Featured Artist Helen Cant: Jewelry Tutorial

Talented artist Helen Cant used the free postcard image I posted in July to create a lovely vintage style Christmas postcard as a backing/holder for her jewelry.

Her work is featured in Make & Sell Jewellery magazine ~ here is the layout so you can see!  Very beautiful.

You can go to the magazine's online site for Helen Cant's tutorial on creating jewelry with images: http://www.makeselljewellery.com/index.php/projects/vintage_christmas 

Alice Charm Bracelet! by Petra

This is just gorgeous! Don't you love charm bracelets?  I have, since childhood, and I still have a couple that belonged to my mother (plus some of my own).  Petra Berendsen created this beautiful piece, using some of the Alice & Friends 1910 collage sheet images for the little jewellery trays.  She added some cute little charms (very appropriate!) and lovely red beads.

You have until Sunday night to enter YOUR creation in the Alice blog challenge and win free Lunagirl digital collage sheets!

 Don't forget to visit Petra's blog PetraB's Allsorts to see more of her work!

Enter the Blog Challenge: DIVA

Time to start submitting your entries for the next Lunagirl Moonbeams Blog Challenge: DIVA!

This challenge (#2) will end at 11:55 pm on June 2 ~  The winner will be selected randomly and will receive a free Lunagirl digital collage sheet of his or her choice.

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Digital Collage Sheet of Charm Photos: Women Ladies Photos NEW!

Another new digital collage sheet for instant download from Lunagirl!  A beautiful selection of some our favorite photos of women, in 1-inch and 2-inch squares perfect for charm jewelry but also lovely to embellish cards and all sorts of altered art projects.










 


Available from Lunagirl http://www.summertownsun.com/lunagirl/W-Lunagirl-Collage-Sheets-NEW.htm

and also at CollageSheet.com http://www.collagesheet.com/details.php?gid=57&pid=612 .

New Collage Sheet: Mucha Domino Size

We been creating quite a few new collage sheets recently, so I thought I would feature some of them.  Here is a beautiful collection of Mucha women in 1x2 size perfect for domino pendants and other jewelry.  You can also clip them to 1x1 for square charms.  If you love Mucha's sensuous Art Nouveau style, you'll want to enjoy these in your projects!  To be taken to a page to purchase and download, click here: http://www.summertownsun.com/lunagirl/W-Lunagirl-Collage-Sheets-NEW.htm

New: Rossetti Charms collage sheet ... and Jane Morris

I can't believe it's March already! Here is a new collage sheet featuring women from paintings by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, one of the best-loved Pre-Raphaelite artists. These gorgeous, richly colored images are already sized in 1-inch circles and squares and 1x3" microscope slides, perfect for charms, pendants and other jewelry. Also nice if you just like some small images to embellish your altered art cards and crafts. Purchase and download "Rossetti Charms" and other Lunagirl collage sheets here: http://www.lunagirl.com/W-Lunagirl-Collage-Sheets-MINIS-microslides.htm

The face in most of these paintings is that of Jane Burden Morris. Jane was the daughter of an English stableman and a housemaid, and grew up in poverty with very little education. Rossetti and fellow PreRaphaelite Burne-Jones "discovered" her while she was attending a theater performance.

She was model and muse for Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Morris (whom she married). After her engagement to William Morris, Jane obtained a private classical education and basically reinvented herself. She was highly intelligent, a voracious reader and accomplished student of languages and music, and moved with ease and grace among artists, philosophers, political activists, and the upper classes. She and Morris lived an artistic, bohemian lifestyle at Kelmscott Manor in the Cotswolds. She may have been Rossetti's lover as well.

You'll find some interesting information about Rossetti and his work at this website by the Walker Art Gallery: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/walker/exhibitions/rossetti/works/

ESBQ On-line Shows for February 09

The ESBQ site regularly hosts online art shows, inviting artists in any medium to enter and display their works. This month they are taking entries for a "show" titled "Encircled: Necklaces, Bracelets and Rings." Jewelry artists ~ why not submit some of your work!

They also have started a very open-ended kind of show that is based on a one-word concept. This is how they describe it on their site: "... the point of EBSQ "one word concepts" is to present you a word and leave it totally open to your interpretation. Take your word anywhere you like. Just make sure your finished work relates in some obvious way to this month's word."

