tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75699155109812187622023-11-15T06:03:57.878-08:00Messy Ever After: Tutorials, Projects, and Crafty BitsMessy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-15770231399522013362017-01-04T08:20:00.002-08:002017-01-04T08:23:01.471-08:00DIY Tea Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been quite a while since I've posted a project. Almost a year. It is time...<br />
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It's winter again. The hardwood floors in my old house and lack of insulation in the walls make for a miserable few months in Minnesota. There is a solution: hot beverages.<br />
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Tea has become a staple in this house. So much tea. It began taking over an entire shelf in one of my cupboards. Containment and consolidation was needed, thus the Tea Box project came to life.<br />
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My cupboard shelf went from cluttered to satisfyingly empty in one evening.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Wooden box of your choice. </li>
<li>If the box doesn't have dividers, you will need:</li>
<ul>
<li> 1/16" thick basswood</li>
<li>Scissors</li>
<li>Wood glue</li>
<li>Ruler</li>
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<li>Paint brush</li>
<li>Brown acrylic paint or a wood stain</li>
<li>White gel pen and pencil</li>
<li>White transfer paper (optional)</li>
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When I went to my local craft store, I brought a tea bag with so I could make sure the box I chose would work. I tried to find a box that already had dividers in it, but the compartments were too small. Instead, I picked up a 24"x2"x1/16" sheet of light basswood so I could cut my own dividers.<br />
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Using a tea bag for reference, I measured how many tea slots would fit in the box and marked each side with a pencil. Then, I cut pieces of basswood to fit snugly. The basswood I found was thin enough to be cut with plain scissors. Using wood glue, I lined the bottom and sides of each divider, placed them where I penciled my measurement marks in the box, and waited about until the glue dried before moving onto the next step (maybe 30 minutes to an hour).</div>
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To "stain" the box, I used brown and black acrylic paint I already had at home and watered it down. I wanted the wood grain to show through, so I used a very thin mixture of paint and applied a couple of coats. The first coat I applied was too light for my taste, so I added a little bit of black paint to the mixture for the second and third coats.<br />
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Once finished with the stain, allow the box to dry completely. Once dry, you can apply your lettering to the top of the box. I didn't take pictures of this process, but it's fairly straightforward. I sketched the lettering I wanted on paper and then used white transfer paper to neatly transfer the lettering onto the box. You can definitely freehand on the box--but I don't trust myself to get things right the first time. Once I had the outline traced, I used a white gel pen to fill in the design.<br />
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And voila! The box is done! It was incredibly satisfying to organize all of my tea bags into my new box. </div>
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Thanks for checking out my project! If you enjoyed this, please explore the rest of my blog. I've got lots of random crafty things to peruse.<br />
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You can also pop over to <a href="http://www.messyeverafter.com/">www.MessyEverAfter.com</a> to see what else I'm working on.<br />
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<br />Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-82027259891595974292015-08-30T13:44:00.003-07:002015-08-30T13:59:02.538-07:00Project 1012: Recycled Sidewalk Path<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After reviewing all of the pictures for this project, I now realize just how ridiculous and labor intensive this project was/is (it's still not done!). It required so many steps to get to a somewhat decent looking end result. The reason we started this project began with a leaking basement. Every time it rained, or when snow started to melt, water would seep through our foundation. Luckily, our basement isn't finished so we don't have mold concerns.<br />
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Why was the basement so leaky? Well, our sidewalk was sloping towards the house. It might be a little hard to see, but take a look at the picture below. Years of rain running towards the house also caused the basement walls to crumble a bit (I will show you that project another time. Don't you worry.) The only solution that I came up with was to rip out the sidewalk, repair parts of the exterior foundation that have crumbled away, bring in dirt to get a proper grade away from the house, and then use the busted up sidewalk to make a new path around the house. Sounds simple enough, right?<br />
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I had been planning this project since we moved into this house two years ago, but with so many other things going on, I was afraid to start it. Then, one day in May, I thought 'I wonder how hard it will be to take out the sidewalk?' So it began. I learned fairly quickly that a sledge hammer is a glorious tool that even I can wield. And wield it, I did.<br />
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Once the sidewalk was out, we had to clean up the exterior of the foundation. The general process was: 1. break up concrete 2. move concrete to giant pile next to the garage 3. dig a trench around the house 4. scrape, clean, and apply cement where needed 5. seal 6. fill in with dirt. Easy, right? Sure!<br />
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There was a lot of damage on this corner of the house from water. The facial layer practically fell off. So that was a fun treat...<br />
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We rebuilt the surface with cement. One of the worst parts about this project was that it required a lot of dry time. I am not a patient person. Once we applied the cement, that had to cure. We tried to give it a few days of no rain to make sure all of the moisture was out. Then, we had to seal the new cement. We used two products to do this: white Watertite for above ground and black foundation coating for below ground.<br />
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I had to keep telling myself that everything was going to look worse before it looked better. We had so much work to do before I could get to the fun part, which was putting the sidewalk back in! I kept staring at this pile in my backyard. This huge, precariously stacked pile. Someday, it would have a new home.<br />
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The digging, scraping, patching, and painting continued around the house. Once one section was finished, we would fill in the trench with dirt we had available, and move on to the next.<br />
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It was a glorious day when we reached the front of the house. We had to do some tree/bush removal before we could get to the foundation, though. I'm starting to wonder how we accomplished all of this in a couple of months...<br />
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Okay! Trees removed, trench dug, concrete patched and sealed! Now, we just needed more dirt. We bought a yard of black soil from a local landscaping place and tamped and filled the remaining trenches. Since we didn't invest in a tamper, this process involved me stomping on the dirt, layer by layer to make sure it was adequately packed in. Any extra dirt was piled up next to the house to use to set the sidewalk pieces.<br />
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We used a flat shovel to level the ground where our new path was going to go. Since all of the sidewalk pieces were irregular in thickness, we didn't mess with being too accurate at this point. We then moved all of the pieces off the giant pile and laid down a general outline for the path. It was starting to come together!<br />
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As I have said in previous posts, my mom is a beast when it comes to physical labor and making weird projects come together. I enlisted her help when it came to setting the pieces of the path. I still wasn't 100% sold that this was a viable idea, so I needed her 'We can make it work!' attitude.<br />
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We installed the path in one day. I don't know how my body handled lifting all of that concrete, but I don't plan on doing that much labor in one day again for a very long time. Jake put in the landscaping edging and an additional fence panel, I pieced together the path, and my mom fussed with the irregular pieces to get them to stop wobbling. Go team!<br />
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Things we learned: Use water to get the dirt packed under the pieces and to make a mud that 'glues' the pieces where they need to be. My mom filled dirt between the pieces, sprayed the area down with a hose, and then shoveled more dirt between. Sand would have been an excellent base, but I want to plant creeping thyme between the sidewalk pieces, so I thought dirt would be better in the end.<br />
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We didn't use a level or try to be exact with getting the path put in. We eyeballed the height of each piece and accepted that the end result wouldn't be perfect. But, overall it actually looks pretty legit.<br />
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The last part of the path needed to meet up with our front sidewalk. I think this little section is what I like most about the project. Part of the front sidewalk was breaking away from age, so we used that to have a natural transition from whole slabs to broken pieces. It's surprisingly nice to look at.<br />
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Some of the pieces along the path were still wobbly once we were done for the day, but after a few rains everything settled perfectly.<br />
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We still have a lot of work to do, but we've made quite a bit of progress! The weekend after laying down the recycled sidewalk path, we were able to fill in our rock beds. We even made a flower bed around our front tree with smaller pieces of the old sidewalk.<br />
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Please leave comments below! I would love to hear your feedback on our project. Or, let me know if you have questions. Thanks for checking out my post. If you liked this one, please check out the links below for some other projects.<br />
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<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2015/06/project-1012-kitchen-makeover.html">Project 1012: Kitchen Makeover</a><br />
<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2015/06/project-1012-adventures-in-refinishing.html">Project 1012: Adventures in Refinishing Our Hardwood Flooring</a>Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-61300864029661015082015-06-16T15:56:00.002-07:002015-06-16T15:56:43.004-07:00Lib Balm Labels: From Scrapbook Paper and Packing Tape<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I just finished the tutorial for making <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2015/06/homemade-tinted-lemon-lip-balm.html">Tinted Lemon Lip Balm</a>, and as promised, here is the tutorial on how to make labels for the tubes. Super cheap and adorable labels, I might add. I know there are other options online, where you can buy fancy labels and what not, but it's just not as satisfying and industrious as these little beasties.<br />
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Okay, to start, gather some supplies. You will need:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Scrapbook paper of your choosing. </li>
<li>Clear packing tape. </li>
<li>Scissors and/or guillotine cutter. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/683201/Avery-White-Inkjet-Return-Address-Labels/">Return address labels</a>, or plain printer paper. </li>
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Take your scrapbook paper and cut pieces measuring 2"x 1 3/4". If you plan on using labels, you can either print or hand write the ingredients. I chose the printing method, because I didn't want to write the same thing 11 times. You don't even need the sticky labels. You can print the ingredients onto a piece of paper and cut them down to size. </div>
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I placed the labels in the middle of the scrapbook paper pieces.<br />
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Take the packing tape and roll out a strip onto the table, sticky side up. Turn the scrapbook paper pieces over and place them on the tape. Keep at least a quarter of an inch of tape between each piece.<br />
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Cut the tape, making sure to leave excess on each side of paper. The tape should fit perfectly on the lip balm tubes. Press the edges of the tape onto the tubes, and voila!<br />
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Easy lip balm tube labels! Give them a try and let me know what you think.<br />
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<br />Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-53486548431661251142015-06-16T15:02:00.000-07:002015-06-16T15:02:01.051-07:00Homemade Tinted Lemon Lip Balm <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am obsessed with lip balm. When I was in high school, I wore holes through my back pockets, because I always had a stick with me. I just can't handle dry lips, apparently. So, it's surprising that it took me so long to try and make my own. There are countless recipes online for lip balm. It's kind of crazy. Why would I want to add another recipe to the mix? I highly doubt there is anything original about my lip balm, but I suppose originality isn't really my concern. I just need an excuse to use my new DSLR camera and be on my laptop for hours at a time. The life of an introvert. </div>
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To the balm! I used to formulate my recipes with exact measurements, but now I approach it with the same technique I use for cooking; eyeball it and hope for the best. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. My homemade products deal mostly in ratios. Lip balm has a very simple composition. One part wax, one part butter, one part oil. Here's what I needed to make my tinted lemon lip balm:</div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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<ul>
<li>One part beeswax. I got my hands on some wax from a local beekeeper. It's much better than the cosmetic grade beeswax, because it smells like honey. But, if you want a cleaner, less fragrant wax, go for the <a href="http://www.bulkapothecary.com/product/raw-ingredients/waxes-and-butters/beeswax-white-and-yellow/">processed stuff</a>. Both work. </li>
<li>One part <a href="http://www.bulkapothecary.com/raw-ingredients/waxes-and-butters/pure-shea-butter-bulk/">shea butter</a>. I used the refined version. </li>
<li>One part oil. Or actually 1/2 part coconut oil, and 1/2 part jojoba oil. Coconut oil is everywhere now, but jojoba oil is a bit more expensive and can be substituted for any other liquid oil. Sunflower oil is a great one for lip balm. </li>
<li>Essential oils of your choosing. I used lemon. Ten drops did the trick for this small batch. </li>
<li>Mica powder to tint. I used to use <a href="http://www.coastalscents.com/">Coastal Scents</a> to buy samples of mica powder, like the cellini red I used for this lip balm, but it seems they stopped selling the powders. So, what the crap?! I just ordered from them not that long ago! But I found <a href="http://www.cosmeticpigments.com/strawberry-creme/">this site</a>, with similar products. I think it will work. When buying mica pigments and powders, just make sure it says it is safe to apply onto your lips. You don't need much. A lot of <a href="http://www.cosmeticpigments.com/application-guidelines/">references</a> recommend that you use only 5 to 10% powder in your recipes for lips. </li>
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Tools: </div>
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<ul>
<li>I use a makeshift double boiler. Fill a pan with a little water and set a metal or glass bowl over the top. I use medium heat. </li>
<li>A spoon! And possibly a straw! Or, a Popsicle stick if you have one handy. </li>
<li>Measuring cups if you like (for example, my recipe was a smidgen less that 1/4c for each part)</li>
<li>A stove or a hot plate. </li>
<li>Wax paper to keep your work surface clean (Optional, of course. Depends on how messy you are feeling.) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.bulkapothecary.com/lip-balm/empty-lip-balm-tubes-available-in-black-white-or-clear-stick-starting-at-06-unit/">Lip balm tubes.</a> </li>
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I tossed all of my ingredients (except the essential oil and mica powder) into my metal bowl. I had to cut up my wax chunk so that it melted faster, just fyi.<br />
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And we're melting. And we're stirring. And we're melted!<br />
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I always remove my mixture from heat to add my last two ingredients. Using a straw with a section cut out (it looks like a little pointy scooper), I dug around in my mica powder pouch until a had a little mound on the tip. You could use the Popsicle stick here if you had one. I should buy a pack. I've been meaning to do that. But I digress. It's maybe an eighth of a teaspoon total...or a sixth. It's a small amount, anyway.<br />
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I try to work quickly so that my mixture doesn't start to solidify. I stirred in the mica powder, and then added 10 drops of lemon essential oil. I stirred some more and was ready to pour. Ha! Rhyming.<br />
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I had this brilliant idea to pour my mixture into a cup with a pour spout so that I could have an easier time filling the lip balm tubes, but it failed.<br />
