As an art teacher, I'm asked many times to offer ideas for classroom teachers for Mother's Day projects.  I decided to try this fun necklace as one of the ideas I offered up.  I've seen it done with paper and you could totally do it with many different materials, but for today's post, I made this one with large paperclips, Sculpey Ultra Light oven dry clay, and Design Memory Craft products.  It's pretty easy for older kids to do without much guidance.  Little ones would need help, but it would be charming.  Any Mom would love this necklace!

I got a package of brass colored large paperclips at Staples and used around 19 of them and hooking them together. 

Next, I conditioned some clay (I used the Sculpey Ultra Light clay that is baked in the oven)... that is you work it with your fingers to soften it before using it.  I put it on my non-stick craft mat and used a playdoh roller (tee hee... I swiped it from my 3 year old's play set) so that it was about 1/8th of an inch thick. I cut it into 1 1/2"x 1" pieces. 

Next, I placed the piece under a paperclip and wrapped it carefully around the clip. Make sure to press it tight and try to make it even.

I used the Stamper's Big Brush Pen in Black to ink up one of the little stamps in the Gelatos® sets and stamped them into the clay.  I stamped off some of the ink before stamping the clay.  It make it a little more grungy.  IF you like the more opaque black, skip this step!   I stamped both sides of the bead.

Once I complete all beads, I placed it on my crafty old cookie sheet.  I save this well-used sheet for oven bake clay... I baked it for 15 minutes at 275 degrees.

You have to let it cool... remember there is metal in each bead!  HOT!  Allow to cool for at least 10 mins. Now the fun begins!  I used Gelatos® to create washes to color the beads.  Using my craft mat, I scribbled some color on the mat and spritzed some water on it to wet.  They are water-soluable and mix beautifully! 

I used a heat gun to speed dry it a bit and gave it a second coat of color for more intensity.  After they were dry, I used the Textural Accents Glaze to coat each one for a slightly glossy and protective seal.

Here I am wearing my new necklace!  I love how easy it was and using paperclips... who knew?  So economical!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!

Hi everyone, Mou Saha here.  Here’s a tutorial on creating an art journal background.

So, let’s get started.  I used an old book here.

Apply a coat of white Gesso. Let dry.

Add colors with Gelatos®.

Blend the colors with a baby wipe
 

Layer a stencil and apply more color with Gelatos®  and blend with wipe.

Ink a stamp with a Stamper's Big Brush Pen and stamp a border along the right edge.

Since I plan on writing and adding images to this spread, I’ll leave the background as is at this point so it doesn’t interfere with my art journaling.

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and will give this a try.

Hi! Jen Matott here to share a project that I made using DMC products.  I have made a little mixed media book that has a variety of materials for pages.  The theme of this book is "One Little Word". I created this after being inspired by Ali Edward's yearly quest for the word that will become part of your yearly creative efforts.  I have wanted to participate for some time but didn't get going until now.  I created this book using a vintage photo proof portfolio (I found it among my grandfather's possessions when he passed away.)  They were used to hold photographs but are perfect to create a mini album!  I used watercolor paper, canvas, mixed media paper, chipboard, and cardboard as the pages.  Most of the pages use Gelatos® or Aquarelle watercolor pencils. I wanted to make something closer to my style in order to explore my word this year "Time".

Here's the cover... mostly covered in papers from Authentique and Prima but inside is the more artsy materials!

Inside front page that used a piece of chipboard that I covered wth paper  and cut out the window to reveal the drippy next page.

First I used a template to spray some Gelato® spray though it to create the clock background.  I then used the Stamper's Big Brush markers to stamp the clocks and banner pieces and used Gelatos® and water at the top of the page to create the drips. I cut out the banner pieces and starburst stamped image to create some depth.

I created a wash of color using Gelatos® on a craft mat and water.  I used them on the back of the page and when the dried, I drew with the PITT® artist pens to create journaling boxes for me to add my thoughts and goals. The next page was canvas on a piece of the portfolio and I used the Aquarelle watercolor pencils to create the circles and arrow shape.  I also used the Big Brush Marker  to stamp the letters to create the words in each box. More drippage and corregated cardboard!  Love the textures here and how the dripping Gelatos® interact with it!

The back of the cardboard page was done with Gelatos® smeared onto the background and then stamped text on top with the Stamper's Big Brush pen... Then, I used that template again to push light modeling paste through to create the raised clocks... add some papers and this one is done!

The reverse of the first page... the template with the Gelatos® sprays on it and turned over to create the opposite.  I used some punchinella to smear some Gelatos® through to create the dots.

More Gelatos® sprays, washes, and stamped images with Stamper's Big Brush Pen.  I created the tag with leftover wash colors.

This book was part of a class I taught at my local scrapbook store and I love the outcome of this special little word book!  I hope you enjoyed my project today!  Thanks for letting me share.

Good Morning! It's Tiffany here with a fun technique video to share with you over at Simon Says Stamp! The video demonstrates many fun techniques with the Design Memory Craft® Gelatos™! 

Here are some of the cards I created featuring those fun techniques:

There's a giveaway too! So, please go check out the Simon Says Stamp video today!

Thanks for dropping by :)

Hi, it's Jill here sharing a set of tags created by simply stamping images onto white tags and coloring using using PITT® Artist Pens. The grey distressed edges were created by coloring with Gelatos™ directly onto tag and blending with my fingertip.  For an extra blended look, I colored over the grey areas with a white gelato and blended again using my fingertip.  Add a water-splotched background by coloring with PITT® Artist Pens onto a craft sheet, add water with a paint brush, and then flick over top of tag. (All images by Penny Black)

Hugs and happy stamping!

April 22nd is Earth Day!  Let's show our planet some love with some "upcycled" crafts! 

Design Memory Craft is issuing our 2nd Annual Design Challenge for Earth Day. 

Here's the scoop:  Create an upcycled project using at least one Design Memory Craft product.  Get ready to raid the recycling bin because you also have to use one of the following:

• Coffee Cup Sleeve
• Cereal Box
• Egg Carton

Post your project on our Facebook Page.  The 4 projects with the most Likes will win a Green Prize Pack including Gelatos, Stamper's Big Brush and a Mixed Media Sampler.  Post your project and "Like" your favorites by April 22nd.  Our winners will be announced on April 23rd!