Jewelry Making

No flash does not work, makes the jewelry too dark. HELP!!

Oh little reflective pieces of jewelry. I still have nightmares about that one!

What ya do is make a photo tent:

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent

You will need to light with a tungsten source: ie a lightbulb! Be sure to change the WB on your camera to tungsten. You can wrap the lamp in foil (or use a directional desk lamp) to aim the light thru the opening in the box.

If you have macro capabilities use it.

Good luck.

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Hi i am just starting to make my own jewellery and i was wondering if the more experienced could help me with a few things.

1. When i join a pendant to a chain etc, i found that the jumprings didn’t close totally, i was worried that the pendant or chain could come off, so now i use double jump rings. What is the proper way?

2. When i am making earrings etc, i use an eyepin which has one loop but i have to make the loop at the other end to attach the ear hook. The first loop i use to attach a charm.

How can i make my loop look professional? It seems to look a bit messy, i can’t bend the loops small enough! Is there a special type of pliers i should use?

3. Does anyone have some close up photos of the way they close and attach jump rings and the way they deal with making loops.

Hope that made sense!

Thanks so much
1. I would use a split ring instead of a jump ring.

If you are using a jump ring, use two pair of pliers or a jump ring opening tool and twist the two ends away from one another, reverse to close. Never pull the ends straight away from one another. For instance, with the opening facing you, you would pull one end toward you and push the othe away from you.

2. You want round nose pliers. Having added your beads et al and cutting the pin to the needed length, bend the end of your pin at a 45 degree angle then grabbing the end of the wire curve around the tip of your pliers moving down the wire to complete the loop.

I would actually wire wrap for added security. In stead of cutting the pin follow the basic directions above, but form your loop a little high on the pin and continue wrapping the end around the wire 2 or 3 times, keeping your wraps close but not overlapping. Of course, if you do this, you’ll want to make your own eye pins from scratch so that both ends are wire wrapped.

3. firemountaingems.com or beadandbutton.com should both have video tutorials for all of this. You might also consider your local library for books or periodicals on the subject as they would contain photos and diagrams that would be most helpful!

I hope this helps! Good luck and happy jewelry making!

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I am setting up a handmade jewellery business and would love to be able to make charms with my own photos. I have heard of shrink plastic but I can’t seem to find any UK suppliers.
Thanks

There are lots of ways of making "charms" with photographic images on them besides using shrink plastic and I don’t even know if it would work all that well. If you’re really interested in finding and using shrink plastics though, check out this page at my site for brands, lessons, tips, etc.:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/MISC.htm
(…click on SHRINKING Plastics)
Then try googling a brand name or just "shrink plastic" in quotes along with the word UK.

Other ways though are to basically just decoupage images (photos, photocopies, inkjet prints, magazine images, etc.) onto a surface.
Or to put those images under a coat of epoxy resin or epoxy glue (or cast in molds with polyester resin) or just under several layers of gloss polyurethane… other things will work too but may be more scratchable so give a final coat of polyuethane.

There are various ways to "transfer" images too from transfer or other special papers or to make "decals" that can be put anywhere you like.

There’s more info on those things on these pages at my site if you’re interested:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/transfers.htm
http://glassattic.com/polymer/other_materials.htm
…and here for decoupage:
http://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+decoupage

HTH,

Diane B.

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I design jewelry and would like to use photos from magazines or web advertising of very high end pieces that are similar to what I make. I am not copying them, but the designs have a similar style or types of gemstones. Is this a copyright problem? Appreciate any info provided.

Yes it is copyrighted. You can’t take someone else’s work and use it for personal gain. It is an especially big no-no to use it for advertising purposes. Just take photos of your own products. That way you’ll be covered against people who buy your products and get angry when it’s not exactly like the photos you are showing.

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They look like tiny paperweights. You glue a photo to the back so that it shows through the dome, then add a magnet or bail for a necklace. I know I saw them at Michael’s earlier this summer, but they are re-merchandising that area and they are now gone.
Note: although they look very similar, these are not the little glass gems you can buy to fill a vase or use around candles. The ones intended for jewelry are smoother and more clear.

