Catfluff

Catfluff's goal on making the earth greener is shown on her effort on recycling "trash" into beautiful and useful products. Take her farmer's market bags for example, they're made from recycled potato sacks. They have been washed out and the handles trimmed with coordinating colors cotton. The bags are fully lined. She also made tote bags out of animal feed sacks. Don't worry they won't smell because everything has been cleaned. She also makes pillow covers and throw pillows from batik. I love her shop. So green and cheerful :)

More of her products..

Mini Tutorial: Fused Silver Heart

A little tutorial for you who are wondering how to make your own little heart from silver wire. NO SOLDER needed. We're going to FUSE!! How fun! <3

TOOLS:
- Butane torch (I use the small one for creme brule)
- 16 gauge Argentium/Fine Silver round wire
- Ruler
- Wire cutter
- Round nose pliers

1. Cut your silver wire to 6 cm.

2. Mark the middle of it and bend it like pictured. The corner will be a bit rounded.

3. Using the largest part of your round nose pliers, round the ends of your wire like picture #3. You will see that the ends do not meet perfectly.

4. Take your wire cutter, using the flush side, cut in an angle like picture #4 until the ends of the wire aligned perfectly. If your wire cutter leaving some pinched mark, file them flat before fusing.

5. Close the gaps between the wire until they're closed tight against each other. Take your butane torch, set the fire to the pointest state and start fusing.

Here's a great tutorial about fusing wire. You may want to read it first if you're new to fusing wire :)


I hope you enjoy this mini tutorial! Leave a comment here if you have any questions.

-K-


A great tip from Janice: "Kay - if you want a more 'pointy' bottom to the heart, rather than rounded.....try taking a triangular needle file to the halfway mark - file about 1/2 to 3/4 the way through, bend, make sure its tight, then fuse the point."


Picture on the right shows the finished fused heart --->>>

*****Download the PDF version HERE!*****

Bijoux Designs For You

Bijoux Designs For You is a mother/daughter team who share the love of jewelry and all things pretty. You can find many things in their ArtFire studio from jewelry, bookmarks, mittens to wine bags. Their style is feminine and simple coupled with very affordable price tags. They have quite some amount of special items for Mother's Day. Are you ready for Mother's Day? Take a peek at their shop! They have a little something for everyone :)

More of their products..

Wooley Creek Native Indian Jewelry and Accessories

Wooley Creek specializes in Native American beadwork and crafts. She has been beading since 1990 and you can find her at Powwows and Flea Markets to sell her crafts and Vintage Native American Jewelry together with her husband. You will be surprised on how cheap their products are. She certainly asks less than what they're worth, imo. Like those tiny mocasin earrings are only for $5 a pair. OMG! I know, huh? The pink version is also available for sale. The tiny Concho Pouch is only for $4 and it's made of genuine leather! Many of her intricate beadwork jewelry are only around $7-20 mark. Very very affordable with great designs and colors! You don't wanna miss this store! I'd feature everything in her store if i could <3

More of her beadwork..

Top 9 Featured Friday 04/24

1. Horseshoe
2. Cherry
3. Lucite
4. Petite
5. Lapis
6. Blooms
7. Forever
8. Decadence
9. Amber

What's your favorite? Leave a comment here with a link to your artfire studio to get featured next Friday :)

Creative Cove Jewelry Designs

Creative Cove Jewelry Designs is the place you go when you want something simple for everyday wear. The designer uses mostly genuine semi precious gemstones, freshwater pearls, and beautiful lampwork beads. Look at the butterfly necklace above, so sweet huh? The colors are perfect for Spring!

More of her jewelry designs..

Silver River Jewelry

Silver River Jewelry studio is filled with fine artisan jewelry made with a variety of techniques including wire wrapping, metal smithing, and lapidary (rocks). She makes elegant, affordable, well made jewelry with a touch of whimsy. You will notice the organic touch too on them. I love the handmade look from her products. Very nice and well made you won't be disappointed! She accepts custom order as well :)

More of her products..

Shine Your Hiney

Shine Your Hiney is a fun and catchy name for a soap maker don't you think? SYH makes and sells skin loving bath and beauty products such as handmade soaps, lotions, bath salts, and body scrubs. She handmade all of her products using natural ingredients like goat's milk, oatmeal, cinnamon, and green tea. Some of her soaps even molded in cute shapes for children or the children in you to use ;-) You can also find cute bath mitts monsters to use as a soap saver in her shop. Bring the fun back in your bath/shower time using Shine Your Hiney products.

More of her products..

DJStoreRoom

DJStoreRoom's Studio is full of various handmade goodness. You will find cosmetic pouches, craft mirrors, glitter paper pegs, and some sewing tutorial for you crafty people. She use a lot of bright colors and fun patterns for her pouches. Besides the affordable prices on her handmade goodies, she offers free shipping worldwide! How awesome is that?

More of her stuffs..

Top 9 Featured Friday 04/17 Special

Everyone who sells online knows that camera is an essential tool. To help our poor friend Creative Haven who desperately needs a new camera (her toddler son broke hers), today's Top 9 Featured Friday is dedicated to her stores. She's having Buy One Get The Second One Half Off Sale going on in her store until she gathers enough fund to buy a new camera.

So if you're looking for pretty jewelry for Mother's Day or for Birthday gift or looking some affordable jewelry to pamper yourself, make sure to check her store first.

Here are a few samples of what you can find in her ArtFire studios.

From CreativeHaven Studio:


From CreativeSupplies Studio:


Next week's Top 9 Featured Friday will be back to normal. Leave a comment here with links to your artfire studios to get featured next Friday :)

3zArt Home Decor

3zArt has about 200 home decor items to offer in her online store. From light switch plates, lamp shades, coasters, and mouse pads. These items will surely brighten your house in an interesting way. If you are looking forward to decorate your new house or adding some beauty to your old house, be sure to check these unique items from 3zArt! She has it all from bright pop art colors to muted elegant and monochromatic colors. There surely is something for everyone :)

Accessories by Gott Joy

Accessories by Gott Joy, as described in her studio name, GottJoy not only makes jewelry but also the kind of unusual accessories for your house. From a letter opener, ceiling fan pull, wine stopper, beaded pens, her creativity seems to know any limit. So if you have an eye for beautiful beaded things, go check her store! She works a lot with lampwork beads and Swarovski crystals and creates everything in a smoke free environment. Now that's a plus in my book :)

Uploading Image to ArtFire Forum Posts

Some people asked how to make their product images appear in the forum?

Here's a simple tutorial on how to do it fast and quick!

1. Go to the listing you want to brag in the forum. Right click on the image and Copy Image Location to get the URL.


2. Hit Reply and there will be a Reply box appear. Hit the Yellow mountain icon.

2. It will open another box, paste the URL there (Ctrl+V).

4. Go to the next tab (Link). Copy your Listing's URL

and paste in the box


By doing these steps, your images will get uploaded in the forum AND linked to your particular listings! :D