Suzanne's Crazy For Collars

Mardi Gras Magic Dog Collar with Glitter/Satin Bow, Choose Your Size - $16.00

2012-02-12T12:10:00.001-08:00

Celebrate Mardi Gras with this fun, vibrant, glittery collar.

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Easter Bunnies...

2012-02-08T12:05:00.001-08:00

are hopping into the Etsy shop this week. Be sure and stop by soon.
Suzanne in TX

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

More Vintage Button Creations!

2012-02-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

I made another button bracelet on Sunday, just before the Super Bowl. This time I started with a silver tone chunky charm bracelet and added lots of silver and pearl type of vintage buttons. How do you like it?

I also had these darling TINY black and clear rhinestone buttons that were screaming, "use me, use me!". They are each about 3/8" in diameter, so they turned out really cute as petite studs with a matching pendant. At least, I like them!

Enjoy!

Dog Collar Tutorial--Make it Yourself, Crazy for Collars Instructional EBook, How to with BONUS - $7.50

2012-02-06T13:05:00.001-08:00

This instructional book will have you creating collars with matching leashes in no time at all! The 5 collar sizes are fully adjustable and will fit neck sizes ranging from 7� to 29�. You�ll go Crazy for Collars!

**You'll also find leash instructions included as a BONUS!**

➧➧➧Bow instructions are NOT included, but a video tutorial is available for purchase in the Make...

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

DIY Vintage Button Bracelet

2012-02-05T13:06:00.000-08:00

This is my first blog post in over a year! One of my New Year's Resolutions was to try to post a few fun projects during 2012--so here goes!
A few weeks ago I fell in love with an idea I saw on Pinterest--making a button bracelet.
Well, you see, I have a HUGE vintage button collection, so what better way to display some of them--right?
Here's my first attempt a made not long ago which incorporates turquoise rhinestone buttons that came from an estate sale--I remember purchasing the 2pc suit just for the buttons. The rest of the bracelet was fashioned using crystal faceted beads from a necklace which I rarely wore.

OK--Let's back up a few years ago. Below is a stretch bracelet I made from vintage buttons. Many of which came from the estate sale of Bea Haney, a local business woman who had an exclusive upscale dress shop here in Abilene during the late 1950's to 1970's, maybe even longer. I could never afford to shop there, but I grabbed up buttons from her estate sale!

I really was a little afraid to wear that bracelet for fear that it might break and I might lose many of the precious buttons. Today, I finally decided to take it apart and redesign a new vintage button bracelet.

Step 1
I started with this gold tone John Wind charm bracelet. I have fallen in love with his designs! I purchased my first John Wind trinket in Lubbock, TX at Hollyhocks early last Fall. I was super thrilled when I found this gold-tone bracelet online at Carol and Company!

Step 2
I chose several buttons with shanks, along with those from the "Bea Haney Bracelet" and auditioned them for placement on the bracelet.

Step 3
Using lots gold-tone split rings I connected each button to the bracelet, making sure to close each loop securely. It really took very little time, once I had picked out the buttons I wanted to incorporate. Here is the finished result:

I think I'll make another one during the Super Bowl this evening!
Enjoy!

ETSY TEXAS CRAFTERS $5 FIFTH MONDAY SALE

2010-08-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Etsy Texas Crafters $5 5th Monday sale!

This is a special sale because 5th Mondays are so rare, and the prices are fabulous!
With over 500 items all for only $5 you can get all your shopping from the year done right now! There is something for everyone!

I have some cute vests/harnesses and doggie tees super sale priced at $5 until the end of the sale. Be sure and skip over to my Last Chance section of my Crazy for Collars Shop.

With over 46 ETC shops participating this month, there's something for everyone, including LOTS of great deals! But don’t dawdle . . . these sales and special offers are only available from 12:01 am Monday, August 30th to 12:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 31st, Central Time (that's 1:01am Monday to 1:00am Tuesday, Etsy Time).

CFC 2010 FALL AND HALLOWEEN DESIGNS ARRIVING

2010-08-14T03:50:00.000-07:00

Skip on over to Crazy For Collars on Etsy to see these new designs that are arriving over the next few days. With 100+ degrees of HOT weather here in Texas, it has been fun thinking of Fall and Halloween!

FIRST MONDAY OF AUGUST--SUPER ETSY SALE

2010-08-01T16:29:00.000-07:00

It has been several months since the Etsy Texas Crafters street team has sponsored a First Monday of the month sales event. I'm so happy to say that ETC has reinstated the event and tomorrow, August 2, is the date!
I am offering the following as a participant:
All regular priced items are 15% off (excludes custom orders and S/H)!
This offer is only good this Monday, August 2, from 12:01am until 11:59pm.
I will issue a refund of the discount amount to your PayPal account once you have paid for your item(s).

So click on over and do a little shopping on Monday at Crazy For Collars!

Be sure to take a look at my fellow Texans’ SPECIAL OFFERS.

HAVE A MARVELOUS MONDAY!

WEDDING DAY ATTIRE FOR YOUR PET

2010-07-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

I have had several requests by brides lately to make custom items for their pets to wear during the wedding. With that in mind, I have listed a complete 3 piece Wedding Day Set which includes a step-in harness, leash, and collar. The harness and collar are adorned with rhinestone embellished bows, of course!

My listing offers a choice of white or pink, but if another color or color combination is needed, I do my best to accommodate the request.

I can even add streamers to serve the purpose of securing rings to the harness, if the pet is the chosen ring bearer!

The very best part of offering these sets is that I have the wonderful opportunity to play a small part in someone's SPECIAL DAY. Some of my creations will be preserved in wedding photo albums forever. How nice is that?

CFC HAPPY PETS FRIDAY, June 25, 2010

2010-06-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

Goodness! Am I late in posting this edition of Happy Pets or what? Summertime is hectic at times and I really need to get more organized apparently. I have such a wonderful group of customers for my Crazy For Collars and just love receiving photos of their fur babies wearing their new neckwear.
Here are just a few of the photos I have received lately. Enjoy these sweet pets!

Swisher in her new Patriotic Collar

VERA, the Wedding Ring Bearer

Hershey in her new colorful collar

Bristol, modeling my latest Top Knot Hairbow (TK Bows)

Layla, with a new Zebra collar

Zeppelin sporting the Diagonal Stripes

Thank so all of the wonderful pet owners for sharing these photos with me and my readers!

RIBBON, RIBBON, RIBBON--WHERE TO STORE IT ALL???

2010-06-15T02:57:00.000-07:00

I love it when packages of ribbon arrive on my doorstep! All the colorful rolls of different sizes and designs just make me smile!

So when these two new boxes arrived, I looked around at my studio and decided that I need more ribbon storage!

I love these little racks that hang on the wall, but they are nearly full and I haven't been able to locate more of them. Plus, my really large spools/rolls do not fit on the narrow wire shelves.

Elfa, sold at the Container Store, makes some wonderful storage systems that I LOVE. They are pretty pricey, so I try to only buy them during a big sale! My larger spools fit in the larger drawers, but they get really heavy and so the drawers are hard to open and close sometimes.

I even use Beanie Baby boxes for ribbon storage. I like the way I can see right inside without even opening the container.

I have even resorted to the tried and true stacking plastic baskets. They just are not near as nice as the Elfa, though!

I plan to do a little online looking for better ribbon storage this week, so if you have any ideas or solutions, please share!

CFC HAPPY "TIGER", FRIDAY, June 11, 2010

2010-06-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

This week's Happy Pet post is just a wee bit different. Instead of featuring several photos of Pups, this post is dedicated to only one Happy Pet: Cairo, a tiger cub.

His "Grandma" Danielle, of Chilly Paws on Etsy, bought 2 collars recently and I could hardly wait for these photos to arrive!
Isn't Cairo absolutely gorgeous?

Danielle was sweet enough to provide a little bio about Cairo:
Cairo, a 9 week old Bengal tiger cub, is an outgoing bundle of energy, attitude and affection. He enjoys long walks around the ranch where he stalks grasshoppers and weeds. Favorite toys include an extra large tennis ball and a hard pacifier. His best friend is a miniature dapple dachshund named Mickey.

Cairo enjoys milkshake bottles, long naps and relaxing in the shade. His favorite afternoon pastime is being in the swimming pool with 'Mommy' Renee and 'Grandma' Danielle, who are his favorite 'floaties'.

Cairo aspires to become the new Top Male Model at Chilly Paws and to enjoy an illustrious career. When he grows up Cairo wants to live on the ranch with his Mommy and be an ambassador for exotic animals.

Thanks, Danielle for sharing these delightful photos and a little about Cairo with us!

CFC HAPPY PETS FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2010

2010-05-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe that the month of May is almost OVER! I have received several great Happy Pets photos in the last couple of weeks and want to share them with you, my readers. Be sure and leave a comment, please.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend everyone!

Bristol

Cassie Jo

Bella

Thanks so much for sharing your photos, everyone!

