https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/bold-inca-inspired-pendant • Posted by Kate B.
The colours and lines are very strong in this design so I decided to use wire ‘cloisons’ to make walls and keep the colours separate. This is a process I developed after looking at old enamelled ‘cloisonné’ jewellery, (cloisons means partitions in French). Resin starts off as a liquid and so it is difficult to stop colours blending into each other without a barrier such as the wire. I have bonded the wire onto the pendant and ring mounts with epoxy glue (which won’t react with the resin). Once the wires are firmly glued into place then resin can be added into each little area. Designer Tips Find a strong image to adapt for your design Make sure the wire are glued down all the way along If you don’t like your finished piece it can be stripped out with paint stripper, but be very careful using it!
The colours and lines are very strong in this design so I decided to use wire ‘cloisons’ to make walls and keep the colours separate. This is a process I developed after looking at old enamelled ‘cloisonné’ jewellery, (cloisons means partitions in French). Resin starts off as a liquid and so it is difficult to stop colours blending into each other without a barrier such as the wire. I have bonded the wire onto the pendant and ring mounts with epoxy glue (which won’t react with the resin). Once the wires are firmly glued into place then resin can be added into each little area. Designer Tips Find a strong image to adapt for your design Make sure the wire are glued down all the way along If you don’t like your finished piece it can be stripped out with paint stripper, but be very careful using it!
Find a picture which inspires you like this Peruvian embroidered wall hanging. Photograph it and choose a section of the design that would look good as a pendant. I chose an area with strong lines and chevrons and then I thought about the colours I wanted to use. These blues and purples are a good contrast to the silver frame.
Do a pencil drawing of the design to help you work out how to construct it. The drawing doesn't have to be a great work of art as it is just a template to work from. Using pliers and metal snips cut and shape 0.8mm round wire to make the design. Start with the two lines with chevrons in between so that the design is centered properly.
Glue one wire in place with quick drying epoxy glue. Make a chevron by bending the wire at an angle and then snip the wire so that both sides are roughly the same length. When you have made the chevron work out how far apart the parallel wires need to be. If the wires are slightly too long use a needle file to file them shorter.
Glue the second wire in place and make all the chevrons - about 7 or 8. Glue them in place between the two wires. Now cut and fit the parallel lines that are at right angles below the two wires already in place. Carefully remove any excess glue with a cocktail stick.
Bend more wire at right angles. Use rounded pliers to avoid a sharp angle. If you look at the picture you'll see that it doesn't have any precise angles. Glue them in place and clean excess glue away. Leave the piece for at least an hour for the glue to harden properly. Place it somewhere warm to help it set hard.
If there is still too much glue showing use a pin and tweezers to dig some of it out, making sure there is still enough glue to form a good bond and barrier. Put the piece onto the acrylic block with Blu Tack so that it is secure when the resin is in the pendant. Rub a pea sized amount of barrier cream onto your hands for protection.
Make two separate resin mixes using 1.2gm of blue sparkle resin and 0.6gm of hardener and then 1gm of violet transparent resin and 0.5gm of hardener. Put a few drops of blue sparkle mix onto the parchment paper and add a tiny speck of red violet paste. Mix thoroughly. This is the purple that goes in the chevron area. Remember, no eating and drinking when using resin!
Mix the other colours by adding blue sparkle and violet together. Mix violet with white paste and blue sparkle with white paste. There are six colours including blue sparkle and violet. Put tiny amounts into each field with a cocktail stick. Keep the colours separate by making sure not to overfill. Put a test drop of resin on the acrylic block. Leave in a warm dust free place overnight.
Test the drop of resin to see if the resin is set. When it is, make a clear resin mix with 1gm of resin and 0.5gm of hardener. This is to make a domed layer over all but the outside edge. Put it into the pendant starting in the middle and go tight to the edges. Leave to set as before and then the pendant is ready to wear.
EXTRA PROJECT MAKE A RING TO MATCH Make a ring to match Make a matching ring using a silver plated square ring blank and following steps 2 to 9.