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Wrapped Wire Bell Flower Tree by Candace Jedrowicz

May 8, 2013 By 4 Comments
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5 8 13 Candace Wrapped Wire Beaded Tree C2C Wrapped Wire Bell Flower Tree by Candace Jedrowicz

The process of creativity begins with a problem. That may sound silly, but, from that thought/problem comes the idea for a solution followed by the action of solving that problem. Candace Jedrowicz takes you through that process from mental seeds to physical tree with this fun and easy tutorial.

Watch Candace’s Wrapped Wire Beaded Tree YouTube video tutorial!

Materials:

14 gauge wire – 10″ or more
22 gauge wire – a roll of it
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters
Chain nose pliers
Hot glue
Frame – optional
Charms to hang on the tree – optional

1. Cut 2 pieces of 4′ 14 gauge wire and fold in half.  Fold a bent wire 2″ from the bend and bend in the opposite direction on both sides of the bend.

2. Pinch the two folded parts and twist. These will be roots. Repeat with the other 4″ wire.

3. Cut a 2′ piece of the 14 gauge wire and bend one end, twisting to make a 5th root.

4. Holding the roots together, begin twisting the tree truck wires together.  Add as many extra wires as desired to add bulk to your trunk.

5. Decide where the branches will open up and separate them.

6. Cut 20 or more 2″ pieces of 22 gauge wire and fold them in half.  Twist each for added strength and thickness.

7. Begin wrapping the smaller wires around the trunk, working upward and around the branches until you have the look you want.

8. To add charms, curl the ends of the branches, slide the charm on and secure by completing the curl.  I made charms from purple flower shaped beads with gold bells and leaf beads.

9. To add into a frame make sure the roots and branches have a flattened back side

10. Make sure there are plenty of contact points between the frame, backing and tree for the glue to create a good bond.

P Candace Wrapped Wire Bead Wrapped Wire Bell Flower Tree by Candace Jedrowicz

 

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Cool2Cast Green Man Journal Cover by EcoHeidi Borchers

May 7, 2013 By 6 Comments
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5 6 13 Heidi Green Man Journal C2C Hero Cool2Cast Green Man Journal Cover by EcoHeidi Borchers

EcoHeidi Borchers transforms a cardboard tree shape into a Cool2Cast green man. With this Cool2Cast pouring technique, you can create the look of textured bark.

Watch EcoHeidi’s Cool2Cast Green Man Journal YouTube video tutorial!

 

Materials

Cool2Cast (available at ShopCool2Craft.com or available at all Michaels stores (in polymer clay department) Jar Hero1 Cool2Cast Green Man Journal Cover by EcoHeidi Borchersafter 6/1/13)
Cereal box cardboard
Tree Pattern – Cool2Cast Green Man Journal Heidi Borchers
Pencil
Scissors
Non-stick foil (large enough to catch over-spill when pouring Cool2Cast over cardboard tree)
Plastic zip bag
Water
Measuring cup
Face mold (old man or Santa face molds work well)
Spatula
Wax paper
Craft knife
Alcohol inks (browns, greens, rust)
Rubbing alcohol
Brush
Journal covers (I cut my journal from mat board)
Paper (for inside journal)
Custom painted tissue papers (to collage onto journal cover)
Heavy duty hole punch (to punch binding holes in journal covers)
Ribbon (to bind journal covers and papers together)
Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue
Aleene’s Decoupage – matte or gloss finish
Brush (for decoupage)
Embellishments – handmade paper,small and medium beads, micro beads, sheet moss, birds, wire spirals

1. Place foil onto level work surface.

2. Cut tree pattern from cereal box and place on foil.

3. Mix approximately 1 cup batch of Cool2cast in zip bag according to package directions. Snip bottom corner of bag to create pour spout.

4. Pour Cool2Cast over cardboard tree. You will notice that the cardboard absorbs the water very quickly so the Cool2Cast will start to solidify quickly.

5. Pour excess Cool2Cast into face mold (and other small molds if you have additional remaining). Tap the molds to release any trapped bubbles and set the face molds aside to dry for approximately 1 hour.

6. Use spatula to start smoothing and spreading Cool2Cast to cover all areas of cardboard tree. Your Cool2Cast should be solidifying at this point.

