10 Mixed Media

Jewelry Projects
Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4

1
 W
e’re proud to bring you 10 Mixed Media
Jewelry Projects, Volume 4 of the Best of
Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist. Mix metal
with paper, fiber, ceramics, mechanical parts, resin,
polymer — even foodstuffs! — to create jewelry that
tells a personal story and is sure to inspire compli-
ments! 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects, Volume 4
of the Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, brings
you some of our favorite designs in this hot, hot, hot
genre. You’ll make earrings, pendants, pins, and a
bracelet while learning to adapt a wide variety of
materials to jewelry as you recycle found objects and
interesting remnants. So pull out your stash of cool
things that you haven’t been able to decide what to
do with and let’s put them into jewelry!

Editor-in-Chief & Managing Editor

10 Mixed Media
Jewelry
Projects Contents

Metal & Paper or Fiber

Felt Tassel & Silver Bracelet By Michele A. Friedman
A fusion of fiber and metal...................................................................................................................3

Paper, Resin, and Peridot Pendant By Eleanore Macnish

Embed a famous design into a pretty wearable................................................................................5

Vintage Illustration Pendant By Eleanore Macnish

A confection from recycled ephemera................................................................................................8

Framed Focal Charm By Shoshana Farber

Interchangeable inserts that can change with your mood.............................................................11

Metal & Found Objects

Found Object Pendant By Eleanore Macnish
A vintage ruler and typewriter key mark a milestone...................................................................14

Pottery Shard Brooch By Julie Jerman-Melka

A nostalgic keepsake from a broken dinner plate...........................................................................17

Metal & Miscellaneous

Sprinkle Earrings By Eleanore Macnish
Sweet little treats make a speedy gift................................................................................................20

PVC & Silver Brooch By Robert Dancik

Faux Bone — fantastic plastic for jewelry work.............................................................................22

Colorful Resin Earrings By Tom & Kay Benham

Pretend plique-à-jour enamel.............................................................................................................27

Multi Technique Enameled Pendant By Cynthia Alderdice & Lois Mansfield

Combine metal clay, cloisonné, etching, stone setting, and chain making in one design.......30

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 2
 Felt Tassel & Silver Bracelet

Project by
Michele A. Friedman
Opening Photo: Hap Sakwa
A fusion of fiber and metal Project Photos: John Ames

I
have been designing and skills you need
making jewelry since 1992.
The focus was always metal.
• sawing • sweat soldering • patina use
I had never incorporated any materials and tools you need
color in any material in my M a teri a l s too l s Liver-of-sulfur or other
jewelry until I started explor- oxidizing agent
Silver tubing (ID 2.5mm) nine Flux
ing the possibility of using wool 3.5mm-3.56mm sections Scotch Brite pad
Hard and easy sheet solder
felt in my work. Whimsical and
2.5mm sterling mesh chain 220-grit sandpaper
bright, the tassels were the first Saw blades
10 sterling jump rings, tiny Pickle pot and pickle
expression of my new direction. (for wire) Scribe
Torch with small or medium tip
I knew I was on a very different Straight edge
2 sterling jump rings, small
path from the one I had been on (for bracelet ends, clasp) Soldering surface
Cutting surface
when only working with mixed 10 sterling jump rings, medium, Soldering pick
Sharp scissors and
metals. Now, I combine metal- (for wires and tassels) rotary cutter Soldering tweezers
smithing skills with an alterna- 18- or 19-gauge sterling wire Nippers Oxidizing tweezers
tive color choice: wool felt.
10 sterling end cones Round, flat, and needle Copper sheet to act as heat sink
End caps nose pliers if needed

Sterling clasp Fine square/flat needle file Tube cutting jig

Felt sheet Saw frame

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 1 2 3

4 5
Saw 9 sections of tubing, each approxi-
mately 3.5mm long.
Sand outside of each section, leaving
inside unsanded.
Cut about 7” of mesh chain. Snip 10 sections
of wire, each about 3/4” long.
File one end flat on each.
With rotary cutter, cut 3 1/8” wide x 1 1/4 “
long strips of felt for each tassel. Use straight
edge and cutting surface for accuracy.
Insert 2–3 paillons of easy sheet sol-
der inside each section of tubing and
heat until solder melts.
Repeat for end caps. Pickle.
{Photo 1} Close 10 tiny jump rings.
Solder opening of each ring against
flat end of each wire section to cre-
ate eyepins without openings.
Slide tubing sections onto mesh chain.
Space each section equidistantly. Position
end caps on ends of chain. These compo-
nents need to fit snugly.
6
{Photo 3} Use needle and flat nose pliers
to attach each eyepin to bracelet with
medium jump rings. Place between tubing
sections and end caps.
{Photo 4} Attached eyepins move only
between tubing sections, not over them.
Solder medium jump rings closed.
Oxidize entire bracelet and cones.
Rinse, let dry and strip oxidation as desired
with Scotch Brite pad.
{Photo 5} Make tassel by placing hand-

Tip
{Photo 2} Sweat solder tubing and
caps to mesh as follows: Apply generous
amount of flux. Heat each segment until
solder within flows to join them to chain.
n Pay careful attention to all
parts of the piece and avoid Pickle. Check each section and end caps
overheating. Try using copper for successful soldering. Repeat until all
sheet to shield the piece and pieces are soldered and secured.
act as heat sink if needed.
Solder clasp and end jump ring using
remaining 2 small jump rings.
made eyepin through top of cone. Pierce
and place felt strip on eyepin.
{Photo 6} Use scribe to force felt
into cone.
Leave approximately 3⁄8” of wire, snip excess.
Use round nose pliers to loop end under felt
to prevent it from popping out of cone.
Repeat for all cones. Trim felt with scissors
as desired.

Michele A. Friedman has been a self-employed metalsmith and jewelry designer since 1992.
She has exhibited jewelry lines in art, design, and craft shows all over the country and is repre-
sented by galleries nationally. E-mail: mafdesign@hotmail.com Web: www.mafdesign.blogspot.com

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 4
 Paper, resin, and peridot pendant

PROJECT BY
Eleanore Macnish
Opening Photo: JIM LAWSON
Project Photos: ELEANORE MACNISH
Embed a famous design into a pret t y wearable

I
have had a love affair with
the work of William Morris
since attending an exhibit
of it at the Victoria & Albert
Museum in London many years
ago. I remember just walking
though it over and over. By the
fourth or fifth walk-through,
the security guards and I just
nodded to one another — hope-
fully they didn’t think I was
“casing the joint”! Many years
later, I still love his designs and
use prints of them in much of
my work.

S K I L L S yo u n e e d

• wirework • soldering • resin use

M ate r ia ls a n d To o ls yo u n e e d

M a teri a l s
30mm sterling silver bezel cup
14-gauge sterling wire: 6” length
14-gauge sterling wire jump ring
hammered flat
Sterling beaded wire: approx. 1 ⁄4”
EZ solder Soldering tools: flux, pickle, torch, 24 gauge bezel with a wall height of
nickel (5-cent piece) to use as 2.30mm high: Rio Grande #950274,
Two part epoxy resin soldering support, flex shaft cut- www.riogrande.com
Popsicle stick and clean disposable ting disk, chamois buffing wheel,
polishing compound, level Resin: Rio Grande Colores Resin
plastic cup for mixing resin
with Thin Hardener 1:1 ratio, www.
Optional tools: ring mandrel, circle
Paper towel riogrande.com.
template
1

TOOLS time it too k :

6mm sterling bezel cup
6mm peridot cabochon
Desired image (copied onto HP
Glossy Photo Paper with HP ink
jet ink — other brands may also work)
Glue stick or white craft glue
Hand tools: wire nippers, round
nosed pliers, hammer, steel block
Finishing tools: ammonia, water
and liquid dish soap solution, soft
bristled toothbrush, oxidizer or
liver of sulfur, file or sandpaper
Resin tools: glass drinking cup,
butane lighter
S o u rces :
Tools & Materials: Most of the tools
and materials for this project will
be available from well stocked
jewelry supply vendors.
1 hour plus curing time is what it
took me. I used a premade bezel
both to cut down on time and to
make it more accessible to begin-
ners (I’d say about 2 hours if you
wanted to fabricate you own bezel).

