Sealing Wax Update

 

The use of sealing wax is not a new craft.  It has in fact been used for centuries as a way to secure persnal mail by stamping a unique mark (signet ring) into melted wax.  Supposedly, the recipient of the mail would be able to tell if the mail was interceped because the wax seal would be damaged. Today the use of wax seals is mostly for a decorative effect. HM Ben Franklin Craft stores sell both the wax pellets and stamping tools.  

Like candy, there seem to be an endless supply of colorful, irridescent wax pellets availble today.  I can't stop buying the wax pellets because each one has a different look when melted. I use a heat tool to melt the wax on a silicon mat or in a silicon mold.  (If you have a strong heat gun, work slowly to get the wax melted so you don't blow the liquid wax around.) It's so much fun watching the pellets melt and blend then making an impression with a metal seal.

Like the explosion of wax pellet colors, sealing wax stamp designs have also multiplied drastically.  You can buy stamps attached to handles or buy just the metal part and use one handle for many metal design heads that screw on, The new wave of metal stamp head designs is truly exciting and you're sure to find many that suit your needs.

New on the market to enhance your sealing wax stamping are silcon molds into which you can melt the wax pellets and impart a desired shape.  (I'm not sure where I purchased this silicon mold...maybe HM BEn Franklin Crafts.)  The two tools with the silicon tips are really useful for pushing the melting wax around.  I used the gold and silver colorants on the cooled impressed wax designs.  They help to highlight the details which often are hard to see.  Both the tools and colorants were purchased in Japan but perhaps you can find them online or HM Ben Franklin will carry them in the future.  I hope this post has helped to update you on the new things happening in an old fashioned craft medium. Rather than melting the wax on my crafts, I plan to glue my finished wax seals on envelopes and cards as decorations. I think they add a special personal touch which lets the recipient know that they are 'special' to me. YOU are special to me too!

Five Baroque Pearl Necklaces

After making the baroque pearl bracelets featured in a previous post, I decided to make some necklaces using single pearls. It seems like lately jewelry is becoing very simple and elegant in design.  With this in mind, I created these super easy pearl necklaces.

 To make one, I started with a single gorgeous baroque pearl that had a drilled hole. Some pearls have top holes and others have holes that pass from side to side.  I started by stringing a piece of 22 gauge sterling silver round wire through the pearl and using pliers to shape a small hanging hole on each side of the pearl.  Next I used a wire snipper to cut through the chain (with clasp) midway in the necklace. The chain needs to have links able to accomodate the 22 gauge wire.

The ends of the wire passing through the pearl and with the formed hanging loops were then attached to the chain ends and wire wrapped.  Ta da!....all done! Wasn't that easy?

It was so easy to make one baroque pearl necklace, that I made four more.  Like your own children, I like them all.  I can't pick a favorite.

Maybe this one is my favorite......

Or this one?   Eventually, I'll choose one for myself and put the others in my HM Ben Franklin Crafts locker box.  Maybe you'll buy one or with minimal effort and supplies you can make one for yourself!

No Recipe Panettone Bread Pudding

 My husband was grumbling about the loaves of panettone bread I've been hoarding in the freezer since last Christmas. LOL!  I decided to make him some bread pudding so he would stop mumbling about the lack of freezer space.  I began by tearing the bread into large chunks and placing them into a parchment lined 8 x 8 baking pan until the bread pieces are in a layer almost to the top of the pan.  Next, I beat 3 eggs into a mixing bowl and added 1 cup of heavy cream plus some (about 1/2 cup?) water, sugar (1/2 cup?) a grating of nutmeg, and a dash of vanilla. I pured this liquid over the bread pieces to which I had added about 1/2 cup of dried fruit ( cranberries, raisins, cherries, etc.).  After making sure the bread pieces were soaked, I dotted the top with chunks of butter (1/4 cup?) and baked the mixture at 350 degrees until the bread pudding smell was irresistible. Hahaha! The finished bread pudding should be brown on top and a butter knife inserted should come out clean.  Sorry that I don't have a real recipe for my bread pudding but this is how I use up freezer bread and please my husband at the same time!

Quick Sticker Birthday Card

I was thinking of designing either a shaker or pop-up birthday card for a 1-year-old, but I was short on time and not really sure that a child celebrating a 1st birthday would appreciate the effort it would take to make one of those cards.  I opted to make a colorful, personalized card with a matching envelope.

