Happy Go Lucky Shamrock Jewelry Set!

March is my birthday month and I'm happy that it is also St. patrick's Day - maybe it will bring me good luck! To try and tilt the odds in my favor, I made my very own four leaf clover jewelry set that I'm calling the "Happy Go Lucky" set. Either way, I want to live my life in a happy way, but I welcome all the luck I can, lol.

We have a big box of leather scraps in the garage and that's what I used to make these pieces. I wanted something heavier than paper, but lighter than clay and I I didn't have time to sit and wait for airdry clay, etc. Plus, it was cool to work with a different material. It takes a bit of getting used to but I really liked it!

OK, let's do this!

SUPPLIES: You'll have to do an image search for "shamrock outline" and print off the shape in different sizes.

- Leather (thinner is better, easier to cut!).

- Sharp scissors or craft knife.

- Bowl of water.

- Tulip Soft Paint, green.

- Tulip Shimmer Paint, green.

- Gems or buttons to go in the center of the shamrock.

- Fast Grab Tacky Glue.

- Jump rings, earring hooks, necklace chain, needle nose pliers.

Transfer the design to the leather using carbon paper or just cut out the shape and trace.

Cut around the shape.

Place in water to soak, about five minutes (until leather is soft). Cut out the shapes, and bend the leaves up to look like a real shamrock, let the pieces dry completely. you can tell because they will go from dark brown to light brown. You can set them in direct sunlight or use a heat gun to speed up the process. They'll dry in the way that you shaped them!

Use the Fast Grab to attach the jump rings to the back. It's super thick so the rings will stay in place as you paint the rest of the piece. Paint the front and back with the Soft Paint. Let everything dry.

This is my favorite part, add the Shimmer paint. You have to add a few coats and you have to let them dry in between. You could always apply loose glitter but I didn't want any loose glitter flakes to get on my skin. Use the glue to add a button or gem in the center.

Or you can use Puffy Paint...

Add the jewelry hardware and you're all done! 

Thanks for reading my project, I hope it brings you lots of luck! Please leave a comment if you like it and please share it with all your friends. Come visit me on my Facebook page too if you want! http://facebook.com/mayainthemoment

MAYA IN THE MOMENT: How To Glitter a Denim Jacket

 

 Finally the weather is getting chilly here in Arizona! This is a jeans jacket I had that I've been wanting to embellish. I went a bit overboard, but it's ok because I love bright colors.

 I used  Tulip® Fashion Glitter™ Shimmer Fabric Paints on a light denim jacket.

 Wash the jacket to remove the sizing.
 Use a large flat brush to apply the glitter.

 All you need is one coat, you want to get a soft sheen of color and sparkle. If you add too many coats, it can get heavy and a bit stiff. One coat is perfect!

 I painted the sleeves green and then added streaks of blue for a turquoise effect, and then I also added in some purple.

 Let it dry completely and then add some Tulip® Beads in a Bottle™ Paint around the edges to give your jacket a finished look.

 This is how it looks now, but I plan to add some mini music buttons and maybe some patches and stuff to give it even more personality! If I knew how to paint, I think it would make a neat surface to paint a design on. I know what you're thinking - is this washable? The answer is YES! It willmake the jacket softer and the glitter and color will stay put!

Here is some video so you can see the sparkle in action!

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CRAFTY CHICA: How to Glitter a Suitcase (Without a Mess)

 I've had this little laptop roller case for a few years and have always wanted to chicafy it up. My first thought was glitter, but I knew it wouldn't last long after all the wear and tear. BUT when these new "safe sparkle" Tulip glitter products came out, I knew the time had come!

 Here's what you need:
Tulip® Fashion Glitter™ Shimmer Fabric Paint 
Tulip® Beads in a Bottle™ Paint
Tulip® Fashion Glitter™ Shimmer Transfer Sheets 
Crafty Chica® Little Chica Paint Packs™
Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint  , black
Paintbrush

 Paint the areas that you'll want to glitter. Let dry and add a second coat for good coverage.

 Apply the Shimmer Fabric Paint over the painted areas, it will intensify the color and add lots of sparkle. The more you add, the more sparkle!

 Cut out your designs and shapes from the Shimmer Sheets. Peel off the top plastic protective coating, set in place, cover with a thin cloth and and iron on high for about 30 seconds.

 Use the Tulip Black Slick 3D Paint to add swirls and designs all around the background.

 Add Beads in a Bottle to outline and add more dimension. Let dry.

 This is a small carry-on suitcase, which means it won't be tossed around by bag handlers. I'm pretty confident it will stay in great shape! I may end up giving it a coat or two of Aleene's® Spray Acrylic Sealer.

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