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leasandershttps://leasanders.wordpress.com

~ 2015 Calendar Month JPEGs

December 7, 2014 by leasanders

Holy moly, I’ve been severely remiss on keeping my blog updated in 2014. Hopefully this post of new 2015 month JPEGs will kick off a more lively blogging year in 2015. There is still time to get that last minute calendar gift started before the holiday gift-giving! If you would like the editable Excel version, please leave me a message in the comments below with your email address. Appreciate a a post if you use my JPEGs. Thanks!

To download full-size graphics, double-click on each month to expand. Right-click and save to your computer.

February’s Beaded Bracelets

February 3, 2014 by leasanders

So the thought came across my mind that I should try to do a craft fair. A friend had posted on Facebook that there would be one close to her home at the end of March. Not sure I’d be ready by then as I need to do a little more research on how to collect payment, how many items to bring, pricing, etc. If you have any helpful advice and have experience doing craft fairs, would love to read about it. Just post a comment below.

Here are the new bead combos I put together this weekend.

: Sodalite

: Mixed Tiger’s Eye (yellow, red, blue)

: Rose Quartz and Rhodonite

: Bamboo Coral

: Red Adventurine and Fossil

: Citrine

: Larimar and Labradorite

: Red Poppy Jasper and pinky/orange stone

: Silver Leaf Jasper

: Yellow Jasper and Crazy Lace Agate

: Rainbow Obsidian and Picasso Jasper

: Dog Tooth Amethyst and Blue Agate

: Aquamarine

If you’d like to place an order, see price list in the post below this one (https://leasanders.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/januarys-beaded-bracelets-and-price-list/). If you order in the next few days (stateside), you can get them by Valentine’s Day. =)

January’s beaded bracelets and price list

January 22, 2014 by leasanders

So, I’ve decided that I will try to make new bracelets each month–even if it is just one or two (or a dozen)! A high school classmate contacted me last week after she saw posts of several bracelets (see bottom of this post for those projects) that I made for family and placed an order. =) Not knowing what she would like, I put these combinations together. Hopefully she’ll like them.

: Mookite

: Green Garnet and Jade

: Dog Tooth Amethyst and Red Garnet

: Serpentine and New Jade

: Smoky Quartz and Red Poppy Jasper

: Sodalite and Dumortierite

: Fluorite

: Carnelian

: Riverstone and Petrified Wood

: Rainbow and Snowflake Obsidian

: Bronzite and Red and Yellow Jasper

Happy to take custom orders! I take payment by Paypal and ship via USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate (approximately $7.70 for a small box).

Price List:

Single strand beaded bracelets $20 (extra if more expensive beads used)
Double strand beaded bracelets $30 (extra if more expensive beads used)
Chainmaille with or without beads start at $25 (Please do a search on chainmaille on my blog so you can see what I’m talking about.)

Here are the bracelets I made for family (green garnet, tourmaline, lapis lazuli and hematite).

Happy 2014!

January 21, 2014 by leasanders

It is a new year and I refreshed my blog with a new theme. Out with the old red and black Twilight theme and on to something a little lighter (though you can still see my old Twilight projects in the right margin). I hope to share and post more this year. I plan to do more jewelry projects and papercrafts (time willing) throughout 2014.

Here are a few pictures from a calendar I completed just today for my mom. It is filled with pictures from 2013.

2013 in review

December 31, 2013 by leasanders

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,000 times in 2013. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

~ 2014 Calendar Month JPEGs

August 17, 2013 by leasanders

Just got around to finishing the 2014 months. Get started on your 2014 calendar gifts before the holidays sneak up on us! If you would like the editable Excel version, please leave me a message in the comments below with your email address. Appreciate a a post if you use my JPEGs. Thanks!

To download full-size graphics, double-click on each month to expand. Right-click and save to your computer.

~ Baby Girl Book

March 18, 2013 by leasanders

A sweet baby girl project I made for my co-worker, Matt. He hasn’t seen it yet–it is a surprise! {{{sshhhh…}}} =)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Supplies:

Zutter – 8″ acrylic covers, 1.25″ white o-wire
K&Company – patterned paper
DCWV – textured cardstock
Jolee’s – duck embellishment
Recollections – word embellishments

~ Retirement Book for Our Admiral

March 17, 2013 by leasanders

Alas, all good things come to an end. Our big boss will be leaving us for the leisurely life of retirement. This is a project I made for the office to add the their well-wishes for RDML David Boone. The pages are covered in a combination of desert and chocolate chip cookie camo, Washington D.C. and Navy-themed patterned papers. The retirement ceremony is on April 12, so I fixed the clock hands at 4:12. Not sure anyone will that subtle details but we’ll see. =)

Supplies:

Zutter – 1″ antique brass O-wire
7Gypsies – book boards, metal corners
Tim Holtz – various metal embellishments
We R Memory Keepers – extra large eyelets
Bazzill Basics – textured cardstock
Wausau Paper – gold cardstock
Art Parts – chipboard frame
Scrapbook Customs, Paper House, Sugar Tree, Creative Imaginations – patterned paper
Scrapbook Customs – cardstock stickers, die cuts
Recollections – epoxy alpha stickers
Ranger – gold acrylic paint

~ Beaded Jewelry Necklaces and Bracelets

February 21, 2013 by leasanders

My latest projects, all beads, no chainmaille this time.

