Friday, May 31, 2013

Faux Fused Glass Pendant

Choker with faux fused glass (800x567)

You can make faux fused glass pendants with Sakura Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers!

I had just made some “Crystal Lacquer film” for a project I had in mind when I saw Tammy Tutterow’s tutorial on making faux fused glass pendants with shrink plastic and Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE).  It looked like fun, but I wanted to try it with my Crystal Lacquer film instead of shrink plastic, so I postponed the project-in-progress and used my “film” to make my own faux fused glass pendant.

Here’s how I make the Crystal Lacquer film.  The base is the package from a set of metal dies.  I pour in some Crystal Lacquer, add Terri Sproul Mixers and stir.  The package has a little rim that holds in the Crystal Lacquer. These were made with Copper Penny and Green Pearl.  When the Crystal Lacquer sets up, it is adhered to the plastic.  You can cut it with scissors or in a diecutter.

Crystal Lacquer film (800x600)

I diecut some hearts.

Diecut (600x800)
Then I heated UTEE in a Melting Pot.  A word of caution: The Embossing Enamel and parts of the Melting Pot get very hot! 
Melting UTEE (800x600)
I punched holes in my hearts and put a piece of thin wire through each hole.  Using the wire as a handle, I dipped each heart into the melted UTEE.  The Crystal Lacquer film became very flexible when heated, so it is better to have a nice deep reservoir of melted UTEE and make a quick dip.  If you have to move the piece around in the UTEE for too long, it can become distorted (which might be a cool effect for some projects).

I set the hearts to cool on a heat-resistant nonstick sheet.

Dipped and cooling (800x600)

While you are dipping your pieces, you can scrape them against the edge of the Melting Pot to remove excess UTEE.  I was trying to get a thick coating of UTEE and ended up with the UTEE dripping off my pieces.  I trimmed it off with scissors while it was still warm and smoothed out the edges by heating them with a heat gun.  I removed the wires and cleaned out the holes with a small round file.

Trimmed 2 (800x600)
Then I made some jewelry!  Here is one of the hearts with a brass charm on a chain:

Faux fused glass pendant (668x800)

And here is one with a brass charm on a memory wire choker with glass beads:

Choker with faux fused glass (800x567)
This process is easy and has so many possibilities!  You can include embellishments or combine multiple pieces for more complex pendants!

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Antique Milk Can

Good morning

I've been so excited to show you my version of the Milk can that everyone has been making.  Aren't they just the greatest?  Each one is so unique and I've loved them all.  I'm kinda picking up the rear here and hope mine will inspire you to create one also.

I started out with the silver milk can and painted it white.  Then I "sanded" a bit of the white off to expose the silver and make it look shabby chic.  After that I added back some color and used the Terri Sproul mixers in Shimmer Smoky Quartz mixed with the 3d crystal lacquer.  I love this color because it's really antiquey (not a word, I know) looking.  After that was completely dried I added a "white wash" spray paint to tone down the color a bit more.  Now it really became vintage looking.

I just could stop there...last summer when I was home at my mom's we were going through some old pictures and we came upon a picture of the house she was born in.  It's the only one we have and she wouldn't give it up.  I took a picture of the picture.  It's not the best, but then this is supposed to be "vintage" looking right?  I printed the picture out and mod podged it to the painted milk tin.  Once that was completely dry I "painted" some brown acrylic paint watered down over the top of everything to give it a balanced look and then painted a thin layer of the 3d crystal lacquer over the top to keep it from scratching off the paint.  I then added some flowers and I gave it to my mom for Mother's Day.  
I just love the way this all came together and now she can treasure her "homestead" for a long time to come.
I hope I've inspired you to create something using these fabulous milk cans and if you do, please leave me a comment and I will come and check yours out.  You can always find me here also.  Thanks again for coming by and see you soon - Brenda



If you`d like to order your milk cans today - you will get 20% of your ENTIRE ORDER (for the month of May) so act fast as I`m sure these cans will be flying off the shelves. 
Use code Sakura 05 at checkout

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Red White and Blue a Candle for YOU!

RED WHITE BLUE
A CANDLE FOR YOU!

With the 4th of July soon approaching, I thought it would be nice to share some "Americana" with all of you.

Many of you want to jazz up your tables and yards for the festivities but want to keep the crafts simple and quick. Well this candle is both of those things. And I can't think of a better way to show off some of your craftiness with your family and friends. I have to admit, while taking these photos in my backyard, I was really happy with the results and the colour and whimsy this candle offers will be a fun addition to your table and its useful to!

