Good things come in small packages Lindy Lu Lu" My Auntie said to me - Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Monday Art Journal

"Good things come in small packages" my Auntie said to me..........

So much of my artwork is inspired by my family, old memories, old photographs and times gone by.  I feel it much more important to hold those memories close as I get older.

This pendant/Art Journal is inspired by my Aunt Jeanette - my "Auntie" - {when I was little I couldn't say Jeanette}.  She passed away in the late 70's when I was in 7th grade.  We had a very close bond..  She was my Mom's oldest sister, 10 years older than my Mom.  She was sort of like my Mom's second Mother.  Auntie had no children and so she spoiled me like I was her own.

She had a love of miniatures and all things tiny. She would tell me stories of  how she always dreamed of a having a doll house to fix up and decorate just the way she wanted.  I think this might have been a way to keep her thinking young.  So in 1973, she had a doll house custom built for her.  It was golden yellow, looked like a beautiful farmhouse with a big front porch and bay window in the front and a side porch off one side.  It had a gorgeous winding staircase.  It was built by hand and she paid $300 for it.  I bet you can picture how my eyes lit up the first time I saw it.  To a little girl, it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen - it even had a chandelier and a miniature sized Tiffany style lamp that lit up!

She would tell me "Lindy Lu Lu, good things come in small packages". I believed her.

It wasn't but a couple of years later, that Auntie fell very sick.  And one day, she told me, as I sat on the bed beside her in the hospital "Linda Lu Lu, when I am gone, I want you to have my doll house".  The doll house became mine in 1979. Years later, I passed it along to my Aunt Molly who was able to fix it up in ways I couldn't.  But one day, I hope that it will become mine again.  

Auntie was right, good things DO come in small packages. And that my dear friends, is my love for all things in small packages started and the inspiration for this piece came about.

In today's video, I'm going to show you how to EXPLORE BEYOND using Spellbinders® die templates.

and  look beyond the shape and use the die to create this adorable little mini book that you can fill with your personal thoughts and memories.  Think Dimensional - Think 3-D and  Explore BEYOND!

How to make a Mini Art Journal - Mini Book Pendant 

Designed by Linda Peterson

Project Dimensions:  Book Size 1 3/8 x 1 1/8 x ¼

Spellbinders Supplies:

MMM-001 Spellbinders® Artisan X-plorer™ Machine

MT1-003 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™  Grate Works Two Texture Plates

MM1-001 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Foil Pack One

MM1-004 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Aluminum

S5-143 Spellbinders® Jewel Flowers and Flourishes Die

MD1-013 Susan Lenart Kazmer for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™  Rectangles Two Die

MD1-001 Susan Lenart Kazmer for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™   Ovals One Die

MB1-501 Susan Lenart Kazmer for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™   Ovals One Bezel 

    bronze 5 pack

MP1-001 Susan Lenart Kazmer for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™   Ephemera Papers One

Other Supplies:

Dictionary pages (optional) 

Lace or ribbon

Acrylic paint in coordinating colors

Makeup sponge

Ancient Page® Acid Free Dye Ink – Chocolate

Copic® marker – Copper E-18

Envirotex™ Light -2 part epoxy resin

Tacky glue

Decoupage medium/paper sealer

Beads of choice

Bead caps

Headpins

Small piece of chain

Jump rings

Pin back

Stapler

Jewelry Pliers

Sanding block

2-part Epoxy resin

Instructions:

