Brown Bag Red Lips Pendant by Savannah Starr

Brown Bags Red Lips Pendant Savannah Starr 300x150

3 4 13 Savannah BB Red Lips Pendant Brown Bag Red Lips Pendant by Savannah Starr

Savannah Starr has some creative fun with BIG red lips! Created with layers of brown grocery bag, this oversize pendant is lightweight and makes quite the trendy fashion statement! Featured on Cool2Craft TV.

Watch Savannah’s Brown Bag Red Lips Pendant YouTube video tutorial!

Materials

Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue
Brown grocery bags
Acrylic paint – red, white
Paint brush
Savannah Starr Red Lips Pendant Patterns
Cardboard or gift card squeegee
Brayer (roller)
Scissors
Pencil
Hole punch – small (for jump ring)
Large jump ring
Jewelry pliers
Necklace of your choice

1. Transfer patterns to brown grocery bag. Glue patterns to two more layers of brown grocery bag using squeegee to apply glue in a thin even layer.

2. Use brayer to roll over the layered brown bag to help glue hold evenly.

3. White glue is still wet, cut out all pattern pieces.

4. Hold pencil to center back of lip pieces. Use fingers to curl pieces lightly around pencil to give them dimension. Set aside to dry completely.

5. Use hole punch to create hole for jump ring.

6. Paint pieces as noted on pattern. Set aside to dry.

7. Apply glue as noted on pattern. Glue pieces together using photo as guide. Use clothespins to help hold pieces together while drying.

8.Spray finished pendant with gloss spray to seal and give a slight sheen. Let dry completely.

9. Use jewelry pliers to open jump ring. Insert into hole, attach to necklace and close jump ring with pliers.

P Savannah Red Lips Pendant Brown Bag Red Lips Pendant by Savannah Starr


 

Burnt Brown Bag Steampunk Barrette by Candace Jedrowicz

Burnt Brown Bag Steampunk Barrette Candace Jedrowicz 300x150

1 7 13 Candace Steampunk Barrette Hero Burnt Brown Bag Steampunk Barrette by Candace Jedrowicz

Aleene’s Burnt Brown Bag technique is one of Candace Jedrowicz’s favorite things to create with!  Candace uses this super cool technique to make retro shapes and gears for a Steampunk barrette that you will want to try!  Featured on Cool2Craft TV.

Watch Candace’s super cool Steampunk Barrette YouTube video tutorial!

Materials:

Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue
Hot glue
Paint brush
Brown paper bag
Barrette back
Candle
Needle nose pliers
1-3/4″ round punch
1-1/8″ round punch
1/8″ hole punch
1/4″ hole punch
Lighter
Water
Paper towel or moist wipe
Metallic paste – I used Rub N-Buff gold
Small washers, nuts and embellishments

1.  Cut the paper bag into four 8″ x 8″ squares and glue together.  Allow to dry.

2. Punch 1 circle using the 1-3/4″ punch and 1 using the 1-1/8″ punch.

3. Punch a 1/8″ hole in the center of the smaller circle and a 1/4″ hole in the center of the larger circle.

4. Use the 1/8″ punch to cut semi circles around the edge of the smaller circle.  Keep the punch half off the paper edge to create a gear look.

5. Repeat using the 1/4″ punch make make the larger gear.  I had a large circle gear cut that didn’t work out so I punched a smaller circle from it and the remaining piece looked very cool, so I added it to the assemblage.

6. Cut the rest of the paper into different shapes and play with them to get the look you want.

7 . Glue all the pieces together and apply a generous even coat of glue to the whole front of the assemblage.

8. While the glue is still wet, hold the wet glue side over your lit candle, burning the glue until it’s dry.  Expect sizzling and bubbles.  The glue is dry when it’s no longer shiny.  Work on a hard, non flammable surface and keep your water handy.  If the piece catches fire and you can’t blow it out, set it down and spray with water.

