Great resin substitute!!

Hello. Sorry It's been so long. So much going on all the time. But I ran across this product and it is so amazing that I had to share. It is a great substitute for your two part resins. It's called Magic-Glos by Lisa Pavelka.  http://www.lisapavelka.com/Magic-Glos.asp  

I make a lot of jewelry, bottle-caps, scrabble tiles, dominoes, etc... I usually glue an image to the scrabble tile, coat it with several layers of sealer and then apply a two-part resin to it to make it super shiny. I use Enviro-tex. It is messy, smelly and takes a super long time to cure. But the results are amazing. I've tried several different products trying to get the same results I get using the resin. I've tried UTEE. With UTEE I usually get an uneven surface with part of the product either scorched or full of air bubbles. I also have to apply several coats to give it any depth. I've also tried Diamond Glaze. Still, it gives me no dimension and I have to apply several coats. I also tried to drill through both the UTEE and the Diamond Glaze and they both ended up cracking.

I tried this stuff (Magic-Glos) today. A little (well a lot) skeptical about the claims. It is supposed to be a great substitute for resin. I tried it and I love it. It is super shiny, super thick, super tough. You can drill it, it cures in 15 minutes in direct sunlight; no mess, no smell, no mixing. It creates a great "domed" effect on the top of the tiles. Did I say it cures in 15 minutes (or less)? You squirt it directly from the bottle!! Anyways, I found this great review, which I agree with 100% Check it out and let me know what you think. http://www.crafttestdummies.com/2008/09/15/craft-product-review-magic-glos-by-lisa-pavelka


p.s. I'll try to get better at this blog thing :) Read more...

Funky, five minute, flower pin tutorial

This is a super fast way to make fabulous, colorful pins.    (Or use these little beauties to embellish your other creations!!) 

What you will need:

• silk flowers of various colors, shapes and sizes  
  
• jumbo brads, 1" across (available at scrapbooking stores)
• 1" round piece of chipboard
• pin back
• jewelry glue (E-6000 or clear liquid nails)
• ephemera to decorate the front of the pin (bottlecaps, 1" images, broken jewelry, charms, small skulls or hearts)

Step 1:  Disassemble the silk flowers  (you will need flowers that have a hole in the middle when taken apart;  if there is no hole, you will need to make one using an 1/8" hole punch or a craft knife)

Step 2: Layer the flower pieces by placing them on top of each other.   I usually use four or five layers of different shapes and different color flowers.  

Step 3:  Thread your brad through the flower layers.  (Remember, your flowers each have a hole in the middle of them).  Line up the holes and thread the brad through.  

Step 4:   Using jewelry glue, glue your 1" piece of chipboard (or flat object of similar size) to the back of your pin.  The chipboard piece should be centered and cover the prongs of the brad.   (Here, I used a flat alphabet tin as the backing).

Step 5:  Embellish the front of your pin.  You can do this in several ways.  

• Decopauge an image directly onto the top of the brad
• Glue a bottle cap onto the top of the brad and then decorate the inside of the bottlecap
• Glue bits of jewelry or charms onto the top of the brad
• I make little polymer clay skulls that I like to glue onto the top of the bradDon't forget to use glitter glue to give the flower petals a little sparkle!

Step 6:  Using jewelry glue, glue the pin back onto the back of the pin. 

Enjoy!!

Read more...