Free Mixed Media Jewelry Making Project for Beadalon

Congrats to Marjorie Jumisco for winning the Beyond the Bead comments prize! Email me at theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com to claim your prize! You and your kitties are going to get a copy of my book, a promo button and a judicious smattering of CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements!
Huzzah!

My How Soft Your Lips Are
Free Jewelry Project
Copyright 2006 Margot Potter for Beadalon

My How Soft Your Lips Are copyright 2006 Margot Potter for BeadalonMy How Soft Your Lips Are Copyright 2006 Margot Potter for Beadalon

(Click on images to view close up!)

This collage necklace is a design I did for Beadalon three years ago. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I’ve been veering into mixed media since my second book The Impatient Beader Gets Inspired. When that book came out a lot of folks in the bead industry totally scratched their heads. They simply did not get where I was going, but I did. I'm restless. I find doing the same thing more than twice to be incredibly pedantic. I like to forge new pathways, make glorious mistakes and delicious discoveries and move forward...always.

The pendant is made of a faux optical lens I got from Outside the Margins, unfortunately these aren’t available anymore. You could opt to use a vintage lens (you can get them at Art Chix Studio) and collage the items on the back and then seal them with Mod Podge OR you could use a different frame. This is an image I cut out of a vintage magazine and I couldn’t resist the pun. I’m a romantic, what can I say? I love the collage work of people like Ann Taintor and Josie Cirincione. Image and text works for me since I'm such a verbally driven person. You can find similar images, optical lenses and lots of great charms at Outside the Margins and ArtChixStudios (see links below.) Aren’t these Victorian style charms adorable? The little chicks make me so happy I could just squeak.

Tune in later today to hear my interview with the creative dervish Alison Lee at CraftCast! We had a fabulous time and I’m only sorry she doesn’t live nearby because I’m quite sure we’d be stirring up creative trouble on a regular basis!

My How Soft Your Lips Are
Margot Potter for Beadalon
Copyright 2006

This saucy vintage image from an old magazine was slipped into a faux optical lens with a bit of visually ‘punny’ text and a tiny cut out heart. Old magazines are easy to find at antique shops and online or you can get images from online sources who sell them in collage sheets. If you can’t find an optical lens, use a mini frame. The chain, CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements and charms give this a very Victorian appeal.

Materials
Faux or real vintage optical lens (or mini-frame)
Vintage Magazine (or Ephemera sheets from Art Chix Studio or Outside the Margins)
Red construction paper (for tiny heart)
Printed text on white paper (Old English Text 12pt.) ‘the better to kiss you with’
6 20mm cream Swarovski pearls
4 8mm bright gold Swarovski pearls
4 6mm crystal copper Swarovski rounds
4 6mm silk Swarovski rondelles
3 gold plated metal chick charms
4 gold plated metal hand charms
3 gold plated metal lock and key charm sets
2 gold plated filigree 2 strand connectors
1 gold plated hook and eye clasp
12 gold plated filigree bead caps
25 6mm gold plated jump rings
1 20mm gold plated jump ring
1 8mm textured gold plated jump ring
2 8-link segments, 2 26-link segments, 1 25-link segment, 1 105-link segment gold plated elongated cable chain
10 ball tipped gold plated head pins
8 gold plated head pins
Beacon Zip Dry Paper Glue
Beacon 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue
3” length black satin looped ribbon

Tools
Round nose pliers
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Flush cutters
Scissors

1. Select image to frame inside of lens. (If using a vintage lens, you will need to adhere the image to the backside of the lens with decoupage medium and seal it. If using the faux lens or frame, simply slide image inside.)

2. Trace image to fit inside lens. Cut with sharp scissors.

3. Create tiny heart by folding red construction paper and cutting.

4. Print text and cut into three segments: the better, to kiss, you with.

5. Adhere text and heart to image with Zip Dry glue. Allow to dry.

6. Insert collaged image into frame and secure it closed.

7. Tie small black craft ribbon bow to loop in top of lens or on jump ring that connects pendant to necklace. Add a dab of GS Hypo Cement to secure bow.

8. Attach a chick charm on the textured jump ring to loop in top of lens.

9. Create coil topped head pins for the 6 filigree encased cream pearls (sandwich pearls between filigree before threading on head pins) and 4 copper crystals using ball tipped head pins.

10. Create coil topped head pins for the remaining beads using regular head pins.

11. Remove chain segments.

12. Create your chains. The longer chain pattern is: 105 link chain working from left to right add a hand charm on a jump ring to the 9th link using to pairs of chain nose pliers to open and close the links, a filigree encased pearl to the 17th link, a chick charm to the 24th and alternating this pattern every seven links* until reaching the last hand charm. (*Add the pendant to the center chain link.)

13. Attach this chain to the outer links of the filigree connectors using two pairs chain nose pliers.
14. Create your second chain. The shorter chain pattern is: 8-link chain, connecting jump ring with attached silk, pearl, copper crystal dangles on jump ring, 24-link chain with lock and key attached to the 13th link with a jump ring, connecting jump ring with attached dangles on jump ring...repeat this pattern until reaching the final 8-link chain.

15. Attach this to the inside loops of the filigree connectors using two pairs chain nose pliers.

16. Attach hook and eye clasp to connector ends using jump rings.

Sources
Chain, jump rings, clasp, connectors, bead caps, head pins Beadalon, hand, lock and chick charms Art Chix Studio, faux optical lens Outside the Margins, pearls and crystals CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements, Zip Dry Paper Glue and 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue Beacon, ribbon Offray, image vintage magazine.

Book Review: Fabulous Fabric Beads by Kristal Wick

Here’s a review I just penned for a fantastic new book by my friend the incredibly talented Kristal Wick. I truly believe every crafter needs this book, even if you don’t make jewelry. Kristal was generous enough to donate TWO copies for me to giveaway on the blog! Leave a comment and I’ll pick TWO winners and announce them next Friday!