I think it turned out well and was super easy to construct because I used stickers for the letters.  I must admit that I have an enormous sticker collection which is the result of years of hoarding. LOL!  I used some of my favorite letter stickers on this card. Check out the extensive sticker selection at HM Ben Franklin Crafts which is where I purchased these letter stickers years ago.  It made me very happy to make this card and use up a miniscule portion of my overflowing sticker collection. Don't be afraid to use stickers on your crafty endeavors.  They are time savers and can really make your crafts more professional looking. Stickers can even get you out of a sticky craft time crunch!

Baroque Pearl Bracelets

I needed a present for a girl who loves to dress up and wear jewelry.  I thought that a baroque pearl bracelet might be the perfect gift.  I chose twelve assorted baroque pearls from my stash and wire wrapped them with 22 gauge sterling silver wire.  It was easy jewelry work that was finished off with a sinple clasp and charm.

Since I was happy with the first bracelet, I decided to make a variation of it. This one has pearls, adventurine rondels and a special aquamarine charm.

Next, I thought I'd create a bracelet with aquamarine and adventurine beads plus a sweet amethyst charm.  The clasp on this one was a puffy silver heart with a securit;y lock.  It turned out lovely so I was encouraged to make another version of this simple bracelet.

The fourth variation of this wire wrapped pearl bracelet included larimar chip beads, a puffy heart clasp and a 'LOVE' heart charm.  The look of this last bracelet enticed me to make the fifth and final version of this pearl bracelet.

This pearl bracelet features two large unique baroque pearls. One of the pearls looks like two large oval pearls fused together.  The other special pearl has a round white pearl nestled in a shell-shaped grey pearl.  This 'black and white' pearl bracelet was finished off with an 'S' clasp that is embellished with an amethyst cabachon.  As a reward 'wink' for making five baroque pearl bracelets in a row, I decided that this last bracelet is.... MINE. Lucky hardworking ME! (The extra three bracelets will be sold in my HM BFC locker box.)

Mochi Crunch Cookie Test 1

I love inventing new cookies for holiday gift giving but usually I start my test batches too late in the year and thus I reluctantly bake the same (but delicious) cookies year after year.  This year by starting my 'cookie experiments' in the summer, I should be able to create a few new cookie taste delights. The batch of cookies shown in the photo was the product of my love for the Trader Joe's Mochi Crunch Rice Nuggets.  Before finishing off my last bag of the tasty treats, I decided to add a cup of the crushed nuggets to a basic butter cookie recipe.  The original recipe said that the batch would result in 4 dozen cookies but I only formed 2-1/2 dozens. My idea of cookie size must be a bit bigger than other bakers (hahaha!).  The cookies were super delicious but not very festive looking.  I think for the holidays I will try to add something colorful like sprinkles or mini M&M candies.  For a more Hawaiian taste to send to mainland cookie lovers, I will add chopped macadamia nuts to a future batch.  As it gets closer to Christmas and I tweek this recipe into perfection, I will keep you updated. Yummy taste tests ahead....YAY! 

 

Artificial Chocolate Strawberry Dessert Cups

 If you've been to Japan, you know that pretend food is everywhere, usually in front of restaurants.  They look very realistic and edible.  When I saw kits for making some fake desserts at the Japan Hobby Show, I just had to purchase one.  I was surprised when I opened the kit box to find that it the contents were very simple.  Basically, there were two packets of what seemed like Hearty Clay, one dark brown   (a bit dry) and the other white. Even though the directions were written in Japanese, the diagrams were quite easy to follow and I was able to replicate the fake desserts. I was uncertain what the instructions intended, but I crumpled aluminum foil and placed it in the cups.  Over the foil I glued a circle of brown (slightly dry) clay.  Onto the 'chocolate ice cream' I glued seven ball of white clay and an artificial plastic strawberry.  Finally, tiny fake straws were skewered in. The 'straws' were made with toothpicks covered in striped paper.  As you can tell, this fake sweet is easy to replicate and you don't really need a kit to make it.  I plan to turn these dessert cups into fridge magnets by simply gluing a strong magnet to the back of each one.  These dessert cups are lightweight so they are perfect for this use.  Alternately, you might put heavy rocks or marbles in the bottom of the cups so they can be used as a paperweight.  I'm sure you are clever enough to think of a dessert party favor or small hostess gift. It's cute and  calorie free!