Have you seen the Art Bead Scene blogs March Challenge yet? If you have, then you already would know that we are a sponsor for the two winners of this challenge. We have donated two Vintaj Jewelry Technique Books and fun sampler packs of our new Arte Metal, Fastenables and Altered Blanks. Other sponsor prizes have been donated by Miss Fickle Media and Jade Scott. Don’t worry, you still have time to submit your designs. Your entry this month can be influenced by the colors, pattern or whatever you choose to focus on for your creation, based on this beautiful Van Gogh painting – Almond Blossoms (one of my favorites!). Just remember to include at least one Art Bead in your design… and I suggest that you incorporate a whole lot of Vintaj. The perfect fit, don’t you think?
{This challenge is open to jewelry-makers, fiber artists, collage artists, etc… Deadline is March 31st}
CLICK HERE for detailed submission guidelines and important info related to this challenge!
We randomly drew names from all the comments posted each day last week and are posting a “Congratulations” to the five lucky winners! These are the winning comments that will each be receiving the Vintaj Elements Sampler Pack!
Lucie Bouvier – Mar 1 at 1:41pm– MarchDesign Challenge: “Heather Fields” – This challenge is going to be lots of fun!
Karen Feder – Mar 2 at 4:58pm – Step-by-Step video: Letter Stamping – Jess, First of all, it was really nice putting such a happy face to a name that I have seen 1000 times!! Excellent video…well demonstrated, great videography and very easily explained. BRAVO!!! style of necklace really inspires me, thanks for sharing the ideas.
Alice – Mar 3 at 7:22am – Cool Find: Faux Enamel Booklace – That’s so cool! I’d love to try my hand at making a little book pendant. Thanks for sharing!
Joyce Becker – Mar 4 at 7:16pm – Daily Giveaway Mar 1-5 - Your products are amazing – they are hot, highest quality and brass perfection! Keep them coming…. (and I hope I win)
FaerieKat – Mar 5 at 7:54pm – Featured Project, March ‘10 - Absolutely awesome and perfect for spring — Vintaj elements are endlessly fascinating.
Keep posting your comments for your chance to win another giveaway!
It’s fun and easy to create a unique leather cuff bracelet out of old belts or scraps. Get creative with textures and patterns to add dimension. Distress with inks and create cold connections for a rock’n cool cuff!
1. Cut the leather approx. 1 to 2″ shorter than your desired bracelet length (leaving room for your clasp).
2. Use a fine grit sand paper or file to remove loose or fly-away pieces from the cut edges. Use a Tim Holtz Distress ink pad (Vintage Photo or Walnut) on the edges to blend color or create a worn look.
3. Add dimension and texture to the leather: use rubber stamps and black StazOn ink to add words and patterns or use metal design stamps to imprint images and sayings, both on the leather and brass blanks.
4. Layer and rivet your favorite Vintaj altered blank shapes, charms & embellishments over the stamped pattern. Or use colored C-Lon beading cord to tie and secure brass pieces.
5. Finish with a creative clasp or toggle. Use the crop-a-dile to punch a hole and set an eyelet on one end of the cuff. Attach a lobster clasp, hook or toggle bar through the hole. Rivet a decorative embellishment to the opposite end to complete your creative closure.
{The possibilities are endless! Try to make one for yourself… or create a more masculine one for a guy!}
Check out this week’s giveaway – Swirling Swallow Necklace Kit! To win, all you have to do is leave a *comment on any post: Daily Dialogue, Publications, CoolFinds, Get Crafty! etc…, and you are automatically entered into the drawing! Start posting now for your chance to win. Winners will be posted next Tuesday.
*Please make sure to include a valid email at which you can be contacted if your comment is chosen. We will email you to get a mailing address where you would like your giveaway sent, so make sure that you have allowed emails from Vintaj to reach your Inbox (instead of ending up in your Junk Mail!). We will ship all giveaways for a given week out at the same time so please respond back to us with your mailing address quickly!
Today I would like to share my top ten favorite tools, used for Jewelry making, mixed-media projects and much more! I love these jewelry tools, they are at arms reach and I use most of them on a daily basis. You will see projects in our new Vintaj Jewelry Technique Book featuring many of these favorites. You can use all of them on our Altered Blanks™ and Altered Blank Canvases™, so now you see why I can’t live without them! My collection is growing, but I still have my eye on some cool tools that I haven’t used yet but hope to soon. What are your favorites, are some on this list?
