Steampunk altered art necklace
When love is in the air, this steampunk altered art necklace is just the thing for a true romance.
By Jema Hewitt
Altered art is so popular in scrapbooking and card making right now, why not include it in your jewellery projects too? You can use a lot of the same techniques and materials like alcohol inks, glaze mediums and stamps. Finding objects, distressing and combining with new elements to make something new is always exciting and fits perfectly with steampunk sensibilities. The excitement of using unique vintage elements adds value to pieces too. Steampunk is an extension of a Victorian fantasy and science fiction genre, using industrial elements like cogs and gears with elegant Art Noveau styling. The idea is to create objects d’art that look like mechanical devices from another era. Jema Hewitt is a designer of unusual steampunk and polymer clay jewellery and accessories. She also runs workshops from her Nottingham based studio, if you like her steampunk style, have a look at www.steampunkjewellery.com for more inspiration.
Designer Tips
- Use baby wipes to clean off alcohol ink and Staz on ink while it’s still wet if you make a mistake. When set, use stamp cleaner or white spirit.
- Small swirls and flourishes work best for stamping on small metal blanks, avoid anything too detailed or large.
- To define the cracks in the glaze, rub over with a dark acrylic paint and wipe off immediately. The paint will stay in the cracks.
MATERIALS
- 60ss Czech crystal dentelles (if you can’t find these, 14mm riviolis will work too)
- Ranger inkessentials accents glaze (crackle or gloss)
- Alcohol inks
- Staz on ink pad
- Vintaj 24mm filigree ring DR10
- Vintaj mythological wings (pair) EM0020 and EM0010
- 3 x 5mm jumprings
- 5 x 5mm split rings
- Tiny cog
- Approx. 12” antiqued brass chain and clasp
- Hand drill or dremel
- Needle file
- Flat nosed pliers
- Round nosed pliers
- Wire cutters
- Rubber stamps
Step 1
First you need to drill or punch holes in the edges of your wings. I use a small hand held model makers drill with a tiny drill bit; you could also use a screw down drill press. The metal is very soft so it isn’t difficult. File the rough edges with a round needle file.
Step 2
Cut a piece of 4mm wire approx. 30cm long, attach it to the filigree circle by threading through and twisting back on itself. Take your sparkly central stone, those with a bevelled back work best, and place it behind the ring, slotting it into place in the central gap.
Step 3
Secure the stone by crossing the wire from side to side. Anchor it each time you reach the other side by threading through a bit of the filigree. Work around the circle so that there is a lattice completely covering the back. The stone should be secured now, nice and firm.
Step 4
Take your brass heart and sponge some alcohol ink over it. Try not to get too even a pattern, make one edge darker if you can, even use two or three colours. The ink dries fast so you need to work quickly, you can add extra coats for more depth of colour.
Step 5
Stamp swirls with Staz on Ink onto the heart, the metal surface is slippery so practise on spare metal parts first and you can always wipe the ink off. I used brown and black colours for depth, make sure it’s dry then cover with the inkessentials accent glaze. Leave to set.
Step 6
Attach jumprings at three equal points around the central sparkle, hooking through the filigree. Attach the jumprings to the short wing edges and the heart and cog with split rings. Cut lengths of chain or ribbon or both and thread through a split ring in the other hole on the wings. Attach a clasp.
fashion tips
A head turner like this necklace will make any cocktail dress or gown look glamorous. Heighten the Hollywood style and spoil yourself with a trip to the hairdressers. Add a dramatic look with false lashes and gold eyeliner. Deep pink lipsticks will invite a sweet kiss from your Valentine
Frill dress £79 Kaleidoscope
Rosette bag £30 Monsoon
Bracelet by Accessorize
Resources:
Vintaj filigree, inks and stamps: www.alteredelement.co.uk
Crystals:
www.thebeadtrail.co.uk and http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Book-Crazy
CONTACT DETAILS
Jema Hewitt
Web: www.steampunkjewellery.co.uk
Blog: http://sparklyjem.blogspot.com