~Unique stamped necklaces

For our bridesmaids' gifts, my newest sister-in-law gave us the coolest necklace. It's a silver chain with a pearl on one end and a jade charm on the other. To "fasten" the necklace, you loop one end around the other. Cool, right?! So.... of course I've wanted to make one since laying eyes on it! But I wanted to add a personal touch....

These are the tools I started with. (My sister, Cheree, is the designer for this one... it's for her!)

To make the dangly charms (for lack of a better word)....
On the small square, I punched their first initials and last initial. On the larger square, I punched the year they married.

I attached the dangly charm to the end of this cool charm we found at Walmart. I know! Walmart has some really pretty beads and charms... just FYI...

Here's the finished necklace! Want to see more of how to put it together? Take a look at this necklace....

I wanted to make a special birthstone necklace for my cousin Tracy. Her son, Carson, is being dedicated at church tomorrow and I thought this would be a sweet keepsake for her.

I started with a simple chain. Now... it was hard to find one long enough. Mostly, the chains in the jewelry section of the craft store are 18". Not long enough. Then I found a 60" chain at Hobby Lobby. This was plenty to make 2 necklaces.

Carson was born in April. I found these birthstone charms that were perfect. This is the beginning of the dangly charm.

Before I finished the charm, I pulled the stem through the end of the chain. Then I made the loop and twisted the remaining wire around the top of the jewel.

I punched the letters and numbers...

Carson's initial and birthdate. Go over the letters with a sharpie and wipe off quickly to achieve the black look in the stamps. Ok... dangly birthstone charm on one end... personalized charms on the other.... just loop one end

over the other

and..

There you go! A unique, one-of-a-kind necklace! Oh... the possibilities....

~Bottle cap belts

First, let me give a heartfelt apology for my absence! Between vacation and 2 church camps, it's been a busy summer! But speaking of church camp... my family just returned from Indian Springs Holiness Campmeeting. Its an old-fashioned campmeeting, with a tabernacle and everything. Well, we were able to fit in a little crafting..... :)

So, let me give you a little background... people from all over come to Indian Springs. Many people come from Kentucky. And apparently there is a drink there called Ale 8 1. Now... you may know about this drink, but me, I had never heard of it until Indian Springs, where those from Kentucky bring it in. (Georgia soft drink = Coke)...

So to make a cool keepsake, my niece starts collecting bottle caps. But she wasn't sure what to do with them. I had seen these in the mall and on different sites, but I wasn't sure if my idea would work! We asked her mom to stop by a thrift store and pick up some belts. She found this camo belt and leather belt.
I took the bottle caps and, with a pair of flat-nosed crafting pliers, fanned out the edges (to make the cap not stand up as much).
Using my Crop-a-dile (love it!), I punched a hole in the center of the cap and through the belt, where they were to meet.
To attach the two, I "crunched" a grommet on. I know that is not the correct terminology, but that's exactly what it was like! I was afraid that it would dent the center, but it didn't! :)
Here is the camo belt. I really liked how this one turned out (I think because I wasn't so sure it would work!).
This one turned out great, too. I had seen leather belts with caps before, so I felt like this one would look good.
(Can you see those little toes? My photographer... He wanted to help his mama! Sweet boy...)
Before next camp, Hanna and I want to make several different things for her. I would love to hear your ideas! Thanks!