Deco Adventures

Sophie & Toffee Review

2012-01-14T23:03:00.000-06:00

I got my items from Sophie & Toffee on Thursday! This is a Singapore based supplier for decoden supplies. A lot of people who decoden recommend this shop because they are a trustworthy service and have a lot of variety. It snowed for the whole day for the first time in a month. I was beginning to think that winter had gone away! Here are the items:

It came in a pink bag! How cute!

The items plus the My Melody note box that I've been trying to deco since the fall! I got it, but then realized that I didn't have the orange and yellow rhinestones!!! *sigh*

Pros: Has a lot of variety for items, lots of cabochons, lots of sale items, comes wrapped in a cute bag and a few layers of bubble wrap, easy navigation through website

Cons: No free gift (other shops will give you some canes or extra rhinestones), most rhinestones only go to 3mm, Hearty was smaller than I expected (50g), long shipping time to US (through cheapest option)

Mitsuwa Haul!

2012-01-10T20:43:00.000-06:00

Today I went to Mitsuwa in Chicago to get my Japanese fix! I also happened to get some cute things for crafts! They had a fake sweets book by Milky Ribbon at the bookstore, but I wanted to spend that $30 on manga instead… I will probably look through the book more carefully when I visit next time! :D

Star, heart, and triangle shaped ice cube tray for resin and I can't leave any kind of Asian grocery store without Pocky!

Usahana candy! I got it because of the cute packaging~

Shitsuren Chocolatier vol.1 by Setona Mizushiro, Vagabond vol.1 by Inoue Takehiko (ON SALE?!), ZEROSUM Jan. 2012 issue, ARIA Jan. 2012 issue (I will most likely buy any book with Naked Ape manga)

PS Have you ever made polymer clay canes? It's extremely satisfying when you successfully squeeze and roll it out correctly. I only made orange ones so far and one thing that you should know is that the outer part of the cane should have a decent thickness so when you stretch it out, it will cover the whole cane! Even though I made a lot, half failed… I will try to make some strawberry and kiwi canes and update later!!! ^_^

Decoden Update #1

2012-01-08T18:47:00.001-06:00

I have a youtube account that only consists of an Etsy shop review and this update so far... (and use it to like and favorite kpop mvs) but I wanted to share the stuff that I made today and yesterday! Everything used for the boxes and rings was made by me and the silver ring backings were from Sophie & Toffee.

*edit* pictures of the deco rings and boxes

My first rings!!! I'll probably wear the macaron one all the time~

Mickey Mouse cookie inspired by the Re Ment

Dollar Tree Deals!!! (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡

2012-01-04T19:57:00.001-06:00

Today when I went back home from work, I stopped by the Dollar Tree. Did you know that it's the best place for deals on decoden items when it's approaching Valentine's Day? There were so many PINK things as you enter the store!!! The tin with hearts is the same cost as a small tin at Michaels…

So many things for $1 each!!!

Also, I found Bouncing Putty, which you can make molds out of. If you want to buy some through me, just send me an email? But you can buy it online for $6 + shipping here. It costs WAYYYYYYY less than Amazing Mold Putty, which I tried once and made some glitter resin charms that are on my deco items. Amazing Mold Putty was much more useful for molds than Sculpey Mold Maker, which kinda sucks but still works for molds. Another mold-maker is Oyumaru, a reusable plastic modeling compound. [review] I ordered Oyumaru for $6 from atinyobsession on Etsy! If you live in Asia, it's much, much cheaper from review that I've read, but that's the lowest price that I found online.

Have you tried using Bouncing Putty for molds? :D

Here is a helpful youtube tutorial explaining how to make a mold!

PS I found Mawaru Penguindrum macarons online!!! I loved watching that show and this brings back memories of the first episode… They are so cute~

From AiClay

Charm update!

2012-01-03T21:35:00.001-06:00

Hello, I've been busy looking at youtube tutorials on how to make charms, which will be cabochons for me since I don't have eye-pins yet. I made cold porcelain clay about a week ago and have almost used it all up! I used a light brown pasten to "bake" the "food" too.

Which Rilakkuma toast do you like better?

