crafting

Jewelry crafting tutorial review – Present Past Treasures

When Teri of The Beaded Branch asked me to take a look at her craft tutorial, I was more curious to see what it was all about than I was to learn a new craft.

The tutorial is for a jewelry making craft called Present Past Treasures that Teri happened on one day while trying to figure out how to use up all her extra crafting supplies.  Teri and her business partner, Melanie developed this tutorial over a couple years, and the details show in the final product, I think.

At first I was intimidated by the list of tools and products needed. The photos show so many little things. But, after reading the whole thing, the process really isn’t as difficult as it is time consuming. The list of tools is pretty simple if you are already a crafter, and maybe even if you are a scrapbooker. The local craft and dollar stores should be able to provide whatever you don’t have on hand and it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg either.

So, after my initial overwhelm, I got to the instructions. Here’s the cool thing. Teri and Melanie provide clear action type photos. As much action as you can get in a still shot, anyway. I was much less overwhelmed when I saw the photos!

For every step of the process there is at least one photo of what they explain in writing. Most have 2 or 3 photos.

At the end of the tutorial is a list of common mistakes and how to fix them along with photos of what a goof looks like. If it were me writing this tutorialI’d call these f*** ups, but these ladies are super professional with a touch of humor and just call them Common Mistakes. Again, good clear action type photos for how to fix the problem and what the problem might look like.

So here’s the thing, by the time I had read it all, I was thinking “do I have filigree pendents?”  and “I wonder how much an ink pad costs?” Yeah, like I need another crafting project! But, really, it seems fairly simple and really kind of fun if you like creating things.

Just one last note. Apparently this craft involves a lot of heat. So, it isn’t reccomended for kids under the age of 14.

You can purchase the tutorial  at The Beaded Branch and begin making great holiday gifts, or begin your business!

Here are some finished pieces to get your creative juices rolling.