Packable Holiday Projects

The summer holiday season is well underway for many of us which means a lot awaited opportunity to get away from the daily routine and kick back for a while. Whilst I love my holidays I don't like the idea of being cut off from my creative pursuits for any length of time although for my next holiday I don't think this will be a problem as I'll be spending it visiting some of my AJE buddies in the USA - I'm sure they'll have something to keep me going!

Even when I go away for weekends though I like to take some sort of small project with me and the trick is to choose something that can be completed with small tools and not too much in the way of materials. If you're looking for something to take away with you here are a few ideas and tutorials that you could tuck away easily in your luggage...

A lovely boho necklace tutorial from Lorelei Eurto which would be perfect to both make and wear on your break...

Quick and easy earring tutorial from Jennifer Cameron 

There are no end to the variations you could make with this memory wire cuff tutorial from Heather Powers...

Frosted leaf earring tutorial also from Heather Powers...

I have something of a strained relationship with seed beads but even I might take a few away with me and attempt some of the cute little beaded beads in this tutorial from The Crimson Moon....

Now this Silk Wrap Bracelet from Marsha Neal just has to be the perfect holiday project as it comes as a complete kit with everything you need to make 5 of them.

 

And they come in a huge range of colours too...

The cheery necklace in this tutorial from Erin Siegal just screams holidays to me...just think of the colour-ways you could make!

Diana Ptaszynski's mismatched earring tutorial will inspire all sorts of ideas for fun summer earrings...

Button closure bracelet tutorial from Linda Landig on the AJE blog...

 

Now this is one I really fancy having a go at using some of my ceramic beads - Knotted leather necklace tutorial from Curlymade.

And finally a couple of my own tutorials for a goddess bracelet and flower tendril earrings which can be found on my blog The Gossiping Goddess...

Happy holidays all!

AJE Component of the Month - April Reveal

Time for another Component of the Month reveal so please join us on a little blog hop to see what the AJE team and our guests created with the button closures Lesley gave away for this months challenge...

Guests
Johana Nunez
Leah Curtis
Perri Jackson


AJE Team
 Lesley Watt
Keirsten GIles
Caroline Dewison
Rebekah Payne
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Jen Cameron
Diana Ptaszynski
Kristen Stevens
Francesca Watson
Melissa Meman
Linda Landig
Sue Kennedy

April Component of the Month and Giveaway - All Buttoned Up

Yes it's that time again...a little early admittedly but I wanted to be sure everything got shipped early so people had plenty of time to play.

I love buttons and I think they make really great clasps like this lovely pewter one (Mamacita Badworks) which I used on a bracelet...

Or this one from my own bronze collection...

So for the April challenge I'm putting up these ceramic buttons for the team to design with. 

Although each one will come with a hook, using it as a clasp is not compulsory - buttons are very versatile and I'd love to see any other ideas people might have for them.

In addition to the AJE team I will be making three of these buttons available to AJE readers who would like to join us in the challenge.

  

The Giveaway…

If you’d like the chance to join in with the AJE team component of the month challenge and receive a Button Clasp to use in one of your designs, it’s simple, 

Agree to the points below and comment on this post and 3 lucky winners will be sent a Button Clasp randomly chosen by me.

• I will give away 1 component to each of 3 winners selected randomly from those who leave comments below this post. The design sent will be a surprise for the winners.
• Please include your EMAIL address in your comment so that I can contact you ASAP should you win.
• Please - only leave a comment if you can commit to creating a finished piece and blogging about it within the time given.
• The names of the two winners will be announced on Sunday March 23rd 2014
• This giveaway is open to US, Canadian, UK and European countries, but please be aware, US, Canadian & European addresses will have longer postage times (sometimes up to 3 weeks) 
• The blog reveal will take place on Wednesday 30th April 2014

Good luck!

Lesley

The Gossiping Goddess