30 minute Thursdays...interchangeable faux amber charms!

I love it when a happy crafting accident leads to a discovery...and today's 30 minute Thursday project is a classic example of this...i discovered through laziness that if you don't clean your Melt Pot thoroughly enough when you've been using gold embossing powder in it...and then you add clear UTEE...you get something that looks remarkably similar to amber!!  Personally, i've always had a love affair with amber...so i'm particularly tickled by this discovery :0)  Add into that the fact that it occurred to me that this technique could be used to make interchangeable charms...and i have to say i'm rather chuffed with today's offering! *blushes slightly*

What you need:
Clear UTEE
Flex
Ranger Ink Essentials Memory Frame
Chipboard shape/costume jewellery pieces/small flowers...whatever you like really as long as it fits in your frame!
leather thong

What you do:
This is such a simple project that i haven't even bothered to give you step by step photos...i really don't think you need them.
First off, melt the clear UTEE in your Melt Pot with a tiny smidge of gold embossing powder {less really is more here and the gold powder is opaque and we want a beautiful translucent liquid}...while that is heating...lay your frame onto a non~stick craft mat and arrange your inclusions in the frame.  In the sample above i've used a chipboard flower {from Bee Crafty} which i coloured with gold Brilliance ink.  When the UTEE is liquid carefully pour it into the frame, over the flower and gently press half a press stud into the flower centre...leave it to cool...add a thong and some beads and you're done!!  See...i told you it was easy!!!  I''ve only popped a short length of thonging on this one as we both like the look of it hanging in the kitchen window.

As long as you are careful not to add too much UTEE {no going over the edges}...and because of the way the frames open and close...you can remover the cooled charm...and then do another one with all sorts of other things in the *amber*...i've used a chipboard letter with a fabric rose and some small flowers with some glass chips...but if you want to go for realism with your pendant maybe you could try a dead fly!! ;0)

My favourite of the pieces i tried was this one...with a rather yummy piece of broken jewellery in the middle and i've hung this one on a long thong to wear as a Winter necklace over a cowl neck jumper.

The jewellery piece was quite chunky so the gemstone *ahem* section sticks up above the *amber* and the whole thing feels rather sumptuous. :0)

And there you have it...a simple idea that can be used to create pendants to wear or for hanging in the window...even to hang on the Christmas tree would be lovely.  I'm bursting to make a steampunk version of this too with clock parts and cogs...i think that would be fabulous!

Thanks for stopping by and i do hope you'll give this technique a go...

Bubbly Scrumptious update...a whole lot more utee

hi gang,

apologies for the lack of blogging...i've been having some surgery and couldn't use my right arm for a while there...bummer, eh??? but i seem to be back in the land of craft now...so i'm happy again :0)  i will have to have some nasty chemotherapy over the next few months so blogging may be erratic i'm afraid...but hang in there with me...and i'll share what i can...when i can...and your little comments will keep me going through the difficult times :0)
**if you have breast cancer too and want to say hi...please do!**

anyho...enough of that...today over at the bubbly scrumptious blog i have another UTEE project that i hope you'll enjoy...pop on over to see it here.

Bubbly Scrumptious update...all of a flutter

Have you popped over to Bubbly Scrumptious to check out my latest project, yet?  I'm still playing with my Melt Pot and this time adding some chipboard and fabric shapes to create a little wearable art...just click here for all the details and instructions :0)

Bubbly Scrumptious update...a whole lot of utee

today's post should be available now...just click here for the details :0)

bubbly scrumptious update...

...do pop along and see my latest projects on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog...today i've made a ring and a card from one Tando chip shape for you...i hope you like them!

Friendly Plastic Masterclass ~ Day Seven

day 7 ~ the finale!

Wow! I can hardly believe i’ve been waffling on about Friendly Plastic for a whole week now...and there is still so much more i wanted to show you and talk to you about...maybe i’ll have to do another week long intensive blog tutorial later in the year...Do let me know if you’ve enjoyed this and would like more :0)



Other things i planned to cover include making your pieces permanent and protecting them, making jewellery, using gilding flakes, and using FP in mixed media projects. However, all is not lost, there are lots of truly inspiring FP artists out there who can teach all these things and more if you check out their blogs and websites. I thoroughly recommend checking out:

Liz Welch ~ as seen on Create and Craft :0)
Linda Peterson ~ the best FP tutorial on You Tube!
Jana Ewy ~ probably the most talented FP artist EVER!!

and there are lots more out there...just pop Friendly Plastic or AMACO into your search engine and they'll all pop up for you :0)

Anyway, back to today and our final project. i really wanted to show you a complete project that shows you how much you’ve learned so far. What i’ve designed is also meant to show once and for all that FP does not have to be girly, super shiny or garish in nature, so i’ve made this project entirely monochrome and a bit more sophisticated than most of the things i’ve shared so far and has a definite 60’s vibe, maaan.

To create this monochrome frame you will need 1 ½ sticks of FP in black and 1 ½ in white. As i’m using up all sorts of left overs, i used plastic in lots of different colours for my frame but chose pieces that were either black or white on the reverse and used that side for my squares. No point buying more when you don’t need to, huh?

Simply create 12 one inch squares using the techniques we’ve explored so far. I’ve used stamping, both with black in into white FP and black on black {which i think looks really classy}, marbling, extruding through sequin waste, embedding buttons, stripes and shape cutting with cookie cutters. I’ve also added a few pearls and sequins to the mix, and a dash of crystal glitter...just because i could!

