Archive for the ‘how to make jewelry’ Category

I know there is epoxy resin jewelry, but is there pure resin jewelry that you pour into models? And for epoxy jewelry, do you use only epoxy or do you have to mix stuff with it?

First, I think you meant to pour resin into *molds* –not models in your second option, right?

People tend to throw the word "resin" around a lot without really explaining *which* resin they’re using, and not realizing there’s a lot of difference in them.
For example, there are clear resins and colored resins, there are epoxy resins and polyester resins (both used for crafts, or somewhat lower quality ones used for fiberglass, etc), and there are even soft-setting epoxy resins called "floral setting resins" or sometimes "artificial water" to use inside glass vases, etc.

If you’re looking for a clear resin for making jewelry, you’re probably wanting either a craft-type epoxy resin (like Envirotex Lite) or a craft-type polyester resin (like Castin Craft’s Clear Polyester Casting Resin).
Both come as two parts which have to be mixed together just before use, but epoxy resins will be mixed in equal parts whereas polyester resins will be mixed using a few drops of one part to a lot of the other part .

In general, polyester resins are used when one wants to pour resin into a fairly "deep" mold (over 1/2" deep perhaps), then remove the cured resin later and turn it upside down for use (the back side of the molded object will often stay a little sticky because polyester resins won’t cure thoroughly in the presence of air without an extra step or two, and may be a little cloudy or uneven).

Epoxy resins are used either for coating things thickly (they’re also called "bartop resin" if purchased in a hardware store) or for pouring into shallow cells and left there (like into metal bezels or even bottle caps, or into anything that will hold it).

There are also other kinds of "resin" that are not clear which can be poured into molds (they’re colored, and may also have other materials in them), which are used for commercial figurines, etc.

You can read a lot about the various kinds of resin (especially those used for crafts and for jewelry), get lessons, etc., on this page at my site if you’re interested:

http://glassattic.com/polymer/other_materials.htm

And there are some summaries of a lot of the info in these previous answers by me:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqRoGzjtN95Is41Kmm_SHHfsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20091011042033AAytK0x

(and a Google search for most all my resin answers at YahooAnswers:)

http://www.google.com/search?q=YahooAnswers+"Diane+B."+resin+epoxy+polyester

HTH,

Diane B.

When they pierce the tragus, what jewelry do they use? Is it always with a hoop, or could I get it pierced with a diamon stud? I want to get my tragus done but I don’t want the hoop, I want the stud.

Thanks!

Most common jewelry is either a ring or a short bar, or stud as you call it.

Whichever jewelry you ultimately want, it’s better to heal with a straight or slightly curved bar initially regardless. Your piercer will measure to work out the best bar length for you. You can then put a gem stud on the outer side of the bar, and a flat back on the inside, just like you would for a labret piercing.

You might have to buy a smaller bar once the initial swelling has gone to give a snug fit, especially if you use earphones.

A tip for fast healing of any cartilage piercing: find a piercer who can do the piercing with a dermal/biopsy punch. This removes the cartilage altogether rather than pushing out on it, and means your piercing should heal in a fraction of the time – perhaps a 3-4 months rather than close to a year. There will also be less pain both during and after the procedure.

Note that if you’re in Florida (and perhaps certain other places of the world), you have no choice but to have a traditional needle piercing as biopsy punches are regarded as controlled medical tools.

I am interested in finding out my current ring size. I don’t wish to visit the jewelry counter during the crowded holiday shopping season. Does anyone know of an online tool that I could use to print out a ring sizer to determine my current ring size? Thanks.

Well you can go to the website I’ve listed below they have a sizer chart..or you can heed the old wives tale that your ring size is the same size shoe you wear…IE if I wear a 9 in shoes my ring size is 9 (oddly enough it works).

Can anyone give me an idea what some pieces cost? I am going to a friend’s party tomorrow and am broke! I am worried I will look like a huge loser if I don’t buy anything and I was under the impression it was very expensive! Thanks!

