Color and Joy

December 7, 2015

il_fullxfull.805801500_4a8gI’m just going to share some fun and amazing pieces this week. Polymer can certainly create some gorgeous images and stunning effects, but it can also amuse and impart a bit of joy into our lives as viewers, buyers, and creators.

As I sit here trying to work thought some back pain from an as-yet-unknown cause, I find I am certainly drawn to happy, cheerful imagery. These seahorses from the always cheerful, colorful, and joyful work of Mary Anne Loveless just makes me smile.

In a group or by themselves, these magnets/pins would bring a splash of color and a sense of playfulness to the adorned person or major appliance. I’ve decided I want one in my car. My long road trips could do with a bit of fun color! And my poor family … I don’t have a thing on my Christmas list (because no one is stocking ‘more hours in a day’) so this should help.

Mary Anne has a variety of seahorses in her Etsy shop right now. As of this post, all she had were seahorses, but she makes all kinds of wonderfully colorful pieces as you can see on  her Flickr photostream and her blog.

___________________________________________

Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:

PCA Nov 15 Blog   Print

   

___________________________________________

A Magnetic Connection

C4aOne of the tougher decisions I had to make when putting together the Summer 2015 issue was to cut part of what Helen Breil sent for her wonderful “Magnetic Design” technique tutorial. The article primarily focuses on the creation of pieces with interchangeable magnetic focal points using rare earth magnets, but she also generously added a few additional instructions, including how to create magnetic brooch clasps that work double-duty as a pendant bail, as well as being the basis for multi-pin pieces that can be set on clothing in different configurations. She had also included an easy option for creating a magnetic front closure, but she had sent so much great information that we simply couldn’t fit it all in. So here is a concise collage of the magnetic front clasp she created for us, and the photos that let you see how it is put together.

The quick run down is that you use cylindrical rare earth magnets, drill holes on each half of the clasp, ensuring the magnet positions will line up your two halves exactly where you want them to come together. Create holes just large enough to snugly fit the magnets and deep enough for them to sit flush with the edge of the clasp. (You can insert the magnet into the hole to see if fits and use another magnet to pull it out of the hole when it does go in flush as needed.) Apply cyanoacrylate gel glue to the magnets and place them back into the hole. Ensure the magnets are set in the ‘right’ direction–since magnets are directional, you don’t want them glued in leaving only ends that oppose each other, so snap the magnets together as they should be and apply the cyanoacrylate gel glue to one end, pressing it into its hole, and then grasp that side of the pendant, add glue to the still exposed magnet end and push it into the open hole. Release the magnets by sliding them apart and let the glue set. That’s it!

Helen is a wealth of information and fabulous ideas, not to mention a creator of many wonderful clay-centric products. Be sure to check out her website for her tutorials, books, silkscreens, and texture sheets, as well as take a peek or two at her Flickr photostream for more great ideas. And get your copy of the summer issue of The Polymer Arts for Helen’s entire brilliant article.

 

If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine, as well as by supporting our advertising partners.

     TPA_McGuire_blog ad    sfxpaad-diffuse

Organizing: Turn ‘Em Upside Down

July 11, 2012

How many tiny bottles of paint, alcohol ink, glue, etc. you have taking up drawer or shelf space in the studio? If they are taking up valuable space, here is a fantastic idea from paper crafter Brianna Walling–it takes just a few magnets, some glue and an old baking sheet.

Attach a baking sheet or other flat sheet of metal (not aluminum … it won’t take magnets) to the underside of a shelf. If you have wire shelves, drill a couple holes and use ties to attach it, otherwise some well place screws should hold it to wooden shelving. Glue magnets onto the bottom of your bottles and pop them upside down onto the sheet. It’s a bit of space in your studio not often used and it keeps your paint and ink in the top of the bottle. Nice.

Brianna wrote a blog piece about it for paper crafters: http://wecanbeaoriginal.com/blog/2011/07/beaorganized-glitter-glue/

 

Color and Joy

December 7, 2015
Posted in

il_fullxfull.805801500_4a8gI’m just going to share some fun and amazing pieces this week. Polymer can certainly create some gorgeous images and stunning effects, but it can also amuse and impart a bit of joy into our lives as viewers, buyers, and creators.

