ETI - Environmental Technology Product Blog Hop

The heat is on this month -  literally!  It's hot enough outside to fry an egg on the sidewalk here in Texas! Should cool down to about 100˚ in the next day or so if we're lucky...

Things are hotting up inside too.  DCC has not one, but TWO blog hops this month. The first is with  products from ETI - Enviromental Technology, Inc.  I received a package of EnviroTex® Jewelry Clay and a package of EnviroTex® Jewelry Resin to work with.  I haven't worked with either product before so I thought I'd try my hand at a simple jewelry piece first.  I have some really great moulds from Katy Sue Designs that will be just perfect for the project I have in mind.  They are actually designed for cake decorating, but these are silicone moulds and can be used for other crafty projects too!

Anyway, this is my very first jewelry clay project!
 

It was inspired by this necklace I've had since 1954.  I don't wear it any more, but I still love it.  It was quite a popular style in those days.  I remember my grandmother wearing a brooch with the same little flowers.

 

As I said, I haven't worked with jewelry clay before, so I carefully read thru the instructions that came in the package.

Step 1 - Roll equal parts of components A an B together.  Don't forget to wear gloves!

Step 2 - Mix thoroughly then roll into a ball.  Push the ball firmly into the mould.

 

Step 3 - Carefully remove the clay from the mould. You can bend the mould to make it easy.

Step 4 - Let the clay dry for about 2 hrs then trim the excess clay from around the edge of the flower with a craft knife. Add a "jewel" to the center.  The clay will act as the glue.

Step 5 - To make the leaves, mix a second ball of clay using equal parts of components A and B. Press flat. Using the Katy Sue Designs Impress™ tool, cut tiny leaves from the clay. Add lines with the tip of a tiny, flat head screwdriver.

Step 6 - Let the clay pieces dry overnight then paint with your choice of craft paint. (You could also use nail polish for a nice shiny look.)

Step 7 - While the clay is drying prepare the necklace.  I had an old, antique looking medallion with tiny pearls around the edge. I added a pearl drop at the bottom and a long pearl chain at the top with jump rings. To finish I glued the tiny leaves and finally the flower in place.  The medallion is only 1" diameter, so you can imagine how small my clay pieces are. 

And here's the finished necklace again:

We know you'll be excited to try the jewelry clay too so we're having a giveaway! All you have to do to enter is comment on the blogs in the hop. You'll receive points for each comment, so the more you comment, the more chances you have to win.  The winner will be selected next Friday, August 21st via Rafflecopter.  Just look at the cool stuff the winner will receive....!  You can hop thru DCC member blogs using the blue DCC logo "hop forward" button in the sidebar of each blog and you can also see more projects to comment on on the DCC blog...

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Yours truly,

Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Today's mommies are much more eco minded and are making a conscientious decision to use cloth diapers for their little ones instead of disposable ones.  To meet these mommies' needs Babyville Boutique was born.  (No pun intended.)  The program was developed so that everything these new crafty "mommies" needed could be found in one program, readily available in stores like JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby and Hancocks.  Since I'm expecting my third grandchild in a few months, I thought this would be a good time for a baby giveaway.

There's a selection of PUL (waterproof fabric), patches, FOE (fold over elastic), buttons, labels, snaps and snap pliers, plus a 60 page, full color book jam packed with ideas and patterns.

Starting tomorrow, June 8th, you have 10 days to enter to win this package of goodies.  Here's how:  If you check the FB Like button in my sidebar, it will whisk you away to the Designer Crafts Connection FB Page.  There you will see one of my favorite photos for the cover photo.  Do you know where this is?  You can find clues and maybe even the answer on one of the DCC blogs in our webring.  You may not be expecting yourself, but what a great gift to pass on to a friend, or a friend's friend.  Comment on my blog and you can still win even if you don't find the answer, but those of you who do will be entered twice.  Best of British Luck!  Y'all come back now.........

Yours truly,

Julie :)

Giveaway!

Feeling punchy?  If you are you're gonna love the giveaway I have for August.

These are great big punches!  Two embossed leaf punches and a tag shaped punch from Marvy Uchida, and two McGill button punches.

The Designer Crafts Connection theme for August is all about our favourite crafting techniques.  Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with, so check back on First Monday, August 1st (OMG that's in 2 days!),  and I'll let you know how you can enter to win!  The weather may not be cool here in Texas, but our projects will be!  Y'all come back now.......

Yours truly,
Julie :)

May Giveaway!

May 5th is a great day!  

It's National Scrapbook day, Cinco de Mayo 

and it's my birthday!  

So, for the month of May the giveaway is a  

BIRTHDAY PRESENT - FOR YOU! 

   

This month's winner will receive a box full of crafty products including some cool tools. To enter to win you must guess what at least 4 of these products will be.  To help with the guesswork, there is a different clue on 4 of the blogs throughout our group.  You'll find a clue wherever you see this photo of the birthday bag.  List your answers in the comments here at Life in the Craft Lane.  Comments won't be published until the winner is revealed on May 19th.  BTW, the clues may not be in numerical order.  Good Luck!

Y'all come back now..........

Yours truly,
Julie :)

Happy Spring!

Can you believe that Winter has gone already and it's Spring! Before we know it it'll be Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas all over again.   Isn't it nice that there are still some things in life that we can count on.

We'll be having a new giveaway in 2 more weeks!  Giveaways will always be around the beginning of each month and the one for April will be on the 4th.  April is the 4th month, so the giveaway will be announced on the 4th!  May is the 5th month of the year, so the giveaway for May will be on the 5th, etc, etc.  Hopefully this will be easy to remember.  May 5th will have to be extra special, because Cinco de Mayo also happens to be my birthday.

Life in the Craft Lane is pretty busy right now, so I apologize for not posting a lot.  We start taping the new TV series the week of April 4th too - crikey, that's only 2 weeks away and I still have SO much to do to get ready for that.  I'll be posting photos and updating you throughout, so y'all come back now!

Yours truly,
Julie :)