Paper Mod Podge Jewellery

Today's crafty creation! :-)

I've been itching to try out some Mod Podge jewellery pendants lately. For anyone who doesn't know, Mod Podge is an all-in-one glue, sealer, and finish that is used in decoupage. You would use it as if it were PVA glue, except because of the additional ingredients and the sealant it gives your work a really nice shiny (or matte) finish and doesn't yellow over time. The great thing about Mod Podge and the reason I love it so so so so much :-) is that it can be used on ANYthing, wall art, jewellery boxes, light switch covers, necklace pendants, shoes... the list goes on! One of my fave blogs online is http://modpodgerocksblog.com, which is full of tutorials on all things Mod Podge. It's where I found these two tutorials:

http://www.crafterhoursblog.com/2012/12/feather-earrings-tutorial.html

http://howaboutorange.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/make-pie-chart-paper-pendants.html

I was so excited to try these just because of my many failed attempts at making necklace pendants. I've been through a bit of trial-and-error trying out different methods of making pendants. I've always tried covering a wood or metal base with paper and PVA glue or Mod Podge. I started out creating a wooden base freehand from wood (hubby down in the cellar sewing tiny hearts out of wood - have I told him lately that I love him?  :-), and glueing origami paper on top. Then I tried wooden hearts already pre-made in a packet from Hobbycraft. And then, after playing around with these tutorials a bit, realised I didn't need a backing at all.

Both of these tutorials make pendants using only paper. I love love love the feather earrings in the first tutorial but I didn't have the die-cut. I only have a simple heart one. So I used some pretty patterned card stock instead. These tribal inspired earrings were the result, and I'm SO pleased with how they turned out! :-) I think they need a bit of a double layer of mod podge for a shiny finish but that is something I think I can get on the next pair I make. The pie chart earrings are finished with a final layer of Mod Podge Dimensional Magic (Diamond Glaze) to give it a resin type finish. So I might try that as well.

Hip Hip Horrahh for Modpodge!

Recent Makes: Autumn Stamps

Drumroll......my first autumn batch of stamps!!!! Hurrahh!! 

Autumn is not far away and I am feeling really inspired by all of the bright vintage-y colours I've been seeing about this summer. I was really inspired too by Geninne's Making Impressions book on stamps, and visiting her blog I'm just brought to life by all of the bright vivid colours and the crazy swirliness and the calmness of the quirky birds.

I sketched and carved these stamps from photos of flowers in my house and in my back yard:

This one I sketched from a picture of Mexican Golden Poppy I thought was really pretty:

And these are the cards I made with them:

I've been trying out different methods of colouring the images. I've been trying Hero Arts dye inks and Tsukineko's VersaCraft inks. VersaCraft wins by FAR for this type of stamping. I'd bought these Hero Arts dye inks in a summer palette:

They are really nice colours but because it is dye ink it is very thin and bleeds very easily when stamped on to normal card paper. I can see now (being the newbie stamper that I am) why these are only good for use on glossy paper and for detailing.

The Versa Craft Inks I bought were these shades in: Cherry Pink, Poppy Red, and Chocolate:

They are really nice and creamy and rich, and oh-so-dreamy to use. They can be stamped on to fabric as well and ironing the ink on to the fabric makes it permanent (although I've read it's still not colourfast; I'm going to try this out). It makes a nice, clear, solid image (you can see the teal ink is a different brand, and it's not stamped as well as the others). Definitely going to be using VersaCraft from now on! :-)

I used Tsukineko StazOn Jet Black ink for the outline of the Mexican Golden Poppy and LOVED this ink too. It's so bold and this can be used on glass, plastic, metal, and ceramic too. It dries almost instantly and is permanent so it doesn't smudge if you wipe water over it afterward. I used watercolour paint for the golden yellow and I really liked how it turned out and how crisp it looks.

Not too bad for a first attempt!! Anyone else use VersaCraft? What are your thoughts?