Back to School: Backpacks, Locker Organizers & Clipboards (A.K.A. Patchwork, Duct Tape & Collage)

Love it or Hate it.....

                           It's Back to School Time!!!

It's been an awesome summer, but, like everyone else, we've been preparing for some cool Tech-Theatre college courses for me and my daughter's first year of middle school...the big 7th Grader!!! (I can't believe it :))

 

 

We knew she needed a backpack, so I grabbed my scrap fabric and sewed up a Patchwork Backpack:

I recycled a jean pocket for the outside and there is a matching one on the inside as well!

and matching Lunch Bag:

 

So, now Lily's set for school!!

Lily, or resident Duct Tape Addict, decided she wanted to doll up her locker in a productive way, so she used a pattern tutorial from her favorite duct tape guru - Sophie, from SophiesWorld, and made her very own Locker Organizer:

Slap a couple super-magnets on the back and it's done!!

And for me, I need a visible reminder of things coming up and that need to be done, so I grabbed some scrapbook paper (Halloween, of course..my favorite:) and collaged a couple of Clipboards to hang on the wall:

Yep, Halloween...I couldn't help it!!

Whew...I think were finally ready!!

Till next time,

         Wicked jypsi

Aliens & Voodoo Dolls: a Mold and Resin tutorial

 "The Halloween Crafting Season has Begun"

 It has been a month since my last post and, besides enjoying the last few weeks of summer vacation with trips to the Bay Area, I have been busy building up my skills in molding and casting objects in preparation of the Halloween crafting season!! I do love Christmas, but am a little obsessed with Halloween - with the history, folklore and superstitions that surround this holiday, it is a free-reign field day for my imagination to run wild and challenge myself to try new mediums and create props and decor on a much larger scale.

 I decided to share one of my projects and the details for those that are starting out with molding and casting as I am...I have fallen in love with the process and have gone a little crazy since this project in that each project is larger then the next as I get a little more comfortable with the process.....

 

Mold Putty & Resin:

            

Here we go:

...in case it is hard to read, here is a list of ingredients:

* Mold Making Putty (see pic below)

* Epozy Resin Mix

*Mold Release Conditioner

* Items to be molded

* Wax paper to save your countertop

* A popsicle stick

* 2-3 clear plastic cups

 

The brand of mold putty I used - purchased at Michaels

 

On we go:

                        To make your mold from the item you have chosen: 

**Begin mixing together, you have 2 mins tops to mix and apply to the mold before the compound begins to set.

 

Now for our resin casting:

                ** Don't forget to apply release to your mold **

   FYI:

 Some molds may not necessarily need a mold release, but I always use the spray release anyway to be on the safe side - after losing a cast or two that would not come out of the mold, I decided I would play it safe from then on!

Forgive the misspell: corrected "Disappear" :)

These and many other Magnets, Keychains and Necklaces will be available in my Etsy Shop shortly!!

Thanks for checking out this tutorial. If you have any questions or comments, just enter them below and I'll get right back to you!!

Till Next Time,

      Wicked jypsi