Something out of nothing

When I was putting away my 'experiments' from last week, that odd mis-shapened heart ended up next to one of the cameo settings. You know how sometimes two wrongs do make a right? Well, these two looked right together - especially after I added some paper and resin. I have to say that the style is a lot more rustic and - umm, imperfect - than my usual. 

A length of copper chain and some Czech glass dangles - et voila! I had a necklace on my hands. I'm calling it 'My Weathered Heart'. 

Now, do you think the necklace is pretty enough to go into my Etsy store? Or better yet - pretty enough for a giveaway? I've been wanting to try having a giveaway since I always find them great fun, but have never really had anything I thought people might want. I'd love to hear  from you and what you think. 

Trying new things

My tins of gilder's paste arrived earlier this week and I managed to find some time to experiment with them a little. I dug out some cameo settings from my stash and rubbed on the paste to see how they would turn out. The results?

I coloured the settings in Violet, Patina, German Silver (bottom right), Copper (middle of pic) and Antique Gold (top left). I think the metallic colours work better - I had some trouble getting the Violet to stay on. Maybe I need to rough up the surface first to help the colour stick. 


I have to say that adding colour to the settings makes them a lot more interesting. And attractive. I sealed the settings with Mod-Podge (the only thing  I had on hand) btw, since I was afraid the colours might rub off. 


I also used gilder's paste on a clay heart I made. I found some air-dry clay in a local book cum stationery store and decided to get it since I couldn't wait for my Apoxie Sculpt to arrive. I'm impatient that way. I've never tried air-dry clay before but since a 500g pack only cost S$4, I figured I had nothing to lose. 


I very inexpertly shaped a heart and let it dry over 3 days. I then rubbed gilder's paste in Pinotage and Antique Gold over it. Finally I brushed on a couple of layers of Mod-Podge. 

The heart is cracked, and mis-shapened, and very amateur-ish to be honest. But there is a beauty in it I never thought I'd see. I guess it's like the hearts some of us bear - worn and torn but still beating.