10. Zutter Corner Cutter
Change the shape of your handmade journal covers, create smooth rounded corners on altered blank canvases and chip board.PROJECT IDEA!
9. Beading Awl
Enlarge the openwork of filigree and holes to string beads, fit rivets or jump rings. Re-pierce holes after using resin and sealers. PROJECT IDEA!
8. Filigree Bending/Bale Making Pliers
Form filigree settings, ring bases, transform connectors into bales and wire wrap pendants with the ease of two different barrel widths. TIPS!
7. Texturing Hammers
Distress metal using a variety of patterns. Each hammer is double-sided with two unique options. TECHNIQUE VIDEO!
6. Dapping Block Set
Form your own domed bezels to create resin collage pendants or simply suspend beads in opening. PROJECT IDEA!
5. Letter & Design Punch Sets Imprint initials, names, words or your favorite sayings into metal to create personalized jewelry or art.TECHNIQUE VIDEO!
4. Mini Jeweler’s Hammer
This tiny hammer is light-weight and perfect for riveting.PROJECT IDEA!
3. Metal Two-Hole Punch (Screw Down)
Easily make holes into metal. Choose between two sizes, use the silver handle to create the perfect size hole to fit Vintaj rivets.TECHNIQUE VIDEO! 2. Crop-A-Dile Punch holes and set eyelets in two different sizes with one handy tool. PROJECT IDEA!
1. Cuttlebug Choose from a variety of embossing folders to create beautiful patterns for altered art and jewelry projects.CLICK HEREFOR TIPS!
{Most of these tools are available in our TOOLS & SUPPLIES category of our online catalog. Others can be found at Hobby Lobby or by simply searching their title online.}
With the arrival of our new Vintaj Digital site we are offering some fabulous FREE downloads! Click on the download buttons below to get your FREE Vintaj quick page, Rub-on template, and Bezel & Altered Blank template sheets.
This Vintaj quick page is just that, a quick and easy digital scrapbook page! We will have many how to tips using our digital line. For now a simple “How To” on using a quick page is listed below. This Quick Page is also the featured Project of the month on the Vintaj Digital homepage.
Download your Vintaj Quick Page PNG file.
Open the Vintaj Quick Page PNG file into Adobe Photoshop.
Open up the photo you would like to use into Adobe Photoshop.
Using the Move tool (arrow) drag and drop photo on top of the Quick Page.
Now look at your layers window. Drag photo layer (layer 1) down so that the quick page layer (layer 0) is now on top.
Still looking at your layers window, click onto the photo layer (layer 1). Next transform the scale of your photo using, Edit>Transform>Scale.
Move photo layer to correct location of the quick page, behind the bamboo frame, and save.
Your new page is ready to print and share!
This flower themed Rub-on Sheet can be printed out of your laser printer at home! We use Graphix® Rub-Onz transfer sheets and follow the manufactures instructions, (download instructions here). It is super fast and easy and your rub-ons can be used for scrapbooking, altered art, and onto Altered Blanks. The Vitnaj pdf download will print out as a reversed image so the rub-ons on your projects will face the same way viewed on screen here. Jeanne Holland used flower rub-ons on her Be Happy Journal and we also have a step-by-step project in our Technique Book that uses a rub-on graphic.
Our Bezels and Altered Blank template sheets are designed to fit our blanks and bezels perfectly. Simply download the PDF (8.5″ x 11″), open, and Print. There are many different sizes and colors, all just waiting to be glued, Ice Resin-ed, or Magic Gloss-ed to a natural brass bezel or blank. Paint, tear, gloss and crackle on top of your newly handmade pendant to make your design one of a kind. We created some fun pendants using our bezel templates, take a look at PAGE 7 of this Scrapblog. We also have a step-by-step project in our Technique Book that uses one of our bezel designs.
CLICK BOXES BELOW TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE VINTAJ DIGITALS!
