Mel Designs

Pretty Clay Pendants and Giveaway

This is a project that is so easy, you will be turning out pendants left and right for gift giving now and into the holidays.

You will need the supplies pictured here in addition to some jewelry findings of your choice such as a chain or rope necklace with a clasp, in addition to some jump rings that are 16mm or larger and a headpin and bead. You will also need the appropriate jewelry tools such as wire nips, chain and round nose pliers.

Start by painting the 1 1/2 wood circle with Jacquard's Neopaque paints in black. Paint both sides a couple of coats.  

 
While the paint is drying, punch 1" circles from the pages of a vintage book such as this dictionary my Mom snagged for me at a yard sale for $.50.

Use a paper adhesive to glue the punches to the center of the circle on one side only.

Use some heavy duty tacky glue to adhere gem stone trim to the edges of the circle. It can be hard not to get excess tacky glue inside the edges of the trimming. Use a toothpick or q tip to remove the excesss glue.

Now it's time to play with clay. I used Jacquard's Cernit Clay in white to make a zinnia from a hand made clay mold. This hand made mold was a gift from my good friend, Niki Meiners.Cernit clay is a phthalate-free (non-toxic) polymer clay. Manufactured in Belgium, Cernit clay has long been recognized for its excellent quality, durability and porcelain-like finishes. It was perfect to make my little zinnia.

I pinched off a dime sized piece and conditioned by hand. (Hint: if the weather is as hot and humid where you are as I am- go outside- it makes conditioning a lot faster). Then I rolled it into a ball before pushing it into the clay mold.

Push the clay out of the mold and you have this adorable little zinnia.

Now bake in the oven at 265 degrees on a clay dedicated baking sheet for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Now choose some bright prretty colors of Jacquard's Lumiere and paint the zinnias. I dry brushed the top of them with Lumiere also.

Once the zinnias are dry, glue them to the center of the circles.

 
I drilled two holes at the top and bottom of my circles for insertion of a jump ring to hold the necklace and a droplet on the bottom.

 

If you liked this post, here is another jewelry pendant post using recycled furniture casters.

Now- details on the Giveaway- leave me a comment by July 31st, 2011 at 12 PM Central and I will send TWO of you one of these pendants (zinnia clay) in color of choice shown (US residents only please). Leave as many comments as you would like, I will one person at random and announce the winner on my blog on August 1st. Good Luck!  

Live Life Creatively,

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

My New Etsy Shop and Coupon Code for You

I have officially opened my etsy shop featuring handmade embellishments you can use for your card making, scrap booking, jewelry, altered art, wearable art, gift giving and home decor projects.

Many of these items can help you jump start your art projects and give them that special touch. You can save time and money by adding special details to your art that you don't have to make yourself!

Most of the items are extremely lightweight which makes them perfect for creating a special card or layout.

 
As a special thank you for my blog friends, I am offering a coupon code good for free shipping ANYWHERE in the US. This code expires July 15th so hurry in and place your order or custom request! Enter MelDesigns1 at checkout.

 

Live Life Creatively,  
 

 

 
 
 
 

Tulip Beads in a Bottle Fabric Scrap T Shirt and Fab Giveaway!

If you are following today's Designer Connection hop, featuring Tulip Beads in a Bottle, you have probably been enjoying seeing some outrageously clever projects using this amazing product.  

i Love to Create has released a brand new product- Tulip beads in a Bottle!
30 designers were chosen, and asked to create something to help inspire you!
In turn, Tulip is hosting a FABULOUS giveaway on their blog!

Beads in a Bottle is a self-rounding fabric paint that you can use to create beads on a fabric surface. It is extremely easy to use and the results will amaze you. Just think of all the bling you can add to your fabric creations for a fraction of the cost of hard embellishments! To see a really quick video of Beads in a Bottle being used click here.

