Craftside

Crafty Blogger Links and A Chance to Win A Signed Fender Squire Stratocaster

Enter the Whole Lotta Guitar Sweepstakes

Now through December 15, 2008, enter to win a brand-new Fender Squier Stratocaster,
autographed by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones at their 2007 reunion concert.

Click here to enter
Enter today for a chance to be the lucky GRAND PRIZE WINNER of THE WHOLE LOTTA GUITAR SWEEPSTAKES! The winner will receive a brand-new Fender Squier Stratocaster, with sunburst finish, maple neck, and vibrato tailpiece. It was signed by all of the surviving members of Led Zeppelin—Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones—at their reunion concert in December 2007 at London’s O2 arena. This guitar is signed on the pickguard with permanent ink (Sharpie).

Presented by Voyageur Press, an imprint of the Quayside Publishing Group. No purchase is necessary to enter. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes runs 11/03/08 though 12/15/08. You must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or District of Columbia and 18 or older to enter.

Click Here for complete sweepstakes rules

Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin: The Illustrated History of the Heaviest Band of All Time
   
By
Jon Bream

They were the heaviest band ever, creating the blueprint for an entire musical genre and becoming a touchstone for an entire generation and their children. Now, to celebrate their fortieth anniversary and December 2007 reunion, here's the first-ever complete illustrated history of Led Zeppelin.This all-star tribute to one of the biggest rock 'n' roll bands of all time features many of today's top American and English rock journalists from Rolling Stone, Creem, Billboard and more, as well as reflections on the band's inspiration from some of rock's top performers, including Aerosmith, Heart, ZZ Top, the Minutemen, the Hold Steady, and others. An appendix features the complete discography.

Glorious concert and behind-the-scenes photography from some of the top names in rock photography covers the band from their first 1968 show as Led Zeppelin through the 2007 reunion. Also included are more than 200 rare concert posters, backstage passes, tickets, LPs and singles, T-shirts, buttons, and more from the United States, UK, Canada, Germany, France, and Japan, all comprising a book as epic as the band it honors. Created from the ashes of the Yardbirds by guitarist and session wizard Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin featured virtuoso bass player John Paul Jones, gonzo drummer John Bonham, and Robert Plant, a vocalist like no other before him. The band singlehandedly defined what rock 'n' roll could be, leaving in their wake a trail of tales as tall or as a real as we wanted them to be.

So how does a book and contest about rock and roll relate to my beloved craft world you ask?

Why I scored a bunch of guitar picks that were a promo item for this fabulous new book. And since I am no guitar player I set work makin' some rockin' jewelry.

First I drilled a small hole in the upper corner of the pick.

I then linked it to a medium sized bracelet chain. I added a large "rock" crystal like bead dangle.

I then decided to mix it up a bit and swapped out the standard jump ring that came with the clasp to an over sized jump ring. I think it looks pretty cool!

Next was a "rosary" style necklace. This means it has a central focal element that the two sides of the necklace are attached to and then a dangle from the bottom point. A guitar pick really lent itself nicely for this style.

I drilled three holes in the pick and linked up the chain. I added a heart charm at the bottom length of chain. I am thinking about interspersing some beads through out the chain. But haven't quite decide what kind yet.

Well, while I am contemplating that, check out what my fellow Crafty Bloggers are crafting up for you this week! And be sure to enter to win the guitar!

Layers Upon Layers
Cyndi has declared that November is "Take a (New) Artist to Lunch Month"! Come and meet extraordinary artists that you probably haven't run into before throughout this whole month!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Why shouldn't your napkins be cozy? Check out a super easy recycled sweater napkin ring project and listen to a cool tune while making them.

The Crochet Dude
Drew's new book of crochet patterns called "Designs for Guys" launched on Sunday! Click the link to see photos of the fun in Houston!

The Impatient Crafter™
Madge visits Terri O Radio for a wickedly fun two part interview on inspiration and carving out time for creativity!

About Family Crafts
Take a few minutes to browse through some photos of home-made Thanksgiving cards. You can also submit your own home-made card designs.

