I am a hoarder of beautiful tins, I admit it, I can't pass them up. Many times they're not usable for my purposes but they're beautiful so I must have them. This particular tin I have found a couple times and it's perfect! Wait till you see how many projects I've made so far and there's still plenty left to work with.
I forgot to take a picture of the tin before I started cutting but look at all those lovely pieces I have to work with.
I decided to make a bracelet and earring set for my first project. I'd love to teach a class at the new shop for this, so easy and you leave with completed jewelry.
I started by cutting down my pieces so they are a better fit on the wrist. I used the block to hammer them relatively flat (when cutting them up they tend to get bent in the corners, amongst other things).
I used a file to sand down any rough edges and round the corners. Then, using canned food I hammered each piece giving it a slightly rounded finish, you can see what I mean in the next picture.
I marked the pieces where I wanted the eyelets and started punching holes with my crop-a-dile, love that thing....
Using four of my matching tin pieces I linked them together. I haven't added the closure yet, I started to make one but the wire just wasn't sturdy enough for my liking so I need to get into Michael's sometime and pick one up. Also, if I'm teaching this for a class we will have limited time, making closures might not be an option, especially if we're making earrings too.
Of course we are. Again I used ear wires from Michael's that match the wire and eyelets, making the earrings a really easy project. Simply prep the smaller pieces of tin with a little sanding, mark and punch your hole and attach your ear wire with a ring. It's as easy as that and you've got yourself an adorable new bracelet and earring set.
Oh but why stop there? You could continue on and add a necklace quite simply. I used a different color piece from the same tin for this project. Simply cut it out and make random hole punches around the outer edge. I then took some wire and strung it through the holes, leaving a tail at the bottom on both sides.
I strung a few decorative beads sporadically throughout as well...
... and used the "tails" at the bottom to make a ring to add a little bling.
Another quick project for a class that requires very little jewelry making experience yet you leave with a beautiful pendant necklace that you made yourself.
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