Artisan Headpin Challenge

I am a huge fan of  Art Jewelry Elements.

It is a bonus to have so many talented artists all sharing in one place.

It is one of the few blogs I subscribe to and always read.

When they suggested an art headpin challenge, I was intrigued and emailed right away to sign up.

Just one problem....

I did not actually own any art headpins.

Which leaves me 2 options: buy some or make some.

Well, I am a making kind of girl.

So here is what I came up with this weekend.

Well that is just the first half of the story.

Want to see some of the designs I came up with using those headpins?

Ok, here they are....

Which is your favorite?

Leave a comment below for a chance to win this pair.

Just tell me your favorite pair shown and your email address so I can get in touch with you if you win.  

I will choose and announce a winner September 17th.

This is a long contest...

Tell all your friends

And good luck.

Want to see more fabulous art headpins?

Visit each of these blogs for more fabulousness.

Guests:

Alison Herrington

Renetha Stanziano

Karin Grosset Grange

Gloria Allen

Deb Fortin

Cate van Alphen

Mona Arnott

Shai Williams

Sarajo Wentling

Kathy Lindemer

Solange Collin

Melissa Meman

Patricia Handschuh

Tammy Adams

Melissa Trudinger

AJE Team Members:

Caroline Dewison

Lesley Watt

Cathy Mendola

Jenny Davies-Reazor

Susan Kennedy

Laney Mead

Diana Ptaszynski

Lindsay Starr

Niky Sayers

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave a comment with your favorite pair from this post and your email before September 17th for a chance to win....

Fossil Rings

I hope life is treating you kindly.

I feel like I have been attempting to hit a bunch of curve balls.

Everyone has their own curve balls, I know.

One thing that helps me when things get a little bumpy is creating.

I may not get a chance to take photos and blog about it, but I am always making something.

The fact that I haven't blogged just means I will have more to share with you when I get to blogging again so I am going to work on it.

I made these fun fossil rings from polymer clay, metal epoxy, and gold foil flakes.

Each polymer focal was made from a mold of a real fossil.

I picked some of them up at a gift shop for a cavern.

They had quite a nice selection.

I used the silicone molding compound to make a mold of each one so I can make as many fossils as I want.

Then I used some metal epoxy to make bezels and attach them to ring blanks.

The metal epoxy is 2 part epoxy that I got from the hardware store.

Just cut off equal pieces and mix them together.

They dry rock hard.

I have never used gold foil before so there was a bit of a learning curve for me.

I did not have gold foil sheets so I used some flakes.

I brushed on the adhesive first and waited an hour.

Then I used a soft brush to try to add the foil flakes.

It wasn't working to my satisfaction so I just started using my fingers to press and rub the gold foil on.

For me, that was much better.

And then I brushed on a couple coats of Varathane to seal them.

Probably my least favorite part is the adjustable ring base, but I learned a ton from the process.

Hope whatever curve balls are coming your way, I hope you are swinging with all your might....

Thanks for stopping by...