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...

more charming chainmail...

i'm loving this style of jewellery atm...check the previous post if you missed my tutorial...and couldn't resist making a slightly chunkier, more embellished version...this time i've added assorted large red and white glass beads {always buy annealed beads to avoid chipping :0) } and some cute pearly buttons.  its all mix and match and i just love it!

30 minute Thursdays...simply charming chainmail

Jewellery is beautiful...i guess that is the point of it....but it can take forever to make something that looks stylish and unique...in today's 30 Minute Thursday project i share my love of chain mail and my simple take on how to give the technique a go and create a pretty bracelet...in under 30 minutes!

You will need:
2 pairs of jewellery pliers {to open and close the jump rings}
75 jump rings {i use sterling silver ones to prevent allergy issues}
Toggle clasp
7 small glass beads
7 silver head pins

How to do it:
Creating a basic chain mail chain like this one is actually very simple...and endlessly satisfying! ;0)  Firstly use your pliers to open one jump ring and thread 4 more onto it, before using the pliers to close the ring again.

You should then have 5 rings that look like this:

Next, open another jump ring and hook the two end rings over it, and add 2 more jump rings, then close the ring.  Repeat this, hooking the end two rings and adding 2 more each time, and your chain will look like this!

Once you've got the technique, its surprising how quickly the chain grows so keep a ruler handy to make sure you don't make the chain longer than you need!  Add the toggle and bar onto the ends on a double link for extra strength.

If you want to, you can leave the chain at this stage...i think this is really *grown~up* and stylish for a subtle jewellery piece.

I have added simple glass charms to my chain mail chain.  This was done by creating a wrapped loop charm with each of my glass beads and attaching them to my chain with a jump ring at regular intervals:

I love how pretty and girlie this is...but understated too...although you could use bolder, bigger charms for a more chunky look if you should choose to!

As always, i do hope you've enjoyed seeing my make and if you do fancy giving this a go...i'd love to hear how you get on...and see the finished creation! :0)

30 minute Thursdays...shoe revamp!

I bet i'm not the only one out there with a really comfy pair of shoes that have seen better days...so today's project shows a cute way to revamp a scruffy/stained/scuffed pair of pumps...into a new and rather unique pair!

You'll need an old pair of shoes {obvious really}, some sheets of newspaper, an ink and some Mod Podge:

Tear your newspaper into lots of pieces {not too small or you'll be all day, not 30 minutes!} and mix some Mod Podge with a few sprays of black ink in a glass jar:

Paint your shoes with the Mod Podge mix and cover with the pieces of newspaper.  Add a layer of the glue over the newsprint too to add colour and to seal the paper to the shoe:

Continue until you have worked your way all around both shoes.  At this point I decided to remove the elastic straps:

When the glue has dried enough for you to handle the shoes, neaten all the edges with a permanent marker pen:

And finally, add a toning flower to each shoe.  These are Prima flowers which i've sprayed with the black ink and sealed with Marine Varnish to toughen them up a bit:

Assemble yourself a cute outfit...i'm thinking these will look good with warm tights and a cute grey dress i own...and model your new shoes for all to admire!

I hope that's got your creative juices flowing...and feel free to adapt the idea by using tissue paper instead of newsprint...a pretty coloured pair would be lovely!

30 minute Thursdays...a properly puzzling card!

Hello again Thursday crafters!

This week's offering is a properly puzzling card...literally a card made onto a puzzle...that you disassemble and pop into the post for the recipient to recreate themselves!  Cool, huh? ;0)  It can be made as my example shows from a pre~bought jigsaw blank {available in lots of craft shops} or by reusing an old jigsaw and sanding off the picture...so you have no excuses not to have a go!! 

Warning!

You'll see from the photos that i have used a selection of the fabulous Dylusions mica and non~mica sprays to create this design...so do work in a protected environment and not over the dining room carpet...and if you've got to go to work later...wear gloves!! lol  These sprays are gorgeous...but they do get everywhere...so don't forget your non~stick worksheet...

To begin with, spray some colour onto the blank jigsaw in a light colour, leaving some areas uncoloured:

Next layer some mica infused colours over and around the first colour and allow to blend.  Shake the bottles to allow some splattering to occur:

Move your jigsaw to one side to dry.  Spritz the ink on the non~stick sheet with a little water and create co~ordinating embellishments by allowing plain paper flowers to absorb the colour:

Dry these with a heat gun and draw in two stalks for your flowers using a large marker pen:

***Glue your flowers onto the stalks, being careful not to glue over the lines of the puzzle ;0)***

Now add a little stamping around the edges of the puzzle {this makes it more fun to put together} and if you wish a message at the bottom:

To finish the design, swipe a permanent black inkpad all around the edges, add a little pen work with a fine black pen and glue some gems into the flower centres:

Turn the puzzle over and create a simpler version on the back...and write your message:

Now all you have to do, is heat set all the ink, and pop all the separated puzzle pieces in a sturdy envelope...and wait for the excited call when your properly puzzling card reaches its destination!

I do hope you've liked this idea...and as always i'd love to hear what you think...
happy crafting,
Alixxxx

30 minute Thursdays...coaster from scraps!

Welcome back again Thursday crafters :0)

This week i have a cute project for you that helps you to make something useful...a coaster or trivet...or maybe even a pot stand for a cute plant...and all out of the scrap cardstock left over from scrapping or cardmaking...and one of the cardboard rings from your double sided sticky tape rolls!  As always on a Thursday...you can do it in double quick time too :0)

First up, you need to assemble your supplies...you'll need some cardstock that you no longer love, or leftovers from other projects...you could even use junk mail!  You'll also need an empty DSST ring, some craft glue {PVA or your favourite kind}, a metal ruler and a craft knife.

