Brenda Burfeind... an AMAZING Artist Spotlight

Today we feature Brenda Burfeind - who is one of the original Amazing Crafting Product addicts when the creative team was formed back in 2011. Brenda has always had unique and interesting projects using Amazing Mold Putty and today we hope you will get to know her a little better. It's been so wonderful to see her creativity flourish and our friendship grow as she finds unique and FUNctional ways to bring Amazing Crafting Products into most every project she dreams up. Enjoy! - Sb

"I've been crafting since I can't remember when. Both my mom and oma (German Grandma) were always creating something whether it was cooking, crocheting or sewing. My dad loved to draw (unfortunately I did not inherit that gene) and I was always surrounded by creativity. I started beading and making jewelry in my pre-teens and sold them at my opa's (German Grandpa) store. I was always encouraged to use my talents.

I would like to say a special thanks to Mike at Amazing Crafting Products for such wonderful products that he so generously supplies to us on the design team; and a SUPER special thanks to Susan for having faith in me and bringing me back to this wonderful group of designers. You are the amazing ones!"

Some fun questions for the inquiring minds...

What did you want to be when you grew up?

"I wanted to be a lawyer. I thought I could 'fix' the world."

Coke or Pepsi?

"Coke for sure, but it's gotta be DIET – LOL!!!"

If you could print any phrase on a T-shirt, what would it say?

"Creativity is a State of MIND, and mine is full of it!"

What inspires you?

Within the last year I’ve become a member to an amazing organization called the Bottoms UpPink Ladies. I’ve been throwing darts for a little over 20 years and have loved the game since I started.  In the last year, the game has become more than just a game for me. We started a league for ladies and we had 26 teams sign up and that equaled 52 ladies throwing darts every Sunday afternoon for 6 weeks.  Recently we added a co-ed league with 29 teams of one woman and one man which equaled 58 people and we now throw every Monday evening. We started out by raising money for Breast Cancer survivors, but have decided that cancer is everywhere and should not be limited to that because NO ONE fights alone! We did recently hand over a check for $500 to a recipient that had a double mastectomy this last February. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Thankful to the Amazing Mold Putty blog, I’ve been a big contributor to the fundraising events and have made numerous projects to help raise money.  This past St. Patty’s Day parade I made beaded necklaces and you can view the post HERE and raised a good portion of money for our cause.  

I also made 175 plastic easter eggs with ribbons and pink darts and filled them with jelly beans since Easter was right around the corner.  Our bar owner (sponsor) donated a couple of bar tabs, drink tokens and gift certificates to a local restaurant and we sold ALL those eggs and raised $379 over the last two weekends. The out-pour of generosity was AMAZING! I am so proud to be a part of this organization.  Here is a picture of all those eggs I made. See those tiny darts, 175 of those created with an Amazing Mold Putty mold made from a dart earring, poured with Amazing Casting Resin and attached to hand-stamped Pink Ladies ribbons. Whew! But all worth it!

Now I need to figure out what I will be making for Mother's Day to continue to help raise money! My goal is to create something for every holiday throughout the year.

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

"I want to travel, travel, travel. I lived in Europe until I was 16 so I have seen most of it, but I would love to travel to every State in the U.S. and thus far I have 9 under my belt."

If you could mold ANYTHING with Amazing Mold Putty, what would it be?

"There isn't anything I cannot mold because I've tried most of anything I've wanted. I am so over the top with this stuff. It is truly AMAZING!"

What style of music gets your creative juices going?

"I'm a huge Country music lover. I especially LOVE the old country. Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, George Jones is what I grew up with and when I just have "ME" time, that's what I listen to."

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoyed this peek inside Brenda's world. Please check back a little later today for some Amazing Inspiration from Brenda. You can see more of Brenda's AMAZING work at her blog, Creativity is a State of Mind.

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A #Cre8time love of ART... Day 2 of StencilGirl and Amazing Casting Products Bloghop!

Hello Amazing Crafters!! Welcome to Day TWO of the StencilGirl Products and Amazing Casting Products Blog Hop! We hope to inspire you for THREE days with new projects each day!

The creative teams of StencilGirl and Amazing Casting Products have joined Cre8time forces in playing with Amazing Casting Products and StencilGirl stencils... including Mary Beth Shaw!!!

Did you LOVE the projects from Day ONE???

PREPARE TO BE AMAZED??!

Gwen Lafleur

Gwen from Team StencilGirl has created this stunning Art Deco book with a matching box! CLICK HERE to see all the details on her blog!

