The Balinese sculpture with natural media - wood, stone, bone, horn, deadwood, and even gnarled tree roots. Nowadays, souvenir-caliber wood carving is churned out and successful creations are mass produced. Any visitor to Bali is likely to be exposed to wood carving in all forms, be it the traditional ornate carved doors, the carved figures of gods, or the countless carved items in craft shops. Wood carving is a craft practiced all over Bali. Open your ears to the tapping sound of the carver's mallet and you would know that there is one around. It would be taxing to separate traditional and foreign influences. However, Balinese are intense observers of the outside world, effortlessly incorporating and adapting foreign themes into their work.

For quality wood carving, head to Tegallalang, Pujung, and Sebatu, which is north of Ubud. It is a great area to meet woodcarvers; it is best to take note of the artist's name and visit him at the workshop to negotiate a better price. Bali is a perfect place for western artists to study their crafts. There are wood carving lessons in which you can learn to carve your own mask in about three weeks.

if you want to search about bali wood craft, please come to our website http://www.baliartwood.com

Bali Wood Craft Supplies – Handmade Products – Wood Product is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Many times it also happens that you don't find the right card of your choice and so it is a great idea to craft one of your own. You should collect materials such as a white blank card, birthday border sticker, happy birthday sticker, birthday cake sticker, red balloon stickers, green gift box stickers, blue birthday candle stickers, green birthday candle stickers, yellow birthday candle stickers, blue double note sticker, red double note sticker, yellow single note sticker, red single note sticker, green single note sticker, red bold tip pen.

Instructions for making a birthday card
1. First cut the border sticker from the sheet of stickers. Then cut the border in half and center one half of the border at the top of the card. Once you are satisfied with the look, peel the sticker from the back and press it to the card in the predetermined spot. Center and attach the other half of the border sticker to the bottom of the card.

2. Then center and attach the Happy Birthday sticker below the top border.

3. Next center and attach the Birthday cake sticker below the happy birthday sticker but remember to leave enough room to write the name of the recipient.

4. Now arrange and attach a red balloon sticker on either side of the happy birthday sticker.

5. Then arrange and attach two blue candle stickers slightly above and to the left of the red balloon sticker on the left hand side. Line up a green candle sticker with the closest candle sticker and press it to the card. Attach another green candle sticker next to it with the same spacing between them as between the two blue ones. Repeat with the remaining set of candle stickers, that is the yellow ones.

6. Arrange and attach the double and single note stickers above, beside and below the red balloon sticker on the right.

7. Arrange and attach a green gift box on either side of the cake and then press into place.

8. Write the name of the recipient when you are ready to give the card to someone.

For more information, visit our recommended website craft-books.net

Craft a handmade Birthday card is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

A new jewelry maker can create handmade sterling silver earrings for less than the cost of a fast-casual lunch or dinner out.  One does not need complicated tools and an endless supply of components to make elegant, attractive earrings.

This article presents only sterling silver earwires, posts and components for two reasons:

Sterling Silver is hypoallergenic for most people Sterling Silver, a precious metal, costs much less than white gold or platinum

What are Jewelry Findings

In jewelry terms, "jewelry findings", or just "findings", are jewelry components less than a finished piece. 

Common Earring Findings

One type of earring finding is an earwire (also known as a "french wire" or a "hook").  An "earring post" has a "post" ("stick") that fits through the piercing, with an "ear back" (also known as a "ear nuts", "butterfly clutches" or "stoppers") that fits over the stick behind the ear.  A full ball, half ball, shield, or other design will be soldered onto the front of the post.

Sterling Silver Earrings: No Tools Required

The first simple earring design needs no tools to assemble -- hands are good enough.  Good sterling silver shield post earring findings show a thin, rounded profile in the vertical.  a "U"-shaped hook soldered to the bottom edge of these findings is open to the back.  One only needs to hang a Sterling/Cubic Zirconia Bezel-set drop with a soldered ring at the top from the "U"-shaped hook, then pinch the top of the hook closed with the fingers.