Since I am seriously into embellishing summer t shirts right now, I knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do with my bottles of bling when they arrived in the colors above. For starters, I used Tulip's One Step Color Die kit in Turquise to color a white t-shirt. I thought this would be the perfect backdrop for my fabric squares embellished with beads in a bottle. Tulip® One-Step Dyes™ come in an easy applicator bottle so all you have to do is add cold water!

Once I had my t shirt dyed, I went to work deciding on fabric scraps from my vast array of fabrics leftover from large projects. Do you hoard fabrics you love? This is a great project for you and can be used on a decorative pillow, table runner, fabric cuff or other fun fabric surface.

 

 Using a 3" sqaure made from a cardstock square, go to work cutting out various fabric patterns marking with a disappearing fabric marker on the wrong side of the fabric. I used a 3" sqaure so I could gave 1/4 seam allowances on all sides which ultimately will make my sqaures approx 2."

Once you begin cutting your sqaures, use a steam iron to turn edges over 1/4" all all four sides. Then begin to pin your sqaures to the t-shirt, spacing evenly across the front of the t shirt.

 
 For a fun mixed media look, use a machine, straight stitch and black constrasting thread to sew the squares in place.

 To sew four rows of four squares in place on the t-shirt, it will take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half, so dont be alarmed at how long it takes you. The good news is- once you have your squares in place- the REAL fun begins!

I used wool felt die cuts, fused in place with fusible webbing and stamped applied to fabric with staz on or pigment ink, just remember to use your iron to heat set the ink to the fabric. Notice how some of my sqaures ended up being a little crooked, or as we say in the South, "caddy wombess." If this is a look you would rather avoid, use Aleenes Fabric Fusion to temporarily hold the sqaures in place instead of straight pins. Fabric Fusion is the only clear, water-based, urethane adhesive that is also nontoxic, machine-washable and dry cleanable. It’s the perfect choice for a wide variety of surfaces and embellishments. Fabric Fusion® does not string while you apply it to fabric.

For the hard embellishments I added to the shirt, I find that Aleene's Liquid Fusion works remarkably well. I usally hard wash embellish t's of this nature but never have had an embellish pop off during washing or wearing.

I glued things such as vintage buttons since I thought they would coordinate beautifully with my Beads in a Bottle.

Once you have little themes for each fabric square, set to work using your Beads in a Bottle.

 
 
To add soft embellishments to the t shirt, like this vintage photo I printed on inkjet fabric, use Fabric fusion, and machine stitch the edges.

I call this t shirt "so me" because I really thrive on colorful, busy, details.

  So now for the details of how you can win fantastic package of goodies from I love to Create.

 Along with this fantastic new product, Tulip is including other fun fabric embellishment goodies such as their fabric sprays and tie dye kits - go directly to their blog page and see the details on how to enter to win this super fun package of products. Good luck- remember to keep on hopping by using the Designetr Connection blog hop link on the sidebar of my blog to see more eye popping creations!

Live Life Creatively,

 

 

 
 




 

 

 

Use Your Talents T shirt Makeover

"Use your talents you possess, for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except the best." I love this quote and I am loving making over some of my stained, ill-fitting t-shirts this Summer.

I liked this Gap stretch t shirt I had for some time, but two things were wrong. It needed some length and it had stains on the front. To cover the stains, I used idye from Jacquard products in Deep Orange to color over the stains.

To create a little drama in the background of the tshirt, I dripped a little discharge paste on one side of the t-shirt. Discharge paste is a resist by Jacquard products that washes away the color of the die after it is ironed with steam and rinsed. To see another project using discharge paste in more detail, click here.

 After I rinsed and dried the t shirt, I decided to get busy creating some felt appliques that would add some imagery to one my favorite quotes.

I fused some wool felt and fabric to fusible webbing and cut out a tree trunk freehand from the felt but the bird from a Sizzix die cut.

 After fusing the appliques in place with an iron

I decided to use an old tshirt that was longer than t shirt 1. Cutting off the bottom and sewing it to t shirt 1 would add some length. The best way to do this is to actually layer the tshirts, pin the bottoms together and turn them inside out, cutting off the top and sleeves of t shirt 2.

