Showing posts with label Jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jewelry. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Tim Holtz Sizzix Christmas 2024 - Christmas Brooches

Hello Everyone!  Here are the last of the Brooches I've made this year using the new Christmas Vault Series Dies from Tim Holtz and Sizzix, and seen in the LIVE last week. I have thoroughly enjoyed making each single one, and appreciate all the many comments and questions on them. AND speaking of questions...it looks like Ice Resin from Ranger was discontinued, and there are no more of packs of just the resin, BUT they still have a few of the Alcohol Ink kits with Ice Resin in them. Click on this link to see it, and even though Alcohol Ink is in there you can use it on another project.  Ice Resin is just a simple two part system that you mix together and then pour over your project....don't be scared to try resin. So many of the questions and comments I've gotten are about being timid to try it. If you don't try how will you know. Anyway, The sizes of the Dies in the Vault series really are the perfect sizes for making jewelry pieces, and the detail is wonderful and you really don't need a lot of bling on them. I made the first two brooches separately from the last four, so the step out pictures are grouped. Enjoy!

 
Note: I did the Poinsettia and Snowflake Brooches first, and then did the Sleigh, Snowmen, and Skates later and a bit different since they had many die cut layer parts.
(In this picture you are seeing the back of the brooches.) To begin the first two brooches, I added two sided tape to the back of what I would be using for the center layers, which is 2 layers of whatever cardstock I had (I think it was black heavystock which wouldn't be seen) and I die cut the solid base portion of the poinsettia, leaves, (from Vault Seasonal Sketch) and snowflake (from Vault Winter Wishes), and then I went ahead and did the backing parts in silver metallic and gold metallic since these weren't going to be die cut heavy layered like the previous brooches, as the snowflake is just one piece and the poinsettia two with two leaf parts. To do the backing, you add two sided tape to the metallic, but die cut the base piece from the two sided tape side instead of the front metallic side (don't remove the insides from the snowflake). Then I adhered them all together. Then I die cut the base pieces again that would be seen in colored Metallic Kraftstock with two sided tape on the back, so a solid red for the poinsettia, two colors of green for the leaf, and a blue for the snowflake, but not taking out the little pieces in the centers and instead keeping them in place for the snowflake (see the next photo).
 
 
Here you can see the fronts now. I added two sided tape to more silver (snowflake) and gold Metallic (poinsettia) and then die cut the parts I call the frames or the second top parts of each for the poinsettia and leaf, and for the snowflake I removed the center pieces so that it will now be a frame. I added the frame parts on top, and used a bit of Collage Medium on the border parts to make sure they stayed in place. I used Metallic Leafing Pens to color the sides of each to match the backs and frames so no Kraft paper was showing. 
 
 
I was going for a pearlized enameled look for these two brooches, so I thought using some Distress Spritz from Ranger, would do the trick. Using a detail paintbrush and after shaking each color well, I poured out a tiny bit of the Spritz and painted it in the open areas... Barn Door for the poinsettia, Twisted Citron and Peeled Paint for the leaf, and Mermaid Lagoon for the snowflake. It did pearlize the Metallic paper some but not to the degree I wanted probably because of the foiled surface, but it was still dreamy yet subtle. I also used tiny letter metal stamping punches and a Craft Hammer for my initials onto Metallic Kraftstock, and added those to the back of each piece for my maker marks using Glossy Accents. Then I adhered the poinsettia to the front of the leaf with more Glossy Accents. 
 
 
I added Silver Droplets on the snowflake frame and gold to the center of the poinsettia. I decided to also add rhinestones and they were not the color I needed so I dyed them with Alcohol Pearls, Tranquil for the ones on the snowflake, and Sublime for the green ones in the center of the poinsettia. I just colored them directly with a Qtip. Then I adhered all the bling with Glossy Accents. The bling takes a while to do, but it’s so worth it.

 
I mixed the Ranger Ice Resin as directed, by pushing the plunger down, and into a cup, mixing well, and poured it over the pieces on a baking cooling rack I have designated for Art, with a piece of wax paper underneath. I tried to do as heavy as a coating as I could and I kept these on the rack over night, moving them around every hour using a craft pick so they didn’t get stuck in place. By morning they were dry and not stuck in place. The package says they totally cure after 48 hours.
 
 
After the resin hardened,  I die cut Matchbooks from Kraft, and added the words cut from the Vault Holiday Classics using the same metallic colors for the front. I used pliers to bend the hook of pin in a little more so that there wasn’t more tension to secure the pin in the closure hopefully alleviating people from pulling on the pin too much to latch it. I added the pins to the back of each brooch so they wouldn’t be seen using lots of Glossy Accents., and then I coated the whole back with more Glossy Accents for added strength again, and let them dry. Once dry, I measured and marked where both ends of the back of the pin would be on the Kraft Matchbooks and punched holes for them, and then used scissors to cut a line between the holes. The back of the pin just pushes through the line into the holes and stays in place. 
 
