Postal Retirement Ornament

Today was the last day of work for many of my fellow postmasters.  Due to changes in structure and size of small Post Offices, many postmasters were forced to find a larger office to manage or retire.  Many of us like our small town offices and don't want to work in a large office.  So many of my postmaster friends said "goodbye" to their postal careers.  I wish them well in their retirement! 

 

This is an ornament I made for one of them commemorating her 35 year career.

  

 

I added bits and pieces of postal memorabilia in a bezel and sealed it in Ice Resin.  Small red and blue beads dangle at the bottom, hidden by the bow in this photo.  I even made the tiny mail box out of craft aluminum.  Inside is a tiny envelope with retirement wishes on it! It was fun to make. She loved it!

Thanks for visiting!
Happy creating!

Judy

Spellbinders Shape It Up Sneak Peek and Giveaway Day Two!

Hello blog friends!

Today, I’m excited to reveal some new Spellbinders® Media Mixage™ products: MB3-002 Oval Hatpin – Bronze and MT1-009 Keys texture plate. Yes, you read it right! Hatpins!!! You’ll also want to check out Ken Oliver’s blog as he’s also showcasing new Media Mixage products today!

Here's my project……



.....a Keys Hatpin and matching Keys Box.

 

Supply List for Hatpin and Box:

• Spellbinders® MMM-001 Artisan X-plorer™
• Spellbinders® MB3-002 Oval Hatpin - Bronze
• Spellbinders® MT1-009 Keys Texture Plates
• Spellbinders® MD1-001 Ovals One
• Spellbinders® MMs-002 Foil Pack 2
• Spellbinders® S4-168 Large Labels
• Spellbinders® S4-130 Classic Rectangles SM
• ICE Resin®
• Susan Lenart Kazmer – Aqua Glass Glitter
• Elmer’s Painters – Black
• Tattered Angels – Chalkboard Mist - Concord, Strawberry Shortcake, Glimmer Glaze - Saffron
• Scor-Tape – ¼, ½, 2”
• Beacon Adhesives – Fabri-Tac™
• Beads – crystal, aqua, purple
• Bronze eye pins and head pins
• Bronze Jump Ring
• Micro Beads – turquoise/silver mix
• Craft Foam - Black
• Black Card Stock
• Wood Box
• Crystal Clear Satin spray
• Gold fabric
• Fiberfill

Let's get to the How-To for the Keys Hatpin!

I started with these products:

 

 

First,  I cut an oval of black self-adhesive craft foam with Spellbinders® MD1-001 Ovals One #2 die (#1 being the smallest)   I used the craft foam as filler to raise the embossed foil closer to the top.  It’s super easy to cut!

Next, I cut an oval of aqua craft foil with the same Ovals One #2 die.

 

 Now for the texture!  I placed the oval foil on the Spellbinders® MT1-009 Keys texture plate, aqua side up.  The texture plate is placed on the Spellbinders® MMM-001 Artisan X-plorer™ base plate with the cutting plate on top.  I put it through the Artisan X-plorer.  The first pass flattened the foil to the keys and started the embossing.  Next, I removed the cutting plate and replaced it with the tan embossing mat and pink embossing plate.  I put it through the Artisan X-plorer.  Voila! Beautiful detailed texture!

 

I applied black paint over the foil and rubbed off the excess leaving a hint of black in the recessed areas and around the edges of the keys.  It gives it a more vintage look. 

  
The foil oval is applied to the adhesive on the craft foam oval. 

Before I glued it into the hatpin, I cut 2 tiny slits near one end for the jump ring that holds the bead dangles.  It fits under the foil and foam.  Once the ICE Resin sets up, it holds it in place.  I placed the jump ring so the opening is just above the rim of the hatpin.  It can be open at this point ready for the beads.  Or left closed and opened after the ICE Resin is cured.  

I glued the foil with foam and jump ring into the hatpin. 

Next step, mix the ICE Resin!   Follow the directions on the ICE Resin package to mix it.  It’s very important to mix for 2 minutes and let it set for 5 minutes!  

