Gold as Gold Faux Metal Earrings

Thursday, January 3, 2013
We're loving all things gold and glittery to kick off the new year!  Here's a super easy way to get the look of hammered/forged metal using the Tulip Fashion Glitter Holographic Transfer Sheets and vinyl fabric compliments of our fab in-house designer Lauri Eaton.  There's actually 2 pieces that are a shiny silver and gold metallic that we will be using for this project inside the pack! You only need these sheets plus a few basic jewelrymaking supplies to create these stunners.
What you'll need for this project:
– black vinyl fabric
– scissors
– thick needle
– gold jump rings
– needle nose pliers
– hoop earring components
– iron
– ironing board
– scissors
Open up your package and pull out your shimmer sheet in your choice of silver or gold. Cut it into a manageable piece for ironing. Peel off plastic cover and place pressing cloth over design on the back of your black vinyl.
Heat dry iron to suitable setting for fabric, iron design in place, pressing firmly for 40 seconds.
Cut off excess vinyl around the iron-on sheet.
Cut out a small rectangle of the vinyl approximately 2 inches long by 3/18th of an inch.
Open a jump ring up and add it to your hold. Close back your ring.
Complete all 5 dangly pieces.
Now loop them onto you hoop and you're ready to wear!
Lauri also created an amazing necklace using this technique! Paired with a little chain these look so rocker chic!

MAYA IN THE MOMENT TEEN CRAFT: Easy Zipper Bracelets

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

I've been wanting to try and make zipper bracelets since, like, forever. I went to a local fabric supply store in town and bought a whole bag of remnant zippers. 

 When you buy zippers for this project, you really want the ZIPPER part to show so look for zipper that have chunky gold or silver teeth, as opposed to the boring ones that are painted the same color as the fabric.


For the bracelets I made, I opened them and cut them right above the zipper handle. These are going to be my bracelet bases. Cut to fit your wrist.

 Now it's time to load up on all kinds of iLovetoCreate products to embellish your bracelets. I used:

 Aleene's® Fabric Fusion® Peel & Stick Tape™ to apply ribbon.


 Gotta  have Puffy Paint!



When they are done, they'll look like this. I really love bright colors so I used a lot of contrast in my bracelets. Now it's time to make them wearable!

Snip off a piece of Aleene's® Hook & Loop Tape™ and affix to each end.


Here they are, my finished bracelets. It was cold outside, so my Puffy Paint one is still drying, I'm excited to wear it too!


This was a really fun project, I plan to make a lot more for my friends! Hey, if you like this project, you might like my other bracelet idea too! Stiffened Embroidery Floss Friendship Bracelets.


Thanks for checking out my project, come see me on my Facebook page! 


Squirrel T-shirt

Tuesday, January 1, 2013
I have a sister who we like to tease because she's seriously afraid of squirrels.  You know...the cute cuddly animals that won't even let you get near them?  Yeah, those.  So she receives a lot of squirrel stuff from the family.

I designed this t-shirt to make some for my boys and hers.  The boys get pretty squirrely when they are together, so why not the Flying Squirrel Trapeze Team?  


Because this design was pretty intricate I used my cutting machine (the Silhouette) to cut it.  Had it been a simple design I would just use an exacto knife to cut the freezer paper.  I ironed the paper to the shirt to make it seal.  (If you haven't tried freezer paper stenciling you can find a video tutorial I made of it HERE.)


I used the Tulip soft fabric paint, which is my favorite.  I painted it with two coats and removed the paper.


I placed a sheet over the shirt when it was dry and ironed it to heat set the paint.  And my son is ready to tease his aunt.


I love making shirts that don't look homemade.  It's inexpensive and easy and my boys love having something personalized for them.