Glittering Teachers Gifts DIY Tutorial - Gifts that teachers will actually want!

This Friday we welcome Melissa Biebel to the Craft Chameleon Blog. She has produced a really unique, clever and glittery tutorial today. Let us know if you try this technique!

Follow along while I show you the method to glitter your clear acrylic pencil blanks to add sparkle to your favorite teacher's life! Shown here is cute classroom sign and coordinating keychain but other acrylic shapes from CraftChameleon.com can be used with this technique.

Supplies
Items listed with an * are clickable links to the products on the website.
* Acrylic Blank Pencil 3"
* Keychain 
* Triangle Bail

* Tassels
* Oval Jump Rings
  Painters Tape
  Small Paint Brush and/or Popsicle Stick
  Glitter  
  Mod Podge
  2 Part Epoxy * Acrylic Blank Pencil Sign
  Ribbon or Twine to Hang the Sign

First to get the glitter in the proper areas of the acrylic, use the tape to create the areas for glitter.

While you use a paintbrush or popsicle stick to apply your mod podge, I use a squirt bottle to get it onto the acrylic. I think it improves accuracy, keeps stray glitter out of the jar and is less wasteful. If you decide to make a several you might consider employing this technique.

Use your small paintbrush to smooth the mod podge onto the area you want to glitter. Be sure your layers are thin.

Sprinkle your glitter onto the mod podge. Shake off the excess and let it dry. If you need or want a second layer of glitter, repeat with another layer of mod podge then glitter. Continue layers until you are happy with the result.

Peel off the tape while the mod podge is still wet. 

Move the tape down the acrylic pencil blank and continue the mod podge glitter process.

To make the zig-zag area just tear the tape and place it on the blank Another option is to cut a piece of vinyl from the cut file provided by CraftChameleon.com. 

Almost completed, tape off the lead portion of the acrylic. Then proceed with the mod podge and glitter process.

Now all the glitter layer are complete, just allow drying.

To completely seal the glittered acrylics, I prefer to use a two-part epoxy resin. It provides a harder protection over the glitter. I use Alumilite Clear Cast. It can be found at most craft stores.  Make sure to get the clear drying formula, there is another one that dries white.

Mix the 2 parts together in equal portions with a popsicle stick that you can use to apply the resin (shown in the photo above). Do not apply resin in the hole or it will be filled.

If you do not want to use a 2 part epoxy try the dimensional mod podge or other thick clear coat. 

Once completed with the epoxy application, let the pencils sit for a few hours until cured.

Once dry, apply the decal with your teacher's name. Another coat of epoxy can be added to protect any small pieces of vinyl. Assemble your keychain and you're done!

To make the large pencil sign follow the same steps. It is just on a larger scale.

To hang the sign, thread a ribbon or twine through the holes on the top and tie to secure. The triangle bails can be used in the holes with chain for another hanging alternative.

Thank you, Melissa, for a cute and unique tutorial!

Won't you consider pinning our image below? We'd appreciate it!

6 Easy Steps to DIY Jewelry that Mother will LOVE this Mother's Day!

Mother's pride and joy is her family, no one knows that better than mama Faye! She shows us this week how to make these fabulous jewelry pieces in 6 easy steps. Hang on this tutorial goes by quickly.

Hi Faye here, back again to demonstrate some of the jewelry, hardware, charms, and acrylics to make a necklace and bracelet which make the perfect gift for Mother’s Dy. Either one can be done in six easy steps!

Step 1
As always, gather your supplies.

Item's with * have a link to Craft Chameleon website.

*Snake chain necklace 

*Bent nose pliers 

*Adjustable bracelet 

*Birthstone charms 

*Acrylic  Quatrefoil Charms

*Rectangle jewelry bar 

*Vinyl 

*Oval Jump Rings 

Design Program & Cutter of your choice

Step 2

Design your charms. 

I took my silhouette design studio and the template provided from Craft Chameleon when I purchased my items (links to downloadable files are in your shipping confirmation so be sure to keep it)  and added the word Family and Mom to them.

Step 3
Cut your vinyl.
Using your machines setting for vinyl cut your vinyl. I chose black so it would have classic appeal. This is a great scrap buster project for all those little scraps of vinyl saved because you just might be able to use them later. Later could be now!

Step 4
Add vinyl to your acrylic charms.
Application is easy with your favorite transfer tape. 

Step 5
Add your charms with our oval jump rings.
Selecting the birthstone charms that corresponded with your family’s birthdays and adding them to the jewelry components is bringing up the end of this process.

The sidecut oval jump rings are made so the charms will never hang on the opening, which is the weakest area of the finding. 

Step 6
Time to wrap your gift!
What a fabulous gift for Mom, Gran, Auntie, Sis or someone special in your life! 


Faye, we thank you for another wonderful idea and tutorial execution.

Please considering pinning this blog post. Below is a Pinterest ready image.

Pin It 2 Win It with Craft Chameleon! Love Pinterest? Love Craft Chameleon? You're going to Love this!

This week our blog post is highlighting our Pinterest Boards. Do you love Pinterest? Us too. So this week we are sponsoring a Pinning party of sorts. With the help of Gleam Competition software we are hosting a Pin It 2 Win it.

There are 3 ways to gain entries, remember it only takes 1 to win! But more might make it easier? Anyhoo, the third method you can really rack up the entries by pinning daily through the contest. What? Count you in? Excellent, here is the link:

https://gleam.io/dMfn2/pin-it-2-win-it-with-craft-chameleoncom

Campaign Period: Entries will be accepted online starting on 4/16/2018 and ending 4/25/18.

