Macrame Gnome Earring File and Cancer Update

 

Hello all!  Sorry I haven't posted in a few days but I've been busy creating some new earring files to list in my Etsy shop.  I made these adorable macrame Santa earrings and they'be been really popular.

So I decided to make a set of gnomes too and I think they turned out pretty stinking cute!  The file is set up to score the gnome's nose and the bottom of his hat.  This makes painting easy!  you can peel the masking off the part you are painting and you don't have to worry about going outside of the lines because the rest of the masking is still in place.  You can really get creative with the hat and paint or engrave a design in it.  I'm thinking a heart for Valentine's Day, snowflake for Christmas, shamrock for St. Patrick's Day, etc.  These really aren't my style but macrame earrings are really trending (think Boho).  

I used white embroidery floss for these and cut them to about 5 inch lengths.  Each section has 3 strands of embroidery floss, doubled when you make a larks head knot for each section.  I just made these for display purposes but if you are going to wear/sell them (and why wouldn't you?), you would probably want to put a dab of glue on the back of each knot so they don't come undone.

Also, this may be the last post for awhile because next Tuesday (Dec 1st) I will be having surgery to remove the tumor and a big section of my colon/rectum.  I met with the surgeon last week and he stated the surgery could take up to 6 hours.  They are going to try to do it robotically but if they run into complications they will have to open me up.  Obviously I would prefer robotically because there will be smaller incisions and easier recovery.  Hoping for the best!  I will be in the hospital for 3-5 days and due to Covid I can't have any visitors!  Once they wheel me into the OR, I won't see my family again until they pick me up at the front door 3-5 days later.  I have to say, I am a little terrified.  I'm not afraid of the surgery or even the pain.  I am worried that the recovery will take too long and I won't enjoy Christmas.  But it needs to be done and I will be glad to have it behind me.

Ok, now for the reason you are all here, the freebie.  I have had a few comments on facebook that some people cannot download my files.  I would suspect it is because your browser is blocking it.  It is a direct download from Google Drive.  If you cannot download it, please try allowing pop-ups or try a different browser.  Hopefully that will allow you to download them!

Download the Macrame Gnome Earring File HERE

If you don't have a Glowforge but would like to make these cute earrings, I sell the blanks in my Etsy Shop.

I also sell the Santa wood blanks!

3D Snowflake Earrings - Free Laser File

Happy Saturday everyone!  It's starting to get cold here in Illinois and although we haven't had any real snowfall yet we all know it's coming soon!  I had some fun creating thse little 3D snowflake earrings and I think they really turned out cute!  There are two different versions in the .zip file.  There is one for proofgrade acrylic and one for 1/8" wood or other brands of acrylic that might be a little thicker.  After they are cut you have two pieces.  I painted these and added a bit of glitter:

The wood version has a bigger slot and depending on your materials there may be a little bit of leeway when you piece them together.  I just use one of these tiny brushes and add superglue to the area in red before I slide them together to secure them.

Then you just need to add your hardwear and they're ready to wear!  I hope you enjoy them!  Commercial Use is OK with this file!

DOWNLOAD THE FREE 3D SNOWFLAKE EARRING FILE HERE

 

Happy Veteran's Day! Free Laser File

 

Hello and thank you to all Veterans out there!  I appreciate you all year but today is your day!  I created another free sign file today for the occasion.  This one is about 11ish by 6ish inches but of course you can make it any size!  Probably the only thing I hate more than painting is gluing a bunch of tiny pieces and trying to get them lined up correctly on the backer board.  So this one is all one piece!

Just cut, paint or stain and glue.  Easy peasy.  I didn't add hardware to hang it because I was just going to lean this one.

Included in the .zip is a distressed Veteran flag that would be better suited for engraving.  I didn't have time to engrave it but here's a mockup I did in Photoshop.

Thanks for reading and enjoy!  Commercial Use allowed with this file!

Download the Veteran Flag File HERE

***********  Edited to Add **********

What to do with 50 tiny stars? 

Add tiny earring posts to them and make cute star studs!

First Post

Those of you who followed my blog many years ago know that this isn't really my first post.  I deleted all the old posts and am starting fresh!  None of the old links to the digital scrapbook freebies worked anymore and while I knew I needed to update or delete the blog, I just kept putting it off.  I decided today that it was finally time!  I am not going to write a big long post tonight but wanted to update anyone who may have read the blog 10 years ago on what's going on with my life.

I retired in April 2019 from the police department after 28 years of service!  My first few months after retiring were spent doing things I never seemed to have time to do.  I cleaned the grout in my kitchen, organized the closets, did lots of puzzles, went to the gym... I love retirement!  I picked up a couple of odd jobs walking the neighbor's dog and I worked for the Census in the fall of 2019 canvassing addresses.  I also continued to work on my Etsy shop and it kept me busy enough that I didn't pursue another full time job.  

In February of this year I bought a Glowforge laser and I'm having a blast with it!  I mostly use it for jewelry for my shop but I've also made signs for several family members and friends.  When people learn you have a laser they come to you with all kinds of projects!  I plan to share what I'm making and some free .svg files that can be used with a laser or electronic cutting machine.

Cut to March - COVID shuts everything down! I was scheduled to start back up with the Census but they weren't sending enumerators out because of Covid.  I had kind of forgotten about it when they called and wanted me to go to training in July.  My heart wasn't really in it at that point.  My mom had just had back surgery and I was staying with her while she recovered and driving back and forth to my house 45 minutes away.  But I went to the training and figured I could make a little Christmas cash.  That was a Saturday.

On Monday, July 27th, I had a colonoscopy and woke up to some terrible news.  There was a tumor in my rectum and I needed to have a CT scan right away.  I was escorted from the recovery room across the hall to the CT scan.  I don't remember much of the rest of the evening.  What a shock!  The following weeks I had another CT (chest) an MRI, and multiple appointments with the Oncologist, Surgeon, and Radiologist.  I had 6 weeks of radiation and chemo and had minimal side effects.  I had wonderful care from all my providers.  Now my body is healing from the damage of the radiation and chemo.  In early December I will have surgery to remove the tumor.   Hopefully I will be recovered and feeling good again by Christmas!  

I hope you all will continue to follow my blog and my journey.  Thanks for reading!