Changes to this Blog + New Website. Like my Tutorials? Please read this!

I wanted to let you know that there would be a few changes happening around here. 

I have started a new website for everything tutorial related.  There's a brand new tutorial over there:  Wire Wrapped Skeleton Key Headband Tutorial.

Tutorial website:  KimberlieKohler.com

Another change:  I'm married and my name is now Kimberlie (Burkhart) Kohler!

There is a new Emerging Creatively Tutorials Facebook Page (it's VERY new with no information, but don't worry, that will change!)

The B.B. Bellezza Facebook page for my jewelry updates.

My Twitter account (now @BBBellezza) will be switching to the name Kimberlie Kohler soon.  I will include tweets about everything I’m doing including both new jewelry and tutorials.  It’s me, lol, so it’s whatever is happening in my life at any given moment.

I already have 2 separate newsletters:

For Handcrafted Jewelry, B.B. Bellezza

For Tutorials, Emerging Creatively Tutorials

So, make sure that if you are interested in Tutorials, to make the switch over to the new website so you keep getting great information.  And if you're interested in my handcrafted jewelry, stay right where you are!  If you are interested in recycling tips and ideas, you'll find them in both blogs depending on the information.  (If they are tutorial related, they'll be at KimberlieKohler.com)

Also - I'm still working on the Kimberlie Kohler website, so it's not so beautiful yet and there isn't a simple button to click to follow, but if you sign up for my email newsletter, I'll make sure that you you get updates!  (I'll be changing the look somewhat of this blog, too.)

If you are interested in all I do, sign up for both newsletters and follow both blogs!  :)

If you are confused, let me know in the comments below and I’ll try to un-confuse you! 

Also note:

Everything that I have posted thus far on this blog will remain here, and all my posts up to this point have also been transferred to the new website. 

From this point on, however, posts will be in their perspective websites.

Tutorials BOGO Sale is Now On!

May 4, 2012 - May 12, 2012

In honor of my mother, Kathy Burkhart, without whom I would have never found the joy of crafty, I’m having a tutorial sale!

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE

Free tutorial is of equal or lesser value.

HOW IT WORKS:

Head over to my Craftsy Pattern Store and peruse your options.  Find 2 that you want to try.  Purchase the more expensive of the 2.

Send me an email with the name of the 2nd one you would like.

Once I receive your payment confirmation, I’ll email you the second pattern! 

CRAFTSY:

You do need to sign up for Craftsy to make a purchase.  It’s easy.   After you sign up, all of the patterns you purchase will be in “Your Account” under “My Pattern Library.”  (Your free pattern I emailed you will not be there.  It will be in your email and wherever you decide to download it.)

Learn How to Make Things! Tutorials!

I love Craftsy.  You want to make something?  Just search on Craftsy, find the tutorial, pay and you have it instantly.

I sell my tutorials on Craftsy, too!

What's great about my tutorials?

I have 2 main types of tutorials:  Digital Programs and Individual Tutorials. 

Digital Programs contain usually at least 4 different individual projects (many times more!), plus all the skills you need to make them.  They give you ideas for customizing and personalization and making each project more your own. 

Individual tutorials have 1 project and all the skills you need to make it.  I don't just tell you to "open a jump ring" here.  I give you photos and tell you exactly how to open the jump ring.  (There is a specific way and most beginners don't know that!)

Design-a-doll is one project, but I teach you how to design your own doll!!  You can use this tutorial over and over again to make lots of dolls!

• You learn more than just how to make a project (or projects).  I teach you skills to be able to make it your own and come up with your own projects.
• TONS of full color photos.  Big photos with details! 
• Detailed instructions.  I teach you like you know nothing.  (Except for anything involving sewing.  With the doll tutorials and cuff tutorials, I assume you know how to sew at least in a straight line.)
• You can email me questions!  I want you to succeed.  I'm just an email away! 
• Bonus:  I don't mind if you sell the products you make from my tutorials!

To see all of my current digital programs and tutorials, check out my Craftsy Pattern Store.

Tutorial: Slide Bunting

Slide Bunting Tutorial

What you need:

Slides

Yarn, Ribbon or string of some sort

Small amount of wire

Awl

Step #1

Grab a slide and use your awl to put 2 holes in the top of the slide, as below.

Note:  some slides have a plastic case.  In that instance, you'll need to use a drill to make the holes.

Step #2



Cut off a short amount of wire.

Step #3

Bend the wire in half.

Step #4

Put your yarn (string or ribbon) through the wire.