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Look at those splatters and drips. Towards the end, I just dumped the mixture back into the metal bowl and used that to pour. Weird that it worked better. If your mixture starts to set in the bowl, just pop it back into your pan of hot water. It will usually melt quickly.<br />
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There are little tools to help with the messes made from filling lip balm tubes. Like <a href="http://www.bulkapothecary.com/product/make-it/lip-balm/lip-balm-filling-trays/">this nifty thing.</a> If I start making a lot of lip balm at once, I may invest in this. If you are really picky, you can take a flat scraper thing and smooth out the tops of your balm, but it doesn't bother me to have the dimples.<br />
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And there you have it. Recipe number 1,452,901 on the internet for making lip balm. How exciting!? Well, it's a project that pays for itself rather quickly, so it actually is pretty cool. It took me 15 minutes to make 11 tubes of lip balm, that could be sold for $3 a pop and labeled 'artisanal'. Or, find some friends that want to experiment with homemade beauty products. Spend $40 on supplies, and make a girls (or guys) night of it. Everyone walks away with some useful products. I'm just throwing some ideas out there...<br />
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Anywho, if you liked this project, check out these other homemade beauty product recipes:<br />
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<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/diy-natural-face-cream.html">Natural Face Cream</a><br />
<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/diy-shimmer-body-butter.html">Shimmer Body Butter</a><br />
<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/diy-styling-hair-paste.html">Styling Hair Paste</a><br />
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If you have any questions, please comment below. Also, I would love to hear about your experiences with making lip balm, if you have any. Oh, and I will be posting a quick tutorial about making lip balm labels shortly.<br />
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As always, thanks for checking out my post!<br />
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<br />Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-14498582515397645102015-06-16T07:46:00.001-07:002015-06-16T07:46:51.925-07:00Project 1012: Kitchen Makeover <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am fairly certain that I spent the most time on this area of the house before Jake and I moved in. We spent six weeks from closing to moving in, and I think three of them were on this kitchen. Along with painting each surface (except for the ugly linoleum), I even decided to tile a back splash. I had never tiled before. Why do I do these things?<br />
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The funny thing about starting home improvement projects is that you never really know just how much of a mess they will be until you are half way through with no way of turning back. If you look at the first picture, you will see a light bluish wall covering behind the sink. I thought this was just a laminate covering that the old owners put up for looks, but it turns out, behind it was hiding a hot mess of holes, grease splatters, and crumbled plaster. I will show you that later...<br />
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But, if the transformation looks appealing to you, I will share my secrets:<br />
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<li>Have a crap ton of spare time and patience. If you are low on time, just avoid sleep (like I did).</li>
<li>Don't be a perfectionist. </li>
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Just kidding. Kind of. So anywho, the main project in the kitchen was painting the cupboards Now some people might think "Why would you paint those cabinets?! They don't look all that bad!" Well, you're wrong. They looked bad. Mainly, because water damage and the scraping of old food from the surfaces caused the finish to peel. Perfect excuse for me to roll on some paint! Not before I created a complete disaster area. Remember folks, it's going to look worse before it looks better. </div>
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If you are going to paint your cupboards, you should follow a few basic steps:</div>
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<li>Scrub the surfaces. I used this <a href="http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/03/2-ingredient-homemade-kitchen-cabinet-gunk-remover.html">handy recipe</a> I found on Pinterest to get the job done. Actually, maybe it wasn't that recipe. I think it was Borax and baking soda with a smidgen of water to make it a paste. Wow, I am mighty helpful. Whichever cleaning method you use, just get the surface clean. Tooth brushes help! </li>
<li>If you have a really smooth finish, you may want to rough up the surfaces with a sander. I did not do this. Remember when I said some of the finish was already scraped from the cupboards? It was like a natural sanding. </li>
<li>Get a good primer. On one of my many trips to <a href="http://www.menards.com/main/home.html">Menards </a>(my local home improvement store), the paint guys recommended that I use <a href="http://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/drywall/primers-sealers/zinsser-fastprime-2-white-water-base-primer-sealer-5-gal/p-1963048-c-8028.htm">Zinsser Fast Prime 2</a>. They did not steer me wrong. This prime sticks to any surface and dries quickly. I used it on the walls and ceilings too. </li>
<li>Have a good space to spread out your cupboards doors, and don't plan on using your kitchen for a while. </li>
<li>Take off all of your hardware. It's so much easier that way. </li>
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I applied two coats of primer to each surface using a small sponge roller. I used a brush for the small nooks and crannies, but rollers give the smoothest finish. After the primer dried, I used a semi-gloss white paint and applied two coats again. It's tedious, time consuming, but worth it. I painted the doors, inside and out, the drawers, and the mounted cabinets. </div>
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Now, the kitchen looks like an absolute mess because while painting the cupboards, I was also painting the walls, the ceiling, and prepping the walls for my tile back splash. I meant business. </div>
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The picture kind of sucks, but if you look below, I had to do some considerable patching behind the sink. They must have had a faucet coming out of the wall, because when Jake and I pulled off the laminate sheets I told you about earlier, we found the holes.<br />
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And we found this hidden mess as well:<br />
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Yes, check out that chunky corner of plaster, and that murder scene of what I hope was spaghetti sauce. And the yellow. Oh, the yellow. No worries, though. I fixed it up, good as new. Took a lot of scrubbing, though. In case you were wondering, I just used a premixed bucket of drywall plaster, <a href="http://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/drywall/patching-repair/crack-repair/fibatape-6-x-75-wall-repair-fabric/p-1494441-c-8203.htm">mesh tape</a>, and a scraper to repair the walls.<br />
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So let's skip a few steps. I painted the cupboards. Bought new knobs. Reattached all of the doors, and painted all the walls with "oops paint". If you don't know about oops paint, then you are missing out. Well, if you are a picky person, then you are probably the supplier of oops paint, so to you I say thanks. Most paint stores will have a section of returned paint, where the buyer didn't quite like the color they chose. The store will then discount this paint to a ridiculously low price. Like five dollars a gallon. I painted my kitchen, both bedrooms, and the bathroom with oops paint.<br />
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On to the tile back splash. After watching a couple of YouTube videos, I fancied myself a borderline expert. It didn't turn out all that bad--but it could probably be better. Lately, I have been wanting to rip it all off the wall and put on some different tile, but there are so many other things to do...<br />
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Around the time the previous owners put weird laminate sheets on the wall, they must have coordinated the counter tops to match. I grew to hate this weird muted blue color, but I was too cheap and too tired to learn how to replace counter tops. This led me to discover <a href="http://www.menards.com/main/home-decor/crafts/specialty-paint-finishes/rust-oleum-specialty-dark-base-countertop-coating-kit/p-1956111-c-13128.htm">Rust-Oleum Countertop Coating</a>. While using this paint, I really began to appreciate the fact that I did not yet live in this house. The smell is powerful. For those of you that know a little bit about my personality, you know that I freak out over chemicals very easily and quite often think I am dying as a result of moderate exposure. This paint set my anxiety on high. I wore a mask, held my breath while rolling on the paint, and frequently ran outside to breathe in fresh air. Overreaction? Yes, but it's probably not the craziest reaction I've had. </div>
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Anywho, this paint goes on thick. You will want to use a super fine sponge roller for the smoothest finish. Tape off all of your walls, etc. Don't plan on using your counters for at least 72 hours. But the longer you can go, the better. Within the first month of painting, we acquired all of the nicks and dings to the coating. Even though it cures in 72 hours, it remains vulnerable for another month or two. After two years, the counter top paint has remained strong, but could probably use another coat, if I were a perfectionist. </div>
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To add to my painting to do list, I spray painted all of the hinges and cupboard knobs with an 'Oil Rubbed Bronze" color. There are few surfaces in this house that I haven't painted. I think it was worth it, though. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-97Hx_1FAsr4/VYAzAY98jCI/AAAAAAAABQk/yLkO8fEZUPM/s1600/end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-97Hx_1FAsr4/VYAzAY98jCI/AAAAAAAABQk/yLkO8fEZUPM/s640/end.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
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This winter, I added the cafe curtains, and the shelves in front of the window. Maybe some day I will do a short tutorial for the curtains. Obviously, I couldn't find pre-made curtains that I could buy, so I had to bust out my ancient Singer sewing machine. By the way, someday I am going to destroy that linoleum. It's the worst.<br />
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Thank you for checking out another one of my projects! If you like home improvement projects, check out how we <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2015/06/project-1012-adventures-in-refinishing.html">refinished our hardwood floors</a>. Otherwise, stay tuned for more random messy adventures.Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-77709544159673795512014-11-16T09:46:00.001-08:002014-11-16T09:46:41.856-08:00Shrink Plastic and Wire Earrings Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w5bmrdU8Kac/VGi4OJMQmWI/AAAAAAAABC4/Q_1ABayMqII/s1600/title1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w5bmrdU8Kac/VGi4OJMQmWI/AAAAAAAABC4/Q_1ABayMqII/s1600/title1.jpg" height="640" width="516" /></a></div>
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If you are familiar with my jewelry, you may have noticed by now that I rarely use beads, if ever. I love to incorporate color into my designs, but I try to do it in a new way. I try to use different materials like nail polish, alcohol ink, liquid polymer clay, and now illustration markers. It's cool to see how many unconventional materials I can use to make jewelry. </div>
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For this pair of earrings, I used shrink plastic film, colored with <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-markers/">Blick brand illustration markers</a>. These are comparable to Prismacolor markers, but are a little bit cheaper. Illustration markers are primarily alcohol based. You can use Copic as well, but my goodness those are spendy things! Or bottles of <a href="http://www.joann.com/tim-holtz-adirondack-alcohol-ink/prd53032.html#q=alcohol+ink&start=2">Adirondack alcohol ink</a> and a brush would work. Oh and sharpies! I can't forget about those. </div>
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Materials Needed:</div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.joann.com/grafix-8-1-2inx11in-shrink-film-6pk-matte/8258915.html#q=shrink+film&start=2">clear shrink film plastic</a></li>
<li>scissors and/or paper cutters (like guillotine cutters)</li>
<li>hole punch (standard three ring binder paper punch size)</li>
<li>alcohol based markers or ink (Copic, Prismacolor, Blick, Sharpie, Adirondack, etc.)</li>
<li>18 gauge wire</li>
<li>8 jump rings (you can make them yourself with the wire and tools)</li>
<li>wire cutter</li>
<li>round nose pliers</li>
<li>flat nose pliers</li>
<li><a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Stainless-Steel-Earring-Post-4mm-Flat-Pad-p12045.htm">earring posts with 4mm pads</a> (Or french hook ear wires if you want to eliminate a step)</li>
<li>super glue/super glue gel/E6000 glue (whichever you prefer)</li>
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To begin, cut your desired shapes out of the shrink plastic. I wanted to use long rectangular shapes. When you bake the shrink plastic, it reduces to about 20% of the original size. I did some guess work when cutting my shapes. I cut strips of the plastic, wide enough to fit a standard hole punch with a little extra plastic on the sides. I would say my longest shapes were three inches or less in length and 3/4 inch or less in width. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3oOwNbKB1J0/VGjVqX9ciTI/AAAAAAAABDI/FJAFbFBwLKg/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3oOwNbKB1J0/VGjVqX9ciTI/AAAAAAAABDI/FJAFbFBwLKg/s1600/step1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I punched holes in each rectangle and then cut irregular angles from the tops of the shapes with my scissors so the shapes wouldn't be so boxy. And sorry about the flash reflection in the pictures. The lighting in my work room was not bright enough to turn off the flash.<br />
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Next, I took my illustration markers and just started doodling.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCWLAGmpu2w/VGjVuKSWJnI/AAAAAAAABDQ/rCspKFuXqWo/s1600/step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WCWLAGmpu2w/VGjVuKSWJnI/AAAAAAAABDQ/rCspKFuXqWo/s1600/step2.jpg" height="436" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used tinfoil to line a baking sheet and placed all of my doodled plastics on it. The directions said to bake at 250 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes. It's kind of fun to stare into the oven while the plastic shrinks. There's nothing wrong with a grown adult sitting cross-legged on the floor, staring into the oven. Silly? Yes. Wrong? No.<br />
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As you can kind of see from the last picture. The designs shrunk nicely, and the marker became more saturated and intense. The green pieces are my favorite.<br />
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Next, I made the swirly wire designs for the studs. Using 18 gauge wire and your round nose pliers, twist the wire tightly until it is wider than the post pad. I usually twist with the flat nose pliers for a better grip. Snip your wire with your wire cutter and then create a loop at the end with your round nose pliers.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U9WAnGg-eBY/VGjVw2HJA-I/AAAAAAAABDY/8Vzn2f8cOXw/s1600/step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U9WAnGg-eBY/VGjVw2HJA-I/AAAAAAAABDY/8Vzn2f8cOXw/s1600/step3.jpg" height="434" width="640" /></a></div>
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Repeat this for the second piece.<br />
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If you want, you can pound the design with a chasing hammer and bench block for a flatter look, but that's totally optional. <br />
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Take your glue of choice and place a little drop on your post pad. Stick the posts to one side of your spiral designs and allow to dry according to your glue's directions. The super glue gel sets up in less than 15 minutes.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ot5SuIybVdM/VGjV173JUdI/AAAAAAAABDg/hGgHnOKB1ik/s1600/step4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ot5SuIybVdM/VGjV173JUdI/AAAAAAAABDg/hGgHnOKB1ik/s1600/step4.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></div>
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Using the cap of my super glue and more 18 gauge wire, I formed a circle for the next part of the earrings. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d05JWk0easg/VGjV_cChRrI/AAAAAAAABDo/M5kTkSNXXS4/s1600/step5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d05JWk0easg/VGjV_cChRrI/AAAAAAAABDo/M5kTkSNXXS4/s1600/step5.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once you form the circle, twist one end with your round nose pliers to make a loop, then cut your wire from the spool. Twist the other end of the wire to make another loop like the sixth picture. I curled it into the circle. Repeat this for the second piece. </div>