This month's word is "hidden." Certainly a wonderfully inspiring and evocative word for mixed media, assemblage and altered art!

Hide (and/or reveal): your face, your hands, your eyes, thoughts, feelings, a surprise, a secret, your sins, your true motives. Hide-and-seek, peek-a-boo, fans and veils and fog. Hidden under the earth, under the snow, under the water. Hidden treasure. Things that hold hidden potential or possibilities: cocoons, eggs, seeds, pregnancy, the ocean, the darkness, dreams.

You'll find all the details about how to participate here: http://www.ebsqart.com/Shows.asp

Just something cool for those of you who create jewelry: 2,000-year-old gold earring found in Jerusalem (from AP)

By SHAWNA OHM, Associated Press Writer -- JERUSALEM – Israeli archaeologists have discovered a 2,000-year-old gold earring beneath a parking lot next to the walls of Jerusalem's old city, the Israel Antiquities Authority said Monday.

The discovery dates to the time of Christ, during the Roman period, said Doron Ben-Ami, director of excavation at the site. The piece was found in a Byzantine structure built several centuries after the jeweled earring was made, showing it was likely passed down through generations, he said.

The find is luxurious: A large pearl inlaid in gold with two drop pieces, each with an emerald and pearl set in gold.

"It must have belonged to someone of the elite in Jerusalem," Ben-Ami said. "Such a precious item, it couldn't be one of just ordinary people."... Finds from the Roman period are rare in Jerusalem, Ben-Ami said, because the city was destroyed by the Roman Empire in the first century A.D.

Shimon Gibson, an American archaeologist who was not involved in the dig, said the find was truly amazing, less because of its Roman origins than for its precious nature.

"Jewelry is hardly preserved in archaeological context in Jerusalem," he said, because precious metals were often sold or melted down during the many historic takeovers of the city.

"It adds to the visual history of Jerusalem," Gibson added, saying it brings attention to the life of women in antiquity. ...

Earrings similar to this one have been found at archaeological sites throughout Europe, Ben-Ami said, where the Roman Empire also flourished. The authority said the earring appeared to be crafted using a technique similar to that depicted in portraits from Roman-era Egypt.

By Request: Floral Inchie Circles

A very special new collage sheet design featuring beautiful flower images in a variety of styles from traditional Victorian roses and violets to art deco lilies and vines. When you print this sheet at full size (letter size 8.5x11) the circles will be 1-inch diameter, but of course one advantage of our digital collage sheets is that you can print them smaller for smaller images as desired.

Check it out! Another Lunagirl original available only at http://www.lunagirl.com/

Featured Artist: Magdalena's Atelier

More glorious offerings from another featured artist: Magdalena's Atelier. I discovered this lady's jewelry on etsy, and it's truly a feast for the eyes. All is handmade, with meticulous ornate wire wrapping and beautiful authentic stones and other materials. Another great "summer splurge" for yourself, or for someone who deserves a very special gift!

If you visit Magdalena's etsy shop, be sure to read her Shop Profile. She lives on the island of Cyprus... reading about it made Lunagirl want to return to the Mediterranean today... make that yesterday.... sigh...

Collage Sheets for Dominoes, Tiles, Charms, Pendants, Art Cards ...

Still more new Lunagirl collage sheets to show off on the blog and keep you all updated on new stuff!


Above are two new sheets of "domino" sized images, at 1x2 inches. These can also be trimmed down for bamboo tiles and 1" charms! A fabulous mix of lovely ladies!

I've also created THREE new sheets featuring 1x3 images, which are perfect for microscope slide pendants but can also be clipped to size for 1" pendants and charms and used in other altered art projects.

These were fun to create, and as you see each offers a wonderful mix of ephemera: photos of ladies and children, antique prints of flowers, old love letters and ledgers and sheet music, pre-raphaelite art and medieval engravings. Click on any of the samples to visit our Lunagirl digital collage sheets shop!
To see all the newest designs click here.

Featured Artist: Piccinina Designs 3dragonfliesbrass

Another wonderful artist's work to share! Piccinina Designs creates beautiful handmade jewelry, with materials such as brass and sterling silver, crystal beads, charms of porcelain and brass, and even scrabble tiles with vintage faerie images! Many pieces are one-of-a-kind, and many are inspired by her children. Visit her etsy shop at http://www.3dragonfliesbrass.etsy.com/!

