DIY Glass Tile Image Jewelry Tutorial

January 27, 2015

You can create personalized image jewelry with glass tiles and glue-on findings from Rings & Things.  In fact, if you can cut paper and glue, you can make image jewelry!  Just follow the detailed steps below to turn any image into a wearable piece of art.

How to make glass tile image jewelry with glue-on pin backs from Rings & Things.

“Butterfly” Pins made by Rings & Things designer Mollie Valente combine glass tiles, Piddix collage sheet images, and glue-on pin back findings.

Gather your supplies:

DIY image jewelry, supplies needed to make image jewelry.

With just a few supplies you can turn any image into  a wearable pin.

You’ll need the following components:  

>> Pin back finding  (I used item#38-950-01-1: 25mm white-plated plastic-pad bar pin) 
>> Glass tiles  (I used item #83-510-01-042: Glass Tile, Circle) 
>> Piddix collage sheets  (Or use personal images of your choice)
>> Crafter’s Pick™ The Ultimate Adhesive

And you will need these additional supplies:

>> 7/8″ round paper punch from a craft store (or use a circle template and scissors)
>> isopropyl alcohol from the pharmacy section of a grocery store
>> paper towels from a grocery store
>> small paint brush from a craft store

The Ultimate Glue

Product Spotlight: The Ultimate! crafter’s adhesive is water based, nontoxic and washable, and dries clear. It adheres to plastics, metals, vinyls, fiberglass, wood, fabrics, ceramic, glass, leather, and paper. For more information on selecting the perfect glue for your jewelry project, check out the Rings & Things “Gluing Tip Sheet”.

Follow these easy steps:

Rings & Things DIY: How to make image jewelry --cut the image out with a hole punch or scissors.

Step 1: Cut out the image. First center the image in the hole punch’s window, then punch. I used a 7/8 inch hole punch–but you can also use a circle template to mark your hole and scissors to cut it out.

DIY glass-tile image jewelry: Clean the glass with rubbing alcohol.

Step 2: Clean the glass tile with isopropyl alcohol and a paper towel. This will remove any contaminants and ensure the adhesive bonds to the glass.

How to make image jewelry: applying the adhesive. A free DIY jewelry making tutorial from www.rings-things.com.

Step 3: Squirt the adhesive onto a clean working surface. A small flat paint brush is ideal for applying the adhesive.

How to make image jewelry: appling adhesive glaze to the image.

Step 4: Apply the “Ultimate Adhesive” to the paper image cutout.

How to make image jewelry with paper images, glass tiles, and glue. Buy supplies at www.rings-things.com

Step 5: Use the flat paint brush to spread an even, liberal coating of the adhesive on the paper image.

Making glass-tile image jewelry; how to adhere the glass to the image.

Step 6: Place the clean glass tile (flat side down) onto the image and push down firmly.

Rings & Things DIY: How to make image jewelry. Getting rid of air bubbles trapped in the adhesive.

Step 7: Turn the glass tile over and gently apply pressure to the paper image; this will help to even out the adhesive layer and remove trapped air bubbles.

How to make glass tile image jewelry--the adhesive will be cloudy when wet, but will dry clear.

Step 8: Turn the glass tiles over and view them from the front side. Make sure all air bubbles are removed. The wet adhesive will appear cloudy, but will dry clear.

Free DIY how to make image jewelry--allow the adhesive to dry fully, then the image will be clear.

Step 9: With the paper side up, place the glass tile aside in a warm place to fully dry. While you wait, clean up the glue surface and paint brush with warm water.

A free jewelry-making DIY on how to make glass tile image jewelry from www.rings-things.com. Use adhesive to adhere the glass tile to the image and allow to dry.

Step 10: After a few hours of drying time, check the glass tile to make sure the adhesive has fully dried. All cloudiness should be gone.

Free Image jewelry DIY. Use glue-on findings from Rings & Things to turn your image into wearable art.

Step 11: Apply an even coat of the “Ultimate Adhesive” to the back side of the image tile.

How to make pins with glue on pin findings from www.rings-things.com.

Step 12: Apply the smooth side of the glue-on pin finding to the adhesive-coated image tile. Apply even pressure to remove trapped air bubbles. Pay close attention to the pin direction and the image direction so they coincide. Also be sure the image tile is centered on the pin back. Once you are satisfied with the placement, set the pin aside in a warm place to dry.  It is best to allow a full 24-hour drying time.

Glue-on Findings turn any image into trendy jewelry.

Once fully cured, the glass-tile image pins are ready to adorn a favorite jacket or backpack!

>>>—-  ♥  –  ♥  –  ♥  –  ♥  –  ♥  –   ♥  –  ♥  –  ♥  –  ♥  –  ♥  –  ♥  –  ♥  —-<<<

And follow these steps to create an image pendant:

Supplies you will need to make a glass image pendant.

Pendant Step 1: Follow steps 1-10 for making a pin. Cut an additional decorative paper circle. Select a glue-on bail that is appropriately sized for your pendant.

How to make a glass image pendant tutorial from www.rings-things.com

Pendant Step 2: Apply glue to the back of the image-adorned glass tile and adhere the decorative paper circle. Make sure the decorative elements coincide with the image on the front of the pendant. Now you have a pretty backside to the glass pendant.

how to make a glass image pendant; Seal the backside of your image pendant.

Pendant Step 3: Apply a thin layer of “The Ultimate” adhesive to the backside of the pendant. Once cured, this layer will seal and protect the pendant.

To make an image pendant, attach a glue-on bail to the back of your glass tile. Free DIY jewelry making tutorial from Rings & Things

Pendant Step 4: Apply a generous coating of adhesive to the gluable surface of the bail. Position the bail on the backside of the glass tile and press it in place. Check to make sure the bail placement and the image direction line up. Set the pendant aside in a warm area to cure for 24 hours. Finish the pendant with a ball chain necklace of your choice; it is ready to wear.

How to make a glass image necklace with glass tiles and Piddix image collage sheets.

“Butterfly” Necklace made by Rings & Things designer Mollie Valente. You can easily turn an image-adorned glass tile into a pendant by adhering a glue-on bail to the backside.

 

Make Things,
 
Mollie

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4 Comments

  • Reply Helen January 19, 2016 at 10:32 am

    These are so lovely. Do you have a supplier for the glue on pin findings?
    Thanks

  • Reply Becky November 3, 2020 at 6:16 am

    Is the process the same if using a photo instead of paper?

    Aloha

  • Reply Mollie Valente November 3, 2020 at 6:09 pm

    Hi Becky,

    I haven’t tried the process with actual photos, but the paper and ink are different. I think the slick, plasticky finish of photos might cause problems. Instead, I would suggest photocopying your photos onto a lightweight cardstock. This can be done relatively cheaply at a photo-copy center.

    Good luck with your project!

    Mollie Valente
    Rings & Things

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