Bring on the bling! Today I have a fun jewelry making project I whipped up inspired by a beautiful design in The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making. And speaking of The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making, want to score yourself a free copy? Leave a comment in today's post or add a link to your latest favorite craft post at your blog using the red Linky tool at the bottom of the post (it's soooo easy!) by midnight ET on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 and you are in the running.
In The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making there is a great tutorial on how to make an all metal heart with arrow pendant, and I thought I'd try it with some recycled plastic.
I ran a piece of a plastic bottle through the Sizzix die cutter using the smallest heart.
It was a bit plain so I thought I'd stamp a pattern on it. I used an all over skull rubber stamp with StazOn ink. I did heat set it with the heat gun but only because it was raining and I wanted to keep working!
For the arrow, I used a clock hand/game spinner from the Tim Holtz finding collection. I made two slits in the heart and poked it though. I punched a hole in the top of the heart for the jump ring.
Then I linked up a big beautiful pendant from Blue Moon Beads and linked it up using one link from one of their chains to two strands of tiny chain. The rest of the necklace was a big fat chain and hook to stick with the proportions of the heart and rhinestone focal pendants.
As you see in the photo, I also die cut and stamped a "heart shaped" link. I haven't decide what that's going to be used in yet, but I promise to share when I do!
So if you like making jewelry with all sorts of elements then I bet you will love this technique-packed book!
The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making
by
This book is a comprehensive how-to book about all aspects of jewelry making. It serves as a reference and technique guide for all the common methods and styles of jewelry: beaded jewelry, wire, crystals and gems, polymer clay, PMC. The organization provides easy access to information with step-by-step directions and 600 full-color photos for clear understanding. Easy projects allow the reader to try the techniques in each section. Galleries of jewelry by a various artists offer the reader examples and inspiration to pursue the hobby for themselves.
Tammy Powley is a writer, designer, and teacher. She has been a long time crafter working in all kinds of media from fiber arts to glass. After spending eight years on the art show circuit selling her jewelry designs as well as supplying small boutiques with her work, she began writing about her crafting experiences and focused on teaching others how to make jewelry. She is the author of numerous jewelry making books, has an extensive background in writing for the web, and has been About.com’s Guide to Jewelry Making since 1998. Tammy has her Ph.D. in Texts and Technology, and as her "day job," she teaches college English, primarily composition, literature, and technical communications. Visit her web site at http://www.tammypowley.com.
Don't forget to leave a comment or link to your blog to be in the running for a copy of The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making.
Love your necklace! I came over from CraftGossip.com. I just starting doing bead jewelry and would love to get the book to learn more about jewelry making. I want to do incorporate wiring in my jewerly. Thank you for posting your tutorial on the heart necklace!
Posted by: Maria A | March 30, 2011 at 11:14 AM
I'll pass on the word about the book give away. I love the project you created. Actually, the heart pendant with arrow from the book was designed by my husband. It's one of my favorite pieces from it.
Posted by: Tammy | March 30, 2011 at 11:25 AM
I like the idea of recycling and repurposing. That is a cute necklace. I'd love to have the 'Jewelry Making' book as a reference. -Kathryn
Posted by: Kae | March 30, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Great project, I can't wait to try this. I would love Tammy's book. I have been following her for years on About.com Jewelry site.
Thanks for sharing the project!
Posted by: Wendy | March 30, 2011 at 11:56 AM
where did you get the pink bottle? :) thanks!
Posted by: Kim Taylor | March 30, 2011 at 11:57 AM
I just started making jewelry and I'd love this book to help me out.
Posted by: RaDonna Murner | March 30, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Hi Kim!
I score great colors of plastic bottles at the 99 cents store!
Posted by: stef | March 30, 2011 at 12:44 PM
I'd love to win this book. I used to make a lot of jewellery as a teenager and would love to start again. But I think I need more help now than I did then!
Posted by: Muireann | March 30, 2011 at 12:52 PM
I'm just getting into making jewelry using polymer clay, so this book would be a fabulous reference. Thanks for the opportunity to win it!
Posted by: Jola Lott | March 30, 2011 at 01:22 PM
Love this project! I think using the clock hand was a fantastic idea. Would love to more of these great projects and ideas in this book! Thank you for the chance to win something so fun and useful.
Posted by: Vicki | March 30, 2011 at 01:34 PM
My granddaughter and I have been thinking of starting with jewelry making and this book would be an a huge help--She would LOVE that necklace so I think we may get started making her one!!
Juanita Cain
Posted by: Juanita Cain | March 30, 2011 at 01:48 PM
What great ideas! I'd love to win, I'm just starting to get into jewelry making.
Posted by: Sarah | March 30, 2011 at 01:51 PM
Very nice! I've looked through the book and it's a good overview-type reference if you are curious about lots of jewelry-making techniques.
Posted by: Julia | March 30, 2011 at 02:36 PM
I see you use the die cutter a lot, I think I need to incest in one too.
Posted by: mary | March 30, 2011 at 02:49 PM
I'm trying to incorporate my pottery-making into jewelry, so I bet this book would be helpful!
Posted by: Gina | March 30, 2011 at 04:12 PM
I want to get back into making jewelry.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
Posted by: MelodyJ | March 30, 2011 at 04:24 PM
That is such a funky necklace you created.
I hope that my works turn out half as good.
I would love to win the book.
Thanks
Posted by: Lynda Taylor | March 30, 2011 at 06:01 PM
I was wondering if paint would stick to clear plastic bottles when I read you get colored plastic at the dollar store. Great idea. Maybe those cheap holiday plastic cups would work.
Thanks for the idea,Linda
Posted by: linda | March 30, 2011 at 07:51 PM
what a fun project!!!
Posted by: Kelly | March 30, 2011 at 08:30 PM
I saw your link on The Scrapbook Lounge. I love this project. I have two teenage nieces who would get such a kick out of this project. Thank you for sharing and for the opportunity to win the book.
Posted by: Christi Hicks | March 30, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Love the color and materials choices on your necklace! The book sounds inspirational - please count me in on a chance to win it!
Posted by: Mirador | March 30, 2011 at 10:04 PM
Thanks for this. It looks fun.
Posted by: Suella | March 30, 2011 at 10:55 PM
Oh, that book is surely inspiring! Thanks for the chance to win a copy. :)
Happy creating,
Birgit
Posted by: Birgit | March 31, 2011 at 04:01 AM
This necklace is so cool!! I knew I was saving bottles for a reason. Thanks!!
Rita
Posted by: Rita Scanlan | March 31, 2011 at 05:16 AM
What a great project...I would have never thought of using a plastic bottle like that!
Posted by: Linda | March 31, 2011 at 07:43 AM