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Now, you will need your eight jump rings. You can make them yourself by following the pictures below, but you can also buy them if you want. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXK5VhPSVg0/VDHJWG4jaNI/AAAAAAAAAiY/DaF9ncxt6YQ/s1600/jumpring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXK5VhPSVg0/VDHJWG4jaNI/AAAAAAAAAiY/DaF9ncxt6YQ/s1600/jumpring.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now you are ready to assemble your pieces. Using your flat nose and round nose pliers, open and attach the jump rings to your plastic pieces and connect them to the circle design. Then use the last jump ring to connect your stud spiral to the top loop of your circle design. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yr0gQzhIL6c/VGjWF4EW16I/AAAAAAAABDw/We3kRTgRh3w/s1600/step6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yr0gQzhIL6c/VGjWF4EW16I/AAAAAAAABDw/We3kRTgRh3w/s1600/step6.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></div>
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There you have it. A nice pair of dangle earrings. The plastic pieces sound kind of cool when they click together as you wear them. If you have questions or comments about this tutorial, please let me know! I would love to hear from you. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kdNYApr3gxo/VGjWLjjI-BI/AAAAAAAABD4/eaJvrWa-F0I/s1600/final1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kdNYApr3gxo/VGjWLjjI-BI/AAAAAAAABD4/eaJvrWa-F0I/s1600/final1.jpg" height="640" width="580" /></a></div>
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Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-32276570953652096532014-11-14T09:58:00.000-08:002014-11-14T09:58:10.147-08:00Abstract Art Paper Earrings Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Myu8nYGNnPE/VGYxmRI5pOI/AAAAAAAAA_w/bjjD3gr6sCY/s1600/title2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Myu8nYGNnPE/VGYxmRI5pOI/AAAAAAAAA_w/bjjD3gr6sCY/s1600/title2.jpg" height="640" width="592" /></a></div>
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If you have been following my blog, you would have seen my last tutorial for an <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/11/abstract-art-pendant-tutorial.html">abstract art pendant</a>. As promised, I will show you how to make the matching earrings for the pendant. Now, the picture shows a purple pair of earrings instead of blue, but the technique is the same. I just wanted to switch up the colors, because I like variety. What do they say? Something about that being the spice of life...</div>
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Anywho, I have really fallen in love with this technique to make paper earrings. Pretty much, if you cover any paper in enough glue/mod podge/sealer of your preference, you can have a durable material for jewelry. I made a pair of <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/scrapbook-paper-earrings-tutorial-using.html">earrings using scrapbook paper</a> and it worked out perfectly, so was inspired to try using art as well. </div>
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Materials Needed:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Oval/circle punch of your choosing</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/supplies/adhesives/sun-and-moon-glaze.html">dimensional glaze</a> and/or Tacky glue/Mod Podge (I like to use a gloss finish)</li>
<li>small brush</li>
<li>1/8 inch hole punch</li>
<li>four jump rings or 18 gauge wire, wire cutter, and round nose pliers to make your own (I will include tutorial for jump rings below)</li>
<li>Earring hooks (I use titanium ear hooks since I am allergic to nickle based metals)</li>
<li>art (follow <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/abstract-art-technique-for-craft.html">this tutorial</a> to make your own abstract art)</li>
<li>cereal box or cardstock (I recommend anything higher that 100lb weight)</li>
<li>flat nose pliers to assemble pieces</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UTozFPvZktE/VGY1v8LlsLI/AAAAAAAAA_8/PTQMyblV4u0/s1600/example1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UTozFPvZktE/VGY1v8LlsLI/AAAAAAAAA_8/PTQMyblV4u0/s1600/example1.jpg" height="200" width="145" /></a></div>
I used this purple pendant for color inspiration. I have made quite a few abstract art sheets during the last year, so I have plenty of colors to choose from.<br />
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As you can tell, I like to throw in some shimmer paint to make things sparkle. To make this purple art sheet, I used a <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/items/00624-6543/">purple acrylic paint</a>, mixed with a <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/items/02953-9330/">silver paint</a>. I usually get most of my art supplies from <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/">Dick Blick</a>, but you can get quality acrylic paints from craft stores as well. You might pay a little more, though, so always use a coupon!<br />
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To begin, take your circle/oval punch and punch two pieces of cereal box/cardstock, and four pieces of your art paper. You will sandwich the cereal box piece between two pieces of art so that your earrings have art on each side. Using a small brush and tacky glue or Mod Podge, spread a little glue on one side of the cereal box and press your art onto it.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8MVM9C0u1U/VGY6LH_KJwI/AAAAAAAABAI/Tdzs9KzAFN0/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8MVM9C0u1U/VGY6LH_KJwI/AAAAAAAABAI/Tdzs9KzAFN0/s1600/step1.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></div>
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Repeat this step with both sides of each earring. I let the four sides dry for about 15 minutes before moving on to the next step.<br />
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From the second picture you can see that the earring is pretty thick. This will prevent the paper from warping when it dries. I made a test pair of scrapbook paper earrings without a thick center and it warped really bad and just looked ugly. Nobody wants that.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-opGB-zyvQRM/VGY7nGfNalI/AAAAAAAABAU/9UJgPNEq6eY/s1600/step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-opGB-zyvQRM/VGY7nGfNalI/AAAAAAAABAU/9UJgPNEq6eY/s1600/step2.jpg" height="640" width="622" /></a></div>
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Once your glue dries enough, then take your 1/8 inch hole punch and put a hole in each earring piece. Next, using your dimensional glaze, spread a thin layer onto one side of your earrings. You could also use Mod Podge. It's up to you whether you want a glossy or matte finish, but I prefer glossy at this moment.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2VsAMmU28sk/VGY8sGT6DLI/AAAAAAAABAg/AqnhiqCbfXQ/s1600/step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2VsAMmU28sk/VGY8sGT6DLI/AAAAAAAABAg/AqnhiqCbfXQ/s1600/step3.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></div>
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Let the glaze/glue dry completely before covering the back sides with more glaze/glue. I wait a couple of hours and work on other projects between glaze applications. Yay, multitasking!<br />
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Once your pieces are completely dry, you can begin assembling your earrings. If you want to make your own jump rings. Follow the pictures below.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXK5VhPSVg0/VDHJWG4jaNI/AAAAAAAAAiY/DaF9ncxt6YQ/s1600/jumpring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXK5VhPSVg0/VDHJWG4jaNI/AAAAAAAAAiY/DaF9ncxt6YQ/s1600/jumpring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXK5VhPSVg0/VDHJWG4jaNI/AAAAAAAAAiY/DaF9ncxt6YQ/s1600/jumpring.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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Using your flat nose pliers. or whatever tools you prefer, open the jump rings and begin connecting your pieces. I use two jump rings per earring. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojF8FDlxno8/VGY-i3HmTFI/AAAAAAAABAw/1N3O9IpXLXo/s1600/step4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ojF8FDlxno8/VGY-i3HmTFI/AAAAAAAABAw/1N3O9IpXLXo/s1600/step4.jpg" height="234" width="640" /></a></div>
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And now you have a pair of abstract art paper earrings! If you have any questions or comments please let me know. I would love to hear what you think of this tutorial. Have you ever tried making paper earrings? </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-URPJxmn8zjA/VGZAWihxfSI/AAAAAAAABA4/E3P9ZvhhQyI/s1600/final1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-URPJxmn8zjA/VGZAWihxfSI/AAAAAAAABA4/E3P9ZvhhQyI/s1600/final1.jpg" height="396" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also made a pair from more scrapbook paper as you can see from the second pair of earrings pictured. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_4c4r9HwvI/VGZAffT54QI/AAAAAAAABBA/NJg7QK0vxas/s1600/final2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_4c4r9HwvI/VGZAffT54QI/AAAAAAAABBA/NJg7QK0vxas/s1600/final2.jpg" height="614" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you enjoyed this tutorial, you might also be interest in the following posts:</div>
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<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/scrapbook-paper-earrings-tutorial-using.html">Scrapbook Paper Earrings Tutorial</a></div>
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<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/11/abstract-art-pendant-tutorial.html">Abstract Art Pendant Tutorial</a></div>
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<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/abstract-art-pendant-earrings-tutorial.html">Abstract Art Pendant Earrings Tutorial</a></div>
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<br />Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-44391591401760097892014-11-12T11:50:00.001-08:002014-11-14T10:10:41.417-08:00Abstract Art Pendant Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TpWNaA2n8Xs/VGOrjQPyl2I/AAAAAAAAA80/rtGbWMbExgA/s1600/title1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TpWNaA2n8Xs/VGOrjQPyl2I/AAAAAAAAA80/rtGbWMbExgA/s640/title1.jpg" width="506" /></a></div>
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Last night, I decided to make an icy blue pendant to capture the cold Minnesota weather. As I made this, I was wrapped in a blanket cocoon, because I am quite certain my craft room barely reaches 60 degrees in the winter (technically it's still fall, but nature doesn't seem to care about that right now). Stupid old houses and their draftiness.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/blank-pendant-trays/1-inch-circle-pendant-tray-textured.html">1 inch pendant tray</a> (I used the gunmetal colored tray)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/clear-glass-tiles/clear-glass-circles/1-inch-circles-blank-pendant-glass-fx.html">1 inch domed glass</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/supplies/adhesives/sun-and-moon-glaze.html">dimensional glaze</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/necklaces.html">necklace</a> of your choice (The website I linked has a good variety.)</li>
<li>scissors</li>
<li>art or photo of your choice. If you would like to use handmade art, try this <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/abstract-art-technique-for-craft.html">tutorial</a>. I used the method in the tutorial to make my designs for this project. I used blue paint and <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/items/02953-1600/">white shimmer</a> paint to give the art a sparkle. </li>
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To start, squeeze a little dimensional glaze onto the glass piece. Then place the glass onto your art. Gently push down and make sure there are no bubbles under the glass. You can use any clear glue you want in place of the dimensional glaze, if you are feeling cheap. I used Tacky glue when I first experimented with this project, and it works decently. The main difference is that dimensional glaze is less likely to create air bubbles under the glass. So if you are picky, use a dimensional glaze. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHJUjmyaYIQ/VGOyVSQPD6I/AAAAAAAAA9E/Gk3gJuz6Uz8/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dHJUjmyaYIQ/VGOyVSQPD6I/AAAAAAAAA9E/Gk3gJuz6Uz8/s640/step1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Let the glaze dry for a while. I think I waited an hour. Then trim off the excess paper. Next you will need to seal the back of the paper with more glaze. Use the tip of the bottle to spread a small amount of glaze onto the paper. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ9fpMwyt88/VGOzmwma6UI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/1fKqR2qzAb4/s1600/step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ9fpMwyt88/VGOzmwma6UI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/1fKqR2qzAb4/s640/step2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Let this dry for another hour or so. Next, you will put more glaze on the back of the paper. Turn the glass over, and place it into your pendant tray. Allow to dry, again. There's a lot of dry time with this project. Maybe find other things to do in the spare time. Like make a matching pair of earrings! </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GXXekKrkP6Y/VGOzvzCLMtI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/klCYpLlYbdg/s1600/step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GXXekKrkP6Y/VGOzvzCLMtI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/klCYpLlYbdg/s640/step3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used a 24 inch gunmetal chain for this pendant. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PtDN9xJ244/VGO0TFIdx1I/AAAAAAAAA9g/h1h7OIxxD-M/s1600/final1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PtDN9xJ244/VGO0TFIdx1I/AAAAAAAAA9g/h1h7OIxxD-M/s400/final1.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>
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And would you look at that! A matching set of paper earrings. Stay tuned for that tutorial. (Update: Here it is! <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/11/abstract-art-paper-earrings-tutorial.html">Abstract Art Paper Earrings Tutorial</a>)</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Qv18Augd58/VGO0gPyxSgI/AAAAAAAAA9w/umirj2OkmKE/s1600/final2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Qv18Augd58/VGO0gPyxSgI/AAAAAAAAA9w/umirj2OkmKE/s400/final2.jpg" width="332" /></a></div>
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If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I would love to hear from you and see what projects you are up to! If you enjoyed working with the glass pieces, you can take a look at some of my other tutorials like the ones listed below. </div>
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<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/diy-abstract-art-refrigerator-magnets.html">DIY Abstract Art Refrigerator Magnets</a></div>
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<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/abstract-art-pendant-earrings-tutorial.html">Abstract Art Pendant Earrings Tutorial</a> (You could easily make matching earrings with this tutorial!)</div>
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Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-55592967715632097462014-11-12T08:39:00.002-08:002015-05-26T08:05:48.737-07:00Stained Glass Wire Earrings Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NwkiS4jqxbQ/VGN5rqJJkZI/AAAAAAAAA5w/byXKdv3Rw-g/s1600/title1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="608" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NwkiS4jqxbQ/VGN5rqJJkZI/AAAAAAAAA5w/byXKdv3Rw-g/s640/title1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It snowed. I know I make the choice of living in Minnesota, but seriously. A foot of snow in November is not cool. I have not left the house for a couple of days, so I figured I better make use of my time and start making more tutorials.<br />
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Lately, I have been getting tired of making fish hook style earrings so this tutorial involves stud posts instead.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Stainless-Steel-Earring-Post-w--4mm-Flat-Pad-p12050.htm">4 mm pad posts</a></li>
<li>18 gauge wire (I used silver plated copper for all the wire) </li>
<li>16 gauge wire</li>
<li>24 gauge wire</li>
<li>round nose pliers</li>
<li>wire cutter</li>
<li>flat nose pliers</li>
<li>super glue/super glue gel/E6000 (whichever you prefer)</li>
<li>clear nail polish</li>
<li><a href="http://www.joann.com/tim-holtz-adirondack-alcohol-ink/prd53032.html#q=alcohol+ink&start=2">alcohol ink</a> color of your choice</li>
<li>scratch piece of paper and small snippet of 24 gauge wire</li>
</ul>
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This tutorial might get a little long, since I just realized how many steps there are. They are all relatively simple steps, though, so it's definitely worth it to try this pair of earrings out! </div>
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To begin, take your 16 gauge wire and round nose pliers. I began winding my spiral with the round nose pliers. Crimp the end down with your flat nose pliers so there isn't a hole in the middle of the spiral. Then wind the spiral a couple of times with the flat nose pliers. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upxFcD2VYdE/VGODHcjeVHI/AAAAAAAAA6A/kMqSrY2EYfk/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-upxFcD2VYdE/VGODHcjeVHI/AAAAAAAAA6A/kMqSrY2EYfk/s640/step1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cut the spiral from the wire with enough wire on the end to wrap a loop. Using your round nose pliers, grip the end of the excess wire and twist into a loop like the first picture below. Repeat this for your second spiral.<br />
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Using the glue of your choice, glue the posts to the middle of your spirals. Leave this to dry according to the recommended dry time on your glue. My super glue gel sets in a couple of minutes.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ziu_0i-DUVQ/VGODIxq5w6I/AAAAAAAAA6I/HjeXNiR8yaY/s1600/step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ziu_0i-DUVQ/VGODIxq5w6I/AAAAAAAAA6I/HjeXNiR8yaY/s640/step2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For the next pieces of your earrings, you will use 18 gauge wire. I cut two pieces, around 3.5 inches each. Begin by forming a loop at the end of your wire with your round nose pliers. Then with your flat nose pliers, grip the wire like the third photo, and angle the wire as pictured. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfjtjAu6pos/VGOD1hpODmI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/GRbLUwXRSqk/s1600/step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfjtjAu6pos/VGOD1hpODmI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/GRbLUwXRSqk/s640/step3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Continue using your flat nose pliers to angle the wire into a rectangle. You'll have to do some guessing when it comes to measurements. I made a couple of scrap shapes until I got this one how I wanted it. </div>
