Sea Turtle Pendant with Connie Crystal & ICE Resin

Find out how I combined products from some of my favorite manufacturers to create the sea turtle pendant - the tutorial is here on the Connie Crystal blog! 

P.S.... Yes, I am dreaming of summer days already! - Cindi

Die Cut Mugs, Valentine Treasure Box & A Book Review

What do Die Cut Mugs, Valentine Treasure Box & a Book Review have in common?  They are all my current projects on the When Creativity Knocks site!  You can find them each by following these links -

Die cut embellished mugs featuring Earth Safe Finishes & Spellbinders dies





Cindi's Simple Solutions - Valentine "Treasure" Box

New Book Review:  Modern Mod Podge® by Kimberly Mueller

And, check out Ana Araujo's adorable embroidered felt pins too in Ana's Creative Chaos!  

What will you Cre8time to make for Valentine's Day this year? - Cindi

"Heart on Your Sleeve" Cuff Bracelet

Good bye January and hello February!  Another month closer to SPRING!  It's time for the monthly Designer Craft Blog Connection hop!  This month our theme is "Love".  Be sure to follow the link in the column on the right to see what other "lovely" projects the designers are sharing this month! Also, in celebration of March being National Craft Month, Julie McGuffee is going a giveaway of a selection of Fabscraps products featured on her show Scrapbook Soup!  And next Monday, be sure to pop in and see what the participating designers are sharing as part of the manufacturer challenge this month sponsored by Buttons Galore & More.  - Cindi

Materials:

Industrial Chic™ by Susan Lenart Kazmer™ changeable cuff bracelet
ICE Resin®, Jewelers Grade Molding Putty, Opaque Silk Ribbon
Earth Safe Finishes™ Gold Shimmer Opaque
ScraPerfect Best Glue Ever
Jacquard Pearl Ex Powdered Pigment - Micropearl
Filigree heart charm
Jewelry Pliers

Instructions:

ICE Resin’s® molding putty should come with a warning - it’s addictive!  One of my many molds was made by mixing two equal parts of the putty components and inserting a heart filigree charm.

Mix ICE Resin® according to manufacturer instructions.  Add Micropearl Pearl Ex Powdered

The result is a pearlized finish in your molded piece (this is the back)

Pigment in small amounts until desired opacity is achieved.  Pour into mold Let cure.


Use finger tip to apply gold Earth Safe Finishes™ Shimmer Opaque to the raised filigree areas on the molded heart.

Unscrew and remove elements from top of changeable cuff bracelet.  Set aside for another project.

Use jewelry pliers to cut screw back to approximately 1/8” from bracelet.

Cut length of wide red opaque silk ribbon to fit cuff.

Apply Best Glue Ever to center of bracelet, horizontally across entire surface.  Let dry until clear, yet still tacky. 

Mount ribbon, pushing screw through center.

Apply Best Glue Ever to center of bracelet around screw.  Let dry until clear, but still tacky.

Press molded heart onto center of bracelet, using light force to push screw into back of resin, and adhering to glue.

Ombre Onesies with Rit Liquid Dye & Spellbinders!

In this episode of When Creativity Knocks - we transform Rit Liquid Dye, Spellbinders and JudiKins products into adorable ombre onesies!  (And we say "Ombre" a lot - hey, we like that word.)  Enjoy! - Cindi

Holiday Ornament Gift Box

A 3” Smoothfoam ball is the base of this ornament which also serves as a gift box for a small treasure.

 Materials: 

Smoothfoam 3” ball
Plaid Mod Podge
Connie Crystals - blue, red
Silver wire
Foam brush
1/4” Ribbon
Spoon
Reindeer paper from BasicGrey Blitzen Collection
Westcott Premium TrimAir Titanium Paper Trimmer
Westcott Craft Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors
Westcott Craft Hobby Knife
Red felt
Velcro Brand Sticky Back Fasteners

Instructions:


Carefully cut ball in half with craft knife.

Use a spoon (grapefruit spoon makes it easier as it has a grooved edge) to hollow out inside of both halves of ball.

Cut 1/2”  x 2” strips of patterned paper and Mod Podge onto top and bottom outsides of ball, overlapping each piece slightly.  Let dry. 

Cut 1 1/2” strip of wire, add small blue crystal bead and medium red crystal bead and insert through bottom center of ball.

Cut 4” strip of wire, add medium red crystal bead, medium green crystal bead, and small blue crystal bead.  Insert through top center of ornament.  Create loop at end to attach ribbon.

