Black Light Shrink-film Earrings

Black light Earrings

I love stuff that Glows in the dark, or glows under black light!  Each year I attend a charity Cosmic Bingo night to benefit Special Olympics and Honor Flight.  For this event, everyone wears as many glow-in-the-dark or black light items as they can find so I wanted to create some fun earrings for the event.  If you used Shrinky-Dinks as a kid, you are familiar with the concept of shrink film.  Grafix Shrink Film is a much improved product in this medium.  Grafix Shrink film does not distort like the old shrink films did.  Remember cutting a perfect circle - only to end up with a warped oval?  Grafix Shrink Film is also available in a printable version, to print designs from your computer, as well as many colored films, including the new metallic silver and gold.  The newest addition to the Grafix Shrink Film line is the Artist line, which offers pre-printed designs in many fun motifs.  Grafix Shrink Film pairs perfectly with Sakura Glaze & Souffle pens to create these fun and funky Black Light Earrings!

Materials:

Grafix Shrink Film (Silver Metalic and Artist Series "Doodle" used here)

Sakura Permapaque Marker - Fine Point - Black

Sakura Glaze Ink Pens - Orange, Pink, Black

Sakura Souffle Pens - Yellow, Light Green, Pink

Jump Rings

Earring Hooks

Supplies:

Scrap Paper

Sticky Note (optional)

Scissors

Heat Gun (optional)

Hole Punch

Teflon sheet (optional)

Jewelry Pliers

Artograph Light Pad (optional)

Step 1 - Create your pattern on a piece of paper and cut it out.  I used a simple teardrop shape.  Hint:  If you use a sticky note for this, your pattern piece will stay in place while you trace it onto the Shrink-film.

Step 2 - Trace your pattern onto Shrink Film and cut out your pieces.  I tried to get the same sections of the "Doodle" design here, but I was off a little bit.  Don't stress if this happens to you - remember - no one can look at both of your ears at once!

Step 3 - (optional) - Since I want a lot of color and minimal background, I used the Perapaque Marker to add some more "doodle" to the design.  The Artist Series designs are great for quick projects!  They give you fun, read-made designs that you an use, as-is, or embellish.

Don't forget to punch holes at the top for your jump-rings!  (maybe not quite as close to the edge as mine....)

Step 4 - COLOR!!!  Use the Sakura Glaze & Souffle pens to color your design as desired.  Keep a piece of scratch paper handy.  Sometimes it is necessary to get the pens started on the paper.  Once the ink is flowing use gentle pressure to glide the ink onto your design.  The pens are very fluid and the ink adheres beautifully to the Shrink-film.  Once dry, this ink is permanent on the film.  You'll know the Souffle is dry when it takes on a somewhat chalky appearance.  The Glaze ink will still be shiny when dry.  Depending on your climate, the ink should be dry in 15-20 minutes.

Step 5 - Shrink it!!  Follow the instructions from your Shrink Film package and choose the method that works best for you.  I used the heat gun method here so that I could show the size and color differences between the original and shrunken piece.  If I have multiple pieces to shrink, I actually prefer the oven method.

Step 6 - Use jump rings to connect the Shrink Film pieces to Earring wires.

Variation - I used some of the new Metallic Silver Shrink-film to create a second pair of earrings.  Use the Permapaque pen to create your design on the earrings.  If you don't want to draw your own design, you can trace a printed design.  Though the metallic film looks opaque, you can actually see through it if you use a light pad (or a window).  With the design on one earring, I used an Artograph Light Pad to trace my design onto the second earring.  

Once the designs are in place, use the Sakura Glaze & Souffle pens to add color.  When the color is dry, use the Black Glaze pen to retrace the design lines for a crisper appearance.  Then  shrink the pieces and finish off with jump rings and earring findings.

Here are the two finished pairs in normal light

And here they are under Black Light!!

Thanks for checking out my Blog!  Please visit the vendor's sites for more great projects and inspiration!

Click here to find out where to buy:

Grafix Shrink Film

Sakura Glaze & Souffle Pens

Artograph Light Pads

Pavelka Project - Challenge #1 - Suspended Crystal Snowflake

So for 2015 I wanted to get back to creating and blogging.  I joined the 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge with every intention of playing along.  I should have known one project a week was too much for me this time of year.  (my busy time at work)  I also joined the Pavelka Project.  This is just one project a month (much more doable for me right now), plus some challenges.  For now, I will concentrate on the Pavelka Project, and hopefully be able to get back to the weekly challenges when the rest of my life slows down a little....does that sound familiar to anyone?

Challenge #1 is a suspended crystal project and my snowflake jar topper is LOOSELY based on Katie's Snowflake Pendant Project.

Our office received a gift box at Christmas with various treats inside these aluminum jars - 12 of them, in a nice box.  Being a crafter that ALWAYS needs more storage, I called dibs on the jars when the treats were gone.  SCORE!  My plan is to decorate these with polymer clay projects.  So here goes #1!

