We R Memorykeeper Gift Bag Punch Board

OMG...attending a party tomorrow...gift made...check...gift bag? No...what to do? Grab your We R Memorykeepers Gift Bag Punch Board, some paper, a little glue and some ribbon and get to making a special one.

 

 

I've had this punch board for several months now and decided to use it to make a gift bag for a party I'm going to tomorrow.  Because I'd already opened the package and discarded it...I don't have written instructions.

Fortunately (or so I thought), the instructions are right on the punch board.  In my case (must have been having a moment) I had a little trouble grasping what exactly it was I was supposed to do....turn to YouTube... (both YouTube and Google are my best friends)

 

 

 

 

I was able to follow the instructions for the most part...after watch four or five times...and here's the end result.  Still need to figure out the holes.

 

 

So, what do I think of this item? As with the other products I've purchased in the We R Memorykeepers inventory, I love it and find it very useful and recommend it just need to play with it a little more to become a subject matter expert...

 

 

Sweets Signatures rating: ✔✔✔✔

 

Hope you enjoy it!

Parachute Cord Bracelet Tool

I've been seeing parachute cord jewelry and other accessories around lately and of course I now want to make them...it doesn't hurt that my two God daughters have said to me.."Mama B we been making those forever"...so now I've accepted the challenge.

 

About 2 weeks ago I saw this tool in Michael's called the Ezzzy Jig Parachute Bracelet Maker and had to have it to aid in this journey...a 50% off coupon doesn't hurt at this point either...and just used it for the first time.

 

 

Here's what I think about it...

 

 

 

 

 

The tool itself was pretty simple and easy...and already preassembled with 2 clip set a small and a large clip; A sliding plate that can accommodate a piece up to 12" long and a set of instructions.

Instructions were a little confusing at first as it was only a pictorial..but I figured it out.

I love the tool and would highly recommend it.  It's not just for kids but also for the more mature crafter...

 

 

Take a look at my first piece....

 

 

 

Happy crafting. ..

Pillow Box Punch Board

Here's what a Pillow Box looks like

I'm so excited about this new tool.  I have been searching and searching for how I wanted to package my pieces when I sell them...and of course, I wanted to do it myself.  So I went on a Google and YouTube journey to learn how to make them (Pinterest too, BTW).  I found lots of templates that I could download, but that just served to confuse the heck out of me...One day while browsing (and I use that term lightly) through Hobby Lobby, I decided to cruise the Scrapbook section  and had an Ah Ha moment.  There it was just staring me in the face saying buy me, buy me.  I was a little skeptical (Lord only knows how many tools I've bought and still have yet to figure out that haunt me still to this day).

Introducing the Pillow Box Punch Board by "We R Memory Keepers".  I absolutely love this tool.  Using just some paper (scrapbook, cardstock, whatever), a little adhesive (I've tried Mod Podge and Elmer's but you can also use a glue gun) and some muscle power, you too can make some awesome Pillow boxes for your gift giving needs.  You can make pillow boxes any where from 4" to 12" inches in length and 6" wide. 

I picked mine up at my local Hobby Lobby, priced at $19.99 and of course...you just gotta love the 40% off coupon.  Great buy and even better investment!

Now...to figure out how to add a label...anyone????

Check out this YouTube video for exact instructions although really, you don't need it.  On a scale of 1 - 5, 5 being awesome, I give this one 5 beads....

Happy Beading!!!

Adhesives

Glues, glazes, fixatives...confused?  So am I!!  So how do you know what works well with the amazing pieces we design and create? 

As always, I gotta define things?  What is an Adhesive?  An adhesive is any substance that, when applied to the surfaces of materials, binds the surfaces together and resists separation.^[1] The term "adhesive" may be used interchangeably with glue, cement, mucilage, or paste.^[2]    


So now we are all clear (as mud, right?).   I found this awesome blog from Blue Door Beads that did such a wonderful job at explaining the differences and recommended instances for use with each kind, I know I need to keep this one in the hip pocket.

Me, personally, I've got about 3 tubes of GS-hypo cement and 2 tubes of E6000, a couple of bottles of glazes (Diamond); Mod Podge, some Aleen's .



Since getting into Resin, I've found out about a product called a fixative.  If you know me, you'll know I'm a literal person...So I went to Hobby Lobby, Michael's and JoAnn's...just to find some fixative (literally, I was looking for the can to say fixative).  Well none of them did, but they had Spray Adhesive, so I bought it.  I should have Googled first and then I'd know that they aren't quite the same thing...answer.yahoo.com says the consistency and hardness of the spray adhesive is not the same as a fixative therefore it can collect dust.

Wish I'd known then what I know now!!! Oh well...

EZ Bracelet Tool

Most of my sales come from clients (friends, family, etc) that don't live within what I am going to call relative commuting distance.  So it's very important that when I accept a custom order and the client requests a particular length bracelet, that I am able to deliver on my client's specification. 

 

Have I got the tool for you!!!!  The EZ Bracelet tool is awesome! You are so gonna get a kick out of this...up until last week, although I was using it, I wasn't using it correctly.  Thanks to all my friends at +Auntie's Bead Chat on FB they soon set me straight and I found out I wasn't so far off.

The EZ Bracelet sizer is a must for every jewelry maker. Made of heavy roller polished vinyl, it will last a long time. Lightweight and only 12" tall. Easy to use at your bench or take with you. Size your bracelets the right size and never have to resize them.

• Make bracelets that fit the first time, every time!
• No more re-stringing because it's the wrong size!
• No more wasted beading wire!
• No more wasted crimps!
• No more wasted time!

I've included a youTube video for you to see how the tool works.

 

 

 

Happy Beading!

Memory Wire Bending Tool

On my jaunt last Saturday with a couple of my Jems, we stopped in at +Brazos Collection in Georgetown and I discovered this awesome tool...Memory Wire Bending Pliers.  The pliers have both a 2mm and a 4mm barrel;

comfort grip, Double leaf spring, box joint construction and are made of stainless steel.

As many of you know, when it comes to wire work, I'm somewhat challenged...I keep working on it, but yet still I'm challenged so I use as many tools as possible to help me gain some sort of consistency with my loops.

That's the advantage of the bending pliers...consistency.  Since I purchased the Bending pliers (for a mere $6 I might add), I've made a pair of Memory Wire earrings and I must say, the tool delivered and it was well worth my $6 investment.  What do you think?


It's one to think about!  If you're like me and have slight troubles with looping, I recommend the purchase.


Happy Beading!

Split ring pliers

Yesterday, I was put to the test...I was afforded the opportunity to play assistant at a Princess Bead Party at Lapis Lane Beads with +Jane Michael Stallings.  Let me tell you what an experience that was...LOL!!!  Anyway, after the little princesses had picked out their charms/beads and decided on their design, we had to add split rings to some of them so that they'd be oriented the right way.  Well, guess who got tasked to do this?  Yours truly!!!!!  Of course you know, I've avoided using split rings in any of my projects as I have the most difficult time getting them suckers open without destroying my nails.  So my instruction began in how to properly use them... watch this youTube video on how to use the split ring pliers.

 

Some other tips from +Jane Michael Stallings :

 

1.  After you've "split" the split ring with the tool, apply firm pressure to the "bent" side of the tool...this will allow you to open the ring a little bit more in order to insert the charm or bead.

 

2. Be careful with the loops on some of the charms so that you don't "mangle" them in an effort to attach them to split ring.

 

3. Last but not least, not every thing can be "fixed" with a split ring...you may need to practice a little wire work...

 

Happy Beading!!!!