Monday 4 February 2013

"GRAPES" (they're a shoe- in!)

How many of you have packets of DESICCANT SILICA GEL  sitting in your shoe boxes just waiting to become grapes!!!!!???  Well now's the time.!

FUTURE GRAPES!

Pour silica beads onto WAX PAPER and remove the super- sized ones.

I'm using a very old Kelly's Brown Glass Paint but I also tried out some Delta Transparent Glass Paint in Amber and it worked just as well.

  STEP 1:   Mix the silica beads into the brown paint.  The Brown will provide a base color for the red grapes and will also take the monotony of a single color out and make the grapes more authentic looking.

The grapes are now coated with the brown.  They will lighten up quite a bit as they dry down.



  STEP 2:   This is the second color that I'm using.  Gallery Glass is available at Michael's craft supply and probably most craft stores.  I'm using Magenta Royal.  It is like a soft wine color when dry.  When I first tried this out it was sooo freaky because I didn't know if it would do what I hoped it would.  I had another option, Gallery Glass Berry Red, but I went with the Magenta and it worked out beautifully.


On the same paper squeeze out a good sized blob of Magenta  Royal paint and mix all of the brown beads into it...  and this is what you get.  But these are way to glossy and red grapes are more "frosty" looking so we add STEP 3.... White Chalk


Scrape out some white chalk onto the same wax paper that you have been using.  You will need to add more Magenta Royal Paint and mix the beads into the paint chalk mixture.  It  will look like what you see below.

Try not worry.  They look awful but they dry down really nicely...

SEE!!??

STEP 4:  This is a piece of dried flower that I believe is  called "Statice",  and I  clipped off a twig that I thought would make a good shape for the grapes to be glued to.

STEP 5:  Clip off the dried flowers so that just the stem is left.

And Yes, I DID try the Quick Grip but it was not good.  I had to try several types of glues and this worked the best.  You have to coat the stem with the white TACKY GLUE and let it set up and tacky dry on the stem so that the glue from the paint will stick to it.  This is the part that takes patience because of the fight against gravity.  The beads will go on and then fall off..... it is better to let a small cluster set up onto the stem rather than try to get them all on at one time as I tried to do.  

The stem withe the glue on it.




These are the red Grapes on the vine and ready to be served.  These would look even better with a bit of greenery a grape leaf maybe.?  I plan on doing a small market basket with these and the multitude of peaches and breads that I showed in my first blog post "Nights before Christmas".  I made some market baskets back in 1993 and I just found one that I had tucked away.  So once I get one together, I'll show you how it turned out.  Till we meet again, have fun making Grapes; your shoes will thank You for it !

elizabeth

55 comments:

  1. Awesome idea! Thank you for sharing ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Jane, Thank you! By the way, I have been enjoying YOUR video tutorials. You have a special way with fimo. I struggle with polymer clays but you have it down pat! Many years ago, I tried to make grapes with polymer clay and had to give up, as they all looked like round rocks!
      This for me, is soooo much faster and easier. ( and I'm all about convenience) but I admire anyone who can do what you do! Thanks for your comment, and again, Welcome to Studio E.

      elizabeth

      Delete
  2. Great idea, you give great tutorials!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Cyd. I am so glad that you are enjoying the tutorials! I have been visiting your blog and I love how you and your hubby are making those vintage modern occasional tables! I recall my parents having something similar as I was growing up, so viewing them again was like a trip down memory lane. Keep up the good work! I love your distinct and unique style!
      elizabeth

      Delete
  3. After reading this, I realize more than ever that there really are no limits to what can be used in the creation of miniatures! Amazing idea! Thank you for this lovely tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello again Lucille, my friend! You are soooo right, there really are NO limits and all of those who enjoy the internet can attest to the wealth of creativity that is out there in the world. It is unbelievable! I am glad that you like this idea and I hope you will give it a try and let me know how it turns out for you!
      elizabeth