Creating your own foam texture stamps

1. Cut aluminum rectangle from Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Rectangles Two #3 (with 1 being the smallest).  Cut 20 rectangles from dictionary or paper of choice.
2. Place texture plate, texture side up on to base plate.  Secure with tape
3. Place aluminum rectangle on texture plate and tape in position to achieve the pattern you like.  Finish with Cutting plate C and run through Artisan X-plorer™ machine.
4. Distress one side with paint or alcohol marker and sand off some of the textured areas to allow aluminum to show.
5. On back side draw a line 1” and 1 ¼” from the edge.
6. Use a straight edge to bend at lines to form book
7. Stack 5 paper rectangles, bend in half matching edges and crease.
8. Staple along the crease lines at the top and bottom.  Repeat for 5 signatures
9. Stack signatures and apply glue at the edge.  Allow to dry
10. Glue signature into book
11. Cut butterfly from the Spellbinders Jewels Flowers and Flourishes using bronze colored foil.  Distress with sanding sponge.
12. Daub a bit of paint to distress Ovals One bezel.  Allow to dry
13. Cut photograph using Ovals One die template #1.  Seal the photo with decoupage medium.
14. Place photo inside bezel and fill bezel with resin.  Allow to dry overnight
15. Collage lace, butterfly and bezel to the front of book and glue. 
16. Add pin back or attach a jump ring for a pendant. 

Designer Tip: 

For a variation of the book, attach a jump ring at the top and punch a hole in the lower right corner.  Set an eyelet and attach charms and dangles with a jump ring.  I use silk cording for the necklace and tie in the back of the neck so it can adjust.

Add pictures, words, short phrases or decorate the pages with Ephemera pages one book.  It’s a work of art that you can wear!!

Your creativity is limitless - Explore Beyond™!

Tags:  Linda Peterson , Spellbinders, media mixage, craft, diy, how to, tutorial, vintage necklace, vintage, mixed media, mixed media jewelry, jewelry making, jewelry techniques, texturizing brass, brass blanks, make jewelry, collage, found object, junk jewelry, Spellbinder die templates, art journals, miniature art journal, mini books, book pendants

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Friendly Plastic TV - Create a gorgeous Art Necklace

If you are new to the blog, have you heard about my newest series called Mixed Media Monday's? A brand new video tutorial each Monday that you won't want to miss.  It's like creative java for the week - the creative boost - except no caffeine!

Seems that lately, birds, birdhouses and all things miniature are at the front of my inspiration list.  Maybe it's because it's Spring and the birds are singing and the flowers are blooming.

In this episode of Friendly Plastic, I share two techniques.  First I show you how to use a die template to create a clean crisp pattern in Friendly Plastic and second how to set Friendly Plastic into a bezel blank.  So many possibilities to create beautiful glass like effects and jewelry even if you are a beginner.  For more ideas and the printable project instructions, go to http://friendlyplastic.blogspot.com

 Stamped Friendly Plastic Pendant

By Linda Peterson

Amaco^® Friendly Plastic^® – Turquoise or other color of choice

Amaco^® Rub-N-Buff^® Gold Leaf

Amaco^® Thin Brass Rods

Amaco ^® Needle tool

Spellbinders® Die Templates – Shapeabilities™ Expandable patterns – Botanical Swirls * see note below

Susan Lenart Kasmir for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™  Rectangles Two bezel

Copic® Marker in color of choice or substitute alcohol ink

Chain

Toggle or clasp

Balled Headpins – Antique Bronze

Miscellaneous charms and beads of choice

Jump rings

Envirotex Light – 2 part epoxy

Jewelry Pliers

Hammer (optional)

Metal file (optional)

Heat tool or Griddle

Scissors

Straw

Non-stick mat

Cold water and container

Make up sponge

Rubbing alcohol

• Note:  You can easily substitute a rubber stamp or texture plate for the die template design or create your own design with a needle tool. 

Variations:  Create a marbleized or mosaic pattern instead of stamping

Heat plastic till slightly melted on a non-stick mat

Place die/texture stamp texture side down over Friendly Plastic^®,

Gently press down to ensure a good design.  Allow to cool completely and remove die/stamp

Apply a small amount of Rub-N-Buff to a sponge and daub onto design.  Thin with rubbing alcohol if needed

Apply Copic® marker to randomly to design concentrating on the cracks.  Smooth with a sponge moistened with rubbing alcohol

Reheat and press bezel into FriendlyPlastic face side down as if you were cutting out a cookie.  Allow to cool

Remove and trim edges if needed with scissors

Place into bezel and heat again to set in place

Create additional texture with needle tool or clay shaper and let cool

Mix resin according to manufacture’s direction and pour into bezel

Remove air bubbles by gently blowing through a straw.  Let cure for 24 hours

Attach charms to pendant where desired.

