Turn a Pipe into Enamels Beads

Before: Copper pipe

We love playing with copper pipes. For only a few dollars you can purchase a long length of copper pipe to make into all sorts of jewelry. We are lucky. We had quite a bit of copper pipe left over from a kitchen renovation. Apparently, we did not need a huge length of pipe to connect our fridge. So we have quite a bit of pipe to use for NJAD projects. Yay.

Today we decided to cut up pieces of pipe and use those pieces to make enamel beads. We had two choices when enameling the copper pipe beads. We could use our kiln or we could use our torch. Both methods produce different results. We opted to torch fire the enamel beads because we wanted a more organic feel.

We will show you how we use the copper enamel beads we made in another upcoming NJAD blog entry.

Materials
Copper pipe
Thompson's enamel for copper

Tools
Jewelry saw & blades
Half-round file
Wet/dry sandpaper
Torch
Soldering tripod or trivet

Mark copper pipe

Step 1
Mark the pipe with a marker or scribe. Use a jewelry saw to cut pieces of pipe.

Cut copper pipe with jewelry saw

Step 2
File and then sand the edges of the cut beads until smooth.

Step 3
Clean the copper beads with acetone and then rinse with water (to remove acetone residue). Enamel will not "stick" if the copper is not completely clean.

Step 4
Spray the copper bead with Thompson's Klyr-Fire so the enamel powder will better "stick" to the copper pipe.

Step 5
Place the enamel powder in a sifter and sift the enamel evenly over the copper pipe. Let the enamel dry on the pipe before firing. NOTE: You can hasten the drying by waiving the torch over the enameled pipe.

Step 6
Place the enamel covered pipe on a trivet or soldering tripod.

Step 7

After: Torch enameled beads by GeltDesigns.com

Heat the copper enamel covered pipe from beneath the tripod. Continue to hold the the torch under the enamel pipe. Watch the enamel fuse to the copper. The same phases of fusion occur in both kiln firing and torch firing. At first the enamel will look sugar-coated, then the enamel will begin to look like an orange peel, then the enamel will reach a smooth, fully fused state and, finally, the enamel will look over-fired. The phases of enamel fusion happen very quickly when torch firing so watch the enamel closely. Stop heating the enamel and remove the torch once the enamel is fused to the look you seek.

The flame of the torch can produce a smokey iridescent look. Sometimes the smokey look is desirable (as it looks a lot like raku firing on ceramics), other times it is not. Since we wanted an organic look, we allowed the enamel to fuse until it was slightly over-fired achieving a "raku" look.

Tip: You can fire enamel multiple times until you get the look you want. To get rid of the discoloration on one side of the enamel (or to change the surface of the enamel from smooth to orange peel), just turn the piece over and re-fire from the bottom. The front surface should clean up.

Step 8

Clean up the copper edges of the beads. Remove oxidation with files and sandpaper to prepare to use the beads in jewelry making.

Related Tutorials
Make Earrings from Copper Pipe and Wire
Make an Enamel Necklace from a Copper Pipe
Make a Beaded Bracelet with Copper Pipe & Wire
Make a Neck-Ring from Copper Pipe
Make a Bangle Bracelet from a Copper Pipe

Further Reading
"The Art of Enameling: Techniques, Projects, Inspiration by Linda Darty"; Linda Darty; 2009.
"The Art of Fine Enameling"; Karne L. Cohen; 2004.
"First Steps in Enameling"; Jinks McGrath; 2003.
"The Jeweler's Directory of Decorative Finishes: From Enameling and Engraving to Inlay and Granulation"; Jinks Mc Grath; 2005.

Month 5. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: Copper pipe
New Jewelry a Day.  

Make a Memory Wire Necklace from Rubber and Sterling Silver Orphan Beads

I don't love memory wire. We have a lot of the stuff around, because it just isn't my favorite beading material. I've tried to use memory wire because I have friends who really love it... but memory wire just is not one of my "go to" materials. With that said, memory wire is easy to work with and is a great material to use if you need a fast gift or an emergency "make in a few minutes" accessory to complete your outfit.