Aileen's Musings
Aileen's been busy finishing up some incomplete art pieces using her new favorite art supply, Shiva Oil Paintstiks. Come take a peek and see why Aileen loves them so much!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner
What are you thankful for this season? Express and share those blessings in this simple pumpkin painting project!

Cathie Filian
Making your own Thanksgiving centerpiece is not as hard as one might think. Cathie Filian has a few simple ideas that can be made with everything from dried beans to texture paint.

Crafty Princess Diaries
What does The Matrix have to do with crafting? Listen to Morpheus and he will tell you.

Cross Stitch at About.com
Add some flair to your Thanksgiving decor with these free Cross Stitch Patterns.

Ready, Set, Stitch- Oh my! Only 7 weeks to Christmas!!!

Are you:

A. Starting to panic about Christmas.

B. All calm and together about Christmas.

C. Both.

My answer is "C"

I feel like I've got plenty of time and just starting to get in the groove, but the panic sets in because I don't have a plan. I tend to go though life splitting the fence between being all prepared and organized and flying by the seat of my pants.

Well, this book is like comfort food for the crafter. It is packed full of great techniques and fun projects.

Ready, Set, Stitch
Learn to Decorate Fabrics with 20 Hot Projects

By

Susie Johns

Fun, fast, and fashionable stitchery by hand and machine.

Ready, Set, Stitch provides crafters with everything you need to create 20 easy projects you’ll love to wear or display in your homes. The step-by-step instruction begins at the beginning, with the basic types of stitches (flat, crossed, looped and knotted) and an overview of floss, threads, needles, and notions. You will learn a wide variety of hand techniques -- couching, smocking, cutwork, and whitework -- and free-motion machine embroidery, too. Projects include a lacy scarf, an evening bag, pillows, placemats, a jewelry box, a decorative picture frame, and more.

Ready, Set, Stitch provides you with a sampler of techniques for embellishing fabric -- and offers them a wide range of fashionable projects to make as they learn.

The spiral, stand-up format makes it easy for readers to follow the instructions while they work on each project.

This book has the series’ characteristic features: clear written instruction and step-by-step sequences, inspiring photographs of finished objects (on models in the targeted age group), and a helpful glossary of specialty terms.

Susie Johns and Caroline Smith specialize in developing innovative craft projects on a variety of subjects. They have edited and contributed to many publications including Needlecraft, Essentials, and Embroidery magazines and have written books on different craft techniques, including sewing, collage making, and embroidery. Among other books, Susie is the author of Ready, Set, Crochet (CPi) and Caroline has written So Easy… Home Sewing (St. Martin's Griffin.)

I am really into hand stitching and adding a bit of bling is perfect for holiday decorations.

Here are 6 ways to stitch bling on.

So armed with all these great tutorials I decided to get stitchin'!

I laid out my supplies:

A triangle of green wool felted sweater

a bunch of round silver sequins

3 snowflake sequins

1 large round silver sequins

4 beads

Kreinick Metallics Fine #8 Braids 005HL ( Black high luster)

I then stitched the small silver sequins on using the two-stitch method to form garlands on the tree.

I sewed the snowflake sequins on with the bead method.

One down, tons more holiday crafting to go!

A Few of the 1000 Jewelry Inspirations

Do you realize that if you wanted to make a new piece of jewelry inspired by a piece in this book you would be covered for almost 3 years!

1,000 Jewelry Inspirations: Beads, Baubles, Dangles, and Chains
by Sandra Salamony

This is a visual catalog for jewelry, bead artists and crafters who will relish the opportunity to have so many ideas at their fingertips to inspire their own projects.

This book is the second volume of Quarry's 1,000 series-an eye candy-laden follow-up to the very successful 1,000 Artist Trading Cards(Quarry, Spring 2007).

A showcase of stunning jewelry bits and pieces, "bling" and embellishments, will feed the creative appetites of crafters and jewelry makers everywhere. This second craft collection will offer color, sparkle, texture, dimension, and clever, creative use of materials. One piece of jewelry might have several points of interest to be highlighted: an antique clasp, textured lampwork beads, and intricate knots.

An author of various books on art techniques, home decor, and crafts, Sandra Salamony (Traverse City, MI) makes a living as an art director, designer, and artist in northern Michigan. Her projects and designs have been featured in magazines, books, and on television.

