Keepsake Crafts - Sharing the Love of Creativity

Friday Findings-Wire Gauge

May 152015

friday findings-wire gauge.jpg

In today’s video I explain the basics of wire gauge. It’s fairly easy to understand once you get used to it. 🙂

This Jewelers Wire Gauge is similar to the measuring tool I show in the video. It measures from 0 to 36 gauge.

Also, here are links to the wires I use most often:

I like to use the bare copper wire so it will get a dark patina. Then when you polish up the high points the details really show. If you prefer to keep a bright, shiny look, then be sure to get one of the tarnish resistant wires, like this one: Tarnish Resistant Copper Wire 24 Gauge

Here’s the chart I promised in the video. I keep mine with all my wires for easy reference.

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

You can watch the Friday Findings-Wire Gauge video over at YouTube.

Thursday’s Dragon #18-Lóngūn

May 142015

My dragon for this week is a character in a favorite book series of mine. Meet Lóngūn, the star dragon. (His name is pronounced “long-gín.”)

Check out this post on Errol, dragon #1, for the details on why I’ve challenged myself to make a dragon every week in 2015.

Click on any of the photos for a closer look.

If you’ve read the third book in the Tiger’s Curse series, Tiger’s Voyage, you’ll remember he is the first one encountered on the voyage.

Here are the descriptions from the book:

looks more like a Chinese serpent with a long sinuous body
four short limbs with taloned feet
red, black underbelly, top is streaked with vermilion
seems to glow with red light
long black and red tendrils trailing from black bearded cheeks
shiny scales
long lashed eyes, red irises & black pupils
long red tongue
pointed black tufted ears
two reddish black spikes, more like horns protruding from back of the head
spikes are covered with black velvet like new antlers and are soft & rounded at the tips
coming through the sky like a sidewinder

It was kind of fun making a sculpture to match a particular description. I also tried to show some of Lóngūn’s personality, although he’s got the least strong personality of all five of the dragons. I’m looking forward to doing some of the others even more.

If you’d like to see my other dragon creations so far, I’ve made a Thursday’s Dragon Pinterest board just for them.

WOYWW-Dragon #18

May 122015

Happy What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday everyone!

Today’s desk finds me working on dragon #18 in my year-long series of polymer clay dragons. This week I’m attempting to create a dragon who is a character in favorite book series of mine.

If any of you have read Tiger’s Voyage , you’ll know from the colors on the table which of the five dragons I’m working on. 😉

(And if you have read the books, feel free to check back tomorrow and let me know what you think of my representation of him.)

The book on the left is one I use for inspiration, DragonWorld. It’s full of dragon art by a slew of different artists. I don’t try to copy any of them, but look for interesting details, expressions, poses, etc. that I can draw from.

Also in the shot are more faux glass eyes that I needed to make. I LOVE how much more life they give to the dragons, like in Wen.

And there’s my trusty mp3 player, don’t know what I’d do without it. I wear this Sansa Clip all the time to make tedious work (you know, like dishes or cleaning or weeding the garden) go by faster. Just finished listening to the sixth Outlander book. Are any of you following the TV series? It’s wonderful!

If you’re wondering why I’m sharing photos of my desk, well, it’s What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday, the day we all get together at Julia’s and take a peek at each other’s creative goings on. It’s always fun and often inspiring. Join us if you have a the time.

Swoosh Dangle Earrings Video Tutorial

May 112015

These earrings get their unique shape from an unexpected jewelry supply: Memory Wire.

I think just a couple sparkly Swarovski bicones on each “swoosh” is quite elegant, but as I mention in the video, you could fill them up with beads if you like, or use any type of bead you want. Keep in mind that if the beads are heavy they may pull the wire out of shape.

Be sure to use special memory wire pliers, or use old junky pliers like I do. Don’t use your nice wire cutters on memory wire or they won’t be nice any more.

Feel free to share photos of earrings you’ve made with this tutorial on Keepsake Crafts’ Facebook page in the “Your Creations” album.

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

You can watch the Swoosh Dangle Earrings Video Tutorial over at YouTube.

Materials:

bracelet Memory Wire, cut into 2 3-inch, 2 2.5-inch and 2 2-inch pieces
6 6mm Swarovski crystal bicone beads (from the Swarovski Bicone Crystal, Fuchsia Mix, 6mm)
6 4mm Swarovski crystal bicone beads (from the Swarovski Bicone Crystal, Fuchsia Mix, 4mm)
2 jump rings
2 ear wires

Tools:

memory wire specific wire cutters
round nose pliers
chain nose pliers

Use round nose pliers to make a loop on one end of each memory wire piece. Slide a 4mm and a 6mm crystal onto each wire. Use round nose pliers to make a loop on remaining end of each memory wire piece.

Open a jump ring and slide on one loop of a 3-inch, a 2.5-inch and a 2-inch memory wire piece, making sure curves are all facing in the same direction. Also slide on the loop of an ear wire. Close jump ring securely to complete earring and repeat to make second earring.

Friday Findings-Wrapped Loops

May 082015

Wrapped loops are a staple of jewelry making. They are perfect to use when your wire is finer than 22 gauge as anything less than that will not make a strong simple loop.

I love wrapped loops not only for their strength but also for the aesthetics, especially messy wraps.

In the video I show you how to make a neatly wrapped loop and also one way to conserve wire while making messy wraps.

Happy creating and enjoy the video!

You can watch the Friday Findings-Wrapped Loops video over at YouTube.

Thursday’s Dragon #17-Tymon

May 072015

Hi everyone! Sorry I missed last Thursday’s Dragon last week, but I was SO sick. I’m much better now, and trying to get caught up. One of these weeks we’ll have two dragons to make it up.

