Sale is still  going on until August 14th!  Here are some new items listed:

See you there!

Dakotacrafts.etsy.com

Here are a couple of more items listed in my shop. 

Enjoy!

My BIG Sale!

Hi there my Dakotacrafts friends!  How has your summer been?  It seems like we waited so long for it to arrive and I fear it is almost over.  Anyhow...enjoy it while you can! Here is a photo of my summer hiking stomping grounds:

I am raising money for a new passion that I have developed over the last several months (No...not Scentsy, though I do love Scentsy!), so I am having BIG SALE in my Etsy shop Dakotacrafts right NOW!  

Almost everything is $3 or $5 with only $2 shipping (a few exceptions on a couple of larger items).  I will also combine shipping on multiple purchases. Please check it out.  As I find things that I have made and don't have listed already, I will list them one by one...so hopefully there will be a super-find for everyone!  If you can't purchase right now, then that's okay!  But you can help by just spreading the word!  THANKS SO MUCH!

Other Things I Love!

I love crafting.  I love handmade.  However, I do most of my crafting in the colder months when I can stay inside and keep cozy and warm. In the warmer months, I have other interests that I take pride and find happiness in.  One of those interests is my Scentsy business.  

www.ScentedDelight.scentsy.us

I'm not going to lie to you....I LOVE SCENTSY!  It could almost be described as an addiction.  But if it is, then it is a very positive one! The amazing scents that Scentsy offers creates and/or brings back wonderful memories and comfortable feelings.  My favorite "Scentsy time" is when I am cleaning.  I just LOVE a good smell while cleaning!  

I am mentioning Scentsy for a few reasons:  

1) Because I just love it so much...I LOVE sharing it with others, 

2) Because I'm trying to increase my online exposure, and would love for you to share my site, and 

3) Because I am hosting an online Scentsy Party right now and want to invite all of my online friends!

My party is to celebrate the July special "Bring Back My Bars".  20 favorite scent bar scents that were voted back for this month only!

How does Bananarama, Coconut Palm or Rev'd Up Raspberry sound?  That is only three of the amazing scents that the BBMB special is hosting!  

But there are over 80 more scents to choose from and so everybody is sure to find more than one that they can't live without!  (LOL...okay, well...that is how I like to describe it!)

I invite you all to attend my BBMB Summer Party!  It will be open for one week and be closed on July 23rd.  All you need to do is visit my site, click on the BBMB Summer Party tab at the top of the page and then sit back and enjoy yourselves! Check out all of the amazing warmers, laundry items, bath and body beauties, and of course...the fabulous scents!

Don't forget to invite your friends!

After the 23rd, your items will be shipped to you straight from Scentsy!

Also, if you are interested, please email me at dakotacc@juno.com (Scentsy in the title) and I will share with you my own personal specials that I am also offering during the month of July only!  They are fantastic!

Please join me in all this Scentsy fun!

www.ScentedDelight.scentsy.us

Also, follow me on Facebook under Scented Delight!

Do you love organic?

Hi there!  I wanted to share a great link for organic eating. No additives, no preservatives, no GMOs, no food dyes, no pesticides, no insecticides, no irritation, ALL organic. You get the point.  Sauces, mixes, spices and more!  Even organic coconut oil.  Please visit here:

http://www.mywildtree.com/431839/

Hey! What's All the Buzz About?

Did you know...native Black Hills copper is manufactured ONLY by us? That makes these nuggets EXCLUSIVE.  This means that our products make UNIQUE and ONE-OF-A-KIND GIFTS that you won't find ANYWHERE else! Why does it look like I'm yelling?  
Because I am so excited to share them with you!

Please visit my shop at:  www.blackhillsrocks.etsy.com  We have many things that will be added in the near future, so please stop back regularly to check it out.  

All Wrapped Up...

www.blackhillsrocks.etsy.com  Enjoy these wire-wrapped stone chokers made from a very talented friend.  Visit the shop to see these and more....:)

www.blackhillsrocks.etsy.com 

Wire-Wrapped Amethyst Hemp Macrame Necklace. Beautiful!

I am proud to introduce a beautiful necklace made by a friend of mine.  It can be found here and here to purchase.  Please enjoy the photos below!

Thanks for looking! Have a great day!

The grass isn't greener on the other side.  It's greener where you water it.  Water carefully.  :)

Happy Crafting, All!

"Stained Glass" Pendant Necklace

Today I am sharing a cute little pendant that I played around with.  I call it my "stained glass" pendant, but it isn't glass at all...it just reminds me of it!  The greatest thing about these little pendant trays is that you can do both sides, so no matter which way you string the pendant, or no matter which way it 'flips' when you wear it, it still looks great!  I hope you enjoy!