I went to one last night and got a ring for $72… prices range from $25 to $300

I have never really worn jewelry and im not sure what to watch for when wearing it. Im almost 25, weird i know but what im asking is How do i know what jewelry goes with what? Mostly im curious about necklaces and earrings and how to know when to wear certain types of them, for example i love the chandelier style. Any advice would be great thanks
Thanks for all the advice, i really appreciate it. I Like dangling earings because they seem to soften my facial features up a bit. I wound up with my fathers looks somehow.

The key is to not have too much at the same time

1) for chandelier earrings do a dainty necklace or go bare neck
2) for a statement necklace(a bold necklace) do small studs
3) rings I just wear 3 , if you do a cocktail ring you could wear either a statement necklace or you chandelier earrings
4) huge bangles just do studs and a dainty necklace

basically if you showoff one piece mute the rest

Could someone reccomend me some magic amulets, or any jewelry that would help me through anything loike love,success,anything ive been searching around for something that i could buy and know that its guranteed to work and that id be aloty happier with it so if anybody know any amulets, medallions, anything that could definitely help then tell where i can find them or give me a name or website i need to know and please no negative or scam comments please….. thank you!

None of them. It’s all based on superstition. Think of it as a placebo – if you believe it has power you begin to feel better even though in reality it has no real effect. All in the head.

I’m thinking about getting my labret pierced ( NOT a vertical labret), but I’m not sure what kind of jewelry you can put in it. Can you put a ring in it? Just let me know what kind of jewelry you can put in it. Oh, and is there a difference between a labret and a center lip ring?

labrets are traditionally lower than lip piercings. my labret is centered between the bottom of my lip and the top of my chin. because of the lower nature of the piercing it’s less common to see rings worn in them. not to say you can’t do it. but more often than not you’ll see a labret stud being worn. they also used to make funky looking barbells with a straight piece that goes through the piercing and then the top comes up and over your lip looking like a normal circular barbell, though I can’t find any still available. there’s also a piece called (if I remember correctly) a fishtail. this is simply a ball on a long rod that is curved to go in your mouth and settle between your gums and lip. lastly the do make labret plugs though, of course, you have to have a sizable piercing to make that work.

however, I don’t advise getting a labret piercing. I’ve had trouble with mine wearing away at my gums, and gums don’t grow back.

crystals and other semi precious stones have power when charged. A fake stone, lets say made out of plastic will not have any impact.
So choose a semi precious stone of color. Quartz crystal, rose crystal for love, onyx (black) for grounding etc.

I want to start making the chunky cowgirl jewelry with like turquoise nuggets and i have already found the beads i want to use i just wanted to know the ‘right’ way to put them together and what kind of ‘string’ to use. If anyone can help me i would really appriciate it!

I love western jewelry! I’m not sure about the actual making part but a great place to find jewelers wire & loose gemstones (like turquoise, coral ect.) is JTV.com http://www.jewelrytelevision.com/index.aspx?cm_sp=ISP3540124&Ns=p_priority%7c1&Ne=23&up=UP3540124&tid=22582&cm_re=ltd*Product+Type*More…&N=49#Product%20Type They have wire in precious metals, as well as beads, cabochons, & books & videos teaching you how to make jewelry! Hope this helps!

My mother makes these beautiful necklaces and bracelets and such, and i was wondering if she can make a profit out of this. We have never sold anything online, and we want something easy. So, i ask, what websites are available to begin selling stuff?
I’ve also heard of etsy… is it any good?

There are a couple of ways that she can do this. One is to find a website that provides information about the kind of jewelry that she makes and add a page of her own with her stuff; Another is to create a website and start marketing her stuff as a business of her own; Another is to start selling her stuff on some auction type sites and see if it sells or what sells best. To find out if there is a real market before making that kind of investment though she may want to start out selling locally at craft fairs and at some of the local boutiques. Then she can get a feel for what stuff sells best and how much to charge. Selling online will cost her an investment that she might avoid if she starts out locally first.