Vampire Blood/Faux Blood Necklace

My favorite season is here and I can't help myself - I just have to re-share some of my favorite spooky fun projects!  In this episode of my series Behind These Eyes™ on When Creativity Knocks, I share my recipe for creating faux blood using ICE Resin & Rit Dye! 

And to further add to the creep factor - here's my recipe for the GHOULISH version of faux blood!  

The Truly GHOULISH Option of Faux Blood

In the Vampire Blood Necklace episode of Behind These Eyes with Cindi Bisson, I share my recipe for faux blood that will last for years. As part of the instructions, I suggest you use a tiny bit of Rit Liquid Dye at a time to color the resin - because if too much dye is used, you get a different result. We didn’t share that result in the episode - but I wanted to show our viewers just what kind of ghoulish results you get with extra dye! It’s a creepy effect too which would work great for some applications - just not for the pendant I was sharing with you. So without further ado…add a teaspoon or more of Rit Liquid Dye (the amount depends on just how crusty you want the finished result to be) to your small amount of mixed ICE Resin and you get what I think looks like clotty, crusty, totally disgusting blood puddles! Which my two boys think are totally cool…Happy Halloween!  

Follow the original instructions and you get smooth, dense puddles of faux blood.

Alter the recipe as above and you get GHOULISH blood!

Beaded Spider - DCC October Blog Hop

It's time for the Halloween edition of the Designer Craft Connection blog hop!  Be sure to follow the link to the right to see what the other participating designers are sharing to add some BOO to your world! 

This beaded spider was a snap to create - I followed the directions in the most recent episode of When Creativity Knocks - We visited Crafted at the Port of LA and Mary Austin from Twisted Sisters showed us how easy it was to create these little bejeweled crawlers.  I couldn't resist whipping one up for myself!    Add a pin back, or make  a necklace for him to hang from as a pendant - or perch him on a pumpkin like I did for a little creepy fun.   

Materials: 

22/24 Gauge wire

Jewelry pliers

Black seed beads, black bugle beads, round glass bead for head

Connie Crystal blue bicone beads, large blue glass bead for body

Bead caps 

Follow the instructions in the episode below to create your own spider you don't want to squish! 

Makin's Clay® Groovy Flowers Earrings

Find the how-to instructions to create your own pair of Groovy Flower Earrings on the Makin's Clay® blog - http://makinsclayblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/makins-clay-groovy-flower-earrings.html

Autumn Bling with Connie Crystal

My latest project designed with Connie Crystal is now live on their blog - you can find instructions on how to create this stamped necklace and earring set here:  http://sparklebycc.com/stunning-fall-set/

Summer Heat with Connie Crystal

The heat of the summer is in full swing this week on the Connie Crystal - here's a peak at my latest project. Visit the Connie Crystal Sparkle blog for instructions on how to create your own captured flame!

Rowlux® Illusion Film Blog Hop

Rowlux® Illusion Film is absolutely dazzling!  When I opened my sample package for the hop, I was mesmerized by the dimensional illusion the brightly colored sheets.  The official names of the patterns are Moire, 3D, Sea Glass and Serpentine, but they reminded me of liquid gold, flowing water, pearlized satin, shimmering alligator skin.....  purple, dark blue, gold, emerald green, hot pink, lime green....and more. So many colors and different “textures” to choose from it’s mind boggling. 


Rowlux® Illusion Film is made in the USA and comes in a diverse range of spectacular eye-catching colors and patterns.  This revolutionary material has been utilized in award winning point of purchase displays, packaging, signage, artwork, footwear, lighting, interior design, retail display fixtures and beyond. Our new frontier is the craft industry! There's absolutely nothing like it on the market. These durable, translucent, 12" x 12" polycarbonate sheets add instant pizzazz to craft projects, seasonal accents, party decorations, scrapbooks, greeting cards, jewelry, furniture, frames, gifts, favors, accessories, art and DIY home decor projects. Easily cut with scissors, Rowlux® is also the perfect material for scoring, folding, embossing and die cutting. The creative possibilities are endless. This innovative and inspiring new craft material manipulates light to create dazzling visual effects. The illusion of depth and motion is the result of thousands of tiny parabolic lenses that are molded into the surface of both sides of the material. These lenses create a pattern of light reflection and refraction resulting in stunningly brilliant optical effects.

