Myléne Hillam... an AMAZING Featured Artist Spotlight

Greetings AMAZING Crafters! Today we have a fun questionnaire that we posed to our Featured Artist Myléne Hillam of Mill Lane Studio! Have fun getting to know her a little better and enjoy the eye candy, too! :) Sb

A little bit about Myléne...

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As a designer, I have the kind of job that many crafter's dream of: I get to create and play with new craft products. With a job that allows me to craft all day, it’s no wonder that I love what I do.

Like most crafters, I’ve dabbled in many crafts over the years but in recent times, it’s jewelry-making and working with resin that make my heart sing. Of all the crafts I’ve tried, none has captivated me quite like resin has. There is something about mixing the two liquid components together to produce a solid resin that just spellbinds me.

Ever since I can remember, the night sky has held a fascination for me: I love watching the moon as it rises and travels across the sky; I love looking for shooting stars in the heavens; and I remember gazing skywards when Halley's Comet passed by the earth. I'm totally spellbound by astronomical events so I created these Galaxy bangles to celebrate the wonders of the universe.

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Some fun questions for the inquiring minds...

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What did you want to be when you grew up?

"At school, I enjoyed all the hands-on arts subjects and creative writing. But I didn't set out to be an artist or a writer. In fact, I've worked in an office environment all my working life, but all the while, my love of creating stayed with me and I crafted whenever I had the time. And now I find myself living the creative life as both an artist/designer AND an author. My Art and English teachers would be proud! I guess it shows that no matter where your career path takes you along the way, you can always find your way back to the things you are passionate about and the things you are good at."

Coke or Pepsi???

"Neither. I like to get my caffeine fix from chocolate and tea!"

What inspires you?

"Dreams! My subconscious often conjures up weird and wonderful things and sometimes, the best creative ideas. I mean, how many good ideas come just as you are drifting off to sleep?!! But sometimes it's the materials that I'm working with that provide the inspiration – things will just fall in a particular way on the work bench and an idea is born."

What is the TOP thing to do on your "Bucket LIST"?


Image of a sunrise captured from the International Space Station, 
by NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman - Oct. 29, 2014.

"My bucket list has just one thing on it… but it's a biggy and it's one I never expect to do. I want to see our beautiful planet with its glowing blue halo from outer space. It always takes my breath away when I see an image of the earth taken from space. It makes me marvel at the size of the universe and how diminutive we are in the scheme of things - it really puts things in perspective!"

If you could print any phrase

on a T-shirt, what would it say?

It's pronounced Millaine! 

"Of course that would mean nothing to the average person in the street, but it would be great if people knew how to pronounce my name."

If you could mold ANYTHING with

Amazing Mold Putty, what would it be?

"Kate Middleton's engagement ring. Can you imagine

the fun we could have recreating it in resin?!!"

What style of music gets your creative juices going?

"I like to create in the peace and quiet where I can be alone with my thoughts. That's when my mind wanders and I'm at one with what I'm creating. But when deadlines are tight and the pressure is really on, I listen to my library of tracks featuring the sounds of the rainforest. Hearing the birds sing and the frogs croak whilst a gurgling stream bubbles – now that's music to my ears!"

Please stop by my blog Mill Lane Studio or join me

at Mill Lane Studio on Facebook for more inspiration.

   

For more jewelry ideas and inspiration, please check out my jewelry-making books: "Fabulous Jewelry from Findings" and "Stylish Leather Jewelry". 

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Thanks so much for dropping by! Check back next Friday for some inspiration from our Featured Artist Myléne Hillam... you don't want to miss it! CLICK HERE to head on over to Myléne's Blog Mill Lane Studio to see more of her fabulous work!

Have a fabulous day! :) Sb

Introducing our AMAZING Featured Artist for April... Myléne Hillam of Mill Lane Studio

Happy Friday Amazing Crafters! Today we are excited to resume our "Featured Artist" series here at the Amazing Casting Products blog. Each month we feature one artist who will share a special project and some inspiration using Amazing Casting Products. 

Our featured artist this month is a friend to us, who is a jewelry and resin artist from the land down under – Australia. Myléne Hillam is an amazing jewelry artist who happens to love working with resin and will be joining us as our Featured Artist for April. Her love for jewelry shines bright through her beautiful and unique designs. She has projects featured on Cut Out and Keep, Favecrafts.com, and AllFreeJewelryMaking.com. Myléne is also specializes in mixed media and papercrafting... and even tasty treats – we can't wait to see what Myléne dreams up using Amazing Casting Products.

