Masquerade Mask

 A local charity throws a huge dinner/auction each year to raise money to benefit young mothers in our community. They chose a Masquerade Party as their theme this year and asked several local artists - including myself - to create a mask that could be auctioned off at a preview party prior to the main event for guests to purchase and then use for the main event.

I created an Ice Queen named Iridesses.

My hubby came up with the name...most likely in reference to all the iridescent glitter I used in the making of her.

And, thanks to him, she has the perfect throne to sit upon!

I was given a plain white mask to work with. The first thing I did was reinforce the areas where I would be wiring on the metal crown and handle. I cut some heavy plastic and heated it in an oven to make it pliable enough to form to the shape of the inside of the mask. Then I glued it into place and drilled holes for the wire.

I wanted a little texture so I laid some cheesecloth over the forehead area and around one eye and then applied a very thin layer of plaster; immediately removing the cheese cloth. Once it was dry I sanded and painted it with a copper finish. I used pearlescent paint on the remainder of the face and a metallic mix of plum and gold for the lips. Lastly, I sprinkled super fine iridescent glitter sparsely over the entire mask and generously over the lips.

 I found a metal fan at a thrift store for $1.50 and used it as a crown. Originally it looked exactly like the fan pictured in the background of the photo below. I lightened up the look of it by using a jeweler's saw to cut some of the metal away. And since every queen deserves  jewels, I raided my addiction pile and found the perfect ones for an Ice Queen's crown. I drilled holes into the crown, inserted the jewels and used glue for extra strength. I topped it off with a light sprinkle of glitter over the entire crown and a heavy sprinkling along the top.
(This photo was taken before I applied the glitter)

I used a thrifted candle snuffer ($.99) for the handle.

I wired it and the crown to the mask. Then added a few more embellishments. The handle has sari ribbon draping from it and peacock feathers extending upward.

I brought home a $2.99 candle holder from a thrift store, handed it over to hubby and asked him to work his magic on it. He turned it into a throne by making a metal loop bracket for the handle to slide into and by cutting a piece of wood to act as a base to prevent the mask from sliding around. I painted them out to match the candle holder and added some plumage to look like a collar behind the mask.

 

I decorated the throne with more feathers.

And a little story about Iridesses.

I've never made a mask before but it was fun to do. I'm pretty happy with the way she turned out...kinda hate to pass her off! I just hope she brings in a few dollars for the charity.

As if the post isn't long enough already...

a few more close-ups of Iridesses.

Sharing with: French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday, Happy-Go-Lucky: Shine on Friday, Here Comes the Sun: Fabulous Friday, Creation Corner: Friday Link Party, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, Craft-O-Maniac: Monday Party, Polish The Stars: Party 61, It's Overflowing: Overflowing with Creativity, Not Just A Housewife: Show Me What Ya Got, Lil Pink Pocket: Show & Share, I Gotta Create: The Mother Lode

  

Step 3 - March - Good Luck Wishes

I've completed step 3 - March's project - of my JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) 12-step program from my earlier post "My Addiction" just in time for St. Patty's Day.

Since St. Patrick's Day is in March it was inevitable that this month's project would celebrate the lucky holiday. Besides, who couldn't use some of St. Patty's Irish Green Luck?!

I gathered together several green and gold items.

I even found two 4-leaf clovers amongst my jeweled treasures.

I settled on a brooch for my focal piece. It was missing three of the original stones so I took the opportunity to add the words, "Good Luck Wishes" which I printed onto some green colored decorative paper and covered with ICE Resin®.

I also encased the gold 4-leaf clover (which I grunged-up a bit to age it) in the resin to appear as if it were magically floating.

For the dangle, I chose to use a jeweled link

and attached an earring to it.

Visually, it's a fairly weighty piece so I added a heavy vintage chain which I embellished with a few links from a different chain along with a wire wrapped green stick pearl.

 

 Good Luck Wishes to all of you on St. Patrick's day and everyday after!

Below is where you can check out my previous

JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) projects.

January - "Snowflake"

February - "Tin Heart"

June - "It's Heating Up!"

July - "Golden Dreams"

Bonus Project - "Masquerade Mask"

Sharing with:

French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday, I Gotta Create: Spring Fling, Knick Of Time: That's the Ticket, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday

My Addiction

I've always heard that admitting you have a problem is the first step in curing an addiction.

Well, here goes...My name is Kathy and I'm a Jewel-aholic!

 

I blame it partially on my sister-in-law, Susan. A couple of months ago, she hooked me up with her "dealer" who buys up the whole lot of loot at estate sales, pulls out the precious metal items and then sells off the remaining bits and pieces to addicts like myself.

I can't resist the allure of shiny metal, the sparkle of rhinestones, and the creamy white glow of vintage faux pearls. I find satisfaction in sorting though and organizing my new jewels. This is the second shoebox full that I've purchased - 5 1/2 pounds of bling! The problem is that even though I've spent time dreaming of what I could create,

I haven't actually made anything yet.

 

I do have a plan for the new year, though. It is my self-appointed JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) 12-step program to help justify my addictive habit. I vow to make at least one item each month for the next twelve months. Who knows, I may even sell one or two pieces and then I can make more trips to my "dealer's" house!

I have my first piece in the works and I will be sharing it in a couple of days.

***Side note about my sister-in-law, Susan... She is an amazingly talented woman who gives new life to all sorts of discarded and found objects. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed when you check out her fabulous creations at

Second Chances by Susan.

Update: Links to each challenge project that I've finished.

Step 1 - January - Snowflake

Step 2 - February - Tin Heart
Step 3 - March - Good Luck Wishes
Step 6 - June - It's Heating Up!
Step 7 - July - Golden Dreams
Bonus Project - Masquerade Mask

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