A BeYoutiful Pendant

As I mentioned earlier this year, I am trying to focus on making things other than cards.  It's a learning process and almost none of my efforts have made it to the blog, but this one turned out exactly how I imagined it.

First, the presentation.  

The Gift Presentation Using Essentials by Ellen Diagonal Window Die

Love this diagonal window die and the Pink Paislee Bella Rouge patterned paper was perfect for this gift.  Not much to describe.  Die cut patterned paper; adhere to a base and tie with cord. 

Second, the pendant.  Open it up and voila!

I pulled the chain through slits cut about 1/2 inch from the outer edge of the black paper.  Die cut another piece of patterned paper and adhered it to the back of the entire project so that the chain is not visible from the back. 

 The Be-You-Tiful Pendant

Supplies Needed:

• Material for the pendant -- card stock, patterned paper, watercolor paper, wood paper, cork -- use your imagination.  I kept it simple and used watercolor paper.
• Die.  I used  Essentials by Ellen by Julie Be-You-Tiful die.  Any die that creates something with a space big enough to put the jump ring will work.
• Coloring medium.  I spritzed the watercolor paper with water and then added drops of Adirondack Dye reinkers (orange and raspberry). 
• Mod Podge Dimensional Magic.  I prefer this to other glazes and explain later.  The purpose of this product is to fill a shape with a raised border (like a bottle cap), but I am using it in a different way.
• craft sheet or wax paper
• Adhesive
• Jewelry pieces -- jump ring and chain  (Michaels has these as do many other places).  If the jump ring is not flexible enough to move apart with your fingers, you will need a couple of pliers.  The ones I purchased from Michaels (copper coated with gold) were flexible enough to move with my hands, although I squeezed them together with pliers.
• Optional -- tweezers to help align the die cuts on top of one another

Steps:

1. Mist a piece of watercolor paper (about 6 x 8) with water and dropped Adironack Dye Reinkers (orange and raspberry) to make a loose colorful design.

2.  Get a manicure while the watercolor paper dries.

3.  Pour  Mod Podge Dimensional Magic on the watercolor paper and spread it with scrap cardstock so that you have a thin layer.  Set it aside.   Patience little one.  You want this to dry for at least 3 hours.  I let it sit overnight.  The result is a piece of paper with a thin shiny finish that is flexible. 

Dimensional Magic is liquid -- not quite as thin as water, but it will run all over your project, so use wax paper or a craft sheet underneath your paper. Anything on the craft sheet will lift off easily once dried. Dimensional Magic is much easier to work with than Glossy Accents.  Because it is thinner, it flows right out of the bottle.  It wouldn't work to add shine to a small piece that is already on a card because it would run all over the card, but it is perfect to add shine and stability to a die cut.

You could die cut the pieces and add the Dimensional Magic after the pendant is put together. 

4. Die cut 3 pieces from the front of the design, and then die cut once on the back of the design.  Why the back?  So that the back of the pendant is finished.  If you want the edges of the die to be one color, color the edges with a Copic or other non water based marker.    If your die cuts do not have a place for the jump ring, punch a small hole in each die cut in the exact same space.  This die was perfect because the "e" had the space already in the design.

5.  Adhere the 4 pieces together with your favorite adhesive.  Put an acrylic block or other heavy item on the pieces for a few minutes to dry. 

6.  Add jump ring and chain. 

7.  If you give this to a non crafty friend, do not tell them how you made it.  It is part of the crafty bond that we just smile and keep them guessing. However, because this is made of paper, it is sturdy but easily damaged.  It shouldn't get wet.  Just treat it like it is special!

MOOD WHEN DONE:  Delighted