Monday 11 February 2013

A big MAC Attack! (part two)

(this is the continuation from the post above)

Recently, I ran out of my favorite eyeshadow by MAC cosmetics.  The empty cases can be saved and returned to MAC, as they have a recycling program.  When you have accumulated a certain amount of empties, they in turn, can be redeemed for a new lipstick.  I was all set to return it when I started looking at it closer.....Hmmmmm?

I think that I can recycle this myself!

I was able to remove the cake pan from the case by heating the case over a open candle flame, as demonstrated in the "Pass the Cake Plate" posting.  I gently pried the metal pan from the case and then saw something else!........Hmmmmmmm?

I wonder, can I ?......

Yahoo!  I was able to pop the 'window' out of the lid with just a bit of thumb pressure.

I stuck a ball of Blue tack onto the end of a craft stick.

I then stuck the pan on upside down on top of the Blue Tack, to raise it and stabilize it.

Using a bronze nail color, I painted the eyeshadow pan.


When the first coat was dry, I gave it a second coat of a copper colored nail varnish. This is not  the only color you can use, but I wanted it to tie in with the copper kettles from the "What's for Dinner"tutorial.


Pan is coated with copper nail polish.

Now I needed a handle for the pan.  I like to use earring pieces as I find them quite versatile!  I am going to use both pieces of the earring so separate the front piece from the back.  Save the front for the next tutorial!

It is the piece on top (the back) that is needed for now

Straighten it out as much as possible.  I used a pair of needle nosed pliers  to straighten and smooth the stem handle.

I cut the rounded end in half with some honkin big pliers!

After the deed was done!

Now, this is a tiny bit tricky, You will need only one jump ring.   You will need to open it and thread it through the handle end of the earring piece.  The holes are already there but you will need to lift the metal piece that is between the 2 holes in order to get the ring through.  When you do then squeeze the ring closed with the pliars and then squeeze the handle itself closed to make it easier to grip.  If your not sure what I mean and need more details, just ask me and I shall try to be clearer, but if you get to this stage then you will see what I mean while you are doing it.

And now for the Quick Grip.  Apply it to the cut end (see 2 photos above) and then apply the cut end to the outside of the pan.  The photo below shows the handle glued on with the jump ring through the handle, and then with the handle end, squeezed together.  The jump ring allows the pan to be hung up onto an over-head display rack if desired.  Even if a pot rack is made of heavy card, the pan is lightweight and shouldn't distort the rack when it is hung up


So here is the finished fry pan, But wait.... Wasn't there SOMETHING ELSE?     

YES!  I had popped out the 'window' and then I removed the MAC  lettering from the surface with....

Nail polish remover.  It took off the lettering but it also clouded the  'glass'....

Here it is with the MAC 'cleaned' off with the nail polish remover.

Do what you did with the pan and place the 'window' on a lump  of Blue tack, to elevate and stabilize it. 

Clear Nail Polish

By brushing on the clear nail polish, the transparency is restored.  Let it dry completely.

When dry, I glued on a brass finding and a bead, for the handle and thus the lid for the frying pan is done and ready to go onto the pan.

HOW CUTE IS THIS!!!???
Serving up a completed frying pan that compliments the copper cookware from "What's for dinner".  I  decided after I had completed this tutorial that I wanted the handle black so I used black nail polish on the grip and when it was dry, I used a CLEAR MAT nail varnish on the handle for authenticity.  I hope that everyone who wants to make their own frying pan will enjoy their very own big MAC attack.
MAC Cosmetics will wonder what is happing to their re-cycling plan?  I think that their good idea, just became Better!
                                                                                THE END
elizabeth

34 comments:

  1. You have the BEST tutorials! Thanks!

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    1. Thank you, Cyd! Thank you for your wonderful compliment; I love enthusiasm! I hope that you will be able to use this tutorial in one of your Modern Mini projects. Your latest post has the BEST hanging light fixtures that are sooo true to the period and that designers would kill for today. I am a HUGE fan of modern and love to mix it up with some traditional and vintage in my Real Life. You translate mini Modern sooo well and I always enjoy my visits to your blog!

      elizabeth

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  2. I'm just wondering if I could ask them for the containers they have to recycle...otherwise, I might have to change makeup quickly!...
    This is the BEST ever use of a recycled item! Elizabeth you are so very generous with us. Thank you for sharing this.
    fatima