Karen Gaunt

This is just a peek of Karen's creation... but it's looking quite FRIDA! CLICK HERE to pop over for the full REVEAL!

Tracy Alden

Amazing Creative Tracy is inspired by Ancient Greek Art!

Pop over to her blog to see more details HERE!

Brenda Burfeind

Check out all the dimension in Amazing Creative Brenda's mosaic piece!

Follow the elephants to her blog post HERE!

What would a bloghop be without a GIVEAWAY??!!!

One lucky winner will receive both a $25 Gift Certificate to StencilGirl Products AND a $25 Gift Certificate to Amazing Casting Products!

Please take your time and visit each blog showcased today through Friday and leave a comment. The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to WIN! 

Day 2 Bloghop Lineup...

Visit the fabulous designers from both teams and comment

for your chance to win (one comment per blog please).

Gwen Lafleur

Karen Gaunt

Tracy Alden

Brenda Burfeind

You have until Sunday, April 23rd at 11:59PM Central Time to leave your comments. Winner will be announced on StencilGirl's Facebook page and also on the Amazing Casting Products’ Facebook page on Monday, April 24th. GOOD LUCK!!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for more AMAZING Inspiration!!

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Share your creations on social media

using hashtag #amazingcastingproducts

Fabulous Faux Enamel Feather Earrings with Guest Designer Brenda Burfeind

Good day! Brenda here and I want thank Susan for inviting me back to show off some projects I've been making since leaving the Amazing Mold Putty Design Team. I was one of the original designers for Amazing Crafting Products and loved every minute of it.

Since leaving the team, I still continued to use Amazing Crafting Products because these products are ultimately the best. I love the fact that I can create almost anything I want. The molding putty is my all time favorite and of course I love using the Amazing Casting Resin and the Amazing Clear Cast Resin to create those embellishments. 

So today I wanted to create some feather earrings that I had seen on Pinterest a while back. I started out with some Creative Paperclay®. I cut the clay in a oval type shape and using a bamboo skewer I added some lines to create those feather like looks. Press your bamboo skewer into the clay to make those veins. It really has great dimension. Once the piece is dry, you can use a nail file to smooth out the edges if you want or need to.

Once the piece dried I then prepared the feather to be encased in Amazing Mold Putty to create the mold. I added some vaseline to the paperclay "feather" as a release to make sure it would not stick to the mold putty. Better safe than sorry I always say.

I took two equal parts of the mold putty and blended them making sure there were no white streaks showing. You have a couple of minutes to get it good and blended. Then I pressed the clay feather piece into the mold putty and let it sit for about 10 minutes. I usually press my fingers slightly into the edge of the mold to make sure it's really good and hard and then I slowly pulled the clay piece out of the mold. Be very careful as the clay piece could break when taking it out of the mold. I will use the clay piece in a scrapbook layout or maybe for embellishing a card.

I created the earrings with the Amazing Casting Resin and Gold Alumilite Metallic Powder. Add your Alumilite powder to your part "A" and mix well. Then pour your part "B" into your part "A" and mix again. You only have a few minutes before it wants to set up, so make sure you do this quickly.

After the pieces were cast, I added some black rub and buff to tone down the gold. I also sealed the pieces with some Sakura 3-D Crystal Lacquer and placed a few iridescent pearls to the "feathers". Now I have two perfectly matched feathers. I used my Crop-A-Dile to create the holes for the earring wires, it goes through the resin piece very easy. I added a couple of jump rings and the earring wires and now I have a great pair of earrings.

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you've enjoyed my feather earrings tutorial and I cannot wait to share my next project! You can always find me here to see what else I create.  ~ Brenda Burfeind

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For both written and video instructions showing how to create Amazing Mold Putty molds, and cast resin objects, please visit the Amazing Crafting Products library.

Brenda Burfeind... GUEST DESIGNER Spotlight

Today we feature Brenda - who's been one of our original team of Amazing Crafting Product addicts since the creative team was born back in 2011. Brenda has always had unique and interesting projects using Amazing Mold Putty and today we hope you will get to know her a little better.

Brenda's very first project "Halloween Hotglue Embellishments" is one of my personal favorites - where she made a custom "arsty" gift for a creative friend, that was made using a mold from a fun spooky eraser party favor. Not only was it personalized... it was "FUNctional" too!

A little bit about Brenda...

I've been crafting since I can't remember when. Both my mom and oma (German Grandma) were always creating something whether it was cooking, crocheting or sewing. My dad loved to draw (unfortunately I did not inherit that gene) and I was always surrounded by creativity. I started beading and making jewelry in my pre-teens and sold them at my opa's (German Grandpa) store. I was always encouraged to use my talents.

