We are expanding!

Do you run? Do you ever do fun runs? How about those fantastically colorful runs where you have colored powder thrown at you through out the run? If you are like me then you love those runs. There are so many out there to take part in now a days. I am now designing and creating shirts for these type of runs. The image is white and heat pressed onto a white t-shirt. As you pass through the color zones and get covered in the powder, the image on your shirts becomes easier to see. Please go check out Runnin' 4 Rainbows and leave us some love! We are all over the net! You can find us on our blog, facebook, pinterest, instagram, twitter, google+, and of course our shop on etsy!

Here is a sample of what the shirts look like after a run...

Also we are hosting a contest on out facebook page right now. You could win a free shirt of your choice from our shop! And one other person will receive 50% off of one of our shirts as well! The contest ends Wen. Oct. 2nd!

So like I said please like us and share us, and check out the contest. We hope you have a wonderful Sunday!

Wow! Has it really been nearly a year since I posted on my blog? Well I will have to make sure I start posting on a regular basis again. I feel so bad. Sorry guys!

One thing that has kept me away, aside from my shop and family, is my new love of 5ks. A few friends and I have started running/walking in the "fun runs" Since January I have done 4 and I am registered to do two more before the end of the year. I am sure another one or two may sneak in there before the year is up. My favorites have been The Color Runs. I have done two this year already, one in Tempe, AZ. and on in Orange County, Ca.

I just listed new items in my etsy shop. One of them being these adorable LED lighted Pixi Puff hair clips. Aren't they fantastic? My youngest daughter is in love with these suckers!

And last but definitely not least... I have listed some of my Sugar Skull Necklaces at 25% off. The sale is now through July 4th. There are specific listings for the sale. Grab them while you can!

How about a tutorial?!

It's been a while since I posted a tutorial. But this one is fun and easy. Your kids can help with this one for sure!

Decoden is a trend that started in Japan. And since my oldest is obsessed with Japanese and Korean pop culture. We had to try this out when we discovered how easy it was!

We made iphone cases:

Trinket Jars:

Pendants:

Supplies:

Something to decoden - I am using a poker chip
Resin Cabochons, rhinestones, buttons, etc. Anything you will be using as your decorations.
DAP Alex Plus Caulking 
A Caulking gun or a pastry bag
Frosting tip and components to hold it in place
Rubber bands
duct tape


First I want to show you exactly what the caulking looks like. It comes in this style pictured as well as small tubes. I use this style because it is more cost effective. Make sure you get this one! It needs to be acrylic, latex, and silicone in one!

Here are my other supplies. The pocker chip, cabochons, and my tip:

Next we are going to prep the caulking. If you are using the pastry bag you can skip some of this by squirting the caulking into the pastry bag and a treating it as if were frosting. If you are like me and do not have pastry bags on hand this is what I do....

First you want to wrap the tip with at least 2 rubber bands.

Next place the tip over the rubber bands. You want them to seal the open area. If it seems loose add another rubber band.

Next wrap it in duct tape. This will prevent the tip from leaking out of the sides.

Now we are ready to decorate our poker chip. Starting in the center begin to squirt the caulking, make a circle and mimic the path you would take to frost the top of a cupcake.

You will end up with a small pile of "frosting"

Now one by one add your decorative pieces

There is no set method to placing the pieces. Just go with it! That's what makes is so fun!

Once dry I will add a bail to the back of this and turn it into a key chain or a necklace. But you need to wait until it is fully dry to handle it. Since we are using far more caulking then one would usually use, you need to leave it out longer then the package recommends. The bigger the item the longer the dry time. A piece like the poker chip will be dry to the touch after 24 hours. But the middle may still be soft.

You can pretty much decoden anything these days. So have fun and be creative!

Two tips before you go make your own. Be sure to have a piece of paper near by. the tip will leak a bit. You can stop some of that by loosening the end of the gun before setting it down.

When you are through cover the tip of the caulking in plastic and wrap it in rubber bands to seal it. 

I would love to see your creations! Link them in the comments :)

Some exciting changes for us!

After over a year, Sweet As Steel has relaunched our Etsy shop! We currently have jewelry and sunglasses listed. But we will be slowly adding more items in the weeks ahead. Here is just a sample of what you will find...

We have also come out with two new lines. The Pixi which is an over the top and fun headband/clip combo and The Bevyn Bow which is a bow made from ribbon coupled with cyber crin, to make these adorable bow clips.  Both are made with cyber crin. Some of the colors of cyber crin even glow in a black light. These are fun for little girls and teenagers alike!

