Elements and Glitter ATC by Shannon Bielke

Being a mixed-media artist at heart, I finally gave in to my natural tendencies and mixed it up a bit. This project caters to my love of all things small, as well as my fascination with ATCs. The size is similar to an ATC, just a little bigger. The mixed media part involves using glitter of course, a few of the Elements line, stampbord, paint, inks, stamps, mists, as well as brushes, pencils, pens, knives, and more.


I usually start a project like this with a quote or a favorite stamped image but this time I began with Art Glitter's Elements; "Meadow" (9). I chose it for the colors a long time ago, and I just love its scent! (This is one of those items that I just had to have long before I knew what I was going to do with it. You know what I'm talking about.) Having been properly re-schooled in the art of glitter, I knew I'd be able to put it to good use. And I did. I mixed it up with regular glitter, paint, inks, and stains. Fun and enlightening! I ended up using only a little for this project, and little bits of lots of other things.

I love how the different elements of this project work together, and I'm delighted with how the Element line adds dimension and seems to pull all the mixed up parts of this project together!

Supplies used:
Art Glitter:
Elements: Meadow (9), Fairy Bed (32)
Ultrafine Transparent: Miss Muffet (144), Fresh Green (312), Angel Dust (86)
Ultrafine Opaque: Cornflower (25), Dew Berry (314), Blackberry (16)
Dazzlers Flakes: Orange Crush (D35)
Designer Dries Clear adhesive
Ultrafine Metal Tip
Noodgers
Spoon Man!
Stampbord
Claybord Inks
Stazon Inks
Jaquard: Lumiere
Tattered Angels: spray mists
Stampendous: embossing powders
Hero Arts, Hampton Art Stamps, Tim Holtz Stamps

Feline Fairy Wings by Kaaren Poole

The concept on this project was interesting, but I must admit that the final product, though great fun to make, is completely impractical. I have nine cats. When I tried to find one to try the wings on, six immediately headed for deep cover. Of the remaining three, Phreddee was willing but too fat – the harness wouldn’t close! I got the harness on Mopsy, but she immediately flattened on the carpet and began crawling backwards at mach speed! Belle tolerated it – but just long enough to get the picture.


Anyway, wings are fun to make and Fantasy Film is a great product for them. And of course wings have far more uses than this. I use them a lot for my little polymer clay fairies and animal fairies. So I think you will find the basic method useful. Here it is.

You will need:
Art Glitter Fantasy Film in Blue Nile (01534)

Art Glitter Dazzlers Movie Stars (D45)

Art Glitter Sea Nymph Dazzlers (D15)

22 gauge black coated craft wire

Alene’s Quik Grab tacky glue
Diamond Glaze

two part epoxy glue

a cat harness

a ¾” button with four holes in a color to coordinate with the harness

scissors, a brush, iron and ironing board, parchment paper, round nose pliers, toothpicks

Cut two 12” lengths of the Blue Nile Fantasy Film. Place one on top of the other and sandwich them between two pieces of parchment paper. With the iron set on low, iron over the parchment paper to fuse the two pieces of Fantasy Film together.

Cut out four wing shapes about 5-6” long and 3” wide. There will be two wing pieces on each side – an upper wing and a lower wing, like a butterfly. Cut two 16” lengths of the craft wire. Thread the two ends of one of the pieces of wire through two adjacent holes in the button, centering the button on the wire. Pull the ends of the wire snug. Repeat with the other piece of wire and the other two holes. You now have four ends of wire protruding from the button. These are the spines of the wings.

With the round nose pliers, coil the ends of the wires, reducing the length of the wires until they fit nicely on the wings. Spread tacky glue on the under sides of the wires and glue them to the wing pieces. Let the glue dry. Cut four more pieces of wire about 8” long and make a coil in one end of each piece, reducing the length of the wire so that it fits nicely onto the wing. Glue one piece on each of the wings with the tack glue and let it dry.

Use the brush to spread a coat of Diamond Glaze on the upper side of the wings. While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle the Sea Nymph Dazzlers and the Movie Stars Dazzlers over the wings. Let the glaze dry then add a second coat of glaze the set the glitter firmly in place. Repeat on the other side of the wings.

Mix up some two part epoxy glue and glue the button to the back strap of the harness. Mix up more glue and apply a generous glob to the upper side of the button to hold the wire ends in place.

Look for a willing cat and hope for the best!

