If the Crown Fits!

I've had the honor of becoming friends with Tiffany Windsor and her sister Heidi Borcher & getting to know a TERRIFIC new product they've just come out with: Cool2Cast. This is a quick setting fiber plaster like material that is specifically used for creating jewelry & home dec accents. After pouring a whole package of the material into molds of all kinds, I finally got around to actually CREATING a piece of jewelry from it! Here's a video on Cool2Cast coloring.

• Mix Coo2Cast as directed
• Pour into molds
• Allow to dry, pop out, allow to dry further
• Sand back edges with sanding block
• Stain with alcohol ink & stamp with images (using StazOn permanent ink)
• Spray with polyurethane to seal
• Using Smooch metallics: Sugarberry, Gold Lame, and Sassy Pink, accent crown
• Use Beacon Adhesives, Quick Grip to adhere bail & felt to back
• Braided cord through bail, attach closure findings
• WEAR & ENJOY!

While at an all day ART event in Memphis, one of the vendors there was Artistic Outpost! It was nice getting to see Robyn & Shelly again and of course I just HAD to buy several rubber stamp plates! As I looked over all the stamp plates they had, it was hard choosing 3 at least! As I look at any stamps these days, a lot of "thought" goes into it. I have to justified in my mind at least 3-5 ways in which to make these stamps WORK for ME after they are bought. The plates I ended up with were: The Oz Collage, The Wonderland Collage, and The Neverland.

Can you see a story building here? At least three I'll say! These images are awesome and the uses are plentiful. Here is the first use of a phrase used in Alice in Wonderland.....from Artistic Outposts' "The Wonderland" die plate.

Wearable Journal

Roxi Phillips & Candice Windham taught this class at the "Time for Art" event in Memphis and it turned out awesome, as if we expected anything less! This project demonstrated basic metal working skills as well as introduced the class to Ice Resin treated papers. What we ended up with was a beautifully handcrafted wearable journal! This picture doesn't come close to showing you the beauty of this pendant but it's the best I could do.

Candice & Roxi had pre-resined the papers for us to stamp & cut to size. One inch square brass plates were hammered & stamped. Papers cut & stacked to fit neatly inside the brass plates, holes drilled with a Dremel/Dremel Drill Press, jump rings inserted. I used a braided black leather cord, coiled with brass wire, and embellished with small brass sayings/keys. The ends were finished off with end caps & jewelry fasteners.

This necklace is a head turner & show stopper when wearing! I wore it to church & was stopped again & again with people wanting to see what I was wearing!

Thanks Roxi & Candice for teaching this class!!! Loved every minute of it!

Drinking Straw Jewelry

Well, I just HAD to try it!

I collected the drinking straws from every cup, washed them, dried them & then cut them up. In a glass jar they went. You have to collect a few to play with and I wanted some different colors to choose from.

At the "Taste for Art" event yesterday, I demo'ed the Drinking Straw Jewelry technique and everyone just couldn't get over what can be done with them.

Another thing I do is collect vintage jewelry from family, friends & of course yard sales. They are then taken apart so the pieces can be used in all kinds of artwork.

The technique I used is as follows:

• Cut the straws into 2.5 inch pieces.


• Using 2 non-stick craft sheets, arrange about 4-5 straw section in the colors you choose.


• Cover with another non-stick craft sheet (sandwiching the straws in the middle).


• With an iron on the hotest setting, slowly lower iron on the top of the straws being very careful not to let the straws drift apart leaving gaps.


• You will feel the straw beginning to melt.


• Once you feel the iron has pretty much flatten the straws (this will only take a few seconds), lift the iron


• Immediately put something heavy on top of the melted straws to prevent curling


• After a few minutes, remove & peel the non-stick craft sheets away


• Cut the straw arrangement into any shape you wish


• Embellish with wire, beads, and/or vintage jewelry


• Hook onto a ball chain & fish hook ear wires & you're set to WOW some people!

If you have any questions about this technique, just let me know & I'll be happy to answer you!

Enjoy your newly made jewelry!!!

ARTFIRE Shop now opened!

