New Jewelry A Day

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Make a Hammered Pendant from Washers

Choose two copper washers

We made this simple, elegant pendant with only copper washers and scrap sterling silver wire. I really like the way it looks... and I especially like the fact that few would guess that this pendant was made only from found materials.

Find scrap wire

Materials
2 copper washers
18-gauge sterling silver wire

Tools
Bordering or goldsmith hammer
Steel bench block
Soldering torch & equipment (optional)

Step 1
Select two different sized copper washers.

Step 2
Add texture to the washers by placing the copper washers on a steel bench block and then hammering the washers with a bordering hammer.

Step 3
Select or create a bail. we made our bail from 18-gauge sterling silver wire that we collected from our scrap bin.

Mixed metal layered circles pendant in sterling silver and copper with sterling silver snake chain

After: Sterling and Copper Pendant

Step 4
Put the textured washers on the bail. The bail will hold the two copper washers in place.... but if you do not want the washers to move (and make noise) when worn you can sweat solder the washers before putting the washers on the bail.

Related Tutorials
Make a Pendant Bail
Make a Heart Pendant from a Copper Washer
Cold Enamel a Washer to Make a Pendant
Make a Stamped Pendant from a Washer
Make a Three Strand Bracelet from Copper Washers
Make a Bib Necklace from Washers

Further Reading
"The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Jewelry Making Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide for Jewelers and Metalsmiths"; Vannetta Seecharran
"Complete Metalsmith: Professional Edition"; Tim McCreight; 2004.
"Jewelry: Fundamentals of Metalsmithing (Jewelry Crafts)"; Tim McCreight; 1997.

Day 94 Month 4. Jewelry from Found Objects. $ spent to date: 0
Found materials: copper washer, scrap sterling
New Jewelry a Day.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Make a Zipper Pull from Scrap Glass

Happy President's Day!

Spring is auction season in Washington, DC and today we made a custom zipper pull from scrap glass for a local school to sell at auction to benefit the scholarship fund. The zipper pull is in the kiln...so you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see the final product.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Make a Paper Bead Pendant

We are intrigued at the notion of making beads from scrap paper and decided to try our hand. Our first attempts were no where near as grand as some of the things we've seem folks do...but we decided to report our first results anyway. We hope our next results will be improved.

Before: Scrap paper

Materials
Scrap paper
Mandrel (tooth pick or barbecue skewer) or bead roller
Diamond Glaze or Mod Podge
Paint brush
Nail polish (optional)
2mm satin cord
18-gauge brass wire

Tools
Wire cutter
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers

Step 1
Cut the paper selected for the paper beads into triangle strips. For a football shaped bead, cut a wide triangle. For a round bead, cut a thin, very long triangle (the length of four magazine pages).

Step 2
Roll the paper on a mandrel. We used a kitchen skewer. To secure the bead, we folded the paper over the mandrel and then glued the first inch or two with paper glue before we began rolling the bead.

Step 3
Roll the bead. Glue the last three inches of the paper to finish and secure the paper bead.

Step 4
Remove the paper bead from the mandrel and put the paper bead on a tooth pick.

Step 5
Coat the paper bead with Diamond Glaze or decoupage glue to make the bead water resistant (but not waterproof). Let the bead dry for an hour or two. Coat again.

Make paper beads

Duplicate to create the needed number of beads. In our case, we made two paper beads.

Feed bead on wire

Step 6
Feed the first of two beads onto wire and make a loop using round nose pliers. Secure the bead on the wire by creating a second loop on the other side of the bead. Trim off excess wire, if any, using wire cutters.

Step 7

Make bail on second bead

Feed the second paper bead on the wire. Make two loops on the end of the wire. Spread the loops apart using chain nose pliers to create a pendant bail. Push the paper bead flush against the created bail and then create another loop on the other side of the bead.

Step 8
Attach the two beads together.

After: Paper bead pendant

Step 9
Feed 2mm satin cord through the bail to hand the paper bead pendant.

Design alternatives
You can add color using household goods by painting the paper bead with nail polish. Allow the nail polish to dry. Apply a second layer of nail polish. Dry again. Decorate the paper bead by painting the bead with another color of nail polish. Use a paint brush or tooth pick for lines and other small details.

Further Reading
"Creative Beads from Paper and Fabric: Create Your Own Crafts and Embellish Ready-Made Items; No-Sew Fun for All Ages"; Ann Krstn Krr; 2005.
"Paper Beads (Klutz)"; 2009.
"Creative Paper Jewelry: Earrings, Pendants, Beads & Pins"; Dafna Yarom; 2010.

