Strawberries and Homemade Jam Recipe

This last weekend, I made homemade strawberry jam, which I also call the sweetest thing one can make with just 3 ingredients. Doesn't that sound so simple and sweet?

With the summer approaching, strawberries are in season now! You can either buy some from a store (that's what I did) or pick them fresh from a strawebrry field or your garden if you are a gardener. Strawberry jam is so flavorful, delicious, and it's perfect for breakfast and weekend brunch parties!

You will need:

• A large pan
• 1:1 ratio of sugar:fresh strawberries (ex: 1lb sugar, 1lb stawberries)
• 1 lemon

Wash the strawebrries very well and remove the hulls with a knife. Tranfer the berries in a large deep pan. Add sugar on top of the berries. Then, wait bteween 2 hours to 1 day, depending on the ripeness of the fruit and/or simply depending on your patience levels... I could able to wait around 3 hours. With time, strawberries will suck the sugar, melt and release water. Once all the sugar is dissolved, turn on your stove to medium heat. Cook your jam until it reaches the desired consistency. If you like a marmalade, crush the strawberries with a blender. You will also need to spoon out the foams while the jam is cooking. Before you remove it from the stove, squeze in one lemon juice and cook it for 5 more minutes.

"Is it done?" Test: Here is a smart tip to test whether the jam is done: simply transfer a spoon of jam into a small plate. Wait unitl the jam cools down and bend the plate sideways. If the jam doesn't move sideways, it means it is done.  

Phases of Strawberry jam making

The photo above shows the phases of strawberry jam cooking from my kitchen, from start to finish. YUMM! How delicious would this homemade jam willl go with pancakes or on a crusty bread, don't you think?

Pastel Green Gemstone Jewelry



Pastel gemstone necklace by A Cup of Sparkle

Choosing a bright colored summer dress and accessorizing it with pops of soft pastel jewelry is a great way to go. No matter what color of outfit you choose, pastels will go well with it... This icy green pastel necklace is so perfect for summer with its luminous prehnite gemstones combined with shiny sterling silver. This pastel jewelry set is freshly listed in my shop and it is one-of-a kind. 

Geometric large irregular semiprecious stone centers the luminous green beads paired with a short sterling silver chain. The round beads are wire-wrapped and the necklace is finished with a lobster clasp. This set is one of my design faves from my shop - I hope you liked it as well!

To read more about this gemstone necklace and earrings, you can visit my shop by clicking here...

Polka Dot Fabric Jewelry Bags by A Cup of Sparkle

If you have shopped with A Cup of Sparkle Jewelry and Accessories before, you are probably familiar with these fabric jewelry bags. To add the season a little bit more color, I changed the color and design a little. Here is the new handmade jewelry bags in bright orange polka dotted fabric lined with matching orange satin ribbon.

These are perfect to keep your jewelry safe and organized either at home or while you are traveling.  All of the A Cup of Sparkle jewelry bags are made by me and my mom, and comes with any A Cup of Sparkle purchase.You can also find the tutorial on how to make these multifunctional bags in my blog as well as many different styles of jewelry bags.

Have a refreshing long weekend.

After a busy couple of weeks, I am so ready to relax. My hubby, doggy and I are going for a short camping trip this weekend. It is our first time taking our dog to camp with us. I am hoping that he will also enjoy being outside of the city for a while. What about you? Are you doing anything fun this weekend? Hope you have a refreshing one...

I ran 26.2 miles: BMO Vancouver Marathon

Yes, I ran 26.2 miles on May 5th in Vancouver. It was a great experience; both training for it and actually running the entire distance on the race day. My running partner and I have started our training almost 7 months ago. It feels so great to reach our goals after so many after-work runs in South Lake Union and long weekend runs on endless Burke Gilman Trail in Seattle, rain or sunshine...

Remember my first race medallion, here is a photo of it from a 15K run almost one year ago. Since then, I have done three half marathons and some short races but, this is my first full marathon. Now, I can proudly say that "I ran a full marathon"!

