Sunday 18 April 2010

Friendly Plastic Tutorial - Part 2

This is Part 2 of my Friendly Plastic Tutorial for the Altered Element DT. I do hope you will have fun making some art moulds and jewellery.

Beaded Dragonfly Art Mould

1. You will need Friendly Plastic Sticks in a selection of colours, from the Altered Element, a selection of beads, some stamens or wire for antennae, and Krafty Lady Dragonfly Art Mould AM 308 from the Stamp Bug, www.thestampbug.co.uk. Have a bowl of cold water ready.

2. Cut a piece of Friendly Plastic roughly the size of the body of the dragonfly, and two pieces for the wings.


3. Place the beads in position and then place the body piece of fp over them and melt to soften.


4. Start to melt the first piece with your heat gun about 15 cms away. This is just so it is sticky so the wing pieces will stick to it in a moment without blowing out of position.


5. It will start to look shiny and you will see the shape of the beads appearing.



6. Place the wing pieces in position, coloured side down and start to melt them.



7. You will see them become shiny and more metallic and they will sink down into the wings, taking on the shape.



8. Dip your fingers into the water and start to press the molten friendly plastic into the shape of the mould, and continue to dip your fingers. If you have long finger nails you can use your knuckles.



9. Pop the whole mould into the bowl of water. After about one minute it will be cool and you can very easily pop the dragonfly out.




10. The beads will probably pop out. This is ok as the main thing is you are left with the impression so that you can now glue them in with Glossy Accents.




11. You will probably have some rough edges to tidy up. You can snip these off with scissors, or use a craft knife and cutting mat. Any decent size scraps can be saved and reused.

12. It is possible to neatly push in all the pieces sometimes, whilst it is molten, so you don't have to do any trimming, as in this picture - it is easier when there aren't any beads.




13. Turn the piece over and soften the top of the body very gently with the heat gun. Either use stamens, or curl a piece of wire to form atennae, and press them into position in the softened plastic.


14. You will get used to the art moulds and how much friendly plastic you need to cut to fit them. Generally if they are deep moulds, you will need more as they will sink down and you will need more up the sides of the mould. You can easily add more as you go along if you have misjudged it. If you don't use too much, it is easier to poke all the bits into the mould so you have no overhang to trim away.

The unbeaded dragonfly:-


The final beaded dragonfly:-




Microscope Frame Friendly Plastic Karantha Pendant

You will need friendly plastic sticks, microscope sized memory frame, and Karantha Blossom and Leaves stamp, all from the Altered Element. You will also need necklace findings and small beads and trimmings to finish off the piece, and Metallic Rub Ons, or Rub N Buff from the Altered Element.

1. Cut a piece of friendly plastic to fit the frame.


2. Soften the plastic with your heat gun until the edges begin to soften and the surface takes on a crazed appearance.


3. Arrange a flower and sprig of leaves from the Karantha set on an acrylic block, and 'ink up' with Versamark.

4. Stamp into the softened plastic and allow to cool before removing.



5. Rub with Metallic Rub Ons or Rub N Buff to highlight the stamped image.



6. Trim off any edges that have frilled and fit it inside the frame.


7. Cut a tiny circle from a contrasting colour using a Crop-o-dile or similar. Soften the top left of the piece where the centre of the flower is, place the 'dot' in position and heat for a moment until it sinks into the background piece, but avoid overheating it as you will lessen the embossed design.



8. Thread some co-ordinating beads and a wire embellishment (I didn't make this, it was from a chutney jar!), using bead filament, and attach to the back of the friendly plastic piece with strong double sided tape such as Red Line.



9. Tidy the back by covering with co-ordinating paper.

10. Thread onto a suitable chain.



Square Memory Frame Pendant


You will need a Square Memory Frame and Friendly Plastic from the Altered Element, and Crafty Individuals stamp CI 252, and Krafty Lady Art Mould AM 263 from the Stamp Bug. Suitable chain and findings.

1. Cut a piece of Friendly Plastic (Blue Swirl) to fit your square Memory Frame.

 

2. Ink up Crafty Individuals CI 252 with Versamark.






3. Heat the friendly plastic until crazed then stamp, and leave to cool.




4. Rub the piece with Metallic Rub Ons or Rub N Buff.



5. Make up a Small Floral Heart art mould AM 263 using Gold/Black Friendly Plastic. You will only need about a centimetre for this little mould. Adhere to the centre of the piece with Glossy Accents.


