Faith & Awareness Bracelet
February 22, 2018
Fast & Fun DIY Flower Cabochon Bobby Pins
May 24, 2014
Cabochon flowers are a super easy way to add a splash of color to your life! With flat backs for easy gluing, they’re a cinch to add to any number of craft projects. This tutorial shows you how to embellish the flowers then add them to bobby pins to make sparkling DIY hair accessories. It’s a great project for kids, seniors, girly get-togethers and parties.
Only a few supplies are required:
Flat Pad Bobby Pins
Flower Cabochons
Adhesive Dots
Paint Dabbers
Glitter!
White Glue Paint Brushes or Cotton Swabs for Glue
If desired, color the flower using paint dabbers. While the paint is still wet, dip the outer petals into glitter. If you’re not coloring your flower first, add a light layer of glue to the outer petals before dipping them in the glitter.
Apply the adhesive dot to the pad of the bobby pin.
Attached your embellished posie and you’re done!
Have fun & sparkle on!
Did you know? …
You can buy the supplies to make this project now:
Click to Shop Resin Cabochon Flowers
Click to Shop Bobby Pins with Glue Pads
Click to Shop Adhesive Dots
Create a Charm Bracelet
January 13, 2014Charm Bracelet
Create a beautiful, heirloom-quality charm bracelet using freshwater keishi pearls, Swarovski faceted crystal beads, and unique sterling silver bead caps, charms, and findings.
A four-piece jewelry making tool set and basic assembly techniques are all you need to create this stunning bracelet. I recommend using the Chain Stā tool which suspends the bracelet horizontally making it easier to see where you are placing charms.
Create Eight Styles of Charms
For this design, charms were arranged in the following pattern:
- Place an Ethereal Pearl Charm every 5 links.
- On the 3rd link after Ethereal Pearl, attach Oopsy Daisy Charm.
- On the 4th link after Ethereal Pearl, alternate Falling Leaf & Delicate Sprout Charms.
- On the 1st link after Ethereal Pearl, alternate Tender Bloom & Budding Flower Charms.
- On the 2nd link after Ethereal Pearl, alternate Cherry Blossom & Fresh Shoot Charms.
Ethereal Pearl Charm
Create 7 Ethereal Pearl Charms using: Center-Drilled Freshwater Keishi Pearl 2″ Ball End Head Pins 4mm Round Jump Rings
Oopsy Daisy Charm
Create 6 Oopsy Daisy Charms using:
Falling Leaf Charm
Create 3 Falling Leaf Charms using:
Sterling Silver Flower Bead Cap
3mm Swarovski Crystal Pearl Beads
2″ Ball End Sterling Silver Head Pins
Delicate Sprout Charm
Create 3 Delicate Sprout Charms using:
Sterling Silver Flower Bead Cap
3mm Swarovski Round Crystal Pearl Beads
2″ Sterling Silver Ball End Head Pins
4mm Round Sterling Silver Jump Rings
Sterling Silver Pansy Charms
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Tender Bloom Charms
Create 3 Tender Bloom Charms using:
2″ Sterling Silver Ball End Head Pins
4mm Round Sterling Silver Jump Rings
6mm Swarovski Round Faceted Crystal Beads
Sterling Silver Leaf Shape Bead Cap
Budding Flower Charm
Create 3 Budding Flower Charms using:
4mm Round Sterling Silver Jump Rings
2″ Sterling Silver Ball End Head Pins
Four Leaf Sterling Silver Bead Caps
6mm Swarovski Faceted Round Crystal Bead
Cherry Blossom Charm
Create 3 Cherry Blossom Charms using:
4mm Round Sterling Silver Jump Rings
3mm Swarovski Round Crystal Pearl Beads
Sterling Silver Flower Bead Caps
Fresh Shoots Charm
Create 3 Fresh Shoots Charms using:
Have fun making the bracelet!
Create a Custom Personalized Necklace
December 6, 2013Personalized jewelry is very popular, and quite simple to create! A four-piece jewelry making tool set and basic assembly techniques are all you need to create custom necklaces.
(Click for larger image)
It is easy to personalize jewelry using birthstone-color gemstones and Swarovski crystal, along with a sterling silver charm or two. Rings & Things sells a huge selection of lightweight budget-friendly sterling charms and necklace chains.
Chains are easily adorned with add-a-dangle, or add-a-gemstone charms. To create these assorted dangles, you just need a selection of small beads from your stash and some sterling ball-end head pins.