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"Blue Opal" Cameo Pin by Laura Drahozal

There is a store that I go to EVERY time I visit Las Vegas-- the Australian Opal and Gem Store in the Forum Shops. I can't afford anything there, but still visit just to look at the fantastic opals. Opals are my birthstone and my weakness. They are fascinating, with their variety of colors and flashes of brilliant light.

Some of the most beautiful opals are often referred to as "water" opals and are known for their clear blue color. These stones are exactly what I thought of the first time that I saw Art Glitter Dazzlers in the flake form. When I discovered what they do under heat, well, I hatched a plan to create my own faux opal.

What would I do with the "stone" when I completed it? The only jewelry that I have ever collected, aside from opals, was cameos. Dreamweaver Stencils (whose design team I am on) has just come out with a gorgeous cameo stencil. When I thought of that, I knew the plan was coming together. I would make my own fantasy pin--a blue opal cameo.


First, I rubbed the soap on the back of the stencil so that it would be able to be removed from the adhesive later. Then, I brushed off the excess soap "crumbles" and attached it to the Double Sided Adhesive Paper. I used a little of the Microfine Blue Diadem around the cameo frame. When I removed the adhesive paper from the stencil, I was able to use this glitter as a guideline to cut out my oval.

I then laid a pinch of the Varsity Blue Pearlescent Ultrafine and a pinch of the Blue Diadem Microfine Opaque on that oval and rubbed it in, burnishing the colors together and onto the paper. When I was certain that it was thoroughly pressed in, I brushed off the excess.

I covered the whole thing with Versamark and Clear Embossing Powder. I heated it. While it was still warm, I poured another layer of Clear Embossing Powder over the top and heated it. Then, while this was still warm, I sprinkled on a generous amount of Blue Eyes Dazzlers. As I heated these, they shrank a little and changed colors. They became the gorgeous "flash" of color that the opal is known for. I heated them until they turned to colors that appealed to me. I then stopped all heating and let the project cool for a little while.

When it was time for another color, I added a layer of Versamark, and Clear Embossing Powder. I heated until this melted and, while it was still warm, I sprinkled on a little of the Lapis Shards Vintage Glass Glitter. I let this cool. Then, another layer of Versamark and two more layers of Clear Embossing Powder. When it cooled, I was finished with my "opal".

I was very pleased with the result on this, because the two colors and types of glitter gave a base that refracted light in different ways, the dazzlers added the "flash" and the shards added a depth of color and shine, but retained both their shape and color. All of these elements, separated by the clear embossing powders, are what made this stone look real.

The cameo head was very simple. I put the soaped stencil onto another piece of Double Sided Adhesive Paper, poured Opaque White Embossing Powder over the top and top and rubbed it in, as if to burnish it. I removed the stencil and heated the embossing powder. While it was warm, I poured the Sea Shell Transparent Glitter over the top. I let it cool and cut around the embossed section.

For the frame, I put the soaped stencil on yet another piece of the adhesive paper. I poured the Microfine Silver Moon Opaque Glitter into the frame, trying to avoid the open center of the stencil as much as possible. I then burnished it in with my fingers, brushed off the excess and removed the stencil. I poured the Black Wing Microfine on very generously on the edges and burnished that in as well. I peeled the backing off of the paper and adhered it to a piece of chipboard. I adhered the adhesive backed aluminum to the other side of the chipboard. Then, I carefully cut around the exterior of the frame with my sharp, pointy scissors.


I positioned the pin back on the back of the chipboard and marked the holes with a pen tip. I removed the pin back and punched the holes with my Big Bite. I repositioned the pin back and attached it through the holes with the brads.

I straightened out the "opal", which had curled a little during all that heating. It caused the embossing powder to crack a little, imitating the "crazing" or cracks in a real opal. I then peeled off the back and positioned it onto the frame. I peeled the back off of the cameo and adhered it to the "stone".

Finally, I had to tweak it just a little. I used my scissors to carefully "trim up" some of the edges of the stone to perfect it. I hit the trimmed edges lightly with a heat gun to round it off a little. I then used the permanent marker to color the edges where the chipboard shone through.



Did this take a little while? Certainly, but it was ridiculously fun to do. Most of the time that it took was thinking things out and trying various methods. Now that I have figured it out for you, and told you what to do, it should be easy for you to reproduce it. I am personally quite thrilled with this project. I successfully combined my love of cameos and of opals into the ultimate piece of jewelry for a small percentage of what the real thing would have cost. Granted, it is made of chipboard and glitter, so maybe I won't wear it to a ball, but I WILL wear it, and proudly. I made my very own beautiful, fun opal. You could, too.

