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Fimo Soft polymer clay can be used to make beads, sculptures or other crafts. It comes in many colors and can be bought at craft stores. The colors can be blended together or simply formed from a single color. Once it's in the shape you want it, bake it in the oven to harden the clay. Once hard, it will not soften again.
Chainmaille, once used only as protective armor, has taken on a decorative life and can be fashioned into a wide variety of delicate and colorful patterns. The Celtic Star pattern is a pretty design that can be worked into a larger design or made as a single piece, into earrings or a necklace. You can purchase chainmaille links in every color of the rainbow and in a range of gauges, all of which allow you to customize the standard patterns even further.
Fimo is a type of polymer clay that you can bake in the kitchen oven to harden. This clay is easy to work with and can be made into sculptural forms using tools you probably have around the house. When you have made your doll, place the doll in the oven and the shape will become permanent. Paint details on the outside of the polymer and spray a final finish to make the doll look just the way you want.
Bead tips are a type of jewelry component that designers use to finish the ends of necklaces and bracelets in a professional manner that does not show any knotting of the thread. Bead tips usually are relatively small and not at all conspicuous; they are often less than 6 millimeters in diameter. Bead tips usually have two parts: a clam shell portion that closes over a knot in a cord or a crimp bead, and a hook portion that you can hook around a clasp and then close shut to attach your necklace or bracelet to a clasp.
An innocuous self-inking office stamp is a rather sophisticated device. As you press down on its plastic top, an pad inside the stamper rotates toward the rubber design surface and inks it. The ink pad and stamp then rotate apart, and the stamp turns down and touches the paper beneath to make an impression. If your stamp is not printing well, you may need to clean the rubber surface or correct your stamping technique.
Plexiglas is a non-porous, slick material and printing on it can be a challenge, unless you know and use the correct tools, materials and techniques. Plexiglas and other acrylic or glass surfaces do not accept just any kind of paint or ink; look for project specific materials at craft and hobby stores. Decorate any type of Plexiglas project with colorful, printed images, words and phrases. You can also freehand designs to suit your personal style.
Creating decorative, hand-painted designs on glass or Plexiglas is one way to turn a plain object into a work of art. Make sure to select the right type of paint for your project. Glass and enamel paints adhere well to slick surfaces such as glass and Plexiglas, and are available at craft stores in a variety of colors. Templates can simplify decorative painting for would-be artists with minimal skills. Select from plastic templates at the craft store or make your own by cutting out paper images and shapes.
Recycling items that would otherwise end up in the trash is a creative way to save money on craft supplies as well as on jewelry. Turn a set of Scrabble tiles with a few tiles missing into whimsical pieces of jewelry with some decorative scrapbook paper and other supplies you can pick up at the craft store. Make the jewelry for yourself or to give as gifts.
Macrame is the art of tying knots to create textiles. Beginners just learning to macrame, and who want instant gratification, may choose to make a bracelet or necklace. Basic macrame jewelry is inexpensive and fairly quick to produce. Those looking for DIY gift ideas can buy a ball of hemp jewelry cord at a craft store and whip out presents quickly. When you're feeling more confident with your basic macrame skills, you can add wood, glass or clay beads to your designs.
Button jewelry not only gives you a project to use up buttons that fell from old pieces of clothing or extra buttons from sewing projects, it allows you to create original pieces that match your tastes and style. You can also involve your children in these projects, no matter what their age. Small children may make very simple button bracelets with string while older teens can make more complicated projects. You can make anything from bracelets, to necklaces and pendants, to earrings, and even rings with all with a button base.
Plexiglass features a clear, cool surface much like glass but offers more stability. Plexiglass is more flexible than regular glass, cutting and breaking more like plastic. For these reasons, plexiglass makes a good base for jewelry. Its durability makes it perfect for pendants and charms that might bang off of hard surfaces or get dropped. Its transparent nature makes it perfect for personalizing.
At a craft fair or in a shop, presentation is everything. Jewelers with creative and unique display ideas will probably attract more customers and therefore more sales. Mannequins present an attractive challenge for jewelry designers, because they force you to step out of your jewelry box while still requiring some skill with wire work. You can spice up your jewelry display by using a home-made display mannequin that is sure to set your booth apart from all the jeweler's trays and earring stands.
Chainmaille has been around for centuries. Whether its use has been for armor in the middle ages or for hobbyist in modern times, the craft always draws the attention of a select crowd. Chainmaille jewelry finds itself repeatedly in popular fashion. The method may be used for necklaces, bracelets or even bikini outfits. Making your own chainmaille jewelry can also be therapeutic for the person who loves to work with her hands on tedious projects. They are great gifts for people as well, especially if you decide to use actual silver. As of April 15, 2010, silver is between twenty-two…
Fimo is a brand of polymer clay that is commonly used in beadmaking and other crafts. Polymer clay is an artificial compound that can be baked in the oven. After baking, it is hard, unbending and strong. For this reason, crafters often prefer Fimo and other polymer compounds to salt dough or natural clay. Polymers come in a rainbow of colors and are easy to work with at home.
Recycling goods into wearable jewelry is a way to profess to the world that you are environmentally responsible. Transform old bottle caps into pendants and necklaces for your friends and family to wear. Using different colors and themes, make a bottle cap pendant to wear with any of your fashion choices. On a rainy day, invite friends from the neighborhood over to make these necklaces together for a creative afternoon.
Plexiglas is one of the most flexible elements in jewelry design. You can cut Plexiglas into shapes and paint it with acrylics or glass paint to create colorful and artistic charms and pendants for your jewelry. You can also decoupage pressed flowers or images onto one side of the Plexiglas to create personalized jewelry designs. Fill a bracelet with photo charms made from Plexiglas, or make a memorial necklace pendant with flowers from a special occasion.
Hemp is a natural fiber produced from the cannabis sativa L. plant. It is not marijuana, although the plants are from the same family. Hemp is similar to cotton, but stronger, which makes it great stringing material for jewelry. Hemp twine is commonly combined with wooden beads to give the jewelry a natural and organic look, but any beads with holes large enough to slip over the hemp fiber can be used. Its natural color is an earthy tan, but dyed twine is also available for jewelry making.
Bead jewelry is easy to create and offers a world of design possibilities. Some of your choices for making jewelry include beads crafted from faceted crystal glass that sparkle with the light, exotic woods with hand-painted exteriors, shells with iridescent colors and hand-crafted clay with polished designs. You can use any combination of beads to make jewelry that fits your style and wardrobe.
Macrame is the craft of knotting cord into geometric patterns with just the fingers as tools. The process can be used to create beautiful macramé jewelry ranging from simple to intricate in design. Depending on the materials used to create the items, they are suitable for casual, business and even elegant wear.
