Sugar Skull Sturgis Jewelry

Prototype 1

Sugar Skull Prototype 1:
I am gearing up for my annual Sturgis vacation. I can't meet up with all my besties without a cool gift (or at least my idea of a cool gift:)
Last year I made pinup girl necklaces and glitter mustache rings using shrinky dinks, necklace bezels, and art specific and unique for each. This year I am making something Sugar Skull.

This is my first prototype.










Supplies:

Tori Spelling necklace components: (from craft store Michael's and Joann fabric have the line - I purchased them on sale)

{styled} By Tori Spelling TM Glitz-Connectors Black 3.99

{styled} By Tori Spelling TM leather top half black necklace 3.99

Howlite Skulls: Etsy (4.00) vendor Smartparts




Had in supply box:
Freshwater pearls
Wire, tools etc.

How I am going to improve it:

• Better photo next time! 
• Instead of a wire loop as large as I have I am going to tighten the wire to the pearl and the loop will be to a silver jump ring. I think it will look more professional that way. 
• Also need to play with the findings and the glue. The gorrilla glue did what I wanted and created a surface for the flowers to adhere to but the foaming nature of this stuff caused it to grow between the flowers and I can see it. 

DIY Leather OBI belt

PURPLE and bedazzled Obi belt

I love purple, bling, and now obi belts.  Turns out belts are a little bit personal in terms of size (length), width (long torso short torso), etc.  But I really wanted a pattern and steps to create a purple leather obi belt.  At the stock show in Denver I picked up leather scraps for $5.00. Big ones!!  Purple and black. 

After a lot of searching and reading I decided to create my own pattern get brave and just do it.  My pattern is specifically arranged so my belt would leverage the scraps more effectively.

I found 2 sites that after reading I felt confident enough to proceed: http://catonalimb.blogspot.com/2011/11/suede-flower-leather-obi-belt-tutorial.html

http://etcetorize.blogspot.com/2011/02/extra-special-obi-belt.html

What you need:

1.       Leather sewing machine needles

These were critical and apparently have a slight cutting edge to help the needle smoothly puncture the leather. My leather is pretty thick so these were great. I only broke 1!I will elaborate in the steps.

2.       Rotary cutting blade or sturdy scissors that will not bind

3.       Coordinating or contrasting thread

4.       Leather

Pattern Notes:

·         I ended up making the end pieces rounded because they seem to fold more perfectly to join the strap.  When I played with a pointed or straighter end design the junction to strap looked off.

·         Where the pieces are seamed together it was way too thick for my machine to sew across for the overall edging. I stopped the edges before each  join and resumed on the other side.  I used super glue

My flower is a bracelet like add on. It slides off or on and is not fixed to the belt.

Look # 1 Just the bracelet like strap and the tied ends intersecting the long wrap pieces

1.       Create a 1 x 10 strip of material

2.       Punch 2 holes in loop

3.       Run leather strap/scrap through holes.

Look #2 Bracelet hidden by big flower and pin 

1.       Create flower petals in leather or fabric

2.       Sew into shape

3.       Sew onto round scrap of material in any configuration

4.       Punch 2 holed in center and run scrap/strap from look 1 into holes for 2

5.       Add a pin of any kind or glue on button or embellishment to hide messy sewing. Unless you are good like the inspiration and your stuff looks clean. Mine didn’t

Look # 3 Plain beltJ