One fun design idea I like is to use components in different ways.  I really like Nunn Design's antiqued metal tags and charms - shown below, in a promotional card, are necklaces made from them. I have also previously featured many of her findings and some tutorials (see links below). 

She recently sent me several more tags and some awesome bumblebee brass stampings.  The latter are hollow and that set me thinking on how to incorporate them into earrings. 



There are also all kinds of new findings all the time such as these below. 


One of the best things we can do with jewelry components is to play with them.  So that is what I did with the tags, matching them with other findings from the Nunn Design collections. 

Beginners may not be ready to do rivet work or wire work, both of which are cold techniques for joining components. Using glue is perfectly fine so long as you use really strong glue.  I am not a fan of E6000 glue simply because it's not reliable when it gets old.  Been there, done that.  See this post on Which Glue to Use for Stud Earrings where I check out several types.

There are two glues which I often use.  One type is the cyanoacrylate glue - Super New Glue is one brand to go for if you don't use a lot of glue. Nowadays, I prefer and recommend Starbond. It's just as good as Super New Glue but is in larger quantity and lasts for years.Use Code BGSB15 at checkout to save 15% amount on your Starbond glue purchase. You can also purchase the Medium from Amazon. Or try your local woodworking supply store. 

It is a thin glue so it spreads easily inside bezels (and cord ends). So it is ideal to use for gluing the lucite flowers onto the small Nunn Design bezels shown below. 





I switch to G-S Hypo Cement for precision work because the nozzle is so fine. Messes can be avoided when gluing small flat back crystals : 

G-S Hypo Cement is also very strong for sticking posts onto the studs - or tags being used as studs as shown below :

Beginners can use the basic wrapped wire loop to connect either beads or two hole connectors to the tag-studs. 
Got some four hole connectors lying around?  You can also wire them up. I prefer to wrap them directly to the stud (left, below) rather than use an extra jump ring to make the connection (right). The earrings will become longer with the jump ring.

The back of the four hole connector :


Connecting and wrapping directly to the tag-stud :

The side wire "bulges" can be squeezed in if desired :

Another type of glue is to use epoxy resin clay. This is the solid version of resin. It comes in two parts and has to be mixed before applying. Check out my latest Youtube video on How to Use Resin Clay to Attach Hollow Charms to Tags.

The video also includes tips on how to use hypo cement without making a drippy mess!  Note that I used slightly more black epoxy resin clay to create a shadow effect which compliment the brass. You can use less with hollow charms but make sure there is sufficient contact with the foundation tag. The full list of supplies is in the video description. 







Before You Go:


jewelry making supplies

Disclosure 

This blog may contain affiliate links. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation. 
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM