Quick & Easy: How to Make Earrings

by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Having a quick look at your craft supplies, you can always find something more to make than papercrafts. Jewelry is one of the best things and you can make them any day and according to your fashion requirements each time.

These Wind Charm earrings are very easy to make and you can follow the same steps to make a necklace just by replacing the earring hooks with a jump ring and passing a cord to it. You only need basic supplies and no special techniques.

StazOn Pigment
in Peacock Feathers

Inkblushers

Sheet Metal
in Diamond 1.25 in

GlazOn


Jewelry Kit 

Rinea Foil Paper

Tear It Tape

Jewelry Punch

Glue Gun

Jewelry Pliers

Directions

Cut 2 x 1 ½ inch pieces of the Rinea Turquoise starstruck paper, 5 for each earring or more if you are planning to make a necklace too. An alternative can be to use two matching color papers and have a result that goes with more outfits. When you have the papers cut, place Tear It Tape at one of the long edges and use a bamboo skewer starting from the opposite edge tightly roll the paper. Secure with the pre-set Tear It! Tape to create the pipes. Using the double-sided tape is easy and does not create a mess.

Place a drop of hot glue on one of the pipes ends and set a small jump ring inside. Continue with all of the small pipes and only at one side. If you do not have a glue gun then a strong liquid adhesive glue such as On Point Glue should work as well.

Punch small holes on two sides of the SHEET Metal in a diamond shape. You can use a hole punch or a piercing tool, but make sure that the openings allow the jump rings to pass. Then, remove the protective film and just press them on the StazOn Pigment in Peacock Feathers ink pad. Allow a few minutes the ink to dry. You can seal the result with GlazOn. This liquid sealant is formulated to work with StazOn inks.

Add a bit larger jump rings to set the pipes on the SHEET Metal diamond shapes and finish by adding an earring hook.

Color of the Month for August is Desert Sand

Color of the Month for August is Desert Sand. This light cream color is a beautiful way to express warm soft earthy tones. Not only is it a great compliment to chocolate browns but it looks great with a shimmery element. If you are looking for a soft shimmery gold that is not bright yellow then we highly recommend inks such as Delicata Champagne or Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray in Desert Sand. If you are looking for a dye ink to blend with brown colors then Memento Desert Sand is also a great choice.

August also brings a collaboration with Rinea Foil Paper. Look out for how unique and versatile these foil papers are in paper crafting and jewelry making projects.

Here is a Sneak Peek of what we have to offer.

Watercolored Card by Iris Rodriguez

Espresso Card by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Beginner Technique by Roni Johnson

Learn How To Make A 3D Cube Jewelry Element Using StazOn Pigment

by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Learn How To Make A 3D Cube Jewelry Element Using Stazon Pigment

“In geometry, a cube is a three-dimensional solid object”, according to Wikipedia, and that’s exactly what I was aiming for in creating a unique jewelry piece. The perfectly flat and square Sheet metal pieces were the best option to build a cube that would make a modern, out of the ordinary, piece of jewelry. The shiny surface of the Sheet metal was slightly moderated by pressing the metal pieces on the StazOn Pigment ink pad surface that gave a patterned result. Adding stamped designs using VersaMark and black Mboss embossing powder to the sides of the cube created a lovely contrast between the silver, white and black colors in the piece.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions


Step 1

Press the Sheet Metal shapes on the StazOn Pigment Inkpad in Snowflake and remove carefully to avoid sliding on the surface. Let them dry (it really doesn’t take long).


Step 2

Align the Sheet Metal shapes on a stamping platform with the butterfly stamp. Make sure the corners with holes meet. Cover with the VersaMark Watermark inkpad and press.


Step 3

Cover with the Mboss Embossing Powder in Black and heat set. Let cool before touching.


Step 4

Align the metal pieces with the stamped side downwards and apply hot glue on the joint edges. Quickly fold to create an L shape.


Step 5

Continue adding metal pieces by gluing on the un-decorated side of them. There should be corners with 3 holes lined up together on opposing corners of the cube.


Step 6

Cut 16 inches long pieces of the cord and pass them through the holes.


Step 7

Add beads on both sides.


Step 8

Set jewelry clasps and align length.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Waxed cord
  • Jewelry beads
  • Jewelry peices – clasps, jump rings, caps
  • Jewelry Pliers
  • Heat tool
  • Hot glue gun and glue
  • Stamping platform (optional)
  • Kaiserkraft – Tigerlily stamps

Learn How to Color Metal for a Jewelry Making Project

by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Learn How to Color Metal for a Jewelry Making Project

The sun turned into a square! Capture the colors of the sun on faux enamel jewelry piece with a marbled pattern. Decorate the Imagine’s Sheet Metal in the squares shapes with a mix of irRESISTible colors and create a marble design that is covered with clear Mboss embossing powder to protect and give the impression of enamel.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 1 hour

Directions


Step 1

Cover the square Sheet Metal shapes with the irRESISTible in Gold, mixing the gel with a bamboo skewer or toothpick.


Step 2

Add drops of the irRESISTible in Tangelo and mix in circular motions with a bamboo skewer. Let the paint dry well.


Step 3

Press the square shapes on the VersaMark inkpad, cover with Mboss embossing powder and heat set.


Step 4

Turn over to the other side of the Sheet Metal shapes, cover with StazOn Sunflower Yellow.


Step 5

Cover with GlazOn Vintage to secure the color. This is very important to use GlazOn in between uses because StazOn solvent qualities react with other layers of StazOn. In other words, you will erase or lift the color you just laid down.


