Pincushion, Class Prep, and Soda Tab Chain

Yesterday while my friend and her 2 daughters were over at my house, I showed them how to make a bottle cap pincushion.  One of them was having a few friends for a sleepover tonight and she wanted a simple craft project to do with them.  I wonder if they made some.  

I finished sanding 31 cardboard tubes for my class tomorrow, and I counted all of my soda tabs to make sure that I had enough.  I'm teaching 26 teens and tweens how to make cardboard mailing tube bangles and soda tab bracelets tomorrow.  The tabs in the chick paint can are all the large tabs that I have.  I didn't expect to have that many large ones.

This is a soda tab project that I have been working on.  I think that it looks like a bike chain.

Soda Tab Earrings, Soda Tab Necklace, & Framed Earring Holder

This morning while getting dressed I realized that I did not have a pair of red earrings to match my shirt.  So why not make a pair?  I got out 3 shades of red nail polish and painted a bunch of soda tabs with them.  I then proceeded to make 4 different pairs of earrings out of the tabs.  I also made a necklace and a framed earring holder for my bathroom wall.  The earring holder is made out of a glassless picture frame and plastic cross stitch canvas.  I placed black duct tape along the back edges of the canvas to help secure it to the frame.  It is perfect.  I video taped myself making all of the earrings.  After I edit the videos, I'll post them on you tube (except for the 3rd pair from the left because there is already a video on how to make them by someone else).

Here are the nail polish painted tab earrings.  The large tab was already red.  I used jump rings to connect them together.  A friend of mine had sent me a bunch of large tabs with the challenge of making something out of them.  These two red tabs were a part of that group.  Challenge met ;)

Before setting out to make my earrings, I did some internet research to get inspired.  I came across this video that showed how to make the pair on the left.  Who knew that you could use duct tape and nail clippers when working with soda tabs?!  I used the toe nail clippers to cut the tabs to make both of the pairs of earrings above.

Then I was inspired to make a soda tab necklace.

I used the jump rings to connect all the tabs together, and a hook clasp for the closure.

The last two tabs are turned sideways.

The large center tab has 3 jump rings in the center.  The 3rd jump ring has 3 beads on it.

All of these items were very easy to make.

Cable Cowl & Crochet Soda Tab Bracelets

I finally finished knitting this Kool Aid dyed cable cowl last night.  Its a late birthday present for my mom.  When I got here, all I had left to do was the ribbing, but I could only work on it while my mom was asleep or at work.  I finished it last night and gave it to her this afternoon.  She liked it, and it is her favorite color.  She had requested it after seeing the one that I made for myself last year.  To bad she really can't use it until the winter.

This pattern came from an issue of Vogue Knitting.

I Kool Aid dyed the yarn last year.  It is lionbrand fisherman's wool.

Here are 5 of the 6.5 small soda tab bracelets that I crochet today.  I'm using a rainbow yarn that I bought yesterday.  I lined them up so that you can see how the color changes in the yarn.

Birthday, Bracelets, and Critters

There was a birthday in my home this week.  I wrapped the presents in fabric and a fused plastic bag tote.  Easy and environmentally friendly gift wrapping.

I made a few more soda tab bracelets yesterday and one more today.  I also got an order for 3 today.  I'm currently painting a pvc pipe display for the bracelets.

My toddler found 5 caterpillars outside today.

All the critters were out enjoying the sunshine.

Here are some bees enjoying a drink of water from the kiddy pool.