Friendly Plastic Radio and Marathon Day 3

Did you listen in to our premiere radio show last night? We had a great time and several suprize guests.

I hosted the hour long show interviewing several guests. Along with Jen Lowe, our featured guest, we also had Dawn Sandoe and Becky Finch from Amaco sharing new product announcements.

Special Guest appearances by Designers Helen Bradley and Michelle Zimmerman giving us the inside scoop on some interesting finds at CHA.

Polymer Clay artist Lisa Pavelka, telling us about the full line of products from VIVA including some metallic finishes that would work on Friendly Plastic Pellets - and possibly sticks.

Our suprize guest feature was 2009 CHA Winter Design Challenge Winner, Mylene Hillam all the way from Australia.

A very well rounded show and lots of fun!

We talked about tips, techniques and all sorts of stuff..

If you didn't get a chance to listen in...don't worry, It's archived - just click here

One of the product announcements (you'll have to listen to the show for the others) last night were 6 new colors of Friendly Plastic. These have NOT been finalized as of yet, but here are 6 of the contenders.





Now...what we need from you the viewers is HELP! HELP! HELP! We need you to ask questions, give us ideas on what you want in Friendly Plastic, what are YOUR favorite colors, ideas for tools, textures...anything imaginable. Leave comments on this blog, email me or Jana, twitter us ( friendyplastic or amacocrafts ) or comment on the Friendly Plastic Facebook page.

Im not sure when, but we will have another Radio show next month and I will announce that on the blog as to the time and subject. So...get your ideas in!!

Now on with the Marathon:

Im not sure what we were thinking....that we would just whip out this stuff...or at least ...not sure what I was thinking???? These are not quick projects...at least not the silver part!

We're working with Art Clay Silver this week in combination with Friendly Plastic and creating more of an upscale art jewelry look. It is a painstaking lesson in patience. From the initial concept drawn out on paper, to the creation of the design, the prep before the kiln, the sanding and sanding and sanding after it's fired....to the look you accomplish is not for the "gotta have it now" person like me. But...I will say that the results are beautiful.



I forget that the clay shrinks upon firing. I intended for this heart to be a little bit bigger....but.......oh well..it turned into a dainty little piece. The heart shape and bezel were completely created from scratch and I can tell you my polymer clay experience sure came in handy.



The little swirly is a punch from paper clay silver. A great little accent don't you think? Which got me to thinking. For things like this, instead of using silver..which is beautiful, but pricey, why not simulate the look with ArtEmboss Pewter. It looks "virtually" the same, but the cost is sooooo not the same! I think that is what I will be doing in the future, especially when I want to embed them in resin.

Jen tried experimenting with another of Amaco's products - Wax Resist on metal clay to create an etching effect. She's blogged about her ventures - so check out her blog at www.jen-lowe-designs.blogspot.com The wax resist is kind of an uncommon product unless you are familiar with pottery. But one that I would like to try on pellets because I do think it will create some interesting effects. If not...well it was worth a try. We also have some other mediums to play with - like genesis paints ....

Im beginning to think that Jen must stay here for at least 2 weeks and maybe that isn't enough time to try everything we have in our brains.....

Friendly Plastic Marathon Day 2 - Making bezels in Friendly Plastic

We intended to get a load of silver fired yesterday, but instead, we got a little side tracked and decided to get a "WHOLE" bunch of silver finished before we fired. We worked feverishly and I mean FEVERISHLY to get as many things done as possible. We made more bezels, more charms, paper-type clay punches for embellishment...we just had a ball....Here's a sampling of what we made....

I made this piece the last time Jen was here and it has sat around for about 2 years now. This is the "brilliant idea" that looked so wonderful until I put the resin inside and it didnt cure. Then I broke it...so now I learned how to repair and all is well.....and ready for some Friendly Plastic!!

After all the working...here's what your table ends up looking like... This is the metal clay table...



and here is the Friendly Plastic table....


With all that work.....(I know you are feeling terribly sorry for us about now huh?)..we needed a break! I took Jen to my favorite bead store in Springfield, Missouri - TouchStone beads (it's on Glenstone Avenue)!



Here is Molly - one of the family members who own the store. She is a doll! I absolutely love her - great customer service and most of the samples in the store are her own designs and work...she is amazingly talented and willing to share. So here is what I say...If you are coming to the Ozarks, have your husband drop you off at Touchstone beads and let him go to Bass Pro down the street....You will both be happy!



Now back to the studio for a little bit of practice setting designs into a metal "tray".



This tray is not one we made - it's one from NunnDesigns (check out their website) But it was good practice in cutter fusion and fracture and fusion. And this time...the resin cured so we are good to go!

Tomorrow...or maybe even later today...in time for the Radio show, but no promises, we will have or pieces filled with Friendly Plastic and you will see a gallery of all the things we are working on.