I’m sure you have seen Denise Yezbak Moore’s gorgeous jewelry amongst the pages of Stringing, BeadStyle, Bead Unique and Bead Star just to name a few of the popular beading publications she has been featured in. (You may have also seen a photo of us together at CHA that was posted back in January). Well, today we’re going to feature a fun art project that she put together for kids. Denise helped out with her children’s classroom auction project. She inspired the young group to roll up their sleeves to get a little messy and creative with Vintaj Altered Blank Canvases. Each student had the opportunity to work with a 3×3 Altered Blank Canvas, Ranger paint Dabbers, Alcohol Inks and Pearl Ex. But that’s not it, they also learned how to rivet on some Vintaj charms and embellishments to their mini metal paintings. All 28 pieces will be framed into one final piece of art, which will look amazing! When Denise posts photos of the finished masterpiece I would love to share it. Looks like the kids sure had a great time… good idea, don’t you think? Thanks Denise for today’s inspiration!
{check out Denise’s – “Bling on the Blog” and her website Rusty Roxx to learn more about her handmade vintage style boutique jewelry! Look out for the premier issue of Stampington’s Jewelry Affaire in April and the June issue of Bead Trends for more of her fabulous pieces.}
What type of techniques are you interested in or would like to learn and see us feature on the blog? I would love to hear from you and start to compile a list of ideas for upcoming projects, creative session themes and possible step-by-step videos. Let me know your thoughts or share any Vintaj related design questions that may have you stumped and I’ll try to help. Looking forward to hearing from you!
We have also posted this topic as a Discussion on our facebook fan page. Be sure to check out what people are saying there as well!
How cool is this?!?! I LOVE mixed media artist Michelle Renee Bernard’s clever book-style necklace using our 29mm Altered Blank – Squares. To create her Faux Enamel Booklace Michelle embossed and distressed the altered blanks using the AccuCut and some of our favorite Ranger paints, inks and accents. (You can also get the same embossed effect using the Cuttlebug, as seen HERE). The finished piece is absolutely adorable with hand-stamped and collaged watercolor papers and adorned with Tim HoltzIdea-a-ology embellishments. Visit Michelle’s Yesterday’s Trashblog and website to view her collection of art made from found and everyday objects. We look forward to featuring more of Michelle’s art incorporating Vintaj soon – Enjoy!
We randomly drew names from all the comments posted each day last week and are posting a “Congratulations” to the five lucky winners! These are the winning comments that will each be receiving the “Botanical Flourish I” Lentil Pendant Sampler Pack!
Ken Sutton – Feb 22 at 7:17pm– Studio Organization Tips (part 1)– Absolutely awesome tips. Thanks so much. Now i just need to use them in my own studio…lol. Thanks so much for doing this blog!
Anita – Feb 23 at 3:21am – Daily Giveaway Feb 22-26 – Ooooh…. I REALLY want this one! I have been eyeing off these glass beads for ages and would love to see them in real life!
Erin Prais-Hintz – Feb 24 at 1:41pm – Creative Rings – I made a ring like this with Jess at Galena Beads last summer. My ring has a little leaf that twirls around. I get compliments all the time, but it is not very practical to put your hand in your pocket! I love the felt idea, and have some felt to work with like that. Thanks for sharing! Enjoy the day! Erin
Lana – Feb 25 at 8:31pm – Studio Organization Tips (part 2) – I really like your vintage storage ideas. I use mason jars and old white pottery vases for my paint brushes, pens, pencils, and other tools. I use apothecary jars for my pretty supplies that look great on display when not in use.
Cate – Feb 26 at 7:17pm– Daily Giveaway Feb 22-26 – I love all the beautiful ideas in the gallery! It inspires me every time I visit. Thanks for including it in your website!
Keep posting your comments for your chance to win another giveaway!
I had a lot of fun designing this month’s featured project! My “Heather Field’s” necklace is draping with layers of riveted mini pendants incorporating some of our new Fastenables and a splash of color. Click HERE for step-by-step instructions and a full materials, tools and supplies list. Thank you to Sarah & Chris at Beadaholique.com for the beautiful Lucite Flowers, which inspired me to create this piece to share and think ahead to the fast approaching spring season. Enjoy and Happy Designing!
Check out this week’s giveaway – Elements Sampler Pack! To win, all you have to do is leave a *comment on any post: Daily Dialogue, Publications, CoolFinds, Get Crafty! etc…, and you are automatically entered into the drawing! Start posting now for your chance to win. Winners will be posted next Tuesday.
