From snowflakes to sea shells!
This was largely an experiment to see how the rainbow cellophane would do sandwiched between the bubble wrap. As I mentioned before, the cellophane doesn't melt or fuse with the bubble wrap, so you have to make sure the outer layers of plastic are fused around the edges of the cellophane to seal it in.
That means you can't just make one big sheet and cut out the pieces you want. Instead you have to do this:
Next I carefully cut out each square, leaving a tiny edge around the cellophane pieces to hold the layers together:
Once my pieces were cut out, it was just a matter of punching small holes with a needle and adding O rings. Easy-peasy!
Like the inside of seashells, right?
Here's the clasp, which I had to kind of make up as I went along:
This design would be even better using oval O rings, if such a thing exists, or maybe heavy links from an old necklace. The rings are perfectly comfortable on, but it might look nice to have links that lay flatter on my wrist.
[Update: Turns out oval O rings *do* exist. Thanks, commenters!]
I hope I've continued to inspire you guys to try some of your own fused bubble wrap projects! Using this sandwiching technique, you could layer all kinds of things inside the bubble wrap: paper, glitter, stickers, etc - so get to experimenting! (And remember to send me pictures of the successes!)
Oh, and here's a sneak peek at why those purple flowers are on my table:
Needless to say, I'm working on something VERY girly. But I'm splitting my time between this and a craft that requires some kick-ass metal aging and LED-wiring, so it's all evening out in the end. ;) Stay tuned for those projects, coming soon!
*****
Come see ALL of my craft projects on one page, right here!
Oval jumprings (and closed ones) are definitely available, though you'll have to check with beading stores. General craft stores might have them, but they'd have to have a good selection of beading related items.
ReplyDeleteLong time reader - first time commentator. The bracelet is BEAUTIFUL! I make jewelry and you most certainly can get oval jump rings. Since you are crafty yourself, you can also deconstruct oval chain links to serve the same purpose.
ReplyDeleteYou can also get the directions for making your own jump-rings on a mandrel, but:
ReplyDelete-cut "double" rings
-open the split ring into a figure-eight
This makes the bracelet lay flatter, and it can be really helpful when you need just a little extra length on a bracelet, but not enough to add a whole new link!
I wonder if Angelina (fusible iridescent threads and or films) would work with the bubble wrap and simplify the process? Quilters use it a lot and it's pretty widely available; this site does a pretty good job of showing the various colors it comes in.
ReplyDeleteOoh, Jen, that bracelet is gorgeous!! Looking forward to seeing the results of your girly and not-girly craft projects. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe bracelet looks great. It does remind one of shell. Don't you just luv jumprings? I'll be starting a necklace next week using more in project than the normal 2 or so.
ReplyDeleteAlrighty..since I have a crap-load-and-a-half of bubble wrap laying around (I even have pink bubble wrap ;)) I'm going to have to try this. Especially since I messed up my homemade shrinky dinks >.< Apparently marker does not dry while the plastic bakes...because my careful design smeared all to heck when I went to coat it to protect it fomr being scratch >.< lol
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the sabbatical you took earlier this year was well worth it. You have turned into a crafting, blogging whirlwind! Thanks for taking the time you needed to re-charge, this blog makes my day!
ReplyDeleteIf you google oval jump rings you'll find several places that sell them. The first I saw was Artbeads.com. They have free shipping no matter what size your order is. It takes a little longer to get it, but it's free. I also make jewelry and that bracelet is gorgeous! i love how you did the clasp. You work with what you have, nice job!
ReplyDeletetry a quilter's fuse spray on your cellophane before ironing. that's how i made fairy wings for a ballet i costumed and it worked great.
ReplyDeleteYour bracelet reminds me of a DIY shrinky-dink bracelt I came across the other day ... so cute!
ReplyDeletehttp://rustsunshine.blogspot.com/2012/04/shrinky-bracelet.html
I'm attempting a bracelet of my own tomorrow! I hope it comes out as nice as yours did! :D
ReplyDeleteSorry for the silly question but how do you melt plastic together?
ReplyDelete:)
If you follow the link at the beginning of the post to my snowflake earrings tutorial, you'll see the instructions there. :)
DeleteYou didn't go into detail about how to fuse the pieces together & did you use irridescent bubble wrap.. is there such a thing... very confusing instructions... But love the bracelet.. would love to make it but the instructions aren't clear!!
ReplyDeleteI love this! Where did you get the iridescent cellophane?
ReplyDeleteYou should be able to find it at any party supply store, or sometimes there's some in the wrapping paper aisle of stores like Target or WalMart.
Deletei am in the same boat as the last two crafters; how do you fuse the pieces together and did you use irridescent bubble wrap and cellophane if there is such and were did you get it. i am new to crafting and would love to do this project. by the way i am assuming you pop the bubble wrap is that correct?
ReplyDeleteCheck out my snowflake earrings tutorial (I linked to it at the beginning of this post); that explains how I fused the bubble wrap. (Yes, you do pop the bubbles first!) And the cellophane I used is the iridescent part; the bubble wrap is just the plain clear stuff you find everywhere.
DeleteThere is a product called fantasy film or Angelina film they both also come in fibers called Fantasy fiber or Angelina and Crystalina. These products are made of ployester and fuse to themselves using and iron or heat tool. One company that makes the is Art Glitter. They come in a rainbow of sparkly iridescent colors.
ReplyDeleteI have been making bubble wrap jewelry for a while but it never occured to me to sandwich anything in between layers...thanks for the wonderful idea
ReplyDeleteJen,
ReplyDeleteI was just going through some of your posts and looked up the craft section. You have made some of the neatest stuff. I think my favorite is your penny desk followed by the flash light light saber and then the smashed penny resin bracelet. Question - have you tried putting the iridescent paper in any resin? Maybe behind what ever else you are putting in the resin to highlight said object? If you try this please post your results.
Maureen
P.S. It was great to see you in Pittsburgh!
I haven't yet, no, but Fran over at Little Windows uses iridescent bits in her resin all the time, and it looks AMAZEBALLS. I'm usually just too lazy to do multiple layers with resin, which is what you need to do to keep the paper in the back. :)
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