9. Repeat on the back of the assemblage.  Allow to cool.

10. Use a paper towel or moist wipe to gently remove the soot.

11. Gently bend the piece to match the curve of the barrette back and glue in place using both the hot glue and Tacky glue.  Hold in place until the hot glue cools.

12. Glue your embellishments and accents where you want them.

13. With a small amount of Rub-N-Buff on your finger and lightly rub over the surface until you get the look you want.

BBB Steampunk Barrette by C Burnt Brown Bag Steampunk Barrette by Candace Jedrowicz


Aleene’s Bottle Cap Birdie by EcoHeidi Borchers

12-24-12 Heidi Bottle Cap Birdie 300x150

12 24 12 Heidi Bottle Cap Birdie Michaels e1352508973182 Aleenes Bottle Cap Birdie by EcoHeidi Borchers

EcoHeidi transforms plastic bottle caps into a whimsical birdie. Mix and match fabrics, wire and a feather top notch make this birdie eco cute! Featured on Cool2Craft TV.

Watch EcoHeidi’s super cool Bottle Cap Birdie YouTube video tutorial!

Materials

Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue
Plastic water bottle or soda caps – the deeper caps are the best choice for this project – smaller size for head – larger size for body
Drill and small drill bit
Cardboard – cereal box or thin cardboard
Circle template
Fabric scraps
Batting – 1/4″ thickness
Craft wire – 18 gauge (or strong enough to hold birdie upright)
Feathers
Craft foam
Flat back beads – black (for eyes) or wiggle eyes or buttons

1. Drill two small holes in side of larger cap – spaced approximately 1/2″ apart. (These will be used for wire legs.)

2. Use your circle template to determine the inside measurement of the bottle caps. Cut circles from cardboard to fit inside caps.

3. Cut and glue fabric to one side of each cardboard circle.

4. Cut and glue batting to outside top of caps.

5. For head, measure and cut two circles approximately 2-1/2 times larger than the smaller bottle cap. Apply glue to outside and inside of cap. Place cap batting side down centered on wrong side of fabric. Wrap fabric up and around sides of cap and press into glue on inside of cap.  Adjust to remove as many excess wrinkles or folds on top of cap.

6. Glue fabric covered cardboard inside cap to cover gathered fabric.

7. Repeat to cover body cap with fabric. Note: Be sure to mark where the drill holes are so that you can find them again after you attach the fabric in place.

8. Cut two pieces of wire to approximately 7″ each. Turn one end of each wire into a spiral. This will help to stabilize the wire inside the cap. Cut the opposite end to a sharp point and press one wire through each hole. Glue spiral end inside cap. Cut sharp point to a blunt end.

9. Using pliers, form a triangle shape at the blunt end of the wire and then bend at 45 degree angle to form birdie foot.(Once you fully assemble your birdie, you may need to readjust the feet angle.

10. For beak, cut two pieces of craft foam into small triangles. Glue in place on front of head cap.

11. For eyes, glue two beads in place above beak.

12. For wings, cut two leaf shapes. Fringe edges with scissors. Glue in place on body.

13. Glue head to front top of body.

14. Glue small feather fluff on head. Let glue dry completely.

15. Re-adjust feet as needed so that birdie can stand solidly.

Heidi Bottle Cap Birdie CU w titles e1352680848223 Aleenes Bottle Cap Birdie by EcoHeidi Borchers


 

 

Aleene’s EcoCool Glittered Purse Earrings by EcoHeidi Borchers

EcoCool Glittered Purse Earrings by EcoHeidi Borchers 300x150

11 26 12 Heidi Glittered Purse Earrings e1351989441974 Aleenes EcoCool Glittered Purse Earrings by EcoHeidi Borchers

It’s cool to glitter your garbage! What started out as packaging discards ended up as eco-cool earrings! EcoHeidi Borchers dug into her recycle bin to transform plastic packaging into sparkle and glitter earrings. Featured on Cool2Craft TV.

Watch Heidi’s super cool Glittered Purse Earring YouTube video tutorial!