I did not have a snowflake cutter to follow Katie's project, but I did have this Martha Stewart Snowflake mold.  I filled it with Pearl polymer clay - pinching small pieces and filling all of the spaces.

Until it was completely full of clay.

Then I used a clay blade to shave off the excess clay the extended above the mold.

I had flattened some blue clay and cut it to fit the top of the lid.  (actually I cut it a little too small, but I'll fix that.....)  I turned the mold upside down on the blue clay and pressed down all over to be sure the white clay had adhered to the blue clay and then carefully lifted the mold off.

Ta-da!!

To cover the space between the rim of the lid and the blue clay I made a cane that was supposed to look like a leaf.  It looks a little bit more like Calla Lilies.  (I need to work on my canes!!!)  Then I added some texture and crystals.  It makes a great little tin to hold my crystal treasures!

Come join the challenge!!

Thanks for visiting!

KC

Happy 2015!

After a rather LONG break from crafting and blogging....(OVER 1 YEAR)....I'm ready to get back into creating mode and play with clay.  I am accepting the 2015 Polymer Clay Challenge!

I have VERY LIMITED experience with polymer clay, although I have always enjoyed working with it when I've had the chance.  A project a week sounds a bit daunting, but I'll give it a try.....Stay tuned for projects to come!!

Want to play along?

Visit this blog to find out more!!

KC

Vintage Christmas Ornament Decorations

Today is all about vintage ornament shapes!  Both of these projects were made using papers and Clear Scraps Acrylic from December Creating Made Easy Kit.  These acrylic ornament shapes are so fun to decorate.  They reminded me a lot of some of the OLD glass ornaments my mom had so that was my inspiration for the these.  

Visit the Creating Made Easy Blog for more information on both of these projects!

Happy Holidays All!

KC

Clear Scraps Christmas Card

Today on the Clear Scraps Kit Club Blog, I'm sharing tips and tricks for this card.  Check it out!

Happy Holidays All!

KC

Frosted Acrylic Snowman Tri-Fold

The December Creating Made Easy Kit from Clear Scraps has been released.  My first post for the month with this kit is a tutorial on these snowmen.  Hop over to the Kit Club Blog and check it out!

Happy Holidays All!!

Stay Warm!

KC

November Kit Club - Glittering Fall Leaf Frame

I just wanted to share a sneak peak of what's on the Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy Kit Club Blog today!

Head on over and check out the tutorial on this glittering leaf frame!

SPOOKY Tutorial from the Oct Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy Kit Club

 Up on the Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy Kit Club Blog today with two Halloween Decor projects.  Hop on over and check them out!!

Halloween Kitty in the light of a big harvest moon.

"Boo" Bat Banner

Happy Halloween!

KC

My Final Post on Clear Scraps......for now......

Today my final post for the Clear Scraps Design Team will post on the Clear Scraps Blog.  It was a tough decision for me not to continue on with this team. I will still be designing for the Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy Kit Club, so I still get to work with the really awesome people at Clear Scraps, as well as play with one of my favorite crafting products - Clear Scraps Acrylic!!

As I was writing my final post, I noticed that I was on a roll with family photos and a vintage look.  In case you've missed them, here are links to my last few CS posts:

Today's post - Leather-Look Mini Frames

Sister's Adventure Frame

Lacy Anniversary Frame

Please check out these projects as well as all the other designers on the Clear Scraps Blog!  And don't forget to visit the Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy Blog too!!

Happy Crafting!

KC

Sandcastle Album - Life's a Beach - Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy August Kit

Today I'm sharing my fist August post for the Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy Kit Club.  You will LOVE this kit!!!

Hop on over to the Blog to see the tutorial for this project!!

KC

Celebrating American Heroes with the Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy Kit Club

The July kit from Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy is appropriately full of fun Red, White & Blue papers, stickers & embellishments.  In honor of the 4th of July, I have created this patriotic layout featuring my favorite American Hero.

Hope over to the Clear Scraps blog for tips on how to create this layout or one like it!

Happy 4th of July!!

KC

Clear Scraps June Kit - Layout

Here is a sneak peak of a layout I made with the June Kit from Clear Scraps - Creating Made Easy June Kit.

Head over to the CS Kit Club blog for more information on this project and for lots of of creative inspiration from the Design Team!

CS - June Kit Club tutorials

If you haven't already checked out the Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy Kit Club, you are missing out!  These kits are so fun to create with!  The paper packs, embellishments and acrylic are so well matched that they truly do make creating easy.

The theme for the June kit is Travel/Vacation.

Here is a sneak peek at some of the projects I made with the kit:

Plus, I still have a lot of supplies left over for more projects! 

Head over to the CS Kit Club blog for inspiration, ideas and tutorials for this kit!

KC

Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy June Kit - Travel Album

Wow, can you believe it is June already?!  With a new month comes a new kit from Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy Kit Club.  This month's theme is Travel/Vacation.  This kit is loaded with great paper, stickers, embellishments and, of course, Clear Scraps Acrylic!

With each kit there are instructions for a featured project.  This month I am thrilled that I had the opportunity to provide the instructions for this project.

