While a perennial favorite, chain in jewelry designs took a huge leap in popularity this year. This collection is all about how to use chain differently in jewelry designs for a refreshingly new look. Perhaps you will be inspired to repurpose or dress up an unloved necklace chain hiding in your jewelry box.
Image by Rebecca S
A quick way to scrunch up the chain into a bracelet length is to use ribbon as shown by Rebecca S's how to on Cut Out and Keep. It's easy and looks good! If crowd sourcing was any indication, it was marked a favorite by nearly 300 people the last time I looked.
A much more elaborate approach using jewelry elastic to scrunch up the chain is the Stroppy Cow's Beaded Charm Bracelet how-to. Her tutorial adds color and all sorts of visual interest to the design.
Image by the Stroppy Cow
Divya's Gold Spiral Pendant tutorial on Jewels of Sayuri turns a chain into a pendant. It's a totally different approach to recycling!
Image by Jewels of Sayuri
Grace who calls herself a human magpie, has a designer inspired tangled and wrapped chain necklace tutorial on her blog, Stripes and Sequins. It uses oodles of chain in two different colors.
Image by Stripes and Sequins
Swarovski crystal embellished chains are awesome to use. Ornamentea's clever video tutorial uses these to cover bezels, setting them with resin. As you can see, you can either fill the entire bezel with the bling or surround a silhouette picture. Check out my past post on resin options.
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Israel based Sari Glassman is accomplished in not one but a number of jewelry making techniques. She is a lampwork, fused glass and wire work artisan with a wonderful eye for color and design.
What first caught my eye were her colorful lampwork jewelry although she does make neutral hued pieces as well. Check out her store on Boticca and you will see what I mean.
Sari was once a math teacher who gave up her profession to care for her son who was born with cerebral palsy. Her then glass hobby later became her home based business. She said, " I should discovered it much sooner with my family name!" She demonstrates a phenomenon called nominative determinism just like I do with a name like Pearl! (Check out my past post about nominative determinism)
Sari also sells her funky lampwork beads in her Etsy store called Gaialai. Again, what stands out is her delightful way with color and form. Catch up with Sari's latest on her blog.
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One of the easiest ways to create a pendant is to incorporate paper or even beads, fibers, glitter and small findings to a purchased bezel which is then filled with some sort of resin. Resin can also be used to coat and seal.
Resin is definitely a popular trend. If you are wondering which resin or which types are safer to use, wonder no more!
AMAZING GLAZE by Judikins is a dimensional embossing powder which is scooped into the bezel and then melted in a toaster oven. This one works well for kids although adult supervision will be required for correct handling of hot bezels. It can be mixed with other embossing powders for different colors and effects.
DIAMOND GLAZE is a versatile dimensional adhesive. It's water soluble so there are no nasty fumes. It just needs time to set. I really like the nozzle which makes application so easy.
Below is a my mosaic tile and glitter design using diamond glaze. According to the manufacturer, it can be mixed with dye based inks, water colors and so forth.
ECOPOXY CRAFT RESIN is a 2-part resin which is harder and more glass-like than the resins above. It's actually made from organic materials such as soy beans and peanuts - it's not allergenic in the final resin form but susceptible individuals might wish to avoid working with this product.
Like Diamond Glaze, it's solvent free. It is heat activated but the heat source is internal - from the chemical reaction between the resin and the hardener when mixed together.
Ecopoxy Craft Resin can also be used as a waterproof layer - just paint it on! Test for potential bleeds first! What's interesting about this resin product is the ratio flexibility ranging from 2:1 (resin to hardener), 3:1 and 4: 1 depending on how much doming one wants.
ICE RESIN is a rising favorite of jewelry artisans because it dries ice-clear, self-domes, has a glassy finish and will not fade. It is a 2-part epoxy resin which is non-toxic and durable when cured. It can be colored and used as a casting agent. Many artisans like to use it as an adhesive and sealant.
It's safe enough to use indoors. According to the MSDS, you'll have to inhale it after heating at a high temperature to be of a concern! No issues either with skin contact unless you are going to be using buckets of the stuff. Bear in mind there are always a few people who will be allergic to any given substance.
Art Beads's How to Use Ice Resin video is very informative - it gives the curing times including how to fast track it. If you are using Mod Podge to seal papers, make sure you use multiply applications or the colors might bleed.
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