To instantly add "POP" and "WOW" to your projects, just add Rowlux®!

For special promotions, giveaways and to keep up to date on the exciting Rowlux® Illusion Film craft revolution, be sure to:

Follow Rowlux® on Twitter
LIKE Rowlux® on Facebook
Follow Rowlux® on Pinterest
Subscribe to Rowlux® on YouTube
(video content coming soon!)

I have designed multiple projects in the week since receiving my box, and will be sharing more of them in the coming weeks.  Today, I’m sharing this liquid gold gift box, perfect for presenting a set of handmade jewelry (find out how I created this set here) to a special friend. 

Materials:

Rowlux® Illusion Film Gold Moire
Sizzix® Big Shot™
Sizzix® Eileen Hull Die - Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Box, Triangle
JudiKins 3487 F • Happy Birthday Copperplate Rubber Stamp
Stewart Superior Palette Inkpad - Noir Black
Black & gold 7/8* ribbon
Glue Dots® Continuous Glue Lines® Roll

Continuous Glue Lines® Roll

Rowlux® Illusion Film can be purchased on Amazon at the following link:    http://www.amazon.com/Rowlux-Illusion-Film-Polycarbonate-12-Inch/dp/B00CW7940Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1372292244&sr=1-1&keywords=rowlux

I die cut the box from the Gold Moire Rowlux® Illusion Film with the Sizzix® Big Shot™ and Eileen Hull's Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Box, Triangle.  The earrings and pendant were wrapped in gold tissue paper, and then inserted into the box.  "Happy Birthday" was stamped onto a piece of the gold Rowlux® with the Palette inkpad, then mounted to the bottom front

of the box using Glue Dots® Glue Line® on the left and right edges.  A strip of he black & gold ribbon was added as an accent piece above the Happy Birthday, and was used to tie the box shut at the top/opening.

Check out the complete list of participants in the Rowlux® Illusion Film Designer Blog Hop HERE!

AND.... THEY ARE HOSTING a Rafflecopter giveaway WHERE YOU CAN ENTER TO WIN THE 6 PACK OF ROWLUX ILLUSION FILM OF YOUR CHOICE! *winner must provide a valid US or Canadian street shipping address

Faux Quilted Travel Jewelry Pouch

In my latest episode of Behind These Eyes on When Creativity Knocks - I'm using a great set of stamps from Unity Stamp Co. designed by Ann Butler to create a pretty travel jewelry pouch.  

Extruded, Coiled Beads Video - Creatively Crafty with Cindi Bisson

My latest episode of Creatively Crafty with Cindi Bisson is now live.  I'm sharing how to create extruded, coiled clay beads using the Makin's Brand® Ultimate Clay Exruder, Makin's Clay®, Connie Crystal and ClearSnap Designer Foil. 

Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop - Wishes

Although there are endless ways to think about wishes - birthday wishes, good luck wishes, wedding wishes, bon voyage wishes, baby shower wishes, get well wishes, wishes that your children will have happy & healthy futures, when I thought about creating a post for today's blog hop following our "Wishes" theme was Jeannie.  Yes - Barbara Eden from the I Dream of Jeannie show many years ago.  It originally aired before my time, but I enjoyed the re-runs about a zillion times (and still do when I can find them on TV!)   I loved it so much that one Halloween many (many, many) years ago I even made a Jeannie halloween costume, complete with a jeweled bottle, and dressed my husband as Major Nelson for a party we were attending.   (What's one of MY wishes today?  That I could still fit into that costume lol!)     

