Cold Enamel a Washer to Make a Pendant

Before: Post Card & Washer

We love to visit museums and galleries. Many give out brightly colored brochures explaining and documenting the exhibit. Others send us stunning post cards announcing the opening of exhibitions as well as beautiful invitations for gallery openings.

Tossing these items in the trash seems almost criminal. When the galleries and museums recycle, we try to put the items back for reuse... but for items that come to the house, reuse by others is rarely an option. Hence, we often collect the art work we like the best for use in scrap booking, collage making and, of course NJAD jewelry making.

After: Pendant by GeltDesigns.com

Today, we used a post card sent to us from the the Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery at Haverford College. We cut out a portion of the post card originally painted by Oh Su Fan, entitled "Change" and we decoupaged the paper from the post card onto a washer to create an eye catching pendant.

Materials
1-1/4" round washer
Post card
Diamond Glaze or Mod Podge
Paint brush
Bowl of water (to clean paint brush)
Transparent embossing powder
Heat It Craft Tool
Scrap paper
1mm satin, leather, suede or other stringing material
Clasp & end caps (optional)

Tools
Xacto craft knife
Self-healing cutting mat

Step 1
Select the washer and the paper you want to use to decorate your washer. We used a post card sent to use in the mail with a copy of a painting entitled "Change"by Oh Su Fan announcing the "In and With: Contemporary Korean Art" exhibit at the Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery at Haverford College. Post cards are heavy, coated paper that do not run when coated with glue or embossing powder.

Step 2
Determine how you want to arrange the paper on the washer. Glue the washer to the back side of the paper using a glue stick (or glue of your choice) in the space that highlights the design you want to use.

Step 3
Place the washer on the cutting mat and use a craft knife to cut away the excess paper. 

Step 4
Paint Diamond Glaze or Mod Podge on the paper using a paint brush until it is completely coated. Paint the sides of the washer to seal the paper to the washer. If bubbles appear, pop them using a toothpick or your finger. Check to be sure the coat is even.

Wash the paint brush immediately with water to prevent the brush from becoming glued together and no longer usable.

Step 5
Before the coat of Diamond Glaze or Mod Podge is dry, place the washer on a clean piece of scrap paper and sprinkle transparent embossing powder over the glue painted paper surface of the washer.

Step 6
Tap off excess embossing powder. (We use a second piece of scrap paper to catch the excess so we can reuse the embossing powder).

Check to be sure the embossing powder is even. Sprinkle again (and remove excess again), if needed, to even out surface.

Melt powder to coat washer

Step 7
Use the heat tool to melt the embossing powder. Heat evenly until all the embossing powder melts and coats the paper surface of the washer and the side of the washer. Check to be sure the paper is sealed onto the washer. Allow the embossing powder to cool.

Do not test the embossing powder with your finger to see if it is done and dry. Ouch. Not only will you have unsightly fingerprints, hot embossing powder will stick to your hand and may cause a burn.

Step 8
Add the chain. Cut a piece of leather, suede, satin or other stringing material to about 24 inches long (or the length you want for your necklace).

Feed through washer

Fold the string in half and feed it through the washer.

Slip ends through loop

Slip the loose ends of the stringing material back through the end loop.

Pull tight

Pull the stringing material tight, as shown in the photograph.

Add findings to the ends of the stringing material or simply tie the string to wear the decoupaged and embossed washer pendant as a necklace.

Related Tutorials
Make a Three Strand Bracelet from Copper Washers
Make a Bib Necklace from Washers
Make a Stamped Pendant from a Washer

Further Reading 
"Making Designer Jewelry from Hardware, Gems, and Beads"; Nicole Noelle Sherman
"Hardwear: Jewelry from a Toolbox"; Hannah Rogge; 2006.
"The Art of Jewelry: Paper Jewelry: 35 Creative Projects (Lark Jewelry Books)";  Marthe Le Van; 2006.
"Altered Paper Jewelry: Artful Adornments from Beautiful Papers"; Jenn Mason; 2008.
"Handmade Paper Jewelry: 40 Beautiful Projects to Make & Wear"; Heidi Borchers, Candace Liccione, et al.

Day 75.  Month 4. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent to date: 0
Found materials: washer, gallery post card
New Jewelry a Day.

Remember, to enter this month's One World One Heart 2011 door prize.