Archive for the ‘CHA design challenge 2010’ Category

Doodling Butterfly by Adrienne Goodenough

Monday, February 1st, 2010
I had the privelege to see this butterfly in person at the recent CHA trade show in Anaheim California.  It was LOVELY and the picture just doesnt do it justice!  Adrienne shares her story below:

I made a friendly plastic butterfly for the AMACO butterfly competition - all the entries will go to the holocaust museum, each to represent a child who died. I had decided not to enter the competition, as I was very busy at the time, plus international postage is expensive. But somebody from AMACO emailed me and asked if I would submit an entry, which was flattering...


I made this in a bit of a hurry, and it's not as good as I would have liked, but I didn't have time to re-do it, so off it went! It was on display on the Amaco stand at CHA 2010!



The butterfly is about 4 inches across, and I used a colouring technique I learnt from Liz Welch - doodled alcohol ink. I didn't have time to take step by step pics when I was making the butterfly, but have included some from an earlier project (below) so that you can see how easy it is to do. To make the butterfly, I used 2 wing shapes cut from doodled sticks and a body made from a piece cut from a fuschia stick. I joined them all together by dipping the edges into hot water for a few moments then pressing them together and holding in position for a few moments. The antennae were made from copper wire.


To make doodled alcohol ink Friendly Plastic, take a stick of gold Friendly Plastic and drip some alcohol ink on it. The newer bright colours are good for this technique. You can blow the ink around using a straw if you like.
Keep adding aclohol ink. If you're blowing it with a straw, you will find that the ink you're blowing comes to a sudden stop when it touches dry ink. So, eventually you will have to drip or dab the ink into the gaps.This is what the finished piece looks like, along with the inks I used.Now take a white Sakura souffle pen, and draw around the blobs using wriggly lines, then infill with doodles, until the piece is doodled all over.
Easy to do, and looks very effective. Liz uses it to make beautiful pendants, by cutting it to shape and size and laying it into bezels, then covering with layers of resin and trapping doodles or tiny embellishments between the layers.




Linda Peterson is compensated and endorsed by AMACO. The guests features may or may not have any affiliation with AMACO.

A glimpse inside the CHA Show….

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
Set up days at CHA are hectic for everyone. There's forklifts and carts and pallettes and stuff to trip over - all over the place. It just amazes me to no end that this place will magically be transformed from a heaping pit of stuff everywhere to an elegant showroom of craft supplies, showcasing the talents of amazing designers in the industry and it's all done.....overnight!


Today when we walk in - we will see a transformation and loads of attendees eager to see the next best thing. Really - we think the next best thing is Friendly Plastic don't you?


Thought you might like a little preview into the booth.


Below is the background graphic featuring last years butterfly entries.


And this display features some of this years entries......I'll be showcasing all up close and personal soon!



Now....in a little booth just off the corner of the AMACO booth is a ribbon distributor...and I couldnt help but think of Liz welch when I saw this fabric made up of selsor pressed together...it just speaks "ooze"..... Liz - you would be in ribbon heaven!



Ideas are goin thru our heads when Jana finds this blingy ribbon.....Hmmm...wonder if they give samples????



So Jana, Jen and I are ready to go!! We just have one person missing and that's our dear FP friend Liz Welch. We wish she were here, that would make this whole experience complete! If you do come to the show, visit booth 2409 and you can view new images of Liz's work on a slide show at my table.......
Stay tuned - tomorrow will be highlights of day 1
Monday I'll announce the winners - and YES! I do know who they are! But...Im not tellin' but I will say that I'm very excited to be one of the presentors!
Tuesday is more highlights and happenings and Wednesday we walk the show to discover new product. So lots to stay tuned for!....now...on with the show!















Linda Peterson is compensated and endorsed by AMACO. The guests features may or may not have any affiliation with AMACO.

Friendly Plastic Open Challenge Deadline on 18th

Sunday, November 15th, 2009
Challenge 2010 logo

Today is just a quick reminder to have your entried postmarked by the 18th!! Dont miss out on an opportunity to have your butterfly seen by thousands at the Holocaust Museum.

We can't wait to see your mixed media work too!!!

Just click on the butterfly link on the right sidebar for more information!

