How to use precious metal clay in jewelry making

Precious metal clay (brand names are PMC and Art Clay) is modern alchemy. PMC is a clay base with small pieces of silver suspended within it which, when heated, it burns the clay leaving a residue of solid silver. The base clay acts as a binder for the metal particles. Once this has been removed, the remaining silver particles bind together, giving the finished product. The real beauty of precious metal clay is that it can be manipulated like any ordinary clay, making it perfect for jewelry making. The modern precious metal clay can be using a jeweler's torch, as the cooking temperature is much lower than the earlier versions of this clay. However, a small oven will produce a temperature range much more constant and can be controlled accurately, which means that the results will be more consistent. Precious Metal Clay once had a bad reputation for the withdrawal, which makes it unsuitable for the job well or detail. Modern clay precious metals have a much lower rate of contraction (about 10-15%), but you still need to factor this into the final piece to make sure it really small details is not lost in the cooking process. Once fired, the piece of silver seems to be very sluggish and boring, so he will need to finish. The matte surface opaque hides the lower part of real beauty, so finishing and polishing will reveal the silver shining below. During the welding finished pieces of precious metal clay is essential to remember that the surface is more porous than standard silver, so it is best to rub the piece before welding. But because it is almost pure silver there is little risk of fire stain on the surface and the end result is almost indistinguishable from silver.

Since precious metal clay is a clay, takes impressions very well. A design can be pressed onto the surface of the clay and be revealed in the final piece of silver. Rollers fancy lace or leaves can also be used to create unique effects that are difficult to reproduce in ordinary silver unless it has been thrown. Precious Metal Clay is a popular way of making silver beads. The clay can be formed into beads, decorated with a pattern of the surface and then baked in an oven in quickly and easily, producing silver pearls of high quality. Security considerations are to be taken into consideration when working with precious metal clay because of the high temperatures needed to fire the clay. A small enamelling oven allows you to safely get the necessary temperatures for optimal results, but make sure you have all the proper equipment, such as pliers, with a heat-proof surface to work on heat-resistant handles to extract work from the oven and safely. Precious Metal Clay is an ideal medium to work in if you want to create pieces of silver jewelry that are unique to you. The only thing that limits you is your imagination. Silver precious metal clay is widely available from good suppliers of equipment for jewelry. There are two main brands - precious metal clay and Art Clay Silver. The clay is also available in other metals including gold, but the cost is significantly higher than the silver clay.

Crystal and glass beads - Basics About Pearls

Beaded creations involve a considerable amount of skill, patience and technique, as well as a good eye for fine pearls. In addition to beads, delicas, precious and semi-precious stones, there are other materials that new beads that have sprung up in recent years. Many beads tagged in shops as "crystals" are actually pressed glass. Real crystal beads have a high lead content in the glass from which they were made. This lead content increases the spark during the cut, finally increasing their price, too. The clear difference in quality, however, makes them worth using. The best crystals from Austria and are available in different sizes and shapes. The most popular form is the double cone, which is used in many jewelry, clothing and beaded projects. pressed glass beads Faceted are created by pouring molten glass into molds. While they have a different spark crystal, are readily available and much cheaper. They also come in beautiful colors and delicate. They are often produced in beautiful oval shapes and in different sizes. Italian glass beads are often created by Millefiore canes. Millefiore, which means a thousand flowers, is what these beads will remind finely modeled. They are made by cutting small pieces from a cane wearing some reason, as if it were a stick of rock. This process creates fascinating beads that seem to have little pictures of flowers trapped inside a glass. Other Venetian beads have centers of shimmering gold swirls and raised. Venice was the center for innovative glass art since the Renaissance. Many artisans continue to create this art in the city through the traditional method of molding by hand, each pearl on the torch.

