Enjoy!
InspirationFX
Get your creative juices flowing
by: Dwyn Tomlinson
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that bling ... .
Surely I must have used that before somewhere!
Our new ring bases are just beautiful - with the heft of fine jewelry. We bought some big sizes too - so you could even design a signet-style ring for your dude. Probably with less Swarovski's than this though!
Because these are made to be quite random (except for the one with the single rivoli) - take the component list as a starting point - rather than a definitive list.
The basic idea is to use the two-part epoxy clay, make a ball, flatten it slightly onto the top of the ring base, and then stick on the stones, and let it cure.
Tips
- Knead the two pieces of clay together. Roll each piece out in a snake, roll the snakes together, stretch out, fold, roll, etc., until it is all the same colour.
- Assemble all the stuff you need first. I wish I remembered to do this. I always have to go hunting for something halfway through the project.
- Use disposable gloves (latex, nitril, whatever) to keep your hands clean and unsticky. Have multiple pairs, and change gloves. Once you have kneaded the clay - your gloves will be covered in the clay - so take them off and put on fresh ones, so that you don't get fingerprints from the gloves all over the ring as you form up and press on the ball of clay.
- Cut off a piece of each half of the clay - one is the clay and the other is the hardener. Cut two pieces the same size. Eyeballing the size is ok - it doesn't have to be exact. Don't cut from both clay logs with the same tool. Once the hardener gets on the clay - it starts to cure. Wrap the clay back up and put it aside.
- Make a ball of the clay, and press onto the ring base. I like the higher profile of the pink/gold ring better - the blue/silver one is flatter - but it's your ring - you choose.
- Start by position one or two larger stones - then fill in around them with the smaller stones. Use the Magical Pick or The Crystal Katana for picking up and positioning the stone.
- For the Rivoli ring - just put a small ball of clay in the center of the bezel, and push it in a bit, then add the stone and push the clay out to fill the gap. I used a little water on a tiny paint brush to smooth it out around the stone.
- If you do get a clay-ey fingerprint on the stone, wipe it clean with some water on a cotton swab.
- Push the stones down into the clay with the other end of the Crystal Katana, or whatever stick-like thing you have handy. The clay is quite sticky - I'm pleasantly surprised that you don't really need to push the stones in so far that the clay come up over the side. You can see that the square stone in the pink/gold ring is actually overlapping some other crystals - but it is stuck on there just fine.
- It takes more stones than you would think to cover the sides of the ball of clay.
- To hold the ring upright while the clay is curing, after you have placed all the stones, slip it over the end of a pair of scissors or pliers, and set it to cure over night. The scissors/pliers hold it upright perfectly.
Components
Go to our components list for this project and to buy what you need!Need some help with some of the techniques? Check our tips page.
No comments:
Post a Comment