Let’s show our pride by constructing a rainbow pin- we’ll even make the bezel. Of course, you can use this technique to create any kind of sparkly pin you like. You’ll need just a few supplies: (Here’s what I used as well as some handy Amazon affiliate links. Remember, these links don’t add ANY cost to you, but I get a few pennies back so I can keep creating new projects for you!) Amazing Casting Resin: http://amzn.to/2rn6JKS Sculpey Bezel Mold: […]
Patriotic Polymer Pins and Craftivism
This post is a two-parter; one in which I share a tutorial and a second part in which I talk politics. Sort of. First, I have to be honest that I’m an American citizen who votes, and who believes in doing so. Secondly, I must disclose that I’ve had very conflicting feelings about the recent election. However, I am unequivocally proud to be an American and I feel strongly that kindness matters. So to that, I created this Patriotic Polymer […]
Pressed Flower Pendants for Mother’s Day Jewelry!
I love handmade gifts and jewelry, and I love flowers, too! So why not put them together and make a vintage-themed pendant that features pressed flowers that you can wear? Right on! Disclosure: GreetingsofGrace.com sponsored this video for YouTube and supplied the flowers for the project. Some links below are affiliate links. For this project, you’ll need: Bookplates that have FOUR SIDES- new or recycled 2 part epoxy resin pressed flowers (you can use your own or use some from […]
CHA 2015 – Beadalon 3D Bracelet Jig
Hey crafters! This year at CHA Beadalon took home the award the Top Product of the show for their brand new 3D wire bracelet jig. You can make all kinds of fun bracelets with this clever tool! I can imagine this being a must-have tool for any and all jewelry makers and beaders, from beginner’s to seasoned veterans. Take a look at our video demo below from the show and let us know if you have any questions! […]
Review: Bead Buddy One-Step Crimper Tool
Jewelry-making can go one of two ways- sublime or sophomoric. And the difference between the two is often craftsmanship: the design aside, either it’s well-make or it…well, isn’t. Crimp beads are one of those ways you can tell the difference- a well-made crimp looks professional, and a poorly-make one looks like it’s been chewed by a metal-toothed hamster. But if you use the One-Step Crimper, you’ll get… perfection. I found the Bead Buddy One Step Crimper Tool at a local […]
Jacquard Pearl Ex – New Colors
Jacquard Pearl Ex pigment powders are extremely versatile supplies for any artist or crafter. They now come in over 30 colors. I’ll be testing some of the brand new Chromatic Colors: Citrine, Emerald, Magenta, Sapphire Blue, Scarlet and Dark Brown. This collection is a really gorgeous intense set of jewel tones with a deep lovely brown. Here’s a description from Jacquard’s website: “Pearl Ex Powdered Pigments are our most versatile product! Jacquard Pearl Ex is a safe, pearlescent, non-toxic, inert […]
Little Windows Resin Starter Kit: Review
One of my favorite parts of being on the Craft Test Dummies Team is getting to play with different products… which is why I was so excited when I was sent the Little Windows Resin Starter Kit to play with! I took some time to create two batches of the resin, and play with different techniques, and can’t wait to tell you what I learned! Here is what Little Windows says about their products: Little Windows makes it fun & […]
CHA 2014: New Product: SandIts
I’ve gone to CHA for a couple years now, and hands-down my favorite part of the show is the new products section. This year, one of my favorites was SandIts. Paul and his son (who is manning the camera for the video below) were charming, and their product is just plain neat. Paul told me that he came up with the idea for SandIts when he had some battery corrosion that he was scraping away, using an expensive kitchen knife. […]
CHA 2014 – Spellbinders A Gilded Life Booth and Video Demo
This year at CHA 2014, Spellbinders debuted their new line with A Gilded Life. We caught up with A Gilded Life desiner, Shea Fragoso, at CHA 2014 where she demonstrated a make-and-take for us, creating a gorgeous necklace in mere minutes! I was very excited to see the new acrylic covers that come with all of the bezels; now you don’t need to wait overnight for resin to set, you can just glue a quick cover on and you’ve completed […]
Craft Product Review: EnviroTex Jewelry Resin
Resin has always been on my list of intimidating crafts. I’m also incredibly lazy. Mix two bottles together? I ain’t got time for that! So I’ve avoided the stuff, even though I love the way resin jewelry looks. But I had a great first experience with Envirotex Jewelry Resin, and I’m no longer afraid (Cue triumphant music!). I tested Envirotex two ways; as a varnish and by filling bezels. From the Environmental Technology Inc’s website: Professional results are easy to […]
Craft Countdown with Vicki O’Dell, The Creative Goddess