Materials

Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue11 26 12 Heidi Pink Thingy e1352146704259 Aleenes EcoCool Glittered Purse Earrings by EcoHeidi Borchers
Earring cards or plastic packaging (I used the plastic piece from a bottle of Tulip Liquid Dye) or you can cut a thin cardboard shape with scissors
Glue brush
Glitter – colors of your choice (I used pink, black, silver)
Hole punch (small for jump ring)
Rhinestones
Tweezers
Scissors
Jewelry findings – jump rings, fishhook earring
Jewelry pliers

1. Round corners of cards with scissors to create shape of purse.

2. Punch hole at top of each earring for jump rings.

3. Brush Aleene’s Tacky Glue onto handle area. Sprinkle with black glitter.

4. Carefully brush glue onto purse flap area. Sprinkle with silver glitter.

5. Carefully brush glue onto purse front area. Sprinkle with pink glitter. Let dry completely.

6. Pick up rhinestone with tweezers. Apply small dot of Aleene’s Tacky Glue to back of rhinestone and press in place. Repeat to glue all rhinestones in place.

7. Finish off with jump rings and fishhook earrings.

 


Aleene’s Button Snowflake Ornaments by EcoHeidi Borchers

Button Snowflake Ornaments by EcoHeidi Borchers 300x150

10 29 12 Heidi Button Snowflake Ornaments Michaels e1349639592922 Aleenes Button Snowflake Ornaments by EcoHeidi Borchers

EcoHeidi transforms cereal boxes and white buttons into elegant snowflake ornaments. Make a collection for your holiday tree or hang in your window! Featured on Cool2Craft TV and Michaels.com.

Watch Heidi’s super cool Button Snowflake Ornament YouTube video tutorial!

Materials

Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue
Cereal box
Scissors
Craft sticks
Pencil (for tracing pattern)
Acrylic paint (white) and paint brush
Paper plate
Glitter – iridescent
Wax paper
White buttons – (plain and decorative – our buttons are from Blumenthal Lansing)
Rhinestones
Toothpick (for applying glue to back of rhinestones)
Craft wire
Round nose pliers
Rhinestones by the yard

1. Cut cereal box so that it lays flat.

2. Lay three craft sticks on plain side of cereal box overlapping to create snowflake pattern. Use pencil to trace around craft sticks.

3. Use scissors to cut out design.

4. Paint front of snowflake with acrylic paint. Let dry. Paint back of snowflake. Let dry.

5. Brush glue to front of snowflake. Hold over paper plate and sprinkle with glue. Shake off excess and let glue dry.

6. Stack buttons into desired patterns.

7. Glue fancy button in center of snowflake. Glue stacked buttons onto snowflake. Glue rhinestones on top of buttons. Let dry.

8. Cut approximately 6″ length of wire. Use pliers to swirl ends. Fold in half and glue to back side of snowflake. Repeat to complete design.

9. Cut length of rhinestones by the yard and glue to back of snowflake. Let glue dry.


 

 

Blinged Out Witch’s Hat by Candace Jedrowicz

Candace 31 Days Witch's Hat

Blinged Out Witchs Hat Blinged Out Witchs Hat by Candace Jedrowicz

What does every witch need to shine at a Witch’s Tea?  A fabulous hat! I started with a cool hat I found on line after last year’s Witch’s Tea, for a huge discount!  That was my very first Witches tea and I wore a hooded cloak, which I love, but…there was a best hat contest!  Who knew!  So, as I said, I started with one that was already cool and had a ball blinging it up!

