Glittered Toes Contest!

Summer is in full swing and it is a great time to sparkle your toes! Glitter them up any way you want and show them off to us for the chance to win $100 in Art Glitter products!

Email us a picture by July 12th to enter. Drawing will be held on July 13th.
Participants must live within the continental United States.

It is that simple! So send in your photos now.

4th of July Centerpiece By Laura Bray

Here’s a quick and simple centerpiece that will liven up any 4th of July BBQ picnic table! The glitter not only adds a patriotic touch, but it sparkles in both the sunlight and in the evening by candlelight!


Ingredients:

Roses: White and Red (real or silk)
Art Glitter: Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
Art Glitter: Gala Glitz in Blue
Small flag
Vase

Instructions:

• Apply glue to the petal edges of your white roses
• Sprinkle glitter onto glued areas
• Place glittered roses in a vase, along with the red roses and the flag

For our friends around the world, you can create your own centerpieces based on your country’s flag. Just keep your flag’s color scheme in mind when choosing flower and glitter and you are ready to celebrate-no matter where you live.


About Laura Bray

Laura Bray is a professional artist, designer and crafter. To read more about her adventures as an artist, mother and wife, visit her blog at www.katydiddys.blogspot.com. Visit Laura’s blog on July 4th to get a bonus Art Glitter project idea for the holiday!

Glitter Disco Balls by Linda Hess

Can you hear the Funky music playing?? Are visions of polyester leisure suits dancing in your head?? Well then let’s create some beautiful jewels to accompany those visions! Here are some super simple baubles that can be created within 5-10 minutes plus drying time.

These start with round wood beads from Indus Trading Company (www.buildurbeads.com). I love working with their wood products, because the surfaces are all SO smooth…perfect for any type of surface decoration. They are also quite lightweight.



Next I paint the surface of the beads with a color of Shimmer Opaque paint from Earth Safe Finishes (www.earthsafefinishes.com). I LOVE this product! It easily covers in one coat and gives whatever you paint a glowing finish plus it dries quickly. Perfect for those last minute projects that need a big impact. Plus all of the products from this company are EcoFriendly. For this particular project I used “Ruby” Shimmer Opaque to coordinate with the GORGEOUS “#291 Fire Engine Red Ultrafine glitter.

Allow the paint to dry completely and then cover surface with Art Glitter™ Designer “Dries Clear” Adhesive. Be sure to cover the bead surface completely, then roll in glitter (I dunk the bead directly into my glitter pot, but this makes some artists cringe!). Tap off excess glitter and set bead aside to dry. Repeat with additional beads. Once the glue has dried, tap or blow any loose glitter off the bead. If you decide to blow the glitter off, I highly recommend doing it outside. Otherwise you will be finding “fairy dust” in your work area indefinitely!

Seal the Glitter Disco balls with one of the varnishes from ESF. My favorite is the no-VOC version. A local decorative paint shop swears by the Marine varnish. All work well and clean up easily.

Once the sealer dries disco balls can be made into earrings (as shown) or strung to create a necklace or bracelet.

Boogie on…………

Coffee Filter Flowers by Laura Bray

Something Old, Something New

June is the month of weddings & anniversaries. Why not celebrate with the environment (and your budget) in mind? I created these lovely, sepia-colored roses using coffee filters! The used filters give the roses an antique look and all you have to do is drink a cup of coffee. These roses would make lovely centerpieces at a wedding shower or even a wedding. You can even match the glittered edges to the wedding colors. (The Vintage Glass Glitters particularly lend themselves to this project. Luckily, Art Institute Glitter offers their vintage glass glitter in a wide selection of colors!) If there is a Silver or Gold wedding anniversary celebration coming up, I would recommend using Rich Gold or Silvery Moon Shard Glass Glitter for the project.

Coffee Filter Flowers

Supplies:
Used coffee machine filters (round)
Art Institute Vintage Glass Glitter in color of your choice
Art Institute Designer “Dries Clear” Adhesive
Floral Wire
Floral Tape

Instructions:
• Rinse coffee grinds from coffee filter. Smooth flat and leave out to dry.
• Once filters are dry, fold the outside edge of the filter approximately ¼” all around the filter.
• Fold the filter in half.
• Starting at the edge of the filter, (with ¼” folded edge facing out) loosely roll the filter.
• Twist the bottom of the rolled filter to hold it.
• Take a piece of floral wire and hold it against the rolled end. Tape around the rolled end of the filter, attaching the floral wire in the process.
• Arrange the coffee filter petals to look like a rose by gently pulling them apart and arranging them in a pleasing manner.
• Pour your glitter into a small bowl. Apply adhesive to the edges of the petals and lightly roll the rose in the glitter bowl. Tap the rose on the edge of the bowl to release excess glitter.
• Your coffee filter roses are now ready to be used to create a stunning centerpiece.

Extras!
• Dye unused coffee filters with water and a few drops of food coloring to create colored flowers.
• Add leaves to your flowers. Simply cut-out leaf shapes from colored paper and attach to stems.



