What to do with all those demo samples?

Hmmm............. make more jewellery of course! So here's today's eye candy - a bracelet, a necklace and a cuff. Making simple, strung bracelets is one of my favourite ways to make up twisted beads. It only takes the addition of a few glass and metal beads to turn the Friendly Plastic beads into something special. This one is called Spicy Tango. Daisy Chain was a little more difficult to create. The colours I'd marbled together were so different to my usual colour palette that it was challenging to find suitable findings to work with it. In the end I chose a daisy shaped filigree stamping which complemented the flower shape perfectly. The Swarovski crystal in the centre is a headpin which is threaded firstly through a bead cap, then the daisy filigree and finally, the Friendly Plastic flower. It's sandwiched between the front and back layers and then it becomes the bail. I'm very pleased with the way it came together. And the last piece for today is pretty gold, p......

Read more »

Calling all crafty Fashion Divas

Love the look of fabulous resin jewellery? Want to learn all the ins and outs of how to cast your own resin bangles? Want to make your own unique, one of a kind pieces of resin jewellery? Then this 3 hour hands-on workshop might be just the thing for you. It's not too late to book into the next resin workshop held at Mill Lane Studio in Brisbane this Saturday morning. There are still a couple of places available if you'd like to learn the basics of resin casting and bangle making. Packed full of information, this beginners workshop guides you through all the basics of mixing, pouring and finishing your bangles so that they are ready to be worn home at the end of the workshop and all materials and moulds are yours to keep so that you can continue casting at home. Check out my website: Mill Lane Studio for further information and to make a booking....

Read more »

Marbled Eye Candy

Now the Scrapbook and Papercraft Expo is done and dusted I've begun to turn some of those demo samples into finished pieces so it's eye candy time! All the pieces below are made using the marbling technique and are cut out with cookie cutters. All pieces (except for the first piece) have been covered in resin for durability. The first is a simple marbled piece which I cut into a triangle shape using a cookie cutter. I've folded a long brass filigree flourish around the front and back and secured it firmly in place. The folded section of the filigree acts as a bail and the addition of a couple of sparkly Swarovski crystals adds a nice touch of glamour. Triangle Scroll Pendant Here's a silver version using a filigree bail attached to the front of the triangle. The necklace is made up of twisted silver tubes threaded on tiger tail and finished and with a crystal teardrop. Triangle Teardrop This heart shaped piece is assembled using a Swarovski crystal headpin to secure the......

Read more »

Scrapbook Expo Demos

Day 2 of the Scrapbook Expo has already been and gone and I've been kept very busy teaching Friendly Plastic workshops and demoing on the Stamp Antics stand. Even though Friendly Plastic has been around since the '80s, lots of paper crafters are seeing it for the first time and are really excited by this "new" medium. It has been a huge hit with the crafters who have stopped by the stand and Stamp Antics have almost sold out of all the stock they had. But rest assured, there is more on the way. I thought I'd share with you samples of the simple techniques I've been demoing to whet your appetite. Firstly, impress your friends with this gorgeous texture - stamped with rubber stamps or impressed with Krafty Lady Texture Mats and using a frypan as the heat source - gorgeous! These pieces will probably be turned into "Tile Jewellery" so watch out for what I do with them in later posts. Next, marbling with the marbling comb. This is such a fun technique a......

Read more »

Rainbow Quills Tile Bracelet

Here's the most recent piece in my " Tile Jewellery " collection. This one is based on the Chevron technique and the pattern is created in the same fashion as the pretty mille feuille icing you sometimes see on cakes and pâtisseries. Rainbow Quills This bracelet looks just as good from the inside so it can be worn inside out and as it's threaded on Elasticity it easily stretches over the hand to sit comfortably on the wrist. So with this style of bracelet, you can even make it reversible - one colour on the inside and one on the outside and you'd have two totally different looks. I've always said that Friendly Plastic is economical but that's what I call real value! 'Til next time..... If you can't get enough of My Tutorials and you want even more inspiration,  click here to find my books and printable pdfs ...

Read more »

Friendly Plastic Demos

My blogging has been a little bit sparse over the last month as I've been preparing for the Scrapbook Expo this coming weekend at the Convention Centre in Brisbane. If you'd like to see what I've been up to, then stop by the Stamp Antics to catch a demo. I know many of you are unfamiliar with Friendly Plastic as it had all but disappeared from the crafting scene until very recently but it is now making a resurgence with some very talented designers discovering all sorts of new ways to use this very versatile product. You can incorporate Friendly Plastic into your scrapbook pages, cards, off-the-page projects and, my personal favourite, jewellery making! Magenta Ribbons (à la Jana Ewy ) You'll be able to check out my Friendly Plastic pens in person at the stand too (PLUG: Book into the Friendly Plastic Pen class for the weekend following the show if you want to learn my how-to secrets!). Lollipop And whilst you'll be able to see me demonstrating seve......

Read more »