A Week of Change

2010-05-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe it has been 10 days since my last post. I really have no excuse. Family matters have been keeping me busier than usual. My dear, sweet, 81 y/o mother-in-law has severe dementia that has steadily worsened over the last few years. My husband and I have done our best to keep her "independent" for as long as possible. She has been living in an apartment located in a nice retirement center very close to our home. This week, Wednesday actually, we finally admitted her to a full scale nursing center across town. We considered about 4 different facilities, deciding on this one because it had nice wide hallways and several little "meeting" areas. She loves to "walk the halls" and sit and "visit", although her communication skills are almost non-existent now. We checked her in and were setting things up in her new room, while she watched--totally confused about the whole situation and not too happy about it. At one point, while a nurse was interviewing us about her habits, my MIL got up to "go walk", or so we thought. I mentioned to the nurse that this was one reason we had chosen their facility. Not 5 seconds later all sorts of alarms were sounding--my MIL had tried to go out an exterior door!!! Oh my! The decision was made to put a Wanderguard Wrist Band on her. Its purpose is to "lock down" exterior doors when being approached by someone wearing the band. We stayed with her for about 2 hours attempting to help her "settle in" a bit. We finally left, totally exhausted--mentally and physically. We had been gone about 20 minutes when we got a call from the same nurse asking if my MIL could be moved to the Secure Alzheimer's Unit. I guess even the Wanderguard couldn't contain this little 90 pound full blood German lady.
The decision to place her in the Alzheimer's Unit seems to have been for the best. We have visited and she seems almost content. There are several attendants always present and interaction with others is almost mandatory. It also offers access to a nice patio/yard area that she will enjoy.
So this has been a very eventful week for all three of us. I'm sure there will be more stressful days ahead, but I hope they will not compare to last Wednesday.

YEAH FOR MAY! 15% OFF SALE

2010-05-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

Yeah! May has arrived and Crazy for Collars is having a SALE!!!

DETAILS:
WHEN: ALL DAY THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010 AND FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2010

SAVE 15% on your total purchase*. Just complete your transaction as usual and I will issue your refund via Paypal once I have notification of your payment from Paypal.

Be sure to contact me via Etsy if you do not see a collar size/style you need and I will check on its availability.

*RESTRICTIONS: Special/Custom orders are excluded.

SHIPPING: Most packages will be shipped on or before Monday, May 10, 2010

Stop by today to browse the new styles and make a wish list for the sale dates.

***FACEBOOK FANS: CHECK THE CRAZY FOR COLLARS FAN PAGE FOR A SPECIAL OFFER!!!***

See you Thursday or Friday!

CFC HAPPY PETS FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010

2010-04-30T02:58:00.000-07:00

The last day of April has arrived--where did the month go??? On to May, with lots of sunshine, green grass, and flowers to enjoy.

enjoy |enˈjoi|
verb [ trans. ]
1 take delight or pleasure in (an activity or occasion) : Joe enjoys reading Icelandic family sagas.
• ( enjoy oneself) have a pleasant time : I could never enjoy myself, knowing you were in your room alone.
• [ intrans. ] informal used to urge someone to take pleasure in what is about happen or be done

I love to use the word ENJOY, especially when referring to my Happy Pet photos. Here are a few for you this week:

KONA

ELVIRA

KOFTA

NOAH

LACEY, MAC, AND SIRI

HENRY

Springtime Wild Flowers Are Now Appearing!

2010-04-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

Last Friday afternoon, Tom and I headed to Austin to visit Andrew, our son. With the hopes of seeing bluebonnets I packed a bag with my faux dog models and a couple of my Bluebonnet Button Bow collars. We would see small patches along the highway, but nothing that would be suitable for photos. We did see a patch of flowers near a Roadside Picnic area just outside so Santa Anna, but decided to try to catch it on our way home.
As we approached our turn into our hotel in Austin, we spotted the PERFECT, BOUNTIFUL, array of Bluebonnets just across the street. Who would have thought that we would find a lush bluebonnet patch right in the middle of Austin?

CFC HAPPY PETS FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2010

2010-04-08T15:25:00.000-07:00

Warm weather has finally arrived, the grass is turning green, and the trees are starting to show the signs of Spring! It just makes you want to SMILE and be outside.
These CFC Happy Pets all happen to reside in Texas! Please enjoy and leave a short comment, if you do.

Maddie, Abilene, TX

Bristol, Hallsville, TX

Fitz, Midland, TX

JuJu, (My Gulf Coast Rep) Baytown, TX

SPRING FLING FUN EVENT AND HAPPY EASTER!

2010-04-03T04:15:00.000-07:00

Pictured above: Jessi's new lamb wearing her first Button Bow Collar from Crazy for Collars.

To celebrate Easter and the beginning of Spring, CFC is having a short, sweet SALE!

SPECIAL SALE: Sunday, April 4 & Monday, April 5; all day--both days!

FREE SHIPPING on all "in stock" items!
Just make your purchase, pay using Paypal as usual and I will issue
your S/H refund via Paypal once the transaction is complete.

So hop on over on Sunday and/or Monday and fill your Easter Etsy basket with lots of goodies!

Have a wonderful holiday, everyone!

CFC HAPPY PETS FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2010

2010-03-25T19:11:00.000-07:00

This is Chloe, truly a very Happy Pet!

I drove from Abilene to San Antonio on Wednesday and spotted Texas wildflowers along the way. I am hoping since we had an unusually "wet Winter" that there will be lots and lots of wildflowers this Spring. Since Spring is definitely in the air, I thought I would share a few more Easter collar pictures that my wonderful customers have taken the time to send to me. You'll also so find after the Easter collar photos, some photos from "down under" that I just HAD to share. I hope you enjoy all of these as much as I do...

Here's Byron in his blue Bunny bow tie collar:

Murphy, Bristol, and Jaxon are watching for the Easter Bunny:

Maddie, too, keeps a watchful eye out for the Easter Bunny:

Australia now has some Crazy For Collars fans:

Little Jersey looks great in her turquoise/polka dot bow collar

Mini seems to love the pink and green collar that shipped all the way from Texas

As always, I must thank again my wonderful customers who take the time to share these photos with all of us!

EPISODE #2 of THE DIY DISH--More Fun from Kim and Kris!

2010-03-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

BUTTON BOWS FOR YOUR TOES!!!

2010-03-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be fun to have "Button Bows on your Toes" that match the button bow on your fur baby's collar? Well, now it will be easy to do! Soon I'll be offering in my Etsy Shop pairs of "Button Bows for your Toes" to coordinate with my different collar designs. Price at $7.00 for the pair + S/H, why not give them a try?

Here's a little video that shows how to apply the bows to your "toes", actually your thong sandals or flip flops.

Wondering how to make the Button Bows? Here's an older video that shows how to create them:

Be sure and send me photos of your creations!

EPISODE #1 of THE DIY DISH--I just had to share!

2010-03-18T04:58:00.000-07:00

Many of you know that my pet item tutorials have been available over at Youcanmakethis.com for several years now. These young women, who started their company not that many years ago, are so creative and love sharing ideas with crafters. Even though I have never met them in person, I feel a bond with them and am so proud to watch their ever growing business flourish. Below, is their very first Episode of THE DIY DISH which is only the first on many to come, I hope. Please enjoy!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

2010-03-17T03:54:00.000-07:00

Growing up in West Texas, I don't really remember ever celebrating this holiday except for always wearing green. Of course, that isn't much of a problem for me since GREEN is my FAVORITE color! Here are a few "friends" proudly wearing a little green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

Don't forget to wear something GREEN today!!! Have a happy, happy day!

CFC HAPPY PETS FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010

2010-03-11T18:20:00.000-08:00

Friday is here and Spring is near which means Easter is on its way. Here are some Happy Pets in their new Easter collars:

Cute Little CoCo

Elegant Eleanor

Lovely Izzie

Handsome Rocky

"Hey Izzie, Is that the Easter Bunny out by the mailbox?"

You still have time to order your pet's Easter collar. Just check my Etsy shop today!

THINK SPRING!!! MARCH 5-8 FREE SHIPPING SPECIAL

2010-03-05T01:03:00.000-08:00

THINK SPRING: FREE SHIPPING ON SELECT COLLARS
MARCH 5-8

Spring is finally in the air here in Texas and I can hardly wait for the wild flowers to start appearing!
I am joining with my UWIB Etsy team members for a SPECIAL EVENT: THINK SPRING! March 5 through March 8.
Each participating member has special offerings and you can read more about our group's event on the UWIB blog or on Etsy search UWIBSPRING to see all the items offered by these wonderfully talented ladies.

I am offering FREE SHIPPING on select collars during this event. You can find these listed in a special THINK SPRING section of my Etsy shop.
So flutter like a butterfly on over to see what you might need for SPRING.

CFC HAPPY PETS FRIDAY, FEB. 26, 2010

2010-02-26T02:00:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share some Happy Pet photos where holiday collars are included. Enjoy!

ETSY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SUPER SALE

2010-02-23T01:03:00.000-08:00

BIG SALE 2/24/2010

Stop in on Wednesday and save! The more you buy, the more you save:

Buy 1 or 2 items and save 12%
Buy 3 or more items and save 24%

Here's how it will work:

If you buy up to 2 items, you will receive a 12% discount on your TOTAL purchase (S/H not included).

If you buy 3 or more items, you will receive a 24% discount on your TOTAL purchase (S/H not included).

So why stop with only 2 items--buy more and SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!!!

Read the fine print: Your 12% or 24% discount will be given as a refund via Paypal after your transaction is complete and I receive notification from Paypal of your payment. Also, when you buy 4 or more items, your package will be shipped via Priority Mail and you may receive a second refund for any overpayment of S/H.

This sale is effective only for "in stock" items listed in my shop. I do have duplicates of many of the designs, so if you need more than one of any certain design/size please contact me before Wednesday to verify availability. Any questions? Just ask!

NEW, NEW, NEW and COMING SOON!

2010-02-21T17:09:00.001-08:00

YOU'LL FIND THESE NEWS DESIGNS IN MY SHOP RIGHT NOW:

EASTER BUNNIES ARE COMING SOON:

CFC HAPPY PETS FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 2010

2010-02-19T00:01:00.000-08:00

More Happy Pets for you to enjoy!