I was practically drooling on the pages as I savored the designs in this book.

So the first piece that I picked as my inspiration is # 0313, an elegant and tasteful pair of earrings from Mona Song Designs. More of her work can be seen at her Etsy Shop.

I started by gathering the elements I would need to create the earrings.

2 sets of earring wires in small, medium and large diameters
6 jump rings
1 pair of French earring wires
6 beads

1.Slide each bead onto each loop round earring wire and form a loop on the straight end.

2.Link the two little end loops together with a jump ring. Repeat for all 6 round earring wires.

3.Open the French earring wire loop to the side and slide the smallest loop's jump ring onto the French earring wire, then the middle size and then the largest.

4.Twist the loop of the French ear wire back into place and BAM! You have got yourself some fab new earrings!

I do recommend making a few pairs, they are so quick and easy they make great gifts (you know when your friends see them they are going to want a pair.

And just 'cause I know you're wondering- check out this post about making a matchbook gift card-it is perfect to put these earrings in for gift giving! We've got it all covered here at Craftside the present and the packaging.

Be sure to check back here (or subscribe to this blog, upper left column) because I will be making and sharing more from 1000 Jewelry Inspirations! And if you do let us know by leaving a comment with a link-we'd love to see.

Barbe Saint John over at Craft Gossip loved this book as much as I do, check out her review here.

Beadwork Inspired by Art: Art Nouveau

Ooooh, I am so excited, here is the next book in the series:

Beadwork Inspired by Art: Art Nouveau
Jewelry and Accessories
By
Judith Durant, Jean Campbell

Beadwork Inspired by Art: Art Nouveau is a series of beadwork project books, inspired by the colors, textures, and forms of historical art and craft traditions. The authors present full instructions for 12 one-of-a-kind beadwork projects inspired by their favorite masterpieces by some of the world’s finest artists. In this volume, working with a “canvas” of beads, thread, and a variety of techniques—from stringing to weaving— readers learn to re-create the jewelry and home décor objects of the art nouveau period, an art style known for its graceful, flowing curves and natural shapes. The historical artwork that inspired each project and detailed step-by-step instructions and drawings are included, too.

Judith Durant is the author of Ready, Set, Bead. She has written and edited dozens of books on beadwork and knitting. She has also contributed designs and articles to Beadwork and PieceWork magazines.

Jean Campbell was the founding editor-in-chief of Beadwork magazine. She has written or edited more than 40 books on beading and has appeared on the DIY show Jewelry Making, The Shay Pendray Show, and PBS’s Beads, Baubles, and Jewels.

Off to the library and I pulled out a Dover book of Erte Paper Dolls rendered by Tom Tierney. This is my absolute fave!!! It kind of reminds me also of the outfit in the Nutcracker where the kids come running out from under the big skirt.

So the elements I took from the illustration were the pearls, the drops at different lengths, and the swags.

If you like this concept pop on over to this post and check out a couple more designs based on the same concept but different styles of art. I'm working on another piece of jewelry with one of the cool techniques from Beadwork Inspired by Art: Art Nouveau so be sure to to check back or to make sure you don't miss it subscribe to this here blog and you'll get all the crafty inside peeks every day in your in box! (top left)

Jenn Mason has done it again with her new book- Altered Paper Jewelry

Altered Paper Jewelry
Artful Adornments from Beautiful Papers
By
Jenn Mason

Paper is a wonderful medium for creating jewelry: It’s lightweight, easy to work with, and comes in a dazzling array of styles, patterns, weights, and designs. By mixing relatively simple jewelry-making methods with standard paper arts techniques, Altered Paper Jewelry offers paper crafters, altered art aficionados, and jewelry makers creative new ideas for creating stylish and contemporary jewelry from gorgeous paper.

In this book, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other jewelry will be decorated and constructed with found paper, photos and beautiful scrapbook papers. Beads will be fashioned from rolled paper, covered with decoupage, and molded with paper craft accessories. Paper-like materials such as vellum, transparencies, shrink plastic, and printable fabric paper will be punched, cut, shrunk, and rolled into mini wearable masterpieces. Paper will be folded into lockets, embedded into belt buckles, and glued into unique shapes, all in the pursuit of personal adornment. Illustrated step-by-step instructions and templates are included.

