My cogs have been turning.  My creativity seems to kick in and do double-time over the holidays and for my January First Friday Freebie, I wanted to offer you one of my recent works of art.

Not every creative idea of mine is a hit, as they say, “first crack out of the box”.  There are days when I feel like the Queen of the Do-overs.  This one, however, turned out great the first time!  So, (…drumroll…)  I now present my latest invention –

Paper Jewelry! 

I know, I know – you’re thinking, “Paper?  No Way!”  I’ve been brooding on this idea for months and I’ve searched online many times, thinking that some pioneer must have already blazed the trail, but I found absolutely nothing, even on Pinterest, that resembled the materials, techniques or results I was hoping would give me the type of thing I envisioned.

There are two reasons for my vision in the first place.  One is that I compulsively invent things in my head all the time and then can’t resist piddling with them.  The other is that I hate heavy jewelry, especially earrings, but I love big jewelry.

Finally, I had to ask myself one of those questions like, “If I were paper jewelry, how would I be made?” 

The results are these beautiful cut-out pieces, specially treated so that you’ll never believe they are made of paper.  The appearance is more like metal or wood under glass.  Their featherweight quality is only discovered when you reach out and touch!

Are they durable, you ask? I’ve been pleased with how sturdy my technique has made the end product. I wouldn’t recommend sleeping in this type of jewelry, but I think it will do as well as much of the other costume jewelry found in stores (some of which I could crush in my bare hands even though they were metal or plastic).

I couldn’t wait to give this one to you as January’s First Friday Freebie!  This pendant is around 1 ¾ inches with a 16-18 inch chain.  I know you’re going to love the patina that gives it the somewhat the look of aged copper under glass.  Though the cut-out areas may look open in the photo, they are not.  They are filled, yet crystal clear!

To enter to win the paper pendant, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I’m ready for a brand new freebie!”  You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, January 4^th, 2019!

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY, so if you’ve not become a subscriber to Midwest Storyteller yet, give yourself a another free gift by heading over to the right sidebar or using the menu to get to the “Contact Me” page and subscribe if you haven’t done so already.

Share this blog with all your friends and family through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or by copying the link into an email so they can enter to win and begin enjoying everything else on the blog as well!

Subscribers win every single month!  Take a look at past freebies on the “Freebies” page to see what they’ve been winning.

If you’d like to take a look at some of the other creative ideas here on my blog, check out my “Create!” page!

Once again, a winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight by leaving a comment which says, “I’m ready for a brand new freebie!”

And now, here are the complete rules: 

Four simple steps!

Don’t delay!  Time is running out!  Subscribe if you haven’t already, confirm in your email and comment to enter before midnight tonight, December 7^th! 

I pray you have a marvelous, fabulous, bright, happy and prosperous New Year!  And for one of you, may it start off with a First Friday Freebie!