Materials:
Double Sided Adhesive Paper
Dreamweaver Cameo Stencil LL 3017
Large Soft Stencil Brush
Soft Bar Soap
185 Varsity Blue Ultrafine Pearlescent Art Glitter
504 Blue Diadem Microfine Opaque Art Glitter
D38 Blue Eyes Art Glitter Dazzlers
911 Lapis Shards Vintage Glass Art Glitter
Opaque White Embossing Powder
100 Sea Shell Ultrafine Transparent Art Glitter
508 Silver Moon Microfine Opaque Art Glitter
507 Black Wing Microfine Opaque Art Glitter
Chipboard
Adhesive Backed Aluminum
Pin Back
Big Bite
3 Square Silver Brads
Sharp Scissors
Fine Tipped Opaque Black Permanent Pen

Glam Birdhouse by Shannon Bielke

My Glam Birdhouse is is actually a green bird-house. Yes, green in color, or colors, as the case may be, but that goes without saying. Green, also in that it's made mostly of recycled products.


Could you tell? The decorative papers are scraps leftover from a 2 page scrapbook layout, the foundation is an old mailing box measured, cut, and glued together, and the ribbons are just bits of scraps.

The glitter, and rightly so, is the only thing not recycled! Don't you think it prettied up my project quite nicely?


This glam birdhouse is a perfect example of 'less is more'. I know, we've all heard that many times before, and in this case without any conscious decision I used very little glitter in comparison to other projects.


However, the amount I did use enhanced my project beautifully! The original plan was to enhance the whole project with lots of glitter both transparent and opaque, but I ended up using very little ultra-fine glitter, and I only used 3 colors. 6 months ago I wouldn't have considered glitter at all, but I'm learning my lessons and loving them! Glitter works so well in so many different circumstances! For me, the glitter was just one of the several patchwork pieces of the birdhouse that worked together to make the whole thing work. And yes, I will put a protective coating on it and hang it outside. Hopefully my birds appreciate glam!


I'm still playing around with what I call; non-glitter glitter; the Elements line of Art Glitter. It really is a beautiful and versatile medium to work with!

Supplies used:
cardboard, paper scraps, ribbons scraps
Art Glitter:
Ultra-fine Transparent:
86 Angel Dust
312 Fresh Green
219 Lily Pad
Ultra-fine Metal Tip
Noodgers
Spoon Man!
Designer Dries Clear

Encaustic Glitter Fun by Emily M. Miller

Oh have I been having fun! I just returned from Art Unraveled in Phoenix, Arizona and I learned some new exciting tricks I want to show you! This post covers the Encaustic Rusted Play class I took with an extremely talented instructor Patricia Baldwin Seggebrush, creator of Encaustikits.com. It was pure fun!

For those of you not familiar with Encaustic Painting, please let me quote Wikipedia: "Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The liquid/paste is then applied to a surface—usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used..." Of course I added Art Glitter products!


This example uses a Fantasy Film and Fiber piece I stamped ahead with Barbara's Spring Moth stamp (my favorite stamp!). I started with a nice layer of wax and pushed my image into it while it was still hot. The image was not cut out so it had unfused edges of film and fiber sticking up that I promptly heated with a heat tool to get some interesting colors going. Then I added another layer of wax and heated it again. This time I sprinkled on some Art Glitter Ultrafine Transparent #171 Gelina with my fingers and heated it again til it spread around in a fun way! This piece is only about 5 inches wide, so I think I will use it in a collage piece later.


This guy is pretty straight forward. Again I used a pre-stamped Fantasy Film Dragonfly. This was one that I had molded over a candle flame and it was kind of beat up on it's own, but embedded in the wax it takes on a new life! You'll also notice some squares and stars from our Dazzler line sparkling in the background.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I forgot to take some pure, unfused Fantasy Film and Fiber with me, which would have been MORE fun than I can imagine. So I'll just have to show you those experiments later when I get them made.


This encaustic painting again is just pure fun! I used lace for a stencil for the red wax and smashed in some Vintage Glass Glitter, Glass Beads and Ultrafine Glitter. It was a sort of a kitchen sink concoction I came up with after glittering some adult size wings a few years back. This one is completely unfinished, I may add more wax, may not, but it will definitely become the beginning of another collage.

Enjoy ~emm

Shabby Chic Flower Pin by Kaaren Poole

Call me retro, but I still love the shabby chic look, and for this piece I was inspired by the scraps I had left over from a shabby chic “rag” quilt. I can use this pin on my hat or on a sweater. Wouldn’t these be great in fall or winter colors for holiday gift sales?

