Showing posts with label Media Mixage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Media Mixage. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

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

Thursday, August 1, 2013

A Book Created for Spellbinders CHA Class

Good Morning Blog Friends!

Today is my first day on Spellbinders new Mixed Media and Jewelry Design Team!!!  I'm really excited about this new venture.

At the same time, I'm a bit sad that my three plus years on the Spellbinders Design Team has ended. Yesterday was my last official day on that team. 

I'm looking forward to new challenges!  Mixed Media is a perfect fit for me!!! 


Here's a fun mixed media book that I created for one of Spellbinders' classes taught at CHA last week.  It was fun to be at the class and see the attendees put together their own version of this book! It was a lot to do but I think they all enjoyed the class!


The journal is covered with black fabric with faux stitches made with a Elmer's Painters white marker.  Brightly colored flowers, butterfly, birds and a birdhouse are glued to the cover.  The birds and butterfly are Spellbinders blanks from the Media Mixage line.  I've painted them white before adding StazOn ink for color.  The flowers are all cut from Roc-lon fabric.  It takes color so well and does not fray!  To cut the fabric, I've used a new metal shim from Spellbinders that makes cutting most fabrics easy!  All the flowers were colored with StazOn inks sponged onto the fabric.  The bird  house is one of the new hatpins revealed at CHA.  It makes a cute birdhouse with an aluminum roof, don't you think?!?
Along with the book is a jewelry piece pinned onto the book ties.  The bird and house are blanks.  The flower is cut from fabric.  The art words are from Cosmo Cricket "Life" Tiny Text sheet.


  This was such a fun project to put together! 


Happy creating!
Judy

Friday, July 12, 2013

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.





Thursday, July 4, 2013

Americana Bird

Happy Independence Day!

I'm enjoying a relaxing day at home!  It's wonderful!  And I took some time to play!  It's been a very long time since I created something purely for fun! 

In observance of the 4th of July, I put together this little Americana bird.......


I used Spellbinders® Media Mixage™ Birds One dies and Artisan X-plorer® to cut 2 birds from worn denim. Well worn denim that's thin-medium weight cuts quite well in the Artisan X-plorer.    I glued the edges together except for the tail, leaving about 3./4" opening near the bottom.  I stuffed it with a tiny bit of fiberfill and glued it closed. I cut 2 wings from some navy fabric with stars on it and 2 wings from red vinyl that I drew stripes on with a white Painters marker. I had to improvise because I couldn't find any red/white stripe fabric in my stash!  I glued the star wing over the stripe wing offset so the stripes would show. The wings are glued to each side of the bird with Fabri-Tac glue. Next, I cut some red and white string and glued it in the tail.  The eye is a dot of black paint added with a Painters marker.

The base is 2 layers of self-adhesive craft foam, 1 of cardboard and 1 of navy paper cut with Spellbinders Stars Five #2 (#1 being the smallest), .  The foam stars are adhered together and then the paper star is glued to the top. I punched a tiny hole in the center for the twisted wire.  I splayed the wire ends for support. The cardboard star is glued to the bottom over the wire ends.  To put the other end of  the wire in the bird, I used a needle tool to separate the seam a tiny bit and pushed the wire in.  Then I glued the tiny opening shut again.
The bird holds 3 stars dangling from strings.  The stars are cut using Spellbinders Stars Five #1. I cut 2 of each: red vinyl, natural canvas, worn denim.  I glued each set of stars together back to back with string between.  The strings are glued into the birds beak. I didn't think ahead to leave the beak unglued!  It was pretty easy to separate the fabric as the glue wasn't fully set and tuck the strings in place.  

I hope you've had a great 4th of July!!! 

Happy creating!
-judy


Supplies:
Spellbinders® MMM-001 Artisan X-plorer®
Spellbinders® MD2-011 Birds One
Spellbinders® S4-092 Stars Five
Worn Denim
Navy Star Fabric
Red Vinyl
Natural Canvas
String - red, white
Elmer's Painters Markers - White, Black
Beadalon Artistic Wire - 20 gauge Bronze
Black Craft Foam
Cardboard
Beacon Adhesives - Fabri-Tac™
Fiberfill

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Flowers Feed the Soul Journal

No jewelry in this post but I did use more Spellbinders Media Mixage™ products!
 
This is a project I did for Spellbinders.  You can find it on their website here.  There's even a link to download the instructions.
 
My inspiration was to make a garden journal.  A place for notes about  anything gardening!  Since I made the journal with my Bind-It-All machine, I added envelopes as dividers between the pages. A spot to tuck in a seed packet or info about a new plant.  
 

