Red- Letter Words in Nature’s Beauty

Red- Letter Words in Nature’s Beauty 

The little limerick “What is black and white and red all over?”– kept coming to mind as I created these bezels.  A few months earlier I had been drawn to the simplicity and depth of black and white nature photos and thus, the gathering and collecting began-- nature books, photos and even stationary.  As I began to work with the images, I knew they needed a little something but I did not want to take away from the beauty of the trees.  As I thought of what would complement, and not compete with these bezels, words came to my mind- encouraging and simple,  yet words with depth- Words that would stand out amongst nature’s beauty.  Red letter words- often words written in red have a deeper meaning and draw the attention of the reader into the passage. These words seem to lift off the pages and find their place into our hearts.  

Creating the appearance of lifting/floating words is a 2-step process.  First, I created a word document with words such as love, life, joy, grace, peace and more.   Then I printed these words onto tissue paper (see note in the technique instructions). The second step is using ICE Resin® in the bezels after placing the tissue paper word inside.  With this resin®, the white background disappears – so all that remains are the red-letter words! 

In keeping with the color and simplicity, one red glass bead was added as a drop to each bezel.  This bead emphasized not only the color but also the word while maintaining the simplicity of the black and white images. Finishing these pieces with antique gold and silver chains, kept the cohesiveness of the bezels, images and colors. While the answer to the limerick might be the newspaper – for us the answer is clear.  What is black and white and red all over---a nature inspired, red letter word bezel that can be read (and worn) daily!

Let’s Gather

Black and white nature images

Bezels of choice

ICE Resin®, disposable cups/stir sticks

Non- stick craft mat

Scissors, pencil 

Tissue paper 

A tape runner or repositionable tape

Glossy Accents™

Stamps-sentiment of choice 

*a stamp was used on the heart bezel 

Stazon™ ink in cherry red

Red glass beads – 1 per bezel

Wire- 18 gage

Round nose pliers

Flat nose pliers

Wire cutters

Chain necklace – 1 per bezel

Jump ring – 1 for each bezel that has a top loop

Let’s make

1.     Cut the image to fit inside the bezel.  Either trace the outer edge of bezel onto the image or Ink the top edges of bezel and “stamp” onto the image. 

2.    Place a little bit of Glossy Accents onto the back of the image and place in bezel. This  will keep the paper in place so it will not float in the resin.

3.    Cut the tissue paper words and set aside.

4.    Mix the ICE Resin® according to package directions

5.    Place a thin layer of resin over the image.

6.    Lay the trimmed word onto the image. 

7.    Fill the Bezel with resin, making sure it is level to the top edge of bezel.  Set aside for 8-10 hours to dry. 

To create the tissue paper words

1.     Create a word document with various words, sizes and fonts.  Be sure to change the color to red.  

2.    Print a test page onto regular paper.  Trim the words to see if they will fit in the bezel. *You are not using this paper. This is only a test page. 

3.    Adjust the words/size/font if necessary.

4.    Cut a piece of white tissue paper to the size of your regular paper (8 ½ by 11)

5.    Using the tape runner, run a line around the 4 edges of the regular paper (not the middle); place tissue paper on top of paper and tape. Being sure to smooth it out as you go. 

6.    Now place the taped tissue paper into your printer and print the words. 

**If using a stamp, stamp image with Cherry Red Stazon™ ink onto white tissue paper.

To create bead dangles

1.     Cut a desired length of wire.  Thread the bead to the middle of the wire and bring both sides up and lay one end of wire over the other and begin to wrap.  

2.    With longer end of wire, create a loop through the lower loop of bezel. Bring wire around and begin to wrap the excess.  Trim and make sure to “tuck the tail” of the wire so all edges will be smooth.

Finishing the piece

1.     Add one jump ring to top loop of bezel.

2.    Thread the chain through the jump ring and fasten the clasp.

*To see a few more photos, the necklace below appears in Stampington's Belle Armoire Jewelry Fall 2018 issue.  I am honored to be included with so many talented jewelry designers and artists.

Until next time, Make it a red letter day!!

Magazine Mosaic Necklace features in the Gallery of Belle Armoire Jewelry Summer Issue 2017

Magazine Mosaic in the spirit of Monet

Recently our ceiling fell (another story for another time but it was due to our A/C).  The only thing that was ruined was.... you guessed it- my magazines that were on the coffee table.  I am so very grateful that no one was hurt. Our furniture was cleaned and restored but…. Oh the sad state of a stack of my treasures (magazines), wet and somewhat crumpled.   What was I to do?  …. Get creating!

With my wet British County Living, I decided to try a paste paper technique to try and save some of the beautiful images..   What I love with this technique is that each pendant, collage or bezel will be different.  With the blending of the papers, the effects can be soft as Monet’s flower fields or vibrant as Georgia O’Keefe.   So if you are willing to part with your magazines, let’s get started and create these works of art…. if you can’t part with your treasured publications, just ask your neighbor for theirs…. Happy Creating!!

Gather

A few supplies

Brush the Paper Sealer onto the trimmed paper

Old Magazines

Paper trimmer

Collage glue stick

Cardstock

Metal bezel

ICE Resin®, disposable cup, stir stick 

*ICED Enamels, ICED Enamels Medium, Relique Powder or Acrylic paint (*Optional)
Heat tool

Wire, jewelry pliers wire cutters

Beads

Leather Cording or Chain

Make

1.  Using paper trimmer and pages from magazines, cut long strips of varying width

2.  With collage glue stick, glue strips next to and even overlapping each other on the base cardstock

3.  Once a large enough area is covered, lay the template down.

Paper strips glued onto base yardstick
 and the template for the bezel

4.  To cut out the bezel size, with pencil trace and then use scissors to cut out or with a Xacto knife cut around the template through the paper.  Make sure that the paper is on a self-healing cutting mat. Brush on two coats of Paper Sealer and  Set aside.

 

The paper trimmed heart and 2 other bezels 

5.  Now prepare the bezel with a little bit of ICED Enamel Powder or Acrylic Paint.

Brush on ICED Enamel Medium in the bezel

Sprinkling on the Relique Powder.  Then
heat set with embossing/craft heat tool. 

 6.  Prepare the ICE Resin®  -

*Mix equal amounts of part A and part B in the disposable cup.  

*Using the plastic stir stick and gently fold the two parts stirring for two minutes.

6.  With the stir stick, drip the Resin into the bezel and fill to the edge.  Let dry 8-10 hours

 

Drying on the Studio Sheet

7.  With annealed wire, thread through the loop on the bezel.  String 3 beads and then create a loop at the top and wire wrap the longer tail.

8.  String the wire and heart bezel onto leather or chain

 

Sunlight  shinning on my Mosaic Garden

A few fun facts about my Love of Jewelry…

*When I was a little girl, stringing beads was a favorite in our home.  From there the love just grew and the little girl in me, loves to create jewelry pieces for others and myself.

I was inspired to make this piece so I could rescue wet magazines that I couldn’t bear to throw away.

The Best part of Jewelry making for me is the feeling of accomplishment and the absolute freedom to create each piece as unique as the person who will wear it.

 Until next time, Grab a few magazines and enter Monet's Gardens or Georgia O'Keefe's flowers 

A little more abstract bezel, ready for ICE Resin®