I went to what seems to be a never-ending source of inspiration these days - PINTEREST - and searched "Genie" - the results were plentiful - and very interesting.   It seems "genies" inspire creativity of all kinds - photographs, costumes, paintings, cartoons, bottles, lamps, jewelry, and some of my favorites which I thought were completely amazing - this awesome, colorful cake, this enormous sand sculpture, and yes, there was even a genie costume for a dog!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/design_cakes/6763619611/in/photostream

http://pinterest.com/pin/205336064230926374/

pinterest.com/pin/205336064230926374/

I also found this quote, which I liked so much I decided to use for a mixed-media bracelet project.  I kept the basic bracelet very simple, as I plan to wear this regularly and wanted it to coordinate with many outfits. 

                “The absolutely awesome incredible power of belief is the genie in your life.”
                                                             ― Eldon Taylor

Materials:

DIY Bangle - 1/2"
EarthSafe Finishes Shimmer Opaque - Black Pearl, black acrylic paint, paintbrush
Silver foil tape
ImpressArt® Metal Stamps - Newsprint and Lower Case, steel stamping block, brass stamping hammer
E6000® Adhesive
Hampton Art collage rubber stamp
Clearsnap® ColorBox® Crafter's Ink - Night
JudiKins Diamond Glaze™ 




Instructions:

Paint bangle, inside and outside, with 2 coats of Black Pearl Shimmer Opaque.  Let dry.










Following manufacturer instructions, use ImpressArt® stamps and tools to stamp quote/verse onto silver foil tape.

Apply coat of black acrylic paint over stamped quote, gently remove paint from non-stamped surface with a soft cloth.

Use E6000® Adhesive to mount stamped silver foil tape onto center of bangle.







 

Ink rubber stamp with ColorBox® Crafter's Ink, stamp onto both outside edges of bracelet.  Let dry.

Coat entire bracelet with two coats of JudiKins Diamond Glaze™.   Let dry.








Don't forget to follow the Designer Craft Connection link in the right column to see what other creative projects the designers are sharing with the "wishes" theme - Cindi

From "Home Decor" to 'Haute Couture" - New Episode of Behind These Eyes

In this latest episode of Behind These Eyes on When Creativity Knocks, I am sharing a simple idea for transforming pre-beaded decorative trims made for home-decor into unique jewelry. 

Slide Bracelets from Cousin®

My latest product review for When Creativity Knocks is a review of the new slide bracelet program from Cousin®.   

I also created a customized bracelet as part of my review, and the instructions are included.   For more inspiration from Designers featuring these slide bracelets - check out the Designer Craft Blog Connection link in the right column - last week many of the Designers shared fantastic ideas!

Here's the link - http://whencreativityknocks.com/mycraftspace/m/articles/view/Slide-Bracelet-Program-by-Cousin

To create your own slide bracelet - check out the selection of options at a Jo-Ann Fabric & Crafts near you - Cindi

A Bit of Bronze Bling with Sparkle

Bronze meets bling - you can find the full instructions on how I combined Connie Crystals and Piccolo charms from GlobeCraft Memories at the CC blog here.   I love designing new mixed-media projects - they challenge me to think outside the box! - Cindi

Some New Bling with Makin's Clay

I thought I'd share a pendant and earring set I made to wear at ARTOLOGY this past weekend in New Jersey.   A variety of different beads, all made with black Makin's Clay® , were used along with a few green glass beads for accents.   The dragonfly pendant was created with Makin's Clay® in a fabulous Paula Radke dragonfly mold from Art Clay World.   The wings of the dragonfly, and some of the black clay beads, were given a little sparkle with Clearsnap's Smooch GLITZ™.    The diversity of options when designing with Makin's Clay® is one of the reasons it's one of my favorite mediums.    

