Don't Push My Buttons!

This week I decided to play with buttons.  I'm pretty darn happy with the result.  I really dig the colors.  It'll be a lot of fun to mess around with this style, and see what else I can do with it.  

What is your opinion?  Lame?  Cute? 

That's all I've got this week.  Isn't that sad?  I'll work on having more to say next week! 

And don't forget to spread the word about me on Facebook!  I'm really close to giving away a $30 gift certificate!

Laughable!

Oh goodness.  This week's attempt at something new was, umm, less than pretty.  I actually tried 2 new things, but I can only post about one, as the other will eventually be a gift.  Shhhhh! 

So.  The one I can talk about.  Here's the thing.  I've been wanting to give the whole metal stamping thing a try for a LONG time.  I have gradually been buying the tools and supplies, but I have put off actually giving it a go.  I'm a chicken.  What can I say?  Do you want the good news or the bad news first?  Let's go with bad.

I know.  Not pretty.  At all.  Pretty laughable, right?  Now, just for the fun of it, let's examine them one by one.  Let's start with my first one.

This was SUPPOSED to be for Isabel.  It was going to be her initials.  Started with the I.  It went rather well, I think.  Then came the R.  Again, not too bad.  THEN came the B.  The letter B did NOT cooperate with me.  I got the top half, but not the whole thing.  What the deuce?  So I figured, since it has already NOT turned out as it was supposed to, that I may as well keep trying on this piece instead of ruining another one.  So I tried another B.  And another.  And another.  It wasn't until Bs #6 (a little too light) and #7 that I got something that actually LOOKED like a real, honest to goodness letter B.  *sigh*

Valentine's Day is coming you know... so I HAD to try out an "I Love You"  I was almost going to do "I Love U" but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.  Other than being a little wonky, it's readable.  Not something I would sell by any means, but a good second try, I thought. 

But since it really wasn't something I was thrilled with, I decided to simplify on the third one.

Not particularly centered, but by far the best of the three, wouldn't you agree?  Still probably wouldn't sell it, but I like to witness my own progress. =)

I'm thinking I may have to shop around for different stamps. The letters are so thin, that I'm not sure I like them.  But they are what I have for now, so I will use them.  I DEFINITELY need more practice.  Any word suggestions?

I hope I gave you all a good chuckle with these first attempts.  I know I giggled a few times myself.  =D  The GOOD news with this whole experience is that it was actually really FUN to do.  I can see how people become addicted to this sort of thing. 

Thanks for reading!  Don't forget to pass my blog on to anyone you know!  I'm super fantastic you know, so I'm sure everyone you know will wonder how on earth they survived without reading my randomness. 

My First Paycheck

Honestly, I don't really know how long I have been making jewelry and everything else.  I THINK it's been between 4 and 5 years, which is totally absurd in my book.  I cannot believe it has been that long.  But here's the thing.  I have never paid myself.  I HAVE traded for things, like portraits and iron-ons (Hi Jessica!) but I have never given myself permission to spend something on myself.  So I decided it was time to change that. =D

I have been keeping my eye on a pair of boots (cowboy, not trendy fashionable ones... not sure I could pull that look off)  I set myself some guidelines for when I would let myself get them.  And, by golly, when everything was squared away as I wanted, with the proper balance in my checking account, I sure did go buy them.  They are my new pride and joy.  They're nothing special.  Very plain.  Just as I wanted.  

Now I just need some longer pants...

And remember that New Years resolution of mine?  The one about me trying something new each week (unless I have orders to fill... orders trump experimenting) and blogging about it, and posting pictures on FB and all that good stuff?  Well, what do you know?  I actually did it.  It's a good start to the year, I think.

I haven't come up with a name for it yet, but I really like it.  I've already figured out some ways to improve it for the next time.  I think it's a very satisfactory first try at something new.  What do you think?