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Once you have formed your last angle, you will wrap the excess wire near the base of your initial loop. Sorry about the blurry pictures for photos two and three. Basically, you bend the wire behind the loop, and wrap it two or three times. I use the flat nose pliers to pull my wrapping tight. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c7NasFXWIHY/VGOEwfMd2oI/AAAAAAAAA6c/7Wu2TBU2VDA/s1600/step4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c7NasFXWIHY/VGOEwfMd2oI/AAAAAAAAA6c/7Wu2TBU2VDA/s640/step4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once your wrapping is secure, cut off the excess wire with your wire cutter. To make sure there are no sharp edges sticking out, I crimp the end of the wire with my flat nose pliers. </div>
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For the third part of the earrings, grab your 24 gauge wire. cut two pieces, about three inches long. Using your round nose pliers, you will form the loops that go on the inside of your rectangle. Play with the wire a bit if you have never worked with it before. </div>
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The basic idea is to wrap the wire around your round nose pliers until a loop forms, then move onto the next loop. I use the ends of my pliers so the loops aren't too big. Start about an inch into the wire so that you will have excess wire on both sides of your design to use for the next step. </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jM8JC4-cpO0/VGOFhYK8mmI/AAAAAAAAA6k/zLqg-UopD9E/s1600/step5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jM8JC4-cpO0/VGOFhYK8mmI/AAAAAAAAA6k/zLqg-UopD9E/s640/step5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I formed five loops and fit it into my rectangle to see how it would look. As you can see, I have enough wire on each end to wrap the design around the rectangle. Using your flat nose pliers, wrap the wire, pull it tight, and then cut off the excess wire. </div>
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Next, you will fill in the loops with nail polish and alcohol ink. I used a third hand tool to hold the earrings while I worked with the nail polish. You don't need this tool. It's just more convenient. If you use your hands instead, just make sure that you hang the earrings on something as they dry. </div>
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Using your scrap piece of paper, mix approximately five drops of polish with one drop of ink. Mix this together with a scrap piece of wire. I didn't include the pictures of how to put the polish in the wire, so if you want more visual directions check out this <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/faux-stained-glass-earrings.html">link</a>. </div>
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Basically, you dip the wire in the colored polish so that a drop accumulates on the end. Then, place the wire inside one of the loops. The polish should stick to the sides of the wire. You can use a light circular motion to touch the insides to the loop to help deposit the polish. If the polish doesn't hold tight, and form a complete surface, try adding more polish. If that doesn't work, the loop might be too big. </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j_JtLjpRCBA/VGOGqyPp-gI/AAAAAAAAA6w/yKbGD5LU0i8/s1600/step6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j_JtLjpRCBA/VGOGqyPp-gI/AAAAAAAAA6w/yKbGD5LU0i8/s640/step6.jpg" width="608" /></a></div>
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Let the polish dry completely, then move on to the assembly stage! You will need two jump rings. You can either make them yourself with 18 gauge wire or use ready-made rings. Follow the pictures below to make your own jump rings. All you need is wire, your round nose pliers, and a wire cutter. </div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXK5VhPSVg0/VDHJWG4jaNI/AAAAAAAAAiY/DaF9ncxt6YQ/s1600/jumpring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXK5VhPSVg0/VDHJWG4jaNI/AAAAAAAAAiY/DaF9ncxt6YQ/s640/jumpring.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Using your flat nose pliers, open your jump rings and connect the loop of the stud to the loop of the rectangle. Close your jump rings, and enjoy a nice new pair of earrings. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-if38lGanBXc/VGOJ9Kj92oI/AAAAAAAAA68/_i85v-eGWKg/s1600/step7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-if38lGanBXc/VGOJ9Kj92oI/AAAAAAAAA68/_i85v-eGWKg/s640/step7.jpg" width="622" /></a></div>
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If you have questions or comments, please let me know! And thanks for stopping by! </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRYqjtszsLw/VGOKccssXyI/AAAAAAAAA7E/SkEf6rmvURs/s1600/final2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRYqjtszsLw/VGOKccssXyI/AAAAAAAAA7E/SkEf6rmvURs/s320/final2.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
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Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-15000415009404063932014-10-27T11:28:00.000-07:002014-10-27T11:28:16.188-07:00Scrapbook Paper Earrings Tutorial: Using Mat Board or a Cereal Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NIN03O8SJSk/VEqyKQPhjsI/AAAAAAAAA2o/3ow1ovVABU0/s1600/title1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NIN03O8SJSk/VEqyKQPhjsI/AAAAAAAAA2o/3ow1ovVABU0/s1600/title1.jpg" height="640" width="496" /></a></div>
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I used to mat a lot of my art and ended up accumulating a bunch of mat board scraps. I didn't really feel right throwing the smaller pieces away so I kept them in a box for a few years, hoping someday I would find some way to use them. Now, I finally have a project that incorporates my scrap pieces. This is also a great project to use up some cute scrapbook paper. You could also use an empty cereal box instead of mat board. All you need is a thick inner core to give your scrapbook paper some durability.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
<ul>
<li>1 inch circle punch</li>
<li>1/8 inch hole punch</li>
<li>scissors</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/supplies/adhesives/sun-and-moon-glaze.html">dimensional glaze </a> or glossy mod podge</li>
<li>glue (I used Tacky Glue) </li>
<li>small paint brush</li>
<li>jump rings (or use 18 gauge wire and a round nose pliers to make your own)</li>
<li>ear hooks </li>
<li>flat nose pliers</li>
<li>mat board or a cereal box</li>
</ul>
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To start, punch out two circles from your mat board or cereal box. My circle punch wasn't the strongest, so I really had to force it to cut the mat board. It worked for the most part. Now, punch four circles out of your scrapbook paper.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n8eVwP35ss8/VE55kLhCQoI/AAAAAAAAA24/YiJHJT20vO0/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n8eVwP35ss8/VE55kLhCQoI/AAAAAAAAA24/YiJHJT20vO0/s1600/step1.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></div>
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Using your small brush, spread a layer of glue evenly on one side of the mat board/cereal box. Place your paper over the mat board and smooth it down. Repeat this for the other side and the other mat board circle.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTtCnfcbIqo/VE55nM9afNI/AAAAAAAAA3I/Xu5zAuhDE54/s1600/step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RTtCnfcbIqo/VE55nM9afNI/AAAAAAAAA3I/Xu5zAuhDE54/s1600/step3.jpg" height="214" width="640" /></a></div>
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I tidied up the edges with a scissors since my circle punch left some of the edges a little frayed. Next, use your 1/8th inch hole punch to create holes for your jump rings.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqGiNwj41dI/VE55opMtOjI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/PJpwZ2rEB1s/s1600/step4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqGiNwj41dI/VE55opMtOjI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/PJpwZ2rEB1s/s1600/step4.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></div>
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Using your dimensional glaze (or glossy mod podge), seal each side of the paper. I spread out my glaze on one side of each circle, let it dry for a few hours, and then flipped them over and repeated for the second sides. The surface is a little glossy, and waterproof now.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UAiWmcPlX5k/VE55qDTr8iI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/-AruK2dV9gw/s1600/step5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UAiWmcPlX5k/VE55qDTr8iI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/-AruK2dV9gw/s1600/step5.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></div>
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I made two jump rings for each circle using 18 gauge wire. If you want to make your own jump rings, follow the pictures below. You will need a round nose pliers and wire cutter. Or you can buy some jump rings from a craft store. Use your flat nose pliers to open the rings and the ear hooks. Assemble your pieces and rock those unique earrings!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXK5VhPSVg0/VDHJWG4jaNI/AAAAAAAAAiY/DaF9ncxt6YQ/s1600/jumpring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXK5VhPSVg0/VDHJWG4jaNI/AAAAAAAAAiY/DaF9ncxt6YQ/s1600/jumpring.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HrMv5icT-0E/VE56jCbR_SI/AAAAAAAAA3s/B5vkneEpQ1c/s1600/final3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HrMv5icT-0E/VE56jCbR_SI/AAAAAAAAA3s/B5vkneEpQ1c/s1600/final3.jpg" height="396" width="400" /></a></div>
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I didn't really enjoy the gray paper I chose, so I tried another pair with the black damask design. I think these ones are much better. The good thing about this project, is that it's super cheap to experiment with different designs. You can even do an abstract art pair using this <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/abstract-art-technique-for-craft.html">tutorial</a>! You can really have fun with earrings like this.</div>
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Let me know if you have any questions or comments! And if you like this tutorial check out this tutorial for making more <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/paper-earrings-tutorial.html">paper earrings</a>. </div>
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Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-65253079871655907372014-10-23T09:10:00.001-07:002014-10-23T09:10:03.856-07:00Twisted Wire Stud Earrings Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GjCW5iHHBh4/VEhjLAfWNRI/AAAAAAAAA0o/ijtC8YVjTao/s1600/title2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GjCW5iHHBh4/VEhjLAfWNRI/AAAAAAAAA0o/ijtC8YVjTao/s1600/title2.jpg" height="640" width="626" /></a></div>
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Hey guys! Want to make some simple stud earrings? Well, I think you might like these little wire creations. </div>
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Materials Needed:</div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Silver-Plated-Wire-18ga-13-1-2096p15403.htm">18 gauge wire</a> (I used silver plated copper)</li>
<li>round nose pliers</li>
<li>flat nose pliers</li>
<li>wire cutter</li>
<li><a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Stainless-Steel-Earring-Post-w--4mm-Flat-Pad-p12050.htm">posts with 4mm pads</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/15g-Gorilla-Super-Glue-Gel/dp/B00CJ5EO2E">super glue gel</a> (or E6000 glue) </li>
<li><a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/EURO-TOOL-Hammer-Chasing-p25372.htm">chasing hammer</a></li>
<li>steel <a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Beadalon-Mini-Horn-Anvil-p17786.htm">bench block</a></li>
</ul>
Begin by cutting two pieces of your 18 gauge wire. My pieces were roughly 3 inches. Form a tight loop at the end of one piece with your round nose pliers, and then crimp it shut. This is the beginning of the spiral where you will glue your post so you want to try and close the loop completely if you can. Now, use your flat nose pliers to wind the spiral. I wind it a couple of times. I am using 4mm posts, so as long as the spiral is bigger than the post pads, you are good to move onto the next step.<br />
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Using your flat nose pliers, like the 5th and 6th images, start to form your serpentine design.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lDcwGY6pSmo/VEhivDFZkPI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/Z2_bLZ8Q6GI/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lDcwGY6pSmo/VEhivDFZkPI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/Z2_bLZ8Q6GI/s1600/step1.jpg" height="640" width="626" /></a></div>
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Once you get near the end of your wire, use your round nose pliers to close off your design with one last loop. The next step is optional. Using a chasing hammer and steel bench block, you can hammer the designs a bit to flatten them out. You can tell between the 3rd and 5th image that the hammering I did is very subtle. So, if you want to omit that step, that's totally fine. Also, if you choose to hammer the wire, be careful not to hammer too hard with the silver plated copper. If you hammer the wire too thin, the copper color will show through. </div>
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Next, take your glue, whether it be super glue or E6000, and attach your posts. You only need a little dab of glue on the post pads. Let the glue dry according to the bottle's directions. I choose to use super glue, because 1.) it dries much faster and 2.) it doesn't say it causes cancer like E6000. I worry too much about everything, so use E6000 if you prefer.<br />
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And there you have it! Since the loops at the bottom of the designs are open, you could add on to these earrings with beads or chain. Or really whatever you are feeling. Let me know if you have questions or comments, and if you try this tutorial, I would love to see the end result.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8Luisfqy6o/VEhjADabzII/AAAAAAAAA0g/MIinr5phDII/s1600/final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8Luisfqy6o/VEhjADabzII/AAAAAAAAA0g/MIinr5phDII/s1600/final.jpg" height="422" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-70137142848886595492014-10-16T08:13:00.001-07:002014-10-16T08:14:24.121-07:00Scrapbook Paper Earrings Tutorial w/Wire Accents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have a bunch of cute scrapbooking paper lying around? Don't know what to do with it? Well, here's a project you might like.<br />
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I don't scrapbook much, so I have a bunch of paper left over from previous projects. I saw a tutorial on making paper bead earrings from <a href="http://positivelystephanie.blogspot.com/2014/08/paper-bead-earrings.html" target="_blank">this site</a>, and wondered if I could do something similar, but more my style.<br />
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Paper isn't exactly the most durable material for jewelry, but coat it with enough glue and it seals up nicely.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
<ul>
<li>paper</li>
<li>cutting implements: scissors and eighth inch hole punch</li>
<li>glue (Tacky, Elmers, Mod Podge, or anything that dries clear)</li>
<li>jump rings (or make your own with 20 gauge wire)</li>
<li>ear hooks (I used <a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Stainless-Steel-Ear-Wire-French-Hook-w-4mm-Loop-and-Copper-Plated-Ball-976p12137.htm">these</a> from Rings & Things)</li>
<li>flat nose pliers</li>
<li>wire cutter</li>
<li>round nose pliers </li>
<li>20 gauge <a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Copper-Wire-20ga-Round-79-p15431.htm">copper wire</a>, or any colored wire of your choice</li>
</ul>
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To begin, I cut two rectangular pieces from a sheet of scrapbooking paper. I glued the pieces together so that the pattern is on both sides of the earrings. If you have double sided scrapbook paper, then you can skip that step. </div>
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I used Tacky glue and a small paint brush to evenly spread the glue before putting the pieces together. Once the glue dried, I cut the rectangle in half, and stacked the two pieces. Then I cut leaf like shapes from the paper. Using an eighth inch hole punch, I put holes in the ends of the paper leaves. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNhGVjOQwL4/VD8yvPqufdI/AAAAAAAAAxE/AJA6_0Va9Zk/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNhGVjOQwL4/VD8yvPqufdI/AAAAAAAAAxE/AJA6_0Va9Zk/s1600/step1.jpg" height="296" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now, if you want a pair of temporary earrings, you can put them together from this point. Just don't get them wet, and they may last a little while. But, if you want something a little more durable, you will need to seal the paper. For these earrings, I took a small brush and spread Tacky glue on each side. Brush one side with glue, let it dry, then brush the other side and let it dry. Go ahead and add a couple of coats if you have the patience for it.<br />
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If you want a glossy surface on your paper, you can use a dimensional glaze, like this <a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/supplies/adhesives/sun-and-moon-glaze.html">one</a>. I've used this glaze on other paper earrings and like it better than the tacky glue. (I will post another tutorial later.)<br />
