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 3 - March - Good Luck Wishes

I've completed step 3 - March's project - of my JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) 12-step program from my earlier post "My Addiction" just in time for St. Patty's Day.

Since St. Patrick's Day is in March it was inevitable that this month's project would celebrate the lucky holiday. Besides, who couldn't use some of St. Patty's Irish Green Luck?!

I gathered together several green and gold items.

I even found two 4-leaf clovers amongst my jeweled treasures.

I settled on a brooch for my focal piece. It was missing three of the original stones so I took the opportunity to add the words, "Good Luck Wishes" which I printed onto some green colored decorative paper and covered with ICE Resin®.

I also encased the gold 4-leaf clover (which I grunged-up a bit to age it) in the resin to appear as if it were magically floating.

For the dangle, I chose to use a jeweled link

and attached an earring to it.

Visually, it's a fairly weighty piece so I added a heavy vintage chain which I embellished with a few links from a different chain along with a wire wrapped green stick pearl.

 

 Good Luck Wishes to all of you on St. Patrick's day and everyday after!

Below is where you can check out my previous

JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) projects.

January - "Snowflake"

February - "Tin Heart"

June - "It's Heating Up!"

July - "Golden Dreams"

Bonus Project - "Masquerade Mask"

Sharing with:

French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday, I Gotta Create: Spring Fling, Knick Of Time: That's the Ticket, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday

Step 2 - February - Tin Heart

I'm excited to say that I have completed step 2 - February's project - of my JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) 12-step program from my earlier post "My Addiction".

It's no surprise that I would choose to make a heart themed necklace considering it is February. It may surprise you however, to find out what the heart is made of.

A 50 cent thrifted tin canister!

And, of course, some jewels from my addiction stash.

I used tin snips to cut a heart shape from the red part of the can. I also cut 4 small rectangles (not pictured) to use as links. Wear safety glasses and leather work gloves when cutting tin.

I hammered and scratched the surface of each piece with sand paper  to add some texture. I sanded, applied copper tape and soldered the edges of each piece and put them in a pickle solution for a couple of minutes to remove the flux. The pickle solution darkened the

tin in areas - even the back looks kinda cool!

 

I removed the pin back of a vintage brooch and glued it to the top center of the heart. Once the glue was dry, I applied some

ICE Resin® to each piece and let it cure for several hours.

 

I needed some holes in the pieces so I used this

handy little tool that easily drills through thin metal.

I added a pearl drop to the pendant. I fashioned the chain from bits and pieces of gold and pearl rosary chain (both from my stash)

along with the tin links that I made.

 

 

 

 

I've made a few more necklaces from vintage tins but I have plans for them and will have to save them for later to share with you.

Below is where you can check out my other

JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) projects.

January - "Snowflake"

March - "Good Luck Wishes"

June - "It's Heating Up"

July - "Golden Dreams"

Bonus Project - "Masquerade Mask"

Sharing with: A Wee Meenit: Wait A Wee Meenit Wednesday, Decorchick: Valentine Link Party, Happy-Go-Lucky: Valentine Countdown, Southern Lovely: Show & Share, Ginger Snap Crafts: Wow Me Wednesday, Fireflies and Jellybeans: Show Off Your Stuff, I Gotta Create!: Kiss & Tell, Creation Corner: Friday Link Party, Happy-Go-Lucky: Shine On Friday, Here Comes the Sun: Fabulous Friday, Funky Junk Interiors: SNS, Marvelously Messy: A Marvelous Mess, Craft-O-Maniac: Craft-O-Maniac Monday, 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