May the Fourth DIY Acrylic Coaster Blanks Tutorial (and in time for you to make them!) 2018

In a crafting universe, not so long ago, a woman, Terisa Bostic, made "May the Fourth Be with You" coasters. Thanks for sharing your great idea Terisa!

Supplies:

Items with * have a link to the Craft Chameleon products

* Adhesive Vinyl  (Terisa used solid black)

  SVG Design Program ( Silhouette Studio is used here, Design Space, SCAL, etc)

  Transfer Tape

  Vinyl Application Tool

* Weeding Tool 

* Clear Plastic Coasters
  Star Wars Style Font - Star Jedi is available on DaFont
  Star Wars Quotes  (Google is your friend on this or use Terisa's)

Let's get started!

When Craft Chameleon sends you a shipping confirmation for your coasters, they will attach a link to download the SVG template for the coaster.  This file will have several fantastic designs in it, but for this project, you want the simple coaster outline.  This will give you a guideline for positioning your text. 

If these coasters are for sale and not personal use, here is a tip, I purchased a font from the Silhouette Store titled “In a Galaxy Far Away”.  Select your text icon, and then select this text from your list of font options.

This set of Craft Chameleon comes with 4 coasters, so I created 4 quotes. Type out your desired quote or text.  Each quote or text grouping should be its own individual box.  This makes it easier when you need to change the size to fit the coaster outline.

Click on the transform icon on the right side of your Silhouette Studio screen.  This will allow you to change the size of the text box. My desired size was 3.4”x3.4”.

Type out your 4 desired quotes and adjust them all to fit in the coaster outline. 

Then, highlight the quote within the coaster outline. Right-click to bring up the menu options as shown.  Then click on flip horizontally.  This will reverse the text to allow it to be applied to the underside of the coaster. Do this for all of the coasters.

Send to the Silhouette by clicking 'Send', and then select your material type as Vinyl, glossy. Off it goes and your vinyl is cut.

 Weed out background vinyl, so you are left with only the letters.

 Apply transfer tape to the letters and rub hard on the backside with a scraper.  This allows the vinyl to adhere to the tape.

The acrylic coaster will come with a brown paper covering on both sides. This is to protect the acrylic surface from scratches and dings.  This must be removed before adding the vinyl. 

Simply slide your fingernail under an edge to get a good lift and then slowly peel back. You will end up with a clear piece of acrylic.

Next, peel the paper backing from the vinyl decal.  All the letters will be attached to the tape.

          Line the decal up with the coaster and position as desired.  When you are satisfied, stick the tape to the coaster, and rub hard with the scraper.  Slowly and carefully, pull the transfer tape back from the coasters.  

From this side, the design will look backwards, but this will be the underside of the coaster. Place the clear bumpers on the underside, which will be the side that the vinyl is actually stuck on. Repeat this process for the other 3 coasters.

So are you ready to make your 'May the Fourth be with You' coasters? Remember, "Your focus determines your reality" (Qui-Gon Jinn) and if you think you can't do this then, "I find your lack of faith disturbing" (Darth Varder).  Remember it's easy and "Mind tricks don't work on me" (Watto) and "Great, kid. Don't get cocky" (Han Solo).

Okay, Terisa did not write that corny quotes ending, I did (Jamie). But a big thank you to Terisa for putting together this great idea and tutorial! And May the 4th be with you.

DIY Baby Closet Dividers Acrylic Blanks with Vinyl Tutorial (2018)

Mother Will Love These DIY Earrings on Her Special Day

Hello! Jamie here today. Hope you are ready to learn how to make these fabulous acrylic earrings.  Our designer, Jewellee, was here in Saint Louis last week and she designed these. Just in time for you to order and make up for the mothers in 

your life! So here we go....ENJOY!

Supplies:
Items with * have a link to the Craft Chameleon products

* Bag of Acrylic glitter 1 Side Daisy with peel 'n stick Acrylic Centers

* Oval Side Cut Jump Rings

* Small Sized Post Backs

* Double J Earwires

* 2 Bent Nose Pliers or needle nose pliers

  E6000 or the adhesive of your choice


DIY Daisy & Post Earrings

Remove all the protective plastic from both sides of your acrylic pieces. Remove only the front plastic on the flower centers. Like the daisy above, if your piece has some white on it, you can remove it with your fingernail.

Now peel off the release paper backing to reveal the adhesive on the round flower center.

Locate the center and press the round acrylic firmly in place. Allow 24 hours plus to fully cure. 

Now we are ready to assemble! 

Take your oval jump ring and twist to open using the 2 bent nose pliers. Slide the glitter 1 side acrylic Daisy and Leaf onto the oval jump. Make sure they are facing each other. Then close the jump ring reversing the twist action.

Flip the leaf portion up and lay the entire piece down. Next, let's attach the post!

Using the Craft Chameleon 5mm pad post earring, glue at the top of the leaf. We suggest E6000 but you can use the adhesive of your choice. it is best to rough up both the acrylic and the metal pad with an emery board to provide a bit of tooth for any adhesive.

Let adhesive cure for designated time for best results. Wow, so cute, so fast and such a great gift! Ready for something even faster and easier BUT just as cute? Here we go!

DIY Daisy Dangle Earrings

This time we will only need the daisies and the centers and 1 pair of our Double J ear-wires. Take off the clear protective film from all surfaces. 

Remove the release paper from the back side of the centers, locate on top of the daisy and press firmly in place. 

Slide the daisy onto the Double J ear-wire. Then bend the ball portion of the wire back to lock the flower in place. Oh no, you didn't just make a set of fabulous daisy earrings in less than a few minutes! Oh yes, I did!