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Cut two equal piece of copper wire, roughly four inches. Using your round nose pliers, bend each piece of wire in the middle so that it forms a shape like the third picture. Check to see if the wire is matching up with the size of your paper cut outs, like the third picture. Adjust if you need to.<br />
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Grip one end of the wire with your pliers, and curl it into the design like the fifth picture. I trimmed a little wire off each piece to make the next step easier. You may or may not need to do that.<br />
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Sorry about the crappy seventh picture, but it get's the job done. Kind of. Gripping the other end of the wire with your round nose pliers, curl it into a loop like the eight picture. To assemble your earrings, you will need jump rings. If you would like to make your own, follow the pictures below:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptD5cA0Ierk/VD87HDSdtHI/AAAAAAAAAxg/sMPIoSoa3BU/s1600/jumpring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptD5cA0Ierk/VD87HDSdtHI/AAAAAAAAAxg/sMPIoSoa3BU/s1600/jumpring.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lwPnSO8nhwA/VD89PAke2dI/AAAAAAAAAx0/Y1XlVcqSJ2w/s1600/jumprings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lwPnSO8nhwA/VD89PAke2dI/AAAAAAAAAx0/Y1XlVcqSJ2w/s1600/jumprings.jpg" height="200" width="196" /></a></div>
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I made four jump rings out of copper wire. I made two larger rings to put around the paper leaves and wire design, and two smaller rings to connect the first jump ring to the ear hook loop. To open your jump rings, use your round nose pliers and your flat nose pliers. Close them the same way.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NK2DLpmLiuc/VD88tbiptDI/AAAAAAAAAxs/K-ztMhphaRQ/s1600/step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NK2DLpmLiuc/VD88tbiptDI/AAAAAAAAAxs/K-ztMhphaRQ/s1600/step3.jpg" height="640" width="562" /></a></div>
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Now you've got a pair of paper earrings! If you have any questions or comments, please let me know! As you can see from the picture below, these earrings work without any wire design. I only used the two jump rings per earring to assemble the pieces. </div>
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Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-45462755715713324982014-10-15T09:34:00.000-07:002014-10-15T09:34:40.078-07:00Wire Necklace Charm Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hQRgcjLNMWo/VD6dK7vgUjI/AAAAAAAAAuY/YpFs49h3FPM/s1600/title2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hQRgcjLNMWo/VD6dK7vgUjI/AAAAAAAAAuY/YpFs49h3FPM/s1600/title2.jpg" height="640" width="500" /></a></div>
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Following the same trend of the last couple of posts I have done, I used nail polish to spice up this wire necklace charm. It's a simple and adorable way to add color to wire jewelry. I used 20 gauge, black copper wire for the design, and white nail polish mixed with blue alcohol ink for the coloring.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
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<ul>
<li>round nose pliers</li>
<li>wire cutter</li>
<li><a href="http://www.joann.com/darice-craft-designer-20-gauge-wire-/xprd75706.html#q=20+gauge+wire&start=1">20 gauge wire </a>of your color choice</li>
<li>white nail polish and <a href="http://www.joann.com/tim-holtz-adirondack-alcohol-ink/prd53032.html#q=alcohol+ink&start=2">alcohol ink</a>, or nail polish of your color preference</li>
<li>necklace of your choice </li>
<li>third hand tool (optional)</li>
</ul>
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Begin by cutting about 5 inches of the 20 gauge wire. I cut 6, but ended up trimming over an inch off, so go with 5. Using your round nose pliers, form a loop at the end of the wire, let the wire 'stack' so that is is two rings high. This gives the design more strength. Move your pliers out of the first loop, and begin twisting the second loop. For each following loop, you will twist push the excess wire behind the previous loop. I hope that makes sense. If not, please let me know! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RRmrVX2jQZc/VD6ccUq4RhI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/NpNKFmuvmQs/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RRmrVX2jQZc/VD6ccUq4RhI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/NpNKFmuvmQs/s1600/step1.jpg" height="640" width="624" /></a></div>
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Once you have your desired number of loops, cut off the excess wire. Put your design in your third hand tool (if you feel like using one). Using a scrap piece of paper, I mixed a couple of drops of nail polish with one drop of alcohol ink. Mix the two together with a piece of wire (I use a scrap piece of 26 gauge wire, but 20 gauge will do).</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wPs3yX7kdnw/VD6dsx6nanI/AAAAAAAAAug/4ksijBwg6kY/s1600/step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wPs3yX7kdnw/VD6dsx6nanI/AAAAAAAAAug/4ksijBwg6kY/s1600/step2.jpg" height="640" width="622" /></a></div>
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To apply the polish, dip the wire in the nail polish and collect a small droplet on the end of the wire. Place this into one of your loops. I use a circular motion to deposit the polish onto the sides of the wire. If the you have too much polish, it will run out of your loop, but if you have too little, a tight surface will not form across your loop. So, experiment with the different amounts of polish. </div>
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Once your loops are filled, leave this to dry until it is set. Make sure to leave one loop empty to be able to string it on your necklace. Once the nail polish is dry, you can string the charm on your necklace. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_UfOHfciSbA/VD6fAoADKgI/AAAAAAAAAus/mS_2ZvcmWvA/s1600/step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_UfOHfciSbA/VD6fAoADKgI/AAAAAAAAAus/mS_2ZvcmWvA/s1600/step3.jpg" height="298" width="320" /></a></div>
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As you can see, I used a jump ring to attach the charm to my necklace. I made my own jump ring, but if you have one handy you can use that. Otherwise, follow the images below to make your own jump ring from your 20 gauge wire. They are super easy to make. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7jRPY9gvC_g/VD6foaD1elI/AAAAAAAAAu0/_aUacBijmGs/s1600/jumpring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7jRPY9gvC_g/VD6foaD1elI/AAAAAAAAAu0/_aUacBijmGs/s1600/jumpring.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used a different chain for the image below. I'm not sure which one I like better...</div>
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Anyway, if you have questions or comments, please let me know! I would love to hear what you think of this necklace/tutorial. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31IMon7OQME/VD6gWD9tFTI/AAAAAAAAAu8/zNyG67OrfiY/s1600/final2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31IMon7OQME/VD6gWD9tFTI/AAAAAAAAAu8/zNyG67OrfiY/s1600/final2.jpg" height="292" width="320" /></a></div>
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And, if you enjoyed this tutorial, try some of the links listed below.</div>
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<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/wire-earring-tutorial-wnail-polish-and.html">Wire Earrings Tutorial w/Nail Polish</a></div>
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<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/copper-wire-earrings-tutorial.html">Copper Wire Earrings Tutorial</a></div>
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<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/faux-stained-glass-earrings.html">Faux Stained Glass Earrings</a></div>
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Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-61457678913847667142014-10-14T08:51:00.000-07:002014-10-14T08:51:50.655-07:00Wire Earring Tutorial w/Nail Polish and Alcohol Ink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OUrri33wmFM/VDyh-VBTZiI/AAAAAAAAAsI/XwUlD_eV3lY/s1600/title2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OUrri33wmFM/VDyh-VBTZiI/AAAAAAAAAsI/XwUlD_eV3lY/s1600/title2.jpg" height="640" width="606" /></a></div>
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These feel very whimsical. I think it's the purple. I love the versatility of wire for jewelry. For these earrings, I used 18 gauge silver plated copper wire for the larger circle, and 24 gauge silver plated copper for the inner loop design. Then, I used clear nail polish, with a little bit of purple alcohol ink mixed in to give a stained glass effect to the coloring of the loops.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
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<li>18 gauge wire</li>
<li>24 gauge wire</li>
<li>round nose pliers</li>
<li>flat nose pliers</li>
<li>wire cutter</li>
<li>clear nail polish and <a href="http://www.joann.com/tim-holtz-adirondack-alcohol-ink/prd53032.html#q=alcohol+ink&start=2">alcohol ink</a> or nail polish color of your choice</li>
<li><a href="http://www.joann.com/darice-fish-hook-earrings-72pk-silver/1762178.html#start=28">fish hook ear wires</a></li>
<li>third hand tool (optional)</li>
</ul>
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I'm not the most precise when it comes to measurements. When I work with earrings, I just cut two pieces of wire of the same length and call it good. But, if I had to pin down a length, 3.5 inches would do for each piece of the 18 gauge wire. </div>
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To begin, take one piece of 18 gauge wire, and form a loop with your round nose pliers. Then, grab your bottle of nail polish and use the top to bend the wire. If your nail polish bottle isn't very big, you can use a large marker, or any other cylindrical object of desirable size to shape the wire. </div>
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Form a circle with the wire, then use your round nose pliers to form a loop on the straight end of the wire. Repeat this with your second piece of 18 gauge wire. Set these two aside and grab the 24 gauge wire.<br />
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Cut two pieces, about 5 inches in length of the 24 gauge wire. Using your round nose pliers, begin about an inch into the wire to form your first loop. Wrap the longer end of the wire around your round nose pliers until the wire begins to 'stack'. Then move onto the next loop. You can move the wire up and down the round nose pliers to get different sized loops, but don't make them too big if you want to add the nail polish.<br />
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Once I have a few loops done, I check how it fits in the 18 gauge design. Once I've adjusted the curves of the 24 gauge wire, I continue adding loops until the first and last loops can touch the sides of the 18 gauge wire near the top of the design. </div>
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Take your flat nose pliers and begin wrapping the excess ends of the 24 gauge wire around the 18 gauge wire. I use my fingers to bend the 24 gauge wire around the 18 gauge wire at first, and then use the flat nose pliers to tighten the wire. Do this for both sides of the 24 gauge wire. </div>
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Now you are ready to add your coloring. I use third hand clamps to hold the designs as I work with the nail polish. It makes things easier, but it's not necessary. Using a scrap piece of paper, place a few drops of clear nail polish down. Then add a drop or two of alcohol ink. Mix it together with a scrap piece of 24 gauge wire.<br />
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To add the color to the loops, dip the scrap piece of wire into the polish so that a little drop collects on it. Then put the wire inside of one of your loops, using a light circular motion, the nail polish should stick to the sides of the loop and form a tight surface. Don't use too much polish or it will flow out of the loop, and if you use to little, the center of the polish will pull apart. Also, if your loops are too big, the polish won't form a tight surface.<br />
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Add the polish to each loop and let it dry.<br />
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Once your nail polish is dry, you can put your ear hooks on. Use your flat nose pliers to open the loops on the ear hooks and slide your designs one. Close the loops the same way and you are good to go.<br />
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Let me know if you have comments or questions. If you like this tutorial, check out the list below of similar nail polish designs!<br />
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<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/nail-polish-earrings.html">Nail Polish Earrings</a><br />
<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/faux-stained-glass-earrings.html">Faux Stained Glass Earrings</a><br />
<a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/copper-wire-earrings-tutorial.html">Copper Wire Earrings Tutorial</a><br />
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Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-54447776433864738262014-10-13T20:48:00.000-07:002014-10-13T20:48:17.541-07:00Copper Wire Earrings Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First off, ignore the messier earring on the right. There was a cat on my desk that decided it needed attention. Cats. Always needy at the most inconvenient times. At least the left one is pretty! Just pretend they both look like that.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.joann.com/20g-copper-wire-/zprd_10932002a.html#q=copper&start=2">20 gauge copper wire</a> </li>
<li>white nail polish</li>
<li>wire cutter</li>
<li>round nose pliers</li>
<li><a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Stainless-Steel-Earring-Post-4mm-Flat-Pad-p12045.htm">4mm earring posts</a> (You can get 6mm posts in a smaller pack from <a href="http://www.joann.com/brass-earring-post-with-6mm-pad--nickel-finish/2736577.html#q=6mm+post&start=3">Joann's</a>. I use the posts from Ring&Things, because I like to use either titanium or stainless steel for posts and hooks.) </li>
<li>third hand tool (optional)</li>
<li>extra piece of scrap wire</li>
<li><a href="http://www.gorillatough.com/gorilla-super-glue-gel">super glue</a> or E6000 (I use super glue because I am less paranoid about it giving me cancer. I worry too much. I know.)</li>
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Cut two equal pieces of wire. Begin by creating a loop at the end of the wire. I overlap the wire a little bit before moving onto the next loop. Create a loop, move your pliers out of the loop and begin wrapping another loop. When I bring the wire around the pliers, I push the wire behind the previous loops so that the loops appear slightly stacked together. I hope that makes sense...if it doesn't, check out the pictures. If those don't make sense, then you may have to wing it. Yay for winging it!<br />
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I created seven loops total. Once I got to the last loop, I cut off the excess wire. Keep in mind that the last loop of your design needs to be flat and the same size as your earring post pad. Before you cut the extra wire off of your design, double check that the loop will fit flush on the post pad. This way, you can adjust before cutting. Repeat this for the other wire. Once both earrings are done, I put the wires into the third hand clamps. It made it easier for me to take pictures. Also, you don't want to set the wire down on a flat surface while the nail polish is still wet, because the nail polish might run out of the loops and all will be ruined! Ruined, I tell ya!<br />
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Dump a little bit of nail polish onto a scrap piece of paper. I use an extra piece of 26 gauge wire to apply the nail polish to the wire loops, but the 20 gauge will work too. Dip the wire into the nail polish until a little droplet collects on the wire, then gently put the wire into your first loop. I use a light circular motion to deposit the polish onto the wire. If the polish doesn't hold tight across the loop, you might need to add a little more. If it still doesn't form a tight surface after adding more polish, then your loops might be too big.<br />
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Once the nail polish is applied, let it dry completely. Once the polish is dry, put a drop of glue onto your earring post and stick it to the flat loop on the end of the copper wire. I started off with my posts stuck into cork board, but it makes so much more sense to place the pad on top of the wire rather than the other way around. Lesson learned. Let your glue dry for a while (according to the directions on whichever glue you choose). Then enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zdXEzYq_TrU/VDyWqPJ_yTI/AAAAAAAAArM/65wOhsvuOec/s1600/final2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zdXEzYq_TrU/VDyWqPJ_yTI/AAAAAAAAArM/65wOhsvuOec/s1600/final2.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
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In case you were wondering, yes I photoshopped my jaw/ear area. I took pictures in bad lighting, and when I zoomed in on this portion of my face I thought "Holy crap! Look at those sideburns!" There is some legitimacy to the my grade school moniker, Chewbacca.<br />
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Anywho, let me know if you have comments or questions! If you enjoyed these earrings you may also enjoy my <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/faux-stained-glass-earrings.html">Faux Stained Glass Earrings</a> or these simple <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/nail-polish-earrings.html">Nail Polish Earrings</a>. Can you tell I like nail polish lately?<br />
<br />Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-2999584788029590862014-10-05T21:30:00.001-07:002014-10-05T21:30:39.425-07:00Polymer Clay Stud Earrings Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I don't wear earrings on a regular basis. I wear my long earrings for special occasions, but otherwise my ears are bare and boring. But, for some reason, I had a thought that I wanted daily wear earrings and came up with these clay studs. They are fun and not overly complicated to make.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
