Oh Gosh, only 22 days!!!

Another day almost gone! 

I'm sorry, but I just had to crack on with the egg shells!  I just wanted to see how they would look if I used resin, so that was the challenge for today.

I did give my piece from yesterday a spray with Crafters Companion Spray Shine, again to see how it would work.  And the glossy accents has dried, so I took a couple of extra photo's.  If you do want to see how these are done please see yesterdays post:

I definitely prefer this one with a shiny finish.  It would make a good jewellery piece now.  I think it needs soldering around the edge, and maybe a bit of fancy wire work on the front...that will be up to however wins the piece :)

Now, onto today.  I decided to use a couple of elements from Spellbinders.  I like these, they are very substantial, so feel expensive.  The first one I added glue and then shell directly to the metal:

I used the same glue, which worked perfectly.  This is the one from Debbi Moore.  If you have Cosmic Shimmer, this will work as well

I used exactly the same process.  I just make sure the shell went up to the edge and in the corner, as possible

I then dug out the alcohol inks, and just added colour.  I didn't take a picture of the finished piece after the colour, sorry!

I raided my jewellery, and old watch parts which I bought off ebay yearts ago - and have been hording as they are so beautiful - I'm letting go!  Quite cathartic. I arranged the elements before adding my resin

I haven't used resin much at all (maybe once on air with Sarah!), so this was an experiment - and me being me, I didn't bother reading anything other than the basic instructions.  I mixed the resin, and then added to my piece.  I love the way it settles and domes.  It does take around 6-8 hours to harden, so I will have to leave them before I show you how they look tomorrow

The second one, I backed the inside with a thick piece of card before applying the shell - just to see if this made any difference.  It didn't really to be honest.  When I had finished, I used the same paints as yesterday - these are the Crafty Notions paints, I adore the colours.  I also added a layer of Mod Podge when complete, just to ensure everything is glued and sealed

Thought I'd sneak this one in - no windows!!  It's tricky working today - it'll be worse tomorrow as it's my craft room :(

I added some white dots, and then decided to see if I can stamp onto the tile.  It was one of those moments - you know, you are happy with the piece and know this could ruin everything

I used StazOn, you can stamp on it, but the surface isn't even, so just be aware of that

I then decided to add the resin - but couldn't resist seeing what it would look like with pearls dropped in!

I just need to leave them to set, and show you the results in the morning.  As I had made up all my resin, I had to use the left overs, so added stuff to my mould.  The top left is a piece of fimo, see what that looks like

The next one I mixed black glitter and silver stars

I then added quite a lot of gold leaf, and silver stars

Okay, we have to wait!!  I like this, and then doing the big reveal tomorrow.  Fingers crossed one of them turns out okay.

Spellbinding jewellery

Now, I can't remember if I've already posted photo's of my spellbinders jewellery - so I'll start by saying sorry if I have.  I did have a look back over some posts, but couldn't find it - so fingers crossed it'll be new and different.

It goes without saying I love the bezels spellbinders brought out recently.  Team these up with the clear drying resin and you have an amazing jewellery making kit (the resin is made easy to handle in the way it's been brought to us - a double barrel syringe with the two part resin in separate tubes, but applied at the same time in the correct quantity).  The resin is known as Ice Resin.

Saying that, when I did my necklaces I didn't have the resin at the time - so used my melt pot. With the flower chain, I made my flower from one of my spellbinders dies and dipped it into my melting pot with clear UTEE.  I placed paper into the bezel, using the matching spellbinders die to cut the exact circle so it fits perfectly.  I used embellishments, and also an chain which were all held into place with the UTEE when I filled the bezel.  

The face was made in the same way, but I made the face first using one of the wonderful silicone moulds.  I added mica flakes and strips of mica sheet which looks brilliant when encased in the UTEE, as it catches the light.  Again, everything is encased with UTEE and held in place.  The UTEE cools solid and makes a really substantial piece.  

All the above is available on my web site, which unfortunately I have had to close at the moment.  I am really hoping to be able to get it up and running again in the near future, but please keep checking.

In the meantime - have a go at making your own jewellery pieces, it's fantastic fun.

Paper Clinic - Create and Craft

Wow, need to go to bed! Paper Clinic tomoz, just a quick heads up as to who's questions we are hoping to answer - so if it's you tune in!