Roxy and Charlotte

Ruby

Maggie

Daisy

Boo

Are you enjoying see these wonderful pets? I hope so! Not only are these Happy Pets, but they are Well Loved Pets, too!

CFC HAPPY PETS FRIDAY

2010-02-05T00:57:00.000-08:00

I will be celebrating the ONE year anniversary of opening my Crazy For Collars shop on Etsy this February 24, 2010. Wow, how time has flown! I have been receiving lovely photos of customer's pets during that time wearing their new neckwear. You can view many of those photos by watching the "Happy Pets" slide show located in the left hand sidebar of this blog. I have wanted for some time now to do a bi-weekly blog post highlighting a few of the photos for my readers to see and enjoy. This will be the first edition, so enjoy these CFC Happy Pets, please!

FIRST MONDAY OF FEBRUARY--SUPER ETSY SALE!!!

2010-02-01T03:37:00.000-08:00

It’s that time again! Etsy Texas Crafters street team presents: FIRST MONDAY SALES EVENT!
I am offering the following as a participant:
Regular priced items are 15% off (excludes S/H)!
This offer is only good this Monday, February 1, from 12:01am until 11:59pm.
I will issue a refund of the discount amount to your PayPal account once you have paid for your item(s).

So click on over and do a little at Crazy For Collars!

Be sure to take a look at my fellow Texans’ special offers for the sale:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6423385

HAVE A MARVELOUS MONDAY!

NEW, NEW, NEW COMING SOON!

2010-01-30T16:41:00.000-08:00

YIPPEE! YIPPEE! I'VE BEEN ON A FABRIC SHOPPING SPREE!!!

Here's some St. Patrick's Day designs that will be in my Crazy For Collars Etsy shop very soon:

Just look at all of these GREAT STRIPES that will yield the cutest collars:

My loyal customers know how much I love the FLORAL fabrics. I can hardly wait to get these made into lovely collars for Spring:

POLKA DOTS, PAISLEYS, AND A NEW BLUE PLAID!

2 New ASIAN Inspired prints--love these, too:

SUPER DUPER BRIGHTS!

A Trio of Black and White Choices:

Whimsical Prints--Black and White combined with Red

Please let me know which ones are your favorites so I will know where to begin once I get the St. Patty's Day selections completed.

SEW,SEW,SEW Off I must go...

BIG SALE STARTS SOON!

2010-01-20T18:03:00.000-08:00

Almost a year ago I joined a wonderful group of fabulous ladies called Unique Woman in Business. We are a collective group of fun females who share business tips and shoulders for support.

This weekend, UWIB launches our very first ETSY team promotional event! Starting Friday January 22, participating ETSY team members are offering FREE SHIPPING, including yours truly.

Search UWIBTEAMFS on ETSY to find participating stores, hurry though, the event only lasts from Friday, January 22nd--Monday January 25th!

For more information about this promotion, check out this Etsy thread. For more information about Unique Woman in Business, check out the UWIB blog.

HAPPY, HAPPY 2010! LET'S CELEBRATE WITH A SALE!

2010-01-03T18:07:00.000-08:00

Well the new year has appeared! I hope everyone had a nice and safe celebration for ringing in 2010. It is time again for the First Monday Sales Event. Drop by my Etsy shop Monday, Jan. 4 (tomorrow) and save 15% on any regular priced "in stock" item. Be sure to read my shop's announcement for all the details.
Here's a glimpse at some of the newest items to my shop:

Hope to see you there tomorrow!

BACK TO WORK AND MY LITTLE HELPER

2009-12-29T17:14:00.000-08:00

So Christmas has officially come and gone this year. Abilene had its first White Christmas in a long time, but we totally missed it. We were in San Antonio with all of our kiddos watching movies and eating, eating, eating!

It started snowing this morning and we are supposed to have even more snow overnight, so it sort of feels like a White Christmas after all.

I finally finished up several new collar designs and starting taking photos of them today. Upon finishing one batch of pictures and removing my camera from its tripod, I turned around to head to my computer, and glancing over at the dog bed in my studio, this is what I saw:

Do you see that little white face watching my every move? That's Bugs! He will never leave the cushion in that dog bed alone. He is always moving it around and sometimes completely kicking the darn thing out and several feet away from the bed. Anyway, I was so lucky to have my camera ready to grab this shot of him. He does love his toys! I usually find them all around the floor of my studio. About 30 minutes before that picture was taken, all the toys had been piled in the dog bed--he managed to root all but one of them out onto the floor.

So here is a look at just a few of the new collar designs that will be appearing in my Etsy shop over the next few days:

Hope all of you are having a great week and looking forward to a great 2010!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

2009-12-25T06:45:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! I hope each and everyone of you is having a wonderful holiday with family and friends! I really appreciate all of you that have taken the time to stop in and read my blog, decided to follow it, and left such wonderful comments. I'm hoping that 2010 will bring lots of new posts and maybe a few new tutorials along the way.

Here's a few of my favorite tutorials from 2009:

Canning Jar Pincushion

Ceiling Fan Fandangle

Matchbook Notepad

Happy Holidays!

AND THE WINNER IS...

2009-12-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

Courtenay from RI! Yes, she is the lucky winner of 1 collar of her choice from my Crazy For Collars Etsy shop!!! Congratulations to you!

Any further comments will not be eligible for the 20% coupon.
I want to thank all of you that took the time to enter the contest and leave such great suggestions. If you didn't receive your coupon code please contact me and I will forward that information to you. You can find my email address in my profile or you can send me an Etsy convo.

So I have been experimenting and perfecting a possible "bow tie" for the boys!

Here's a picture of the prototype. I should have some available soon in my shop. I think I will add them to Fabric F choice and title them "King Of Hearts". What do you think?

One of my readers even suggested making a bow tie for the "Smooches for Pooches" collar and naming it "Lipstick on my Collar"--isn't that GREAT???

I am also thinking of having readers make title suggestions for various designs, since as you can probably tell, I seem to be "title challenged".

I'm working on several new designs and will have them ready to photograph sometime next week, hopefully--so be watching! Here's a peek at one for you to see:

Thanks again to all who participated in the contest and Courtenay, I'll be contacting you soon!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

A GIVEAWAY WHERE EVERYONE IS A WINNER!

2009-12-08T04:39:00.000-08:00

If you have been reading my blog entries lately you know that I have been working on Valentine's Day collars to add to my Etsy shop this week--even before the middle of December. I love creating the designs with bows--I have to confess that they are my favorite. I fall short when it comes to choosing the right designs that will be suitable for the male pooches. So I am asking for your help! Everyone who responds before the contest deadline on December 13th will be given a 20% OFF COUPON CODE that can be redeemed towards one Valentine's Day collar during the month of January 2010.
One lucky participant will win the collar of their choice!

Here are the steps to follow for this GIVEAWAY:

Step 1:
Look over all these fabric choices:

Step 2:
Add a comment to this post with at least 2 choices of the fabrics pictured which YOU think would be appropriate for a Valentine's Day collar for a male dog. Make sure I have access to your email address for the coupon code.

That's it! Just leave a comment and I will forward you the Coupon Code*. You will automatically be entered in the drawing** for "YOUR CHOICE OF ANY COLLAR IN MY ETSY SHOP".
*Only one coupon code per person will be given.
**Only one entry per person in the collar giveaway.

DEADLINE: This Giveaway will end on Sunday, December 13 at midnight CT--so hurry!

FIRST MONDAY OF DECEMBER--SUPER ETSY SALE!!!

2009-12-06T16:52:00.000-08:00

It’s that time again! Etsy Texas Crafters street team presents: FIRST MONDAY SALES EVENT!
I am offering the following as a participant:
Regular priced items are 15% off (excludes clearance items, custom orders,gift certificates and shipping)!
This offer is only good this Monday, December 7, from 12:01am until 11:59pm.
I will issue a refund of the discount amount to your PayPal account once you have paid for your item(s).

So click on over and do a little Holiday Shopping at Crazy For Collars!

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE...

2009-12-06T13:17:00.001-08:00

VALENTINE'S DAY!

Here's a look at what I have been working on the last few days:

They will be available in my Etsy Shop, Crazy For Collars, sometime next week!

December 2, 2009 OUR FIRST SNOWFALL THIS YEAR!

2009-12-02T16:49:00.000-08:00

We awoke today to snow on the ground! It didn't last long, but luckily I did get the camera out for a few pictures.

Also, on Monday I had surgery! Well, to most of you it wouldn't fit the definition of surgery--but it did to me! I came home with the most amazing bandage!

Luckily, the bandage fell off at bedtime and I was able to switch to just a large Bandaid.

EASY SOUP RECIPE FOR A WINTERY DAY!

2009-12-01T03:46:00.000-08:00

It is getting COLD outside! Our high is only supposed to reach 39 degrees today--that's mighty cold for this part of Texas! A cold day in Texas calls for a warm soup!
I make this soup over and over during the Winter, probably because it is so easy, quick, and good.
Super Simple Tortilla Soup (we also call it Taco Soup):
Start with:

And end up with:

Ingredients needed:
1 store bought rotisserie chicken
1 package of corn tortilla chips (Tostitos, etc.)
1 whole sweet onion
1 bunch cilantro
3‐4 yellow squash
3‐4 zucchini
1 28oz can of Rotel tomatoes
1 15oz can of white hominy
1 15oz can of sweet kernel corn
1 15oz can of black beans
1 10.25oz of cream of chicken soup
1 48oz container of chicken broth

I made a full pictorial tutorial of how I make this simple, yummy soup and you may download it for free (no registration is required) here:

Super Simple Tortilla Soup Recipe

Enjoy and let me know if you have any variations to share!