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 5
 1 2
4 5
7
{Photo 1} Shape the beaded sterling wire
into a circle that fits inside bezel so you can
just drop the circle in. Solder the ends with
EZ solder. Place it in the pickle.
➤ When making the circle, it is easier to
achieve a perfect one by forming it on a
ring mandrel set in a vise.
{Photo 2} Cut a 6” piece of 14ga wire. With
round nosed pliers, coil each end equally.
Fold wire in half to form a bail. Hammer
each side on a steel block to flatten. Lightly
© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
file or sand the back of the bezel cup and
wire bail to remove any oils or dirt. Flux.
{Photo 3} Lay the bezel on the soldering
block. Place a nickel next to the bezel and
lay the wire bail across the bezel cup and
nickel. Solder the bail onto the bezel cup
using EZ solder.
➤ The nickel will act as a support for the
wire to keep it from tilting as you solder.
Pickle, rinse, and oxidize it. Polish it with
buffing compound on a chamois wheel.
{Photo 4} Using a cutting disk, make a
groove in the inside wall of the bezel to pro-
vide an anchor for resin — it does not need
to be deep. Soak it in ammonia solution for
a few minutes and scrub with a toothbrush.
Rinse and dry it.
{Photo 5} Make a copy of the original
image on glossy photo paper with an ink jet
printer. Trace a circle on copy and cut it out.
➤ If you are using an original image, you
will need to seal the image completely —
including the edges — with a sealer like
decoupage sealer and let it dry completely.
{Photo 6} Prepare the area where the
poured resin pendant will cure and make
sure it is level.
I use a cheese board with a glass dome set
on a bookshelf to cure my pieces. Taking
into account that surfaces which look level
are not always level, make sure you use an
Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4
3
6
actual level and prepare the curing area
before you pour the resin.
With a glue stick or a thin layer of white
glue, cover back of paper image and press
into the bezel cup. Cover it with a paper
towel and burnish with your fingertip to
press out any bubbles.
Covering the image with a paper towel
prevents any moisture or oils from your
fingers from smudging the image. Let it dry
completely.batch. Mix glitter thoroughly
into resin after each addition.
{Photo 7} Set the pendant on the curing
surface and use a coin to raise end opposite
wire bail so that it is level.
I started out with a quarter, but when I
added resin, the resin immediately started
to flow toward the bail, telling me it was not
level — so, I switched to a dime.
Place the peridot cab in a 6mm bezel cup
and set it. Lightly sand or file the back of
the bezel cup. With a popsicle stick and a
plastic cup, thoroughly mix the resin ac-
cording to the package directions.
➤ I used Rio Grande Colores Resin with
Thin Hardener at a 1:1 ratio, though the
instructions advise 2:1. I use the Colores
with a 1:1 ratio because I like how thin the
resin is and how it easily seeps into nooks
and crannies.
10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 6
 easy option:
No Solder
You can buy premade bezels with pendant

8 9 bails attached from most well-stocked craft

stores and eliminate soldering altogether.

{Photo 8} Put a small amount of resin
(about size of a domed quarter) in the bezel.
Pick up the pendant and swirl the resin
around so that it touches all the inside edges
of the bezel and completely covers the
image. Replace the pendant on the curing
surface and drop it in the beaded wire circle.
Drop in the bezel-set peridot and position it
where you want it to be.
It is important to start with a small
amount of resin because you will displace
some resin by adding the beaded wire
circle and the bezel set cab. You can al-
ways add more resin later — initially, start
with less than you think you will need. It is
much easier than trying to clean up resin
2106152-SSBF-090521.pdf Processed by DG February 25, 2009
that oozes out the sides of the bezel!
➤ Using a butane lighter, lightly sweep the
flame over the surface of the resin to pop
any bubbles. For this resin, there should be
no bubbles; if there are bubbles, the lighter
flame should take care of them.
{Photo 9} Making sure there are no
bubbles and that the peridot is where you
want it to be, cover the pendant with a
drinking glass or glass dome and place it
aside to cure for at least 24 hours. Check
on the pendant a few times over next few
hours to make sure there are no bubbles
and that the cab has not moved.
To check whether the resin has cured,
check the leftover resin in your mixing
cup instead of the actual pendant!
➤ When the leftover resin is rock hard,
your pendant will be fully cured! Attach
the jump ring to the bail and slide onto a
neckwire or chain to wear it.
ELEANORE MACNISH is a glass
beadmaker and silversmith living in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has
been making glass beads for 9 years
and doing silver work for 1 1/2 years.
Visit www.emacnish.com to see more of
her work.

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© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 7
 Vintage Illustration Pendant

Project by
Eleanore MacNish
Opening Photo: JIM LAWSON
Project Photos: ELEANORE MACNISH
A confection from recycled ephemera

T
o make this pendant, you
need to go on a scavenger hunt.
Gather all sorts of earrings,
vintage illustrations of cakes, and
whatever you think might look good
hanging from the bottom of your
pendant. Good places to start hunt-
ing are a flea market or tag and
yard sales. I gathered orphaned ear-
rings, vintage jewelry, coins, tokens,
and game pieces for my pendant.

SKILLS YOU NEED

• fabrication • bezel setting • soldering

MATERIAL s AND TOOLS YOU NEED
M a teri a l s Fine silver bezel wire tall enough Clear packing tape container (larger than pendant
to clear edges of earring and deeper than length of bail)
Vintage pastry image White craft glue filled with rice
16-gauge wire for jump ring
Vintage rhinestone earring T oo l s Soldering: torch and tips, third
Ammonia, water, and liquid dish hand, solder (hard and extra EZ,
Vintage pearl drop soap solution Layout tools: permanent marker,
graph paper, tracing paper, spray low temp paste solder), flux
22-gauge sterling sheet Toothbrush adhesive, pencil Finishing tools: flex shaft,
22-gauge sterling sheet: Oxidizer or liver of sulfur Hand tools: saw frame, 2-0 saw chamois buffing wheel, polishing
2 1⁄2” x 1⁄2” for bail blades, carbide tip scribe (or punch compound
UV cure resin for dots), round nosed pliers,
Fine silver bezel wire deep enough Additional tools: drill bit for
to hold image and resin Methyl alcohol or nail polish setting tools, hand shears, 16-gauge wire
remover respirator mask, small hammer,

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 8
1 2 3 4

5 6
{Photo 1} Lay out objects and play
around with composition.
{Photo 2} Choose an earring for top of
piece and remove back finding. Choose a
focal cake illustration. Choose an object to
hang from the bottom.
{Photo 3} On graph paper, outline edges
of all components and design overall shape
of pendant.
From here, you need to decide where
any
‰ areas of stress might be and how to
compensate for them. I make a “pendant
plan” for each metal piece, indicating where
I will solder, and in what order.
7 8
My pendant is made up of 3 pieces of
metal. I soldered the bezels onto the front-
facing silver sheet with EZ solder, and then
soldered the bail and the back curlicue with
low temperature paste solder.
{Photo 4} Fit bezels for rhinestone ear-
ring and cake illustration. Use pliers to
conform bezel to outlines. Make bezels a
bit larger than components.
{Photo 5} Solder bezels together with
pallions of hard solder.
Make adjustments as needed to sketches after
laying soldered bezels back on graph paper.
{Photo 6} Trace design for each metal
piece on a half sheet of tracing paper. Spray
22ga sterling sheet with adhesive, apply
tracing paper drawing to adhesive, let dry.
{Photo 7} Rip overhanging tracing paper
from edge of sheet and saw out shapes. On
soldering block, burn off paper and adhe-
sive (fumes are toxic — wear a respirator
mask). Pickle, rinse, file, sand smooth.
{Photo 8} Solder bezels to front of cut-
out with easy. Pickle, rinse. On back of
cutout, lightly flux bail and curlicue panel.
Apply small amount of low temperature
paste solder. Support piece as needed.
Solder, pickle, rinse, dry.

t
I fabricated a bezel-set clasp from
a vintage button.

My pendant plan and notes.

t

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 9
9 10 11 12
Using a marker, dot where you want a
border. Punch dots using a carbide tip and
small hammer. Remove marker with meth-
yl alcohol or nail polish remover. Oxidize
piece as desired. Polish with chamois buff-
ing wheel and compound. Soak in ammo-
nia solution and scrub with soft bristled
toothbrush. Rinse and dry completely. Set
earring in bezel.

{Photo 10} Seal paper illustration by

sandwiching between 2 pieces of packing
tape. Trim to fit in bezel. Dip finger in small Soldering
amount of white craft glue and run along
edge of sealed cake illustration to encase
Setups
edges. Set aside to dry. Glue illustration
You will probably need
into bezel. Let dry. to use solder supports
to get everything to
{Photo 11} Lay pendant in rice and adjust set up correctly. I use
till level. Squeeze UV resin onto surface of nickels and a third
illustration to desired depth. After a few hand to support the
minutes, look for bubbles at surface. Wave different levels of my
a lighter flame over top of resin to burst pieces before I solder. On the back,
bubbles. I added a sprinkle-
filled surprise.
{Photo 12} Set container holding pendant ELEANORE MACNISH is a glass
in sunlight for about 5 minutes to cure. beadmaker and silversmith living in
Make a jump ring from 16ga wire and attach Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has been
bottom charm to pendant. Support bail and making glass beads for 9 years and
bend tab over a support to make a hook. doing silverwork for 1 1⁄2 years. Visit www.
Attach pendant to neck wire or chain. emacnish.com to see more of her work.

