When I was in junior high, I went to the mall and saw a beaded flower bracelet that I fell in love with. It was about ten dollars, so it was out of my budget. I remember going to check it out everyday because I thought it was so cool, but knowing that I didn't have the money to buy it. I would carefully examine the bracelet, trying to figure out how it was made, then run home and try to replicate it. One day I finally prevailed and was able to figure it out. I was so excited about the bracelet I wore it to school the very next day. A girl in my gym class liked it so much she offered me five dollars for it. Being short on money at the time, and calculating it out, the bag of beads was only 50 cents, and the thread was free (from my mom) so this seemed like a good deal. I gave her the bracelet and she said she would bring me five dollars the next day. The next day came and went and she never paid me. After a week I asked her about the money and she said "what bracelet?" like the transaction never took place. I was devastated, confused, and angry. But I did nothing. I never told anyone this story because I was so embarrassed at how naive I was.
Every time I see any beaded piece of jewelry I think of this story. It makes me sad and happy at the same time. It makes me sad to think that there are mean spirited people out there and that I was so passive I never stood up for myself. It makes me happy because I know I've come a long way from then and I am no longer the passive scared little girl.
I hope you enjoy this tutorial on how to make this eight petal flower bead ring (which could be also made into a bracelet). Maybe you can make it for someone you love to give them a little happiness.
This is a simple kid's Valentine's Day craft. Avery enjoyed taking it outside and watching the tissue paper blow in the wind. The materials required are
1 10 inch piece of yarn
2 sheets of tissue paper (about 2ft x 2ft)
1 piece of cardboard cut into a 3.5 inch circle
Take both pieces of tissue paper and line them up on top of each other. Fold the tissue paper in half, and then half again, and then on the diagonal in half (like you are folding a paper snowflake). Trim around the edge to create a circle (doesn't have to be perfect. Cut out shapes onto the tissue paper, since it's Valentine's day we cut out hearts. Cut a small hole on the tip/center of the tissue paper. Knot one end of the yarn and string the yarn through the center of the cardboard and through the tissue paper.
Cut a square from each piece of tissue paper
Fold in half and in half again width wise.
Fold in half on the diagonal,a nd then again. Trim the edges to make a more circular shape and cut out heart shapes.
String yarn through a round piece of cardboard and then through the middle of the tissue paper.
Save cut out heart shapes for a future craft project, or use as table confetti.
I think my mom loves my blog. She's never actually seen it, but I think she loves it because all of my old belongings (what she would call junk) that have been stored in her garage is slowly being transported to my house. This "junk", crafts that I made in high school and college, has found new life with my blog. She recently handed me a box filled with stars that I folded in high school. When I opened the box, I said aloud "Wow, I really had a lot of time on my hands!" My mom smiled, and said "Yes, you did" (probably implying that I had no life back then.) I snatched up the box and stowed it in my car (along with a couple of other boxes filled with "goodies"), because I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them.
Avery's birthday was earlier this month and the stars would make the perfect birthday bunting. Using a sharpie I wrote the letters happy birthday on the stars and strung them together with needle and thread. To mount it on the cake I used bamboo skewers. Easiest and cutest project ever. Everyone that came over to celebrate her birthday asked where I purchased the bunting. I could probably make fifty more signs, with all the stars that I have.
Here is a video tutorial on how to fold paper stars. I used "star paper" to fold these stars, which makes it easier to fold. Star paper is just paper that is already cut into strips. You could cut the paper yourself, or buy quilling paper from Amazon. Here is the link to quilling paper: Craft Quilling Paper 100-Pack, 25 Colors