7. Use spatula to lift tree from foil and move onto clean piece of wax paper.

8. Use tip of spatula to draw bark lines into Cool2Cast. Set aside to dry for several hours.

9. When your Cool2Cast face is set, unmold and place on foil.

10. Mix a small batch of Cool2Cast and pour a small circle onto foil. Carefully place the face into the wet puddle of Cool2Cast. Let dry undisturbed. (Note: if you are using the Santa Clause face mold, you will also want to pour Cool2Cast over his hat area so that he transforms into a green man.)

11. When your tree is dry, remove from wax paper. Clean up any rough branch edges with craft knife. Place tree back onto clean wax paper.

12. Apply alcohol inks either directly from bottle or dilute with alcohol and brush on. Layer colors or spray with alcohol for interesting effects. Repeat technique to color green man face. Let dry.Green Man Journal full crop2 Cool2Cast Green Man Journal Cover by EcoHeidi Borchers

13. Use Aleene’s Decoupage to collage handmade papers onto journal cover. Let dry.

14. Use Aleene’s Tacky Glue to glue tree in place on journal cover. Glue face in place on tree.

15. Use glue to apply beads, wire, moss around tree branches and around green man face. Let dry.

16. Bind covers and papers together with ribbon. Tie ribbon in bow and add beads to ribbon streams.

P Heidi Green Man Journal Cool2Cast Green Man Journal Cover by EcoHeidi Borchers

 

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Kitchen Fairy by Candace Jedrowicz

May 1, 2013 By 4 Comments
Kitchen Fairy Candace Jedrowicz 300x150

5 1 13 Candace Kitchen Fairy C2C Hero1 Kitchen Fairy by Candace Jedrowicz

Moms love handmade gifts from the heart!  Candace Jedrowicz shares a super cute kitchen fairy made from buttons, beads, wire and some things you have around your house!

Watch Candace’s fun and easy Kitchen Fairy YouTube video tutorial!

Materials:

Aleene’s Jewelry and Metal Glue
20 gauge wire
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Soda can
Scissors
Plastic spoon
Buttons – one large for the hair and one smaller 2 holed button for the face – I used Blumenthal Lansing buttons
1/16″ hole punch
Stylus or pencil
Glitter
Assorted beads

1. Cut fairy wings from the soda can.  The wings can be any shape, so try several to see what you like.

2. Lay the wings on a soft surface with the printed side up.  Draw lots of lines using a stylus or pencil to texture the wings.  This will cause the metal to curve toward the printed side.  Turn the wings over and draw a few more lines so that the wings are more or less flat.

3. Spread Aleene’s Jewelry and Metal Glue onto the silver side of the wings with a finger.  Sprinkle glitter on and set aside to dry.

3. Use wire cutters to cut the handle off the spoon and trim off the tip of the spoon’s bowl.

4. Use the hole punch to make a hole in the trimmed neck of the spoon, as well as holes on the sides for arms and on the trimmed end of the spoon for legs.

5. Cut four 8″ pieces of wire.  Fold one in half leaving a small loop at the end.  Slide a couple of beads over both wire ends.  They should rest above the loop.  Bend one wire end down and wrap around the other wire just above the beads.  Wrap a small loop on the loose end and slide through an arm hole.  Close the loop.  Repeat for the 3 other limbs.

6. Punch a hole in the top center of the wings.  Use a 6″ wire to go through both holes on the large button, front to back.  Bend the wire ends flat toward the bottom of the button.  Feed the wire ends through the wings and the neck of the spoon, back to front.  Spread the wire ends and wrap them around to the back side.  Twist them together to secure.

7. Glue the face button on.  At this point you can add details like beads around the neck and glittery polka dots on the body.

8.  You can string up the fairy as is, or mount it on something.  I decorated a wooden spoon with wire wrapping and beads and glued my fairy onto the bowl of the spoon and added a wire for hanging.

P Candace Kitchen Fairy e1363305075604 Kitchen Fairy by Candace Jedrowicz

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Queen of Hearts Jar by Candace Jedrowicz

March 24, 2013 By 4 Comments
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3 25 13 Candace Queen Jar C2C Hero Queen of Hearts Jar by Candace Jedrowicz

Here’s a fun and fabulous way to turn a jar into a gift that will remind a loved one that they have a special place in your heart.  Candace Jedrowicz does some simple wire wrapping techniques to get you on your way!

