Mixed Media Monday - Totally Giftable gift bags + Homemade Bath Salts Recipe

Anything is better when it's hand made! Don't you think?  Today I show you how to make a gift from the heart!

I love working in mixed media, but find it especially rewarding when it’s functional.  My friends know that when I give gifts, it’s generally hand made.  This little gift-able pouch is a work of art in itself.  It’s like getting two gifts in one!!

Hint:  You can make this easily into a no-sew project by using fabric glue.  The little pouches are so easy to create that you can make several in a short time and keep them on hand when you need to give a little gift.

The Gift Bag and Bath Salts

Project Dimensions: Varies depending which size bezel you select

Spellbinders Supplies:

GC1-001 Spellbinders® Grand Calibur® machine

GC-008 Spellbinders® Rasberry Spacer Plate (Adapter Plate)

 

S5-188 Superellipse Spellbinders® Nestabilities®

E3D-010 Roman Romance Spellbinders® 3D M-bossabilities™

MB6-006 Susan Lenart Kazmer for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Turtles One

2 pieces of 7” x 4 1/2” muslin fabric

Clear embossing powder

Rubber stamp

Alcohol based marker in color of choice

Dye based ink in color of choice

Twine

Rubbing alcohol

Tacky glue

Jewelry glue

Needle and thread

Scissors

Cosmetic sponge

Embossing/Heat Gun

Optional supplies:  scraps of cheese cloth, burlap, broken bits of jewelry, shells, fabric glue, ribbon, beads etc.

Embellishing the blank:

Apply a bit of glue with cosmetic sponge to the front of the turquoise blank.

Sprinkle on embossing powder and heat to melt. (Hint:  if you want an extra thick layer add more embossing powder to the melted powder and re-heat)

Press stamp into melted powder to texture.  Allow to cool before removing stamp to reveal the texture.

Apply color as desired with alcohol based markers

Spritz with rubbing alcohol to blend colors together

Creating the bag:

Using the #6 Superellipse Nestabilities® die template (with #1 being the smallest) cut two panels of muslin fabric using the Spellbinders® Grand Calibur® machine.

Apply ink to one side the Roman Romance 3D M-bossabilities® folder.

Lay fabric over pattern and close the folder.

Sandwich the folder between the embossing plate and the raspberry spacer plate and pass through the Grand Calibur machine to transfer the ink to the fabric.

Remove fabric and repeat the above steps to apply pattern to the remaining panel.

Fold top of panel to back side and glue/stitch into place. 

With right sides together, stitch/glue edges.  (allow glue to dry)

Turn right side out.

Attach embellished turtle blank, fabric scraps and other miscellaneous items with tacky glue and allow to dry. 

Fill bag with desired contents and tie off with ribbon or twine. 

Easy DIY Bath Salt Recipe

Essential oils come in a variety of fragrances and can be found at your local health food store.

2 parts epsom salt
1 part baking soda
5 to 10 drops of essential oil

Add color with a drop or two of gel food coloring.


I prefer a blend of lavenders for relaxing, peppermint for a quick pick me up, eucalyptus for relieving my sinus symptoms

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Mixed Media Monday - How to make faux turquoise with Polymer Clay - Spellbinders Media Mixage

Happy MONDAY!

Faux stones are one of my favorites to create with polymer clay. The results are stunning and the technique is easy! The bezels designed by Susan Lenart Kasmer for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ make it so easy to get the look of inlaid turquoise without having to use a lot of tools. It’s a wonderful way to get the look of real stones without the cost or making the piece excessively heavy to wear. This is one of the techniques that I share in my book “Making Beads with Polymer Clay” by Cico Books.

Follow myself and two other talented designers on facebook using hashtag #2lindasandaBeck  You'll love their work too!!

Answer this question in the comments and be entered to win a Spellbinders Media Mixage bag of bezels:  How would you use this technique?

