Make a Ring from Gimp

Before

So yesterday we played with string and made a "chain" from imitation leather by creative knotting. The knotted chain highlighted some glass charms we created from a broken plate.

The process of knotting got my youngest daughter thinking and she decided to take some gimp leftover from a girl scout troop project and use the gimp to create a trio of delightfully playful rings.

After: Gimp Ring Trio by GeltDesign

Materials
Gimp
Scissors

Step 1

Gather your tools and materials. Determine what color gimp you want to use.

Step 2
Tie the gimp around the finger for which you want to make a ring.

Step 3
Remove the gimp from your finger.

Step 4
Continue to finish a square knot to create the ring. Tighten the knot. Adjust as needed. You can add a drop of glue to secure the knot, but if you pull the knot tight the glue is not needed.

After: Ring by GeltDesigns.com

Hint: You can use a ring mandrel to determine what size ring you want to make. You can also use the ring mandrel to create the ring if the person for whom you are making the ring is not around.

Step 5
Trim the excess gimp from both sides of the square knot.

Step 6
Repeat to create the second and third ring for the trio.

Related Tutorials
Make a Glass & Knotted Leather Necklace

Further Reading
"Mod Knots: Creating Jewelry and Accessories with Macrame"; Cathi Milligan; 2009.
"Decorative Knot Craft: Over 20 Innovative Knotting And Macrame Accessories"; Kim Sang Lang; 2008.
"Elegant Knotted Jewelry: Techniques and Projects Using Maedeup"; Becky Meverden; 2009.


Day 41. Week 5. Month 2.  Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: Gimp
New Jewelry a Day.

Enjoy tonight and have a very, very happy new year!

Make a Glass & Knotted Leather Necklace

Before: Broken Plate

Our internet is back up and we can post our projects again. Yeah! Between the snow and our technical difficulties we were forced to take a break from publishing, but now we are back and looking forward to sharing our upcycling adventures.

Imitation Leather

Today's project was derived from the same broken plate we used to make our glass & brass link bracelet.  Let's face it, it was a large plate...so we our goof yielded a LOT of glass to use in jewelry making. It really is a good thing my daughter and I both love to work with blue glass.

Rather than attach the beads to a brass chain, today we strung the beads on some imitation leather we had in the studio and use for our favorite vegan friends, family and customers.

After: Glass & Leather Necklace by GeltDesigns.com

Materials
Glass
Imitation leather cord
Spring ring clasp (sterling silver or 14kt gold-filled )

Tools
Glass cutter
Diamond hone, diamond files or a glass grinder
Drill and diamond coated drill bits 
Barges glue

Step 1
Wash the glass with glass cleaner to remove kiln wash and other dirt, grease and grim.

Step 2
Cut the glass using a glass cutter into three -1-1/2 inch square glass pieces.

Step 3
File the edges of the glass smooth using a diamond hone, diamond files or a glass grinder.

Step 4
Drill two holes in two of the glass pieces using a drill and diamond coated drill bits. The holes are needed to create the beads. The holes should be large enough to feed through the leather.

Step 5
Finish the glass beads. We fire polished the glass in our kiln, but you can polish the glass using by hand using sandpaper if you do not have a kiln. The process of hand sanding is labor intensive, but quite effective.

String Glass Beads

Step 6
Feed the imitation leather of other stringing material through the glass beads. Pull the string so the beads sit one on top of the other and they create a natural arc.

Step 7

Knotted Leather

Center the beads on the string. Measure up about 1-inch from the bead on either side and make a knot.

Step 8

Attach Clasp

Measure another inch from the knot and create another knot. Continue until you created a knotted chain that is either 16-inches or 18-inches long, depending on the length you want for your necklace.

Step 9
Feed the clasp on the imitation leather. Attach the clasp by doubling over the imitation leather and then tying the end in a knot about 1-inch from the clasp. Add a drop of Barges glue to the knot for added security.

Glass & Leather Necklace by GeltDesigns.com

Step 10
Create the eye by repeating on the other end of the necklace chain. Double  the imitation leather and then tie the end in a knot about 1-inch from the clasp. Again, add a drop of Barges glue to the knot for added security.