A little bit about Myléne...

• • • • • • • • • • • • 

As a designer, I have the kind of job that many crafter's dream of: I get to create and play with new craft products. With a job that allows me to craft all day, it’s no wonder that I love what I do.

Like most crafters, I’ve dabbled in many crafts over the years but in recent times, it’s jewelry-making and working with resin that make my heart sing. Of all the crafts I’ve tried, none has captivated me quite like resin has. There is something about mixing the two liquid components together to produce a solid resin that just spellbinds me.

After casting my first bangle some eight or nine years ago, I was hooked and that passion/obsession for resin has helped me experiment with lots of different techniques and has increased my knowledge and skills. I now teach four different workshops on a regular basis from my studio. Sharing my knowledge with others is one of the most rewarding things I do and I love watching students’ faces as they master the basics to create their own resin jewelry. 

 

Along with working with resin, I’m a jewelry designer and I recently authored two jewelry-making books: "Fabulous Jewelry from Findings" and "Stylish Leather Jewelry". I’m also a regular contributor to Craft Ideas magazine where you’ll find some of my leather and resin jewelry designs.

When I’m not creating in my studio, you’ll find me getting my hands dirty in the garden. Spending time in the sunshine and fresh air clears out the cobwebs when deadlines are looming.

To find out more about my work (and get a free jewelry-making tutorial or two), visit my blog, Mill Lane Studio: http://milllanestudio.blogspot.com.

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Thanks so much for dropping by! Check back next Friday for more from our Featured Artist Myléne Hillam... you don't want to miss it! CLICK HERE to head on over to Myléne's Blog Mill Lane Studio to see more of her fabulous work!

Have a fabulous day! :) Sb

#Cre8time Spiders and Spells... #Halloween Decor by Brenda Burfeind

Good day friends! Brenda here from Creativity is a State of Mind and today I am excited to share an old but new post today for Mold Rubber Monday. Last year I created a glow-in-the-dark bracelet and this year I am using that same mold but in a whole new way. Well... sorta. I still made bracelets, but the bracelets are being used as something other than a bracelet. So let's get started:

 

If you missed last year's post on how I created the mold and then the bracelet you can view that post HERE! I really loved how my bracelet turned out and I still wear it on occasion.

So I started out with my Amazing Mold Rubber mold, the Alumilite Flo Orange Dye and the Amazing Clear Cast Resin. Please CLICK HERE to watch a video on mixing preparations.

Using the Amazing Clear Cast Resin takes a bit longer to cure depending on the temperature – for this project, each bangle took about 4 hours each to set up.

I then took my Dremel and polished them to get off
any overflow and to make them nice and round.

I then mixed up a tiny bit more of the Amazing Clear Cast Resin and the Alumilte "Flo" Orange Dye and painted over the polishing as it did leave polish marks.

Then I set them on my non-stick teflon sheet and let them dry there.

After only about an hour they were completely dry and I was able to take my dremel and drill a tiny hole on either side of the bangle.

While I was creating my bangles I seemed to over mix my resin. Rather have too much than not enough, Right?? So I poured my excess mixture into a tile letter mold that I created here.

After I popped out my letters I then laid them onto a Jet Black

StazOn® Ink Pad and gently rubbed to reveal the letters.

This is what you get.

Using the StazOn® ink will make it permanent.

I am not sure what I will use these for yet... but I will!

But now let's get back to the tutorial.

Using fishing line, decorative beads and crimp beads I created this.

The bangles are very lightweight so I added some bells to the bottom to create a windchime. I also glued some spider rings I had in my stash on top of the bangles.

  

I love how they move in the breeze.

I hope I've inspired you to reuse a mold you've created for

something other than what it was initially created for.

What would you create from an existing mold?

Thanks for joining us on Mold Rubber Monday and hope to see you soon! ~ Brenda

Visit my blog, Creativity is a State of Mind to see some more of my creations.

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Blooms can Dangle, too... AMAZING Inspiration by Marilyn Weyman Kegg

Last summer, I attended an art retreat and took a class with Deryn Mentock, making Bloom Bangles to be added to a bracelet made in another class of hers. Each dangle we made was one loop or square of wire, hammered flat, then backed with a pretty paper, and coated with resin. 