Consider find a little time to create a new jewelry piece to wear with your fall fashions using your favorite crafting mediums - Cindi

Jewels of Autumn Floral Broach on the Connie Crystal Blog

My first project featuring products from Connie Crystal has been posted on their blog.  As you know, I like to think outside the box a bit, and this broach is no exception.  Jewelry findings become part of the petals, burlap is die cut with an Eileen Hull Sizzix die, and shredded metallic ribbons from ART Mechanique fluff it up a bit..... find out more at the Connie Crystal Blog.  And while you are there - be sure to check out some of the other creative projects being shared by designers!   - Cindi

 LOVE this fun and spooky pendant created by Connie Crystal Design Team member Laura!   Check out their blog to find out how she created it!  

Beading, Autumn Memories and "Fabulous" Crowns

This week in my Cindi's Simple Solutions project on When Creativity Knocks I am sharing an Autumn project to display your memories with texture and rich fall tones.  Crackle finish, Makin's Clay® and EarthSafe Finishes add the finishing touches.  You can find it here.

My Book Review this week is a great beading book by Suzann Sladcik Wilson - Simple Beginnings:  Beading.

Our new episode of When Creativity Knocks is a simple whimsical crown featuring Fast2Fuse from C&T Publishing.  Ana Araujo and I hosted make & takes featuring this project at Maker Faire Bay Area and Princesses, Princes, Queens and even Kings of all ages had fun creating their own unique Royal Fashion Statement.
 
This month is National Sewing Month and I've been sharing a different "sewing" related video from our WCK Video Library each day on our Facebook page and Twitter.   If you are looking for a little sewing inspiration - check them out!

Now I'm back to baking 100 cupcakes and a small wedding cake for this weekend...... sure - I can whip up 110 chocolate clay sunflowers in no time - or so I thought.  I'll be sharing photos of the finished edible masterpieces and some of the wedding crafts created by the bride's mom next week!
Until then...find something crafty to try yourself!  - Cindi 

A Book Review, CHA's Hot 20 and More from WCK

This week on WCK I reviewed Kristen Robinson's Tales of Adornment - find out what I thought of here.

For my Simple Solutions article this week, I share my thoughts of CHA's Hot 20 from the Innovations Sneak Peek event. 

Ana shares a cute birdhouse project featuring Elmer's decorative tapes and foam board in the latest episode.   And she reviews episode 4 and 5 of TLC's Craft Wars.

Until next time.... remember to "Dare to be Different!" 
- Cindi

Golden Glamour Brooch with Spellbinders & Ice Resin

I've got a new project posted on the ICE Resin blog!  I made molds using ART Mechanique Jewelers Grade Molding Putty and Spellbinders Nestabilities dies and then created jewelry using ICE Resin.  This gold leafed brooch with a large faux gemstone center from Plaid is the first of many projects I'll be sharing.  While you are at their site, be sure to check out the amazing creations from their Creative Team!

Until next time.... remember to "Dare to be Different!" 
- Cindi

Faux Metal Stamping - New Episode of Behind These Eyes

My latest episode of Behind These Eyes is now live at When Creativity Knocks!   It's a quick video - less than 3 minutes - so sneak in a little time and stop by to learn how to create the effect of metal stamping quickly & easily using ImpressArt Metal Stamps!  You can view it and find the complete supply list here. 

Cherry Blossoms in ICE Resin!

I've got a new project featured on the ICE Resin blog today featuring two of the most versatile mediums I enjoy designing with - ICE Resin and Makin's Clay.  I used a bezel and ribbons from the ART Mechanique line, combined with Makin's Clay cherry blossoms on a real twig, ICE Resin and Asian coins.

Getting Creatively Crafty for ICE Resin's Technique Tuesday

I am excited to be part of ICE Resin's Technique Tuesday series - and to premiere the first "episode" of my craft tutorial videos - "Creatively Crafty with Cindi Bisson" - I will be sharing project ideas, techniques and more with video tutorials in the coming months.   

Here's a link to the video on the ICE Resin blog -

http://iceresin.com/icequeen/2012/05/creatively-crafty-with-cindi-bisson-color-frosted-ice-resin/

Or direct links to my YouTube channel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnFBMpZ_cfk&feature=g-upl

or my Vimeo channel - https://vimeo.com/42832766

Enjoy!  :0)