Rock-A-Bye Babies

It seems like just yesterday I was singing lullabies to my babies.

It's hard to imagine that they are turning 31 and 28 in a week.

Time does fly...
My babies have grown into wonderful young men

that I could not be more proud of. But, I do have to admit

that I'm feeling a little sentimental this week thinking about

when they were...well...still babies.

So I thought this would be the perfect time to share this project that I made while I was on the ICE Resin Creative Team last year.

 

Mixed media assemblage is not something I do often and is a little out of my comfort zone but when I found a rusty old trowel that was partially covered in plaster at the thrift store,

I couldn't resist the urge to alter it!

I covered the trowel with sheet music. By using resin as the glue, it caused the paper to become somewhat transparent allowing the yummy rust and plaster to show through.

 

I then added loosely bundled twigs to represent branches high up in a tree, a moss nest, and resin coated paper birds and eggs that I found at The Graphics Fairy. I finished it off with a sweet little poem sandwiched between a piece of birch bark and a sheet of mica.

You can find a complete list of supplies

and a tutorial on how I made it here.

This project was featured at
Knick of Time's Tuesday Link Party! :)

Happy Birthday to my wonderful sons!


  
Sharing with: I Gotta Create!: Wildly Original Link Party, French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday, Funky Junk Interiors: Party Junk, The Graphics Fairy: Brag Monday Party, Knick of Time: Knick of Time Tuesday

Winners of the Mixed Media Jewelry E-Book GIVEAWAY

I put all the entries into a hat and asked my husband to draw out three winners for the Volume 1: Mixed Media Jewelry E-Book.

 

The winners are:
Thoughtfulhands
Beetique
Cathy

Congratulations to Thoughtfulhands, Beetique, & Cathy! And thanks to all who took time to participate.

For another chance to win this E-Book, visit my friend Tina at PatinaMarie as she is also giving away a couple of copies. Her drawing will be on October 20th.

Volume 2 of this E-Book is now available and I will be having a giveaway for it within a couple of weeks.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Mixed Media Jewelry E-Book GIVEAWAY

I'm excited to say that the first e-book including mixed media jewelry designs from the 2011-2012 ICE Resin Creative Team members is finished and available for purchase.

 

It includes fifteen fabulous mixed media jewelry projects from seven designers and has easy to follow instructions for each project.

These are my projects that are featured in the e-book.

Faux Tortoise Shell Necklace

Upcycled Coffee Filter Earrings

Popcorn Popper Ring

You can preview the e-book here.

I will be giving away a free downloadable copy

of the e-book to three people. You have two chances to enter.

1. Leave a comment on this blog post.

2. Share the link to this giveaway anywhere you wish...Facebook, Twitter, your blog... and leave an additional comment saying you did.
Katalina Jewelry Mixed Media Jewelry E-Book Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
Thanks for entering.

You can find the winners here.

My good friend Tina is also giving away a couple of copies on her blog. Her drawing is on October 20th.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Vintage Tin Jewelry

The Autumn issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry is out and a couple of my vintage tin necklaces were included in the Gallery section.

 

 You can find out how to make the Heart necklace here.

This issue is loaded full of amazing and creative jewelry.

I'm lovin' those earrings!

 Included are these fun and fabulous

Wool Felted Pendants from my talented friend, Cat Kerr.

And these gorgeous rhinestone pendants

that my sweet friend, Kristen Robinson, created.

 Yep! This issue will not disappoint!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Shabby Chic Cuff - video tutorial

I created this Shabby Chic Cuff using ICE Resin, fabric and very thin copper sheet cut from a Spellbinder's die.

My video tutorial will give you step-by-step instructions for the creative process. You can also get the written instructions and supply list here on my tutorial page.

I hope you enjoy the video!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 Sharing with: Not Just A Housewife: Show Me What Ya Got, Southern Lovely: Show & Share, Happy Go Lucky: Shine On Friday, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, Craft-O-Maniac: Craft-O-Maniac Monday

Key To The Past

I had never used a die cutting machine until just recently when ICE Resin and Spellbinders partnered up and I was asked to create a few projects using the Grand Calibur machine and some of their dies. It was fun to be given a chance to experiment with it. One of the projects that I've created was featured on the ICE Resin blog yesterday.

Key To The Past

My inspiration for this piece came from the smallest die in the
Labels Fourteen series. It reminded me of a keyhole.

I first used the 2nd largest die in the set to cut the shape out of thin copper sheet  and then added a keyhole with the smallest die in the lower portion. I then folded the piece into half and added a patina to enrich the color of the copper and to give it some age. I placed an image of a Victorian era woman that I cut from the Belles Dames Francais image book and covered it with ICE Resin. 

 

I embellished the piece with some chain and vintage jewels

and wire wrapped a skeleton key to it.

I used two styles of vintage chain to add some interest to the piece.

I made a hook clasp from copper wire. The keyhole piece that I cut out at the beginning of the project became the perfect closure once I punched a hole in it.

It was fun creating with the Spellbinders products. I've created a few more projects but I will have to wait awhile longer to share them.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with: Here Comes the Sun: Fabulous Friday, Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, Knick of Time: Knick of Time Tuesday

 

Butterfly Specimen

This necklace is one of my latest creations as an ICE Resin® Creative Team designer. When I showed it to my Hubby he asked if it

was a real butterfly so I guess my design was successful!

It's very easy to make.