With representative prices of $2.35 per pair for Sterling Silver Shield Post earring findings and $6.97 or less for a pair of bezel-set Sterling/Colorless Cubic Zirconia drops, one may make a pair of earrings with the fire and sparkle of simulated diamond for less than $10 (not including shipping or sales tax), with no tools.  For those who prefer earrings entirely of sterling silver, replace the Sterling/Cubic Zirconia drop with a pair of sterling teardrops with soldered top loops for $2.65 per pair.  You can keep your cost of a pair of sterling silver earring less than $8.

Tools Recommended for Simple Earrings

Flat nose pliers or chain nose pliers are the tools recommended for most earring styles considered in this article.  These pliers, when used in jewelry making, will be smooth on the inside, to minimize the marks added to jewelry; normal pliers usually have serrated jaws to "bite" into metal.

Sterling Silver Earrings: One Tool Required

Many earring posts and earwires have open rings soldered to the bottom of the earring findings.  These open rings need to be gently opened to the side to hang a drop or dangle.  It MAY be possible to do that with your hands, but we recommend one pair of either flat nose pliers or chain nose pliers because they will offer you better control than using only your hands.

To use either earring posts or earring findings, one must GENTLY move part of the open ring soldered to the bottom of the finding to the side.  Then, it is possible to hang a drop or a wire-wrapped dangle onto the open ring.  Once again, use the pliers to GENTLY move the open piece of the ring back into place -- to close the gap of the open ring.  

With a representative price of $0.66 for a pair of short Sterling Silver French earwires and a pair of 4mm Sterling/Cubic Zirconia bezel-set drops, you can make a pair of earrings for under $5 (before shipping or sales tax).

Inexpensive Earrings for Formal Affairs

For formal affairs, such as weddings or holiday parties, a pair of 6mm Princess Cut Sterling/Clear Cubic Zirconia posts with 6mm Sterling/Clear Bezel Set Cubic Zirconia drops are stunning earrings that can be made for under $16; one set of pliers is recommended to assemble these as discussed above.

Earrings with Wire Wraps

Dangles made with wire wraps require some instruction and practice for good-looking results, but they increase the number of possible earring designs one may choose to make.  Wire wrapping will usually take three tools: flush cutters, chain nose pliers and round nose pliers.

Wire wrapped dangles may incorporate a greater variety of beads, charms and findings.

Conclusion

Families feeling a "budget crunch" can still indulge in sterling silver costume jewelry for personal wear or for gift giving, offering pleasing handcrafted gifts to loved ones and wearing attractive earrings, too.

Handmade Jewelry-Making Basics: If Money is Tight, Make Your Own Sterling Earrings is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

What is a split ring?

A split ring is a round jewelry finding made of wire that does not have a gap all the way through the ring, so jewelry components do not fall through a cut.  The wire curves over almost two whole circles -- 720 degrees.  At the first circle, the wire makes a bend, then the second circle is right next to the first.  If you have ever purchased a plain key ring and "wound" your keys onto the ring, then you have already used a split ring.

Jewelry Making with split rings

An obvious use for split rings are as key rings.  Key rings themselves can be decorated with charms or pendants fit directly onto the key rings (if they have big holes); if not, they may be placed on a smaller ring before decorating the larger ring.

For putting charms on bracelets, choose rings with diameters smaller than the beads on either side if you want the charms fixed in place.  Lobster claw clasps and toggles may be attached to either bead wire projects or chain projects using small split rings.

Some people will use split rings as the target for a lobster claw clasp on bead wire projects -- crimping the ring into place at the end of the jewelry piece.  However, the "transition" point from the two wires of the ring to the one wire may damage a stranded bead wire. 

Split Ring Materials

Split rings used in DIY jewelry making will most often be made of low karat gold, gold-filled, sterling silver or plated metals over brass, steel or aluminum.

Many sterling split rings are not tempered hard enough to let them to return to shape after having jewelry components "wound" onto them.  Plated and gold-filled split rings do not have as much problem "springing" back into shape.

Small split rings of thick wire are difficult to open.  Large rings with small wire diameter may not have the strength one needs for a jewelry piece.