Optional:

To create the bail, cut off a piece of thin brass rod to desired size.  Hammer flat and smooth edges with a file

Wrap brass rod with several balled head pins. Use jewelry pliers to curl ends and file any sharp edges.

Attach pendant to rod with jump rings

Finish by attaching pendant to chain and add toggle/clasp.

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The Mystery of the dingy blonde and the car keys... + a little sneak peek

Call me blonde....yes I know....I come by it naturally!  And since we all need a little humor in our life and not take ourselves so seriously, I thought I would share my yesterday with you all......

The day began pretty usual, you know....get up, get dressed, but I was particularly excited about the day because of all the craft shopping I was going to do for my next book.  I am a huntress, a junk huntress, a trash to treasure sort of gal.

And so about noon, Mariah and I set off on our said craft adventure in Red Sexy (aka my truck).  Well when the low tire indicator on the dash illuminated, it should have been a clue to what the rest of my day was going to be like....

So, I re-arranged my shopping schedule a little to make a stop by WalMart to get my tired looked at.  I gave them my keys, got everything on my list and returned to pick up Red about an hour and a half later.  Walmart shopping - check off the list....on to the Dollar Store, Lowes, the post office, pharmacy, Staples and finally Hobby Lobby.  After all the shopping it's now nearly 7:30 PM.

We're in the check out and I look in my purse to find the keys.....no keys....okay...well..I had my spare keys, but not my "Master" set of keys, the one with the tiger print key and the eifell tower charm danglie that I got in Paris....

As you can imagine, panic mode is starting to enter my brain as I proceed to dump out every item in my purse and then search the EMPTY purse for an object that is quite obviously not there....

The solution - (keep in mind, I have my spare set of keys...my my brain says this simply will not be enough..) is to spend the next 45 minutes going through ever aisle, looking under everything, searching every bin that I possibly had my hands in.....and still......no keys......I even ask all the workers...nope no keys...
Well...feeling defeated, I leave my name, description of keys and my number with the manager, hung my head, briefly pouted and headed home.  

Do I tell Dana? or don't I tell Dana?  I'm thinking DON'T TELL DANA at this point.

But then, I get the bright idea that maybe I wasn't so blonde and that I left my MASTER set of keys at Walmart when I had the tire fixed.  I consoled myself into feeling better because now it was NOT my fault...it was just my fault that I only noticed this error on THEIR part NOW...but none the less I was confident that this is where the mystery keys were.  So, I phoned.......and this poor kid in sporting goods answered.

I said, "i have a little delemma..." and explained my story..." The nice young man said "no problem ma'am, I'll go look in the auto department"....after a couple minutes he returned and said "sorry ma'am there's no keys there, but I'll be happy to RUN TO THE FRONT OF THE STORE to customer service and look there."  Well he must have run the entire store three of four times looking for those keys because he was gone a really ...really...long time....and when he returned he said, "I'm sorry ma'am, there's no keys there either".
Okay...so now I have to admit it's not Walmart's fault, it's my fault....and I'm still not telling Dana.....

I pull in the drive, exhausted, drained and there Dana is, sitting on the front porch enjoying the evening.  I proceeded to carry up all the bags I had bought, go in the house.....and the FIRST THING I SEE is my MASTER set of keys on the table......

I didn't know whether to throw a party? or feel pretty stupid that I didn't realize that all along I had been driving with my spare set.....but all in all....it turned out good.  I have my master keys and ...I guess I'll keep it a secret....but....I think Dana knows.......and the kid at Walmart got a good workout :)

Here's a little sneak peak of what I'm working on for Mixed Media Monday

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Mixed Media Monday! How to texture brass blanks - Spellbinder's® Media Mixáge™

Oh my goodness! Do I have exciting news!!!! I am happy to announce that I am working in conjunction with Spellbinder's Creative arts to bring you a brand new video each and every Monday!