Materials:

A  pointed hat
Hot glue
Feathers
Wire
Beads
Bangles
Knick knacks, doo dads and glitter glue

Blinged Out Witchs Hat 1 300x211 Blinged Out Witchs Hat by Candace Jedrowicz Here’s my cool hat.I love all the black gauze and and bent over point!
Blinged Out Witchs Hat 2 300x287 Blinged Out Witchs Hat by Candace Jedrowicz You may recognize many of the bling I’m adding as Halloween projects from earlier in the October.This is the first bling – a small bat pendant with a skull bead dangle.  I sewed it on to make it easy to switch out for next year’s tea.
Blinged Out Witchs Hat 3 300x168 Blinged Out Witchs Hat by Candace Jedrowicz I cut 6 3″ to 4″ strips of tulle 36″ wide and tied them in a bow.
DSC05645 300x240 Blinged Out Witchs Hat by Candace Jedrowicz I hot glued the bow on the back and added this bauble.It’s Smeared Ink’s It’s About Time Pocket Watchstamp glued on the back of a glass blob.I added glitter glue to the tulle.
Blinged Out Witchs Hat 5 300x249 Blinged Out Witchs Hat by Candace Jedrowicz I glued feathers all the way around and sewed on a pendant piece and added wires that I curled up and attached dangles to.

 

Cool2Cast Water Bottle Pendants by EcoHeidi Borchers

Cool2Cast Water Bottle Pendant by EcoHeidi Borchers 300x150

10 22 12 Heidi Cool2Cast Water Bottle Pendants Cool2Cast Water Bottle Pendants by EcoHeidi Borchers

Heidi Borchers works her eco magic on these fabulously fun and funky Cool2Cast water bottle pendants. With her special pouring and inking technique, you can easily create these to mix, match and stack! Featured on Cool2Craft TV.

Watch Heidi’s Cool2Cast Water Bottle Pendant YouTube video tutorial!

Materials

Cool2Cast
Plastic zip bag
Water and measuring cups
Non-stick surface
Water bottles – with ridged sides
Craft knife
Scissors
Hole punch
Cardboard scrap
Eyelet(s), jump ring(s) and jewelry pliers
Jacquard Pinata Alcohol inks – colors of your choice
Gloves
Rubbing alcohol in spray bottle
Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue
Optional: Aleene’s Spray Acrylic Sealer -  Gloss

1. Use craft knife to punch into the side of water bottle. Use scissors to cut various pendant shapes.

2. Punch hole at top of pendant. (This will be where you insert the eyelet.)

3. Place pendant shapes on non-stick surface with curved side up. (You can pour pendants either way but it is easier to start with curved side up.)

4. Mix a small batch of Cool2Cast according to label directions. (Remember you have to use up all the Cool2Cast that you mix because you cannot save the mixed batches.) You will want your Cool2Cast the consistency of thick pancake batter. After you first mix and shake your batch, open the zip top and check the batch to see how thick it is. If it is too runny, it will run off the water bottle. Re-check every 5 minutes until the batch is the right consistency. (You can also watch the video to see the consistency.)

5. Snip a small corner of the zip bag – this is what you will use as the pouring spout. Hold bag over the pendant piece and gently pour Cool2Cast over the pendant. Cover entire piece.  Use a scrap of cardboard (or palette knife or craft knife) to lift the piece off the non-stick surface and move it to a clean area. This will help to clean up the poured edges.

6. Leave piece(s) undisturbed overnight to dry completely.

7. When the piece is dry, pull the water bottle away from the Cool2Cast but save this piece because you will be gluing it back in place.

8. Put on gloves, Apply alcohol ink liberally on both sides in desired colors and patterns. If desired, spray surface with rubbing alcohol to help colors blend more. Let dry.

9. Apply a thin coat of glue to the back of the water bottle piece and glue it back in place over the Cool2Cast. Let dry. Optional: if you prefer to leave the water bottle piece off the pendant, you can spray the front and back of the Cool2Cast with gloss sealer.

10. Insert eyelet into hole in plastic pendant and glue in place. Let dry. Add jump ring to eyelet hole. String pendants as desired.


Frankie Door Hanger by Candace Jedorwicz

Candace 31 Days Frankie

Frankie Door Hanger Frankie Door Hanger by Candace Jedorwicz

By now, you know that I save – nay- seek out fun tissue boxes.  The whole sides are usable for just about anything, but the overlapping sides are only partially useable.  Well I liked this little guy enough to carefully take him apart and put him back together.  Apropo, no?