Now join your squares together using the hot water melding technique and adhere it to a ready~made frame, or construct your own as i did out of mount board. I used that super sticky tape that comes on the red rolls to stick mine and it holds really well. Add your photo, sit back and consider how far we’ve come from the simple frame we discussed on day one!

I really hope you’ve enjoyed and absorbed all this information and will give FP a go...what have you got to lose?

12 days of Christmas swap...

its not a regular thing for me taking part in swaps...but over on UKS atm...i was tempted by the 12 days of Christmas swap...inspired by a project in Craft Stamper Magazine...designed by the fabulously talented Linda...

the idea is that 12 people make 12 thrinchies {3 inch squares} and decorate them, leaving the corners clear for attaching with jump rings...then when we swap...we end up with 12 different Christmas themed squares and it makes a lovely wall hanging for the festive season :0)



if you're wondering why i've made 9 turquoise and silver thrinchies...its because some of the people have requested specific colour schemes {including me!}

this red, green and gold is my chosen colourway...

this totally golden one was just for fun...

...and this black and gold colourway was chosen by another swapee...i hope she likes it!

the more observant of you will have noticed my absence and may like to know that i fell down a rather nasty poorly hole last week...but i'm doing much better this week...hope its a good one for you too...

Sketch challenge update & patchwork metal tutorial

hi all,

i've decided to leave the challenge open for another week...just in case there are any stragglers out there that haven't quite finished...the current LO's are gorgeous...just click on mr. linky to add your LO and to see the others :0) you've got to be in it, to win it, right?

**********************************************************************************

and as i've been asked quite a few times now, i've done a simple tutorial for my patchwork~metal technique

...hope you like it!

you will need:

an item to cover {mine is a mini~album which i've disassembled}

scraps of Ten Seconds Studio metal {or similar weight metal sheet}

scraps of grossgrain ribbon, ric~rac, trim in your chosen colours

embossing folders & big shot {or similar machine}

Humungo double sided super strong adhesive, and double sided tape {other makes are available...and i'm beginning to sound a little like i'm on the craft tv now!!}

glossy accents

nail file

alcohol ink & applicator

Step 1.

cut your metal scraps into suitable sized pieces for the item you are covering {the ones i used are 2 inches square} and emboss with the folders in a variety of patterns:

Step 2.

cover the front of your item completely with the Humungo tape, remove the red covering and begin applying your patchwork squares to the most awkward part of the shape first, making sure to alternate your patterns:

Step 3.

continue covering the shape until the whole thing is covered, folding 1/2 inch of metal over to the back {and through any holes} and trimming the corners as you would if you were covering the book with paper {cutting a triangle off at each corner to prevent bulkiness}:

Step 4.

use an old nail file or a sanding block to remover some of the coloured coating to the metal:

Step 5.

apply a few drops of alcohol ink directly onto the metal, and dab all over to spread the colour evenly with the applicator tool, then leave to dry:

Step 6.

apply a line of strong double sided tape over the join between each square of metal, with a dab of glossy accents at each end and stick down your ribbon scraps, folding the excess over to the back:

Step 7.

my cover had a window, so i've added a piece of acetate scrap and a photo to the middle by simply taping them in place on the back:

Step 8.

cover up all the messiness on the back of the cover with a co~ordinating piece of patterned cardstock and if you need one, re~make the hole!

Step 9.

reassemble the book...and its you're all done :0)

i hope all that makes sense to you...if you have any questions do leave them in the comments box and i'll do my best to answer them :0)

Style School!!

Hi everyone! Thanks for the lovely comments on my last post...you girlies really cheer me along from day to day, so thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me :0)

now...i promised details of Elsie and Leigh-Ann's Style School class that i'm taking...but i've been hit hard by a monster migraine this week...so i'm a bit behind i'm afraid...but thankfully the classes are generally fairly cute but quick makes...so i will catch up!!

the first class was a wreath project, wrapped in wool and decorated with flowers made from a double layer of PP and acetate...to make them shiny like vintage broaches...here is my version:

i am a rubbish student it would seem...i didn't use a wreath...i didn't make the PP&acetate flowers...and i didn't wrap the whole thing in wool lol...so what did i do? well...i made my faux enamel flowers {as i love to do} by dipping PP flowers into UTEE using my melt-pot and layering up...adding a few buttons and bits of bling...i used simple photograph frames as the *wreath* part {these are to become a part of a wall display i'm already working on for my lounge} and i painted them with Distress Paint...one is wrapped in string and one has small sections of ribbon tied to it...then i adhered the flowers to the frames with silicone glue. Easy...and i must say...i love them...even hubby likes them and has already allowed them up on the wall!! ;0)

when i get the Melt Pot out i like to make lots of things while i'm about it...so i have plenty more of these sort of flowers to appear on a blog near you soon!

project number 2 is a wall art display hanger...and i hope to complete it today *wish me luck*

hope you enjoy seeing what i've done so far...and stay tuned...i will have lots more fun projects to share over the next 6 weeks!

blooming lovely!

I've had this monstrous vanity case forever...and never liked it much...so I finally get around to altering it...and now I think its blooming lovely! :)


I've made the embellie out of UTEE, card and a fabric flower, and decorated the case with alcohol inks, stamps {by Autumn Leaves} and an OHP pen. The ribbons are from The Scrapbook Store {their ribbon bundles are to die for...check them out here!}

Anyone spot the *deliberate* mistake?