Beadphoria: Cascading Leaves Necklace for Makin’s Clay Blog Hop and Giveaway

Tags

Fall Necklaces, Faux Guilding for Jewelry, Makin's Clay, Makin's Clay Tools, Necklaces with Leaves, No Bake Polymer Clay, polymer clay, Polymer Clay Jewelry, Polymer Clay Projects, Push Molds for Polymer Clay, StayzOn Inks, Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Tsukineko

by Suzann Sladcik Wilson

“Cascading Leaves” by Suzann Sladcik Wilson

This month’s Designer Challenge came from the wonderful people at Makin’s Clay. Makin’s Clay is a whole new way to experience polymer clay. With typical polymer clay, your projects must be baked to harden. With some of the polymer clays, you may have fumes while baking, if you do not have the temperature set correctly on your oven it could burn, and your project might become brittle when done.

A closer look at the leaves.

With Makin’s Clay, all of the typical worries of polymer clay are put to rest. Rather than baking, Makin’s Clay typically air dries in about 24 hours. Another benefit is the joy of having an unbroken project if you accidentally drop it.  When finished, the pieces are hard, yet shatter proof.

Makin’s Clay combined with StayzOn Metallics in Gold created the stunning leaves in this necklace.

Materials for Cascading Leaves Necklace:

• Makin’s Clay Variety Pack in Earth Tones
• Makin’s Clay Push Mold – Floral
• Toothpick
• Tsukineko StayzOn Metallics stamp pad in Gold
• Tsukineko Fantastix with bullet tip
• Gold Chain
• 40 jump rings
• Flat Nose Pliers
• Chain Nose Pliers

1. Make 40 leaves by using the Makin’s Clay Earth Tones and Floral Push Mold. Place a small ball of clay inside of the mold of the leaf you would like to make. Use your fingers to spread the clay evenly within the mold. Remove the clay from the mold. NOTE: Makin’s Clay Push Molds are clear, enabling you to easily see if your clay has fully filled the mold.

2. Make holes in the top of the leaves with your toothpick. This will allow you to place your jump ring through the leaf when it is dry.

3. Allow clay to dry for 24 hours.

4. Once the leaves have hardened, use your Fantastix to apply the ink from the StayzOn Metalics Stamp Pad in Gold. Allow ink to dry.

5. Using your Flat Nose and Chain Nose Pliers, swing open a jump ring. Place the open jump ring through the top of one of your leaves.

6. Insert one half of your open jump ring through one link on your gold chain. Close jump ring.

7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 until all leaves are placed onto necklace.

Project Note: You may want to place your chain on a bust before adding the leaves. It will make it much easier to insert the jump rings onto the links.

You can win this!

The generous people at Makin’s Clay will be giving away this amazing prize pack to one lucky winner! To qualify, head over to their brand spanking new blog (http://makinsclayblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/makins-clay-blog-hop-contest.html) and leave a comment.

Hope you enjoyed my Cascading Leaves Necklace! See lots more cool projects with Makin’s Clay by clicking on the Designer Craft Connection badge on the left hand side of this blog.

Wishing You Creativity,

Suzann

Beadphoria: Craft and Hobby Association Jewelry Trends Report: Mixed Media and Cross Crafting

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beading, Beading Trends, Beadphoria, copper foil soldering, Craft and Hobby Association, Cross Crafting, Eileen Hull, image transfer for jewelry, ImpressArt, jewelry making, Jewelry Making Trends, make your own jewelry, metal stamps, Mixed Media, mixed media jewelry, resin, StazOn, Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Tsukineko

Welcome Beadphoria Friends! In yesterday’s post, we gave you a quick overview of the 2012 Jewelry and Beading Trends that were presented at the Winter Craft and Hobby Association Show. Today, we will be delving deeper into the Mixed Media and Cross Crafting Trend.

Many areas of the craft industry are being influenced by one another, and jewelry making is no exception. Because materials like resin, copper foil soldering, and image transfer mediums are now more readily available, jewelry makers have the opportunity to incorporate items outside the beading aisle into their designs.

Here are some ideas on how to do just that:

Using scrapbook paper in soldered pendents lets you complete your projects quickly and easily. Designed by Suzann Sladcik Wilson

– Scrapbook paper can make beautiful backgrounds for resin and copper foil soldering. The necklace above is an example of how using a small piece can make a big impact! You can find out more about the design above in this previous post.

– Personalize your beads, pendents, and findings using clip art with image transfer mediums. It will give them a whole new look!

– Certain paints, inks, and powders can be used to color resin. Make sure they are compatible with the polymers in the resin before adding them.

StazOn Ink by Tsukinko will work on almost any surface a beader can think of!

– One of my favorite items to play with outside of the beading aisle is StazOn ink pads by Tsukinko. The color can be applied to almost anything including non-porous and semi-porous surfaces due to the fact that it is solvent based ink. A bonus is that the pads do not have a strong odor like many other permanent inks. Try StazOn by stamping the back of a metal resin bezel, altering a leather cuff, or even on shrink plastic. (FYI – I have not received any compensation from Tsukinko. I just like to share a great product with my readers!)

Eillen Hull's project shows how ImpressArt metal jewelry stamps can be used by crafters on matboard. Photo used by permission from http://www.eileenhull.blogspot.com

Just as craft items are crossing over into beading, jewelry making is having its own effect on other creative areas. ImpressArt makes metal stamps that are typically used to create words or images on jewelry blanks. For the project above, fellow designer Eileen Hull used the metal stamps on matboard to create words that really pack a punch!

Mixed Media and Cross Crafting is one trend that will help expand the markets for both jewelry makers and crafters, but it will also expand the artistic possibilities for all those who love to create!

Do you have a way that you have used mixed media or cross crafting in your work? What’s your opinion on the mixed media and cross crafting trend? We want to hear it! Share with us and your other Beadphoria friends in the comments below.

If you have any questions about beading, or jewelry business marketing tips, please feel free to contact me at 224-305-3321 or Suzann@Beadphoria.com. Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria.com and BeadphoriaBoutique.com.

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