I also went to Michaels to get a few more supplies like transluscent clay… and ended up spending an hour there looking for deals! By the way, if you want to get cheap icing tips for piping out your whipped cream clay/silicone, they are now offering some from Duff for only $3!!! Now you can use your money towards cabochons, airdry clay, and molds~

PS I got a coupon code from Sophie & Toffee to share with you! Using this link: http://go.referralcandy.com/share/VX8A38, copy the coupon code, and you will get a 10% discount on their already low prices for cabochons and more! (expires Feb. 27, 2012) I will do a review of the items that I bought from them once I received it in the mail~

12 Deco Blogs to Follow in 2012

2012-01-01T00:21:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year!!! I wanted to compile a list of blogs that I currently follow and get suggestions for others worth following! These are a great source of inspiration to me when I want to deco stuff~ (ordered randomly, can translate Japanese websites with Google Translate, couldn't include everyone that I follow… see: Decoden resources spreadsheet)

1. http://www.grotesqa.net/ atelier dolle

I actually won Rui's giveaway contest so this will always have a place in my heart~ (Gave me a push to start deco) Based in Singapore, it usually updates once in a while with progress pics, reviews, and tutorials. Mostly sweets deco and in English.

2. http://ameblo.jp/chelsie/ CHELSIE。Sweets Deco.

This is a Japanese blog that does very cool sweets deco, like an Alice in Wonderland theme! I like the use of air dry clay to create fake sweets in some of the most creative ways possible. In Japanese.

3. http://www.youtube.com/user/01b0o 01b0o Youtube

This is the youtube of the person with the most youtube views for a decoden video if you search "decoden." Her tutorials are mostly with rhinestones and updates occasionally but they're worth subscribing~ In English.

4. http://petitecafeotete.blogspot.com/ Petite Cafe Otete

This ridiculously awesome blog has so many sweets deco pieces that I really admire. Based in Hawaii, there are usually weekly updates with many works in cute forms. It's cool to see how you can turn a personal craft into something very sellable. In English.

5. http://blog.goo.ne.jp/milkyribbon/ Milky Ribbonのスイーツデコ

This blog has regular updates that keeps my feed reader full of sweets deco! Has more of a classic sweets feel to it and wonderful pictures of the creations. In Japanese.

6. http://ameblo.jp/candycolorticket/ CANDY COLOR TICKET

This has the most bold and bright sweets deco that I've seen! Updates frequently and is one of the top Japanese deco blogs~ In Japanese.

7. http://kaorukreations.blogspot.com/ Kaoru Kreations

This blog has reviews and an Etsy shop attached to it~ It displays so much talent in making a normal object into something special! In English.

8. http://ameblo.jp/kiyopiyo3/ *Sweet Jewel*

This blog is ridiculously chocolatey~ Everything is carefully crafted and regularly posts in progress pictures!!! In Japanese.

9. http://ameblo.jp/rmr-kobe/ Dolce Mente

I feel like this is one of the top deco blogs in Japan. Everything is QUALITY and lovely sweets deco~ In Japanese.

10. http://deco-den.livejournal.com/ デコデン //// DECO DEN

The only semi-active comm that I know about and occasionally updates from users, with more frequent posts with advertisements for supplies/cases in online stores. Very friendly comm and another way to network with people in the decoden community. In English.

11. http://sototallylame.tumblr.com/ So Totally Lame

This tumblr blog reblogs a lot of cute things and decoden stuff that inspires you to make more things! Will have a giveaway every once and a while where you only have to like/reblog a post for a chance to win a case~ Owner also has an Etsy store that she promotes heavily through the blog and you will often see her posts on the decoden tag on tumblr. In English.

12. http://misskittyxo.tumblr.com/ Miss Kitty XO

This is such a cute blog~ Based in the UK, Danielle often reblogs and posts kawaii-related things and promotes her deco Ipod cases from her Etsy store. I believe this is one of the quality deco blogs on tumblr~ In English.

PS I've been getting a lot of inspiration from Re Ment and will post some pics of some things that I made that are inspired by it~

Intro post

2011-12-28T03:28:00.000-06:00

Hello! My name is Kim and I'm interested in decoden (mostly sweets deco) and other Japanese things! I got into this when I went to Anime Central last year and went to a decoden panel. Then I looked up tutorials on youtube and it kept getting me even more interested! I started out with one of the deco stickers and a mixed set of pink rhinestones to decorate my Ipod touch, and now I'm starting to venture into making more elaborate deco pieces! After all, when I explore Etsy for deco supplies, there are always tons of works that are truly inspiring and make me jealous of their talent! Hopefully for next year, I will improve on my technique and make better pieces~

Let me share the things that I have been working on during winter break!

My desk at the moment… I ended up making too much of the pink "icing"
and had to steal a jar from the pantry to deco!

Used sculpey mold maker to make the ice cream cone pattern!
Also, banana slices and unpainted strawberries (made fr. cold porcelain)

(PS my logo is from my tumblr)