Step 6

Cut 20-inch long cord pieces, pass it through a jump ring and inside the Sheet Metal shape hole. Add a gold colored bead.


Step 7

Continue with the rest of the pieces and secure all the cords together with a jump ring creating a stop.


Step 8

Cut 20-inch long cord pieces, pass them between the shapes and the previous stop jump ring. Braid the cords and secure all the edges with jewelry caps and clasps.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Bamboo skewers
  • Heat tool
  • Black waxed cord
  • Jewelry clasps, jump rings, lobster locks

Learn How to Emboss Drawings with All-Purpose Ink

by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Learn How to Emboss Drawings with All-Purpose Ink

We were challenged with the color Fern Green this month so I decided to create a mixed media canvas with a green eye focal point. Using Memento Luxe ink pads, All-Purpose Ink and Fabrico markers, I added color to a canvas. To practice a new technique, I covered my wet All-Purpose Ink with Mboss Embossing Powder to enhance parts of the drawing. I also used Creative Medium to add texture to the canvas. Using Fabrico markers can help achieve details on your drawings easily and more accurate than a brush.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours


Step 1

Draw an eye on the canvas with the All-Purpose Ink in Real Black color.


Step 2

Cover with Mboss Clear embossing powder and heat set. All-Purpose Ink is a dense ink that will stay tacky enough on a canvas for embossing, which is a great alternative to get the awesome shine and texture from embossing powder with the densely pigmented ink and no stamping.


Step 3

Use the flower stencil and sponge daubers with the VersaColor Orchid and Memento Angel Pink ink pads to decorate under and top of the eye on the canvas.


Step 4

Blend Memento Luxe Pistachio and Pear Tart inks with a Brushstix to color the iris and VersaColor Cement ink pad to color around the iris.


Step 5

Add details to the iris using Memento London Fog and Fabrico Pine markers.


Step 6

Cover the iris with the VersaMarker pen and the with the Mboss Clear embossing powder and heat set. This will give the eye a glossy look.


Step 7

Use a palette knife to spread Creative Medium, paste over the tropical leaf stencil at the bottom of the canvas.


Step 8

With the help of a Sponge dauber cover parts and among previously stenciled designs with the Memento Luxe – Pistachio ink. Stencil more leaves with VersaColor Turquoise ink.


Step 9

Enhance the leaves and add detail with markers.


Step 10

Cut a piece of paper at the shape of eye, place it on top and sprinkle or flick All-Purpose Ink Real black on the canvas.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • 10 x 12 inch blank canvas
  • Sanna Lippert Designs – Dream Flower stencil
  • DecoArt – Tropical leaf stencil
  • Heat tool

 

Learn How to Make a Travel Journal

by Kyriakos Pachadiroglou

Learn How to Make a Travel Journal

Keeping travel memories in real time while they are taking place and having them all gathered in a journal is the best way to have to keep every moment of your trip. Include blank pages, make pockets and keep tickets, notes, and photos in this handmade travel journal. To make the cover, I used Kraft-tex paper, which a fabric-like paper, which I sprayed with Ink Potion No.9 instead of water to keep it soft and allow better performance of inks. Stamping with the StazOn Pigment inkpads gave great coverage and sharp design on the wrinkled surface, while the ink dried fast to allow moving to the next step. Make this journal before your trip and have it handy during your travels.

Time: 2 hours
Skill: Advanced

Directions


Step 1

Cut a 16 ½ x 8 ½ inch piece of the Kraft-tex paper and spray it with the Ink Potion No.9


Step 2

Twist and crinkle the paper and while spraying a bit more of the Ink Potion No.9. Let it dry or use a heat tool.


Step 3

Cut a 5 ½ x 3-inch canvas piece and place it on the cover, leaving 2 ½ inch from the long side on the right, as it will be used an inner flap making a side pocket. Stamp with the map and the travel journal stamp with the VersaMark, cover with Mboss Embossing Powder in Black and heat set.


Step 4

Remove the canvas piece, press lightly on the surface with the StazOn Pigment Snowflake inkpad and distress the surface.


Step 5

Continue stamping with the StazOn Pigment in Passion Red, Mariner Blue, Piano Black ink pads with travel stamps on the surface. Distress around the compass image and maps with the same colors ink pads.


Step 6

Add Tear It Tape to the top side of the canvas piece and a Sheet Metal dog tag, gluing only half of it. Allow space as it will be used a hook to secure the burlap cord wrapped around the journal.


Step 7

Cut a 2 ½ x 2-inch piece of canvas fabric, fold in half and glue just the edge of the long side with the On Point Glue, creating a pen pocket.


Step 8

Place the canvas pieces on the Kraft-tex cover and using a piercing tool open holes to allow hand sewing of the red twine. Apart from decorative purpose, this also helps to secure it further the pen pocket to the cover.


Step 9

Continue decoration with stamps and the StazOn Pigment in Passion Red, Mariner Blue, Piano Black inkpads.


Step 10

Turn at the back and glue the previously left sides on top and bottom only making side pockets.


Step 11

Open two holes at the middle (spine-like) leaving about 1 ½ inches from top and bottom and pass three times the elastic black cord.


Step 11

Cut blank pages in stacks of 5 creating signatures in 10 x 7 inch (5×7 when folded) and secure with the red twine by opening 3 holes and passing the twine through them. Repeat the process and just pass between the elastic cord to secure them.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Kraft-tex paper fabric – natural
  • Canvas
  • Viva decor – Travel and Paris, Rome, Berlin stamps
  • Black elastic cord
  • Red twine
  • Burlap cord
  • Blank pages
  • Heat tool
  • Piercing tool