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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Stiffened thread Valentine heart earrings



The other day as I opened my sewing box, what should I see but a big knot of multi colored thread pieces?  They were all jumbled together and it got me to thinking.  What if I stiffened the thread to make a sort of airy lightweight fabric that I could use to make other things?  Since Valentine’s Day will be here before you know I figured why not heart shaped earrings or maybe even a decorated card?

You will need:

Thread in red and silver

Fabric stiffener (available at craft stores)

Waxed paper

Paper towels

Paper

Pencil

Scissors

Jump rings and fish hook ear wires

Needle nosed pliers

Optional red size E seed beads and tacky craft glue

1.     Cut a bunch of small pieces of red and silver thread mixing together and then bunching it up.  Make two bunches of thread with about the same amount of thread pieces in each one.




2.     Place the thread bunches on a piece of waxed paper. Flatten with your fingers.  Squirt some fabric stiffener on the thread and use a paper towel to remove any excess.  Place in a warm place to dry overnight.


3.     When the stiffened thread is dry, remove from the waxed paper.  Fold a small scrap of paper or cardboard in half and make a half heart shape on the fold, cut out for a heart pattern.  (See photo)





4.     Place your heart pattern on the stiffened thread and using it as a guide, cut out.  Make two.






5.     If you want to decorate your hearts even more you can optionally glue on red E sized seed beads all around and let dry. The hearts are very rigid and look great and the airy heart looks great even as is.

6.     Use a needle nosed pliers to twist open rather than pull apart a jump ring and thread through the top center of the thread heart.  Close the ring with the same twisting motion.  Add another jump ring and a fish hook ear wire making sure the fish hook ear wire is facing in the right direction and close the second jump ring like your did with the first one.  Repeat for the second earring.





5 comments:

  1. Fun project! Thank you for sharing! I"m visiting from a glimpse inside linky party!

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  2. I love the abstract form of these earrings! They are really artsy and classy! Thank you for teaching us how!

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  3. Love how they turned out. I'm tempted to try this craft out for myself!

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  4. That is very creative. I love how your earrings turned out. Thanks for sharing at the party. Theresa @DearCreatives

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Thanks for your lovely comments!