Paper Hearts & a New Name

After much deliberation my Etsy shop now has a new name: Ocean & Fern. Hurrah! And along with my name, comes new packaging :-) I'm quite pleased with how it turned out, and I feel like I can really focus now on actually making jewellery instead of spending all day worrying that my name doesn't suit me. I ended up going with my old home Florida & my new home England, Ocean & Fern. Which also is my style as well, mostly beach-style with pale blues, seafoam greens, and swirly wirework, with pink berry beads and deep greens.

I've also been busy rustling up more paper heart earrings. I have dozens of different patterned paper hearts all over the craft room right now, and I have had to take a break from wearing nail polish because my fingers are constantly stuck together with PVA glue. I love the polka dotted pastel coloured ones because they remind me of ice cream and sweet shops and are just so girlie. And I have been trying out bird & woodland themed ones as well. I want to also try out some necklaces once I get going.

I recently went to the Newbury show a few weeks ago, and happened upon an amazing jewellery maker called Sarah Brook-Hayes who had her stall, Oberon Jewellery, set up. She was incredibly inspiring and I literally wanted to buy her *enitre* stall. Here is a link to her shop: www.etsy.com/shop/OberonJewellery. The photos don't do it justice. Every charm she makes is so pretty, hand made from silver clay. I ended up buying a Christmas present from her, and also a bangle for myself with a little bird flying on it. I wear it every weekend and I love it so so much. All of the stalls just made me really want to try out a Christmas fair!

Paper Mod Podge Jewellery

Today's crafty creation! :-)

I've been itching to try out some Mod Podge jewellery pendants lately. For anyone who doesn't know, Mod Podge is an all-in-one glue, sealer, and finish that is used in decoupage. You would use it as if it were PVA glue, except because of the additional ingredients and the sealant it gives your work a really nice shiny (or matte) finish and doesn't yellow over time. The great thing about Mod Podge and the reason I love it so so so so much :-) is that it can be used on ANYthing, wall art, jewellery boxes, light switch covers, necklace pendants, shoes... the list goes on! One of my fave blogs online is http://modpodgerocksblog.com, which is full of tutorials on all things Mod Podge. It's where I found these two tutorials:

http://www.crafterhoursblog.com/2012/12/feather-earrings-tutorial.html

http://howaboutorange.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/make-pie-chart-paper-pendants.html

I was so excited to try these just because of my many failed attempts at making necklace pendants. I've been through a bit of trial-and-error trying out different methods of making pendants. I've always tried covering a wood or metal base with paper and PVA glue or Mod Podge. I started out creating a wooden base freehand from wood (hubby down in the cellar sewing tiny hearts out of wood - have I told him lately that I love him?  :-), and glueing origami paper on top. Then I tried wooden hearts already pre-made in a packet from Hobbycraft. And then, after playing around with these tutorials a bit, realised I didn't need a backing at all.

Both of these tutorials make pendants using only paper. I love love love the feather earrings in the first tutorial but I didn't have the die-cut. I only have a simple heart one. So I used some pretty patterned card stock instead. These tribal inspired earrings were the result, and I'm SO pleased with how they turned out! :-) I think they need a bit of a double layer of mod podge for a shiny finish but that is something I think I can get on the next pair I make. The pie chart earrings are finished with a final layer of Mod Podge Dimensional Magic (Diamond Glaze) to give it a resin type finish. So I might try that as well.

Hip Hip Horrahh for Modpodge!