Jenn Mason is a fine artist, writer, teacher, product designer, and industry consultant. She is author of Pockets, Pullouts, and Hiding Places, The Art of the Family Tree and co-author of two books, with co-authors Jennifer Francis Bitto and Linda Blinn: Paper Art Workshop: Handmade Gifts and Paper Art Workshop: Celebrating Baby.

Click on image to enlarge and read the great directions on how to make this pretty pendant!

So off to the stash and here's what I came up with:

I did mine just a tad different. I printed out a standard photo off my inkjet printer on photo paper.

Then I adhered it to the back of the crystal with a dry adhesive.

I then trimmed off the excess paper. I didn't like the white edge of the paper so I colored it with a blue Sharpie.

I really liked the multi strand look of the necklace in Altered Paper Jewelry so I doubled up a thin necklace and looped it through the large jump ring on the crystal photo pendant.

And I just had to share a close-up of the photo I used. This is my grandmother on my mom's side and I think it is a total crack-up that she is holding a skull and cross bones flag in summer. This photo is most likely in Connecticut and clearly the summer so who knows what's up. I just love the expression on her face. That's why this was the perfect photo to make a necklace with.

If you love this project you will love others from Altered Paper Jewelry. I will surely be making more of them! Be sure to pop back here to see what else I make with the help of Altered Paper Jewelry. And if you like Jenn's style click on her name below to check out more of her designs and books!

They rock! (or should I say, "they paper!")

Intricate and Easy Necklaces from Making Designer Mixed-Media jewelry

I love making "special occasion jewelry". It is particularly easy to do when you work with found objects, pictures and unusual elements. This book is packed full of great ideas and inspiration for just such projects.

Making Designer Mixed-Media and Memory Jewelry
Fun and Experimental Techniques and Materials for the Home Studio

By

Tammy Powley

Using beads and other materials to make unique jewelry

Boutiques and department stores are filled with jewelry featuring charms, photos, fibers, shells, recycled materials, and other exciting embellishments. This book teaches home crafters new tricks and techniques to expand the styles of fashion jewelry they create with beads and other materials. Compiled by Tammy Powley, the book includes the work of many exciting jewelry artists who are breaking new ground using mixed media materials and techniques in their work, along with step-by-step instructions.

Tammy Powley is a writer and jewelry maker. She writes about arts and crafts in books and articles for print and digital media, and is the host of About.com's jewelry-making site. Tammy sells her work primarily through galleries and commissions.

I was inspired by this cool necklace designed by Lori Larson:

Click on the images to read how to make this intricate bottle cap necklace.

And now for the easy version perfect for Halloween:

I scored this great bottle cap at BevMo, but you can probably go to just about any mainstream or boutique outlet and find yourself a fun bottle cap to work with.

I simply  drilled a tiny hole in the side and hooked an "s" link into it. Then I linked it onto a necklace of two sizes of black bead links. How simple is that?

I also save the label which I plan to use for another crafting project as yet unknown, but I certainly wasn't tossing it!

And if while you're out shopping for cool bottle caps and run across a bottle that strikes your creative fancy see a project here that will put it to good use after it's empty!

Beadwork Inspired by Art: Imressionist Jewelry and Accessories

This book will make you excited about learning beadwork and more about art! Is that a great combination or what?

Just in time for "Back to School" Creative Publishing international has released:

BEADWORK INSPIRED BY ART SERIES

Beadwork Inspired by Art: Impressionist
Jewelry and Accessories

By

Judith Durant, Jean Campbell

Beadwork Inspired by Art: Impressionist is a series of beadwork project books, inspired by the colors, textures, and forms of historical art and craft traditions.

The authors present full instructions for 12 one-of-a-kind beadwork projects inspired by their favorite masterpieces by some of the world’s finest artists. In this volume, working with a “canvas” of beads, thread, and a variety of techniques—from stringing to weaving—readers learn to re-create the jewelry and home décor objects of the impressionist period, an art style known for its energetic brushstrokes of colors and sensual effects.

The historical artwork that inspired each project and detailed step-by-step instructions and drawings are included, too.