Day 92 Month 4. Jewelry from Found Objects. $ spent to date: 0
Found materials: copper wire, orphan bead
New Jewelry a Day.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Make Wire Wrapped Rings

Before: Copper wire on spool

One of my daughter's favorite designs is to take an orphan glass bead and use it as a focal point for a simple wire-wrapped ring. She makes a lot of them and has a few quick, easy designs that are always a hit.

Materials
Bead of your choice

Select beads

18-gauge copper wire

Tools
Ring mandrel
Wire cutters
Wire rounder
Rawhide mallet
Tumbler (optional)

Step 1
Select the bead to use as the focal point for the ring.

Step 2
Determine ring size. Feed the bead on the copper wire. Wrap the copper wire around the ring mandrel at the size needed.

Step 3
Finish the ring.

After: wire wrapped ring

My daughter has a number of different ring styles. Sometimes she wraps the wire only once and tucks the excess wire under the bead.

Ring with prongs

Other times, she bends the wire on either side of the bead so that the ends of the wire frame the bead and look like prongs holding the bead in place.

Other designs call for the wire to be wrapped two, three

Rings with multiple wraps

or more times before tucking the ends under the bead or creating a prong-style setting for the bead.

Step 4
Trim the excess wire with the wire cutters. File the ends of the wire smooth using a wire rounder, needle file or cup bur and flex shaft or rotary tool (like a Dremel).

Related Tutorials

Wire wrapped rings by GeltDesigns.com

Make a Ring from Gimp
Make Wishbone Earrings from Wire
Make Earrings from Scrap Wire
Make Earrings from Copper Wire
Make a Bangle Bracelet from Steel Wire
Make a Bracelet from Steel Wire
Make Earrings from Steel Wire

Further Reading
"All Wired Up: Wire Techniques for the Beadworker and Jewelry Maker (Beadwork How-To)"; Mark Lareau; 2000.
"Making Bead & Wire Jewelry: Simple Techniques, Stunning Designs"; Dawn Cusick; 2002.
"Bead on a Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry"; Sharilyn Miller; 2005.
"Making Designer Bead and Wire Jewelry: Techniques for Unique Designs and Handmade Findings"; Tammy Powley; 2005.

Day 91 Month 4. Jewelry from Found Objects. $ spent to date: 0
Found materials: copper wire, orphan bead
New Jewelry a Day.

Friday, February 18, 2011

NJAD Index by Type of Found Object (Days 1 to 90)

Yesterday, we published an index of our first 90 New Jewelry a Day projects by type of jewelry . Today, we present an index of the first 90 projects by type of found object used to create each NJAD project:

Bottle Caps
Make Chanukah Menorah Earrings from Plastic Bottle Caps

Bottles & Jars
Make a Beer Bottle into a Heart Pin
Make a Bracelet from a Plastic Bottle
Make a Cuff Bracelet from a Plastic Bottle
Make a Pendant from a Bottle
Turn a Glass Jar into a Pendant

Box
Make a Bracelet from a Handle

Buttons
Make a Leather & Button Bracelet
Make a Button Bracelet
Make Button Earrings
Make a Chain and Button Bib Necklace

Chain
Make a Belt from Brass Chain
Make a Chain and Button Bib Necklace

Duct Tape
Make a Braided Duct Tape Bracelet
Make Duct Tape Earrings

Game Pieces
Make a Valentine's Day Heart Pendant from a Scrabble® Tile
Make a Bracelet from Scrabble® Tiles
Make Game Piece Earrings
Make Post Earrings from Vintage Game Pieces

Gift Card
Make Post Earrings from a Gift Card
Make a Necklace from a Credit Card
Make a Bracelet from a Gift Card
Make Earrings from an iTunes Gift Card

Glass
Make a Beer Bottle into a Heart Pin
Make a Pin from a Glass Pebble
Make Glass & Copper Earrings
Make Leather & Lampwork Glass Bead 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

Hair Bands
Make a Stone & Elastic Belt

Hardware
Make a Necklace from Lock Washers & Toys
Make Heart Earrings from Copper Staples
Make a Heart Pendant from a Copper Washer
Make Earrings with Lock Washers
Cold Enamel a Washer to Make a Pendant
Make a Stamped Pendant from a Washer
Make Hex Nut Earrings
Make a Three Strand Bracelet from Copper Washers
Make a Bib Necklace from Washers
Make Earrings from Grommets
Make a Bracelet from Grommets

