So there are about a hundred ways to get your favorite snippets of art into your jewelry. There are hard ways like transfers and there are easy ways like cutting up a picture and gluing the thing down. I choose the easy way - but with flair!
This series of shots shows how to create a clear acrylic piece with a photo glued to the backside of it. These are the Tim Holtz acrylics - you can get them in our shop. I am also using the Crystal Clear glaze - it is super thick and perfect for this application.
Put a small amount in the center - don’t go to the edge - then lay on your photo and squeeze out the excess and any bubbles. Wipe the edge with a cotton tip swab and let set overnight. Seriously - overnight - do up several and then have fun in the morning.
When dry trim back the picture with your craft knife and seal the back with more glaze or a clear acrylic paint if you are in a hurry. Now you can use these in any mixed media project - they are so perfect glued on a filigree piece and used as a pendant (Next blog).
Tip: Make sure to use real photos from the photo center -
Winkflash is good and cheap. I have done the figuring and it really is cheaper to have your pictures printed at a pro’s than to do it yourself -- And they look tons better.
And a few ideas for those who prefer silver toned Twilight -- A quick pair of earrings with our Cullen Lion charms, and two quick to assemble necklaces. These necklaces take about 2 minutes to make, just grab one of our necklace blanks, one of our twisted jump rings, an eye pin, a charm and a bead. Use the twisted jump ring to slide everything onto the chain and you have an instant hot seller.
Another easy way to get a loop on these for hanging is with a glue on pinch bail - these are available in our shop too. Just wrap around your pliers to curve and pinch onto the charm with a bit of glue.
This collage piece is a fun way to use the smaller acrylic charms - take a large blank wood piece with a hole drilled in the top then start building. I antiqued the wood a bit with some copper paint and then made a stencil from a piece of tag paper and a decorative paper punch. A blend of peridot and copper paint gives the stenciled Fleur de Lis a vintage look. Then it's all about the layering, a rhinestone here, the acrylic charm there and finish it off with a few brass stampings and a fabulous cocoa ribbon (From our vintage collection).
Yes, I know this was supposed to be a technique post, but I just can't help myself - I've caught Twilight Fever. All of you know our shops are full of Twilight inspired charms and now we are adding 6 exclusive cherry wood charms engraved with various Twilight inspired phrases and names ~~Edward, Jacob, Cullen, Twilight, Bitten, Be Safe~~
If you create - you could get published - it's really that simple. And Somerset Studio offers ample opportunity for artists to show their work and get a bit of promotion for their shops. If you haven't already checked out their guidelines give them a quick read over here:
We all love Alice in wonderland - which is made quite obvious by the amount of Alice crafts and jewelry on Etsy. Personally, my tastes run towards Dark Alice...with a bit more mistchief than innocence in her eyes! Look soon for my own Dark Alice paintings in cameos over at our Etsy shop.
