Make Game Piece Earrings

Before: Game piece

We found these red game pieces in the toy box. I am not sure what game they came from. I think it was an old Parchessi game, but I am not sure.... and nobody else in my house can remember either. We've played a LOT of games over the years.

The game pieces are colorful, in good shape and light weight. Clearly, these game pieces were destined to become earrings.

After: Earrings by GeltDesigns.co

Materials
2 game pieces
2 small screw eyes
2 ear wire findings

Tools
Flex shaft, Dremel or drill press
Size 58 drill bit 
Parallel pliers or chain nose pliers


Step 1
Clean the game pieces.

Step 2
Mark the game pieces with an indentation where you want to insert the screw eye. You can use the sharp end of the screw eye to mark the plastic or use a center punch. The indentation will prevent the drill bit from slipping when you drill the game piece.

Step 3
Drill a hole in the game piece where you placed the mark.The hole should be smaller and less deep than the length of the screw eye.

Tighten the screw eye

Step 4
Screw the screw eye into the hole until all you can see is the eye. Hint: it may be easier to hold the screw eye in one place with parallel pliers or chain nose pliers and turn the plastic toy when inserting the screw eye.

Step 5
Make or select an ear wire. Attach the finding.

Step 6
Repeat to create second earring.

Related Tutorials
Make Post Earrings from Vintage Game Pieces
How to Make an Ear Wire Jig
Make Earrings from an iTunes Gift Card
Make Dog Earrings from Toys  
Make a Spider Pin from a Toy
Make a Lizard Pin from a Toy
Make a Necklace from Figurines

Further Reading
"500 Earrings: New Directions in Contemporary Jewelry (500 Series)"; Lark; 2007.
"500 Earrings the Great Picture Book (A Wonderful Idea Book!!)"; Anna Verbsky Sagami

Day 65.  Month 3. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent to date: 0
Found materials: screw eyes, game pieces
New Jewelry a Day.

Make Paper and Rubber Earrings

After: Earrings by GeltDesigns.com

Today is a short post because we had a very busy weekend. Sorry to be so brief. Today we share a variation on the paper earrings we shared earlier this week.

Materials
Pink paper
Rubber
24-gauge,  22-gauge or
20-gauge copper sheet
19-gauge copper wire

Tools
Wet/dry sandpaper
Disc cutter
Doming block
Flex shaft, Dremel or drill press
Micro-drill bit set (#61-80)
Half round file
Needle files 
18-gauge cup burr or wire rounder
Mandrel

 
Step 1
Make the beads.

Earrings by GeltDesigns.com

Step 2
Assemble the earring as instructed in our earlier tutorial except use a pencil as mandrel to form the wire.

Step 3
Repeat to create the second matching earring.
 
Related Tutorials
Make Earrings from Paper
Make a Necklace from Paper

References 
"500 Earrings: New Directions in Contemporary Jewelry (500 Series)"; Lark; 2007.
"Making Designer Mixed-Media and Memory Jewelry: Fun and Experimental Techniques and Materials for the Home Studio"; Tammy Powley; 2007.
"1,000 Jewelry Inspirations: Beads, Baubles, Dangles, and Chains (1000 Series)"; Sandra Salamony; 2008.

Further Reading
"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.

Other
Grobet Jewelry Making Kit



Day 64.  Month 3. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent to date: 0
Found materials: scrap copper, rubber, paper
New Jewelry a Day.

Make a Spider Pin from a Toy

Before: Toys in the box

We've made pins before. We've made jewelry from toys before. We've made jewelry from scrap metal.

This pin also began as a toy -- a plastic toy spider. The toy needed a backing to both highlight the spider and allow enough surface to attach the pin finding and allow the pin to sit well when worn. We used scrap metal for the backing since a good part of the disk would be covered by the spider and the damaged area of the disk would not show.

Materials
Toy
Disk
Pin back finding

After: Pin by GeltDesigns.com

Tools
Disc cutter or jewelry saw
Half round file
Wet/dry sandpaper
Soldering torch 
Soldering & annealing pan
Charcoal soldering block 
Flux
Sparex pickle
Pickle pot
Copper tongs
Third-hand or tweezers (optional)
Glue

Step 1
Assemble the tools and materials. You will need a disk,

Before: Parts Needed

a pin back finding, a toy and some glue.

Step 2
Purchase a disk or cut the disk from scrap sheet metal using a disc cutter or jewelry saw. Flue the edges smooth. Sand away any tools marks or other damage to the disk.

Solder pin back to disk

Step 3
Solder the pin back to the top third of the disk. Pickle the soldered pin to remove oxidation. Rinse with water. Dry.

Soldering the pin back to the top third of the disk (rather than the center) will cause the pin to sit better win worn.

Step 4
Use chemical bonding (otherwise called glue) to attach the toy spider to the soldered disk. Allow the glue sit overnight to cure.

Related Tutorials
Soldering Tips
Thoughts on Soldering Torches & Other Equipment
Soldering Tips for Jewelry Makers
How to Correct Soldering Problems when Jewelry Making
How to Solder Using a Small Butane Torch
How to Make Pickle
Make a Lizard Pin from a Toy
Make a Pin from a Glass Pebble
How to Make a Pin Back
 
Further Reading
"500 Brooches: Inspiring Adornments for the Body [A Lark Jewelry Book]"; Lark; 2005.

"Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box"; Madeleine Albright; 2010.
"500 Plastic Jewelry Designs: A Groundbreaking Survey of A Modern Material (500 Series)"; Lark; 2009.

Other
Jewelry Making Set

Day 63.  Month 3. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent to date: 0
Found materials: toy, scrap metal
New Jewelry a Day.