I have a favorite artist. Her name is Jane Wynn. Years ago on one my my Borders Book Store visits, I ran into her book. Now, let e tell you that I would frequent these book stores and spend several hours going through craft books, trying to get inspired. Beading and Cook books used to be my fave. Anyway, I ran into her book called Altered Curiosities. It was lightning of info going through my brain! I skimmed through the pages and knew it was the book I had to leave with. Here is here LINK to visit her shop. Your welcome.

My Octopus necklace is inspired from her creation process shown in her book.  Still different, but you can see how she's helped me put this together.
 These are not thorough instructions. It is just a simple way of saying what I did. Buy Jane's book for a better understanding of how to create your own look.

I like to share on Instagram, but I thought I would share here just for others who don't use the app on the smart phone.
I wanted to share how I created a skull flat back bead cabochon from a skull head. I purchased a skeleton at the Dollar Store. I took his head and sliced it down the middle with a razor blade. Usually I slice my finger, but luckily not this time! :0)
I then stuffed the hollowed skull head with clay, so that when I create a mold, I won't have air inside and make an odd shape. Instead of using silicone to create a mold, I used my vacuum former. I created a plastic see-through mold, perfect to make a smooth skull head!
The next day I popped out my skull head and added crystals over the eyes. I hate making bows, and dealing with ribbon. Nut Had to use some for her head onto these earrings! I really do love how they came out. I'm making a bunch now - and some are even for me to keep! :0)

I have been so busy lately! I did make it to Chicago last month to see Jack White at Lollapalooza! Yay me! I was so anxious to get there, I never been to Chicago. I had my eye on the weather and it was going to be a light 80 degrees! Boy was I wrong. Well, it was 82 degrees, but humid as Hell! When I came back home to Fresno, it was over 100 and felt the same! I was warned that it would be humid over there, but you never really know til you see for yourself.
Anyway, I ate Chicago pizza pie, the Chicago style hot dog, and stuffed my face with so much delicious food. I have proof on my Instagram! :0)

Halloween is next month, my favorite time of year! I have been contemplating on my Halloween costume. What should I be? Last year I created The Maitlands scary face outfit from Beetlejuice. I was so confident I would have won a first prize! But I lost to a few hoochies at a night club, and Bobafet at the bar around the corner. Haha, It was still so much fun! My friends were good sports, I even had Beetlejuice along with us! Well, this year I was thinking Edward Scissorhands. We'll see what happens.

I was browsing on Facebook and seen Alexa Westerfields post on a giveaway! I never try out for giveaways, but I like her blog, and thought I'd sign up. I also found really good links to other crafty gals friends of hers on Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook. I love crafty sites to look at. I would rather look at crafty pages than to read posts from folks on my private page. Shhh! It's our secret! Would you like to take a look at The Give-away? Please, copy and paste the link into your web browser to sign up for a Nexus Tablet! http://swelldesigner.blogspot.com/2012/09/nexus-7-tablet-giveaway.html  OR click the GiveAway banner.
Good luck!
<3 Razz

 On Easter, I am up quite early prepping for my visit to grandmas house. While I wait for lil sister to pick me up to ride together, I decide to pick up around the house. I go out to toss the trash and left the front door open, as I would step out for just a sec. Upon my quick return, I hear a loud buzzing. At my craft table, near the front door, is a wasp the size of Texas trying to get into the window blinds. After I scream bloody murder, my sister arrives and I dash out of the house leaving the wasp alone.
 I came home in the evening and had forgot all about that wasp incident. I get into fix a shower and notice the wasp on the bathroom floor, dead. What if I stepped on it?? I examined it, and before it was flushed into the toilet, I noticed how lovely it looked. She seemed to have beautiful almond shaped eyes, that looked half open. Well, I didn't want to flush her at all. I wanted to show off her beautiful colors, and give her a proper burial. 
 She was very soft, still very flimsy and delicate. I carefully put her onto a lid and let her sit over night.

 The next day, I start her new home. I started the resin pour, and gently lowered my wasp. I wonder if I moved her antennas upward, if they would have broke off? I didn't want to break her, so I left her alone. 

 I had a few dried flowers that I had saved for a few years. I being a craft hoarder, knew the day would come when I was going to use them. I lined the edge of the flowers with a light sprinkle of glitter.

I've also added some crystals and colored pearls, and a small silver cross. I didn't want a busy background, So I used black glitter.

 The final picture! I sanded the edges, and glazed this to a high shine! I hand beaded the chain using black and gold glass beads, and two rose shaped beads as well.
 The final resting place of the Wasp. :) Her beauty can always be admired.
-Razz