Fabulous Fabric Beads
By Kristal Wick
Interweave Press
2008

Kristal Wick approaches her beads and her beadwork with the eye of an artist and the soul of a poet. Her work speaks of primal, ancient, archetypal images and patterns. Her beads are as beautiful as her smile and her effervescent personality shines through in every page of this exquisite book. If you have been itching to break out of the mundane and try something new in your beadwork, this is the book for you. Ms. Wick is a master teacher and designer who will guide you through a litany of ingenious mixed media fabric bead making techniques and show you how to turn those beads into absolutely stunning jewelry.

This book is a feast for the eyes and senses and will surprise and delight you whenever you open it up for inspiration. Kristal is an incomparable muse who will spark your creative fire into infinitely interesting new directions. This isn’t just a how-to book, it’s an adventure into a whole new world of creativity that every beader is bound to enjoy.

Sumptuous colors, rich textures, beautiful layers and subtle nuanced techniques abound in this extraordinary book. I find myself paging through it again and again to glean something new, and I’ve yet to be disappointed. The book is broken up into sections that begin with surface techniques, move on to creating basic fabric beads and progress to more advanced concepts. Ms. Wick then shows you step by step how to integrate the beads into finished pieces that are certain to turn heads when worn. She even includes sidebars showing color palettes, which is very useful for folks who struggle with color. Finally there is a gallery section of more intricate pieces for further creative inspiration.

Personal favorites from the book include the Talisman Message Beads that utilize clear acrylic tubes and shimmery fabric inserts, the gorgeous Mermaid necklace and the fuzzy and funky Wild Fiber Necklace. That being said, there’s so much to love in this book, it’s hard to pick favorites!

Kristal is the designer behind the Sassy Silkies bead line and she’s graciously shared her bead making secrets here with the general public. This is a rare and generous glimpse into the mind of a creative whirlwind. We are all the better for her generosity. If you’re looking for a stellar addition to your beading library, you’ve found it in Fabulous Fabric Beads by Kristal Wick.

Final Free Mixed Media Jewelry Project from Beyond the Bead

Nice and Naughty Shrink Art Charms Copyright 2009 Beyond the Bead by Margot Potter
Nice and Naughty Shrink Art Charms Variation Copyright 2009 Beyond the Bead by Margot Potter

(Click on images to view close up!)

It's time for the final free project from my fabulous new mixed media techniques for the beader book...Beyond the Bead! Insert cries of unfettered glee and joyous abandon here.
This 'charming' project has a tale to tell. Originally these little flappers were a little more...shall we say...naughty. I was asked to consider covering them up just a skootch more and I agreed. It was never my intention to offend, I just have an affection for vintage pin up art. But only if it's naughty...and nice. It looks as if the Dover book I used is no longer in print, so I've provided a link to a fashion illustration title from the same period with less risque images. I've also included some variations I made using colored pencils and vintage Vogue pattern images from the 1940s. This is a pretty straightforward idea, you pick bold pen and ink images and you trace them on the shrink plastic. I'm all about make it easy and make it fun...this is a great project to do with kids (using kid appropriate images...of course!)

So without further drivel...here's your free project! Leave a comment and I'll randomly select a winner to be announced on April 1st. No fooling, tee hee. I'll be sending you a signed copy of the book, a jaunty Beyond the Bead promo button and a stash of CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements sparklies for your collection! Good luck! Oh and if you're on Facebook, would you consider joining my Fan Page? I'll announce upcoming events and airings on QVC there, share project debuts and links to what's new in Madge's world. Pretty please?

Nice and Naughty Shrink Art Charms
Copyright 2009 Margot Potter
Beyond the Bead for North Light Books
Are you a naughty girl? Do you love to dance on the edge of decency? Do you ‘rouge your knees and roll your stockings down’? Well, my little flapper girl, these nifty little shrink art charms are certain to suit your style. Vo dee oh doh!

*Any clean and simple black and white inked illustrations will work here. The bigger the better so you can really get the detail in before it shrinks! It’s important to use a very, very fine tipped market so you can really get the lines clean or the finished result could be lacking in definition. You can add more or less color depending on your mood.

Supplies
Dover Spot Illustrations Book
Rough and Ready shrink plastic
Ranger Adirondack pen red pepper
Ranger Archival Ink black
Micron 005 fine tipped black marker
4mm gun metal jump rings
Krylon silver leafing pen
Sheet of brown kraft paper cut to fit oven tray

ToolsHole punch
Craft dedicated Toaster oven
Metal spatula
2 pairs chain nose pliers

1. Select images from book. Remember that they shrink a lot, so pick large detailed images for best results.
2. Trace images on rough side of plastic using a fine tipped marker.
3. Accent images with red marker.
4. Cut out images with sharp scissors making interesting shapes.
5. Create hole in top of image with hole punch.
6. Place images in preheated toaster oven on top of precut brown paper bag liner on oven tray.
7. Allow to shrink, use spatula to flatten any still curled images before cooling.
8. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
9. Use metal leaf pen to edge images. Allow to dry.
10. Attach jump rings to charms.

Supplies
Rough and Ready Shrink Art Plastic Shrinky Dinks, Spot Illustrations Dover Books, Adirondack pen and Archival Ink Ranger, Micron pen Kuretake, Silver leafing pen Krylon, gun metal jump rings Rings n’ Things.

Final Free Jewelry Project from Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed by designer Fernando Dasilva

Here's the final free project/sneak peek into the fabulous new book Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed by Fernando Dasilva, Katie Hacker and Margot Potter from FW Media and North Light Books! I'll be giving away one final copy of the book with a set of 2 ocean blue tear drop multi color CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski elements pendants like the ones shown above! Leave a comment and I'll announce the winner here next Tuesday before we head off for our Jamaican getaway! Last week's winner is: Shaiha of Love Romances and More blog. Please email me at theimpatientcrafter@gmail.com with your snail mail address so I can get your prize out to you!

Design by Fernando Dasilva
Golden Glow earrings
Featured items: Satin gold cube bead bumpers, German style wire, pinch bails, modern ear posts
Copyright 2009 Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed for North Light Books by Fernando Dasilva, Katie Hacker and Margot Potter

Fernando says, "My mother never goes out in public without at least a pair of earrings. I know there are many women like her, and that led me to envision a pair of slim and elegant drop earrings suitable for many occasions. I paired polished surfaces with rubber textures. The result, I think, is an updated version of the traditional drop earring. Incorporating the square Crystallized™-Swarovski Elements buttons with teardrop crystals and satin gold bead bumpers™ results in an edgy but wearable design."

