The 100 Day Project 2024

Yesterday, the 100 Day Project for 2024 started (it's not too late to join in!!) I mentioned last week that I would give you a heads-up about what my project is going to be. So here it is - I'm doing a #NotPreciousProject. Basically, I've got too much stuff. 


And, I've made it all "too precious" to use. That's just plain silly. So, I'm going to work on breaking through that mindset and USE some of it because most of it is not really precious. I'm just afraid of messing up. 


So that I don't get overwhelmed by ALL the things in my stash I've curated a small collection (above) to start me off on this year's 100-day journey. I plan to restock it as I use items and find more to try to use. 

I'm not limiting my use of these Precious items to any particular medium. I just want to use them, to give them purpose again! 

My goal is not to use 100 items or to make 100 things…it’s simply to spend 100 days consciously using those “precious” items in projects. And, the precious items may include anything I’ve deemed too precious to use: found objects, paints, papers, thrifted materials, new/purchased materials, whatever! 



This is my eighth year participating in #the100dayproject, and I love how it challenges me to keep thinking outside the box and moving forward. My previous projects have been

2017 - #Make100Earrings

2018 - #Altering100

2019 - #SilverloxFinds

2020 - #MakeArtDontFakeArt

2021 - #100DaysofMakingJewelry

2022 - #Assemblage100

2023 - #Making100Faces AND #MiniAssemblage100


If you want to see a quick video of some of my stash, you can check out this reel on Instagram.


So, are you participating in the project!? Let me know what you'll be doing for the next 100 days.



Bead Box 18 - Stocked

I think I mentioned in my last post that I had a new Bead Box packed up for an event that ended up not happening. Since I've already worked most of my way through it, I thought I ought to give you the peek I promised (before I need to stock it again for the March First Friday event!)


As you can see, this is a super basic, plastic organizer. Into each of the 17 compartments, I put the components I need to create a single design. This "bead box" comes in handy when I travel, have to sit in a waiting room, or just don't have the inspiration to design something new.

While I was rushing to get this box stocked, I didn't get individual pictures of the contents of each compartment. However, I can give you a better look and some idea of what I have planned to create. 

1 - A fancy soldered pendant, matching beads, and gunmetal chain will become a long necklace. 

2 - Tin discs, glass flower beads, brass leaves, and ball-end headpins are destined to become a neat pair of earrings. 

3 - Riveted tin pieces that look a bit like mushrooms are planned to hang from golden rings that need to be wrapped with small similarly-colored beads. These will be earrings.


4 - Yikes, you can't really see anything there can you? There's a pendant that I made and used in another necklace (that didn't work out) along with beads and chain that will become another long necklace. 

5 - Soldered glass teardrop beads and a mix of clear and golden beads are going to make a fun pair of earrings. 

6 - An interesting soldered pendant that features a soldered bubble, a piece of turquoise, and a chandelier crystal will be the focal of long necklace that includes turquoise chips, round glass beads, and antiqued silver chain. 


7 - For this one, I'll be using a fun focal that's made using tin and a glass bubble along with a bunch of small glass beads in black, light blue, and dark blue to create a short necklace. I'll use a bunch of eye pins to make the chain, rather than wire.

8 - Dome-shaped tin pieces and beads will be used to make a fun pair of earrings.

9 - The elements in this one are simple - soldered cultured sea glass pendant and some Chain Reaction from Jesse James Beads. These earrings will come together quickly.


10 - Those bright seed beads mean that these earrings will not be coming together as quickly. They're planned to be wrapped around a couple of large links of gunmetal-colored chain with a bright green teardrop bead hanging from the center.

11 - Again, this is hard to see. But, in that baggie are two brass bullet casings, a bunch of little bits of chain, beads, headpins, and golden earwires. These will be some fun, fringy earrings!


12 - That Gaea pendant will hopefully be connected to a short length of beaded chain, then brass chain via some leather loops. We'll see how this necklace works out. 

13 - Finally, a bracelet idea. I've got a button, waxed linen cord in green, and a mix of four different types of beads. I'm hoping this all turns into a multi-strand bracelet.

14 - Here, I've got a copper-colored charm along with pinky peach and clear beads. Again, I'm hoping for a bracelet.


15 - There's a Tim Holtz bar in there that will be the focal (hopefully) of a colorful bracelet on beading wire.

16 - Large metal components, tin, and stone beads are in this compartment. They should make a pair of large earrings.

17 - Finally, a mix of beads and a few buttons are all that are in here. I plan to use darkened copper wire to make a long necklace with them.

I know, this is a pretty awful post. But, what a surprise the reveal is going to be for you!

If you're interested in seeing some of my previous boxes and their reveals, here's the full list!


And, if you have any questions beyond the obvious (what the heck was she thinking!?), please don't hesitate to ask.


Latest News

My focus lately has been a bit all over the place. And, with any luck, it's not slowing down. But, I need to remember to keep y'all updated over here too! So...let's quickly recap some of the latest highlights (in no particular order).

  • I did an interview with CanvasRebel recently and the article just came out. You can read it by following the link.
  • I also got my name out there even more as I did a demo of some of my mixed media card-making at Hello Gallery in Fairhope during the February First Friday Artwalk (after-hours) event. 

     I'll admit that I was pretty nervous, but enjoyed myself plenty and got in the creative flow better than I expected. I do have jewelry, assemblage art, mixed media cards, and a variety of other pretties available for sale in the gallery.
  • I've been very active on my CraftyHope YouTube channel. Since my last blog post, I released several vlog series as well as art journaling and thrift haul videos. Oh, and there are a couple of jewelry-related ones too! (The earrings below are one of them!)
    DIY Easy Toggle Ring Dangle Earrings

  • I'm desperately trying to decide what I'll be working on for The 100-Day Project this year. It starts February 18th, so I best decide SOOOOOON! I've floated the idea of several different projects but am leaning more and more toward yet another assemblage project. I'd love to hear if you're joining the project and what you're going to do. 
  • There's new jewelry in the CraftyHope Etsy shop for you to peruse. Here's just a peek.
Red Dagger Earrings

  • If you watch my "What's in My Art Bag: Jewelry Edition" Video, you'll notice that I mentioned a new Bead Box. Hopefully, I'll have a new "stocked" post soon. But, because of the rush I was in to get packed up, I didn't get a ton of photos. So....we'll see how that goes. 
Whew, I think that's plenty for now. If there's something you're missing from me, just let me know!


Bead Box 18 - Reveal

 Hey y'all! I'm popping in to share the completed jewelry pieces that came out of Bead Box 18 . I've actually already stocked an...