Clear Glass Ornaments with Art Glitter!

Clear Glass Balls are so fun to decorate! There are so many ways to do it! We filled some of these bulbs above with Fantasy Fiber and Film - No Glue Required!  These are so fast to do you can't believe it. A couple of them have ribbon that has a touch of glitter on it pushed inside. Beautiful!

Or you can completely cover them with glitter. But the question is to glitter inside (like above) or outside (like below). Let your whims lead you!

Glittering the outside of a bulb is simple, paint on your Designer Dries Clear adhesive with your favorite type of brush (I usually use a foam brush) and spoon the glitter on while the adhesive is wet, white and shiny. Then either hang your ornament to dry or place it in your glitter tray, being sure the sides do not touch anything other than glitter while drying. Should only take half an hour to an hour to dry.

To glitter inside a bulb you need watered down Designer Dries Clear adhesive. You can go pretty thin when using Art Glitter Ultrafine colors or Dazzlers. However the heaver the glitter, like our Vintage Glass Glitter, Gala Glitz or Glass Beads, the thicker you will want your glue. If your glitter/beads are too heavy, they will slide to top or bottom of bulb, however you are holding it.

I put some watered down DDC in an old 2oz bottle with the black spout on and squeezed the glue inside the ball. Rolled the ball around until the inside was covered with glue. Next I held the open end of the ball over a tray and let the excess drip out. This can take a while depending on how much glue you used. So I set my bulb in an egg carton for about 5-10 minutes. This works great if you are doing several at a time, by the time you have 5 or more setting upside down, dripping, your first one is ready to glitter.

Now all you have to do is spoon or funnel in the glitter and roll around inside of ball until it is covered. Pour out excess. If you didn't let enough excess glue drip out, you will have some glitter/glue balls slide out into your clean glitter. If this happens, just let glitter/glue ball dry and take out of your glitter.

Let your ornament dry without top on. It will take anywhere from 1.5 to 5 days to dry completely inside. The thicker the glue, the longer it takes to dry.

Fantastic and fun! Go to our Fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/ArtGlitter and post a picture of your glittered ornament, enjoy!

A Scrap Bookers Book Purse by Clare Dempsey

One of the members of my scrap booking guild has been asking me to teach a class on how to make a purse from a book.  With Christmas approaching, I thought now would be the perfect time to try this project out.  And if you know me, I love purses, Art Glitter and making gifts!  I visited my thrift store and purchased some books for future book purses and figure I can make this project for $5.00 or less with careful shopping!  I have also been admiring the rose purses on the market, but they are always so big and expensive.  So, here is my take on the book purse.

I started by choosing a book, and I chose a scrap book. Now, this might seem to miss the whole book point, but I love a handbag with photos on the outside!  And this scrap book from Target had an outside photo (around $15.00).  I then Googled Book Purse tutorials and found at least five.  My favorite was this one from Hungry Panda Clothing:  http://www.hungrypanda.net/blog/2010/02/book-purse-tutorial.

I used her instructions for cutting out the insides, adding handles, and added a flap with my Art Glitter embellishment.  The purse handles I purchased at Joann Fabrics with a coupon.  I like a handbag that is pretty on both the front and the back.  To make the flower, I cut a strip of fabric an inch wide and ran a basting stitch down the center.  Using the Art Glitter Fabric Dries Clear Adhesive, I ran a bead on both raw edges of the strip.  I added Art Glitter #79 Black Ultrafine Opaque Glitter and allowed it to dry.  I  then gathered the strip to form a ruffle.  Starting in the center of a piece of felt, I hot glued the ruffle in a circle along the stitch line working in small portions at a time (about 1“).  I then hot glued this to my purse flap.

For the book lining piece, I needed access to swap out that photo.  I like to change the photo my season.  So, I got out my trusty Vogue sewing book and made myself a bound button hole.  Yes, that tailoring class I took in my fashion design program helped, but a standard buttonhole stitch would work too!  Because I wanted access to change that photo I varied from the instructions on the Hungry Panda by making my purse liner removable with hook and loop tape.  And I chose not to make a hook and loop tape closure as I added the flap.  Another fun idea, is to make different purse linings for this purse for each season.  Because it is held in place with hook and loop tape you can swap it out.  And if you need a gift idea for the next holiday, you’re all set!  Mother’s and grandmothers are so hard to shop for, but mine love a hand made gift!  I am also including a side view of the purse and a view of the purse with it wide open. 

