AG_Nan...How did you make the heart necklaces?

[chrstnwmn7]

I was just wondering if you could share instructions on how you made those cute little necklaces. DD and I would love to make those for our dolls. It would give us some great quality time together.

I also wanted to ask how your family is doing? I noticed you posted a while back that you were not going to be on because of family health issues? Am I remembering right?

Thank you for sharing if you can!!! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[rolloverrover]

Thank you for asking about the family. We have decided it's best to maintain a positive attitude and not fall into a constant state of doom and gloom. We found out yesterday that my Dad has Stage IIIB lung cancer. Unfortunately, he's not a surgical candidate and won't be at any point because he has nodal involvement of both the right and left chest regions. His cancer has a one in five chance of a cure. He's going to start a combo treatment of chemo and radiation therapy on Feb. 28. To look at my Dad you don't see a sick man. He also has no pain whatsoever. He does have a cough that tends to kick up in the late afternoon and evenings but over-the-counter "Fisherman's Friend" lozenges work very well for him. We realize IIIB is not a great prognosis but he can be the one out of five to be cured. Again, thanks for asking!!

The necklaces are metallic red "soft" FIMO. I found a set of Wilton heart cookie cutters at Michael's and used the smallest cutter. I used the end of a kitchen "beater" to make a small indentation for the rhinestone. For each necklace I snipped a 1/2" piece of 18 gauge "Wild Wire" and bent it over a tiny pair of wire pliers. Then, I pushed this little wire piece into the top of the heart. I baked the FIMO and wire insert for 30 minutes at 265 degrees. When the FIMO is done I put a smidgen of craft glue in the indentation and inserted a 4 mm glass rhinestone (Westrim Crafts is the brand). The elastic cording is #176 (also from Westrim Crafts, 10 yards per pack).
With one little square of the FIMO I was able to make about 40 hearts, and there was clay left over! I want to make shamrock necklaces now but I can't find a cutter small enough. I don't think anyone makes a small one. There is a 1.5" one available but it's just too big for an AG doll.

[chrstnwmn7]

Thank you so much for sharing. I also PM'd you!
Prayers!
chrstnwmn7

[dornroeschen]

I'll keep your father in my thoughts and wish him all the best for his upcoming treatment.

[calyndra]

AGNan,

Could you roll three little balls and a stem and squish them together to make the shamrock?

Or would that be too much work?

~Abby

[rolloverrover]

Calyndra: I guess I could give it a shot. I'm usually always doing a zillion things at once and cookie cutters are so easy!!
Nancy

[AmericanGirlLover2982]

I will keep your dad in my prayers. Also again I love your valentines they were very pretty. Thanks for sharing the screat behind the heart.

Nikki [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]