Here’s what you’ll need:
Fabric scraps

5/8 “ button with four holes

1 ¼” button (not the shank type, or remove the shank as you need a flat back)

size 11 yellow seed beads

3mm drop beads in a color to coordinate with your flower fabric

22 gauge craft wire

Art Glitter Pee Wee monochrome glitter kits in green and pink (or another color to coordinate with your flower fabric)

Art Glitter Ultrafine Opaque Glitter in Golden Orange (UFO #347)

Art Glitter Fabric Dries Clear Adhesive (FDC)

clutch pin back

heavy beading thread (such as Fireline) and beading needle, scissors, small sharp scissors, sewing machine, file card for leaf pattern, pencil, 2-part epoxy glue


Begin with the Leaves:
Draw a leaf pattern on the file card and cut it out. It should be a simple shape about 2 ½” long. Cut six rectangles of leaf fabric just large enough for the leaf pattern. Arrange them in pairs, wrong sides together, and draw around the leaf pattern with the pencil. Mix and match the fabric colors if you like – I think a variety looks good. Working with the sewing machine and one pair at a time, sew a straight stitch up the center vein them back down the vein leaving about 1/8” space between the two rows of stitching. When you reach the bottom of the vein, turn away from the vein and stitch around the outside edge of the leaf, stopping at the bottom of the other row of vein stitching. This will leave the bottom edge of the vein open for inserting the wire. Cut the fabric leaf out, cutting around the outside edge of the leaf and close to the stitching, but being careful not to cut the thread. Cut a piece of craft wire about 3” long and thread the wire into the channel formed by the two rows of stitching for the vein. Trim the end to about ½”.

Then the Flower Center:
Cut a 2” square of fabric scrap and glue it to the back of the 5/8” button with the Designer Dries Clear Fabric Adhesive, being sure not to cover the holes in the button. Let the glue dry completely. With the Fireline threaded on a beading needle, add the bead strands to the center of the button as follows: Leaving a 4” tail, thread the needle from the back through one of the holes in the button. Thread the needle through 5 yellow seed beads then one drop bead, then, skipping the drop bead, back down through the 5 yellow seed beads and the hole in the button. Pull the thread snug and repeat for the other three holes. Thread the needle back up through the first hole and the first 2 yellow seed beads from the previous step. Thread the needle through 3 new yellow seed beads and one drop bead then, skipping the drop bead, back through the 3 new yellow seed beads, back through the first 2 yellow seed beads on the original strand and back down through the hole. Pull the thread tight and repeat for the other three holes. Tie the end of the thread and the original tail in a tight knot and trim the thread ends. Trim the excess fabric from around the button, leaving a margin of 1/8” fabric showing all around the button.

Then the Two Rows of Petals:
Cut two strips of flower fabric on the diagonal. Cut one strip 7” x 7/8” (the inner petals) and the other strip 1 ½” x 13” (the outer petals). Fold the larger strip in half matching short end to short end, then fold it again in thirds. Cut a long scallop shape along one long edge about 5/8” deep. Unfold the strip – you should have a strip with six scallop shapes along one long edge – these are the outer petals. With the Fireline threaded on a needle, run two rows of small running stitches along one long edge of the smaller piece and along the long straight edge of the scalloped piece. One row should be 1/8” from the edge and the other should be ¼” from the edge. These are the gathering threads. Leave 3” of thread on each end. Now, working on the sewing machine, run a row of zig-zag stitch right along the long edge opposite the gathering stitches on each of the two petal pieces and trim away the ends.

Now add the Glitter:
I really like Art Glitter’s Pee Wee Kits. They give you a lot of variety at a value price and are perfect for projects like this where you have a number of colors to match. I will use a variety of greens from the Green Mono kit for the leaves and, to coordinate with my flower fabric, I’ll select a pretty color from the Pink Mono kit for the flower edges. Around the center of the flower I’m using Art Glitter’s Ultrafine Opaque Glitter in Golden Orange. To add the glitter, just run a bead of glue around the edges of the leaves, along the zig-zag stitched edges of the flower strips, and around the edge of the button center, then generously sprinkle the glitters over the glue – greens on the leaves, pinks on the flower strips, and Golden Orange around the flower center. Let the glue dry. Now gather the petal strips by pulling on the gathering threads and tying the ends of the gathering threads in tight knots. You want to gather as tightly as you can.