Paper and Resin n When I seal paper for resin,

n When you prepare paper for I sandwich it between 2
resin, it is very important pieces of clear packing
to seal the paper — includ- tape, cut the image out
ing the edges! If you do not of the tape and spread
seal the paper the resin will glue around the edges.
turn the paper translucent. If If the image is too large
you miss a couple of spots, to be covered by the tape,
the paper will act like a wick I brush both sides with white
and pull resin into its fibers. glue, let it dry, and then cut
Sometimes, I like the effect out the image and seal the
of a little bit of resin bleed- edges with glue. It is neces-
ing into the image because sary to seal any paper
it adds to the aged look, Here, the left side of the sheet music product — vintage or
however, if it’s important that was sealed and the right side was not contemporary.
the image be consistent, you sealed. It makes a gigantic difference!
must seal it completely!

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 10
 Framed focal charm

project by
Shoshana Farber
Opening Photo: Jim Lawson
Interchangeable inserts that Project Photos: Shoshana Farber

can change with your mood

M
y miniature frames can be incorporated into virtually any piece
of jewelry, or made into personalized cufflinks. The double-sided
frame will hold up to two photos or artwork which can be removed
and replaced as desired. Pay close attention to the exact thickness of
the required sheet — this will result in a precise and snug fit.

Cufflink
design option
If making cufflinks, the back of
the piece must remain solid.
Finding components can be
soldered directly onto the solid
backs of the frames. SKILLS YOU NEED

• basic fabrication • sweat soldering

MATERIAL s AND TOOLS YOU NEED
Materials Large metal file; small Greystar and rouge
needle files
Sterling sheet; at least Soft bristle brush mandrels
16mm x 16mm, 0.9mm thick Emery paper; for Foredom; cotton buffs
flat thin wooden stick
Sterling sheet; at least (such as a coffee stirrer) Computer; digital images;
20mm x 40mm, 0.7mm thick Adobe Photoshop or other
1mm drill bit imaging software
Scrap copper or brass sheet:
at least 11.5mm x 30mm, Fabric containing Printer; sheet of
exactly 0.9mm thick metallic fiber weave photo paper
or steel mesh “8 mil” thick
tools (not millimeters)
Rolling mill
Soldering brick; torch; hard Small sheet Mylar,
solder; flux; titanium Sterling findings at least 25mm x 25mm,
soldering pick of your choice (jump rings, “4 mil” thick (0.1mm)
bail, cufflink components,
Jeweler’s saw; blades; wax chain) Japanese or
Calipers decorative papers
Polishing compounds: or miniature drawings

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 11
 1 2 3

4 5
{Photo 2} Saw out center of “three-
legged” square, being sure to cut along
the inside of scribed line. File inside edges
completely level and ensure corners are
square. Saw along outside lines of square,
cutting out three-legged shape from sheet.
6
Framing Tip
It may be easier to mark your
lines along the inside of the
frame by scribing them 1mm
from the inner edges. If you like,
trace the scribed lines with pen.

7
This will be inside layer of frame.

{Photo 3} Move frame to soldering block.

{Photo 1} Square off corner of 0.9mm
thick silver sheet. Use calipers to mark off
a parallel line exactly 2mm from one side
of corner. Mark off lines exactly 14mm from
both sides of corner. Finally, mark off lines
exactly 16mm from both sides of corner. If
you like, go over lines with a thin pen.
protect your rollers
You might want to “sandwich”
the metallic screen and sil-
ver for roll printing inside of
a folded piece of cardstock
to prevent transfer of the
metallic screen impression
of the rollers of your mill.
Cut out many pallions of hard solder. Flux
sheet through mill. Cut roller-printed metal
piece and heat slowly. When flux settles,
into 2 pieces, each at least 20mm x 20mm.
distribute pallions evenly over top of piece.
Heat metal until solder flows, using titani-
{Photo 6} Return to soldering block.
um pick to distribute solder and coat entire
Flux one roller-printed square. Place
top of piece. Set aside.
three-legged frame, solder-side down, on
top of printed square. Sweat-solder pieces
Anneal an approximately 20mm x 40mm
together by heating evenly, until you see
piece of 0.7mm sheet.
solder flowing around joint edge. Trail sol-
der pick along seam as solder flows. Pickle
{Photo 4} Wrap annealed sheet in metallic piece until oxides are removed. Rinse and
fabric of your choice. Ensure metallic thread
dry. Trim any overhanging edges and file
runs horizontally — or parallel — to edge you
are feeding through rolling mill.
gently until piece is once again square.
Position piece with frame-side up. Use cali-
If using steel mesh, place wrapped piece
pers to mark an inner window 3mm from
between two small brass plates to protect
outside edges.
rollers.
{Photo 7} Drill hole in center of square.
{Photo 5} Insert wrapped piece into Insert saw blade into hole and carefully
rolling mill. Make note of gauge setting,
cut out inner window. File edges level and
remove piece, and tighten rollers at least
corners square.
1⁄4 turn more. Feed fabric-wrapped metal

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 12
 Polish piece before attaching chain. Apply
polishing compounds to textured metal
with soft bristle brush so pattern doesn’t
wear away. Use cotton buffs for sides.

Using Adobe Photoshop, crop or alter

8 9
{Photo 8} Sweat-solder another frame
and roller-print another square for other
side of piece. File and sand outside edges.
Position piece so window faces up.
{Photo 9} Drill hole in center of solid back
sheet. Saw 4 diagonal lines out from drilled
center to each corner of window.
Using top window lip as guide, carefully
saw out back window. File edges level and
corners square. Wrap a thin, flat wooden
stick or coffee stirrer in emery paper and
1109_LJJA-eBooks-Halfpg.pdf Processed by DG November 12, 2009
sand edges of both windows smooth and
level. Cut a flat, 0.9mm thick copper or
brass rectangular strip 30mm x 11.5mm.
Insert strip into side groove of completed
frame. If needed, use rolling mill to reduce
thickness gradually until the strip slides in.
With rawhide mallet, gently tap each side
of frame and along protruding end of brass
strip to ensure that inner grooves are
aligned. Attach findings or jump rings of
your choice. Inner frame layer will accom-
modate a drill hole up to 2mm — center-
punch exactly 1mm from side of piece.
selected high resolution images. Resize
to 11mm x 11mm, or cut decorative paper
squares or drawings to this size. Cut two
11mm x 11mm squares of Mylar. Sandwich
photos between Mylar sheets. Slide image
sandwich into frame’s side groove, being
sure to push inserts straight to back
of frame.
SHOSHANA FARBER completed her
diploma in art, craft, and design with a
major in Jewelry and Small Object Design
from the Kootenay School of the Arts
in Nelson, British Columbia. She lives in
Toronto and has built a studio where she
designs and manufactures jewelry under
the name Showsh Design.

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 FOUND OBJECT PENDANT

Project by
ELEANORE MACNISH
Opening Photo: JIM LAWSON
A vintage ruler and typewriter Project Photos: ELEANORE MACNISH

key mark a milestone

M
y friend Lucille wears
four pieces of jewelry
90% of the time. The
same pieces every day — when
you’re standing behind her,
you know it’s her just by
looking at the clasp on her
necklace. She loves those four
pieces and they look fabulous
on her — so more power to her!
However, having this kind of
friend makes the whole gift-
giving thing rather difficult
when making jewelry is what
you do.
My solution? I made her
a pendant and put it on a key
ring to disguise its true nature.
I also stamped a bunch of
wrong information on the sil-
ver “card” purely by accident
(if you knew me, you’d know
that’s not uncommon), which I
discovered when another friend SKILLS YOU NEED
was looking at the piece with a
befuddled look on her face. The
• fabrication • soldering
accident made the whole situa-
MATERIAL s AND TOOLS YOU NEED
tion really funny. “Shut up! You
M A T E R I AL S Solder — Hard, EZ, and Extra EZ Carbide tip scribe
are not 50!!!” the message says
— and she’s not, because the Vintage ruler Flux Setting tools
gift was for her 53rd birthday. Vintage typewriter key Ammonia, water, and liquid soap Hand shears for cutting bezel
I’d even been at her 50th birth- (preferably with tabs on the solution wire and gallery wire
back)
day party and all of the ones Toothbrush Chamois buffing wheel
22-gauge sterling sheet
after it! I did have the best of Oxidizer or liver of sulfur Polishing compound
intentions, though — and luck- Small scrap of 20-gauge
sterling sheet TOOLS Third hand
ily, Lucille loves the piece, so I
Silver bezel wire tall enough Drill bit for 14-gauge sterling wire Vise; rawhide mallet or flat
consider it a success. jawed pliers
to clear surface of ruler and Drill bit to countersink hole for
typewriter key 14-gauge wire Small woodcarving chisel or
14-gauge sterling dead soft wire; razor blade mounted in a handle
2-0 saw blades
approximately 1 1⁄2” long Permanent marker
Saw frame
14-gauge sterling jump ring Rectangular joint-edge file
Letter stamps for message tag
22-gauge sterling sheet, 1” x 2” Files and sandpaper for
Torch smoothing metal before
22-gauge sterling disk, 3⁄4”
Round nosed pliers polishing