I made the two red-themed pieces for a military formal that I will be attending next month. =) Ruby bracciated jasper, fresh water pearls, red tiger’s eye, tourmaline, bamboo coral, mookaite, fluorite, garnet, Swarovski crystals, glass

blue bracelets: moonstone, hematite, picasso jasper, lapis lazuli, sodalite, dumortierite, black opal, cloudy quartz, glass
yellow necklace: serpentine, yellow calcite, carnelian, lemon quartz, yellow chalcedony, citrine, rutilated quartz, mookaite, crazy lace agate
green necklace: jade, green garnet, fluorite, moss agate, jasper, tourmaline, aventurine, vesuvianite, seraphinite

~ Instagram August – December 2012 – Part 3 (Jewelry and Random)

January 5, 2013 by leasanders

Here is the last of 2012’s photos that I will be posting today. =) I look forward to sharing more Instagram moments in 2013!

~ Instagram August – December 2012 – Part 2 (Food & Drink)

January 5, 2013 by leasanders

Wow, l knew I took lots of food photos! This post is just Instagram food and drink photos from October through December 31, 2012.

~ Instagram August – December 2012 – Part 1

January 5, 2013 by leasanders

Wow, has it really been that long since I collaged and posted my Instagram photos? There are so many photos that I need to break them out in several parts and by loose themes. So here is the first batch from the August-October timeframe.

{Food and Drink}

{Papercrafts and Chainmaille Jewelry}

{Just around the house, out and about locally or on travel photos}

~ Happy 2013!

January 1, 2013 by leasanders

Happy New Year, all! I hope to post more in 2013 but for now, here is a collage of kids from Christmas with my parents in Las Vegas.

2012 in review

January 1, 2013 by leasanders

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 16,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 4 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

~ 2013 Calendar

December 2, 2012 by leasanders

It is time to get crafting and make 2013 gift calendars. Here is my first of a group that I will make for Christmas. This one is personalized for my parents with photos of my family from 2012. Click on this link to go to my post with 2013 JPEGs to make your own calendars!

{Click on each thumbnail to see more details.}

~ Breaking Dawn 2 Twilight Goodies

December 1, 2012 by leasanders

{trunk full of Twi-goodies}

It has been a great few years with the Twilight Saga but alas, all good things do come to an end. I went to see Breaking Dawn 2 with three of my peeps from MILCON. I was sick as a dog but I still went to share the goodies I put together for our girls day and enjoy the movie. =) The goody bag had a couple of vampire-themed items and Hershey’s kisses. I made name tag/book marks to add to the larger gift bags which also held a Twilight-themed travel mug and hot chocolate mix. I couldn’t find any Breaking Dawn bags but the Eclipse ones served the purpose just fine.

~ Just for Fun!

October 8, 2012 by leasanders

To mark this year’s political season (and demonstrate non-partisanship in my house), I made “donkey” and “elephant” charm bracelets. If you’re one of my U.S. visitors, don’t forget to vote next month! Make your vote count. =) Charms from Off the Beading Path in Occoquan, VA. If you’re in the area, go by for a visit.

More of my usual projects to come.

~ Baby Shower Book & Goody Bags

September 10, 2012 by leasanders

Here is my second in a series of Bind-it-All minibooks made from patterned paper scraps. This project is a baby shower book for well-wishers to add their happy greetings.

I also made goody bags for all 35 of my co-workers plus a few extra for Katie’s family. See more photos of both projects in the slideshow below.

See more photos in the slideshow below:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Supplies:

Katie book –

Zutter – 1.5″ white o-ring, 7.5″ acrylic tabs, 7.5″ kraft chipboard cover
Basic Grey – patterned paper
Epiphany Crafts – scalloped circle epoxy
The Twinery – twine
ribbon, pacifier decorations

treat bags –

cardstock – Stampin’ Up!, Bazzill
patterned paper
twine – The Twinery
ribbon, pacifier decorations
We R Memory Keepers – large eyelets

~ “Made with Scraps” BIA Minibook

August 19, 2012 by leasanders

While I was thinning out my collection of paper this weekend to give to a friend, I had amassed a pile of scraps, not worthy enough of sharing in current-state. I saw a lot of similarities in the colors and patterns. Instead of throwing the scraps away, I challenged myself to create one project using the bits of paper – married similar styles of different manufacturers – to make this little minibook.

