Music in the Air

Welcome to the May edition of the Designer Crafts Connection. This month, we are featuring jewelry.

Be sure to hop through the blogs using the Designer Crafts Connection button at left to see all the amazing projects.

I actually created a new piece for this hop, forgetting that I had already made a couple of samples, which were taught at the River City Stampers April meeting by fellow CHA designer member Ronnie Goff. I created the samples and kits, and Ronnie did a great job pinch-hitting for me to lead the group through the steps.

The new piece I created is based on a music theme, very near and dear to my heart with my musician hubby. It was very easy to make for even the newest jewelry crafter.

Here’s how I made it:

Supplies

Silver Foil (Walnut Hollow)

Sterling silver square pendant (Nunn Design)

Chipboard scrap

Aleene’s White Tacky Glue

Beadalon Flexible beading cord

Assorted beads and Swarovski crystals

Silver jump ring

Silver clasp

Texture plate, Bingo and Patchwork, by Tim Holtz for Sizzix (Ellison)

Sizzix Big Shot (Ellison)

Alcohol Inks, Lettuce, Stream, Violet (Ranger Industries)

Sanding block, emery board or sandpaper

Scissors 

Directions

1. Trim a piece of silver foil and chipboard to fit your pendant. Press the chipboard into the bezel. If it’s loose, add a dab of glue to hold it in place. Set aside.

2. Run the silver foil square through the Big Shot with the texture plate. Drip alcohol inks onto the foil and allow to dry. Sand the raised surface to remove ink. If desired, add additional ink with a small brush. When dry, add white glue to the chipboard in the bezel and attach the foil.

3. String assorted beads to make a 16” length. Add the clasp to the ends. Attach the pendant with a silver jump ring and you’re ready to rock ‘n’ roll!

Eggstraordinary Faux Enamel Jewelry

I learned the basics of this technique from Trudy Sjolander, although I searched a lot of other sites as well. Go to her blog at http://truesgiftsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/ for more great ideas. In her YouTube video, she uses canvas to wrap a double chipboard die cut to make a beautiful pin.

Pendant

Supplies

Dry eggshell, boiled and membrane removed

Quick-dry white glue

Alcohol inks, three colors

Rubbing alcohol or alcohol blender solution

Small brush or Q-tip

Cardstock scrap

UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Powder), clear

Metallic pen, silver and/or black Sharpie

Jewelry glue

Versamark pad

Pin back

Jump rings, three

Head pins, three

Needle-nose pliers

Piercing tool, awl or tapestry needle

Sanding block, emery board or sandpaper

Balsa wood rectangle, approx. 1” x 2”

Heat tool

Directions

1. Cover wooden rectangle with quick drying glue and adhere eggshell pieces, breaking as you place the larger pieces. Cover remaining portion of rectangle and complete eggshell covering. Press down to break additional shell areas as desired.

Pin

2. Flip the piece over and adhere cardstock paper to back. THIS STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT WHEN USING BALSA WOOD. If you don’t adhere the cardstock, the wood will split when you pierce it. Set aside to dry.

3. While the rectangle is drying, create jeweled accents from head pins, beads and jump rings.

4. Break off any eggshell overhang around edges of rectangle. Sand all edges smooth. Tip: If you place the eggshell side down, you can press down on the overhanging shell with a craft knife or scissor blade to make a clean break without damaging the front.

5. Apply alcohol inks to cracks of eggshell rectangle. Allow the inks to run and bleed until you are satisfied. Use paint brush or Q-tip with alcohol to cover any remaining white pieces of shell. Allow to dry for a couple of minutes. If you are unhappy with your colors, mist with alcohol and remove ink with a paper towel/

6. Cover  eggshell side of the rectangle with Versamark and UTEE. Heat with heat tool. Repeat twice more, allowing the piece to cool slightly between applications.

6. Measure placement of holes and pierce the rectangle from back to front. Flip the piece over and pierce each hole again, front to back. Add jumprings, pin back and beading as desired.

TIPS

1. Be sure to cover eggshells with water and boil for about 3 minutes, then let them remain in the water until it cools. You will then be able to remove the membrane from the inside. Rinse again with water and a small amount of antibacterial soap, then set them aside to dry completely.

2. Try to keep the outer side of the shell as the top portion of your piece. This will create a smoother top.

3. Other surfaces can be used: dominos, art board, double thick chipboard die cuts, etc. This would also be a great technique for creating a faux finish on a box.

4. If you have a small fan you can speed up the drying process, but a hairdryer or heat tool will only make the glue swell and bubble.