"Literary" Paper Pendant Tutorial

Jane Eyre Necklace

Alice in Wonderland Bracelet

Alice in Wonderland Pendant

Hi to all,

If you have been keeping up with my blog, I know you have seen my "literary" jewelry pieces.  The were made from the pages of old or reproductions "classics".  Below is a basic tutorial to make one of these pieces for yourself from your favorite novels!

MATERIALS:

small piece of corrugated cardboard 

eye pins not more than 1" (I prefer to use silver plated findings, they 

always look nice and shiny)*

1.5-2" head pins*

5mm-6mm & 8mm jump rings*

1-bail*

a few small/medium beads to add to your necklace orbracelet (optional)

old style classic book, one with illustrations or decorated text

Tacky glue

Triple thick(R) gloss glaze

toothpicks

styrofoam egg carton

paper plate
Black paint
Black magic marker
silver chain, suede cord or rubber cord

TOOLS: scissors, jewelry pliers and wire cutters, 1/4" soft and 1/4" stiff brush, hot glue gun skewer and awl

STEPS:

1. Take corrugated cardboard and cut into two ovals or circles about the size of a quarter or a little larger.  This will be the "focal bead" of your necklace.  I used ovals and circles in my pieces, but really any shape is fine.  You may want to add smaller "beads" to your necklace, cut those out now too.  The smaller beads on the Alice in Wonderland bracelet and the Jane Eyre necklace were crafted from one disk of corrugated cardboard.  This will probably work with your design also.  I used quarters for the larger beads and nickels as templates for my smaller beads.

2. For the focal bead, or the largest bead; line up the 2 eye pins in the center of the piece.  Now using a hot glue gun, set the two pins in position.

3. Using the hot glue gun again, glue the two pieces together (like a sandwich), with the eye pins on the inside.  Make sure both eye pins stick out and the pieces are lined up evenly. 

4. Paint using thick black paint all around the edges of the piece.  This gives a more finished look to your focal bead.  You can also paint around the smaller pieces or even use a black magic marker to finish off those edges.  

    

5. Set the smaller "beads" aside.  Now you can decorate your "focal bead" with pieces of the text or  illustrations from your "classical" text.  Cut out words, illustrations or designs, really anything you want.    Glue to focal bead with tacky glue using the soft brush.  Remember to decorate both sides.  Try to use words and images representative of the book.  Let glue dry.

                                                                                     

6.  Using the same basic techniques, decorate the smaller disks or beads.  Before gluing words or images, poke a small hole about 1/8" from the circumference of the disk.  We will use this hole later for attaching a jump ring.  Now decorate your disks as you did your "focal bead".  Once glue is dry, re-poke hole with awl, then pierce again with a toothpick.  This should enlarge hole.

7. The next step is glazing all of the beads.  Squeeze out a little Ultra-thick (R) on a paper plate . Hold the pendant by the eye pin or with a toothpick, use the stiff 1/4" brush to cover the pendant with the Ultra-Thick(R) glaze.   Cover completely and let it dry at least 30 minutes.  If the weather is very humid, the pendant may need to dry overnight.  Use toothpick and the egg carton to hold the pendant while it is drying.  You need to put at least two coats of the Ultra-Thick (R) glaze on the pendant.

8.  While pendant is drying, we can assemble the beads which hang below the "focal bead" (from the eye pin).  String beads on the head pin.  Use the remainder of the headpin to form a loop.  For more detailed instructions on how to make headpin loop, go to this link.  Then using a jump ring attach the headpin to the eye pin on the bottom of the pendant.  If you are not sure about these last directions, go to the links, that will help. 

9.  Last step is to put on bail or a jump ring.  If you plan to wear your pendant bead alone on a rubber or leather cord, attach bail to the top eye pin.  Then slide it on the cord.  If you are wearing pendant bead as a necklace or bracelet with the other disks on a chain, attach a jump ring to the disks and they will easily attach to a chain. Have fun with it and enjoy!!  I'd love to see your creations.

Be sure to check my Etsy shop for new glitzy holiday pieces!

Talk to you soon.

anne

"Creating is my Happiness, sharing it with the world is a dream come true."

Square Fused Glass Art Piece

Hi to all,

Isn't this glass piece spectacular.  A friend of mine and a fellow Etsy artist made it.  Today I'd like to tell you a little about her and her art work.  Her name is Kelly and her shop is RedPony50Creations.  Kelly and I worked together in the corporate world for many years.  She was in Texas and I was in New York.  




When she was laid off from her corporate job, Kelly created every day to lessen the stress of job
 hunting. Her Etsy shop was born! But Kelly did not get there overnight, it all started fifteen years ago when she took her first stained glass class with a friend. As soon as the class was over, she began investing in glass and tools to set up her own home studio. Working on glass at the end of a busy day helped her decompress and relax.

Black & Gold Dichroic fused glass pendant
Another example of Kelly's work

When she took her first fused glass class, she knew she was hooked. Her studio out grew her garage, so she built a barn to work on glass. Recently Kelly relocated to Colorado and set up her studio in her basement. She says the "air in Colorado is so fresh and the skies are always blue...it's an inspirational space to create in!"

Glass Flower Stake Sun Catcher
What a fun piece!

I hope that you will visit Kelly's shop RedPony50Creations, just click on the link. Make the store one of your favorites.  Feel free to convo her for custom work or a specific color combinations.  She will also create wholesale orders.

Just a reminder

The drawing for the Recycled Paper Pendant is March 15th!  You can enter easily, just leave a comment.   That makes you eligible.  Read my post of February 9th for all of the details.

Check out my Etsy shop annemadethis  

Take a look at my button bracelets and my new tropical paper bracelets and thanks for reading my blog!

                              anne

Recycled Paper Pendant Giveaway

I wouldn't mind turning into a vermilion goldfish.

                                                                                           --Matisse

The Goldfish   1910

Hello to all,

I have been experimenting with a new bead design.  These beads were made from Sunday newspaper magazine supplements.  I varied the font of the pages to give some visual interest.  And adding the large seed beads gives it a splash of color.  The bracelet is strung on heavy elastic thread, so it just slips on.  I thought I might try making a bracelet from the comic strip pages and some colorful magazine front covers.  It's a fun bracelet to wear!  There is a picture below.  I appreciate your feedback, just leave me a comment.

Paper Bead Cuff

Enter now for a chance to win a Recycled Paper Pendant

This is our second free giveaway at annemadethis!

This month annemadethis is giving away the recycled paper pendant was crafted step by step in my January 14th blog.  Entering to win is easy.  To enter just leave me a comment on my blog.  Each comment equals one chance.  If you leave a comment linking an item from my Etsy shop, that equals two chances.  Enter as often as you wish.  Every comment is a chance to win.  The winner will be announced on March 15th here!  Here's a picture of the pendant.  I will put it on a rubber or faux suede black cord for you with a magnetic closure, you choose.  It's a funky interesting piece you will love wearing!

Collage Pendant

Looking forward to hearing from all of you!

anne