Tools for Split Rings

Many jewelry makers will open split rings with split ring pliers.  These pliers have a "hook" jaw bent toward a flat jaw that makes these pliers more safer and easier to use than teeth or fingernails.

Split rings are basic jewelry-making findings.  A jewelry designer should quickly learn when split rings are permissible or recommended.

Handmade Jewelry-Making Basics – What is a Split Ring? is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

New jewelry designers will come up to speed faster when they earn the terminology of different jewelry-making components.  Find the right components quicker, project professionalism to potential customers, and enhance your jewelry making credibility by using correct terminology.

Definition of Jewelry Findings

In the jewelry industry, "jewelry findings" are components of jewelry less than a finished piece.

Definition of Headpin

A headpin is a long, thin piece of wire with a "head" -- a flattened piece of metal bigger than the diamter of the wire that acts as a stop to beads on the wire.  The opposite end of the headpin is flush cut, not sharp as with straight pins used in sewing.

Fancy headpins may have a ball end, granulated bead design, crystals or other decoration as the head.

How is a Headpin Used?

Headpins are used to create dangles (such as earring dangles) or links, with beads or charms wire wrapped onto the pin.  For a dangle, beads will rest against the head.  The remainder of the pin will be twisted and wrapped to make a loop which can be strung on stranded beading wire, silk or another jewelry fiber or attached to a clasp with a jump ring or split ring.  

To create a link, the head end of the pin must be wire wrapped into a loop; then, after putting the beads and charms in the middle of the pin (above the first loop), a second loop is wire wrapped.  These links can be used "in line" - between two sections of chains or strung beads.

Headpin Materials

Headpins are available in the noble metals - gold, silver and platinum.  However, in the DIY Jewelry market, headpins are usually sterling silver, gold-filled or brass plated with silver, gold, antique copper, antique brass, gunmetal, imitation rhodium and nickel.

Headpin Diameters

Headpins are also available in a variety of wire diameters.  Very thin headpins (under .020 inch diameter/24 gauge) are often required for freshwater pearls or for gemstones sourced in India.  Thick headpins (21 gauge) may match a bold jewelry design better than a thin headpin.  A headpin may need a small stop bead to be used with a bead that has a larger hole size.

Conclusion

Headpins come in a wide variety of shapes, designs and prices.  After mastering simple jewelry construction using stringing methods, learning to use headpins and wire wraps will dramatically extend the possibilities in jewelry design.  One who learns what pearl clasps are and how they are used will project a professional knowledge and attitude when making jewelry.

Handmade Jewelry-Making Basics – What is a Headpin is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Come up to speed faster as a jewelry designer when using correct terminology for different jewelry-making components.  Locate the right findings faster, converse with suppliers intelligently and boost your credibility in the jewelry making marketplace.

What are Jewelry Findings?

A jewelry components less than finished pieces are called "jewelry findings" or just "findings".

What is a Clasps?

To connect the ends of a necklace, bracelet or anklet,  you may use a jewelry clasp, toggle, s-hook or hook-and-eye closure.  A jewelry clasp is different from toggles, s-hooks and hook-and-eye closures in that they provide a lock between the two ends of the jewelry by using two or more pieces.  The connection is more secure than pinching an s-hook or hook-and-eye finding closer together or putting a safety chain on a toggle.

What is a Pearl Clasp?

Pearl clasps originated with pearl jewelry.  Now, pearl clasps may connect a single strand or multiple strands of pearls, beads, or jewelry chain.

A pearl clasp has at least two parts - a body or "box", plus an insert that locks into the body, sometimes called a "bracelet tongue".  The number of jump rings on the bracelet tongue should match the number of jump rings on the body -- one set of rings per strand.  Designs come in simple polished metal, corrugated metal, filigrees, "bullseyes" or other fancy pattern.  The bracelet tongue may push directly into the body or may need to be inserted around an intermediate pin that provides some safety if the clasp becomes undone accidentally. 

Some pearl clasps also have additional safety provided by a figure eight and a pin.  The figure eight, which looks more like a pop bottle, attached to one side of the clasp will click over a pin fastened to the second side of the clasp.