(Click for larger image)
These colorful dangles allow you to add several birthstones to a custom piece, or accessorize it according the whimsy of the wearer. A mixture of natural stones, freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals is very popular. Making oversized loops on the dangles makes it easy to slide them onto nearly any chain without adding a jump ring.
If you sell custom necklaces, consider displaying the basics in a fun display (along with a few completed samples):
- A tray of sterling silver charms
- An assortment of pre-made add-a-gemstone dangles
- A variety of pre-made add-a-birthstone crystal dangles
- A few styles of sterling silver necklace chains.
(Click for larger image)
This jewelry also makes great gifts and mementos for friends, family and other loved ones. Have fun making these darling necklaces!
How to Make a Metal Box
October 28, 2013
Make A Metal Box
A small metal box was turned into a framed reliquary, containing an antiqued frozen Charlotte doll. Create your own metal box that can be transformed into memory jewelry, a tiny shrine or used for some other whimsical (or practical) purpose.
To make a metal box, first decide on the type of metal, and the size of the box you want to create. I recommend using 20 gauge sheet metal for strength and durability. Copper or brass sheet metal are nice choices as they are inexpensive and they antique nicely.
Anneal the metal before cutting so that it can be manipulated more easily. Heat it with a torch until it is glowing red, let it cool naturally and clean thoroughly.
Cut the metal to size. This box was 1-1/2″ long and 3/4″ wide. It is 3/8″ deep. Draw lines of box using a Sharpie pen.
Cut one line of each corner to the point where it intersects with another line. Using wide flat nose pliers, bend the ends in, and the sides up, to create the box shape. Carefully fold each end of the box into place, making the corners square and secure. File if needed to remove any uneven edges.
Antique and colorize all parts you intend to assemble.
Fill back of frame with two-part epoxy. Center box over ornate brass frame and press into epoxy to place.
Using a two-part epoxy, UV resin, jeweler’s grade resin or other strong, clear glue, embed your treasures into your framed metal reliquary. Small toys, souvenirs, images layered in resin and tiny mementos are all used in creating custom memory jewelry.
Use epoxy to attach a magnet, let it cure and you are done! (Note: You could also attach a pin back or changeable bail in the same manner for a DIY jewelry brooch or pendant).
Questions? Please post them below!
Create a Hinged Metal Memory Journal
July 18, 2013
Use a hinge to turn shrine-shaped metal blanks into a journal!
Decide on the layout, location of the hinge and other decorative elements. Using a checkered hammer, apply texture to the top and bottom panels of the journal. Patina, file rough edges and clean.
Layout
Cut the hinges, which can be as wide or as narrow as you choose. For 3/32 tubing, make hinges that are one-half inch deep. You need an odd number of hinge tabs. Measure, mark and saw tabs into the top panel. Use plenty of cut lube to prevent the saw blade from sticking when cornering.
Create Hinge Tabs
Using wide, flat nose pliers, crease and fold each tabs up to a 90 degree angle. The position of the fold determines whether the hinge will be visible from the front of the pendant, or only from the back side. Keep the textured sides face up, so the design is consistent.
Carefully roll tabs into cylinders using chain nose pliers or medium bail making pliers. Leave hinges a bit loose until after you have inserted the tubing, then you can tighten for best fit.
Roll Into Cylinders
Use a tube cutting jig to cut a length of tube 1mm longer than the width of your piece (for 1/2mm on each side).
Cut Tubing
Slide tubing down the channel and finesse hinges as needed. Rivet tubing into place to finish the hinge. Open and close hinge to ensure a proper fit.
Assemble Hinge and Insert Tubing
Working with the bottom panel, lay out etched metal pieces for the cover and inside page. Cut, file and patina as necessary. Leave sufficient room for the hinge to lay flat against the bottom panel.
Lay out Etched Metal Page
Measure, mark and punch holes for decorative rivets, accents and center piece (using the small side of the hole punch).
Prepare Embellishments
Using two-part epoxy, carefully glue the etched metal panels into place.
Lay out Etched Metal Page
Using a dapping set, dome two small round shapes that can nest one inside the other. Patina, file away any rough edges and clean the domed metal. Layer, and rivet domed metal nests onto the top panel. Connect top and bottom panel with rivets. Use a tube rivet at the top so that you can thread a jump ring through it (if you choose).
Rivet Domes Into Place
Carefully clean and polish the pendant before attaching the necklace chain.
Clean Finished Pendant
Handmade jewelry looks great on a custom beaded necklace, on leather cording, silk ribbon or chain. I created a necklace by making individual links using the one-step looping plier, eye pins, metal beads and natural agates. The links were connected using jump rings.
