I want to make pendants to string on cord or ribbon for necklaces,maybe pins.I have lots of suede type leather,and I just bought a leather stamping kit from Michaels,so I could stamp short words on them.A gallery shop near me had a basket full of simple leather pendants/pins for $15.00 each! Trouble is,suede is soft.Would you glue it on a backing material,or is there a way to make it stiffer?Or just leave as is? I can get leather vests to cut up cheap at Goodwill,and I just lucked into a pair of pants made of suede patches that's perfect for cuting up.Does anyone here have any tips on working with leather? I'll probably mix some up with other materials-beads,ribbon,stones,rusty things-I've been on a real rusty metal kick lately.Any ideas at all are wildly appreciated!

The woman at the art supply shop said I could use acrylic paint on plastic.I have a big mug I'd like to stencil.Should I seal it also? With what?I know it definetely wouldn't be dishwasher safe,but do you think it would hold up to handwashing? Of course,I won't paint around the rim.Has anyone done anything like this? I guess it could always be used for pencils or a flowerpot,but I'd like it to be used as a mug if I can.
If you see this Alana,you still don't know just how else I'm decorating it,or the nifty things I'm planning to fill it with,bwah ha ha.
Any crafty advise deeply appreciated!

I found a rusty metal circle in the parking lot.It had holes evenly all around it,so I dug through my odd beads,got out some copper wire,and made a tree of life.
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It's now strung on a black plastic cord,just the right size for a pendant.

This stated as a 3.00 metal box with a happy kiddy beach scene,too young for my daughter,but I knew I needed the box.
I could get lots of free animangazine pamplets,also had some advertising-so I started cutting.
I used most of a spray can of sealer. I hung it from a limb outside,so I could spray all sides at once.One side is Inuyasha,the other Prince of Tennis-2 of her favs.You can't see the sides,but they're covered with a mixture of both.It's a little too skinny to be a lunchbox,you could fit in a sandwich,but forget the drink and apple! So it will keep holding a pad of drawing paper and pens. It was for her birthday,and she loved it!

This started as a small old space guy from DH's grandmother's house.He was so nifty I had to build a shrine around him. I had a big shadowbox-you can't really see the silver frame,I had to carefully put it on the scanner.I bought a piece of cool paper all swirled green,black,& gold.I cut a thin sheet of styrofoam to size,wrapped in background paper.Wherever I wanted to place something,I cut an x,peeled back backing paper,cut indentation in foam,laid paper back.Dab of glue,added item.
The shelf he's resting on is a cd cut in half.I used marbles,beads,a superball,earrings,and a few found objects.Why a chicken? I dunno,it was late and I was in full craft fever.I gave him a cape,and said it was Superchicken-yes,you whippersnappers won't remember that cartoon. The colors are brighter than it looks in this picture.
It's in my kitchen.

This necklace was also from a Dollar store keychain. The ribbon was from my stash.The pink background,and the white ribbon I found made me want to frilly this one up a bit. So I glued on fabric roses,with an extra stitch for insurance. The little bag of roses was either 50 cents or a dollar at Rire-Aid,and I only used a fraction of them. It doesn't have a clasp yet(I need to do a craft store trip for more jewelry findings),but it's just long enough to pin if I really want to wear it. This one looks best as a choker.

Something simple I like. The pendant was taken from a Dollar store keychain and the red ribbon was from an assortment of bias tape from the thrift store. I just added a few beads.It's long enough to just tie,and it looks great with a white tshirt. I can only put things on my scanner to post,so I can't show it in action.
The earrings couldn't have been any easier. They're two charms purchased at the planetarium and put on earring wires.

I was shopping at Unique thrift store and found this shiny square bag,and had to buy it. It's bright blue inside,and has a clear vinyl pocket on one side,big enough for an ice pack. It was so shiny,it had to be mine.It zips shut,but had no handles to carry it by.I took an old necklace and silver cord for handles.Used jewelry glue,and sewed it ,too.Hung a couple of stars on it. Found a cheap book on the bargin rack of nothing but space related children's food packages-most from the 50's and 60's.I got out my clear packing tape and strong glue and had fun.
Okay,I've never tried to post pictures before,cross your fingers...




I carried it as a purse when I went to the Conglomeration fantasy con-it held the beads,dice,paperbacks,and jewelry I bought. Of course I bought too much and still had to trek back to the car,but it helped.Usually it's my lunch box!

I'm trying to think of projects that keep the images-so no paper beads or weaving. The books are unused.
One problem I have with decoupageing printed pages-often the printing on the back bleeds through. Does anyone have a solution for that?Some pages I want to cut out word balloons,ect-if there's a way to glue them to cover things without the dreaded bleeding through.I plan on cutting out the phrase"Velma could see nothing without her glasses" for my glasses case.And maybe some shaggy & scooby food pics for the kitchen.
I've done two projects so far-I cut out a tiny batman pic,and a word balloon "Stop him,Batman!"
 I took a votive candle and placed the paper on it. I lighted a second candle,and held a spoon over it. You have to look and make sure it doesn't get sooty. I rubbed the back of the heated spoon over the image,and the wax kind of melted over/into it. The printing on the back showed through,fortunately it was just a little bit.
And I made a card for a friend with one of the covers. But what else can you make that uses a whole page? I'd love to hear your ideas!Thanks!

I have an 11 year old. She loves to knit,we've made oddball craft stuff together-like a glittery star mobile complete with an alien.. I'll show her stuff on craftster I think she'll like-bangle bracelets are in our future. Trouble is,I don't think I can turn her loose on Craftster yet. People are good about saying adult content in their descriptions,yes. But she would spend a lot of time on the knitting page,and, for example, I really don't want to have to explain what a vibrator cozy is, or hear mommy,what's a dildo? I don't think I'm being an overprotective prude.(okay,maybe a little). Yes,we've had "the talk",more than once,and I try to be honest and approachable,but...
I"m not complaining about crafster! Honest! I love crafster,and I'm more apt to giggle than be offended by any adult stuff posted.
BUT-can anyone suggest some kid friendly craft sites? I'd really appreciate it. I'd like to hear other parents thoughts on the subject, too. For now I'll keep bookmarking things I want to share with her.Thanks!