Shout out to Cathy Frank! Polly's Pick winner of Ring N Things

I must give a HUGE shout out to Cathy Frank for her design in Friendly Plastic winning a Polly's Pick award in the Your Designs Rock Rings N Things contest!

Artist: Cathy Frank (Pittsburgh, PA)
Polly's Pick, Found Objects & Miscellaneous

"After producing multimedia jewelry (Metalsmithing BS, Art Ed, SUNY, New Paltz ‘81), ornaments and Judaica for over 20 years -- the past 12 primarily with Friendly Plastic(R) -- I feel like I have been reborn! With the help and generosity of the online crafters community, I have begun to experiment with alcohol inks, imprinting on Friendly Plastic and fabricating thin sheet metal. How-to blogs, tutorials and videos abound and each artist is encouraged and invited to take their own artistic journey. Through experimentation new techniques emerge. I am very excited with my results!



"Technique: Alcohol inks are air brushed onto Friendly Plastic modeling sticks and heated in a small oven. Gold and bronze embossing powders are applied to stamp and pressed into the Friendly Plastic after about 1 minute of cooling and setting. Piece is then buffed with a soft cloth to remove some of the powder, trimmed and adhered to card stock. Metal work: Gold and silver wire is twisted together and formed around the Friendly Plastic piece. Wire is adhered to the front matte board template. ArtEmboss gold sheet is cut, adhered to the back, and burnished up and around the side of the piece, capturing the twisted wire and bezeling it in place. Holes are made carefully with a dental tool and all findings are attached."
-- Cathy Frank


Polly’s Picks are designs our editor especially likes despite the fact that they did not win a formal prize. These designs are often simple, practical and/or whimsical examples of how to use Rings & Things components well.

Alcohol Inks have arrived

I've just received an order of Alcohol Inks - One of my very favorite products and must haves.

Click on the "buy alcohol ink" tab at the top to view color choices and order.

New Friendly Plastic Class - June 11

*** UPDATED *****  The Class date has been corrected to Friday June 11th.  Thank you!

Announcing the next class - Yes it is short notice...but I flipped some things in my schedule so I could offer it. And I hope you can attend.  If not, maybe you can attend the recorded class.


Stampin Magic in Friendly Plastic

Friday June 11th
7pm Central time
CrafTECH University Classroom - online 

You'll learn how to create interesting textures in Friendly Plastic strips and additional tips on how to color, highlight, and - popular in all kinds of HOT vintage trends.  We will also combine your knowledge of Fusion Illusion to create interesting pendants, earrings and charms.

This is a 1 hour 15 minutes quickie class and cost of class  includes a $7.50 class kit;  five 1/2 strips of Friendly Plastic (the most popular colors).  Postage also included.

Still at an introductory price of only $20.

Additonal supplies you will need:


Alcohol inks:  (I've just put in a big order from my distributor to offer these to all of you and I should receive my shipment on Friday.  I should be able to mail out for you to receive by Friday if you order by Monday Evening. - I'll provide additional details)  Alcohol Inks will be offered at Suggested Retail of $3.75 per color plus shipping.

Acrylic paint - Turquoise color
Unmounted Rubber Stamps
Paint brush
Alcohol Ink
RubNBuff - rub on metallic finishes - these are waxed base so if you have anything like this we'll use that
Diamond Glaze -(will also be offering this in the marketplace

Basic Friendly Plastic Supplies.

Also we are still taking registrations on the next two classes:

JUNE 17th
10am Central time

SIX SIMPLE SHAPES - introduction to whimsical sculpting

JUNE 17TH - 11:30 AM
Play in Polymer Clay - Whimsical Characters

Register by using the links located on the right side bar ---------->

See you in class!