Sunday, August 28, 2011

BLOG HOP--Butterflies in your hair!

Welcome to day one in the Dreamweaver/Woodware Blog Hop. I was so excited that I wanted to sign up on today, the very first day. A special shout out to everyone that I may have met while at the Stitches show in Birmingham last February. You were all so wonderful to me, and I had the best time in your country! I hope to visit again some day.
As you know by now, this hop is going to feature NON card projects. For the first of my hop posts (I signed up for Thursday, too, because I just can't pass on my habit of posting on Dream Scheme Thursdays) I have decided to make hair jewelry out of Dreamweaver Stencils and metals.The first two pieces that I am going to post are both hair clips. All of the "findings" that I will be mentioning (the actual clips and pins that I used) were purchased without anything on them from a local craft store. The tool that I used was a double sided teflon tool from Mercart Metals that is available in a kit from Dreamweaver Stencils as well.
For this blue butterfly, I used aluminum that was coated with a blue coating. I placed the blue aluminum on top of Dreamweaver LM 255 Scallop Butterfly stencil. Working on an acrylic block, I used a very large blending stump (used in fine art drawing) to gently rub across the entire stencil. This caused the edges of the stencil to show up. I then used the teflon tool to press the metal down into all of the openings on the stencil. Then, with the stencil still attached, I rubbed the top with a sanding block, removing the blue color. Then, I took the metal from the stencil. I adhered it to chipboard, and the back of the chipboard to plain aluminum. I trimmed around the butterfly with a pair of sharp, fine tipped scissors. I adhered the premade hair clip to the butterfly with glue dots and I was done. My niece, Victoria is posing here so that you can see how it looks when it is worn.
My next piece was made very much the same way, with a couple of small exceptions. Here it is modelled by another niece, Evelyn. This was made with pink coated metal on stencil LM 257 Heliconia Butterfly. Everything was done the same way on this one except for the addition of the glitter. This was done after the entire piece was assembled. I filled the areas that I wanted glitter in with Ranger Glossy Accents. Then, I added Woodware Glitter in a magenta color. I really liked using this glitter. In addition to being a high quality, fine glitter, it comes with a great dispenser. It has a small opening on the top and you can squeeze the container to get out the amount that you want. There is a little less mess and waste this way.
My final piece for this post was done in a slightly different way. I used a new stencil, LJ 916 Butterfly. This stencil is unique because, instead of being on a square, it is the actual shape of the butterfly. I was able to work around the edges as well. I used a black coated aluminum. Instead of sanding off the top, I used rubbing alcohol in the shapes. For my UK friends, rubbing alcohol is actually called isopropyl alcohol and is sold as a cleaning supply for electronics. I just put a little on a cotton swab, and used it to clean out those holes. Then, I used the Glossy Accents and Woodware Glitter to create the glittering colors. This one was actually a large hair clip, and I attached it by using brads in the hole on both sides. I put them through the backing and the chipboard that was on the bottom layer. I used a second piece of chipboard under the butterfly. You can see it worn by yet another niece, Natalie.
So, now you have seen my first Blog Hop Posting. You should definitely leave a comment, then proceed to my very talented Dream Team Sister, Pam's blog. You can find it here. Have a wonderful week. Don't forget to stop by again on Thursday. (Stop by every Thursday for plenty of additional Dreamweaver ideas!). Also, I love followers!

21 comments:

  1. These hair ornaments are wonderful...and I am amazed that all three of the first postings were all with butterflies. Wow! Talk about kindred spirits.

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  2. It must be the end of summer that makes us want to hang on to butterflies. Lovely work with the metal. I want some!

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  3. wow these are beautiful. a great use of stencils I never thought of. Shame I have 2 boys ;)

    Caz - Woodware DT

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  4. Your clips are absolutely beautiful! So inventive! Thanks for sharing!

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  5. What a clever idea. These are so beautiful I wish I had longer hair so I could wear them.

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  6. Beautiful Laura !!

    hugs Diane xx

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  7. Love your hair clips and the fact your nieces all posed with them - I bet they wanted to take them home!

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  8. What a fantastic way to use these stencils. I am definately going to have a go with these ideas!!
    Siobhan

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  9. Holy smokes!! What a fabulous idea!!! My girls will have a few of these in a few days. Thanks for such a fabulous idea Laura!! I hope you are well!!

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  10. Beautiful clips! Thanks for the instructions on using metal with the stencils as I have yet to try this technique -- I can see using other stencils to make metal embellishment for Christmas cards.

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  11. These are fantastic! That giant butterfly clip is amazing. How did you manage to cut around the metal ones so smoothly?

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  12. very fun my friend! you rock the butterflies and the glitter the most!

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  13. Gorgeous butterflies! Thank you for describing how you made them.

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  14. These are awesome, what a great idea to strengthen them with cardboard in between. I like how the big one curves. Just beautiful!

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  15. Just gorgeous and what a great idea :) I love that huge butterfly so kewl

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  16. Wow! I love the metal embossing. Butterflies and glitter—what could be better? Thanks for sharing.

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  17. These are just amazing!! Beautiful creativity!

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  18. Laura, These are absolutely beautiful!

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