 
 After sewing the t shirts together, I then added some brown rosette trim to the bottom (increasing the length further) and sleeves, pinned into place.  

I machine sewed this to t shirt 2 with brown thread.

Add the phrase using Jacquard's' Inkjet cotton sheets. They come in 8 1/2 x 11 sizes and can be printed, backing peeled away and sewn or glued to your projects.

I printed my sentiment in a pleasing font from Duetica (Riley)and cut it into strips which I pinned in place on the tshirt.

I machine stitched with brown thread and a straight stitch.

Now it is time to sew your appliques in place, Be very careful with this step, taking care not to sew the back of the tshirt to the front, which is very easy to do.

 
Finally, I added some bling with sew on acrylic stones. I attached these with a hand sewing needle and orange thread.

Think about how you can turn your favorite quote into a fun to wear tshirt, how can you add interesting imagery?

Live Life Creatively,

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

Machine Dyed, Stenciled and Stamped T Shirt

 
 
Turquoise has always been and will always be my favorite color. I used Jacquard's Idye and Discharge Paste to liven up a stained plain t-shirt. I liked the way the shirt fit, but white t's only look good so long before they look tired and stained.

I have become a big fan of using Jacquard's idye packages to machine dye fabric. iDye comes in a packet that dissolves in water - no handling of messy dye powders. You can use iDye for natural fabrics with a top loading washing machine. Just throw the dye packet in, add salt and run through the wash cycle. I chose #418, turquoise to create this blank canvas ready to embellish.

Using this 12 x 12 damask template from The Crafters Workshop, Jacquard's Discharge paste and a stipple brush, create a fun background like the one above.

Discharge Paste from Jacquard is a resist product that will remove most fiber reactive colors, direct dyes and acid dyes from fabric once is is ironed with steam and washed out.

To create a background, I used a white fabric pencil to mark the corners of the damask pattern. This will allow you to stencil on the paste in the position you want the images to appear on the shirt.

 Once you make all your marks. place wax paper, parchment paper or kraft paper inside your t-shirt to keep the paste from bleeding through.

 
Use a stencil brush and pouncing motion to apply a generous amount of paste to all portions of the stencil. For tips and hints for perfect stenciling, click here. Remember this design has a Bohemian feel to it so a mistake here and there will only add to the art appeal!

As you move your stencil from one position to the other, you will be able to see a watermark pattern as the paste starts to penetrate the fabric.

While you are waiting for the paste to dry. Stamp an image in the center of each motif using Staz on ink.

 
With an iron set to the lowest steam setting, iron over each motif and stamped bird. The color of the dye will begin to disappear as you continue ironing with steam (this will also heat-set the ink).

Use a strong adhesive to further embellish the shirt by adhereing crystals to parts of the damask stencil.

When the adhesive is set, it is time to rinse the discharged dye from the tshirt. Do this with a mild detergent under luke warm water. (this is also how you should care for the shirt in the future). Hang or lay flat to dry and iron carefully as needed.

Live Life Creatively,

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 

Covered Moss Monogram

To make this moss covered monogram, I used my Marvy Uchida Super Hotwire Foam Cutter. Follow along with me and I will show you how easy it is.  

You will need very minimal supplies to make this project

- Marvy Uchida Super Hotwire Foam Cutter

- Marvy Uchida Paper Trimming Buddy

- Marvy Uchida DecoColor Marker in Green

- 1" thick STYROFOAM brand foam 

- Sheet moss

- sequin pins

- Light colored card stock

- Tacky glue

- Ribbon for hanger, vintage button of choice

- Scissors, black permanent marker, Pc and printer, nail file or paper sander

If your card stock is larger than 8 1/2 x 11. Use your Paper Trimming Buddy with the swing out arm to cut the card stock to those measurements. This will allow your card stock to feed through standard sized printers.