      Delete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ok Elizabeth! I now need to "step" it up a notch and come "out of the box" (shoe)! Hee hee... I have been wanting to do this for years and have collected so many of these and various kinds I might say. I have never worked up the courage to try and fail! Thank you for doing this! I shall now have to try. Your amazing tutorial will guide me and give me courage!
    fats
    PS: sorry I deleted the previous comment....but my computer went crazy and doubled up most of my words! Never done that before! Yikes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Fats! " Sole Sister" hahaha I am happy to have been the one to release you from the Pandoras Shoe Box and show you HOW to use those silica gel beads! Do you know that prior to this tutorial, I went looking for the bagful that I too, had collected. I couldn't find them! I looked 'everywhere' without success, so I gave up. Then I remembered that I had at one point, sorted some and grouped them into film canisters according to their size; large, medium and small. ( Not all are created equal and there ARE a lot of variations). I found the sorted silica beads and then, of course, I found the large bag of the unsorted packets that I had been originally searching for. It was in a box of craft sticks and clothes pins??? My organizing skills leave a lot to be desired. Now, I have put the beads where I can find them again,in the ........????..... Uhhh oh!!!!! ?

      elizabeth

      Delete
  6. Hello Elizabeth,
    I hope you realize you kick butt! Those grapes look fantastic. i can't wait to try this one out...although I feel kinf of silly having thrown out all the silica packets I had...time to raid my husbands closet!
    Big hug,
    Giac

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HI Giac! I am sooo happy that you like this tutorial! I am much happier with the results of this one as you have probably gathered as I am NOT WHINING this time. hahah And isn't always the way, that you hang onto something for a long time thinking it will come in handy and then after a while you chuck it and THEN you NEED it!! The good thing is that these things are everywhere! That is why we have so many of them in the first place. Have fun and let me know how it turns out!
      big hug back!
      elizabeth

      Delete
  7. amazing!!!!!i was throw them!not any more!thanks for sharing! hugs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Fillitsa, Thank you for your joining my blog and thank you for this comment! I used to throw these out too! Back in the 1990's when Janine ,( see her photo below)and I were making cheese serving boards and market baskets, She would make the best green grapes which I could never master. So, I decided to try red grapes first from fimo,( MINE WERE LOUSY) then I hit on the silica gel beads and they were sooo much easier for me. I am a short-cut queen, that is my nature. So I'm happy to have the chance to share with others that also enjoy the 'quick fix' solutions. Have fun with this!

      elizabeth

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. Hello again, Fabiola! Thank you for your comment and I hope you will try this out! I have made quite a few already and the red grapes have been very easy to do. I am trying now to make a decent formula for Concord grapes! Still a work in progress there. I always enjoy seeing you in the comment section and appreciate your visits. Let me know how your efforts go.

      elizbeth

      Delete
  9. Hi Elizabeth, WOW what a great idea and the end result looks amazing! I am going to give it a try this weekend. gr. AM

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NOW thats what I was hoping to hear, AM! I know that I can do it, but it is always important that if your instructing, that others can do it too. When Anna tried out the fabric foil tutorial, I was very pleased to see how she interpreted it, and she did a fabulous job!!!! I wish the same success to you too (mind you, there is NOTHING that you haven't been successful at and you always do EVERYTHING extremely well!). Keep me posted!

      elizabeth

      Delete
  10. Hi Elizabeth, Obviously time to buy shoes. Then of course as a miniaturist -throw away the shoes and keep the silica and the box. I know that quite often shoe stores will give you a few packets of silica . You could lie and say your shoes seem damp! However I find if you explain the "little" experiment you are planning strangers are very supportive.

    You know I make my grapes individually but revisiting the grapes you made for the fruit bowl in my mini kitchen I think I feel a diversion coming on.

    Thanks for sharing this. I think we should all make a cake plate with grapes on it to share with you,
    As always
    Janine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janine, How can someone who balks at spending a $1 for a bag of broken balls because they were "too expensive", even remotely think that I could imagine you buying shoes to get the silica gel beads and the shoe box!!!!???? Don't even go there!!! I think your 'little' experiment idea is much more in keeping with you and your style. I do think that as these little packets are soooo prolific anyway, that if one doesn't have any, that a quick trip to a shoe store and an request to the sales staff, would probably result in a more than adequate supply. Also, there are often packets inside jars of vitamins and/or handbags. Once you start looking they will turn up everywhere. I would love to see what the 'GREEN GRAPE MASTER"' has up her sleeve. Bring on the diversion, Janine!!!
      elizabeth

      Delete
  11. Te han quedado de lo más realistas, fantástico:)

    ReplyDelete
  12. HOlA Rosa Maria! Thank you for your comment! I think that they DO look pretty realistic and that it is because the silica gel beads are already translucent. That was why I was always dissatisfied with my efforts in fimo, as I could never get the degree of translucence that I was after. Initially, when I made these grapes, I used way too much paint. In fact, I think I used a regular acrylic paint which was too opaque, the glass paint is better for the best results. I hope that you will try this out and let me know how yours turn out. I would love to know!

    elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks Elizabeth! Awesome idea that never even crossed my mind. Great tutorial on that.