The aqua flower inside the dark blue flower is a Spellbinders blank from MB6-004 Flowers One.  There's another one peaking out from under the pink flower. The blanks are gold color.  I used ink to color it with clear embossing powder over it.  The other flowers are paper, inked and clear heat embossed.  I used MD2-004 Flowers One matching set of dies to cut
those.
The label was cut with another Media Mixage die, MD2-001 Frames One.  I inked through the die and then stamped the verse.

The butterfly is the larger blank from MB6-008 Butterflies One.  I used the matching die set, MD2-008 Butterflies One to cut the paper for the wings.  The paper is white cardstock colored with pigment inks and clear heat embossed. There's a touch of gold embossing powder sprinkled over top and heated into the clear.  I hand cut a piece of paper to make the "body" of the butterfly and glued it to the blank.

For more info and the full directions, you can find the download here.

Happy Crafting!
-judy

 Supplies:

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

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
 

Monday, April 15, 2013

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

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Nesties Besties Blog Hop

Good Morning!!!! 

Today, I have a special treat for you!  Some of the Spellbinders Design Team are hosting a blog hop - The Nesties Besties Blog Hop!  We are each showcasing one of our Spellbinders projects from the Idea Gallery.  You'll find lots of inspiration!  Lots of Spellbinders products, too!!!!   Even some blog candy!!!! 

Here are links to the other design team members who are participating:
 


I chose my Flowers Feed the Soul Journal to show today! 

This journal features some of the Media Mixage blanks and matching die templates.  You can find downloadable directions for this book on Spellbinders website here.  I'm not going to repeat all the directions since they are available to download.
 
 

 
The butterfly is a metal blank from SPellbinders Butterflies One blank set.  It has paper pieces glued to the wings.  I  cut the paper with the Sellbinders die template:   Spellbinders™ Butterflies One which matches the blank set.  To add color,  I've applied pigment ink and heat embossed it with clear.  I sprinkled a touch of gold embossing powder over top and heated it.
 
 
The little paper flowers were cut with Spellbinders™ Flowers One die template set.  Two of the flowers are metal blanks: one is peaking out from under the pink flower and the other is the center aqua flower on the big blue flower.  It's colored with ink and heat embossed with clear.  These are part of the set Spellbinders™ Flowers One blanks set. 
 
I've also used a Media Mixage die template set for the verse label - Spellbinders Frames One.  I inked through the die to add the shading around the edges.  The verse is from Flourishes stamp set "From the Garden".
 
 The background rectangle and frame were cut with Spellbinders™ S5-171 A2 Round Corner Basics A.  I used 2 dies nested together to cut the frame.  The frame has been embossed with
M-Bossabilities So Trendy.   I stamped a branch from Penny Black's "A Wish for Peace" clear set with black ink, and then added nail polish to the dots on the branches.   I stamped the same branch on the book cover.
 
The journal itself has chipboard covers covered with light Kraft packing paper and designer paper on the inside. I added My Mind's Eye paper to the outside of the covers.  Inside, there are pages for notes and sketches as well as envleopes that divide the paper sections and add a place to tuck seeds and garden notes.   
 
 
 
Blog Candy GIVEAWAY!!!
 
I have a set of Spellbinders™ S5-171 A2 Round Corner Basics A (without packaging) to give away!!!!  Just leave a comment for a chance to win.
I'll use Random Number Generator to choose a winner a week from today.  Please leave your email address so I can contact you or check back next week!  Good luck!
 
 
If you have any questions, feel free to email me. 
 
Thanks so much for stopping!  Have a creative day!!!
-judy
 
 
Supplies:
Spellbinders™ GC-001 Grand Calibur® Machine
 







 
Penny Black® Inc – 30-136 A Wish for Peace
Flourishes – 88 “From the Garden”
Clearsnap – Colorbox Dye Archival Wicked Black, Watermark Ink, Colorbox Pigment Ink Queue -
Deep Sea, Night Sky
Bazzill Basics Paper® - Velvet
Basic Grey “Plumeria” – Cleopatra, Moonstone, Yellow Wallpaper
Xyron 900 and permanent Adhesive
Scor-Pal® Scoring Board
Scor-Pal® - Scor-Tape ¼”, ½”
Sparkle N Sprinkle Clear Embossing Powder
SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L – 3D Foam Squares ¼” white
Elmers Glue Spots – Small thin
Creative Impressions Sheer Ribbons – purple, yellow, pink
Zutter Bind-It-All and 1” Bronze O-Wire
Card stock – white, dark purple
Text weight paper
Kraft envelopes – 3 - 5 x 7”
Purple marker
Ranger Distress Milled Lavender
Ranger Adirondack Lights – Wild Raspberry
Lightweight Chipboard
Lightweight Kraft paper sack
White Craft Glue 

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Turquoise Heart Charm Bracelet

Have you seen SpellbindersNEW 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