Workbench Wednesday....Resin

Hey...

Check it out..

A clean workbench.

That won't last for long.

I am working on resin components.

I like to do resin when the weather is warm so it sets up faster and the garage doors can be open to let the fumes out.

I am using a variety of purchased molds.

I also used handmade silicone molds.

Some are made from silicone mold compound and some are made form 100% silicone in the tube from the hardware store..

There is a trick to using it for molds.

 I will share it with you some time.

I even used some plastic packaging I saved from some scrapbooking and jewelry components..

For right now, I am showing you the resin madness on my workbench.

I am very messy when I work with resin.

It gets all over it seems.

So I try to work on the trays so my counter is not covered with little resin puddles.

Those of you that have worked with resin may wonder about the color of my resin.

Here is my little secret.

While I do use clear resin from the craft store, I also use resin from automotive supplies.

I buy it by the quart.

It is reasonably priced.

It is amber instead of clear.

If I am painting the pieces, the color does not matter anyway.

And sometimes I LIKE the amber.

When I went to use resin this time, I noticed 2 of my partial quarts had hardened and were useless.

Sigh.

So I decided to use this whole quart this week.

I did multiple moldings of many of these molds.

See anything intriguing?

I always love this kind of photo on someone's blog.

It is like an artist's version of Where's Waldo...

My eyes dart all around taking in the shapes and possibilities.

One trick I learned is for when your resin pieces are a bit sticky when you unmold them...

I put them on a tray and pop them in my craft dedicated toaster oven on the lowest heat for 15 minutes.

If they are still sticky after they cool, I do it again.

Usually that fixes them right up.

Here is one of the molds made from the silicone from the hardware store.

Not pretty, but effective.

I like this silicone for making bigger molds since the 2 part silicone mold making compound is expensive.

It seems to work almost as well as the purchased mold compound.

Any spillover can be easily broken or snipped off once they cure.

These animal heads are my favorites this time.

Inspired by Sandy Martin in the Winter 2015 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine, I have been dying to do this.

I am loving these and cannot wait to add paint and work them into some fun designs.

What is on your workbench right now?

Thanks for stopping by....

                 Linking up with these great blogs.

Jewelry Affaire Magazine Summer 2015 and a Giveaway

Have you seen the Summer 2015 issue of Jewelry Affaire?

Like always, it is fabulous....

I want to take you on a quick walk down memory lane.

Summer 2011.

I was at Barnes and Noble looking at magazines.

I found 2 titles I could not put down: Jewelry Affaire and Belle Armoire Jewelry.

I had never seen anything like them.

But $14.99 a piece....

I kept looking through them.

So many beautiful pieces.

And I realized....what a great value they were.

The quality of the paper and the photography was like nothing I'd ever seen before.

There were SO MANY pieces in each magazine....over 50 or 60 at least.

I would pay $20-25 for a book that was only 20-30 pieces.

Once I looked at it like that, it was a no-brainer.

Those first issues came home with me and I have not looked back since.

The current issue is the same.

120+ Pieces to inspire...

Jewelry Affaire has lots of inspiration pieces...

This typewriter key necklace set from Melinda Barnett is different than many out there...

Here is another piece by her in this issue.

This time with a full set of directions on how to make this elegant bracelet.

I love her style.

There is another sweet necklace tutorial by Melinda Barnett in the Artistic Affaire section.

These wire rings are on my to do list.

They are made by Donna Miyasako-Blanco.

Who would guess some wire and a few beads could become something so lovely?

Hey, this set looks familiar...

I made it!

Seriously...

page 49.

There is also a technique article in the Natural Revelry section I did.

This series incorporates natural elements like moss and twigs and tree bark for whimsical pieces that make me think of fairies and fanciful forest creatures.

When I was making them, my husband said it looked like I was wrapping a mouse with a Lasso of Truth to a piece of bark from where he was sitting.

I am no Wonder Woman so this made me chuckle.

I love this series so I am so honored that Stampington chose to publish it.

I love that there is a mix of techniques and styles in each issue.

For a starting jewelry maker, each issue will make your head swim...in a good way.

Amanda Lee Slaughter shows you a twist on spoon jewelry...

Cindy Wimmer's necklace is outstanding as all of her designs are...

 I saw these birdhouse necklaces on the preview for the issue at Stampington.

Shelleen Weeks has an amazing mind...

Learning how to make these sweet necklaces out of silverware handles was reason enough for me to buy the issue.

Aren't they amazing?

One of my favorite materials to work with is leather.

The Summer 2015 issue has 2 articles that feature unique leather pieces that I love.

Colleen Jensen made these amazing leather cuffs.

I definitely want to try something like this...

And Lisa Hancock created these necklaces from bits of an old leather jacket.

Love them!

This issue is packed with over 120 ideas and inspiration pieces.

You should be able to find it at your favorite book store or craft store.

You can also order a copy directly from Stampington here....

Or you can leave a comment for a chance for your own free issue from Stampington...sent right to you.

Leave a comment below with a piece that left you breathless from this post and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of this issue.

I will choose a winner from the comments with an impartial number generator next Thursday and announce the winner Friday.

Good Luck!

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.