Handmade Realistic Butterflies

Sorry about the finger smudges 

I revamped this shadow box for a sort of curiosity cabinet vibe in my apartment. I basically printed stock images of butterflies from DeviantArt onto regular printer paper and then cut them out. Then I painted some clear fishing line with black nail polish and hot glued them to the butterflies. Lastly, I pinned the butterflies to the shadow box.

Double Sided Cat Coin Purse Tutorial (with image)

This

To This:

I have put the tutorial on Cut Out and Keep

View it HERE

How to: Faux Cabochons

Introduction:

This tutorial is just an easier way to create faux cabochons for your future jewelry projects. Purchasing glass cabochons in my opinion, is not only expensive at times, but a little nauseating when purchasing the wrong size online. 

 Using Casting Epoxy Resin You Can: seal your images for eternity, use this for any size setting, and create jewelry pieces in bulk inexpensively!

What you will need:

• Jewelry setting (I use a variety, but for this tutorial I used plastic cameo settings found on Etsy here.)
• Casting Resin (I used Easy Cast Clear Casting Epoxy.)
• Mod Podge
• Exacto Knife
• Small Paint Brush
• Scissors
• An Image

Step One.

The first step is to find an image, size it down, and print it. (On most printers you can easily do this in the Printer Settings >Page Setup.) Or you could paint directly onto the cameo!!! :) So many possibilities...

I used an image of one of my artworks.

Step Two.

Print your image. Cut it out with your scissors. But do not size down entirely just yet...

Step Three.

Instead of guessing what size you need to cut your image, start off by painting the middle of the cameo with a thin THIN layer of Mod Podge.

Step Four.

Now place your image over the cameo and FIRMLY push down on your image...

I enjoy odd compositions so I decided to focus on this part the piece.

As your press down the Mod Podge keeps the image in place and creates a visible outline where the center of the cameo will be. This outline will act as an easy guide to show you where you need to cut with your exacto knife.

Now proceed to cutting around your image. Carefully tearing the excess paper away from the cameo.

Step Five.

This is the most important part of the project. 

If you skip it, the printer ink will bleed and ruin the whole brooch.

After you have carefully extracted the excess paper from the cameo, your next step will be to seal it start sealing your image.

• With your CLEAR ACRYLIC SPRAY PAINT, spray your cameo LIGHTLY from at least one foot away from the cameo. Do not use it at close range or continuously spray it. This will cause the ink to bleed. Let it dry. Then Spray again.

• After the clear acrylic spray paint has completely dried. Use a small paint brush and paint a THIN layer of Mod Podge over your image. Wait for the Mod Podge to completely dry, then repeat the process again.

Step Six.

Wait for the cameo to completely dry before moving onto the next step.

Step Seven.

Now it is time to seal the cameo forever with EASY CAST CLEAR CASTING EPOXY.

Measure out both equal parts of the resin and hardener. I used less than a teaspoon for both.

MIX WELL.

If you mix this stuff really good, it will help eliminate bubbles that arise during the chemical process.

Step Eight.

Pour the resin onto your image.

WATCH YOUR RESIN.

It should spread out by itself slowly, so make sure you do not use a lot or it could seep out of the middle and onto the framed areas. 

Step Nine.

If the resin is set correctly it should look like it is slightly bulging outward, convex.

During this time bubbles will rise to the top and pop, nothing to fret over in the beginning.

It usually takes 24 hours to cure so now it is time for the waiting game.

Fin.

After the resin has cured YOU ARE FINALLY FINISHED!!!

Now you can wear any piece of art!!!

Misc. Examples:

I Love Handmade: Handmade Rug

Handmade Rug

So...I really wanted to make a colorful scalloped rug. This was my first sort of "experiment" which resulted in a small prototype. I really just wanted to see if the felt pieces would work out in the design...and also withstand the massive amounts of animal hair floating around. It passed that test for sure.

My son is in love with this small version. I plan on uploading my pattern and maybe give some tips on making this very quirky and inexpensive rug.

Manx

These stickers were very hard on my printer because of the different colors I used for them. A digital tea-stain over a pink hue practically eliminated the outline during the printing process. I just drew the outline on myself.

I have a thing for awkward body types in animals. Have you heard of Munchkin or Manx cats? 

Manx

Munchkin

Pinback Buttons

Pinback buttons. www.shaylafish.etsy.com

Gosh guys...I really haven't been blogging as much as I'd like to....and I miss everyone.

I have been super Super SUPERRRRRRRRR busy...no time to do the things I want to do. 

I recently started on a new belt. I love studded belts but I'd rather make my own with different designs. This one I am using a kitsch fabric with purple pyramid studs. It is a hard, long, annoying, and painful process;but when the belt is finished and I wear it out in public, everyone asks me where I bought it. I have the joy of telling them that I made it myself! :)

You Can Never Have Too Many Brooches

Handmade Brooch

I love collecting brooches...but making my own is a whole other story. This brooch is made from wood with one of my drawings transferred to it surrounded by lace. I have grown very fond of this and decided to put one up on Etsy for someone else to adore.

Hope everyone is having a lovely summer! The heat here is exhausting me!

Dinosaur Planter Tutorial

Image from Plaid Pigeon's Facebook Page

Have you seen these quirky planters on Etsy yet? The ones above were created by Plaid Pigeon (shop inactive now).

