Workbench Wednesday...Box of Possibilities...

As you know, I collect many things.

One of the things I can't seem to resist is industrial-type storage.

If it is old and grubby with chipped, scratched paint...I am in.

My father in law brought me this box a while back.  

I think it held screws and such.

I am using it for some of the handmade components I collect.

Sometimes when I am working on a project, I don't finish it or have extra components when I am done.

Some of them ended up in here....

There are also jewelry bits and game pieces that I have plans for.

I feel like this could be a jewelry maker's "I Spy".

Don't you agree?

Balled wire, fiber wrapped beads, stamped leather components, bottle caps, pencil bits, moss/twig bundles, felted wool, etc....

Little bits of leather, polymer faces, pretty beads, washers, chains, silk strips....

Resin wonders, escutcheons, film bits, pencil beads, wooden spools, keys, feathers....

What do you keep all your bits and baubles in?

For me half the fun is seeing them all grouped together in unexpected ways...

Makes my imagination race...

Thanks for stopping by....

Bracelet stacks

Sorry I have been MIA lately.

Sometimes life throws you some curve balls.

But I am back now.

How about some pretty bracelet stacks to celebrate?

I love this set for summer...

And this one is actually a single piece that looks like a bracelet stack.  

I wear this one all the time.

I made it just for me.

I never do that...

So what have you been up to?

Hope it has brought you joy and relaxation...

Thanks for stopping by....

Father's Day Craft Lightning

Time for a Father's Day Craft Lightning.

I loved coming up with an idea to honor dad that is fast, easy and great looking.

Here's what you can make:

This great stamped leather key chain.

You will need:

Leather Scrap

Leather Cord

 Stamping Alphabet

Sponge

Water

Hammer

Sand Bag

DecoArt Metallic Lustres Paints

Heavy Duty Scissors

Sharpie Marker

Tin Can

Leather Hole punch

Let's get started.

You may use whatever leather you want.

You can buy bags of scrap leather at many craft stores.

You can use a piece of leather from a discarded item such as an old coat or pair of shoes.

Decide on a shape.

I used a tin can to trace a circle.

Cut the circle out.

Wet the sponge and squeeze out the excess water.

Dampen the leather where you will stamp it.

Stamp your message one letter at a time.

Place the letter stamp on the leather and give it a forceful blow with the hammer.

Try to hit it hard enough to make the impression with one blow.

If you hit it several times, you risk having the stamp move and getting an unclear impression.

Continue to spell what you want to say.

Allow it to dry.

Use the Metallic Lustres Paints to add some color to the key chain.

I prefer to use my fingers to rub the color where I want it.

Allow it to dry and buff it with a soft cloth.

Use the leather hole punch to add a hole.

String a piece of leather cord through the hole.

Ta-Da!

The perfect usable gift for dad.

Head over to The Country Chic Cottage

Busy Mom's Helper and 

30 Minute Crafts 

to see other great Father's Day Craft Lightning projects.

Thanks for stopping by....

Leather and Polymer Clay Cuffs

The last couple months have been filled with lots of unexpected adventures.

I am still creating but much of it has been for specific projects that I can't share yet.

Today I wanted to share a few pieces that have been on my workbench.

These wrap braclets incorporate leather, silk and my own polymer beads.

I really love this cuff bracelet.

Very bohemian.

Although it does require a friend to help put it on.  

It has a wider leather base and then the silk and leather cord wrap around it to secure it.

This one has a thinner leather base, but it wraps around a few more times.

The silk is woven through the leather.

And the clay nest serves as both a focal and an essential part of the clasp.

What is on your workbench?

Thanks for stopping by....

Polymer Clay Magic- Jewelry from Polymer Clay

Today is just an eye candy post.

Lots of polymer clay goodness and that is all.

Enjoy....

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Thanks for stopping by....

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