 
Use a standard image processing program to create an initial. Size the initial to fit the entire 8 1/2 x 11 page and print onto cardstock.  
 
 Use scissors to cut out the initial and pin to foam with sequin pins. Use scissors to cut two slits into sides of any closed spaces your desired initial may have.

The cardstock will serve as a template of sorts so you will be able to cut the foam without cutting the paper, making fairly even cuts. If you have confidence and steady hands, simply trace the monogram on the foam and cut freehand.

Make sure the wire is securing attached to the cutter before switching the machine on. The ends of the wire attachment are magnetic so this is easy to do. Another word about the hotwire foam cutter, if the wire becomes detached during cutting, the machine automatically switches itself off, ensuring safety. The wire immediately heats and cools on cutting the machine on and off, which is great for us impatient crafters!

Once you have cut through the foam, remove the sequin pins and foam scraps.

Use a nail file or paper sander to even up the rough cut pieces of the initial.

Now you are ready to cover your initial with sheet moss. WARNING- sheet moss is pretty messy so this isn't a DIY project for the faint of heart!

 
Unwrap the sheet moss, lay flat and place the initial on top of the paper side of the moss. Use a black marker to trace around the moss.

Make sure you flip the initial over and trace so you will have two pieces to glue to the front and back of the initial. Finally, use your paint marker to color your edges and attach some pretty ribbon and a vintage button to finish.

Last year, I used my foam cutter to cut a large number 13 to decorate my kitchen. This is my lucky number!!!

Live Life Creatively,

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 

Dipped "Dyed" Stenciled T Shirt with Rosettes

 

 
I love silhouettes, and after I received an awesome package of stencils from Crafters Workshop, I knew that I wanted to pair them with some Jacquard products I recently received to make this mixed media t-shirt.

Here's how to do it.

To make the dye bath, I used Dye-Na-Flow, which is really a liquid paint from Jacquard the is easy flowing and perfect for fabric painting. It leaves your fabric really soft.

I used Salmon and Sulphur green. First, one a large 8 container to mix 2 cups of sulphur green with 4 cups very hot water. Do this in a sink wearing latex gloves for less mess.

Use you get your dye bath mixed, immerse your white t-shirt into the water. You may want to buy a plain white t-shirt from a craft store or thrift store in a size larger since cotton tends to shrink a little in hot water.

Next, remove the t shirt and set it aside. Empty the container and wash it out thoroughly. Mix a bath of 3 cups of Salmon dye-na-flow to 3 cups very hot water.

Dip the top third of the wet t-shirt into the dye bath, leaving the bottom third out.

Remove the t-shirt after 2-3 minutes. Your color will be fairly intense at this point.

To remove excess paint, roll the t-shirt in an old towel, which will remove much of the excess paint and water and leave shades of color that are more like sherbert colors.

The final result should resemble something like this...

Let the shirt dry, iron to set paint, and you have a nice background canvas to complete your tshirt masterpiece.

To create a little interest in the background, I used a script font rubber stamp and staz on to randomly stamp front of t-shirt.

 
To stencil on the bird silhouettes, I used this awesome stencil from The Crafters Workshop and Neopaque paint from Jacquard.

 
 

Now, I am not the best stenciler, so I mixed some baking powder to the paint to make it a little thicker and less likely to run under the stencils. I mixed the paint to the baking soda in a 1:1 ratio. Cornstarch would work well for this as well.

So carefully, using a stencil brush, stencil on the birds one at a time. I have a few pointers for stenciling:

1. Use a brush especially made for stencils

2. Resist the temptation to overload the brush.

3. Use a pouncing motion in lieu of a sweeping motion. Keep pouncing until the desired color intensity is reached.

4. Wash and dry the stencil on both sides each time you move it to another location on the fabric. Use plenty of paper towels to make sure you remove and dry off all remnants of paint spots.