 For the two Snowmen and Ice Skates with Greenery, I die cut the base skates and snowman from a white pearlized cardstock I had in my stash which I do not remember where it came from. I add two layers of black heavystock cut base pieces under for added strength. Then I added two sided tape to the back of metallic colors and die cut all the detail parts, which were many on the greenery, and did not remove the backing so I could play with placement of all the parts. For the snowmen it was easy as they have embossed lines showing where to go, but on the greenery I went rogue and just started playing.
 
  
 Here is a close up of the beginnings of the greenery on each skate. Once I liked it, I adhered the skates together with Glossy Accents, and then flipped it over to the do the backs, adding silver metallic backs to each piece, so this brooch is quite thick (see the picture below of the finished back). The snowman has just one solid silver metallic piece on the back.
 
 
For the sleigh, I went a bit different, by cutting many of them out in different metallics, all backed with two sided tape, and trimming off what I didn't want for each layer. So I started with green as a base, then light gold with the toy sack cut off and added that on, then deep brownish gold with Santa completely cut off, as well as the antlers and hoofs of each reindeer and added that on. On the red, I cut Santa's body, his hat, and the sleigh out, and added those parts on only, and nothing on the reindeer. Then on the bright gold layer I cut out only the sleigh legs and trim and added only that on. Then I die cut only the santa part out from the pearlized white scrap from the skates only for his beard and suit parts and added those on. Then I die cut one last time using black Kraftstock, and carefully cut the parts of the reins for the reindeer going all the way to the sleigh. This took some time and planning, and I totally forgot to take a photo, but just imagine the harnesses and reins and only cut those. I added a little bit of colored rhinestones to all the brooches, colored with Alcohol Ink, and then did the resin and pins the same as all the others. For these last 4 brooches I cut black tags to fit them and flicked Picket Fence Distress Paint on them for a snowy effect and when dry cut the holes and line between them to secure the brooches.
 










 



Supplies:
(Paper Trimmer, Two Sided Tape, Die Cut Machine, Die Pick, Scissors, Small Paintbrush, Water Mister, Craft Hammer)
-Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits (Christmas Vault Series 2024): Vault Winter Wishes, Vault Seasonal Sketch, Vault Holiday Classics, Vault Festive Wreath, Vault Christmas Magic 
-Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Metallic Classics Kraftstock, Metallic Colors Kraftstock, Metallic Droplets, Mirrored Stars
-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper
-Ranger Glossy Accents
-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Spritz: Barn Door, Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint, Mermaid Lagoon
-Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Pearls: Tranquil, Sublime
-Ranger Ice Resin
-Sizzix Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers Large Die: Matchbook Set
-Ranger Surfaces: #10 Black tags
-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Paint: Picket Fence
-Gold and Silver Metallic Markers, Metal Letter Punches, Various Rhinestones, Cup and Stir Stick for Resin, Brooch Pins
 

Truly I thank you all for all the wonderful comments on this whole Brooch series for the Holidays. My cup runneth over! Until next time, I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!

Friday, August 09, 2024

Tim Holtz Sizzix Autumn/Halloween 2024 - Halloween Brooches

Hello Everyone! I'm back again with my other make from the Tim Holtz Sizzix Autumn/Halloween 2024 Live, the Halloween Brooches. I really want to thank you all for all the wonderful comments on the Autumn Brooches...my cup runneth over. I had no idea that the reason I made the brooches (in honor and remembrance of my Mother) would resonate with so many of you. It makes my heart glad. These Halloween brooches are made the same as the Autumn, with many layers, and then with resin, but I did add some more bling to this set. There were many more designs that I wanted to do, especially with the ghosts, but I ran out of time...so I will probably make those sometime soon. Enjoy, and again a HUGE THANKS!

This picture is pretty much a culmination of several steps, but you know after the last tutorial for the Autumn Brooches that you have to plan what you need out first, and that takes a bit.  This time I only used Metallic Classics and Colors with Deco Sheets. I added two sided tape to the back of what I would be using, and then started die cutting the parts I wanted from the Vault Foliage Wreath, Fright Night, Gothic Portraits, and Wicked Thinlits as well as the frames from Vault Boutique for the cat/moon and silhouette girl/witch hat, and the banner from that set for the word wicked.  I die cut the same pieces again for about three layers to add to the thickness of the piece but I didn’t adhere them, and then I die cut the same again BUT from the backside of the Kraftstock with the two sided tape side up for the backing of each piece so that the backside of the brooch looks nice and finished. Once I die cut I started playing with the pieces to figure out the layout and size of the brooch always keeping in mind the closeness of the parts so that the pin wouldn’t show through from the front, so I kept the pin handy to help guide myself.  I layered the pieces and kept them close together to add to the sturdiness of the brooch as well, 3 to 4 layers is what most are. I also used a bit of Collage Medium on the border parts to make sure they stayed in place with all the layers. On the two cat pieces I added green rhinestones behind the slit in their eyes. For the Deco Sheet detail parts like the witches hair and clothing, I just die cut the entire piece and cut around the parts I wanted and just stuck them on…same for the inside of the words. I just free hand cut the inside parts, fyi.

