Make a Valentine's Day Cuff Bracelet

Before: Scrap paper, metal

Happy Valentine's Day! Today is the last day in our V-Day series as the big day has arrived. Whether you love Valentine's Day or think it is a commercial hoax victimizing the American people, February 14 arrives every year. We like to use V-Day as an excuse to craft using hearts and other themes of love. 

Oops! Stamping error

Today we grabbed some scrap metal and the front page of a magazine to make a cuff bracelet. The metal was previously cut into cuff bracelet length but was relegated to the scrap heap due to a stamping error. The second letter was sideways. Oops. Nobody will know the cuff bracelet was originally created for a different design because we covered the stamping error with paper that we decoupaged as a form of cold enamel over the entire surface of the cuff bracelet.

After: Bracelet by GeltDesigns.com

Tools
Xacto knife
Self-healing cutting mat 
Oval bracelet mandrel  
Rawhide mallet 
Cross peen hammer 
Steel bench block
Half-round file 
Lortone tumbler (optional)


Materials
Scrap paper 
Scrap 16-gauge nickel silver sheet metal
Diamond Glaze or Mod Podge
Paint brush
Bowl of water (to clean paint brush)
Transparent embossing powder
Heat It Craft Tool

Cut paper to size

Step 1
Place the paper on a self-healing mat and cut out the paper using an Xacto knife. 

Step 2

Hammer the edges

Form the bracelet. Use the rawhide mallet to shape the cuff bracelet around the oval mandrel. File the edges of the metal until jewelry smooth. Place the cuff bracelet on the steel bench block and hammer the edges of the cuff bracelet to thicken the edges, add sparkle and harden the metal so it retains the oval cuff shape.

Stamped Gelt

We stamped the inside of the bracelet with our signature "Gelt."


Step 3
Decoupage the paper to the cuff. Glue the paper to the cuff. Paint Mod Podge over the surface of the paper using a paint brush. Sprinkle transparent embossing powder over

Decoupage the paper onto the bracelet

the wet Mod Podge. Shake off excess powder. Use a heat gun to melt the embossing powder.

Related Tutorials
Cold Enamel a Washer to Make a Pendant
Make a Valentine's Day Necklace from Shoe Lace Charms
Make Heart Earrings from Copper Staples
Make a Beer Bottle into a Heart Pin
Make "Kiss Me" Heart Earrings
Make a Valentine's Day Pendant from a Scrabble® Tile
Make a "True Love" Bracelet from Scrabble® Tiles
Make a Valentine's Day Pendant from a Copper Washer
GeltDesigns Tutorials by Topic
NJAD Index (Days 1 to 60) by Type of Jewelry
NJAD Index (Days 1 to 60) by Type of Found Object  


Further Reading 
"500 Bracelets: An Inspiring Collection of Extraordinary Designs (500 Series)"; Lark; 2005.

Day 86  Month 4. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent to date: 0
Found materials: magazine, scrap metal
New Jewelry a Day.

Have a very happy and crafty Valentine's Day! Tell a friend, family member or lover how much they mean to you.

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.