Gather your supplies - you will need
** one milk can **
http://www.sakuracraft.com/index.htm
- red, white and blue acrylic paint
- paint brushes
- sticky backed stars
- drill and drill bit (I used my dremmal)
- masking tape
- 3D Crystal Lacquer

Step one
Rough down your can a little bit with some sand paper (the paint will adhere better to the can)
Step Two
Use whatever stars you like - I cut my stars out of vinyl, with my Cricut machine. Peel off the backing and stick them on the upper half of your can in a scattered pattern.


Step Three
Put your safety glasses on and get your drill ready. Remember you are drilling metal, its hot, pieces will fly off. Do this step away from paper items and in a safe place.
Drill holes at each point of your star and in the middle point as well. Basically you are making an outline of a star.

Step Four
Leave your stars attached for this step. Mask off your milk can half way down. Paint the top half of your can blue. Let this dry. Repeat this step on the bottom of your can with red paint. Let this dry.

Step Five
Paint your white stripes by masking off the bottom section into three equal parts. Let this dry really well.
Step Six
Paint your stars white or add star shapes like I did.
Step Seven
Finish coat the entire can with 3D Crystal lacquer.
Step Eight
Use whatever design you like, but I kept my lid very simple and did the lid with half red paint and half blue paint in the same manner as above. Use a Citronella candle inside to help keep the pests away.

You can drill a hole into the lid and tie some string to it, just to make sure it stays with the can.
Imagine what these would look like all lined up on the patio tables. Or better yet, why not make some of these up for your next wedding or anniversary. 
I hope this will be the project that kick starts your summer outdoor planning.  
If you have any questions send me and email or comment here. Thanks for dropping by.
If you`d like to order your milk cans today - you will get 20% of your ENTIRE ORDER (for the month of May) so act fast as I`m sure these cans will be flying off the shelves. 
Use code Sakura 05 at checkout. 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

WINNER of the BLOG HOP





I can't believe how much fun the Blog HOP was.
I hope you can say the same...
DID you know that each month we have a great coupon for you???
Check out the blog posts for the coupon
anyways, back to the IMPORTANT Stuff
WHO WON!

Our Winner of Two Bottle of Crystal Lacquer is
Drum Roll please

BEVINUSA

please contact Terri@ultimatescrapbookreatreat.com or on Facebook with
winner in the regards, so I don't loss it.

thanks again for check out our hop. 
Hope you continue to support our Team and Sakura Hobby Craft,

Dress Form Altered MilkTin

Hello!  Today I would like to share with you my Dress Form Altered Milk tin.


For todays project I used the products below:

Sakura Milk Tin
Gesso
Pink Acrylic Paint
Crayola Air Dry Clay
3D Crystal Lacquer
Cameo Silicone Mold
Lace/Trim/Feather
Stamps
StazOn Ink


I prepped my milk tin by painting it with white gesso. Then I made a dress form out of air dry clay and placed it on top of my milk tin lid making sure I could still use my lid to take on and off my milk tin. She is a little lumpy and bumpy but I will be covering her.

I let that dry overnight and painted it all pink the next day.

I also decided to make her a hat.

 

 With my stamps I used un-mounted stamps so I could follow the curve of the tin. If they had been mounted on wood or acrylic blocks it would have been harder to stamp. I stamped with Black StazOn Ink all around the tin.

 
 Here is the back of the tin all painted and stamped.

 I made a cameo with my silicone mold and poured crystal lacquer into the mold. When it was dry I painted it white.
 My mold had a trim on the cameo that I cut off with scissors. (the trim was originally made with Sakura colored lacquer.) I wasn't sure I was going to use it or not but it looked better without the trim.
 Next it was time to play dress up with my dress form. I used lace pieces that I sewed a simple straight stitch to make her dress. I glued her lace on the top of her hat.

 This is the back of the tin/dress form.


 Here is the cameo I placed on her waist.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. You can get your own products from
Sakura with a 20% Off coupon code Sakura05 when used at checkout online HERE



Monday, May 20, 2013

Crystal Lacquer Graphic 45 French Country Tin

I love Graphic 45 and I really love their new French Country collection, which was perfect for my Crystal Lacquer French Country Tin.

The lacquer and the paper collection worked very well for my project and I loved the finished look.  Not only did I create an awesome decor for my kitchen but I also got to play with two great quality products Sakura Hobby Craft Crystal Lacquer and Graphic 45.