I’ve worked at both Michael’s and A.C. Moore, in their jewelry sections. I’ve been making and selling jewelry for about 7 years and I’ve taught jewelry classes at A.C. Moore. I’ve never seen what you’re describing in the bead sections of either store.

You may check the mosaic sections of these stores and also Hobby Lobby for a smooth glass piece that would work for your project. Or they may be in the section for kids crafts. I did some restocking in those areas and seems there were kits for teens contained that type of glass.

Also check on-line jewelry catalogs such as Fire Mountain.

Hope this helps.

Whoa! Look what I found!

http://www.photojewelrymaking.com/photo-bubble-jewelry.aspx

Did a search for "photo Jewelry."

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im thinking of starting jewelery making, like long necklaces and bracelets
any specific/ basic equipment i need either than beads

here are some examples i really like

http://www.la-delica.com/acatalog/funky_silver_jewellery.JPG

http://www.aostherapy.co.uk/media/bakery/image33.jpg

http://www.aostherapy.co.uk/pages/bakery/sincerity-necklace33.php

http://www.aostherapy.co.uk/pages/bakery/harmony-and-happiness-bracelet34.php

thx

Jump rings in assorted sizes. Head pins. Wire with different thickness. Pliers: regular, cutting, and looping. Maybe get a burning tool to make sure jumprings are secure but it isn’t neccesary. Good luck.

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i’ve taken these photographs of a necklaces and two earrings.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daimingsphotos/4283294945/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/daimingsphotos/4283294985/

to me they look a bit bland. how should i go about editting them in photoshop to make them pop and look enticing?

I would honestly recommend starting over and photographing them on a neutral background, setting them up in a more logical direction, unless they are intended to be lopsided pieces. If you can’t reshoot them, try editing them out of the existing background and placing them on a neutral background that allows the pieces to stand out on their own.

Use the directional light tool to add some color interest.

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Are there any local craft/supply stores that carry them? I’m looking for the kind that you can make photo jewelry from.

Michaels
AC Moore
Walmart
Target
Christmas tree shops

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is there such a thing? i would like to make prints of Photo art on jewelry and i wonder if there is a machine that does this on a home production scale. thanks

Yes you can buy that machine here.

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PLEASE HELP!!! I'm not very fond of selling my jewelry but I need the money. Family First. I need help finding a good place to sell them and get close to what they are worth, and a close idea of how much they are worth.
I have pics of them if that helps, and will photo share them at yahoo IM wandering_soul3465 …. Thank you for your help in advance.

1.) I have a white gold bracelet, 7 1/2 inch long, with 12 Sapphires in it.

2.) a 7 1/2 inch long, Celtic, bracelet. It has 11 Claddagh symbols. ( pair of hands holding a heart. )http://www.whats-your-sign.com/celtic-jewelry.html.

3.) a 17 1/2 in gold chain with a 10k gold heart pendant. the heart has 3 white stones and 4 red. ( I don't know it they are real rubies and diamonds ) pendant is about 1 1/2 cm.

4.) 3 different Crosses. one covered with diamonds and white gold. next, Gold…I think 10k but could be 14k.. with Jesus on it. last white gold with Jesus on it.

5.) 1 inch long Italian pepper pendant. Gold. I think 10k not sure.

6.) 14k gold S pendant, 1/2 inch long.

Thats all I'll list. But please if you know about jewelry help me. They were all gifts and do mean a lot to me. Finding the best price will make it easier to part.

Jewelry looses a lot of value once it is second hand. To be able to come up with an approx. price idea, we need the weight of the items. Your white gold bracelet could be anything between $ 20 and thousands, all depending on weight and design.

You will only end up with approx. 20% of the money that was initially spent buying the items. If it means a lot to you, I wouldn't sell it.

I want to add here, everything is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. Just because you spend $ 100 for a jewelry item doesn't mean it is 'worth' $ 100. If you want the scrap value, what the content of solid gold is worth, you will have to weigh everything, calculate how much solid gold is in the lot and look up today's gold price.

Cheers

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