Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Getting Beady

When last we met, I had a tweet-up with @holyxuxa and she helped me pick out some beads to use on my bookmarks. But before we get to that, I wanted to show you a minor modification to this card:


Originally I wrote the whole sentiment, which meant I stamped nothing. I was guilt-ridden, so I made the other 5 of them like this:


And it only took me about 30 minutes of hunting in my "word sets" drawers to find that tiny heart stamp in the SU Short & Sweet set. I like this version a lot better. Also, please notice the white band of card stock under the ribbon is a lot narrower than the first one. That's because I messed up punching the border and had to cut off the bad section and punch the other side. I know, I meant to do that, right? I actually like it better. I DO! Should I tell you I have more than one of these with a narrow border? Mmm-hmmm.

Oh, did you notice I added a comma to the sentiment? I did! It's only right.

Okay, back to the beads. I bought these:

Two different colors/types of the small round beads ...

... some small brown ones:

... and some really cool larger brown ones:

Did you notice I have re-purposed my empty SU containers for these guys? I saved them for years just for this moment.

I played with those beads for hours, but my idea just wasn't happening. I thought they needed a little something-something, and I thought I had some metal beads in my stash, but find them? HA! So I was dejected. Then this morning I had a Happy Accident! I bumped some papers off the end of my file cabinet and voila! A pack of metal beads was lurking under them! Lookie:

So I set back in to work this evening, and I now present to you Attempt #1 at The Bead Idea. First, I took a perforating blade and ran it down the inside of a card:

Just once, people. Just once. If you run it twice, it actually severs the papers. (Ask me how I know ...) I then rounded all the corners of what is now The Book Mark. See? It's a card AND a gift! I put in an eyelet and wrapped the end of my silk thread through it a few times then knotted it. Then I strung a few of the green beads, one of the metal ones, and finally one more green one, then knotted the thread at the top. Ta da:

I wanted a flat bookmark (I only put flat bookmarks in my books!) but with a floppy, beady, hangy-off-the-end thing-a-ma-bob that will hang outside the book. What do you think?

I'll be playing with this for a while. Maybe get some thinner silk thread. I dunno. I'll be sure to show you if I manage an Attempt #2 that is actually blog-worthy. I am open to ideas or suggestions for improvement. Really! Bring it on!

And thanks for stopping by!

5 comments:

  1. I like the heart addition. You could even substitute a button there...

    I love the happy accidents of finding things in your craft room! Those beads are wonderful; so glad they wanted you to find them so that you could complete your bookmark card :)

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  2. Love the green beads especially - beautiful!

    I think I learned or maybe remembered recently that you love grammar & punctuation, as do I. Which really just means I tend to overthink it. Like now.

    Here's what I think, based on nothing concrete, just my silly head:

    I love you, Mom.
    This a note from Mom, telling you she loves you.

    I love you Mom.
    This a note from you to Mom, telling you that you love her.

    I could be 100% wrong.

    Discuss.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, Stefanie, that's what I thought,too, when I saw the remade card (love the heart, btw). And my very next thought was, no, I'm just overthinking it. LOL Now, I can't decide!

    Leslie, I love the bookmark/bead idea. I have no suggestions (I come here to LEARN) but I'm sure your subsequent improvements will be wonderful!

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  4. I forgot to ask - where would one acquire a perforating blade?

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  5. i definitely love the heart, the comma, and the narrower band!! ♥♥♥ i am also diggin' the bookmark in a big, BIG way!!! (PERFORATED...but attached to the card??!?! YEOWZA! & with ROUNDED CORNERS...but still attached to the card!!! i'm not worthy!!!!!!!!!) :)

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to hear what you really think! :-)

PS: I've had to disable Anonymous comments, because the spammers were killing me. If you are unable to comment, please email me your comment and I'll get it posted for you. Sorry. (stoopid spammers)