How to Make Photo Charm Jewelry
Dating to prehistoric times, charms have been associated with magic, protection, spirituality, and love, according to Rembrandt Charms. During the mid-1880s, England's Queen Victoria introduced lockets with family portraits inside. Today, the love component of charms lives on--especially with regard to photo charms. Wearing a photo charm necklace keeps a loved one close to your heart--literally. For a whimsical spin on a photo charm, use a bottle cap as the frame.
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Things You'll Need
- Bottle caps (unused or twist-offs)
- Tweezers
- Cutting mat
- Rubber mallet (or hammer covered with a towel)
- Decorative paper
- Nails
- Small photos
- Decoupage glue
- Thin chain necklace or charm bracelet
- Jump rings
- Silver wire
- Wire cutters
- Beads
Instructions
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1
Remove the liner inside the bottle cap. To easily get the liners out, boil them for 3 to 4 minutes, then use tweezers to lift them out.
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2
Place the bottle cap on a hard surface or your cutting mat with the smooth side facing you. Use a mallet or covered hammer to lightly tap the cap a few times, but don't totally flatten it.
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3
Turn the cap over and hit it several times to curl up the sides. This is your frame. Use decoupage glue to adhere decorative paper to cover the back of the cap.
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4
Use the hammer and a small nail to pierce a hole at the top of the bottle cap. If you want to embellish it with hanging beads, pierce up to three holes at the bottom of the cap.
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5
Put a layer of decoupage glue inside the bottle cap and secure your photo inside.
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6
Add beads to silver wire and thread it through the bottom holes of the cap, twisting the wire to keep it attached.
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7
Thread a jump ring through the top hole and slide it onto the necklace. If you're making a bracelet, secure the jump ring around a bracelet chain.
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Tips & Warnings
Affix a photo in a bottle cap, decorate the cap with beads, and hang it from a safety pin for a quick brooch.
Use tiny frames, add photos, and hang them on a charm bracelet or necklace.
Have extra bottle caps on hand because it could take several attempts to flatten the caps to your liking.
