also, please note that I am giving myself three months to complete the task. The only catch is that you must be willing to continue the challenge by sending a handmade gift to 3 people. That's it. If you would like to participate, please be sure I have some way to contact you to get your mailing address.

... and the winners are ...

Sorry to keep you all waiting ... the winners from my:


(click image for my giveaway post)

giveaway are:

Janet from Fond of Snape
(click above to be directed to her blog)

&

Sue from Barton Originals
(click above to be directed to her blog)


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As for this one:


(click above for giveaway post)

... I have to plead for forgiveness ... I just realized that I had never done the drawing ... bad me ... hopefully

Michelle from the Studio @ Crow Haven Farm
(click above to be directed to her blog)

will find it in her huge heart to forgive me as it was HER name the was drawn.

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.