Design Challenge Inspiration from Jen and Jana

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Today's inspiration comes from the other Friendly Plastic Queens - Jen and Jana.
Jen will always find ways to incorporate unique objects into her work. Below she uses some scrapbooking charms with ribbon mesh wire.
Enjoy the eye candy!
Just inked up a pice of white Friendly plastic, cut a circle, popped into an old K&Company finding, dropped a bling into it and covered it with Glossy Accents....then strung it with just a few simple beads:



and a scrap of Fracture n Fusion cut and popped into another K&Company finding. Maybe an hour tops?
But just too cute for the office or just for fun!

And here's one for formal nights. Used Linda's latest technique - Glisten and Glimmer in a Nunn Design finding.....
Jana Ewy shares some of her past and present pieces:...



This snow bunny was created for my sister many years ago.Thought you might enjoy seeing a little design from my past.




Tear-drop shaped pieces of Friendly Plastic have been attached to a beautiful brass filigree Butterfly. It is simple, yet elegant and can become a necklace, bracelet, or even a brooch.



Let your creative flow... try this same concept with marbled Friendly Plastic, or inlay pieces one on top of the other. How about making an impression into the plastic and creating a Friendly Plastic filigree Butterfly? Hope this has helped to get your creative wheels turning. Be sure to check out the AMACO site as well as the Friendly Plastic blog for more ideas and information on the 2010 Design Challenge.

Naming your Butterflies – Challenge Deadline extended to November 18th

Friday, November 6th, 2009
Jen Lowe has been hosting Friendly Plastic party after party! I think this is a great idea she came up with to name your butterflies, especially since that is one of the categories for the Design Challenge at CHA in January 2010....read on!

We have had the most fun naming our butterflies this week. While I can't share photos yet of those that are being submitted, I can share mine.


Now this one was made with 100% scraps. Look at it closely! Nothing but scraps and loads of fun. Do you see over on the top left....the openings with the mesh? So we named her: "That one wing made it impossible to fly"


I think names should tell a story. So why not have fun with your project? Who says it has to be just one or 2 words - give it any name you want!

This next one is named: "Too puffed up to fly". Can you tell we were going with a whole theme here especially if you look at the last blog? None of my butterflies can fly. Hidden meaning - none are being entered since I was one of the winners last year. So see, put a play on the words! Have fun with it! We were just giggling up a storm around here!


And Rose, we named yours for you as well!!!







"Too Puffed" was made with ooze in cookie cutters.....but we also made up our own technique by oozing around a tool handle to create the center part. How fun is that? When you lay her flat, she looks flat....but she's really quite puffed up!


The rhinestones were in the net. The bottom layer was oozed through fantasy fibers. The centers were connected by using the hot water method and then shaped backwards.


I think I need to go shopping and find more things to oooze through. That or make some more butterfly girls! So much to do I don't know where to start!


Deadline for Entries to the Open Design Challenge extended!!! November 18th

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009





November 2009 - Deadline for Amaco Friendly Plastic Challenge 2010 extended



Deadline Extended! Entries to be Postmarked by November 18, 2009


The deadline to enter the AMACO Friendly Plastic '
design challenge
' has been extended until November 18.


But don't wait to send in your entries - if your entry is postmarked by the original deadline of November 6 you'll receive a complimentary sample of Friendly Plastic.


This challenge is open to all ages with cash prizes and awards given in 4 simple categories each of which require you to use at least 50% Friendly Plastic in your entry.


All entries will be showcased in a gallery on-line at amaco.com and at the Craft & Hobby Association Show (CHA) in Anaheim, January 2010. All winners will receive an etched crystal award, $100 check, plus a $100 check to the charity of
their choice.


fp-inspiration-sticks
If you haven't heard, Friendly Plastic is back by popular demand! Remember that glitzy, bright, shimmering metallic jewelry from the 80's that crafters embellished with crystals, watch parts and beads?! It's back by design, because
creative women like Liz Welch and Jana Ewy kept it alive, then helped reignite it with the help of Linda Peterson, Jen Lowe and their countless
on-line friends
in the U.S., UK and Australia!



butterfly-memory


Butterfly Memory by Sara Romero.




This is the second year that AMACO is honoring the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust with a challenge category called "Butterflies." AMACO invites you, your friends, and family members to make butterflies (as a symbol
representing each child lost) to be installed at the
Holocaust Museum Houston Butterfly Project
.


