WIP - Dragon Eye Pendant Charms from Polymer Clay & Glass

I've been reading some of the books on the dragon aspects in World of Warcraft lore (yes that's my old lady gaming vice) and decided to make Dragon Eye charms for the upcoming Midsummer Night's Dream Enchanted Forest Chunky Charm Swap at MAS.  I watched probably no less than 12 videos on YouTube and sat down with my clay and glass pebbles.  I had made some several years ago but these are looking much better.  So much inspiration on YT -- after I perfect these a bit I'll post more pics.  If you need inspiration just search "Dragon Eye Clay" on YouTube and you'll find dozens of videos.

Basic Silicone Mold and Resin Mixing Coloring Information

Playing with resins is a LOT of fun.   I use resin embellishments on almost every craft I have created.  But, it wasn't long ago that I was timid toward the stuff because I had NO idea how to use it and I didn't want to waste money, I didn't know what was the easiest products to use for a beginner.  Merry at Mini Album Scraps asked me to make a video so just we, basic crafters, would know what to do if they found a little piece or necklace they wanted to turn into an embellishment, so here ya go !! I made 3 videos showing Types of Molds, How to Make Your Own Molds, and How to Use that Resin.  I show a few products that I found the easiest to use for a novice crafter who just wants to have fun.

Here's the first one that just tell you a little bit of info on Molds

Here's the second one that gives info and demonstrations on using products to make your own silicone molds

And the third one that shows some resin products, adding color to resin if you don't have pigment powders, and a few demonstrations even making two toned cabochons. 

Three of my latest projects - Altered Wine Corks into Nautical Steampunk Fun, Altered Halloween Lunch Bags with POP-up zombie graveyard and miniature Ouija Board, Gigantic Steampunk Tag with Graphic 45 and Sandra Evertson Artifacts & Relics

Quick Mold from Silicone Putty and Amazing Resin 10-minute cast Tutorial - for Altered Altoid Tin

I told Merry (admin. for MiniAlbum Scraps (MAS)) that I would do a video tutorial on making molds and resin pieces for mixed media by summer, but I've had a few crafters ask me some questions so thought I'd put just a few photos up for those wanting to hop in before I get a video made.  The video will show a couple other products and tips but here's the jest ...

Here's a video link of two different Altoid tins that I've altered using clay and resin molded embellishments. CLICK HERE FOR 4.5 MINUTE VIDEO  (no sound).

I made an altered Altoid tin covered in polymer clay, but the idea I had for an opening latch didn't work out, so, I needed to cover up my failure.

I found a great cameo pendant, but, cameos didn't match my dragon (sad day) plus I had used the Enchanted Forest G45 paper inside, so I needed something medieval.  I had an old vintage charm with a shield, but I didn't want to use my only shield charm.  

MAKE A MOLD of it!!!

I grabbed the Castin' Craft Easy Mold Silicone Putty. It's super easy to use.  1:1 Ratio (I buy mine from Amazon)

I usually use a weight scale in grams to make sure I get the same portion of "purple" to the "white" - but I didn't have a scale when I first started making my own molds, so I'm guessing most of you don't either.  Remember as a little kid squishing bread into squares?? (No? just me?? ) well, make a square of each one trying to make sure that together you will have 1.5 to 2 times the size of your charm and the white square is the same size as the purple square.  Smoosh smoosh and smoosh them together (this is fast setting so get those fingers working fast!) Once the two colors are combined quickly roll into a ball.  For small pieces I drop into a small container like this resin (medicine) cup and straight down.  I used the end of a paint brush since this was a tiny piece--slowly, press the charm about 1/2 way into the putty.

 In about 10 minutes the putty hardens and just pop out your mold from the cup and gently remove your charm and you have a mold you can use and reuse over and over and over for resin or clay.

Let the mold set for at least 10 minutes (probably should let it cure longer but I'm impatient)

 I mixed a tiny amount of Amazing Cast Resin (I get mine from Amazon) and quickly poured into my little mold.  It's a 1:1 ratio so it's easy to mix too.  But again, work fast, this is fast setting resin. You can tell it's mixed properly when mostly clear and not cloudy, but after it sets in your mold for a minute or two it starts to turn white.  In between 5-10 minutes you have a hard white replica!!  (wait to take it out of the mold until it feels HARD to the touch, not tacky.  Also, it should not be warm or it is still setting up.  Bigger pieces get almost HOT to the touch.

When you first remove the mold it may feel a little soft and bendy, this is a great time to use your Tonic scissors (or other nonstick scissors) and remove any resin you don't want,  For instance, I don't want the connect loop.  So, I just clipped it off.  Quickly lay on a flat surface to fully harden, usually within 1-5 minutes.  Paint with acrylic paint, or alcohol inks.

I found that E6000 holds the world together, including resin to steel so I attached my resin shield over the cameo.

Used a little Inka Gold rub n' buff and a gold Krylon pen for detail.  Attached my new piece to the top portion of my polymer clay covered Altoid tin ... and covered my mistake.  (PST .. this is also the exact way I made the dragon pieces).

Have fun molding!!  I'll get the video up later in the summer.

Nautical Steampunk Shadowbox Tag using Graphic 45 and Tim Holtz products (Inspired by Tim Holtz' Tags of 2016)

Inspired by Tim Holtz' March Remix for the Tags of 2016 Challenge - the imagination in that man releases the crafting juju in so many of us - I got a little carried away.  Graphic 45's new Voyage Beneath the Sea paper line opens up a world filled with 20000 leagues of Steampunk happiness.   Tim Holtz' dies provided the most perfect setting for this tiny crafty adventure.   Clipping pieces off some old stashed florals, adding a few handmade resin pieces and that gorgeous red haired mermaid from G45 -- it turned out striking.

