A Mixed Media Bunny tutorial

Happy Easter everyone! 

Last week I promised to show you the bunny I was hoping to work on this week for Easter.  Since it turned out to be so darn cute and easy to make (less than an hour), I decided I would post the pattern and write up a little "how to" for you as a little gift from the Easter bunnikin!

So let's get started... and take a peek at what she will look like once she's finished.  She is about 8" tall and is a "stand up" bunny that you could put on a windowsill, a table or tucked away in a niche.  She's a real cutie!!

Here's what you'll need for supplies

piece of heavy cardboard 8-1/2" x 11"
Modge Podge or other white glue
Brown ink pad and a piece of polyester batting
about a yard of 1" pink wire edged ribbon
a cluster of small silk roses
something "fluffy" for her tail - I can never remember the name of that furry, fluffy stuff :)
box cutter
scissors
bunny pattern
white paint or piece of decorative paper

Cover one side of your cardboard with decorative paper.  Alternatively, you could also paint it white.

Here's the bunny pattern.  Just click on the link to download it to your computer.  Print it out, glue it to the other side of your cardboard and then cut it out.  Using the box cutter to lightly go round the bunny will make it easier to cut out with the scissors.  

Ink the edges with your brown ink and a piece of polyester batting.  The batting will create a softer outline.  Glue a small piece of the white fluffy stuff to her tail.

Make a stand for the back of your bunny from the leftover cardboard and glue it to the back.

Tie the ribbon round her neck. In the knot (before you make the bow), place the cluster of roses, knot it and then tie a bow.  That's it!  You're done.  Stand back and admire your cute bunny!

Hoppy Easter... may the Easter bunny bring you lots of chocolate!!

Cheers,
Sharon

"Tooling" around... some mini "how to" tutorials

After a total *DISASTER* in the computer department, I am finally back online!  The motherboard on my main computer decided to give me a very hard time... three capacitors blew up and that was the end of my computer!  I was *more* than annoyed... the computer wasn't all that old and a well known brand name.  But I heaved a sigh of relief at none of my data being lost!  Doing backups on my external drive made a difference too!  The only problem was... I had to find a computer *somewhere* running XP (I had always refused to upgrade to Vista) in order to access it.  It took a couple of days for hubby to track one down with our local computer guy... who was great.. he switched the drives and I was back in business.  I flipped the switch and  then came the shocking realization I had lost all of my software programs!  Fortunately I had the CD's for some of them (and have most of them now re-loaded) but a lot of programs I had downloaded off the web were lost.  Needless to say, it has been a frustrating and maddening two weeks getting back to this point.

To calm my jangled technology nerves, I whipped out my clay and began to play!!  I have been wanting to cover a needle tool hubby made for me a couple of years ago out of a heavy darning needle and a piece of dowel.  I use it all the time... and not just for claying.  After all that use, it was looking pretty grubby!!

It's the greatest little tool for punching holes in leather, in cloth for putting in grommets or getting a sewn buttonhole started, cleaning those tiny ridges in my clay gun, poking holes in cardboard or paper... oh I could go on and on!!  Want to make one yourself?  Just get a heavy darning needle, drill a hole in a 4" piece of 3/4" doweling that will fit the darning needle and glue it in with some heavy carpenter's glue. Cover it with clay, make a little bead for the end (so you don't poke yourself by accident) and you're done!

While I was at it, I decided to make some little stamps I could use to texture clay from some charms, embellishments and buttons I had lying around my art table.  I simply made an handle out of scrap clay, put a little clay behind the charm, button or embellishment to offset it from the handle, cooked it and voila a bunch of cool little stamps were born.  They work like a charm!  (no pun intended!)

 

Take a look at this photo.  Yep, it's my initial!  Can you guess what it might be?