BLACK FRIDAY-CYBER MONDAY ON ETSY

2009-11-24T18:00:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the commercials on TV lately about the BIG, HUGE, and ***EARLY*** sales this Friday, now know as BLACK FRIDAY??? My goodness, OLD NAVY is opening at 3AM!!! I can't imagine the staff's reaction to that idea! Many, many, other retailers are opening their doors super early as well.
So I don't really plan to be in line to shop at a brick and mortar store, but I do plan to be ONLINE shopping the sales that are being offered all weekend long!
Etsy is promoting FREE SHIPPING for the weekend and a large portion of Etsy sellers are participating. To find those specials, just log in to Etsy.com and search for "Etsyfreeshipping". Plus, if you search "Etsyholidaysale" you will find all sorts of wonderful offerings by fellow Etsians.

I am offering FREE SHIPPING during the Thanksgiving Weekend on ALL HOLIDAY/CHRISTMAS collars. If you haven't gotten your canine their Holiday collar, now would be the perfect time!

I also have just marked down over 40 various collars to $5, $6, and $7!!! So come on over to my Etsy shop and see how much you can SAVE!

FINALLY: Electricity Comes to Our Part of Town

2009-11-21T17:45:00.000-08:00

Strange things are happening out front of our house!
Well, it involves our neighbors, as well.

When I drove home one day last week, our garage door wouldn't open for me. It seems that electricity is needed to operate the garage door. Luckily, I was able to get in without a key to any door: we have a keyless entry lock on one of the patio doors.
I had noticed "utility workers" down the street and went down to where they were working to ask if my power outage had anything to do with their presence. Of course, the answer was "yes" and that my power would be restored in just a few minutes. No problem--I really didn't WANT to do any laundry right then anyway.
So when I was pulling out of the driveway on Wednesday and had to delicately maneuver around utility workers, I stopped and asked what was going on. Apparently, all the power outages that we have (and there have been MANY) on our block are due to the fact that the "lines" are over 35 years old and need to be replaced.
Our front yard has some interesting little flags flying--some on wooden stakes and others on tiny metal poles. They are to alert the workers of other existing lines, such as gas, sewer, phone, etc. They are quite colorful!

More color is added out front in the form of a unique type of graffiti:

So I was told that these guys were nearly finished with their portion of the job and that the rest will be finished next week by our electric company. We shall see...

Maybe we didn't need to spend that $800 last July on the TWO "Whole House" in-line power surge protectors we had installed!!!

Where has this month gone???

2009-11-19T18:01:00.000-08:00

I have neglected my poor blog this month! I can hardly believe that Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK and then Christmas will be here in a matter of moments!
Christmas collars have been a BIG hit in my Etsy shop and I am working hard to get a variety of new (non-holiday) designs added very soon. Here's a hint of a few things that are to come...

If you haven't visited my shop lately, you might want to take a look at the SALE section. I have marked down various designs to $5, $6, & $7 Whoa! What was I thinking??? I just need to make room for some new looks. And just think--Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day collars are on there way, too!

Quick and Easy Holiday Gift Tags

2009-11-12T16:27:00.000-08:00

I started making gift tags last year and now I am hooked on making these little goodies to use on gifts and to give as gifts.

Supplies Needed:
Cardstock; 4"X 6" note card; 2"circle punch; 1/8" hole punch; scissors; yarn, twine, or string

Step 1:
Using the circle punch, punch out tags around the perimeter of the piece of card stock. I love these Fiskars squeeze punches! They are a little pricey, but try using a Michael's coupon to make them more reasonable.

Cut the remnants away from the center of the card stock. Now finish punching out the circles.

Step 2:
Using a 1/8" hole punch, create a hole about 1/4" from the edge of each tag.

Step 3:
Wrap your chosen yarn, twine, or string around the width of the note card several times. Slide one of the blades of the scissors between the note card and the twine and cut along the edge. The result will be several 8" long pieces of twine.

Step 4:
Attach one piece of twine to each tag by threading the looped end of the twine through the hole in the tag, then pulling the free ends of the twine back through the loop. Pull the twine to make a snug fit on the tag.

Repeat Step 4 until you have all of the tags ready for use.

Don't forget to make extras to share with all of your family and friends!
Have fun being creative!

FINALLY: THE BARK MAGAZINE IS ON SALE NOW!!!

2009-11-08T08:20:00.000-08:00

After much contemplation, I decided a couple of months ago to buy a small ad in the holiday issue of The Bark magazine. It wasn't cheap, by my standards, but it reaches a specific demographic perfect for promoting my handmade dog collars. I am so happy with the ad that Amanda of DawnCorrespondence.etsy.com designed for me. She worked so diligently with me and my ever changing concepts.
Here's the cover to the issue:

My small ad can be found on page 90. See it in this shot? It is on the middle row, outer box--I think it shows up very well along side the other ads on the page.

Just in case you can't see it well, here's a clear picture:

Thank you, Amanda, for all of your help with this project!
Thank you, too, Korrie (my wonderful daughter) for helping me pick a theme so appropriate for the holiday issue!

FIRST MONDAY OF NOVEMBER--SUPER ETSY SALE!!!

2009-11-02T01:00:00.000-08:00

It’s that time again! Etsy Texas Crafters street team presents: FIRST MONDAY SALES EVENT!
I am offering the following as a participant:
Regular priced items are 15% off (excludes clearance items, custom orders,gift certificates and shipping)!
This offer is only good this Monday, November 2, from 12:01am until 11:59pm.
I will issue a refund of the discount amount to your PayPal account once you have paid for your item(s).

So click on over and do a little Holiday Shopping at Crazy For Collars!

FANDANGLE WINNER AND HAPPY NOVEMBER 1

2009-11-01T03:29:00.000-08:00

Halloween is now past and we are starting November! Lots of fun holiday craft shows are taking place around our nation and I hope you will consider handmade items for those special gifts this year. If you don't have a craft show in your area, be sure to consider doing a little shopping over at Etsy.com. You can find handmade items from every category possible, along with some wonderful vintage finds.

And the winner of the Fandangle giveaway is.....(drum roll...):
Amanda (her blog: This Is Us)!
She will be the new owner of this blue crystal brooch Fandangle that was featured in my earlier posting which included the tutorial for making these fun ceiling fan adornments!
Thanks so much to all who participated.

Happy November everyone!

Scented Soaps with a Story

2009-10-29T01:37:00.000-07:00

I happen to have a passion for scented, enriching soaps. I love the handmade versions found on Etsy that "tell a story" just by looking at them. Here's a few I found made by fellow members of UWIB.

Shea Butter Cupcake Soap scented Sweet Angel Kisses
by: CozyMoments

White Chocolate Mocha - Delicious Soap with Almond oil, Jojoba oil and Vitamin E
by: SoapyPleasure

put da lime in da coconut soap
by: Intentions

Vanilla Candy Canes Goat's Milk Soap - A Decadent Holiday Treat
by: CozyMoments

WEDNESDAY'S WEEKLY DEAL OF THE DAY 10/28/09

2009-10-28T01:01:00.000-07:00

Today is the last Wednesday in October! Where did the month go???? This will be my final Wednesday's Weekly Deal of the Day for 2009, but be watching for other promotions during November and December.
Today's DOTD: BUY 2 COLLARS AND GET A THIRD ONE FREE!!!!

CRAZYFORCOLLARS.ETSY.COM
Here's how this will work: Purchase all three, using Paypal. Once I get notification from Paypal of your payment, I will issue you a refund of the amount of the lowest priced collar you chose, plus the extra shipping for a third item. This offer is good only on the collars that are currently listed in my Etsy shop.
Now don't delay and if you should have any questions about the DOTD, just send me a note via my Etsy shop.

ALSO: My current blog "Giveaway" ends this weekend, so jump over and register to win your choice of Fandangles!

Please consider signing up for my CFC newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming specials and other fun events. Just use the link in the left side column to register.

Have a great Halloween weekend everyone!!!

Crafting TIps: Avoiding Glue Gun Hazards

2009-10-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

I have a couple of tips for all of my readers and the gang over at We Are THAT Family:WFMW. Be sure to visit this week's edition of WFMW to learn other great ideas and tips from other members of the blogging world.

Most crafters make use of a glue gun in their creations. I, for some reason, always am looking for the newer, better glue gun, BUT return to my old tried and true cheap low temp gun. Since I don't use it frequently, and I am getting those SENIOR MOMENTS, I am always looking for ways to avoid hazards in its use.
One of my major concerns is forgetting to turn the crazy thing OFF after I am through using it for that crafting session. I don't know what the likelihood is of it causing a fire, but I really don't want to take the chance. Here's what I started doing a few months back and it seems to Work For Me. I keep one of these stretchy coil wrist bands (used mainly for keys) close to my glue gun. As I plug in the glue gun, the coil goes on my wrist as a reminder to make sure I unplug the glue gun when I am finished with my project. I use the same aide, just a different color coil, for my iron used in crafting room.

One other glue gun tip I have found handy (I believe I first heard this on the Martha Stewart Show): keep a bowl of ice water close by in case you get HOT glue on your fingers. Just dowse the finger(s) in the ice water to stop the burning!

Attention: Be sure and enter my current Blog Giveaway for your choice of A FANDANGLE. The contest ends Oct. 31. So skip over to my Fandangle tutorial to enter and learn how to make one, just in case you don't win.

MY VERSION OF COVERED BUTTON MAGNETS--SUPER EASY!

