I also used the vintage chain I have been selling in the Hoarders Closet. It is sweet, small, strong, and great to work with.

I documented this one to share with you, because it is so much fun to make and wear.

I made both kids sizes and adult.

You will need:

1 color of Cernit (I used Turquoise and Light Green) You could even make each flag a different color, just have fun ;-D

Clay machine

double ended knitting needle

22 gauge artistic wire in Non-tarnish silver

Triangle cutter in 5/8″ size

Round cutter in 5/16″ size

Alphabet stamps (I got mine at Michael’s)

Flush cutters

Rosary pliers or needle nose pliers

Flat nose pliers

Tiny Chain

1. condition clay and make soft and pliable, roll out in the clay machine on the 2nd thickest setting.

2. I am making the name “Sarah”

Cut out 10 of the triangle shapes.

3. Cut 5, 3 1/2″ to 4″ pieces of 22 gauge wire with the flush cutters.

4. Place the middle of the wire over one side of the triangle cutter and bend the ends over the edges.

5. Place the bent wire on one of the sides of the triangle. Put the wire down from the top about 1/16″.

6. Place one of the triangles over the wire and on top of the triangle on the bottom. Line the two triangles up and press together.

7.  Press the triangles together and focus on the top of the triangles where the wire is.

I like to pick these up and make sure all the edges are pressed together well and the wire is centered and press well at the wire.

8 Do the same thing to the other 4 sets of triangles and wires.

9. Stamp pennants with letters.

10. Press in deeply and firmly for a clear print of the letter.

11.  Check the edges and make the pennants are flat after stamping.

12. Using the 5/16″ round cutter, I cut out 10 circles from the sheet of clay rolled out on the 2nd thickest setting. Roll these into balls.

13. Use the knitting needle to poke the hole in the beads.

Turn the bead over and poke the knitting needle back through the hole you just made to even the holes out on both sides.

14. Poke through.

15. Bake on a piece of corrugated box cardboard in a preheated 275 degree oven for 30 minutes, shut off the oven and let cool in there until you can touch the beads.

Continued in part 2…

I am teaching at Cabin Fever Clay Fest in Laurel, Maryland not far from Washington DC. in February.

This is going to be an incredible conference with many wonderful teachers and 20 classes available to you. I am so honored to be amongst this group.

You should come, it is going to be fun and you will have chance to learn something new in the new year.

All of the instructors are incredibly talented artists in polymer clay, metal clay, mixed media, and metalwork.

I hope you are too.

The year has been interesting.

Thank you so much my dear friends for staying for the year, for sharing your love and your hearts, and for giving me a reason to keep writing.

I am better for knowing all of you!

Thank you!

I have been playing with some new things. New year, new things, I started early.

I thought these were very fun and I thought you might like to try too.

This is like scrapbooking jewelry… woooooooooooo whoooooooo.

I knew my boatloads of fun with Jodi would lead to something like this.

I also like it because it is one of the bib necklace findings I just loaded in to my HoardersCloset Etsy store here for gold,

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88706811/vintage-metal-gold-tone-brass-bib

and here for silver,

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88644235/vintage-metal-silver-tone-plated-bib

That is the finding right there in the foreground above with no decorations on it.

I have had these for years and I have added clay to them and that is fun, but this is cool because I can use all of my newly collected scrapbook and paper supplies on these too.

Here is a pic of some of the things I used on the necklace, plus some scrap book paper.

Yes!

You will need:

1 brass or silver tone crescent

Chain necklace with clasp and jump rings

Scrap book paper

Gel medium- soft gel

1/4″ flat brush

jewels and metal bits

glossy accents

scissors

glue

glitter glue

Distress inks

foam applicator

clay pieces

assorted goodies and beads

brads

Distress ink

paper doilies

Glass rhinestones and cabs

Ribbon

Anything else you think might look wonderful on here

I started with one of the brass crescents

Cut a piece of paper that is bigger than the crescent.

Glob on gel medium, with flat brush, on to the front of the crescent.

Turn over the crescent and place it on top of the paper.

Pick up the both of them and press the paper on.

The gel will squish out around the edges

Set this aside and let the gel dry for a little bit.

Cut off the paper below the loop on the crescent.

Like so. Do both sides.

After it has dried a little cut the excess paper around the crescent.

It should look something like this.

I go around the edges and press the edges to the crescent.

Now I cover a paper doily with metallic ink and let it dry or heat set it with a heat gun.

