Come learn how to make the cutes-most-special necklace ever {One Artsy Mama!!!}

Hello friends!  I am SO sorry if you feel a bit neglected lately....!
I wanted to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who take time to show such amazing support to me, my crafting and even my crafty competitions---
I SO appreciate all of you who went over and voted this week!!!
I have been busy working on a project for Fridays 3rd round of American Crafters and just haven't had a chance to do any smaller project....
shoot talk about slacking right?!!!??

But stay tuned because my project that I will post this Friday is Fabric themed




Butt I am SO happy to introduce you once again to this weeks Crafty Scrappy Happy Linky Party Co-host Amy from One Artsy Mama.
I am sure many of you already know this wonderfully talented and sweet blogging gal but if you don't---
YOU ARE MISSING OUT!!!!
Go and get know her---she is just great!
Andddd in case you don't just believe me here is her post as proof!!!
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Hi!  I am so unbelievably excited to be here at Crafty, Scrappy, Happy today!  Thanks so much, Jaime, for the opportunity to share a project.  This has been one of my favorite blogs ever since I first came across it...I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants to live in Jaime's house {or have her redecorate mine!}

Anyway, when I was trying to come up with a project to share today, I decided to combine it with a little thank you gift for Mrs. Crafty Scrappy Happy herself to show my appreciation for letting me co-host her fabulous party tomorrow.

What to make?  I asked myself a few questions...

What do I love to do? 

Make jewelry.

What does Jaime love? 

Anything made out of book pages.

So, I came up with this idea for a special one-of-a-kind necklace.  Here's how I made it {and you can too!}

DICTIONARY PAGE PENDANT

Materials:

dictionary

camera

printer/photo paper/photo software

beveled pendant

Mod Podge Dimensional Magic {I loooove this stuff!}

First, I had to choose a dictionary page and get it in printed form.  I didn't want to cut up our actual dictionary, so I did the next best thing.

  I photographed the page I wanted.  I chose the definition for "craft."  I really wanted "crafty," but the way it fell on the page, the word was at the bottom of one column and the definition was at the top of the next.  Alas.  I got a little grumpy with this part because the flash blurred the words, but no flash gave me this dark image.  But, I knew I could fix it up with a little editing.

Then, I used my trusty Corel Paint Shop Pro X2 software to crop it to the size I needed, brighten it, boost the contrast, and apply a Time Machine effect.

I printed the image on matte photo paper, then trimmed it to fit inside my beveled pendant.  A little bit of Mod Podge on the bottom holds it in place.

Then, the fun part!  I squeezed one of my favorite supplies, Mod Podge Dimensional Magic, all over it to fill in the pendant.  Don't worry, although it looks cloudy now, it dries totally clear!

At this point, all you have to do is let it dry and then add a chain and you have a finished pendant!

Or, if you're an advanced {or adventurous} jewelry maker, you can get a little fancy.

While I waited for it to dry, I did a few other things to make it extra snazzy.

Optional Materials to jazz it up a bit:

crystals: your choice of colors

head pin

initial bead

26 gauge wire

jump rings

chain and clasp

jewelry pliers: needle nose and flat

wire cutters

 First, I decided to add some color using crystals.  I chose blue and yellow since they match the CSH blog theme.  I put them on a head pin, bent it 90 degrees, and trimmed it to about the length of my smallest fingernail.

Then, I used needle nose jewelry pliers to bend the wire into a loop.

I also wanted to add an initial for personalization.  I threaded 26 gauge wire through this "J" bead, twisted it, formed a loop, and wire wrapped it.

I put the crystals and the "J" on their own jump rings and attached those to the pendant.

Then, I added a chain, and TA-DA!  My gift is ready.

Jaime, I hope you love it!

This is really a pretty simple project, and you can make it personal in so many ways.  You can use any definition you want, or you can substitute sheet music, a book page, a copy of a poem, a map, a photo...the possibilities are literally endless!  I've even made myself jewelry using photos of my son's artwork.

With the holidays approaching, it's a great idea for the gal who has everything!

I also used this technique to create a one of a kind breast cancer awareness piece to be one little step in helping find a cure.  This week on my blog, I'm hosting an un-giveaway; kind of like a silent auction, for this necklace and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Thanks for allowing me to share this project with you today!  I hope you'll stop by One Artsy Mama sometime and say hello; I love making new friends!

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Aren't those just the most amazing necklaces you have ever seen?!

Yayyyyyyy I am just blown away by Amy's kindness! 

Annndddd REMEMBER the party starts TONIGHT!!!!  

Yayyyy Can't wait to see what you are up to!

Anddd I am featuring some of your projects so be sure to check back even if you don't have anything to link up!

--Jaime