Whether it be the ice capades or circuses or renaissance festivals or musicals, there's something awesome about being a spectator when people are putting on a show. And so to pay homage to the feeling of the theatrical and over-the-top aspects of such shows, I made this big, bold, funky, fun necklace for this week's carnival theme for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog. (Personally, I think there's no such thing as a necklace that's too big and bold!)
I tried to capture the sense of whimsicality and excess that surrounds the carnival/circus setting in particular. I'm a major fan of mixed media/metal artist Susan Lenart Kazmer and used several of her pieces for my necklace (the "at" circle, the dice charm, the bear on the ball and the glitter-filled light bulb are all her masterpieces).
I also used several products from Simon Says Stamp to complete the piece. I used Glossy Accents and patterned paper to liven up this bird charm and my husband helped me drill a hole through a plastic zebra (sorry, zebra, but you do look fab!)
I added a Tim Holtz lightbulb and some Tim Holtz swivel clasps to connect everything. I used a Tim Holtz pocket watch and decorated it with a picture from one of my favorite artists ever: Richard Scarry (the adorable bunny balloon seller) and threw in a Tim Holtz bingo piece.
To complete the project, I made a Circus bottle cap charm using both a bottle cap and picture from Bottle Caps, Inc.
I love how crafting supplies can be used for more than just paper projects. Here's a complete list of the Simon Says Stamp supplies that did double-duty for me even in the jewelry world:
As always, if you have a fantastic idea for one of the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenges (and I know you do), just upload your project and enter yourself to win $50 of shopping goodness at the store that has it all!