The pieces have just come out of the kiln and are cooling, but I will photograph them again, so you can see what they look like when they come out of the kiln and the progress of this process...

Soooo stay tuned! More fun stuff to come your way!

Blog Talk Radio and Friendly Plastic Marathon

Did you get a chance to tune in and hear Jana on Blog Talk Radio last night? Well....if you didn't...dont worry! The show is archived so you can hear it at your convienence! Just go to:
www.blogtalkradio.com/inspiredathome and click on the July, 26th show link.

Last night was my first opportunity to tune in to the show - (I used the phone number), I have to say I was impressed with the entire show! Tiffany Windsor is an excellent host, but why wouldn't she be? She comes by it naturally as her mother is Aleene, the Original Queen of Crafts and Glue.

Maria Nerius, also a famous craft columnist,editor for Favecrafts.com and artist, reported on different types of glue. You can find all the in's and outs on glue on their website at www.inspiredathome.com . While glues may not be your thing...this important stuff to know when you need to glue friendly plastic to something. And don't forget you can also get more info on glues compatible with friendly plastic in the E-Cylopedia.

We also got to hear from Julianna Hudgins while at CHA - the international craft trade show going on this week. Plus other special guests.

There is also a live chat that goes on during the show, which is totally fun. Meet new people, network and just have a good ole' time!

So...get yourselves on over to the show and hear what Jana has to say about Friendly Plastic!

Now.....on with OUR MARATHON!

Jen called last night and said she is east of St. Louis which means she will be here around NOON today and she tells me her car is packed with stuff to work with! OOOHH Im like a kid waiting for a trip to the dime store to buy penny candy! I just don't think she can drive fast enough.

As soon as she gets here our marathon begins. Friendly Plastic, Metal Clay...mixed media...you name it ..it's going to be used. She will be here until Saturday morning.

Who's interested in chatting with us this week? I have set up blog talk radio for Friendly Plastic...so let me work out the details and I'll letcha know...

We're always cookin up something around here....it's just not food!

Oh....goodness...look at the time...I gotta get the studio cleaned!!!

Counting down to the Friendly Plastic Marathon with Jen Lowe

The count down begins today........I've been thinking of a good "name" to call next weeks blog posts....and then it hit me...

When Jen and I get to creating it truly a marathon...it is not stop creative bop! We get up early and go to bed super late if at all! Sometimes we talk, other we are extremely silent.

The theme for this week is Metal Clay and Friendly Plastic. To begin the countdown, I "WAS" going to show you a piece that I created a couple of years ago in metal clay.

Sometimes a piece has to literally just sit around for years until one day, I get inspired. That was what happened yesterday. I archived a piece I created a LONG time ago when Jen was here November 2007. I added Friendly Plastic to the bezel and it turned out Bea-UTIFUL! Then I added the resin to make it look glass like.....and...............................................................the resin never set up! AAHHHH!! I am bummed bummed bummed....and part of me is telling my stupid self.....self...why were you in such a hurry?? You can't hurry greatness....you must have patience YOUNG grasshopper (emphasis on the *young*)! Oh I could just shoot myself with a heat gun!

So then I got a brilliant idea...as I often have brilliant ideas ... I'll just add some liquid polymer clay over the top of it and set it with a heat gun...then I'll add a clear coat of sealer and it will be good as new....NOT! Another dumb -yet almost brilliant idea that DID NOT WORK! So don't try it...it bubbles the non-cured resin...makes your FP hot and sticky...and just is another idea that I have to chalk up to the learning process.

However.......all is not lost because what I did learn is that since the FP heats up and gets gooey, you can also pull it out of the bezel frame and clean the frame up as good as new and start all over...which I shall do in about an hour.....

So...sorry no picture of my what would have been "great piece" today....but I will post it as soon as I learn some patience in mixing my resin and letting it set.

Let's begin the Friendly Plastic Marathon countdown with this:




Join Inspired at Home host Tiffany Windsor and special Guest Jana Ewy Sunday night on Blog Talk Radio.

Sunday July 26 - Check the website for your local time.

Listeners can "tune-in" to the live shows via the internet and access archived podcasts 24/7. Listeners can also listen to the show live via their phone by calling 646/929-2406.

Dont worry....if you can't join them tomorrow, you can access the podcast at your convenience.

Guess who's coming to visit?

Any ideas???? None other than the famous Jen Lowe herself! Im so excited that MONDAY she will be here.

Jen has just returned from teaching at the Metal Clay conference where she says made her head swim.

Soooooooo.....we'll be exploring metal clay...creating bezels and incorporating some Friendly Plastic for a multimedia combination.

Don't miss out on our posts next week....and I'm sure we'll be taping a video sometime too!!!