Pearl Clasp Materials

Pearl clasps have traditionally been made of precious metals - gold, silver and platinum.  In the DIY Jewelry market, pearl clasps of sterling silver, gold-filled or brass plated with silver, gold, antique copper, antique brass, gunmetal, imitation rhodium and nickel are common.

Conclusion

Pearl clasps come in a wide variety of shapes, designs and prices.  One who learns what pearl clasps are and how they are used will project a professional knowledge and attitude when making jewelry.

Handmade Jewelry-Making Basics – What is a Pearl Clasp is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Good crimping practices and quality crimps play an important part in jewelry design, but many designers minimize the roles these components play in favor of the more visible components.

What is a jewelry finding?

In jewelry terms, a "finding" is a component of jewelry less than a finished piece.

What is a jewelry crimp?

A jewelry crimp is a jewelry finding pinched or pressed together with the purpose of holding findings onto a jewelry piece or fixing beads in place.  Crimp tubes, crimp beads, crimp-on eyes and crimp-on hooks are four forms of jewelry crimps commonly used.

Jewelry beads are spheres with the hole cut through.  When they are flattened, they usually form an hourglass shape.  Crimp tubes have a uniform diameter and flatten into rectangles.  Twisted crimp tubes have a spiral pattern cut into the tubes that might add patterns to the crimp, but they still flatten into rectangles.  Crimp-on hooks and crimp-on eyes have either a hook shape or an "eye" (a closed loop) attached to a tube made of heavier gauge metal.

How are jewelry crimps used?

Bead Wire Projects

A first use of crimp tubes and crimp beads is to fasten findings such as toggles or lobster claw clasps and jump rings onto stranded beading wire.  The end of a piece of bead wire is threaded through a crimp, around a finding and back through the crimp before the crimp is flattened with one of two jewelry-making pliers: flat nose pliers or chain nose pliers, both of which are smooth on the inside and meant to minimize marking on the findings.

Some use two alternate tools for crimping: two stage crimping pliers and magic crimping pliers.  The author does not recommend either of these two pliers because of either the amount of labor involved to crimp or because of the damage to the underlying bead wire.

Floating Bead Projects

Jewelry crimps are also used with bead wire or beading chain to "float" beads in a style like the "tin cup" necklace popularized by Rene Russo in the 1996 movie of the same name.  In this case, the crimps should fit snugly around the beading chain or beading wire.  For instance, 1.5mm diameter or 1.1mm diameter (outside diameter) crimps will fit a 0.6mm beading chain or beading wires in .018", .015" or .012" diameters.

Crimp-on Eyes and Hooks

Crimp-on eyes and crimp-on hooks are ideal for some jewelry pieces, such as those using the 0.6mm beading chain or some cords such as leather.  The ends of a beading chain or cord are placed into the tube before the tube is flattened.

Sizing Crimps

Crimps are available in a variety of sizes.  Two strands of bead wire between .012" and .019" should be able to fit (doubled) into a 2mm diameter crimp tube; larger crimp tubes may not hold the wires securely and smaller crimp tubes will not fit the wires through the tube very well.  Crimp tubes of 1.5mm diameter may be more suitable for .010" or .012" diameter wires.  Fabric cords should be tested with crimps to verify holding power.

Crimp Materials

Crimps tubes are available in many metals to match the primary metal of the jewelry piece: gold-filled, sterling, and plate over brass.  Crimp beads are more often available only in the base metals.  Crimp-on eyes and hooks are often available in gold-filled, vermeil (gold over sterling), sterling and some plated metals.  Silver-plated crimp beads have a reputation for cracking not seen in the other plated crimps.

Jewelry crimps. although unseen, are important jewelry components.  Jewelry designers need to determine the highest quality crimp materials and methods to keep their jewelry pieces from falling apart.  Quality of the finished piece many times depends on the quality of crimps and crimping practices.

Handmade Jewelry-Making Basics – What is a Crimp? is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Handmade paper, as the name implies, is a variety of paper made by hands. Making crafts from handmade papers is one of the oldest craft making material. It is an innovative and artistic medium in itself. Handmade paper crafts are ever green decorative items and perfect to gift to please your loved ones. Previously, designing of handmade paper was done with the help of various cotton rags or vegetables fibers. But now, the art of making handmade paper crafts has completely revitalized.

