Creativity In A Nutshell

What's The Plan, Stan?
Well, this is a bit of a complex one, folks, but we are going to make some incredibly unique and super cool charms and pendants by semi-melting old and used CDs.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE:
Semi-melting these disks gives off potentially dangerous fumes. I am sure the State of California would have warning labels ALL OVER this tutorial. The point? Be careful, please. I did this project in a spray booth - - a small room with a massive fan/vent, sucking all the harmful fumes away from me. Despite this, I did get a slight headache. Ok, the headache could have been caused by the annoying sound of the massive fan the the whirr of the heat gun, but all the same... If you are sensitive, take extra precautions!

Ingredients:

• Old and used CDs 
• NOTE: You can use all kinds of CDs and DVDs. Different brands and types will have different effects and colors once you heat them. I just rummaged through my ever growing stack of burnable CDs that I no longer need or use. Play around. I would not, however, go out and buy some CDs for this project. For goodness sake, just use the old ones.
• Glossy Accents (optional)
  

Tools Of The Trade:

• Heatgun
• Pliers (you are going to want at least two pairs for easy maneuverability)
• Pushpin
• Scissors or wire snips
  

Process:

• To begin with, you should note that a CD or DVD has two layers. One is a sort of metalic layer, and the top layer is like a thicker plastic coating. You can separate the layers, and work with the metallic layer alone, or you can fuse them together. The metallic layer on its own is a little weak, however.
• If you want to fuse both layers together, which I suggest, start by cutting a CD or DVD in half. Hold one half over the heatgun with a pair of pliers. Obviously, don't get your hand in the way of the heatgun. No one likes burns. 
• Every CD or DVD reacts differently. Here are some general rules. Keep the metallic side towards the heat, the plastic side away from it. The plastic has a tendency to bubble in cool ways, but it will also crack and may fall off the piece. You don't want that to happen. The metallic side and the edge of the disk will go through a unique and interesting transformation as they heat. Remember to be patient, but also take it slowly. Allow yourself to get to know the process and become familiar with what the heat gun does to the CD. It may take you a few tries to find something that you like.
• Once the metallic side is nice and melted, and the plastic side is fused, turn off your heat gun and cut out some fun shapes in the CD. You will notice that the CD cools down relatively quickly, but still, please be careful and don't burn yourself. Make sure you gently trim your edges with a pair of scissors to make sure they aren't sharp. Use the heat gun once more to further round the edges and add any more fun bumps and bubbles to the design.
• At this point, you will want to make your holes so you have delightful, string-able charms and pendants. I just used and pushpin and worked it through. You may be able to heat up a straight pin over a tea light and work it through that way, or perhaps a wood burning tool.
• You may wish to protect the plastic side of your charm/pendant, especially if it has become very cracked. I used glossy accents, but you could try a coating of resin, or diamond glaze.
  

C'est Fin!


Here's an example of a pair of earrings I made using charms I made from a DVD. These earrings, called Purple Days are available for sale on Etsy.

Bead Artist Showcase
Your work could be right here! Submit your own upcycled CDcharms or pendants to Creativity In A Nutshell via email to cagarp@plymouth.edu. Feel free to include pictures, anything new you tried and suggestions you have for improvement.

More Similar Fun Stuff!
The Heatgun's The Boss! Embossing Technique
Recycled Jewelry: Idea Introduction

What is the draw of the Mona Lisa? The subtlety, the mystery. Create your own mysterious intrigue with this Mona Lisa inspired necklace.





What's The Plan, Stan?
We're going to use a scrabble tile to make a beautiful unique pendant for this vintage-like necklace

Ingredients:

• For Pendant:

• Scrabble Tile
• Image from magazine etc (cut with scrabble tile template)
• Pearl Ex Pigments (optional)
• Glossy Accents
• Tacky Glue
  
• Two gold plated jump rings
• One gold plated eyepin
• One 6 mm onyx round
• One 3-4 mm faceted garnet round
• For Necklace:
• 34 wooden oval beads (dyed red)
• 16 3-4 mm faceted garnet rounds
• Four 6 mm onyx rounds
• 16 flat oval garnet beads
• One gold plated jump ring
• Two gold plated crimp beads
• One gold plated clasp
• Wire for stringing - I use fishing line, actually :)
  

Tools Of The Trade:

• For Pendant:
• Drill with small bit
• Scrap piece of wood
• Paintbrush
• For Necklace:
• Needlenose pliers
• Beading board (optional, but most helpful)
  

Process:

• Drill two holes in the scrabble tile - one on the top, one on the bottom
• Glue your image onto the tile. Let dry, and coat with another thin layer of glue. Re-pierce holes with a pushpin or safety pin.
• OPTIONAL: Add more detail with Pearl Ex Pigments and watered down glue. Allow to dry.
• Coat entire tile with glossy accents. Allow to dry completely.

• Place jump rings though both holes. Attach eyepin to bottom jump ring. Add first garnet, then onyx beats. Close with a loop.
• Bead Pattern for necklace:
• Wooden bead: Garnet Round: Wooden Bead: Garnet Oval:Wooden Bead: Garnet Round:Wooden Bead : Onyx Round. 
• Make sure to place your crimp beads between two garnet rounds, rather than right at the end of the necklace. This will prevent it from being worn too much and breaking. End one side with a jump ring and the other side with the clasp.
  

C'est Fin!


Bead Artist Showcase
You work could be right here! Submit your own Mystery Woman Necklace to Creativity In A Nutshell via email to cagarp@plymouth.edu. Feel free to include pictures, anything new you tried and suggestions you have for improvement.

