I spent most of today sitting outside soaking up the sun and crafting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_J_V5heujsxk8TJgj1Z6VXVV55LJ1qpB7NG5tpAjhq9ITEsSrncIAgbFNNOS4JHn6XN4-ZGXrnBg0lx5UXbILVbjsaMoEBNuAFxysnaSNJXv87zGE8MmMjlFANOEOkOvFHpjGw/s400/tools.png)
You get a magic from the sea necklace!
First I cut 1-2" pieces from the copper tubing (snagged at a yard sale yesterday for $1.00) and hammered it flat, then filed the edges smooth and drilled the holes.
I punched the words with a set of steel letter punches. I bought these a long time ago and I have been just waiting to get some metal to try them out!
Then I sanded all the hammered pieces 'til they were smooth. After stripping the plastic coating from the wire, I started adding the beads using wrapped loops. (<--click for instructions) The plastic coated wire had been hanging around my craft stash for a while and it was the perfect gauge for wrapping. I love working with copper - it's soft and pliable and yet it holds it's shape well too. Once I had added enough beads for the length I wanted, I made a hook from the same wire and hammered the curved part flat. And here's how the finished piece looks!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYzEWtc4UQA2hGlw1cOrkOJT14Mrws9hyxIjmjcLXFUzVRtMeF7gOGjO2als3LwiOF6AWuOqIg59wnoN_N7kAnyWJN5_lYo3QV-oxBsopS0g_RqxWePxZX-3NJyqe8v4x4L44pg/s400/done.png)
Here's a closer look - see that patina? After stripping the plastic and sanding the hammered/punched pieces, the copper was all new and shiny looking. I really didn't like that look. But now - The copper has turned a darker chocolate brown with a lovely shade of blue in the nooks! It usually takes years for that finish to form on the copper but I found a way to do it almost instantly, using common household ingredients.
If you'd like to know how I did it, leave your e-mail in the comments, or e-mail me directly: d_rafferty@yahoo.com and I'll tell you how, but only if you promise to do it very carefully!
I may look for some copper seashell charms to add - wouldn't that be perfect!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJsLXkAYaKgFohHbShAGUITJbx_Na9UMRNRLiYdLD5mtxKW92_KnHzlc0sz3l52m30nSCgm6i8foVw6PbHfJpzXhFmaaGOdsESdi4GWtDvp9TRVkyHNm0jSF_zrM9Vo_ULpeHkQ/s400/closeup.png)
So that was today's project.
Yesterday was a day of just relaxing and puttering around the yard. I went to yard sales in the morning - scored a Stone Temple Pilots music CD for 50 cents, a ceramic fish mug for Hank for $3.00, this very heavy metal chinese lantern for $2.00 ( the metal table it's sitting on was from another days yard sale hunting - another $3.00 bargain) and the copper tubing I used for the necklace.
I love yard sales.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKw3u0G-Dwe40oYy0LiLJmlHzsYOc-EeG3bQtjX9KH4oEE9t6hJyphb3Q9-nfoQ7iRVVbFSUqdOArz8sBIXvi9QRzkRStbFUAtE7taPKNojYXL5Qo3m8hB0OpcvqlQbf0Ugvtmg/s400/lantern.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDihNJexr4Y9nqlWnDuqcLyWx3whXPLOheGZqVWiwhMZVjLQR2F35iLjD-CKgi3tzuHMLKgwyGMb9sFjg1FtDly67xny2_Qp7zx6TsvJwKaRUHvTiBZh2Wozrt0k8oglqLZHiNaw/s400/mug.png)
And for lunch out on the patio yesterday I made some swordfish and shrimp kabobs...so delish! I wish I had taken a picture. Maybe next time.
We did have an afternoon visitor in the garden - He had absolutely no manners though - he kept sticking his tongue out at me! He's harmless...a Garter Snake. Does he scare you?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUF87psEmOz4YPOb_CaAajZl7FlEHjdgvoawV4TcnnXZk4Jen8N4NuyJcM8lrLgdF-82qMjwBN_TJH4BYklPYI0nTLMQunPsF7A79owOaHl8LaynTf8jFOBEKBI-dkahOurRAFOA/s400/snake+1.png)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNe6DRgRp6QuKWc7hdoOxAPNHCVNg36kI6nkyoKCaTQt2NEDGG3xu19C62PxMmnoeUud3_LF_Y-E_zu_A-wQ6RAsHxG-Al80DR-mEXc4T6kci67b01e-4xOfF49aWGZBkcYwsZ7A/s400/snake+2.png)
So that's the scoop for today. BUT - Check back in the next couple of days - I will have some new scrappy stuff and previews of a *Super New Collab* kit that will be coming to Plain Digital Wrapper soon!
Find out here how you could win it!
No comments:
Post a Comment