stamp out loud by tami sanders

nevermore...

Since I had the polymer clay sitting out {it was used for the charm on the treat box in the last post}, I decided to make a SPOOKtacular pendant for Halloween...

 

Polymer Clay is a great medium to use with your stamping supplies. Stamps can be used to add designs to the clay just by pressing them into it, and your inks and sprays can be used to add some COLOR to the design.

For this pendant, a stamp was pressed into the clay, then after baking, several colors of Smooch Spritz were added to create a soft collage of "Halloween" colors. Then Crafter's Ink in Black was applied and rubbed in to "antique" the piece. Smooch Spritzes add a pretty touch of shimmer and work well on the clay. And the Crafter's Ink can be blended and worked into the design to get in all the little nooks and crannies. Let the ink set a few minutes, then gently buff off the excess.  

Here's a closer look at the pendant...

 

You can see my fingerprints in the clay as i used my "special" tools - aka my fingers to flatten the clay!  I wanted the pendant to have a free form shape, so fingers were the best tools to use to achieve that look.

After the pendant was done, I added a bail to it and strung it on some leather cording.

If you'd like to try using your stamping supplies with polymer clay, here's what you need to know...

“nevermore” polymer clay pendant

Skill Level: easy

SUPPLIES:

Clearsnap: Smooch Spritz: Carrot Cake, Citrus Tickle and Gold Glow, Crafter’s High Top Ink Pad: Black, ColorBox Stylus Handle with white blender tip and Color Catcher

Indus Trading Company: Deerskin Lace – 1/8” black 

Memory Box: Spooky Collage wood mount stamp

Other: Plaid: Forged: metal findings – multi bales and Polymer Clay: beige 

Tools: a wood skewer {or something to punch hole in pendant with}, scissors, pliers and heat gun {optional}

DIRECTIONS:

1) Condition clay according to package directions.

2) Break off a piece and roll to form a 1 1/2" to 2" ball.

3) Use your fingers to flatten into a free form rectangle shape about 1/8" thick.

4) Press stamp into clay, careful not to press too hard.

5) Make hole at center top and bake pendant according to package directions.

6) When pendant has completely cooled, place it in the Color Catcher and lightly spray with Smooch Spritz letting the colors overlap slightly. Set aside piece to dry or use heat gun to speed drying time.

7) After you make sure Smooch Spritzes have completely dried, apply Crafter's Ink using Stylus and Foam Tips, smoothing ink into the impressed designs and also around the edges of the pendant. Let side about 10 minutes, then gently buff with a paper towel.

8) Add bail to pendant, then string onto lacing.

9) Add a protective coat if desired.

This was the LAST of my Halloween projects, but fall and Thanksgiving themed projects are on the way! Please come back to visit and see what's new!

Also please check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

"wood" you like to SMOOCH???

Summer accessories are fun, breezy and casual, and they can also be easy to make yourself. This necklace can be make in just an hour or so and uses stamping supplies you probably already have on hand…

Plain wood beads were first “stained” using Smooch Spritzes. Smooch Spritz can be sprayed on any porous surface, and works beautifully with wood. I sprayed the wood beads with an even coat of the spritz on all sides and the result was beautiful, vivid colors with a pretty shimmer. When the beads were dry, they were rolled across stamps inked with Silver Pigment Ink to add the designs…

When the ink had dried, a protective coat was added and the beads were then strung on leather cording with simple knots in between each one.

I selected sand and sea colors for my project, but bold, bright rainbow colors would be beautiful too.

If you’d like to make this necklace yourself, here are the supplies and directions you’ll need…

 

“sea kiss” necklace

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap:  Smooch Spritz: Log Cabin, Spun Sugar and Sea Kiss and ColorBox Pigment Ink: Silver {full or mini size}

 

Hampton Art: Artsy Edges clear stamp

 

Indus Trading Co:Build UR Beads – Wood Tube Beads – 10mm and 18mmand Realeather Craft Lace: Deerskin Lace – Chocolate - 3/16

 

Tools: scissors, Color Catcher, paper towels and heat gun {optional}

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

1) Place 3 large beads in the Color Catcher and spritz beads using Log Cabin Smooch Spritz, turn beads to spray all sides as well as ends. Place beads on paper towels to dry {or speed up drying time using heat gun}.

 

2) Spray large beads again, this time using Spun Sugar Smooch Spritz, set aside to dry {or speed up drying time using heat gun}.

