Burlap Necklace with Crystal Lacquer (and a coupon)

This project was fast, easy and fun!

I have been hand dyeing fibers and I thought it would be fun to incorporate some of my ombre burlap into a necklace:

I also wanted to try Sakura Crystal Lacquer in Susan Lenart Kazmer’s new Media Mixage bezel cups.  So I decided to put some of my burlap into the heart bezel cups.  Here’s what they look like empty:

Each cup has a corresponding die, so you can cut whatever media you choose and it will fit exactly.

I stiffened some burlap with Mod Podge to keep the edges from fraying.  For instructions on how to do that, see my tutorial here.  When it was dry, I cut out the hearts using the Media Mixage dies that matched the bezel cups I had chosen.

You can put anything you want into the bezel cup, and make multiple layers.  I wanted to keep it simple, so I poured a little Crystal Lacquer into the cups first, then laid my burlap on that, then added more Crystal Lacquer.  Then all I had to do was let it dry, and assemble my necklace!

I also decided to use a couple of rectangle bezel cups:

I did have a few air bubbles show up in the Crystal Lacquer, which hadn’t happened to me before.  I don’t know if it was because I had multiple layers of Crystal Lacquer, or because I got some air bubbles when I poured some Crystal Lacquer from a big bottle into a small bottle.  It wasn't hard to get them out, but I learned something important.  When I used a toothpick to pierce a bubble, the result was multiple smaller bubbles.  When I used the toothpick to sort of lift the bubble up, it would disappear.  You need to get the air bubbles out before the Crystal Lacquer hardens.

The Crystal Lacquer was perfect for this project!  It holds the burlap in place and protects it at the same time!  You could use almost any media, including paper and other fabrics. It looks a little cloudy in my photos, but in real life, it is crystal clear!

Now is a great time to try Crystal Lacquer, because during the month of April, you can save 20% by entering the code Terri04 when you check out at Sakura Hobby Craft.  You will be amazed at how easy it is to use!

As always, please let me know if you have any questions about this project!

Spring Finch Egg Shimmer Mica Jewelry Set

Materials needed

3-Finch Eggs     24” Necklace Chain     2-Ear Wires     Styrofoam square  

3 Swivel up-eye Caps     6” 1mm Faceted Chain     1 small jump rings

90-9ss Swarovski flatback rhinestones     Eggstra Special 5-Min Epoxy

Terri Sproul's Shimmer Mica Color Set (Purple Pearl)     527 Glue

Embellie Gellie     Toothpicks      Small glue bottle     Mixing pad of paper

The finch eggs are delicate, so take care in epoxying the toothpicks into one end of the finch egg for a handle.  5 Minute epoxy is easy to work with, just remember you have only 5 minutes before the two parts become rock hard AND the epoxy has to be mixed in EQUAL amounts.

Once the toothpicks are glued into place, stick them in the Styrofoam for 5 minutes, until dry.

Pick your color of choice from the package of

Terri Sproul's Shimmer Mica Color Set To order set click here

 Discount of 20% till 3-31-2013...code "Shimmer03"

 

I am using Purple Shimmer. 

Of each bottle of epoxy make equal 1/2" lines on your paper pad.

Use a toothpick to mix the two lines together and with the wet toothpick dip into the jar of shimmer powder.

Mix the powder into the epoxy mixture and do this two or three times to get the shade you want.

 

Use the mixing toothpick to carefully cover the entire finch egg.  Do not put pressure on the egg, coat with the shimmer epoxy and then turn egg upside down to let excess drip off.  Once excess has dripped off, turn egg upside right and it will self-level all around the egg.  You may need to turn egg upside down again if epoxy puddles near the toothpick connection to the egg.

 

Remember you have 5 minutes from the start of mixing till the epoxy is rock hard.  Do each egg separately and set into Styrofoam to cure....do all three.

Once all three are finished, start with the first one completed and cut off the toothpick close to the egg.

Mix a very small amount of epoxy together and epoxy the swivel up-eye over the area where the toothpick was cut away from the finch egg.  The egg is no longer fragile and you can handle the egg with out  worry of breakage.  The swivel up-eyes allow the eggs to freely turn when wearing so to see all areas of the finished jewelry.

I use 527 glue into a small glue bottle with a 9mm tip to get fine control for applying jewelry findings and flatback stones to the eggs.  For each egg eyeball the egg in half and glue on the 1mm gold plated ball chain to divide the egg in half.  Do this to all three.

Cut off the tip of a toothpick so it is flat on one end.  Apply a bit of Embellie Gellie to the end of the toothpick.  This is a wonderful product to pick up small items like rhinestones, beads, findings and place onto the glue.  Apply 527 to one side of the 1mm ball chain and glue down 15 9ss Swarovski flatback rhinestones to each side of 1mm ball chain.  Do this to all eggs.

Apply the ear wires to two of the eggs and on one attach the jump ring and apply to the 24" necklace chain.

 

The finch egg necklace and earring set, glues, Embellie Gellie, supplies or kits are available from Eggstra Special

or email Virgi Bondi Email

 

Butterfly wishes...

Good morning,

I'm so glad you came to see what I've created for Sakura Craft and Hobby today.  Remember you still have time to use the coupon code SHIMMER03 to get your 20% off of the Mixers till the end of the month.

