Instructions for Microscope Slide Jewelry

Homemade jewelry is all the rage, and one of the greatest things about making your own is that you can use whatever materials you want. By using just a few inexpensive items, you can create jewelry that's personalized and chic. Believe it or not, you can even make a fashionable double-sided necklace out of microscope slides and two of your favorite pictures. Making handmade jewelry is simple to do and you're limited only by your imagination. With this easy-to-do project, in a few minutes, you'll have a one-of-a-kind microscope necklace that's perfect for gifting or wearing yourself.

Things You'll Need

• 2 microscope slides
• Foil or copper metal tape (found online or at your local craft stores)
• 2 pictures
• Chain or ribbon
• Paper towel
• Crafting cutters
• Eye pin
• Jump ring
• Burnishing tool
• Glass cleaner
• Clear drying glue
• Craft knife
• Rubber gloves

Instructions

1. Take a glass slide and wrap copper tape around the outside edge so you can cut the right amount of tape for sealing the project later. Cut the tape at the point where the tape meets itself. Do not remove the backing from the tape until you are ready to finish the project. Set the cut tape aside.

2. 

   Use glass cleaner to clean fingerprints off.

   Clean the microscope slides thoroughly with your choice of glass cleaner and a clean paper towel. Make sure the slides are completely dry and free of any paper towel particles.

3. Place one microscope slide down on a clean paper towel. Wearing rubber gloves while working with the glass slides will help reduce fingerprints and debris from getting on the slides.

4. Take your two pictures and cut them to the same dimensions as the microscope slides. This is easily done by placing the glass slide over top of your picture and using a craft knife to cut it to size. Then, place one picture face-down on the slide.

5. 

   For this project, any type of glue you have will do.

   Place the eye pin in the center of the picture and use a drop of glue to keep it in place; the base of the eye pin's hoop should be even with the top of the picture and slide. An eye pin is a pin with a loop at the top that's used in jewelry making. If the eye pin is longer than the length of the glass slide, use a pair of craft cutters to cut the shaft of the pin so it doesn't overhang the slide.

6. Place the second picture face-up on top of the first picture. By doing this, the second picture will cover the eye pin and each side of the pendant will feature a different picture.

7. Place the second microscope slide on the top of the second picture.

8. Remove the backing from the copper tape and stick it to the outside edges of the microscope slides starting from one side of the eye pin loop. Wrap the tape all the way around the slides and the other end of the tape should end up at the other side of the eye pin loop.

9. 

   Save your chopsticks, they work great for burnishing too!

   Use your fingernails, a craft stick or a burnishing tool to smooth the tape and eliminate any wrinkles.

10. 

    Finish the necklace with your choice of cording or chain.

    Attach a jump ring to the eye pin loop and string your choice of chain, ribbon or cording to finish off your microscope slide pendant necklace. A jump ring is a small metal ring used in jewelry making.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use chain, ribbon or string for your necklace.

• Make sure you clean and dry the slides well before gluing and adding pictures

• Personalize the slide with text or family photos.

• Purchase supplies at craft stores or online retailers.