My Not So Perfect Soldering!

My mom and step-mom requested some bookmarks after seeing the teacher ones I had made a week ago. So for mother's day I made each of them one. Both images are from Lockhart Stamps. They were both colored in with Copics. I cut the squares to a 1 x1 size. I soldered the pieces with no problem. I even got my edges a bit smoother. I EVEN got the bottom jump ring on without using swear words! LOL! But.......The top filigreed piece was a different story! I could NOT get the solder to NOT go in the crevices. When I would heat it up again, the whole filigreed piece would fall off. After an hour or so of putzing I gave up. So don't click on it to make it larger, or you will see my not so perfect filigreed topper.......*sigh*
Anyway, I also decorated a little tin to go with the bookmark. That was much easier than the soldering! LOL!

Teachers' Gifts....scroll down for blog candy!

I finally broke down and bought the Simply Swank video on how to solder. I was struggling with it tremendously! It was a huge help! I learned what that yellow spongelike thing is for next to the soldering tool. (Yes, you are supposed to CLEAN the tip of the tool each time.......duh!) Anyway, my soldering is still far from perfect....but much better! I learned how to drag the metal and get those pesky jump rings to stay put! (And this time, poor Kyle didn't have to help me and worry that his mama was going to burn him!)
I decided to make some teachers' end of the year gift. I started with this tin from Michaels. I cut the Making Memories packaging tape to fit the top of the tin. (This product is part of my blog candy below) I punched some stars, added buttons, stamped the sentiment and apple from Papertrey Ink. I added crystal lacquer to the apple. Teachers like shiny apples!
I stamped this apple using a Lockhart stamp. I used my Copics to color it in. I cut the apple out. I printed the word teacher using my computer in a size 8 font. I glued the apple and word to DP. Cut the paper to fit behind the glass. Sandwich the image between 2 pieces of glass. Follow the soldering directions. I strung ribbon at the top for the bookmark part. I strung 3 beads and hung them on the jump ring.

Tomorrow Cort, Kyle and I are going to bake some cupcakes for Cort's birthday. My Cortney got the loveliest gift from my super sweet blogger friend Mary Ann. She made her the prettiest apron with bling! She also made an adorable headband to keep the hair out of her eyes. So I will post some pics tomorrow with her new apron.

Scroll down for some blog candy if you haven't already! Drawing is this Friday!

Another Attempt at Soldering!

I am definitely NOT an expert at soldering! There is a learning curve with this whole thing! I have been having trouble with the jump rings and such. I had my son hold the jump ring so I could touch the area around it with the soldering gun. All he kept saying to me was, "Please, don't burn me, please don't burn me!" Of course I was EXTRA careful! I can't quite get it as smooth as I'd like.....but I guess with practice I will get better.....I hope! I have one of those metal trees in my living room that you hang small photo frames on....so this is where this one is going!

Well, my washing machine is finally fixed! And only at the small price of $193.00! (Insert sarcasm there!) Guess this means I need to do laundry!

My First Attempt at Soldering!

I have to admit, I got sucked right into the whole Inchie craze! Thanks to the wonderfully talented Debbie Olsen and Ellen Hutson. Debbie has been doing some soldering with tiny images, microscope slides, and the soldering tools. I used to make jewelry a lot.....but as you know there are only so many hours in the day! So jewelry making has taken a back seat to cards and scrappin! But when I saw this.....well it was right up my alley! Jewelry AND stamping.....TOGETHER?!! So I purchased the entire soldering kit from Ellen Hutson's store. My mind is crazy with ideas for this! But I had to start somewhere...... and here it is! My first soldered piece is a bookmark. I am hoping to make some cute necklaces for Cort and her friends. But let me just tell ya....it is WAY harder than it looks! The first piece I tried to make ended up in the garbage! It is a bit tricky, and I know I need to practice..... A LOT! The paper was Creative Imaginations and Memory Box. The cute little Lollipop is a sneak peek at Treehouse stamps new release coming out soon! I colored it in with my Copics and added a bit of glitter with my Sakura gelly roll pen. The word, sweet was stamped using my snap stamps.
I know there are some imperfections, and I need to practice.....but I think I have found a new love!
Have a great day Everyone!!!!! : )