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    1. Hello Fats, I have to let you know that I had thought of this solution already! As I work in the Fragrance and Cosmetics industry, I know 'PEOPLE' at MAC to whom I applied my 'Begging Tactics' on!
      MAC , to their credit, recycles all parts of their returned cases so even with my 'connections' I was only able to secure a few windows for future projects. Add to that, MAC eyeshadows Last Forever! ( which is one of the reasons that I like them sooo much)! I decided to try another way and laid down $7 at the drug store to see what a flip top brand ANNABELLE would yeild. The pan is fine (as is the MARCELLE brand), BUT the windows are like platters as they either do Not pop out or if they do they are far too big for the frying pan! I am not going to waste any more money trying to find a substitute. I shall just have to keep my sources happy and hope for the best! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

      elizabeth

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  3. Dear Elizabeth, you deserve a blue ribbon for creativity! I have never seen anything like it. You are a phenomenon who has suddenly appeared in blog land. May your reign be long!

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  4. Oh My!!! Hello Lucille! You are always so nice to me! What a lovely thing to say! About my sudden appearance though, I have really been around a LONG, LONG TIME. You just didn't see me.
    Thank you for your comment and, How is the Edwardian bed coming along? Hmmm? (Still waiting, Lucille) hahha

    elizabeth

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  5. You did it again =) Very good and creative idea! Nice frying pan!

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    1. Thank you Hannah! I am glad that you like this idea. I think I've confused everyone though, by not having one continuous blog! But I am glad that I was able to share it with you.! Enjoy!

      elizabeth

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  6. You are just way too smart! Everytime I see your tutorials I get all excited about finding things myself and re-utilising them... but nope, still haven't really :D

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    1. When I was little, my great grandmother used to say that we children were "too big for our britches ( pants) and too smart for our own good! " ( This has nothing to do with Anything! Just that reading your first sentence reminded me of that ). Do not despair Q, finding things is only part of it, the rest is finding out how to use them! I look on Pinterest and I am AMAZED at how people have used stuff that I have thrown away (time and again), because I didn't know what to do with it. I can't imagine how many of the MAC eyeshadow compacts I've disposed of before this idea came my way. I think that it occurred because I am in the 'kitchen' frame of mind. So when you and Q-Berry are doing your thing, and you need something specific for the 'Little Top' cottage', necessity will provide the solutions that you are looking for. Trust me, it always works this way.
      elizabeth

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  7. Dear dear Elizabeth,
    Well done. An amazing transformation. I think you shoul drop a line to Mac Cosmetics actually just email them the tutorial and ask for some!
    By the way those hamburgers were way too realistic!
    Still,working on carrots etc.
    Janine

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  8. Hi Janine! The email is good idea worth considering! I have to tell you that I took the frying pans into work today to show the women I work with. They are not miniaturist at all, but they love to ooooo and ahhhh over the bits and pieces that I bring in for 'show and tell'. One of the chief admirers is a woman who loves to cook, and so I usually bring in things related to the kitchen because that is what she really enjoys doing. Well the frying pans, she loved, but she said that the burgers were "over-cooked" and she would NEVER let them get that well-done! I totally agree! As the burgers were just supposed to be an intro to this blog, I just wanted a reasonable- looking patty, but as I struggled to really try to get them right, they became darker and darker, and I became more frustrated by them. I finally decided to just go with OVER-COOKED and added more glass paint for the grease. I took a lesson from YOUR china cabinets and did it all on a piece of cling wrap, cut to size and placed inside the pan. TO CLEAN THE PAN, JUST LIFT OUT and TOSS! Easy Peasy.
    elizabeth

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  9. Funny idea and beautiful work!
    Merci, bonne journée.

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  10. Thank you Catherine! I really appreciate your comment and the compliment! I have just returned from
    paying a visit to your blog and the Wedding Dresses that you have made are exquisite! The dress from
    1910 is Breathtaking and displayed to perfection! I always greatly admire anyone who pocesses skill with a needle and thread and you have that in abundance! YOU have Beautiful Work!

    elziabeth

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  11. Elizabeth, the idea is brilliant but your explanation even better! Now I am going out to buy myself a packet of earrings findings. I am always looking to convert trash to treasure. In minis, it is not too difficult to recycle minis but to make them look realistic, not easy. Your frying pan is one success story!