Some fun questions for the inquiring minds...

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a lawyer. I thought I could "fix" the world.

Coke or Pepsi?

Coke for sure, but it's gotta be DIET LOL!!!

If you could print any phrase on a T-shirt, what would it say?

"Creativity is a State of MIND, and mine is full of it!"

What inspires you?

Nothing in particular. I love to just go with it most of the time. A lot of my finished projects are not what they started out to be. I do like looking at pinterest and when I like something I try to "copy" it, but it never turns out like the original. Good or bad, you decide.

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

I want to travel, travel, travel. I lived in Europe until I was 16 so I have seen most of it, but I would love to travel to every State in the US and thus far I have 9 under my belt.

If you could mold ANYTHING with Amazing Mold Putty, what would it be?

There isn't anything I cannot mold because I've tried most of anything I've wanted. I am so over the top with this stuff. It is truly AMAZING.

What style of music gets your creative juices going?

I'm a huge Country music lover. I especially LOVE the old country. Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, George Jones is what I grew up with and when I just have "Me" time, that's what I listen to.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoyed this peek inside Brenda's world. You can see more of Brenda's AMAZING work at her blog, Creativity is a State of Mind.

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

Twitter at AmazingCrafting | Facebook at AmazingMoldPutty | YouTube at AmazingMoldPutty

With Summer coming to an End... Our favorite #Cre8time Theme is Here!

Wow! Summer has really gone by quickly and hopefully the cooler breezes of fall are near. It is no surprise that Halloween is one theme that our team of AMAZING Creatives adore. So today we are revisiting many of the spooky, gorey and gruesome projects using Amazing Crafting Products to help you get a jumpstart on your seasonal creating.

LED Lighted Skull by Lonnie Sexton

Halloween Altered Frame by Maria Soto

Eerie Brain Specimen by Susan M. Brown {sbartist}

Halloween Magnets by Peg Rounds

Halloween Card by Rachel Whetzel

"EEK" Halloween Wall Decor by Susan M. Brown {sbartist}




Chicken Feet Candlestick Holders by Rachel Whetzel

Give Halloween Hot Glue Favors by Brenda Burfeind

Steampunk Skull & Bones Embellishments by Kelly Donovan

Spell Book by Edie Cournoyer

Halloween Lighted Treat Box by Wendy

Halloween Lightswitch Plate by Susan M. Brown {sbartist}

Skull and Bones Bangle by Tanya Ruffin

Halloween Cupcake Toppers by Lee Brehon

Spooky Skull Ornaments by Michelle Frae Cummings

Altered Coffin Box by Maria Soto

Radioactive Art Journal Pages by Sandra Strait

Altered Halloween Tealights by Tanya Ruffin

Spooky Halloween Jewels by Tracy Alden

Googlie Eye Glowing Lightswitch Plate by Michelle Frae Cummings

Glowing Skull Pendant by Brenda Burfeind

Spooky Door Decor by Isabel Villarreal

Ghoulish Glam Bleeding Necklace by Tracy Alden

Dripping Wine Glass Party Decor by Tanya Ruffin

Skull Pendant by Susan M. Brown {sbartist}

Zombie Finger Apothecary Jars by Tracy Alden

Ouija Board Necklace by Tanya Ruffin

Fortune Teller's Necklace by Maria Soto

Seasonal Tag Decor by Susan M. Brown {sbartist}

Our Amazing Team of Creatives is just getting started on this year's seasonal projects – so be sure to subscribe in the right sidebar so you don't miss a thing.

What would you dream up and create

using Amazing Crafting Products?

This is just a sampling of Halloween projects, too! I invite you take time to roam about the Amazing Mold Putty Blog and check out all of the AMAZING projects, tips and tricks our creative team has dreamt up.

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Don't miss a single post!

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Key to My House Valentine... AMAZING Inspiration by Brenda Burfeind

Greeting Amazing Crafters! Brenda here from Creativity is a State of Mind and I'm here to show you a special Valentine's gift I was commissioned to do. First let me give you a little background...

I love to go junk-ing and recently discovered a gentleman in my town that has the most awesome antique, junk shop I've ever been to and I've been to a lot. He is such a down to earth guy and loves to share and learn along everyone else. We've become friends on facebook and I share various things I've created with him and on his page. Recently I received a FB message from another gentleman and I'll share what he wrote:

Dear Miss Burfeind, (THAT made me laugh a little) 

I've been stalking your facebook lately since I see you are friends with Jon and found your blog through that. I was hoping to find the perfect gift for my girlfriend. I always see how you talk about your resin pieces and how they are lightweight and that you can duplicate most anything. I would like to challenge you to make my girlfriend the perfect Valentine's Day gift. You see, I want to have her move in with me and would like to ask her on Valentine's Day. I want to give her a key to my house and was wondering if you could possible think up something to show her how much I want to move our relationship up to the next level. Please contact me if you are at all interested in creating something special for her. 