Pixi:

Bevyn:

Sweet As Steel will once again be partnering with Boutique Vixxens for an auction. The theme for the auction is 80's! So if you love all things neon and classic cartoons then this is the auction for you! The auction begins Friday, July 5th at 4:00pm PT. And will end Sunday, July 7th at 4:00pm PT. We plan on submitting a Pixi and a fun bangle bracelet. And possibly a couple more items as well ;) I truly hope you can make it to the auction. All of these ladies are remarkably talented and create such amazing items to match the themes!

We are also taking part in  Skull themed auction on Tophatter July 8th, 2:00p, PT. Every item in this auction will be skull related. There will be artists prints, jewelry, and more! We will be offering a new Greaser Cameo necklace. This Skeleton cameo, resembles "The King". It's a fun and unique piece! If you have never heard of Tophatter it is an amazing live auction site, where you win your auction withing minutes rather then days. You can find so many amazing items on the auctions!

Homemade Christmas and Birthdays

My husband and I never planned out when we were having our kids. It just so happens that between Dec. 20th and Jan. 24th is all three of our children's birthdays and Christmas! So I always try to find deals through out the year and such to save us some money when trying to throw together Christmas and Birthdays. Well this year I didn't buy much at all. So here it is half way into Nov and I have NO Christmas gifts and only Birthday gifts for one child. My youngest is going to be three in Jan. I remembered that a couple years ago I got on a felt food kick and made a bunch of donuts. I also got together with a few crafty moms and did an exchange. Her brother loved the stuff. I had made him a camp fire with all the fixin's for S'mores. It was adorable. So I started looking for stuff for my daughter. I came across this fantastic shop on etsy with amazing patterns Gulf Coast Cottage. There are things for boys and girls. There are a couple different specials too. One is a buy 4 tutorials get one free. Or there is a bundle set on their store front that is for 10 patterns of your choice for $45. What a great deal! Thanks to these patterns I now have my soon to be 3 yr old's birthday gifts planned out. If you have a little one who loves to play pretend check out this shop and their adorable patterns!

Altered Flip Flops

I am one of those people that can never wear those cheap knock around flip flops with the rubber straps. They hurt between my tows. So when a friend shares this tutorial from The Mother Huddle, I knew i finally had a reason to take advantage of all those great summer sales! Are these not the cutest thing? You could do so many things with these! You could forgo the fabric and try rope, leather, lace, ribbon, etc. And think of all the ways to embellish them! Buttons, beads, flowers, feathers, bows, etc. No one will ever have the same flip flops as you again! LOL Anyway back to the reason for this post. These are the pair I made today. I love them, They are super comfy! And when my daughter breaks hers... it never fails she breaks the knobby thing off the bottom of at least one pair a summer.) I will now have an easy fix for it! I am going to try to make my 2 yr old a pair soon. 

I hope you like these! If you make some please leave a comment with a link to yours!

Ducktape Rose Pen

I know I have been MIA with the tutorials. Sorry about that. My husband has been working out of town a lot more. Leaving me with three munchkins to entertain more. So, my spare time has been spread really thin. Now we're on summer break and I need activities to help curb the summer boredom. I am sure many of you are facing the same issue. Hopefully this is something that can keep the kiddos busy for a while. My 9 yr old really likes this project. She is requesting more tape. lol

Ducktape Rose Pens

Supplies:
Ducktape on the roll or sheet, I prefer two or more colors/patterns
A ruler (if you are using a roll)
Scissors
Pen

Start by cutting your ducktape into 2x2 inch squares, or close to it. I find the sheets are easier for the kids because there is a grid pattern printed on the back of the sheet. With one sheet you should get 20 squares. If you want the rose fuller you can cut more squares if you'd like. If you are using the roll it may be easier to cut as you go since the tape can be so sticky.

You will also need to cut a small piece to cover the top of the pen. I had a strip that was approx 3/4 in wide so I just cut a piece of that.

Place that over the top of your pen and smooth it down on the sides.

Take one of your 2x2 squares. Fold one corner diagonally across the square piece of tape. Leaving about a 1/4 inch of tape at two edges.

Now take another corner and fold it across again. This time leaving the edge on one side only.

Take your triangle and attach one end to the top/side of your pen. Spin the pen to wrap that tape edge around it.

Repeat that step again making sure to stager them along the way.

Continue adding petals until your rose is as full as you'd prefer.

Now we are going to make a base for the stem. (I didn't have green duck tape so I am using 1 inch vinyl tape instead) Cut a couple pieces approx. 3 inches long with angled ends

Wrap that around the base of the flower as well as part of the pen.

Repeat that step again.

Now you can wrap the tape the way I did here, spiraling down the pen. Or you can cut a piece of duck tape the length of the pen. Attach it to one side all the way own the pen and then roll it on that way.

There you have it! Your very own Ducktape Rose Pen! If you replaces the pen with a chop stick it'd make a cute hair stick!