Work lamp is the process by which a glass tube is melted over a flaming torch and coiled around a metal rod to create a thin cord. The bead can be further processed by the addition of other pieces of thin glass rods called stringers, Millefiore pieces, gold and silver leaf. In fashion accessories, these are often used as materials in a necklace. The price of glass beads depends on how complicated the design is. If you look closely at an interesting heel which is believed to be a stone or a lamp worked glass, you may be surprised to know that it is made of polymer clay. This substance may be used to mimic any technique of glass or real stones without any special equipment. The clay has the same consistency of dough modeling plastic and remains flexible until cooked in a microwave. You'll find it fun to make your own beads with it. Many artists are making exquisite beads from polymer clay that can become very collectible. There is another fascinating material called silver clay. It allows you to make your own silver beads with simple molding the clay with your hands and a blowtorch. The silver particles are melted together by heating, leaving the clay easy to brush once the new formation silver bead has cooled. The next time you enter in a craft store or choose glass beads for your project, look closely at a few items. Think about how they are made and what materials were created. Maybe you will find some new varieties to give you inspiration. Or maybe you will see your old favorites in a light more interesting.

Making Beads With Polymer Clay

Using polymer clay beads to create wonderful home is the easiest way to start making jewelry, whether it is for personal use or if you want to start a business. The possibilities are endless, with each color, shade, shape and size possible. You can make as many pearls as you like, for any use. If you want to add a bit 'of interest to a bracelet you already own or you want to create a pair of earrings for a birthday present. When you create the beads, you must first decide what shape you want, what size they should be and what they are to be used for. The final color and pattern can be decided while you make them, which is the fun part! Having children taking part is also a great way to discover new projects and you get the whole family involved and help make everything you are doing really special. You will not need much equipment, just an oven, a bit 'of polymer clay, a pan, some tools and cut your clay, you can find clay tools dedicated to online suppliers. I do not even have to get your hands dirty. You can choose to wear latex gloves to be sure not to make much mess. The most popular forms beads have the ball, oval and disc, but you can also make a diamond, cone, globe or any other shape you can imagine. You can get the profiles hands for a more organic to the beads or you can use beads-rollers that will shape the clay for you so that it looks more professional. You can make a hole in each ball using a toothpick, or professional tools for this purpose can be found online, but be sure to measure the width or necklace, bracelet and so that the beads are going to be attached to.

Be sure not to forget this step. Once the clay is baked, it hardens and if you do not tip, you will not be able to make a hole through the bead. You must not use typical precious metals such as silver and gold, you can use leather, rope and other materials to thread the beads on. A simple leather bracelet decorated with a pair of pearl bracelet would be a great friendship and a great gift for a special friend. After you have created your beads you need to bake polymer clay is not as dry. Different types of clay cook at different temperatures for different durations so always check the instructions and guidelines. Place the beads on a baking sheet and be sure that none of the beads touch. Closely monitor the cooking time to ensure the beads do not burn and once done, remove from oven and leave to cool the beads properly. Once the beads have dried, you'll finish them off. This means cleaning and polishing them so they sparkle and seem of good quality. They paint with a small brush will also give a great achievement, but be sure to use sandpaper or even an old toothbrush on them to make them smooth and clean. Once the paint is dry you can feel free to build your own bracelet or earrings and show the world how creative and talented you are. You will have friends and family asking where you got that incredible necklace in no time.

Making Polymer Clay Beads: A Fun New Craft Idea the Whole Family Can Enjoy

Polymer clay beads are getting a lot of attention in the world crafting. Suitable for adults and children (ages 8 and up), working with polymer clay beads can give a new way to have fun with your kids, too. What are the Polymer Clay Beads? polymer clay beads pearls are formed of polymer clay (which is sometimes known simply as "Fimo", a trademark of clay.) This polymer clay can be molded into a variety of different creations. Then the clay is baked in the oven home to create a tough, durable, which can pierce, slice, sand and paint to achieve various creative effects. Because polymer clay is so easy to work with, it has become a popular way to make your own beads for jewelry making. Making Polymer Clay Beads The process of making the beads is quite simple. Just pinch off a bit 'of clay, knead in your hands and shape it into the shape you like. You can make polymer clay beads in a variety of different forms, using a variety of techniques and instruments. And you can work with the clay over and over again (until it was cooked.) Molding the clay requires firm pressure, but keeps its shape even when it is fixed. It 's easier to work with when it's a bit' hot, so if you fail to cooperate, you may want to switch to a work area warmer or warm your hands a little '. rounded beads are easier for beginners, but you can soon learn how to make beads that are square, star-shaped, heart-shaped or designed to look like small animals. Flower-shaped beads are very popular. To make the beads in different colors, begins choosing among the many colors of polymer clay that are commercially available. You can get a marbled effect to work with more colors at once. Once your creations are cooked, you can paint with acrylics or nail polish to give them extra shine and sparkle.

