Altered Art Bracelets | A Mixed Media Project

Hey guys!  I hope you’re all having a fantastic week.  School starts this week in my neck of the woods, so we are finally settling down into that autumn routine.  I had a chance to spend some time in the studio this week playing with a new product that today’s sponsor, Faber-Castell, sent me from their Design Memory Craft® line.  I’ve been experimenting with some altered art and mixed media projects using their new Gelatos® – a really versatile pigment stick that’s pretty much rocking my world right now.  I am dying to show you how my bamboo tile bracelets turned out!

I love mixed media jewelry (as you well know if you visit here often) but this is the first time I’ve tried using texturizing components like Whipped Spackle and Gesso.  Gelatos® are a water-based pigment that can be combined with many mediums to thin them or thicken them, depending on the effect you’re looking for.  I used rubber stamps and scraps of paper in addition to the Design Memory Craft® products to get this bold look.

As you can see – Gelatos® come in so many color collections!  For today’s project, I used their starter kit, Designing with Gelatos®.  The kit also includes a swatch journal, stencil, stamp, gesso, paintbrush, mister, drip dropper and a step-by-step guide to help you learn about the different techniques and applications that Gelatos® can handle.  The full supply list for this project is listed at the bottom of this post.

Now, if you’re hoping to see this product in action before you put it on your shopping list, I’ve got you covered!  I am sharing my thoughts on using the Gelatos® in combination with the Whipped Spackle and Glass Bead Glitter Gel, and I’m also showing you how to turn these tiny works of art into easy bracelets so that you can express yourself wherever you go.  Just watch my video to visit me in the studio, and learn more!

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft® products will even be on sale at your local Michaels store next week – just in time for their FREE paper crafting event next Monday, September 14th from 6:30-8:30.  You can register for the free event online at Michaels.com – just explore Classes & Events and search your zip code to learn more and sign up!

Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft® has really gotten me excited about altered art and mixed media because the Gelatos® are so easy to use – on paper, fabric, canvas, and as you can see – even bamboo tiles.  I love how easy it is to blend colors and to bring a new technique into an area where I’m already familiar: jewelry!  I know how to stamp and to layer, so adding texture and color was a great way to ease into it.  And now that I know how, there are a lot of things I’m going to look at differently!

Thanks for joining me for today’s project, sponsored by Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft®!

Supplies Used:

• Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft® Designing with Gelatos® kit
  • Bubble Gum
  • Tangerine
  • Lemon
  • Green Tea
  • Cotton Candy
  • Gold Champagne
  • Metallic Melon
  • Guava
• Whipped Spackle
• Glass Bead Glitter Gel
• Paintbrushes / Mixing Cups
• Glaze
• 24 lb. paper & butterfly craft punch
• Darice Double-Drilled Bamboo Tiles
• Waxed Linen
• 1/2-inch Crimp Ends
• Jewelry Pliers
• Scissors
• 6mm jump rings
• Lobster clasp
• Clipboard