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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Being Ambidextrous Can Be Fun!

I use both hands equally for a lot of things... I have been ambidextrous most of my life. I used to drive my art professors nuts. In life drawing classes, I would sometimes use two pieces of charcoal at once. One for each hand.

I usually wake up before Walter by at least an hour, so I have to find something quiet to do until he awakens. It seems polite to do so...

Last night, I polished my nails with silver. This morning when I got up, they looked dull and kind of bare....So I tangled them. And yes, I did both hands.

Here's the proof! Now, would somebody please take this pen away from me before I tangle the stove and refrigerator in the kitchen? I think I need help.......Walter just looked at my fingers, shook his head and walked away. He has lived with me a long time and is used to such weirdness....

On to minis. A couple of days ago on the Creating Dollhouse Miniatures blog, http://creatingdollhouseminiatures.blogspot.com/2012/02/faux-enamel-flowers-tutorial-by-stacy.html there was a U Tube video on making enamel flowers in mini with wire and nail polish. I have seen this done a lot, but never tried it.

It looked like fun and didn't take a lot of supplies. I had them all on hand. Basically it is #32 gage brass beading wire and some nail polish or glue and acrylic paint mixed.

The only tools needed were some needle nosed pliers, some round items to form loops around and something to cut the wire with.

I sat myself down and went to work. Following what Stacy did on the video, I made a rose bud in just a short period of time. You just twist the wire around something(in my case, the handle of a crochet hook). After making a series of loops, you paint them a couple of times and then form the petals by using the needle nosed pliers after the nail polish is dry.



This was my first attempt. I think that it turned out pretty good. I am going to be trying some more of this.

If you have never been to the Creating Dollhouse Miniatures website, plan to stay a while and look around. It is completely videos of tutorials of miniatures. It's a great place to get ideas. I have been following it for a few years now and she always has something fun to try.

In case some of you are wondering about the blog birthday drawing, I have decided to wait a while...I have a few other things going on right now. I only have 12 more followers to reach 900....Maybe I will wait until then and have two at once.

I am going to go twist some more wire now.

Don't forget to vote. Just poke the URL at the top of the right column. It will take you to the site. Thanks.

See you tomorrow.

12 comments:

Kathi said...

I watched that video last night. I love the look of these flowers! Yours turned out really pretty. :D

Love your nails! You really could make a living doing this tangle stuff!

Have fun twisting wire. Can't wait to see more!

900 followers! No doubt, but still amazing! Congratulations!

Heather said...

Thanks for sharing that tutorial! I've got to try it!!!

...and I LOVE your nails!

Mary said...

I love your nails. I have a hard enough time doing things with one hand. That video was very interesting, I watched it twice. I need to find my wire and buy some green polish. Your flower turned out great.

Lucille said...

Beautiful nail artistry, Casey! Your flowers came out looking really nice!

MiniMaker said...

Your nails look fabulous!! I'm jealous.....my left hand is totally useless, anything I do with it looks like a 3 year old did it! Your flowers look great, very pretty! Thanks so much for the mention too! Love love love, your blog!!

Christine said...

What pretty shaped nails you have and of course the artistry on them is beautiful.

I subscribe as well but the thought of enamel flowers didn't tempt me - you have changed my mind! Gorgeous flower too!

Troy said...

Your flower looks pretty good, I watched that tutorial too. I have not tried it out yet, but it is on my list. How long did you let the polish dry before you tried to shape the wire?

Caseymini said...

Troy, I think that it was about a half hour after I put the second coat on.

jeanuhlik said...

I saw the same idea in a Miniature Dollhouse magazine dated 2001 last week, but it showed how to use glue and acrylic paint, the nail polish seems like a better idea, it probably doesn't dry as fast as glue. Thanks for the tutorial link!!! What, you got away without Tessie sticking her little fingers into the flowers??? Was she under the spell to forget her little "space"?? Can't wait to see what you come up with for her!!! ((HUGGS))

Caseymini said...

Jean, that technique has been around 25 years or more. I had just never tried it before. If you watch the whole video, she tells you that you can use glue and paint mixed together, among other things, for the painting part. There are several different mediums.

Gill said...

An amzing result! I want to make some flowers! I have loads of nail varnish...... Thanks for sharing the tip. Gill x

Claudia said...

Love the flowers, Casey.

And your nails!! Ooh la la!

xo
Claudia