Materials:

1 quart jar
Aleene’s Jewelry and Metal Glue
Electrical wire
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Beads
Head pins
22 gauge wire
Drill with 1/16″ bit
Decorative paper

1. Clean your jar and remove any labels.

2. Wrap electrical wire around just inside the edges of the lid, twice. This will be the base of your crown.

3. Wrap 22 gauge wire around the crown base to cover it.

4. Cut a 2′ piece of electrical wire.  Beginning in the middle, bend the wire in small loops by crossing one end over the other.  Make your loops about an inch apart and measure it frequently on the crown base. To measure, just start with the middle loop and bend the sides around the base.  This will show you how many loops you will need to go all the way around.  Between loops, bend the wire in a downward curve so that the wire touches the base and curves back up into the next loop.

5. Attach the looped wire to the base by wrapping it with the 22 gauge wire.

6. Slide one or two beads on a head pin and wrap the tail around a loop so the bead is on top of the loop.  Add another bead and wrap the remaining tail around the lower end of the loop.  Repeat for all the loops.

7. Drill 3 to 5 small holes in the lid beneath where the crown will sit.  “Sew” the crown onto the lid with the 22 gauge wire.  Cover the wire inside the lid with decorative paper.

8. Cut eight 6″ pieces of electrical wire.  Take 4 of the wires and make a loop in the center.  Make a coil from both ends, wrapping toward the inside to form a heart shape with the loop at the bottom.  At this point you can a charm to each heart’s loop if you’d like.  Refer to the photo at the bottom of the post to see how it should look.

9. Repeat the coiled ends on the other 4 pieces, with out the loop.  Refer to the photo at the bottom of the post.

10. Lay out the pieces with every other one a heart.  Orient the non-heart pieces with coils down.  Use the 22 gauge wire to join all the pieces

11. Slide the whole thing onto the jar.  Tighten it up by making the coils tighter.

12. Add drops of Aleene’s Jewelry and Metal glue wherever the wire touches the jar.

P Queen of Hearts Jar by Ca Queen of Hearts Jar by Candace Jedrowicz

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Molded Glitter Heart Beads by Candace Jedrowicz

March 14, 2013 By 2 Comments
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3 11 13 Candace Glitter Heart Beads C2C Hero Molded Glitter Heart Beads by Candace Jedrowicz

Glitter and hearts aren’t just for little girls anymore!  These easy to make polymer clay beads are pressed into a mold that you make yourself!  Candace Jedrowicz will walk you through the process and you’ll come out all kinds of sparkly!  Featured on Cool2Craft TV.

Watch Candace’s Glitter Heart Beads Necklace YouTube video tutorial!

Materials:

Polymer clay – any color(s) you like
Polymer clay molding compound
Fine glitter – in the same colors as your clay1
Needle tool or toothpick
Crochet needle to smooth the clay
Talc powder
Spray bottle with water

1. Make a small flattish heart shape from clay and bake it according to directions.

2. Dust the heart with powder. Condition a piece of the molding compound and press it over the heart.  Remove the heart and bake the mold according to the directions.

3. Condition clay by smashing it in your fingers and rolling it in your palms.

4. Roll the soft clay in glitter and repeat the conditioning to work it in. Repeat until it’s glittery enough for your liking.

5. Spritz the mold and press a small amount of clay in it.  Pop the clay out of the mold and repeat.

6. Put the 2 hearts back to back and smooth the edges with the crochet needle.

7. Use the needle tool to make a hole in the bead for stringing.

8. Bake according to directions.

3 11 13 Candace Glitter Hea Molded Glitter Heart Beads by Candace Jedrowicz

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Wool Spiral Needlefelted Beads by Lisa Fulmer

March 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
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3 11 13 Lisa Felted Wool Beads Bracelet C2C Hero Wool Spiral Needlefelted Beads by Lisa Fulmer

These beads are easy and fun to make with wool roving, which you can get online or wherever knitting supplies are sold. Hand-dyed wool with variegated colors is especially nice, which I can usually find at quilt shows.  Chunky and textural and lightweight—it’s wearable fiber art!

Watch my Felted Wood Beads Bracelet YouTube video tutorial!