2009-10-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

I just found the greatest blog, Today's Creative Blog, that features crafty ideas on Tuesdays so I am "bringing forward" this tutorial first published a few months back. I think this would be a great little project for simple quick tiny gifts to have on hand for the upcoming holidays.

So I absolutely love making these “covered button magnets”. They are quick to make, super easy, and not too expensive!

Supplies needed:

Button to cover kit—available in most fabric stores or online HERE
I like using size 45 (1 1/8” diameter) and size 60 (1.5” in diameter)
I’m using size 60 in this demonstration.
Small magnets—available in most craft stores or online HERE
Strong glue—I use E6000
Needle nosed pliers
Scissors
Fabric scraps
Optional:
Various trims/ribbons
Dryer sheets

Step 1:

Using the pliers, remove the shank from the back of the button.

Step 2:
Place the trims across the mold and position the fabric over the trim so that your design is centered over the mold.
Optional: add a layer of dryer sheet on top of the fabric. This helps to reduce the likelihood of the button “showing through” the fabric.

Step 3:
Center the button “top” on the mold, over the layers of trim and fabric/dryer sheet, and push it down into the mold using your fingers.

Step 4:
Trim away the excess fabric/trim and tuck the ends down into the button top.

Step 5:
Place the button “back” over the tucked in fabric and push down using your fingers, pliers, or the plunger provided with your button kit—you should hear it click in place. Pop out your button and you are nearly finished!

Step 6:
Add a small drop of glue to the center of the back of the button and top with a small strong magnet. Allow to dry overnight. Now find the perfect place for your new magnet!

HINT: I tend to make several of these at a time. It is BEST to arrange them so that there is ample room between each while they are drying. If you are using super strong magnets and arrange them too close, you may experience what happened to me. I accidently shoved one a bit and the next thing I knew I had a bunch of magnets with wet glue all stuck together. It was a huge mess and it wasn’t easy getting them apart, plus glue was EVERYWHERE! So please learn from my mistake.
Have fun with these! I do…

OBSESSION FOR HANDMADE HOLIDAY NOTE CARDS!

2009-10-21T04:31:00.000-07:00

I'm becoming obsessed with note cards! I really love all the handmade designs that you can find by various artisans on Etsy. They are unique and so creative, so much better that those mass produced for the BIG BOX stores. Here's a look at some holiday versions created by other UWIB members:

Chickadee and Cranberries by WabiBrookStudio

Seasons Greetings Holiday Card by Robin Maria Pedrero

Frost and Red Damask Holiday Cards by DawnCorrespondence

Happy Holiday Trees Card Set by Papersquid

Penguin Notecards by Rita's Creations

And check out these very necessary gift tags:
Christmas Bulb Gift Tags by Paperquick

WEDNESDAY'S WEEKLY DEAL OF THE DAY 10/21/09

2009-10-21T01:27:00.000-07:00

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, DEAL OF THE DAY: THE STEP-IN HARNESS!!!

It's been almost 5 months since I first introduced my version of the Step-in Harness, here on my blog. I have made dozens of them and they are still one of my favorite designs, following close behind Button Bow Collars.
Today's DEAL OF THE DAY: FREE SHIPPING on any of the step-in harnesses (custom or premade) in my CrazyForCollars.Etsy shop. This is a savings of $4! "Step" on over and select one today!

Booda's Windy West Texas Photo Shoot

2009-10-20T15:21:00.001-07:00

We are keeping Booda, our son's pug, for a couple of days. I finished 22 Christmas collars today and decided to take advantage of having my favorite model so handy.
Here's just a few of the over 60 shoots I took this afternoon.

Of course, I had ChaCha and Bugs taking part in the event. It was so windy that the hair from their ears kept blocking shots of the collars they were wearing. I did managed to get a few of them to use when I list these collars in my Etsy shop.

Thanks for looking and I would love to know which design you like the best from these that I photographed today.

MATCHBOOK NOTEPAD: My super simple, quick version

2009-10-16T03:28:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite customers requested a tutorial on how to make these little notepads that I often include in my Etsy packages. I know there are lots of versions found online, but I would love to share mine with all of you.

Supplies needed:
A: 1 12" X 12" sheet of scrapbook paper
B: several sheets of copy paper--any color you like
C: something to cut the paper: straight edge and rotary cutter; scissors;or guillotine cutter
D: stapler
E: corner rounder punch (optional)

Step 1:
Cut the 12X12 sheet of scrapbook paper into strips that are 6" X 2.25"
Cut the copy paper into strips that measure 2.5" X 2"

Step2: OPTIONAL
Round all the corners, using the punch, of the 6"X 2.25" strips of scrapbook paper.

Step 3:
Turn in and crease 3/4" of the cover (scrapbook strip), forming a flap.

Step 4:
Insert 12-15 sheets of the 2.5" X 2" copy paper under the flap and staple securely.

Step 5:
Fold up the opposite end of the cover strip and tuck it under the flap, enclosing the copy paper sheets, then crease.

Step 6: VERY OPTIONAL
Using a small design punch (in my case~~a paw print punch), embellish the larger flap.

I have also seen, and made a few, where buttons or other little trinkets are glued over the staple to hide it.
I need to find some Christmas scrapbook paper that I like to make more to ship with my Christmas collars!
Hope you have fun trying this latest project!

WEDNESDAY'S WEEKLY DEAL OF THE DAY 10/14/09

2009-10-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Sunday's blog post, in case you missed it, was a super quick way to make antennae for your pet's possible Halloween costume. Since the project was inspired by the Ladybug vest/tutu that I made using my Ultimate Walking Vest Tutorial, I thought it would be great to have it be the Deal of the Day. So get yours today only for $9.00 (regularly $11.50), and whip up some super cute Halloween costumes for your favorite pets.

Super Quick and Easy Antennae for your Pet

2009-10-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

I constructed Halloween Ladybug costume for a little Yorkie in Utah yesterday by making just a few changes to my Ultimate Vest/Tutu tutorial. I thought I'd share this quick, easy way to construct a set of antennae (yes, I double checked and that is the plural of antenna).

SUPPLIES:
1. Felt scrap
2. Chenille stem (pipe cleaner)
3. 2 poms
4. oval pattern
5. ribbon or elastic
6. scissors
7. glue gun (my looks so yucky that I wouldn’t add it to the picture)

Step 1:
Cut an oval from a piece of paper, a suitable width for your pet. I made mine 4” X 2.5”. Using this pattern, trace the oval on the scrap of felt. Cut 2 of the ovals.

Step 2:
Cut a 6” (or longer) length of the chenille stem and bend into a square “U” shape.

Step 3:
On the underside of one oval mark the two points where the chenille “posts” will be positioned. Cut small slits at these points. Run a small bead of glue along the line between the posts on the underside and pull the chenille posts through to the other side securing in place with the line of glue.

Step 4:
Using small beads of glue, position the ribbon as pictured.

Step 5:
Run a thin bead of glue along the edge of the underside of the oval and attach the remaining piece of felt, covering the bottom of the chenille stem and ends of the ribbon.

Step 6:
Add a tiny bead of glue and position a pom on the end of one “post”, pressing firmly until the glue sets. Repeat for other “post”.

Tah-Dah~~quick, easy antennae for your pet to wear this Halloween!

WEDNESDAY'S WEEKLY DEAL OF THE DAY

2009-10-07T06:56:00.000-07:00

I've decided to try something new for Wednesday's this month: A DEAL OF THE DAY in my Etsy shop. This week I am offering my Crazy For Collars Instructional Tutorial as the DOTD: $5 today only, regularly $7.50! FREE SHIPPING of the PDF file!

FIRST MONDAY OF OCTOBER--SUPER SALES EVENT!!!

2009-10-05T04:01:00.000-07:00

It’s that time again! Etsy Texas Crafters street team presents: FIRST MONDAY SALES EVENT!
I am offering the following as a participant:
Regular priced items are 15% off (excludes clearance/sale items, custom orders and shipping)!
This offer is only good this Monday, Oct. 5 from 12:01am until 11:59pm.
I will issue a refund of the discount amount to your PayPal account once you have paid for your item(s).

So scurry on over and do a little shopping:

WWW.CRAZYFORCOLLARS.ETSY.COM

Be sure to take a look at my fellow Texans’ special offers for the sale:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6306388

ENHANCING THE COMMON CEILING FAN--A TUTORIAL AND GIVEAWAY!!

2009-10-04T10:34:00.001-07:00

I'm linking this tutorial with DIY DAY over at A Soft Place to Land and Today's Creative Blog's weekly edition of Get Your Craft On! Be sure not to miss the Giveaway at the bottom of this tutorial--it ends on October 31!

If your home is filled with ceiling fans as is ours, and you are a crafty person, you might enjoy making a few FANDANGLES. They are a simple, quick, fun way to embellish the pull chain portion of your fans. Here are photos of 2 that I added to our utility room fan (note the energy efficient bulbs!):

SUPPLIES NEEDED:
An item to use as a focal piece--possibilities: old earrings, ornaments, charms

Various beads and/or crystals

Needle-nosed pliers and wire cutters

Beading wire, crimp beads, and ball chain

This great little device: ball chain coupling and ball chain connectors. I was able to find the chain, couplings, and connectors at my local Ace Hardware store.

STEP 1:
Choose your focal piece for your Fandangle.
For this demonstration, I decided I wanted to use the lovely emerald green charm from the bracelet pictured previously. Using the pliers, I separated the charm from the bracelet's chain:

STEP 2:
Using the wire cutters, cut off 8-10" of beading wire (more if you are making an extra long Fandangle).