You'll be able to find this little treasure at:  www.mylovelyprincess.etsy.com

Mini Domino Pendant

Are you like me and craft away at something...go on to a new craft only to return to the previous one weeks or months down the road?  

Well, I told you I was going domino crazy...:) This mini domino pendant is newly listed for sale at:

mylovelyprincess.etsy.com

Also, check out this one-of-a-kind vintage-styled necklace made with native Black Hills copper nuggets here.  Practically weightless!

And don't forget...you can find your own native Black Hills copper nuggets for collecting or crafting at:

www.blackhillsrocks.etsy.com.  

Enjoy!

Resin. What's Your Favorite?

What is your favorite type of resin?  I pulled a box of Envirotex out of my cupboard that I have had for like a million years.  It still seems to work okay....but not for molded pendants.  

Then I found out that there is Envirotex Lite and Easy Clear.  There is also an Envirotex for Jewelry.  Sounds good! The latter two are actually formulated for jewelry purposes. 

However, I have been itching for a time to use Ice Resin.  It is a little more expensive, but the feedback that I have gotten has been amazing.  I was told both the Ice Resin and the Easy Clear are good for molds. 

Hmmmm....

What is your favorite type of resin?  Any suggestions are welcome!  If I try them both, I'll let you know.  In the meantime, please share!

Black Hills Rocks for (the only available) native Black Hills copper nuggets found here.

Love that quote.

Don't focus on the person you have overcome.  Focus on the person you are becoming.  

Love that quote.  What's your favorite quote?

We'll find out!

Butterfly Pendants

Hi there!  I am stuck on doing some domino pendants right now....because I ran across some of my dominos while cleaning my craft area.  Isn't that the best part of organizing your crafting space?  

These are not the same type of domino pendant I have made in the past, so I am sort of winging it here.  I am waiting on finding the perfect beads to continue my project, got some touch-ups, need to decide on additions, and then seal.  I also have to drill some holes.  I am sure you probably needed to do that before starting, but......like I said, I winging it.  I sort of learn and figure out things while I go!  

What is your favorite domino art? Go ahead and share some tips!

Thanks for looking...and have a GREAT day!

Domino Art

Hi all!  
Today, I was able to work with Copic Markers for the first time!  I know, where have I been, right? Well, I had asked about them forever ago, but had resisted the urge to try them out since I had been told that: 

1) They are addicting, and 

2) I will love them.  

See what I mean?  Well yep...they were right.  I do love them.  And yes, I will soon be hopelessly addicted.  Anyway, I wanted to show the first step to the Domino Art that I started.  

(Go easy on me...keeping in mind this was my first try!)

I will share photos as it goes along.  Right now I am trying to figure out what kind of sealer I should use with Copic markers on dominos.  If anyone has suggestions, go ahead and let me know!

And Woman Came To Be..

Just wanted to share my newest paper collage.

I am happy with the beautiful orange colors.  They remind me of a comforting Autumn day.  Perhaps I am anxious for winter to be over and looking forward to some warmer weather!

Hope you enjoy!  Thanks for stopping by!

Do you just love banana bread?  I do!  LOVE, love, love it...and so does the family. Here is a super-great banana bread recipe that I found on
allrecipes.com. 

It is so, so moist.  It doesn't even have to sit overnight for the flavors to be amazing!  I have made it many times and have substituted the sour cream with both mayonnaise or yogurt when I didn't have the sour cream on hand. Both substitutions worked great. 

Janet's Banana Bread

Try it out!  I am thinking you will love it too! And thanks, Janet, whoever you may be, for sharing a fantastic recipe with the world!

A Paper Mache World

Okay, so I love paper mache.  Well, actually I simply love working with paper mache.  I think it is so much fun.  The entire concept amazes me.  Ripped paper, a bowl of goop and "Poof!"...a new creation.   The problem is:  I haven't found all too many paper mache projects that I really love.  I love the art...but the projects...not so much.  Except two.  I love paper mache sculptures of people and sometimes animals (including dolls), and I sometimes like paper mache bowls.  Now happily, I have finally added a third. I enjoy making paper mache bracelets! 

Designed/Created & Photos by Dakotacrafts

dakotacrafts.thecraftstar.com

What happened is this:  I have wanted to create a paper mache doll/sculpture for several years. When I was a child, I remember a couple of spanish-styled sculpture dolls that my mother had on a shelf. I loved them.  I thought they were so creative...and made from paper.  Simply amazing. 

I have thought about them over the years, but have never actually sat down to try one out.  I don't know why. I have made several other paper mache projects.  A few I somewhat liked.  Most I didn't. I almost gave up on the art completely, but something about it keeps drawing me back. Maybe it's my love of paper. Maybe it's relaxing.  I don't know.   but I do know that it is pretty fun.  

