Fashion Bling with Connie Crystal

The Connie Crystal blog continues to share a wide variety of creative projects featuring crystal enhancements!   Everything from hatpins to jewelry to cards and more.... My latest project was quick and easy - find the details here.

Sparkle on!  - Cindi

Mother's Day Bracelet

Today I'm sharing a bracelet I designed for ICE Resin®, also featuring Connie Crystal and ImpressArt Metal Stamps - the instructions are available on the ICE Resin blog® - Cindi

 

http://iceresin.com/icequeen/2013/05/mothers-day-bracelet-by-cindi-bisson/

Designing with Smoothfoam™

I am excited to be able to continue as part of the Smoothfoam™ Creativity Team for the next term!   This group shares some really fun and crafty ideas on the Smoothfoam™ blog monthly.   In April, I designed two projects which you can find complete instructions for on their blog by following the links.  Experiment with crafting with Smoothfoam™ - it can be found in your local craft & hobby store in a variety of shapes - Cindi







http://www.smoothfoam.com/blog/stenciled-birdhouse/

 http://www.smoothfoam.com/blog/billy-button-bouquet/

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

Unity Stamp Company & Ann Butler Designs Blog Hop

Unity Stamp Company is launching a brand new stamp line from Ann Butler Designs!

Several amazing designers are part of a blog hop to inspire you and show you some of the many ways you can use these versatile stamps when crafting.    In addition to this great source of inspiration - Unity is offering a great 50% off deal and $2 shipping on orders over $50 between Thursday May 2, - Monday May 6 at midnight CST! 

 

These stamps are incredibly versatile - perfect for faux quilting or fabric crafting, stamping wood, glass, tile, polymer clay, shrink plastic, paper crafting, and more.     

  

QUILTED CLAY BRACELET 

Materials: 

Unity Stamp Company stamps - Ann Butler Designs 1", clear acrylic mount

Makin's Clay® White 120 g.

Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine®

DIY Bangles 1" flat wooden bangle 

Clearsnap ColorBox Crafter's Ink - Fire

JudiKins Diamond Glaze 

Earthsafe Finishes Shimmer Opaque - Gold, paintbrush

Westcott® Titanium Bonded Scissors 

Elmer's Craft Bond Adhesive

ScraPerfect Perfect Crafting Pouch 

Gold metallic floss 

Instructions

Roll white clay to #4 setting using Ultimate Clay Machine®.  If hand rolling, roll to approximately 1/8" thick.

Determine circumference of bracelet you wish to use.   Create paper template of bracelet circumference.  Select which 1" Ann Butler Designs stamps you'd like to use for your pattern and determine which order you will place them and how many of each block will be needed.

Place first stamp onto acrylic mount, ink with Fire ColorBox Crafter's Ink and stamp directly into the clay, pressing slightly to leave an impression as well as the stamp image.   Continue with remaining stamp until  required number is reached, and stamp approximately 12 extra triangles.

Let ink dry, or gently pat stamped images with ScraPerfect Perfect Crafting Pouch to instantly dry ink.

Working one section at a time so the glue does not dry too quickly, apply an even coat of Elmer's Craft Bond Glue to one section of the wooden bangle.

Use scissors to cut first squares and triangles and begin placing onto glued area of bangle.  Apply glue to next section and continue creating pattern on bangle.

Use scissors to trim 1/4" piece from long end of remaining stamped triangles.  Apply glue to top edge of bangle, mount cut pieces to cover edge.  Repeat on other side with remaining stamped triangles.

Makin's Clay® is an air dry, no-bake polymer clay, making it perfect for applications of this type.  Allow to dry (up to 24 hours depending upon conditions, but usually quicker when rolled this thin.)


Paint inside of bangle with a coat of Shimmer Opaque.  Let dry.

Apply even coat of JudiKins Diamond Glaze over entire surface of bracelet.  Let dry.

Outline each quilted piece with a piece of gold floss. 

Apply a second coat of JudiKins Diamond Glaze over entire bracelet, inside, and outside over floss.  

Two more of the projects I've designed featuring these stamps are featured on the KellyCraft blog, and another will be featured in an upcoming episode of Behind These Eyes with Cindi Bisson on When Creativity Knocks.  Designing with these stamps can be addicting! 

http://kellycraftblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/faux-quilted-baby-onesie.html

http://kellycraftblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/welcome-wall-plaque.html

Be sure to check out the other creative projects from the participating designers - the variety is AMAZING!   - Cindi

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Stamped Tube Beads featuring Makin's Clay® - New Episode of Creatively Crafty

In my new episode of Creatively Crafty with Cindi Bisson I'm sharing an easy technique to create stamped tube beads using Makin's Clay®, ColorBox inks, and a great JudiKins stamp. 

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.