The Weather Outside Is...?

Definitely not too frightful here, but I am in California. So... understanding that many of you are living in colder climes, I figured you may need something to do to keep your hands busy (and warm).

I know you have all your Christmas presents done and wrapped and under the festively decorated tree... but here's a little something you can whip up for a last-minute gift or tuck away for Valentine's Day. You ARE getting ready for Valentine's Day, aren't you???

Christmas Countdown Extra-Credit Project #1:

Hipster Photo Charms

Supplies:

*Patera Deep Pendants in your choice of metals/sizes made by Nunn Design (click here for a list of online retail stores)

*Index prints (larger are better)

*Trimmer/scissors

*Diamond Glaze or UTEE (ultra-thick embossing element)

*Bead chain and fastener trimmed to preferred length

Step One: Using your choice of pendant as a template, cut a photo from your index sheet. You may need to trim a slightly larger piece of cardstock to mount the photo on, if the index print is too small.

Step Two: Mount the photo onto the cardstock if needed. A single swipe of adhesive is sufficient because the whole thing is going to be coated in UTEE or Diamond Glaze.

Step Three: Put a bit of a smear of Diamond Glaze in the base of the pendant. (If you are using UTEE, use a glue dot or something to stick the photo down). If you are the cautious type and are worried it will fall out, go ahead and use double-sided tape to stick it down (you are probably the type who insists on sitting bolt-upright on any  flight you take, for fear that the plane will plummet out of the sky if not for your constant vigilence).

Step Four: Pop in the photo.

Step Five: Coat the whole shebang with Diamond Glaze. Start at the edges and work your way in. As you can see here, the glaze will look murky when it is wet (I'm not THAT bad of a photographer!). It will become clear as it dries. Give it a good 12 hours to dry and harden. DO NOT (Let me repeat, DO NOT) try to speed the drying process by using your heat gun. It may seem like it is working, but the second your back is turned, strange things will happen, and when you look back again you will see weird globule-like things in your Diamond Glaze that will look like some sort of alien being has taken up residence. This will not be pleasant. So do yourself a favor and just let the darned thing dry. 12 hours isn't THAT long to wait!

NOTE: I recommend using Diamond Glaze instead of UTEE. For me, it is less work and gives a smoother finish (no loose granules to deal with). But if you insist... you will follow steps 1-4 above, then you will either heat your UTEE in a cute little heater thingy that Tim Holtz makes look so darned easy on his videos and then pour it into the pendant, taking care not to accidentally spill any on your fingers (which burns like the dickens)...

...Or you will pour a layer of UTEE granules over your photo in the pendant, and attempt to heat it with your heat gun, without spewing the UTEE everywhere. I was not successful in this quest, so now I have UTEE in places UTEE just should not be. I tried covering the pendant with a square of foil and heating through the foil, which provided a certain level of success, but not enough to make me say, "OH my gosh, this was so fun, I cannot wait to do it again!" Instead, I muttered, "Oh my gosh, why on earth did I buy this huge vat of UTEE? I will never use it again!"

But to each her own, so do what feels right. :)

Variations: Key chains. Kids' art shrunk down and sized to fit. New mom/grandma pendants... dried flowers, love notes, etc. etc. etc.

I love mine and wear it almost every day. I will be wearing it in Houston. You are coming to CKC Houston, aren't you??? Etta and Rachella will be there. :)

Comments

[sockiepuppets mom]

This is a perfect gift for grandmothers! I love it! Can't wait for January:)

[Rebecca]

It's supposed to be late fall here in Missouri, but it feels more like early spring. Mid 60s past few days. I like it, but I know it will change...we may have snow Thursday. Thanks for all the projects and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[Mary c]

WOW! I didn't know we were getting bonus projects! Yay! This is too cute.

[Christel]

HMMM 70's here in Alabama!! Tree up, presents wrapped BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA you are talking to the QUEEN of Procrastination!!! I will be doing good just to get Thanksgiving dinner ready on time

[Ramona]

I feel with you about the UTEE problem. But the easy solution is- Send it all to me..lol.. Actually, you should have held the pendant with tweezers (or whatever you have to keep your fingers away from the heat) and heated it from below. Not blowing on top, but onto the bottom of the pendant, as if you heat it on a stove. KWIM? I once made bottle caps filled with sand and shells and UTEE-ed them this way. Works perfect!

[Erin Bassett]

Ok, I have a UTEE solution for you...."cook" your project in the broiler. It works GREAT! (Just don't forget it's in there!!)

PS - I'm in So. CA too!!

[Nicole]

What a great project!

And the tree isn't allowed up until the first Sunday in December. Hard and fast rule around here. Probably because my birthday falls on your Thanksgiving weekend every year and if we didn't have that rule everyone just FORGOT.

Also, now that I have kids? If you put the tree up too early they get too wound up waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaitiiiiiiiiiiiiiing for presents.

But I bet the kids could make these pendants while they waited!

[Kelly Jo]

Another adorable project, Lain!
You can also put Red Sox World Champions Logos in your charms! ;)
Happy Thanksgiving!!!

[Korie B.]

Great project Lain!
Some people complain that Diamond Glaze sometimes bubbles or blurs their photos. A great alternative is Ranger's Glossy Accents. It dries crystal clear and has less of a tendency to bubble.
I'll have to get my act together this week (since, once again, I missed Thursday's challenge!) and make myself a couple of pendants. Love it!

[sockiepuppetsmom]

Thank you so much for giving a tutorial on this! I finally got around to making one but I am doing a bracelet for my mom for mother's day. I would've never thought of it on my own.