Well it just so happens that they are very easy,FUN, and inexpensive to make!

What you will need:

-Exacto Knife

-Plastic Dinosaur (You can find these at Walmart and Toys R Us)

-Sewing Needle

Step One

The plastic dinosaur. I bought this one from Walmart for one dollar.

  Not necessary but: I didn't like the color it originally came in, which was a sort of distressed bluish/purple. I painted this dino red (for some complimentary color action) with acrylics and sprayed a clear finish over it. 

Step Two

Take your Exacto Knife and cut a hole in the back of the dinosaur...just like carving a pumpkin...except this is plastic....and a tad bit harder.

Step Three

 Thankfully the dinosaurs are hollow inside so really all the hard work is over with. I made the hole in my little guy approximately 4-5 inches wide (don't worry about the edges around the hole because your plant should cover it up). You can now put soil and your plant inside.

Step Four

After I placed the soil and plant inside I took a sewing needle (with much applied force) to make holes in the bottom which will expel some water. Make sure the hole is deep enough.

FIN!

This is what yours should look similar to in the end. EPIC!!!!

Summer Lovin

Sticker Packing

Rabbits

There is nothing I love more than rabbits. I created these stickers from a drawing I made using a baby rabbit stock image to look off of. I then altered the color in photoshop for a more "vintage" feel and then added blush...because...it just adds to the cuteness!!!

You can visit these little guys here.

Illustrated Plush Stickers

I think I may have blogged about this drawing before. Hmmm...anyways....

These are my new stickers!!! (I am going sort of sticker crazy lately)

These little stuffed animals are adorable! I am selling them as a set of five for $3.00. 

You can view them here.

XOXO

Queen of Rabbits

Yeah, I really like to think of myself as the queen of rabbits. :)

Of course, she is also a sticker HERE.

"The Lovelies" sticker pack

Introducing "The Lovelies"

The Lovelies are a group of four girls who are a bit conniving but by all means fashionable. These illustrated stickers are approximately 2.5 inches in width, the length differs with each sticker due to their hairstyles. Complete with a "matte" finish these stickers would be perfect for anyone interested in illustration, fashion, scrap booking, and more!

View them here


Bad news, my son has destroyed my laptop. Along with the missing keys it now has lines going through the screen and I need to get a new computer for school before next Fall. Saving all of my Etsy sales in hopes that I can achieve my goal.

Hair Fascinator Tutorial

"Hair Fascinators (elaborate adornments for the hair) have been around since the 17th century. Ladies would wear fantastic ornaments such as ships in full sail or stuffed birds in mid-flight in their hair. Marie Antoinette is a good example as she was known throughout France for her elaborate hair fashion and even popularizing it during her time. Today hair fascinators are making a comeback and the most notable person worth mentioning that frequently wears them is Kate Middleton."

 Supplies

-Hot Glue Gun

-Craft Feathers (can be found at Hobby Lobby)

- Hair clip (ex. alligator clips)

-Center Piece (I used a vintage earring)

-Backing for your fascinator (not shown)

 The backing could be felt or whatever, just something sturdy to glue your feathers onto. I used some of my cross stitching material.

Step One:

1.   2.

1. You will have to sort through your feathers to find good ones that you will be able to use. Most of my feathers's vanes were torn apart so I just tossed them in a pile because I wouldn't be using them for this project. 

2. I sorted my feathers into three groups: Contour feathers, Semiplumes, and then the small Guinea feathers.

3.

My sketch of a contour feather is on the left which is basically a feather you would recognize...it is the flight feathers on a bird. The semiplume on the right is a more feathery sort of feather. 

Step Two:

Do not glue yet, just get a feel of what the base will look like for your fascinator so this will minimize any mess ups. 

Take the contour feathers and place them as shown in the photo above on the left and right. If your feathers do not fit together very well because of different sizes...I would advise cutting the ends of the quills to shorten them.

Step Three:

At this time you should cut out you backing into a circle. My circle is 3" across. Then using your hot glue gun place the glue on the quill of a contour feather and place the feather onto your backing.

Step Four:

Keep gluing your feathers onto your backing until you have made your way all the way around. It start to look somewhat like a star. (DO NOT worry about how the middle looks because it will eventually be covered up with more feathers and your center piece.)

Step Five:

Now it is time to add your semiplume feathers to the fascinator. Placement isn't that critical, but you should take a look at your fascinator and find any areas that seem bare and place the semiplumes in those areas so that it will make an illusion that there are feathers everywhere.

Step Six:

The main point about this tutorial is "layering." 

From left to right this is how I layered my fascinator.

 I first added the contour feathers as a base, then the semiplumes in bare areas, and finally I added my Guinea feathers on top of the semiplumes and placed my center piece in the middle of the whole thing covering all the weirdness you will see occurring in the middle area.

Step Seven:

To finish and wear your hair fascinator you will have to add a clip. I used an alligator clip and in which I put glue on top of the clip then held it open while placing it onto the back of my hair piece so it didn't glue itself shut. I held it for about 20 seconds or so and closed it.

Step Eight: SHOW IT OFF!

I enjoyed the way my hair piece turned out in the end and it is now one of my favorite hair pieces I own.

If you have any questions you can e-mail me or leave a comment. If you decide to make one please send me a photo of your creation and I will post it on here!

Erin made a beautiful fascinator