Sincerely,
XXXXXXXX

Well, I was awestruck! Someone wanted ME to make something special for them? I did reread the message a couple of times to make sure he was really wanted ME to make something. Well, of course I replied (maybe too quickly, I might have sounded a bit anxious, LOL) and we chatted back and forth a bit. I asked him what he wanted and he had no idea. He was leaving that up to me! I told him I would have something for him by the end of the following week because, seriously, I had no idea what I was going to make for her that would symbolize them moving in together. My brain was going to fry, but that's when inspiration hit me. Valentine's Day, house, key, lock... oh my, yes, I've got it.

With some of my skeleton keys and a lock I got from Jon's shop I created my molds with the Amazing Mold Putty and cast my pieces with Amazing Casting Resin and various Alumilite Metallic powders.

With some red wire, beads and heart rhinestones I created a lovely lightweight keychain he can put his own key on and give to her on Valentine's Day.

I sent him this picture of the keychain when it was done and did not hear from him. I did, however, see that he had read my fb message but didn't get a reply. I thought maybe I seemed too anxious and/or he didn't like what I created. Needless to say I was pretty bummed out, but I figured I could sell this piece at one of the craft shows I'll be doing this fall. About a week later he finally replied ... he was over the top with the how the keychain turned out but he was afraid to ask how much I was going to charge (since we didn't discuss price before hand) and that's why he didn't respond immediately to my message. ??? I told him the price and he replied and wanted to know where we could we meet to exchange gift for cash. We met and he told me that the picture absolutely did this piece NO justice. He LOVED it and couldn't wait to give it his girlfriend. Valentine's Day couldn't get here quick enough for him! He handed me the cash and an envelope and we said our goodbyes. When I got home I opened the envelope and in it was some more cash with a note that read... 

Dear Miss Burfeind, (Again I giggled)

Thank you for creating such a special piece for my girlfriend. This is extraordinary workmanship and imagination. I just wanted to give you a little extra because you did not charge enough for that piece. 

I hope to do business with you in the future! 

Sincerely,
XXXXXX 

That made my day, week and year! I've been walking on cloud 9 ever since.

I hope you've enjoyed my inspirational LOVE post and would love to hear from you in the comments. Have you ever been commissioned to create a piece? How was that experience for you?

Until next time, happy crafting ~ Brenda

 Please visit my blog, Creativity is a State of Mind

to see more of my creations.

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

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Fill the Void in an Amazing Mold with a Niche... by Brenda Burfeind

 

Brenda dropping by again to show you an experimental post. I hardly ever know what I am going to make until I make it. Oh, I definitely think about future projects, but I hardly ever think them out. I like to just go with it most of the time. Even when I do run it through my head, it hardly ever turns out the way I imagined it; therefore I love to experiment. Sometimes it fails, but most of the time I have success. Remember, there is nothing wrong with experimenting and failure isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes new and fun things come about using my "failures".

So here we go... I wondered how I could create a hole

within a molded piece and came up with this idea.

I rolled out a bit of the Amazing Mold Putty about 1/4" thick and using those metal cookie cutters, I cut out the shapes. You do not have to use the metal kind, but those were the smallest ones I had. I needed them to be small enough to fit into my domino molds I made here and here.

I then just placed my "heart shape" into my domino mold and poured my Amazing Casting Resin into the mold tinted with the Alumilite Black Dye. Do not over pour and cover your "heart shape" though. 

After it cured for about 10 minutes I de-molded it and used my X-acto knife to clean up the edges a bit and now you have a perfect hole in the shape of a heart. 

I wanted to add something to the bottom of the domino piece and thought about darts.

I Love Darts!!

Or a music note... You Make my Heart Sing! 

Or maybe a key... You Hold the Key to my Heart! 

I opted for the latter and added a bit of Rub 'n Buff® – this is the finished piece. 

I hope you've enjoyed my piece today and hope I've inspired you to "void" a mold.

What would you use as a "void"

in a molded piece?

Thanks for stopping by to check out my inspiration and I'd love for you to stop by and see me at my blog "Creativity is a State of Mind". ~ Brenda Lee Burfeind

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CLICK HERE for Details how you can enter to WIN!