They didn't make 'em like this when I was a kid!

If you have children or grandchildren, they would LOVE these cool crayons! Nicole Hanley, an art teacher, makes them and is offering them in her Etsy shop, art2theextreme. She has butterflies, hearts, flowers, eggs and more at very reasonable prices. I might just have to try some!



Nicole says these are great for parties or art projects for kids or adults. She explains, "Made from recycled crayons, these make drawings and crayon rubbings fun and easy for younger kids because of the larger size and shape for a stronger grip. Being an art teacher, I found it easier and more engaging to use these Rainbow Crayons with my kindergarten students while working on a texture rubbing project!!!"

New New New!

I had fun over the weekend playing with stamps (uninked) and paint and of course polymer clay. I made flower designs to welcome the Spring Season. This isn't as easy as it might look. You have to press the stamp down into the clay just right...too hard and the clay rips, too soft and the paint doesn't highlight the design above the background. I threw quite a few pieces away. Grr.



Then, after the imprinted clay is cured, there's the painting part. I dabbed paint onto my finger and rubbed it over the design but, oops, use too much paint and it smears all over the background. I kept running from my craft room to the kitchen sink to wash off the paint before it dried, and then would try again. Then I used a paintbrush to touch up a few areas. They NEVER come out perfect but I've been told that's the charm of handmade things. Anyway, I finally was happy with these and think they came out rather pretty. They are coated with sparkly gloss which is very...well, sparkly... as they move in the light. Happy Spring!

These are finished as pins/brooches and available in my etsy shop, or you can click on the PayPal buy it now button below the birdie at top right.

Featured on Two Little Bears

Thank you to Teddy and Pencil for featuring me on their blog! You can see my bear pin/magnet right here: Two Little Bears blog.

Be sure to take a look around their adorable blog!

Featured Etsy Artists

More shops to drool over...
For a closer look, click on any photo or the name in blue under the photos.

Wishing you a beary happy day

The writer of this adorable blog, Two Little Bears, and I have been talking on blogcatalog.com and they added me to their bear website links...so I made a bear face pin so I could truly be a bear website. :-) It's made of polymer clay with painted accents and measures about 1 1/2" tall.

(Bear Face is available in my etsy shop.)

Featured Etsy Artists

Inspiring polymer clay artists!

Etsy front page again!

My little bunny pin was on the Etsy front page yesterday! This selection was included in an article called "Podcasting, Anyone?" in the March 10 Etsy newsletter, the Storque, about the world-wide Polymer Clay Street Team.

Etsy Front Page!

My blue heart pin was on the Etsy Front Page today (3/6/08)!

Many thanks to BudanART for including me in her lovely Treasury called "Yellow Walks Cautiously."







Blue heart pin for sale in my etsy shop

Choose your favorite!

Visit the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy's website to see the winners of the March Challenge!

Visit the Polymer Clay Artists Guild of Etsy's website and check out all the entries in this month's Challenge - with a theme of "Animals" - from noon March 1 till midnight March 3. Vote for your favorite and get your name entered in a drawing for a great prize pack.

Here is my entry, "Best Buddies - Meow, Squeak, Woof and Oink." (four fridge magnets)



Someone bought the pig, but if you want a similar one I can make it for you. The rest are available in separate listings in my etsy shop. (For questions or special orders, comment here or email me.)