Supplies Used

Scrap book (Target)
Art Glitter Fabric Dries Clear Adhesive
Art Glitter #79 Black Ultrafine Opaque Glitter
Purse handles (JoAnn Fabrics)
Fabric
Hook and Loop Tape
Felt
Sewing machine
Thread
Exacto Knife
Scissors

Fantasy Film Heart by Lori Mendenhall

We crafters are so fortunate to have a wide variety of gorgeous materials available! The colors, the textures, the shapes give us so many opportunities to create unique and beautiful things. I really love the effects you get with Fantasy Film – use it for a great play of color and texture.

For this project I crumpled up some Art Glitter Fantasy Film in Krista’s Eyes color. Crumpling gives the light lots of surface area to bounce off. I used two layers because I wanted deeper color and more depth.

I used some metal stain to color the inside of the heart pendant blank/bezel.

Then using Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear adhesive I glued down both layers of the Fantasy Film into the blank. I weighted it down while drying to make sure the film stayed in place.

This alone would make a beautiful simple pendant. But I chose to add a few more elements and use the Fantasy Film as the background. This seahorse charm was the absolute perfect one! I further accented with Dazzlers, Borealis #D26 and Dazzlers, Movie Stars #D45 and some wire.

Topping it with resin gives it that professional look while locking everything in.  (I use Easy Cast epoxy). Let cure for 3 days.

Use this technique to create a stunning, and completely unique, pendant which can be used for a necklace, backpack pull, key chain, magnet, or brooch.

Note: I was given product in exchange for this article..

Glittery Jar of Delight by Diana Gonzalez

Recently, I acquired about 2 lbs or so of Red Glitter (by Art Institute Glitter, it was on sale, and it still is HERE). So, I put it together with sentiment stickers from a past Sampler Kit, and little bottles by Tim Holtz, and some hemp rope, and came up with this:

I antiqued the jar, by rubbing a nail file onto it, and all around the sides. The nail file is one of those rough and tough ones that you use on acrylic or false nails.

That’s all, really. I glued the cork to the jar, and wrapped a little bit of hemp rope around the rim, then glued the sentiment, “delight” because really, what else do you call a tiny little jar filled with glitter, right?

Oh, and of course wondrous, fabulous, amazing red glitter by Art Institute Glitter.
Then, a jump ring, and chain put it all together.

Thanksgiving Hostess Gift by Clare Dempsey

I love to bring a little something for the hostess on Thanksgiving!  I know how much work goes into cooking for this holiday and love to have a little thank you for the cook! This year, I will be bringing a pin I made with Art Glitter and organza. And just so the host does not feel left out, I will pin it to a ribbon and tie the ribbon around a bottle of their favorite beverage!

Supplies:
Art Glitter Ultrafine Opaque Glitter #343 Chestnut
Art Glitter Fabric Dries Clear Adhesive
Brown Organza fabric cut 3” x 42”
Thread
Sewing Machine
Low Temp Glue Gun
Pretty Button
Chipboard 2 inch circle
Brown Felt 2 inch circle
Pin back

Start by cutting your organza.  I actually used a  roll of organza I found at JoAnn’s and cut it 21 inches long.  I then cut it in half lengthwise, so that I had two strips  3 inches wide by 21 inches long.  I overlapped my two strips by an inch and ran a basting stitch down the center lengthwise.

I then added a bead of glue using Art Glitter Fabric Dries Clear Adhesive and sprinkled on my Chestnut glitter.  Shake off excess and allow to dry.  I pulled my basting thread so that the finished length of the strip was 14” and folded the strip in half.

I followed the instructions on the Maya Road Flower video HERE.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez6MLD_hTDc
Some tips for the organza instead of ribbon: 
    •     Tie a knot at both ends after to gather and clip off the lose threads before gluing with the hot glue gun.
    •    Don’t wrap your center too tight or you won’t have a good space for your button.  Use a hole about the size of a pencil in the middle of your flower.
    •    You will have to fold your organza in half as you go.

Here is a close up of the finished flower pin.

I just used more of the organza strip to tie a bow around the bottle and then pinned the flower to the center. 

Glitter-Backed Mini Mosaic by Lori Mendenhall

I love making mosaics, but they take a long time to complete – and I don’t like grouting.  So to get around my impatience I make mini-mosaics.  But instead of traditional glass/tile and grout I go for the mixed media look incorporating glass, metal, pearls, and glitter. So cute, fun, and quick!