Judith Durant is the author of Ready, Set, Bead. She has written and edited dozens of books on beadwork and knitting. She has also contributed designs and articles to Beadwork and PieceWork magazines.

Jean Campbell was the founding editor-in-chief of Beadwork magazine. She has written or edited more than 40 books on beading and has appeared on the DIY show Jewelry Making, The Shay Pendray Show, and PBS’s Beads, Baubles, and Jewels.

This is such an amazing idea!!!

Here is one of my favorite projects with a wonderful "how-to"

(Click on images to enlarge)

I had to try it, of course.

So first I went to my "library of books"  and went to the section on art. I tend to like surrealism and abstract stuff. I pulled out one of my Salvador Dali books and started to flip though it.

This painting caught my eye:

It is titled:

Gala Looking at the Mediterranean Sea which from a Distance of 20 Meters is Transformed into a Portrait of Abraham Lincoln (Hommage to Rothko), 1976

This is the necklace I made with inspiration from the painting.

It is made with some new beads and some recycled parts scavenged from old pieces of jewelry.

I picked beads from the painting's color pallet. I chose a rectangle bead and a few faceted beads to mimic the square shapes in the painting.

The focal pendant flower I felt reflected the shape and color of Gala in the center of the painting.

You just have to try this! I know you will be pleasantly surprised with how your mind works and the piece you come up with!

And if you would like to have a shot at winning a copy of this book or any other from the Quayside Publishing Group all you need to do is take a moment and answer a few questions in this post's comment section! We want to hear from you!

You will will not be graded on your answers, I promise!

Bloomin' necklace and ring from 1000 Jewelry Inspirations

1,000 Jewelry Inspirations
Beads, Baubles, Dangles, and Chains

By

Sandra Salamony

A visual catalog for jewelry, bead artists and crafters who will relish the opportunity to have so many ideas at their fingertips to inspire their own projects.

This book is the second volume of Quarry's 1,000 series--an eye candy-laden follow-up to the very successful 1,000 Artist Trading Cards (Quarry, Spring 2007).

A showcase of stunning jewelry bits and pieces, "bling" and embellishments, will feed the creative appetites of crafters and jewelry makers everywhere. This second craft collection offers color, sparkle, texture, dimension, and clever, creative use of materials. One piece of jewelry might have several points of interest to be highlighted: an antique clasp, textured lampwork beads, and intricate knots.

An author of various books on art techniques, home decor, and crafts, Sandra Salamony makes a living as an art director, designer, and artist in northern Michigan. Her projects and designs have been featured in magazines, books, and on television.

Click on image to enlarge.

To make the ring all you need is:

A ring blank

26 gauge wire

5 petal shaped beads

1 center round bead

Standard jewelry making tools

To connect the petals run the wire through all the petal beads and twist the ends together to secure.

Thread the wire through the center bead and twist to the back of the petal section.

Then simply wrap lengths of wire over two petals and under one, working around the flower until the desired look is achieved.

Use all the ends of the wire to secure to the ring blank.

If you didn't get enough jewelry making inspiration here today grab yourself a copy of 1,000 Jewelry Inspirations for 996 more pieces or click on jewelry below or over to Sandra's site or here for a bloomin' ring of leaves!

And be sure to come back here tomorrow for "secret" way to store your treasured rings that you can whip up in just a bit with recycled materials!

Kathy Cano Murillo-The Crafty Chica sighting at the Michaels-Sparkle Tour

What a Sparkle-tastic good time we had gobbling up all the new goodies in The Crafty Chica line of glitter,charms and all sorts of fabulousness! We are so on board here with the glitter we have a contest going to give away

The Crafty Chica Collection
Beautiful Ideas for Crafts, Home Decorations and Shrines from the Queen of Latina Style and

Bobble head (not available in stores, it is a promo item so it's uber-special) and this one is signed be the Queen of glitter herself! Be sure to enter by the Monday August 25th.

Please note that when we got to the store the display was full of all the great new stuff.

Here I am on the left holding the charms that I made the necklace I am wearing which you can see close up here.

This picture was snapped on our way out about an hour later. Please note the bare shelves and hooks-they better restock quick!!!