Materials
2 14mm light Colorado topaz square crystal buttons
2 24 x 12mm Terrenum long tear drop crystal pendants
14 4mm gold plated light weight jump rings
2 gold plated modern ear post
4 gold plated pinch bails
50 1.7mm satin gold cube bead bumpers
16” 24 gauge gold plated German style wire

Tools
Beadstrom™ chain nose pliers
Beadstrom™ round nose pliers
Beadstrom™ flush cutter
Mighty crimp tool

Instructions
1. Use the outside jaw of the mighty crimper tool to attach 1 pinch bail to each hole of one square button. Be gentle using the crimper tool otherwise the edges of the button will chip.

2. Attach one pinch bail to the long tear drop; use the same techniques applied on step 1.

3. Using chain nose pliers wrap one of the tips of German style wire to the tear drop assembled on step 2; place the tip of wire into the edge of pinch bail and turning around its neck twice; trim excess wire and tuck the tip under the wrapped portion.

4. String 25 gold satin bead bumpers onto the German style wire; wrap around the tear drop on vertical position and finish the same way was done in step 3. Make sure the wire was wrapped tightly around the crystal tear drop and then trim excess wire.

5. Open 1 4mm round jump rings and slide through tear drop’s pinch bail ring and then close gently. Attach a second jump ring following same directions.

6. Open a 6mmm round jump ring and string 4 bead bumpers into it.

7. Repeat step 5 to attach 2 others 4mm round jump rings to square button pinch bail and then attach it to 6mm jump ring;

8. Attach the portion finished on step 7 to 2 round jump rings and then attached to a single jump ring previously attached to modern ear post;

9. Repeat all steps for second earring.

Fernando's Tips
* Use the tip of chain nose pliers to create a subtle kink to the side of the German style wire adding an extra interesting feature around the tear drop crystal. It will end up with a sort of a lightening shaped design.
* Space bead bumpers strung onto the 6mm jump ring to add enhanced texture.
* You are welcome to replace button shape (e.g. round or oval) and also to create a different color contrast.

There are detailed step by step photos in the book!

Free Jewelry Project! Hugs and Kisses Necklace

I am in full swing show prep mode. It means I look rather scary because there is no time at all for the foofing or the poufing! I sure hope Ed Macmahon doesn't show up with a film crew or I am seriously screwed! Tee hee.

In lieu of any deep thoughts I'm giving you a freebie mixed media jewelry project for Valentine's Day. I used a vintage French image from my personal collection, but there are plenty of sources for vintage ephemera online and I'm sure Dover has a V-day themed permission free image book. I made this for a mag but it got bumped and I think it's really cute so I'm sharing with the class.

I'm off to spin more straw...until next time...craft on with your bad selves!

Cheers,
Madge Hugs and Kisses Necklace Copyright 2008 Margot Potter
(click on image to view close up)

Hugs and Kisses Necklace
Copyright 2008 Margot Potter

A trip to the Paris Flea Market yielded some tres charmant vintage postcards, one of which inspired this romantic pendant. This mixed media design shows you some fun techniques you can apply to your own romantic images. If you can’t find any vintage postcards at the local antique malls, there are many online purveyors of laser printed ephemera image sheets and there are also databases of permission free images on the internet.

Materials
2” square Ranger Memory Glass Frame
2 2” Ranger Memory Glass squares
2 7/8” frosted clear acrylic letters (x, o)
2 small letter beads (x, o)
6x9mm padparascha Swarovski briolette
6mm light topaz Swarovski rounds
7mm faceted freshwater pearl
3 6mm silver plated jump ring
26” length silver plated ball chain
Ball chain connector
4 24 gauge sterling head pins
Ranger Gloss Paper
Cornish Heritage Farms Plaid Stamp
Jet black Archival ink
Marigold Distress ink
Alcohol ink silver mixative
Alcohol ink red pepper
UHU twist and glue

Tools
Brayer
Round nose pliers
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Sharp scissors
Felt and felt applicator tool

1. Ink Gloss paper with marigold Distress ink. Brayer ink into paper until you get a consistent color.

2. Stamp paper with jet Archival ink using the plaid stamp.

3. Cut paper to fit inside of frame.


4. Select an image, cut into silhouette and adhere to stamped paper along the right hand side. Adhere small images of roses on lower left hand corner.

5. Insert images in between two panes of glass and inside of frame, securing closed.

6. Place a small drop of each color of Alcohol ink on opposite corners of your felt on the applicator tool.

7. Gently pounce colors on acrylic letters, alternating in layers until satisfied with the result. Allow to dry.

8. Adhere inked letters to top left and bottom right corner of frame. Allow to dry.

9. Create coil topped dangles for your small letter beads, faceted pearl and light topaz round.

10. Slide the pearl, briolette and light topaz beads on a 6mm jump ring and close.


11. Slide the letter beads on a 6mm jump ring and close.

12. Slide both beaded jump rings on a third 6mm jump ring and attach to the top of the pendant.

13. Slip the ball chain into the top jump ring and secure with ball chain connector.
Sources
Letter beads and acrylic letters JoAnn, frame, inks, brayer, felt applicator tool, Gloss paper Ranger, UHU glue Saunders Manufacturing, findings Beadalon, ball chain and connectors Rings n' Things, ephemera sheets available at Art Chix Studio, rubber stamp Cornish Heritage Farms, crystals CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements.

