Are you as ready for spring as I am? I’m done with winter and to prove it I’ve got a fresh new pearl project to welcome in warmer weather when it finally gets here. Welcome to Girls Want Pearls #29!
I want to show you a super easy project with high visual impact.
You’ll need:
3 straight skinny clear vases (you can find them at most dollar stores), pearls and beads in various colors, water, and 3 flower stems.

I love ombre shading! I knew I wanted to create an ombre effect with dark to light colored pearls / beads. I went to shop for the perfect combination of colors but wasn’t quite coming up with what I needed. What do you do when you can’t find what you’re looking for? You make it!

I did some paint mixing with my craft paints to create 4 of the colors in my design: the cocoa brown, the bright green, and the two lighter shades of pink. I would have much prefered to buy what I needed, and I’m sure you can find the exact right colors online, but in case you can’t, or you like to dabble in paint mixing, here’s the solution I came up with. I placed a dollup of the mixed color in a small plastic container with a lid (butter tub, coffee can, etc.). I dropped in the desired amount of white pearls, put the lid on and shook them up. Then I poured them out on waxed paper and let them dry, jiggling them periodically to keep them from sticking. If you want a more translucent color, add a little water to the paint.

Once the pearls are dry, place them in the vase, add water and flowers. BTW, I did get lucky when it came to my flower purchase. I knew I wanted light pink tulips for this project. Any color would be lovely but that’s what I pictured. I went to Walmart and they had them! Exactly what I needed at the first place I looked! POW!

So there you have it, an inexpensive way to bring a good dose of spring to your home using pearls.

Next week’s hint: Shake a Leg!

Talk soon,
 Ann
Linking with: Savvy Southern Style,The 36th Avenue, No Minimalist Here, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,The Scoop, Mod Vintage Life, Between Naps on the Porch, From My Front Porch to Yours, Cozy Little House, Knick of Time, A Stroll Thru Life, Ivy and Elephants, Jennifer Rizzo, Style Elixir, Shabby Art Boutique, Cheerios and Lattes, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Classy Clutter, French Country Cottage, C.R.A.F.T. Monday Funday

Happy Monday and Welcome to Girls Want Pearls #27! I hope you all had a good weekend. I think the winter blahs are starting to get to me so it’s time for a pep talk. Let’s start this week with expectations of good things! Look for someone who needs encouragement today and pay it forward! Pay the coffee tab of the person behind you in the drive through window at Starbucks! Shovel your neighbor’s sidewalk! Or just say a kind word to the checkout person at the grocery store. You never know what someone else is going through and how a little kindness can lift their spirits. How’s that for Sally Sunshine on a cold February Monday?

You with me still? On to our pearl project.

Decorative Pearl Balls

For the first design you’ll need a Styrofoam ball, jute twine, pearls, straight pins and glue.

Glue and pin the twine in place: start in the center and create a cross pattern using 5 or 6 strands. This will create 4 pie shape sections. Fill in the 4 sections as shown. I found it easiest to do one half of the ball and then the other half. After the twine has dried you can remove the pins. Add pearls in a pretty pattern attaching them with straight pins.

For the second design you’ll need a styrofoam ball, 1/4 yard of burlap, pearls and straight pins.

Cut circles of burlap, approx 1 1/2 diameter, then cut each one in half. I didn’t count how many, but enough to cover a styrofoam ball, maybe around 50. Fold each half circle over to form a sort of petal and pin into the ball.

For the third ball you’ll need twine, approx. 4 feet long, approx. 5 feet of brown wire and pearls.

Grab your piece of twine and start wrapping it tightly around the wire, doing 3-5 inch sections at a time. Twist each section until tightly wrapped, then knot, add a pearl and knot again. Repeat these steps, adding as many pearls as you would like. Next take the long wire/twine/pearl strand that you have created and form a circle, mine was approx. 2 1/2 inches. Twist together and wrap in the crosswise direction forming a second circle. Twist at the intersection and wrap a third circle, continuing until you have formed a sphere consisting of 4 circles. Twist the final circle at the top and reshape any of the pieces that are too wonky.

Next week’s hint: Top Notch Upstyle

Talk soon,

Ann

Linking with: Savvy Southern Style,The 36th Avenue, No Minimalist Here, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,The Scoop, Mod Vintage Life, Between Naps on the Porch,From My Front Porch to Yours,Cozy Little House, Knick of Time,A Stroll Thru Life, Ivy and Elephants, Jennifer Rizzo, Style Elixir, Shabby Art Boutique, Funky Junk Interiors, Cheerios and Lattes, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Classy Clutter, French Country Cottage