How to Make a Statement Piece of Jewelry

This piece of jewelry really does make a statement—as it should. Any statement piece is easy to identity because it is chunky, unique, and attention-grabbing. This statement necklace is meant to be the defining piece of your outfit. It will set you apart from the crowd.

Supplies for Making the Statement Necklace

• 2" x 10" x ¼" piece of MDF
• Four gold tone focal beads
• Eight 6mm glass beads in a color to coordinate with you choice of napkin
• Twelve 3mm to 4 mm glass beads in a color to coordinate with you choice of napkin
• 12" to 15" 24 gauge brass jewelry wire
• 14" to 20" gold tone jewelry chain (depending upon the length of your finished piece)
• One jewelry clasp with jump rings
• Gesso
• Mod Podge
• Napkin with design of your choice 
• Classic Gold Liquid Leaf by Plaid Enterprises
• Pattern for kite-shaped pieces

Equipment for Making the Statement Necklace

• Proxxon Bandsaw MBS/E, Proxxon Table Saw FET, or Proxxon Scroll Saw DSH/E
• Proxxon Disc Sander TSG 250/E
• Professional Rotary Tool IBS/E, Drill Stand MB 200 and Machine Vice MS 4

Instructions for Making the Statement Necklace

1. Prepare and mount the pattern on the 2" x 10" piece of MDF. To apply the pattern to the MDF, cover the MDF with painter's tape, spray the reverse side of the pattern with adhesive spray, and adhere the pattern on top of the painter's tape. The painter's tape allows for easy removal of the pattern. 
   
2. Cut the necklace pieces using either the band saw, table saw, or scroll saw.
   
3. Sand the edges of the pieces on the disc sander.
   
4. Measure and mark ¼" from the tip of the piece and half the width of the piece for drilling the hole to attach the piece to the necklace.
   
5. Mount the marked piece in the machine vise and attach to the drill stand.
   
6. Drill a hole for attaching the piece to the necklace.
   
7. Repeat Steps 4 through 6 for each piece.
8. Coat all pieces with gesso.
   
9. Using Mod Podge and a napkin with a design of your choice, napkin collage the front of each piece.
10. When the Mod Podge is dry, paint the edges and reverse side of each piece with Classic Gold Liquid Leaf.
11. String MDF necklace pieces, focal beads, and glass beads on jewelry wire, and form a closed loop at each end of the wire.
12. Attach 7" to 10" of jewelry chain to each end of the wire.
13. Attach jewelry clasp to the ends of the chain.
14. Wear your statement necklace, and enjoy all the compliments that you'll receive.
    

How to Make a Lap Desk

How to make a lap desk using proxxon tools

Before I start with the instructions I want to say thank you for the time we have been blogging. We started as a team and we wish to close out the year as a team. So this project was a combined

team project. Carol worked on the desk and I selected the project and did the painting.


This is a photo of the finished product.

Tools used 

Proxxon Mini Table Saw

Proxxon OZI/ E detail sander 

Proxxon Rotary Tool and small drill bit
Screwdriver

Supplies 

Wood of your choice we used 1/4" Poplar ( sides, back and front)

and 1/4" Birch plywood for Top and Bottom. 
2. Small Hinges
Plaid Folk Art paint
Krylon Crystal clear
Latch (optional)

See the cutting design below and cut your wood accordingly.

The Proxxon table saw worked beautifully for  this, it cuts fairly smoothly, even with the birch plywood which is notorious for splintering . This cut was for the sides and is cut at a 100 degree angle. 

After cutting the sides  back and front you will need to cut some dados in them for the bottom piece to slide into.  This is to ensure sturdiness.

To do this you need to take the splitter off the proxxon table saw.  Set the blade height to about 1/8" and set the fence about 1/4" from the blade.  Run the bottom of the sides, back and front across the blade to make a thin slot. Then move the blade slightly farther away from the fence and run them across again to widen the slot so that the bottom will slide in place. When sides bottom and front are put together they should all line up perfectly making a nice support for the bottom.  

Sand all the edges using the Proxxon OZI/E detail sander.

When you get the wood cut and are building the box remember that the sides will lay outside of the front and back. 

These were glued with wood glue, clamped with a corner clamp, and allowed to dry.   

Cut across the top (lid) piece three inches down from the top. this is glued to the back and the sides on the tall side of the frame. Clamp and let dry. After the desk is painted  you will attach it to bottom part of the lid with small hinges.

The box is now  partially assembled and will be painted in two sections.  After everything dries well we will put the hinges on and attach  the lower part of the lid to the top.

Painting

I started the painting with the sides of the box.  I chose

a dark blue to base coat the entire lap desk.  I left the inside unfinished. 

Since this is being made as a Christmas gift for a young girl,

Emma, who is a grandchild of our neighbor, I chose the design of a large sunflower for the top of the desk.

Line up the top and bottom, attach the hinges and the lap desk is finished.  

finished lap desk

Some of the colors I used are as follows.

Burnt Sienna 943

Burnt Umber 462

Daffodil Yellow 2912

White

Classic Green 2554

Old Ivy 927E

Hauser light green 459

Some combining of color mixed were used

to gain changing values.

I would like to thank Proxxon Mini Tools and Plaid Paints

for their continued support for this blog. I would also like to thank Terri Sproul our point of contact and gracious guide and helper.  

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and

Prosperous New Year. 

A Special Christmas Gift

Today I want to show you a project that I finished and which arrived in Aberdeen, Maryland yesterday. What does a woman want who knits and crochets? Why a yarn bowl of course!