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  12. Why, Thank you, Sans! I think an explicate and exaggerated text is the best for a tutorial when there are so many different levels of interest and experience. If people are not able to duplicate it or do it close enough to feel satisfied with their efforts, then why bother teaching it in the first place? Not long ago,I read a reply to a tutorial ( not one of mine) where the commenter was irate and very nasty towards the teacher and the big complaint was that she said she followed the instructions as outlined, and her items did not look the way they did in the tutorial. I can see how this would be upsetting as no one wants to waste their time or money on something that doesn't work out. Of course, not all materials are readily available to all, either. So having said this, I try to cover all the basic steps of what I do, when I do a tutorial. I really desire that those who take up the challenge will be rewarded with something that will make them happy and have them come back for more.

    elizabeth

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  13. Es genial, parece increíble que salga una sartén tan perfecta de un reciclado, gracias por compartirlo:)

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    1. Gracias Rosa Maria, There are so many things that we, as miniaturists and crafters, make that usually originates from items thrown away. There is a personal satisfaction,( as I'm sure that you know), when you turn what was a cast-off, into something quite wonderful! And of course, it is Always better to Recycle, if you can. (smiles) I don't know about you, but I hate to throw ANYTHING away. The result is a room full of STUFF! And I am personally attached to ALL of it!! hahha

      elizabeth

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  14. A big MAC Attack!
    OMG that's awesommmmmmmmmmmmmmmme
    <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
    I wonder what else do u have :3

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    1. Hello Maria! I am so happy that you like this tutorial! I made them so that everyone would be able to do them and even if you have to make adjustments and substations according to what is available to you, you should still be able to get a good product to use in your miniature scenes.
      So thank you and enjoy and keep me posted about your results. I am ALWAYS interested in how the tutorials turn out for others.
      Welcome to my blog.

      elizabeth

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  15. Wow Elizabeth! What an amazing transformation!Thank you for the wonderful tutorial!

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    1. Hi Nono! I'm sorry that I didn't see you here sooner!? You are very welcome and I am so pleased that you have enjoyed this tutorial.

      elizabeth

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  16. Elizabeth,

    Wonderful, you made me hungry for more miniature ideas ;-)
    Very creative how you combine those thing together.

    Natasja

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  17. Thank you Natasja! A lovely compliment from a very creative woman Your work is a pleasure to look at too! I try to use the things on hand and being involved in Fragrances and Cosmetics gives me a lot of exposure to the possibilities of the containers that are always so numerous and plentiful. I have shown these frying pans to the Mac Girls at work and they have been very generous in supplying me with the inserts so that I now have enough to tide me over for awhile. It pays to Network! hahah

    elizabeth

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  18. Hi Ginger! I am soooo glad that you like this idea! :D
    And as a follow up:...
    I DID go to the MAC counter and ask them if they had any empty eyeshadow compacts in their recycle bin, that they could let me have and they were very accommodating especially AFTER I showed them what I was making the empty pans and windows into.
    If there is a salesperson that you can get to know, they will usually try to help even if it is on the quiet. I just took the 2 parts I needed and returned the stripped casing back to them.
    ALSO.... It only seems to work with the MAC eyeshadow cases as the other drug store brands I've tried, either have an imbedded window which can't be taken out or an ugly rim, (once it is removed) that extends past the corresponding shadow pan.
    Hope you have fun with this!

    elizabeth

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  19. I am just starting to look at miniatures for a friend of mine, and found this post on Pinterest. Very clever re-use of materials!
    For future reference on recycling other things, using a Magic Eraser will usually remove all manufacturer's printing, without clouding.

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    1. Hi Debbie! I am very happy that you have enjoyed this tutorial, Thank You! I will keep your words in mind regarding the Magic Eraser. It sounds like A Good Tip! :D
      I find myself discovering solutions out of desperation. Using the nail polish remover caused me a problem by having the acrylic cloud which was as unexpected as having it regain its clarity after clear nail polish was applied to the pot lid. Like Magic!
      However,The Magic Eraser sounds like a much easier solution and I look forward to giving it a try!
      Thanks again Debbie

      elizabeth

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  20. Very well executed. I have used nail polish in many projects but it can wear off and discolour over time. Do you know that you can get a copper leafing pen, it's what I use now and it appears to be permanent. You have also given me a great idea for the earing piece with the cup end for a project I'm currently working on. Thanks for sharing

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  21. Thank You Helen for both your compliment and for your advise regarding the permanent leafing pen.
    and Good luck on your current mini project too! :))

    elizabeth

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  22. You’re amazing 😉 I love ❤️ you’re work !!! I can’t believe what you did with the container I mean 3 pieces . WOW

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    1. Glad that you've enjoyed this tutorial Marie and Thank you for all of your encouraging words! :D

      elizabeth

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  23. Thank you for sharing the frying pan instructions. Can't wait to try it.

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    1. You are most welcome Jynxo854 and know that you will have great success with it because it's easy and it works every time! :D

      elizabeth

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