Friday, March 23, 2018

DIY Resin Jewelled Mirror

Are you looking for a different way to use resin?   Forget the usual practice of pouring resin into a silicone mould. Instead, try using a flat surface like a mirror to create a really unique home decor piece !  This colourful and fun project starts with a simple Ikea mirror tile that has been given a makeover with clusters of brightly coloured resin circles in the corners. When the light hits the mirror, the resin bubbles glow like jewels . Will Resin Stick to a Mirror? That's a really good question!   Mirrors and glass are slick surfaces so there's a possibility that the resin could be peeled off once it's cured. But if the mirror is a decorative piece that won't be handled, this shouldn't be a problem.   Tip: If you want to make sure the resin sticks permanently, apply glass etching paste to the area you want to resin. It will give the mirror some tooth for the resin to adhere to.  The bubbles of resin won't glow quite as much on the frosted surface but ...
Friday, March 16, 2018

Fabergé-Inspired Eggs for Easter

Make a set of decorative eggs that not only represents their importance as symbols of new life for Easter but that can also be displayed throughout the year as a decor item in their own right. These jewelled eggs are inspired by the opulent Faberge eggs commissioned by the Russian Tsars. In place of the precious metal, enamel and jewels, these are made with EasySculpt epoxy resin clay and sparkly Swarovski crystals. This project also appeared in the Spring 2016 issue of Crafts Ideas Magazine . Shopping List: EnviroTex EasySculpt Epoxy Resin Clay Colourants: Castin'Craft Resin Pigments and alcohol inks 2" polystyrene eggs Embellie Gellie or Krystal Katana 2 x  Swarovski flatback rivoli 2006  in colour of your choice Swarovski flatback crystals SS8 in colours of your choice G-S Hypo Cement Talcum powder Tissues and Methylated Spirits (denatured alcohol) or baby wipes Teflon craft sheet Gloves Tools: clay blade , needle tool , timer, How to Make Decorati...
Thursday, March 8, 2018

Faux Egyptian Perfume Bottle Pendant

Is it an Egyptian Perfume bottle?  Or a love potion? Or maybe if you rub it, a Genie will appear and grant you 3 wishes!  No matter how you see it, this exotic bottle pendant is sure to bring you lots of admiring compliments. To make one of your own, you'll need: F eature bead of your choice. Suggestions: venetian beads ;  lampwork beads ; European-style beads (troll, pandora, etc), cloisonné beads 4mm and 6mm  Swarovski crystals  to suit your feature bead An assortment of bead caps 50mm -  70mm long headpin  (depending on your design) Beadalon snake chain kit Clasp 2 x jump rings Additional if using a European-style bead or other large-hole bead 2mm - 3mm round spacer beads to fill the core Tools:   2 pairs chain nose pliers; R ound nose pliers; Flat nose pliers;  Flush cutters;    Bead mat Work Out Your Design To design your bottle pendant, you'll need to sort through your bead cap mix and find combinations that work well together. S...
Friday, March 2, 2018

Kintsugi Inspired Plate Repair

Wabi-sabi – the art of finding and embracing the beauty in imperfection. Kintsugi – the traditional Japanese technique of repairing broken pottery. In our materialistic society, it's easy to throw away broken objects and replace them with something shiny and new. But Kintsugi allows us not only to restore usefulness to a broken object but also to find the beauty in that object’s life story, reminding us that nothing is permanent, perfect or complete. And with that in mind, I’m going to repair a broken marble cake stand and give it a new life and beauty of its own. Traditionally, resin lacquer and gold powder are used to repair broken pottery, but in this modern take on the traditional method, I'll be using epoxy resin clay instead because it’s strong adhesive properties will hold up well on heavy marble. Here's what you'll need to do a repair like this: EasySculpt epoxy resin clay Aztec Gold Pearl Ex Soft paint brushes Basic sculpting tools Talcum ...