Golden Dreams - step 7 - JA project for July

This summer is going by so fast...July has just about passed me up but I was determined not to let it go by without completing step 7 of my jewel-aholic anonymous challenge. If you missed my original JA 12-step program post with a challenge to myself, you can find it here.

When I think of July I can't help but be reminded of American patriotism. Independence day celebrations have past but we still have some pride as a country to celebrate with the Olympics going on.

So in honor of America and the Olympics

I chose to make this piece for my July JA project.

I sorted through my stash of jewels for quite awhile not sure of

what I wanted to make until I found this medallion and pin.

I used a fine tip marker to outline where the pin would be on the medallion and then quickly placed my lettering. I wasn't worried about making the lettering perfect since it was just a reference point.

 I used metal stamps to emboss the words "GOLDEN DREAMS" and added five dots at the top to tie in with the five Olympic rings.

I filled in the lettering with black pen. Some of the gold finish flaked off the medallion when I stamped the letters so I applied a little gold paint - not to completely cover - I wanted to keep an aged look. The gold also aged the black on the lettering which I liked. I let it dry and then applied Renaissance wax to protect the finish. I also drilled a hole so the pin would fit flush against the medallion.

Finally, I cut the back off the pin and glued it into place.

Now I have my own personal gold metal! Not to award myself for anything but to remind myself that my dreams can turn

into golden opportunities if I just follow them!

Below is where you can check out my previous

JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) projects.

January - "Snowflake"

February - "Tin Heart"

March - "Good Luck Wishes"
June - "It's Heating Up!"
Bonus Project - "Masquerade Mask"

Thanks for stopping by!

 

It's Heating Up! Step 6 - JA project for June

Yes, I've fallen off the wagon a little bit. My last project of my JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) 12-step program was March.

I completely missed April and May but I'm back at it with June.

You can find my original challenge to myself here.

It's been chilly and rainy the last few days so I'm trying to give the sizzlin' summer weather a boost with a series of necklaces I'm calling, "It's Heating Up!"

Notice the center?

 I've been picking up these needle and dial type thermometers at thrift stores for the past few months. They're super inexpensive - I never pay more than a dollar for them.

To make the necklace above, I chose a thermometer

and a vintage pin that I could use as a surround.

I did a Google search to make sure it was safe to cut the stem off - I certainly didn't want any hazardous substance or dangerous liquid oozing out. I found out that the dial and needle style of thermometers are just two different metals that heat at different rates to cause pressure on a spring which in turn causes the needle to move.

Bottom line - safe to cut! I used a jeweler's saw.

(The thermometer pictured is a much larger one than the one for the necklace.)

I hammered the center of the pin a bit to create a bigger well for the thermometer to sit in and then used an epoxy glue to secure the thermometer at the center of the pin. (I applied the glue pretty thick to make sure it would hold well.)

Once that was cured, I glued a small length of chain around the edge to cover the glue. I also placed a small rhinestone at the center bottom. Once that cured I wired the chain together where they met to secure and attached small rhinestones to the tails.

I drilled holes at the top and attached a handcrafted chain from dark annealed steel wire, glass beads and a couple of small vintage jewelry pieces. Finally, I added a strip of muslin and some purchased chain and finished it off with a handcrafted hook clasp. To learn how to make a link and a clasp, check out my tutorials.

Here is a look at another necklace I made for my

"It's Heating Up" series.

Below is where you can check out my previous

JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) projects.

January - "Snowflake"

February - "Tin Heart"

March - "Good Luck Wishes"

July - "Golden Dreams"

Bonus Project - "Masquerade Mask"

My thermometer necklaces were featured at Knick of Time

Sharing with: I Gotta Create!: Wildly Original Party, Fireflies and Jellybeans: Show Off Your Stuff, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, COM: Craft-O-Maniac Monday, Knick of Time: Knick of Time Tuesday, Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday, Not Just A Housewife: Show Me What Ya Got

 

My New Friends and CHA

I started this blog to provide myself with an avenue to share my creative side and to share the projects that I've made. I was not a social networker so what has surprised me the most is how many new "bloggy" friends I have met over the last few months! For me, It is the best part of having a blog.

I've been lucky enough to connect with several artists who represent ICE Resin® - a fun product that I have used in a few designs: Shake It Up, Road Trip, and Value of a Postage Stamp. My new friends, Kristen Robinson, Jen Cushman , Tina Schiefer , and Cat Kerr have made some wonderful new and innovative projects that will be shown at the Craft and Hobby Association Conference & Tradeshow at the Anaheim Convention Center, January 29 - February 1. Several of them along with other talented artists; including the Ice Queen herself, Susan Lenart Kazmer will be in the booth demonstrating techniques and projects.  If you are in the area and get a chance to attend the show stop by the booth and say "hi".