Step #5

Use the wire to thread your yarn (ribbon or string) through the holes in your slides.

Step #6

Repeat until your desired length and hang!  This bunting is particularly suited for hanging in windows!

Like making things and free tutorials?  Sign up for my free email updates and get even more!  Plus, get a tutorial + pattern for a cute dotee doll when you sign up!

Sign up.

10 Ways to Reuse Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles are everywhere.  They are easy and convenient when you are on the go.

Unfortunately they are filling up our landfills and clogging the ocean.  Recycling is a little better, but it takes a lot of resources to recycle a plastic bottle.

The best option is to not use plastic bottles at all.  The 2nd best option is to REUSE plastic bottles.

Here are some ideas:

1.  Make a cool and funky mobile!


2.  Make a terrarium with a 2 liter plastic bottle. Tutorial for bottles with the base, and tutorial for bottles without


3.  Here's a whole list of crafty things to do with plastic bottles

4.  Give them to your local crafty or artsy person. Maybe even local elementary schools' art programs would like them.

5.  Here's another list of awesome crafty ways to reuse plastic bottles, such as the vase above! 

6.  Fill up a two liter bottle with water and put it in your tiolet tank.  (Flush it to empty it completely first.)  When your tank refills, you'll use less water because the bottle will take up some of the room.
It will also decrease your water bill while using less water.  Win, win.

7.  Cut the top off bottles to use as funnels.  Using different size soda and water bottles will give you different size funnels.

8.  Build a house!  Okay, probably not for everyone.  This professor in Serbia build this house from 13,500 bottles.

9.  Make a loom.

10.  Use them to plant an herb garden.
What do you do with your plastic bottles, or do you have any ideas now?

10 Ways to Recycle and Reuse Newspaper

This Sunday - April 22, 2012 - is the 42nd Earth Day!

As you know, I am a huge supporter of trying to preserve the earth with little steps that you can take each day.  And I love making things with items that were originally destined for the trash!

Today, I bring you 10 Ways to Reuse Newspaper!

First of all, you can eliminate the need to do anything with newspaper by getting your news online!  However, I know that sometimes you just want the physical paper in your hands. 

If you must subscribe, here are some things to do with your newspaper when you're done reading it:

1.  Make a newspaper flower!  It will never wilt!

2.  Make cute decorations!  I made hearts for Valentine's Day, but you can make any shape you like!

3.  This was originally another Valentine's Day project for me, but you can make any shape you want with this great tutorial.  It basically transforms newspaper into clay.

4.   More newspaper flowers!  These were at Ripley's Believe it or Not in Atlantic Ciy, NJ!

5.  Crumpled up newspapers are great for absorbing odors.  Put them in coolers when you are storing them to keep them fresh!  Put in luggage when you are storing it.  Or stuff them in your sweaty sneakers to absorb the moisture and odor.

6.  Line your veggie draws in your frig with it.  Again, it absorbs the moisture and smells.

7.  Wrapping paper!  Look at that amazing bow on top, too!  I found how to do this on Adelle.com.au

8.  Paper Hat

9.  Flower Pot!  Bonus:  you can put the pot right into the ground!

10.  Use around the house:  messy cleanup, line pet cages, line kitty litter (or even use as kitty litter in a pinch!), wash windows and line trash cans.

Tutorial: Ribbon or Lace Bookmark with Embellishments

This is a really quick and easy project that is easily customizable!  You can put any charms you want on the end.  This makes a wonderful gift - think about putting one in a book for a wonderful gift.  

These are quick enough that you can still make them in time for Easter! 

Materials and Tools:

Lace or Ribbon (I used lace)

2 end crimps that are the same size as the end of your ribbon or lace

Jump rings

Charms

Step #1

Cut your ribbon or lace to the size of your book.  If you'll be using it for several different sizes of books, make it to fit the largest.  (This book is part of my craft book obsession collection.)  

Step #2

Add a crimp end to the end of the ribbon or lace.  Just push the crimp end closed.

Hint:  you may notice that my lace was just a little bit larger than the crimp end.  I just sort of bunched it a little to get it to fit.  This works if the size is close, but if the ribbon/lace is much larger, you can trim it.

Step #3

Add a crimp end to the other end.

Step #4

Add charms to the crimp ends.  They have little hoops and you can use jump rings to attach charms to the ends.  

Step #5

Mark your place in a book with your new bookmark!

