Craft it Up!! ~ Ankle Bracelet

I love making jewelry, among other things that has anything to do with crafting. So, I thought when I saw this anklet craft on Love To Know Crafts , this will be perfect for my next post for Craft it up. Try it and see where your creativity takes you.

Things You'll Need
•Fabric measuring tape
•Beading wire
•End cutters
•Pliers
•Pretty beads
•Lobster-claw clasp
•Jump ring
•Crimp beads


What to Do
1.Begin by measuring your ankle. Write down the measurement, and add about four inches. Use the end cutters to cut the beading wire to this length.
2.Put a crimp bead on the beading wire, and string the clasp on behind it. Bend the wire back around, and thread the end back through the crimp bead. Pull the end to secure it, and then use the pliers to crimp the bead.
3.Select the beads you want to use, and string them onto the wire in the order you like. You might want to try laying out your design on a bead board to see what looks best. Stop stringing beads when you have about an inch and a half of wire left.
4.Thread a crimp bead on the end, and then add a jump ring. Tuck the end of the wire back through the crimp bead, and tighten it down. Finally, crimp the bead to secure your work.
Embellishments
Once you've mastered the process of creating a beaded ankle bracelet, you can expand on this simple design. Try some of the following ideas:
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•Add fun charms between the beads. These might be symbols of something you enjoy, letters or initials, or just pretty designs. Charms can add a little extra dangly dimension to your work.
•Include a few bells in your design. You can find small bells at any craft store, and they are perfect for an ankle bracelet. Every time you take a step, the bells will jingle.
•Use multiple strands of beads to give your anklet a layered look. This can be fun with several strands of small beads.
•Make a beaded friendship anklet by using beads and charms that represent you and your friend. Estimate the size of your friend's ankle to get the measurement you need.




Enjoy!!!

Craft it Up!! ~ Back-To-School Placemat

I saw this craft on Disney Family Fun and thought this would be perfect for my children. You would think with all of the experience they have with going to school I shouldn't have to tell them each morning what to do, what to pack,.......NOT!!!


That's why this back-to-school checklist placemat is just for me...and my children,too. =D Now, I shouldn't have to tell them for the thousandth time to do this and to make sure you do that. They can just simply refer to their almighty checklist. YES!! Thank you Disney Family Fun. YOU ROCK!!

So here's how it's done!!


Back-To-School Placemat

Materials
Decorative paper
Scissors
Glue stick
18- by 12-inch sheet of poster board
Markers
Clear Con-Tact paper (or have it laminated at a copy shop)
Nontoxic dry-erase marker
Adhesive-backed Velcro dot

Instructions:


1.Cut three 6- by 12-inch rectangles from decorative paper. Use a glue stick to affix them side by side onto the poster board.


2.Write a "Do at Home" checklist on the left rectangle and a "Take to School" checklist on the right one (leave a few blank spaces at the bottom of each list for write-in reminders).


3.Have the place mat laminated at a copy shop or cover it with clear Con-Tact paper. Your child can use a nontoxic dry-erase marker to check off items or write additional reminders. Affix an adhesive-backed Velcro dot to keep the marker in a handy spot on the mat.