STEP 3:
Slide 2 crimp beads, then your chosen focal piece onto the beading wire. Thread the wire back through the crimp beads, sliding the crimp beads down close to the focal piece. Using the pliers, press (crimp) and secure the crimp beads in position:

STEP 4:
Arrange your chosen beads and crystals, adding them to the wire:

Optional: After using these in various spots around the house, I did find that the coupling could actually cut through the beading wire if family members repeatedly gripped the beaded portion of the Fandangle, instead of the actual chain portion, for making fan adjustments. I found these little gadgets that seem to add extra strength and help to prolong the life of the Fandangle. If you choose to not incorporate them in your designs, be sure to emphasize to users/recipients to not pull on the beaded portion of the Fandangle.

Stringing Thimble:

I ordered mine from Artbeads.com

STEP 5:
As in Step 3, add 2 crimp beads and the coupling (with optional stringing thimble in place) to the beading wire, then pull the wire back through the crimp beads and a few of the first beads. Remove any slack from the wire, press (crimp) and secure the crimp beads in place then trim off any excess wire.

STEP 6:
Decide how long you will need the ball chain, cut it to length, attach one end to the coupling, and add a connector to the opposite end.

Your Fandangle is now complete--just add it to the pull chain of your ceiling fan!

This is how the blue rhinestone brooch FANDANGLE came together:

Add a fun tag and it is ready for gift giving!

Here are some others I fashioned from old necklaces, misc. beads, Christmas ornaments, and funky earrings:

NOW FOR A GIVEAWAY!
One lucky reader will receive their choice of either the (1) emerald green charm FANDANGLE; or (2) blue rhinestone brooch FANDANGLE.
To enter just add a comment to this post, letting me know which design you prefer.
To increase your chances of winning, visit my Crazy For Collars Etsy shop and let me know in a separate comment to this post which Christmas collar design is your favorite.
Be sure to include an email so that I may contact you if you are the lucky winner.
Entries will be accepted until October 31, 2009. The randomly selected winner will be announced on November 1. At that time I will contact the winner via email to obtain the mailing address.

I'm linking this post to Susan's weekly Metamorphosis Monday Event, so click on the image below to see lots of other wonderful "re-purposings" and "creations".

Hey--I'd love to see any FANDANGLES you create! Send pictures to my email address:
SuzNTX (at) gmail (dot) com

Bye for now...

CHRISTMAS IS LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AWAY!!!

2009-09-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

Yep--have you looked at the calendar closely? Christmas is less than 90 days away--wow! I have been busy making new Christmas 2009 collars and thought I would share a few pics with my loyal readers:

I also am working on more collarettes:

Thanks for looking and be sure to sign up for my newsletter (located in the left margin) so you can be one of the first to learn about new items and special sale events.

Vintage Treasures Found in Ziplock Bags

2009-09-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

This is the last edition of Rhoda's Today's Thrifty Treasures until the Spring. I will miss seeing everyone's weekly FINDS and look forward to posting more next Spring. Be sure to stop over at Rhoda's Southern Hospitality Blog to see more!
Last Friday I found 3 garage sales to visit and only bought a few items at one, spending a total of $12. $8.75 of that was for 7 ziplock bags of assorted jewelry. I didn't open any of the bags at the sale, but saw "glimmers of hope" amongst the contents of a few of the bags. When I got home, straight to the table I went and opened every bag.
After tossing out some really cheap plastic beads and such, I ended up with this mound of goodies:

I took away the wooden beads and look at all the assorted pieces, some with real "GLIMMER and SHINE":

Surprises were in store! There were 2 Rhinestone brooches each marked WEISS on the back!!! YIPPEE!!!

These exquisite golden topaz clip on earrings were also mark WEISS!!! Double YIPPEE!!!

Another pair of cute little clip-ons had the marking TRIFARI, with the little CROWN--WOWWEE!!!

And FINALLY: This last pair of Rhinestone Clip-on Earrings--a few of their stones do exhibit a bit of yellowing maybe due to the glue, but they will still look great on display in my curio cabinet. They were marked EISENBERG ICE!!! TRIPLE YIPPEE!!!

So I will miss Rhoda's weekly event over the next few months, but please dear visitors, drop in now and then to see what I have been doing.
I'd love to read your thoughts on my ziplock bag discoveries, so please leave a comment if you feel so inclined.
See you next Spring, Today's Thrifty Treasures!

ONE MORE QUICK THING: Please consider subscribing to my Crazy for Collars newsletter. I only send one or two a month to alert you to upcoming sales, new products, or special events. The sign up box is in the left hand margin. Thank you!

CHIPPENDALE MAKEOVER!!! MUST SEE!!!

2009-09-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I had a blog post about several Thrifty Finds that included some wonderful and unique silver plated serving pieces. You may remember this picture from that post:

See the platter that is holding the sunglasses? It is a HEAVY piece, but has some terrible scratches and areas where the plating has been completely worn away. I still love the detailing of the edges and it is elevated by three decorative feet.

The engraving on the back says,"W & S Blackinton, Chippendale, 1451".

Kammy, over at Small Home In the Country introduced me to this FABULOUS color of spray paint by Krylon a few months ago: Oil Rubbed Bronze

I decided that is just what this platter due. Please notice how I recycle old plastic coated tablecloths for painting projects. I use them over and over before tossing them out.

I added 2 coats of the paint to both sides and now have a lovely "new" platter!

Thanks for taking the time to read about my latest "makeover"...I'm linking to Metamorphosis Monday, graciously hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.

ONE MORE QUICK THING: Please consider subscribing to my Crazy for Collars newsletter. I only send one or two a month to alert you to upcoming sales, new products, or special events. The sign up box is in the left hand margin. Thank you!

Packaging 101--This is how I do it!

2009-09-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

I think customer service should be our number ONE priority! I love sending out packages and having the customer respond with wonderful comments. It just makes what we do that much more enjoyable. I thought other home-based retailers might enjoy a glance at how I package my collars.

I use paw print tissue paper that is available from Nashville Wraps and include in each package a collar care instruction sheet,a request for photo sheet, and the ever so important reminder about feedback sheet:

I also include a business card (or two), handmade magnet with my shop info, a thank you card, and any other little Freebie I have available:

I wrap it all up and seal it with a handmade logo sticker and paw print ribbon:

At this point, I print out a packing slip and stamp "Thank You" on it and do the same with the Paypal shipping label:

I tape the shipping label on the front of a shipping envelope (I love the poly mailers from UPAKNSHIP), insert the packing slip and merchandise, and add another logo sticker on the back of the package:

Here are just a few of the comments regarding my packaging:

Great packaging - just like X-mas ! Will buy again and again !

Fast shipping and great packaging, with extra little goodies included. Thanks!

Great quality, fast shipping. Thank you for the little extras, I will definitely be back again!

Got them super fast, craftmanship is excellent, just precious. Even sent little suprises. Very friendly, will definitly order again.

Thanks for reading and I hope I have inspired you to take time to send out fun packages!

Colors Abound On this Collar!

2009-09-16T19:11:00.000-07:00

I'm trying a little something different with this collar: interchangeable bows!
Let your little one wear it numerous ways--4 bows, 3 bows, 2 bows, 1 bow, or NONE! Match her mood for the day. I just added a few to my Etsy shop, if you don't see a size you need, please just let me know!

JURY DUTY SUMMONS!!!

2009-09-14T05:30:00.000-07:00

Look at what arrived in my mailbox about 2 weeks ago:

Yes, I have been summoned for Jury Duty once again. Honestly, I do not remember ever having been chosen--wonder why? Maybe I am too opinionated????

Anyway, last Friday evening I called the number on the card, as instructed, to see if our group did not need to appear (maybe the case was settled out of court?). Well, no--it is still a GO. So this morning I sit here typing and am ready to head that way shortly.

While completing the questionnaire after making the call, I had an epiphany! I really no longer work in my husband's medical office. I'm now SELF-EMPLOYED!!! I stumbled when I filled in "Your Occupation" with self-employed, then saw the next question:
"Your Employer"---oooppps! I should have written in something else on the "Your Occupation" line, while "self employed" should have been on the next...

This lead me to post this question on the Etsy Forum Business section, to which I received some VERY interesting replies:

Jury Summons: Have I quit my day job?

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6280934:

After reading through the answers and suggestions from other Etsians, I went back and added the following:

So off I go to the court house--I wonder if I can take pictures to use in my blog? Not likely, I guess!!! It should be an interesting day.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

FUN WITH PHOTOS FOR ETSY!

2009-09-09T01:02:00.000-07:00

I belong to a few "bow making" groups on Yahoo and receive "Daily Digests" in my inbox frequently that I usually just scan, posting a reply now and then. A little over a week ago "one friend" posted that her daughter was doing some photo editing if anyone was interested. The price: $1 per photo, her age: 8 !!! Well, I bit, mainly because I thought how excited that little girl must be to have her own little source of income. Her mom thoroughly assured us that she was being carefully supervised, so here are the photos I emailed to her:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I have to say, I am super impressed. I know all of you are saying, "Suzanne, you can do that yourself". Well, you are right, but I'll never get around to finding the time...
I think she did a marvelous job and plan to send her more work soon. If you think you could use her help with any of your photos, just email me!
Thanks for reading and visiting. I'd love to see your comments on this little 8 y/o's talent.
Have a great week!