Designed/Created & Photos by Dakotacrafts

dakotacrafts.thecraftstar.com

Recently I had been working on a polymer clay doll.  My first ever.  In fact, it is really the first time I have ever messed around with polymer clay.  I was quite happy with the way it was progressing.   I would post a photo, but as horror would have it, one of my dogs decided it would be fun to chew on.  Or chew up. Anyway, the night before that happened, I had been planning in my head how I was going to start to make the clothes the following morning.  I was debating between the fabric ones like what the tutorial called for...or whether I should go for paper mache.  The idea of paper mache clothing intrigued me somewhat. I decided that I would make two.  That way I could create them both ways and see which one I liked better. 

Upon finding my apparently tasty doll in shreds the following day, I decided that since paper mache was on my mind anyway, I would sit down and play around with it...maybe to get back into the 'paper mache' mode or something.

Somehow or another I decided to re-try the art of paper mache bracelets again.  I had tried it before, but couldn't decide if they were cool-looking, or if I just wanted them to be because I had come up with the idea myself.  

Anyway, I think I am happy with them this time around as a fun art project:

Designed/Created & Photos by Dakotacrafts

dakotacrafts.thecraftstar.com

And my latest idea...the paper mache wine bottle bracelet..:)  

Designed/Created & Photos by Dakotacrafts

dakotacrafts.thecraftstar.com

Hope you Enjoy!

All of these (and a few more) can be found for sale here.  I actually have several more to list, but haven't yet.  Most likely I have gotten temporarily distracted and that is why.  Yep...I'll go with distracted.  That's me! 

Thanks for visiting!

((Hugs!))

Old Door Bookcase...(or Craft Supply Shelves)!

I was going to force myself to sell some old doors that I have been hanging on to forever (because of course I was going to do something with them..."someday"). But now I CAN'T let them go (what a surprise!), because I found this! Just in time since I am needing shelving to organize my craft stuff (yes, again). And I LOVE the red. Now I may have to re-think room colors...

Repurposed Bookshelves from www.myrepurposedlife.com

(Please visit her site.  It is amazing and ultra-inspiring!)

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them (and can't wait to try it out)!  

Thank you for sharing them MyRepurposedLife!

Check out these great ideas that I found on 

this fun site!

(EverythingEtsy.com)

Tips to organize your craft room!  Who doesn't need them?  And just in time!

Project Lights

Okay, so I saw this lovely decor piece on Pinterest and decided that I had to make now.  Here is a photo of it:

Isn't it nice?  I was sucked in by the lights...and the trees...and the wood. Yep. I love it.  Anyway, I have my wood painted.  I had two (not three as shown) huge framed pieces already waiting to be used for something (what a blessing, eh?) and I think two will work great for me, because we have a small space, and the final project is so big.  

I hinged the pieces together already.  I knew those cute little 'aged' hinges would come in handy.  I couldn't throw them away no matter how hard I tried to talk myself into it!  Thank goodness!.

I gathered my branches.  They definitely need to be pruned down just as soon as I figure out how I want them placed.  Mine are a bit thicker than the ones shown in the photo, but I think they will work out just fine.  This is the part that I will drive myself batty over because I will change it like 50 million times to try to decide what will look best...as if I am trying to search for the 'one' perfect way it has to be done, while not realizing that the 49,999,999 other ways that I already tried probably looked fine too. Anyone who knows me knows that this is how I am!

I will get photos posted today of my progress just as soon as my camera finds its way home (left it in the car..boo!). I will say, that I wish Martha Stewart II (my mom) was here to sprinkle her magic decorating fairy dust that just falls from her fingertips and my branches would be arranged perfectly with no deciding!

Anyway, stop back to see photos and follow my progress. You will probably laugh at me as I am not quickest in the 'know-how' area if you know what I mean! Like I say though, even if I take the long road, as long as it gets done, then it was a great journey!

Have a great day!

Alice in Wonderland Tea Party Collage

Just in case you aren't tired of her yet (Alice in Wonderland), I thought I'd share yet a second collage that I will be working on.  I know I said that I am working on another featuring the Queen of Hearts, but with Wonderland supplies at hand and another paint board by my side, I decided to work on the two simultaneously. I will be using the famous "tea party" vintage image for this one.  I always love this image, so I am thrilled to be utilizing it again.  I'll let you know how it goes...;) 

Alice in Wonderland Collage....featuring the Queen of Hearts

This is a slight idea of the new collage I am working on.  It isn't close to being finished...just throwing some ideas around right now...meaning it could be completely different by the time it is finished!  Thought I'd share as I go along....Enjoy!

 Or....

 Or....

And this is just the preliminary steps..LOL...You can see why I drive myself crazy.  Completely different than what it started out with yesterday, too.  Anyway, which looks better to you?  Now that I am looking at it...I am thinking the first one.  Or possibly the last one with a few changes on the left top corner.   Hmmmm.

We'll see what happens tomorrow....:)