« I always bake in high heels and sequins! | Main | Haute Sake! »
October 15, 2007
Rock and Roll Holiday Gifts
Holiday Gifts: Rock Star Necklaces
It is never to soon to start crafting for the holidays and here is an idea that will appeal to any music lover.
Show off your wild crafty side with a rock and roll resin necklace. You can make a whole slew of them and give them as holiday gifts or just treat yourself to a few new accessories.
These easy-to-make pieces of jewelry are embedded with guitar picks but of course you could embed them with small bits of paper, confetti shapes, tiny toys and glitter. It is endless how many different items you can embed, just make sure the item fits into the mold.
The molds are available in so many different shapes, everything from small rings and earrings to large pendants and heart shapes. Resin and mold supplies are available at craft shops and online retailers.
Have fun creating your own rock and roll style and be careful, resin jewelry is addicting!
Materials:
Easy Cast resin
mold-release spray
plastic measure/mixing cups
vinyl gloves
wood stir sticks
mold
foam paintbrush
tweezers
guitar picks or items to embed
ball chain necklace
hand or electric drill
1/16" drill bit
18- or 20-gauge wire
round-nose pliers
1. Prepare the mold with a mold-release spray.
2. Wearing protective gloves, carefully measure equal amounts of resin and hardener into a plastic measure cup. make sure you do not use a wax-coated cups.
3. For EasyCast to blend chemically, it must be mixed together in two stages. Combine resin and hardener according to package directions and stir for two full minutes.
4. Quickly pour resin into a mold until mold is half full.
5. Brush the guitar pick or object that will be embedded with resin (hold object with tweezers and apply resin with a foam brush ). Next, set the object in the half-filled mold, face down.
6. Fill the remainder of the mold with resin. Fill to just below the top of the mold to prevent a lip of resin forming at the edges. If bubbles form, use a hair dryer and pass heated air quickly over the surface to remove bubbles. Be careful, though: excess heat can melt or warp plastic molds.
7. For best results, cast pieces should cure at temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Normal cure for castings that are 1/2" thick is 72 hours for hard cure.
8. When the item has cured, release it from the mold. Rigid plastic molds can usually be twisted slightly to break the cast pieces free; pushing in from the back side of the mold will also help.
9. Drill a small hole in the top of the pendant using a 1/16" drill bit; use a small file to smooth hole edges.
10. Thread a 5" piece of wire through the hole, form a small loop and wrap the base of the loop with the end of the wire. Add the pendant to a ball chain necklace.
Posted by cathieandsteve at October 15, 2007 12:19 PM
Comments
I love working with resin. Other ideas would be to create the resin item of your choice and apply it to scrapbooks, picture frames, the list goes on. I have made key chain charms, place card settings for weddings, picture holder, and gift name tags.
I love the show and TiVo it so that I don't miss a thing.
Sarah
(Florida)
Posted by: Sarah at October 20, 2007 10:39 AM
Hi Cathie and Steve-
During the container show on 10/17 (I think), between your demos there was a great idea to use fabric and chinese takeout containers for gifts. (Love It!) But there was a layer of something in the middle and I did not catch what it was. I also could not find the info on the website.
I love your show and all your ideas!! Steve, I went to Columbia College too.
Thanks-
Donna
Posted by: Donna at October 22, 2007 1:56 PM
Please please please keep this show on the air! We needed a 'real' craft show again. These crafts are easy to make and its easy to find the things. Its not like license plate frame purses or some of the gourmet cooking shows. This is a show for moms like me, on the go with PTA, Scouts, and sports. We want to make fun things, but don't want to spend a forune, don't want to buy specialty tools, and it needs to be failry easy. I have been Tivo'ing all the Witch Crafts and HOPE to see holiday shows for X-mas ideas soon! My friends are loving the show too. We all had been taking a break from HGTV and DIY because the crafts were not something the everyday mom would want to make.
Posted by: Jana at October 25, 2007 5:37 PM
I also agree to please, please, please keep you guys on the air! I don't know what I'd do - I record all of the shows I'm not home to see (if at work), and the first thing I do is sit down and watch! And, believe me, I've made a bunch of your craft ideas! I love your book. It's never too far away! I would love it if you'd put together another one! I just finished making the fall centerpiece with the styrofoam balls and beans! It is awesome. My husband was very impressed! I made 3 candle ones (2 taper and 1 with a votive sized candle, and 4 regular bean balls. It looks really classy! Love you guys, Debbie
Posted by: Debbie Coleman at November 2, 2007 11:38 AM
favorited this one, brother
Posted by: LectOthensebed at September 22, 2008 3:38 PM
