Friday, May 14, 2010

How to make recycled rings...

As promised, I'm showing you how to make the Anna Banana recycled rings. You start with pulling the ring off the o.j. or half and half.
Here's the back view....
Now, cut the ring off with a pair of sharp scissors making sure you don't cut the ring itself.

Then, get your ribbon ready. Turn on hot glue gun and twist the ribbon a few inches. I use a clothes pin to hold it. Add a little dab of glue to the very center,and place your first twist there.

Slowly, just a little at a time, wind the twisted ribbon in a clockwise motion. Try to keep it very close together. Use thin lines of hot glue.

Just keep going until you get all the way around.

Now, take the ring that you cut off and glue it to the center. Make sure you go across so it has stability.

Here's the side view. I cover the plastic with the same ribbon so you can't see it from the side while you're wearing it.

Oila! I added a little crystal to the middle also just to cover the spot where the ribbon begins. I use silk yarn ribbon. It's very luxurious and looks very pretty, I think. Who would guess it was nothing but a little piece of plastic under there?!
So, there ya go! I hope the next time you open a new o.j. or coffee creamer, you'll think of that little ring in a whole new light! :)

Happy Crafting!
L & A 


Monday, May 10, 2010

Anna Banana ~ eco chic

Oh my goodness, if we didn't have fun making these up today! I have had this idea for a long time and have tried to do it many different ways, all of which didn't work. For some reason today, it clicked and I knew what to do. First, let me start off by saying that I love making something from nothing.You know those rings you normally pull off of half & half pints and orange juice lids when it's first opened? It's white and has a ring attached. For awhile now, when I would go to throw them away, I'd slip it on my finger instead and pretend it gave me "wonder twin powers" (that dates me a little, I know). I was just being silly with the kids over breakfast, but that's where the idea first came to me. I only got to wear it for a couple seconds before sombody else had to get in on it. (*light bulb moment*)So here's what we made with them....

Anna Banana ~ Blue hydrangea
Made from silk ribbon & swarovski crystal


Anna Banana~ Pastel flowers

                                              Made from silk ribbon & swarovski crystal

Aren't they adorable?? My daughter (6 yrs.) loves, loves, LOVES them! These are great for dress up play or just because you need to feel fru-fruish in Publix. Why not? They actually fit me, even though it was a little snug. I wear a 7. You can always hot glue a little ribbon around the back to make it fit perfectly if you wanted to. It's easy to adjust the size. I would show a step-by-step demo on how to make these, but I forgot to take pictures when I starrted. I'll be making more, and when I do, I'll show how to do it from start to finish. These were too cute to wait to share. We like making fun things from repurposed materials. We call anything that has been recycled, "Anna Banana jewelry."

Have fun playing with trash-it's fun!
L & A

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

New Items Added to Etsy!

Check out the latest bows to be added on our etsy store! You can also click on the etsy shop logo on the right, and it will take you there. This bow making is contagious! I can tell there will be no shortage of bows around here anytime soon! I feel like I did in 3rd grade- one for me, one for you, one for me...

Hugs!
L & A

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Tickled Pink...

Pink is Sugar pie's favorite color in the whole world. You can ask her any choice on just about anything, and she will always choose pink if it's an option. So, I'm tickled pink to be adding her first bows to the blog. She helped make them, and has asked me all day if her bows were on "her" website yet. That just cracks me up for a 6 year old to be interested in business, but it's no wonder with a mom like me. She has watched me run my jewelry business since she was a baby. 
 The bows are made from grosgrain ribbons, crystals and the ladybugs are resin covered. The matching ladybug pendant measures 1" x 5/8". So, without further ado, here's the first additions to "Sugarbelles Boutique".
                            "Ladybugs on safari"  1 & 3/4" wide on a double alligator clip.
                                                                         $4.50~sold~
                                                     "Ladybugs on Safari" matching pendant
                                          measures 1"x 5/8". $12.50

  
"Chaqua polka" 1 & 3/4" on a double alligator clip
$3.50~sold~

"Pink Lemonade" 1 & 3/4" on a double alligator clip
$3.50

"Tutti fruiti" 1& 3/4" on a double alligator clip
$3.50

We have many more in the works, with several new and larger styles on the way. We will have several with matching pendants as well.

Thank you for visiting! Check back soon because we will be having a giveaway to promote our grand opening!

Hugs~
L & A

Sunday, May 2, 2010