My Mother's Painting and a Moment in Time

I promised to share the painting my mother did of my daughter for Christmas. It began with a photo I took several years ago on a visit to Hopewell Furnace. (This is a cropped version of the full image.) Hopewell is a park with an old mill and forgery buildings that are still filled with the remnants of their former glory, piles of old rusty metal objects, old benches and tools and the light on this particular day was spectacular. Unfortunately I lost the bulk of the pictures I took, but thankfully this pic of my daughter didn’t get lost. We were outside walking past a window and it all sort of fell into place. I asked her not to smile and she looked up and gave me this soulful gaze. I kept thinking it would make an incredible painting, but I’m not a skilled painter. I asked my mother earlier this year if she might be willing to create a painting inspired by this for her granddaughter as a legacy. As you can see, she did a wonderful job. This painting is even more striking in person than this photo shows. Photograph Margot Potter Copyright 2006
Painting Copyright 2008 Sharon Scanlin All Rights Reserved

My mother is an incredibly gifted fine artist, writer, graphic artist and craftswoman. When I was a kid, she made mind blowing dimensional macramé sculptures with driftwood and feathers, crocheted afghans, painted metal mailboxes and old metal milk jugs, baked bread, decorated our home beautifully on a dime, made awesome Halloween costumes...and her paintings and charcoal drawings were exquisite. Being a single mom with three daughters, there wasn’t a lot of time for creativity and her artwork took a back seat to the task of raising us, but I’ve always hoped she’d pick her paintbrush back up. This painting is a gift not only to my daughter and me, but I hope also to my mother. Three creative women are now united through this moment in time and I’m so, so grateful my mother was willing to take the painstaking effort of making this museum worthy work of art.

Thank you, Mom. You have always amazed me and I love you more than mere words could ever express.

Love,
Margot

A quick note to the two folks who won the pens last week, your names are in the post, but I’ve not heard from you! Please email me at margot@margotpotter.com with your mailing addresses so I can get your pens out!

The Impatient Crafter Free Holiday Craft Project Birds of a Feather Ornament

The Impatient Crafter™
Free Holiday Craft Project
Birds of a Feather Ornament
Copyright 2008 Margot Potter
(Click on images to view close up and click on links for product info)

Two tiny red cardinals perch on a snowy branch suspended from a wire and crystal wrapped handle. This charming ornament is simple to make with a little basic wire wrapping skill and some easy to find and use basic craft supplies.

Materials
12 6mm crystal ab CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements flower beads
1 pewter twig Ornamentea
2 feathered cardinals Nicole™ Mini Tree Treasures
Snow-Tex™ DecoArt™
Glass Glitter Shards Krystallos Barbara Trombly's
6” 16 gauge ColourCraft Wire Beadalon®
36” 24 gauge fine German Wire Beadalon®

Tools
Wire cutters
Chain nose pliers
Paint Brush or small spatula

1. Create the handle on twig using 16 or 18 gauge craft wire. Wrap wire around one end of twig three times tightly. Bend into a handle and repeat wrapping process on other side. Use fingers to bend wire gently creating some movement and interest in the shape. Cut off any excess wire. Tuck the wire tails under with chain nose pliers.

2. Wrap 24 gauge German style plated wire around one side of handle about 3 times. Continue to wrap it around the length of the handle leaving space between your loops.

3. When you reach the other side, wrap it tightly twice around bottom of handle, wrap back up about ten times coiling it around base wire. Thread a flower bead on wire. Position bead toward the front of the wire again leaving space and wrap around the base wire 3 times tightly.

4. Continue wrapping and adding beads leaving space between each beaded segment. The idea is to leave the wire underneath exposed for a vine like effect.

5. When you reach the opposite side wrap the wire around about 10 times, cut the excess wire and tuck it under with chain nose pliers. This wrapping doesn’t have to be perfectly perfect, in fact the less perfect, the more rustic and primitive this design will be. It’s up to you how you want it to look!

6. Paint snow on branch using the non-bristle end of a paintbrush to apply in chunks. Put as much snow as you like on the branch, some will come off after you add the birds and you can reapply carefully then.

7. Sprinkle the wet snow with a liberal dose of glitter. Allow to dry for several hours or overnight.
8. Use wires on birds to wrap them around the branch. You will lose some snow, reapply after the birds are secure on the branch and allow snow medium to dry again.

9. As always, after hanging on your tree, enjoy a tasty hot buttered rum, egg nog or beverage of your choice! Perhaps with a side of sugar cookies...




Until next time...craft on with your bad selves.

xoxo
Madge

The Impatient Crafter™ Free Holiday Craft Project Mini Wreath Wine Bottle Ornament

Greetings and Salutations!

It's time for yet another simply fabulous holiday craft project idea from yours truly! Huzzah! I think this the perfect hostess gift. A yummy bottle of vino and a festive ornament they'll treasure long after the wine is gone. So drink up, Buttercup!
The Impatient Crafter™ Free Holiday Craft Project
Mini Wreath Wine Bottle Ornament
Copyright 2008 Margot Potter See photos below for details of steps-click on images to view close up!

Halloween and Christmas are some of the best times to score cheap vintage craft supplies at your local thrift shops. I got a bag full of random fun last week and inside I found these awesome 3” resin wreaths. I attended a cocktail party on Friday night and brought a bottle of champagne for the hosts. I started to pick up an overpriced wine gift bag at the liquor store when I stopped myself. Come on, crafty sista, you can make something! Thusly, this mini wreath wine bottle ornament idea was born.

Materials
3” mini wreath (This is a link to a 3" styrofoam wreath, you'll need to add a screw eye hanger)
Fuzzy wired strand (available at big box chains)
Wired gold thin ribbon
20 gauge Colourcraft wire
42 6mm light rose ab CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements bicones
Art Chix Studios Faux Postage (or vintage image of your choice)
Vivid green cardstock
Ranger Paint Dabbers in raspberry
Inkadinkado flourish stamp (you know, the stamp I can not stop using)

Tools
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Scissors
1. Cut off about a 3’ length of fuzzy wire, if you run out you can patch more in as you wrap. Begin by wrapping wire tightly around the top of the wreath, wrapping the wire over the tail to conceal it.

2. Continue wrapping wire around wreath, making sure not to leave any exposed spaces.


3. When you reach the other side, tuck the tail into the back of the wreath and cut off any excess wire.

4. Cut off a 2’ length of Colourcraft wire. Wrap it around top of wreath and twist end around core wire to conceal.

5. Thread six crystal bicones on the wire, leaving the back wire bead free, wrap the beads around the front of the wreath. You want to create tension so the beads stay in place.


6. Leave about 1” between beaded segments, continuing to thread on six bicones and wrap wire around back of wreath. When you reach the 7th section, wrap the wire tail into and around the original core wire tucking any tails into the wreath with your chain nose pliers.