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 14
 1 2
4 5
{Photo 1} Cut length of ruler. With perma-
nent marker, mark edges of ruler on 22ga
sheet.
{Photo 2} With permanent marker, draw
outline of pendant around traced ruler
lines. Saw pendant out of sheet.
Make optional message tag if desired.
Measure ruler edge. Measure distance
between bottom edge of ruler and where
on ruler you want arrow to point. For my
pendant, arrow point is halfway up length
of numerals. Arrow should look like a
capital “T” with a triangle on bottom. The
vertical line of “T” is the shaft, and hori-
zontal top of “T” is the tab. Transfer arrow
measurements to 20ga sheet and saw
arrow out.
{Photo 3} Bend tab at 90° angle to
arrow.
Message Tag
Cut the tag out of 22ga sheet.
Ensure it is a little bit smaller than
the pendant. Use letter stamps for
the message, annealing the metal
prior to stamping it if necessary.
Stamp on a steel block for the
cleanest impression and to keep
the tag flat.
© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
3
6
{Photo 4} Place bent arrow on ruler and
slide along edge until you arrive at place
you want arrow to point. With permanent
marker, outline tab on back and mark
where shaft lies on edge of ruler.
Chisel out tab outline. Carve a little at a time
and verify fit often by setting tab into niche.
Tab should be flush with surface of ruler.
{Photo 5} File groove for shaft of arrow
on edge of ruler, using marker lines as
guide. Groove must be deep enough for
7
arrow to sit flush in ruler, so it doesn’t dis-
tort bezel fitting around ruler.
Clean Corners
Bend tabs of typewriter key back, to create I use a vise and rawhide mallet
legs — like a little table. to hammer the shaft of the arrow
down for a clean corner, but you
{Photo 6} Using cushioned plier handle,
can also use flat jawed or
tap on key letter to remove it and all inte-
conforming pliers.
rior parts. File or sand steel bezel of key so
it is shallow enough for bezel wire to clear
curved edge.
Make silver bezels for ruler and typewriter
key using hard solder.
Keyring
Design Option
.
Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Metal Clay Jewelry Projects 15
 8 9
{Photo 7} Solder ruler bezel to drilled holes — much like making a counter-
cut out sheet with EZ solder. sink for a screw.
Assemble piece by attaching 14ga jump
{Photo 8} Solder typewriter key bezel to
ring to drilled hole in top of pendant (and
disk with EZ.
message card if you made one). Solder
jump ring with Extra EZ solder using a
Pickle, rinse, and dry both bezel assemblies.
third hand to hold jump ring.
10
rim of typewriter key into bezel. Verify let-
ter is in proper position related to soldered
wire on back of disk. Set key into bezel.
Using round nosed pliers, bend 14ga wire
on back of disk into a hairpin loop: curved
loop on top where it hangs on the pendant,
and straight from there on. Slide type key
charm into hole at bottom of pendant.

{Photo 9} Solder 14ga wire to back of
disk with Extra EZ solder.
{Photo 10} Using carbide tip, make an
indention on each end of pendant for hole
placement. Drill holes in indents. Use larger
drill bit by hand to remove burrs from
File and smooth all silver cutouts and 14ga
components, oxidize, rinse, and polish
using chamois buff and compound. Rinse
in ammonia/water/soap solution and scrub
with soft toothbrush. Fit arrow into filed
notch on ruler. Lay arrow and ruler into
bezel; set. Lay letter, plastic lens, and steel
ELEANORE MACNISH is a glass
beadmaker and silversmith living in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has
been making glass beads for 9 years
and doing silverwork for 1 1⁄2 years. Visit
www.emacnish.com to see more of her work.

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guide into the fascinating and creative world of the art and science of
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© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 16
 Pottery Shard Brooch

PROJECT BY
Julie Jerman-Melka
Opening Photo: JIM LAWSON
A nostalgic keepsake from Project Photos: JULIE JERMAN-MELKA
a broken dinner plate

I
enjoy the challenge of working with found objects
and incorporating them into a wearable piece of
jewelry. If you’re like me, you probably have fond
memories of enjoying a special dinner with family or
friends, using the “good” china, or maybe enjoying a
cup of afternoon tea from vintage tea cups. Inevitably,
a piece of china or one of the prized teacups acciden-
tally breaks, and it’s painful to just throw the shards
into the trash. In this simple project, I’ll show you how
to recycle the broken shards and make a simple brooch,
perhaps reminding you of one of those special times
with friends and family.
Instead of using a commercial finding for this piece,
I decided to make my own pin mechanism. It’s easy
to execute and gives the piece a simple, handcrafted
elegance with an extra personal touch.

S K I L L S yo u n e e d

• soldering • bezel stone setting

M ate r ia ls a n d To o ls yo u n e e d

M a teri a l s 18-gauge round nickel 330 epoxy Hand tools: metal shears, wire
wire: 4" cutter, saw frame, saw blades,
Pottery shard Liver of sulfur beeswax or Bur Life, bench pin,
One 7mm half-drilled 6" half round file, needle files,
22-gauge sterling sheet: 2" x button pearl Ammonia
1 1/2" 2 1/2" bent steel burnisher
#65 Drill bit T oo l s
22-gauge brass sheet: 2" x 1 1/4" Other tools: rolling mill, buff-
Hard and medium solder Soldering tools: torch, solder ing machine, dust mask, safety
28-gauge sterling bezel wire: pick, Solderite pad 6" x 6", eyewear, Sharpie, Fabulustre
5mm height x 6" Texture to roller print pickle pot with pickle, copper or buffing compound, 4" muslin
(texture paper) tongs, cross locking tweezers buff, flex shaft
20-gauge round sterling wire: 6"

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 17
 1 2 3 4

5 6 7
{Photo 1} Select pottery shard.

➤ The shard I’ve chosen is 3/4" x 1 1/4", so all of my measure-

ments are based on using a piece of pottery about this size.

{Photo 2} Cut a 1 1/4" x 1" piece of 22ga sterling sheet. Anneal

and pickle. Rinse in water and dry completely. Cut a piece of
22ga brass sheet slightly larger than the silver sheet. Do not
anneal.

{Photo 3} Cut a piece of rice paper to 1 1/2" x 1 1/4". Sandwich

rice paper between silver and brass sheet and pass through
the rolling mill under pressure to roller print.

➤ Your silver sheet will distort and elongate with this process.

{Photo 4} Make bezel for pottery shard using flat nose pli-
ers. Solder bezel together using hard. Pickle bezel until clean.
File any excess solder on seam. Rub bezel on sandpaper to
clean bottom edge.
My original sketch for the piece
{Photo 5} Place shard on rollerprinted silver sheet. Trace
outside edge of shard with Sharpie pen to create an interest-
ing shape for your brooch. Mark on metal sheet will be slightly
larger than shard. Saw along Sharpie line and then fine-sand Tips on Supplies
edge.
n If you don’t have a rolling mill, you can purchase
embossed metal sheets from Metalliferous: www.
{Photo 6} Place bezel on sheet making sure there are no
metalliferous.com, 888-944-0909, or David H.
gaps between them. Solder bezel to roller printed sheet using
chips of medium solder.
Fell: www.dhfco.com, 800-822-1996.

n I prefer using Fabulustre buffing compound

➤ If there is a gap, rub bezel on sandpaper again to true up because it gives me a lustrous finish and I don’t
edge before soldering bezel to sheet. need to prefinish. It contains a cutting and a
polishing compound in one bar.
{Photo 7} Decide where you want the pearl. Center punch
a divot in metal and drill a hole using #65 drill bit. Insert a n Texture paper is handmade paper and can be
1
/2" length of 20ga round wire through hole, extending it 1/8" found at art supply stores. Look for paper that
out of back of brooch. Solder wire from back of brooch with contains elements embedded in the paper, which
medium. Cut, file, and sand excess wire until flush with back. will give your piece a more interesting texture.