6. Add a suitable chain to make a necklace.




You will need Pewter/Black friendly plastic stick, Karantha Blossom and Leaves, Accent Beads, Rub N Buff or Metallic Rub ons, Bracelet Clasp

1. Soften a whole piece of Pewter/Black friendly plastic until it is crazed and softened at the edges.




2. Arrange all 4 of the Karantha stamps on a long acrylic block as shown and ink up with Versamark.




3. Stamp into the softened friendly plastic and leave to cool.
4. Turn over and heat the reverse until shiny and bend into a cuff shape - you can use your non-stick craft sheet to hold it as you bend it.





5. Rub with Green Metallic Rub On.




6. Use the small hole of your Crop O Dile or similar to make a hole either side of the back of the cuff, and set with eyelets.



7. Add jump rings and a bracelet clasp.


8. Cut 2 more pieces of the Pewter friendly plastic so that when placed together, they are large enough for the Karantha flower. Soften with the heat gun, press the stamp into the pieces, and leave to cool.

 

9. Cut out with sharp scissors.



10. Add green rub on.

 

11. Soften slightly with the heat gun and curl the petals upwards.

 

12. Add co-ordinating beads to the centre with Glossy Accents.




 
13. Adhere the flower to the cuff, in the centre but slightly offset, using strong glue. This is the final cuff.


More Ideas

CD and Friendly Plastic Brooches

These are just CDs cut into wedges and coloured with Wild Plum, Denim, and Eggplant Alcohol Inks. I've them added accent beads, friendly plastic art moulds, an image transferred vintage lady, some cogs, a button, and a rose made from a roasting tin. I have stamped the backgrounds with a Crafty Individuals Flourish using black Archival ink, and then wiped it straight off to lift some of the alcohol ink in a swirl. I then coloured some glossy card with the same alcohol inks to go on the reverse, and added brooch backs. 

 


This pendant was made with a Tim Holtz Ornate Frame, simply cutting a piece of friendly plastic to fit the oval aperture, softening it with the heat gun, then adding a friendly plastic small dragonfly art mould, and some beads.

14 comments:

  1. Lucy, your FP projects are brilliant, what an inspiration ! Carry on the good work !

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  2. Lucy, these are VERY pretty pieces, and excellent tutorials. You really make me think I should try this!!

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  3. OMGoodness Lucy these are all totally fab, i've had friendly plastic for about a year and to be honest i had forgotten how to use it, i'm now well up for trying out all your examples, thanks so much for taking the time to explain each one xxx

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  4. Oh my goodness I think the AE will be sold out of this plastic stuff you have shown so many wonderful things to make with it. Ans even though I am not a mad jewlery fan I would certainly make these elements and put them on other things this is a fantastic post!

    love Dawn xx

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  5. I am lucky enough to own such a beaded dragonfly that Lucy made for me last year. I am sure you have inspired many crafters to try FP. Lynne x

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  6. Some fab ideas Lucy, I particularly like the cuff - looks great!

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  7. oooh I love all your fabulous ideas using friendly plastic Lucy... Brilliant.

    Excellent tutorial and I am just amazed at your gorgeous bracelet cuff...wow

    hugs
    chris xxx

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  8. I have looked everywhere on AE for this Friendly Plastic hun. Can I find it? er no sorry I used the search too but to no avail I am not desperate for it but if you could e-mail me a link to the yummy plastic stuff so I can make some plans (he he)Never heard of this stuff before but seeing what youan do with it I feel as a crafter I should have some in (just in case lol)

    Love Dawn xx

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  9. Wow! So many great projects! Fab tutorial, Lucy! Thanks for sharing all your ideas!

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  10. Outstanding Lucy - just fabulous - I have some friendly plastic - well one piece - so will definitely have a go at these

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  11. Wow! you should pitch this article to a magazine like scrap & Stamp Arts! Love it! I have friendle plastic, molds and stamps, I am runniing to my craft room! Thanks Lucy!
    Lindsay

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  12. What a fantastic tutorial Lucy. The pieces you made are lovely. I bought some FP a few years ago and never got round to using it, methinks I'll have to look for it. xxx Hazel.

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  13. These are fabulous tutorials Lucy! All your pieces are stunning! Hope you will show me them on sunday! Hey! Why don't I bring my FP over & play?! xx

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  14. Oh, such fabulous stuff! I must make a bangle!

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