*Please make sure to include a valid email at which you can be contacted if your comment is chosen. We will email you to get a mailing address where you would like your giveaway sent, so make sure that you have allowed emails from Vintaj to reach your Inbox (instead of ending up in your Junk Mail!). We will ship all giveaways for a given week out at the same time so please respond back to us with your mailing address quickly!
With your next $200- Vintaj purchase receive a FREE* order of P303–22mm Embossed Cobblestone (24 pieces total)
For orders over $350- receive a FREE* order of P303 Embossed Cobblestone Pendant *PLUS 1 chain of your choice. (Choose between styles CH10, CH40 and CH70)
For the first 10 orders placed in March over $500- receive a FREE* order of P303 Embossed Cobblestone Pendants *PLUS 1 chain of your choice. (Choose between styles CH10, CH40 and CH70) *PLUS this stunning necklace
*Please indicate the chain of your choice (choose between styles CH10, CH40 and CH70) in the comments field and enter promo code—MAR101—in the promo field during checkout (not on this post). Limit one per customer. Excludes spooled chain. Expires March 15, 2010.
A new step-by-step video is now up. Vintaj Educator, Jess Italia Lincoln, demonstrates Letter Stamping with Paint Dabbers, and shares fun helpful tips along the way!
Take your interpretation of “Heather Fields” and create an inspiring piece using Vintaj Natural Brass! The *winner will receive their choice of two FREE sampler packs! FYI, design challenges are not limited to jewelry – we except will altered art, journals, and scrapbooking projects that incorporate Vintaj too.
Submissions are due by NOON central time, Friday March 12. Voting will be open from March 13 – midnight central time, March 19, with the challenge winner posted on Monday March 22.
*To plan ahead for our monthly challenges click here – and to read about how to submit, and the Design Challenge Submission Rules that apply to ALL monthly challenges click here. *Designers are allowed up to two wins per year. Designers will be notified after winning their second challenge.
I’m sure you have spring on your mind, as much as we do. To get past these winter blues we are kicking off March with a brand new Letter Stamping Step-by- Step Video and introducing our new Fastenables and Altered Blank Shapes in bulk. We have also made improvements to our website making it easier to distinguish Bulk Unpackaged items from Retail Packaged items. Browse between Natural Brass, Arte Metal and Fastenables to find the perfect fit for your needs. Set the sky as your limit and have fun creating beautiful works of art!
Our friend Linda Cain made this beautiful piece incorporating one of our new Butterfly Arte Metal Decorivets and a natural brass Wildwood Fastenable(samples that I gave her at CHA). I knew she would create something spectacular! Linda is a certified Ranger educator and has designed many journals and fun altered art pieces for us at Vintaj Earth. To view more of her work and see what Linda is up to visit her blog, FRIENDS in ART. Her Petaloo Flowers piece (below) is on the Graphic 45 website and will also be featured in the altered art category of our Idea Gallery, along with the other projects she has shared. To find out about the materials Linda used in this gorgeous vintage inspired project view her blog post HERE. Thanks Linda for the inspiration!
A few other pieces Linda created – photographed at Vintaj Earth.
Our Vintaj design team is participating in the Art Bead SceneTurquoise Color Challenge. Turquoise & Vintaj are one of my favorite color combos, so this should be easy! I’m excited to get creative using our findings in addition to some of my favorite handmade art beads, such as; Vintaj Glass Beads by Cathie Roberts, Humblebeads polymer clay by Heather Powers and Earthenwood Studios ceramic beads by Melanie Brooks (just to name a few). We would love to see what you create mixing the two, along with your favorite handmade art beads. If you aren’t aware of this challenge, here are a few details to inspire you to join. Heather Powers writes “We have teamed up with color expert Margie Deeb for a special color challenge contest! We have three judges who will select a winner based on creativity, aesthetics, use of color, and wearability. Our judges include Marcia DeCoster, Jane Dickerson and Lorelei Eurto. Below you’ll see a palette from Margie Deeb’s Spring/Summer 2010 Color Report for Bead & Jewelry Artists. For the challenge, use the following colors in anything you want, in any proportions you want. An art bead, a bead or component made by an artist or yourself, needs to be included in your design.”