I kept thinking, "What if the dangles really looked like blooms?"

When I came home, I started experimenting with shapes in wire. I used my painted dictionary papers to back the shapes I made and Amazing Clear Cast Resin from Alumilite Corporation to coat the papers. The resin makes the entire structure of the dangle stiffer, waterproof, and shiny. It is so easy to do!

Make your shape out of one piece of wire, ending with the loop on the top from which it will be hung on earrings as shown here, or on a bracelet, chain, or cord. Hammer the shape flat, being careful not to flatten your loop and wrap which would weaken the metal. Use a clear glue on the back of the flattened shape to attach the paper, then quickly paint the back with some Amazing Clear Cast Resin with a small disposable brush. **A TIP** Don't use a brush you like because you cannot clean the resin out of it. I use cheap brushes I buy at the craft store in the model-making department. Lay the shape on a teflon crafting sheet on a tray, then generously add Amazing Clear Cast Resin inside the wire shape until it is nearly overflowing. Set it aside and allow it to dry for 24 hours.

Once dry, any drips or overflow may be trimmed off with a pair of scissors or even a small file.

What shape would you make?

~ Marilyn Weyman Kegg for Amazing Crafting Products

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Use this COUPON to shop at the Amazing Mold Putty

website HERE and receive 25% OFF your purchase.

Please use coupon code " summerhaus " {no quotations}.

Coupon expires June 30, 2013.

__________________________________________

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Don't forget to subscribe to our blog on the right side bar:

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Multi-Colored Resin Bangles... by Michelle Frae Cummings

Now that School is out and Summer is "officially" here, I knew I needed to spruce up my jewelry collection so I made up some fun colorful bangles!

To start, I mixed up some Amazing Mold Putty, and pressed it on the outside of a old plastic bangle mold that I found at a garage sale. The inside of the mold had someone's resin mishap and was unusable. Then I added some more mixed putty to the inside of the mold. 

   

Before letting set completely, I flipped it over to look
for any creases or air pockets I could fix. 

After about 10 minutes, the mold was ready for resin.

Using the measuring cups provided, I poured "A" and "B" Amazing Casting Resin. Then I added about 3 drops of Alumilite dye to the "A" resin. I do this because once you mix "A" and "B", you have a short window to thoroughly mix and pour before the resin begins to set. I mix the resin and dye with the popsicle stick provided, scraping the sides as I work. Then I quickly pour both into a paper dixie cup, again mixing quickly, before creasing the corner of the cup to serve as a spout.

I pour as close to the molds opening to avoid resin drips. If dripping occurs, quickly change sides. Make sure to leave room in the molds to add colors. Let each color set before adding a new color. I clean each cup out quickly with a baby wipe and then a dry napkin.

Then I'm ready for the next color batch. 

It takes approximately 15 minutes for each color to set. 

When your molds are filled and the resin is hard to touch, you may pop them out and begin carving off the rough edges with the the open blade of precision scissors. This is easiest to do when your bangles are fresh from the mold because the resin is still not completely cured. Hold the scissors the same way you would curl ribbon for a present. Go all around, inside and out until you have a smooth edge. If you have waited too long and the resin is much harder, keep working at it with the scissors, it will just take a bit longer. 

Once you have finished with all your bangles, place them on a bit of wire mesh or a old baking rack outside. Spray evenly on  both sides with a gloss sealer/finisher. Let dry until it's no longer tacky. 

Then enjoy your bangles and have a colorful summer!

For these bangles I used Red, Yellow, Blue and Green Alumilite Dye.

To achieve the white, I simply left the Amazing Casting Resin to set, uncolored.

Thanks for coming by!

You can see more INSPIRATION using Amazing Crafting Products by Alumilite Corporation on my blog: Faerie Dust Dreams.

~ Michelle Frae Cummings

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__________________________________________

Use this COUPON to shop at the Amazing Mold Putty

website HERE and receive 25% OFF your purchase.

Please use coupon code " summerhaus " {no quotations}.

Coupon expires June 30, 2013.

__________________________________________

.................................

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Don't forget to subscribe to our blog on the right side bar:

Twitter at AmazingCrafting | Facebook at AmazingMoldPutty | YouTube at AmazingMoldPutty