It’s been a while since a feature wasn’t just all about me, me, me! I found this small, little discovered shop- also from the UK- on Etsy this morning. All of the jewellery is created from old broken jewellery and here are some of my favourites…
Click here for Recycloanalyst’s shop
It’s about time I shared a tutorial with you. I have a couple of other ones I hope to post relatively soon too…
You will need:
Clear Polyester Gelcoat
Plastic spoon (optional)
Plastic cup
Mixing stick
Mould release spray
Hot pink Pearl Ex powder
Lisa Pavelka “Romance” Texture stamp
Band Saw or Junior Hacksaw
Black pigment inkpad
Drill
Acrylic spray
9mm jump ring
Recycled jewellery chain
Recycled flower dangly earring
Suppliers:
Pearl Ex powder and Lisa Pavelka stamp from the Polymer Clay Pit: www.polymerclaypit.co.uk
1) Prep the texture stamp with mould release spray and leave to dry. Spoon about 4 level teaspoons of polyester gelcoat into a plastic cup and add catalyst as directed.
2) Stir well until it is a beige colour instead of pink and sprinkle in some pink pearl ex powder. Use the stick to mix this in thoroughly to give a pearlised effect.
3) Pour the gelcoat onto the rubber stamp and then level out with the spoon. Leave to set for about an hour- gelcoat sets much faster than normal resin!
4) Pull the rubber carefully away from the resin piece.
5) Cut a rectangle out of the resin sheet. I used a band saw, but you can also use a junior hacksaw if you don’t have one.
6) Apply the ink to the texture on the resin thoroughly and leave to dry for a few minutes before sealing with an acrylic spray.
7) Drill a hole through the top of the piece. Take some old chain from some retro costume jewellery and attach each end to the pendant through a 9mm jump ring. The chain should be long enough that it doesn’t need a clasp. Next, take the earwire off an old costume earring and hand the charm in front of the resin piece. Close the jump ring.
Enjoy!
Oops, been a week since I last blogged. Sorry, I promise not to be so absent from now on! I took today off work to destress after a crappy Sunday and paid a visit to a local antiques shop. I found these cases at £5 each and the topiary thing (at least that’s what I think it is) for £3.
Now I thought these would make great jewellery displays as I’ve always had my eye out for cases, so I made a little cushion for each out of some vintage fabric remnants I’ve had for a while and not known what to do with. I sprayed up the topiary thingy in a more acceptable off-white colour to hang my ribbon jewellery on as they’re always so hard to see on my current rack style displays.
What do you think? I’m thinking of adding a display board to the lids with magnets to put more on- do you think it will over do it too much?
I stumbled across http://recycledrings.etsy.com today when looking for items for my latest treasury. The items didn’t fit my selected theme, but I was taken by the necklaces made from real walnut shells so much so that I had to share them with my blog readers!
I’ve been trying out a few things with a second book in mind for release around Christmas, and then these were born. As it’s a prototype, I’m planning on banding the colours. I used gelcoat resin as a paint on bubble wrap, then sawed them into shape for pendants.
I uploaded my first of a possible two entries into the Folksy Angels competition I mentioned earlier on this month. I made resin tealight holders with pieces of chocolate coin foil embedded inside. Sanding the inside of these was a bitch though, I won’t be making more of these in a hurry! The other possible entry involves spoons. I won’t say any more!
I’ve also been working on a better presentation of my necklaces at craft fairs. Remember my guitar stand tutorial? Well I wasn’t 100% happy with the way it turned out, so some citting and folding, my old damaged tablecloth and two cork pinboards from Ikea later….
I am taking part in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Post Month), so I will be blogging every day in November. Today is post 28: http://www.nablopomo.com/
Continuing the recycling theme from yesterday… I love competitions, especially ones that require a bit of thought. Folksy and We Make Christmas (which I will be demonstrating at) have got together to make a quickie competition (entries must be in by 30th November- yikes!) where you have to make a christmas decoration all or mostly made from bits and pieces found around the home that would otherwise be thrown away. It’s an interesting idea, but feel it might be a little tricky! I do have an idea though and I will share it with you when it’s done- if it works!
The winner gets free Folksy listings and no commission for a year, and as things are going well for me on there at the moment, it could be just what I need!
If you want to enter, the Flickr group where you need to post your photo and also has a comprehensive list of rules and what-not is here: http://flickr.com/groups/963614@N22/
Don’t forget to enter the November giveaway here: https://pennydog.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/november-giveaway/
I am taking part in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Post Month), so I will be blogging every day in November. Today is post 12! http://www.nablopomo.com/
I came across these on Google today. I love the idea of using recycled materials such as these drinks cans to create beautiful jewellery. It looks just as good as precious metal and I imagine she pierces it the exact same way. Ingenious! My favourites are the “Eco flowers” as shown here.
Photos borrowed from www.annaclifton.com
Don’t forget to enter the November giveaway here: https://pennydog.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/november-giveaway/
I am taking part in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Post Month), so I will be blogging every day in November. Today is post 11! http://www.nablopomo.com/
Today I thought I’d share some work in progress with you straight out of the moulds, that I’m preparing for the showcase at Plush Jewellery in Chichester from the 4th to 17th October. They just need sanding, drilling, varnishing and finishing…
From L-R: Gold leaf ring, Sprinkle earring hoops, lime ring, faux red coral earring hoops, sprinkle bangle
And a couple of close ups:
And some other pieces I am working on…
From L-R: Recycled paper stripy bangle, blue bird graphical pendant, recycled music pendant, recycled wool pendant, gold leaf heart pendant.
And some more close-ups!
I’ll put them up on Flickr when they’re finished!
Well the turn out to the fair was shoddy, but I managed to almost quadruple what I paid for the stall, so mustn’t grumble! I made a couple of purchases myself and thought I would share as they’re lovely!
This vintage-look purse was by Rachael Sturgess, she makes bags and purses (and mobile phone holders) from sealed woven paper and fantastic buttons, which was very different and attracted as much attention as was possible. I bought the purse for £3.50, but I would have expected to pay a little more! Handbags ranged from £8-10 and custom orders are taken. Her e-mail address is rachybaby1@blueyonder.co.uk
My other purchase was this bright flower ring for £4.50 from Sue Stanley of Suzie Bijoux, who can be e-mailed at stanley.s@btinternet.com and she shared a stand with Janet Douthwaite-Clark, with an array of different jewellery skills on display from knitted cuffs to beadwoven bracelets to more simple earrings by the pair. This was just my thing, a mixture of brass with my two favourite colours!
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