The Supplies Needed for this Project Are:

Proxxon Jig Saw

Proxxon Belt Sander

Plaid Acrylic Paint

Plaid Mod Podge

Plaid Acrylic Sealer

Origami paper (or whatever you prefer)

Resin

Sandpaper

Paint Brushes

Wood burner

Picture and Quote

Pink Adirondack Ink

Q-Tips

I started out with the usual moldy, dirty, gourd. After washing the outside and drying it, I cut the gourd open and cleaned out the insides. I used my Proxxon Jig Saw to cut the gourd open and once the inside was cleaned out, I used it once again to cut the opening into the side of the gourd. This is where your yarn would come out.

I then used the blade to cut around the top of the gourd to start rounding it. When all was clean both outside and in, I mixed up the resin according to the instructions and poured it into the bottom of the gourd to give it more stability.

Gourds are so lightweight that I felt the resin was needed for a little extra weight also. When this step was finished I started covering the inside of the bowl with the paper and the Mod Podge. 

I loved the colors in this paper and it left the inside looking so pretty. I added an extra layer of Mod Podge over the top of the paper it was dry for extra protection.

I used a shade of Blue Plaid Acrylic Paint to go around the top edge and around the edge of the 

curly-que. Once that was dry I then drew the pattern onto the back side of the bowl and wood burned it into the gourd. I used a touch of pink alcohol ink on a Q-Tip to color the ball of yarn.

After the project was complete, I used Plaid Acrylic Sealer to seal the yarn bowl both inside and out.

In case you're having a hard time seeing the back of the bowl, it says "I make string pretty". I think this is a gift that will be used for many years. Actually, as long as someone takes care of it, perhaps it can be handed down a few generations. That would be awesome. I hope you liked this project and that it might inspire you to make it for someone you know. If so you need to go to: www.proxxon.com and get these super tools for yourself and make your work go much easier.

Barbara

Skating through Christmas Gingerbread boy.

How to make a simple ornament from scrap wood with Proxxon tools

Christmas isn't always about snow.   I was raised in Southern California and back the distant past I remember Christmas as almost always being sunny and bright.  A great day to get outdoors and try out all the new toys.   A bike, a skateboard or...     Here's a little California gingerbread boy on a skateboard wishing you Merry Christmas!   Made with easy to use, user friendly, Proxxon tools.

Supplies and equipment needed:

a piece of leftover or scrap wood

small wood screws or nails

proxxon scroll saw

proxxon OZI/E detail sander

proxxon rotary tool

 small drill bits

plaid paints

yarn .

This is an easy project, made even easier using proxxon tools.  

The first thing I did was to draw a simple gingerbread boy shape on my piece of wood then cut it out using the proxxon scroll saw   

I sanded the edges a little bit round using the Proxxon OZI/E detail sander then drew some dots where I am going to drill holes for dressing him up later.  

Then, using the rotary tool I drilled my holes.  and sanded again.    

Time to paint

however you like.   

I used plaid paints

Then I used a needle and red yarn and stitched around him.  I went around twice to make the V shaped pattern I wanted.   Then I painted the yarn white letting some of the red show through.

He needed a stand of some sort so I built him a little skateboard.   I used the rotary tool to drill out two holes for him to stand in so that he would be secure.  I used 2 screws that I countersunk from the bottom to hold him tight.  I added two little round pieces of wood that I had painted to be his feet.  He is ready to go.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year.    Catch ya next time,  Carol.  

Santa's Coming to Town

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today with a fun new Christmas sign.

I picked up this Halloween sign after Halloween because it seemed like I could bring new life to it.   I began by sanding it with the Proxxon Delta Sander to remove the finish so it could be decorated.

Once sanded, I painted the piece with black gesso.  Going through my stash I pulled out lots of chipboard elements.  Once I like their placement, I glued them in place.

Then I painted everything with white gesso, letting some of the black gesso peak through.

To finish I sprayed on assorted Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists to add color.  Heat setting between each layer allowed the colors to stay vibrant.

This is a wonderful addition to my home's seasonal décor.

Thanks for stopping by.

How to Make a Notebook with Exotic Wood Covers

I love the look and feel of exotic woods. The colors and the grain patterns are so interesting. This notebook uses exotic woods for the covers. This is an easy project for learning about your Proxxon Micromot tools.

Supplies and Equipment:

• Your choice of 1/8" thick exotic woods blanks
• Paper to fill the notebook
• Three loose leaf binder rings 
• Proxxon Table Saw FET
• Proxxon Disc Sander TSG 250/E
• Professional Rotary Tool IBS/E and Drill Stand MB 200
• Brad point drill bit

Instructions:

1. Use the table saw to cut the blanks to size. These notebooks measure 3½" x 2¼", but you can adjust to fit your needs.
   
2. Pair two blanks for the front and back covers of the notebook, and tape together with painter's tape. This helps to ensure exact sizing and measurements in the following steps. The tape stays in place until you are ready to assemble the notebook.
   
3. Adjust the angle stop on the disc sander to 0°, and sand the edges of the blanks. (The top and bottom surfaces of my blanks were already beautifully finished, so I didn't need to sand them. If you need to sand these surfaces, do so before pairing the front and back covers.)
   
4. Measure and mark the vertical line for the placement of the holes. On my 3½" x 2¼" notebooks this line is 3/8" from the edge.
   
5. Along the vertical line you marked in Step 4, measure and mark the placement of the holes.
   
6. Place a piece of waste wood under the paired blanks. This prevents tear-out on the bottom blank when drilling the holes.
   
7. Drill the holes using the Professional Rotary Tool mounted in the Drill Stand and a brad point drill bit slightly larger than your binder rings. A brad point drill bit allows for very accurate placement of the bit.
   
8. Cut paper slightly smaller than the wooden covers. I used a stock of paper about ¼" thick. Assemble the pages and covers. For my book I used ½" binder rings. If you are making a larger book or a thicker book, you will need to adjust the size of the binder rings to accommodate the thickness of the pages.