Custom Party Hat by Cassandra Midkiff

A custom party hat is a perfect way to make someone feel special on their birthday (or on any occasion).


Materials used:
Art Glitter in: #100 Sea Shell, #144 Miss Muffet, #95 Summer Sea and Kooky Kolors
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive with Ultrafine Metal Tip attached
Scrapbook paper
Crepe paper
Pom pom trim
Seam binding
Chipboard letter
Craft flowers
Brown Ink pad


First I bought an inexpensive party hat pack from the dollar store and took one of them apart to use as my template. I traced the shape with a pencil onto my piece of scrapbook paper, cutting it out and placing a small amount of the Dries Clear adhesive to the seam to glue it back together. To create the ruffle with the crepe paper I placed a strip of glue around the bottom edge and then gathered the crepe paper as I went around the perimeter of the hat. When it was dry I then folded down the top part of the crepe paper creating the double ruffle. Then I went along the top part of the ruffle with the glue and sprinkled on some Art Glitter in Sea Shell. On the top of the hat I cut a hole and gathered some more of the crepe paper to make a flower shape then glued it into place, I also went along the edges of the crepe flower with glue and used a light blue Kooky Kolors Art Glitter to add sparkle. I finished this part off with some pom pom blue trim.


Next I cut a square from a coordinating scrapbook paper then aged the edges with my brown ink pad. I attached the square to the hat with more dries clear adhesive, seam binding and then attached the flower. I took a chipboard letter and covered it with the Dries Clear adhesive and sprinkled on my Art Glitter in Summer Sea, I also attached this to the square acting as my focal point.


Finally I used a pen to draw fun circles all over the hat placing the glue in the center of each circle and glittering it with Art Glitter in Miss Muffet. I attached some white seam binding with glue to the inside of the hat to act as my tie. Now you have a beautiful and custom party hat which takes very little time to make and makes your party goers feel extra special. Have fun with it!

Glittered Owl Frame by Amy Anderson

Hi! It's Amy from Mod Podge Rocks, here with my second installment of glitter projects. This time we're working with one of my favorite subjects - the owl. Owls have been popular for a few years, and it seems everyone still loves them. I definitely do. When I checked through my stash and found this paper and this owl wood piece, I had to add glitter. Here's what I did.

Gather These Supplies:

Unfinished wood frame - got mine for $1 at Michaels
Wood embellishment - I used an owl
Scrapbook paper - 1 sheet, I used Adorn It Owls All Around
FolkArt Acrylic Paint - in coordinating colors; I used Coastal Blue and Burnt Umber

Mod Podge Matte
Flat paint brush
Ultrafine Opaque Art Glitter - #234 Turquoise, #132 Saddlebag, #56 Pumpkin, #58 Brown
Designer Dries Clear Glue with Metal Tip

Pencil or Pen

Scissors

Trace your frame onto the back of your piece of scrapbook paper. Cut out the shape to cover your frame and set aside.

You'll first need to remove the back and paint the frame. If your frame has any rough edges, you can take care of them with sandpaper. Mine was okay, so I just began painting. The nice part about Mod Podging a frame is that you only need to paint the sides that will show and the back. Give several coats and allow to dry.

At the same time, you'll want to paint your owl. I did this just in case some of the parts showed through the glitter on the edges. You can see that I sketched out his stomach area so that I could avoid it when sprinkling the brown glitter. Let him dry and we'll come back and glitter him in a minute.

Now that your frame is dry, you need to paint Mod Podge onto the front of it so that you can adhere the paper. Put a medium coat down.

Using your hands (or a brayer like I did), smooth the paper down thoroughly. Continue to smooth until you have removed all of the air bubbles from your project. Allow to dry for 15 - 20 minutes.

Now that the paper has dried, coat the entire frame with Mod Podge. Do the back and front. Allow to dry and then repeat.

I've made a significant update to my life since my last project - I bought a glitter tray! You won't believe how my life has changed since I invested in this tray. If you aren't a slob like me, you might not need one, but it works so well for me.

To glitter my wood piece, I started with the largest area (brown). I spread Mod Podge over the paint area . . . ..

