Faux Fused Glass Pendant

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.



I diecut some hearts.


Then I heated UTEE in a Melting Pot.  A word of caution: The Embossing Enamel and parts of the Melting Pot get very hot! 

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.



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.


Then I made some jewelry!  Here is one of the hearts with a brass charm on a chain:



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


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!

Time Warp Altered Sakura Milk Can

My second milk can project is a companion piece to my first ("Time Flies") and a tribute to one of my favorite movies, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Even if you’ve never watched this cult classic, you’ve probably heard parts of the soundtrack, including “Time Warp.”

Here’s the milk can without embellishment:

I love how Crystal Lacquer sticks to metal!  I prepared my paper to cover my can.  This is a vintage clock face on cardstock, stamped with my phrase in ColorBox Chalk Ink in Dark Brown and painted with 7 Gypsies Color Wash in Walnut Forest.

I coated the cylindrical portion of the can with Crystal Lacquer using a foam paint brush, put the paper in place, and coated the paper with more Crystal Lacquer.  When the Crystal Lacquer was dry to the touch, I added another layer on top of the first.
I had these lovely doll parts that remind me of the friend who first took me to see Rocky Horror:

I sewed the arms to the handles on the sides with button thread.  I punched holes in the can, matching the holes in the doll bust, then tied the doll head to the can with embroidery floss.  I used Crystal Lacquer to glue the bottom of the can to the top of a vintage tin turned upside down:

Finally, I made my Time Warp Doll a watch face necklace:

I hope you will try making your own creations with Crystal Lacquer.  During the month of May, you can get 20% off your total order at Sakura Hobby Craft.  Now is the perfect time to try Crystal Lacquer and Sakura’s other great products!  Just enter the code “Sakura05” at checkout.

Also, Sakura is hosting a blog hop on May 18^th!  The theme is “Fantasy” and Sakura’s Design
Team is dreaming up amazing art to share with you on that day!  There will be prizes, too!  So be sure to check back here on May 18^th!

Time Flies Altered Sakura Milk Can

I altered Sakura’s little milk can into a personalized treasure tin using Sakura Crystal Lacquer, paper, burlap and ink.

Here’s the milk can:

 

I measured the can and cut my paper to fit.  I have a stack of clock faces printed on heavy paper.  You could also use a stamp, a printed graphic or patterned paper.

My paper did not fit all the way around the can, so I cut a little extra piece.

I stamped my phrase on the paper with Colorbox Chalk Ink in dark brown (“Tempus fugit,” or “Time flies”).

 

I colored the paper with 7 Gypsies Color Wash (pastel green) and let it dry.

 

Crystal Lacquer is a great adhesive and it works on metal! I coated the back of the paper with Crystal Lacquer.  You could coat the can instead, but I felt like I had better control this way.  I poured a little Crystal Lacquer onto a plastic container lid and used a foam brush to apply it to the paper.  Then I placed the paper on the can.

 

After it felt dry, I applied a coat of Crystal Lacquer on top of the paper.

I made the burlap wings from the Angel Wings die by Sizzix.  The wing was too big for my can, so I cut one out of paper and trimmed it to use it as a template for trimming the burlap ones. 

 

 

I cut out the burlap wings and then trimmed then, using the paper wing as a guide:

For tips on diecutting fabric, please visit my tutorial here.

Then I added a little distress ink to the edges of the wings (vintage photo and rusty hinge):

I adhered the wings to the can with more Crystal Lacquer.  I put one on and let it dry before I added the other.  I put some Crystal Lacquer on the can and some on the back of the top part of the wing, then held the wing tightly to the can for a couple of minutes so the Crystal Lacquer could set.  Then I set the can on its side with the wing up and let the Crystal Lacquer harden before adding the second wing.

I added clock gears to the wings with more Crystal Lacquer and stabilized the can so they wouldn’t fall off before the Crystal Lacquer hardened.  I inserted a bottle into the can and then used two full bottles to keep the bottle/can combination from rolling:

Once the gears were on securely, my treasure tin was ready!