{Close-up of the punch detail.}

{Click on each photo for a closer look.}

I’ll eventually make another project using other scraps in the coming weeks. Come by again to check it out.

Supplies:

Zutter Innovative – 6″ acrylic covers, 1 1/4″ antique brass o-wire
7Gypsies – round chipboard
patterned paper – My Mind’s Eye, SEI, Bella Blvd
Recollections – flowers
Doodlebug – jewels
American Crafts – fabric chipboard alpha
ribbon, buttons, other bling

~ Instagram – 08/18/18

August 18, 2012 by leasanders

~ 2013 Calendar JPEGs

August 12, 2012 by leasanders

For your crafting pleasure, I’ve put together 2013 calendar JPEGs. For those who have come back year after year and newbies to my site, please leave me a message letting me know you’ve come by. Happy to share and would love to hear from you! For calendar ideas, type calendar in the search box to the top/right of this blog and search all of my previous projects.

If you prefer the JPEGs with Federal Holidays, please drop me an email and I will send you the Excel file. You can also use the file to personalize with different fonts and colors.

Click on each image to enlarge. Right click to download the image to your computer. If you have any issues, please let me know by posting a message or sending me an email (with subject line 2013 Calendar JPEGs) to [email protected].

Thanks and happy crafting!

~ Farewell to Me!

August 11, 2012 by leasanders

Here is my latest Bind-it-All project, a farewell book (for me, actually) that my NAVFAC co-workers from all over the world added their farewell messages in. Some of the well-wishes were added in person while some were emailed and added to the book.

What is really great about creating a project for yourself is that you can make anything you want it to be. I added little strips inside to show where I have been and when with Naval Facilities Engineering Command.

{Click on each of the photos below for a closer look.}

Supplies:

Zutter – 1″ brown o-wire
Clear Scraps – acrylic covers
My Mind’s Eye – patterned papers, brads
The Twinery – twine
Tim Holtz – frame
Making Memories – acrylic paint
chipboard, fabric flowers, ribbon

~ Instagram – 08/05/12

August 5, 2012 by leasanders

~ Parting Gifts

August 5, 2012 by leasanders

So, this is my last week at my current job. Far be it for me not to have one last share of my craftiness before I go. I made candy goody bags for the co-workers in MILCON and special bags with extra stuff for my branch. I wanted to make use of my latest Fiskars punch in my projects since I wasn’t able to teach a class using it. =( We have a long-standing “purple Thursday” in MILCON so I had custom buttons made by the awesome Emily Adams.

The bags below are filled with other good stuff are what I’m giving to the ladies in my branch. There is a prolific amount of lilac and honeydew twine from The Twinery, which I totally love! The bags were 59 cent gift bags I bought from Target and embellished.

Goody bag supplies:

flat plastic bags, Dum Dums, Smarties, Kit Kats
My Mind’s Eye – patterned paper
The Twinery – twine
Tim Holtz – mini staples
Emily Adams – custom buttons

Gift bag supplies:

Fancy Pants – patterned paper
The Twinery – twine
Tim Holtz – tissue tape
American Crafts – ribbon
Tim Holtz – mini staples

~ Latest Jewelry Projects

July 22, 2012 by leasanders

I haven’t been keeping up with blog-posting my chainmaille or beaded jewelry! Here are a few of my more recent projects. The bracelet above has amethyst and glass rondelles with aluminum rings in byzantine. The chainmaille bracelet below is elfweave, the first I’ve tried from a kit from Blue Buddha Boutique.

The necklaces above are part of a going-away package I’m making for my co-workers (amethyst, blue aventurine, agate, glass rondelles). Yep, I’m the one who is going away to a new job but they’ll get the goodies. =) They were modeled after my original “Purple Thursday” necklace below (agate and glass). My branch has a routine or dressing in purple on Thursdays. It is just something quirky that we do!

I had just finished the necklace above (lapis lazuli, blue candy jade, turquoise, moonstone, blue quartz) and 15 mins later it was sold to a high school friend of my brother’s on Facebook. There was also a matching bracelet. The necklace below is something I made on a whim using a lot of different beads – amethyst, jade, tourmaline, garnet, fresh water pearls, red tiger’s eye. The rings on the project below are brass.

~ Instagram – Random Summer Shots – June/July

July 15, 2012 by leasanders

~ Instagram – Graduation Day

July 15, 2012 by leasanders

~ Instagram – One Month of Food-themed Photos

July 15, 2012 by leasanders

~ Instagram – 06/09/12

June 9, 2012 by leasanders

Wow, lots of photos this time. Guess I hadn’t shared my Instagram photos in a while.

~ Farewell to Stephanie

June 7, 2012 by leasanders

We were surprised to find out last week that our newest analyst was leaving us this week. To help make her farewell luncheon a little more special, I made candy boxes to put at each place setting at the restaurant. She loves purple so I made purple tags using twine from The Twinery – so cute!