5. Ideally, let the stenciled areas dry before moving to the next area, but if you need to work faster, a heat tool will speed dry the paint as well as help set it on the fabric.  
 

Keep going with the stencil and paint until you have a pleasing collection of stenciled birds on branches.

Let your shirt dry, while you create the rosettes. For these rosettes, I used black cotton fabric and fabric glue. If you are unfamiliar with creating these simple flower shapes from scratch, click here. You can use purchased rosettes as well, if you are not up to making your own.

I glued my rosettes temporarily to my t shirt using fabric glue and also glued acrylic gems in the centers using tacky glue such as E-6000.

Once you have all your rosettes on the t-shirt, use a needle and black sewing thread to sew them in place.

 
 
 

 
 After your paint dries, heat set on low setting with an iron and you are ready to go. I would hand wash this masterpiece in warm water and a gentle soap. To dry, hang dry and iron as needed.

Live Life Creatively,

 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Life is Art- A Painted and Embellished Revamped Denim Jacket

Who of us does not have a plan denim jacket sitting in their closet just screaming to be "arted up." This funky denim jacket was the funnest project I have done in a while. Using products by Jacquard, I created this colorful wearable to wear to the upcoming CHA show in Chicago.

 
I knew that I want some portion of the jacket to painted, so I started out painting the back part of the sleeve Neopaque white. This will serve as a great blank canvas for stamped images etc. I outlined the sleeve seams with Lumiere in Metallic Turquoise.

So here goes the stamping with pigment ink in black (which can be heat set with an iron set on low). I choose a script stamp and stamped several times across the sleeve to get a subtle, yet bold effect.

Painting the rest of the jacket, I decided to sort of dry brush the colors on so that the denim shows through the paint. This creates a graffiti effect. I chose Lumiere Metallic Magenta for the back. I picked different colors for the other parts of the jacket including Lumiere Citrine (my personal fav) and Metallic Silver in addition to the Neopaque white and Lumiere Metallic Turquoise. It made for a super funky color palette.

To add the applique birds, fuse fabrics from your stash onto some fusible webbing. Paper side up, die cut birds using the Birds with wing die by Sizzix. I cut my birds using a big shot machine. Make sure your birds are going the direction you want them to, which in this case is towards each other. In this case, one bird is cut paper side up and one paper side down. Peel off paper backing and fuse to top of jacket in place. I used teardrop shaped black wool felt wings which were also fused in place. Make sure you paint the background in the color you would like to use which in my case was lovely Lumiere Citrine Green.

These days, my favorite quote is "Art is Life and Life is Art." Well- using the Serif Essential Font by Sizzix I chose (and love), all that was not going to fit, So I just went with the first half of the inspiring quote. I die cut the appropriate letters from fused black wool felt, which ALWAYS must be cut out paper side up!   

Side bar- Sizzix Big Shot Machine, Bird with wings and various die cutting fonts can be ordered from Scrapbook.com by clicking on the logo on the sidebar. Scrapbook.com is celebrating their 10th year in business by giving Free Diamond Stickles to the first 10,000 shipped orders beginning May 1st. In a recent press release they wrote the following-- 

For a tenth wedding anniversary it is customary to give a diamond jewelry gift,” said Jill Davis, Scrapbook.com Founder. “So we thought, what better way to celebrate ten years of bliss with our customers than to give them the gift of Diamond Stickles™!”

Stickles™, the popular, acid-free, non-toxic glitter glue made by Ranger Industries Inc. comes in a 0.5 oz. bottle with an easy-flow tip. Stickles™ enhances scrapbook layouts and rubber stamped designs, and adds excitement to greeting cards, letters, envelopes, and holiday and party decorations!

Back to the jacket- I used my sewing machine and thread to stitch the squares, letters, birds and wings in place. Make sure you get the needle for your machine appropriate for sewing through denim. I broke five needles during this process!

Here is a full view of the back of the jacket...

The front turned out nice too, here is my fav detail...

Hope you enjoyed my post!

Live Life Creatively,