Changes

Did you notice I renamed my blog? Lately "scrappin', stampin', & knittin'" just really didn't cover it all. And since I have dived (dove? doven?) into beading and jewelry, now is the time for change.

I'm involved in several swaps on the CTMH consultant bulletin boards, and it is like a juggling act. I have even dropped the ball a couple times. I want to make a concerted effort to follow through on my commitments, and that starts with a reality check. I realistically can't prepare for the national CTMH convention and a labor day consultant retreat while creating gifts and examples, managing my day-to-day business, searching for a part-time job, being a good wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend... So, I backed out of a big swap. ETA: Late last night I put myself in that hostess' shoes and thought about how I would feel if someone backed out less than a month before the due date. I am staying in the swap. I have all the supplies anyway, plus I should get some nice stuff in return!

I am also an angel for a different swap. It seems that one consultant couldn't finish her creations for a Charm Swap, so I picked up the ball and ran with it (Note to self: ditch the cliches, please?). The weekend was perfect for creating charms. I loved it! I loved it so much that I made an extra charm for each participant! The rules were to create one charm reminiscent of scrapbooking, and one plain charm of glass beads. Both were to be done in shades pink and brown. The extra one I did was a white and silver glass bead charm.

Here they are:



I had aspired to create a bead project several years ago, so I had the basic tools, thank goodness. I just needed the beads and some jump rings. I learned a lot while making the 33 charms. Now I am looking forward to the next Charm Swap over Labor Day weekend!

Here is the slideshow of the charms. Enjoy!

If you're still with me, I appreciate it. To show my thanks, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Shhhhhh... I'm going to be giving away blog candy when my blog counter turns over 3,000 visitors. I'm still putting together the set, but trust me. This isn't just a blog candy where I give away things on the clearance rack from 2001. There will be some excellent pieces in this box of candy, including a ready-to-use chipboard album dressed in some awesome CTMH paper, embellished to match, and spiral bound with a Bind-It-All. More information coming soon!