Late Post on my Poor Neglected Blog.

I'm so sorry. I posted the results for Upcyclers creativity challenge everywhere else but not on my own blog.
So here are the winners.

"Though the entries were few, they were some really good ones and I had a bit of a hard time deciding.

The runner up is Our Childrens Earth with her storage containers. It is such a great practical item. It is a simple project to make and It uses all recycled items. It is also a great way to use up all those scraps.

The grand prize goes to SwooshbyScrollwork for her incredibly adorable Hobbit House. The piece is so creative. I absolutely love her use of very different items …like kitchen scraps. Just amazing!

Thanks to all who participated! This was great fun and some really great entries!"

Time to Pick a Winner for the Upcyclers Team May Creativity Challenge.

This month I was choosen as the judge of the upcyclers team creativity challenge. The medium I chose for the group to upcycle was plastic coffee cans or creamer containers. I have to admit my reasons were a little selfish, as my house is overflowing with these. I also know so many other coffee lovers I figured these would be easy to find. I was just dying to see what everyone came up with. The group is full of so many creative people. I am always amazed at the items this group creates.

You can learn more about the group here... http://love2upcycle.blogspot.com/

Well, the entries are in! This group did not disapoint! Such fantastic ideas from the pretty and practical to the wow! wow! How did you ever come up with such a great idea?

Here are this months entries. Now the problem is picking just two.

pinterest.com/pin/53339576806748984/

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125196077/momma?ref=teams_post

ourchildrensearth.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/recycled-containers-into...

www.flickr.com/photos/scrollwork/8724877700/
Here is my entry although I'm not including it in the judging.

What do you think? Which two would you choose?
Thanks for stopping by! I hope this inspired an upcycled project for you!

Upcyclers Creativity Challenge for May. DIY Birdbath Planter.

As most of you know I am part of a team on Etsy called Upcyclers. I’m sure you have seen some of my entries from past monthly challenges. I am thrilled to have been chosen to be the judge for May’s challenge. The medium I chose to be upcycled was plastic coffee cans or creamer containers…really any plastic container will do. I had a bit of a selfish reason for choosing this item as my house is overflowing with them….ahhh coffee!

I found a cool birdbath on Pinterest that had used clay pots and a light cover. For the challenge I substituted with painted coffee cans and used one of my fused glass bowls. The project was really easy and the materials few and inexpensive. 6 Plastic coffee cans, spray paint, 5' concrete rebar ( bought a scrap piece at Home Depo for $ 0.99), a plastic bowl or light cover.  

Here is a link to the site...

http://plantcaretoday.com/diy-garden-planter-birds-bath.html

The original used 6, instead I used 5, one of my bowls, and copper wire recycled from an electrical cord.

I also chose a textured paint to try and hide the logo. It covered well although the hammered texture of the paint seemed to level out some. I cut an x in the bottoms.

I drove the rebar into the ground and put on my first can at an angle and supported it with rocks and just kept adding cans.

I found out the hard way...you want to fill them with dirt as you go.

I chose to use one of my fused glass bowls. They are a bit heavy and I could just imagine a squirrel knocking it down. I wired it on to the rebar with heavy gauge copper from an old electrical cord. It is still a little wobbly so I am going to weld on a vase camp from and old lamp to set the bowl in and then wire it.

It was a fun project and I got to use quite a few cans. I am very happy with it! It has added a nice splash of height and color to my garden and the birds love it! I can't wait to see how it looks when the flowers fill in.

Hope this all inspires you to get out and create!

Happy Upcycled Garden All!

Late post. The 3rd Reveal of the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party!

I tried to use auto post. I guess better luck next time. I spent the weekend celebrating my birthday with my family.  Then I forgot to check it. :(

This is the 3rd and final reveal of the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party.

Created and hosted by Lori Anderson of Lori Anderson Designs.

