Surprising Ideas You Can Come up With in A Pinch!

Have you ever wanted to dome something in metal clay only to find you don’t have the correct size or slope? I've had that  happen to me. So, I looked around my studio to find an object I could use that had the correct size and dome. I wanted a small round high dome so I could make this bead.







I decided to make a mold of the ultra sonic lid’s handle. Here is what you can make on the spur of the moment with stuff sitting around your shop.  I pulled out these items.

Top to an ultra sonic cleaner   2 ea. Gatorade caps two part silicone mold compound two part epoxy a scale weight popsicle stick tooth picks colorant






Mix the two part silicone mold compound in equal parts until they become one color
Press into the cap. This gives the mold a flat surface at its opening.

Press the object into mold compound. In my case the lid’s handle. Weight it down so that as the compound sets it doesn’t push the object out.
Allow it to set (per manufactures recommendations).






 

Then make a form out of resin in the mold. I added a paper lip around the cap so I can pour extra resin making a footing for my form.
Mix equal parts of two part epoxy, enough to fill the mold. I added colorant to make it easy to spot the form on my cluttered workbench and just to make it fun.
Allow the epoxy to set, per the manufactures recommendation.




Remove dried epoxy and enjoy your own custom form!
Remember to lubricate the form before laying metal clay over it!  Do not place the form on a hot plate to dry the clay, it may burn!

What is the Reaction of Metal Clay with Aluminum?

Over the years I’ve been told not to place my moist metal clay on aluminum or there would be a reaction, so I never have. With that being said, I don’t know what the reaction is! Inquiring minds want to know now! I tested PMC3 and the new Sterling Silver metal clay to find out. 

I placed a sample of each clay on aluminum foil and also samples on an aluminum pan. I cut out a total of four oval discs labeling the discs that are laid on top of foil with an F and those laid on top of the pan with a P. I allowed them to sit there for an hour, until they were fairly dry. 

PMC3 & PMC Sterling on pan

PMC3 & PMC Sterling on foil

The two samples on the foil had a huge reaction as did the foil. 

Reaction to foil

Foil's reaction

The two samples on the pan had less reaction. 

Reaction on pan

Fired and polished sterling silver

It looks like the combination of moisture, clay, and aluminum causes the reaction. The PMC3 clay on the pan had less moisture and so had little to no reaction whereas, the foil seemed to trap the moisture between the clay and foil. I fired each sample per the manufacturer’s directions on the corresponding packages to see if the reaction area would burn clean. It did not. 

Fired and polished PMC3

After polishing each sample, the reaction areas are raised and extend past the surface of the clay. It gives the clay a look of reticulated metal. So, if you want a cool looking texture, now you know how to get it. Otherwise, keep the clay away from aluminum.

A Critical Eye on your Jewelry; How do People Really View Your Jewelry?

Instructor Janet Alexander

Click on the photo to enlarge

I was looking at this cool photo of a painting and I realized something about it. At first it looks like a nice painting of a man on a horse with a pack horse walking behind it. Kinda nice.
Then as I examine it more closely I notice other things about it. There are hidden faces in it! Actually there are 11 faces in it.
Now I no longer look at it the same way. All I see are faces!

So, my question to you jewelry makers out there, how do people look at your jewelry? Do they at first look at the overall beauty but then upon further exam do they find the tiny flaws or the unfinished finishes? After viewing these, how do they now see your jewelry?

Its something to think about!

Notice the flaws around the bail

A good way to look at your jewelry with a fresh eye is to take a closeup photo of it. The camera never lies! Then go back and fix what you didn't see!