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 18
8 9

10 11

12
➤ This is also a good time to stamp the
back of the piece with a sterling stamp and
your personal maker’s stamp if you have
one.
{Photo 8} Use 4" of 20ga round nickel
wire for pin mechanism. Bend wire in half
and solder ends to back of brooch with
medium solder. Pickle and sand any excess
solder.
➤ Make sure you locate the mechanism
above the central axis so the pin will sit
properly when worn.
13
{Photo 10} Curl wire for pin stem with
round nose pliers twice to create tension
for mechanism. End of pin should extend
slightly beyond catch. Snip end if too long,
then file, sand, and polish.
{Photo 11} Set shard in bezel and check
height: bezel should just barely extend
above shard. File bezel down if too high.
Push walls of bezel over shard using bent
steel burnisher.
➤ I use a triangle file to file the bezel cor-
ners. This creates a V shape, so the metal
will not fold over itself during setting.
14
machine to desired polish. Clean off buffing
compound using weak solution of sudsy
ammonia mixed with water and a soft
toothbrush. Rinse piece under warm water
and dry with soft cloth. Dissolve a pea size
piece of liver of sulfur in a cup of warm
water.
{Photo 13} Dip brooch in solution and
rinse in cold water. Repeat until you
achieve desired patina color, then let air
dry. Polish lightly to bring contrast to piece.
{Photo 14} Adjust height of stem for pearl
by cutting and filing until pearl sits flush

5
{Photo 9} Snip wire for catch at 3/16" and with silver sheet. Mix equal parts of 330
bend over. {Photo 12} Polish brooch on buffing epoxy on small piece of paper with tooth-
pick. Put small amount of epoxy on stem
for pearl and place pearl on stem. Allow
epoxy to dry.

Setting Tips
JULIE JERMAN-MELKA earned her
n Your pottery shard may have an irregular top surface, so you will M.F.A. from Colorado State University
have to file the bezel to the proper height in order to have a bezel in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she lives
that is visually pleasing. and works. Her work can be seen in
galleries throughout the United States.
n Place the pottery shard in the bezel and file the bezel to match She also teaches part time at Laramie
the edge of the shard, making sure to have the bezel extend County Community College in Cheyenne,
beyond the shard. Wyoming. You can see more of her
work at www.flyinganvildesigns.com.
n I start with pushing the bezel over on the side of the corner first,
and then proceed around the shard.

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 19
 Sprinkle Earrings

Project by
Eleanore Macnish
Opening Photo: JIM LAWSON
Project Photos: ELEANORE MACNISH
Sweet little treats make a speedy gift

W
hile doing my resin
research I embedded
everything I could think
of! At an estate sale, I spied
some cake decorations in a
cabinet and thought, “Hey!
I wonder if I could put those
sprinkles in resin!” Before I
tried it, I didn’t think it would
work: I thought the resin
would degrade the color coat-
ing on the candy, but I was
wrong — it worked beautifully!
These earrings make
great gifts. They take about
20 minutes to make and 15
minutes to cure. They are
exceedingly happy, bright,
and truly sweet. You’ll need
to work on a sunny day, at
least if you use the same
UV resin I did, as it needs
to cure in the sun. If you
choose traditional two-part
epoxy resin, you can work
on a cloudy day, too.

SKILLS YOU NEED

• soldering • basic fabrication

MATERIAL s AND TOOLS YOU NEED

M a teri a l s EZ solder TOOLS Finishing: chamois buffing wheel,

polishing compound, brass brush,
20-gauge sterling wire: Resin Soldering: torch, striker, soft bristled toothbrush.
two 1 3⁄4” lengths nickels, soldering brick,
Ammonia, water, and flux, pickle pot and pickle
Two 15mm sterling bezel cups liquid dish soap solution
Hand tools: wire nippers,
Candy sprinkles of your choice Oxidizer or liver of flat nosed pliers, file, fine
sulfur grit sandpaper
Silver, copper, gold, or palladium
metal leaf Tacky clay Other tools: glass drinking
White craft glue Pen cup, butane lighter

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 20
1 2
4 5
{Photo 1} Cut two 1 3/4” lengths of 20ga
wire. File ends smooth.
Lightly sand back of bezel cups and wire to
remove any oils or dirt.
{Photo 2} Lay bezels side by side on
soldering block. Place nickel next to each
bezel. Lay wire across bezel cup and nickel.
‰ The nickel will support the wire at the
same height as the bezel cup and keep it in
position while soldering.
{Photo 3} Flux, lightly heat until flux
becomes chalky. Lay pallion of EZ solder
on each bezel cup, ensuring solder touches
wire. Solder.
Pickle, rinse, dry. Oxidize. Polish with buff-
ing compound on a chamois wheel or with
brass brush. Soak in ammonia solution for
a few seconds and scrub with toothbrush.
Rinse. Dry.
{Photo 4} With flat nosed pliers, grasp
end of each wire and twist a few rotations.
‰ Wire anneals and becomes softer during
soldering; twisting the ear wire work
hardens it and makes the metal stiff again.
6 7
© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
3
While you’re twisting, make sure you keep
the wire straight. Five or 6 rotations are
usually sufficient.
{Photo 5} Apply a very light coat of white
craft glue to interior of bezel cups. Press
metal leaf into glue.
‰ The metal leaf will be covered up with
the sprinkles, so there is no need to be tidy
or exact — wrinkles are okay.
{Photo 6} When glue has dried, remove
overhanging metal leaf from bezels.
‰ If you prefer, just polish the interior of the
bezel cups instead of adding the metal leaf.
Either way, the final outcome is better if
the interior of the bezel cups are shiny.
Make 2 small balls of tacky clay. Mash balls
down into pancakes on a hard surface. Lay
earrings down on clay and press. Embed
earring backs into clay and level them. Fill
leveled bezels with sprinkles until flush
with top edge.
{Photo 7} Apply resin. Wait a few sec-
onds to see if air bubbles surface. When
bubbles rise, wave flame of lighter close to
resin surface to pop them.
8 9
Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4
‰ If you’re using two-part epoxy, follow the
manufacturer’s instructions very carefully
with regard to mixing or you’ll end up with
a sticky mess that will never harden. I use
a one-part epoxy UV resin that comes in a
bottle and is ready to go.
{Photo 8} Put earrings (still attached to
hard surface with tacky clay) in sunlight.
Place drinking glass over them to shield
from dust. Leave in sunlight approximately
10 to 15 minutes. Rotate every 5 minutes
to allow light exposure to all parts of resin
— both the walls of bezel cup and sprinkles
will cast shadows.
‰ If you’re using two-part epoxy resin, cure
it for 48 hours before bending the ear
wires.
{Photo 9} When resin is fully cured, bend
wires over pen to create a “U” shape. With
flat nosed pliers, bend ends of wires to fin-
ish hooks.
ELEANORE MACNISH is a glass
beadmaker and silversmith living in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has been
making glass beads for 9 years and
doing silverwork for 1 1⁄2 years. Visit www.
emacnish.com to see more of her work.
10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 21
 PVC & SILVER BROOCH

Project by
ROBERT DANCIK
Faux Bone — fantastic plastic Project Photos: JIM LAWSON

for jewelry work

F
aux Bone™ is a new mate- skills you need
rial for artists that is easy
to use, affordable, and non-
• fabrication • drilling • riveting
toxic. In this project, I used Faux materials and tools you need
Bone with sterling silver, pearls, M A T E R I AL S TOOLS O ption a l
and a Chinese carnelian bead.
Faux Bone Jeweler’s saw; #1 and #2/0 Electric etcher
Owing to its basic indestructibil- blades
22-gauge sterling sheet approxi- Triangular scraper
ity, all riveting, drilling, stamp-
mately 1” x 2 1 ⁄2” (textured or Bench pin
ing, electric etching, and ham- not) Checkering file
Drill; bits size 1⁄4”, and #’s 54
mering can be done without fear 13-15” 18-gauge round sterling and 60
1
⁄8” drill bit
of chipping or cracking — and silver wire Countersink bit
Files; medium and fine
without the use of heat or spe- Freshwater pearls (or other
beads, pearls, stones, etc.) Silicon carbide sandpaper; grits
cial treatment. This material can 320, 400, 600
be left pure white, or pigment 6mm round bead (or similar)
Scribe
can be rubbed into stampings or Acrylic paint or similar
Torch (small crème
scratchings and finished with a
Brown (or other color) brûlée torch is fine)
bit of shoe polish for a bonelike shoe polish
look and feel. Faux Bone invites Masking tape or similar
experimentation and play — its
Cyanoacrylate glue
possibilities are as endless as
your imagination.

