LWD Design Team Showcase: Shrink Plastic, UTEE and Melting Pot

Time once again to feature a project for the Lone Wolf Designs Design Team.  This time around I'm showcasing two lovely pendants.  This is a very cool technique that uses shrink plastic, Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE) and a Melt Art Melting Pot.  What you get is a piece of jewelry that has a porcelain look to it.  Once you start making them, you won't be able to stop!  You could make matching earrings, pins and more.  

All products featured are available through LWD Discount Retail Sales group,

 just check the materials list at the bottom of post for SKUs.  

PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS

You will need a sheet of white shrink plastic.  I used two dies to cut the plastic: Sizzix Baroque and Tattered Florals.  These shrink down to the perfect size for the pendant (if you don't have dies, you could hand cut similar shapes with very sharp scissors).

Next you want to stamp and color the shrink plastic pieces.  Be sure to do this on the shiny side, which is slippery to stamp so be sure to be careful not to smudge.  For the base of the pendant, I stamped (Hero Arts) with Archival Ink (Magenta Hue).  The smaller flower was colored with the same ink.  The larger flower was colored with Alcohol Ink (Pool) using a blending tool and a felt pad.  Be sure all the pieces dry well.  Remember, no hitting them with the heat gun if you're impatient as they will start to shrink!  Then punch a hole in the base at the top for hanging (or leave as is for a pin)..  I used the standard size hole punch as it shrinks down just right to add a jump ring.

While you're stamping and coloring your pieces, get your Melting Pot warmed up.  You'll want a good amount of clear UTEE in the pot and it helps speed things up if you put the cover on it while it's melting.  I also like to keep a bamboo skewer next to the pot so that I can use it to put items in and out (and also to clear the jump ring hole).  Tweezers work as well but you have to clean those off!

Next carefully place your base piece into the hot melted UTEE.  You'll want to use that bamboo skewer to move it around a bit so it shrinks evenly.  Be careful not to touch the ink and don't be concerned if some comes off into the UTEE.  Once it's shrunk, put the skewer through the hole and lift out of the pot, allowing excess UTEE to drip back in.  Place it onto your craft mat to harden.  Do the same with the flower pieces.

Note:  For this project, you absolutely MUST use a craft mat.  It withstands the heat from the melted UTEE and will release the pieces when they are cooled.  Besides, if you don't have one yet, it is something you will find that you use all the time crafting!

There are two ways to attach the flower pieces together.  If you have a lot of UTEE on your pieces, simply put them together and blast with the heat gun.  It will melt the UTEE and fuse the two pieces together.  If you don't have enough UTEE, just use Glossy Accents to attach them.  I used both methods on my two pieces.

Now it's time to embellish and decorate your pendant.  If you have charms or other metal items that aren't the right color for your project, use Ranger's Patina to change them.  For my pendants, I used the Silver to change the leaves and flamingo from gold to silver.  Add a jump ring to the top for hanging.

Here's a closer look at pendant #1.  I used beads, pearls, charms and a piece of an old rhinestone earring to embellish.  Once everything was attached with Glossy accents and dry, I added a coat of Pearl Alcohol Ink Mixative to give it a soft and feminine look.  I took narrow ivory organza ribbon and added a clasp and jump ring to the ends to create the necklace the pendant hangs from.

UPDATE!  Pendant #1 will be auctioned off to benefit bulldog rescue.  Please "Like" FACEBOOK AUCTION FOR DETROIT BULLDOG RESCUE being held Sept. 20 -22, 2013!

And here's pendant #2 which is bolder and brighter than the first...perfect for summer.  Again I embellished with almost the same items...just put them together a little differently.  Instead of the rhinestone flower, I added a flamingo charm.  To color the pearls, I used the same Pool AI.  Just put your pearl on the craft sheet and add a drop of AI on top of it.  Once it dries, it's permanent and it's an easy clean up!  Pendant hangs from a simple silver tone chain.

I hoped you enjoyed these projects!  You can find most of  the products I used below plus many more for your crafting projects at 25% Off MSRP at Lone Wolf Designs, LLC.  All you have to do is join the LWD Discount Retail Sales Facebook group.  If you haven't joined us yet, you're paying too much for your craft supplies!

Supply List 

(LWD Product Performers SKUs in red):

• Sizzix - Tim Holtz Alterations - Movers and Shapers Baroque Die - SXTH656633
• Sizzix - Tim Holtz Alterations - Bigz Tattered Florals Die--SXTH656640
• Sizzix - Tim Holtz Alterations - Base Tray --SXTH657007
• Sizzix - Big Shot Machine--SX657900
• Lucky Squirrel Polyshrink White--LSPS8CW
• Ranger - The Melting Pot The Melting Pot--SWSUZ14706
• Ranger - Utee Clear 4 oz.--SWSUZ09290
• Ranger - Non-stick Craft Sheet LARGE Ranger - Craft Sheet--RINSC20677
• Ranger - Archival Ink Pads - Magenta Hue--DPAIP30614
• Ranger - Tim Holtz - Adirondack Alcohol Inks - Brights Open Stock Ranger - Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Pool--THTAB25504
• Ranger - Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Applicator Tool with Felt -THTIM20745
• McGill - Gem #400 Series Punches 3/16in Round--MG402CR
• Ranger - Glossy Accents Ranger - Glossy Accents--DPGAC17042
• Hero Arts--Lotus Background Stamp
• Ranger - Metallic Mixatives by Tim Holtz Silver Individual Mixative--THTIM22176
• Ranger - Metallic Mixatives by Tim Holtz Pearl Individual Mixative--THTIM22114
• 1/4" Jump Rings, lobster clasp, silver tone necklace
• 1/4" ivory organza ribbon
• Heat Gun
• Misc pearls, charms, beads & embellishments

Entered into the following Challenges:

CRAFTY CREATIONS--#235 MAKE TWO