Cat Claw Knot for Donut Pendants

You have a nice donut bead/stone and want to wear it as a pendant but do not know how to present it better?
Today I will show how to make a Cat Claw Knot . 

 The lenght of the cord you will need to cut depends of the size of the donut/bead you have and the thickness of the cord you use. This knot can be made with any type of cord or thread that is flexible enough to be folded - leather, hemp or other fiber cords.

If the object you are tying the knot on has a front or back, decide which side you like best.
Turn the donut so the back side is facing you.
1) Fold the cord in half. Pull the folded loop through the donut  hole as shown.

2) Slip the cord ends through the loop. Pull the ends. Make sure that cords are not crossing.

Turn over the stone so the top of the loop is facing you now, like on the photo below. Now, you will hold your donut this way, front side facing you:

 3) Take one cord end (right on the picture) and pass it to the right, back through the loop. Leave a small loop on top, big enough to fit a cord. Make sure all cords are parallel as shown:

 4) Repeat the same step with the left cord end. You knot has to look like this:

5) Pick up the right cord end and pass it through the left loop as shown:

 6) Pull the cord. Notice, the cord is crossing the horizontal cord on the top of the stone:

 7) Pick up the left cord end and pass it through the right loop as shown:

 8) Tighten the cords:

The result will look different with different cords. I like the leather cord better, but this is my personal choice :) 

Crochet Wash Cloth

Add charm to your kitchen or bath with these super fun crochet dishcloths!

If you ever plan to give a gift of pretty soaps, lotions, shower gels or other body care products, the handmade washcloths would be a lovely addition to the gift package. 

They are a great take-along project and work up quickly.

You wil need:

size H/8-5.00 mm crochet hook 

Cotton worsted yarn

Make 30 chain stitches (cs)

Yarn over. Skip first 2 cs 

Insert hook in the center of the 3rd chain from the hook.

Yarn over...

Draw through 3 loops on hook
(one half double crochet complete)

Repeat across to end of foundation chain.

You need to turn your work to start Row 2. 

Chain 2 (ch 2) and yarn over the hook (yo). 

Skipping the first stitch of the row directly below the turning chain, insert your hook in the next stitch. 

 Buy these wash cloth here

Peacock Chandelier Earrings

Make this pair of chandelier earrings using seed beads (size 8/00), head pins, eye pins, and chain.

1. Slide a 3mm metal bead and 4 seed beads on a head pin. Make a simple loop. Make 8 of these end links.

 

 2. Using eye pins and seed beads, make short links:

8 links with 5 beads, 16 links with 6 beads, 6 links with 7 beads, 4 links with 8 beads, 2 links with 9 beads.

3. Make long links:

Link A: end link + 6 bead link + 5bead link - make 8

Link B: end link + 7bead link + 6beads link - make 4

Link C: end link + 8beads link + 6bead link - make 4

Link D: end link + 9bead link + 7 bead link - make 2

4. Assemble: on a eye pin slide 1 seed bead (SB), link A, SB, link A, SB, link B, SB , link C, SB, link D, SB, link C, SB, link B, SB, link A, SB. Make a simple loop on the end as shown below.

5. Fold a 2" (5cm)  chain in half (to find a center link) and attach an ear wire to this link. Attach the  chain to the loops. Attach the first and the last links of the chain to the loops.

Changing the amount of beads for the links and the lenght of the chain, you can change the size of your earrings.

You can buy these earrings here

Washing Yellow Pillows into White Pillows

Do you have pillows that turn yellow in a year or so? One of the most common reasons why pillows can turn yellow is sweat. My husbands' pillows are more yellow (his hair is short and not so dense :), so all his sweat goes onto his pillow). Sweat can seep through the pillowcase fabric. As the sweat dries, it can leave a yellow stain on the pillow. Even if you use pillow covers underneath your pillowcases, the yellowing can still occur. I tried to wash the pillows with regular laundry detergent, but the result was not impressive.
Why not to throw away a bad pillow and buy a new one? I like really flat, (yes, flat-flat) pillows, and new ones are way big for me. I even travel with my pillow - hotel pillows are gigantic for me and I cannot sleep on them. 
So, I have to wash my favorite pillow., I found on Pinterest a good "recipe":
- Hot water
- 1 cup of laundry detergent
- 1 cup powdered dishwasher detergent
- 1 cup bleach 
- 1/2 cup borax

Look at these BEFORE  and AFTER pictures! 
The pillow on the bottom was never washed before and it is at least 11 years old! 

• Remove the pillow case and any pillow protector
• Fill the washing machine about 1/3 full with hot water.
• Add all the ingredients in , then start the machine and allow it to agitate for a few minutes to makes sure all the detergent dissolves before adding the pillows.
• Once the detergent is dissolved, add the pillow(s), and then allow the washer to fill the rest of the way with HOT water. I washed two pillows at a time, which helped balance the load when it came time for the spin cycle.
• Put your machine on the 2nd rinse cycle or just run it through twice manually.
•  Place the pillow(s) in the dryer, add a couple of tennis balls covered in clean socks or a few Dryer Balls to help FLUFF the pillows as they tumble dry. I run the dryer twice . If it's sunny and hot outside- let the sun finish drying the pillows (it is hot in Arizona, +100F already)!

Swirly Polymer Clay Crochet Hook Handle

 A while ago, I tried my hand at beading crochet.  The little hook that I used to crochet is so tiny that you really have to get a good grip. In a couple of hours,  I found my hands would cramp up. I saw some crochet hooks with handles at local craft store, but they were kind of expensive. Why to spend money if I can make my own handles out of polymer clay (I have a lot of left over pieces of different color)

All will need: 

• Polymer clay in wanted color 
• Pasta machine (or acrylic roller) 
• Acrylic (or glass) sheet  
• Clay Blade or sharp knife

Candles Christmas Cards

It is not late to make a hand-made Christmas/New Year card with Svetlana's easy step-by-step tutorial.