You can see more on the featured project as well as more projects and inspiration from this kit at the CS Kit Club Blog.

And check back here as well, as I'll be sharing some of the projects that I have made with the kit!

KC

Clear Scraps Summer Blog Hop - Butterfly Suncatcher

Ready for summer?!!  I know I am!!  Today is Day ONE of the Clear Scraps Summer Crafting Blog Hop!  Three days of summer crafting inspiration and tutorials and PRIZES!!!  Today, you'll need to hop by the CLEAR SCRAPS Blog, plus Rita and Leah's blogs.  Leave a comment here and at each blog for your chance to win!  Plus visit Clear Scraps on Facebook for additional chances to win!

To get you started with some summer crafting, I've created a Clear Scraps acrylic sun catcher.  Perfect to add a little pop of color in your garden.  This design is actually an improvement to a sun catcher I did about a year ago - using my Sizzix Big Shot and Tim Holtz Butterfly Die to cut butterfly shapes from used CD's.  I really like the fact that I can recycle used CDs, but there were two problems with the CD butterflies.  #1 - the shiny coating sometimes splinters off during the cutting process, and #2 the CD plastic is too brittle to bend to give the butterflies dimension.  Clear Scraps to the rescue!!

Did you know you can use dies to cut Clear Scraps?  It is a great way to make your own acrylic embellishments for your projects!  I always keep sheets of 12x12 Clear Scraps acrylic on hand to use in various projects, so I started by cutting one of these sheets in smaller pieces to run though the Sizzix and die cut.  For the sun catcher, I cut 6 CD butterflies and 6 Clear Scraps butterflies.  While I had everything out I also cut some small flower shapes in the CS acrylic.  These are always handy to have on hand. HINT:  save the pieces that the die cuts come out of - they can be used as little stencils!

After removing the protective plastic from the butterflies I daubed them with blue and purple alcohol inks.

Then I carefully bent the wings back.  I love the way these all look together!  They are inspiring more future projects!!

Assemble the sun catcher by placing three of the CD butterflies shiny side down on the table, spaced approximately where you'd like them on the wire.  Put a generous dot of Beacon Zip-dry glue in the center of the butterfly.  Place clear beading wire or fishing wire so that the wire runs through the glue.  Place another CD Butterfly, shiny side up, on top of the wire/glue to sandwich the wire.  Use another dab of Zip-dry to glue a Clear Scraps butterfly on top of the CD butterfly.  One that glue is dry, flip the butterflies over and glue another Clear Scraps butterfly to the back side.  Tie a glass or crystal bead at the bottom of the wire as a weight.

Now how easy was that?!!

Enjoy the Blog Hop!  and Happy Summer Crafting!!

KC

Clear Scraps Dream Card

With graduations around the corner, I created a card to encourage the graduates to follow their dreams.

I used the Clear Scraps Send it Clear Card -  Half Scallop Card.  I also used the Expressions Clear Word Titles - Dream (small).

I began by stamping a butterfly stamp on the front of the card in Stazon Opaque White and then dusted it with glitter while the ink was still wet.  The scalloped border was created using  Viva Decor Pearl Pen which was also dusted with glitter while it was still wet.  A mix of silver and gold alcohol ink was used around the edges of the two front pieces.

The paper used for the background on the card is from Prima Marketing's Fairy Rhymes Collection.  "Dream" was colored on the back using Viva Decor 3D Stamp Paint.

Please visit the Clear Scraps Blog for more Springtime inspiration!!

KC

CS Kit Club April - Hope & Penant

Have you checked out the April Kit from Clear Scraps Creating Made Easy Kit Club.  The colors in the kit are soft and neutral to easily work into decor.   Here are two projects I've made with the kit.  Visit the Creating Made Easy blog for more inspiration from the kit!

The first project is done with the Large Pennant Piece from Clear Scraps.  (not included in the kit, but available through the Clear Scraps store)   I layered two papers behind the acrylic and glued them in place using Beacon Zip Dry Adhesive.

 I used two of the Clear Scraps Flower shapes as a base for the flower section.  These were colored with Silver and Blue alcohol inks and then run through my Sizzix Big Shot machine in embossing folders to give the a little texture.  The border of the Pennant is dotted with pearls using a Viva Decor silver pearl pen.  (Note that Glue, alcohol inks and pearl pens are not included in the kit)  The swirls of pearls ARE included in the kit!!  The pieces was further embellished with die cut flowers and butterflies, and flowers and buttons from the kit.

The second project is done with the Clear Scraps Large Word - Hope.  The letters were traced onto two of the patterned papers from the kit.  After cutting the letters out, they were attached to the back of the acrylic, using Beacon Zip Dry adhesive.

I used Stazon Brown ink and a dauber around the edges of the letters for a more antiqued look.

Then bronze pearl "studs" were added using Viva Decor bronze pearl pen.  I finished by added some die cut flowers and butterflies, along with some of the flowers from the kit.  I used the bronze pearl pen to add centers to the flowers and some highlights on the butterfly.

I hope you enjoy the April Kit! 

KC