Now for the Assembly:
Mix up a bit of the 2-part epoxy and glue the wire ends of the leaves to the right side of the 1 ¼” button. Catch a bit of the leaf fabric in the glue so that the leaves don’t slip off the wires. When the glue is set, mix up more and glue the large petal piece, then the small petal piece, then the button center. Do all three of these pieces at once and press down firmly while the glue sets. Now mix up more glue (that fast set time has its pluses and minuses!) and add the clutch pin to the back.

I hope you enjoy your glittery shabby chic flower pin!

Glittering Butterfly Bag by Laura Drahozal

One of my very first memories is of a trip to the beach with my mother and father. I can't remember where it was--just some lake here in Michigan. I do remember playing on the sand at the edge of the water as the waves licked my toes. I also remember my beautiful mother packing everything we needed in a large straw bag with bright colored straw flowers appliqued all over it. I was fascinated by those applique flowers. I often picked at their edges, despite my mother asking me not to. It was that memory that came to me when I saw this cute little straw bag in the Target Hot Spot. Although it was too small to fit all of my family beach needs, it was cute, alterable, and only $2.50--so it was mine!

When I got it home, I had to decide what to put on it. It was a simple decision, really. I have had a thing for butterflies for several years now, and they show off the glitter so beautifully. I am also on the Dreamweaver Stencil design team, and was aware of their gorgeous butterfly stencils, so I decided to use them.

Here is what I did: First, I used my Copic Multiliner to trace around my butterfly stencils on Claudine Helmuth White Sticky Backed Canvas. The Copic liner made a light black line. In retrospect, I would have used the Faber Castell Pitt Pen in black. I obtained one of these highly pigmented ink pens at CHA and they make a darker mark on the canvas. They are also waterproof, which I initially thought the Copics were.


Anyway, once the stencils were traced, I colored between the lines to make the black parts of the butterflies. I then had the joy of coloring them. I used the Designer Dries Clear Fabric Glue (canvas is fabric, after all) and the Ultrafine Metal Tip for the glue. I worked outside in extreme heat, which, while I don't recommend it, did help the glue dry quickly between layers. I also rotated the butterflies as I worked on them, doing all the inside colors, then the second color, etcetera, until all the butterflies were done. I used Ultrafine, Microfine (in transparent and opaque), and chunky in these butterflies, as I liked all the contrasts. I also used Hologram Glitter in each butterfly to up the glitter impact.


When I was finished glittering all of the butterflies, I let them dry (which, as I mentioned before, did not take long due to the extreme heat). I then preheated my oven to 300 degrees, and when it beeped, I turned it off and inserted the butterflies on a foiled cookie sheet. I let them "bake" for 30 minutes to set the glitter. It was perfectly fine, and did not even effect the adhesive on the back of the canvas. Once I removed the butterflies and let them cool, I arranged them on the straw bag. When they were just right, I peeled off the backing, and pressed them firmly where they belonged. Then, the hardest part--I used heavy duty black thread and a curved upholstery needle to tack them all to the straw backing. I made this decision because I know that the Sticky Backed Canvas was not intended for use on straw, but it did seen to stick very well.



When the stitching was done, I used my Faber Castell Pitt Pen to color in the lighter areas of black. After that, I had a cute little beach bag like the one stuck in my memory, but updated, fun and glittery. I won't be taking it to the beach any time soon, but there is a stamp show in August..........

SUPPLIES:
a small straw tote bag
Claudine Hellmuth White Sticky Backed canvas
Copic Multiliner (or Faber Castel Pitt) in black
Fabric Dries Clear Adhesive with ultrafine metal tip
Uphostery Needles
Heavy Duty Thread


ALL BUTTERFLIES
85 Crystal Ultrafine Transparent
79 Black Ultrafine Opaque

BLUE
328 Cairo Chunky Opaque Hologram
504 Blue Diadem Microfine Opaque
140 Canadian Blue Ultrafine Opaque
62 Copper Canyon Ultrafine Opaque
Dreamweaver LJ 916

GREEN
94 Key Lime Ultrafine Transparent
128 Quark Ultrafine Opaque Hologram
62 Copper Canyon Ultrafine Opaque
48 Emerald Ultrafine Opaque
Dreamweaver LM 121

PURPLE
15 Fuschia Ultrafine Opaque
256 Purple Passion Ultrafine Opaque
Dreamweaver LM 255

ORANGE
336 Alien Ultrafine Opaque Hologram
501 Monarch Microfine Opaque
179 Tang Ultrafine Pearlescent
62 Copper Canyon Ultrafine Opaque
Dreamweaver LM 257

RED
D 51 October Dazzlers
332 Red Rocket Chunky Opaque Hologram
DreamweaverLS 57