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed media Jewelry Projects 22
 1 2 3

4 5
{Photo 1} Draw a 21/4” x 11/2” oval on sheet
of Faux Bone.
{Photo 2} Using jeweler’s saw with #1
blade, cut out oval. File edges and sand
with 320-grit sandpaper. Sand two flat
sides and edges with 400-grit sandpaper.
{Photo 3} Measure, mark, and drill bead
hole with a 1/4” drill bit. My bead hole is 7/8”
down, and 3/8” to the right of the oval cen-
terline — with silver on the left.
{Photo 4} Use countersink in drilled hole
to widen top. Bevel should not go deeper
than about 1/6”.
{Photo 5} Draw line on face of oval
perpendicular to centerline, which passes
through center of bead hole. Place oval in
6
vise vertically with edge of oval facing up.
Locate drill bit on edge, in line with guide-
line passing over bead hole. Drill slowly
through edge into bead hole and across
into other side of bead hole, keeping drill
turning as you retract it.
{Photo 6} Countersink or use 1/8” drill bit
to make slight well so ball on end of wire
will seat into edge of oval.

Better Pin Stems

n To make a nice, sharp point on the pin stem, file a shal-

low “V” groove into one leg of the bench pin or into a
block of wood. The groove should start perpendicular to
the edge of the block and be as deep as the thickness
n To use the groove, place the wire in it with the end almost
of the wire, tapering away from the edge. The groove
at the shallow end of the groove. Using a medium file,
should taper to flush with the block surface about 1” in
position it over the wire and flush with the surface of the
from the edge.
wood. File the end of the wire as you turn it — taking off
n If the flattened end of the finished pin stem wire is too a bit of the end of the wire all the way around. Bring it to
wide to fit in its hole, file a bit from each edge of the a point. When filed evenly, progress through the sanding
flat end so that it can just be forced into the hole. It is grits to 600 and polish on a buff with compound, or by
very important to keep it flat to prevent it from spin- hand with a buffing stick to prevent the pin stem from
ning in the hole. snagging on the fibers of clothing.

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 23
7 8
10
{Photo 7} Hold bead so hole is in line
with wire hole. Insert wire through side of
oval, through bead, and into other side of
hole. Measure trim amount for ball to seat
in well, retract wire, and trim accordingly.
Set bead and wire aside.
Hammer texture into silver, if desired.
Anneal if needed. Quench, pickle, and dry.
{Photo 8} Place silver with texture side
up. Position oval on silver sheet so long,
square edge of oval lies next to long side
of silver. Trace outside edge of oval onto
sheet. Remove oval. Draw second line par-
allel to first at about 1/4” inside. Draw any
design in space between lines — I used a
saw-tooth for this piece.
Saw out shape, file and sand edges of silver,
progressing through to 600-grit sandpaper.
Riveting tips
n It’s important to plan the placement
of the rivets to hold the silver strip
and the pins to secure the pearls —
so that they don’t intersect. Start by
deciding were the rivets will go to
hold the silver, keeping in mind that
you will need at least 3 rivets — one
at each end and one in the middle.
You may want to use more for design
purposes, but 3 is the minimum.
© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
11
Position strip on face of oval and secure
with tape. Mark silver strip with locations
of rivets. Remove strip and drill holes with
#60 drill bit. Replace strip on face of oval.
Tape into position.
{Photo 8} Using drilled hole in strip as
guide, drill one hole through Faux Bone.
Insert 18ga wire into hole to secure. Repeat
for next rivet hole and remaining holes.
Draw a line along center of edge. Plan and
mark pearl placement for 8 pearls on side of
oval, ensuring they do not intersect with rivet
wires. Remove sterling strip and set aside.
{Photo 9} Place oval in vise. Drill holes into
edge for pearls about 1/4” deep, keeping bit
perpendicular to edge. Make a well to seat
pearls in top of each drilled hole. On back of
oval, create wells where rivet wires exit.
n When positioning the silver strip
on the oval for riveting, it is
important to drill only one hole
at a time and insert the wires
before drilling the next hole,
because positioning the parts
is nearly impossible unless the
wires are inserted one at a time.
Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4
9
Cut 8 lengths of 18ga wire, each 3/4” long. Ball
one end of each wire with torch by holding each
wire vertically at the top end in crosslock twee-
zers. Dip end to be balled into paste flux. Heat
wire about 1/8” above bottom end with torch.
Flame should be small and pulled away as soon
as metal begins to ball up wire. Quench, pickle,
and brass-brush wires. Set aside.
Cut 18ga wire 2” long for pin stem. With
hammer, flatten one end to about 1/4”. File
tapered point on other end. With round
nosed pliers, grasp wire 1/4” above flat-
tened end and wrap long end around pliers
tip 1/4 turns. Wire should point at 90° angle
to flattened end. Set aside.
Cut 18ga wire to 3/4” for catch. With ham-
mer, flatten one end to about 1/4”. Grasp
nonflattened end and twist to form a
number 9 shape. Offset end of wire until it
looks like beginning of a spiral.
{Photo 10} Measure on back of oval 1/4”
to 1/2” from each end to position pin stem
and catch. Use #54 drill to drill hole at each
mark. Holes should be 1/8”- 3/32” deep.
Insert flat end of pin stem into hole near top
of piece, filing edges as needed for fit. Dip
flat end into glue and insert into hole with
pin stem lined up with centerline of the oval.
Repeat for catch.
{Photo 11} Texture oval, coloring as desired.
10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 24
 Alternate Designs
The versatility and
ease of using Faux Bone
allows for many design
possibilities

12
{Photo 12} Position strip on oval by lin-
ing up rivet holes. Insert all wires into their
holes; secure with tape. Trim protruding
wire to about 1mm above surface on back
of oval. Square end of wire with file. Rivet
in place with round faced hammer. Rivet
will fill countersunk well. Repeat with
remaining rivet wires.
{Photo 13} Thread balled wires into each
pearl. Insert into pearl holes, trimming as
needed. Pearls should seat into counter-
13
sunk wells. Squeeze out a small bead of
glue. Retract each wire, dip end into glue,
and reinsert wire into oval.
Using tip of craft knife blade or thin wire,
place small amount of glue inside hole for
bead wire. Insert wire through edge of
oval, through bead, and into glue of inside
hole. Tap balled end of wire to seat into
well in edge of oval.
Give piece final buffing.
ROBERT DANCIK has been an artist/
teacher for over 30 years. He presently
teaches and exhibits his jewelry and
sculpture in the U.S., Europe, the UK, and
Australia, and is the originator of Faux
Bone™. He lives and works in Connecticut
and can be reached through his Web sites:
www.robertdancik.com and www.faux-
bone.com, which also offer a complete set
of instructions and potential sheets for
Faux Bone.

Fabrication Tips
n I usually cut a smaller piece of Faux Bone from the
larger sheet for ease of handling.
n One way of creating an oval is to use a bracelet (usu-
ally about 21⁄2” in diameter) or something similar as a
template to trace the two sides of the oval. Draw a line
21⁄4” long and place the bracelet atop the line; slide it
until the inside edge of the bracelet intersects the ends
of the line. Trace the inside curve of the bracelet and
repeat for the other side of the oval.
n Any bead or other object can be inserted into the hole
in the oval using the same wiring process. The only dif-
ference lies in the size of the hole and its location on the
oval.
n Depending on the curve of the oval, it may be easier
to sand the outside edge of the silver strip after it is
attached to the oval. The silver strip may be pickled
and brass-brushed or oxidized in liver of sulfur prior to
riveting it to the Faux Bone.
n The sandpaper used is for wet sanding — all sanding
should be done with lots of water.
n If the holes in the pearls or beads or whatever you are
using are too small for 18ga wire, it may also be neces-
sary to redrill them with a #60 drill bit. If so, hold the
pearls in padded pliers, and use a lubricant such as Bur
Life on the bit while drilling.

n To ensure that you don’t drill too deeply, wrap a piece

n To protect the surface of the oval, you may want to of tape at the proper distance from the end of the drill
cover it with masking tape to prevent scratches. bit and drill just until the tape touches the surface.

