Does anyone make their own embellishments?

[momtooandz]

I've seen so many cards on this site that have some really cool embellishments. I especially like the SU Hodgepodge Hardware, but at this point I'd rather spend the money building up my small stamp selection.

Does anyone make their own embellishments? Share your ideas!! Not just hardware ideas, but anything!

[buttons2]

I don't "make" them, but I've used pop can tabs on my cards. Also (I guess it's an embellishment), I use dry wall mesh tape rather than buying the tape from commercial companies. HTH.

Wanda

[blizlady]

I'm like you momtooandz. I'm just starting with Stampin' Up and I'm trying to purchase stamps/paper/ink pads right now, and my cards are pretty simple. I wanted to buy the Hodge Podge kit, but instead just bought a couple smaller containers of brads and eyelets. If I'm making something that has a metal clasp, I'll use velcro instead. I'll punch out flowers or stamp & cut some designs and use dimentionals to attach them. Instead of little buckles to thread ribbon through, I'll punch little rectangles in squares of contrasting paper to make "buckles".

[janelill]

And if you want a metal finish to yor punched out embellishments you can so easliy emboss them, and they will look like hardware. I have bought small packs of eyelets/brads, and with embossing you can get them to be silver, gold, pewter, cobber and any other colour you like. That saves storage too, because you don't neeed to have them in different colour combos, one is enough!

[kellybee]

I usually make my own embellishments but the only metal ones I make are balloons out of wire. I make my own party hats and presents on birthday cards and I make little purses with beaded handles and my own tags most of the time. I have made a couple of caterpillars using wire and buttons. I also like to "paper piece" if I see something cool on SCS and want to CASE it (like a sailboat or a penguin) but don't have the same things the person who made the card uses. I'd love to show you some examples but I haven't got 'round to installing a program on my PC that lets me reduce the file size of a picture yet.

Kelly Bee

[ajcmeyer]

I got a set from CTMH called Antique tags. If you cut them out and use brads or eyelets to secure them to your card or page they look like real hardware but much less expensive. Now I never have to buy hardware again! They also have a set called Ritzy Ribbon that looks like real ribbon and next month I will buying their stamp of the month that looks like sewing stitches!

[Margaret Wilburn]

I make a lot of stuff...I also use the drywall tape instead of Magic Mesh. I unroll sections of it and spray with paint. The cheap Walmart metallic paints are wonderful and other than that any flat spray paint works well. I also use fun foam, heat and impress stamps or objects. Also polymer clay makes great embellishments of all kinds, special buttons, etc. I own tons of embellishments but making them is fun!
Margaret

[cj nalley]

I use pop can tabs- versamark and dip in embossing powder and heat. Also round beer or pop tops. Stamp c/s & punch with a round punch and glue inside of the top. I also tat or crochet little flowers. Use quilling. C/S cut into 1/8" wide strips and used as ribbon, twist it, curl it or tie in a bow or knot.

[Charmed]

I have made all sorts of shapes with wire - hearts, stars, and even daisy like flowers.

Looks wonderful, and so simple to do. And a spool of simple silver wire from WalMart, Michaels, or Joanns is cheap. Although, I do prefer the SU stuff - it is nicer to work with - shinier and smoother as well.

[kathyl574]

I use shrink art.when I see a image I just trace it on the plastic and shrink it!
I even use my stampers and perment pads like black versamark,then fill in with color pencile or perm markers.
Kathy L

[ladybugstamper2]

Hi!
I have a Sizzix machine and I have the dies to make label frames, hinges and the buckles. I can use metal foil, metallic paper or cardstock that matches.

[ruby-heartedmom]

I've used pieces of broken or unwanted jewelry on my cards. Lots of "found" items. The other day I found a plastic hair barrette in the shape of a flower and used it on a card.

Fun Foam can be embossed and you can use that for a cheap embellishment. It also comes in heart shapes, that I have used a lot.

My grandmother's button box has been a fun source of stuff.

I always check out the clearance rack at Michael's to see what they have super cheap.

I've seen cards that used screw heads (they cut off the bottom)

[cbet]

I have some new buckle punches from EK Success that I just love - you punch the buckle out of cardstock and then you can use it as is or emboss it to make it look metallic or plastic. I bought 2 small ones at my lss and ended up ordering all the rest of them online. Considering I bought some metal ribbon slides and paid $3.99 for eight of them, and I got a punch for around $6 to make as many as I want AND I know I can get it to coordinate with my card exactly, I think they're quite a good value.

You can also emboss punched shapes to look like metal charms. I'm another person who keeps wire around. I buy Darice brand in different colors when JoAnn's has jewelry-making supplies for 40% off. That's also a great time to pick up rhinestones, small beads, jump rings, hemp cord and the like.

Polyclay (like Fimo or Sculpey) lets you make just about any shape you want; you can stamp into it to make cool medallions. I found instructions online to make your own buttons using the translucent clay and embossing powder and I'm just itching to try it.

You can also make faux wax seals with your stamps and hot glue.

And don't forget Crayola Model Magic. You can shape it, stamp it, paint it, it air-drys and it's very lightweight.

[DancingRain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruby-heartedmom

I've seen cards that used screw heads (they cut off the bottom)

You can also hold onto a brad with tweezers/pliers... tap the top on a versamark pad... dip in silver/pewter/gold embossing powder... heat with your embossing gun... and before it sets make a crease across the top with a knife edge. You now have a screw head that doesn't have to be glued to your card

Have a FUNtastic day!

Dancing Rain

[Happy Heart]

I've made PolyShrink images and glued them on paper clips. They're expensive to buy, but cheap if you make your own.
Here's an example:
Gallery at Splitcoaststampers

[allamericanstampers]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Heart

I've made PolyShrink images and glued them on paper clips. They're expensive to buy, but cheap if you make your own.
Here's an example:
Gallery at Splitcoaststampers

Great job on these! I have bought some and thought, "there should be a way to make them!" :grin:

I have the various Sizzix punches that I love to use. And, TAC has had many "hardware" sets come out that are great stamped in black, or embossed.

The DD gallery had a whole month dedicated to faux treatments and that was worth the membership alone!!