Cut felt to fit in bottom of both halves, mount.  Cut strips of felt to fit around inside of balls, mount against base piece of felt in each half.

Cut ribbon to wrap around center of ornament.  Glue ribbon in place on bottom of TOP of ornament,
extending downward so it will cover the edge of the bottom half when the ornament is “closed." 

Mount 1" strip of ribbon vertically along back center of ball (this will be your “hinge").


Mount small piece of sticky backed Velcro to inside center front of box to hold ornament closed. 


Creating hand-made ornaments each year is part of our family tradition - why not start your own tradition, and collection, this year? - Cindi

Snowflake Lights with JudiKins & Spellbinders

In the latest episode of WCK, we share how to use Spellbinders & JudiKins products to create sparkling snowflake lights for your holiday decorating - you can watch it here.

My newest product review is also live - JudiKins Diamond Glaze.

And finally, for today at least, here's my latest Cindi's Simple Solutions project for WCK - Countdown to Christmas night shirts or t-shirts featuring the KellyCraft Get-it-Straight Laser Square and Tulip Fabric Markers from I Love to Create! 

I hope you are inspired to Cre8time for a little holiday crafting soon! - Cindi

A Winter's Day - Get-it-Straight with KellyCraft!

The KellyCraft Get-it-Straight Laser Square made creating this mixed-media canvas simpler!   Find the full instructions on the KellyCraft blog - http://kellycraftblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-winters-day-mixed-media-canvas-with.html

And, today's the day for the December Designer Craft Connection blog hop - so take the time to hop through the participating designer's blogs to see what they are sharing this month by clicking on the  DCC link in the left column.   - Happy Crafting! Cindi

Featured Artist in Scrap n' Art Magazine!

I'm happy to announce I am featured artist in this month's edition of Scrap n' Art Magazine! 

Here's the link:  http://scrapnart.com/issue/november2012/article/cindi-bisson-mixed-media

For being our Featured Artist, they are provide my blog readers and Facebook friends a free 30 day subscription for Scrap n' Art. All you have to do is sign up for Scrap n' Art (http://www.scrapnart.com/) and use the coupon code "CindiB."

- Check out their great projects and articles while you are there!  - Cindi 

Mixed-Media Mirror with Connie Crystal Pearls

Connie Crystal pearls, Graphic 45 papers, Earth Safe Finishes and JudiKins Diamond Glaze are combined and a dollar discount store mirror gets a transformation perfect for a special little girl.  Find the full tutorial on the Blog link via the Connie Crystal website - http://www.conniecrystal.com/

*The original Connie Crystal blog is experiencing some difficulties - you can access it by linking through the website.  Hopefully, all projects will be transferred to the new blog - http://conniecrystalsparkle.blogspot.com/ soon! 

Warm Wishes with Connie Crystal and Tombow

Connie Crystal, Tombow Adhesives, Spellbinders dies, and Tombow Irojiten Color Dictionary pencils are combined for a mixed-media Autumn toned card to send warm wishes to someone special.  Find a full tutorial on how to recreate this project at the Connie Crystal Blog. 











I

DCC Makin’s Clay® Blog Hop: Adaptable Napkin Rings

This month the Designer Craft Blog Connection group hosted a designer challenge featuring Makin’s Clay®.  As a long time fan of the extreme versatility of Makin’s Clay®, I was excited to have other designers use it in their creations and share them with all of you.  Each participant received an assortment of clay, tools, cutters, texture sheets and push molds.  Be sure to click through the DCC link on the right to see what they’ve whipped up with their products from Makin’s Clay®!  For more ideas on creating with Makin's Clay®, visit the new Makin's Clay® Blog, Facebook Page, and Pinterest Board. 

I loved the adorable napkin rings fellow designer Ann Butler created from a repurposed paper towel roll, so I knew just what to start with when I created these “adaptable” napkin rings!   The brown tone of the clay, along with the texture provided from the texture sheet results in what I think looks a bit like leather.  By sticking with a simple color palette, these adaptable rings will coordinate with almost any color or pattern of napkin, for any theme or holiday.   The metal stamped embellishment serves as a holder for silk flowers, dried flowers, colorful autumn leaves, long stems of grasses, or any other embellishment you’d like to tuck behind it to customize your rings for the occasion.  The verses stamped on each are basic enough that they too are versatile.