I poured resin into the hatpin until it was almost to the rim.  Then I added glass glitter around the jump ring.  It hides the slits in the foil!  I also added micro beads around the edges of the hatpin bezel.  I added more ICE Resin to fill the bezel.  Then I waited for it to cure!  That’s the hardest part for me!!!  I usually pour any ICE Resin pieces in the evening so they can cure overnight.

In the meantime, I put together the bead dangles.  There are 5 separate wrapped bead pieces.  I’ve used 3 head pins and 2 eye pins.  The eye pins have a small jump ring with seed beads as a dangle.  I made a loop at the top of each one and wire wrapped the end.

 When the ICE Resin was cured, I opened the jump ring, added the bead sections, and closed it.  Finished! 

I love the vintage look of it, especially the colors!  It would be very pretty on the lapel of a coat!

This pretty hatpin needed an elegant place to rest!  I decorated a wood box to coordinate with the hatpin.  

Here are the directions for the box:

I started with a recycled wood box.  It came from some specialty candy.  Any craft box that fits the pin will work.  Mine is 3 ¼ x 4 ¼ x 1 ½”.

I painted it black and then over sprayed it with Tattered Angles Concord and Strawberry Shortcake Chalkboard mists.  When the mists were totally dry, I sprayed a clear satin sealer over the box.

For the top, I cut a rectangle of aqua craft foil using Spellbinders® S4-130 Classic Rectangles SM #7.  I textured it with the Keys same as for the hatpin, adding black paint as well.  I snipped off each corner diagonally so it wouldn’t show beyond the gold frame. 

When I poured the ICE Resin in the hatpin, I also poured ICE Resin on this foil piece.  I spread it rather thin.  I sprinkled some of the silver and aqua micro beads over it and worked them into the ICE Resin.  I left it to cure overnight.

I cut/embossed 2 frames of black card stock using Spellbinders S4-168 Large Labels #4 and 5 nested together.  I glued them together for thickness.   I painted on Tattered Angels Saffron Glimmer Glaze.  When it was dry, I sprayed it with clear satin sealer.

To assemble the pieces, I applied Scor-Tape to the back of the foil and the frame.  I fastened both to the box lid.

To create the cushion inside the box, I started with a piece of card board cut to fit inside.  I cut batting/fiberfill to fit the cardboard and glued it to it.  I wrapped a piece of gold lining fabric over it and glued the edges to the bottom side of the cardboard. It’s glued into the box with craft glue.  A nice pin cushion for the hatpin!

Have I inspired you to try texturing craft foil?  Or even paper as shown in my second project below?  How about trying this same design as a pendant?  There are oval bezels the same size in the Media Mixage collection.   Have you tried ICE Resin?  I remember being afraid to try it at first.  It’s really quite easy!  The look is so amazing!  On my hatpin, I actually had to carve a bit of the ICE Resin off around the jump ring. A little mishap!   I poured another layer over it and it doesn’t even show!

For a little more inspiration, I have a second project with a totally different look!  I’ve used the small Spellbinders MB3-001 Circles Hatpin-Bronze and MT1-009 Keys texture plate to create this mini canvas…….

 

Can you see a circle hatpin?  It’s the flower center and stem. The "pot" is embossed with keys touched with copper Gilders Paste.  That makes the keys pop!   I’ll share more details on my blog sometime later.

For contest rules click HERE
 

To enter giveaway click HERE
 

Be sure to check out Ken’s project today!  He’s showcasing more new Media Mixage products.  I’m sure he’ll have an awesome project to get you even more inspired!  Click here for his blog!

Questions? calexander@spellbinders.us No entries will be accepted at this email address.

Fleur de Lis Pendant

You've probably noticed I've been dabbling in jewelry making!  Perhaps a bit more than dabbling!  Since Spellbinders™  released their new Media Mixage™ line, I've been doing more jewelry making than stamping! 

 

Here's a Fleur de Lis pendant that I made for a friend.  Actually, I made one for myself first.  Then I made 2 more for friends who liked it so well.  You may have seen it on Facebook.  Cindy Alexander posted a photo when she got the package.

