Luna, I don't spend much on beading,lady that gives me her clothes(same size as I am) gives me beaded gowns, fancy sweaters with pearls, Christmas sweaters with all kinds of jewels,pearls & beads.Yard salers aren't interested in buying that stuff, I keep what I like & give to DD & Mom too. The TS's when they were new had no idea what to do with craft stuff so would put all kinds of stuff in a bag I could barely lift & it would be $3.98 & not sell so go down to $1.98 & maybe even 98cents. They have gotten savvy now & are much higher but it was great while it lasted. Only problem is it takes "forever" using a thread puller to get all the goodies off the sweaters & dresses. 1 day TS had sample book of laces 18 in long by15 in wide by about 6 in high,all samples were stapled on,about 4 pieces to a page, so all pieces ready to use on projects for $1.98 for book. All colors too, too bad days of making wedding books is over. You know those brocade,lace & pearl books that you put the pics in several years ago. I do see some gals take jewelry classes & spend a fortune on supplies. If I do need something to finish a project I get it with coupon/or 40-50 % off at Joanne's or Michael's. I'm finishing up a beaded butterfly for the garden 8 1/2 in. long by 8 in wide, copper body. I had to buy stainless steel wire & then twisted 2 wires together for strength, some of beads came from old broken necklaces those are the larger ones. spaghetti bead on tail is from when I made beaded reindeer ornies, over 25 years ago. I saved up beads & broken jewelry as thought I would make a Christmas tree on board someday, instead updated & made a Christmas tree last year of Styrofoam cone & beads & old buttons & jewelry & didn't glue(U shaped wires) as some are very old & didn't want to damage any value they might have. I made bunch of hair combs last year posted on crafts & decorations forum & used combs I used to use when my hair was so thick, did get some beads on sale as I wanted the colors to match what I wear. Also GF & I trade back & forth, I get a bunch of black beads & give her some,she gives me stuff she used to sell at Quartzite when they had a booth each year. Jan

I made these from the instructions (Can't remember where I got them. I also made some from kits from Mary Maxim's catalog the two on the right are the ribbon ones RIBBON ORNAMENTS Although these ornaments resemble shimmering lengths of ribbon candy, theyÂre actually an inedible mixture of ribbon, beads, and silk knitting tape. Hung from your treeÂs branches or presented as gifts, these unique embellishments are sure to be treasured for many years to come. TECHNIQUE Making a Ribbon Ornament Ribbon (23-inch length, if using 1-inch-wide ribbon; 35-inch-length, if using 2-inch-wide ribbon) TailorÂs chalk 24-inch length of 1/8-inch-thick silk knitting tape Glass beads, 4 mm and 8 mm Embroidery needle Beginning 1 1/2 inches in from one end of the ribbon (this will become the top of the ornament), make marks down the center every 2 to 3 inches using tailorÂs chalk. Continue until you reach bottom end of the ribbon. Trim top end of ribbon to form a swallowÂs tail. Thread the needle with tape. Using bottom few inches of tape, form a loop large enough to hang ornament by; tie a knot. Thread a large bead, then a small bead, pulling them down to the knot. Poke the needle through the ribbon at the first mark at ribbonÂs top end, and pull tape through. Thread a large bead, then loosely fold the ribbon over the bead. Poke the needle through the next mark, thread a small bead, and fold ribbon over again. Repeat with remaining ribbon, alternating large and small beads with each fold. When youÂve completed your folds, thread a large bead, then a small bead, and knot the tape just above the beads. Here is a link that might be useful:

One thing I did once, was included in the Cookie Exchange Invitation: I assigned one ingredient to each guest-things you'd add to a cookie batter etc.-and they had to bring a small description/history of that ingredient, and other uses for it. Not only was it interesting to hear about & helpful-each guest read her info during the 'refreshments' part of the exchamge. Another time-we made the faux dough and every guest had to roll out & paint & decorate a cookie ornament & date it on the back-a nice remembrance of the party. The ornaments baked while the rest of the cookie exchange was in full swing.

Thanks! Urlee, I usually use "insert picture from file" I think I've only ever copied & pasted into Word once. I should try it again because there is one type of graphic that Word never prints quite correctly and that is my pixel dolls. It makes them slightly too small when I do "insert picture from file." I love PSP! lol