Tiny Jewelry Making Ideas for Teenagers

2-part epoxy resins are good to try as a first foray into using plastics in your jewelry. Epoxy resins are available at craft and art-supply stores as well as from online suppliers. The two-part formula has a liquid hardener that is added to a liquid resin and mixed to yield an epoxy resin that is easy to pour into bezels, molds, and forms. Available in a wide variety of formulas, epoxy resins are used in jewelry making as adhesives, as coatings, and for casting. This reference article outlines the safety requirements for mixing and working with epoxy resins and introduces how to use adhesive and coating epoxy resins to include images and found objects in your work.

The three featured projects demonstrate how to capture images in open and closed bezels as well as how to make a three-dimensional collage by layering resin in a deep reservoir. Epoxy resins that were originally developed as adhesives, such as Epoxy 330 and Devcon 5-Minute Epoxy, harden quickly. They are used primarily for stone inlay but can be used for coating applications. The drawbacks to working with epoxy adhesives are their strong chemical odor and short cure time. Epoxy resins that are used for coating, such as EnviroTex Lite and Colores, are formulations that are less viscous and have a longer cure time than adhesive epoxy resins.

These products are self-leveling and yield a smooth, glasslike surface after they are cured. Casting epoxy resins can be poured into molds to create three-dimensional plastic objects. The best safety precaution you can take when using any material is to get the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) (either request one from the manufacturer or visit msdssearch.com) and read all safety instructions that accompany the product. The product packaging may also list a Web address with additional downloadable safety guidelines and information. Most epoxy resins are nontoxic, organic compounds that, once cured, do not irritate the skin.

However, in the liquid state, both the resins and hardeners are skin and eye irritants. Wear protective nitrile gloves and safety glasses, and work in a well-ventilated space when using the epoxy resins presented in this article. Always handle resins with care, and follow the proper use and disposal methods that are recommended by the manufacturer. If you plan to use these materials regularly or advance to plastic casting using polyester resins and urethane, buy a respirator with the correct filters for the chemicals you will be using. Epoxy resins come in two parts: resin and hardener.

The two parts must be mixed in the precise ratio given in the manufacturer's instructions. Imprecise measuring and mixing prevents the epoxy resin from solidifying or curing. To mix small amounts of one-to-one formulas, create a mixing template on a piece of cardboard. Draw two small, equal-sized circles on the cardboard. Place a piece of waxed paper over the cardboard, and fill one circle with resin and the other with hardener.

Use a toothpick or craft stick to slowly and thoroughly mix the two parts. When mixing large quantities or when incorporating color additives, use a digital scale to weigh the resin and hardener to ensure that you achieve the measurements called for by the manufacturer. Note that some liquid coloring agents must be weighed with the resin to calculate the proper ratio of resin to hardener. Different brands of epoxy resin have different lengths of cure times and "pot life." "Pot life" refers to the amount of time during which you can pour or work with the epoxy before it starts to thicken. Cure time is the time it takes the epoxy to reach its full hardness and to be dry to the touch.

Adhesive epoxy resins generally have a short pot life and cure time, which makes it challenging to fill a mold and remove any air bubbles before the resin begins to thicken. Coating epoxy resins have a longer pot life and cure time. Select an epoxy resin with the pot life and cure time that will allow you to get the results you want. Vigorously mixing the resin and hardener will produce air bubbles. To pop the bubbles, exhale on them, pierce them with a pin, or pass a heat gun set on low over the surface of the epoxy resin.

Contrary to popular belief, plastics are neither new nor are they all man-made. Semisynthetic plastics are made by using chemicals to modify natural polymers such as cellulose or milk protein. In 1855, French inventors Lapage and Talrich patented a heat-setting semisynthetic plastic they called "Bois Durci." It was reinforced with wood dust and molded into household objects and jewelry. Synthetic plastics are derived from polymers made from hydrocarbons extracted from crude oil. Leo Baekeland patented the first synthetic plastic in the early 1900s. Items that were made with this Bakelite material are now desirable antiques.

Capture an image in a bezel cup with a little help from epoxy resin. Purchase or make your own bezel cup. For very small images, you can use Devcon 5-Minute Epoxy resin. For large images, use Colores clear epoxy resin with Colores thin hardener. To magnify an image, use Colores doming resin and hardener.

