Five Strand Braided Bracelet

Ashley over at Make it and Love it posted a five strand braided headband awhile back.  I love it!!  Simple, and quick, you can use these braids in a multitude of ways. 

flip-flops straps, braided collar, braided tank straps or even a belt

 I thought it'd be really cute as a bracelet, so I took an old mustard t-shirt, cut my strips and braided it up.

I pair mine with a matching infinity t-shirt scarf I made (I have about four of these bad boys in different colors.  They make this girl who is almost always in jeans and tees actually look kinda pulled together.)

And can I just say, that I'm loving this color! Makes me yearn for fall.  BIG TIME!!

Now Ashley hand-stitching to finish off, I totally went the lazy glue gun route.  I also didn't worry about folding under the edges of my cover band.  Raw edges all the way, and I think it looks fine.  

Brooke got a new headband made too. 

Next up, Delia's four strand braid for a bracelet, I'm gonna stack it with a five strand braided bracelet.  Maybe even make a standard three strand braid and put all three together for a chunky bracelet.  I also want to pick up some leather cording at Hobby and play around with that.

Possibilities are endless.

Have you made a five strand braided project yet?

Linking to:
Someday Crafts
Blue Cricket Designs
Somewhat Simple
Whipperberry
Tatertots and Jello

Best New Mom Gift Ever

I know every blog out there has done giveaways for hand stamped jewelry, well this isn't a giveaway, but rather a BRAG on my good friend, Jackie.  In August she started up Nella Anne Designs.  For my shower gift she made me this beautiful necklace.  I absolutely LOVE it!!  

I think it's the best mom gift every!!  She does great work, and she's been busy making necklaces for almost all of our friends.  One friend had her do a set of three necklaces, one for her, one for her (adopted) daughter and one for the birth mom.  So sweet!  And she does bows too!  Check her out, Nella Anne Designs, she's also on facebook and does specials for followers.  

*Note: She's taking a little maternity break till mid-November.  She welcomed baby #4 on November 4th.  You can still order, but orders won't be processed till she's officially back.  You can contact her through her website or facebook page.

Stamped Washer Key Chain

I'm sure you've seen them EVERYWHERE.  They have been on my list of projects to do, forever.  And finally my friend Jen and I got together and GOT-IT-DONE.  We each managed to get a few done (but not without errors and several do overs).  

This is a key chain.  I also stamped some small washers (same size as the Ben one) with "B" and "M" on them for my kids.  But I need to get a different size washer to accompany them that will say "B&A, 2002".  The one that I tried it on doesn't quite look right.  

This is seriously the cheapest project ever!  I think the small washers were like 10 cents each and the big one 15 cents.  The stamp set Jen got at Harbor Freight for $5 (thanks Helping Little Hands for that tip, you can also check out her blog and many other for step by step tutorials).  The chain I used was left over from Monster's birthday bash last year when we gave dog tags as party favors.  I snipped it down to the length I wanted, strung on my washers and attached to my key chain.  

Jen and I are going to get together and work on some more fancy ones.  Like having a bead/birthstone hanging down in the center of the washer.  I'm also going to help her bust out a ton that say "Adoption Rocks."  She going to make them to raise money for her upcoming adoption of some babes from Ethiopia. You can check out her blog Team Chase 4 and Counting.

Another Button Ring w/ Matching Rag Bracelet

I made another button ring, and made a rag bracelet to match.  I know the colors might be kinda random, but I have a turquoise top that I wear a pink tank under, so I thought why not add a pop of orange (cause I {heart} orange).  

These could not be any simpler to make, if you want step by step instructions look here.  Although I will say I actually prefer to attach my button to the ring blank before applying mod podge.  It gives you something to hold onto while painting it on.  For the buttons attached to the bracelet, get some sticky tack stuff, put that on the end of a pencil/marker/whatever and stick your button on.  Instant button holder.  

My bracelet I just cut roughly 1 inch strips (you don't have to be precise) and braided them.  Then hand stitch your ends together.  Wrap a small piece of fabric around your stitches and hot glue in place to cover your seam.  Then use your buttons to hide your seam even more and make it look super cute!  

Way easy, cute, and cheap! Can't beat it!!

5 Minute Fourth of July Project

These super cool rings are on my list of projects to do with my crafting friend.  Well instead of waiting till we had craft night I whipped one up before I went over to her neighborhood Fourth Party.  I needed something festive to spruce up my outfit that consisted of a red shirt and red earrings.  I know, lame, but what can I say, I'm pregnant. Since I did this the day of, I had to make a couple of adjustments.  I didn't have time to glaze them (and you can tell-this was a cheap $1 holiday scarf) but its okay, its a holiday jewelry piece, not something meant to be wore all the time.  And I didn't have ring blanks (but I'm going to the store at TODAY to get some), so I used a ring I had on hand, it worked fine.

Cute, huh?!  I'll be making lots more of these.

I also made one for Brooke (I used a toe ring, it fit perfect.)  She liked it for a while and then was over it.  I thought it was so cute.