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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Creating Beautiful Bezels with Spellbinders Media Mixage

Hey everybody, I am blogging from the U.K. this week.  I am little excited to be attending the NEC Stitches Trade Show in Birmingham.  While at the show, I'm teaching techniques using Spellbinders newest line, Media Mixage.  

Ice Resin


I love working with Media Mixage. It's a very versatile line of items that are especially designed for mixed media use. Spellbinders, Stacey Caron,teamed up with internationally known designer Susan Lenart Kasmer to develop a very cool line that includes bezels, and dies to match, blanks, with dies to match, texturing plates, emphemera papers, foils, even metal sheets.  And we've introduced a hip little machine called the Artisan X-Plorer.  The Artisan X-Plorer is a high pressure roller press that die cuts, texturizes metal and even presses. So, it's fun stuff to use, and I love that I've gotten try it out and work with it long before it hit the market. Our world launch has been a whirlwind...first at the Craft Association Show in Anaheim, than at Creative World in Frankfurt Germany, and now at the NEC Stitches trad show in Birmingham England.  And, I gotta tell you...folks are loving it!  

We've been teaching bezel techniques at the show.  This is a set of 3 bezels that is so fun and so easy to make because Spellbinders has taken all the guess work out of creating the elements you use to inside the bezel.  Along with the bezels designed by Susan Lenart Kazmer, Spellbinders created dies to match each of the bezel shapes.  

The die cuts our ephemera papers, that fit perfectly into the bezels.


SLK ICE Resin


Then it's as easy as selecting some finding and pieces to include inside your bezel.  I picked from a big lot of antique watch parts I'd bought in Germany.


Antique Watch Parts


Next collect all the pieces and other elements you'd like to include in your bezel.  I added rhinestone chain, gems, a flower, some jewelry  findings, antique glass glitter, and a vintage family photo. 


Susan Lenart Kazmer ICE Resin


Create mini collages inside each bezel.  I glued the pieces down inside the bezel using 3-N-1 Adhesive, then after the collages were dry, filled them with ICE Resin by SLK.  


Spelbinders

I used some of the most fabulous antique glass glitter in these bezels...it's sterling silver and very reflective. You can actually "float" glitter on top of the resin. 

Spellbinders Vintage Melrose

And really, the next step is very easy...just wait....the resin takes about 6-8 hours to cure.  If you're impatient like me, it seems an eternity.  

Media Mixage Bezels

Once the resin is cured, your mini collages are encapsulated in a crystal clear glass like bezel and they're so beautiful. 



To finish them off, add a bead to the jump ring on the bottom and some ribbon or chain to the jump ring on the top.  I used antique silk sari ribbon from Nepal.  The wonderful thing about Media Mixage is that you can use just about anything you want to create these bezels...you can personalize in so many ways. And the bezels are great for all kinds of projects. 
A tiny bezel added to the front of an handmade card becomes an instant keepsake.  You can fill them with family photos, a button, an a scrap of fabric to create beautiful embellishments for scrapbook layouts.  The possibilities with Media Mixage are endless...the new product line really lets you Explore Beyond the boundaries of your normal crafting world and I know you are going to love it. 

Teaching at Stitches in Birmingham has been really fun this week...getting to show crafters new ways they can create is really rewarding...when you see the light bulb, that "flash" of idea light up in their heads...it's magical!  Even the President of The Craft and Hobby Association loves to create with Spellbinders Media Mixage. Andrej Suskavcevic stopped by for some one on one instruction for creating bezels and working with ICE Resin.  

Spellbinders

It's been a real joy this week in the U.K. getting to work with, and teach so many creative folks about using Media Mixage.  It's really so fulfilling to see the creative process inside each person come alive when they realize the beautiful little works of art they can create with the new Spellbinders product...it's like a spark ignites in their imaginations...you can really feel the creative energy when they get their hands on the new products....I love it!    


Media Mixage Bezels

Thank you for stopping by today...I hope you'll be inspired to create something beautiful today!

Cheerio!
Ken

October 1, 2014
Here's a little update to let you see what I've been up to with ICE Resin
Over the past couple years, I've been asked to teach ICE Resin workshops around the world...I absolutely love sharing the techniques with students...in fact, I am hosting an ICE Resin event on Friday October 24, 2014 in Newburgh Indiana...the event is called ICE at the Edge...it's going to be an awesome event...and I hope you can come.  Learn how you can enroll by clicking the link or the ICE at the Edge banner at the side of this page.   


19 comments:

  1. Love, love,love what you have done with the new MMs Ken, this is the coolest line ever and I can't wait for the products to reach the UK shelves!! Glad you had fun in our wonderful country! (Try and persuade the bosses to come up to Scotland too next time, we have a show in Glasgow twice a year ☺)

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    1. Thank you Astrid,,,you are going to love it. Everyone at Stitches loved it too. And, Scotland may be in the works. :)
      Hope to see you soon.
      Ken

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  2. Yay! Germany is waiting for that cool stuff too! Thanks for sharing your amazing days in the UK with us! Baerbel

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    1. Thank you Baerbel,,,you'll get it pretty soon...I can't wait to see what you create...make sure to post pics of your creations. :)
      Ken

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  3. These are so beautiful, Ken! And I have to say they are right up your alley ... mixing vintage elements with new techniques and products. Way to go!

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    1. Hey Becky, Thank you. You're right...I love mixing vintage elements with new techniques. I think you're gonna like the Media Mixage products too...
      Ken

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  4. Ken,
    Really beautiful, I cannot wait to do something for both my mom and dad! Hummingbirds, telephones, fishing, yellow roses, music.... my mom and dad!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE this... cannot wait to get some of the resin and use it!!! Helen

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    1. Hi Helen, thank you...I think hummingbirds would be great in bezels. Make sure to share a pic to my facebook page. I would love to see what you create. :)
      Ken

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  5. just had your work recommended to me by dyan reavely! love it love it!!
    i am a now huge spellbinders / justrite / sue wilson fan after an introduction to craft via the genius tim of holtz, and these new spellbinders creations are a beautiful 'crossover' into the world of distress!!
    i can forsee an new addiction on its way!
    all the best from uk

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    1. Thank you Tony...I am glad Dyan sent you my way (I love her). I am just in awe of your card designs...you are amazing my friend! I am planning another trip to the UK...I cannot wait to come back! I love it there.
      Ken

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  6. This is so awesome! I'm in the States - is this readily available and where may I purchase products to begin my adventure? Can't wait to begin, many ideas already!

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  7. Hi Ken

    I have just purchased my first MM's and was looking for inspiration on the web and came across your site. Thank you - the end products are beautiful and can't wait to get started. Glad to enjoyed your UK experience.

    Jacqui

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  8. So creative idea. This is what i have been looking for and you have done a great job.
    Spellbinders

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  12. What a super tute - thanks for sharing!

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