Here is the schedule of events.

Amazing Giveaways will occur at the commencement of every demo/signing time however you must be present to win!

Sunday and Monday
Come have your snapshot taken in the ICE Resin Booth with the ICE Queen herself Susan Lenart Kazmer

Tuesday and Wednesday
Have your snapshot taken with the Stars of ICE Resin which include well known Industry Authors and Artist's in the ICE Resin Booth #1029

Sunday
10:30 - 11:30 Demo Joanna Pierotti - ICE Resin Creative Team Member and Published Artist

12:30 - 1:30 Demo and Book Signing with ICE Resin Creative Team Director, Artist and Author Kristen Robinson (books will be first come first serve)

2:30 - 3:30 Demo Joanna Pierotti - ICE Resin Creative Team Member and Published Artist

4:30 - 5:30 Demo with Artist and Author Kristen Robinson 

Monday
10:30 - 11:30 Demo with Artist and Author Kristen Robinson 

11:30 - 12:30 Demo and Make and Take with Fiskateer Tami Bayer of Fiskars

1:30 - 2:30 Demo and Book Signing with ICE Resin Education Director, Artist and Author Jen Cushman (books will be first come first serve)

2:00 - 3:00 Book Signing with Kristen Robinson, Author of Tales of Adornment - Techniques for Resin Jewelry in the R&M Booth # 1329

3:30 - 4:30 Demo with Tina Schiefer ICE Resin Creative Team Member and Published Artist

Tuesday
10:30 - 11:30 Demo Joanna Pierotti - ICE Resin Creative Team Member and Published Artist

12:00 - 1:00 Book Signing with Kristen Robinson, Author of Tales of Adornment - Techniques for Resin Jewelry in the F&W Booth # 868

1:30 - 2:30 Demo with Tina Schiefer ICE Resin Creative Team Member and Published Artist

2:30 - 3:30 Demo and Make and Take with Fiskateer Tami Bayer of Fiskars

4:30 - 5:30 Demo with Artist and Author Kristen Robinson 

Wednesday
10:30 - 11:30 Demo with Tina Schiefer ICE Resin Creative Team Member and Published Artist

12:30 - 1:30 Resin Paper Demo

 

The Rendezvous

A love letter tucked secretly away in a locket and worn close to her heart revealed only to her the time and place that she would at last meet him once again...the rendezvous. 

Okay, romance novelist I'm not; I'm better suited to provoking emotions through jewelry.

The inspiration for this necklace - entitled Rendezvous - came last week with a challenge from Deryn Mentock on her post. If you've never visited her blog Something Sublime...you really should! She's an amazing artist.

The challenge: Design a piece of jewelry inspired by this room.

I had been ho-humming back and forth as to whether or not I would participate in the challenge when, as luck would have it, I found a pill box at a thrift store for $.99. The light bulb started burning bright in my head and it was too late to turn it off! I would have to transform that little pill box into a cherished locket containing a note that told of a secret rendezvous.

I rummaged through my stash and found some
old jewelry that would complement the soon to be sacred locket.

The sail boat just wouldn't do so I ripped it off the box and
replaced it with a vintage button that had belonged to my grandmother.

Next I removed the dangles from a pair of earrings and glued the earrings to the

back of the box. Not only did it look pretty, it also provided a way to attach the chain.

I used Modge Podge to line the inside of the box with decorative papers. I glued some of the dangles (from the earrings) along with a few pearls inside the box. Now for the fun part - I put on my darkest shade of berry lipstick and created the ultimate
symbol of romance onto tissue paper. It's not pretty yet...

The magic happened once I poured in the ICE resin. The tissue paper became transparent revealing the beautiful paper underneath. Of course, I had to add a key!
(How else could she unlock the secrets to his heart?)

I disassembled the rest of the jewelry and used bits and pieces of it along with

a few added gems, pearls and charms to make the chain and the jeweled dangle.

  It was pretty but lacked that heavy feel that was so obviously present

throughout the inspiration room. So I added a chunky silver chain,
some bordeaux colored suede and reworked the dangle.

Success! Rich, heavy, and dripping with luxury!

Did you notice the jeweled pieces (especially the small ones) are much darker and more dramatic than in the original photo? I painted the backs with a layer of dark berry

and a layer of black acrylic paint and then sealed them with Modge Podge.

She opened the sacred locket and grasped the key that would unlock the door to his bedchamber, for at long last...the rendezvous.

Happy Creating!

Kathy