Watch Candace’s Frankie Door Hanger video tutorial

Materials:

Halloween tissue box
Scissors
Hole punch – 1/8″ – I used the small hole punch on my Cropadile
Grommets
Cropadile or grommet setter
Glitter glue – I used black to make the “stitches”
20 Gauge wire
Headpins
Wire cutters
Round nose pliers
Beads

1. Cut out your focal panel and decorate with glitter glue if desired and allow to dry.

2. Punch 2 holes toward the outer edges on the top and punch 5 holes on the bottom edge.

3. Add grommets to the holes.

4. Cut a 16″ piece of wire and fill half way with beads.

5. Slide all the beads to the middle of the wire and put the wire tails through the top 2 holes from back to front.

6. Use the round nose pliers to start a spiral on the wire tails and roll them up to the holes.

7. Make or buy 5 charms.  If you make them, slide 2 or 3 beads on a headpin and make a large loop.

8. Slide the charms though the grommets on the bottom and wrap the wire tails around to secure.

DSC05572 Frankie Door Hanger by Candace Jedorwicz



Return of the Birthday Zombie

Candace 31 Days Birthday Zombie

Return of the Birthday Zombie Promo copy Return of the Birthday Zombie

This is a polymer clay zombie that I made for my dear friend, Beth.  She and her family love zombie movies, so I came up with an idea to make the gift as cheesy as a great zombie flick.Zombies+001 Return of the Birthday Zombie [Originally published in October of 2009 - spiritclay.blogspot.com]  I made the zombie using polymer clay.  I made him one half of an Origami box to stand in, but you could use any box. I used some Photoshop techniques on a photo I’d taken of a graveyard for the background. I tore the edges and browned them up with a sienna stamp pad and glued the pieces to the back and sides of the box.

Next I composed the following letter to go with it. If you’re a zombie aficionado you’ll see where this is going. If you’re not, I’ll say this: George Romero made the first zombie classic Night of the Living Dead – It takes place in a small town in western Pennsylvania – If you’re bitten by a zombie, you become one (some consider this the Zombie Virus) – Where ever zombies go there is mayhem – The most famous line from the movie is “They’re coming to get you, Barbara”.

Here’s the letter:

Dearest Beth,

I was looking on line and found this killer cake decorator, Barbara, who makes these fabulous cakes. She works at a place called Romero’s, in a small town in western Pennsylvania. I called her up and told her about you and the kind of things you like. I was so excited! She said she’d make something spectacular for you. So, yesterday I got this strange email from the owner of the bakery:

Dear Candace,

You should know there’s been a terrible virus going around our town. None of my staff showed up at all today. Barbara started your cake, but couldn’t make it in either. There are several fires in town and things are a mess. I called my delivery guys, who said they could go pick her up. I called her and said “They’re coming to get you, Barbara”, and she screamed and hung up. She never showed and I can’t get hold of the delivery guys, either. I’ve finished the cake myself and will deliver it personally. I hope it will meet your approval.

Sincerely,

George

So, in the process of moving to Utah and, yes, that’s my excuse – I missed Beth’s birthday. As I was putting together ideas for Alexa Westerfield’s Terrorific Tuesdays, I printed photos of the birthday zombie and made them into earrings. See the SugarSkull Bracelet & Bats in the Belfry Necklace, and Candy Corn Riot Earrings blog entries, if you want to use this idea. They have all the directions you might need for shrink plastic and earring making. With one exception – to make your earrings from a photo, you’ll need the inkjet printable shrink plastic.

Beth%27s+Earrings Return of the Birthday ZombieI figured I’d send along a note set up like a movie poster and title it:

RETURN OF THE BIRTHDAY ZOMBIE.

Now, I was looking around the house for a box to send the earrings in and then it hit me – I had some old DVD cases that I’d been saving for some scathingly brilliant idea, and finally I had one!

