Easy DIY Earrings - How to Make Them with Nothing but Daisy Spacers

Today I'm sharing an earring project from my book Fabulous Jewelry from Findings .  If you haven't heard about this book, then you're in for a surprise. There's something very unique about the jewellery designs in the book... there's not a single bead in it! Every piece of jewellery is made solely from jewellery findings and to show you how versatile findings are, this earrings project is made entirely of daisy spacers! Pretty cool, huh! If you're not familiar with daisy spacers, they're usually placed between beads to space them out and accent the bead. They add a nice metallic element to your jewellery design. Some daisy spacers are called snowflake spacers. They come in a vast array of sizes and they interlock nicely within each other so you can stack them together in different ways to create interesting bead-like shapes, like these "Shadows" earrings. The finished length of these earrings is 1½" (4cm), so they're not too l...

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Jewellery Know How - How to Make a Wrapped Loop

For a neat and secure way of linking components together, the wrapped loop will give your handmade jewellery a professional finish. Wrapped loops are especially useful when using heavier beads such as lampwork beads. For a more organic look or homespun feel, you can make the wraps a little messy to add some visual interest. You'll need the following tools: flat nose pliers round nose pliers flush cutters crimping tool or chain nose pliers Cut a piece of wire measuring 7.5cm (3"). Grip the wire with flat nose pliers at the 3cm (1 1/4") mark. Bend the wire at a 90° angle. Remove the flat nose pliers and place round nose pliers in the neck of the bend. Grip the tail of the wire with your fingers and wrap it around the top jaw of the pliers to form a loop. Keep wrapping the wire around the jaws until the loop is complete. The wire should now cross in front of the neck and sit perpendicular to it. Remove the round nose pliers and hold the loop in the...

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Resin Space Invaders Coaster

The Perfect Handmade Gift for the Geek in Your Life Remember that iconic 70s and 80s arcade game, Space Invaders? For those of us old enough to remember, this project is a fun throwback to your teenage years. This resin Space Invaders coaster would make a great gift for the geeky person on your gift list. This project is a variation of the Tetris coaster tutorial at Resin Obsession .  Supply list  Epoxy Casting resin Bright green pigment   Black pigment   Silicone trivet with square holes   Square silicone coaster mould  - mine measures  9.7cm (3 7/8")  Packing tape  BBQ torch   or gas lighter   S cissors or utility knife Plastic measuring cups Wooden stir sticks  Toothpick Gloves Work out the volume of your mould by filling it with rice and tipping it into a measuring cup. Mix enough resin to two thirds fill the mould. Mix it well and then divide it between two cups. Colour one green and the other black. Pour the black resin into the bottom of the coa...

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How to Correctly Mix 5-minute Epoxy Resin Adhesive

One of the easiest ways to turn your resin castings into jewellery is to attach them to jewellery blanks. You'll need to use a strong adhesive for a permanent bond. A lot of people recommend E-6000 but I've only had limited success with it (actually, none at all!), especially on bracelets and rings that get knocked around a lot when you wear them.  I've found a stronger adhesive that gives a much more secure bond:  5-minute epoxy adhesive .  5-minute epoxy comes in two parts, just like resin. In fact, the epoxy that you use in your moulds is also a strong adhesive... it just cures slowly. And that's the beauty of 5-minute epoxy... it's SUPER STRONG and it cures fast.  Here are some of its benefits: 5 minute setting time - no clamping required It bonds to china, metal, glass, leather, rubber, wood, rock, leather and most plastics It has a thick consistency, so it can be used to fill hollows if the two surfaces aren't flat It's stronger than E-6000 It'...

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