A swell gift for a friend

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super-quick-gift

I don’t know if you’re like me, but I’m always making a mad rush before birthdays! Luckily, I have a pretty large stash of colorful jewelry that I already have made up to give away as gifts. It was actually kinda hard for me to part with these two pieces for my super swell friend Allee (she’s turning 20)! I love the chunky orange and yellow iridescent beads I used for them and that button ring is one of my faves too (it was actually in Jewelry Creations magazine by CK Media a few months back). I made the little cards out of black cardstock and wrote on there with a silver gel pen and it made an instant display card. So easy! That’s what I’m talking about. Oh, and I would have blown up the pic, but it was a total iphone pic that was really crappy, but I think you get the idea!

And in awesome Swell news, my wall project was featured on Dollar Store Crafts (an amazing site, btw) a couple of weeks ago, and Threadbanger has a special feature in conjunction with Dollar Store Crafts and they selected mine as one of the best projects of the week! Cool, eh?

My brain is really random at the moment as you can tell by the paragraphs above cause I’ve gotta run. I have an art hop to go tonight here in the Tower District of Fresno! I hope to share some cool pics tomorrow!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that bling!

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ring and earring set

A fun and quickie post today! I am really going to focus in on making most of my gifts for my friends (my fam is a whole other story), but I made this little ring and earring set in 10 minutes tonight and for only around $5 in all!

It always cracks me up when scrapbook mags and décor mags say, “Make this for under $10”. Well, in order to make it you have to have the initial tools to do it and those cost a heck of a lot more than the actual supplies. So, it was about $5, but I already have the tools and supplies to make it.

I really do recommend this type of idea, though. The initial purchase of some basic pliers, wire, glue (my fave is E-6000) and ring blank to make this is an AWESOME investment. You can buy these things and make hundreds of gifts! I’m totally all about the buttons! This one cost around $3, but a lot of times you can get a giant plain and decorative button bin of them at the craft store for $5. Also peruse the clearance aisles for 25¢ button deals as well. They can be a big steal. Also, you can find these big prisms for the earrings at a lot of craft stores, but I actually found mine in the ornament section at Wal-mart. Keep your eyes peeled for things you can turn into jewelry! I’m always scouting out little doo dads that would make cool jewelry. Now, I will admit, these things are REALLY big, but my friend Molly (who I am making them for and who I know doesn’t read my blog) will love them. She doesn’t mind wearing heavy earrings in the name of style. I think she will love wearing this little, or should I say BIG? bling set.

Oh, and for all those looking for ring blanks, you can get a slew of them for cheap at
Art Chix Studio! You may want to stock up. What a CHEAP & EASY gift idea for all your friends, family, and co-workers. Everyone who I know smiles when they see my stash of colorful rings I make…from young to old!

OK, I promise not to use so many UPPERCASE fonts next time Swellions!

Until next time!

Alexa