7. Select your Faux Postage image and cut out. Place this on your card stock and trace around leaving a 1/8” edge around image. Cut out.


8. Apply paint dabber to stamp. Stamp on cardstock and allow to dry.


9. Adhere postage stamp to cardstock.

10. Punch a hole at the top right corner of your stamp.

11. Cut a 4” length of gold wired ribbon and tie it around the top of your wreath.

12. Thread the right end into the postage stamp gift tag and tie the ribbon into a bow. Use your fingers to give the ribbon dimension.

13. Thread a 6” length of fuzzy wire into loop at top of wreath. If your wreath doesn’t have a loop, you can screw one into the wreath at the top or create one with craft wire.

14. Wrap fuzzy wire around neck of wine bottle, sign card and get thee to the party!

The Impatient Crafter Free Holiday Project Idea: Revamped Cheap Jewelry

I make a lot of revamped jewelry. Oh heck I make a lot of revamped everything, it comes from years of shopping in thrift stores and flea markets and having to make something out of nothing. My corporation is called Two Sticks and a Rock, Inc., because with two sticks and a rock and a little imagination you can make anything. I even revamp myself every few years for good measure.

Sometimes I see something that is almost there but not quite and I add a little dash of extra spice and voila...fabulous! When it comes to my own personal pieces, honestly I'm often so busy I don't have time to sit and make something complex to wear to a party or a trade show. Forever 21 always has interesting jewelry for sale at ridiculously low prices, sometimes I buy stuff just for the components so I can rework them into something else. I have a mod wired crystal necklace in Simply Beads this month that I did with a piece I bought there last year. Here's a link to the project photo and description online. The reason I'm sharing these projects is to show you that you can do this too, even with stuff you probably have in your jewelry boxes or can score really cheaply at a flea market or yard sale or thrift store. You don't always have to start from scratch and reinvent the wheel. I like to think of this as being like the cake mix recipes. You have a foundation and you build upon it. You can take it as far as you want to or keep it simple like I did here.

In this case, I took this $4.80 brass necklace from Forever 21 and started by removing their inconsistently applied finish with alcohol ink blending solution on a felt applicator. Then I inked the pendants with jet black alcohol inks, dabbing them on and rubbing across the surface with a felt applicator to brush the ink off of the raised areas and let it settle into the crevices. My fingers and nails turned black in the process, so if you've got a big night on the town you may want to wear rubber gloves!

I let the ink dry and then added CRYSTALLIZED-Swarovski Elements 11mmx5.5mm briolettes in jet and crystal ab on 6mm gold plated jump rings to the spaces at the bottom of the pendants. Voila...instant Haute Couture!

This necklace is HUGE and looks so amazing on you can not believe it cost so little to make. This would be the perfect gift for a friend who likes her jewelry big and bold. You can opt for other beads at the bottom of each pendant, maybe even a more colorful peacock inspired palette. That, my dear, is entirely up to you!

Cheers,
Madge

The Impatient Crafter™ Free Holiday Craft Project Obama Ornament

Obama Ornament Sparkly Copyright 2008 Margot Potter

Obama Ornament Copyright 2008 Margot Potter

(Click on images to see close up)

The Impatient Crafter™ Free Holiday Craft Project Obama Ornament

As soon as I saw these beautiful vinyl stickers from MoveOn.org created by the ‘Hope’ poster artist Shepard Fairey, I knew they’d make a perfect commemorative ornament. Anyone who wants can sign up for a free one at the Move On site via the link in the instructions below. No matter how you voted this past election, we all have to agree it was a moment of historical significance. You can use a sticker from the candidate of your choice, but we loved the vintage appeal of the graphics on this one. Well that and we voted for Obama and since our sign got stolen twice, this is our permanent sign for every holiday to come. Politics aside, it’s a gorgeous work of art and I love how these turned out. I did a sparkly and a non-sparkly version and they’re both fabulous.

Margot Potter
The Impatient Crafter™
Obama Ornament (or as we like to call them Obamornaments!)
For personal use only not for resale

Materials
MoveOn.org vinyl Obama sticker
Die Cuts with a View Mat Chipboard Stack in black and white
2 Grommets
Sparkly wired fringe or other decorative wire for hanger (try the big box craft chains for fuzzy wire.)
Optional Stickles in star dust, waterfall and Xmas red for accents

Tools
Paper Cutter
Scissors
Crop-a-dile OR
Grommet setter
Hole punch


1. The stickers are a skootch smaller than the 4.5”x6.5” mini chipboards. I marked them with a pen and cut them on my paper cutter to fit. Take your time adhering them smoothing any bubbles or wrinkles as you work from top to bottom with your thumbs. You could also opt to use a brayer.

2. Perform any necessary clean up work with scissors.

3. The decorative flowers at the top left and right corner of the sticker are the perfect spot for your holes. Use a good hole punch the same size as your grommets. Mark and punch holes on both sides at the flowers.

4. Use a grommet setting tool to set grommets in each hole. (I used my Crop-a-dile for both functions.)

5. You can optionally decorate some of the red and blue elements with Stickles. I used red and blue on the face, red on the border and the star dust color on the background of people to give it a little holiday sparkle.

6. Cut a 4-5” length of fuzzy wire and thread ends into holes, twisting wire ends around the core wire on each side to make a hanger.

7. Hang on tree and enjoy a hearty cup of egg nog. (Egg nog is, of course, optional.)

More Crafty Quickies!

Hey there, hi there, ho there Happy Crafters!

It's a great day in the crafty neighborhood because we have two more Crafty Quickies for your enjoyment! Up first we have 'How to Assemble an Earring' (I know you may be thinking that's easy but some folks may find it confusing.) Next up is 'How to use an EZ Crimp Clasp.' Hopefully once we get our painting finished, those curtains made and we deck the halls with boughs of holly from the side yard, we'll get to work on more of these. Feedback so far has been great and if there are simple jewelry making techniques that have you stumped, let us know. After jewelry we'll move on to other general craft basics and expand from there.

I'll be back with more fabulous free Holiday projects to spark your creative fire!

Until then...craft on with your bad selves!

xoxo
Madge

The Impatient Crafter™ Free Holiday Craft Project Bindi Tin Ornaments

(Click on images to see close up!)

