Wednesday craft update

On Wednesdays you'll get a little peak into the crafty part of my life - and hopefully also be inspired to try out one or two new techniques. On that note, I have been trying out a couple of new things this past week. And with that came a substantial amount of trial and much more error! But every now and then also a few "yay, I made it"'s...

Anyway, here you go...

My trials and errors:

Learning to saw metal with a jeweller's saw.

I broke quite a few blades in my quest to turn a silver-plated spoon into jewellery. I also learnt that trying to form a silver-plated spoon handle into a ring is crazy. You need pure silver, otherwise it is absolutely unbendable. (And I have STRONG arms, being mommy to a little eight and a half kilo bundle that simply loves being carried around). Or is there information out there that I am missing?

Trying out Shrinky Dinks (which I have wanted to do for ages)

I learnt that forming hot shrink plastic into a ring really is just that: HOT. It burns. And I wasn't quick enough so all my rings are a little weirdly shaped. And then all my late-night attempts at drawing pretty things also wasn't such a good idea. I'll try again when I am less sleep deprived. But I also realised it is LOADS of fun and I cannot wait to see what I will create from this shrinkable plastic idea.

Probably the most exciting aspect of the past week was that I finally got to unpack and try out my awesome Christmas gift, the Dremel Fortiflex.

This thing is amazing and it opens up a world of creative possiblitites to me. WATCH THIS SPACE!

After all of that trial and error, I unfortunately don't have as many success to share as I'd like to have. But here's what I have.

My Successes:

It's rather rustic and all but I am very proud of this little heart pendant. My first-ever self-made silver plated pendant. Cut from the top of an old spoon and polished at the edges and roughed up on the top with the Dremel.

A cute pair of Shrinky Dinks earrings. But now I want an inkjet printer and the printable version of this stuff. Then my possibilities will truly be endless!

Practicing the yoyo brooch. I will be showing anyone who wants to know how to do these, as well as kanzashi brooches and cute bow-tie brooches, all from material, at the next Design am Main event in Frankfurt.

Tell me what your creative endeavours were this past week!