Janet of All Trades

With the Summer almost over it's time to look back enjoy all the photos and mementos of the season. One of my favorite ways to do this is to create something that reminds me of places that  I have visited.   How I may not have visited all these places this summer but they are some of my favorites.  Made from a Dominoe, a bit of phone wire,old map pages,pendant bail and Mod Podge Dimensional magic and you have a souvenir from your trip or favorite city.  So easy and would be a great going away gift or Christmas gift.  Each one is Unique.  Your Favorite city.. or your hometown... Or a reminder of a Favorite trip.. Enjoy!

I like to put a little personality in my gift wrapping and card making, but I don't like to spend ton of money either. So when I found these shopping bags for .99 I thought of the perfect idea to dress them up. Then after I cut up a few old file folders, punched a few circles and made a few pomps, I was left with these two adorable gift bags. Now I needed to make two cards since these were for our Twin Nephews and each one needed to be special. So I printed a photo of each of their baby faces and added a little party attire. I love making cards and using photos. It's personal and can be funny. Such cute baby faces. I can't believe that they are Three! The cards and the bags were a hit and so simples to create! Enjoy!

Sometimes you buy something at an Estate Sale and you don't know what you have until you get it home and look thru it. That is what happen to me a few weeks ago when I purchase a coffee can full of vintage wooden and bamboo beads.  Surprise! the beads are fun and remind me of summer camp, so I knew I needed to create a piece of jewelry with them.  I started with some Stretch Magic Cord in black and clear in 1mm thickness. I had never used Stretch Magic before and was happy to read that it is made in the USA and is very easy to work with. I first cut a piece about 12 inches long since I had decided to make a 7" bracelet and would need a little more on each end to knot. Now you will need to Pre-Stretch the cord as per the directions, which means stretching it about 2 or 3 times with one end in both hands. Then I started stringing my beads which is super easy and if you have a bead stopper it helps to keep the beads organized. After a few trial and errors with I figu...

Over the summer my husband and I have been to numerous Estate sales. We have not only bought interesting vintage pieces but we have learned a few things as well about these sale. I don't consider myself an expert at finding good deals or negotiating prices, but I have a few tips that might make attending estate sales and little easier and more rewarding. First don't be afraid to get dirty. Some of the best treasures are buried under a ton of other things. But make sure have some wet naps or hand sanitizer to clean up before you head to another sale. Secondly, go with a list of specific things you are looking for since you can be easily distract by interesting funiture,clothes and dishes, but thinking about how you will use them or how you will get them home.   Bring a small flash light since some lovey items hidden in dark basements and closets. It also helps for seeing in boxes and containers for hidden gems.   Lastly it's okay to offer a price for something, but mak...

I think I have problem. It might not be oblivious at first but it is getting bigger and bigger. It's not that I am a hoarded or compulsive shopper..  The key to my problem is.. I have too many pieces of jewelry and it is time to let others enjoy them. Each one is unique. And they are now all available in my etsy shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Janetofalltrades Enjoy!

I can't say love insects, but I certainly don't hate them either. They spread pollen, eat other harmful insects that destroy gardens and can bite you too. They're interesting and strange.  So when I was recently given a few books on Entomology and insect identification from my SIL Margie, this recycler knew just how to honor these strange and sometimes beautiful creatures. The images are odd and scary. But they were the perfect size for my recycling idea so I started cutting,glueing and using a little  Dimensional Magic and I created..  A few Insect Pendants! Just a few interesting bugs to hang around your neck. Maybe they will keep others away? Or maybe they will look good on Halloween! Enjoy

With my collection of beads,buttons and findings growing for my jewelry creating, I found it necessary to revamp my organization so I could spend less time searching for something. This was how I was organizing most of my items in mismatch of clear plastic containers and never knowing exactly what I had. So it was time for a better system. I looked at a few craft store and found one that I really liked. This one was at Michael's and for $44.95 I probably could have purchased it with a 50% coupon to get it at a better price. It had a flip top lid and three removable trays. But I knew I could find a better one and at a more reasonable price. And I did! I found this tool organizer at Harbor Freight for $17.99 and it was on sale for $13.99. Now if you sign up for their newsletter or look online you can find coupons for 20% off.  It is the perfect solution and size. I purchased two since I knew I needed room to expand and could not pass up a great deal. The top ...