 

 

Sakura is hosting a blog hop on May 18^th!  The theme is “Fantasy” and Sakura’s Design Team is dreaming up amazing art to share with you on that day!  There will be prizes, too!  So be sure to check back here on May 18^th!

During the month of May, you can get 20% off your total order at Sakura Hobby Craft!  If you haven't tried Crystal Lacquer, now is the time to get some!  Sakura also has beautiful powders for coloring the Crystal Lacquer, and lots of jewelry findings!  Enter the code Sakura05 at checkout.

 

3D Collaged Necklace

Hi there! Dale here....

This week, I wanted to try numerous things using 3D Crystal Lacquer and sometimes all those ideas are overwhelming.  So, I stepped back and concentrated on the first one that came to mind and wanted to try as I am going to see Oprah on April 14th, so I wanted a special necklace for that date.

I am one of those people who is unable to wear regular jewelry, I am allergic to metal.  Sometimes, I can find something out there that I like and can wear but not often.

So......I decided to make my own special 3D Collage Necklace.

I started with collected images and words from magazines that spoke to me.  I've been in a joyous mood lately and the word "JOY" popped out first thing.
I have several chipboard shapes in my embellishment box, so decided to use this 4 inch X 2 inch oval one.

I glued down the background image (image of metal drawers somewhere), added the words and the funky circle image.

Then, it was time to add the Sakura Hobby Craft 3D Crystal Lacquer (which is on special this month if you use the code Terri04 )
When I had picked out the magazine images, I totally forgot about the colours from the backside....oops.

While the 3D Crystal Lacquer was drying, I started on the clock part of this project.  I had these curtain rings in different sizes, that were perfect for adding to the back of the clock image so when I added the lacquer to the front, it wouldn't fall through.  I have had these little rhinestones in a package for a couple years and decided, even though, I'm not a rhinestone person these would work on this click face.

When I first looked at this project (like the picture above) I was devastated that the colours from the reverse of the images was coming through.  I calmed myself down by saying "Maybe when it dried it wouldn't be so severe."

In the morning, it was still showing, but I think it added to the project for me.  Others might have tossed it, but making ART is all about expressing yourself and this talks to me about me.

I added blue marker all around the edge of the chipboard covered the back with a book text and then added the silk ribbon. The colours in the funky circle image on the chipboard are not as severe and I'm hoping once the clock face totally dries (the top is dry but not the underneath as it was thick) it might be toned down a little.
I am happy with this 3D Collage Necklace and will wear it proudly on my Oprah date.

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!

Shimmering Cupcake

Hi everyone! 

Dale here.   

I am having so much FUN, seeing how these wonderful products

work with all kinds of mediums!

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!

A list of items I used today on the following card:  

Cardstock

rubber stamp sentiment

dye ink

craft foam

textured wallpaper

rickrack

asst. beads

craft glue

wooden stir stik

3D Crystal Lacquer

ROSE Shimmer Mica Color

I have been working on a few cards for the rest of this month and early April birthdays. I have challenged myself this year to use up paper scraps in my drawer bin and in that bin is a pile of textured wallpaper scraps and decided to use one of the samples.

I poured alittle 3D Crystal Lacquer onto the wallpaper sample, then used a wooden stir stik to scoop out the Rose Shimmer Mica (have you seen how LITTLE of the colour you need?) and then mix it all together right on the wallpaper.  I, sadly, had enough to colour 2 samples - well, really not sad but I have to remember how far this goes!

 I used a paper scrap to cut the icing part of a cupcake, then cut out the coloured wallpaper.  Before it dried totally, I added some micro mini beads.

 To layer the coloured cupcake icing onto the card, I had to use 3 layers of craft foam under it.

The bottom of the cupcake was cardstock folded accordion style.  I added a scrap of rickrack to the accordion part. I used a teal dye ink to stamp the sentiment below the cupcake on the cardstock.