It 'easy to make holes in Fimo beads, so you can put together into bracelets or necklaces or sew them on your clothes. You can pierce the hard beads, once they have been cooked. Or you can make holes in the soft clay before you bake your pearls. A toothpick is perfect for punching holes through Fimo clay once the beads have been shaped. Wiggle the toothpick around to make sure that the sides of the holes are smooth and will not fall to bits clog them during cooking. You can also use a wooden skewer to make holes in beads. Carefully push a skewer through the center of your heel over, taking care not to change its shape. Fill the skewer with beads (making sure they do not touch each other). Thus, to support the skewer on a rack from the oven or other container from the oven so the beads do not change shape during cooking. Bake the beads directly on the skewer. Bake the Beads You'll need to cook all your clay creations to make them hard and shiny and to ensure that they maintain their shape. You can do this in a regular oven on a baking sheet, but follow the instructions on each product package to make sure you get the right temperature. (If the polymer clay is baked at too high temperature, it can release dangerous gases.) Your pearls will be hard and ready to string together into jewelry once the clay is baked and cooled. The manufacturer recommends this type of polymeric compound modeling for ages 8 and up, with adult supervision, because it required the use of an oven, and the product must not be ingested. Once you have the basics down, experiment with different varieties and brands of polymer clay, each of which has a different level of malleability. You can also get polymer clay in a variety of effects, such as translucent, iridescent, and glow-in-the-dark, to create beads and jewelry that are truly one-of-a-kind.

Some basic knowledge of jewelry beads

For most DIY craft beads, jewelry are the most commonly used materials, while their design projects. In fact, some pearls as common as resin beads, glass beads, European beads pearls and precious stones are not a simple substance. To purchase the most fickle for DIY projects may not be as difficult for the person practiced, but for the majority of pupils in primary schools, choose the beads and charms is really a big problem, which will lead to some problems after the use of inappropriate ones. In this article, I will make a brief introduction of the basic physical properties of the beads'!
1. Refractometric
Definition: Refractive index is ie the ratio between the speed of light in air against that in the materials. The higher the refractive index of the material, the strong ability intends to refract light. To make judgments more directly, you can follow the methods: make use of a book, each book contains the words is ok. Then put the beads on the word (certainly the pearls and pendants must be transparent), the most clear of words means that the smaller the refractive index. A comparison experiment is the difference between crystal and transparent corundum, their refractive index are 1.55 and 1.77 respectively. When he put the glass on the word, the word has very clear, but fails the transparent corundum.

2. Transparency
In general, it can be divided into four categories: transparent, translucent, sub-translucent, not transparent.
First: transparent, the most famous precious stones such as diamonds and crystal are all belong to this category.
Secondly, translucent, like Tourmaline, while placing it on the words, you can only see the big outline.
Third, sub-translucent. The most typical example is the jade. And 'permeable to light, but the sight of men able to see some of it.
Forth: opacity. Most of the beads and pendants for example malachite obsidian and are part of this system. In addition, the recently popular beads like pearls on clay are regularly opaque.
3. Pleochroism
In summary, the pleochroism is precisely on a gemstone, sometimes you will present different shades. This optical phenomenon may appear only on special colored gems that have more than one refractive indepear the lights pass through different positions, will be reflected in multiple directions, then the hue will present different.
4. Dispersion
As we know that white light (natural light) is made up of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and purple ones, dispersion refers to the phenomenon that when the natural light has been fixed in the original seven lights, for example the rainbow is also the result of the dispersion.
5. Density and specific gravity.
Initially you need to understand the definition of these two words, the density, the mass per unit volume of precious stones (g / cm ³), the specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of the ring in the air and in water 4C, the two figures may be the same.
6. Hardness
The hardness is, as the name suggests, how hard is the gem. A common use is the Mohs scale. In general, from top to bottom are: Adamas (diamond), corundum (ruby, sapphire), Topaz (blue topaz, palmer stone), quartz (crystal); stone growth; Apatite (moonlight stone) Fluorite, Calcite (State ice stone); plaster. Talc
But in the graph, this is a relative hardness, the hardness is not exact absolute gem itself.