The mystery thickens with some colourful "pick up sticks"

Now what do you get when you add the two together?  Why a "Bead-0-Matic" baker and glazing tool that looks like this:

Here's what's neat about this "tool":  it won't fall over in the oven (even in a convection oven with all that hot air swirling about) while the "cocktail" toothpicks hold the beads while baking.  You can remove the toothpicks and once you have sanded your beads (if they aren't textured), you can put them back on the toothpick, dip or glaze them and set them back into the holder to dry.  If you happen to lose or break one of the toothpicks, you can simply replace it with another one!

All you need to make it are some cocktail toothpicks and some scrap clay.  Form the clay into an "S", poke your toothpicks into the clay (leave them there while baking the "form"), bake the clay at 275 degrees for about 40 minutes (depending on the thickness of your clay).  Remove it from the oven while hot (I use an "Ove-Glove" in my clay room for handling hot clay coming from the oven) and immediately remove the toothpicks.  Let it cool, then put the toothpicks back into the holes in the form.  You have to remove the toothpicks while the form is hot otherwise they will be very difficult to remove without breaking!

Another use for this tool is using it as a holder for painting small "stuff" or when you are making little embellishments to add to ATC's, cards or other art.

So that's it for today... hope you find these tools useful.  I've got some beads that need sanding...

Happy Arting...

Sharon

P.S.  Have any of you who have blogs had as much frustration as I have had in "transitioning" the Google apps that can't automatically be moved to Google's new structure?  I was ready to tear my hair out...what a process... and I am not sure that I have even got it right.  I consider myself pretty web savvy but boy I found it confusing!  If anyone has some good tips, I'd love to hear from you!

Button, button, who's got the ..

buttons!  I DO! 

More about buttons with a mini tutorial for polymer clay buttons  following this BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT...

Looking for the One World, One Heart Giveaway Post?  Just click on the link under Popular Posts to go there or scroll down past this post.

Also... I have a lovely surprise coming towards the end of February for my followers (and anyone who becomes a follower between now and then) so keep a watch out for it.


And now... to this week's post...

Next weekend (the 18th, 19th & 20th) I will be in Vancouver (with my Vancouver Island Guild clay buddies) for a weekend of fun playing with clay.  I have been looking forward to this bi-annual shindig put on by the Vancouver Polymer Clay Artists Guild for months now... I even re-scheduled my foot surgery coming up on February 22...(more about that later) to make sure that I could walk without a cast and have a good time.  Now that is dedication to my art... LOL

With loads of demos planned (color mixing, conditioning, transferring images to clay, making hinges for boxes), a full weekend workshop of creating a pinched leaf necklace (see photo below) with Helen Briel and Eugenia Chan, catching up with Lower Mainland friends, dining out and sipping wine, it promises to be a weekend without much sleep but with a lot of FUN and a LAUGHTER!

Here is a photo of the gorgeous necklace we are going to learn how to make...  I just hope I can create something that even comes remotely close to it... LOL

Helen Briel/Eugenia Chan Design
Photo courtesy of Vancouver Polymer
Clay Guild, Helen Briel and Eugenia Chan

One fun activity that is done on the Friday evening is to exchange polymer clay buttons we have made.  I  have been in a steampunk and faux raku mood lately so here's a photo of the buttons I have made for the exchange:

It was fun making all 30 of them with what I call my "Serendipity Steampunk" method. 

You just take a piece of rolled out on your largest setting black clay, double it, gently roll it smooth to release any air bubbles. 

Now just grab a bunch of "stuff" like toothpicks, screws, little charms, watch faces, fancy buttons, watch parts, little keys, keyholes and so forth and press them randomly into the clay to create a pattern all over your clay.  It helps if you swish them around in a baking soda bath (baking soda poured in a recycled lid) so that they don't stick to the clay when making the impressions.

Next come your cutters... whatever shape you like... and, with "gay abandon" just cut your buttons out from the clay.  Let yourself be surprised by what your "buttons" will look like.  You just never know what you are going to get and it's a fun way to just stay loose and simply create!! 

