Mermaid Hairband

After making some unicorn hairbands the next logical step seemed to be a mermaid hairband! Of course!

Here's how I made it.

The first step had me so stumped that I almost gave up. I needed to build a structure on the hairband that I could stick all the shells on. I tried one piece of felt that folded around the hairband but it kept leaning with the curve of the band. I even tried putting a piece of card in between but I still couldn't get it to stick up straight.
Then I got the idea to build up the structure with multiple pieces of felt. I cut circles of white felt which folded around the hairband. I glued and sewed them in place then added some pairs of semi-circles which made a scalloped pattern. Very appropriate for a mermaid theme.

With the structure in place it was time to add the decoration.
I started with a string of small shells across the bottom which I was able to sew to the felt.

Then I picked out some larger shells which I attached using my glue gun.

Then I filled in the gaps with more little shells, pearl beads and blue plastic beads. I don't think I've ever used my glue gun so much!

I added some more colour by painting the shells with blue and purple nail varnish to get a shimmery look.

The hairband is a little heavy but I'm really pleased the felt is able to hold all shells and remain sticking up.

Clay Beetle Magnets

I was recently sorting through my craft room (a tricky but rewarding task!) which reminded me about the large tub of air dry clay I have, which I'd like to use more of. Somehow I came up with the idea to make some bug magnets, specifically beetles, as I also unearthed a few little blank magnets.

Projects where I don't have to go out and buy anything new are the best.

To make the magnets I started by shaping the clay. I rolled a piece into an oval which I cut in half to make two beetles, each with a flat side and a curved side.

I added detailed on the front, including sticking some extra bits of clay on for the head. I also pressed the magnet into the back of the clay to leave an imprint to show where I would later glue it.

I used black coated wire for the arms and legs which I pushed through the clay. This was a bit tricky as the wire didn't always come out the other side where I wanted it, so it often took a few tries.

I gave the clay a couple of days to dry and then painted it completely with black acrylic paint.

Then it was time to add colour. Using nail varnish was the perfect thing for this project as I think the metallic, shimmery colours really look like the colours of a beetle.

I got out my nail varnish stash and picked out a couple of matching colours. I used the in-built brush to paint directly on top of the black paint, starting with the darker colour and adding highlights with the lighter one.

After the nail varnish had tried I used Gorilla super glue to stick the magnet to the back of the clay.

I'm really pleased with how they turned out. I think they look great! And, aside from the time it takes for the clay dry out, this is quite a quick project which is always a bonus.

Nail Varnish Marbled Pendants

So we've all seen the marbled nail varnish technique by now, right?

Well I wondered what else I could use the technique on and I decided on necklace pendants.

I started by making and baking some rough pendant shapes from white Sculpey.

Then I picked out some nail varnish colours and dropped them on to the water.

I gently dropped the Sculpey pendants into the water, scooped up the excess nail varnish, then picked out the pendant.

I inadvertently decorated my finger nails at the same time. I think I should have remembered the Vaseline trick.

After I'd sprayed the nail varnish with a coat of clear varnish I painted the edge of the Sculpey piece  with silver  acrylic paint. Then I drilled a hole in the top of the pendants and attached a jump rings and chain.

I also made a gold version with green and gold nail varnish.

What do you think?

Pin it!

Nail Varnish Wire Flower

I recently saw this pin of a wire flower made with nail varnish, which led me to this video of Man vs Pin (which is my new favourite thing) which told me that the secret to getting this project to work is glue. So I had a go.

I started by making a simple flower from craft wire.

I found the best way to coat the wire petals in PVA glue was to dunk the whole thing in the container.

Some of the PVA petals kind of popped as they were drying so those ones had to be re-dunked but eventually I got a wire flower with all five petals coated in PVA glue.

Then for the nail varnish. I painted it on and found that it made the glue wrinkle like water does to paper but there was nothing I could do about that, so I'm saying it was deliberate.

The petals got 3/4 coats of nail varnish

I then wrapped the wire stalk around a hair grip and made myself cute new hair accessory!

What do you think?