TODAY'S THRIFTY TREASURES and METAMORPHOSIS MONDAY

2009-09-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

Wow--where did the summer go? I am ready for cooler weather, but will miss all the summer garage sales and estate sales. I visited a few sales this weekend, but really didn't find too much. Here's my one new fun finds that I want to share with you and the troup from Today's Thrifty Treasures blog party over at Rhoda's Southern Hospitality Blog.
Just down the street on Saturday were 2 garage sales. I picked up a few items of clothing at one and then spotted this mirror at the other. It was marked $5, which I was more than happy to pay. It works perfectly in my newly remodeled kitchen. I love the gold frame and the beveled glass/mirror.

Earlier last week, one of my devoted dog collar customers, Ellen, sent me a link to something she wanted to see if I could start making. I thought this would make a perfect entry for the Metamorphosis Monday blog party hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.
The link she sent was for items called "collarettes", which are made by refashioning the collars for shirts to be embellished as neckwear for dogs. They are just too cute! So off to the thrift store I did go, dropping EVERYTHING else to tackle this new "adventure". I picked up a just a few shirts to use as trials--averaging about $2.50 each (I have since found better deals on shirts).

I removed the collars, added a button here, hook and loop there, maybe some trim, and now they are in my Etsy shop as "CLASSY COLLARETTES".

This last one flew off to Oregon to be with my customer, Ellen, and her adorable little Siri!

I am working on several more right now to add to the shop.

One last thing: Monday, Sept. 7 is the First Monday Sales Event hosted by Etsy Texas Crafters. I'm joining in and offering 15% off all regular priced items (clearance/custom orders/shipping excluded) all day this Monday. Please read my CRAZY FOR COLLARS shop's announcement for the full details.

Drop on by and SAVE!
Have a great week everyone!

New Idea--Just Playing for now!

2009-09-02T17:28:00.001-07:00

A little something new for you to see! That was my first attempt--it is still a work in progress. I'm thinking a bow-tie might be a nice, neat addition. Here's the second one--I just changed out the button, the rest was just too perfect to change!

One other new idea--more colors of hardware: I am in the "testing stage" on this, but I have high hopes that it will work!

Check back early next week to see/read more about both ideas!
Have a great week--what is left of it!

Labels to Treasure

2009-08-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

This weekend we visited our daughter and son-in-law in San Antonio so I really never made it to any estate/garage sales, but I do have to share what I found a couple of weeks ago on the last day of an estate sale in an older section of Abilene.
Of course, almost everything was half price that day, so I was searching through all the leftovers (mainly junk to me) when I saw this binder on a bookshelf. It was marked $1.50, so for 75¢ I pulled it down to see what it contained.

I was in shock! Every one of the FORTY pages was filled with neatly arranged garment labels!!!

I can not begin to imagine the amount of time it took to obtain all of the labels and painstakingly add them to this notebook--tape, tape, and more tape!

Some were very, very vintage while others appear to be from the 1980's and early 1990's. They were such a delight to me because, you see, I have my own little collection of vintage garment labels that has grown over the years. I keep my "few" in a little container on one of my shelves with the full intention of someday finding the perfect way to use/display them.
Here are 2 pictures of my collection:

I decided I couldn't let some of those labels just reside in that binder. They needed to be displayed! I carefully removed several from the pages and using a double stick, archival tape, added them to a sheet of leopard print paper and framed them! Now I plan to find the perfect location to make them viewable by many and not tucked away any longer.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing my labels that I plan to treasure. I am linking to Rhoda's Today's Thrifty Treasures and Susan's Met Monday, so skip on over to their blogs and be a part of the events!

FALL IS IN THE AIR: SOMEWHERE, BUT NOT IN WEST TEXAS

2009-08-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

As I was adding some Fall collar designs in my Etsy shop earlier today, I glanced up at my clock that has the outdoor temperature feature. It read 107 degrees! Well, I know it isn't totally accurate, but it is HOT here today. To make everyone "feel" a little more like Autumn/Fall, I thought I would take a moment to feature some of my designs for you today.

Thrifty Treasure Re-Designed!

2009-08-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

I'm participating in this week's editions of Today's Thrifty Treasures and Metamorphosis Monday. so be sure and lick on the buttons below to go join in on even more fun at these parties:

By now, most of you know that I try to go to nice estate sales during the last day's event, which usually offers more savings on any items still remaining. Recently, I went to an "upscale" estate sale during the final HOUR of the sale. Practically everything was an additional 75% off the marked price. I headed for the vintage jewelry are FIRST!!! Look at this lovely bracelet and clip earring set that was originally $18.00. I grabbed it at $4.50 and said, "this is going home with me!".
It is unmarked, but in excellent condition and not to be worn by the faint at heart. Those stones are HUGE! The bracelet even has a safety chain, which is a mark of superior craftsmanship in my opinion.

Of course, I don't wear clip earrings, so what is a girl to do with those monster clip-ons? Make rings, of course! I simply snipped off the clip for ears and using my favorite glue (E-6000), added an adjustable ring base to one of the earrings. I'm waiting on doing the same to the other earring, because I want to see how well this method holds up over time.

I think the set turned out pretty cute. How about you???

ADDICTED TO QVC: THERE I "SAID" IT

2009-08-19T02:54:00.000-07:00

Back in 1993 I discovered channel 19, QVC! I have been hooked, or I should probably say addicted, ever since. Yes, I purchase items regularly and return a fair majority of them. The "Q" is almost a staple in my TV viewing everyday.
I love some of the Hosts and feel like they are friends--sad, but true. Some of the hosts have been on QVC for over 20 years and after listening to them for hours, I feel as if I actually know them. Once of my favorites is Mary Beth Roe. She appears to be so genuine and sincere. She just celebrated her 50th birthday during a special show on air with a live audience. She seemed to be having so much fun! One caller surprised her with a special "Happy Birthday Call". It was none other than Marie Osmond! Mary Beth and Marie have been teamed together on air for years while Marie sells her dolls. They have a special bond and it shows in their friendship.
If you haven't gotten to experience QVC on TV, you can "get your fill" online 24/7! They carry so many name brands and designers now! Plus, you can not beat their return policy: try it for 30 days and if needed you can return it for a full refund, including the original shipping charges!
Oh and did I mention EASY PAY?? Anything to get us to BUY, BUY, BUY!

THRIFT STORE SCORE AGAIN!!!

2009-08-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago there was an amazing Estate Sale in the "ritziest" section of our neighborhood. Everything was priced too high for my taste, but it was fun looking. The lady who was moving had TONS of clothes for sale, again priced really high. There was lots of linen garments, which I really love for the Summer, but, alas, I left with only one pair of white pants and a black tunic top. I nabbed them on the last day and paid $7.50, because all the clothes were 1/2 price.
So this week I made a random stop at my favorite Thrift shop and guess what???? Most of the leftover clothing from that sale had been donated to the shop. WOOHOO! I went CRAZY! I bought 17, yes 1-7-teen, pieces for a total of $72.26 with the tax!!!
Many of the items are too big--anyone wear size 14 or 16??? Let me know if you need some linen pieces.
The brands are NICE: David Dart, Isabella Bird, ESCADA(yes), Flax, and more...
Here are some "poor" pictures of the group. I had planned to take some outdoor shots, but the West Texas wind will not cooperate.
Needless to say, I had to pay cash and would have gotten even more things, but I only had $80 with me! Time to quite, I guess.

I'm linking with Today's Thrifty Treasures, so please head on over to Rhoda's Southern Hospitality Blog to see other fun finds! Just click on the button below:

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

OUR 33rd ANNIVERSARY & WORKING ON BETTER PHOTOS FOR ETSY

2009-08-14T15:55:00.000-07:00

I've been sort of Blog lazy this week. I just realized that I have not even posted anything since last Sunday! Shame on me! Today is our 33rd wedding anniversary--HOW CAN THAT BE??? Wasn't just a "few" years ago that we were racing to our getaway car after the reception, only to find that someone had wired the doors shut!!! GRRR!
Anyway, we have had a pleasant "laid back" day today. We had an early evening meal (wasn't sure whether to call it supper or dinner, especially since we ate at 4:30pm), at Taco Bueno. It is our customary trek on our anniversary because when we left our wedding reception 33 years ago, we headed straight to the only Taco Bueno located in the Houston area. It was tucked away in an obscure location in Pasedena, TX. MMMMmmm, but it was/is our favorite!

I've spent the last couple of days trying to improve my photography skills (or lack of) for my Etsy listings.
Here are some samples of my "previous" technique:

and then these are after I applied some recently read rules about white balance and exposure:

I think I am making progress, but there is still room for improvement. Any thoughts or suggestions?

15 Minutes Makeovers for Metamorphosis Monday!

2009-08-09T06:14:00.000-07:00

GIVEAWAY ALERT: SEE MESSAGE AT END OF POST!

I love participating in Susan's Metamorphosis Monday Blog Party even though my transformations are very basic compared to some of the other inspirational posts. Head over to Susan's Party by clicking on the photo below after you read about my transformations.

I ventured out on Friday to several garage sales and here is a sampling of some of the treasures that now reside at our home. If you want read more about these finds, be sure and click over to my recent post for Thrifty Treasures.

Here is what happens when you use a little spray paint, in green for me--my favorite color.

I also brought home a few pieces of vintage(?) jewelry that needed a little transforming as well.
This necklace was intriguing, but with every movement it tangles up immediately! See all those metal "swirls"? They add lots of flair, but lead to the nightmare of tangles.

I decided it would be a great source for a few sets of earrings.

These earrings below were not something I would wear, but I knew the moment I saw them that they needed to become a "Book Thong: The Sexy Bookmark". To learn how to make the book thong, just check out my tutorial.

I have so much fun giving these as little gifts to friends!

And these Hibiscus earrings, at about 3" long, were too cute to leave behind.

