Asta Arts specialise in rubber stamps with attitude. They are mostly tattoo themed and feature designs such as skulls, pin-up girls and sacred hearts. These stamps can be used to decorate cards, or items in your home and they can also be used to make jewellery, like these cool nautical star earrings. The project is part of Asta Arts 'free how-to guide, and according to the tutorial should take less than an hour to make.
To make them you will need:
* 1 sheet of almond colored 'Shrinky Dinks' shrink plastic
* Large nautical star stamp (available from Asta Arts' website)
* Black permanent ink stamp pad
* Black Sharpie permanent marker
* Heat gun or oven
* Krazy Glue
* Earring posts with backs
Find out how to make them after the snip..
1. Use large nautical star stamp to stamp two stars onto shrink plastic with permanent ink and allow to dry. Go over large black areas with a black Sharpie pen to even out color as needed.
2. Cut stars from plastic sheet, leaving a small margin all around. Use a heat gun to shrink the plastic. (You can also use a toaster oven or conventional oven - follow shrink plastic package directions.) If edges curl, press them down while plastic is still warm. Allow plastic to cool.
3. Glue earring posts to back of stars with Krazy Glue and allow to dry. Once they are dry, they are ready to wear!
Other Tips:
* If the plastic curls before you have a chance to fix it, simply re-heat it and push it into place.
* You can add color to the stars by filling them in with a colored Sharpie marker before heating.
* You can use these same techniques to make charms for a bracelet or necklace. Use a regular paper hole-puncher to create holes on the plastic before shrinking. The holes will shrink down to the perfect size for a jewelry loop!