I first cut a butterfly image from the Belles Dames Francaise flip book and used Modge Podge to adhere it to a plexi-glass circle.

Then I stamped a swirling dot design onto

a second plexi-glass circle using black Staz-On ink.

I placed the plexi-glass pieces into a round staple bezel with

the butterfly and stamping on the inside and used

pliers to crimp the staples holding everything into place.

I then showcased the butterfly pendant

between a couple of decorative corset clasp connectors.

For the neck cord, I added some pretty blue and pink organza ribbons and wrapped them with copper wire in a couple of places.

To finish it off I added one of my

handcrafted copper hook and eye clasps.

Every now and then I create with a little

bit of fluff and femininity...I am a girl after all!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing with: Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday, Southern Lovely: Show & Share, Fireflies and Jellybeans: Show Off Your Stuff, I Gotta Create!: Wildly Original Roundup, Happy-Go-Lucky: Shine on Friday, Here Comes the Sun: Fabulous Friday, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday, Not Just A Housewife: Show Me What Ya Got

 

Fun To Wear Hardware

What do you get when you pair a
rusty piece of hardware with a vintage bottle cap?

Jewelry, of course!

 I found some cool old hardware at the thrift stores and from a fellow blogger who just happens to have a store only three miles from my house. Barbara Jean at Treasures From the Heart has some of the best rusty, chippy pieces of anything and everything.

I found some bottle caps from another blogger friend.
Linda at Itsy Bits and Pieces had a fabulous collection of them
and I was lucky enough to snag a few.

The first step was to hammer the bottle cap. I used a regular carpenter's hammer to lightly tap around the edges of the cap.

I continued working my way around the cap

until the edges had curled up.

Then I hammered the center area with the ball end of a ball-peen hammer to create a concave area or a "well".

The cap looked like this once I finished hammering it.

I filled the "well" with ICE Resin®. I rubbed the hinge with wax and buffed it. And then once the resin was cured I used

an epoxy glue to adhere the cap to the hinge.

I glued a piece of brown suede to the back of the pendant to cover the glue that showed through the holes on the back.

And then the fun began!

I embellished the hinge with wire and gemstones.

I added a black suede cord and finished it off

with a handcrafted hook and eye clasp.

I've designed several more of these Fun To Wear Hardware pieces but I have plans for them and I will have to keep them a secret for now!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sharing With: I Gotta Create!: Wildly Original Roundup, Lil Pink Pocket: Show & Share, One Artsy Mama: Shine on Fridays, Too Much Time On My Hands: Get Schooled Saturday, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, Knick of Time: Knick of Time Tuesday, Here Comes the Sun: Fabulous Friday, DIY Home Sweet Home: More the Merrier

Want to be on the ICE Resin® Creative Team?

ICE Resin® is searching for designers for their 2012-2013 Creative Team.

WAIT!

Before you say to yourself,

"No one knows who I am.

Why would I ever have a chance at being chosen?"

Remember, I said the same thing last year when I heard about the opportunity. I went for it anyway...what did I have to lose?

And here I am, a member of the 2011-2012 Creative Team.

  Here is a short description from their blog post

of what they are looking for.

You might wonder what we are seeking in a Designer; we are looking for someone with not only a keen eye for design but also a strong understanding of trends as well as individuals with the ability to think outside of the box while remaining cutting edge, trendsetting and true to their own style. Keep in mind while we are seeking artistically minded Designers we are not necessarily narrowing our vision to those who are widely known in the industry. Rather, it is our hope to create a team of Designers with various skills and design aesthetics.

 You can find more information

along with the application form on their blog.

Be Brave...Go For It!!

Good Luck!

 

On The Road Again!

Those of you who check in on my blog every once in a while might remember this mixed media necklace I created last year called

 ROAD TRIP

I created it from - what would be considered - unusual jewelry components. You can find out what those components are

and the process behind the creative journey here.

I'm thrilled to say that somewhere along the roadside

this unique piece was picked up and hitched a ride into the 

Summer Issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry.

This issue is packed full of interesting jewelry articles including one by my good friend, Cat Kerr. Cat and her sister collaborated together to create a heartfelt necklace called

"A Sister's Bond"

Linked to: Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday

Thanks for stopping by!

New Beginnings - a necklace for spring

I LOVE SPRINGTIME!

All around me I’ve been hearing faint chirping sounds
coming from the baby birds nestled high up in the treetops.  

One determined mama even managed to build her nest
in the rafters of the indoor building where I play tennis! 
 When I go to serve, I can hear her babies cheering me on
to victory or at least reminding me that the long damp
winter is over and the promise of a warm summer
is just around the corner.

I encased the letters N-E-S-T in ICE Resin® 

and wired them onto blue satin ribbon.

I created a “nest” using wire “twigs”, blue pearl “eggs” and a cage bezel and used a hook clasp to hang it from the ribbon. 

I finished the piece with another hook clasp and a pearl “egg” dangle.

My "New Beginnings" necklace was recently feature
on the ICE QUEEN blog.

Sharing With: Craft-O-Maniac: Craft-O-Maniac Monday, Not Just A Housewife: Show Me What Ya Got, Knick of Time: Knick of Time Tuesday, Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday, Southern Lovely: Show & Share, I Gotta Create: Wildly Original Roundup, French Country Cottage: Feather Your Nest Friday, One Artsy Mama: Shine on Fridays, Bacon Time with the Hungry Hippo: Anything Goes, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS 136, My Turn: Freedom Friday