How to Make Microscope Slide Jewelry
Microscope slide jewelry mixes paper crafts with jewelry to create tiny works of wearable art, usually pendants or pins. They are made by pressing bits of decorative paper, ephemera, photographs, drawings or collage art between two sheets of 1x3-inch microscope glass, the kind used in scientific labs. The edges of the glass are framed with metal foil and soldered, a technique that requires advanced jewelry-making expertise. However, it's also possible to make microscope slide jewelry without a soldering iron. This simplified approach uses only the most basic jewelry-making skills and supplies to create a microscope slide pendant necklace.
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Things You'll Need
- 2 microscope slides
- Rubbing alcohol
- Paper towel
- Two 1x3-inch images (photos, decorative papers, drawings)
- Craft knife or scissors
- 1 1/2 inch single eye pin
- Jump ring
- Chain necklace, silk cording or ribbon
- Jewelry or metal glue
- Adhesive foil tape, 1/4 inch wide
- Needle nose jewelers pliers
Instructions
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1
Clean any fingerprints or dust from your microscope slides using the alcohol and paper towel. Place a microscope slide over each image to make sure they are the same size as the slide. Trim the edges, if necessary, using the craft knife or scissors.
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2
Place one of the images on your work surface, image side down. Apply a couple of drops of glue to the back side of the image, making sure not to use so much glue that it runs off the sides of the paper. Place the eye pin over the glued surface with the eyelet extending just above the image. Place the other image on top, facing up. Make sure that the images are oriented so that the top of the images are next to the eyelet; this is the top of your pendant. Press the sandwiched papers, glue and eye pin together, making sure the edges line up evenly. Let dry.
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3
Sandwich the glued papers in between the two microscope slides. Cut four lengths of metal tape to match the dimensions of the slide--two 3 inch pieces and two 1 inch pieces. Press the tape around the long sides of the slide, wrapping the edges evenly. Before applying the tape to the short sides, make a 1/8 inch cut into the center of one piece of tape, so that it can fold over the slide edge and around the eyelet. Smooth out any wrinkles with your finger tips. Add a second layer of tape on all four sides. This time, fold the cut side of the tape around the opposite side of the eyelet to help camouflage the cut.
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4
Attach the jump ring to the eyelet with the pliers. Transform the pendant into a necklace by attaching it to the chain, cording or ribbon.
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Tips & Warnings
Microscope slides can be purchased from laboratory supply shops or hobby shops.
Foil tape can be found at craft supply stores or hardware stores.
Jewelry-making supplies are available at craft supply stores and jewelry supply shops.
Working with glass is not suitable for small children.