I'll be working with the Spellbinder's® Media Mixáge™  line to create all sorts of mixed media projects from jewelry making to art journals, assemblages and more.  I'm so excited about this opportunity to really explore beyond my comfort zone and I hope you will join on this journey with me.

My first video shows you how to texture brass blanks using the Spellbinder's® Artisan X-Plorer™ machine. I am so in love with this machine and all the things it can do and as I share more video's I think you will love it just as much as I do.



This pendant is quick and easy and can be done and worn in about 30 minutes! Make sure you subscribe to my blog below and to my youtube channel so you don't miss any of the videos!  Enjoy!

She was Hopeful

Texturizing Brass Blanks

Designed by:  Linda Peterson

Level – Easy

Inspiration/Description:  I have always been inspired by words.  I love the way a simple word can be a positive reminder and have lots of impact.  I find myself adding words and phrases to most of my mixed media work.  This pendant combines many of the things I love; quick results,  vintage faux effects, antiqued charms and pictures. 

Project Dimensions:  If using Frame One #4: 2¼ x 1⅝” (Opening: 1⅜ x ⅞”), Frame #2: 1⅜ x 1” (Opening: ⅞ x ½”) – Pendant adjustable depending on length of cording

Spellbinders Supplies:

MMM-001 Spellbinder's® Artisan X-plorer™ Machine

MD2-001 -Susan Lenart-Kazmer for Spellbinder's® Media Mixáge™  Frames One Dies

MT1-001  Susan Lenart-Kazmer for Spellbinder's® Media Mixáge™  Grate Works One Texture Plates

MB6-001 Susan Lenart-Kazmer for Spellbinder's® Media Mixáge™  Frames One

MP1-001 Susan Lenart-Kazmer for Spellbinder's® Media Mixáge™ Ephemera Papers One

Other Supplies:

Vintage Photographs printed on ink jet or transparencies*

Antique bronze charms and findings of choice

Rub-N-Buff® - Patina

Ancient Page® Acid Free Dye Ink – Chocolate

Jump rings

Small piece of chain

Toggle clasp

Stringing material of choice – cording, silk ribbon, chain etc.

Makeup sponge

White tacky glue

Repositionable tape

Jewelry Pliers

Nail*

Hammer*

* optional

Instructions:

(optional – print photographs onto inkjet transparency for a very vintage look)

1. Place blank on to cutting board {C}, apply tape to secure
2. Place texture plate, texture side down over blank.  Secure with tape
3. Place base plate {A} over top to complete sandwich and run through Artisan X-plorer™ one time
4. Apply Rub-N-Buff to surface of frame and let dry a few seconds. 
5. Buff off some of the polish allowing portions of it to remain in the texture.
6. Ink the edges lightly with Ancient Page ink to further distress.
7. Cut photograph/paper or transparencies using #4 or #2 Frames One die to match the size blank you used.
8. Stack papers in desired order and glue to back of frame.  Distress back of pendant with ink to finish if desired. 
9. Use a hammer and nail to punch holes in bottom corners of pendant
10. Attach embellishments as desired with jewelry glue and allow to dry.
11. Attach small length of chain to bottom of pendant.  Use jewelry pliers and jumprings to attach charms to chain to dangle.
12. Attach toggle to cording (or allow an extra length to tie in back of neck)
13. Use jewelry pliers to attach toggle to cords with jump rings
14. Attach pendant to ribbon necklace with large jump ring

Designer Tip:  Instead of using a toggle clasp, I allowed extra ribbon so that the necklace can be tied around the neck.  This gives you the ability to adjust the lengths.

Use a small piece of wood behind blank when punching or drilling holes to protect your work surface

Your creativity is limitless - Explore Beyond™!

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Check back on Monday May 20th! - A little teaser!

Paper is flying, glue is glue'n, and paint is messy!  The studio is buzzing with all kinds of fun projects as I create projects for my next book - but there's more! 

Monday I'll be able to share details on a very exciting project I've been working on and happy to be part of.  So ...If you love mixed media and all kinds of funky junky goodness....you'll love this announcement. 

Until then have a great weekend! Enjoy the sunshine, create lots of stuff, enjoy family time and I'll see you Monday!


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