Vintage Tin Jewelry

The Autumn issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry is out and a couple of my vintage tin necklaces were included in the Gallery section.

 

 You can find out how to make the Heart necklace here.

This issue is loaded full of amazing and creative jewelry.

I'm lovin' those earrings!

 Included are these fun and fabulous

Wool Felted Pendants from my talented friend, Cat Kerr.

And these gorgeous rhinestone pendants

that my sweet friend, Kristen Robinson, created.

 Yep! This issue will not disappoint!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Going Green!

One of my designs is going green with Green Craft magazine!

Dressed Up Pearls from my "A Girl and Her Shoes Series"

is featured in the Autumn 2012 issue of Green Craft Magazine.

This necklace is so easy to make. I just cut the leather flowers from a pair of sandals, embellished them and then wired them onto vintage pearl strands. You can find out more about this necklace here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Golden Dreams - step 7 - JA project for July

This summer is going by so fast...July has just about passed me up but I was determined not to let it go by without completing step 7 of my jewel-aholic anonymous challenge. If you missed my original JA 12-step program post with a challenge to myself, you can find it here.

When I think of July I can't help but be reminded of American patriotism. Independence day celebrations have past but we still have some pride as a country to celebrate with the Olympics going on.

So in honor of America and the Olympics

I chose to make this piece for my July JA project.

I sorted through my stash of jewels for quite awhile not sure of

what I wanted to make until I found this medallion and pin.

I used a fine tip marker to outline where the pin would be on the medallion and then quickly placed my lettering. I wasn't worried about making the lettering perfect since it was just a reference point.

 I used metal stamps to emboss the words "GOLDEN DREAMS" and added five dots at the top to tie in with the five Olympic rings.

I filled in the lettering with black pen. Some of the gold finish flaked off the medallion when I stamped the letters so I applied a little gold paint - not to completely cover - I wanted to keep an aged look. The gold also aged the black on the lettering which I liked. I let it dry and then applied Renaissance wax to protect the finish. I also drilled a hole so the pin would fit flush against the medallion.

Finally, I cut the back off the pin and glued it into place.

Now I have my own personal gold metal! Not to award myself for anything but to remind myself that my dreams can turn

into golden opportunities if I just follow them!

Below is where you can check out my previous

JA (Jewel-aholics Anonymous) projects.

January - "Snowflake"

February - "Tin Heart"

March - "Good Luck Wishes"
June - "It's Heating Up!"
Bonus Project - "Masquerade Mask"

Thanks for stopping by!

 

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

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Masquerade Mask

 A local charity throws a huge dinner/auction each year to raise money to benefit young mothers in our community. They chose a Masquerade Party as their theme this year and asked several local artists - including myself - to create a mask that could be auctioned off at a preview party prior to the main event for guests to purchase and then use for the main event.

I created an Ice Queen named Iridesses.

My hubby came up with the name...most likely in reference to all the iridescent glitter I used in the making of her.

And, thanks to him, she has the perfect throne to sit upon!

I was given a plain white mask to work with. The first thing I did was reinforce the areas where I would be wiring on the metal crown and handle. I cut some heavy plastic and heated it in an oven to make it pliable enough to form to the shape of the inside of the mask. Then I glued it into place and drilled holes for the wire.

I wanted a little texture so I laid some cheesecloth over the forehead area and around one eye and then applied a very thin layer of plaster; immediately removing the cheese cloth. Once it was dry I sanded and painted it with a copper finish. I used pearlescent paint on the remainder of the face and a metallic mix of plum and gold for the lips. Lastly, I sprinkled super fine iridescent glitter sparsely over the entire mask and generously over the lips.

 I found a metal fan at a thrift store for $1.50 and used it as a crown. Originally it looked exactly like the fan pictured in the background of the photo below. I lightened up the look of it by using a jeweler's saw to cut some of the metal away. And since every queen deserves  jewels, I raided my addiction pile and found the perfect ones for an Ice Queen's crown. I drilled holes into the crown, inserted the jewels and used glue for extra strength. I topped it off with a light sprinkle of glitter over the entire crown and a heavy sprinkling along the top.
(This photo was taken before I applied the glitter)

I used a thrifted candle snuffer ($.99) for the handle.

I wired it and the crown to the mask. Then added a few more embellishments. The handle has sari ribbon draping from it and peacock feathers extending upward.

I brought home a $2.99 candle holder from a thrift store, handed it over to hubby and asked him to work his magic on it. He turned it into a throne by making a metal loop bracket for the handle to slide into and by cutting a piece of wood to act as a base to prevent the mask from sliding around. I painted them out to match the candle holder and added some plumage to look like a collar behind the mask.

 

I decorated the throne with more feathers.

And a little story about Iridesses.

I've never made a mask before but it was fun to do. I'm pretty happy with the way she turned out...kinda hate to pass her off! I just hope she brings in a few dollars for the charity.

As if the post isn't long enough already...

a few more close-ups of Iridesses.

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