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 25
 Finishing Faux Bone

n There are an almost infinite number of surface n If small burrs are raised on the surface of the piece,
treatments for the Faux Bone oval. The project you may wish to leave them, or sand with 600-grit
piece is scratched with a scribe, etched with an elec- sandpaper until smooth. To color the piece, rub
tric etcher, stamped cold with metal stamps, and with acrylic paints, which are allowed to dry, then
has parallel lines made with a checkering file. sand once more to remove as much of the paint as
desired.
n To affect a final “polish” on the surface, turn the
600-grit sandpaper over to the paper side and rub
vigorously until it takes on a soft sheen. Fine “hair-
line cracks” and age lines are put in by drawing the
sharp edge of a craft-knife blade over the surface
with no pressure except for the weight of the knife.
These will be further revealed when the piece is
rubbed with a bit of brown shoe polish — the last
step in the finishing. Allow the polish to set for an
hour or so and then rub vigorously with a soft cloth
— or buff it with a clean, unsewn muslin wheel on a
flex shaft or polishing machine.

2100161-CLSF-090117.pdf Processed by DG June 15, 2009

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© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 26
 colorful resin Earrings

PROJECT BY
Tom & Kay Benham
Opening Photo: JIM LAWSON
Project Photos: TOM & KAY BENHAM
Pretend plique-à-jour enamel

A
friend’s new pendant immediately
caught our eye. At first glance we
thought it was a piece of enamel
— but then she explained that she had
recently created it in a resin workshop.
She had added some glitter to the
resin to create the enamel effect.
We were so intrigued that we had
to give it a try.
Working with resin wasn’t as easy
as we’d initially thought. We experi-
mented with several resin systems
and colorants before deciding on this
project, a pair of earrings that give
the impression of plique-à-jour enamel
(open on both sides), using transpar-
ent resin in place of enamel. The resin
holds the wire design in place once
it cures. The addition of fine glitter
creates a stained glass effect with
the open back letting the light shine
through. Best of all, no kilns
necessary!

S K I L L S yo u n e e d

• fabrication • soldering • resin

M ate r ia ls a n d To o ls yo u n e e d

M a teri a l s ICE Resin and Hardener (we chose Layout tools: pencil, paper S o u rces :
this product because of its ability
24-gauge sterling silver strip: to produce a glistening dome finish) Finishing tools: beeswax, vibratory Tools & Materials: Most of the tools
.020” x .125” tumbler and materials for this project will be
Assorted colors of fine glitter available from well stocked jewelry
28-gauge fine silver bezel wire: Other tools: disposable mixing supply vendors.
.013” x .125” Renaissance Wax cups, spatula, micro-spatula,
eye dropper, wooden toothpicks, ICE Resin: www.objectsand
Sterling silver seamless tubing: acetone elements.com
.188” OD x .156” ID TOOLS
Soldering tools: torch and tips,
18-gauge sterling silver round wire Hand tools: assorted pliers; as- striker, flux, easy solder, soldering
sorted files, jeweler’s gram scale, block, quench and pickle
Double-sided carpet tape tube cutting jig; jeweler’s saw and
Five-minute, two-part epoxy blades, flush cutter, cup bur

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 27
 1 2
5 6
9
Once we agreed on our design, we used
tracing paper to create our pattern.
{Photo 1} Use pattern as a guide. With
fingers and assortment of forming
pliers, create frames of earrings from
lengths of sterling silver strip, similar to
forming a bezel. Mark and cut strips, then
file ends square.
{Photo 2} Solder outer frames using easy
solder. Quench, pickle, rinse. File and sand
solder joint smooth.
{Photo 3} Again using fingers and
assortment of forming pliers, this time with
lengths of fine silver bezel wire, form each
partition piece to fit pattern. Take time to
adjust and readjust each partition until
satisfied that it fits pattern snugly.
© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
3 4
7 8
{Photo 4} Use tube cutting jig to cut four {Photo 8} Mix resin with spatula
.125" lengths of sterling silver tubing. for two minutes per manufacturer’s
recommendation. Because we wanted our
➤ Two tubing lengths will create the open- earrings to match, we mixed a batch large
ings for the ear wires; the second set to cre- enough so that we could fill comparable par-
ate 2 teardrop shapes — which we formed titions in both earrings in one application.
with our small needle-nose pliers.
{Photo 9} Add glitter in small amounts
{Photo 5} Mix up small batch of five- using a micro-spatula. Add glitter in
minute, two-part epoxy to secure each several small batches, rather than adding
intersection with outer frame. Apply epoxy too much to avoid having to mix up another
to each joint with tip of wooden toothpick, batch. Mix glitter thoroughly into resin after
then place assemblies under work lamp to each addition.
allow a proper cure.
➤ We did not bond the teardrop shapes or
the ear wire openings at this time.
{Photo 6} Place a strip of double-sided
Tip
carpet tape to a sheet of paper, then re- Success with resin is
move release strip from top side of carpet dependant upon careful
tape. Carefully press each assembly onto measurement. You must
tape to seal bottom of assembly so it be sure the proportions
of resin and catalyst are
won’t leak when liquid resin is poured into
each cavity. Press small teardrop shapes
mixed according to the
package directions, and
and pieces of tubing for ear wires onto
that molds, mixing imple-
page
carpet tape according to the pattern.
ments, and inclusions are
clean, dry, and free of
{Photo 7} Carefully weigh equal amounts potential contaminants.
of resin and hardener with jeweler’s gram
scale.
Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 28
 10
{Photo 10} Using dropper, add each batch
of resin in appropriate cavities. Fill cavities
only 3/4 full to allow for final doming layer of
clear resin. Clean eye dropper with acetone
between each resin batch.
{Photo 11} Allow resin to cure at room
temperature for one hour according to di-
rections. Place assemblies under work light
for 24 hours. Then turn light off and allow
resin to cool to room temperature before
proceeding.
{Photo 12} Mix a large enough batch to
dome both earrings at same time. Again,
with eye dropper, add resin slowly and care-
fully so it domes up. Don’t allow resin to
2112982-LPJF-090808.pdf
flowProcessed by DG
over sides. Juneresin
Allow 5, 2009
to cure at room
Riveting!
WATCH – LEARN – CREATE!
© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
11 12
temperature for one hour, and then place Before attaching earrings to wires,
under work light for 24 hours. Remove from apply a coat of Renaissance Wax to
light and allow to cool to room temperature protect resin surface.
before removing tape from back.
TOM & KAY BENHAM are teachers
➤ Avoid touching the resin surface as of both metalsmithing and lapidary, are
it can acquire fingerprints for several days members of The Florida Society of Gold-
before it is fully cured. smiths and The Central Florida Mineral &
Gem Society, and have been Contribut-
Create ear wires with 20ga sterling ing Editors for this magazine for 7 years.
silver round wire. Round each end with the
cup burr lubricated with beeswax before
shaping.
➤ We placed the ear wires into a
vibratory tumbler for a couple of
hours to work-harden them.
Learn how to create artistic and long-lasting connections PLUS make two
distinctive pendants using wire rivets, screw rivets & tube rivets.
Combine found objects, metal shapes and frames, and other unique
elements in one-of-a-kind designer pendants using one of the strongest
cold connections in metalworking: rivets.
Jewelry design superstar, Susan Lenart Kazmer gives you step-by-step
instructions along with helpful tutorials on the tools you will use to make
the pendants.
$24.99
Approximately 60 minutes
interweavestore.com
Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 29
 Multi technique Cynthia Alderdice

PROJECT BY
enameled pendant & Lois Mansfield
Opening Photo: JIM LAWSON
Project Photos: AAGPA EDITIONS
C o m b i n e m e t a l c l a y, c l o i s o n n é , e t c h i n g ,
stone setting, and chain making in one design

O
ur design, called “Alchemic Synthesis,”
combines cloisonné enamel with textured
22K gold sheet, metal clay, the design and
creation of custom etching plates, keumboo, and
setting faceted and cabochon gemstones. It was
created to explore and combine several advanced
and specialized jewelry making techniques into a
beautiful but challenging piece.
First, we’ll create the etching plates,
etch them, and create the textured
metal clay pendant backing. After fir-
ing, we’ll use the “tear away” tech-
nique — developed by Celie Fago
for metal clay surface design
— to transfer the same texture
to gold. Our original designs
for the etching and tear-away
plates were developed on
the computer, and we used
Adobe Illustrator to create
positive and negative images,
but you could use any imag-
ing software to do the same
thing. The etching plates were
used to impress patterns on the
PMC base. Additional texture was
achieved by traditional roll print-
ing in a mill.
Then, we’ll create the cloisonné,
fabricate the pendant, and create the
handmade chain for the necklace. We like the
way the colorful cloisonné enameling enhances
the overall design.