Related Tutorials
How to Drill Glass
How to Cut Fused Glass with a Tile Saw
How to Slump Glass
How to Add Oil to a Glass Cutter
How to Prepare a Slump Mold with Kiln Wash for Fused Glass
How to Make a Slumping Mold
How to Remove Devitrification from Fused Glass
Repurpose Empty Wine Bottles
How to Melt Wine Bottles into a Bead
How to Melt Wine Bottles into a Cheese Tray
How to Melt Wine Bottles into Jewelry
How to Melt Wine Bottles for Lampwork
Make a Kiln Formed Bracelet
Make a Glass Charm Necklace
Make Recycled Glass & Sterling Silver Earrings
    
Further Reading
"Mod Knots: Creating Jewelry and Accessories with Macrame"; Cathi Milligan; 2009.
"Decorative Knot Craft: Over 20 Innovative Knotting And Macrame Accessories"; Kim Sang Lang; 2008.
"Elegant Knotted Jewelry: Techniques and Projects Using Maedeup"; Becky Meverden; 2009.

Books on Kiln Formed Glass
"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.
"Fused Glass Handbook"; Gil Reynolds; 1987.
"Fuse It - 18 Fused Glass Projects": Petra Kaiser; 2007.
"Innovative Adornments - Introduction to Fused Glass & Wire Jewelry";  Jayne Persico; 2002.
"Richard La Londe: Fused Glass Art and Technique"; 2006.

New & Noteworthy
"Contemporary Fused Glass";  Brad Walker; 2010.
"Microwave Kiln Techniques: For Fused Glass Jewelry, Stained Glass Projects and Silver Clay"; Geneva Perkins.

Day 40. Week 5. Month 2.  Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: Broken glass plate
New Jewelry a Day.

Snow is black

Not much snow left. The little remaining snow in DC is black and yucky. Had hoped to post today. No luck. Hope to resume publishing tomorrow. Again, sorry.

Snow is melting

But no post today. Hope all is back to normal tomorrow. Again, sorry for the technical difficulties.

Snow

Not much snow in DC. .... Still posting be phone. Internet still troubled. Bummer. We had a great project to show .... And tell how. Enjoy your day. Will post soon.

Snow!

Snow and no Internet. Posting from my cell phone. Unable to load photos. Sorry to disappoint. Hope Internet is up and we can post soon. Enjoy the snow. We really did get a white Xmas.

Merry Xmas!!!

We made gingerbread today. Sorry. No jewelry .... Although DH was a bit worried the cookie dough might be used for something worn, rather than eaten. The gingerbread was yummy. More projects tomorrow. Have a very merry Xmas.

Make LEGO® Christmas Earrings

Before: LEGO® in the toy box

We've used LEGO® parts to make earrings before and just the other day we went through our huge pile of LEGO® to  make a giant necklace inspired inspired by the Smithosonian gem collection from  LEGO®. 

Today we decided to use some small, typical LEGO® pieces to construct these quick and easy, green and red earrings that bring Christmas cheer. We made our earring using clip-on findings, but any post findings can be used.

Materials
LEGO®
JB Weld or the glue of your choice
Earring findings

Step 1
Gather your materials. Play with the LEGO® until you like your design.

Step 2
Attach the earring findings to the back of the LEGO® using glue. To hand correctly and comfortably on the ear, the earring finding should be centered in the top third of the earring.

Step 3
Allow the glue to cure overnight or according to the manufacturer's instructions.

After:  LEGO® Xmas Earrings by GeltDesigns

Step 4
LEGO® are interlocking and often need no glue to secure the design. In fact, the fun of  LEGO® earrings is you can change them....but if you love your design or are worried about losing earring parts due to dancing, skiing or other vigorous activities, then glue the pieces together.

Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas!!!
         ---from the girls at GeltDesigns.com and NewJewelryADay

Day 34. Week 5. Month 2. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: LEGO®
New Jewelry a Day.