The line marked in red on the map is the route. It started at Queen Elizabeth Park, looped around the University of BC, Stanley Park and ended in downtown. The route was absolutely spectacular! Even though I have not done any other marathons before, I cannot imagine a more beautiful place to run than Vancouver.

Here are some more photos from the race day. It was a very hot day! However, the volunteers kept us hydrated with drinks and some spectators even sprinkled water from hoses to cool us. I truly appreciated all their efforts and time.

Thanks to everyone, to my husband, my training partner and all the BMO Vancouver Marathon organizers! It was a long, fun and a rewarding experience that I will always remember.

Have a heart-racing weekend.

What are you all up to this weekend?  I am having a sparkling Saturday and hoping to have a relaxing day on Sunday. I love this logo that fits perfectly for my day as I am running the Lake Sammamish Half Marathon today with my running partner. (wish me luck!). Hope you will be doing something to get your heart racing with enjoyment and excitement this weekend... Have a good one!

Hand Stitched Birds Nest Card Making Tutorial

I tend to keep myself busy making so many variety of crafts and arts but, card making has never been one before. My hubby has been unfortunately sick this last week, so I wanted to make him something special and came up with this hand stitched birds nest card. In case you would like to make this special card for someone in your family, here is the simple tutorial on how to make this hand stitched birds nest card:

Materials: Tread, a branch, needle, beads, paper, scissors, pen, glue or double sided tape

Step 1: Pick a thick paper and one or more thread of your color of choice. I started with an A4 size paper. So, I didn't worry about centering the nest.

Step 2: Start stitching and leave a 1- 2 inches long thread on the surface by keeping the tension on the tread very loose. 

Step 3: Repeat step 2 until you create the base of the nest. Make it into a ball shape like a nest.

Step 4: Once you have the base, continue stitching horizontally. This time you won't be poking the needle to the paper. Move the needle through the base to crowd the nest until you are happy with its look. You can easily switch back and forth with different colors of thread to create a 3-dimensional look. (You don't want to tear the paper. So, it is very important to use the technique in this step)

Step 5: Now, it is time to lay the eggs onto the nest. I used three beads representing myself, my hubby and our puppy Aslan. You could also choose to add number of eggs representing only the children in the family. In this step, you will sew the beads in the center of the nest in a triangle.

 

Step 6: Your nest is complete. You can now accessorize it by adding a branch, leaves, flowers, birds, butterflies... anything you can think of to embellish the card. Use your imagination and personalize it for that special person you will give this card to.

Step 7: Trim the paper to the size you want the card to be. And then, apply a glue or double sided tape to add a paper on the back so that the stitches wont show.

Step 8: Give this card to someone special and make them smile :)

Let me know if you decide to try to make your own nest and if you have any questions. Cheers...

Happy Heart Day!

Happy heart day!!!! Hope you are having an awesome day with lots of love. It can be hard to come up with an original gift for this day of romance as it has been celebrated every February 14th since 1400's...
But today, I read a fascinating Valentine's surprise on NPR. This guy named Payam bikes around San Francisco etching a heart shape on a map. Isn't it super sweet and romantic? If you have been in SF, you could imagine how hard it will be to do that as the city is extremely hilly. It is one of the most creative surprises I have ever heard for a long time. You can read more of Payam and Clare's story here.

A Cup of Sparkle in Mexico: Get inspired by color

Every artist needs inspiration and every artist finds inspiration in different things. I equate inspiration with travel and colors. To get ready for a new year,  I took some time off from my Etsy shop and traveled to Mexico for a week during my break. I guess it is the fact that how little sunshine I get in the rainy city Seattle I often times pick sunny destinations to travel.

Mexico is full of colors... Everywhere you go, there is a touch of bright color to the ordinary and old which makes almost everything look eccentric and cool. This is steps to someone's house in an Island called Isla Mujeres:

 

One of my favorites is the buildings that are painted in vibrant colors inside and outside: you will find random doors and walls painted in bright yellows, hot pinks, eggplant purples... like a rainbow! Frida Kahlo's paintings will seem more close to the reality while you are wandering around the streets in Mexico.

