September Make n' Tell Challenge, Day #22: Decorating a Tote & New Jewelry

Da da da daaaa de daaaaaaaa!  And they're out the gate!  It's the September Make n' Tell Challenges' final lap!

My schedule can be a little backward to most, I guess.  I am doing 'Makes' every day, just unfortunately I don't get to post every day.  Some are a day behind, yes, but I'll tell you a secret - I edit the post date!  I want to make sure I'm in line with everyone else, I guess ...

Well, without furthur ado, here's today's (ahem, yesterday's) Make n' Tell!

Remember these fun friends that I found at the dollar store?

I've started with the frog, yes, and have moved to the butterflies now.  I was thinking of ways other than jewelry I could do to use these critters, which made me think of this tote I had lying around for the longest time.  I bought it at my local Shoppers Drug Mart on clearance for $2.50.  Just a plain one, waiting to be graffiti'd.  Not bad, eh?

I started to decorate it, but I don't really like where it's going.  In fact, I'm considering ripping everything off and starting over.

 

I started with applying the butterflies first, after I had Nick drill some holes in the top corners of the wings.  I also had a few fantastically tacky fabric prints, and picked one that had the best matching 'pink' to the tote.  I tried to sew a pocket on the front, but I'm terrible at sewing, no matter how crafty I get with it.  I've set it aside for now, since I became frustrated with it, and figure I'd come back to it later with a clearer head.

I was still determined to make something, so I stewed while I made this simple necklace.

Suddenly, this necklace gave me an idea to make these earrings.

 

And finally had a great idea for a butterfly necklace, using beads I hadn't looked at in ages.

 

 

I'm very proud of myself on this make.  I usually do pride myself in colour combinations and whatnot, but this one I had a personal stake in.  Seeing the yellow on this butterfly made me think of the long yellow acrylic beads, and I was very choosy when I hunted for the pinks and greens, trying to focus on those long-forgotten beads I have in the bottom of my stash.

I'm off to work on some more blogging - today was Christmas in the mail!  I couldn't believe it!  What are my September Make n' Tell Challenge friends up to?

A Frayed Knot Knits
www.afrayedknotknits.com

BeadCrazed by Lisa Lutz
lisalutz.blogspot.com

Brainphreak
www.brainphreak.com

Designs by Victoria
dbvictoria.blogspot.com

Life Stiles
iron-chef-bbq.livejournal.com

Mrs Gryphon
mrsgryphon.blogspot.com

The Tote Trove
thetotetrove.blogspot.com

previous September Make n' Tell Challenges:

Day #1

Day #2 - The first Make n' Tell giveaway! Congrats to Tracy from The Tote Trove!

Day #3

Day #4

Day #5

Day #6

Day #7

Day #8

Day #9

Day #10 & #11
Day #12 - Happy Birthday, Dad!
Day #13
Day #14 
Day #15
Day #16 & #17

Day #18 & #19

Day #20

Day #21