Archive for September, 2009

ITS: It’s the Image Transfer Solution blitz!

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

As promised, I’m transferring some images from our digital cameras to our blog — To show your our recent Image Transfer Solution (ITS) workshop.

We had a whole crew putting this new product through ITS paces…

Busily trying all kinds of ideas

Busily trying all kinds of ideas

Everyone had lots of inspirations they wanted to try out…

So many images to transfer, so much jewelry to make!

So many images to transfer, so much jewelry to make!

In the spirit of yesterday’s belt-buckle blog post, here’s another approach…

Impressionist belt buckles, anyone?

Impressionist belt buckles, anyone?

You can do so many things with Image Transfer Solution…

Amazing images

Amazing images

It was neat to see how a transferred image works when it’s overlaid on another design…

Try layering contrasting images

Try layering contrasting images

While we were at it, we tried out some new products we’re introducing

Game spinners & sprocket gears (available soon!)

Game spinners & sprocket gears (available soon!)

We learned tons from doing this workshop!  Soon you’ll see an ITS technique sheet on our website.  We’ve been adding more ITS-related items to our store, too, to enhance your experience.  Check out new Wetordry™ polishing paper for truly delicate hand-sanded results.  And Renaissance® micro-crystalline wax polish is a fantastic way to protect your transferred images!

Have you tried Image Transfer Solution yet?  It’s a marvelous way to create custom pendants, beads, and more…we’d love to hear of your experiences with it in a comment below!

Cowgirl Moon & Dry Harvest – Resin Belt Buckles

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

These are one of the neatest new design ideas that our free-ranging design team has roped lately.  Git along with it!

Top: "Cowgirl Moon". Bottom: "Dry Harvest".

Top: "Cowgirl Moon". Bottom: "Dry Harvest".

Created by: Laurae Sather

Cowgirl Moon Belt Buckle
1 #21-340-03-030 35x50mm rectangle gemstone donut, sodalite
1 #30-193 Belt-buckle back, nickel silver
1 #82-500-08 8oz kit EasyCast epoxy
1 Artisan drawn or copyright-free image

Dry Harvest Belt Buckle
1 #21-340-03-031 35x50mm rectangle gemstone donut, tigereye
1 #30-193 Belt-buckle back, nickel silver
1 #82-500-08 8oz kit EasyCast epoxy
1 Artisan drawn or copyright-free image

Tools and supplies: resin mixing supplies (#82-599), Crafter’s Pick™ The Ultimate adhesive (#60-280), Mod Podge®

TIPS:
Cut image to fit buckle blank, coat both sides with Mod Podge and let dry. Glue your image to the buckle blank. Once dry, glue the rectangular gemstone donut to the buckle blank and let it dry overnight.

Follow the directions for mixing the EasyCast epoxy and fill the ‘donut hole’ over the image with resin. Let it dry overnight, attach a belt and you’re ready to saddle up!

See our Epoxy Resin Technique Sheet for resin tips.

To view (PDF files), you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can download it free here.

View more Resin design ideas, or post questions on the Rings & Things Discussion Forum. Don’t be shy! If you’re wondering, so is someone else!

Thanks, Laurae, for (excuse me) adding a new notch to our design repertoire!

Bead cruising to a private island

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Beat the wintry blues with a crafty tropical cruise!

Come sail away...

Come sail away...

How about talking DS (dear spouse) into a getaway trip for your holiday gift?  The Bead Cruise will spoil you like a Princess, though it’s actually a Royal Caribbean boat :)

Some of the big names in craft jewelry will be aboard to teach you.  How about workshopping with color expert Margie Deeb, “Beads, Baubles and Jewels” regular Mary Hettmansperger, Barb Switzer, Beverly Herman and our own blog partner Melanie Brooks?

Not to mention stops at a private island and in the Virgin Islands.  And gift bags, workshops, cocktails, along with all the comforts of luxury cruising.

Here’s the website to “accidentally” leave up on the computer for your significant other to see…www.beadcruise.com :)


This could be you, y’know

Friday, September 11th, 2009

Rings & Things would like to introduce someone to you…

Lucky #1

Lucky #1

Angela Bannatyne is the very first winner ever in our ongoing “I Want to be a Blog Partner!” contest.  She’s already written her first blog post about it.  Go have a read!

Every three months, we draw a name to be a guest Blog Partner.  We’ll send goodie packs of R&T items for review, for use in jewelry-making, or to give away–your choice.  It’s a great chance to check out some of the latest and the greatest in the realm of beads & findings!

The next drawing is at the end of October.  If you put your name in at our Blog Partners program page, we’ll keep it “in the hat” till it gets drawn.  So you don’t have to keep re-entering!

Best of luck!