August We're all Ears Camp Fire

My Inspiration

'Midnight Campfire'

Vintaj Blanks

Painted with Ranger Patina

To see more go to the Earrings Every Day Blog 

Jewely Making Mojo Challenge Back To School

Our challenge this week is to learn something new. I mostly do stringing in my jewelry designs but have been wanting to try other things like making metal shapes.

Last week Hope and I were chatting about how we didn't really like the heart shape as it has been overused and a bit saccharine, though we both agreed we like the rusty crusty hearts.

But this is supposed to be a challenge so I decided to make a heart.
I've also been wanting to do more in the way of texture and purchased this texture hammer with my Christmas money. I have to confess I haven't used it until now. Sometimes when I get a new tool I let it sit for a while, kind of like I need some time to get acquainted with it before I use it. Please tell me I'm not the only one who does that!

So I cut out a heart shape on brass sheet and filed, and filed, and filed and finished of the rough edges with sand paper.

Next I use the texture hammer-this is the front side

This is the back side which I like much better.

My Rusty Heart

I used the Ranger Cinnabar Patina and then the Clay Patina from the'Rusted Hardware' kit and sanded with a Vintaj Reliefing Block.

I'm not sure I like the color and might fiddle around a bit more, but I had a lot of fun experimenting.

Thanks for stopping by.

Please visit Heather's blog to see what the other artists have made.

And if you are in a slump and need a kick start join Heather's Challenge.

Autumn Design Challenge

Lesley Watt and Caroline Dewison offered up their wonderful creations for an Autumn Design Challenge.  I was one of the lucky ones to be included.

Below are the beads I received

First up....

'Under the Oak Tree'

Here I used the curved focal along with the copper bead, the light brown ceramic bead and the green ceramic bead.  Also included from my stash are a brown- green opal  bead on the upper left, two Sage Frost Czech beads, a yellow/green Soocho Jade bead on the right, a faceted bronze colored bead and Vintaj components

'A Vintage Christmas'

Included are the snowflake focal,  and from my stash a Sage Frost Czech Bead and a copper chain.  No clasp needed with the long chain.

 'Hope is the thing that Anchors the Soul'

Included is the pale green ceramic bead, and from my stash, a blue-green lampwork bead, artist unknown, a small ceramic bead from Eclectic Prairie, a copper I.D. bracelet blank from Vintaj which I embossed with the Moroccan Tile Deco Emboss for the Big Kick and painted with a mix of green and blue Ranger Patinas, and Vintaj components including a 'Hope' Affirmation Ring.

I ran out of time to use the ceramic focal, I'm sorry to say, but I hope to have something made soon. 

A huge thanks to both Caroline and Lesley for hosting this blog hop and for sharing their wonderful beads with us. 

Please check out the links below to see what these talented ladies have made.

Lesley Watt - http://thegossipinggoddess.blogspot.co.uk/

Caroline Dewison – http://blueberribeads.co.uk

Gay Messander - http://gaysiemay.blogspot.co.uk/

Made By Jules - http://madebyjulesblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Heidi Post - http://expostfactojewelry.blogspot.co.uk/

Janet Bocciardi - http://www.honeyfromthebee.com/

Alice - http://alice-dreaming.blogspot.com

Dolores Raml - http://craftydscreations.wordpress.com

Lucy Haslam - http://faerystone.blogspot.co.uk/

Pine Ridge treasures - http://www.gratefulartist.blogspot.com/

Shirley Moore - http://beadsandbread.blogspot.com

Tracy Collins - http://travelsintimedesigns.blogspot.co.uk

Melissa Truginger – http://beadrecipes.wordpress.com/

Mags - http://magsinhelmet.blogspot.com

Pepita - http://pepita-handmade.blogspot.co.uk/

Jo-Ann - http://itsabeadifulcreation.blogspot.com

Toltec Jewels - http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com

Judith Johnston – http://www.judith-johnston.com/blog

Janine Lucas – http://www.esfera.me/travel/blog/travel-stories

Madeline Bunyan – http://madelinebunyan.com/mlj/

Chic and frog – http://www.chicandfrog.wordpress.com

Experimenting with Ranger Patinas

I hardly have time to experiment on big projects but I am enjoying my experiments with patinas.

This week I played with Ranger Patinas purchased from Vintaj. They come in a package of three colors but I chose to use only the Verdigris shown here.

'Infinity Pool'

I carefully cut narrow strips of brass sheet and hammered them into shape on a baseball bat. Then I 'painted' them with the Ranger patina and added the Vintaj brass chain and earwires.  I wanted the lovely turquoise color to be seen from all angles while being worn so these earrings sit parallel to and slightly below the jawline. They are swingy (spellcheck indicates that's not a word).

There's only one problem.  I just dug in and painted the metal without reading the instructions. I was supposed to set the patina with a heat tool--something I don't have.  I wonder if the color will wear off...