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<ul>
<li>polymer clay (Fimo or Sculpey work great. I use Fimo)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.joann.com/sculpey-clay-1-oz-glaze-1pk-glossy/10795821.html#q=sculpey+glaze&start=1">gloss polymer clay glaze</a></li>
<li>small brush</li>
<li><a href="http://www.joann.com/brass-earring-post-with-6mm-pad--nickel-finish/2736577.html#q=6mm+posts&start=3">6mm posts</a> (or if you have metal allergies try <a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Titanium-Earring-Post-w--6mm-Stainless-Steel-Flat-Pad-p12038.htm">titanium posts</a>)</li>
<li>rubber or metal backs (if the don't come with the posts)</li>
<li>X-Acto knife</li>
<li>ceramic tile(s) (They are maybe 10 cents a piece at a home improvement store)</li>
<li>cylindrical rolling implement (I chose a glue stick!)</li>
<li>round clay cutter (I cut the metal eraser holder off the back of a pencil. It's a perfect size)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.gorillatough.com/gorilla-super-glue-gel">super glue gel</a>, or E6000 (if you've read any of my previous posts where I reference toxic chemicals, I avoid anything that says it causes cancer or needs ventilation. E6000 needs lots of ventilation, so I went with the super glue.)</li>
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Begin by cutting pieces of your clay and stack together. Roll the clay out on your ceramic tile. The clay crumbles a little until you work it enough to soften it. I work the clay until I find patterns that I like. I flatten the clay, then roll it into a cylinder like the 6th picture. I cut the roll in half, place the pieces next to each other and then roll out again. I repeat this until something tickles my fancy. </div>
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Somehow, the greenish color got lost in my rolling, and cutting. I decided I like the white and black lines and busted out my little metal eraser holder. </div>
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Stamp into the clay and wiggle a little as you pull the metal circle up so the clay doesn't get stuck in the metal. Once you have all of your clay circles cut, pull the excess clay off the tile. I use the blade of my X-Acto knife to pick out the small pieces between the circles. I work with the clay on the ceramic tile so that I don't have to touch the clay circles and risk putting fingerprints on them or deforming them before putting them in the oven. </div>
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The nice thing about the ceramic tiles is that you can put them in the oven and not need to dirty any pans or whatever else people use to bake things...</div>
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Once the circles are baked, they don't need long to cool. Just don't forget that the tiles are still hot, even though the clay is touchable. You are ready to glue your studs together. I like to stick my 6mm posts into a scrap of cork board so that stand upright, but you can do whatever works best for you. </div>
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Place a little glue on either the post pad or the clay circle back and put them together. If you use the super glue, your can move to the next step right away, but if you use the E6000, you need to give the studs longer to dry. I'm pretty sure E6000 recommends a 24 hour dry time...but double check that if you use it. </div>
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Once your glue sets, use the polymer clay glaze and a small brush to give your studs a shine. You can either apply multiple thin coats of glaze, or do what I do and blob some glaze on the surface and let it dry over night. </div>
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The glaze will look milky for a while as it dries if you use my glazing method. I worried that I screwed up my earrings at first when the milkiness didn't go away for a while, but adequate dry time fixed it. As you can see from the last photo, the studs have a nice shine and are ready to wear. </div>
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Let me know if you have any comments or questions on how to make these earrings. </div>
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Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-13578178458164884912014-10-05T16:01:00.002-07:002014-11-12T12:21:29.806-08:00Abstract Art Pendant Earrings Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last fall, I discovered a love for making jewelry. Seeing that the leaves are changing again, I wanted to use fall colors to make a new set of pendant earrings. These earrings require a few steps so it may not be the best tutorial for impatient people, but I encourage you to check them out anyway!<br />
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Materials needed:<br />
Pendants<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/clear-glass-tiles/clear-glass-circles/12mm-clear-glass-dome-cabochons.html" target="_blank">12 mm glass cabochons</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/blank-pendant-trays/13mm-circle-mini-settings-perfect-for-making-earrings-mini-pendants-or-dangles.html" target="_blank">13 mm pendant tray</a> (I like the gunmetal trays)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/supplies/adhesives/sun-and-moon-glaze.html" target="_blank">dimensional glaze</a> or any clear drying glue (I've used Tacky glue, which works fine, but dimensional glaze is less likely to form bubbles or pull away from the glass as it dries.)</li>
<li>some type of art or photo. You can use my <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/abstract-art-technique-for-craft.html" target="_blank">Abstract Art Technique</a> to have a funkier earring, or print something on card stock. Maybe even try magazine photos!)</li>
<li>scissors or X-acto knife</li>
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Wire Designs and Jump Rings</div>
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<ul>
<li>round nose pliers</li>
<li>wire cutter</li>
<li>flat nose pliers</li>
<li><a href="http://www.joann.com/18-gauge-wire/zprd_10932952a.html#q=18+gauge&start=1" target="_blank">18 gauge wire</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.joann.com/darice-fish-hook-earrings-72pk-silver/1762178.html#start=27" target="_blank">french ear hooks </a>(I use <a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/Titanium-Ear-Wire-French-Hook-Plain-3994p34897.htm" target="_blank">titanium</a> since I am allergic to nickle)</li>
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Begin by gluing your glass cabochons to the art/photo of your choosing. I used acrylic paints to make this design. I love the addition of the shimmery gold paint. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-afw7j_0JTfM/VDHFMHJz9oI/AAAAAAAAAhs/LcE8JG7IP1M/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-afw7j_0JTfM/VDHFMHJz9oI/AAAAAAAAAhs/LcE8JG7IP1M/s1600/step1.jpg" height="204" width="640" /></a></div>
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I use a small amount of glue on the cabochon and lightly press it onto the paper. Cut the glued section of paper out and leave to dry for an hour or so. (While you wait, you can begin working on the wire designs.) I cut the section out with an X-acto knife to keep the paper from rippling and pushing the cabochon off as the glue dries. You can use a scissors if you don't mind cutting through potential designs.<br />
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Once the glue dries, trim the excess paper from the cabochons with a scissors. Seal the backs with more glaze or glue. You can use an old brush or use the glue bottle's applicator tip to spread the glue. Leave to dry for another hour, or until the glue isn't tacky anymore.<br />
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Next, apply more glue/glaze and press the cabochon into the pendant tray. I like to have a little glue squeeze into the gap between the tray wall and the glass. Allow the glass to dry for a little while before assembling the earrings. If you are impatient, you can assemble now--that's what I did, but I don't advise it. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EG7AGUpypiM/VDHIILxtgRI/AAAAAAAAAiI/9ba9cFtCj_0/s1600/WireEarringTutorial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EG7AGUpypiM/VDHIILxtgRI/AAAAAAAAAiI/9ba9cFtCj_0/s1600/WireEarringTutorial.jpg" height="502" width="640" /></a></div>
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Repeat this for the second earring. I encourage you to fiddle with different designs. I like to buy the bigger rolls of cheap wire so that I can experiment with different designs and not feel guilty about wasting wire. </div>
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You will also need two jump rings. If you have them on hand, great. Otherwise use the next image to make your own. I used to buy jump rings, but now I make them all as I need them. Basically, just wrap the wire around your round nose pliers until the wire starts to stack, and then cut. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXK5VhPSVg0/VDHJWG4jaNI/AAAAAAAAAiU/f99O5kkhD48/s1600/jumpring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXK5VhPSVg0/VDHJWG4jaNI/AAAAAAAAAiU/f99O5kkhD48/s1600/jumpring.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now, let's assemble the earrings. Open the ear hook loop with your flat nose and round nose pliers. Place the wire design in the loop, and then close tightly. Open your jump rings the same way, and connect the pendant to the wire design. Assembly is the best part, because it requires the least steps. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9TZJz-vbHI/VDHJmL5s0uI/AAAAAAAAAic/mgmXYjw-I_g/s1600/step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b9TZJz-vbHI/VDHJmL5s0uI/AAAAAAAAAic/mgmXYjw-I_g/s1600/step3.jpg" height="220" width="640" /></a></div>
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And now you have an awesome pair of earrings! I love the different colors and different designs that can be created by using these materials. Below are two more examples I made. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90snP36lAbk/VDHKY2r5CCI/AAAAAAAAAio/BTotuHlqrSo/s1600/final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-90snP36lAbk/VDHKY2r5CCI/AAAAAAAAAio/BTotuHlqrSo/s1600/final.jpg" height="324" width="640" /></a></div>
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Please let me know if you have questions or comments! I hope you give these a try. If you enjoy using the glass cabochons, then check out my <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/diy-abstract-art-refrigerator-magnets.html" target="_blank">refrigerator magnet</a> tutorial!</div>
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Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-47607751092280911492014-10-04T22:17:00.002-07:002014-10-04T22:57:14.498-07:00Black Lace Headband Tutorial<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XiwMex05co/VDDMeKxTOxI/AAAAAAAAAgs/HIDxqbqPq3k/s1600/title2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4XiwMex05co/VDDMeKxTOxI/AAAAAAAAAgs/HIDxqbqPq3k/s1600/title2.jpg" height="640" width="505" /></a></div>
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I did a <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/diy-lace-headband.html" target="_blank">white lace headband</a> tutorial a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to see what other looks I could create from lace. If you explore the 'by the yard' lace and fabric trimmings aisle at your local craft store, you can find a lot of awesome headband materials. It's crazy how cheap it is to make a classy headband. And it really doesn't take long at all. </div>
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Materials needed:</div>
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<li><a href="http://www.joann.com/1-1%2F4in-black-lace%2Fsequinbead/7871361.html#q=lace+trim&start=40" target="_blank">black lace </a>(I actually found the exact lace online! Yay! It wasn't this expensive at all--I paid around $1.50 for 13 inches)</li>
<li>thread</li>
<li>needle</li>
<li>scissors</li>
<li>ruler/measuring tape (if you feel it's necessary)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.joann.com/black-braided-elastic/11384492.html#q=braided+elastic&start=11" target="_blank">elastic</a> (1/2 inch braided) </li>
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Now, I don't have exact measurements for you since every head is a different size. For your lace, measure your head from ear to ear. I just put the lace on my head and guess the length. No need to really measure. For the elastic, the length depends on how tight you want your head band. My white lace headband was too tight, so I decided to cut a little more slack in my elastic. I cut roughly 8 inches of elastic for this headband. </div>
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To determine your elastic length, you can try my method of putting the lace on your head how you want it. Secure the points behind your ears with your middle fingers. Then, stretch the elastic across the back of your head with your thumbs and pointer fingers. It's kind of awkward, but it gets the job done. Pinch the elastic at the length that feels comfortable, then cut. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fAF0Uv5qow0/VDDNaM0RImI/AAAAAAAAAg0/eg4_YOdOcYM/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fAF0Uv5qow0/VDDNaM0RImI/AAAAAAAAAg0/eg4_YOdOcYM/s1600/step1.jpg" height="188" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thread your needed. I fold the lace on each side so that it is the same width as the elastic. Place your elastic on the back of the lace and begin sewing a crap-ton of stitches. If you are picky, you can use black thread so the messy stitches aren't noticeable, but as you can see from my gray thread, I really don't mind exposed messy stitches.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raS0PILZLoA/VDDNc2-MuEI/AAAAAAAAAg8/Yp0MUYorQgA/s1600/step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-raS0PILZLoA/VDDNc2-MuEI/AAAAAAAAAg8/Yp0MUYorQgA/s1600/step2.jpg" height="194" width="640" /></a></div>
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The sewing isn't an exact science. Sew until you think it's tight, then give a tug. If anything rips or tears, then you should probably keep sewing. I'm sure if you are handy with a sewing machine you can whip this headband up in no time, but hand stitching works just fine for me. Once you sew on side, repeat on the other side of the headband. You can double check the tightness before you sew the second side. I think I trimmed a quarter inch off of my elastic at this point.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dkw55rt6_R4/VDDNempSFsI/AAAAAAAAAhE/K2AjnJ16o7A/s1600/final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dkw55rt6_R4/VDDNempSFsI/AAAAAAAAAhE/K2AjnJ16o7A/s1600/final.jpg" height="314" width="640" /></a></div>
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This headband actually stays on my head if I wear my hair down. I'm pretty impressed with that. As always, leave comments or questions below!<br />
<br />Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-56474019131578739902014-10-02T15:45:00.002-07:002014-10-02T15:45:43.838-07:00Abstract Art Technique for Craft Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QAhg5iBatZc/VC3NBV2aMxI/AAAAAAAAAdk/dGcoP6tLjsM/s1600/title2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QAhg5iBatZc/VC3NBV2aMxI/AAAAAAAAAdk/dGcoP6tLjsM/s1600/title2.jpg" height="498" width="640" /></a></div>
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I started doing this art technique when I was taking art classes in college. I was in love with the way paint acted when you transferred it from one surface to another. It's like a temporary paint stamp.<br />
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Materials needed:<br />
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<li>acrylic paint in whatever colors you choose</li>
<li>a piece of plastic or a <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/TRANSFLM-CLR-50SH-BX/32547718" target="_blank">sheet of transparency</a>. I have used plastic wrap, but I wanted a more rigid surface. You can really use any smooth, non-permeable surface. Tip- you can buy individual sheets of transparencies for about ten cents at FedEx Kinkos. </li>
<li>Paper- I use card stock or thicker drawing paper, 60lb or heavier in weight. </li>
<li>Paint brush(es)- depending on the texture you want. You can even use your fingers, sticks, or anything else you feel like using. </li>
<li>Water</li>
<li>pens (optional) I like black fine liner pens. Sharpie or Micron are good. Don't used water based pens if you plan on using this for glass tile projects. The glue/glaze can make water based ink run and blur. </li>
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I start by putting a few blobs of paint on the transparency. You can see in the picture that I have the transparency sitting on top of my paper. This helps me see the textures I am creating a bit more easily. I start to fiddle with the colors. Mix them together, put a little water on to get a smoother consistency. You want to work fast or keep the paint moist by adding water. You could even get a spray bottle of water and spritz the surface if you are working in a dry environment. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0uVsDjB7vk/VC3QKoIRpTI/AAAAAAAAAdw/R5rm1vvTg5U/s1600/step1(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0uVsDjB7vk/VC3QKoIRpTI/AAAAAAAAAdw/R5rm1vvTg5U/s1600/step1(2).jpg" height="176" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once you get the textures you want, flip the transparency over onto your paper and smooth the paint down with your hands. Don't rub too hard in isolated spots because it might change the shapes you created. If your paint is thick in certain spots, it will ripple when you pull the transparency off. It looks kind of cool when it does that. It looks sort of like veins. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4f-2oPtNhf4/VC3SUCTn0xI/AAAAAAAAAd8/OQdPLVIQwX0/s1600/step2(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4f-2oPtNhf4/VC3SUCTn0xI/AAAAAAAAAd8/OQdPLVIQwX0/s1600/step2(2).jpg" height="204" width="640" /></a></div>
