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

 

Enhancing and Protecting a Rusted Metal Patina

I love using metals with rusted patinas in my jewelry designs.

If I can't find rusted metal, I'll create my own.

A steel washer that I rusted, stamped and hammered is the focal piece in this necklace that I designed for an ICE Resin® Technique Tuesday Video that recently aired on the ICE Resin blog.

In the video I share with you how to enhance the color of a rusted piece of metal and how to protect the finish

using ICE Resin®.

Rusty washers also make interesting connector pieces. I used them in this same necklace to attach the leather neckband to the copper chain.

I finished the chain with a handmade copper hook and eye clasp. You can learn how to make your own hook and eye clasp from my tutorial.

My necklace made from rusty washers, a rusty piece of metal measuring tape, and a couple of rusty nails may not be for everyone but it suits me perfectly and it certainly is unique!

You can find a great tutorial at Altered Alchemy 

on how to rust iron/steel.

Sharing With:

Not Just A Housewife: Show Me What Ya Got, Southern Lovely: Show & Share, Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday, French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday

  

 

So Honored!

I'm so honored to be the first woman featured by the generous and creative Christina over at I Gotta Create in her new series that spotlights Inspiring Creative Women!

Christina has a wonderful blog that is always full of fresh and fun ideas. She is an inspiration to me and I think she deserves to have a feature of her own among the Inspiring Creative Women! I hope you will visit her blog to check out my interview and while you're there, please take a few moments to look through her past posts and fun projects. You will not be disappointed!

 

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

  

Popcorn Popping! - Fun Ring Design

As an ICE Resin® Creative Team member I get to play with some of the coolest stuff! Every month a box of goodies arrive at my doorstep. Last month this fun ring bezel was the first item to catch my eye and as soon as I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it!

Fun Ring Bezel + ICE Resin® = Playful Ring!

"Popcorn Popping"

It has a wire cage that I created and set inside the ring bezel

which I filled with ICE Resin® and some “popcorn” (white pearls).

Once the resin cured I added some loose “popcorn”

that "pops" about when I playfully shake my hand.

It's being featured as the

"Creative Team Wednesday" project

today over at the ICE Resin® blog where I share

a little more about what inspired its creation.

I hope you will "pop" on over there and take a quick look!

Sharing with: Lil Pink Pocket: Show & Share

 

Technique Tuesday Video - Creating a Transparent Layer with ICE Resin®

I'm excited to say that my very first online technique based video for the ICE Resin® Creative Team is up and running on their blog and here on mine!

Creating a Transparent Layer with Kathy Thompson
from ICE Resin Creative Team on Vimeo.

The video is a quick tutorial demonstrating how to create a transparent layer that can be applied to almost any resin project to add depth and interest to the piece.

All you will need is some ordinary tissue paper, a printer and some ICE Resin®, of course!

Here is a peek at the finished pendant.

Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoy the video!

To learn more techniques from the ICE Resin® Creative Team

check out these videos.

Cat Kerr - Using A Template

Jack & Cat Curio - How To Prepare An ICE Resin® Substrate

Sharing with: Not Just A Housewife: Show Me What Ya Got, I Gotta Create: Spring Fling, Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday, Lil Pink Pocket: Show & Share, The Shady Porch: Rock 'N Share, Between Naps on the Porch: Metamorphosis Monday, Fireflies and Jellybeans: Show Off Your Stuff, French Country Cottage: Feather Your Nest Friday, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS

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

Button Up - my article in Belle Armoire Jewelry

Look what I found in my mailbox a few days ago.

The Spring 2012 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry which hits the newsstands today. It's just as beautiful and inspiring as ever!

The featured artist in this issue is Deryn Mentock. One of her gorgeous pieces graces the cover and inside is a wonderful article showcasing more of her lovely designs. Also included in this issue are some fascinating soldered heart box pendants by Diana Frey.

I'm thrilled to join company with them
and the other talented artists in this issue!

The article featuring my designs is called

Button Up

Each piece pairs vintage buttons with metal clay
to create a unique pendant or pair of earrings.

The inspiration for these pieces came to me one day as I was sorting through some vintage buttons from my mom's old sewing stash.

I love that each piece has a little
reminder of my mom included in it!

Lucky Me!

Maybe it's just an early dose of the St. Patty's Day lucky 4-leaf clover but I've certainly been lucky the last few weeks.

A few weeks ago I was ecstatic when Missy from Marvelously Messy contacted me to let me know that I was the winner of her My Memories Scrapbook Suite giveaway. I haven't had a chance to create anything yet using this program but I did play around with it a bit and it's going to be fun!

 And then just yesterday I found out from Kim over at Too Much Time On My Hands that I was the lucky winner of a darling messenger bag from Crafty Calista.

 

Now that's a lotta luck!

May the lucky 4-leaf cover just keep passing on its luck to all of you throughout the upcoming month of March!