Black and white is quite hard to spot. And when you see one, it is very artsy. Check out this door that opens up to a cool Mexican bar in Puerto Moroles:

Paintings and drawings on walls are quite common in Mexico. This coffee shop is so welcoming and serves mostly to tourists in a small town near Tulum:

And last, Mexican traditional women are always dressed up in very vibrant colors, usually accented with intricate flower motifs. It is hard to see them in very touristic cities like Cancun, but I have seen many of them in a town called Valladoid. Below is a funny picture of me that is taken in a museum:

I am happy to share some of the photos I took during my travel. I will be definitely sharing more in the future. I am very inspired from all of the things I have seen and experienced in Mexico and looking forward to reflecting it to my arts and crafts in 2013, and most of all sharing them with you. Thank you for reading! See you soon.

Made to WOW! Grey and Yellow Gemstone Jewelry

You all know how crazy I am about sparkles... This gemstone necklace is one of my favorite jewelry designs in my shop with the mixed grey and yellow bead combination and silver components.

Handmade gemstone necklace jewelry in grey and yellow

 What do you think? Do you like it?

Sun-touched yellow creates a WOW effect when combined with matte shade of grey. This original jewelry set makes a huge statement whether you are wearing a simple white shirt or jeans. The necklace dresses casual and dressy outfits, leopard and flower prints with luxe gemstones.
 The focal pendant is yellow quartz in sunny hues hangs from textured double chain. Round shaped quartz faceted beads are wire wrapped to each other delicately.

To read more about this gemstone necklace and earrings, you can visit my Etsy shop by clicking here...

Sparkling Bangle Bracelet Tutorial

Do you every find yourself other people's shopping carts to see what they got? And then, get inspired and buy the same item from the store. I did find myself doing that while shopping at a bead store yesterday. I spotted these silver bangle bracelets in someone else's bead tray and then next thing I did was to buy several of them...

Today, I am going to show you how to make these sparkling bangle bracelets. If you are still looking for gift/s for Christmas or new years, you can try to make them. They are very simple and once you learn the technique, it is very easy to apply to make other jewelry.

You will need a strand of beads of your choice, wire (26 or 24 gauge works great), a bangle and cutters. The beads I choose are faceted quartz gemstones in different shades of black. The faceted beads creates lots of sparkles and light... If you decide to make one of these bracelets, I highly recommend using faceted beads rather than smooth beads.

Begin with cutting a long piece of wire that should be enough to cover the entire bracelet. Hold the bracelet and 1 inch of the wire in one hand. Secondly, lay the wire over the flat surface of the bracelet and start anchoring the wire by bringing the wire behind the bangle and pull it up through the middle of the bangle.

Next, string a single bead onto the wire and bring the wire over the top of the bracelet. The bead should be resting on the outer edge. Holding the bead in place, bring the wire down behind the bangle and back through the middle. Between each bead, wrap a single round of wire to create a small space between beads and secure them better onto the bracelet.

Continue the pattern by repeating the steps 3 and 4 until you have completely covered the bangle. Once you are done, wrap the wire around the bracelet three times. Then, cut the end of the wire using the wire cutter. 

Optional: Use a drop of glue to help preventing the ends of the wires from snagging.

 

To create a more dramatic effect, wear these sparkling bracelets together. They are so much fun! You can apply this technique to make earrings and necklaces as well using smaller size circles. Try choosing circles with flat surfaces to anchor the beads on. Otherwise, beads will turn inwards and will not be visible.

Hope you enjoyed today's tutorial by A Cup of Sparkle. Always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions..

Personalized Handmade Keychains for Holidays

More personalized keychains are available at A Cup of Sparkle now... You can choose from 1,2, 3, 4 or 5 freshwater pearls representing children or grandchildren in these wire mother birds nests; pink pearls for girls and blue pearls for boys. These timeless sweet keychains are sure to make your friend, mother or grandmother smile this holiday season!