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I like to work with the transparency a couple of times. Once I pull the film off, I lay it back down and moisten the surface with my brush while creating new textures and patters. You can put more paint down if you need it. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jBTqeE4K4dc/VC3TCq222CI/AAAAAAAAAeE/ScOX5otr_io/s1600/step3(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jBTqeE4K4dc/VC3TCq222CI/AAAAAAAAAeE/ScOX5otr_io/s1600/step3(2).jpg" height="214" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once I am satisfied with the results, I wipe the transparency with a wet paper towel or rinse if off in my kitchen sink so that I can use it again. After the paint dries you can take a black pen and start 'pulling' out shapes from chaos. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hRpqHEuA-ik/VC3UUBxtE0I/AAAAAAAAAeY/ARgV-swypOg/s1600/final3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hRpqHEuA-ik/VC3UUBxtE0I/AAAAAAAAAeY/ARgV-swypOg/s1600/final3.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2t45-4yBghM/VC3T63kpZvI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/76bkHEneog4/s1600/final1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2t45-4yBghM/VC3T63kpZvI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/76bkHEneog4/s1600/final1.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are so many possibilities with color, shape and texture using this technique. I hope you have fun with it and please share any questions or comments you may have. If you want to put this technique to good use, try making magnets like <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/diy-abstract-art-refrigerator-magnets.html" target="_blank">these</a>! </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d1cxyXROE4w/VC3J4X6UviI/AAAAAAAAAdc/34toFC2eRVI/s1600/final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d1cxyXROE4w/VC3J4X6UviI/AAAAAAAAAdc/34toFC2eRVI/s1600/final.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></div>
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Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-28437575165496101512014-10-02T15:00:00.002-07:002014-10-02T15:47:49.961-07:00DIY Abstract Art Refrigerator Magnets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7iCfNvzNhZ8/VC2-Tpcq1DI/AAAAAAAAAcg/xVHGBR2iisk/s1600/title1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7iCfNvzNhZ8/VC2-Tpcq1DI/AAAAAAAAAcg/xVHGBR2iisk/s1600/title1.jpg" height="404" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cute refrigerator magnets are a must when you move into a new place. When Jake and I bought our house, I wanted something other than local business magnets. They are kind of ugly, and plus they don't do jack when it comes to holding things up. During this time, I was a cashier at a craft store and saw so many glass tiles go through the register I figured I would just make my own glass magnets. The only issue would be the what I wanted the magnets to look like.<br />
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For a while, I had been experimenting with abstract paint swirls for my art, and I had a bunch of left over 'test' pieces which worked perfectly for this project (and other projects with glass tiles like pendants, earrings, key chains, etc.). If you want to see how I made my abstract art sheets, <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/abstract-art-technique-for-craft.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br />
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Materials needed:<br />
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<li>glass tiles- I used <a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/clear-glass-tiles/clear-glass-circles/1-inch-circles-blank-pendant-glass-fx.html" target="_blank">1 inch circles</a> and <a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/clear-glass-tiles/wholesale-glass-shapes-and-wholesale-glass-tiles/1-inch-square-blank-pendant-glass.html" target="_blank">1 inch squares</a>. You may be able to find the glass tiles at a local craft store, but I bet you they are double or triple the price. </li>
<li>magnets-I bought a 10 pack from <a href="http://www.joann.com/super-strong-ceramic-magnet/3559978.html#q=darico+magnets&start=3" target="_blank">Joann's</a> but these <a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/supplies/magnets.html" target="_blank">rare earth magnets</a> work too. Ceramic magnets are bigger and less powerful than the rare earth magnets, so if you want power, go for the latter. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.sunandmooncraftkits.com/supplies/adhesives/sun-and-moon-glaze.html" target="_blank">dimensional glaze</a>- you can use <a href="http://www.joann.com/aleene-s-original-tacky-glue-4-oz/2018091.html" target="_blank">Tacky glue</a> or any glue that dries clear as long as you don't mind bubbles. The dimensional glaze is for picky people. </li>
<li>scissors or X-acto knife</li>
<li>glue- I used Loctite Power Grab, but E-6000 works too. I prefer not to use anything that needs ventilation or says it causes cancer--but maybe that's just me. </li>
<li>small old paint brush</li>
<li>art or any printed image (use heavier paper like card stock or photo paper) <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/10/abstract-art-technique-for-craft.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> for my abstract art tutorial. </li>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ucEHnRVRayw/VC3EbzrlDEI/AAAAAAAAAcw/SqG3rI3WvHQ/s1600/materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ucEHnRVRayw/VC3EbzrlDEI/AAAAAAAAAcw/SqG3rI3WvHQ/s1600/materials.jpg" height="194" width="640" /></a></div>
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To begin, you will be gluing the glass tiles to your paper. I start by putting dimensional glaze on my tile and spreading it around with the glue applicator. Then press the tile down on the paper. If glaze/glue oozes out the sides then use less glue for the next tile. If you have a lot of air bubbles try pushing the tile down a little harder or adding more glaze/glue. </div>
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After you have your tiles glued, cut them out, leaving a little excess paper to be trimmed later. I use an X-acto knife so that I can preserve the paper for later use, but a scissors works fine if you don'e mind cutting through unused parts of your art. I like to cut out these small sections just in case the paper warps and lifts the tile off the page. I've had it happen and I was very peeved. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_tR0cdnHVTY/VC3GwtvQKZI/AAAAAAAAAc8/DdqvsbEe6_I/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_tR0cdnHVTY/VC3GwtvQKZI/AAAAAAAAAc8/DdqvsbEe6_I/s1600/step1.jpg" height="188" width="640" /></a></div>
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Leave your tiles to dry for a little while. Maybe an hour. Then trim off the excess paper with your scissors. Next, you need to seal the backs of the paper with more glaze/glue. I squirt some glaze down and then spread it out with an old paint brush. If you are using the dimensional glaze, try to not get it on your fingers, because that stuff is sticky. My fingers were tacky all night because I couldn't get it to wash off (little tip, try rubbing oil on your fingers if they do get sticky.) You only need a thin layer of glaze to seal the surface. Let it dry for another 30 minutes to an hour.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l6wbN1eT_4A/VC3HtUVDPkI/AAAAAAAAAdE/rhzV_noPwNo/s1600/step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l6wbN1eT_4A/VC3HtUVDPkI/AAAAAAAAAdE/rhzV_noPwNo/s1600/step2.jpg" height="192" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LWXoaMwJYco/VC3IkuOtuLI/AAAAAAAAAdM/Hl-23oQ7oKA/s1600/step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LWXoaMwJYco/VC3IkuOtuLI/AAAAAAAAAdM/Hl-23oQ7oKA/s1600/step3.jpg" height="188" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once the backs are dry, you can glue your magnets on. I squeeze a little Power Grab glue on the magnet and then push it down onto the tile until a little glue squeezes around the sides. If you are using the quarter inch rare earth magnets, maybe use a tweezers to hold the magnet so you don't get glue all over your fingers. A quarter of an inch isn't a lot to work with. </div>
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Once all of your magnets are in place, allow this to dry for as long as the glue tells you to. The Loctite glue sets in 15 minutes, but I let it dry over night. Once they dry, you are ready to stick them to your refrigerator! These magnets are awesome little gifts for people, and they are fun to make! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d1cxyXROE4w/VC3J4X6UviI/AAAAAAAAAdY/-iHovI1w_rI/s1600/final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d1cxyXROE4w/VC3J4X6UviI/AAAAAAAAAdY/-iHovI1w_rI/s1600/final.jpg" height="420" width="640" /></a></div>
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As always, leave questions and comments below (if you have any!). Thanks for checking this post! Stay tuned for other random projects. You never know what I am going to feel like doing. </div>
Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-74768545529327753232014-10-01T09:42:00.000-07:002014-10-01T09:42:05.304-07:00Hello Again, Art. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Although art has always been my passion, I stray from it quite often. Maybe it's the natural process I need to go through in order to create, because there is always an evolution that happens. Whenever I step away for a while, I come back with a different perspective. Granted, my subject matter remains quite stagnant, the lens I view it through shifts. </div>
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Being an artist is often times the visual representation of a search for identity. I think with each piece of art I create, a different facet of my identity shows through. There are some people that think they can separate themselves from their work. That the art exists as a separate being, wholly detached from the creator. But I don't really know that this is completely possible. Every choice an artist makes reflects a part of them. It says something. Even when creating a piece for someone else. The medium used, the subject chosen, the brushstrokes, the pen lines, the splatters all say something about the artist. It's a language. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rJJYg9vJPgM/VCtqJHz7mgI/AAAAAAAAAZM/VxHPR9uXhvQ/s1600/img2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rJJYg9vJPgM/VCtqJHz7mgI/AAAAAAAAAZM/VxHPR9uXhvQ/s1600/img2.jpg" height="290" width="640" /></a></div>
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My art says I'm messy, chaotic, fluid, and a little lost. And for some reason I need to put gold on everything. You can learn so much from your own art. Doesn't matter if you're good at it or are the worst. You are still speaking the language when you create something. </div>
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When I was going to school for art, I was an art snob. I was all "That's not good art!" and I thought there was a specific guideline for what could be considered art. But there isn't. The wonderful thing about art is that once people try to pin a definition on it, it wriggles away and evolves into something else. Art is something that can't be limited. Sure, there is crappy art and great art in the micro and technical sense, but it's all about intentions. </div>
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I began teaching an art class to senior citizens and my entire perspective changed. I lost the judgement I had before. I became an all inclusive art lover when it came to my students. Yeah, they didn't have a lot of raw skill and maybe their pieces weren't always 'good' in a technical sense, but there was so much beauty in their intention for creating. I could see them through their art. I couldn't judge that. I couldn't judge their creations. I still can't. I can tell someone how to better their technical skills, but when someone is creating just to create, there is no place for judgement. My students, even with their years of life experience, were finding their identities within their art and that journey does not need criticism. That journey needs nourishment. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NwXAouH0_Vc/VCtqKokO1RI/AAAAAAAAAZc/MINZpyOlcnw/s1600/img1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NwXAouH0_Vc/VCtqKokO1RI/AAAAAAAAAZc/MINZpyOlcnw/s1600/img1.jpg" height="540" width="640" /></a></div>
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Okay, that's enough deep thought for the moment. </div>
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Now, to the basics of how I created this. I want to introduce you to the power of alcohol inks. <a href="http://timholtz.com/adirondack-alcohol-inks/" target="_blank">Adirondack Alcohol Inks</a> are usually used for card making or other craft projects, but I have fallen in love with their artistic uses. </div>
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I have also become quite fond of making stencils (as seen in <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/diy-stenciled-tank-top.html" target="_blank">this tutorial</a> for stenciling a shirt). I have been finding unconventional uses for a lot of things recently. I started making stencils out of clear <a href="http://www.staples.com/Apollo-Plain-Paper-Copier-Transparency-Film-Clear-8-1-2-W-x/product_APOPP100C" target="_blank">transparencies</a>, but the I couldn't get sheets any bigger than 8.5x11. I felt too limited. Then, after buying a roll of self adhesive shelf liner, I had an 'aha!' moment. Love those. </div>
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I sketched out a face that I wanted to stencil, cut a piece of the shelf liner, and then copied the sketch onto the line. Tip: You can actually print on this shelf liner. When I was making my shirt stencil I fed it through my printer to get the text I wanted. You can do the same with sketches. Just scan and print. Then cut out your stencil with an x-acto knife. And, by the way, this shelf liner cuts a lot easier than transparency film does.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTRXmotx5Fk/VCuBHehfXkI/AAAAAAAAAZo/VvtiRYV_Ffo/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wTRXmotx5Fk/VCuBHehfXkI/AAAAAAAAAZo/VvtiRYV_Ffo/s1600/step1.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once my stencil was done, I put it on a piece of primed <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-bristol-pads/" target="_blank">bristol board</a>. I primed the paper myself with <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/blickrylic-gesso/" target="_blank">gesso</a>. Just paint the paper with gesso and leave to dry. The reason I do this is to create a semi-sealed surface. I didn't want my alcohol ink to sink into the paper. I wanted it to sit on the surface so I can go back and manipulate the ink. That's the cool thing about priming paper. I've also primed plywood with interior house primer and that worked awesome. </div>
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This is where I get chaotic. The ink bottles have a fine tip which makes dripping the ink really easy. I just upend the bottles and lightly shake the ink out. Once I get the colors down, I spread a little rubbing alcohol on the ink to lift it from the surface of the paper and let it run down.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bBrRj09MCcw/VCuDAc9yFMI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/qfoP0Kc17LE/s1600/step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bBrRj09MCcw/VCuDAc9yFMI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/qfoP0Kc17LE/s1600/step2.jpg" height="450" width="640" /></a></div>
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Until this point, the stencil hasn't served much purpose other than as a guide for where to put the ink. The adhesive backing isn't strong enough to keep the alcohol ink completely from bleeding underneath, but that's not really an issue for me. I think the bleed through looks pretty cool. I used a makeup sponge and black acrylic paint to fill in the stencil. Dabbing works best. </div>
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Once I pulled off the stencil, I began to detail the face with a fine tip pen. Like super fine. <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/sakura-pigma-micron-pen/" target="_blank">Micron</a> size 005 pens are tiny, but awesome. Splatter some India ink around, add a little gold pen, and accent with some white gel pen. I love to use a bunch of different supplies. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2fVNyv9Vc_E/VCuEFtwfWeI/AAAAAAAAAaA/bgCybkSJOYQ/s1600/step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2fVNyv9Vc_E/VCuEFtwfWeI/AAAAAAAAAaA/bgCybkSJOYQ/s1600/step3.jpg" height="540" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I would love to hear about more alcohol ink projects! </div>
Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-68146454134795560262014-09-30T19:06:00.001-07:002014-09-30T19:06:06.114-07:00Faux Stained Glass Earrings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5yTRiaE3CI/VCtRAsV8TLI/AAAAAAAAAX4/Yq59cvx-Z00/s1600/title2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5yTRiaE3CI/VCtRAsV8TLI/AAAAAAAAAX4/Yq59cvx-Z00/s1600/title2.jpg" height="418" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is a play on an earlier tutorial with <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/nail-polish-earrings.html" target="_blank">nail polish</a>. I have been experimenting with different materials in the last year, and this is one of my favorite techniques. Using clear nail polish and alcohol ink, I created a resin like medium (without the super toxic part), and the effect of stained glass. You can do this same technique with liquid polymer clay and alcohol ink, but this tutorial eliminates a step by not needing to bake the earrings.<br />
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To start, you will need a pair of earrings with loops small enough for the nail polish to adhere properly. Below is an example of a simple loop style earring. Or you can follow the Simple Loop Earring I from <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/nail-polish-earrings.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
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<ul>
<li>round nose pliers</li>
<li>flat nose pliers</li>