I have had a stack of boxes of empty metal bindi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindi_(decoration) tins sitting on a shelf in my studio for several years. I’d not yet devised a project for them, until this weekend when it occurred to me how much I love dioramas and those little sugar eggs you get at Easter and oh heck anything miniature and three dimensional for that matter. So after some trial, error, thinking and rethinking, I came up with these fun and easy to recreate ornaments you can make with virtually any tiny tins you have in your stash. I collect vintage paper and I’m always devising new ways to use it in my work. Be careful because I’m seriously warning you that these are addictive. I’ve only begun to make them! Now I’m scouring the thrift shops for miniature items to make tiny holiday scenes in them! (You can also use old Altoid or Fisherman’s friend tins to make larger dioramas.)

This is a totally kid friendly concept with parental assistance, in fact my daughter Avalon made the lovely Lotteria rose tin!
The Impatient Crafter™
Bindi Tin Recrafted Diorama Ornaments
Kid Tested-Mom Approved
Free Holiday Craft Project
Copyright 2008 Margot Potter
For Personal Use Only!
MaterialsMetal Bindi Tins or other tiny tins with removable lids
Background papers (you can use scrapbook paper, handmade paper, ephemera or recycled magazine paper...I used scanned and sized vintage images, an image from a day book with Mexican posters in it, a small Lotteria card, an old handwritten letter and textured paper from India)
Scrapbook or card making stock (need a thicker paper for stand up letters)
Vintage playing cards (if you want to do something like the bear which is from a vintage children’s card game.)Rubber Stampede Letter Stamps
Ranger Archival ink jet black
Stickles in coordinating colorsBeacon 3 in 1 Advanced craft glue
16 gauge Colourcraft wire
Fuzzy cord/tinsel ribbon (also try the big box chains!)
ToolsTwo-hole metal punch (If you don't have this tool yet, you need it. Trust me!)Round nose pliers
Wire cutters
Sharpee
Scissors

Instructions

1. Trace bottom of tin on selected background paper.

2. Cut out paper slightly smaller than outline so it fits inside of tin.

3. Glue paper into tin and let dry.

4. If you’re using a flat image, decorate it with Stickles in coordinating colors. (I edged the images with a coordinating Stickles color and on one I added glitter all along the inside edge, which turned out really nicely when it dried.)

5. If you want to add text, stamp letters on a thicker card stock or scrapbook paper using archival ink. Each letter paper should be about ½” tall.

6. Trace bottom of tin along letters where they will be placed inside of tin. (The letters should have a slightly curved bottom.) Cut them out.

7. Cut out small strips of paper to make stands.

8. Glue paper to back of letters allowing some paper (about ¼”) to be bent on bottom. This will create your stand.

9. Glue letters to inside bottom of tin and allow to dry. Trim tops of letters if there is overlap.

10. If you are creating a stand up image, create your background and decorate it and allow to dry.

11. Decorate the stand up image and allow to dry.

12. Make a stand as before big enough to support your image.

13. Glue into tin.

14. Measure and mark even side hole placement for handles.

15. Use two-hole punch to create holes for handles.

16. Thread about a 3-4” length of Colourcraft wire into tin and use round nose pliers to bend into a small loop. Bend wire gently over your fingers to round and insert into hole on other side. Cut off any excess wire and loop with round nose pliers to secure.

17. Wrap wire handle with fuzzy tinsel ribbon. Cut off excess and tuck in ends.

You can hang them with the clear glass lids on or off. I like them off so that you can really see the detail. When storing the dioramas use the lids so they stay lovely for years to come!


Cheers,
Madge

A Tasty Package and New Crafty Quickies™ Video!

On Friday I got a very tasty package in the mail, the CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements Autumn/Winter 2009/10 trends presentation. I thought to myself, self, should you keep all of this yummy sparkly goodness to yourself or should you share it with your readers?

Share!

To see the trends follow this link:
http://crystallized.swarovski.com/Portal.Node/portal?gentics.am=content&p.contentid=10007.46264

Swarovski® has trend offices in every major fashion center on the planet. I am confident when I state that few if any other brands are as trend savvy. Twice a year they debut new shapes, colors and innovations. I have lots of fabulous little sample boxes I’ve saved up and they are such fun to explore again and again for inspiration, I can’t show the samples yet but I promise to do so when the new trends officially launch. The other part of this mailing I love is the folder of mixed media collages on fold-out posters they create to showcase new trend forecast color combinations. Each one is a little work of art and this time around I’ve posted them on the walls of my studio for inspiration.

I feel very inspired, don’t you?!

And speaking of feeling inspired, here’s our latest Crafty Quickies™ offering: How to Use a Crimp Tube Part I. Enjoy! We have two more slated for uploading later today. I’ll be back on Saturday with this week’s TastyLinks™. I’m taking Thursday off to spend it with my family. That’s why I posted two free projects last week, see I was thinking ahead!



Happy Thanksgiving!

xoxo
Madge

Andy Warhol Ornapendants Free Holiday Craft Project Idea!

Andy Warhol Paper Tag Ornapendants™ Copyright 2008 Margot Potter

Andy Warhol Flowers 1964

Andy Warhol photographed by William John Kennedy
(Click on images to see close up)

Andy Warhol Ornapendants™
Copyright 2008 Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter™
For Inspiration Only

I bought an Andy Warhol purse last week at TJ Maxx. I really wanted to buy the Velvet Underground banana purse, but the tag on the roll of bills purse was calling out to me. That and the hardware on the banana purse was craptacular. The tag was a thick cardboard photo booth strip of Andy Warhol. Much like Andy, I have an obsession with photo booth photos and have a personal collection taken over my lifetime. As soon as I spied that tag I thought...that would make a really cool necklace. I've been making a lot of paper and recycled art lately, so basically anything that catches my eye that's even remotely project worthy is being dragged into my studio.

At first I was thinking of cutting the images apart, punching a hole in them, sealing them and doing a necklace with them as charms. I was waiting to get through some other projects first and in doing research for another project I stumbled upon the Warhol screen print of pop art flowers above. Then I found the photo of Andy in front of the pop art flower you also see above. So a design was born.