Here is another fun idea from

The Crafty Chica Collection
Beautiful Ideas for Crafts, Home Decorations and Shrines from the Queen of Latina Style

that I think would be great with these charms.

On Fire With New Book Monday-Making Handmade Lampwork Beads & Glass Jewelry

When I say hot off the press I'm not kidding today! We are on fire with a wonderful new book on making lampwork beads and then jewelry with those amazing little beauties!

Making Handmade Lampwork Beads & Glass Jewelry

By

Danny Ronat, Hava Ronat

Delicate yet durable, cold to the touch, but full of charm: glass beads are amongst the world’s most ancient forms of art. Today, they are enjoying a popular revival, as people discover their miniature magnificence, and are using them to create vibrant pieces of unique jewelry. Glass beads are not only beautiful to behold; they are also a pleasure to create. With some fundamental tools and careful instructions, amateurs and artists alike can form colorful glass beads, and use them to make bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and more.

The first section provides clear guidelines on how to make glass beads, from start to finish. Readers receive a full explanation of the tools and materials they’ll be working with. Following this are step-by-step instructions, accompanied by full-color photographs, for making a variety of beads. Some of the beads are perfect for beginnings; others will spark the imaginations of experienced beadmakers.

The second section provides instructions for making necklaces, bracelets, and other pieces of jewelry using handmade glass beads. The projects show readers how to combine handmade beads with other beads to maximize their splendor and really show off their distinct beauty.

Hava and Danny Ronat, a husband and wife team who combine distinct skills and experience to create a beautiful array of glass beads. Hava is a beadmaker, painter, and sculptor. Danny is a mechanical engineer who became enchanted by glass after working in stained glass as a hobby. Together, they operate a successful handmade jewelry shop in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Making Handmade Lampwork Beads & Glass Jewelry is like getting 2 books in one!

The step-out photography for the 28 different beads in this book are amazing. Such eye candy and so easy to follow.

I have made one lampwork bead. You know me I have to try everything at least once.

I found the experience invigorating and exciting. I know, it's a bead only a mother could love. But hey it's my first try! It's a dotted sort-of round bead.

The second part of the book is fill with fabulous jewelry designs made with the lovely beads. This project is so simple and easy. It's a perfect project to feature these detailed beads.

Click on image to enlarge

As you can see I cranked out a bunch of these earrings with lampwork beads from my stash.

I think these would make a great party craft. I always like to have a craft at my parties, generally not one that takes a lot of skill because not all of my friends are crafters (most, but not all!)

Also these would be great to have on hand for last minute gifts.

And since it's Monday-you know what that means-a little taste of Crafty Blogger Links!

About Family Crafts
Now is the time to start sharing your Halloween ideas and, more importantly, photos of your home-made costumes, jack-o-lanterns, and haunted decorations.

About.com Cross Stitch
A Pattern-A-Day in August '08 continues. Don't miss the new free patterns!

Aileen's Musings
Meet Fleurita the Flower Nymph, she's quite the fashionista! Learn how to create your very own flower nymph and enter her in OTM's Art Muse Contest.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Links are still hot! And so it metal clay. Tammy offers some ideas for making metal clay links and then incorporating them into an easy earring design.

Layers Upon Layers
Come meet Angela Mabray, the Crafty Goat, as she shares her recyled art inspirations!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Practicality wins at Sweater Surgery and the craft supplies get a new home with a freecycled wood shelf how-to.

The Impatient Blogger
The Impatient Crafter Margot Potter has a special guest in her new craftertaining video sampling! Jenny Harada comes to the little school house to share how to make your very own fuzzy monster!

And I have a special one:

CraftSanity-Episode 83: Art Journaling with Dawn DeVries Sokol

Listen and See great Creativity!

Grab a box of markers and a clean sheet of paper, and doodle away while you listen to journal artist Dawn DeVries Sokol share the story of how she got hooked on the art form.

Enter to Win The Book! Do you art journal? Why or why not? What role does it play in your life? Post a comment about this podcast and get in the random drawing to win a copy of “1000 Artist Journal Pages.” The deadline is Saturday, Aug. 30. Good luck everyone!

Oh and one last thing if you're into winning books and bobble heads enter here for Crafty Chica goodies!