    Now I'm mad at myself about all those little packets of potential grapes that I have thrown away over the years. ARGH!!

    Dale

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Dale! Not to worry, there are ALWAYS MORE where they came from!!! Ask for donations from friends and family or the shoe store closest to home. Everybody is always thinking of these things as 'necessary evils' and are probably anxious to get rid of them, and before you know it......SHAZAMMM!!! Your back in business!
      Have fun.
      elizabeth

      Delete
  14. Hello Elisabeth, a fantastic idea! Thank you for sharing the tutorial. My good friend gave me two little bags of silica gels today. It´s interesting to see whether I shall manage in making grapes of them. - Thank you for your messages in my blog. If you like to see where the mirror and the baskets will be there are pictures of my new dollhouse in my blog from January and March in 2012. The dollhouse is still in progress. Many hugs Kati

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Katrina! I am happy to hear that your friend was able to help you out with the silica gel beads, they are usually easy to find and 2 bags will go a long way. Make sure that the beads are not too big or too crushed. The smaller they are the more they will clump together so keep them apart into little clusters so that you don't have to break them apart later. If you don;t like the way the cluster dries, just glue bits onto the main body until you are satisfied. Have fun! I will be visiting you again to see your doll's house and the mirrors and the baskets! You do wonderful work Katrina, and it was a pleasure viewing your blog!
      elizabeth

      Delete
  15. Your grapes look good enough to eat! Thanks for the great tutorial! great photos too.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello Troy and Welcome to my blog! Thank you, for your comment! I am delighted with the way these grapes turned out and yes they DO look good enough to eat, JUST DON"T! hahahh I had to make sure that I pasted that warning front and center just to be on the safe side. (You never know???) I just recently paid you a visit at Tulsa Tiny Stuff and plan on returning shortly as I love to see all the wonderful treasures that you uncover on your antiquing lunch breaks!! You must be like a whirlwind with X-Ray eyes able to spot the minis in the remotest corners and highest shelves and inside drawers and cupboards! A man after my own heart! haha Thanks again ,Troy

    elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanx for the tutorial, i have collected many of these packets, but never opened them... Finally , its time for me to open my treasure..lol... Thanx alot... ur tutorial is amazing... hugs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Spandana, Thank you for your comment and you are welcome for the tutorial. It is always nice to find a use for something that has been hanging around in waiting. I also collected these packets for a long time before I discovered what they could be used for. I just couldn't get my fimo grapes to look the way I wanted them to so I looked for a short cut. That is what I always try to find; SHORT CUTS. I am basically lazy and because using fimo is hard for me, I had to find an easier way to get the results I was looking for. I hope that when you try this out that you will let me know so that I can come and have a peek. I'm always curious to see how things are re-interpreted and improved upon. Talk again soon.
      elizabeth

      Delete
  18. Great idea! I always wonder if I could do something with those little things =)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Hannah! Isn't it just Grand when there suddenly is a "good reason" for what you knew you had a hunch about all along?!!! I am always amazed by the creativity and the ingenuity of those who can 'make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!' It's what we all do, and it makes us happy! When what I do, is interpreted differently by someone else, l become AWED by that too! This s such a great hobby and the mini community is wonderful to be a part of, wouldn't you agree?
      Thanks for your comment, Hannah, I appreciate it.
      elizabeth

      Delete
  19. Replies
    1. Hello Hilsu! I thank you so very much and encourage you to try it out as they are quite easy to do and they really do look like grapes when you've finished them! Enjoy!

      elizabeth

      Delete
  20. Fabuloso el resultado!
    Gracias por compartir tus ideas.
    Un abrazo

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you Rosamargarita! This was a whole lot of fun to do and if you want to see how GREEN GRAPES AND PURPLE GRAPES are done, visit Katrina at her blog :" NUKKEKOTI SONAATTI" . Katrina has made use of this tutorial and done a Wonderful job of it! She has made grape platters using the grape tutorial and her cheeses and they are Fabulous! I hope that if you do this too, that you will let me know. It is always a thrill to see what others can do! Enjoy!

    elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi
    Thank you, can`t wait to try this..
    Hugs
    Kikka

