I don't know about you. But I personally do not like to wear jewelry with a personal message like "I Love You" emblazoned in script. Using morse code is thus a discrete way of conveying sentiments. I've designed a morse cord or name necklace before using wire coils and beads (see link below). This easy tutorial is a different take using resin clay and channel bangles.
What You Need :
I decided on "I Love You" as the secret message. So I used morse code to figure out the message. The trickiest bit was to figure out the spacing around the bangle. It's not foolproof but this was the rough method I came up with. I first determined the circumference of the bangle. Measure the diameter and halve it to get the radius (r). Then it was just a matter of calculating this :
If calculus gives you a headache, just use this web circumference calculator by inputting the radius. I drew a line demarcating the circumference so I could approximately place the dots (crystals) and dashes (ball chain or wire lengths).
I am not great at estimating equal lumps of the 2 part epoxy clay, so I use my mini scales to weigh them out.
Resin clay is sticky so either wear gloves or slightly oil your fingers with olive oil or similar. Mix or blend the two parts thoroughly.
I then rolled out a thin snake. It will probably be more even if you use an acrylic block (from stamping) to do the rolling. But you have to grease it a little to prevent sticking.
Then it was a matter of patting the resin clay into the channel of the bangles as evenly as possible.
A crystal embellishment positioning tool is very useful for picking up and placing crystals.
I used the original color of the resin clay for the gold bracelet. But I used the Perfect Pearls pigment in copper to rub into the resin clay of the copper bangle. This gives the bangle the look of a solid metal piece.
Just in case some sticky stuff is on the crystals, clean off the crystals with a little rubbing alcohol.
Easy peasy, right?
Disclosure
I receive books and products for review. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.
Photography
I used natural light my iPhone 6S with the camera+ app and the Modahaus TS320 tabletop studio for the final photos. To get the graduated grey background, I put the black sheet behind the white. I used artificial lights and the Modahaus TS400 for tutorial photos in my windowless basement studio. Check out my How to Photograph Jewelry Webinar .
Before You Go :
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips -Jewelry Business Tips
What You Need :
- channel bangles( mine were from Nunn Design)
- resin clay
- flat back crystals
- 20G wire (I used coated copper, courtesy of Parawire) or ball chain (also courtesy of Nunn Design)
- Ranger Perfect Pearls Metallic Pigment Powders(optional)
- Apoxie Clay (I used "white") or any color of Crystal Clay
- a crystal embellishment positioning tool of some kind
- rubbing alcohol (from drugstore) and a cotton tip
- gloves (I prefer nitrile gloves which are non-latex)
- wax paper (from grocery store) to protect surfaces
I decided on "I Love You" as the secret message. So I used morse code to figure out the message. The trickiest bit was to figure out the spacing around the bangle. It's not foolproof but this was the rough method I came up with. I first determined the circumference of the bangle. Measure the diameter and halve it to get the radius (r). Then it was just a matter of calculating this :
When cutting wire, remember to trim - flush cut the ends. The flat side of the flush cutter will result in a neat edge.
I am not great at estimating equal lumps of the 2 part epoxy clay, so I use my mini scales to weigh them out.
Resin clay is sticky so either wear gloves or slightly oil your fingers with olive oil or similar. Mix or blend the two parts thoroughly.
I then rolled out a thin snake. It will probably be more even if you use an acrylic block (from stamping) to do the rolling. But you have to grease it a little to prevent sticking.
Then it was a matter of patting the resin clay into the channel of the bangles as evenly as possible.
A crystal embellishment positioning tool is very useful for picking up and placing crystals.
I used the original color of the resin clay for the gold bracelet. But I used the Perfect Pearls pigment in copper to rub into the resin clay of the copper bangle. This gives the bangle the look of a solid metal piece.
Just in case some sticky stuff is on the crystals, clean off the crystals with a little rubbing alcohol.
Easy peasy, right?
Disclosure
I receive books and products for review. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.
Photography
I used natural light my iPhone 6S with the camera+ app and the Modahaus TS320 tabletop studio for the final photos. To get the graduated grey background, I put the black sheet behind the white. I used artificial lights and the Modahaus TS400 for tutorial photos in my windowless basement studio. Check out my How to Photograph Jewelry Webinar .
Before You Go :
- Make a Morse Code Name or Word Necklace
- How to Make a Seed Bead Morse Code Bracelet
- How to Make a Beaded Diva (or any Word) Pendant Necklace Tutorial
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips -Jewelry Business Tips
Pearl, these are so cool! I just love the look, and you make the resin look easy. I'm still a resin virgin, but you make me want to try it!
ReplyDeleteGo for it, Michelle! It`s not that hard! Just allow for the stickiness!
DeleteYou know resin clay is on my 'to buy' list. And perhaps some of those channel bangles which I recognized immediately as being from Nunn Design (Becky's components are so recognizable!)
ReplyDeleteEasy peasy is right Pearl. The hardest part must be figuring out where to place your dots and dashes... ;0)
Yes, spacing them out evenly was hard. But the preparation I did before hand made it a bit easier.
DeleteMorse code jewelry is on my to-do list ever since I read about it on your blog :) Clay is another story - for the time being, I'm not planning to try it. But these bangles are so cool!
ReplyDeletePerhaps someday you will give resin clay a try!
DeleteI love this project Pearl. It took me a wee bit of time to figure out how cool adding Mica Powders to my projects could be. When applied to the resin clay when wet it is permanent! It is also amazing within 2-Part Resin. So many possibilities. Thanks for the tutorial!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words! I think resin clay is so undervalued! It is amazing stuff. I like the metallic powders a lot because they simulate metal. Very useful if one is not a metal smith.
Delete