About Laura Bray

Laura Bray is a professional artist, designer and crafter. She lives in Southern California with her husband, daughter and their dog, Jack. She loves having a career doing what she loves and she shares her business knowledge with other artists and crafters so that they can do they too can live and work creatively. For more information about Laura and to sign-up for her free newsletter, visit her website at www.katydid-designs.com.

Glitter Beads by Linda Hess

Many years ago I met Leslie Blackford on a polymer clay retreat in Virginia. I was intrigued with all of the colors she was able to achieve by mixing anything available into translucent clay. Spices in the cabinet, dirt from the ground, pollen from the flowers all became color for her creations. Naturally I began to look at possible “inclusions” in a whole new way.
When I discovered Art Glitter I was creating small angels. Painting their baked wings with tacky glue and then sprinkling them with ultrafine glitter was a wonderful touch and gave them all sparkling personalities. However my dear husband had a problem with all of the glitter left behind as I blew the excess off after the glue dried (can you imagine?? A problem with “fairy dust”??). Following Leslie’s lead I began to mix the glitter into the clay thus skipping the glue and sprinkle steps and possibly saving my husband’s sanity. Glitter clay soon took over my creative thoughts (and my table) as I moved from angel wings to beads.

I discovered a few things about mixing the glitter into clay along the way. First, small amounts of glitter at a time work much better than trying to add all of it at once. Second, using a tool of some type (knitting needle, toothpick, teeny tiny spoon) to take glitter from the jar or container to the clay is much better than pouring in on! Third, ALWAYS work over a piece of paper to catch any excess glitter.

Here are some easy steps to help you bring out your sparkly side:
1) Choose a translucent clay (there are many brands to choose from). Condition clay and flatten into a sheet (this can be accomplished with a pasta machine, 2 popsicle sticks and a roller, or your fingers).
2) Add small amounts of glitter to the center and fold in the sides to enclose the glitter. Use your hands or pasta machine to mix thoroughly.
3) Flatten the clay again and add more glitter. Continue to repeat the steps until you are happy with the look. Please note that after baking the look will change…the translucent clay will “clarify” and the glitter will be more noticeable.
4) Roll beads with hands or bead roller of choice. Use a bead reamer, knitting needle, or turkey lacer to make a hole in each bead. Bake @ 275* for 15 minutes per ¼” thickness. Drop beads into ice water to cool when baking process is complete. String as desired.

Easy Glitter Ornaments by Nancy Ward

These decorated Christmas balls have been my solution to the 'good grief, I forgot a gift for...' dilemma for a lot of years. They're made in a flash and are always appreciated ( doesn't everyone need one more beauty for the tree?).

Here's what you need to make them:
Sulky KK 2000 Temporary Spray Adhesive (or another temporary spray adhesive)
Krylon Webbing Spray
Jacquard Products Pearl Ex
Art Institute Glitter
Clear glass tree ball
Small piece of facial tissue, folded



Here's what you do:
Remove the metal collar from the top of the ball (use caution, the glass rim is sharp).

Shake the KK 2000 and place the nozzle into the opening at the top of the ball. One short push of the button should be enough to coat the inside of the ball with glue.

Remove the nozzle.

Turn that plain glass ball into a beauty...

For glitter: Spray the glue into the ball as directed above. Place one teaspoon of glitter in the ball. Cover the rim with the piece of folded tissue , place your index finger over the rim, and shake the ball to disperse the glitter. Dump out excess glitter into a container. If more coverage or another color glitter is desired, spray another coat of glue into the ball and repeat. Replace the metal collar on the ball.

For Pearl Ex: Spray the glue into the ball as directed above. Add (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) of one color of Pearl Ex to the ball. Cover the rim with the piece of folded tissue, place your index finger over the rim, and shake the ball to disperse the Pearl Ex. Dump out excess Pearl Ex into a container. If either more coverage or a second color Pearl Ex is desired, spray another coat of glue into the ball and repeat. Replace the metal collar on the ball.

For Pearl Ex and Spray Webbing: Spray the glue into the ball as directed above. Add (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon) of one color Pearl Ex to the ball. Cover the rim with the folded tissue, place your index finger over the rim, and shake the ball to disperse the Pearl Ex. Dump out excess Pearl Ex into a container. Shake the can of webbing; insert the nozzle into the ball; spray one light coat of webbing into the ball. Either step can be repeated if desired. Replace the metal collar on the ball.

Happy decorating!

Fantasy Candy By Laura Bray

Who doesn’t love sweets? Who really doesn’t love what they do to your thighs? With the beginning of summer looming, I created a project for you to enjoy candy without making bathing suit season a traumatic event. Here’s my “recipe” for Fantasy Candy*!