I remembered the Bazzill Basics Really Big Chips pop art chipboard flowers I had on hand and the vibrant colors in the Ranger Paint Dabbers line. The plastic chips are Fragments from tim holtz™ that I placed over Andy's face as a sort of a lens through which one might view him. Warhol loved being obtuse. Then I added some texture with rubber stamps, but I didn't want it to be too obvious what the texture was, each one is slightly different. I added the Grungeboard stars that I painted white and added random accents: a number 15 from a magazine ad, a tiny washer and a plastic clear game piece from Outside the Margins. I dabbed on some Stickles accents and edged the flowers with Krylon silver leaf pen. I needed huge jump rings so I took them off of a really big link metal chain I got from Rings n' Things a while back. To use as an ornament, I'd add a handcrafted 18 gauge ColourCraft wire hook, for a pendant I'd just slide some ball chain through and call it a day.

They're ornaments, they're pendants...they're my newest creation the Ornapendant™!

The idea here is that you can make something similar using your own photos or images you cull from a magazine or paper tags you buy with your clothing, but you can't actually copy images of Andy Warhol and print them out and make jewelry to resell. That violates a copyright. I'm using an actual printed item that was headed for the recycling bin that I'm repurposing, which you can do. I can't sanction violating copyrights, though I have to say Andy liked to bend the rules himself quite a bit. In fact this image was a photograph taken by someone else that he altered and never gave the women who took the original photo any credit.

It's interesting to ponder the philosophical meanings of what is art, what is craft, where are the boundaries, when is it crossing the line, when does commercial art lose it's art world cache? Andy played with these ideas often. Although he was a deeply flawed human, as we all are, he was a brilliant man with a jester like sense of humor and irreverence. So this project is my tribute to an artist who inspires me.

Next time you clip a tag off of something, look at it a little closer and see if it might be art worthy. One woman's trash is another woman's treasure.

xoxo
Madge

The Impatient Crafter™ Free Holiday Craft Project: Eggbert the Holiday Reindeer Collaged Necklace Set

Eggbert the Holiday Reindeer Copyright 2008 Margot PotterRudy the Holiday Reindeer Copyright 2008 Avalon PotterRudy Inspired Angel Ornament Variation Copyright 2008 Margot Potter (Click on images to view close up)

Meet Eggbert the Holiday Reindeer. He's not as famous as Rudolph, but he's got his own charms. Eggbert is the funniest reindeer in the North Pole. When Santa's feeling blue, Eggbert perks him right back up with a snappy one liner or a goofy face. He keeps everyone's spirits up during the big night when they start to get pooped from all of that flying and landing and distributing of gifts.

Eggbert the Holiday Reindeer came from a craft day with my lovely daughter Avalon. She’s like the cobbler’s kid, she hardly ever gets to craft with her crafty Mom. We made collaged pendants using scrapbook paper, chipboard and our own illustrations. I decided to draw a cartoon reindeer when I couldn’t find the right one online. I wanted it to be cute but not cloying, funky and fun and totally kid friendly. This is my necklace set and my daughter made her very own pendant that is far cooler than mine as you can see!

It’s great to craft with your kids and projects like this make it easy for everyone to have good results. The idea here is to draw your own version, but I’ve included a jpeg of my cartoon below you are welcome to utilize for personal use only. (That means if you use it for resale or to teach a class and I find out, you are violating my copyright and that would be stealing which isn’t nice and I might have to get all hinky on you.) I’ve included an image of an alternate ornament using the same collaged techniques with vintage sheet music and a scanned and sized image from my personal permission free stash. You can find repro vintage holiday images on a variety of websites including Art Chix Studios and in Dover Books.

Remember that this is made of paper, so don't wear it swimming, in the shower or out in the pouring rain!

Eggbert the Holiday Reindeer Necklace Set
Kid Friendly, Mom Approved
Copyright 2008 Margot Potter
For Personal Use Only

Materials
154 3mm aqua CRYSTALLLIZED™-Swarovski Elements rounds (adjust length as needed, this makes a 16” necklace)
1.75” Bazzill Basics chipboard circle
2 1” Bazzill Basics chipboard circle
Patterned holiday scrapbook paper (I used a Die Cuts with a View Mini Stack)
Plastic white alphabet beads to spell “joy” (I got mine from JoAnn Fabrics)
Krylon silver leaf pen
Ranger Archival Ink jet
Ranger Stickles Star Dust
Mod Podge
UHU All Purpose Glue
Inkadinkado Bohemian Flourish Stamp 96253-P
EZ Crimp s-hook sterling clasp
3 10mm heavy duty white jump rings
2 5mm white jump rings
2 silver plated dapped French ear wires
20” length .018 49 strand Beadalon wire

Tools
Mighty Crimper Tool
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Wire cutters
Sharp scissors
Disposable Paint Brush

1. Draw and scan your reindeer cartoon.

2. Drag image into Photoshop and size to fit dimensions of tag.

3. Drag image into Publisher to create a document you can print out to cut and adhere on the background paper.

4. Trace circle on background paper and cut out.

5. Glue background paper to chipboard circle with some overlap. Allow to dry and then trim edges.

6.Stamp flourishes on to paper using archival ink in jet.

7. Glue cut out image on to bottom corner of circle. Trim edges to fit circle. Allow to dry.

8. Use hole punch to make a hole in top center of circle.

9. Paint a layer of Mod Podge over image. Allow to dry.

10. Use fingertip to gently spread Stickles on background paper avoiding image. Allow to dry.

11. Paint edges with silver leafing pen. Gently bend pen nib so it leaves a thin silver edge around chipboard circle. Allow to dry.

12. Paint back of circle with silver leafing pen. Allow to dry.

13. Seal sides and back with a layer of Mod Podge. Allow to dry.

14. Attach a large jump ring to hole in the chipboard circle to create a pendant.

15. Attach EZ Crimp to one end of wire.

16. Bead crystals on wire.

17. Pull wire into second EZ Crimp end with chain nose pliers.

18. Attach EZ Crimp to wire, making sure the design is rounded before you secure so it’s not too stiff when worn.

19. Create a matching pair of earrings using the same techniques. Thread crystals on head pins and make three coil top dangles.