Well after MONTHS of deciding on whether to do this or not, I've bitten the bullet & here it is! I must say this adventure is exciting! Please look around & let me know your comments, good or bad.....all can just help me at this point! http://www.artfire.com/users/VG-Designs

Enjoy......there are tons more stuff that will be going up for sale soon! I'm currently getting ready for 2 shows in which to display my jewelry & mixed media items thus slowing me down just a little......but not for long!

Artbeads

I have great news and thought I would pass this along to everybody. Today, Artbeads is launching its biggest sale ever! This is the largest discount I have ever seen on their entire inventory of beautiful and amazing products. You can even save 20% off by signing up for their newsletter. Wow!

Make sure to take advantage of this sale and pick up something special for yourself, that special gift you’ve been planning for Christmas or just stock up on essentials. Please feel free to share this wonderful news with your friends as well.

To sign up for Artbeads.com newsletter: http://artbeads.ed4.net/profile/signup.cfm

Keep Creating,
Veronica

Shellz

Sample of recycling!

This set was made with black polymer clay that was molded into the bezels. Two dear friends gave me some natural colored egg shells to play with.....of course I turned mine into jewelry! Breaking the egg shells in tiny pieces I used tweezers to place the shells where I wanted them. This actually was time consuming. When I was pleased with the placement of the tiny shell pieces, I heated my toaster oven to 275 & baked the clay in the bezels for approx. 15 minutes. After the pieces cooled down, I poured some glossy accents on the top to protect the clay & the shells and add a really wonderful shine.

The necklace & earrings were bought at a thrift store. I removed the plastic pieces from the bezels to provide a nice place to create the Shellz jewelry shown here.

Enjoy...........

"Rare Earth" Set

"Rare Earth" is an amazing jewelry set. The red/orange & blue/olive green tones are beautiful together. The raku ceramic beads are accompanied by olive & tan wood beads as well as black 7mm beads. Large lobster claw closures make these pieces easy to wear. Beadalon flexible wire was used to string the necklace & bracelet. Sure wished the picture show how truly beautiful the colors are.

SPECIAL NOTICE 1: Beginning every FRIDAY in October, I will be selecting a WINNER from the comment gallery!! What do you have to do? POST COMMENTS! For every post you make your name goes into a weekly drawing. Fairy Necklaces have been made by some beautiful fairies who wish sprinkle you with cheer. Should your name be drawn, a little story will accompany each necklace as to how your necklace was created. The Fairy Necklace will be sent to the winner every Monday. These little ladies have worked hard creating these for you so are YOU up for the challenge?

SPECIAL NOTICE 2: The grand give-a-way will be a complete jewelry set of my choice. That is at least a $40.00+ value!! BUT this requires more from you. Requirements: a) You can only enter this 1 (one) time during the month of October b) Look over my entire blog c) Find your favorite blog entry d) Comment (post) as to why you like it (make sure you mention the GRAND give-a-way somewhere in your post. This post will also count as your Fairy Necklace entry (2 for one entry).

See, that's not too hard!
October 31st, I will select the winner & get the gift set in the mail by Nov. 1st.

Jewelry Nite

I've had the most fun this evening. After an early supper, I tucked myself in my studio. I created 4 complete sets of jewelry: Necklace, Bracelet, Earrings. Two of the sets are made with raku beads which is totally different than my usual style. I had so much fun out of my BOX! Of course I finished up with 2 sets made with natural taupe shell finishes, one of which is promised to my daughter since at my last sale, someone bought the one she was looking at. Since very few of my pieces are alike, she'll have one similar. I'll have time tomorrow to photograph them properly in order to post. Should anyone be interested in any pieces posted, please let me know. I have a show in Humboldt come November. My plan is to have a WIDE variety of jewelry to display. Of course, other handmade items as well.

Just back from walking the furbabies & believe I'll delve into the latest issue of Creative Jewelry that has Roxi Phillip's Krylon necklace in. Way to go Roxi! I didn't know of this magazine before but I do now!

In a few days, I plan on a give-a-way! Ever heard of a Fairy Necklace? Keep posted!!