Chalkboard Bookmark

My incredibly talented sister-in-law has recently published her second book in the "Checked" trilogy. If you have not yet heard about this series, here is a glimpse into what its all about...

"Callie spends countless hours staring at appliances to make sure they are really unplugged. She wastes obscene amounts of time checking for murderers in various corners of her house and entire sleepless nights performing pointless checking rituals. Then every spare minute is filled with inspecting doorknobs, chairs, floors, etc. for minuscule traces of germs. Oh, and she does all of this as she counts to three over and over again in her head. She does this every day. Without fail. 

Dr. Blake just doesn’t fit into her schedule. Until he does. Until Callie begins to trust him. Until she starts to need him. And want him. And . . . "

I know I'm partial, but these books are fantastic and provide an all-too-real look at Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and its effects on those who suffer from it. As a romantic at heart, it also met every expectation I have of a romantic novel and then some. I truly CANNOT WAIT for the final book to come out!!! You can check out THIS LINK to purchase Checked (first novel) and Checked Again (second) for yourself!

As a promotion for these awesome books, I created these chalkboard bookmarks that you can make for yourself in a few, simple steps!

Materials

-mini bookmark (found in the jewelry section of most craft stores)

-chalkboard pendant (Hobby Lobby has just started selling really cute ones!)

-split ring

-needle-nosed pliers

-chalk or chalk marker

Instructions:

1. Using needle-nosed pliers, open split ring and place one end of the ring through the pendant.

2. Place the split ring through the hole at the top of the bookmark. Close the split ring using the pliers.

3. Decorate the bookmark using chalk or a chalk marker (chalk is removed easily using a wet paper towel and drying befor using again!)

Stay tuned for an awesome giveaway in July, where I will be including a chalkboard bookmark like this one, as well as a certain book that shall not be named (but you can probably guess) to place that bookmark inside!

Trying My Hand at Metal Stamping

I have always admired crafters on Etsy and other sites that create metal-stamped jewelry. Being the type to leave no craft unturned and wanting to try my hand at this task, I asked my mom for a set of metal stamps for my birthday a few years back. Little did I know just how much more I would admire those types of crafters, as metal-stamping is a very precise craft that requires an extremely steady hand. How metal-stamping crafters are able to stamp names, dates, and quotes onto pendants with consistent pressure and uniformity, I will never know. In other words, I stick to one-letter stamping and often go through multiple stamping disks and plates before getting even one centered and looking the way I want it. For this particular project, I decided to create initial and birthstone charms for my sister and sister-in-law in honor of their little ones, Royce and Camdyn, respectively.

Materials:

-metal alphabet stamp set
-metal stamping disk (with hole drilled)
-small anvil -hammer
-necklace chain
-permanent marker
-steel wool
-craft epoxy
-flat-sided rhinestones

1. Line up the alphabet stamp of choice in the middle of the disk and hold it steadily

2. Using a small hammer, hit the flat end of the metal stamp repetively, making sure to hold the stamp steadily

3. Once the letter has been successfully stamped, scribble over the entire letter with a permanent marker

4. Using a piece of steel wool, rub off the permanent marking, leaving only the outline of the letter stamped darkened

5. Wipe off smudges and fingerprints with a dry cloth

6. Using craft epoxy, glue a rhinestone to the disk for decoration or, in this case, to symbolize birth stones

7. Add a split ring through the hole in the disk and string onto necklace chain to wear proudly

Simple Turtle Cuff Bracelet

Turtle pendant made for Tam

My best friend Tammie LOVES turtles! As a result, for one of her Christmas gifts, I simply bought a cuff bracelet blank at Hobby Lobby and an adorable turtle pendant I found at Michael’s. Using 9100 epoxy I glued the turtle pendant to the center of the cuff and allowed it to dry overnight. Voila!!! An item that appears store-bought is actually homemade (not to mention personal, far less expensive, and super easy to complete!). This could virtually be done with any type of pendant, bead or found item!!!

Example of a blank bracelet cuff similar to the one used