This is a project that is so easy, you will be turning out pendants left and right for gift giving now and into the holidays.
You will need the supplies pictured here in addition to some jewelry findings of your choice such as a chain or rope necklace with a clasp, in addition to some jump rings that are 16mm or larger and a headpin and bead. You will also need the appropriate jewelry tools such as wire nips, chain and round nose pliers.
Start by painting the 1 1/2 wood circle with Jacquard's Neopaque paints in black. Paint both sides a couple of coats.
While the paint is drying, punch 1" circles from the pages of a vintage book such as this dictionary my Mom snagged for me at a yard sale for $.50.
Use a paper adhesive to glue the punches to the center of the circle on one side only.
Use some heavy duty tacky glue to adhere gem stone trim to the edges of the circle. It can be hard not to get excess tacky glue inside the edges of the trimming. Use a toothpick or q tip to remove the excesss glue.
Now it's time to play with clay. I used Jacquard's Cernit Clay in white to make a zinnia from a hand made clay mold. This hand made mold was a gift from my good friend, Niki Meiners.Cernit clay is a phthalate-free (non-toxic) polymer clay. Manufactured in Belgium, Cernit clay has long been recognized for its excellent quality, durability and porcelain-like finishes. It was perfect to make my little zinnia.
I pinched off a dime sized piece and conditioned by hand. (Hint: if the weather is as hot and humid where you are as I am- go outside- it makes conditioning a lot faster). Then I rolled it into a ball before pushing it into the clay mold.
Push the clay out of the mold and you have this adorable little zinnia.
Now bake in the oven at 265 degrees on a clay dedicated baking sheet for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Now choose some bright prretty colors of Jacquard's Lumiere and paint the zinnias. I dry brushed the top of them with Lumiere also.
Once the zinnias are dry, glue them to the center of the circles.
I drilled two holes at the top and bottom of my circles for insertion of a jump ring to hold the necklace and a droplet on the bottom.
If you liked this post, here is another jewelry pendant post using recycled furniture casters.
Now- details on the Giveaway- leave me a comment by July 31st, 2011 at 12 PM Central and I will send TWO of you one of these pendants (zinnia clay) in color of choice shown (US residents only please). Leave as many comments as you would like, I will one person at random and announce the winner on my blog on August 1st. Good Luck!
Live Life Creatively,
These colors are amazing. I love the Lumiere paint and the vintage text is great!
Posted by: Patty O'Shea | July 31, 2011 at 01:36 PM
Hi Mel, the pendants are beautiful and so true to your style. LOVE!
Posted by: Vicki O'Dell | July 31, 2011 at 12:59 PM
Lovely pendants. I found your blog by following a link on One Pretty Thing's blog.
Blog hopping is so much fun!
Posted by: joanne Carpenter | July 27, 2011 at 09:08 AM
Just found your blog. You have such clever ideas.
Love the pendants.
Posted by: Sue | July 21, 2011 at 06:22 PM
These are so pretty - I love the vintage look.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | July 19, 2011 at 08:42 AM
I am speechless right now! Your ideas are always so wonderful and creative. Please keep up the good work!
Posted by: Jacquelene | July 16, 2011 at 05:04 PM
beautiful!!
Not US citizien but wanted to tell that I adore yor project :)
//Katarina
Posted by: Katarina | July 16, 2011 at 08:42 AM
I have no clue how to follow your blog! Please send me a message and tell me how!
Posted by: Jenni | July 15, 2011 at 10:08 PM
OMGoodness, I found you through FavCrafts and I am so glad I did! I love this! Where did you get the mold? I just place an order (last night) for flowers exactly like that. Ugh, if I had only known! I think you will be my new best friend!
Jenni
Posted by: Jenni | July 15, 2011 at 10:06 PM