Water Gems

Water Gems

The concept

For this project I have combined both my passions for jewellery design and papercrafting. I have been perfecting my wirework techniques this month with one of Rachel Norris' designs of the dragonfly and it just so happens that the Clarity Stamp Challenge for this month is 'Animals' which includes insects. What perfect timing to marry the two. A dragonfly to me is like a gem darting over the surface of a body of water with its iridescent wings and sometimes very vivid coloured elongated body - hence the inspiration for my 'Water Gems'. A display greeting card with an attached brooch which can be removed and worn.

The making

Water Gems

I made the dragonfly brooch with 0.4mm and 1.0mm gilt copper wire, 6mm red beads and green seed beads. For instructions on how to make this beautiful dragonfly I refer you to Rachel's DVD. 

For the tent card, I used a 210x150cm black card stock and stamped the Clarity Dragonfly stamp in a randomised pattern using Perfect Medium, both on the cover and inside the card. To create the look of iridescence I dusted the stamped images with Perfect Pearls. I stuck a band of black card coloured with Creative Expressions Metallic Gilding Wax (stuck to only one side of the fold where the card bends to create the tent) to hide the mechanics of the brooch attachments. I chose to use the gilding wax because it gave the look of shimmering water. I used the same card for the 'Water Gems' sentiment which I then gold embossed. 

Water Gems

For the topper, I created a water scene with cloudy sky using a brayer and stamped some foreground with Clarity Wheat (would have loved to use the Bullrushes stamp if I had it) onto white Clarity card. It was then matted and layered onto black then gold cards. I then made two small punctures in the card to fasten the removable dragonfly brooch with some wire and finally layered the completed topper onto the prepared card blank with foam tape for added dimension. To finish the card I added a stopper using a strip of black card stock and stuck three gold spiral paper clips for interest and balance.

Materials used:

Card blank - Black 300gsm, Gold Mirri and white Clarity card

Ink - Adirondak Bottle and Juniper, Distress Ink Faded Jeans, Broken China, Black Soot, Perfect Medium and VersaMark pen

Mica Powder - Perfect Pearls Forever Green, Forever Blue and Kiwi

Gilding Wax - Creative Expressions Metallic Gilding Wax Ultramarine

Embossing powder - Stampendous Detail Gold

Stamps - Clarity Dragonfly, Wheat and Grasses 6

Embelishments - Wired Dragonfly, gold spiral paper clips

Other - Brayer, cotton wool, craft knife, Perfect Layer 1/8in and double sided foam tape

I am entering this card for the Clarity Stamp Challenge 6 for the month of August 2013 - 'Animals'.

Jeanne

Today and everyday ... is an adventure!