Mini Iron - Many Uses

I first discovered the Clover Mini Iron (affiliate link) when I was making clothes for fashion dolls and I was having a hard time pressing my itty bitty seams with my big old iron.  I saw this baby at the fabric store and it seemed like the perfect solution.  And it was!

The mini iron plugs in and has a little temperature dial and a stand.  It has a tiny iron-shaped head that is perfect for pressing seams on small projects.  It's ideal for applique, miniatures, or any other delicate project that requires pressing.

Mod Podge + Glitter = Win

As I mentioned before, I'm a glitter girl.  I like to sparkle up anything that sits still long enough.  But I can't stand glitter that sheds and migrates.  Applying glitter in the classic way (put down glue, sprinkle glitter, let dry) results in glitter EVERYWHERE.

It was a life-changing moment for me when I learned how to apply glitter that won't flake off.  All you do is mix your glitter into Mod Podge (affiliate link) and then paint it onto your object.  First of all, it's much less messy to apply, and you don't end up with a bunch of loose glitter to get back into your container.  Then, once it's dry, you've got gorgeous glitter that won't budge.  Just apply as many coats as you like, allowing them to dry in between.  I also like to apply one more coat of just Mod Podge at the end to give a nice smooth appearance.

Because Glitter, that's why.

I've got a new blog, Because Glitter, where I share all sorts of sparkly goodies that I find.  It's got my brain thinking in glittery terms, and it's got me itching to do a few sparkly DIYs.  In case you're also glitter-inclined, I thought I'd share my favorite glitter for crafting.

I'm sure a lot of glitters out there are great, but my personal favorite is the Martha Stewart brand.  It's available at Michael's and from Amazon (affiliate link) and there are several varieties and sets to choose from.

Myself, I'm a sucker for the iridescent.  It's shimmery and beautiful, and comes in lots of colors.  Oh, and the vintage leaf style is a knock out when used in casted resin pieces.

Nunn Design Sealant

My biggest challenge when I started working with resin was working with printed images.  The paper darkened, the images never stayed crisp, and they just didn't look right.  I read a lot about how I should be getting my photos laser printed at a copy shop, but I don't usually do that much planning ahead when I get crafty.

Then I found Nunn Design Sealant.  I love Nunn Design products, and I was intrigued by what this product promised to do.  I print out my images on matte photo paper at home on my ink jet printer.  Then, after I glue them into my bezel setting and the glue has dried, I apply a few thin layers of this sealant.  Get all the way into the corners and let each layer dry thoroughly before applying the next.  If you get nice solid coverage, this sealant will keep the resin from seeping into your paper or running your ink.

I've had great success with this stuff and I love how it lets me use my home printer for spontaneous resin fun!

Little Windows into my Crafty Soul

I've done a fair amount of work with resin.  You can see a few pieces I made the last time I played with resin here.  I've done photo jewelry, filling bezel settings with resin, and I've also done molding and casting, filling a silicon mold with resin to create a new piece.

There are a lot of resins on the market, and several of them are quite good.  My favorite is from Little Windows.  Little Windows resin doesn't have as strong of a chemical odor as many other two part resins.  You can mix less at a time to avoid waste, it cures in 12 hours to a crystal clear finish, and my finished pieces look great.  The Little Windows website sells lots of coordinating accessories and has a ton of helpful instructional and inspirational content.

Zip Top Plastic Bags

Okay, I know some of you are asking why today's fave is a plastic zipper bag.  You might be wondering how they qualify as a craft supply or tool.  Trust me, if you make jewelry and you don't use zip top plastic bags, you will want to. 

Nothing keeps your finished jewelry clean and tarnish free like a lack of oxygen, so storing finished pieces in a zip bag keep them pristine and organized.  But don't forget, your supplies can tarnish between projects too, so I keep all of my findings and chains and other metal supplies in zippy bags.  That way everything is in great shape and ready to go when I pull them out to get creative. 

To keep myself organized, I write sizes, metal content, and any other important info right on the baggie with a permanent marker.

Thread Zap

If you beadweave you know how tough it can be to trim your threads right up against your work.  That is, unless you already use a Thread Zap.  These badboys make that difficulty a thing of the past!

The Thread Zap burns right through the thread instantly.  It's awesome - just be sure to keep your fingers and threads you don't want burned away from the tip!

As an added bonus, if you do any micro-macrame, you can use the Thread Zap to seal the ends of your nylon cords too.