I'm totally loving these Sterling Silver Leaf Pendants & Itty Bitty Swarovski Bicone Crystals!

I'm totally loving these new beads sent to me by ArtBeads.com in exchange for my design . . . I am so fortunate to have been chosen to be on their Blog Design Team! This time I got to choose these BEAUTIFUL Sterling Silver Leaf Pendants and GORGEOUS 2.5 mm Swarovski Bicone Crystals in Silver Shade . . .

Here is the link for the AWESOME center Sterling Silver Leaf Pendant . . .

. . . and the two smaller Sterling Silver Leaf Pendants flanking it . . .

The beaded leaves are beaded 11/0 Toho beads also sold by ArtBeads.com . . . they are having another of their GREAT DOLLAR SALES until 9:00 AM (PST) Thursday, March 11, 2010 . . . I'm on their newsletter email list to get their sale announcements . . . they have FANTASTIC sales!!!!THE BEADERS FLORAL written by Liz Thornton & Jill Devon is the book where I found the leaf pattern . . . what an INCREDIBLE book . . . it's published in the United Kingdom . . . my beading buddies and I were able to get them from Canada for less $$ than directly from England at Beadfx . . .

I hope you enjoyed this piece!!!!!

*Disclosure . . . I receive free product from ArtBeads.com in exchange for my designs on my blog . . . opinions are strictly my own . . .

WINNER WINNER WINNER!!!!!

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this exciting drawing!!! You are ALL winners to me!!!!!
Dh#2 pulled an entry from the hat (so to speak!! LOL!!!) . . . Drumroll, please . . . the winner of the $25 Email Gift Certificate from Artbeads.com is SHIRLEY BOWERS!!!!! Woo!!! Hoo!!! CONGRATULATIONS, Shirley! May you have TOO MUCH FUN with your beaded treasures!!!!! ArtBeads.com will contact you for your $25 ArtBeads.com Email Gift Certificate . . . YOU ROCK, GF!!!! LOL!!!!!

ArtBeads.com $25 Email Gift Certificate Blog Giveaway

What a great time for beaders! ArtBeads.com is sponsoring a drawing for their blog team designers (moi . . . LOL!!!!) to offer to their readers! All you have to do leave a comment on my blog with an EMAIL ADDRESS so that I can contact the winner!!! I will draw one winner after Monday, February 22, 2010 @ 12:01AM (PST)!! That's Washington's Birthday (I still have a little bit of school teacher left in me!!! LOL!!!) Good luck!!!!!

Acrylic Paint Technique on Gold Technique

One of my many groups has two lotteries each month . . . this month was my turn and I elected to create a "Gold" card using acrylic paints . . . Images are from A Stamp in the Hand . . .
First, I just took a piece of gold (not mirror gold) cardstock . . .

I put a small dab of acrylic paint on a non-stick teflon sheet and a big dab of acrylic glaze medium . . .

The two were mixed with a plastic palette knife . . .

Spread the length of the cardstock . . .

I labeled the back of the cardstock "top" and "bottom" . . .
Lay the cardstock gold side down on the spreaded color . . .

Lifted the cardstock from the "bottom" . . .

Repeat with two other colors . . . I like to lift it in the same direction from the bottom for consistency . . . until I covered the cardstock with color leaving the gold cardstock showing in various places . . .

Here are samples . . . the first one is the original background for the card . . .

The second one is a second generation one with left over paint making it lighter . . .

The third sample is done on silver cardstock . . .

The fourth sample is done on watercolor paper . . .

These acrylic paints and mediums are so versatile and fun . . . I could play with them all day!!! LOL!!!

Craft Super Show dot Com

This year we were lucky enough to have CHA Convention (which is for wholesalers/retailers in the craft industry) hold a CraftSuperShow Convention for the public the two days before CHA started in Anaheim, CA . . . I went for both days and I'm glad I did . . . there was PLENTY to see and participate in demo's and Make It Take It's . . . I even saw one of my very favorite Mixed Media Artists, Chris Cozen, who introduced her newest book . . . MIXED MEDIA AND COLOR . . . published by Design Originals . . . here's a photo of Chris Cozen and myself and she's holding up a copy of the book! I LOVE her books and techniques!!!!!
One of the booth workers was wearing a GORGEOUS necklace that her friend made for her . . . I just had to take a picture of it and show you . . .

I know I need another hobby like a hole in the head . . . but my mixed media buddy, Marilyn Gallas and I couldn't pass up this quilted postcard which only took 30 minutes to make at the Janome Sewing Machine booth . . .

This charming card was a Make It Take It at the Joann's booth using K & Company Papers . . . it was so easy yet it looks so delightful!

I hope they decide to hold the CraftSuperShow in Anaheim again next year . . . I would LOVE to attend for both days, again!!!!!