Cinnamon Pink

Envirotex Jewelry Resin Kit Tutorial & Tips

Today, I experimented with the New Envirotex Jewelry Resin Kit and some blank pendants. I was very pleased with my results. I loved the depth and smoothness of the surface on my finished pendants. The amazing bubble release - and fresh citrus scent - made it a pleasure to work with the product.

Here are the pendant trays that I worked on. The fourth pendant is a wooden heart. Unfortunately, the pictures do not reveal the gorgeous gloss on the tops of the pendants.

After working with the resin, I came up with the following tutorial tips to ensure success:

• If you print images from your ink jet printer, spray them with a sealer first. I have had good success with Krylon Preserve It Spray. I then allow the images 24 hours to dry.
• It's important to use a good quality, craft glue to attach your image to the pendant tray. After it dries, then seal the image surface with two thin coats of the craft glue - drying between each coat.
• Carefully follow the measuring, pouring and mixing directons that come with the kit.
• The resin has been formulated to self-degas. If you do see bubbles, remove them by gently blowing across the surface or through a straw. I also have had success by gently touching the bubbles with the tip of a toothpick.

During my experiment, I prepared too much resin solution. I quickly looked around for a larger, decorative surface so as to use up the excess solution. I don't like to waste good stuff. I poured the solution on this Butterfly Collage Block which resulted in a beautiful, glossy and thick finish.

I like to glaze large art pieces. Some of you may remember the glazed hearts that I created a few months ago. Now, I know that I can use this resin on larger pieces of art too which makes me very happy. All in all, my experiment turned out well.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Cake Glass Plate

This image came from a paper napkin. I made a copy of it on my inkjet printer. I let the print cure for 24 hours - and then I coated it with an acrylic spray. I followed the same steps noted in my Typography Glass Plate Tutorial.

Since my image came from a napkin, the top cakes are upside down but I still like how it turned out.

Typography Glass Plate Tutorial

I love anything to do with Typography.  I especially think there is a classic beauty in black and white typography.

I scored this lovely alphabet in a book, called Lettering for Reproduction, at a library book sale. It's an old book that was published in 1969. Check out library sales, flea markets and thrift stores to find books like this one.

The tutorial is easy. I coated the back of an 8", clear glass plate with mod podge. You can also use diluted white glue. Carefully lay the page, face down, over the back of the plate. Then firmly smooth the paper over the plate, eliminating air bubbles.

The book pages were about 8 1/4" wide - and the plate had a slight curve to it - so I had to add thin paper strips on each side of the plate to cover the glass. Cut excess paper off plate. Let glue dry.

Seal back of plate with two coats of acrylic spray. I'm currently researching varathane sprays, as a final coat, in order to create a more complete seal.

Embellished Magnolia Silk Flower Tutorial

 

A while back, I created embellished flowers for the Marie Antoinette Mail Art Group Altered Faux Roses Swap. Today, I decided to try the same technique with a Magnolia silk flower. These flowers are easy to create. Once you make one, you'll want to make more.

Here's the easy tutorial:

Materials:

• Silk flower of your choice
• Decorative tissue paper
  
• Crafter's Pick The Ultimate glue
• Oil pastel (or pigment ink pad) in complementary color
• Glitter

Directions:

• Cut out tissue paper that is large enough to cover each petal. Cover all the petals or just the outer petals. (You can cut the excess paper off later).
  
• Glue tissue paper to the petals. Crafter's Pick adheres more easily to the silk petals, and tissue paper, than ordinary craft glue.
• When the tissue paper is dry, carefully cut around the petals, using small scissors.
• Distress the petal edges with an oil pastel or a pigment ink pad.
• Cover the stamen, in the center of the flower, with Crafter's Pick.
• Dip the glue-covered stamen in glitter.

The possibilities are endless, depending on the type of silk flowers, decorative tissue paper, ink pad and glitter that you choose. Use the embellished flowers to decorate wrapped presents, use in Marie-inspired crowns and other mixed-media projects, enhance flower arrangements or give as small gifts. Why not make an embellished flower today.

Glitzy Tussie Mussie Tutorial

I like to create Victorian-style Tussie Mussies as Christmas ornaments. This year I decided to glitz them up and make silver versions. You can also use the Tussie Mussies as gift toppers or party favors. Here is the complete tutorial.

Close-Up Image:

 

Supplies:

Directions:
1. Using a foam brush, cover a small (4 1/2-inch) paper doily with two coats of gesso. Let dry in between coats. Paint both sides of the doily. Next, seal each side of the doily with gloss medium. Let dry. Cut a hole into the center of the doily.

2. Paint another doily with silver craft paint, both sides. When dry, cut a slit into the doily and shape into a cone. Glue into place. Cut a hole into the center of the cone.

3. Cut short lengths of silver berries (from the craft store).

4. Wind a silver pipe cleaner around a chopstick to form a spiral. Make three spirals.

5. Gather berries and spirals into a bouquet - and insert into the silver and white doilies. Bend the doilies down to form a ruffle around the bouquet. For a tighter fit, you can glue the white doily to the underside of the silver doily.

6. Firmly wrap the ends of the bouquet with white florist tape. Cover the tape with silver or white ribbon.

7. Glue a small silver star to the side of the bouquet. Position the berries and spirals into an attractive arrangement. You can use different berries, flowers or pipe cleaners to make a variety of Tussie Mussies.

Shabby Chic Heart Ornament - Tutorial

Here's an easy project to make for the holidays. You can use this shabby chic heart as a tree ornament, gift topper
or napkin holder.

Basic Supplies:

Directions:

1. Cut about an 18" length of copper wire (24 guage).

2. Begin to weave the wire in and out of the sheer ribbon, about a 1/4" from the top of the ribbon. I used a 7/8" wide sheer ribbon. Continue weaving the ribbon until you develop a nice ruffle.

3. Twist the two ends of the wire together - and shape the wired ribbon into a heart.

4. Create a bow from 3/8" wide pink velvet ribbon and secure bow to the tip of the heart with wire.

5. Add a dried rose bud to the velvet ribbon with a small piece of wire.

You can vary the ornament's look with different kinds of sheer ribbon and other tiny decorations.