Pat Tyler, Gloucester - Aperture Cards,
Denyse from Derby - Sealing Wax
Sorry no name - scoring card
Stephanie - Grand Calibur
Jackie - Grand Calibur
Vonnie - GC
Heather - GC
Dorothy - Cuttlebug
Sorry no name - MCS cd's
Elaine - MCS
Claire - Scrapbooking
Jacqui - Scrapbooking
Yvonne - Delicate items to stick
Lorraine from Ayrshire - scroing card
Sonia Kimm - Glass cutting matt

Hopefully we'll get through everything and a little bit more. Keep your questions coming in to us - we need questions to make the show! the addy you need to email in to is:

paperclinic@createandcraft.tv

Seeya tomorrow xx

Craftaganza Weekend

As promised here are the cards I made for the fantastic weekend I spent with the Crafters Companion team and the brilliant crafters. We had such a good time, and I got loose with glitter (poor poor hotel!!).





The first project I prepared was a tag, which could be used as a topper for a card of course. This was easily made. First the base was created using Spellbinders Labels 12 dies, cut the largest then the next one down, then cut a frame using both of these dies. I used the wonderful watercolour card to cut out my frames, and used the embossing mat to make an embossed border.

Now, ink, my favourite! I used Distress Ink Rusty Hinge and Wild Honey. I stamped using the beautiful stamps designed by the very clever Jayne Nestorenko, the Cute Companions Christmas Delights range (if you haven't tried these yet, get them, they are really delightful). The image I used was the rabbit reading a Christmas wish list. Simply stamp in the darker Distress ink, and using a damp paint brush gently blend some of the ink from the image. This gives your picture tone and you can even create a base. If you need more ink, simply dab your Distress ink pad on a mat or plastic bag and pick a little ink up with your paint brush - mix the ink with water to dilute the colour. Using the Rusty Hinge stamp the Yuletide Greetings word to your tag.

Using a cut and dry sponge, pick up the Distress Ink Wild Honey from the pad and start to blend the ink round the edges of the stamped card. Add a little of the darker Rusty Hinge round the edges.

The largest label can be coloured using the rusty hinge colour, when covered I used a splash of water to give a little texture. I only added a small touch of colour to the frame, as you want to keep some white to allow it to lift the top label from the bottom, and not blend into the layers. I wrapped a piece of ribbon around the frame and then glued the frame to the largest label, I then stuck the smallest label on the front with 3D foam. I tied a piece of cinnamon stick to the top of the label.

To finish the tag I mixed some ground cinnamon with fine cut glitter. I added a larger proportion cinnamon to glitter - until I was happy with the fragrance and colour. Using a quickie glue pen I applied glue to the embossed edge of my labels, and covered with your wonderful smelling festive glitter.

Why not try adding cinnamon to embossing powders, I haven't tried it yet, but it's on the "to do" list!!





Next is the snowy Love card. The base of this card was made using the letters from the Adorables CD (fantastic for the paper selection as well!). I printed the capital L as large as I could, twice, and then the rest of the letters the next size down, just once. Print them off and cut them out.

Go round each letter with a white gel pen. Now stamp using a black staz-on the cute figures, again from the Cute Companions Christmas Delight sets. I used the snowman, mouse with her little toy, broom and quite a few snowballs. Colour the images in using you preferred medium - I used watercolour pencils for this card.

Now it is simply a case of putting the card together. The letters actually form the card, so first you need to stick the two L's together. Put them one on top of the other, the back one you need to score and fold, then attach them using double sided tape. The L's will now open like a L shaped card. Now build the rest of the letters and figures to the top L. Design the card first so you know where you want to put your characters, you can have them over lapping, interlinking, some flat and some attached with 3D foam. It is important all the letters are straight, so the card will stand up. It is also important all characters overlap to keep the card together. This will form the front of your card.

The back of the card, so give stability, I have used a little torn card to resemble a snowy hill, attach this behind the back of the second L. You can add more "snow", if you feel the card needs an extra layer.

Try using this method to create personal cards with someones name, or a message. You can have your figures dotted all over the card, and using the CD's means you can alter the colour and pattern to make it different every time.

A touch of glitter glue adds a lovely finishing sparkle.