 

3) Place 12 small beads in the Color Catcher and spritz beads using Sea Kiss Smooch Spritz, turn beads to spray all sides as well as ends. Place beads on paper towels to dry {or speed up drying time using heat gun}.

 

4) Ink large border of your choice from Artsy Border stamp set using ColorBox Silver Pigment Ink. Place one large bead horizontally across stamp at one end of it and gently roll bead across stamp towards the other end until the design is applied around the entire bead. Set aside to dry {or speed up drying time using heat gun}. Repeat with other 2 large beads.

 

5) Ink small border of your choice from Artsy Border stamp set using ColorBox Silver Pigment Ink. Place one small bead horizontally across stamp at one end of it and gently roll bead across stamp towards the other end until the design is applied around the entire bead. Set aside to dry {or speed up drying time using heat gun}. Repeat with 3 more small beads. Change stamp design, and roll 4 more beads, then use another border design to roll the last 4 beads.

 

6) When beads are dry, apply a sealant to protect them and set aside to dry again.

 

7) Cut a 32” piece of leather lace, begin stringing beads on lace about 8” from end of lace. Pattern is 3 small beads, then one large bead, with simple knots in between each bead. Repeat pattern 3 times, then add 3 more small beads to finish. Trim cording so that both ends are even. I decided to leave the ends plain so I could adjust the length of the necklace with just a knot.

 

Please stop back by for more summer projects and also check out Jean’s ColorSyle blog for more great projects featuring Clearsnap products!

 

---tami

bling me up...

I received some wood bangles from DIY Bangles that I have been anxious to bling up. Creating your own unique jewelry pieces can accent a new outfit, or help update one from last season. It only took an hour or so to transform these 3 bangles…

 

 

Crafter’s Ink works well on wood; it covers well and dries quickly. You can also use pigment inks, but they will take longer to dry and you have to be careful not to smear them until they do. I used both on the bangles I made.

 

Here’s a closer look at each of the bracelets…

 

 

I inked a damask background stamp with several colors of inks, then rolled the bangle across the stamp …

 

 

for this one, I first stamped on the script design, then went back and stamped tiny flowers in different colors along it...

 

 

 

Rhinestones added the finishing touch…

 

 

This bangle has large flat panels on each side that are perfect for stamping on, I inked the panels a different color than the rest of the bracelet and stamped flowers on the panels…

 

 

 

I used a beauty swab to color in the flowers centers, and used the stylus and blender tip to “antique” the edges of the panels…

 

 

The BIG jewelry trend right now is just that – BIG! Stacks of bangles in different sizes and colors are showing up everywhere, so make your bangles in colors that coordinate and you can mix and match and STACK!

 

 

Here’s what you need in order to make your own fashion statement…

 

“Damasked” bangle bracelet

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Crafter’s Ink: Sunflower, Pink and Lime, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Turquoise and Stylus with Blender Tip

 

Indus Trading Company: DIY Bangles.com: ¼” flat wood bangle

 

Hero Arts: Antique Brocade Cling stamp

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Use Sunflower Ink, applied with Stylus and Blender Tip, to ink outside edges of bangle; let dry.

 

2) Apply Turquoise ink to stamp, then use Stylus and Blender Tip to apply touches of Lime and Pink inks to stamp {make sure you clean off tip between inks to prevent contaminating your pads}

 

3) Carefully roll bangle across stamp using even pressure. When you get to the end of the stamp; start rolling again where you left off on the bangle along a new place on the stamp. Let dry.

-----------------

 

“Flower Script” bangle bracelet

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Crafter’s Ink: Sunflower, Pink and Lime, Frost White and Dune, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Marigold and Stylus with Blender Tip

 

Indus Trading Company: DIY Bangles.com: 5/8” flat wood bangle

 

Hampton Art: Friends clear stamp

 

Memory Box: Script Block wood stamp and Jewel Stickers: Diamond

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Use Frost White ink, applied with Stylus and Blender Tip, to ink outside edges of bangle; let dry.

 

2) Ink Script Block stamp using Dune ink, and then roll bangle across stamp using even pressure. When you get to the end of the stamp; start rolling again where you left off on the bangle along a new place on the stamp. Let dry.

 

3) Stamp flowers using Pink, Lime, Sunflower and Marigold Inks and let dry.

 

4) Apply rhinestones to centers of flowers.