To create with these two products it's not very difficult in fact I will show just how easy it is to create this beautiful Crystal Lacquer Graphic 45 French Country Tin.

From top to bottom you can see the lacquer glossy finish on my tin, totally an oooh la la touch!


Here you can also see the added embellishment of a wooden fence I picked up at a local craft store.



I loved the way the Liquid Leaf made this look really distressed and he Crystal Lacquer on the lid made it even better.

Now it doesn't take a lot to make this tin, but it does take some patience.

Step One:

Gather  your supplies.


As you can see I used the following:

Sakura Supply:
Other Supplies:
  • Graphic 45 - French Country Stickers 
  • Graphic 45 - French Country Paper Collection
  • Gesso
  • Acrylic Paint - Apple Barrel Glossy Black
  • Paint Brush - Bristle & Sponge
  • Liquid Leaft
  • Fabric Square
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
  • Wooden Fence
  • Rotary Cutter
  • Old coffee
  • Heat Gun
Step Two:
Prep the milk tin by priming with Gesso and a sponge paintbrush.  Just like you see below.


Step Three:
Paint the milk tin with Apple Barrel Glossy Black Acrylic Paint and then with another bristle slightly brush some gesso, this gives it the distressed look.  Once dry apply some Liquid Leaf, and I just rubbed it with my fingers but you can brush with a paint brush.  

Step Four:
Once all the paint and liquid leaf is dried you can then take a piece of Graphic 45 French Country collection and measure to fit the tin.  I distressed the paper prior to adhering to the tin.  

The tin looks a little scary but that all changes once you get your paper on their.

I trimmed the top rooster border for my bottom of my tin, which I layered with the fence you see.  

Step Five:
I brushed some of the Crystal Lacquer on to the entire tin.  Make sure you cover every inch.  This step is what gives the tin that extra touch and seals the paint at the same time.


I used a round Rooster stick from the Graphic 45 French Country collection for the top of the lid and it was a perfect fit. I sealed with the 3D Crystal lacquer.
Now the fence. I purchased this fence at a local craft store that typically has quilt supplies, but I was just lucky and I distressed with some of the liquid leaf and Tim Holts Vintage Photo ink. 

The roosters and the fence almost looked just like it would in a farm.  Loved this!

Step Six:
Now glue the fence to the tin.

Step Seven:
I took a piece of fabric square and dipped in recycled coffee that I had left over, see even coffee can be recycled, I LOVE THAT!!!
Measure and cut, which is not hard to to especially with a rotary cutter and quilter's ruler.


Dip in coffee and I had to let this piece soak for about an 1hr to get a distressed look.

I removed from coffee and dried up with heat gun to speed up the process.  You can also throw in the dryer but I was way too lazy to do that :)!

Step Eight:
Now you have a strip of fabric and you can make a bow for the tin.

Pretty huh, I love the way it turned out and see how easy it is to create with Sakura's Crystal Lacquer, the sky is truly the limit.  I hope you enjoyed my project.  
Be sure to take advantage of the 
Coupon Code: Sakura05 for 20% OFF TOTAL PURCHASE!


















Sunday, May 19, 2013

Perfectly Sakura Elements

Creating elements, charms, and accents are easy to do with 3D Crystal Lacquer and TS Mixers!!!  Rubber stamps add dimension, and TS Mixers and lacquer add color and shimmer.

Paper Clay was rolled out and a stamp impressed onto the surface.  Let dry.

Once dried, TS Mixers are brushed directly to the surface in many spots.  Add colored lacquer on top, use a skewer or a fine tip to further mix the colors.  This leaves an ombre or marbelized look to the piece.  Let dry WELL and then use clear lacquer to adhere to your art projct!!! 

Option:  If you are in a hurry or do not feel to do all the colors, just use a 3D Crystal Lacquer color and brush on top.  I like the contrast with the TS Mixers and the colored lacquer!!!

 

Close up you can see the shimmer and shiny surface.  The mixers really add dimension and if you use TS Mixer Pearls you can get a more pearlized look.

Cre8tiveLea Yours - Lea

Friday, May 17, 2013

We Are having a BLOG HOP!


Our Design Team has been waiting for this hop!
Our Theme for this hop is
FANTASY!

Now we ask that you pleas
check out each blog
leave a comment and become a follower
and then return here
to tell us which was your favorite to be enter to 
WIN
The Winner will receive two bottles of Crystal Lacquer
Next Saturday May 25th 
we will post the winner!
Thanks so much for play with us!
Here is the list of the Blogs