And then sprinkled my brown glitter. I tapped tapped tapped the wood piece to get the excess glitter off, then allowed it to dry. I proceeded to finish up with the turquoise and pumpkin glitters. You may want to move to a small brush to apply the Mod Podge on smaller areas - it's up to you.

To add some glitter details to my very glittery owl, I used my dries clear glue with the tip. I outlined the eyes and added dots to his tummy - I tapped the piece off again and allowed to dry. I finished the project by adding the owl to the frame with the dries clear glue.

Isn't it awesome? I love how glittery my owl is - he really sparkles, especially when the light hits him just right! A subtle touch for a home decor frame, and a very easy project. Consider something like this to dress up a frame or also as a gift idea.

Glitter Earrings by Lori Mendenhall

Most ladies love earrings – and I am no exception! After creating hundreds (thousands?) of pairs of earrings I wanted to come up with something very different from what I’d done before, or what anybody else had ever seen.


This very simple idea packs a powerful punch. Embellish charm blanks with glitter, add a bead or charm, hang on an ear wire and you have got yourself a unique and beautiful set of earrings.


Here are the supplies I used to make these sparkly earrings:
Bezels, www.vintagejewelrysupplies.com, item #R355
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
Eclipse Ultrafine Opaque Hologram Glitter and/or Art Glitter colors of choice
Flat spiral bead caps, Fire Mountain Gems


1. Spread a thin layer of glue onto the bottom of the bezel and sprinkle with glitter. Let dry completely – very important.
2. Place the bead cap in the center of the bezel.
3. Fill the bezel with resin. Make sure not to overfill, or you will have a mess!
4. Let this cure for a minimum of 24 hours. Resin takes three days to fully cure but can be handled fine after one day.
5. Attach ear wires and a dangle.

The Art Glittering System on DVD now!

Back by popular demand! Barbara's classic video: The Art Glittering System has been re-released as a DVD, just like you wanted!

I took another look at this great video before we got the dvds in, thinking I would find some quarky but nice old projects that we've all out grown. Well guess what...these are some really beautiful projects! And the techniques are still just as relevant as in 1996. Learn more here...

Even the DVD itself looks glittery! Enjoy!!!

Glittered Flower Clips by Cassandra Midkiff

First, I am delighted to be sharing some of my sparkling creations made possible with Art Glitter. I have been using their products for so many years now and to be a guest designer is very exciting for me! To start I thought it would be fun to show you how to make your own hair bling with some handmade flower clips. These seem to be popular right now and summer is the perfect season to show them off!



What you will need:

Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
An assortment of Art Glitter colors (for this project I used: Ultrafine Transparent Wild Rose & Melone for the daisy clip, Ultrafine Transparent Honey Suckle & Opaque Antique Gold for the rose clip, Ultrafine Transparent Sea Shell & Mystery & Shards Vintage Glass Glitter in Swan Lake for the pink rose clip)
An assortment of large paper flowers used in scrap booking
Steel snap clips with sew on holes – found at Michaels or Hobby Lobby
Vintage or new clip on metal flower earrings (backs removed) or cabochons, you could also use plastic flowers or rhinestones as the centerpiece
rhinestones
Beacon 527 glue
Needle and thread


Layer the flowers how you wish, sew them into place onto the snap clip. Glue the metal flower into the center using the 527 glue. I let it sit at least 2 hours before moving onto the next step. I placed some Dries Clear Adhesive into the center of the metal daisy and tapped some of the Melone art glitter in place with the small spoon.


After shaking off the excess I used the dries clear adhesive around the edges of the pink petals and sprinkled wild rose art glitter on top. To finish I dabbed a little more of the dries clear adhesive on the center of the daisy and placed a rhinestone on top. Let dry over night before wearing and the next day you will have a fun new piece to add to your wardrobe!

Glittery Paper Lanterns by Amy Anderson

Hi! I’m Amy from Mod Podge Rocks – and I have a confession. I haven’t worked with glitter that much in the past, because I’ve been scared. I see so many wonderful things happening out in the craft world with glitter, and I want to do some of these wonderful things myself. This is why I’m so happy to be here for the next few months! Thanks to Art Glitter for pushing me in the right direction.