Ingredients:

Art Institute Glitter’s Fantasy Film in a variety of colors
Scissors
1” Styrofoam balls or 1” wood beads
Tweezers
Heat gun

Instructions:

• Cut a 4” square of Fantasy Film.
• Take a Styrofoam ball or wood bead and place it in the center of the film. Roll film around ball and secure by twisting ends of film on either side of the ball. If you are using wood beads, make sure the holes in the beads do not face the wrapped ends. You will need to access the holes later in the project.
• Pick up the “candy” with a pair of tweezers. Using your heat gun, blow some hot air onto the candy. Still holding the candy with the tweezers, turn it so that all surface areas are exposed to heat. ONLY expose the candy to the heat gun for 1-2 seconds! Any longer and you could damage the film and lose the definition of the design. CAUTION: If you are using Styrofoam balls, they will melt if held under the heat too long. It’s very important to only expose your candy to the heat 1-2 seconds and to use tweezers to hold the candy when it is under the heat in order to prevent burns or fire. Wood beads can handle the heat better but, in order to get the look of the candy you want, keep the heat exposure to a minimum.
• Your wrapped candy will look almost like the expensive glass candies in the stores.

Once you have made about dozen candies, you can create a whimsical garland with them.

Fantasy Candy Garland

Ingredients:

Needle
Embroidery Thread
Candy necklace or candy colored beads


Instructions:

• Decide on a length for the garland and cut embroidery thread to that length. Be sure to account for extra thread on each end to use for hanging the garland. Knot one end.
• Thread a needle with your cut embroidery thread.
• Take candy necklace and break it apart if using. If you want the garland to last, or have concerns about edible elements, use candy colored beads on the garland instead. The necklace candy can also be coated with shellac to extend its shelf life.
• Take a Fantasy Candy and string it onto the embroidery thread by carefully pushing your threaded needle through the middle of the candy. If you used wood beads for the project, poke the needle through the holes in the bead. Push the candy to the knot at the end of the thread.
• Take candies from the necklace or beads and thread four or more onto the garland.
• Alternately thread Fantasy Candy and beads or candies to the garland until the garland length is reached. It’s best to end the garland with a Fantasy Candy.
• Knot the end of the garland.
• It’s ready to hang!


*Fantasy Candy and Fantasy Garland ARE NOT edible! These projects are for decoration only. They should be kept out of reach of children, pets, or anyone else who might try to take a taste!

About Laura Bray

Laura Bray is a professional artist, designer and crafter. She lives in Southern California with her husband, daughter and their dog, Jack. She loves having a career doing what she loves and she shares her business knowledge with other artists and crafters so that they can do they too can live and work creatively. For more information about Laura and to sign-up for her free newsletter, visit her website at www.katydid-designs.com.

Guest Designers!

We have got some fun coming up for you! Our three guest designers are busy creating some fantastic projects that will knock our socks off!!! We are lucky to have Laura Bray, Linda Hess and Nancy Ward. They will be with us all through June, July and August to heat up your summer crafts room.

They will be sporting this little widget on their own sites to let everyone know that they are truly glitter enthusiasts! (as if you couldn't tell anyway!)

First off let me introduce to you Laura Bray:
Laura Bray is a professional artist, designer and crafter. She lives in Southern California with her husband, daughter and their dog, Jack. She loves having a career doing what she loves and she shares her business knowledge with other artists and crafters so that they can do they too can live and work creatively. For more information about Laura and to sign-up for her free newsletter, visit her website at www.katydid-designs.com.

Next is Linda Hess.
I have been working with polymer clay since 1994, when I bought a piece from an artist and she allowed me to "pick her brain" about the stuff. I went to the craft shop, bought some, and started on my polymer journey!
Currently I teach polymer clay classes to children in after-school groups and to adults through local bead shops. Their abilities never cease to amaze! I never feel I am going to "work" because I have such fun. I sell my work at craft shows, online, and through local shops. Others have described my work as not fitting into any one niche. I can safely describe my style as multi media/multi-dimensional. I sculpt, cane, quilt, paint, sew, work in paper and scrapbooking...pretty much anything that is asked (Can you??? is a popular question that has only once or twice been answered to the negative).
I am married and have 3 beautiful children.
... By Linda
www.polymercreations4u.com

Then we have Nancy Ward...
I started crafting when I was a child and have never stopped. Through the years, I think I’ve fiddled with just about every craft that’s out there. Some didn’t hold my interest for too long, but paper and fabric have been at the top of my list for years. Although every craft provides an opportunity to grow and learn, patchwork and quilting have provided me with knowledge that has been invaluable in all crafting, and especially in paper crafts.

It’s hardly a surprise that the three books I’ve written, Fabric Painting Made Easy, Stamping Made Easy, and The Complete Guide to Glues & Adhesives, contained patchwork/quilting projects.

In addition to the books, I self-published a quilt making pattern, have written many magazine articles, and have an active blog .

I’ve taught a few thousand hours of classes in topics ranging from patchwork/quilting to fabric painting to stamping to rug braiding to embroidery to Christmas crafts to polymer clay to knitting...and more.

I can’t imagine not crafting…it’s what I do!
Nancy Ward
craftdesigns@hotmail.com
http://paperfriendly.blogspot.com

Thank you for playing with us ladies. The rest of you get ready for a new project later this week!