May Class Samples

At the urging of my family members, I'm trying to post more photos on a regular basis. Since we had the photos for my May class all ready to go, I thought I would start with these.
This was a fun class called "May Flowers". The students cut many, many flowers using personal die cutting machines and dies. Then they made three cards using the flowers.


I was hoping they would have time to do the last project. It was a lot of fun to make. I took a two pocket portfolio and altered it to hold cards or card elements.

This is the front of the portfolio.

These are the inside pockets.

And this is the back view.

Since the students didn't have time to start the portfolio, they were given a homework assignment to complete it and bring it for show and tell at the next class. I can't wait to see how creative they are with their assignemnt.

Upcycled Moisturizer Jar

This is a huge day for me. I am blogging on my own. Well, with my IT guy/husband's help. My daughter set up this blog for me almost two months ago.You know how it is. You sit and watch someone create this new and different thing. You get asked lots of questions and give the answers, you watch as she clicks the mouse and types on the keyboard and the next thing you know, you have a BLOG. WOW! I have a BLOG! Well, during that whole process, I neglected to take notes thinking I can remember how to do it. How hard can this be? Actually pretty hard when I can't remember how to do any steps past typing the title. I know I will need LOTS of help. I am a sort-of photographer and a very limited writer. I am hoping to improve both skills as time goes on with LOTS of help.

Anyway, here we are creating a new blog post. I have just learned to upload pictures from my camera to the computer. Put them in folders, arrange the folders in different categories, open the pictures in Photoshop Elements and re-size the photos. WOW! I'm tired... But I did take notes this time...

After all of that, I chose to show pictures of my upcycled moisturizer jar. I absolutely love this moisturizer. It is my favorite. I used every molecule before I was going to recycle it. Then I thought I could use it to store do-dads on my craft desk. You know bits and pieces of things for projects that didn't get used. So I cleaned it out and put it on my desk.

After looking at it for a few weeks and being inspired by Ten Seconds Studio Taco Tuesday videos, I decided to metalize the jar. I started with plain aluminum 40 gauge metal. I cut a circle with one of my Spellbinders circle dies. Then measured the circumference and cut a strip of the same metal for the side of the jar. Next I chose the Ten Seconds Studio molds I wanted to use. That took a while as I have lots of them. Finally I chose two. One for the top of the jar and one for the side. The top was easy. I used my personal die cutting machine to emboss the metal with the mold. The side strip had to be hand embossed with metal tools because it was a more involved pattern and needed to be repeated. That was a fun learning experience and not to hard to do at all.

Next I painted the metal with black acrylic paint. When it was dry I took a damp paper towel and wiped off most of the paint. Next, I used three different alcohol ink colors and applied them over the paint. Then I sanded the high parts.

I spackled the back of the embossing to keep it from collapsing. When the spackle was dry, I applied red liner double stick tape. Great Stuff!! Then I applied the metal top and side to the jar. I really like how it turned out. I have a smaller jar that I just emptied yesterday, maybe I'll metalize it too...

THE Birthday Box

The "Big Birthday"  Box...

This is a project I made for my hubby's BIG birthday. I wanted him to have a place to put all the items he collects in his pockets. He was very happy with it and actually uses it from time to time.

The sides of the box are painted with metalic surfacers and then sprayed with a patina finish. 

 The top is hand embossed metal using Ten Seconds Studio metal, tools, and molds.

The inside of the box is painted with irridescent paints in several metalic colors.

I really like how this paper mache box now looks like its made of old oxidized metal.

Cigar Box Purse

I chose this particular piece for my first post as I created it when I wanted to enter the wine industry. I thought it would be fun to take it wine tasting as a conversation starter. It worked! I got a part-time job in retail sales and hospitality in a tasting room. It has been a great job for me. I love wine and I love to talk to people. It is not conducive to creativity though . I need to create on a regular basis or die...

 This piece is called "The Days of Wine and Roses." I used thumbnail wine label photos from the Wine Spectator Magazine to decoupage on the prepared cigar box. As I also make jewelry, I knew I wanted to incorporate lots of jewelry findings and chain in the piece.

 I even decorated the inside of the box as well.

 I chose this stamp for the front because it is called "They made me keeper of the vineyard."

 It even has bun feet!

 The full sized label in the background is soaked off a bottle then dried. Later I found out that most wineries will give you their left over labels if you ask for them.

I made the "tassel" to flip from side to side along the handle at the top of the box. Sometimes I just spend a moment and finger it. I have thought about making others and selling them, and perhaps if interest is expressed I will do so.