Here’s how to put together one of these sparkly mini mosaics:

1. Start with a pendant blank (bezel). I like to purchase these from Etsy.  Coat the entire bezel with clear-drying glue such as Art Glitter’s Designer Dries Clear Adhesive. Then fill the whole area with glitter and shake out the excess. In this piece I used Art Glitter Chunky Opaque Hologram, Comet, #251.  Let dry.

2. This glitter is extremely sparkly so I chose muted materials to balance it out. I lined the edges with tiny glass tiles. To make it more interesting I added some pearls. In the center I used a copper charm – don’t forget to snip off the ring. My final touch was a couple of wire spirals. I didn’t want to leave too much glitter showing because it might be overpowering. Had I used a less intense glitter I might have left more exposed. The artist gets to decide what is “right” – I love that, don’t you?

3. Once you pick your elements and are happy with their placement, glue them down. Let dry thoroughly. This is very important because any remaining moisture can ruin your resin and therefore your whole piece.

3. Fill your bezel with resin. I use casting resin. The kind you buy at the craft store is fine, just be sure to buy the epoxy resin and not the polyester kind. Let cure overnight until hard, and three days for a full cure.

Note, I received product in exchange for the write-up of this project.

Glitter Fabric Frame Fun by Emily M. Miller

Happy Dia de los Muertos to you all! Day of the Dead has become a favorite holiday of mine. Living in Arizona for the past 20 years has put me in tune with the traditions for this holiday celebrated in Mexico and around the world in many cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. (I copied all this from Wikipedia)

I love all the imagery and wonderful colors that remind me of Mexico and Day of the Dead. When I saw this material I just had to glitter it! I wanted to put it in a recycled 5 x 7 frame I had, but 5 x 7 didn’t showcase the material enough. So I covered the frame with it too! This can be done with any size frame.

Take out the back cardboard in your frame. Center it over the backside of your fabric and trace around it. Then move in at least ½ inch in on all sides and draw another rectangle. This inner rectangle is the one you will cut out and place in the center of your back cardboard. With fabric scissors cut out rectangle and 4 sides as shown by blue lines below. This does not have to be perfect, I repeat, it does not have to be perfect!

Lay rectangle on cardboard and place into frame to get an idea of where it should go. Draw guide lines at corners of fabric and take out of frame. Pour some Designer Dries Clear adhesive into a tray and add a few drops of water. Using a foam brush paint glue onto cardboard in between guide lines. You don’t have to be perfect here either, just close to the edges. Hold your fabric over glue and lay it down. Again, it doesn’t have to be perfect! Do you see a pattern forming?

Paint glue onto remaining edges of cardboard and glitter with Ultrafine Opaque #79 Black. Set aside to dry.

Lay remaining 4 fabric sides on frame to see where they need to go. Slide them down far enough to go just around the inside edge of frame and to make sure all the diagonals cover frame. We are only concerning ourselves with the front and the sides of the frame, we will take care of the back later. And guess what, it doesn’t have to be perfect! Paint glue on one side at a time and glue rest of fabric onto frame.

Use backside of frame as your guide and cut off remaining fabric…doesn’t have to be perfect! Using your Designer Dries Clear bottle with the Ultrafine Metal Tip attached, glue down corners as if you were wrapping a present, it there is excess over hanging cut it off before gluing. Smash and smooth fabric corners into place (you’ll understand when your doing it, it works great!). I have covered countless frames and even wood furniture this way and the DDC really hold the fabric for ages!

Take your double-sided Sticky Tape and run it along fabric ends. Lay the sticky tape down one side at a time and remove the protective red covering first before moving on to next side. Then glitter exposed tape with #79 Black.

Now you can go back to your cardboard piece and start glittering it. First straighten your fabric edges with Sticky Tape just like above. This time I glittered it with Dazzler #D15 Sea Nymph and filled in with Ultrafine Pearlescent #185 Varsity Blue.

Glitter your fabric as desired. Start with your darkest color first and keep going until all colors are done. Here’s what I used, in this order: Ultrafine Pearlescent colors - #175 Retro Red, #186 Purple Polkadot, #185 Varsity Blue, #182 Astro Turf, #178 Duck Tail. Ultrafine Transparent colors - #94 Key Lime, #93 Lemone.

Set aside and glitter frame in same manner, doing one side at a time, allowing each side to dry some before moving onto next side. Let dry completely.

Assemble frame. You can use spacers made from black foam core if you want your cardboard piece to be recessed. As you can see, my finished one isn't "Perfect", but it'll do just fine! Enjoy!