Make a template and cut out your image. Use a pencil to trace the outer edge of a bezel cup onto your selected image, and then cut out the image using scissors or a craft knife. When using epoxy resins that have a short pot life, minimize air bubbles in deeper, larger bezels by filling the bezel cup in stages. Apply a level layer of epoxy resin, pop any bubbles, wait about 2 hours, and then add another layer of epoxy resin. Repeat until the bezel is filled.

Allow the epoxy resin to cure completely. - JS Take advantage of the transparent quality of epoxy resin by creating a "window" to encase all types of inclusions. With this technique, you can use just about any flat object with a two-sided opening deep enough to hold a layer of epoxy resin. Thin inclusions such as snippets of acetate or 35mm slides work well if you are filling shallow reservoirs. An object with a deeper cavity can be used to hold a more dimensional inclusion. Follow these steps to make an epoxy resin pane Use epoxy resin to layer inclusions in a deep metal clay frame to create visual depth.

This technique can be used to accentuate a sense of perspective or, to support a sequential motif. An epoxy resin with a longer pot life, such as Colores epoxy resin with Colores thin hardener, works well for this project. Select inclusions to make a layered design. Experiment with different compositions and combinations until you have a design that will work well in your frame. Mix and pour the first layer of epoxy resin.

Mix just enough epoxy resin in a cup to fill the frame. Pour a very thin layer of epoxy resin into the frame, and pop any air bubbles. Cover and store the epoxy resin. Cover the cup containing the remaining epoxy resin, and store it in the freezer to extend its pot life. Add a layer of inclusions and a second layer of epoxy resin.

Once the epoxy resin in the frame is tacky but not completely cured, place a few inclusions in the frame, lightly pressing down on them. Remove the stored epoxy resin from the freezer, and pour a second layer of epoxy resin over the inclusions. Pop any air bubbles, and cure the layer until it's tacky. Continue to layer inclusions and epoxy resin, and then cure the piece completely. Continue layering the inclusions and epoxy resin until the frame is filled.

Make sure the epoxy resin is level with the frame edge. You may need to mix a new batch of epoxy resin to complete each layer. Allow the epoxy resin to cure completely according to the manufacturer's instructions. Sand the surface of the epoxy resin. You can sand the surface of the epoxy resin if it is uneven or a bit cloudy.

Use 180-grit wet/dry sandpaper, and sand the surface under water. Progress to finer grits up to a 1500-grit wet/dry sandpaper. Polish the epoxy resin. Bring the epoxy resin to a shiny finish by rubbing it with a buffing stick and plastic-polishing rouge. - HJ Codina, Carles. The New Jewelry: Contemporary Materials & Techniques. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2006. Haab, Sherri. The Art of Resin Jewelry. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 2006.

1. Where can I find Suede cord for jewelry making?

crafts store michaels jo annes fabrics walmart hobby lobby

2. What are the basics I need as a beginner in jewelry making?

There's something on the market now called Precious Metal Clay. The silver one is not too terribly expensive. They have a low-temp firing one, too. I get most of my supplies (I use mostly wire, Their prices are excellent and their customer service is great. You can get the wire in all thicknesses (gauges, the bigger the number the smaller the wire) and materials. Sure, get some sterling silver. Also, I would recommend some nickel silver and even some red brass wire -- these are inexpensive "practice" wires for most of us. You can get some sheet in any metal you like, too; I would recommend some practice supplies in that, too. I even sell some of my red brass stuff because it's such a pretty color. Go poke around their site. They are a wholesaler, but you do not need a resale license to shop there. The site is set up mainly for those who know what they are looking for. Click on the "metals" link under 'online catalog' in the upper left quadrant of the screen. Its a good place to start.

3. For jewelry making, what is a good way to close jump rings?

Yes, you can use 2 plyers.Another way is to purchase already fluxed jump rings that you just add a little heat to and they solder closed really good. Also there is a jumpring closing tool that is similiar to a soldering gun. That along with those pre-fluxed jump rings should do just fine. Are you familiar with Rio Grande? They have these supplies