Winter gift for a butterfly lover

I made this for a friend's mom who is an absolute butterfly fanatic. Acetate with butterfly & snowflakes stamped in staz-on is inside the 100mm clear ornament. Sprinkled glitter inside & swirled it around until the static charge made it cling to the acetate & ornament, added butterfly glittery sequins and "snowflake-like" irredescent flower sequins to give it some depth. The tag reads "A snowflake is winter's butterfly" and is also stamped with staz-on onto acetate. The tag is finished using the tag maker & rims from making memories. The bow is a big pouf with lighter blue butterflies stapled on.

Opalite reinker technique

I used the Opalite reinker technique to make this magnet. I think it looks a bit like dichroic glass. Start with black Bazzill cs (or any other TEXTURED cs). Randomly drip a few drops of one color of Opalite reinker and "squeegee" it around (you can get an official papercrafting squeegee or use an old credit card). Drip a 2nd color & then a third, squeegeeing between each. Make sure you leave a bit of the black showing. I used Crystal Blush, Orchid Ice & Nordic Ice. After it is completely dry, cut a piece to fit on a Bazzill Chip ( I used the 2x2). Also tear a few small pieces and glue them on top (I like to tear away from me to leave the black edge showing on my torn piece). Attach the square of colored cs to the chip ( I used my Xyron). Color the edges of the chip with a black sharpie marker to give the magnet a finished look at the end. Use a Versamark pad directly on the front of the colored cs & while tacky, coat with clear UTEE. Heat set the UTEE & while warm sprinkle a pinch of prisma glitter over the top. Use the Versamark pad again and coat with a 2nd layer of clear UTEE. Heat set & while it is still liquidy, sprinkle some seed beads on. Versamark & UTEE to coat with a 3rd layer to seal the piece. Attach a piece of magnet sheet to the back (I get the business card size ones and trim them to fit)

New creation - probably next year's County Fair entry

I have had this ribbon for at least a year and didn't know what special thing to use it for. Well, TA-DA!

I stamped with StazOn on a piece of acetate that I inserted into the clear ornament.

Ribbons, ribbons EVERYWHERE!

Here are my winners from this year's county fair. Also, my son won 2 ribbons - one for his coin collection and one for a mixed medium piece in the push-pin gallery.

I took a ton of photos while we were there and hope to enter those next year - especially the sunset. It was the most intense orange I've ever seen!

County Fair is this week!

And I FOUND my son's photos that I thought I had lost - they were on my other flash drive (LOL!).

I want to wait until after the judging to share everything with you - that way I can brag at the same time :D

County Fair is 2 weeks away

I'll definately be entering some photos, have a stamped creation ready but not sure what else I'll take. I think there is a category for Christmas ornaments, so I'm thinking of entering one of the Alcohol Ink ones.

My son enters stuff, too. I'm bummed, somehow I "lost" the photos he took of the cutest little colt & mom - ok they were not little, but darling anyway. He's been a good sport about it, but I feel bad.

I like to go to the fair on the 1st night - everything is "fresh", not too crowded & the rides are "pay-one-price". Last year my son was sick so he wasn't able to go on the rides. So far, so good, this year - everyone is healthy.

Alcohol Ink Ornaments

I made these ornaments last year thanks to inspired lessons from my friends at The Stamp Shack, I was recently asked to post how I did them. Its craft season again so time to make more!

These started as clear ornaments. I’ve used both the small inexpensive ones from Big Lots and the nice craft weight ones from Michael’s & A.C. Moore – the craft ones had bigger necks that weren’t so fragile so it made it easier to get the wire & cap out & back in.

Water down some white glue that dries clear (I used Aileen’s Tacky Glue) and pour it into the ornament. Move it around so the whole inside of the ornament is coated with the glue.

Pour in holographic glitter (I got mine at Michaels), put your finger over the neck hole and shake until the glue is completely coated with glitter. Different size glitter will give different effects – the extra fine or fine makes it glittery, the larger gives chunks of reflective colors. After the glue is completely coated, dump out the excess.

Next step is to put the Alcohol Ink (AI) on the outside. As my friend Christie says “dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab, dab…then dab some more!” I found by going around a 2nd or 3rd time gave it more interest.

Here is a link to Christie's blog - she posted a video :) http://imuststamp.blogspot.com/

I prefer to do the AI while the glue inside is still showing white - it gives me a better idea where I have coverage and where I need more.

The AI dries very quickly, but the glue inside needs time. Turn it upside down and let the excess drip out. If you put the wire & cap back on too soon, it will rust and could discolor the effect.

I tried using silver ornaments, but the effect was not nearly as nice. Christie used white opaque ones and they look great, so that will be my next project.

These are tiny ornaments I made into earrings. Really cute when done, but a lot of work to get the glue & glitter to lay right and then put the alcohol ink on the outside without getting it all over my hands.