I created a small box out of carstock reinforced with medium weight chipboard to fit behind the tag die cut.  A piece of acetate covers the hole to create a "window" view.  The shiny blue "coral" inside the shadowbox are punches from Tim's new Branch punch.

Most resin pieces were from Martha Stewart and Mod Podge silicone molds.  The diving helmet was from a mold that I had made from a pendant. Real seashells were found on the beach during a past vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and the real watch parts are from RedRooster UK.   

Metal Film (the shiny blue and green on the cardboard) is Minc Reactive Foil.  Fibers and laces are from a local craft shop & art boutique here in Blackfoot, Idaho, the Stinkin' Cute Scrapook Shop & Boutique.  After making the first one, I decided to make more for a swap I had joined over at Mini Album Scraps.

Backs of shadowbox tags have a pocket for a personal note or gift card, sides are decorated with Inka rubs and raised glued "webs".

GIANT Steampunk Halloween Skull Tag with interactive "DOOR" and tags (Tim Holtz and Graphic 45 inspired)

I made this extra large tag back in 2013 for a challenge in TCH and since MAS is planning a GIGANTIC Tag Swap (with a tag 7"x12") soon, I'm pulling some pics over from my old blog to compare and remind myself with -- HUGE TAGS ARE SO MUCH FUN!! You can make them the centerpiece for home decor, like on a mantle, or for when you give a gift the needs a presentation piece (like cash or a gift card).

This tag is about 7x5 without the dangle

Back of tag has some "little" tags and tickets and a pocket to hold them under the Tim Holtz apothecary bottle die cuts

 The Skulls are Tim Holtz stamps that I stamped, scanned and enlarged on my printer and cut out of white cardstock as are some of the other images (Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Apothecary CMS138)

 The eye on the back was CUT of a pretty model from a magazine, mwhahaha and the red eye is a clear resin dome that I painted the back with acrylic paint.  The "31" and bottles are Tim Holtz die cuts.

 Mr. Seymour Bones is from Graphic 45's Steampunk Spells paperline.  The "door" is Tim Holtz Vintage Cabinet die and using the Movers Shapers Mini Cabinet Card to cut out the inside.

Charms and beads are from my stash, some from ebay, other's are Tim Holtz, Wishbone and Apothecary labels are Tim Holtz.  The door is on hinges and the creepy skeleton hand charm is on a rhinestone brad that allows it to rotate to be the door's "LOCK".

TIM HOLTZ 12 TAGS of 2016 (My Version)

WooHoo! My 3rd year keeping up with Tim Holtz' tutorials for a tag a month.  This year he is going to take previous tutorials from past years and combine a couple to teach how different techniques work well together to create something new.  Here we go!

JANUARY 2016
I decided to theme mine toward Valentine's Day instead of the New Year (using the Tim Holtz stamp set sent a year ago from Mario from being one of the December winners in 2014) - I used an Anna Griffin "love" embossing folder to match and a felt heart and fibers from my stash.  To find Tim's January tag tutorial click HERE.

Some closeups of the top and bottom

FEBRUARY 2016
Couldn't decide on a focal print so, Made three tags using this month's tutorial.  

A while back I found some vintage photos at a thrift store for 25 cents each.  Thought the one of this bride was just elegant.

Also at the thrift store I found a pack of playing cards with beautiful prints of women from Asia.  Tied it together with some Tim Holtz' rubons and a faux coin.

I wonder who this handsome fellow was.  He was also one of the vintage photos I purchased for a quarter.  The photo was brittle and yellowed so I coated with with Ranger Multi matte for reinforcing.

Made a Separate Post for March's tag since I went a little out of the ordinary - (so there's more pics of it on an individual post)

MARCH 2016

APRIL 2016
Since I was working on some altered gift bags for Halloween, decided to go ALL Halloween for April -- so my texture on the tag around the mosaic I left all bumpy and grungy ... Birch tree die! for the background trees using Sheena's wood texture embossing folder.

Valentine's Day Stick Pins, made from Resin - Presentation in the works - Corset, Vintage Heart, Cupid, Cherub

Working on a stick pin swap for Mini Album Scraps (ning site) - I made some molds with favorite embellies -- and topped my stick pins with the resin - now I'm trying to wait for the enamel paint smell to leave ewww -- time to consider the presentation piece.

Upcycled ( Recycled ) Milk Carton into a Tinker Fairy Steampunk House with Bee and Bird Nest Chimney

Bringing over a few projects from my old blog to keep them in one place. This is a project I did a few years ago for a swap.

  Rinse out a milk carton and let completely dry inside (no yukky smells needed :P )
Then decorate with papers (I used Graphic 45) added a roof from chipboard and loads of embellishments.

 large fairy charm by front door tiptoeing behind a stream made from blue glass chips coated in Glossy Accents with a fish charm jumping out

 The back I kept more plain but had to ad some funnnnnn stuff

 The chimney I glued a bunch of broken pieces from an old grapevine wreath and made a "nest" from moss - added a few plastic "eggs" left over from an Easter craft.

 Pieces of old floral arrangements and a snail shell that I found outside make up the fairy's garden yard

 A giant bumble bee charm to make it look more fairy size and a handmade pink paper flower using McGill Gardenia leaf punch.

Christmas CHUNKY CHARM DANGLE with upcycled Metal Lantern

 Made for a Christmas Dangle Swap at Mini Album Scraps

Found these three metal tea candle lanterns at a thrift shop for 75 cents each.  Painted them white, added some Tim Holtz Walnut Distress Ink to shabby them up a bit.