An Invitation

Would you like to see your altered art projects, jewelry creations, decoupage projects, ornaments, handmade cards - or other handcrafted creations! - featured on Lunagirl Moonbeams blog?

I would like to feature artists and crafters more often, especially those who use vintage ephemera or vintage-style ephemera in their work. So whether you sell your work or create "just for fun" - email me at info@lunagirl.com if you're interested!

How to Create Altered Art Charms

Create your own altered art charms with Lunagirl images! Altered art charms are really hot right now. They're so beautiful and fun, and not as difficult to make as you might think. Many of the people selling bracelets are using Lunagirl vintage images.

Scroll down for some easy, basic instructions. I'm sure there are others ways to do this, but I'll share what works for me. (Thanks to Jodi Crago jodiwho of SPARROW'S GATE for permission to use her images of her work!)

PRINT & CUT OUT YOUR IMAGE
First, choose your image! I have several sheets of mini images (inchies and craft circles) ready to print and clip out for charms (1-inch circles and inchie squares for jewelry charms), but of course you can print ANY of our collage sheets smaller if you like, for smaller pictures (an advantage of digital collage sheets). Being high-quality jpg images (not pdfs) they will keep their image quality at smaller sizes.

To make charms it is best to print the image onto fairly thick acid-free paper or photo paper. Any good laser or inkjet printer should do, but many prefer the laser printing for charms because inkjet prints tend to smudge more easily.

After printing, place your blank charm setting on the picture and trace around it, then clip out the picture with some good very sharp scissors (it's good to first cut it slightly larger than you want, then trim it down).

There are several people selling the metal charm blank settings on ebay. If you search on the phrase "altered art charm blanks" you should find a few. Or, you can buy charm jewelry at discount stores and pop out the existing charms to put in your own pictures! You can also use dominoes, wooden pieces, etc.

GLUE ON THE IMAGE
You can glue the image into or onto the setting with a hot glue gun, or better yet with a good general purpose craft glue, then smooth it down nicely. Be careful not to be too heavy-handed with the glue, or it can get lumpy or messy.

A charm is beautiful with just a single image, but you can also add other images or printed words to create a collage. You can even add pressed flowers or other "pressed" items if they are very flat.

ADD A PROTECTIVE GLAZE
There are different opinions about which gloss/glaze is best. I prefer a few coats of spray-on Krylon Crystal Clear Glaze because it's easy and it's nice and clear without bubbles. Some people prefer a clear polyurethane you can paint on, as with decoupage. Either way, be sure to let it dry between coats.

HAVE FUN CREATING!
Try using an old link bracelet, and turning it into something wonderful by adding your own charms and beads! There are lots of bead sellers on etsy as well if you want to add beads. Your local crafts store will probably offer findings (jump rings, clasps, etc.) and jewelry making tools. EVEN BETTER: Find costume jewelry and vintage jewelry pieces at discount stores, garage sales, jumble sales, and secondhand stores, and incorporate them or disassemble them to use on your own bracelets!

You can also create pendants, clips, even earrings and barrettes. Or add charms to your altered boxes and books. I've seen lovely bookmarks, hip clips, even cell phone jewelry, using altered art charms.

For a very simple yet elegant pendant, simply place your charm onto a beautiful ribbon or thin black trim or leather necklace.

If you decide to purchase Lunagirl images or collage sheets for your project, please be sure to read our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS for useful information.

Browse our Lunagirl digital collage sheets to find mermaids, fairies, Christmas images, romance, witches, charming children, Victorian Edwardian ladies, flappers, retro glamour girls, flowers, castles, tea parties, vintage posters, Alice in Wonderland, text ephemera, and much more!

Or.... check out our COLLAGE SHEET SETS ON CD for amazing value. Thanks again to Jodi Crago of Sparrow's Gate -- visit her etsy shop to buy her gorgeous jewelry.

It's all about "altered": Take images and existing items you "find" and use your own creativity and imagination to create something new and unique! An altered art charm bracelet, pendant, or clip you've created yourself is a beautiful gift ~ truly one of a kind and from the heart.