My first project is inspired by summer and parties. Pools are hoppin’, and plenty of people have birthdays outdoors. Wouldn’t a paper lantern like the one above be perfect for your next party? I’ll show you how it’s done. The glitter adds the perfect special touch and sparkles so well in the sunlight. Here we go!


Gather these Supplies:
Paper lantern(s) – these can be found in packs at the dollar store
Mod Podge – your choice of formulas, I used Satin
Napkins – as many as you need, I used about 6
Scissors or a Die Cutter
Flat Paint Brush
Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear Glue and Ultrafine Metal Tip
Art Glitter – Atlantis Ultrafine Transparent, Sky Ultrafine Opaque


Begin by separating your napkin layers. I pulled the back away from the front, so that I was working with a thin layer of napkin, much like tissue paper.


At this point you will need to determine what design you are going to use on your lantern. I wanted something floral, so I used my Sizzix Big Shot and a flower die. If you don’t have a die cutter, never fear! You can also cut something out with scissors. What you design is up to you.

Cut your shapes out of your napkin, setting aside and being careful not to tear them. I also recommend not turning a ceiling fan on during this time (speaking from experience).


Once you have your shapes, the next part is easy! Grab your Mod Podge and brush and adhere your napkin shapes to the side of the lantern. You don’t need much, just enough to get the napkin to stick. Be careful when brushing over the napkin, as it will tear easily. Repeat adhering shapes all over the lantern in a random pattern.

Once you are done, allow the entire lantern to dry for about 1 hour. Then give the entire lantern another coat of Mod Podge.


Using your glue and ultrafine metal tip, add designs to your shapes. I dotted some flower petals, added squiggles and filled in centers.


Add glitter! You don’t want to do the entire lantern at once, as you will need to lay it down on one side to dry. I recommend doing it in about 3 sections, allowing the glue/glitter to dry in between each and then tapping the glitter off. Allow to dry and you’re finished.

Here are some other shots to give you a good idea of how it looks when finished – you can really see the glitter sparkle in some of the photos. It’s absolutely beautiful outside.



I’ll be back soon with another glitter project. In the meantime, come see me at Mod Podge Rocks for more decoupage silliness. Thanks for reading.

Glitter Resin Pendants by Lori Mendenhall

I love glitter in jewelry! But, it has to look classy and have some artistic flair in order to make it into my jewelry line. Art Glitter’s gorgeous products really enhance my resin pendants. I am in love with the amazing colors and the super sparkle!


Besides jewelry, I also make mosaics. In this pendant I combined a special mosaic technique using tempered glass, Italian millefiori and three types of glitter: Blue Hawaii (#233), Stratosphere Hologram (#254), and Swan Lake Glass Shards (#922). The chunky holographic glitter is one of my favorites for this type of project because the larger-sized flakes catch the light and give that extra special touch to the piece.

This pendant was created in four stages. (Yes, four!) It’s so hard to be patient, but this type of resin project must be done in layers.

Step 1: I poured a clear “lens” of resin in order to create a slightly domed appearance. This must cure for at least 8 hours.

Step 2. I placed the smashed tempered glass and millefiori into the mold. A very thin layer of resin was applied in order to lock the glass in place and to ensure no glitter would get underneath where it didn’t belong. This layer cured for a few hours. I really should have let it cure until the next day but I was having too much fun and couldn’t wait.

Step 3. I sprinkled on the glass shards, holographic and ultrafine glitter liberally. I wanted the whole surface to be covered in intense color. Another layer of clear resin is poured on and allowed to cure at least another 8 hours to make sure the next layer would stay completely separate.

Step 4. The final step is to mix up some opaque black resin. I poured a thin layer of black onto the back of the piece to “close it up”.


A happy surprise… I was not planning to do this sun pendant this way at all. But, foolishly, when I was applying red glitter (True Red #1) to the piece next to this one in the mold, I blew the glitter to try and spread it out a bit. Of course, the glitter errantly blew into the cavity with the sun. Nothing could be done to remove the glitter. As often happens, mistakes in crafting can often lead to an even better result than you would have had without the mistake. So, I added some orange and yellow mica powders to give a sunset effect. I love it!


This last piece uses Glass Shards (Amber #908) as a background.