Paper Crafts Evolution
Handmade Paper-crafting has been around since ancient period. The name paper comes from the word "Papyrus". The scrolls of papyrus were made by taking slices of the inner part of the papyrus stem, flattening then pounded into a hard, thin sheet. China was the first to start making crafts out of handmade paper. Gradually, it spreads through Mid-East to Europe.

Handmade Paper crafting also helps in forestation and de-forestation. Handmade Paper, itself, is an excellent example of recycling. There can be numerous variety and applications of paper pulp and handmade paper.

Varieties of Handmade Papers
Different types of handmade papers are being used such as Handmade plain paper, Jute paper, Embroidered paper, Embossed paper, Millenium paper, Leaf impression paper, Tie Die paper, Screen print paper, Crocodile paper, Silk paper, Flower paper, Handmade Batik paper, Leather paper, etc. to make various crafts.

Types of Crafts made by Handmade Paper
Handmade paper is quite popular materials for making a concourse of decorative crafts like greeting cards, carry bags, Art portfolios, Gift boxes, Wallpapers, Pen stands, Tissue boxes, paper holders, File Cover, Diary, Paper bags, Note pads, Envelops, Visiting Cards, Letterheads and many more. These handmade papers can be availed in numerous colors so that one can choose a crafts of his choice.

Looking for more information on Handmade paper crafts, click here

Handmade Paper Crafts is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

Jewelry-makers should learn terminology of basic jewelry-making components and techniques to work effectively with friends, customers and suppliers.

Jewelry toggles make up one category of many different jewelry closures for handmade artisan jewelry, mass-market costume jewelry and fine jewelry.  While toggle clasps definitely fasten jewelry, they can also enhance jewelry appearance.

What is a jewelry toggle?

A jewelry toggle is a set of two pieces: a jewelry loop and a jewelry stick.  The jewelry loop is attached to one end of your unfinished jewelry; the jewelry stick attaches to the other end.  The jewelry stick gets pushed through the jewelry loop, then turned so it rests longways against the loop, gravity holding the two components in place.  A skin-tight jewelry piece without any slack will not last long -- this style closure is made to have some slack.

Toggle clasps come with a bit more risk than lobster claw clasps.  However, many jewelry fans seem to regard jewelry toggles as more fashionable than lobster claw clasps.  Jewelry closed with toggles may fall off the body if they are made with too much slack; sometimes the toggles may come undone when the tension on the jewelry is relaxed.

Fancy toggles will often be used at the front of a necklace as a visual centerpiece -- especially fancy shaped toggles or toggles with addition decorations.

Jewelry toggles come in many different shapes:  round, oval, square, diamond, heart-shaped, floral, stirrup, etc.

Toggle Mechanics

A toggle is most secure when it cannot easily slip back through the loop accidentally.  The widest opening of the toggle loop must still be smaller than the shortest distance from your anchor point (often a ring soldered on or cast midway a metal toggle stick) to the end of the stick.    The toggle loop must also be big enough to accommodate the smallest beads on the end attached to the toggle stick.  The stick must be pulled through the loop before it can be turned to rest against the toggle loop.  Many jewelry pieces with toggle clasps will have beads graduated in size from the larger beads at the center, where they are most visible, to the smaller beads at both ends.  Toggles that are light with respect to the center beads will shift to the top as a bracelet rotates due to gravity.  A heavy toggle will help a bracelet to hang comfortably, with the toggle loop underneath the wrist.

Fastening Toggles

In pieces made with jewelry chain, you may see chain end caps soldered onto the chain and toggles connected with link locks or soldered jump rings.  Unsoldered chain pieces will often use open jump rings, split rings or link locks.  Jewelry designers will usually fasten toggles to bead wire projects using flattened crimps.  Some designers favor clam shells or bead tips to make the transition to the jewelry closures for bead wire projects and fiber projects such as knotted silk jewelry.  Inexpensive leather or fiber pieces may be knotted directly onto the toggle pieces with overhand knots.