20. Attach dangles to 5mm jump ring and secure closed. Attach beaded jump ring, chipboard circle and ear wire to a 10mm jump ring and secure closed.

Make a chipboard ornament using the same layered collage techniques. Let your kids join in and do their own versions. Crafting is supposed to be fun...so have fun already will ya?!

Eggbert the Holiday Reindeer Jpeg for Personal Use Only Copyright 2008 Margot Potter

Crafty Quickies How To Videos!

(Pssst: MyCraftivity gave me a promotional code for my friends to use to get 25% off of books on their site! VPNOV Spread the word! Heck, buy my books!)

We now return you to our regularly scheduled blog!

We're debuting a new series of super short videos that focus on the basics. Crafty Quickies! Each video shows one simple technique and takes between 1-2 minutes to watch. It's a great way to zero in on things even seasoned pros don't always know or remember. Though I'm impatient, I'm a stickler for doing things right and I'm exasperated at the volume of bad information out there. If you do it right, you won't have to do it again, and that saves time and frustration.

I just watched brand new video content on a major big box chain website. The quality of the filming was impeccable, but I literally cringed when I saw the host take out the chain nose pliers, not uncross the wires and finish the project incorrectly. I mean...they sell all three of my books! Can't they read them before sharing bad information?! Heck you can sell another tool if you show the right way to do it. You can't teach people how to do something if you don't know how. There are a zillion jewelry making videos on YouTube and the majority of them show you the wrong way to do things. There are a zillion jewelry making books written by "experts" who tell you the wrong way to do things. Can you tell this gets my goat?!

It is our mission to show you how to do things right the first time. We want you to get the basics down so you have a strong foundation upon which to build. Then you can enjoy the fun part, creativity, without worrying about the unfun part, project do-overs! So without further adieu here are the first three Crafty Quickies...stay tuned for the Crimp and the EZ Crimp vids to come next!

The Impatient Crafter™ Free Holiday Craft Project!

Here's a free holiday craft project I've created for your enjoyment. As always, these designs are intended for personal use and not for resale. It's hard to see the sparkle, but there's a light dusting of fine glitter on the surface of this design that gives it the perfect touch of magic. This is designed as an ornament, but I'd seriously sport it as a pendant. I'm kooky like that. So I've dubbed it an "ornapendant." Enjoy!

Stop back on Thursday for the debut of the new The Impatient Crafter™ Crafty Quickies™ how-to video shorts, we're going to be making these for a while to get everyone squared away on the basics.

Until then...craft on with your bad selves!

Cheers,
Madge

Jaunty Snowman Ornapendant
Margot Potter Free Holiday Craft Project
Copyright 2008 for personal use only
This jaunty little snowman features Deco Art SnoTex with a sprinkling of fine glass glitter and a dash of silver leaf accents to give it maximum sparkle. Each circle is made of chipboard and the festive scarf is a small length of ric-rac ribbon. This is a kid friendly project with adult assistance and makes a delightful addition to any Christmas tree. (You can also opt to wear this as a pendant if you’re feeling extra festive! If you do, make sure you seal the back so it’s water resistant and remember it’s paper so it needs TLC.)

Materials
2 1” Bazill Basics thick chipboard circles
1 1 7/8” Bazill Basics thick chipboard circle
Patterned scrapbook paper in coordinating color palette
1 plastic top hat charm from Sacred Kitsch Studios4 4mm jet ab CRYSTALLIZED™-Swarovski Elements rounds
1 4mm fire opal CRYSTALLLIZED™-Swarovski Elements bicone
20 gauge ColourCraft Beadalon silver plated craft wire
3 10mm Rings n Things heavy duty white jump rings
2 5mm Beadalon silver plated jump rings
Patterned ric rac ribbon from Sacred Kitsch StudiosDeco Art Dazzling Metallics Shimmering Silver
Deco Art Snow-TexArt Institute Barbara Trombley’s vintage glass glitter fine diamond dustUni-Ball Signo white pen
Amazing Goop
Scrapbook Adhesives EZ-Runner

Tools
2 pairs chain nose pliers
Round nose pliers
Wire cutters
Paintbrush
Electric drill with 1/16” bit
Sharp scissors

1. Use a spatula or your fingertips to spread a thick layer of Snow-Tex on each chipboard circle. Sprinkle a small amount of fine glass glitter on surface. Allow to dry overnight.

2. Use paint brush and shimmering silver paint to edge each circle and to paint the back of each circle. Use a foam applicator or your fingertip to lightly spread a small amount of silver paint across the raised portions of the surface of each circle. Allow to dry.

3. Mark hole placement and then use a drill with a 1/6” bit to create a hole in the top of the largest circle and the top, sides and bottom of one smaller circle and the top and bottom of the second smaller circle. Use a white pen to fix any areas that may have lost their snow.

4. Make gentle indentations with a small paintbrush end for eyes and nose on head circle. Glue them in place using Amazing Gloop. Allow to dry. While drying use Sharpee to add small dots for mouth.

5. Repeat process for buttons on mid-section circle.

6. Use wire to make small stick style arms. Bend with fingers to give sticks some movement. Use round nose pliers to create small loops in one end of each stick arm.

7. Drill hole in center top of top hat using 1/16” drill bit. Thread with an eye pin, bend eye pin flush to top of hat and cut to about 1/8”. Use round nose pliers to grasp and roll end into a loop.

8. Create a hook using 20 gauge Colourcraft wire in silver. Cut off a 3” section of wire. Use round nose pliers to make a small loop in each end. Bend center of wire over index finger and use fingers to shape wire into a hook.

9. Attach sections together using jump rings.

10. Attach arms using smaller jump rings.

11. Attach hat to top of top jump ring.

12. Attach hook to top of hat.

13. Tie a 3” section of ric-rac ribbon around front of jump ring that attaches head to body. Use fingers to fray edges slightly.

14. Trace a left and right mitten and cut out. Place each cut out mitten on back of paper to trace a mirror image mitten. Use EZ-Runner to apply double sided tape to back of one mitten in each set. Compress mittens over end of craft wire. Clean up any overlap with scissors.

15. Hang on tree or replace hook with a swivel lobster clasp and wear on a chain.