-----------------

 

“BIG flowers” bangle bracelet

 

Skill Level: easy

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Crafter’s Ink: Sunflower, Pink, Lime and Dune, ColorBox Pigment Ink: Marigold and Stylus with blender tip

 

Indus Trading Company: DIY Bangles.com: 1 ½” pentagon

 

Memory Box: Big Flower wood stamp

 

Tools: Beauty Swabs

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Use Lime ink, applied with Stylus and Blender Tip, to ink outside edges of bangle except for the panels; let dry.

 

2) Use Sunflower ink, applied with Stylus and Blender Tip, to ink the panels; let dry.

 

3) Stamp flowers using Pink ink and let dry.

 

4) Use a beauty swab to ink the center of the flowers using Marigold ink.

 

5) Use Dune ink applied with Stylus and Blender Tip to ink the edges of the panels to distress them.

 

Wear and enjoy!

---tami

 

flutter by here...

The project for today is a spring themed pendant made with polymer clay that has been “painted” using Smooch Accent Ink…

 

 

Don’t worry if you’ve never worked with polymer clay before, this project is quick and easy to make and I used stamping tools instead of specialized clay tools to create it. I’ve also included photos of each of the steps in the directions to make it even easier.

 

I wanted the pendant to have a vintage look, so I “stained” the clay with black Crafter’s Ink after I’d “smooched” it.

 

Here is a closeup of the pendant itself…

 

 

A bail and a piece of leather cording was all I needed to complete the project. You could also make a set of matching earrings to go with your pendant if you like. Just roll 12pter, thinner balls of clay and make sure that you emboss with one of the 12pter butterflies that are on the molding mat.

 

You could use these same techniques to create embellishments for other types of projects too. Like making a larger piece to adhere to an altered journal or composition book, or roll the clay thinner to create something to use on a scrapbook page.

 

Here are the supplies and instructions to create your own unique piece of jewelry…

 

“Vintage Spring ” pendant necklace

 

Skill Level: easy to moderate

 

SUPPLIES: 

 

Clearsnap: Stylus Molding Mat: Flutter By, Smooch Accent Ink: Silver Fox, Carrot, Kiwi and Sundance, Crafter’s High Top Ink Pad: Black and ColorBox Stylus Handle with white blender tip

 

Indus Trading Company: Deerskin Lace – 1/8” black

 

Other: Plaid: Forged: metal findings – multi bales and Polymer Clay: beige

 

Tools: 2 large acrylic blocks {at least 3 X 3}, Static Away or Cornstarch, Paper Towels and wood skewer {or something to punch hole in pendant with}

 

DIRECTIONS: 

 

1) Condition clay according to package directions. Then pinch off 2 rows of clay and roll into a ball about 1 ¼” in diameter.

 

 

2) Dust the tops of 2 acrylic blocks LIGHTLY with Static Away or cornstarch; then place ball on one block and place the other, dusted side down on top of ball. Then press on top block using light even pressure until ball is flattened to about 1/8”. {Don’t worry if there is some slight cracking at the edges, you can fix that. And don’t worry if your pendant isn’t exactly round either}

 

 

3) Smooch the edges of the circle and gently push together any cracks using your fingers.

 

4) Place pendant back on the dusted surface of one of the blocks. Lightly dust your molding mat, then place the mat face down on top of the pendant. Place other acrylic block on top of mat to sandwich the clay and molding mat between the two blocks.

 

Then, using light even pressure, press down on the top block to impress the design into the clay. {Don’t press TOO hard!} Remove top block and peel away edge of molding mat to check design. If the design isn’t deep enough, replace mat and block and press again.

 

 

5) Carefully remove pendant from block and punch hole at top for bail. Then bake as directed on package. {I placed mine on a foil lined cookie sheet}

 

6) Once pendant has backed and cooled, you are ready to “smooch” it. Paint in embossed designs as you like…

 

 

Until all of the recessed designs have been painted in…

 

 

then set aside for about 15 minutes or until Smooch has dried completely before going on to next step.

 

7) Use black Crafter’s Ink applied using Stylus Handle and blender top to “stain” the pendant, front, back and sides. To do dip foam tip in ink pad, then gently rub onto pendant in a circular pattern…

 

 

 

Once you have covered the entire pendant, gently wipe excess ink off using a clean, white paper towel and set aside for about 15 - 20 minutes to dry.

 

 

8) Insert bail in hole and thread your lacing though. Finish ends as you like; I just left mine to tie so I could adjust the length.

 

wear and enjoy!

 

---tami