Supplies

  • Wool roving (if you’re allergic, try acrylic or hemp roving)
  • Needlefelting needles (a 5-needle punch and a single needle)
  • Piece of thick dense upholstery foam
  • Wood skewer
  • Sharp fabric shears
  • Accent beads
  • Needle and embroidery floss
  1. Spread out some roving so the fibers are laying fairly evenly in a thin 8″ square sheet.
  2. Lay a couple sheets of wool on top of each other.
  3. Roll the wool around a skewer as snugly as possible.
  4. Carefully slide out the skewer and roll the wool cylinder around in your hands to smooth the fibers together more.
  5. Place the cylinder on the foam and use the punch needle to lock the fibers together, rolling the cylinder as you punch to prevent punching it too flat.
  6. Work from one end to the other until the cylinder of wool is densely matted. Use the single needle as needed to smooth out any lumps.
  7. Snip the cylinder into even discs (beads), about 1/2″ wide.
  8. Thread the beads on to embroidery floss with accent beads in between – shorter for a bracelet, longer for a necklace.
  9. Tie each end of the floss to a metal jewelry clasp.

3 11 13 Lisa Felted Beads P Wool Spiral Needlefelted Beads by Lisa Fulmer

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Window Screen Beads Necklace by EcoHeidi Borchers

March 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment
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3 11 13 Heidi Window Screen Beads C2C Hero Window Screen Beads Necklace by EcoHeidi Borchers

EcoHeidi Borchers discovered over 30 years ago the versatility of crafting beads with metal window screen. It’s fun and easy to create these by the dozen and string into bread strands. Featured on Cool2Craft TV.

Watch EcoHeidi’s Window Screen Beads YouTube video tutorial!

Materials

Metal window screen
Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue
Scissors (I use dollar store scissors)
Knitting needle
Hair dryer (optional)
Toothpick
Straight pin – long enough to pin through side of bead and into box
Cardboard box
Acrylic paint (I used silver metallic)
Paint brush
Beads (various sizes including sizes to fit inside window screen beads)
Jewelry beading wire, closure, crimps, jewelry pliers

1. Cut pieces of metal screen into rectangles approximately 1-1/4″ x 2″. (Adjust size to suit your design needs.)

2. Lay screen on worktable. Place knitting needle along shorter edge and begin rolling to wrap the screen around needle. Wrap as tight as you can and keep the edges straight as you roll.

3. Pull bead off needle. Because the screen is metal, the rolled bead should hold together nicely.

4. Apply a line of Aleene’s Tacky Glue to all cut edges. This will help to seal any rough points. (Hint: you can use a hair dryer on low setting to help glue form a skin to avoid excess drips.)

5. To suspend the bead while the glue dries, poke pin through side of bead and press it into side of box. This will keep the glued areas from sticking to anything while the glue dries. If glue begins to drip, just use the toothpick to wipe away the drip. Repeat to create additional beads. Let glue dry until clear.

6. When glue is dry, check cut edges to be sure that all sharp wire points are completely covered in glue. If needed, add an additional coat of glue and let dry.

7. Slip dried bead onto end of knitting needle and brush over entire bead with acrylic paint. Some paint will stick into the window screen openings. Let dry completely.

8. To string window screen beads, you can slip smaller beads onto beading wire. Slip the window screen bead onto the wire and slide over the smaller beads until they are “caged” inside the wire bead. Add a large bead at each end of wire bead to hold everything in place. Continue beading until desired beading design is achieved. Finish with favorite jewelry closure.

P Heidi Window Screen Beads Window Screen Beads Necklace by EcoHeidi Borchers

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Aleene’s Button Heart Plaque by EcoHeidi Borchers

March 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Button Heart Plaque Heidi Borchers 300x150

3 4 13 Heidi Live Love Laugh Button Heart Michaels e1360124278802 Aleenes Button Heart Plaque by EcoHeidi Borchers

EcoHeidi Borchers creates a live, laugh, love themed plaque featuring layered buttons in a heart pattern. Featured on Cool2Craft TV.

Watch EcoHeidi’s Button Heart Wall Plaque YouTube video tutorial!

Materials

Aleene’s Max Tacky Adhesive
Wood plaque
Acrylic paint – off-white and colors of your choice for background and stamped words
Water
Brush
Craft foam letters
Foam board
Ruler
Craft knife
Cereal box cardboard
Pencil
Scissors
Buttons – various sizes and colors to coordinate with acrylic paint colors
Drill with small drill bit
Craft wire
Beads
Paper towels

1. Paint wood plaque. Set aside to dry.

2. Select letters to spell out words. Lay out face down on work surface. Measure and cut foam board slightly larger than word(s).