More Similar Fun Stuff!

• Project: Scrabble Tile Bracelet
• Tutorial: Scrabble Tile Pendants and Charms
  

More Stuff on the Information Highway:

• Scrabble Tile Jewelry Supples  
• Mini Scrabble Tiles
  

There are literally tons of stuff to make recycled beads out of!  Similar to domino pendants, Scrabble tiles are all the rage with pendants and charms. These step-by-step directions will lead you through the basics of the process, which you can add on to. Feel free to post links to your own scrabble tile work!





Ingredients:

• Scrabble tiles or similar
• NOTE: I have found that the trickiest part of this fantastic craze is getting your hands on the scrabble tiles themselves. Ultimately, it's my opinion that upcycling old tiles (raid yard sales, second-hand stores etc) is best, however, there are plenty of other options out there.
• Hasbro.com has 'em for just under $7 (I don't know about shipping costs)
• Michael's sells Scrabble Tile Look-a-likes for $4
• You can also find pre-drilled scrabble tiles on Etsy.com under supplies
  
• Picture or other image 
• Tacky Glue
• Glossy Accents (or other glossy sealant, like Modge Podge)
• Pearl Ex Pigments

Tools of the Trade:

• Drill and small bit
• Scrap of wood
•  Xacto knife or similar
• Thumbtack
  
• Paintbrush
• Pallet or other non-porous dish to mix on

Procedure:

• Step One: Make a template of a scrabble tile using a thin piece of cardboard and an xacto knife. 
• Step Two: Take your chosen picture, and trace the template over the design you want on your pendant or charm. Cut this out, using either scissors or an xacto kife.
• Step Three: Mark your scrabble tile by first measuring a line down the middle. Then, make two dash marks three or four millimeters from the edge of each side. 
• NOTE: If you are using imitation Scrabble Tiles, or the ones you're using are worn, you may want to lightly sand them, using a high grit sand paper. 
  
• Step three: Drill two holes where you have marked.
• VARIATION: If you don't want to drill holes, feel free to use a bail instead. I've found that metal bails can be pretty expensive. I saw an example where someone used a scrap-booking brad.
  
• Step four: Coat the blank side of the scrabble tile with glue (via a small paintbrush and a tiny bit of water) Let the glue set and become tacky - this should not take long.
  

• Step Five: Set down the image, smoothing it out over the tile. Allow it to set for a few minutes. If there is excess hanging over the edge of the tile, place it face down on the scrap of wood and trim the edges with your xacto knife.

•  Step Six: Gently pierce through the image with a small thumbtack.

• Step Seven: Coat the top of the tile with glue, lightly watered down, using a paintbrush. Allow to dry completely. You may wish to apply one or two additional coats. You may, alternatively, wish to use modge podge or a varnish rather than glue. This step will seal and protect your image.
  
• Step Eight: You may wish, at this point, to further enhance the image you have chosen. Use Pearl Ex Pigments, with watered down glue, like watercolor paints, to add further details. You may also add more layers of images in a collage-type style for added interest.
• Step Nine: Coat again with a thin layer of either watered down glue or varnish etc...

• Step Ten: Cover each surface of the tile with Glossy Accents (or other) allowing the surface to dry completely before turning.
• NOTE: If you're using a bail rather than drilling holes, you'll want to attach it at this point, using a strong epoxy. I recommend E6000
  

• At this point the pendant/charm is complete!

Check out these related blog posts:
http://artistic-elements.blogspot.com/2009/08/project-scrabble-tile-jewelry.html 
http://artistic-elements.blogspot.com/2009/08/monday-madness-weekly-earring-project.html

A Side Note on Images:
I chose to use magazine pictures from the art&antiques magazine. However, if you are planning on selling your pendants or charms, you should create your own images, or use only non-copyrighted images. If you don't have photoshop to edit pictures for the correct size etc, try GIMP : www.gimp.org

More Stuff on the Information Highway:
http://littleput.typepad.com/me/2008/02/how-to-make-a-s.html
This website has great stuff to print out and use on your scrabble tiles (or any other collage beads, charms, pendants)
Go Green - Scrabble Tile Charm Earrings

So, I got my set of alcohol inks and finally had time to play with them yesterday :) Alcohol inks are fantastic!

(I know what you are thinking. What the deuce are alcohol inks?)
Welllll.... they are alcohol-based inks. This is great, because, unlike water-based inks (you average scrapbooking/stamping inks) these will not come off with water/soap etc. They're really beautiful too, translucent and brilliant. The inks will not mix together at all unless you add the handy dandy blending solution. (Which costs a whole 5 extra dollars.)

Things to keep in mind when working with alcohol inks:

• They stain. Everything. I used a trashbag to cover my art table, and wore gloves the whole time. You can pretty much get them off most things using rubbing alcohol, but for pourous stuff (like wood) good luck.
  
• The ink itself dries quickly, which is great when adding multiple layers of color and designs, but not so great if you've squirted a whole bunch of ink on your felt applicator and most of it dries before you can use it.
• Experiment! I quickly realized that the best results I got, happened when I just kind of went at it, rather than being careful.
  

Here are some of my results:
(From Left to Right, Up to Down) These first two were made using just the Wild Plum and Stram inks. Oh and I added in some gold as well. The last one was made with Wild Plum and Butterscotch. You can also see the inkstains on the trashbag underneath. :D

The next three were made with Stream and Butterscotch ( I had to admit I love the names of these inks!)