Here’s what I ended up with…

Zombie+DVD+Cover Return of the Birthday ZombieThe front cover says:

Return of the Birthday Zombie
Send in the Clones
The movie that no one wanted to see made
Has been Made!
See the zombie clones arrive late for Beth’s Birthday!
Well, they had a really long way to walk and zombies are slow anyway!
You laugh! you’ll Cry! You’ll hurl!

The back cover says:

This film has not yet been rated
Void where prohibited by law
Do not put on these earrings while driving
No zombies were harmed in the making of these earrings

Do not wear these earrings while squeezing your head through your stair rails as they are large and might sustain damageZombie+DVD+Cover Return of the Birthday Zombie Zombie+DVD+Back+Cover+and+Spine Return of the Birthday ZombieZombie+DVD+Inside Return of the Birthday ZombieHere’s what you’ll need to make your Zombie (or any kind of) Movie Gift Box.

A DVD case
A DVD

Photos that you can size appropriately
A heavy duty hole punch
Glue
Double sided craft tape
A scrap of card stock, any color
Scissors

 

If you don’t have a printer at home, make copies at the library or neighborhood copy store. Make extras for good measure. Speaking of measuring, you’ll need the measurements of the DVD case. This can be done easily by taking the paper out of the DVD cover and measuring it. Easy peasy!
I did mine with Photoshop, but I could just as easily done it as a collage. Just make sure that the collage will easily fold to slip into the DVD case, if you choose this option.
For the DVD, place a disc on your extra copy and trace around it. Cut the copy giving a bit of extra margin to trim. Now smear a thin coat of Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue on the disc and put your cut image on it. Trim the edges with a craft knife and cut out the center hole.
Punch two holes to put the earrings through (if you’re doing that) and tape the backs, so the earrings won’t slide out. Ohh, I just had an idea! Since the center of my DVD that got cut out was a cake, I decided to add it back.

Zombies+010 Return of the Birthday ZombieI got another copy of the photo and cut loosely around the cake. Next I used a double sided craft tape to stick the cake to a piece of card stock. Then I cut the cake out and used a sticky craft dot to attach the cake to the image just below the hole. Since the earrings are taped on the back of the disc, I want Beth to be able to take the disc out of the case. She’ll press on the cake to release the disc!

Now, go! Go make your DVD case gift box! You’re welcome to use the zombie letter and figure ideas, if you like!

I will post a zombie tutorial tomorrow!


 

Reverse Painted Pumpkin Plate by Candace Jedrowicz

Candace 31 Days Pumpkin Plate

Reverse Painted Plate Hero Reverse Painted Pumpkin Plate by Candace Jedrowicz

Last year C2C’s Tiffany Windsor shared a Christmas Ornament  Reverse Painted Plate and Candace J fell in love with it!  In Candace’s mind that technique could lead to fabulous possibilities!  First stop:  Halloween!

Materials:

Glass Plate
Glass Paints – Purple, black, orange, turquoise and green
Black puffy paint

Pumpkin Plate 1 300x273 Reverse Painted Pumpkin Plate by Candace Jedrowicz Choose a design you like and tape it face down on the front of the place.
Pumpkin Plate 2 300x267 Reverse Painted Pumpkin Plate by Candace Jedrowicz Turn the plate over and trace the outline of your image with the black puffy paint.

I added a freehand design around the edge.  You’re welcome to use it if you like.

Allow to dry.

DSC053701 300x262 Reverse Painted Pumpkin Plate by Candace Jedrowicz Pain in the sections with the glass paints.

If you plan to do any shading or highlighting, you’ll want to do that first.

I added yellow to the orange for highlights and darkened the orange for shading.

You don’t have to be precise painting, if you paint over the puffy paint lines, it won’t show.

You may need three or more coats to make the colors opaque.

DSC05371 300x245 Reverse Painted Pumpkin Plate by Candace Jedrowicz Paint black on the back of the plate after the colors have dried.  It gives it a finished look.