Farewell to Summer

Hi All!
Time keeps slipping away and tomorrow will be the first day of fall.  I really enjoy the harvest of colors in the leaves and ripe fruits and vegetables of fall.  But, before the last day of summer is gone, I thought I'd share a couple of projects from earlier in the year. 

When time permits, I like to mix my media and create something with materials I don't use on a daily basis.  Here are a couple of small chipboard ornaments that I created using Jacquard Lumiere Dimensional Paint and Adhesive(TM).  Jacquard generously sent me some free paint samples to try in my work.  Their dimensional paint is unique in that it is also an adhesive, but I found that there was more to the paint than that.  Although it is a dimensional paint and can create 3-D lines and shapes, I found I could also thin it down and paint it with a brush. 

Here's an ornament I created using a chipboard base.  I brushed on the paint and adhered scrapbook paper to both sides.  I cut a smaller shipboard oval and adhered amate paper to that.  In both cases, I worked with a coodinating paint so no glue was needed.  I added more paint to the edges of the chipboard.  Then, I made clouds using Pearl paint. I swirled a little Turquoise paint in the clouds with a toothpick.  I brushed the Turquoise paint onto two metal bird shapes to add a patina.  Then, while the clouds were still wet, I pressed the large bird shape into the clouds.  I punched holes in the shape and added ribbon and a dangle.

The second ornament uses the dimensional paint to hold filigree flowers onto the base, add dimensional leaves and lines, and as an adhesive.  I also thinned the paint and used it as a wash on the wood butterfly shape.  

It's definitely a multi-faceted paint and I look forward to using it in more projects.  Thanks, Jacquard!

Happy Crafting!

Terry

Vintage Button Filigree Ring

Hi Everyone!

This month (yes, another month has gone by already!) the designers of the Designer Crafts Connection blog circle have gone vintage.  There's a wide range of what one might consider vintage--you could go back 10 years or you could go back 100!  I'm sure it will be an amazing journey through time checking out all the designs.  You can see them all by clicking on the big blue button to the left of this post.

I have a lot of vintage things around my house.  My Grandma Irene was very crafty and very frugal.  She never missed a sale!  As a result, I have a lot of vintage material passed down from her.  Thanks, Grandma!

One of the things I inherited from her are vintage buttons.  I was working on a metal filigree ring and looking for the perfect bead to go into the center of it, when I thought of the button collection.  One of them was the perfect size and shape for the center of the ring.  It's a beautiful blue crystal button that has a hint of green at the base and was made in "Western Germany" according to the card.  It's probably from the late 1940's or 50's.



Vintage Button Filigree Ring
Designed by Terry Ricioli
Copyright 2012

  Here's a few of the vintage buttons I have.  The one I used in the ring is at the bottom left.

It's a simple ring to make as you'll see from the following:

Here are the components:  a button, bead cap, a dapped filigree flower, a flat filigree flower, a 2 1/2" long filigree link and a piece of wire.  You'll also need jewelry glue, a dowel or mandrel to shape the ring, round-nose pliers and wire nippers. 

Slide the wire through the button and place it into the bead cap.  Press the prongs against the button.

Slide the wire ends through the holes in the dapped flower.

Slide the wires through the second flower filigree and press the wires against the back of the flower.  Trim to about 1/2" and make a loop to hold.  Press these against the back of the flower.

Bend the filigree link around a dowel or ring mandrel to shape it into the ring.  It will be adjustable.

Glue the flower assembly to the ring with jewelry glue.

And, there you have it - the finished ring!  You could also use the flower assembly as a pendant or on a bracelet.

Have fun browsing among all the other fabulous vintage designs.  And, if you are looking for more vintage jewelry designs like this ring, check out my book, Vintage Impressions Jewelry.

Happy vintage, retro, mid-century Crafting!

Terry