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2009-02-16, 11:18am
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Dangerous Woman
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Join Date: Nov 21, 2005
Location: Southcentral PA
Posts: 5,018
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I need a little help here. When you make something that isn't a mouse, like your spiders or birds or what have you. Do you sketch it out first? How do you know how to bend the wires and how long to make them? I'm not asking to be hand lead through how 'you' do 'your' thing but how just how to get started planning an object. I want to do some Easter Bunnies and I really don't want to waste a lot of wire and solder messing up.
Any advice?
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Nancy
May your torch burn brightly and your oxy never run out. - Karen Hardy
On a Cheetah with a hurricane Still have my Lynx as a back up.
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2009-02-16, 11:40am
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Glass my new Obsession
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Join Date: Apr 14, 2006
Location: Eugene Oregon
Posts: 2,296
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OK I finally ordered mine woohoo!!!
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2009-02-16, 10:01pm
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just another tool fool...
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Aliquippa, PA
Posts: 1,174
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Hey Nancy,
Prototypes of anything can be tough. I'm pretty comfortable with pretty much flying by the seat of my pants with each one, but if I'm doing a production run of anything where I need some size consistency, I will sketch it out first. I have a new tutorial in the works for an item I've made often, but in a different scale and have found that drawing thumbnail sketches of the angles I want arms and legs helps a lot with wire proportion in the long run. As much as I hate to say it, its often a matter of trial and error.
Its always better to make your wire longer than you think that it needs to be...its much easier to cut some off than to add some on. I often will assemble a several parts together before even approaching it with the soldering iron, just to make sure sizes are right. Even so, I have frequently made fingers and toes the wrong size, but I toss them back into my scrap box to be used on a future project. I rarely throw anything out. In the grand scheme of things, recycled copper is fairly cheap, so I've never balked at using it to "doodle" with, like many artists do with pencil and paper. It helps to look at it as research and development for a new creation. It really it helps to do a practice run at parts of a project with scrap wire sometimes, just to make sure that the points of contact in the wire will make a decent connection to one another when they're soldered.
For example, if you want to make bunnies, play around with the part that is different than what you've already done. Make a couple of sets of ears or what have you and make sure they look right for the size bead you have in mind.
I don't know if that answers your questions, but if you still find yourself stuck, drop me a pm. Maybe we could talk over the phone and I could help explain it a little better.
Quote:
Originally Posted by playswithfire104
I need a little help here. When you make something that isn't a mouse, like your spiders or birds or what have you. Do you sketch it out first? How do you know how to bend the wires and how long to make them? I'm not asking to be hand lead through how 'you' do 'your' thing but how just how to get started planning an object. I want to do some Easter Bunnies and I really don't want to waste a lot of wire and solder messing up.
Any advice?
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~~Maria~~
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2009-02-16, 11:47pm
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glass nerd!
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Join Date: Jan 04, 2007
Location: In the weeds!
Posts: 1,019
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Did I read that right? You have a new tutorial coming out! Anytime soon?
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2009-02-17, 7:11am
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Dangerous Woman
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Join Date: Nov 21, 2005
Location: Southcentral PA
Posts: 5,018
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Thanks so much Maria! I also got the brainstorm to use pipecleaners to practice.
I'm looking forward to that new tut!
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Nancy
May your torch burn brightly and your oxy never run out. - Karen Hardy
On a Cheetah with a hurricane Still have my Lynx as a back up.
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2009-02-19, 7:36pm
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Happy in AZ
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Join Date: Feb 17, 2007
Location: Cottonwood AZ
Posts: 155
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First attempt! I had a hard time getting the solder to stick to the copper. The squiggley stuff coming from the tail is fine silver wire - does it look like string?? I have a long way to go, but it was fun fun fun!! Thanks for the tut!
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Nancy
Cheetah & tanked oxy
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2009-02-20, 5:10am
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Molten Memories
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Join Date: Sep 05, 2005
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Posts: 91
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He's a cute kitty! Great job! And, yes, on my monitor, it looks like kitty is all tangled up!
Always remember that the solder will flow to the heat.....so make sure your wires are hot enough to accept the solder.
Looks great!
Jeanie
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2009-02-20, 5:18am
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just another tool fool...
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Aliquippa, PA
Posts: 1,174
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What a great kitty, Nancy! He definitely looks like he's wrapped up in string!
Jeanie makes a good point about the heat, but also make sure you're cleaning your wire well with fine steel wool and fluxing generously. If you still have trouble after that, it may be that your wire has a fine coating on it(craft wire often does, unfortunately. It's great to prevent oxidation, but renders the wire difficult to solder.)
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2009-02-20, 8:02am
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Happy in AZ
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Join Date: Feb 17, 2007
Location: Cottonwood AZ
Posts: 155
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I did not clean the wires, but I did use a lot of flux. I think it I am concentrating on the solder and not heating the wires as much. Thanks for the tips.
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Nancy
Cheetah & tanked oxy
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2009-03-10, 11:21pm
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Happy in AZ
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Join Date: Feb 17, 2007
Location: Cottonwood AZ
Posts: 155
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OK here is another one, it is not finished yet. I am not sure what to do with the arms and legs to get a cute personality, any suggestions.
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Nancy
Cheetah & tanked oxy
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2009-03-11, 3:27pm
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just another tool fool...
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Aliquippa, PA
Posts: 1,174
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He's great, so far, Nancy! I love the hair. I like that you've twisted the small gauge wire together. It gives it more strength and also makes it unique.
From the position of the arms, he looks like he's dancing...maybe show some movement with his legs, too?
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2009-12-19, 8:38pm
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Member
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Join Date: May 17, 2008
Location: central cali
Posts: 44
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Hi Maria...
Just tried to find your tut in your etsy store with no luck, still there? If you are selling it anywhere else, I'd love to know where...finally ready to buy, but can't find it ARRGGGHH!
Thanks for any help you can give!!
Cricket
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2009-12-19, 8:53pm
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just another tool fool...
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Aliquippa, PA
Posts: 1,174
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Hi Cricket,
I just sold one earlier today, and didn't realize it was the last. I've listed more in my Etsy store, if you're still interested.
Thanks for letting me know they were all gone,
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2009-12-20, 9:51pm
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Member
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Join Date: May 17, 2008
Location: central cali
Posts: 44
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Wow Maria...Thanks for your quick reply!! I'll be buying in a few days...thanks again!
Cricket
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2010-03-21, 4:41pm
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Wendy
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Join Date: Jun 19, 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 1,143
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Maria,
I finally gathered all the materials and carved out some time for myself this afternoon to try the tutorial. It's so well done, easy to follow and fun all at the same time.
Thanks so much for making this tutorial. Here's my first mouse. While there are lots of things I learned today and plenty for me to work on next time, I love it and can't wait to try again.
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Quote:
... Although that's probably part of what makes an artist a true artist.. you create things that you like and then wonder if anyone else could possibly like them without having seen the rest of the story that's still in your head. ~Me
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2013-08-10, 7:05am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 22, 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 591
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email. miceies...
Maria
I hope you see my message soon..
I want to make a mouse....
Cherri
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ArtbyCherri.com
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2013-08-11, 5:25am
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just another tool fool...
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Join Date: Jun 05, 2005
Location: Aliquippa, PA
Posts: 1,174
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Hi Cherri,
I saw your message and will get a reply out just as soon as the coffee kicks in.
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~~Maria~~
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