Fingerprint Art: Easter bunnies and chicks

It's always fun to do fingerprint art.  We don't do it nearly enough!  

The bunny behinds are cute!  and I like the side chicks, they look like they are talking to each other.

We don't have ink pads in pink or yellow, so I put a thin brush stroke over the little one's finger and pointed to where I wanted her to press down.  She did good for most of them :)

And since I couldn't decide between fingerprints or handprints, we did both.  That way I didn't have to write much on the inside of the card :)  

Happy Creating!

Teacher Appreciation

I made two teacher appreciation gifts this year.  

Walmart has these little potted succulents that fit perfectly in clay pots I had leftover from my baby shower.  I made a little tag that read:  "Thank you for helping me grow up great!"

Done.

For the end of the year (which came about a month after teacher appreciation week), I made these wristlets for each of the teachers.  The key reads: "Thank you...for being a 'key' part of my success!!!"

Cheezy, I know.  But still cute.  

I used a tutorial from Oh! Fransson 'Wristlets Three Ways' (which may be called Perfect Zip Bags now),  but you can find tutorials all over pinterest for key fobs, like these ones here!

I attached a Starbucks gift card, so even if they don't need a key fob, they could get some coffees :)  Get the pdf of the key here on google docs.

Happy Creating!

String Bracelets

Gave these away to a friend...need to make more!

ok, so I'm in love with Pura Vida Bracelets, but I'm not in love with the price tag.  Especially when I can make these for less.  

First one I made, using waxed linen.

The first couple I made, I used waxed linen.  It's nice, but it's stretches (a lot) over time, and I've heard it fades when it gets wet.  I like wearing my bracelets in the shower, at the pool and the beach, so waxed linen was not going to work for that!

also waxed linen.

Since I cut the very first one a little on the short side, it worked out that the waxed linen stretches!  The bracelet was a little more snug than I wanted, but after a week or so it fit perfect!  I've been wearing my waxed linen anchor wrap (in blue) for a couple of months now, and have not noticed any fading, but I have been avoiding the water so...

Pura Vida uses a waxed Polyester cord that's around 1mm thick.  Polyester cord burns beautifully, giving very seamless finish.  It is also durable, fade resistant and waterproof!

You can find it all over etsy.  I got mine from Acai Beads, who sells it in 25 foot packs for $2 each.  They also sell it by the 600 foot spool on their website (acaibeads.com).  They shipped fast and for a flat rate.  I'm definitely going back!

Polyester cord comes in LOTS of colors, and Acai Beads has 46 to choose from!  I had a hard time deciding...I really wanted to get them all.

Of course, I didn't have enough charms either!  Really though, I was IN LOVE with the Pura Vida anchor wrap bracelet, and the only anchors I had were WAAY too small...so if I was going to place an etsy order, I may as well get more than I need, right?!

I LOVE these colors!  I was tempted to get every shade of blue offered.  

I ran out of clasps and had to head over to Michaels to pick up a 10-pack.  Boy was I disappointed.  Of the 10, 2 were broken upon opening the package.  Another 2 broke while trying to attach them.  Waste of money.  From now on, I'll stick to Fire Mountain Gems!

If I feel up to it, I'll do a little tutorial with cut lengths for the above bracelets.  Stay tuned!