Today I want to show you a few differences in color.  Now all the projects have used the same color, but you  will see how the colors differ depending on the background they are painted onto.

My first and most important project is the one I'm most proud of...LOL

I started with a mold of a frame and poured it with my casting resin.

Then I took some packaging (recycle) and cut 

it to fit onto the back of the frame.

Then I started to paint...I used the red shimmer

to highlight the butterfly and flowers on top of a gold acrylic. 

I used bottle caps to put the 3d crystal in and mix the shimmers into it so I can just throw the bottle cap away (recycle)

I painted the packaging with the green shimmer

and adhered it with some 3d crystal lacquer.  

I also painted the butterfly with the red shimmer and dotted it with black acrylic paint 

see how the packaging shimmers.  I also used the green to highlight some of the flowers on the frame...LOVE  

I covered a piece of wood I got from Hobby Lobby with some bronze shimmer paper and used the 3d crystal lacquer to adhere the frame to it. 

I stamped Butterfly wishes...with some stayzon in red and black overlapping it 

Awesome...I love how this shimmers.  These mixers are wonderful. 

Now, when I have leftover paint I either paint something I already have or I just paint it on some paper.  I painted the left over green shimmer on some black paper   

used my leaf punch and punched a few leaves out 

and highlighted them with a silver jelly roll pen.  I will be using these either on a card or maybe a scrapbook page.  Time will tell...I don't like waste. 

I also took some black river rocks that I have in my stash and painted them with the green shimmer mixer. 

Check out how awesome these shimmer 

I added a bail to the back of the rock and I will turn this into a pendant.

Now you can also dye fabric.  With the kit of shimmers you will also get a bonding agent.  I added a bit of the shimmer, bonding agent and water and mixed them together. 

Then I dipped some white ribbon and tulle into the mixture and here is the result.  The tulle didn't take too well, but it does still have a green tint to it.  The ribbon doesn't "shimmer" a lot, but does have a nice green tint to it also.

I also added the same combination into a spray bottle and sprayed some white flowers.  

NOW these really shimmer

Using the left over mixture of shimmer, bonding agent and water I dipped clear acrylic beads into it and let sit for about half an hour and I got some tinted beads.  Not too dramatic, but just enough of a hue of color.  How awesome is all of this? 

Thank you so much for coming to see my project today, I cannot wait to show you what else I've done with all of these half projects.  Please visit my blog here, you never know what you will find...

As always, have a great day and God Bless.

Chirp Chirp!

Chirp!

It won't be long and the sound of birds will be chirping in Easter Baskets everywhere, pastel colours will rule the world and chocolate will fill our bellies with goodness. We celebrate Easter here in a BIG way, however, with all the snow that has fallen lately, we are unable to get into our storage unit and bring home our Easter decorations. Therefore, I've been forced into a crafting frenzy this past week. Everything I make must stand up to constant handling and years of being boxed and stored. Hence todays post is brought to you out of shear desperation for some colour and cheerful reminders. 

Easter just wouldn't be the same without some sort of Easter Egg(s) would it?

So I made these eggs and this cute basket to at least get a sense that Easter would soon be here. 

Supplies

- Paperclay http://www.paperclay.com/

- Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer - http://www.sakuracraft.com/shop/3D-Crystal-Lacquer/3D-Crystal-Lacquer--Clear.htm

- Terri Sproul Shimmer Mixers - http://www.sakuracraft.com/shop/Terri-Sprouls-Mixers/Jewel-Effects-and-Shimmer-Mica-Color-Set/p/14711-Shimmer-Mica-Color-Set-x688767.htm

- tissue paper

Instructions

1. Mold your egg out of the Paperclay, let this harden for a few days, then sand smooth.

 OR you could use plastic eggs and use the mixers to recolour them if you'd like to have a certain colour egg.

2. To achieve one solid coloured egg, simply mix a small amount of the 3D Crystal Lacquer with the mixers and apply like a paint to your egg. Let dry and decorate.

OR

3. I used the same technique I used earlier this month with a twist. What you need to do is sprinkle some of the Shimmer Mica color onto a tissue paper.

4. Spray the tissue paper with alcohol spray, let dry.

5. Spray on a thin coat of 3D Crystal Lacquer onto your dried tissue paper to set the colour.

I did this by pouring 50% water and 50% 3D Crystal Lacquer into a spray atomizer as shown below. 

This worked really well for spraying the paper in a nice, light and even coat. But make sure you wash out your sprayer when you are done. 

Let the tissue paper dry completely before going onto the next step.

6. Rip small pieces of the coloured tissue paper and apply the tissue to your clay egg with a small paint brush , use the 3D Crystal Lacquer to adhere your paper and to put the finishing coat on the eggs. You might like to put on a couple of coats of the 3D Crystal Lacquer. Let this dry and embellish or leave as is. 

The really good news is that my home is filling up nicely with some cheerful decorations, that are easy to make, economical and long lasting. They almost look real, LOL. 

SAVE ON THE PRODUCTS I USED HERE

For the entire Month of March

Terri Sproul Mixer Shimmer Mica Color Sets are on Sale 20% off .

Just use the code "Shimmer03"

at checkout!