It's Heating Up! Step 6 - JA project for June

Yes, I've fallen off the wagon a little bit. My last project of my JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) 12-step program was March.

I completely missed April and May but I'm back at it with June.

You can find my original challenge to myself here.

It's been chilly and rainy the last few days so I'm trying to give the sizzlin' summer weather a boost with a series of necklaces I'm calling, "It's Heating Up!"

Notice the center?

 I've been picking up these needle and dial type thermometers at thrift stores for the past few months. They're super inexpensive - I never pay more than a dollar for them.

To make the necklace above, I chose a thermometer

and a vintage pin that I could use as a surround.

I did a Google search to make sure it was safe to cut the stem off - I certainly didn't want any hazardous substance or dangerous liquid oozing out. I found out that the dial and needle style of thermometers are just two different metals that heat at different rates to cause pressure on a spring which in turn causes the needle to move.

Bottom line - safe to cut! I used a jeweler's saw.

(The thermometer pictured is a much larger one than the one for the necklace.)

I hammered the center of the pin a bit to create a bigger well for the thermometer to sit in and then used an epoxy glue to secure the thermometer at the center of the pin. (I applied the glue pretty thick to make sure it would hold well.)

Once that was cured, I glued a small length of chain around the edge to cover the glue. I also placed a small rhinestone at the center bottom. Once that cured I wired the chain together where they met to secure and attached small rhinestones to the tails.

I drilled holes at the top and attached a handcrafted chain from dark annealed steel wire, glass beads and a couple of small vintage jewelry pieces. Finally, I added a strip of muslin and some purchased chain and finished it off with a handcrafted hook clasp. To learn how to make a link and a clasp, check out my tutorials.

Here is a look at another necklace I made for my

"It's Heating Up" series.

Below is where you can check out my previous

JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) projects.

January - "Snowflake"

February - "Tin Heart"

March - "Good Luck Wishes"

July - "Golden Dreams"

Bonus Project - "Masquerade Mask"

My thermometer necklaces were featured at Knick of Time

Sharing with: I Gotta Create!: Wildly Original Party, Fireflies and Jellybeans: Show Off Your Stuff, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, COM: Craft-O-Maniac Monday, Knick of Time: Knick of Time Tuesday, Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday, Not Just A Housewife: Show Me What Ya Got

 

Step 1 - January - Snowflake

I've successfully made it through step 1 - January's project - of my JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) 12-step program from my earlier post "My Addiction".

I chose a snowflake for two reasons: First - I thought an icy wintery themed necklace would be appropriate for January. Second - Since every snowflake is a one-of-a-kind creation it reminds me to create with my own unique and individual style.

I sorted through my stash and pulled out several silvery objects; some with rhinestones and some without. I then added some snowy white pearls to complete the wintery look. I knew I wouldn't be using all these things but it gave me a starting point.

After playing for a minute or two, I realized that I could sandwich a couple of pieces (a brooch and an earring) together to form a dimensional snowflake. I accomplished this with glue and wire. I added a dangle and a bail (both were earrings).

I fashioned a super easy chain by attaching a handcrafted hook clasp

to the end of a faux pearl bead strand.

 All that was left to do was to thread the beaded chain

through the bail to complete the piece.

 

 

It feels good to have completed the first step of my 12-step program. I have come across one set back, however. I realized that I don't have much to work with in the way of chain...I may have to make another visit to my "dealer" to pick some up so I can complete step 2! One step forward and two steps back!!

Below is where you can check out my other

JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) projects.

February - "Tin Heart"

March - "Good Luck Wishes"

June - "It's Heating Up! 

July - "Golden Dreams"

Bonus Project - "Masquerade Mask"

This necklace was featured at: I Gotta Create!: Kiss & Tell

Sharing with Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, Not Just A Housewife: Show Me What Ya Got, It's Overflowing: Overflowing with Creativity, Lil Pink Pocket: Show & Share, Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday, I Gotta Create: Kiss & Tell, Knick of Time: Knick of Time Tuesday

The Rendezvous

A love letter tucked secretly away in a locket and worn close to her heart revealed only to her the time and place that she would at last meet him once again...the rendezvous. 

Okay, romance novelist I'm not; I'm better suited to provoking emotions through jewelry.

The inspiration for this necklace - entitled Rendezvous - came last week with a challenge from Deryn Mentock on her post. If you've never visited her blog Something Sublime...you really should! She's an amazing artist.

The challenge: Design a piece of jewelry inspired by this room.

I had been ho-humming back and forth as to whether or not I would participate in the challenge when, as luck would have it, I found a pill box at a thrift store for $.99. The light bulb started burning bright in my head and it was too late to turn it off! I would have to transform that little pill box into a cherished locket containing a note that told of a secret rendezvous.

I rummaged through my stash and found some
old jewelry that would complement the soon to be sacred locket.

The sail boat just wouldn't do so I ripped it off the box and
replaced it with a vintage button that had belonged to my grandmother.

Next I removed the dangles from a pair of earrings and glued the earrings to the

back of the box. Not only did it look pretty, it also provided a way to attach the chain.

I used Modge Podge to line the inside of the box with decorative papers. I glued some of the dangles (from the earrings) along with a few pearls inside the box. Now for the fun part - I put on my darkest shade of berry lipstick and created the ultimate
symbol of romance onto tissue paper. It's not pretty yet...

The magic happened once I poured in the ICE resin. The tissue paper became transparent revealing the beautiful paper underneath. Of course, I had to add a key!
(How else could she unlock the secrets to his heart?)

I disassembled the rest of the jewelry and used bits and pieces of it along with

a few added gems, pearls and charms to make the chain and the jeweled dangle.

  It was pretty but lacked that heavy feel that was so obviously present

throughout the inspiration room. So I added a chunky silver chain,
some bordeaux colored suede and reworked the dangle.

Success! Rich, heavy, and dripping with luxury!

Did you notice the jeweled pieces (especially the small ones) are much darker and more dramatic than in the original photo? I painted the backs with a layer of dark berry

and a layer of black acrylic paint and then sealed them with Modge Podge.

She opened the sacred locket and grasped the key that would unlock the door to his bedchamber, for at long last...the rendezvous.

Happy Creating!

Kathy