Steampunk puffy heart necklace-The Aviators Apprentice

Here are some better shots of my steampunk puffy heart necklace. I've called the one "The Aviators Apprentice". The cogs do move. Little tiny LED's (no they don't come on but I have ideas to make them do that one day). It has a faux old watch key is soldered in place at the top and a tiny brass key hole filled with ice resin and tiny watch cogs. At the bottom hangs a Swarovski crystal, a word washer and an old tin type photo of a man.

There are a couple of necklaces to share soon too. Then I'll pop them in my shop :)
hugs
Annette In Oz xxx

Whats On Your Workbench Wednesday (WOYWW)

Firstly sorry I couldn't get to all who left me a message the last time I played in WOYWW. I'm having pain issues on the right side and I am right handed so typing is a wee bit painful let alone arting but I do get little bits done in short spurts. I'm hoping the lovey specialist I see next week will help me get some relief. Last week I had visitors and no time to join in WOYWW then either but here I am this week at last. If you are wondering what WOYWW is all about pop over to Julia's blog here and join in or read about it. This week on my desk its still all cluttered but some projects are slowly coming together including another steam punk puffy heart necklace!! At the back left is a origami folded heart and tutorial plus video to how to do that is below this post here. I forgot to open the curtains before taking photos so the card is a bit dark so I'll add it below

At the back right are some cute nautical miniature brass items I hope to use on my jewellery. Here they are closer

                                                          

The necklace at top left below I will dismantle to use the rings as bezels.

Steam punk heart...needs a chain and few small watch cogs added. I'll take better shots of it when its fully completed, It will eventually be for sale in my new on line shop Annette's Art Alchemy!.

A whimsical flying bicycle I am toying with.

Off to have a look at others work benches around the World myself for WOYWW!
hugs
Annette In Oz

Folded Heart How Too / Tipnique Tuesday

As I'm having some joint pain issues I've been leaning toward past tips or techniques that don't require too much effort of my right shoulder as it is with this weeks technique which is how to make a folded heart. Even though it's easy to do and takes less then a few minutes to make the folded heart looks beautiful in the end. I've used these hearts on Valentine's day cards, Mother's Day cards and birthday cards for my hubby.

                                                WHAT YOU NEED

• Light weight paper such as 80gm stock where the length is twice as long as the height at the side. Mine was 10cm high by 20cm long. It's the same whether you use inches or centimeters.
• Ruler, bone folder, awl or pointed object, pencil, glue or double sided tape and a craft mat.

                                                 HOW TOO

1) If you are using paper that is coloured on one side only place the paper so coloured side is down or underneath when you start folding.  Have the paper in the landscape position and measure and mark a light dot at the half way point at the top and bottom. This was at 10cms for my paper.

2) Fold the top left point down to meet the middle marked dot at bottom and then the top right down the same way to make a triangle. Run the bone folder along the folded edges

 3) Open it out again and TURN IT AROUND (not over) and repeat the last step.

4) Unfold and TURN IT OVER and then fold each side into the centre and run bone folder along the folded edges.

5) Unfold and TURN IT OVER AGAIN. Gently fold it in from each side to make a diamond shape. Run bone folder along all folded edges.

6) Fold each point to the side. Press all folded edges with the bone folder again

This is how it should look now

7) Now open and squash fold each point to make a square shape in the middle. I used an awl to assist opening mine.

Run the bone folder over all folded edges.

8) Fold each side of the squares to make a kite shape with the base of the kite pointing at the centre

9) Use the awl to open each of the kite 8 folds and fold squash the top part flat. Run bone folder along all new folds.

10) Have the paper in a diamond shape like above and TURN IT OVER. Bring the top section down as per below and fold the left and right sides in a little. Run bone folder along all new folds. Apply glue or tape under each and adhere them all down. Turn it to the front and you have a folded heart ready to be used on a card.

I have done a video as well for those that like to watch instructions instead. I'm sorry the paper I used sounds so noisy in the video :o)

hugs
Annette In Oz

Jacob's Ladder Card / Tipnique Tuesday

Tipnique Tuesday is here again and this week I have an interactive card for you that I learnt sitting on a train with other paper arts ladies many years ago. Again it was one my children loved :o). I have a house full of visitors so I do apologize as I can't get in my art room to actually decorate the sample but this is a fun card based on the Jacob's Ladder where parts bend over other parts to reveal different areas.