Cash prizes and awards will be given for the Best Butterfly made by an artist under the age of 15, as well as, the Best Butterfly made by an artist over the age of 15. Butterflies should not be any larger than 8" x 10" and should not
have glitter, macaroni or perishables attached to them.


fp-pellets


In addition, two more categories are designed to shake things up, loosen creative ideas, and stimulate original artwork! Awards will be given for the Best Mixed Media/Altered Art Project and for the Best Mixed Media Jewelry Design. The
Mixed Media/Altered Art Project can be anything from paper crafting to home decor, wearable or installation art. There's no limit to your own creative applications! The Mixed Media Jewelry Design combines Friendly Plastic
Design Sticks
or
Pellets
with other mediums that appeal to you!


cha_logo_rgb


Here is a link to the
on-line entry form
. The awards reception is scheduled to take place on January 25, 2010 in the AMACO Booth at the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA-Anaheim). Stay tuned for more news on our
Facebook
page or
Twitter
!


Learn all you need to know to
get started
!


Find Friendly Plastic in
stores or on-line
.


































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Enter AMACO’s Friendly Plastic Open Design Challenge

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Photobucket

The deadline is fast approaching so get your entries in!!!! That means YOU yes YOU ...yes Y - O - U!!

Dont' be shy...there are entries of all levels - we just want to see what you create. This is fantastic exposure for your work and who knows...you may just be the next Creative Idol!!

Click here for more information and guidelines.
Deadline is November 6

NEW VIDEO! Butterflies in Motion – Friendly Plastic

Thursday, October 1st, 2009
To kick off the Winter CHA OPEN design challenge, I thought it would be a good idea to give you a little inspiration. As you go thru the video be thinking of different materials you can mix in to create your butterflies. So enjoy this video and hopefully it will give you a little creative nudge.

I taped the opening and closing of the video outside....little did I realize that the bugs and frogs wanted to be part of the video and sing to the top of their lungs...thus the background noise...but hey..it's nature right???

Up for a Friendly Challenge??

Saturday, September 26th, 2009
Are you up for a challenge???? We want to hear from you!

Currently, we have two challenges for you to enter - and win great prizes:

Art of Friendly Plastic Challenge: The theme of this challenge is Beach related. We would love to see what you create and how you combine it with papercrafts. Send a quality photo to janaewy@yahoo.com by SEPTEMBER 30.

All entries will be posted on the blog for voting and the winner ...along with someone selected in a random drawing will win great Friendly Plastic prizes!

Winter CHA 2010 Design Challenge: Have your work featured at an international trade show for everyone to see!! We have THREE categories for you to enter and as always...WIN GREAT PRIZES!!! More details about this special - once a year - challenge can be found by listening to our podcast of the latest Friendly Plastic radio - also email helen@helenbradley.com for questions and information.

Information for both challenges can be found by clicking the links at the beginning of this blog or visiting the home page.

Cant wait to see what you create!!!!

FAQ – How do you keep Friendly Plastic from bowing?

Thursday, September 17th, 2009
This question was posted on the Friendly Plastic yahoo group. It's a good one an comes up from time to time:

How do you keep Friendly Plastic from bowing?


Liz Welch responded:

Rather than reheating anything, have you tried just bending it with your fingers? Be forceful, Friendly Plastic is pliable and the easiest time to bend things back to flatness is soon after they have cooled completely. I use aluminium foil, I also make large pieces of FP and I use cold water to cool it. I tend to put my hot FP piece upside down in cold water and this can help prevent bowing to a degree, but good old strong fingers work to flatten it out completely.

I do accept that bending several layers of FP is not easy, but I think that the cooling method best suited to obtaining flatness depends a bit on the technique you are using with your FP. If I have a stamped or Ooozed piece I would not want to use a slow cooling as I might loose the definition of the design, I want a quick cool. Similarly with my lacework. If your design is one single layer then a slow cool may be the way to go, but I am impatient and I just use cold water and my fingers!

Just a few short days to get your entries in for the AoFP design challenge which closes on September 30th. Send your entries to Janaewy@yahoo.com

Also.....plan to enter the CHA 2010 Open Design challenge. Our next FPTV video will feature a couple of butterfly ideas and some inspiration to get you started...