Now I distress the edges of the paper on the crescent with walnut stain Distress Ink.

This colors the edges of the paper so they are not stark white besides giving the paper on the front a nice soft antiqued look. I love this ink!!

I love the way this looks.

I place the doily over the crescent to see where I want it to go and then cut a section out.

Cut a section to go on one end also, I liked it like that.

I put a layer of gel on to the end where I am going to place the piece of doily and then paint the gel on the back of the doily and place the piece where I want it to go.

Place gel on the back of the other piece and place it where you want it.

Put gel on top of that one.

I set it aside and let it dry on the crescent. Because of the curve of the crescent I lift it upon something (scissor covers) so the edges down.

When dry cut, away the excess doily.

Like so.

With Crafter’s Pick Ultimate or E-6000 Glue on your bits.

I had to throw in some clay. I only use a little glue in the centers of the butterflies the glue seems to press out to the edges when I press them down on the paper.

At this point I just start filling up the base with stuff, rhinestones, flowers, keys and other assorted things.

I haven’t finished this but I will post it when I do.

Have fun with this. I would love to see what you do.

Have a great 2012, much prosperity, health, and peace for us all.

Blessings all over you all.

Wishing you all the very happiest of Holidays with your family and friends.

May your New Year be better than 2011 ever was.

Relax. It is all good.

Santa Can Christmas 2011

Marie Segal

2012, how can it get any better than that? :-O

This is my gift to you.

Thank you for following, your kind comments and support, your friendships, and a reason to keep going everyday!

Large focal buttons can be used on handmade coats, purses, bags, and scarves. Or they can be put on factory manufactured things to give them a little individual style all their own.

Easy to make and great for adding a little flair and uniqueness to a special gift.

This is also very basic instruction. You can use a clay machine if you want and if you do, use the thickest setting for everything.

I also love Cernit  for buttons, because it is harder than most clays on thicker settings, yet still quite flexible at thinner settings.

You will need:

Black Cernit

Two accent colors of Cernit, I used turquoise and poppy red

Cocktail straw

Clay blade-SB

Makin’s clay cutters-M36002 set of 3 squares

Pearl-ex powder-658, I used Aztec Gold

Makin’s Texture sheet set- 38003 I used the “weave” one

Button mold, I made my own from old German glass buttons

Rolling pin or dowel

Ball point pen

Condition black clay and flatten in to a pancake shape.

Roll with dowel until about 1/8″thick.

Roll clay on to texture sheet.

Use largest square cutter and cut out square.

With a little of the Aztec gold powder from the lid on your finger rub the gold powder in to the four corners of the black textured square. Leaving the center of the square free of powders. Put the powder only on the top of the black square and keep it away from the sides of the square too, we are going to place a twisted coil around the square.

Wash your hands to remove excess powder.

Condition and roll out turquoise clay to about 1/8″ thick.

Cut out medium square from set of cutters.

Put turquoise square on top of the black textured square off-center from the black square.

Condition some of the poppy red clay and roll in to a coil about 1/8″ in diameter and then do the same thing with some of the turquoise clay.

Twist the two colors together.

Roll the colors together on the work surface.

Roll down to about 1/8″ in diameter.

Place the twisted rolled out coil around the large black square.

Roll out a smaller coil of the poppy red, about 1/8″ in diameter, and place around the smaller turquoise square.

Make a button from your button mold or some other decorative center.

Powder the top of the molded button.

Place powder on your finger from out of the lid.

Rub your finger around a couple of times to smooth out the lumps and then brush on to the clay lightly and in circles.

You can also roll the whole ball in powder. Make it a little bigger to begin with , press into the mold and then cut off the back so it is flat with the mold.

This insures that there is fresh un-powdered clay on the back to attach to the turquoise square.

Press gently on to the turquoise square.

You could leave the button like this, but I am going to add a couple more things.

Roll 4, 1/8″ or smaller balls of black clay and place in the corners of the turquoise square.

With a ball point pen tip make a little mark in each of the black balls.

With one end of the cocktail straw cut a hole on the right side of the button top.

Turn the straw over and use the other side of the straw to cut another hole on the left side of the button.

I have cut my button holes so the button will sit and be sewn on diagonally.

Like so.

Bake for 30 minutes in a pre-heated 275 degree F oven, shut off the oven, and let cool till you can touch it, in the oven.

Happy Holidays Ya’ll, all  of them!!