Lori has paired up artists who will swap bead soup mixes. The soups have to consist of a focal, a special clasp and coordinating beads. Something to challenge your partner and something you would be proud to give to your best friend. We then have to create something using at least the focal and the clasp…and have these ready for the reveal. We all visit each other’s blogs to see their finished pieces and learn more about them and the pieces they made. 

You can check it all out here!

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/

I am having a wonderful time! a big thank you to Lori and all for such a wonderful event!

Enjoy the hop!

The 2nd Reveal of the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party!

It is time for the 2nd reveal of the 7th. Bead Soup Blog Party. This time around the party is even bigger with the addition of a contest and prizes.

This has been my second time participating and I am having such a great time.  It is so cool seeing all the different soups and designs that came about. I have met some fantastic people and was just blown away by the work and some of the great blogs out there.

I have to give a big thank you to Lori and all those who helped make this possible…you all did such a great job and this was no small feat!

Created and hosted by Lori Anderson of Lori Anderson Designs.

Lori has paired up artists who will swap bead soup mixes. The soups have to consist of a focal, a special clasp and coordinating beads. Something to challenge your partner and something you would be proud to give to your best friend. We then have to create something using at least the focal and the clasp…and have these ready for the reveal. We all visit each other’s blogs to see their finished pieces and learn more about them and the pieces they made. 

You can check it all out here!

http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/

 

It's Here! It's Time! The First Reveal of the 7th Bead Soup Blog Party!

First I want to say thank you to Lori and everyone who made this possible!
Second I want to say thank you to my partner Stephanie Weiss. It was wonderful to have her as a partner. I really like her work. It was great exchanging emails and learning more about each other. We have alot of the same likes and are both learning to work with metal. We are also hoping to meet up at the Bead and Button show this year...sweet!
I am so excited to see what she made and to see what she thinks of my pieces. This is her first party. I'm sure she will have a blast.
You can learn more about Stephanie and see her pieces here...  http://uniquelymebwd.blogspot.com/


Here is the soup she sent.

Gorgeous stone and copper, some lampwork glass and handmade copper clasps.. a really gorgeous color pallette. For an extra surprise she sent everything in this cool little tin.
There was enough to make multiple pieces.

The first piece was made using one of the focals. faceted red glass beads, and a large copper bead sent by my partner. I mixed in a couple of my lampworked beads. a very large, very gorgeous amber bead,goldstone,new jade, and some recycled copper components I made.

The second and third pieces. A necklace made with hand wrought heavy gauge recycled copper wire and some gorgeous stone briollets and handmade clasp sent by Stephanie.
A bracelet made with recycled roofing copper that I cut and textured as a base for the cabochon and riveted it on with strips of copper. On one side I made a chains with the small jasper beads and alternated it with chain. The other side I used heavy gauge copper wire to make a sort of chain maille.

 The fourth piece I made a center piece of hammered thin gauge copper wire. I wrapped in some square pillow beads of smokey quarts and hung the gorgeous jasper focal. I made a chain using square copper beads and jasper beads sent by stephanie.

Here is a little reminder of what I sent stephanie. Can't wait to see her pieces!

Here is the list of first reveal members links.... http://lorianderson-beadsoupblogparty.blogspot.com/ I hope you enjoy the hop! Thanks for taking a peak!

Team Upcyclers Monthly Creativity Challenge for March.

This month’s item to upcycle was neck tie's There has been so many great ideas by other members of the team. The group always amazes me with their creativity. Please be sure to check them all out and ton's of other recycling ideas on the groups blog. http://love2upcycle.blogspot.com/

The project I had in mind was a valance for my bathroom window. Bot once again I have proven to myself that I am a disaster at sewing. I had one tie I did not cut wrong or mangle in the machine.
The mangled pieces reminded me of the sari silk I have  been using in my jewelry and have become so fond of. So I decided jewelry it is. I cut the tie into one inch strips and went trough my bead stash. I had a fused cabochon I had made with fine silver foil and goldstone on a blue background and a lampwork bead I made with the same blue glass. They were a perfect match. For the copper I used recycled roofing copper, refrigerator tubing and copper wire from a coaxiale cable.