stamping Archives - Filigree Beading .com

24Nov

By filigreebeNo Comments

Ideas

Other Projects

The brass stampings, beads and gem replicas we offer are used in many projects other than jewelry design. Here are just a few great ideas worth sharing. The beautiful bud vase pictured here was a gift from my sister and her husband. It includes several filigrees, a flower and two cherubs. They are soldered to a large round filigree and a plain brass band to hold it all together. The band doesn't show, but it is inside the design at the heads of the cherubs. The vase can be removed from the ornate holder for cleaning. The same concept could easily be used to make decorated jar candles or bud vases of your own design. Willie Zuniga is still recovering from hand surgery but she can't sit still. She is creating a line of gift items now. You can buy these jars a...

8May

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons, Ideas

More Layering Ideas

In this focal point piece,I gathered seemingly unrelated pieces of filigree, stampings and functional findings and then layered them together to create something out of the ordinary. Tip: Use a dot of E6000 glue between each layer of the pieces to hold everything together. After the project had time to set, I gently pushed the prongs onto the edge of the cameo to give the illusion that they are doing all the work. #A842, #A724, #R154, #B206, #BB43 The item numbers are shown below each piece used to make this pendant. Using a filigree piece like #B206 near the top of the pendant allows for necessary openings to attach chain, ribbon or bead strands. Some elements of this design technique include: 1. Framework - Adds textural interest and defi...

8Sep

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Open-Back Turtle Setting

This page is a gift for you from Willie Zuniga. "I really love these settings, so I wanted to share a few ideas with you." writes Willie. Turtle settings and open backed turtle settings can be used with almost any stamping, drop or connector that has an opening in the center or not. That's why they are one of our top selling items. You can use them for any type of jewelry making, since they are so functional. Except for the earrings in the picture below, the following items are not finished pieces, but I'm sure you'll find some ideas there. Whether you glue the settings on top, or wrap them around the piece (as in the earrings) ... you've created a whole new "setting." These aqua earrings include 16mm size settings, wi...

22Feb

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Create Unique Settings

When you find a beautiful cabochon in a non standard size, you may reject it knowing how hard it is to find settings for those stones. The lesson below shows you how to create a setting for any size or shape stone. #F81, #A724, #A566, #G34 Step 1Choose a flat stamping with openwork or a filigree as the base, which will allow lots of open areas from which to attach strands of beads or chain. Step 2Glue the cabochon in the center. Let the glue set up according to the instructions on the tube. (More about this on our page "E6000 Glue Tips".) Step 3Add chain, beads, stones, trim or other stampings to rim the cabochon so that it appears to be in a setting. In this picture you s...

18Jan

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons, Ideas

Filigree Wrapping

I'm often asked, "How do I set those odd shaped vintage stones?" One way is to wrap them in filigree and stampings to create a cage effect. Filigree always has lots of openings from which to attach chain and beaded strands. Please use great caution when folding, bending and otherwise manipulating filigrees and stampings. We do not guarantee that they will hold up to manipulation. Here I used a half round peach colored vintage glass stones. I placed it inside a partially folded together filigree (Item #A727) and then continued to fold it closed..In the image below you can see how I folded #B208 around from the opposite side so that the ends overlap. I used flat nose pliers I found in the tool section of Sears. They are smaller for cra...

5Dec

By filigreebeNo Comments

Ideas

Sculpture

Brass stampings, gemstone beads, glass bugle beads, gemstone replicas, flat back rhinestones and paint are among the items used to create this shadowboxed sculpture. This product Liquitex Basics - coarse texture gel was found in an art supply store. It adds texture to flat surfaces as shown below. Acrylic paints were used to create the color effects. Start by layering stones, bugle beads and the largest stampings. Finish by layering the smaller stones and stampings in the spaces between and over the larger pieces. (E6000 glue was used in this project.) The finished project was mounted in a black shadowbox found in the frame department of Michael's Arts and Crafts. It was then placed on a black iron table top easel. This project was insp...

5Dec

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Pendant Lesson

Functional elements such as bails and clasps are required for every project to make the piece wearable. Consider a pendant without a bail for example. The pendant would not face forward if you simply threaded a ribbon or chain through it's loop. Standard loops are attached to the top of the setting or stamping with the hole facing the same way as the setting, so a bail is needed to join the chain to the pendant loop. A bail is often the least attractive component in an otherwise fabulous design. A pretty pendant is missing something if only a simple large rather ugly jump ring is used as a bail. Failing to consider the style of these elements can ruin the balance of an otherwise beautiful piece of jewelry. Every part should complement the main focal point. As in architecture and...

2Nov

By filigreebeNo Comments

Free Jewelry Making Lessons

Step by Step

Mixing natural gemstone beads and cabochons with vintage glass beads and the oxidized findings lends importance to your art. The colors are rich and the markings are always interesting. The stones are very earthy and flattering to your face. Look for natural, not dyed stones, since the dye will change and fade over time. Steps to a Project... Here's the evolution of a necklace as it is being created. The focal pendant chosen for this piece is a Chrysocolla oblong gemstone bead with the hole passing vertically across the top. In my travels, I never pass up a bead store, rock shop or bead show. I want to see gemstones in person before I spend big money for something special like this bead. I threaded a heavy beading wire (#W01) through the hole and then added...