Welcome Art Glitter's New Guest Designers

I'm so excited to introduce you to our new set of guest designers. But first join me in thanking our last set. Emily Montenaro, Laura Fraedrich and Cheryl Waters. They are first rate designers and I so enjoyed the diversity, fun and beauty they shared with us through their designs. We will miss you guys, but we know where to find you! Thank you again!!!

Art Glitter's Guest Designers for June, July and August are just as diverse and fun! You are going to learn even more from them! Please take the time to read their bios and check their blogs/websites out. You can find their links to the right and in our guest designer page on ArtGlitter.com Yes, I'm excited!

Amy Anderson: I am a 33-year-old transplant from Seattle living in Atlanta, Georgia. I was born from creative genes, so I'm carrying on the tradition. I have been knitting for 18 years, sewing for longer and decoupaging for just a few. I do all of these things on a daily basis, or at least as much as I can. In addition to Mod Podge, I love the color blue, dogs, reading, cold weather, funny movies, road rallies, yogurt, garden gnomes, sock monkeys, running, tattoos, being outdoors, buttons, snuggling and apparently blogging. Who knew I would love it this much? Visit my blog often: http://modpodgerocks.blogspot.com

Lori Mendenhall: I'm a jewelry designer and mosaic artist from Orange County, CA. I specialize in resin and polymer clay, often combining them. Oh, and I should mention, I love sparkly things! I'm very happy to be here at Art Glitter sharing some of my techniques on how I incorporate glitter (and other Art Glitter products) into my work.

About five years ago I decided it was time to re-claim some "me" time. I took a simple jewelry-making class and immediately became addicted. My work has been published many times in such magazines as "Belle Armoire Jewelry", "Bead Unique", "Bead Trends", "Bead Star", "Polymer Clay Cafe", and the Bead-A-Day Calendar. I'm thrilled that my friend Jodi Bombardier included my work in her upcoming book "Weave, Wrap, Coil: Creating Artisan Wire Jewelry".

Besides crafting, I love to read, travel, and bake. Wish I had time to do all of these much more often! I have a son and daughter who keep me busy as a chauffeur, cook, maid, and homework helper. Feel free to email me at lorimendenhall@cox. net with questions about the techniques I write about. Lots of people helped me along the way - and still do, and I am glad to give back. I'd be honored if you'd view my site www.lorimendenhall.com.

Cassandra Midkiff: I live in beautiful Sedona, Arizona and have the privilege of having Art Glitter only 20 minutes from my house. I am a full time graphic design student, single mother of one independent 6 year old girl (who has a brilliant imagination and lots of spunk) altered artist and homemaker. When not creating I enjoy finding hidden treasures at thrift and antique stores, spending time with my family, visiting the ocean any chance I get, getting lost in a good book or movie, finding myself on road trips, adventuring in my fantasies, thinking of the never ending possibilities and hoping that one day I can make them realities.

I find inspiration in the sea and love anything to do with it; mermaid themes are my favorite art pieces to create. I love the unique and unusual; I love dark art and skeletons, but equally enjoy fairies and hearts. Art glitter adds that extra magic to my pieces and I have been using it since I started creating collages and altered art!

I appreciate everything hand made and take a great deal of time and care when making my own pieces. I have been creating and selling collages and altered art for 10+ years (drawing/painting since I can remember) and have been selling my work online for 8 years now. I have had local shows and sold in boutiques in Sedona & Phoenix AZ. I sell mostly through etsy now http://www.etsy.com/shop/jupiterdesigns and when given the chance write in my blog http://jupiterdesigns.blogspot.com/ I am hoping to make new friends, inspire some of you and become more involved in this amazing handmade movement.


As always you will be able to find these designers and all our alumni on our guest designer page which also has links to all their projects. Enjoy!

FREEDOM FLAGS KIT ON SALE NOW!

We have marked down one of our favorite kit projects. The Freedom Flags Kit now only $19.95!


This is just two glittered transparencies glued together to make it double sided. It is so fun and easy you'll want to make more...and you can! Order Now.


Kit comes with instructions and all you see above. Order now, the sale ends in July. Have a blast with it! enjoy -emm