  Project Dimensions: Varies Spellbinders


 Supplies: MMM-001 Spellbinders® Artisan X-plorer™ Machine
  MB1-001 Susan Lenart Kazmer™ for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Ovals One – Bronze
MB1-006 Susan Lenart Kazmer™ for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Shields One - Bronze Polymer clay in a light green color
Polyblade blade
Black acrylic paint
Clear nail varnish - optional
Cosmetic sponge 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper.
Acrylic Brayer
Non-stick work surface
Baby Powder
Optional items: vintage metal findings, accent beads, old broken jewelry such as brooches, earrings etc., jump rings, jewelry glue, chains, toggles/blanks, bracelet blanks, jewelry pliers
Note: Condition clay until it is soft and pliable by flattening with a brayer and folding it in half. Repeat several times. You can also use a pasta machine to speed up the conditioning process.

Creating the Faux Turquoise Roll a log of clay approximately ½” in diameter.

Slice the clay into random thicknesses and separate pieces

Continue mincing clay into random shapes both large and small.

If necessary dust the clay lightly with baby powder to keep the clay from sticking together as you chop. You should have random sizes and shapes.

Using a cosmetic sponge apply black acrylic paint to all the pieces of clay. Gather these up, squeeze together and create a ball shape. Set aside to dry while working on bezel.

Inlaid Pendant: Press a ball of green (non-patterned) clay into the desired size of the Susan Lenart Kazmer™ for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Ovals One or Shields One.

Make sure you fill the entire bezel with the clay and smooth.  Trim edges if necessary.
With Polyblade, slice clay ball in half to reveal pattern.

Shave off thin sections of patterned clay and apply to the clay on the bezel.

Repeat this process until you have the desired patterned. Use brayer to set in pieces and smooth surface.

Use the Polyblade to neaten up the edges.

Bake the clay inside the bezel according to the manufacturer’s baking temperatures for the recommended length of time.

Generally approximately 30 minutes. Allow to cool.

Paint the gold nail polish onto the surface if desired and allow to dry.
With wet sandpaper, gently sand the surface of the clay to remove excess nail polish, leaving it only in the crevasse.

  If a glossy finish is desired, paint the surface with clear nail varnish. Assembly: Glue bezels onto desired filigree findings using jewelry glue. Allow to dry. Attach pendants to chain and finish with toggle.

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Off to Spellbinder-Land!

I have a few minutes while waiting at the airport.  I'm so excited to be off to Phoenix, AZ to join the design team at the annual Spellbinder's Retreat.  I'll be teaching two classes - one on Mixed Media and another on Video Production.

I'm so excited to meet these amazing and talented designers who have flown in from all over the world to be part of the festivities.

Here's a quick sneek peak at an upcoming Mixed Media Monday video.  I'll be using a letterpress technique on fabric - oh so easy!  I'll be taping this segment while I'm there in front of a live audience!

Have a fun and safe weekend!  More pics to come

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Burlap, Baubles and Bling - Oh My - The New Janie Lane Home collection

I've found my calling....upcycling junk -trash to treasure - dumpster diver at heart - whatever you want to call it, I'm having a blast making it.

I've been promising Dana that I would make blinds for the front room of the house so that our African mounts won't get all sun faded.  If you've seen the inside of a Bass Pro -just imagine living it it and that is what our home is like.  I made the blinds from burlap and being that I can't throw so much as a hair of a scrap away, here's a peek at what I've designed for the Janie Lane Home Collection

To keep up with all the latest makes - please follow the Janie Lane Home Collection on Facebook -CLICK HERE

 I'm also playing around with bits and pieces of left over chicken wire and have loads of ideas of things to create.  Above is a wreath that I made - I acid washed the chicken wire to age and patina it.

Christine, the owner of Restore in Nixa, decided to give her handbag a little decoration with one of my burlap quilted hearts. - Love this idea!!

It's always trash to treasure around here! It's so much fun to upcycle and recycle throw aways into decorative art!