3. Glue foam letters face down on foam board to create stamp. Let dry completely.

4. Mark top of foam board with ruler lines to indicate where lettering starts and stops. This will help with placement when stamping.

5. Use brush to apply paint to stamp. Stamp onto wood plaque. Repeat stamping with different words and paint colors. Let paint dry.

6. Mix off-white paint with water to create white wash. Brush over entire stamped surface of wood plaque. Wipe back excess paint with paper towel. Let dry.

7. Cut heart shape from cardboard. Paint heart desired color. Let dry.

8. Glue buttons on heart, stacking two to three buttons together to create random layered design. Let dry.

9. Glue heart onto wood plaque. Let dry.

10. Drill holes at top of plaque. Insert one end of wire and coil to hold in place. Add beads to 1/2 of wire. Create loop for hanger and add remaining beads. Insert other end of wire into plaque and coil to hold in place. If desired, glue buttons onto several random beads.

P Heidi Live Love Laugh Hea Aleenes Button Heart Plaque by EcoHeidi Borchers

 

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Aleene’s Yarn Votive Holder by EcoHeidi Borchers

February 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
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2 4 13 Heidi Yarn Votive Michaels e1356921611909 Aleenes Yarn Votive Holder by EcoHeidi Borchers

It’s super cool to craft with yarn! Designed by Heidi Borchers, this yarn votive and pen holder are quick to make thanks to Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Spray. Personalize a pretty votive or pen holder with your favorite plain or fancy yarns.

Watch Heidi’s super cool Yarn Votive Holder YouTube video tutorial!

Materials

Aleene’s Fast Grab Tacky Spray
Aleene’s Acrylic Spray Sealer – Matte (you must use this first if you are applying Fast Grab Tacky Spray to glass surfaces)
Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue
Yarn – colors of your choice
Fancy yarn – (if you want to add a fancy finish effect)
Embellishments – beads, wire
Jewelry findings – jump rings, eye pins, flat head pins
Jewelry pliers

1. If using glass votive, clean surface of all grease and/or dust.

2. In a well ventilated area, spray outside surfaces with Spray Sealer. Let dry.

3. In a well ventilated area, spray outside surfaces with Fast Grab Tacky Spray.

4. Immediately press end of plain yarn into adhesive and wrap around and around votive until entire outside surface is covered in yarn. Use Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue to secure end of yarn to votive. Let dry.

5. If using fancy yarn, glue in place over plain yarn with Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue.

6. Embellish with beads and wire as desired.

2 4 13 Heidi Yarn Votive P Aleenes Yarn Votive Holder by EcoHeidi Borchers

 

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The Pink Crown at Long Last by Candace Jedrowicz

January 23, 2013 By 2 Comments
Candace Pink Crown

Pink Crown 1 e1357960337800 The Pink Crown at Long Last by Candace Jedrowicz

[Candace's blog]  It’s finally finished!  The Pink Crown Makes its debut!  I’ve been working and pondering on the appropriate finishing touches for this whimsical homage to divine femininity and today it fell into place.  Three lovely and magical pink rose buttons now adorn the base of the crown.  They are Flower Garden buttons from Blumenthal Lansing and they are perfectly charming!

The crown started as an electrical wire frame – a head band and lots of curly cues sewn together with 24 gauge wire.  I added beads from my grandmother’s broken jewelry collection, hand made cookie and doughnut beads as well as small ceramic beads with tiny teacups stamped on them.  The large skull bead is ceramic, one of many I made as favors for my 50th birthday.  I was so thrilled, my daughter threw me Dia de los Muertos themed party.  We had so much fun celebrating our human-ness.

The head band is wrapped in an eye lash yarn scarf I knitted.  The beads that cascade down the side are simple Valentine necklaces – I’m a sucker for hearts!   The pink tulle was wrapped around some lovely flowers a good friend gave to me.  Every detail is both important and irreverent, special and silly.  I have nearly 60 hours invested in her and she is well worth the effort.

Pink Crown 2 e1357960385575 The Pink Crown at Long Last by Candace Jedrowicz

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