Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Tyvek Beads

This was one of those projects I just didn't "get" when I first heard about it (sometimes it takes me a while!). Why would you want to make beads out of plastic envelopes?? Well, I found a wonderful tutorial online here, and it convinced me to give it a try.

These beads are extremely easy and fun to make! And they're very lightweight, making them perfect for adding to bookmarks, handmade books, and jewelry.

I had a heckuva time getting photos of these, as they are quite glossy and reflect the light, both natural and flash. Hopefully these photos (the results of my third attempt) will give you enough of an idea that you'll want to give it a try. Be cautious, though, it is addicting!

Here are some wrapped in gold thread:



These are wrapped in various colors of wire:



The next two sets are rolled in various colors of embossing powders, then heated again:





And here are some close-ups:











Feel free to e-mail me if you have questions about how these are made!

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Jazzed Up Bag

My wise friends said, "If you feel like jazzing it up, jazz it up!" So that's what I did. Here's my felted bag with buttons and tassels added. I like it much better.