A beautiful bracelet made by artist Carmi Cimicata.
Visit her online at www.carmi.ca
The large 5-Piece Interchangeable bracelet kit (item # SO80600700) is the perfect way to create a keepsake of some of your favorite vintage images.
I start by printing my images just slightly larger than the bezels.
I run a non-permanent marker around the rim of each bezel. Then I press the bezel like a rubber stamp onto the image. This impression gives me my cut out lines for each image.
I apply several coats of mod podge or gel medium over each cut out image. I focus on the edges. This keeps the image protected from resin stains. Resin can seep into paper and create the look of watermarks in the light areas. You might like this effect, but usually, a weird spot will appear in a place you don't want it too…such as a stain across a face.
When the images have dried I glue them into the bezel. Everything must be thoroughly dry before you pour resin, so this is something I do in the evening and allow it to dry overnight. I also glue in embellishments at this time too. Gluing them will keep them from moving about in the resin later on. For this project I used some vintage enamel flowers and glass crystals.
I then mix a two-part resin (Envirotex) and pour it into each bezel.
After the bezels are filled, I check for air bubbles. I often add glass glitter to my pieces at this point too. They create an interesting background…and can camouflage any air bubbles you might miss. I then leave the project like this to dry for 48 hours.
Visit Carmi at www.carmi.ca
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Featured project #2
Faux Enamel Pendants by Robin Beam
Faux Enamel Pendants
Robin Beam
© July 2008
http://www.pearlesq.blogspot.com/
Supplies:
• Pendant Trays™, Amate Studios, amatestudios.com
• Gluefoil™, Streuter Technologies, streuter.com
• Gluefilm™, Streuter Technologies
• Cuttlebug™, Dies and Embossing Folders, Provo Craft, provocraft.com
• Grungeboard™ Minis and Plain, Tim Holtz™ Idea-ology, timholtzonline.com
• Adirondack® Alcohol Inks or Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers, Ranger Industries, rangerink.com
• Niji Waterbrush, Yasutomo™, Yasutomo.com
• Craft Iron, Clover, clover-usa.com
• Fine grit sandpaper
• High Gloss Acrylic Varnish, Liquitex, liquitex.com
• Paintbrush
• Towel
Directions:
Preparing the Pendant Artwork:
1. Create a template for the bed of the pendant using scrap cardstock. Hint: ink rim of pendant, press onto paper to use as a template, trimming until it fits into pendant snugly.
2. Turn on Craft Iron to medium setting. Cut plain Grungeboard and Gluefoil to the same size (cut to specific size of pendant or with a larger piece to make multiple pendants).
3. Layer glue side of Gluefoil to Grungeboard. Place iron to Gluefoil; do not move the iron around, as it will cause the foil to move around.
4. Pick up iron; make sure the foil stays inline with the Grungeboard. Press down with towel or scrap paper, allowing the glue to cure and bond to Grungeboard.
5. Place Gluefoil/Grungeboard “sandwich” into embossing folder; move to area of embossed pattern that would look best in pendant. Emboss with Cuttlebug.
6. Trim as needed so foil will fit into pendant; sand edges. Note: some pendants are deeper than others. With a deeper pendant, cut a second piece of Grungeboard and glue with a piece of Gluefilm cut to size. With the foil fitting flush with the edge of the pendant, it will look even more “finished”!
Colorizing the Artwork: Adirondack Alcohol Ink
7. Place Alcohol Inks onto piece of Blending Foam (this reduces any “lint” that is left onto inked surface). Tap onto embossed foil and let dry. Add layers of Alcohol Inks as necessary until desired color is achieved. Tip: If using “Bubbles” embossing folder, add dots of Glossy Accents™ to create an even more dimensional effect.
8. Another Alcohol Ink technique is to squeeze colors out onto a Non-Stick Craft Sheet and use Waterbrush to paint in design. Clean brush out with Alcohol Ink Blending Solution between colors.
Adirondack Paint Dabbers
9. Shake paints to mix properly. Dab paint onto Craft Sheet and paint in image with Waterbrush. Paint background first, then details. Make sure there is not too much water on brush, as the paint will tend to bead onto the foil surface.
10. Let dry. If needed, add a second coat as necessary.
11. When completely dry, lightly sand surface to allow some of the paint to rub off and create a vintage or distressed effect.
12. Dab distressed surface with Brown or Black Paint and allow to dry.
13. Mist towel with water and rub off excess black or brown paint to further age.
14. Paint metal surface with 1-2 coats of Acrylic Varnish. This will prevent paint or alcohol ink from coming off the surface.
Putting it all Together!
15. Cut Gluefilm to size of pendant bed.
16. With heat tool or craft iron, heat pendant. Carefully place Gluefilm into bottom of pendant. The heated metal will melt the glue.
17. Immediately (and carefully) place artwork into pendant, pressing down to create a solid bond between the glue and Grungeboard bottom layer.
18. Place onto chain, cord or beaded necklace and enjoy!
Instructions may copied for educational purposes; please provide credit for the information and ideas provided within this document.