Memory wire bracelet by GeltDesigns.com

For this project, my daughter and I arranged some leftover sterling silver beads. We decided to highlight the beads using black rubber tubing to cover the remainder of the memory wire.

Materials
Sterling silver beads
Rubber tubing
Memory wire for necklace

Tools
Wire cutters
Round nose pliers

Step 1
Select the beads and use a plate or beadboard to design the pattern.

Step 2
Cut the memory wire to choker length using wire cutters designed especially for memory wire.  

Warning: do not use wire cutters used for wire wrapping or other jewelry making (and do not use your favorite wire cutters!) as the memory wire will dull and perhaps damage the wire cutters.

Step 3
Feed the sterling silver beads on the wire so the beads are centered.

Step 4
Cut the rubber tubing into two long pieces. Cut the tubing to the length needed to cover the remainder of the wire.

Step 5
Slide the rubber tubing onto the wire.

Step 6
Use round nose pliers to make a loop at each end of the wire to hold the rubber tubing in place.

Related Tutorials
Make Paper and Rubber Earrings

Further Reading
"Memory Wire Magic, 20 Ideas for Jewelry and Home Decorating"; Katie Hacker
Bead And Wire Jewelry Exposed: 50 Designer Projects Featuring Beadalon And Swarovski; Margot Potter, Katie Hacker, Fernando Dasilva; 2009.


Month 5. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: leftover craft materials
New Jewelry a Day.  

Make a Hatpin from a Bottle Cap

Hatpins are decorative pins that help women secure hats so they do not fly away when the wind blows. Hats had fallen out of favor until the recent engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The lovely Kate appears to have brought large hats back to the masses. No need to wait for the Kentucky Derby to get out your old hat... or to brandish that wonderful find from the estate sale.

Hats are making a come back and that means a renewed need for hatpins! We made this simple hatpin using wire and beer bottle cap. We used 16-gauge nickle silver wire because nickel silver is quite strong and is unlikely to bend with use over time. (Of course, some folks are allergic to nickel. Don't use nickel silver if you are allergic to nickel. Stainless steel is a good substitute.) You can also use brass, copper, sterling silver, gold-fill or even gold for this project, but those are all softer metals that are not as great to use as a stick pin or hat pin.

Materials
Bottle cap
16-gauge wire
Clutch finding
JB Weld

Before: bottle cap and wire

Tools
Wire cutter
Vise
Ball pein hammer
Drill & size 55 drill bit

Step 1
Measure a 5-inch piece of 16-gauge nickel silver wire. Cut the wire using a wire cutter.

Step 2
Secure the wire in a vise so that only 1/4-inch of the wire shows. Hit the top of the wire with a hammer to flatten that end of the wire and create a "head" for the pin. Remove the wire from the vise. Sand away tool marks, if any.

Step 3
Sharpen the other end of the wire to a point using a file. Be sure the point is

Feed the wire through the bottle cap

centered and that the point has a gradual slope that will easily pass through fabric.

Step 4
Mark the bottle cap with an automatic center punch and prepare to drill two holes in the bottle cap. Check to be sure the two holes are aligned and the wire will pass through the two holes. Drill the holes using a size 55 drill bit.

 Step 5

After: Hat pin by GeltDesigns.com

Feed the wire through the two holes in the bottle cap. The 16-gauge wire will just barely fit through the holes drilled with a size 55 bit. Use pliers to pull the wire through the bottle cap until the head of the pin sits fluch against the bottle cap.

 Step 6
Add a drop of JB Weld where the bottle cap hits the wire for added security (if desired).

Step 7
Slip clutch finding on the pointed end of the wire to secure the pin.

Related Tutorials
Make Earrings from Beer Bottle Caps
Make a Bracelet from Beer Bottle Caps
Make Cuff Links from Beer Bottle Caps
Make Earrings from Plastic Bottle Caps
Make a Necklace from Plastic Bottle Caps
Make Chanukah Menorah Earrings from Plastic Bottle Caps

Further Reading
"1000 Jewelry Inspirations (mini): Beads, Baubles, Dangles, and Chains (1000 Series)"; Sandra Salamony; 2011.