Materials: 

Makin’s Clay® - Earth Tones multi pack (If creating 4 rings of the same colors, 2 multi-packages of clay will be needed)
Makin’s Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine® Makin’s Clay® Texture Sheet - Set A "Sand"
ImpressArt® Metal Stamps - Lowercase Newsprint
ImpressArt® brass stamping hammer, steel stamping plate, & Stamp Straight Tape™
Copper sheet
Westcott Craft Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors
Sharpie marker, soft cloth
Small copper brads
Brown flat fiber trim
Elmer’s Craft Bond Adhesive
Small hole punch, tapestry needle (optional)

Instructions:

Begin by cutting a paper towel roll into desired number of 1 1/2” rings, then cut through each ring to create napkin ring.

Remove clay from box, remove from outer sealed plastic wrapping.  Cut individual wrapped piece of tan clay in half and remove inner wrapping from one half.  Makin’s Clay® is ready to use right from the package - no conditioning is needed.

Use Ultimate Clay Machine® to roll on #3 setting.  This will create a piece large enough to cover your chipboard ring.   Repeat with 2nd half.

Place a light coat of Craft Bond adhesive onto inside of chipboard ring.  Place clay onto ring, using fingers to gently ensure entire surface is covered with clay.  Remove any access clay extending off of chipboard. Repeat on second ring.

Place texture sheet over clay on ring.  Press into clay to transfer texture.

Cut individual wrapped piece of dark brown clay in half and remove inner wrapping from one half.

Use Ultimate Clay Machine to roll on #3 setting.  This will create a piece large enough to cover your chipboard ring.   Repeat with 2nd half.

Place a light coat of Craft Bond adhesive onto outside of chipboard ring.  Place clay onto ring, using fingers to gently ensure entire surface is covered with clay, extending slightly over edges onto back.  Repeat on second ring. 

Place texture sheet over clay on ring.  Press into clay to transfer texture. 

Reform rings, supporting sides as needed, and let dry overnight.

Measure and cut flat brown fiber trim to fit along inside edges of ring where two colors of clay meet.  Mount to cover edge.








To create metal plates, cut two pieces of copper sheet approximately 2” long by 1/2” wide. 

Use ImpressArt® Stamp Straight Tape™ on bottom of first piece to hold in place on steel stamping block.  Use lowercase Newsprint metal stamps and brass stamping hammer to stamp “be thankful” on first piece, and “be grateful” on second piece. 

Distress edges of each piece by lightly tapping with stamping hammer. 

Color each stamped verse with Sharpie marker.  Gently rub marker from copper sheet with soft cloth.  Ink will remain in stamped areas to highlight text.

Punch small hole in each end of each metal plate.


Determine placement on clay napkin rings.   Do not mount flush to ring, bring ends in a about 1/8” to allow metal plate to bend outward to accommodate embellishment inserted behind. 

Use tapestry needle, or small point of scissors, to gently push holes through clay and chipboard where needed. 

Mount plates to rings using copper brads.

To add embellishment, slip behind stamped metal plate. 

- Enjoy using these faux leather, adaptable napkin rings at a special dinner soon! - Cindi 

Makin's Clay is also offering a price package valued at just over $111.00 with products including  clay, tools and a Memory Frame Kit.....to enter leave a comment on the Makin's Clay® Blog telling us which project you liked best on the blog hop.  The winner will be randomly drawn from all entries
on or about October 24th.  We will announce the winner on the Makin's Clay® Blog so check back Thursday October 25 to see if you have won!

DCC Blog Hop - Tombstone Mini Album

It's time for the October Designer Craft Blog Connection hop!  This month we are focusing on Halloween.  Halloween is one of my most favorite times of the year - I love the silly fun, the creepy decorations, the plethora of sci-fi and horror movies on television, and the challenge of creating a unique costume.   This Tombstone Mini Album was actually designed in 2010 and featured in the Halloween Spooktacular episode of When Creativity Knocks.   Click the link for a tutorial of how to create this unique mini-album, and how to create two other whimsical Halloween crafts too!

Follow the DCC link in the column on the right to see what other spooky seasonal craftiness the designers have in store for you!  - Bwaahahahahahahaahha cue the evil laughter... - Cindi
p.s.--- don't forget to stop by on October 13th to see what our participating designers have created for the Makin's Clay sponsored blog hop!  You will also be able to register to win a great prize package of Makin's products!

Shades of Amber Frame - Creating with Connie Crystal

Autumn is upon us and that means it's time for warm, cozy, Autumn decor.    Today my first project for Connie Crystal is live - a mixed-media frame featuring unique shell beads from their line.  You can find the full tutorial to create your own version of this frame at the Connie Crystal Blog.