Cut a cardstock strip 12" long and the same width as your ring.  Use this strip to cover the outside of your cardboard ring and use a peg or clip to hold into place while the glue dries.  Colour the top of the ring with a permanent ink that tones nicely.

While this is drying, cut more cardstock strips of the same width...using your knife and ruler or a paper trimmer.

Curl the strips in your fingers, as if you were rolling up an old fashioned tape measure.

As you curl your strips, glue them into place inside the ring as shown below.  Make sure you glue the end to the outside for neatness.  Complete the outside ring and then glue 5 or 6 strips together to create one mammoth strip and roll this to form the centre.  Alternatively, you could make another ring of small coils with one coil in the middle...just play!

Glue your massive coil into the middle making sure you have glue where each coil touches.  Attach a diecut scalloped circle or chipboard shape to the bottom for stability and place a heavy book on top and leave for the glue to dry.  At this stage you could simply hang your project as a cute work of art...it looks lovely in a window if you don't add the backing as the light travels right through :0)

To use as a coaster, add a couple of coats of Marine varnish {a spray sealant available in model shops} and add your favourite mug!

As always...i do hope you've enjoyed today's little project and i'd love to know if you have a go and create one of your own...or if you just spark off the idea to create something quite different!

If you'd like to win this one...simply leave a comment with your name and e~mail address...and i'll randomly choose one person to win it!

30 minute Thursdays...a very simple needle book

hi there Thursday crafters!

a useful 30 minute project for you today...a very simple needle case using leftover felt pieces...another project which is simple enough to do with the younger crafters in your lives...but cute enough to do for yourself or even as a gift for another stitcher :0)

You will need:

2 colours of felt

embroidery floss and a large holed needle

scissors and/or a die cutter

a button

some needles

Begin with 3 pieces of felt layered one upon the other.  I have alternated light and dark for contrast and my pieces are roughly 6" x 3".

Add a simple line of running stitch through the centre to create a spine for your needle book and hold the pages together.  Do a double stitch {i.e. stitch again over the original stitch} at either end and tie a knot.  Trim this fairly closely.  Make sure your stitches do not go right to the edges!!

Close the book up and use big sharp scissors to cut it into a fun shape...this is why you didn't want to stitch right to the edge...you don't want to cut your stitching ;0)

Fill the leaves of your book with a selection of needles or pins of your choosing...

Finally, we will decorate the book.  I've cut two Tim Holtz tattered floral blooms on my Big Shot and layered them with a toning button in the middle.  Sew these together and then sew onto the front to hold the front down and keep your book in shape, and to give it a bit of personality.  If you don't have a die cutter you could cut any simple flower shape by hand and make a truly unique needle book.

Thanks for stopping by and as usual i hope you enjoy having a go at this project...its part of my never ending quest to create a simpler, more organised craftroom!! lol

30 minute Thursdays...the pom pom coaster...on a Saturday!!!

ok...so there has been a definite lack of 30 minute Thursdays of late...but better late than never, here is the project i prepared but you never got this week! :0)

its a cute and practical coaster for your cup of whatever to rest on while and the colours can be adapted to suit your colour scheme...so why not give it a go..?  a handful of these tied with string would make a super gift too ;0)

You need:
a coaster base ~ an unwanted coaster to recover, a coaster blank or as i've used some unwanted cork floor tiles die cut into circles in the Big Shot!
Tacky Glue {or similar strong glue}
String
Pom pom trim

Coat the entire top surface of your coaster with a thick layer of the Tacky Glue {i spread mine with a lolly stick} and apply your pom pom trim all the way around the edge.  Overlap the ends slightly.

Next take your string and create a tight spiral starting in the middle of the coaster and winding round and round.  Press the string into the glue as you go and it holds nicely :0)  Don't worry if you're not exactly in the middle...this becomes obvious as you increase the spiral and you have plenty of time to slide into the right position.

When your spiral reaches the pom pom trim, apply a line of glue onto the trim {not the pom poms...the flat bit} and overlap your spiral to hold the trim firmly in place.

Trim your string to the right length and use a pokey tool to tuck the end underneath the spiral to finish off neatly and prevent little fingers undoing all your work...now leave to dry!  The glue doesn't show at all in the dry version :0)

what now..?  time for a cuppa i think and a sit back to admire your handiwork!

30 minute Thursdays...a funky button ring...

Morning all, time for another 30 minute Thursday project...a rather funky button ring.  This is a great project to do with the girls in your life...young and old...and would make a great sleepover activity!

You will need some wire and a couple of buttons.  I cut my wire into three 9" lengths:

Loosely plait the middle section of your wires to hold them together {this is much easier if you have someone else hold one end!!}...just plait enough to go around your finger:

 Check it by bending it around your finger and twisting the wire together to keep the join where you want it:

Remove your finger...and you now have a ring with 6 legs!  Notice how your plait seems so much neater when you've bent it round into a circle? Magic! ;0)

Add your buttons to 2 of the longest threads by pushing the wire up through the back, over the middle and down through the other hole:

The back of your ring will look like this and you can stop at this stage, twisting the wire gently into a small spiral behind the button and trimming neatly {making sure you have no rough edges to catch on your finger} this will create a simple button ring...

...but i like to take it a bit further and add a coiled wire petals for extra fun to my rings!  Simply use round nose pliers to make a small loop on the end of each wire and then use your fingers to make loose spirals with each of the wires.  Arrange the spirals to look like petals all facing the same way and you're done!

And here is my finished funky button ring:

...and here is another...slightly smaller buttons this time {i only have small hands}:

...and finally...my favourite but most bonkers version...the super~sized funky ring!!