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 30
 S K I L L S yo u n e e d

• fabrication • stone setting • enameling • etching • soldering metal clay

M ate r ia ls a n d To o ls yo u n e e d

M A T E R I AL S Fine silver PMC Styrofoam block TOOLS

22K gold sheet: .012" to 1/4" high PMC+ Clay Duct tape Hand tools: calipers, oval mandrel,
round nose pliers, bezel pusher,
18-gauge round 22K gold wire Sculpey III Polymer Clay Ninomiya enamels burnisher
24K gold foil for keumboo 24K gold cloisonné wire Klyr-Fire Other tools: rolling mill, Thermo-
22K gold sheet: .013" 18K gold solder Liver of sulfur Fax thermal copier, photo silk
screen and resist, silk screen
19-gauge fine silver sheet 14K gold solder Two 6mm cabochon stones plastic frame, computer with imag-
ing software, bookbinding press, 2
20-gauge fine silver sheet Medium silver solder One 8mm x 10mm faceted stone:
pressed wood boards (MDF)
about 3 carats
12-gauge brass sheet: 3" x 5" Ferric chloride
Metal clay tools: plastic roller for
18-gauge round fine silver wire Mineral spirits, paper towels PMC, Teflon sheet, pin tool, oval
template, distilled water in spray
bottle, textured etching plates

1 2 3 3 4
{Photo 1} Plan design using Illustrator {Photo 2} Create pattern using component {Photo 3} Enlarge pattern to fit 3” x 5” brass
or other computer drawing program. parts of design. etching plates. Print both positive and nega-
tive images using laser printer.

Positive plate Negative plate

Two images for etching

For the PMC process, you’ll need both a positive and negative
of your final design. Our pendant used these images.

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 31
4 5 6 7

8 9
{Photo 4} Place printed image under
presensitized thermal screen, sandwiched
between backing paper and transparency
film. Run through Thermo-Fax thermal
copier.
{Photo 5} Peel silk screen mask from
thermal printed image.
{Photo 6} Transfer peeled image to
screen. Mount screen to plastic frame.
{Photo 7} Apply acid resist to top of frame
and squeegee to bottom of frame.
10
➤ The image is transferred to the brass
plate as the acid resist passes through the
silk of the open areas of the mask. You’ll
need to create another mask and frame to
create a negative image plate by following
the same procedure.
{Photo 8} Mount etching plates to foam
block with duct tape and float on surface of
ferric chloride etchant solution.
➤ We use 3 parts acid to 2 parts water for
our etchant recipe, but follow the specific
directions for your chosen brand. Reminder:
always add acid to water, not water to acid.
11
Etching times may vary depending upon
the complexity of the design. Check plate
every hour. Our plates took 6 hours to etch
fully. Rinse plates under running water for
several minutes to wash away etchant. Neu-
tralize plates from any lingering etchant
in a solution of baking soda and water and
dry.
{Photo 9} Remove resist from plates with
mineral spirits and paper towels. Rinse and
dry. On backs of plates, indicate direction
of top of design and negative (N) or positive
(P) with Sharpie.

How Silkscreen Works

Silkscreen printing is used to transfer an image to a
sheet of paper, cloth, posterboard, or other materi-
als — in this case a brass plate — by way of a cut
stencil that is adhered to a piece of evenly woven
silk that has been stretched in a frame.
The uncut areas of the stencil prevent ink from
passing through the screen, and the open areas of
the stencil allow the ink to pass through the screen
onto whatever surface lies below the frame.

Negative plate prior to etching Positive plate prior to etching

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 32
 12
16
19
{Photo 10} Oil etching plates and all tools
for PMC +.
(Photo 11} Roll PMC to desired thickness.
Our design is 14 cards thick.
{Photo 12} Sandwich rolled clay between
positive and negative plates.
{Photo 13} Position plates in center of 2
pressed wood boards.
{Photo 14} Place boards in center of book-
binding press to achieve even pressure.
➤ If you don’t have a bookbinding press,
you can carefully roll the sandwiched clay
and plates between the wood boards after
inserting risers of the desired thickness on
either side of the plates and clay. A wooden
rolling pin will work for this method.
{Photo 15} Carefully remove top plate to
reveal pressed clay image.
{Photo 16} Cut desired pendant shape
with pin tool, allowing for clay shrinkage.
{Photo 17} Peel excess clay from cut shape.
© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
13 14
17 18
20
{Photo 18} Dry at least 24 hours. Sand
and refine edges. Fire in kiln for 2 hours at
1650º.
{Photo 19} Create a “tear away” texture
plate. Anneal 22K gold sheet and then
pickle in Sparex acid. Roll print tear-away
design onto annealed and pickled 22K gold
sheet. Clay paper can be used only once for
this procedure.
➤ You can roll any texture onto the gold
sheet, but if you’d like the patterns to
match exactly, the “tear away” technique is
the best method for achieving this.
{Photo 20} Saw out design shape.
➤ Use the tracing paper shape from the de-
sign as a “view finder” to aid in placement
of the pattern on the gold sheet.
{Photo 21} Create design layout with
enamel and test color chips.
{Photo 22} Make drawing and pattern
for placement of 24K gold cloisonné wire
shapes. Form wire shapes according to
design. Run textured brass plate and .020
Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4
15
fine silver sheet through rolling mill. Saw
out design using tracing paper pattern as
guide. Clean textured silver with Comet
cleanser and toothbrush to remove all
grease. Rinse and dry well. Spray 50/50
solution of Klyr-Fire and distilled water on
back of piece. Carefully sift Soyer Enamels
#3 flux on back. Repeat twice.
{Photo 23} Repeat flux and sift procedure
on piece front. Handle carefully and place
back side down on mica sheet.
{Photo 24} Dry in front of kiln, then place
on ceramic shard on top of kiln to dry
further. Fire approximately 1-2 minutes in
small enameling kiln. Dip cloisonné wires in
Klyr-Fire and place on surface. Fuse small
cloisons, fill with selected colors, and fire
separately on mica. Arrange these shapes
and add additional wires to complete
design. Fire again.
{Photo 25} Fill cloisons with chosen
colors. It may be necessary to fill and fire
as many as 10 or 11 times. Fill top layers with
finishing flux N-1 Ninomiya.
10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 33
21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28
{Photo 26} Adhere wooden dowel to
reverse side of enamel using dop wax.

Sand underwater, starting with 220

wet-dry sandpaper and progressing to
1,000 grit.

{Photo 27} Form outer bezel from .013

22K gold 1/4" high joined with 20K gold
solder. Solder gold bezel to 19ga fine
silver sheet using 14K gold solder. Trim
and sand. Solder bezel unit to PMC +
base using medium silver solder. Bezel
for stone is .013 22K gold sheet 1/4" high.
Solder stone setting to fine silver base
with 14K gold solder. Line up carefully
to center of piece and solder unit using
medium silver solder.

Solder textured gold to 20ga fine silver

base with 14K gold solder for strength.
Inner bezels (which are different
heights) to accommodate enamel piece
and 22K gold textured element must
butt together evenly. Set enamel and
gold unit using bezel roller and bur-
nisher. Set stone in same manner.

{Photo 28} Anneal fine silver wire. In-

sert one end of 18ga round wire in vise,
the other around 7/8" wooden dowel.
Wind wire tightly and keep even ten-
sion. Remove from dowel and anneal.
Place back on dowel and tighten.

The back of the pendant

is embellished with 2
citrine cabochons and
finished with keumboo and
liver of sulfur patination.

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 34
 29 30 31 32

33 34 35 36
{Photo 29} Cut links using Joyce Chen
scissors.

➤ As visible in the final piece, 18ga 22K gold

and fine silver links may be interspersed
throughout the chain.

{Photo 30} Fuse links on ceramic or

charcoal block. Cool.
{Photo 31} Spread link with round
nose pliers.
{Photo 32} Form bow-tie shape.

{Photo 33} Bend links in U shape.

{Photo 34} Place 3/32" dowel upright

in vise. Slip one link over dowel. Joint should
be on small looped end. Place
3
/32" dowel perpendicular to other dowel.
Pinch link between 2 dowels vertically
and horizontally with round nose pliers.

{Photo 35} Open each link as shown and

planish each link from inside surface on pol-
ished steel block. Anneal and reshape.

{Photo 36} Spread link to enable next link

to go through. Continue until chain is desired
length. Anneal and repinch with pliers. Ad-
just and realign each link.

Attach chain to back of pendant.

ALDERDICE & MANSFIELD are col-

laborating art jewelers who design and
fabricate classical and cross-cultural one
of a kind and limited edition pieces in
22K and 24K gold, fine silver, gemstones,
pearls, and enamels. They are inspired
by world culture and their classical edu-
cation at the Kulicke-Stark Academy of
Jewelry is reflected in their work.

© Interweave Press LLC. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved. Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Volume 4 10 Mixed Media Jewelry Projects 35