First, lets make a candle. For one candle, you will need three to four  red paper stripes 5mm wide and 11" long. Using  a quilling tool, roll the stripe.

Bubble Birthday Invitation

Today, Anya and I made  Birthday invitations for her Birthday Party.
We decided to make our own one-of-a-kind cards :) Anya was a designer, I was a supervisor and a photographer :)

All you need are:
- white card stock paper (or any thick white paper)
- food coloring
- straws
- bubbles (liquid) 
- small dishes 
- printer (optional)
- scissors or paper trimmer
1. Cover your table with old news papers to protect the surface of your table. Put on latex gloves. Pour small amount (1-2 table spoons) of bubble soap in small dishes. Add 4-6 drops of food coloring in each dish (one dish for one color). Mix the coloring with a straw. Have a separate straw for each color.

Holiday Greeting Card

This step by step tutorial will demonstrate how to make a personalized zig-zag greeting card.

Upcycling Sweaters. Part 2 - Coasters

I made a lot of stuff out of felted sweaters: bags, gadget cases, little cute toys ....And I had a lot of small scraps that I felt sorry to throw them away. What else could I make out of little pieces? Well, they are not tiny-little, something about 4"-5" (13cm) across....
Coasters!!! They do a fantastic job protecting your furniture from those inevitable water rings made by our drinking glasses and coffee mugs. Right? So, I made coasters, and they are double sided!

DIY: Easy Buttons

Do you need sometimes nice buttons but cannot find what you need? I had this problem before, but now I make my own buttons with polymer clay.

Today, I want to share the easiest way how to make polymer clay buttons. 

All you need  are:

• Polymer clay in wanted color
• Pasta machine (or acrylic roller)
• Old button as a stamp
• Plastic wrap 
• Cutter (for 1st method)
• Tooth pick.

First Method

1. Condition Polymer clay until it’s soft and pliable. Roll it until it is 3mm thickю (my example of  polymer clay sheet is only for one button, but you make as big  as you need)

DIY Tutorial: Wrapped Ring

The other day my friend asked me to make a ring. I made it. And I made a DIY tutorial for it too:) I knew you would love it, right?

Tools and Materials: 

• 20ga round dead soft wire – 2 ft
• 10 mm bead – 1
• Ring mandrel
• Chain nose pliers
• Wire cutters
• Liver of sulfur (optional)

Spring Rainbow Earrings Tutorial

I would like to share how to make simple beautiful earrings. The great step-by-step DIY tutorial is shared by my friend  Lena who runs SFBeads store on Etsy

 Click here to see the tutorial.

DIY Tutorial: Handmade Earwires.

If you love making earrings, you always need earwires, right?

You can purchase commercial earwires almost at any craft store or on-line.
An average price for 1 pair of sterling silver hook earwires is $1.20, the av. price of 22ga sterling silver wire - $2.00/foot. To make 1 pair of earwires you will need 3"- 4" = $0.50- $0.65. Do you see a difference? Plus, you will have fun making them :)

OK, let's start!It's easy as 1-2-3!

Tutorial: Wrapped Rectangular Pendant

While my giveaway is going on, many people requested more DIY tutorials on my blog. I do love free tutorials too :) Well, here it is the next!

I have a habit of collecting beautiful, large gemstone beads. This is one of the ways I use wire to make a stylish pendant with them. Please notice that I use craft or florist wire to plan my design. When I am happy with the results, I create the finished item using a precious metal wire, in this case sterling silver. Although the following pattern uses a specific sized bead, by using my formula you can plan and make these pendants from about any size!

Materials for one pendant:
* 1 rectangular shaped gem bead, approx. 1 ¼”x 1 ¼”
* 22ga round soft wire* with 1 foot of wire you can make 3 wraps around 1 ¼”x 1 ¼” bead.

Tools needed:
* Flush cutter
* Round nose pliers
* Flat nose pliers

 Formula: Wire: 1 foot for each desired 3 complete wraps around a bead + the length of the bead +2 inches

Tutorial: Easy Earrings

Today I want to show you how to make a pair of earrings using flat beads. Well... you can use any large beads as well :)

You will need:

- Two flat beads

- 2 Ball pins 20ga, 2.5" long

- Round nose pliers

- Chain nose pliers

- Wire cutters
- Chasing hammer and bench block (optional)

Are you ready to begin?

Video Tutorial - Swan Clasp

I would like to invite everyone to view  my  Swan Clasp Video Tutorial  (click on the photo, then "start" video)

Tutorial: Simple Beaded Flower

Today I want to show how to make simple beaded flower. You can use it for decorating hair clip or barrette, or for your beaded cactus.

You will need:

Seed beads #11 of your favorite colors

Crystal bead, 6mm

Craft wire, 28ga

Wire cutters

Glue gun with glue sticks(for barrette)

Tutorial: Beaded Cactus

Do you like cacti?  I love them. I used to have a dozen of them on my window-sill. 
Today I will show how make this beaded cute cactus:)

Materials and Tools:
Seed beads, green, size 11/0
Craft wire 28 ga
Wire-cutters
Arranger
Clay pot
Glue (glue gun with plastic sticks) 

Lovely Brooches

Do you wear brooches? I am afraid that most of you would say "No".

You do not have to wear them only with "fancy" classic outfit at all. These lovely accessories can be good additions for your silk blouses, dresses, knitted sweaters, scarfs, and even coats! 
 

My first brooch was made with "cherry quartz" and Czech beads..

Best Candy Ever

Today I made best candy ever! No kidding :) 

I am typing this and my mouth waters.

 It's easy to make this delicious dessert.