Friday Finds on Etsy - Music

'Make the World Go Round' by TealwaterDesigns

Fender Gray Guitar Pick Cust... AsgardDesigns $39.00	Sterling Silver Rolling Ston... LaLunaDePlataS... $300.00	Music Lovers LOok A Pr. of ... Rue23Paris $34.95
Customers favorite vintage s... riricreations $49.00	Headphones Pendant Necklace ... LostApostle $40.00	Out of tune 5X7 lynettesphotog... $10.00
8X10 or 10X12 print of "... nickievans18 $30.00	The Love You Make, 14 x 11 l... maechevrette $30.00	Drum Ring OOAK Lanka925 $160.00
Musicians Silhouette Art Jaz... MamasHouse $25.00	Treble Clef Music Ring wirewrap $12.00	Miniature Tiny Hohner Harmon... GwenDelicious $25.00
Rock - 11 x 8 1/2 inch print jobozarth $16.00	Musical Sensational Concerto... JezebelCharms $35.00	Nursery Art Print (Bird on E... barkingbirdart $18.00
Elton John - Vinyl Record LP... papermusedesig... $32.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Picasa Photo Collage Tutorial

I recently posted a collage I made with my jewelry pictures in Picassa.

Thanks to a great idea from one of my new readers I decided to try a little tutorial.   I have Picassa3 which is a free photo editor.  I have been using it to brighten, color balnce and crop my photos and I like the way it works.  It is easy to use and does what I need it to do.

How to make a collage in Picassa:

• Open up Picassa
• Click on a picture, any picture.  A tiny copy of that picture will now show up in the Photo Tray (bottom left). 
• Press the Ctrl key (Windows) or the Command key (Mac) on your keyboard while clicking photos to select multiple photos from the same folder or album. 
• Use the Hold button  to hold your selected photos in the Photo Tray.
• After you click the Hold button, you can then select photos from other folders or albums.
• Once you have some pictures in the Photo Tray, click the Collage button (bottom middle)

Your collage should now show on the screen like a bunch of photos thrown on a table.  On the left side of the page, under Settings you can use the drop down menu to choose how to arrange your collage.  Once you like the look of it click the Create Collage button (left bottom) and voila!  your Collage has now been created.

Try this and post a link to your collage in the comments!  Let me know if you have any questions.

TEAM FEST Giveaway

Glorious Sunset by Laura of Tierrasolpaz

I am a proud member of the Florida Etsy Street Team (FEST).  We are doing our May Daze BLOG GIVEAWAY this month and Laura of Tierrasolpaz is giving away this gorgeous sunset photograph.


Laura is an accomplished artist who enjoys creating mixed media art, jewelry, photography, zines, stationary, decoupage pieces, paper crafts - anything that materials may inspire her with. Laura uses recycled materials, or follows an upcycle philosophy whenever possible helping to keep the final cost of her creations affordable to the buyer. She is proud to be part of the Etsy community of independent designers, creators, artists, and crafters alike.


Her giveaway is a stunningly beautiful and glorious sunset over water with mountains in the background of Lake Mead in Las Vegas, Nevada. The photograph will be delivered as an 8 x 10 glossy professionally printed picture.


HOW TO ENTER:

• Visit the team blog post May Daze BLOG GIVEAWAY 
• Visit Laura at Tierrasolpaz or any of the FEST Team Members listed in the Member Section.
• Find your favorite item
• Share it with us and tell us why you love it. (make sure you click the May Daze link above to comment there)
• Remember to leave your email or contact info too so we can reach you if you're the lucky winner!
• I always welcome comments but remember you have to comment on the Team FEST Blog to win this one!

The winner will be picked on June 4th.
Simple and Easy!

Friday Finds on Etsy - Matryoshka

'Matryoshka' by TealwaterDesigns

Wooden Russian Nesting Doll ... theriverisever... $14.00	Babushkas in a bag - Purple Beaky $30.00	Photo. Dolly on the Sill. loriotndorr $10.00
Hanging Russian doll with la... leilalou $8.00	Fall Leaves Russian Doll Pri... AmyPerrotti $12.00	anouska matryoshka doll micasita $6.00
Ninja Matryoshka- The Big Da... RegalCottage $38.00	matryoshkas baby turquoise q... SewnNatural $120.00	Matryoshka Doll - Antique Br... morikaty $7.00
Very Rare USSR Polkhovsky Ma... Jasmine2010 $20.00	4 Mini Babushka Matryoshka D... northernwarmth... $3.50	Letterpress Matryoshka (Nest... letterpress $8.00
Matryoshka Russian Doll Keyc... FantasticToys $5.00	Kawaii Deco Tape Matryroshka... KawaiiTape $4.00	Vintage Handpainted Nesting ... HeirloomAngel $10.00
Cute Russian Dolly Ring Choi... JellyBellyJewe... $10.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Charming Charm Bracelets

I Looove charm bracelets!  They are so much fun the way they move and make noise as your arm sways.  I recently made a charm bracelet for a friend.  She is a fun person who loves everything Disney, the New Orleans Saints, her family, shoes, lipstick and, to top it all off... she calls herself the Queen.   She is one of those people that charm bracelets are made for!

I had so much fun making this bracelet just for her.  The colors are her kids birthstone colors and each charm represents something she likes or is known for.  I think everyone has a friend like this (at least one) who you can tell a story about with charms...what is your friend about?

My Very First Rosary

A friend of mine asked me to make her sons very first rosary as a gift for his first communion this weekend.  I have never tried to make a rosary before and I'll be honest, I didn't know the rules.  We printed a kids coloring picture of a rosary so I could see the mechanics of it.(http://www.christiancoloring.com/cmpdf2005/Coloring%20Rosary.pdf)

I tried several options with flexible beading wire and beading thread but nothing worked quite like 22ga steel wire.  I created each link in the chain trying my best to keep them even.  I cut off and threw away lots of wire links because they were either too long, too short, not "rolled" just right, etc.  Here is the final outcome...

Sterling Silver crucifix and medallion

Steel wire hand wrapped loops

Swarovski cubes in emerald (the recipients birthstone)

Swarovski bicones in ruby satin (the recipients Mom's birthstone) surround a St. Michael medallion.

I gave it to my friend yesterday and after squeeling and gushing about how much she loved it she showed me that I missed something.  After each decade (10 Hail Mary Beads) I was supposed to put a link with a silver round an emerald cube and a silver round bead .  I remembered to put one of the sterling round beads on but forgot the other two beads on this link...yikes!

Luckily my friend loved it and said we can fix it next week!  I am so glad she asked me to do this and I hope to make more rosaries in the future.

Tell me what you think.  Who gave you your first rosary?  Does it have a story behind it?

Copyright 2011 TealwaterDesigns

Artbeads Make it for Mom Giveaway

I love http://www.artbeads.com/, they have great deals, quality products and the fastest shipping ever!  I have entered this Family Bracelet I designed in their Make it for Mom Giveaway.  Made from sterling silver and your choice of birthstone colored 6mm Swarovski crystal cubes this bracelet will be a huge hit with anyone who loves their family.

The BEST part... I can win a $250 gift certificate to Artbeads...OMG!!!  That is wayyy too exciting.  See all the entries and vote for me here:  http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/112034/voteable_entries/20486855?order=recency&view_entries=1. 

Copyright 2011 TealwaterDesigns

I just learned how to put together a collage of photos...FUN! Which is your favorite piece? What have you learned lately about photo editing?