I wanted to make some earrings using a pair of rabbits i made with clay. Do I glue it onto the earwires or do I poke a hole through it before baking so I can insert the head pin?

There are quite a few ways to attach small polymer clay items to other things, including to earring findings. Basically you can make a hole, or you can put something in the clay that creates a loop.

If you make a hole, the hole can go all the way through the fat part of the item or bead (usually from top to bottom, or could be from side to side), or a hole can be made from front to back (usually in flatter items).

In the first case, you’d usually thread a head pin or an eye pin through the hole from the bottom of the item, then bend the top of the shank sticking out of the hole into a loop shape by hand.
You’d either attach that loop to the loop of a dangle-type earring finding, or you’d attach a jumpring then attach the jump ring to the finding for a bit freer dangle.

In the second case, you’d put a jump ring through the hole, then attach the jumpring to the loop of an earring finding (…or if making a necklace, you might just thread the cording directly through the hole).

You can also create holes before or after hardening the clay… it’s a little easier beforehand though.


You can also "embed" the shortened shank of an eye pin into the top of the clay item before or after hardening the clay… again, it’s a bit easier beforehand.

Rather than describing all those possibilities in detail, I’ll just give you links to the 2 pages at my polymer clay encyclopedia site that have lessons, links to examples, variations, for them:

http://glassattic.com/polymer/pendants_cording.htm
…click on *Flat Holes* for making front to back holes
…click on *Top Loops* for putting shortened eye pins (or eye screws or upside-down U shapes) into the top of a clay item

http://glassattic.com/polymer/beads-holes.htm
…click on *Holes Before Baking* or *Holes After Baking* for top-to-bottom or side-to-side holes

And this page has info on creating your own "simple loops" in eye pins or other wires, if you need lessons for that:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/wire.htm
…click on *Basic Wire Shapes*

You might also want to check out the page where earrings in particular are discussed at my site too:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/jewelry.htm
…click on *Earrings*

HTH,

Diane B.

I saw some really cool pictures in google of these nice hemp bracelets and i cant find how to make them ANYWERE! Its getting on my nerves.

There is this one that looks braided multipul times and i wanna learn how to make it!!! If you find a site or actually know how to make it HELP is greatly needed.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6nGKJd51IE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0SqmQNV2yU

I’m bored and I want to make some jewelry, but i’m out of crimp beads.
I can’t really buy some kuz I don’t have any money. Any suggestions
besides tying a knot?

I rarely use crimp beads. I’m going to assume that you also do not have any clamshell/bead tip findings which negates the need for crimping since you finish with string on the clamp, knot a seed bead down into the "clam" and close it up to hide the bead leaving you with a little metal loop (http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H206672FD).

If you have a bead with a big hole in it, you can simply add your finding, loop back down, and tie a knot down into the hole of the bead. Then apply a little bit of glue. Let the knot dry full inside the bead. This effectively covers the knot.

You can do the same thing, with an exposed knot. Just try to make it a pretty knot.

There are two ways to finish with a small beaded loop if you want to hide the stringing material.

Make a loop of beads at both the ends. So string on say 10 seed beads (or other small beads) then take your needle back through the first bead. If there is space in the beads, take it around another time or two. Knot, then clip. Now you can add the jump rings and clasp to the loops.

If you are not using jump rings string on your small beads and add your clasp finding at the halfway point. Then finish your loop. You can combine this method with the "hide it in a big bead" method.

Hope some of this helps.

Trying to get an idea of how much jewelry it would take to get an ounce of gold. If you know about how many standard or average gold chains from necklaces and bracelets – it would take to get an ounce of gold – would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all your help!


Rings and specially necklaces can vary a lot in weight, so any number I could tell you would be just a guess.

You could search online for one that is similar to the one you have and check it’s weight.

.

Does anyone know how to make jewelry shiny again, my necklace just keeps getting darker

First it depends on the type of jewelry. Is it 10K or 14 K gold, sterling silver, or fashion jewelry.

Gold like silver does tarnish. The best advice for cleaning gold is to take it to a jeweler. They can polish it to make it look like new again. Also, you may be able to buy a jewelry cleaner from them. Only use a cleaner your jeweler recommends. There is not much I recommend for gold because a lot of cheap cleaners on the market are corrosive to both silver and gold. I have used tarnx (when used correctly it works, follow the instructions carefully), but it still won’t give it that shine a jeweler can.

For sterling silver, you can quickly dip it in tarnx and rinse it off well. Make sure it is thoroughly dried. Also, you can make a paste with baking soda and water to clean silver. Rub it on and rinse. That works quite well.

If it is fashion jewelry, there is not much you can do. You can use tarnx. sometimes it works. Put some on a rag and rub it on the jewelry, rinse it well, and dry it well. After a while though fashion jewelry will "turn" and won’t be able to be cleaned.

A word of advice, moisture is bad. Make sure you completely dry your jewelry. Also when using tarnx, do not let it soak in it. Follow the instructions carefully. tarnx will damage pearls and some stones like turquoise. Never clean jewelry with bleach.

Wine her,
Dine her,
Call her,
Hug her,
Support her,
Hold her,
Surprise her,
Compliment her,
Smile at her,
Listen to her,
Laugh with her,
Cry with her,
Romance her,
Believe in her,
Cuddle with her,
Shop with her
Give her jewellery,
Buy her flowers,
Hold her hand,
Write love letters to her,
Go to the end of the earth and back again for her.

HOW TO IMPRESS A MAN
Arrive naked.
Bring Pizza & Beer.

and swallow?

PS: i left you a joke on your other Q

I bought a pair of silver earrings just a few hours ago and it was the final sale. But I just got home and noticed that one of the earrings is rusting and it’s not really silver anymore. How do I get rid of the rust and change it back to silver? I need to wear them by tomorrow to a friend’s wedding and it’s quite noticeable that one is silver and one is goldish silver..

Try vinegar. Apparently it can take rust of small objects.

This is the best I could do for you. Please go through the various entries and find the one that has the amount of strands you are using and they will show you how to complete your bracelet.

http://www.boondoggleman.com/the_projects5.htm

I want to buy her a Pandora Bracelet for V day, but they are very pricey based on how many beads you put on it? I want to get her quite a few to start so it won’t look stupid without alot of charms. How many charms/spacers, etc, is a good place to start?

You don’t have to start with alot of beads. She will probably want to pick out a few herself so maybe get around 3 to start, like a birthstone bead, a glass bead in her favorite color and of course a heart, as well as giving her the booklet that shows all the beads so she can have some fun with it herself. It is a VERY thoughtful gift!

I had about 25 chain necklaces, with different pendants on each one ,in a jewelery drawer, nicely laid out. The drawer fell on the floor, when I opened it to get one out and they instantly got entangled.

As mentioned, a good pin and a lot of patience is your best bet. I would try and work in sections and continue the next day when you start to get tired.