I am happy with how the 3D Crystal Lacquer & Shimmer Mica Color coloured the textured wallpaper, makes it almost edible!

 

And don't forget to get Your Terri Sproul Shimmer Mixers

@ 20% off from Now until 31/03/13

When you use the code "Shimmer03" at check out.You can purchase HERE.

Shimmered Vintage Paper Flower & Chipboard

Hi everyone! I am Dale Anne Potter.

I am part of the new Sakura Hobby Craft

Design Team and I am excited to share with you my first project.

This is my first time using these wonderful products

and I have to say it was AWESOME!

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!

A list of items I used today:  

Die cut (by a friend) vintage paper flowers

vintage button

rhinestone

chipboard letters

hot glue & gun

small paint brush

baby wipe

3D Crystal Lacquer

 Terri Sproul's Shimmer Mica Color Set

-Tanzanite

-Citrine

 I have had these vintage paper die cut flowers for a couple years and wanted to use them for a project, and felt they might be too fragile.  I received the box of Sakura products late last week, so thought this would be a good test for me. 

 

I was warned that you need very little of the shimmer mica powders. I squeezed out a quarter size of the 3D Crystal Lacquer, then sprinkled the Tanzanite mica powders and mixed with a small paint brush. What I really like is that the 3D Crystal Lacquer is washable. I wanted the shimmer and the lacquer to strengthen the vintage paper and it worked.  Each section of the flower was done individually, spread out to dry, then layered together with hot glue. They are very pliable.

The centre Citrine mica powder was not only painted onto the vintage paper but the little vintage button as well.  I had some of the citrine left and lightly brushed around the centre. I used baby wipe to clean off my craft sheet.

 

 The chipboard letters were already coloured, I just added the #D Crystal Lacquer on top of them once they were glued onto my flip mini album.

 I am VERY pleased with how the flower turned out with shimmer & very pliable.

And don't forget to get Your Terri Sproul Shimmer Mixers

@ 20% off from Now until 31/03/13

When you use the code "Shimmer03" at check out.You can purchase HERE.

The finished above project is my latest FREEBIE Tutorial.  

You can read more info HERE.

Spring Blossoms

Spring Blossoms at Sakura Hobby Crafts

AAAHHH, the first signs of spring are starting to make themselves known. And none too soon if you ask me. And because this is my very first post for the Sakuka Design Team, I wanted to include one of my favorite things with all of you in this post.

"FLOWERS" 

I have a huge passion for bright colors and anything that reminds me of my garden. So I created this canvas piece to remind me of whats just around the corner.

"SPRING"

SUPPLIES

- Terri Sproul Mixers - http://www.sakuracraft.com/shop/Terri-Sprouls-Mixers/Jewel-Effects-Sets.htm

- Crystal Color Lacquer - http://www.sakuracraft.com/shop/3D-Crystal-Lacquer/Metallic--Pearl--Glitter--6-Color-SDet--Pen-Style-Applicators/p/3071-br--Metallic--Pearl-Color-Set.htm

- alcohol

- canvas

- stamps of choice

- Stazon Ink (color of choice)

- rub-ons, embellishments

- paint brush

 Step 1

- tap mixers onto the canvas with a paint brush as shown above

Step 2

- Spray entire canvas with a rubbing alcohol (above)

 Step 3

- let canvas dry or use a heat gun to set quicker

Step 4

- add stamped images (below)

 Step 5

- apply 3D Crystal lacquer for desired effect

 Step 6

- Add embellishments, word sayings etc.

I know many of my creative friends enjoy doing mixed media projects, so I hope that you will be inspired to use the products shown in this tutorial. I love how bright and shimmery the mixers are and I had a lot of control on where and how the alcohol affected the end result. If you would like to add some incredible color to your next project, it couldn't be easier than right now. For the entire month of MARCH, Sakura is offering you 20% off on the

SHIMMER MIXERS - COUPON CODE IS "SHIMMERO3"

YOU CAN ORDER THEM RIGHT HERE

SHIMMER MIXERS