<li><a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/20-Gauge-Artistic-Wire-c2104.htm" target="_blank">20 gauge wire</a> (Check <a href="http://www.joann.com/20-gauge-wire-gunmetal/10930584.html#q=20%2Bgauge%2Bwire&start=4" target="_blank">Joann's</a> too)</li>
<li>wire cutter</li>
<li>clear nail polish (any brand)</li>
<li>alcohol ink of your color preference (I use Adirondack. You can get it from <a href="http://www.joann.com/tim-holtz-adirondack-alcohol-ink-3pk/prd28858.html#q=adirondack&start=7" target="_blank">Joann's</a>)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/ProsKit-900-015-Helping-Hands-Soldering/dp/B002PIA6Z4/ref=sr_1_7?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1412127983&sr=1-7&keywords=third+hand+tool" target="_blank">third hand</a>, if you feel like you need it (I just used it so I had a free hand for pictures)\</li>
<li>earring hooks/<a href="https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/French-Hook-Ear-Wires-Earring-Hooks-c973.htm" target="_blank">french wires</a> (I use titanium since I am allergic to nickle)</li>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p5FrX1EI62c/VCtYa2KJXXI/AAAAAAAAAYU/NFRNPU6-UTw/s1600/Simple-Loop-Earrings-II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p5FrX1EI62c/VCtYa2KJXXI/AAAAAAAAAYU/NFRNPU6-UTw/s1600/Simple-Loop-Earrings-II.jpg" height="640" width="630" /></a></div>
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Once your earrings are formed, mix your ink and polish. I use a scratch piece of paper to mix a small batch. Since nail polish sets really quickly, I only work in small batches. I put a couple of drops of clear polish down, and then a drop of ink. Mix it together with a piece of wire.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HofRO5c3mgk/VCtcKgDwUQI/AAAAAAAAAYg/ZKWxpa-iCfY/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HofRO5c3mgk/VCtcKgDwUQI/AAAAAAAAAYg/ZKWxpa-iCfY/s1600/step1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Gather a drop of the polish on the end of your piece of wire and place it in one of the loops. I use a gentle circular motion to lightly touch the insides of the loop, then pull the wire out. If the nail polish pulls from the middle and doesn't cover the loop, try adding more polish. If adding more polish doesn't help, then your loops might be too big and you will need to adjust them.<br />
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Once you have each loop filled, let it set for a few minutes. I have a wire 'tree' where I hang finished pieces to dry so they are out of my way. You want to keep the earring from laying flat on a surface while it dries, for the polish might pool onto the surface and out of the loop.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkMJtsOChM0/VCtcPvJEXDI/AAAAAAAAAYo/xyD_2wYTykc/s1600/step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkMJtsOChM0/VCtcPvJEXDI/AAAAAAAAAYo/xyD_2wYTykc/s1600/step2.jpg" height="508" width="640" /></a></div>
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After both of your earrings are dry, you can put your hooks on. Use a flat nose pliers to open and close the loops on the earring findings. Now you are ready to rock your earrings! I love the way the sun shines through these little beasties.<br />
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Please let me know if you have any questions or comments and check back often for more projects. I just can't stop making things. It's a problem.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3m2AcnhNxU/VCtgtSh1atI/AAAAAAAAAY0/OwATy4KL7Kk/s1600/final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3m2AcnhNxU/VCtgtSh1atI/AAAAAAAAAY0/OwATy4KL7Kk/s1600/final.jpg" height="400" width="393" /></a></div>
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<br />Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-72542305347095606072014-09-30T17:30:00.001-07:002014-09-30T17:30:34.131-07:00Floral Headband<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k9elRvEOFYk/VCoFIWE_zBI/AAAAAAAAAVw/b1tNhqBq3Vw/s1600/title1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k9elRvEOFYk/VCoFIWE_zBI/AAAAAAAAAVw/b1tNhqBq3Vw/s1600/title1.jpg" height="400" width="328" /></a></div>
This is such a 'springy' headband. I had an abundance of flowers stashed in my container of old hair flower supplies and I thought 'hey, let's make something!'. If you have seen my <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/simple-hair-flower.html" target="_blank">Simple Hair Flower</a> tutorial, this one starts out the same. The only difference is the headband, really. To be honest, this headband is not my favorite. Probably because it's fall and pink is just not a fall color. Oh well! It was fun to make!<br />
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I much prefer metal or plastic headbands to elastic bands. I explained in my <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/diy-lace-headband.html" target="_blank">Lace Headband</a> tutorial that me and elastic bands just don't go together. Weird shaped head? I don't know. This could be adapted to an elastic headband, but it would require some excessive sewing, but I chose to stick with a simple plastic headband. These actually stay on my head.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
headband (I bought a three pack from Target)<br />
glue gun<br />
glue sticks<br />
fake flowers (from home decor)<br />
buttons (or anything else you prefer)<br />
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You could make some fabric flowers out of ribbon or fabric scraps if you can't find any fake flowers you like, but you'll have to guess how to make them since I haven't tried that yet. Someday! I'll keep you posted.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6BGzO75Jzw/VCtHRiEv5OI/AAAAAAAAAXE/28ipsdZHl60/s1600/materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O6BGzO75Jzw/VCtHRiEv5OI/AAAAAAAAAXE/28ipsdZHl60/s1600/materials.jpg" height="202" width="640" /></a></div>
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When you find flowers that you like, disassemble them like the third picture. You want each layer to be separated so you can glue them for security.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMqWkO4HlpY/VCtHlNfdaCI/AAAAAAAAAXM/EV56B9oo_ZI/s1600/step1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMqWkO4HlpY/VCtHlNfdaCI/AAAAAAAAAXM/EV56B9oo_ZI/s1600/step1.jpg" height="200" width="640" /></a></div>
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I wanted to do three flowers. Two flowers consist of two layers and a button center, and one flower consists of three layers and a button center. Start by applying a little bit of glue to the center of your first layer. Let it cool a few seconds and place your second layer on top. I turn the top layer a little so the petals cover the gaps between the first layer's petals. Pinch them together until cool, then add your button.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pk-BfbnoUjw/VCtITCJ0daI/AAAAAAAAAXY/N7SPACrgbOg/s1600/step2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pk-BfbnoUjw/VCtITCJ0daI/AAAAAAAAAXY/N7SPACrgbOg/s1600/step2.jpg" height="194" width="640" /></a></div>
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Repeat this for all of your flowers. Once your flowers are done, it's time to glue them to the headband. Squeeze a generous dollop of glue onto the back center of one of your flowers. I started with one of the two layer flowers.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0lkN1dwijc/VCtIu7lHI1I/AAAAAAAAAXg/ivKZqdJAGhE/s1600/step3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f0lkN1dwijc/VCtIu7lHI1I/AAAAAAAAAXg/ivKZqdJAGhE/s1600/step3.jpg" height="198" width="640" /></a></div>
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Place the flower on the headband and give a squeeze. Hold until the glue sets. Next, I placed the second two layer flower. I wanted the two small flowers to be on either side of the larger flower. Lastly, place the third flower. Again, hold it in place until the glue sets.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkJ0bOyD9NU/VCtJSUOvp9I/AAAAAAAAAXo/yQ9dF8YEshw/s1600/step4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkJ0bOyD9NU/VCtJSUOvp9I/AAAAAAAAAXo/yQ9dF8YEshw/s1600/step4.jpg" height="212" width="640" /></a></div>
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I think I might set this headband aside until next spring. Or maybe I will go find some festive fall foliage and make another one for this season. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. Thanks for visiting!Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-51885572153975622622014-09-30T16:44:00.000-07:002014-09-30T16:45:05.616-07:00DIY Styling Hair Paste<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--LROwhe6EoA/VComLijPh7I/AAAAAAAAAWE/v_JyV17mA-w/s1600/title1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--LROwhe6EoA/VComLijPh7I/AAAAAAAAAWE/v_JyV17mA-w/s1600/title1.jpg" height="640" width="288" /></a></div>
This is some sassy styling paste for those who hate store bought products with crazy chemicals. Jake has super fluffy hair after he washes it and loves to use this paste to give it some direction. I've used it to tame down frizz. A little goes a long way. Unless you like the feel of a lot of product in your hair, then pile it on!<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
2 tablespoons <a href="http://www.bulkapothecary.com/raw-ingredients/waxes-and-butters/pure-shea-butter-bulk/" target="_blank">shea butter</a><br />
2 tablespoons <a href="http://www.bulkapothecary.com/product/raw-ingredients/waxes-and-butters/beeswax-white-and-yellow/" target="_blank">beeswax</a><br />
3 tablespoons sunflower oil<br />
10 drops sweet orange essential oil<br />
5 drops <a href="http://www.bulkapothecary.com/essential-oils/grapefruit-white-essential-oil/" target="_blank">grapefruit essential oil</a><br />
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The beeswax give the paste its structure. If you really want to give form to your hairdo, beeswax is the thing to use.<br />
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Shea butter is solid at room temperature to help provide structure, but it is also moisturizing.<br />
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Sunflower oil is gives you a little shine and also keeps the mixture at a softer texture so it's easier to use. I wouldn't use too much paste, because sunflower oil can give you the greasy look. I have read recipes where people use <a href="http://www.bulkapothecary.com/raw-ingredients/bulk-natural-oils/golden-jojoba-oil/" target="_blank">jojoba oil</a>, which is supposed to be more of a 'dry' oil, but it's a bit more expensive. Someday, I will splurge on the jojoba, but not today.<br />
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You can get sunflower oil in any grocery store. It's usually with the vegetable oils. For my other ingredients I like to use <a href="http://www.bulkapothecary.com/" target="_blank">Bulk Apothecary</a>. I bought yellow beeswax, but you can also get white wax if you like a cleaner look to your final product. Shea butter comes in refined or unrefined. I have used both and prefer the refined butter since it is smoother. The unrefined shea butter feels a smidgen grainy and doesn't mix as well as I would like it to. It's personal preference, though.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
pan with about two inches of water<br />
glass or metal bowl<br />
spoon<br />
container for final product (I used a 4 oz mason jar)<br />
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Heat your water on medium heat. It doesn't need to boil, but mine usually does, because I'm impatient. Dump all of your ingredients into your glass or metal bowl. You can either set it in the water or use a larger bowl to set on top of the pan like a double boiler. Stir the ingredients every so often until the mixture is completely melted.<br />
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Remove the mixture from heat and let stand for a moment. If you are adding essential oils or fragrance, this is the time to do it. Always add flavors or scents during the cooling phase. I added my oils after I poured the mixture into my jar. Give it a quick stir and allow to cool. You can put it in the refrigerator if you want it to set faster.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1glydLjqco/VCs7ocI3V_I/AAAAAAAAAWo/1KGI07AaRps/s1600/final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1glydLjqco/VCs7ocI3V_I/AAAAAAAAAWo/1KGI07AaRps/s1600/final.jpg" height="301" width="400" /></a></div>
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Give your container a cute little label and say goodbye to store bought styling paste. With this mixture, you have to dig into it a little and let it melt on your fingers before applying it. Be aggressive, B-E-Aggressive! Pictured below is my goofy husband after our paint photos done by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tammyjoradeck" target="_blank">P&T Photography</a>. Besides the bit of blue, his hair is perfectly styled with my homemade paste. Success!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9ut26azPrw/VCs9Jg1QQrI/AAAAAAAAAW0/OQj5COyUzLc/s1600/model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9ut26azPrw/VCs9Jg1QQrI/AAAAAAAAAW0/OQj5COyUzLc/s1600/model.jpg" height="291" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tammyjoradeck" target="_blank">P&T Photography</a></td></tr>
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If you want to see more paint photos, visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tammyjoradeck" target="_blank">P&T Photography</a> to flip through our album. It was a blast. Or check out my <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/paint-fight-photos-part-one-basics.html" target="_blank">Paint Fight Photos</a> post if you would like to try something like this on your own. Do it.<br />
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Anywho, thanks for checking out my post. Leave questions or comments below! If you enjoy this recipe definitely try my <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/diy-shimmer-body-butter.html" target="_blank">Shimmer Body Butter</a> or <a href="http://messyeverafter.blogspot.com/2014/09/diy-natural-face-cream.html" target="_blank">Natural Face Cream</a>.Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569915510981218762.post-16359956334444074222014-09-29T17:36:00.000-07:002014-09-30T07:27:36.717-07:00Simple Hair Flower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few years ago, I decided to cut all of my hair off and rock a pixie cut, but there was a part of me that thought "I might look like a boy". I figured if I put flowers in my hair then people would be a little less confused about my which gender I identify with. I never really did anything with my hair before that point so I didn't have more than bobby pins and hair binders at home.<br />
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As always, I am a cheap shopper and found that most hair accessories in stores are easily made and over priced. Instead of hanging around that aisle, I marched on over to the home decor section to pick out some fake flowers. Why not just glue a bunch of stuff together and stick it on my head? (Little tip: one of the craft stores near me sells bags of miscellaneous flower 'droppings' for a few bucks. Try asking what your local craft store does with the flowers that fall off the branches.)<br />
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I picked out some small sprigs of red blossoms that were probably on sale. I wanted flowers that were petite and vibrant. Keep in mind that you will be taking flowers apart so it really doesn't matter what the whole branch looks like. Also, I use fabric flowers so they are less rigid. I want my hair flowers to be soft and able to rustle in a breeze! Psh, rigid flowers. So limiting.<br />
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Materials Needed:<br />
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<li>Fake flower(s)</li>
<li>bobby pin(s)</li>
<li>button(s)</li>
<li>hot glue gun</li>
<li>glue sticks</li>
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Skills Needed:</div>
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<li>Ability to work through the pain of hot glue sticking to your fingers. You can do it! </li>
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I thought it would be cute (as a button! ha) to use a button for the center of the flower. I ended up buying a crap ton of buttons when I started making these hair flowers...so many buttons that I need to find more button projects. </div>
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Side note: I am completely aware that when I think "Oh, this is too expensive to buy. I can make it myself!" I actually end up spending way more on materials than if I would have just bought a ready-made product. But where is the fun in that?</div>
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Anywho, plug in your hot glue gun and start taking apart your flowers. The flowers usually have a plastic center piece that holds it to the branch. Pop out those pieces and arrange the petals how you like. I chose to use two pieces of petal layers. It just felt like the right thing to do. Use more if you like. Use less if you are feeling the minimalist vibe. I don't judge. </div>
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Squeeze a little glue on the first petal layer and place the second layer on top. A little glue around the center will do. I turn the second layer a bit so the petals match up with the gaps between the first layer's petals. Give the glue a few seconds to cool and then squeeze the layers together. Next, glue the button on.<br />
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Lastly, the bobby pin. Squirt some hot glue onto the back of the flower and place the bobby pin. make sure the flat side of the bobby pin is what you are gluing down. Once you place the pin, if metal is sticking out of the glue, squirt some more glue on top so it is completely covered. Now let it cool. There. Wasn't that super simple? Also, I'm quite entertained by the word 'squirt' right now. Just FYI. </div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Wow, I have a lot of baby hairs. I've got the hair line of a toddler. On that note, if you have questions or comments please feel free to leave them below. If you also have a lot of baby hairs: *internet high five*! </span></div>
Messy Ever Afterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11653428578730910185noreply@blogger.com0