A small cocktail toothpick will create the holes quite neatly. Punch them from front to back, then back to front.

I dust them with Pearl-Ex, "cook" them (20 minutes at 275 degrees) and when cool put a Varathane finish on them (cause I like shiny!).  This also allows them to be washed.  However you can also cover the "cooked" buttons with Precious Memories III (one coating is enough), Future Floor Wax (several dippings) or just leave them as they are... just lightly sand and buff HARD on your jeans.

These buttons are great for adding to a knit sweater (most knit sweaters have such boring buttons) or even to a top or blouse.  And at the cost of buttons these days, they are CHEAP!  But don't stop there... leave the button holes out and use them as embellishments for altered books, scrapbooking pages, cards, altered art... the list could go on and on...

So there you have it!  Next on my list to make will be some "critter" buttons for my granddaughter.  When she saw these (via Skype) she thought they were pretty cool!

If you are a clayer, when was the last time you made some buttons?  If you aren't a clayer. why not give it a try?  Polymer clay is so easy to work with.  It doesn't take long and you'll have a blast coming up with all sorts of designs that you'll just have to go and buy a new sweater... or blouse... or  ....... start a new altered book... or ... make a fun card for a special someone... or add them to your latest painting.... need I say more?  Didn't think so!
 
On another note...
 
I am going in for surgery on my foot on the 22nd.  As some of you know, I have arthritis and it has taken its toll, destroying cartilage and creating all sorts of grief for me in various parts of my body.  If I want to be able to continue to walk, this operation has become mandatory.  I will be in a non weight bearing cast for about 8 weeks while everything heals... and quite honestly for someone like me with high freedom needs... I am hoping I don't go stir crazy batty!!  It is my right foot so unfortunately driving is OUT!
 
But I am going to ask for a plaster cast for the first one (there are two casts) so that I can have some fun drawing zentangles on it while I recuperate for the first couple of weeks!  I'm going to Michaels this weekend to buy some of those Sharpie paint pens they have on sale to get ready... and  hope the orthopaedic surgeon goes along with my request.
 
During that time I am going to do my best to keep the blog updated.  Time permitting, I will get some writing done beforehand that I can then schedule for publication.  
 
 
Cheers,
Sharon

A Christmas Gift for You!

I'd like to take a moment to say thank you to all of you who have supported me by visiting my blog, leaving wonderful comments and sending me such lovely emails this past year.  It is very much appreciated and I truly treasure your friendship.

Christmas morning is always fun for me.  I enjoy opening all the gifts under the tree but the most fun and what I love most is watching the faces of my family members as they open theirs. 

In my house, there is always much guessing on Christmas Eve as to what the "handmade" gift from me will be this year.  I don't think anyone has guessed correctly yet... it remains a mystery until Christmas morning... 'cause I won't tell or even give any hints!

Guess what? 

Santa left a present

under the tree

JUST FOR YOU

 at myStoryART...

And DRATS... I have to tell you what it is. LOL

A tutorial for a 3-1/2" x 5" Vintage Photo Lantern made from glass and as a bonus for my "twinchie" friends, the tutorial also includes some prints to make a sweet 2" x 2" Christmas lantern.  The little lantern has a flickering flame LED light behind it and the large lantern can have either a candle in a votive holder or two flickering flame LED lights to shine through the photos.  Difficult to photograph but I guarantee... you'll love the effect!!



Twinchie 2" x 2"  Christmas Lantern



3-1/2" x 5" Vintage Photo Glass Lantern

The tutorial photos for the large lantern are different than on the one I made for myself but they are just as lovely.  Here's a preview of them....

If you hurry, you can even make one for Christmas, either as a gift for someone else or yourself! (how novel...LOL)

Download the PDF Tutorial Here

You can save the PDF to your computer.  Please be patient with the download.  It is a BIG pdf file....

Wishing YOU a wonderful Holiday Season!  Merry Christmas everyone and see you in the New Year!

Happy Holidays

Sharon