 

 

The base of this pendant is the smallest one in Spellbinders MB2-007S Fleur de Lis set of bezels. It comes in bronze or dark silver. What makes it so easy to add a shaped insert in the bezel is that there are matching dies!  Each a perfect fit for the bezels!  The Fleur de Lis bezel die is MD1-011.









 

I've cut a piece pink craft foil to fit in this pendant.  I first adhered the foil to a piece of adhesive backed black craft foam.  I often do that when I'm working with foil.  It gives it body and dimension.  The sticky back foam works so well!  Then I cut and embossed the foil.  Because the craft foam compresses as it goes through the Artisan X-Plorer™, the thickness is no problem.    Because I wanted the pink insert to be about level with the bezel edges, I cut another piece of craft foam, no foil, to place in the bottom of the bezel.  So there's 2 layers of the foam with the top piece having foil on it.  I sanded the foil to take off the pink on the embossed areas and fastened a cubic zirconia crystal to the center.   My next step was to mix ICE Resin® and fill the bezel.  It's so easy with the syringe dispenser from ICE Resin, no measuring!  The hardest part is waiting for it to cure!   I usually pour it in the evening and by the next day it's hard. 

 

 

To finish the pendant, I added 3 little pink crystals at the bottom.  I used silver colored Artistic Wire to make eye pins and wire wrap the beads to the fleur de lis.  I think the wire was 22 or 24 gauge.  I could have easily used purchased eye-pins.  For me, the wire was easier to find and I have more color choices!

 

Because I sent this pendant was a gift, I wanted something cool to package it in!  So I made one of my fabric pockets, this time out of denim from an old worn pair of jeans. (you can see another pocket of new denim on this post)   

 

 

 I tore the denim to about 4 x 9 1/2" leaving the jeans hem as the edge for the pocket flap.  The edges are glued with Fabri-Tac glue to form the pocket.   I glued a piece of pink satin ribbon across the top and made faux stitches with a marker.  No sewing!!! The little fleur de lis is again foil over craft foam with another craft foam fleur de lis behind it. That one is cut with the medium size die. I trimmed the "wings" a little to fit the smaller one better.  I actually coated it with ICE Resin, too, just a thin layer rubbed on it.  It stiffened the foam and sealed it. There's a jump ring at the top to hang it from the cord.  I made 2 more pink crystal beads with wire loops to add to the cord.  These could easily be added to earring wires (I tucked earring wires inside for Cindy) to have matching earrings!  Or hung on the chain with the pendant!

 

 



 This was a fun gift package to make!  and give!

-judy

• Supplies:
• Spellbinders Artisan X-Plorer maching
• Spellbinders MB2-007S Fleur de Lis (bezels)
• Spellbinders MD1-011 Fleur de Lis (dies)
• Spellbinders F-014 Delicate Pastels craft foil
• ICE Resin
• Cubic Zirconia crystal
• Black craft foam
• Pink Crystal beads
• Artistic Wire Silver 22 gauge wire
• Silver Cord
• Pink Satin Ribbon
• Pink Silk Ribbon
• Scrap of old denim jeans
• Beacon Adhesives - Fabri-Tac Glue
• Chain

 

A Red Heart Jeans Fob

I'm back...........finally!

Today, I have glittery heart jeans fob to share.

This heart is one of the new bezels in Spellbinders Media Mixage line.  Its called Hearts One.  There's a matching die template that cuts paper, foil, etc. to fit inside the heart.  I've used red Shimmer Sheetz. 

Here you can see most of the supplies I used including the heart bezel and matching die template.

After cutting the heart from red Shimmer Sheetz, I embossed it with Spellbinders So Trendy M-Bossabilities folder.  It's one of my favorite patterns.  The small design works well in the heart. 
I glued the red heart into the bezel before adding Ice Resin.  I added glitter along the edges after a layer of the ICE Resin.  Then I added more ICE Resin to fill the bezel.  I used a straight pin to push some of the glitter back to the edges that wanted to stray into the center.