Happy Solstice ya’ll!

Got this awesome pic from

https://www.facebook.com/Dogspired

Happy Hanukkah!

Ok time for finished on the fifteenth, Favecrafts.com monthly Blog hop.

I do want the glass cutter, so if you could please go there and vote for me I would be so grateful.

All you have to do is like my Can-tasic blog post on their site.

Click on the Button right here and it will take you there

Ok this one is pure genius. I learned it from my uber-talented paper buddy Jodi.

She says she learned it from someone else.

Who-ever came up with this, is brilliant, and I am having a blast giving presents wrapped this way.

The look of pure puzzlement when you give this to some one is totally worth it.

Then after they open it they are still trying to figure out how it got in there.

You can even package the gift with wrapped candies, M and M’s, Beans, gummy candies, and anything else that will give it a little weight and make a noise when it shaken, because they will shake it. LOL turn it upside down and look at it like they have never seen a can before in their lives.

Of course you can always use tissue paper.

You will need:

Christmas paper or scrapbook paper for whatever holiday you are giving this for

Scissors or paper cutter

Double sided film tape

Tags

Bows and ribbon

gift that fits in the can

Pop top can (You cut the bottom off of the can)

Side cutting can opener

Packaging stuffing (suggestions above)

E-6000 glue

Ruler

Cloth Measuring tape

Cut open the bottom of the can, save the pop top side for the fun.

Empty out contents and wash and dry can thoroughly.

If you can let it dry completely for a while after wiping out.

Measure the side of the can from the bottom of the ridge where the can starts and to the bottom where the can ends.

With a cloth measuring tape measure around the center of the can for the circumference and add 1″ to the measured length.

The measurement on my canvas about 12 1/2″.

I used scrap book paper and it is only 12″ by 12″ so I had to piece another strip of paper in there.

Cut the paper to the height of your can.

Add tape to can, press on and take off paper.

Add a couple of more strips about an inch apart, do not peel off paper from those

Add paper and peel off strips of paper as you go.

Cover with paper all the way around.

On the end of the paper place a strip of tape and press to the can.

Press paper to can. There is about a 1/2″ left there.

Place tape on strip and place on can to cover the blank area on the can.

Like so.

Make sure your gift fits with room on the top and bottom.

Place filling in the top of the can. Remember we are working from the bottom.

Wrap ornament in a sheet of tissue and place hook side down in the can, when the person opens the can the ornament will be right side

up.

Place filling on the bottom of the ornament and gently in around the sides.

Tuck in the filling away from the edge of the can.

Glue the lid right around the edge where I am pointing with E-6000.

Place bottom on can. Turn the can over and place something heavy on top of the can till it is dry.

Wrap with ribbon and give away.

I used the paper I covered the can with to make a tag.

There you go, Can-tastic wrapping.

The first one is someone who I featured in one of my blogs Halloween weekend. She is the Day of the Dead Catrina I took a picture of at the Day of the Dead Festival.

She saw my blog and contacted me, how cool is that?

Here is the blog post

http://mariesegal.blogspot.com/2011/11/wonderful-halloween-weekend.html

She also sent me some much better pictures to share with you.

This Catrina’s name is Nathaly

She has two Etsy Shops too.

One is for shoe accessories and hair baubles, Lola Lolita
http://www.etsy.com/shop/girlwithredshoes

And the other shop is a vintage finds shop with things from all over the world. La Femme Moderne

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaFemmeModerne

Take a look at Nathaly’s shops, she has incredible things in them.

I love this blog! I am so excited to meet and know more about Nathaly and to have better pictures of her too. At the DOD Festival I wondered about her and who she was. I did not get to talk to her there at all, she was surrounded by people most of the time.

What an incredible costume.

How can it get better than this?

The second wonderful shop is from a fellow guild member and friend, Beth. She thought I would appreciate this shop. The shop was featured in her paper on Sunday. She knows I love Day of the dead and art, so she sent me the shop only a few minutes after Nathlay wrote me. I thought this must be a blog post or something.

This my friends is Raw Bone Studio

http://www.etsy.com/shop/RawBoneStudio

Cute, right??

These beauties come from the mind of Robin Romain.

I love these tin can skulls, It is a skull and tin can, how can it not be more perfect? Sardine cans?? Can it be my next palette? I seriously doubt it, I can not stand sardines. I will leave that to Robin  and her friend and artist Joe William Crabtree.