Author: Caryn

Kerfs

On By CarynIn Craft

Kerfs are slits cut into wood. The right application of kerfs allows the wood to bend. I’m beyond excited about the possibilities combining laser cut kerfs and thin plywood. I found a box calculator website where you plug in dimensions and it outputs SVG files. I entered a 3” diameter and 6” height and downloaded files that easily went into my laser cutter software. I cut the box from thin plywood and glued it together.

Photo description: open topped container with rounded corners laser cut from thin plywood

The dimensions I entered were not the finished dimensions. It was 6” tall, but had a diameter over 3.5”, which turned out to be an awkward size, too big for pens or a dice cup, but OK for paintbrushes. I finished the wood with Howard’s Feed-N-Wax. I’m not a fan of butt end joints, which is what the seam on this cup is, where the edges of the wood come together without interlocking, but this was a very informative first kerf project.

Photo description: plywood cup and a bottle of Howard’s Feed-N-Wax

Seed jar

On By CarynIn Garden

This is my Dad’s favorite seed jar, and my folks sent me one. I absolutely concur with my Dad’s assessment; this is neat. It is basically a jar with a built in hook and a stand so the jar can hang upside down to drain. The lid is metal mesh to allow the water through. A few times a day, you rinse the seeds and hang it back up to drain. I have my set on the back of the sink, so it is easy to remember. When the sprouts fill the jar, I put them in the fridge and start a new round. It has been a very good way to encourage me to eat salads.

Photo description: sprout jar full of sprouts

I don’t have an Amazon affiliate (I should probably look into that), but here are the links to the jar and seeds I’ve been using.

Seed jar: https://a.co/d/8tJRb5s

Salad seed mix: https://a.co/d/7gnsriQ

Remembering

On By CarynIn Cats, Craft

My photo album is my memory, especially for crafts. I’m usually several projects ahead of what I’m posting about, and remembering back to what hook or needle I used is problematic. So I take a picture.

Photo description: knitted swatch of hand spun mint infused fiber with a needle gauge and a needle inserted into the 2.25mm hole. Calico cat sleeping in the background.

If I can get an animal in the background of the picture, all the better.

Throwback Thursday: butterfly wings

On By CarynIn Craft, Insects

Here is a quick project for found butterfly wings. We often find deceased butterflies in the yard, and in December 2011, we had some amazingly intact wings. Jewelry sections of hobby stores often have premade pendant frames that are two pieces of thin glass or plastic held together with a metal frame. I found these square frames, opened them, and carefully cut the butterfly wings to fit the glass.

Photo description: four square framed pendants with monarch butterfly wings sandwiched between glass

I am amazed at the durability of these pendants. I decided they looked better on our tree, so rather than necklaces, I made them into ornaments by adding a hook. They are some of my favorite ornaments and are still gracing our tree 13 years later.

Jewelry repair: teardrop pendant

On By CarynIn Craft

Here is another requested repair from my mother-in-law. This is a pretty nested tear drop design made from several colored loops. Here, the component holding all the loops broke in half.

Photo description: four layer teardrop pendant with broken connecting link (upside down)

Rather than glue the link back together, which surely would have broken again, I crafted a new linkage from twisted square sterling silver wire. I liked the rustic look of the twisted wire, and how it coordinated with the existing loops.

Photo description: looped twisted square sterling silver wire holding the tear drop loops

I did accidentally break the silver colored tear drop, but a little sanding removed the burr and I was able to still use it in the repaired pendant.

Photo description: repaired pendant as it would hang on the chain

Did I remember to take a photo of the pendant on the chain? Sigh, no.