I Created A New Etsy Team: Traffic Lovers Through Social Networking

I love the Etsy teams that I already am a member of.  Some of them I am very active with, and others not so much.  One of my frustrations is most Etsians do not like to promote off of Etsy.  Hearting and re hearting all the time really is not a valid marketing strategy.  So, I looked for a group that does social networking.  I even joined one, thinking awesome!  Well after I went through and added everyone to my social networks, I realized the group is not active.  So, being frustrated I started my own group.  Anyone can join this group, as long as you agree to be active, and promote off of Etsy.  The thread rules will be clearly laid out.  If you would like to join my new Etsy group, here is the link https://www.etsy.com/teams/22218/traffic-lovers-through-social-networking

Another Solar Garden Upcycled Wine Jar Painted Lotus Flower Ancient Tangles

The August challenge for the Facebook group is up. I decided to do the Lotus flower type plants on a wine jug. My mom gave me about six more of them, and I was so happy. I put a solar light in them, and put them in the garden, and along the fence line. This one I painted orange, two layers, first. Then added the unique flowers, leaves and pot with ancient tangle patterns. This jar took about 3 hours to complete. It is easier to do the tangles with the paint pens, but they don't do good on top of a layer of paint, go figure. So, I used mostly acrylic paints, which takes substantially longer than the pens. I have started my painted gift bags back up, for the upcoming holiday season. Stay tuned for those. Plus, I have had angels on my mind lately. I am not sure why, but I love making them, and snowmen, lol. I was going to order some resin and make a whole bunch of snowmen, but I decided to wait until the end of August when some of this awful heat and humidity will begin to calm down. I have begun drying flowers with a new technique I read about, and I will let you know how that goes. I have so much to share. I better start doing a blog post everyday.

Team Support and Promote Blogs With Me

This is a new feature that I have started on the Team Support and Promote threads on Etsy.  If you would like to join the group, just click the link and apply to join.  This week I have three lovely, handmade products to share with you.  Great for gift giving, or treat yourself.  I will be doing this team thread, for bloggers, at least once a month, and will try to get in two a month.  The first item would be awesome for back to school, those who like to buy and donate to Operation Christmas Child or maybe your local schools.  The second item, is actually a painting done by me of a Monarch butterfly.  Give it to the butterfly lover in your circle.  Shelley's adorable hand towel with delicious citrus fruits would look lovely in any kitchen.  Click the links below each product to visit their stores, and purchase, or window shop.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/175737222/crabs-beach16-crayola-crayons-coloring?ref=teams_post

https://www.etsy.com/listing/158029022/original-monarch-butterfly-reflection?ref=teams_post

https://www.etsy.com/listing/194307180/kitchen-towel-summer-fruit-towel-crochet?ref=teams_post

Free Jewelry Making Videos Make Wire Cuff Bracelets

If you follow this blog, then you know I love bracelets, mostly cuff bracelets because they are easy to put on and take off. I have made a few cuff bracelets, with wire, that I will share in a future post. I have made some beaded ones too, but they are not my favorite. Bead and wire together, however, I am a big fan of. I did not use any of the techniques below, but pretty much made one up myself. I will be trying these soon. I love the arm band, which I am sure I could adapt to a smaller size for a wrist cuff bracelet. The last lady says how fast and easy she makes these, but I have to tell you like anything else, working with wire takes some practice and getting used to. Let me know if you try any of them, and what your results were.

Unique Elephant Head with Ancient Plants Tangle Doodle Abstract Art

The whole past month, has been super busy, culminating with our homeschool evaluations yesterday. I say ours, because I am evaluated as much as my children are. It is done now, and we all did wonderful, so now I can relax a bit, for a while, lol.

 Monday is the day that I traditionally paint or draw. I have been drawing more, and I am finding I really like to draw. I did my first portrait the other day, and then painted it. I think I liked it better as a pencil drawing, but I will share that soon. The Ancient Tangle Facebook Group, posts a monthly challenge. I think this is the third one I have done using the Ancient plants. I really love the Ancient plants more than any of the other designs we have done so far. Anyway, I drew out a simple elephant head, and then lightly drew on the tangles. Then I used my paint pens to paint in the tangles. You can see the results. I am very pleased with this one. I love it as a matter of fact. You can purchase this piece of art by visiting my Etsy store. I offer free USA shipping, combined shipping and a free layaway service.

Making A Painting From A Photograph

A blogging friend of mine, is a pretty awesome photographer. I contacted her to ask her if I could paint one of her pictures. She said yes, and you can see the results below. The picture is actually of Mono Lake, according to her blog post at The Joys of Simple Life, and is an ancient lake. I might try to paint this one more time, making the rock a little smaller, and the bird with a smaller bill. All in all I am very pleased with the results, and thank you to Betchai for allowing me to paint her beautiful picture. You can purchase my painting rendition, in my Etsy store. 

Treasury Time for Team Support and Promote White Gold

I have been super busy trying to finish up our homeschool portfolios, that I have not been blogging so much. I have created a bunch of new stuff, including two recipes with cherries that I got off of Pinterest. I promise to share everything soon. I am part of a great team on Etsy, Team Support and Promote. I am one of the leaders, and I get featured in a lot of treasuries. This one is one of my favorites. I love the color scheme she chose, and you can see my Padparadscha earrings, and all the other great items by visiting the treasury page. Just click and go.

Rubies In Their Natural Form

If you have never seen how gemstones actually come out of the ground, check out the video below. He shares rubies, sapphires as well as other gemstones. He makes a good point, one I have made several times over the years on this blog, buying jewelry at retail prices is crazy. On average you are charged 6 times as much as is required to make the piece. Gems in their natural form, is something a lot of gemstone collectors want. Not all, some don't mind the treatments that enhance the beauty of the stone. I don't mind enhanced stones, but I refuse to pay the ridiculous prices they ask for the piece. That is the most important reason that I started to make jewelry, with my gemstone collection, to offer affordable beautiful jewelry. Great video, give it a look.

Happy July it is Time For A Blood Red Ruby Pendant

I actually finished this last week, but saved it for July to share. Why? Because, the birth stone for July is the Ruby. Rubies are one of the most precious gemstones known to man. They are a member of the Conundrum family and are really a sapphire. Why rubies got called rubies instead of red sapphires, I have no idea. All other sapphires are called sapphires, except Rubies. Color of course is the main thing to look for when buying a Ruby. You want what they refer to as pigeon blood red color. Rubies are very often loaded with inclusions, making a clean one extremely rare and quite expensive.

 This ruby, shown below, is an opaque blood red fine color Ruby. It is faceted, but it has barely any pavilion to the back, but yet not flat like a cabochon. This made it incredibly difficult to set in any traditional settings. So, one day, when I was messing around with my resin, I placed it in there to see how it would come out. I think it is spectacular. I drilled a hole, and used red wire to make the bail. You just add the necklace, ribbon or cord. It is available for purchase now, in my Etsy store.