                              MATERIALS

•  Two pieces of card stock.of choice. I have used red (25cmx14cm) and white (15x14cm) for contrast so you can see easily what I am doing.
• Ruler, pencil, rubber, bone folder, craft knife and craft mat
• Stamps of choice

                            HOW TOO
1) On white card stock have the 15cm sides at top and bottom. Measure and mark across top and bottom at 5cm intervals. Draw a soft line with a pencil. I have used a black marker so you can see what I am doing.

2) Use the ruler and craft knife and cut along the marked lines

3) On each panel trim a further few mm off one long edge

4) Place red card in landscape position. Measure and mark a dot along the top and bottom edges at 5cm intervals. Use bone folder and run it down from each dot at top and bottom. Rub out dots.

5) Concertina fold the red card and use the bone folder to press each fold.

6) Flatten the red card out again. On first line and on last measure and mark a dot at the half way mark. In this case its at 7cm and then half way between this above and below that mark (3.5cm and 10.5cm from the top line). Use the craft knife and cut three lines from the first line at left to the last line at right at the marked dots (3.5cm, 7cm and 10.5cms).

7) Start to weave the white panels you made thru the cut lines under and over as shown till all three panels are in place.

Decorate the card. on all parts showing in the woven areas. Use stamps etc or images that fit in each red or white area and that don't overlap. Decorate front and back! As I said I can't get in my art room to decorate mine so use your imagination :o). Now fold the card up and something like magic happens...the bent areas start to pop open...look at the left hand side below...

This effect happens at the front and the back. Different areas fold out at different times. Hidden ares get revealed and hidden again!!

You don't have to use three panels you can use two like below.

Have fun! If your panels are larger make the "red" card 5 times that length (for three panel cards and 4 times the length for two panel cards)

hugs

Annette In Oz

My new website is live!

I have wanted to do this for a long while but lacked the money and the self belief that my jewellery was good enough to do so but here it is at last....my new website to sell my hand made jewellery from!
http://www.annettesartalchemy.com/
Please drop on by and let me know if it looks Ok and loads OK.
A HUGE thank you to Jen Crossley who taught me so much and so well in how to make jewellery and etch metal etc.Jen has guided me along my jewellery making journey with love and support. Jen you are amazing and there is NOBODY like you :o).
Another HUGE thanks also need to go to Bevela Ross whom built the site for me and did all the photography. I think she did an amazing job and the4 site is so me...but then I may be a little biased LOL.

I also have a new Facebook page just for the website where I'll share web site new uploads, new tutorials and news from here
https://www.facebook.com/AnnettesArtAlchemy?fref=ts
Hubby left early this am for another 28 days away. I have some visitors here for the next few days but after that I hope to get some new steam punk puffy hearts made so stay tuned. Thank everyone for your love, envouragement and support :o)
hugs
Annette In Oz

WOYWW 214

It's Wednesday again and time for artists all over the World to share what is on their work desk for What's On Your Work desk Wednesday-WOYWW. If you would like to join in or read about this please for to Julia's blog here. This week there isn't much change to last week as hubby has been home for his 9 days off and we have been sharing some much needed time together. He flies out again this Friday and will be away for another 28 days. As we hope to move interstate at the end of the year we are trying to go to some of our fav spots here when he has his 9 days home time. I'll pop some shots of the desk up first and the progress I made on the puffy steam punk heart till Grant arrived last Thursday. Under those shots will be some photos of a little trip we did while Grant was home this time. At the end I'll share why my jewellery went away for photos as well!

Where I am up too so far with the steam punk puffy heart :o)

Some mail that arrived from Retro Cafe art...I so love that shop!!

Some wildlife and nature shots from our little trip to Victoria River and Timber Creek. There were these gorgeous metallic looking beetles on a night spotting walk to Joe creek which is near Victoria River Roadhouse where we stayed (approx 500kms from our home).

 Aboriginal rock art at Joe Creek

and a cute little frog.

The next day we went to Timber Creek (600kms from home) and did a river cruise where we saw salt water crocodiles...

This one has had enough to eat I would say!!

We also saw birds... 2 Jabiru stalks and a freshie crocodile at their feet!

birds on the wing as the boat passed by

 A beautiful sea eagle

Whistling kite

Lovely scenerey

Whistling kite nest

and a beautiful goanna.

Here is my jewellery back after its photographic session

The reason my jewellery went away is I'm soon to announce the opening of my own web site where I shall sell my hand made jewellery. The site has been made for me by Bevlea Ross who does amazing website work. It's live now but I wont share the link yet as I need to check out all the details and make sure its all tweeked and then I shall shout it out. I'm so excited about it!!

hugs

Annette In Oz