Read the guidelines and submission information HERE. DEADLINE: April 1st, 2010
We love Bead Trends and we love it when they feature designs from Erin Prais-Hintz. Erin continues to wow the jewelry world with gorgeous and creative designs. Her “Free” necklace featured in this months publication is no exception. She has riveted bead caps onto an embossed and letter stamped blank. The beautiful photography of Bead Trends really does capture the essence of Erin’s desings. Visit her blog for even more inspiration.
Think out of the box and use Vintaj filigree and connectors in unique ways to create fun rings! It’s super easy to bend a Diamond Trellis Filigree around a ring mandrel and form the edges with bale making pliers (as shown in our Vintaj Jewelry Technique Book on page 9). The rings featured below each have their own unique style... try making them yourself and let me know what you think!
Jeweled Bouquetwas made by grouping a cluster of Swarovski crystal dangles on a jump ring and securing them using flattened bead caps and a 2″ head pin. {For similar instructions click HERE}
Felt Swirls were fun and easy to make, simply flatten two of your favorite bead caps, string them through a 2″ head pin and the center of the felt bead, wrap the remainder of the head pin wire around the top of the filigree. Use a beading awl if you need to create an opening in the felt for your head pin to easily string through. {Felt bead available at Bello Modo}
Love Birdsbelieve it or not are three Love Bird Connectors formed using bale making pliers and connected with 4.75mm Jump Rings. 28g gunmetal artistic wire was used to fasten and secure the pearl and crystals to one of the connectors. {For instructions click HERE}
Treasured Pearl features a faceted pearl wrapped using a Square Dapt Filigree and secured with a 3″ head pin. {Pearl available at Beadaholique}
For more RING inspiration visit our Idea Gallery – Happy Designing!
One of the many new things our Vintaj Design Team has been working on over the past few months is the launch of a new Vintaj Digital line! That’s right digital! We have come up with some pretty cool elements that we hope you will love. Our digital line is COMING SOON but our designers have been busy working on projects and prepping our site for this new line. We will be announcing more information about our digital site and what it all contains in the very near future. In the mean time one of the many sneak peek projects can be found inside the Spring issue of Somerset Digital Studio. On page 115, designer Rose Noble created to fun layouts using Vintaj digital stickers, brushes and frames. Enjoy!
This is the Oddball Bracelet by KikiBird Jewelry. Everyone feels like an oddball sometime in their life, and Kikibird Jewelry celebrates this with her whimsical bracelet! Turquoise is the trendy color these days and it is perfectly complimented by the natural brass and the deep red beads. Her play with shape and color make this bracelet a Cool Find!
The March issue of BeadStyle has the cutest “Bee Stylish” necklace, by Irina Miech, featured as a step-by-step. Irina uses the Queen Bee charm, chain and toggle to complete her design. Check it out on page 60-61.
Look inside the March issue HERE. Subscribe to this publication HERE.
If you love Steampunk then you have to check out the project featured in this months Making Jewellery! Jema Hewitt demonstrates how to create her Steampunk Romance necklace in 6 simple steps- online steps can be found RIGHT HERE. She uses our Mythical Wings, a Filigree Ring and an altered heart charm in this awesome design.
Another great feature in this months publication is the gallery of handmade work from readers of Making Jewellery. Check out pages 6 & 7 for beautiful hand crafted designs including 2 pieces made by Jan Howarth that feature Vintaj natural brass.
Visit the MJ website HERE for interviews, free projects, and inspiration. Pick up your subscription of this publication HERE.
We randomly drew names from all the comments posted each day last week and are posting a “Congratulations” to the five lucky winners! These are the winning comments that will each be receiving theLove Bird’s Song Bracelet Kit!
Cynthia – Feb 15 at 9:30am– Ice Resin Blog Hop – Wow-wee-wow-wow! What beautiful eye candy!! I vow to finally try resin. I bought some a while ago, but I’ve been too intimidated to try it! Today’s the day!!!
Miki -Feb 16 at 11:44am – Flourish In Love Promo – this style of necklace really inspires me, thanks for sharing the ideas.
Sandra M. – Feb17 at 6:46pm – Heavenly Creative Impulse – super pretty! simple but very elegant.