As I sit here trying to work thought some back pain from an as-yet-unknown cause, I find I am certainly drawn to happy, cheerful imagery. These seahorses from the always cheerful, colorful, and joyful work of Mary Anne Loveless just makes me smile.

In a group or by themselves, these magnets/pins would bring a splash of color and a sense of playfulness to the adorned person or major appliance. I’ve decided I want one in my car. My long road trips could do with a bit of fun color! And my poor family … I don’t have a thing on my Christmas list (because no one is stocking ‘more hours in a day’) so this should help.

Mary Anne has a variety of seahorses in her Etsy shop right now. As of this post, all she had were seahorses, but she makes all kinds of wonderfully colorful pieces as you can see on  her Flickr photostream and her blog.

___________________________________________

Like this blog? Lend your support with a purchase of The Polymer Arts magazine and visit our partners:

PCA Nov 15 Blog   Print

   

___________________________________________

Read More

A Magnetic Connection

June 12, 2015
Posted in ,

C4aOne of the tougher decisions I had to make when putting together the Summer 2015 issue was to cut part of what Helen Breil sent for her wonderful “Magnetic Design” technique tutorial. The article primarily focuses on the creation of pieces with interchangeable magnetic focal points using rare earth magnets, but she also generously added a few additional instructions, including how to create magnetic brooch clasps that work double-duty as a pendant bail, as well as being the basis for multi-pin pieces that can be set on clothing in different configurations. She had also included an easy option for creating a magnetic front closure, but she had sent so much great information that we simply couldn’t fit it all in. So here is a concise collage of the magnetic front clasp she created for us, and the photos that let you see how it is put together.

The quick run down is that you use cylindrical rare earth magnets, drill holes on each half of the clasp, ensuring the magnet positions will line up your two halves exactly where you want them to come together. Create holes just large enough to snugly fit the magnets and deep enough for them to sit flush with the edge of the clasp. (You can insert the magnet into the hole to see if fits and use another magnet to pull it out of the hole when it does go in flush as needed.) Apply cyanoacrylate gel glue to the magnets and place them back into the hole. Ensure the magnets are set in the ‘right’ direction–since magnets are directional, you don’t want them glued in leaving only ends that oppose each other, so snap the magnets together as they should be and apply the cyanoacrylate gel glue to one end, pressing it into its hole, and then grasp that side of the pendant, add glue to the still exposed magnet end and push it into the open hole. Release the magnets by sliding them apart and let the glue set. That’s it!

Helen is a wealth of information and fabulous ideas, not to mention a creator of many wonderful clay-centric products. Be sure to check out her website for her tutorials, books, silkscreens, and texture sheets, as well as take a peek or two at her Flickr photostream for more great ideas. And get your copy of the summer issue of The Polymer Arts for Helen’s entire brilliant article.

 

If you like this blog, support The Polymer Arts projects with a subscription or an issue of The Polymer Arts magazine, as well as by supporting our advertising partners.

     TPA_McGuire_blog ad    sfxpaad-diffuse

Read More

Organizing: Turn ‘Em Upside Down

July 11, 2012
Posted in

How many tiny bottles of paint, alcohol ink, glue, etc. you have taking up drawer or shelf space in the studio? If they are taking up valuable space, here is a fantastic idea from paper crafter Brianna Walling–it takes just a few magnets, some glue and an old baking sheet.

Attach a baking sheet or other flat sheet of metal (not aluminum … it won’t take magnets) to the underside of a shelf. If you have wire shelves, drill a couple holes and use ties to attach it, otherwise some well place screws should hold it to wooden shelving. Glue magnets onto the bottom of your bottles and pop them upside down onto the sheet. It’s a bit of space in your studio not often used and it keeps your paint and ink in the top of the bottle. Nice.

Brianna wrote a blog piece about it for paper crafters: http://wecanbeaoriginal.com/blog/2011/07/beaorganized-glitter-glue/

 

Read More
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