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Kikka! Welcome to my blog and I shall encourage you too to visit Katrina and see how she expanded the tutorial to include the green and purple grapes! Her blog is 'NUKKEKOTI SONAATTI"
      Everybody seems to have a stockpile of these little silica packages and so I hope that you Will give this a go. They are fast and fun and easily fit into most doll's house projects as Katrina demonstrated so well! Enjoy!

      elizabeth

      Delete
  23. So clever, thanks for the tutorial. I remember seeing a packet of those beady things lying around, somewhere, and I have a horrid feeling they were thrown out! I think the idea was, there was no use for them, let's thrown them out, they are taking up space, NOOOOOooooooooo. :D I will have to go through the drawers and see if I can find any to add to my stash of useful for miniatures pile :D

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Sarah! Isn't that always what happens. No wonder miniaturist are Hoarders of Horrific Magnitude! I had a passion for shoes back in the day when I had better feet. I had saved tons of these packets and finally threw out the surplus for lack of space, but I have kept quite a bit and will no doubt use just fraction when all is said and done. If you can't find them in your closet, pop over to any shoes/ hand bags store as they are usually more that happy to get rid of them.

    elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is awesome, it looks so real! What a great way to do it, thank you for sharing! ♥
    * marlies

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Marlies! It was good to finally have a use for those packages of silica bead that I had and didn't know what to do with. :)

      And Katrina who left a comment on this post, later used my tutorial to make an entire grape arbor with clusters of grapes hanging down. It looked Amazing. I encourage you to go have a look because her results turned out even BETTER than mine! :D

      http://nukkekotisonaatti.blogspot.com/

      elizabeth

      Delete
  26. Hello Elizabeth...I don't now if your blog is still active or not but I wanted to thank you for sharing your Silica Gel-make-grapes tutorial. It's fabulous. I recently tried this without having the instructions in front of me but recalled basics from having read your blog not long ago so I did a few things differently but the end results is spot on and fabulous. You had me at digging up a treasure of yours from 1993 and also being a hoarder of all things that might be the perfect item to be used in our mutual miniature passion. Thank you again for sharing. These little silica gel beads would also make perfect ice cubes and I'm sure other miniature applications...just waiting to happen.:)

    FYI...there is a "Grape Leaf" Punch Bunch punch that is perfect for the leaves and bread ties stripped to bare wire and wrapped around something like a darning needle make perfect "curly cues" that accompany grape clusters.

    Instead of glass stain, I used Winston & Newton markers to color the grape clusters (huge range of colors). I use Aleene's Tacky Glue for just about everything I do regardless of material (and have for 30+ years).

    ReplyDelete
  27. HI Nancy! :D
    It's wonderful to hear from you and to know that you've had SUCESS using this Grape Tutorial as a base, as well as customizing it to your needs- because that's what it is all about!
    I love the idea of using thin wire for the curly bits and I shall look into the Grape Leaf Punch Bunch punch, too!
    I love the idea of using markers as well; clean and simple - YOU GO GIRL!

    Since I produced this tutorial I hadn't made any more grapes but have seen this Tutorial used on a couple of other people's blogs and so I know it worked for them, but recently 2 of my friends wanted to try it out with me and we made them together and although I modified it just a little, the basic techniques still worked just as they did here. Whew!
    The next time I make them, I'll try the Aileen's Tacky glue as you've suggested, since I too, use it for just about everything - it's Great! :D

    But I can't imagine what you have of mine from 1993??? I rarely signed anything back then (or now), so I'm REALLY Curious! :D

    elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hey Elizabeth...I'm so glad you saw my note about making the grapes. I've completely lost my mind over them and have been in grape production mode trying different colors and configurations. I used a piece of real stem for the "stalk" but I also want to try using the "branches" of the statice that you used...they looked so great. I actually want an entire grape arbor ha ha or at least part of one. I haven't got enough years left to complete my many miniature treasures/projects. I have three photos of the grape assembly if you'd like to see them. (I received your above note in an email but it said "no reply.") Anyway, up to you. Oh yes, I bought the small Punch Bunch grape leaf and it really is perfect...I was punching them out of cardstock and coloring with the markers (I adore the Winston markers) and then decided to try punching the leaves out of "velour" paper. Completely awesome, including the color green I happen to have to go with the "dark blue grapes" I was creating...the velour paper as you probably know, has texture. Any time I use a punch, I also burnish petals and leaves and with a stylus put veins in the leaves...it brings them to life.