Check out this post on Errol, dragon #1, for the details on why I’ve challenged myself to make a dragon every week in 2015.

Meet Tymon, dragon #17 in my year-long series. He is done with a faux raku pottery technique I’ve been wanting to try for a long time.

Click on any of the photos for a closer look.

I saw Tim Holtz demonstrate the technique about 10 years ago, in his DVD The Journey Continues. The raw clay is painted with Micaceous Iron Oxide and then baked. After it’s baked mica powders are applied and then rubbed in, which gives that glow of different colors.

Tymon is a form of the name “Timothy,” which seemed to fit. 🙂

The glass-like dots on his wings are done with UV resin, Magic Glos. After the holes were cut out and the wings baked, I applied packing tape to the backs of the wings and then added dots of the resin. Then it went into the sun to cure. The packing tape peeled right off, leaving the clear resin in the holes.

The resin can be baked, but it did turn a bit amber in the oven. That was fine for this project, but if I want it to stay clear I’ll have to remember to save the resin as a final step in future.

The faux raku pottery is a fun and simple technique and I’m looking forward to using it on other projects.

If you’d like to see my other dragon creations so far, I’ve made a Thursday’s Dragon Pinterest board just for them.

WOYWW-Patinas For Garden Decor

May 052015

Happy What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday everyone!

Sorry I missed the woyww fun last week, but I’m glad to be feeling much better today.

On my desk are a couple of garden decorations that I’ve had for several years. They’re both resin so the materials will last forever, but the finishes were a mess.

The rock had faded to white and the paint on the butterfly had peeled off, so I decided to see if I could rejuvenate them with some Swelligant metal paints and patinas. I’m rather happy with how they came out.

If you’d like more info on the paint I used, this video is very helpful: How to Use Swelligant with Christi Friesen.

In other news, this week another of my classes at CraftArtEdu was released! This is my Ombré Flowers Bracelet class. (For more info see yesterday’s blog post, Learn a New Technique to Create Gorgeous Color.)

You can see a preview of the class over at CraftArtEdu.com.

That’s all I’ve got for this week. If you wonder why I’m sharing a photo of my desk, it’s this fun little blog hop game we play over at Julia’s called What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday. Join in, all are welcome!

Learn a New Technique to Create Gorgeous Color

May 052015

I’m excited to announce this week another of my classes at CraftArtEdu was released! This is my Ombré Flowers Bracelet class.

Click on any of the photos for a closer look.

You can see a free preview of the class over at CraftArtEdu.com.

In the class you’ll learn how to:

Choose three colors of polymer clay – I demonstrate with the Sunrise/Sunset color blend but give you color recipes for two additional blends.
Mix them together in such a way that you have 25 to 30 individual colors linked together in a smooth ombré blend.
Turn your colorful blends into flower beads.
Incorporate crystals and beads to create your bracelet!

In it I show you how to take just three colors of polymer clay, blend them to create over 25 colors and use them to make an ombré bracelet that is perfect for summertime. The way the colors transition into each other is simply gorgeous and this is a technique you’ll be able to turn to time and time again, like to make a necklace rather than a bracelet…

… or earrings with teeny tiny flowers. It’s a really cool technique.

This class is on sale for $18 instead of $23 through this Friday, May 8.

My Polymer Clay Chocolates class is on sale this week as well, in case you missed it.

Happy creating!

Hammered Bangle Bracelets Video Tutorial

May 042015

Don’t be intimidated by the heavy gauge wire in these bangle bracelets. It’s not hard to work with, it just may take a little more time to hammer it to the point you want.

Which bracelet do you prefer? I like the one with the rhinestone cup chain best. (You can find this lovely, sparkly chain in lots of colors over at Eureka Crystal Beads. The one I used is the 4mm Rose AB.)

The leather sandbag was a gift and I’m glad I finally got around to using it, as it’s quite helpful and the sound dampening while hammering is appreciated by everyone in the house. 🙂

Since completing the video I’ve discovered a few changes that will make your bracelets come out even better.

I used entirely too much heavy gauge wire to begin with. Instead of 10.5-inches, 8.75-inches should be plenty.
To be sure of the correct bangle size for you, measure the inside diameter of a bangle you have that fits. Add 3/4 to 1-inch for the loops.
To keep the loops together so your bracelet keeps its shape you can either wrap them together with wire or connect them with jump rings.
I found I preferred the look of a heavier gauge wire for wrapping the decoration to the bracelet. I still used about a yard and wrapped it back and forth a few times.
Don’t use super fine gauge wire to string your beads. They get too much wear and tear to hold up for long. Instead use the heaviest gauge wire that will fit through your beads. I used 2o gauge for stringing and wrapping.
Adding some beaded dangles to the loops not only adds detail and interest, it weights that side of the bracelet so your beads or cup chain are more likely to stay on top.

Here are my improved bracelets.

They fit much better now and I’m happier with the look.

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

You can watch the Hammered Bangle Bracelets Video Tutorial over at YouTube.

Materials for each bracelet:

8.75-inches 12 gauge copper wire
36 inches 20-24 gauge copper wire
3 inches beads or 3 inches 4mm cup chain (4mm Cup Chain can also be found at Amazon.com)
headpins and beads for bead dangles.

Tools:

chasing hammer
bench block or mini anvil
leather sandbag (useful but optional)
file
round nose pliers
wire cutters

See video and notes above for directions.

Friday Findings-Simple Loops

May 012015

Simple loops seem like they should be, well… simple, and they are. But if you want your beads and jewelry to hold together securely, there are a few things you need to know, especially how to choose the right wire.

In the video I’ll give details on how to make simple loops two different ways.

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

You can watch the Friday Findings-Simple Loops video over at YouTube.

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