Thursday, June 24, 2010

Prepping Friendly Plastic for jewellery making

Some weeks just don't go the way you plan. I know I promised you a follow up post to the Friendly Plastic demos I did at the Scrapbook and Papercraft Expo but I got completely waylaid trying to eradicate the gremlins that got into my website instead. Three days and 18 hours later it's almost restored to how it was and it's all functional again with just a few minor things still to be fixed. Needless to say, I learnt a whole lot more about basic web design - but it's boring stuff.... I'd much rather be creative in the studio than fix websites! And now that that's behind me, it's back to the "how to" I promised you. So far, you've cut your strips of Friendly Plastic, re-fused them together in a great combination of colours, marbled them and cut them out into shapes. Now what? Well, it's quite simple really. To prepare your marbled Friendly Plastic cutouts ready for assembly into pieces of jewellery you'll need to coat them with res...
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Can't get enough Friendly Plastic?

A big hello to all the lovely crafters who stopped by the Stamp Antics stand at the Scrapbook and Papercrafts Expo to say hello and check out what Friendly Plastic is all about. I hope you picked up lots of valuable pointers and are inspired to create your own wonderful Friendly Plastic projects. But what's that, I hear? You didn't get enough Friendly Plastic info on the weekend! Well, don't despair.... you can get more. Why not get some hands on experience in a class situation where you'll learn how to work with Friendly Plastic first hand. The Lumpy, Bumpy, Spotty and Dotty class has sold out, but I'm doing a repeat class on the 22nd June so you don't have to miss out on learning how to make this fun and sparkly bracelet. Give Stamp Antics a call (3393 3022) and the girls will be happy to book you in. Can't make it to the classes? Well, for members of the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre , you'll be able to come along for a session on Friendly...
Friday, June 11, 2010

Friendly Plastic demos

This weekend the annual Scrapbook and Papercraft Expo is on at the Brisbane Convention Centre and you'll be able to catch me demonstrating how to work with Friendly Plastic each day at the Stamp Antics stand (Saturday and Sunday from 12pm - 2pm and all day Monday). Not sure how to use Friendly Plastic? Then stop by to see all the basic techniques being demonstrated and pick up some tips that will have you working with Friendly Plastic like a pro in no time. One of the things I enjoy doing most with Friendly Plastic is making jewellery, but Friendly Plastic is also a great product to incorporate into your scrapbooking and cardmaking projects. Check out the album of samples at the stand for some fun ideas. And of course, it's your chance to ask questions, so please do... I'll be happy to answer them. I hope you'll stop by and say hello and maybe start your new adventure with an old crafting favourite. See you there! If you can't get enough of My Tuto...
Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Dotty, Lumpy, Spotty and Knobby

Or maybe you just call them polka dot! Got any idea what I'm talking about? No? Then read on........ I had a brilliant idea last night. Actually it came to me many months ago but it wasn't until last night that I could see how my idea might work. I've wanted to do this for such a long time but wasn't sure the idea would translate very well into Friendly Plastic and last night was the night I decided to test it out. By now you must be thinking that I've come up with the most clever Friendly Plastic idea ever, but that couldn't be further from the truth. You see, I'm talking about Bumpy Beads, just like those colourful glass beads that glass artists make. But, as with many of the Friendly Plastic beads I make, they are not meant to mimic the real thing, I've just borrowed a style and translated it into Friendly Plastic. What a bunch of fun beads! And I've really enjoyed making them up into a these cool bracelets. Vibrant pink and Black Delicate ...
Wednesday, June 2, 2010

The BEST Craft Organiser ever!

Bringing order to my studio space is a constant tussle between having a space that is tidy and easy to work in, as opposed to a creatively chaotic space that is truly inspiring. Sometimes I like it chaotic but at the moment I'm striving for the "easy to work in" environment. Studio organisation is a process of evolution. What worked well when I first set it up in October last year needs some tweaking and re-organising now, and some of my storage systems need re-purposing. At the time I didn't bring all my supplies into the new studio, only what I was actually using. That was such a good move as I haven't touched any of that stuff and it's not taking up valuable studio storage space. But on the other hand, I've realised that if it's out of sight, it's also out of mind so in an effort to make what I already have in the studio more accessible I'm tackling the organising monster again! And just as my studio is a constantly evolving space, so a...