Once all the layers and pieces were on then I added the backing so that all the pieces are covered with metallic paper on the back and Kraft is not showing. For the pieces that won’t be showing on the back, you don’t need to add a backing of course, but make sure to add a bit of Collage Medium to those pieces to make sure they stay in place. I use Metallic Leafing Pens and permanent markers to color the sides to match the fronts so no Kraft paper was showing.

Here are the pieces with all the layers adhered up a little closer. I should have taken a picture of the backs as well, sorry. But they are just solid metallic paper with no detail parts. The pin will not be adhered until the very end.

Some of the Droplets were not the color I needed so I dyed them with Alcohol Ink. If I had to do a lot I used a cup with several drops of the ink, if only a little I just colored them directly with a Qtip. I did the same with plain clear rhinestones as well. Then I adhered all the bling with Glossy Accents. The bling takes a while to do, but it’s so worth it. 

For the wicked brooch and the spider web as well, I wanted Antiqued Gems hanging down. In order the color the stones inside the bezel, I used pliers to open them up to remove the gems. To color them without moving and touching them, I punched holes in a strip of paper with a regular hole punch and added feet below it with foam tape so it was raised up. Then I added the gems into the holes, and placed a drop or two of Alcohol Ink on them and let it dry. This worked perfectly.

For the mirrored hearts and stars I just dropped Alcohol Ink directly on them.

Another pic of coloring the bling with Alcohol Ink.

I mixed 1 ounce of Ice Resin as directed and poured it over the pieces on a baking cooling rack I have designated for Art, with a piece of wax paper underneath. I tried to do as heavy as a coating as I could and I kept these on the rack over night, moving them around every hour using a craft pick so they didn’t get stuck in place. By morning they were dry and not stuck in place. The bottle says they totally cure after 48 hours.

While the resin hardened I made pillow boxes with the words cut out in the centers to house most of the brooches but some are too big to fit. I added clear packaging material under the word opening.  For all the brooches I cut black tags to fit them and added Kraft colored words to the tags. Once the brooches were dry, I used pliers to bend the hook of pin in a little more so that there wasn’t more tension to secure the pin in the closure hopefully alleviating people from pulling on the pin too much to latch it. I added the pins to the back of each brooch so they wouldn’t be seen using lots of Glossy Accents. I also used tiny letter metal stamping punches and a Craft Hammer for my initials onto Metallic Kraftstock, and added those to the back of each piece for my maker marks, and then I coated the whole back with more Glossy Accents for added strength again, and let them dry. Once dry, I measured and marked where both ends of the back of the pin would be on the black tags and punch holes for them, and then used scissors to cut a line between the holes. The back of the pin just pushes through the line into the holes and stays in place. Then the card with the brooch fits into the pillow box, well at least the smaller ones anyway.


Supplies:
(Paper Trimmer, Two Sided Tape, Die Cut Machine, Die Pick, Scissors, Standard Premium Crease Pad)
-Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Metallic Classics Kraftstock, Metallic Colors Kraftstock, Christmas Deco Sheets, Halloween Deco Sheets, Metallic Droplets, Mirrored Hearts, Mirrored Stars, Antiqued Gems, Jumprings
-Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits (Autumn Halloween Vault Series 2024): Vault Foliage Wreath, Vault Fright Night, Vault Gothic Portraits, Vault Wicked
-Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium: Matte
-Ranger Glossy Accents
-Ranger Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink: Dijon, Limeade, Everglades, Purple Twilight, Boysenberry, Slate, Pitch Black, Gold Mixative, Silver Mixative
-Ranger Ice Resin
-Sizzix Tim Holtz Thinlits: Vault Boutique, Vault Pillow Box & Bag
-Ranger Surfaces: Kraft Cardstock, Black Cardstock
-1 Inch Brooch Pins, Gold, Silver, Copper Metallic Pens, Microfiber Cloth, Various Sizes Flat Rhinestones and Pearl Halves, Containers for Ice Resin, Metal Letter Stamps and Hammer if Desired, Clear Packaging

Thank you so so much for stopping by, and for all the comments! I'll be back in a few weeks. Until then, I hope your hands get creatively dirty soon!