After the ICE Resin set up overnight, I added 2 jump rings to the bezel and fastened the rings to the big ring of the spring clip.  The heart is fairly heavy so I thought it needed 2 for strength.  I added the little key charm with smaller jump rings and then added the flower charm.  
The ICE Resin really accents the shine of the glitter and the Shimmer Sheetz heart below!  It's such an amazing product, so crystal clear!  It scared me to try it at first.  Now, I wonder why!!!  It gives great results if you follow the directions.  Mixing is key!

Tomorrow, I'll be back with a super easy pocket to put this heart fob into for a gift! 

Have a creative Monday!

-judy

• Supplies:
• Spellbinders MB1-005 Hearts One (bezel)
• Spellbinders MD1-005 Hearts One (die template)
• Spellbinders ES-006 So Trendy M-Bossabilities
• Elizabeth Craft Design Shimmer Sheetz - Red
• Susan Lenart Kazmer - Glitter
• Ice Resin
• Silver spring clip with ring
• Key and Flower charms
• Jump Rings

Discovering Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum Scrapbook Page

It's been crunch week for me!  Time to get my February Spellbinders projects finished and submitted.  Much as I work on them all month, it seems to always come down to the last day to finish the last project.  So........no time to create anything special for my blog!  But I do have a scrapbook page to share!
In August, my daughter and I took my grandchildren to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.  It's not far from my home.  For those who may not know, I'm the postmaster in Walnut Grove so I'm there every week day.  The museum is just a block away from the post office.  As close as it is, I hadn't actually went through the museum until last August! 
The kids loved it. There are lots of hands-on displays.  There are several buildings to explore including a church, school, farm house, dug out and museum. They especially enjoyed the general store with play food, pots, pans, cash register, etc.  There's even a post office in that building!

This is the scrapbook page I created with photos of the kids in the covered wagon. 

I chose Kraft paper for the background because I wanted the page to have an old feel.  There are numerous hexagons cut from Graphic 45 Kraft Reflections paper across the page.  Many of them blend into the page.  Around the hexagons, I stamped the same design as the black floral die cuts.  To do that, I simply cut a piece of sticky back craft foam with Fantastic Flourish One die template.  I stuck the foam die cut to an acrylic block and used it as a stamp! 
The titles under the photos are written on old ledger paper that I coated with ICE Resin. The ICE Resin seals the paper, adds a little shine and makes it somewhat translucent.  Really cool effects on paper.  And it's waterproof!
I added a lilttle texture to the corners of the page.  To do that, I placed the paper fully into the Bricks and Bark folder.  I placed the folder between the Spellbinder Base plate and Raspberry plate at an angle.  I started rolling the plates through the Grand Calibur machine.  They didn't go far before the paper(because it's too wide to go through) touched the machine. That's as far as I went!  I backed the plates out.  The corner is all the got embossed. I repeated that for each corner. I rubbed ink over the embossed area to accent it. 
I cut 4 of the Fantastic Flourish One from black card stock.  I used one complete flourish along with pieces cut apart on each side of the photos.
The title is made with sticker letters from Cosmo Cricket.  The letters for "Past" were a different color.  I colored them with a black permanent marker to work for my page.

I've listed the supplies below with links.

Thanks so much for visiting!!!! If anyone wants more information about the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, feel free to email me.  Here's a link to their website: Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

Thanks so much for visiting!!!

Happy Creating!
Judy

 

Supplies:

 

Spellbinders™ GC-001 Grand Calibur® machine

Spellbinders™ S4-368 Hexagons - #2

Spellbinders™ EL-015 Bricks and Bark

Spellbinders™ S2-010 Fantastic Flourish One

Graphic 45 – Kraft Reflections Paper: Straight to the Point, Express Yourself, Bed of Roses, Bits and Pieces

Worldwin Papers® - Treasures Oatmeal, Black; Kraft card stock

Xyron Mega Runner adhesive

Cosmo Cricket – Tiny Type alphabet stickers

Fancy Pants Designs Inc – Beach Bum Alpha (letter stickers)

ICE Resin

Distress Inks: Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo

Adhesive Craft Foam

Old journal graph paper

Black marker to color Fancy Pants letters

Craft Glue

Turquoise Heart Charm Bracelet

Have you seen Spellbinders™ NEW Media MiXage™ products? 
This line includes bezels and blanks with matching die templates, metals, papers and more!  All developed in collaboration with jewelry artist, Susan Lenart Kazmer.   Awesome stuff!!!!  I love it all!
Check out Spellbinders Explore Beyond Idea Gallery for some extraordinary projects and inspiration using Medai MiXage products!

