For the last year or so, I've been experimenting with a unique concept that intrigues me.
The idea of incorporating paper or photographic images in jewelry is not really a new thing. I remember some of the first I ever encountered; It was made of rice paper that had been hand-stamped with pretty Victorian images, scrunched up into an artistic wad, dotted with Swarovski flatbacks and lacquered. These little wads were then transformed into beads and earrings.
Another gal I used to know would take stamps, Envirotex them and then drill them to hang as charms and earring drops. Stamps are always cool, that way, you know. There are so many types, so many images on them----and small enough to be used as jewelry, still large enough to make sense, visually.
Well, I thought, let's take it from there. I wanted to do something with paper....but I didn't want it to be overly laborious. (Okay, okay, so sue me, I like the instant or quick gratification stuff, sometimes!) I'd purchased some unfoiled 18x13mm crystal cabs. I had some pretty mounts and a bunch of glass fruit sitting next to them on the workbench, along with an envelope full of old matchbook covers from vintage Mexican food restaurants.
How does THAT become jewelry?
Like this:
I chose graphics from the matchbook covers that were representative of Mexico (to me) and cut them to size, gluing them into the mounts. Then I ran a bead of hypotube cement very neatly and careful around the bottom edge of the crystal cabochon, and put it OVER the graphic, into the mount. I let it dry, and then I worked the pendants into a pattern with the glass fruit, simply 'hanging' the stuff on rolo chain with jumps. Here's a closer look at the pendants:
I wear this necklace ALOT in the summertime and won't sell it for the world....it's colorful and unique and just plain fun.
But....I didn't stop there. I had access to some simple acrylic 2X magnifying lenses in a variety of sizes. I thought it might be fun to work with them as they were available in larger sizes and rounds, and would work with alot of standard sized bezels. A little bigger surface and I could do a little more.
First I tried a simple brooch using the lens, a four-pronged open back mount, a pie crust bezel (deeper, so a little more room) and a pretty stamping for a backing, just to sort of 'frame' it. Here is the result:
The little image is something I found in a bunch of scrapbook stuff I had, it's of a little 1930's bride and groom. Under the lens, they almost look like tiny little dolls!
I put this piece in my Ebay store where it sold quickly. But more than that, I got so many requests for the PARTS that I knew this was a type of jewelry that people would love----and there were so many possibilities!
If you check my site under BASES and CUFFS at http://www.bsueboutiques.com you'll find the kit to make this style of brooch. All you need is an image, and some glue.
I also tried making some bracelets using some of the stampings and findings I carry at my website, along with the lenses. I really think this bracelet came out WAY cool:
Be sure to click on this so you can get a good look at it. I used 25mm lace edged bezels which I glued to brox3800 from my website. (BTW, this plaque is REALLY versatile and a best-seller for me, you should try some---they make cool festoon necklaces, too!) Then I glued watch faces and baby pix into the bezels, and secured a 25mm lens over top. As soon as the glue set up, I linked the segments, added a clasp and there you go!
Here I again used watch faces along with scrapbook paper word images, which I embedded under 18mm lenses. I used a link bracelet form which we sometimes have at Ebay. It was fast and easy since the bracelet form is already linked, all I had to do was glue in the images and lenses.
This necklace is another success story. I made a lavalier drop with a 25mm and 35mm bezel and lens, the top one is a tiny piece of sheet music and the bottom, an old fashioned couple. Why not make a personal memento of grandparents' photos? A very special piece. Be sure to click on the pix to get a large view.
I can't wait try more ideas...it's easy and fast and there are so many possibilities. Soon I will have all the sizes of bezels and lenses available at my site! Some are currently in our Ebay store: http://www.stores.ebay.com/bsueboutiquesjewelrysupplies
