What I've been working on lately...

I've been trying out the new copper clay from the makers of Art Clay Silver. It doesn't require a firing vessel or carbon medium to fire. It also fires in a significantly shorter amount of time.

My pal, Krissi Sandvik (creator of Skelekitty) has created some art stamps from her original artwork. For fun, I thought I would try them out with the new copper clay. NOTE: the stamps are copywritted and used with permission. Always get permission before using copywritted stuff in your art/craft-even for personal use!

I have done a step-by-step on metal clay before so I will skip it this time and show you some simple ways to make the design POP. The yarn ball didn't impress as well as I would have liked, so I wanted to do something to bring it out a bit. I swabbed some alcohol ink on the yarn ball portion of the design let it dry thoroughly (about 30 seconds) and then buffed the pendant with a polishing cloth. The ink on the top of the piece buffed off, but the ink in the recesses remained.

From there, I added white acrylic paint over the skelekitten portion of the pendant and let dry to tacky, but not completely dry (hard to get off when totally dry), then buffed again.

The paint highlights the bones on the skelekitten. Tomorrow, when everything is completely dry and set I will spray the pendant with a light coat of acrylic sealant, to protect the colors on the pendant.

Just a quick note...

Just a quick note, Juli's Jewels blog has had a little down time. I moved recently, and, well we all know what that's like! My new DSL service should be up and running before the end of the week and then I will show you what I've been doing.

(hint: I've been playing with the new copper clay made by the Art Clay people and some of Skelekitty's fabulous stamps.)

Little Box Pendant.

So today I am trying something different. I saw an article in the newest issue (Winter '10) of Belle Armoire Jewelry that intrigued me. It was "Vintage Lace Assemblages" by Sheri Replogle. So the style of the pieces that she made were totally not my style, but I liked the little box she made to create her assemblages in. She made a little box out of sheet copper and then soldered over it. Okay, so I thought I would give it a try. That is when I realized I lost my magazine...since when has not having the directions to something stopped me. So here we go...

Warning: you must have soldering skills to create this project.

What you need -

Sheet copper

Flux (and flux brush)

Pewter solder

Jump ring(s)

Ruler

Something to cut the sheet copper (I used jewelers metal shears, but you could use a saw instead)

Copper foil tape

Soldering iron (with stand and a really wet sponge)

Soldering tile (the hot metal you are working on sits on this)

Locking hemostats or tweezers or something to hold the hot metal that isn't your bare fingers (no burns please)

A bench block and chasing hammer to flatten the jump ring a little

Okay, ready? Plug in your soldering iron, so that it will be hot when you are ready for it.

Carefully take the copper sheet out of it's package (you might want to wear gloves for this, as the metal edges can be very sharp).

Take the ruler and mark out the size you want the box to be plus 1/2 an inch for box sides. Carefully cut out the overall square for the box. Cut a notch 1/4 inch from each edge on the top and bottom of the square.

Score along the 1/4 inch lines on all four sides of the square and gently (with flat nose pliers if you have them) bend up the two short sides of the square. Then, bend up the long sides and wrap the long ends around the short sides.



Take the copper foil tape and wrap it over the edges of the box, including the overlapping pieces (this will help seal it). Burnish the tape down (I used a bone folder for this, but you can even use just your finger nails).



Turn your box upside down and place it on you soldering tile. Use your flux brush and liberally brush flux all over the back of your box. The flux cleans the metal and helps the solder flow.

Now for the fun part, soldering! Holding the soldering iron in your dominant hand and the solder in the other hand, melt some solder off the roll and onto your box. Start with a tinning layer (you know how to solder, so you know what this means) all around the box on the outside, and then flip the box over and do the same on the inside. Okay, so you can flip the box back over and build up the solder to the level that you prefer now. I like mine a little on the thick side.

When you have the solder on the box to your liking, get the jump ring settled into the locking hemostats (or hold it with the tweezers, if that's what you have) and brush it with flux. Brush the box with a bit more flux where you want to place the jump ring. Hold the jump ring in place and add a bit of solder to the tip of your soldering iron and flow it over the jump ring, securing it to the back of the box.

Clean the finished box with a damp cloth.

Voila! You can put anything you want into your new little box. I will probably make a little collage in mine an then seal it with resin. I'll let you know.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays all! I'm feeling very festive lately, but then it's hard not to. Everywhere you go the halls are decked, the trees trimmed, and the carols are being piped in.

Shameless self-promotion time...all of the holiday items in my ArtFire shop are on sale, already marked down, no coupon needed. Also, every now and then, I flip on the "Sales Mode" and mark down everything an additional 10% just because I'm feeling gifty. You never know when it might happen, but it does at least once a day (and sometimes I announce it on Twitter and my Facebook page).

Plus, if you have read this far...I'm going to do another give-away. Leave a comment (any comment, but please be nice) and you could win this pin. It is has been lightly glittered and the border is a rich red. I will pick someone at random from the comments, on Tuesday, December 15th (so I can get it in the mail before I go on my trip).

Enjoy your holiday season, and please shop handmade for the holidays.

Cheers, Juli

Did you know...?

Did you know it's holiday shopping season right now?

I just read a note on ArtFire.com that said that with this year's late Thanksgiving and the economy and all, that people are shopping earlier this year for the holiday season.

Are you planning on purchasing handmade (and even one of a kind) items for the people on your gift giving list? If you are, you should consider shopping through ArtFire. I, and several people I know, have shops on ArtFire and many will be having sales and specials for the holiday season.

Skelekitty and Friends is currently having a BOGO sale on all prints and if you buy an original piece of art you get 2 prints!

Kit Cameo has some cool stuff in her SALE section, a must check out.

Do you like hats? Do you think Victorian/Steampunk is awesome? Check out DyMa Creations!

And, as always, you can check out my shop simply by using the rapid cart on my blog or my ArtFire Kiosk in Facebook, or at julisjewels.artfire.com.

Don't forget, you never have to join ArtFire to shop ArtFire. Come check it out.

3rd Saturday Time Again!

Just a quick reminder...it's 3rd Saturday time again.

This month it will be in a new location and at a different time.

We will be in the Westfield Downtown Plaza, in the L Street Shops section (in the middle of the mall near the play place.) We will be there from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Also, I am teaming up with Dyana Martin of Dyma Creations again this month. Her hats and fascinators are fabulous. Get a little something special to wear to all those holiday parties!

Please stop by and say hello.

Because It's My Second Favorite Holiday...

Because it's my second favorite holiday, all of the Halloween items in my ArtFire shop are on sale for the entire month of November. 15% off! Just pick the item (or items) you like and use the coupon code 164848AD5F-C49E16ACAB at check out. Also, you will still get a Halloween Treat Bag 'O Fun with your Halloween item purchase. YAY!