Memory Journal Necklace
This free DIY Memory Journal pendant was created by designer Sondra Barrington of Rings & Things. This necklace features riveting, metal etching, antique brass shrine stamping blanks, dapping, and metal stamping. The chain was created in an ombre pattern using natural agate gemstone beads, TierraCast antique brass bead caps, metal heishi trade beads and the one-step looping plier with antique copper head pins.
Create a Healing Shrine
June 6, 2013
Making handmade jewelry for someone is a unique and inspiring way to show you care. This “Healing Shrine” was created for a friend suffering from cancer. It was inspired by our new brass “window” blank shapes and a recent trip to Santa Fe, NM.
Healing Shrine
Each year, thousands of people pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayo seeking blessings. Many visitors take a small amount of “holy dirt” from the site, in hopes of a miraculous cure for themselves or someone who could not make the trip. I chose to encase my “holy dirt” in a glass portal, that I nested inside a brass reliquary. Following are instructions for how-to create this DIY jewelry design using stacked brass layers and cold connections.
First, envision your shrine and decide how you want it to look and feel. Decide on contents for your glass bottle. Unscrew the top loop from the cork in the glass vial. Measure, mark and punch holes for rivets (using the small side of the hole punch).
Stamp word “heal” on the metal band designed to hold the glass vial. Measure the band to ensure that it is going to fit.
Measure and bend metal band to fit glass vial
Using bail making pliers, bend the center of the band into a curved shape, leaving each end flat. Cut to shorten as needed. File the ends.
Arrange pieces and punch metal
Rivet the stamped metal band into place after double-checking that it will snugly hold the glass once it is assembled.
Rivet the band into place (to hold the vial)
Insert tube rivets in holes between the front and back of shrine, stacking copper heishi trade beads between the layers (to fill the space and strengthen the connection between the top and bottom layers).
Heishi beads as spacers between layers Sondra Barrington Memory Jewelry
Rivet them into place. Note: Be careful, it is very difficult to reinstall the heishi spacer beads if they fall off the tubes!
Place all heishi beads before riveting together Sondra Barrington Memory Jewelry
Patina and clean. Using two-part epoxy, attach a magnet to the back side of the shrine. Carefully fill vial with contents.
Fill the vial and pop it into place
Once the glue has cured, pop the glass vial inside the band. This DIY jewelry project can be a pendant, magnet or pin.
EnCapture Artisan Concrete
February 4, 2013We tested the new EnCapture Artisan Concrete Kit!
Flor Sepultiado Mosaic Necklace
This “unique texture-rich medium for jewelry making” is designed for embedding treasures such as glass, gemstones, metal, buttons, wire and beads to create visual interest and contrast. Here are some tips for using it!
Stitched Devil Mosaic Necklace
Mixing: We found the easiest way to mix the concrete was making a slurry (or thin paste) by putting a small amount of the base material in the mixing cup and adding the activator. To the slurry, mix in the base material and pigment incrementally until you have achieved the desired color and consistency.
Application: You can extend the life of your concrete while you are working by covering the mixing cup with a damp paper towel. We recommend you remove excess concrete from your embedded treasures as you work using a damp paper towel, cotton swab or toothpick. It is easier to remove when it is moist than after it starts to dry.
Work Time: As the concrete starts setting within 5 minutes, you must work quickly! Pre-arranging your design is very helpful. We found it easiest to trace the bezel, and to mock-up the arrangement on paper. This allows you to quickly and precisely place each item when it is time.
Green Cat Mosaic Necklace
Design: Including small beads in your design is easiest if you string them first (this way they can’t roll and move as easily). For a more elaborate or mosaic-style design, setting your treasures with a dab of two-part epoxy glue is recommended. Glue your items in place and allow the glue to fully dry before applying concrete.
Hamsa Hand in Heart Mosaic Necklace – Tutorial
Finishing Touches: If you do not like large grains of sand from the concrete being visible in your design, you may be able to bury them by gently poking them down into the wet concrete with a toothpick.
Once the product has cured, for a beautiful golden sheen, the brass brush works wonders! If you do not want to alter the color of your finished piece, gently clean around embedded treasures with the straight carver.
In addition to the tools and supplies provided in the kit, we found the following tools and supplies very helpful:
* Damp paper towels/moist towelettes
* Extra wood mixing sticks
* Cotton swabs
* Tablet & pencil
* Extra disposable plastic mixing cups
* Extra dust masks
* Extra disposable gloves
Links:
- The kit
- Bezel Cups (for this concrete product, deeper bezels work better than shallow bezels)
- Resin & Jewelry Clay Tutorials