I just removed the earwires (which I recycled to use on the necklace to earring project above), added little magnets to the back, and now they are the cutest set of magnets!

Quick Note about a Giveaway: Interested in possibly winning your choice of one of my collars??? Visit the Unique Women In Business Blog and read all about the Giveaway.
Thanks for stopping by and I would love it if you have the time to leave a comment.

SUPER SATURDAY SURPRISES!

2009-08-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

OMG, OMG, OMG! I just found out a few amazing things this morning. First, two of my designs made the front page of Craft Gawker!!! YIPPEE.

Second, I won the latest giveaway on the blog Unique Women In Business!!!
I'm hoping the gift will be scarf in this picture:

Hope your Saturday is just as delightful!

FABULOUS FINDS AROUND TOWN ON FRIDAY

2009-08-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

GIVEAWAY ALERT: SEE MESSAGE AT END OF POST!

I ventured out really early on Friday to a few garage sales and here are just a few of the little treasures I managed to find:

Currently, this 3 tier stand is my favorite for $2. I have already polished up the brass parts and it sits proudly on my new granite countertop in my kitchen.

I grabbed this WM.Rogers silverplated serving tray with removable center bowl--I'm thinking a $5 FANCY way to serve chips and dips?

I couldn't pass up the white items: 2 Fire King, 1 Fiesta bowl, and probably an Avon piece: total for all 4: only $2.75

Of course these "shades" and mink cuffs will work beautifully with my finds from Tuesday's post! Total for glasses and cuffs: $2.00

If you would like to see what I did with a little green paint to transform some of the other items in the first picture check out this other recent blog post.
If you enjoy the thrill of finding treasures at garage/yard/estate sales then head over to Rhoda's Southern Hospitality Blog for her fun party "Today's Thrifty Treasures".

Quick Note about a Giveaway: Interested in possibly winning your choice of one of my collars??? Visit the Unique Women In Business Blog and read all about the Giveaway.

Tuesday: Scoring at the Thirft Store AGAIN!!!

2009-08-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

Remember the 1960's colorful shift from last week? Well, I just happened to drop back by there yesterday and hit the JACKPOT!

Warning: If you are anti-real mink, please click away NOW!

When I first walked in the door of the store, I spotted a rack with 6 mink stoles and one mink jacket, each marked $50. You need to know that my daughter and I have a weakness for vintage furs. Now, mind you, we hardly ever wear them here in HOT Texas, but we love them anyway.

So I inspected the jacket, with a Neiman Marcus label, and immediately thought
,"Christmas present for Korrie". I set it back behind the check-out counter and went around looking at other items in the shop. One of the managers started talking with me and said she had just put those "minks" out an hour earlier. So I had to ASK:"If I buy several, would you give me a discount?" Her response, "if you buy 3 or more, I'll take $10 off each". Soooo... Three of them came home with me!!!

Here's the jacket, which was my first choice:

I quickly picked out this darker brown stole--with an amazing lining and interesting interior pockets:

And this wonderful light gray beauty with great pockets on the front joined the group:

At only $40 each, I love them all and can only say SCORE, SCORE, SCORE!!!

New Delilah Collars in My Shop!

2009-08-03T05:16:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with this fabric design by Johnny Karwan for Clothworks and just had to have it for my collar creations. I added hot pink bows and also made a few collars with blue bows.

Bella and her "mom" loved the fabric so much that they commissioned a matching step-in harness and leash set. Isn't Bella a beauty?

Stop in to see other new items anytime!

FIRST MONDAY OF AUGUST--SUPER SALES EVENT!!!

2009-08-03T04:11:00.000-07:00

It’s that time again! Etsy Texas Crafters street team presents: FIRST MONDAY SALES EVENT!
I am offering the following as a participant:
Regular priced items are 15% off (excludes clearance/sale items, custom orders and shipping)!
This offer is only good this Monday, July 6 from 12:01am until 11:59pm.
I will issue a refund of the discount amount to your PayPal account once you have paid for your item(s).

So scurry on over and do a little shopping:

WWW.CRAZYFORCOLLARS.ETSY.COM

Be sure to take a look at my fellow Texans’ special offers for the sale:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6237765

Thrifty Shopping Retro FIND!!

2009-08-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

Off to the thrift shop I had to go...little did I know that this dress must have been beckoning me to come that way! What decade do you think this is from? The store was having a buy 1 get 1 FREE--any clothing item! I snatched up this little lovely and found a VERY NICE silk Ann Taylor floral dress for my daughter. Total for the 2 dresses $3.15!!!! WOW!

Can you see those wonderful pearlized snaps at the shoulder and down one side? FUN!FUN!FUN!

And it has never even been worn or washed (which it does need now).

Anyone familiar with "The New York Store" in Blytheville, Ark.??? They apparently had to reduce this beauty's price down to $8 to sell it. I wonder when that took place?

Be sure to drop by Rhoda's, Southern Hospitality, to see all those participating in this
week's edition of Today's Thrifty Treasures party.

SUMMER MAGIC DESIGN CHALLENGE WINNERS!!!

2009-08-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

During the month of July, Etsy Texas Crafters, an Etsy Street Team, sponsored another monthly design challenge for its membership. The theme for July was "Summer Magic". I just felt like I needed to participate, because I thought I had the perfect collar to enter in the contest. Well I choose my yellow watermelon print collar--AND IT TOOK FIRST PLACE!!! I am so happy and a little shocked since this was my first time to enter the monthly contest.

I want to thank all of you who took the time to visit the ETC website and vote for my design! Here is a summary of the top 4 winning designs:

First Place: Summer Magic Pet Collar, Created by Suzanne of CrazyForCollars

Second Place: Watermelon Duct Tape Purse, Created by Rena of Spluloacle

Third Place: Juicy Little Watermelon, Created by Connie of ReFabulous

Fourth Place: Summer Treats, Created by Laine of CradleAndAll

For being the first place winner, I got to choose one of Connie's (of ReFabulous) darling pincushions. Look at what will be residing in my sewing studio soon--I just know I will love it!

Be sure to visit the Etsy Texas Crafters Blog to learn more about all of our wonderful members.

SUPER QUICK BOOK THONG/SEXY BOOK MARK TUTORIAL

2009-07-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: AUGUST 20, 2009
I just had to join in this weeks fun with Kimba over at A Soft Place To Land. Click on the image below to go and find lots of fabulous DIY ideas:

Have you ever purchased a pair of dangle earrings and in a few years asked yourself,"what was I thinking"??? Well, I find such earrings at garage sales all the time and love to find ways to re-purpose them. Here's just one of my favorites:

The Book Thong: It's the SEXY BOOK MARK

Supplies needed:
waxed linen cord (10-14")--I buy mine at craft stores
old pair of dangle earrings
needle-nosed pliers

Step 1:
Using the pliers, remove the earwire from each earring.

Step 2:
Cut a section of the cord to your desired length, depending on if you intend to use it as a bookmark for a paperback or hardback. I usually just cut the cord at a length of 14" so it will work for most books. Thread the cord ends through the "eye hoop" at the top of each earring, pulling through about 1.5 inches.

Step 3:
Tie off each end of the cord, making sure the knot is located very close to the "eye hoop". Trim excess cord, close to the knot.

Step 4:
Open the book you are currently reading and mark your place!

Step 5: (Optional)
One year I decided to make several of these to give as gifts so I designed some cards for displaying them. I cut little slits at the top and threaded on the book thong.

You can make your own "dangles" by using beads, charms, etc. Just be creative!

DIVA TOTALLY PINK DOG COLLAR WITH BUTTON BOW

2009-07-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

I just added these to my Etsy shop and am so happy with the way they look! Made with the Diva Dog in mind, everything is PINK, even the hardware (well, except for the nickel D-ring). Hope you like them, too.

"MET MONDAY" Canning Jar Transformation

2009-07-26T05:30:00.000-07:00

Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch, hosts a weekly blog party "Metamorphosis Monday" and I wanted to show how to take a simple canning jar and make a lovely little gift for someone special. I just love these jars that I found at WalMart, in the canning section.

After a few crafty steps (see my tutorial), one of them was transformed into a little pin cushion jar:

THRIFT SHOP "HOPPING" SPECIAL FINDS

2009-07-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

Once again, I am participating in Rhoda's weekly blog party Today's Thrifty Treasures. Please visit her blog, Southern Hospitality to lots of wonderful treasures.
Now about my new treasures! I spent most of Tuesday morning visiting a couple of my favorite local thrift shops. Here are some goodies I grabbed at one of them. Who can resist a "Ouija Board"? We played with one for hours at sleepovers when I was young. And look at the fine print on the Roulette game: "Senior Outfit"--what does that MEAN??? Price of each game ONLY 50¢!!!
I had to bring the framed print home. I'm debating on exactly what to do with the frame--make another chalkboard or maybe a magnetic message board...Spent $5 for it.
And lastly, I couldn't pass up Eileen Ford's Book of Model Beauty for only $1. Published in 1968, here are the titles of a few of the chapters:
Leg work--How the Models Do It
Wise Walking and Pretty Sitting
Hair--Your Crowning Glory
The Maturing Beauty
This quote on the back cover sealed the deal for me:
"It is never too soon nor too late to be more beautiful..."--Eileen Ford

And take a look at this fabulous lazysusan I found at another shop for only $5!
It still rotates smoothly, but unfortunately is missing its center bowl. I'm guessing that it was probably a glass container, so now I'm on a mission to find one that will fit it properly. If you know of anything that will work, please share your idea!

Thanks for taking the time to look and please share your comments. I love reading each and every one!