Toggle Materials

Your "stick" may be as simple as a button with a shank used with a loop of seed beads on bead wire.  Your loop may be quite fancy, with "expandable" toggles of several rings attached together.   The rings on both the toggle loop and toggle stick should be firmly attached.  Toggle sticks with spiral patterns seem to be susceptible to bending more than many other designs.

Toggle in the United States will often be made of one of the following materials:

Platinum Palladium Gold Gold-Filled Silver: Thai silver, sterling silver (.925 silver) Titanium Surgical Steel Brass, usually plated with gold, silver, copper, antique copper, antique brass, gunmetal/black nickel and imitation rhodium Wood Stone

Many of these materials are available in different surface textures: shiny, matte, brushed, etc.  Crystals, cubic zirconia and gemstones may decorate toggles of the more expensive metals.

The jewelry designer's unique sense of design and style will define the jewelry aesthetics and the the possible toggles for a jewelry piece.  Fortunately, toggles are available in a wide range of prices, shapes and materials.

Handmade Jewelry-Making Basics – What is a Toggle? is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

You must use effective marketing techniques that will drive targeted traffic to your shop. Sounds easy right! Well online marketing isn’t as easy as it may sounds. There are a variety of techniques, search engine optimization, link building, pay-per-click campaigns, social networking, email campaigns and the list goes on and on.

Some handmade artists believe that simply having a blog where they blog about their handmade crafts will get them noticed. And unfortunately blogging doesn’t always get you noticed either.

I actually takes a combination of all of the online marketing techniques above to get your online handmade craft shop noticed. These techniques also require a lot of time and some require a good deal of money. I know this because I manage the online marketing campaign for HandmadeCraftShow.com, an online virtual craft show that markets handmade artists and their online shops.

Using a variety of online marketing techniques we have been able to launch a very aggressive marketing campaign that has taken us to 0 to 17,000 unique visitors per month. As the popularity of our site grows we are expecting that number to soon double and then triple.

HandmadeCraftShow.com has one main focus and that is to market handmade crafts.  Our unique setup is different from other virtual craft shows and handmade artists and buyers have taken noticed. New handmade artists are always adding their online shops because they understand that this is the easiest and most affordable way to market their online shops.

If you are needing visitors to your online shop then I encourage you to join our virtual craft show and let us do the marketing for you. This way you can stay focus on your day job or adding more handmade craft items to your shop.

Top Places To Sell Handmade Crafts Online

Etsy.com Artfire.com

Top Places To Market Your Online Shop

ShopHandmadeOnline.com – http://shophandmadeonline.com HandmadeCraftShow.com – http://handmadecraftshow.com WorldOfHandmade.com – http://worldofhandmade.com

Top Places To Network With Other Handmade Artists

The Jewelry Artist Network – http://jewelryartistnetwork.ning.com The Handmade Artist Hangout – http://handmadecraftshow.ning.com

Places To Sell Handmade Crafts is a post from: Watthamai Crafts

ShopHandmadeOnline.com hand picks handmade artists and their crafts to display in their online catalog. It has a very easy layout so that one click on a handmade craft takes you directly to the handmade artist online shop, where you can then purchase the handmade crafts of your choosing.

This is the newest way to shop for handmade crafts online and both handmade buyers and handmade artists love it. ShopHandmadeOnline.com is always adding new and trendy handmade crafts. They range from handmade jewelry to handmade home décor to handmade clothes to handmade bath and body products and more. We even have handmade toys! Talk about variety. We offer just about everything you can think of, including handmade treats for mans best friend. That’s right we even have tasty homemade doggie treats.

The talented handmade artists, listed in our online handmade craft catalog, have priced their handmade items to sale. Handmade buyers always get the absolute best price when they purchase a handmade craft item from one of the artists listed on ShopHandmadeOnline.

If you love shopping handmade crafts online then I encourage you to visit the online handmade craft catalog, ShopHandmadeOnline.com. Every time you visit I am sure that you will find a few handmade craft items that you will enjoy. So come shop. We are always open!

Shopping For Handmade Crafts Online Made Easy is a post from: Watthamai Crafts