Today, I have a bracelet to show you with one of the new bezels.......

a heart charm. I love the shape of it!!!!   This one is the smallest heart in the set of MB1-005 Hearts One - Bronze.  The same size is also available in a set of five, MB1-505 Hearts One - BR 5PK. 

My bracelet is copper color.  The bezel was bronze. I wanted the bezel to be copper!  So I used a combination of products to make it copper colored.  I started with a copper nail polish.  Then I added a patina paint.  Lastly, I used copper Baroque Art™ Gilders Paste.  This is a new product to me.  It's almost like paste shoe polish.  It adds a wonderful faux metallic finish to paper, wood, metal, clay, and more.    (It's the same product I used on the tag I posted last week.)  I'm certain I'll be using it on more projects!!!
Okay, back to the heart bezel.....  The turquoise heart is cut from Shimmer Sheetz by Elizabeth Crafts Design.  It's a mylar type product.  I cut out the heart with MD1-005 Hearts One die template #1 (#1 being the smallest).    A perfect fit for the bezel!!!  So easy!
Next, I embossed a portion of a flower on the heart with Spellbinders EL-005 Splendid M-Bossabilities™ folder.  I sanded it lightly to reveal a silver color.  I added a little pink gem to the center.  I also cut a heart the same size from craft foam.  I glued it in the bezel with the turquoise heart over it. I wanted the turquoise heart to be closer to the surface so the foam is just a spacer. 
Finally, I filled the bezel with Ice Resin!!!  That's the magic!  Crystal clear jewelers' grade resin!  It really makes the mylar pop in this heart.  My Ice Resin was starting to set up when I poured this heart which is why there are tiny bubbles in the resin.  Normally, I would have been frustrated by that but I like the bubbles in this charm!

 
I made the bracelet with chain I found at a craft store.  It's about 7 1/2" long.  I added a toggle clasp to the chain ends.  The heart is connected to the bracelet with a link from the chain. 
Really, this isn't very hard!  If the ICE Resin scares you, there are other products that you can use such as UTEE or Glossy Accents.  A little different look that's all. 

Supplies:
Spellbinders MB1-005 Hearts One - Bronze
Spellbinders MD1-005 Hearts One (die template)
Spellbinders EL-005 Splendid M-Bossabilities
Elizabeth Craft Designs - SHimmer Sheetz
ICE Resin
Want2Scrap - Pink Gem
Copper chain
Copper Toggle Clasp
Copper Nail Polish
Ranger Patina
Baroque Art™ - Copper Gilders Paste
Craft foam


Watch for Spellbinders Media MiXage™ products in your LSS or craft store! 

I hope you've enjoyed your visit here!!!! I love sharing creative projects!

Hugs,
-judy

A Jewel Gem Necklace

Here's a little "gem" necklace I created for Julianna Hudgins Design Team. 

It's posted on her blog here.

This turquoise nugget is actually shrink plastic! 

I cut the oval with Spellbinders S5-098 Jewel Stones out of black shrink plastic and punched a hole for the jump ring.  Then I painted it with Tattered Angels Caspian Sea Glimmer Glam.  When I heated it the Glimmer Glam crinkled up into this wonderful texture! 
I cut the initial from white shrink plastic that I painted with Tattered Angels Saffron Glimmer Glaze.  After I glued the "J" in place, I dripped Ice Resin over the nugget.  I wanted enough to seal the texture and add a little shine, yet not too much.  The Ice Resin served to secure the crinkled texture to the shrink plastic, too!

thanks for visiting!
happy creating!
-judy