Day 117 Month 5. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: beer bottle cap, wire
New Jewelry a Day.  

Make a Pate De Verre Clover Pin

Before: Glass by GeltDesigns.com & pin

OK, so today's project is not made with found objects... but I really wanted to share the pate de verre pin we made to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. We toyed with a number of different colors and designed and bothe the girls at NJAD were really pleased with the results with this pin.


Materials
Pate de verre clover
1-inch pin back
Glue

Tools
Glass fusing tools
Bullseye glass powder

After: Pin by GeltDesigns.com

Step 1
Make the pate de verre glass clover. Make a mold and fill the mold with glass powder. Place the filled mold in the freezer for at least one hour but no longer than overnight. Unmold the frozen glass powder. Fire the glass in a glass fusing kiln taking care to anneal the glass. Allow the glass to cool to room temperature. Remove the glass from the kiln. File rough edges, if any, with a diamond file. Wash the glass.

Glue pin finding

Step 2
Glue the pin back to the back of the glass.


Related Tutorials
Make a Beer Bottle into a Heart Pin
Make a Pin from a Glass Pebble
Make Glass & Copper Earrings
Make a Pendant from a Bottle
Turn a Glass Jar into a Pendant
Make a Glass & Knotted Leather Necklace
Make a Glass & Brass Link Bracelet
Make Recycled Glass & Sterling Silver Earrings
Make a Kiln Formed Bracelet
Make a Glass Charm Necklace
Freeze & Fuse: Pate de Verre the Easy Way

Questions about Glass Clay
Fused Glass Tutorials by GeltDesigns 
Further Reading
"Warm Glass: A Complete Guide to Kiln-Forming Techniques: Fusing, Slumping, Casting"; Philippa Beveridge, Ignasi Domenech, Eva Pacual; 2005.
"Contemporary Warm Glass: A Guide to Fusing, Slumping & Kiln-Forming Techniques"; Brad Walker; 2000.
"Kiln Firing Glass: Glass Fusing Book One"; Boyce Lundstrom, Daniel Schwoerer; 1994. 

Day 117. Month 5. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
New Jewelry a Day.  

Make a Green Necklace for St. Patrick's Day from a Plastic Bottle

Before: empty bottle

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We decided to make a green necklace to wear today. We used the plastic recovered from an empty Garnier Fructise bottle. The plastic is a bright, cheery green perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

Don't forget to wear green to keep from being pinched by a leprechaun!

Tools
Xacto knife or scissor
Self healing cutting mat
Automatic center punch

Drill and bit
Round nose pliers or wire looping pliers
Chain nose pliers

Gather your tools

Wire cutters
Steel block
Rawhide mallet
Wire rounder, needle file or cup bur (and flex shaft or rotary tool)

Materials
Garneir Fructis plastic bottle
18-gauge brass wire

Step 1

Cut the plastic charms

Remove the label from the bottle. Wash the empty plastic bottle. Cut the plastic into charms using scissors or an xacto knife on a self healing mat.

Step 2

Mark the plastic and drill hole

Mark the plastic charms with the automatic center punch and then drill holes in the plastic where marked.

Step 3
Use pliers to create the links from the 18-gauge wire. Cut the formed link from the wire spool and then file both ends of the formed link smooth using a wire rounder, needle file or cup bur and flex shaft or rotary tool. Repeat to create the needed number of links.

Step 4
Assemble the links and charms into a chain.

Hook and eye clasp by GeltDesigns.com

Step 5
Make the hook clasp and eye from the 18-gauge wire. Place the finding on a steel bench block and hammer with a raw hide mallet to harden the wire and protect the shape of the finding.

Step 6
Attach the finding to the chain.

Related Tutorials
Make a Bracelet from a Plastic Bottle

After: Necklace by GeltDesigns.

Make a Cuff Bracelet from a Plastic Bottle

Further Reading
"500 Plastic Jewelry Designs: A Groundbreaking Survey of A Modern Material (500 Series)"; Lark; 2009.

Day 116. Month 5. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: plastic bottle
New Jewelry a Day.