Leann – Feb18 at 8:43pm – Daily Giveaway Feb 15-19 - Just discovered your totally delightful treasures tonight. I bought several pieces and can’t wait to make an awesome vintaj treasure of my own. Thank you so much!!!!
Christie- Feb 19 at 10:31pm – Simply Vintaj - My local bead shop just got your technique book in for me – can’t wait to be super inspired!! Love your stuff!
Keep posting your comments for your chance to win another giveaway!
Today I wanted to share a few more of my favorite organization and storage tips featured in the Spring 2010 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors STUDIOS magazine.
5 inexpensive storage techniques:
1. Cardboard cover-up – Cover shoe boxes or copy paper boxes with contact or wrapping paper for pretty, functional storage.
2. Hang ‘em high - A clothesline or metal “zipline” attached near the top of the wall is a great place to keep finished or in-progress art, or inspiration pieces.
3. Counter intelligence – If you have a counter, or even a long table or desk, you probably have space below it that is going to waste. This is a great place to keep stacked bins or rolling drawers or shelving. Add doors or a skirt, and your storage is out of site.
4. Find your niche - Make use of that funny jog in the wall, the exposed studs in an attic room, or a tiny closet by installing a cupboard or shallow shelves.
5. Tray chic – Keep projects-in-process on trays that you can stack or slide onto a shelf until you’re ready for them again.
10 best vintage items for storage:
1. Old goblet trophies (for pens, paintbrushes)
2. Tiered or footed candy dishes (perfect for jewelry, found objects, rolled ribbons)
3. Toast racks (to organize cards, small notebooks)
4. Funky ’50’s and ’60’s ash trays (great for buttons, beads, pins)
5. Enamel bowls and pans (great for stacking fabrics or holding paints)
6. Salt and pepper shakers (for sprinkling glitter)
7. Cigar boxes (for just about anything)
8. Wooden tool boxes (for paint and ink bottles)
9. Sewing table drawers (patterns, threads)
10. Mason jars (buttons, ribbons, paintbrushes)
Do you already use some of these storage solutions? If not, would you put any of them to use?
Check out this week’s giveaway – “Botanical Flourish 1″ Lentil Pendant Sampler Pack! *{Please note that all glass beads are handmade – color and pattern will vary} To win, all you have to do is leave a *comment on any post: Daily Dialogue, Publications, CoolFinds, Get Crafty! etc…, and you are automatically entered into the drawing! Start posting now for your chance to win. Winners will be posted next Tuesday.
*Please make sure to include a valid email at which you can be contacted if your comment is chosen. We will email you to get a mailing address where you would like your giveaway sent, so make sure that you have allowed emails from Vintaj to reach your Inbox (instead of ending up in your Junk Mail!). We will ship all giveaways for a given week out at the same time so please respond back to us with your mailing address quickly!
In the Spring 2010 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors STUDIOS magazine you will learn 101 Organization and Storage Tips for your Studio or Workspace. I wanted to briefly share with you some of my favorite tips they have listed. Pick up a copy for full detailed descriptions and many more tips specific to particular mediums.
7 all-time great organization tips:
1. Know your organizational style -the way and the degree to which you organize is up to you, so don’t fight your natural style. Go with it.
2. Create Zones – if your space is big enough, make a zone for each kind of task, a sewing area, a paper area, a bead area, etc…
3. Color Coordinate – choose different colored bins for each craft, color can help you find what you’re looking for faster.
4. Move it or lost it – Don’t have enough room to create zones? Use portable baskets or bins to move supplies from shelf to table and back.
5. Have a place to keep your stuff – create compartmentalized caddies or tin cans labeled for your supplies, for you’ll have easy access.
6. Put it back – Once you have a place for your stuff, put it there when you’re done.
7. Schedule time to clean up – Always leave 5-15 minutes for basic tidying: putting tools away, dumping paint water, tossing rubbish.
Check back tomorrow for a few more of my favorite organization and storage tips…
This valuable and inspiring site is a great way to keep up to date with Vintaj as our company grows.
With weekly postings this blog extends a personal look inside Vintaj. Here you will find monthly featured projects and designers, publications featuring Vintaj, company updates, new products and inspiring links.
Our Vintaj blog is available as a resource for public viewing but as always wholesale information is available only to registered wholesale users. Be inspired, ask questions and be the first to know what's new with Vintaj.