    Sorry I wasn't clear enough when I talked about "1993." What endeared me and made me laugh was because I was identifying with you when you mentioned pulling something from your "stash" from 1993 to use in a current project. I do this as well and no lie, have goodies/materials/kits from forever ago. I started playing with miniatures in the early 1980's. (Yikes!) Best...~Nancy B.

    I also believe I saw Nancyland mentioned somewhere. I'm a cyber friend of Nancy Enge's and order all her kits. We email from time to time and I occasionally comment on her blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. FOUND IT! Here is the blogpost with the other grape arbor I'd mentioned above
      http://nukkekotisonaatti.blogspot.ca/2014/07/tein-sen-i-made-it.html

      enjoy! :)

      Delete
  29. Hi Elizabeth...I bought the "small" Punch Bunch grape leaf punch and the scale is good. I thought I would use it more than a mini grape leaf although I may eventually buy it as well because if I'm going to do an arbor, the mixed sizes would work very well. For just a cluster (or 10 ha ha) I think the small works best. This could be "in the eye of beholder" thing?! In my research of photos on the web of grape clusters, grape leaves are rather substantial. See what you think when I send you the photos.

    I have some of the mini punches but they are really, really tiny (approx. 1/4″ or 6mm). They have their own applications of course but for most of the flowers/plants I make, the small punches work best.

    Thank you for the blog recommendations re the grape arbor vines, I will definitely check them out.

    I'm also enjoying going back and reading about your various projects although sometimes I feel exhausted by your perfectionism. I know you do to because you've said so! :) I'm totally anal and by the nature of our hobby, we all tend to be perfectionist to one degree or another but I'm trying to evolve in my golden years (another big laugh). Your project results are spectacular and so realistic so you must be doing something right;) My "bend" tends to be very eclectic but "used" or "aged" or "weathered" or "vintage."

    If you decide you want to try the Winsor & Newton markers, here's a link to buy them at discount. They're pricey but they are sold individually so you can buy just the colors you want. http://search.jerrysartarama.com Nancy Enge turned me on to them...all these years and I never knew such fabulous markers existed. If you're only going to buy a few in order to "paint" the grapes, I'd go with the "brush markers" but the regular markers work as well. So far I've made grape clusters in pale green; blue-ish; and rose.

    ReplyDelete
  30. All Good to know Thanks Nancy! :D

    ReplyDelete
  31. Love this, how did you ever come up with this wonderful idea. I am so excited to try this. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HOWDY and thank you for the compliment!
      Since I'm not that good with FIMO I decided to try using something else for grapes and since I had lots of these silica beads at hand, I decided to try using them.
      The trick is to use the brown glass paint FIRST and then a grape color overtop.
      I made them again a couple of years later with my friends and it took a little longer to do than it did the first time around, but they turned out just as good, so HAVE FUN! :D

      elizabeth

      Delete
  32. Miss E, I have just seen this scrolling through Pinterest, wow ! I have never thought of opening these packages ! love the grapes would look great on a silver platter on a dining table ,,, does this mean that I have to buy some shoes ? I HATE shopping ( unless its for minis! ) huggs Stephanie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh No! Not MORE shopping! heeheehee ;D

      Some people have told me that they go into a shoe store and just ask for them since they get thrown out otherwise so perhaps, try that approach first. :D
      Oh, and I should also add that the Gallery Glass paint is becoming more difficult to find. Michael's craft store here in Canada, used to carry the full range, but now they've discontinued them, however the Pebeo Brand might work even better because their glass paints are more highly saturated.
      And already knowing the high quality of your work, I'm certain that your grapes will turn out to be Perfectly "Edible"; shoes -or not shoes! :D

      elizabeth

      Delete
    2. Thanks Miss E for the tip, I will try a shoe store when I go up to Scotland at the end of the month for a week. As I am quite isolated here in the country there is no access to shoe shops !! Going through my old storage I am finding many shoes that I can no longer wear ! so off to our one charity in France ! In Britain there are hundreds of charity shops in each town, toooo many but fun to go through. I have to order everything on amazonetsyebayaliexpress these days !! huggsses

      Delete
  33. how can I get on your mailing list?

    thehappylittlehome@gmail.com

    Thank you! Becky

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi Becky!
    to subscribe just click the Blogger "Follow blog" button, which should add you right away. :)

    elizabeth

    ReplyDelete

DO OVERS! a Glencroft Living room redecoration

    Back in April of 2022, I made up a storyline for my Glencroft renovations, which went something like this...   "After due considera...