About time

Until recently, I didn't have any puzzle piece jewelry other than necklaces. I then thought to put them on keychains, and I think that turned out pretty well. I considered putting them on earrings, but they just seemed too large for that.

Well, on Easter, my kids got a couple mini puzzles from family. They look just like regular puzzle pieces, but smaller (a lot like jigsaw pieces). Duh! So I went to the dollar store where they came from, because I didn't have the patience to wait for my kids to lose half their pieces before I confiscated them. They came in a two pack, so I now have more mini puzzle pieces than I know what to do with.

I found them a little harder to work with, being more difficult to cut around with my Exacto knife. But all in all, I think they turned out pretty well. I think I'll be painting a few pairs rather than decoupaging them. That may prove to be a bit easier. Now I get to poke holes in about 50 tiny puzzle pieces. Good thing to do on a rainy day.

Vintage illustration

I've recently had the idea to use vintage illustration on my puzzle piece jewelry. I love the look of old drawings, and vintage ones are public domain, so they are free for any use by the public. No infringements to worry about!


At first, I just wanted a bird image for a spring necklace that I could wear for Easter. I searched free images on Google, and came across one that I thought was perfect. Turns out, it was vintage. That led me to search the net for other vintage images, and a whole line is now in the works. I love the internet.

Free shipping!

For everyone reading my blog, I am offering you free shipping in the US for any of my items on Etsy. A value of up to $3.50!

Enter code: THINKSPRING during checkout.

Chain maille

I was (once again) messing around on Youtube, and came across another interesting venture: chain maille. I'm not really sure I have the patience to learn the proper techniques for real chain maille, but the thought was enough to give me something to play with.


For those of you who don't know what chain maille is (and I didn't until now), it is putting together jump rings to make interesting chains, or even sheets of chain. Chain link skirt? That's chain maille. I just made a few simple chains, like large rings connected by two smaller rings. Then I added a few paper beads hanging off the chain. I think that looks pretty cute. I'm going to experiment with this, although I haven't had much luck with more complicated designs.

If anyone else does chain maille, I would love to see some pictures of your work. Feel free to post a link!

New widget

Notice anything new? Look to the right, and you will see it. That's my new Etsy widget. Now all my Etsy items are on display right here, and you don't even have to leave the page! I think that little thing is pretty cute, and darn handy.

I'm thinking about putting it on my dot com site, rather than individually linking all my photos. Problem is, I have to pay an extra $4.99 a month to be able to edit HTML. Really? What gives? The first time I ever made a website, they didn't have these simple site builders. You did it all in HTML. Funny that I have to pay to take a technological step back. I'm thinking if I can sell a few good pieces this month, I'll pony up the dough. Until then, I guess I've just got a whole lot of linking to do.

Birds of a feather

The other day, my kids were playing outside, and happened to find some really pretty black and yellow bird feathers. They brought them in and told me they were for me. How sweet. Then a light came on in my head. What better to do with these than use them in something I love. I cut them short, and made some lovely earrings out of them. I'm not sure what kind of bird these are from (oriole perhaps?), but I hope a few more of them show up in my yard. I would love a few stray blue bird feathers, too.

Paper bead how-to

Some friends of mine have mentioned they would like to see a tutorial on my blog. I am happy to oblige. The following is a tutorial on how to make paper beads. Keep in mind that sometimes I use tougher material (like cereal boxes), but for the sake of this tutorial, I simply used decorative paper. Watch, learn, and enjoy!

My site is refusing to upload my video (error).

Watch it on Youtube

Voting has begun!

Voting has officially started for the Art of Reuse contest. From now until April 15th, you can cast your vote on http://www.greenisuniversal-reuse.com. Just register with the site to vote. You can vote for one item in each category. My entries are under the "Jewelry" tab under "Projects", and about the fifth page (puzzle piece necklace, by the sea necklace). I would love for you to vote for mine!

The Art of Reuse contest

I recently stumbled upon an art contest I just HAVE to enter. It is the Art of Reuse contest. In this contest, you must create something new, mostly from something used. The grand prize winner gets their item featured on the Today Show. Since I have just started dabbling in paper mache, I figured I would tie that in with my rolled paper beads, and it would be like doubly reusing. A recycled gift bag paired with recycled newspaper- can't beat that combo! Well, you probably can, but I sure like the idea.

I wanted to make some sort of pendant with the paper mache clay, and I wanted it to look uniform. I looked around the house for something I could press it into, and lo and behold, I spied a large clam shell in my bathroom. Perfect! So, I pressed the clay into the shell, and left it to dry for twenty four hours. Then I gave it a few coats of Mod Podge to seal it up and even it out.

I decided to go with a blue theme, and painted the shell and some round paper clay beads accordingly. I used a crackle paint and added a little gold finishing. I had some beading wire laying around, so I figured I would use that instead of cord to link the beads together. After putting it all together, I really like the finished necklace. I'm not expecting to win, but it sure would be great!

If you would like to vote for my piece, go to www.greenisuni.com/reuse on Saturday, April 9th, and go to the "jewelry" category. I've also entered my puzzle piece necklaces. Feel free to vote for either!

Puzzles!

Last night, I was picking up abandoned puzzle pieces in my kids' room. Some were broken, and even more were missing. As I was headed toward the garbage with them, I had a thought. With a little decoupage, they would make really cute necklace pendants. And so started my new jewelry venture.


I got to work gluing each piece on deco paper, then carefully cutting around them with an Exacto knife. For some of them, I added a little glitter and bling. I made some paper beads to match each one, and strung them on cords. I love this! I think I'll be going to the dollar store to buy another puzzle- maybe with bigger pieces this time.

I know that eventually my inspiration is going to run dry, but for now, the ideas are still coming. I wonder what else I can find to recycle?

Spring has sprung!

At long last, spring is finally here. Just thinking about all the beautiful flowers to come, and pretty spring colors has my head whirling with new jewelry ideas. That pink La Croix water box? That's going to end up as a cute necklace and earring set. Kids' school papers printed on brightly colored paper? A new bracelet, and perhaps a key chain or two.

I love driving down the road and seeing all the water gurgling down the sides of the road. My kids get just giddy discovering each new patch of grass as the snow continues to melt. Having only lived in our house for a few months now, I can't help but wonder if that large hedge lining our back yard is perhaps a lilac bush. I can only hope; there is nothing more I love than the smell of lilacs in the spring! Well, maybe some pretty lilies in the garden...

New venture- paper mache

I've done my share of paper mache projects, but I came across one I just couldn't resist. Using paper mache clay to make beads. Just the other day, I was thinking, "What can I do with all this newspaper I have laying around?" I could roll it into beads, but at 1/2" a bead, that could take me years. I could just bring it to the recycling center, but that isn't very creative.

I found this idea while I was messing around on You Tube. Oddly enough, I couldn't find any paper mache clay recipes to my liking, so I just threw together some mushy paper, flour, and glue. Worked like a charm.

I ended up with a bit more clay than I expected. I think I could make about three or four hundred small beads with what I have. I made a few, but the hardest part is waiting for them to dry. I'm just experimenting for now. Acrylic paint, nail polish, trying to figure out which result I like best. I like the colors of my nail polish best, but I don't want to use it all up. There has to be some way of painting with acrylics that will look just as good as the nail polish. I'll be playing around with this one for a while.