If you would like to learn how to make the scrabble pendant used in this bookmark, learn how to open jump rings, and learn how to make other charms, check out my brand new Altered Art Jewelry Digital Program!  Learn all that and much much more!  For instant download, see my Craftsy Pattern Shop.

Giveaway, Take 2

Well, I'm tempted to say I really "screwed the pooch" here, but no one thinks that saying is as funny as I do!  (Really, ask my fiance, that phrase has been in my head all week and I think it's hilarious.  I keep trying to find a way to bring it into the conversation naturally at my day job.  I haven't yet.)

At any rate,  I messed up and want to try again!

I announced a giveaway, launched a new product and then disappeared!  

As you may remember, I'm getting married.  (Omigosh, NEXT MONTH!)  We are having a green, diy wedding.  Making mostly everything ourselves, searching for plates at thrift stores, making little flower pots, decoupaging old jars for centerpieces, skipping through the woods in search of fallen branches, sewing a lot of napkins and tablecloths, etc.  (that etc. includes A LOT of stuff.)  While I am very on top of things and feel really great about how much we have accomplished, suddenly I realized there were a lot more projects to do, and that projects were taking long than I thought and I really needed my mom for another weekend of help.

And she came to help and we conquered!

But, my poor blog, giveaway and new Altered Art Jewelry Digital Program suffered.

So, I'm extending the giveaway!  Yay!!

Plus, I'll be releasing some more individual tutorials very soon, so we can celebrate them!  (Scrabble Tile Pendants Tutorial, Altered Art Charm Bracelet Tutorial and Bottle Cap Pendant Tutorial)

If you want to be in the running for some cool prizes, head over to my giveaway post to get all the details.

I'm extending the entry date until Monday, April 9, 2012. (I'll pick the winners sometime in the evening.)

Thanks for understanding and Good Luck!!

Altered Art Jewelry Digital Program Launch, Today!

I'm so excited to present my newest digital tutorial program:  Altered Art Jewelry.

It's a huge 50 pages and you'll learn:

The program contains 4 extremely instructive tutorials, including:
-How to make Altered Art Charm Jewelry (charm bracelet and how to make into a necklace),
-How to make Scrabble Tile Pendants,
-How to make Glass Tile Pendants,
-How to make Bottle Cap Pendants (in two ways), and
-How to make the cords to hang your pendants on.

Plus you'll learn how to make any project into a pin, magnet or ring and how to use other materials to make jewelry.

AND how to re-size photos for use in jewelry without having any fancy software!

Whew!

This tutorial contains the how to's of the most popular pieces I sell in my store and at craft shows.

I hate to pick favorites, but if I had to, this one would definitely be my favorite!!

And, it's just $15!

To Purchase, head to the Altered Art Jewelry Digital Program for instant download.

Altered Art Jewelry Digital Program Launch and Giveaway!

 

This week is the release of my brand new Altered Art Jewelry Digital Program.

The program contains 4 extremely instructive tutorials, including how to make Altered Art Charm Jewelry (charm bracelet and how to make into a necklace), how to make Scrabble Tile Pendants, how to make Glass Tile Pendants, how to make Bottle Cap Pendants (in two ways) and how to make the cords to hang your pendants on. 

Plus you’ll learn how to make any project into a pin, magnet or ring.

Plus how to re-size photos for use in jewelry without having any fancy software!

Whew! 

This tutorial contains the how tos of the most popular pieces I sell in my store and at craft shows.

(Wondering what the cost will be?  Just $15!)

Release date is Wednesday, March 28, 2012!

To celebrate, I want to have a giveaway this week!

There will be 3 prizes, and the winners will be randomly drawn on Friday.  UPDATE:  Monday, April 9, 2012!

The Giveaway:

Prize #1

• Altered Art Jewelry Digital Program (you’ll receive via email); and
• Altered Art Digital Program Kit 
• including (pictured above):
• Glass Tile/bail
• Scrabble Tile/bail
• Flat Key/bail
• Bottle cap and magnet
• Photo charm
• Everything you need to make a cord

Prize #2

Altered Art Jewelry Digital Program (you’ll receive via email)

Prize #3

Glass Tile Pendant Tutorial (you’ll receive via email)

To enter, first join my email updates for Tutorials.

Then send me an email (to BBBellezza@hotmail.com) stating you’d like to be entered for the Altered Art Giveaway.

(If you’re already a subscriber, just send the email.)

I will randomly pick 3 winners on Friday, March 30th!  UPDATE:  Monday, April 9th sometime in the evening!