Holidays
Make a Valentine's Day Cuff Bracelet
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
Make a Stamped Bracelet
Make a Pin from a Glass Pebble
Make LEGO® Christmas Earrings
Make Chanukah Menorah Earrings from Plastic Bottle Caps
Make a Dreidel Pendant
Make Dreidel Earrings

Leather
Make a Leather & Brass Link Bracelet
Make Leather & Lampwork Glass Bead Earrings
Make a Leather & Button Bracelet

LEGO®
Make a Super Bowl Necklace from LEGO®
Make Wine Cup Earrings
Make a LEGO® and Chain Necklace
Use LEGO® as Beads to Make a Necklace
Make LEGO® Christmas Earrings
Make a Giant LEGO® Necklace
Make Lego Earrings

Misc
Make a Necklace from Shoe Lace Charms
Make Heart Earrings from Copper Staples
Make "Kiss Me" Heart Earrings
Make a Ring from Gimp
Turn an Earring into a Pendant
Make a Necklace from Shells
Make Earrings from Shoe Charms

Paper
Make a Valentine's Day Cold Enamel Cuff Bracelet
Make Paper and Rubber Earrings
Make Earrings from Paper
Make a Necklace from Paper

Pipe
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

Polymer Clay
Make a Crab Pendant from Polymer Clay

Rubber
Make Paper and Rubber Earrings

Scrap Book Supplies
Make "Kiss Me" Heart Earrings

Scrap Metal
Make a Valentine's Day Cuff Bracelet from Scrap
Make Wishbone Earrings from Wire
Make Earrings from Scrap Paper & Copper
Make Glass & Copper Earrings
Make Earrings from Scrap Wire
Make a Stamped Bracelet
Make Earrings from Copper Wire
Make a Tricolored Riveted Pendant & Chain
Make Tricolored Riveted Earrings

Steel
Make Earrings with Lock Washers
Make a Bangle Bracelet from Steel Wire
Make a Bracelet from Steel Wire
Make Earrings from Steel Wire

Toys
Make a Necklace from Lock Washers & Toys
Make Wine Cup Earrings
Make a Charm Bracelet from Toy Figurines
Make a Cartoon Pendant
Make a Spider Pin from a Toy
Make a Necklace from Figurines
Make a Lizard Pin from a Toy
Make Dog Earrings from Toys
Make Post Earrings from Vintage Game Pieces
Make a Dreidel Pendant
Make Dreidel Earrings

Thursday, February 17, 2011

One World One Heart 2011 Door Prize

OHOW Door Prize

And the lucky winner of our door prize is......GPC from Michigan! GPC blogs under the name Shedding the wolf.

My daughter had the honor of selecting the lucky winner... and after making the selection we both went back to GPC's blog to see just who had won. My daughter said, "GPC's blog looks yummy!" I agree. We were inspired... we both headed into the kitchen to make a Nutella late night snack.

We had a lot of fun visiting blogs around the world. Thanks to all the participants who visited and left comments. Thank you, Lisa, for hosting OWOH. Great idea!

Have a great weekend!

NJAD Index by Type of Jewelry (Days 1 to 90)

Today is day 90 of our New Jewelry a Day project. To date, my daughter and I resisted the temptation to supplement our ample craft supplies and instead used only what we have and what we can find in our recycling can to make the first 90 jewelry projects of our year long adventure. To find materials, we sifted through the toy box, our craft corner and rescued lots of materials from the recycling bin ...but so far we girls met our self imposed goal of spending no money on our NJAD project.

Naturally, as we use up our many craft supplies, the challenge of making a new jewelry project from found objects every day gets more difficult...but that also mandates more creativity. All in all...a very satisfying way for a mother/daughter team to spend an icy, snowy winter.

Here is an index of the NJAD projects to date (days 1 to 90) by type of jewelry or accessory made:

Belts
Make a Belt from Brass Chain
Make a Stone & Elastic Belt (Made from Hair Bands)

Bracelets
Make a Valentine's Day Cuff Bracelet
Make a Bracelet from Scrabble® Tiles
Make a Bracelet from a Handle
Make a Charm Bracelet from Toy Figurines
Make a Bracelet from a Plastic Bottle
Make a Cuff Bracelet from a Plastic Bottle
Make a Stamped Bracelet
Make a Braided Duct Tape Bracelet