How to Make a Capiz-Shell Pendant
Capiz shells are delicate, lustrous shells that are usually flat and often circular in shape. Their natural beauty and translucency make them a prime candidate for craft and home décor projects such as making chandeliers, wind chimes and jewelry. Capiz-shell beads are available from online bead suppliers, but you can make your own capiz-shell pendant with or without drilling a hole in the shell. Leave the shell in its natural state, or decorate the front with an image using paint and a stencil or a rubber stamp and permanent ink.
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Things You'll Need
- Capiz shell
- Glue-on bail
- One-part-epoxy adhesive
- Rotary drill
- 1/8-Inch drill bit
- Jump ring
- Round-nose pliers
- Felt
- Scissors
- Liquid jeweler's glue
- Micro-seed beads
Instructions
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1
Attach the flat section of a glue-on bail to the capiz shell with one-part-epoxy adhesive. Position the bail on the back side of the shell, near the top. Whether or not the bail ring will be visible above the capiz shell depends on how you attach the flat section to the shell. Hide the bail by fitting the flat section flush against the capiz shell, just below the top rim. Show the bail by flipping the flat section over and placing the top of the opposite side level with the top rim of the shell.
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2
Drill a 1/8-inch-diameter hole through the top of the capiz shell with a high-speed rotary drill. Open your choice of jump ring with round-nose jewelry pliers; grip the ring to the left of the split with the pliers and press the right side of the split forward with your fingers. Slide the open ring through the hole in the capiz shell, then close the ring to complete the pendant.
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3
Cut a section of felt to extend 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch around the perimeter of the capiz shell. Glue the capiz shell to the center of the felt with one-part-epoxy adhesive. Cover the felt around the shell with liquid jeweler's glue. Cover the jeweler's glue with micro-seed beads. After the glue dries, tilt the felt and reapply any micro-beads that become dislodged. Attach a glue-on bail to the back side of the felt to finish the pendant.
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Tips & Warnings
Instead of micro-beads, cover the felt around the capiz shell with flat-backed rhinestones.