5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 I’ve been writing here on Craft Test Dummies for a while now (2 years this coming July). While at CHA in January Jenny and I started talking (Well, ok. The truth is that we NEVER STOP talking but that’s a story for another day) and two things came about. The first thing is that I promoted myself to Managing Editor here at Craft Test Dummies. With Jenny taking on more […]
Book Review: 101+ Things to do with Glitter by Momtaz Begum-Hossain
Sometimes glitter gets a bad reputation. Often referred to as “the herpes of the craft world,” once you let glitter into your life, it likes to stay forever. But who says that’s a bad thing? Glitter is bright, bold, funky, and easy to use, and Momtaz Begum-Hossain’s 101+ Things to do with Glitter offers a melange of projects, ideas, and tips that will make any reader a glitter expert by the last page. I bet there’s even a project in […]
Craft Product Review Update: Impress Art Metal Stamps
Haley reviewed Impress Art Metal Stamps for Craft Test Dummies in May last year. See the review here: Craft Tool Review: ImpressArt Metal Stamps. Since then, two newer products have come along from the people at Impress Art that I’d like to share with you today. They are the Metal Stamping Hammer and the Stamp Straight Tape. The website has this to say about the Metal Stamping Hammer: 1 lb. brass head creates crisp even impressions while […]
Craft and Jewelry Product Review: Artistic Wire Mesh from Beadalon
I spend a lot of time papercrafting, but you may not know that for a while (about 6 years ago) I really only made jewelry and worked with polymer clay. So I was excited to try Artistic Wire Mesh by Beadalon and get back to my jewelry-making roots! If you’ve never seen Artistic Wire Mesh before, it’s like a finely knitted tube of metal. Here’s how they describe it on the website: Artistic Wire Mesh is permanently colored copper wire woven […]
Book Review: Jill Wiseman’s Beautiful Beaded Ropes
Jill Wiseman’s Beautiful Beaded Ropes – 24 Wearable Jewelry Projects in Multiple Stitches is to beaders what the newest, hottest Halo game is to gamers. It’s for serious beading geeks. Like me. Well, I’m only a little bit of a beading geek. But I’m working on it! I’m madly in love with stitching beads together to create amazing jewelry. Much like a knitter uses lengths of yarn to create a beautiful, wearable work of art beaders use thread […]
How-To: Crystal Pearl Prayer Bracelet
This prayer bracelet was one of the jewelry projects that were originally featured in a FREE downloadable Jewelry eBook, available by clicking HERE. All of the supplies came from ConsumerCrafts.com– a great resource for online craft supplies. (Their shipping is stellar!) It’s perfect for a wedding, shower, first communion, baptism, or confirmation! Supplies: 26 Gauge Beading Wire Beadalon Crimp Beads Silver Lobster Clasps 6mm White SWAROVSKIâ„¢ ELEMENTS Crystal Pearls  6mm Crystal  SWAROVSKIâ„¢ ELEMENTS Rondelle Spacers 4mm Crystal AB SWAROVSKIâ„¢ ELEMENTS Bicone Beads Prayer […]
Skinner Blend Polymer Focal Pendant Featuring Jill MacKay Components
This as part of an e-book I co-authored for ConsumerCrafts.com, which you can download for free HERE. If you know me, then you know I love polymer clay and love to use it to jazz up jewelry. I found these lovely swirly pendants from the Jill McKay designer collection and thought it needed a pop of color, so a skinner blend was just the ticket. I used orange and white, but of course you can use any color combination you […]
Darcie Heater Acrylic Charms and Coordinating Papers
I have a confession… I LOVE acrylic crafting products. From mini-books to clear tags and using large acrylic shapes, or die-cutting them myself, it’s all so versatile. So, when I received the Darcie Acrylic Charms and U-Cuts to review, I was absolutely thrilled! (Jenny reviewed Darcie’s Oversized Scrapbook paper here.) Acrylic itself has so many fun possibilities and now that it’s in adorable miniature frames and pendants, I knew I was going to have a ton of fun. Let’s get […]
Pretty Little Things… from Sally Jean
Most of you know that I love, love, love Sally Jean…. her artwork is fun and whimsical, and her soldering is top-notch. I had a pretty good month in July, and I actually made some cash from teaching my craft classes. So I bought myself a little somthing pretty, of course! This is what she calls her “knockers” (har, har!)- two sides of an acrylic hemisphere with artwork captured inside. What’s fun about these is that you get to choose […]
Mokume Gane Workshop with Julie Picarello
Honey, I’m home! And I’ve brought back new pieces and techniques from my workshop with Julie Picarello at her lovely home studio in El Dorado, California. I’ll get more into details soon, but I just HAD to get some photos up ASAP of the work I produced, and my co-conspirators in class…. feast your eyes, details to follow! Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.