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Mixed Media Monday - The Art Doll - Creating with wire and Spellbinders Media Mixage Hatpins

When I was growing up, I played with dolls.  I had two dolls I was especially fond of - a dolly I named "my Kelly doll" and another doll that my Grandpa Campbell gave to me called "Baby Beans".  I still have both of them.  Those are great childhood memories.

Well, while some may say I'm too old to play with dolls, I would beg to differ.  Dolls come in all forms, all styles.  Art Dolls are so fun to create because you can add personal momento's to them - making them a personal treasure.

I am especially fond of dress forms and decided to take this a step further and create an art doll.  There are no wrong ways to create this doll as each one is unique and special in its own way.  It’s a great way to create using bits and pieces that you have from other projects.  Anything goes – just let your creativity flow.

How to make The Art Doll 

Project Dimensions: Varies

Spellbinders Supplies:

MMM-001 Spellbinders® Artisan X-plorer™ Machine

MD1-010 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™  Hearts Two Die Template

MB3-001 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Circles Hatpin Bronze

20 gauge steel annealed wire (available at hardware stores)

24 gauge wire – any color

Air dry clay or polymer clay

Flexible face mold

Acrylic paint – flesh color

Small swatches of fabric

Polyfill fiber stuffing

Needle and coordinating thread

Balled headpin

Bi-cone crystal

Pearl bead

Bi-cone shape bead cap

Bamboo skewer

Printed dictionary paper or other paper of choice

Tacky glue

Pliers

Wire cutters

Scissors

Optional items:  vintage laces, copper mesh fabric, found objects, broken jewelry, buttons, micro beads, watch parts, chain, keys, feathers, etc.  Any object that has personal meaning can be added to this art doll.

Note:  Helpful hint:  dust mold with baby powder to help it release.  If using polymer clay follow manufacturers baking instructions.

Skirt frame:

Create the base by forming two circles of wire approximately 4” in diameter.  Loop ends of wire over the circle loops to secure.

Cut three lengths approximately 9 inches from steel annealed wire.  Curve in the center to form a dome. 

Lay two pieces together to form a criss cross.  Wire the top together using 24 gauge wire to secure.  Add the final wire and secure with wire in the same manner.

Position the wires at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12’oclock

Add another layer of wire in the middle by looping the one end and wrapping the wire around each section all the way around.  .  It will look somewhat like a birdcage when finished.

Tear strips of paper and glue this to the skirt frame.  Continue adding multiple layers of paper, copper wire mesh and vintage lace if desired.

Doll Body:

Cut two pieces of fabric using the #2 (with #1 being the smallest)  Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Hearts two die using the Artisan X-plorer™ machine. 

With right sides together stitch around heart leaving an opening on the side.

Slip curves with scissors being careful not to clip into the seam.  Turn right side out.

Add a bit of stuffing with a bamboo skewer and stitch the opening closed.

Insert a length of wire approximately 5” into the top portion of the heart.  Loop the ends of the wire with pliers and wrap the end of the wire around the base wire to secure. 

Wrap an additional length of wire around the arm to give it a little extra bulk.  Bend wires to form arm shapes.

Head:

Roll two small balls of air-dry clay.  Press one ball into the bezel area of the large hatpin forming a small dome.

Press the other ball into the face mold and release.

Place the molded face onto the domed clay and smooth in to the side seams being careful not to distort the face. 

To create the crown, insert a headpin through a bi-cone crystal, pearl bead and through a bi-cone bead cap.  Press the end of the headpin into the doll head where desired and allow to dry.

Once dry, paint the face a flesh color if desired,  daub glue onto head and embellish with micro beads and small watch parts and allow to dry.

Assembly:

Insert the end of the headpin through beads of choice and completely through body.

Insert the end of the headpin through the top of the skirt base and glue to secure.  Allow to dry.

Embellish and decorate to your doll to your hearts desire.

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