Personalized keychains makes great gifts for holidays for moms.

Specials to holidays, all the A Cup of Sparkle jewelry and accessories comes in new jewelry bags in lovely Christmas colors; green and red! They are perfect for presenting these cute birds nests. Happy holiday shopping and make sure to visit A Cup of Sparkle this Black Friday for Thanksgiving specials.

Handmade jewelry bags for holidays by A Cup of Sparkle

Sparkly Nail Polish Ideas for Holidays

Just one more way to add red and green to your look this holiday season: sparkly nail polishes! I collected some of my favorite, easy to make nail arts for you. You can check out my nail polish board on Pinterest to get more ideas...

1- Sparkly red and green on white background,  2- Peppermint candy,  3- Christmas lights,  4-  Blood red glitter,  5- Christmas red and green

What you want in life....

I came across with this image while surfing the web today and I thought it will be cool to share with A Cup of Sparkle readers.

So, what are the first 3 words you saw?

A Cup of Sparkle Halloween Pumpkins

Everyone loves Halloween pumpkins. Carving one is always fun, too regardless of your age. At a dinner party, I carved my first pumpkin yesterday. I usually have hard time deciding on a pattern, but this year I had a cool idea... Here is the 2012 A Cup of Sparkle pumpkin sitting on my front porch.

 What do you think? 

Have you noticed the sparkles coming out from the cup?

Have you picked your pumpkin yet for carving or if not, what about an orange pumpkin jewelry to get you in the Halloween spirit? This pumpkin necklace is perfect to wear this season at home, around the office adding all the more joy to holiday celebrations. The pumpkin is in a rich orange color accented with silver components and a tiny green leaf. It is not a perfect circle like any other pumpkin. It is organically grown...

Glass Pumpkin Necklace

 Have a great Halloween season to all you. Lots of love!

Slide to power off.

Ready to power off and get some rest? I am. 

It is finally the long weekend! And, we still have the great summer to enjoy the warm outdoors, beaches and parks. Hope you will all have a great labor day weekend. Make sure to power off some devices around you to better enjoy your holiday. The simple equation I have for you today is: Time Off = Power Off
Lots of love from A Cup of Sparkle xxx

Birthday gift for a mom

This is an illustration of my elder sister's family with two boys. She is celebrating her 30'th birthday this week and I personalized a special A Cup of Sparkle keychain with a golden momma bird and two white pearls representing her two little boys; my nephews. I have added couple silver charms; a large flower, a leaf and a heart that says mom on it. I know that she really liked her gift. I wanted to send her my dearest birthday wishes through my blog and share this design with you as well. Happy Birthday Elif!!! Enjoy your new year...

Map It!

Summer days tend to bring me a huge desire to travel. What about you? For avid travelers like me, maps are absolutely a must have whether it is on your shoe, on your carpet, on your bookshelf or on you... Here are some of my favorite map decor, accessories and outfits from the web. 

Enjoy and happy travels if you are somewhere else rather than home...

Map It and Don't Get Lost...

Have a relaxing weekend.

What are your plans this weekend? I am going to rest most of the time and enjoy the sunshine in Seattle after a long work week. Talking about relaxation, I saw this awesome, super comfy looking giant nest couch on Pinterest. Even the thought of laying down inside this nest makes me want to sleep. Pretty unique, isn't it? Have a wonderful, relaxing weekend.

Mommy Pearl Necklace with 9 Children

A Cup of Sparkle personalized mom necklaces hit a new record today. Here is a custom family jewelry with 9 pearls representing nine children and/or grandchildren. It sounds a bit crazy, but it is true and also really cute. I can see people trying to count all these tiny pearls in your nest necklace wondering how many you have...

Personalized mom pearl necklace with 9 pearls, custom hand-made jewelry

This white freshwater pearls silver nest only measures 1" in diameter and it can be made with any number of pearls starting from one pearl to 5-6-7-8 and 9 pearls. You can visit my Etsy shop to all the options for mommy necklaces.

Isn't this cute?