The Design Gallery
Follow along with step-by-step beading projects and share your designs with beaders around the world—it’s quick & easy!
Chatter
on “Fruitcake with bees and bird”:“Sue, they are not consistently wonderful,I just don't post the ones that aren't!
…” read »
on “Fruitcake with bees and bird”:“Yumyumyum!!! Chzechs are just so amazing! And a great design, just the inspiration I need to…” read »
- on “Skinny Stackers”:
“Love the combo of skinny leather and the focal bars -- would be good for everyday…” read »
- on “Turquoise moon mix”:
“Ditto to all the above!
Love the solution and the combo of large gemstones and…” read » 
on “Feather and Flowers”:“Beautiful! Love the simple color scheme with the Vintage brass findings.…” read »
- on “Fruitcake with bees and bird”:
“Oh man this is wonderful. Such beautiful color and design. You have such a special way…” read »
on “Fruitcake with bees and bird”:“What can I say? Your work is always just so beautiful, one can only hope to…” read »
- on “Feather and Flowers”:
“Wonderful! I agree with everything the ladies have said, and I love it!…” read »
on “Fruitcake with bees and bird”:“Wow, this is gorgeous! I love these colors-saving this for future inspiration!…” read »
on “Feather and Flowers”:“Love your design! Love your wirework! Just a Fabulous necklace!…” read »
- on “Fruitcake with bees and bird”:
“Beautiful! Love the colors of the beads and the colors do remind me of a beautiful…” read »
on “Fruitcake with bees and bird”:“Nice! I really like the subdued mix of color using the Czech Fruitcake beads. …” read »
- on “Feather and Flowers”:
“I also like the color progression of the beads on the sides. Nice touch to…” read »
on “Fruitcake with bees and bird”:“Yum! I love this piece! I recognized it as yours before I even scrolled…” read »
on “Fruitcake with bees and bird”:“Absolutely beautiful. I love Czech glass, and seeing new ways to use it. Thank you for…” read »
on “Fruitcake with bees and bird”:“This is really gorgeous and must have taken quite a bit of time to design and…” read »
- on “Feather and Flowers”:
“Love the ombre effect. So beautiful.…” read »
- on “Feather and Flowers”:
“This is simply exquisite!…” read »
on “Beach Day Necklace Set”:“Of the designs you just posted, this is my favorite! I have to say I'm not…” read »
- on “Ode to Summer Passing”:
“Ha, I'm with Pam! Living in Texas & before that, South Louisiana, October is maybe the…” read »
- on “Terrace Dragonfly Necklace”:
“What a great necklace for Fall! I bet the wood beads lighten it up some. That's…” read »
- on “Once Apon a Time”:
“I like it! It's very unique. My story when I look at it is playtime is…” read »
- on “Here Be My Dragon”:
“Thank you so very much!…” read »
- on “Classic Acrylic Chain Necklace”:
“I'm with Crystal Canary! I love light weight jewelry also. That's why I use…” read »
- on “Classic Acrylic Chain Necklace”:
“Love tortoise...Love light-weight jewelry--perfect solution!
…” read » - on “Classic Acrylic Chain Necklace”:
“I've been wearing tortoise shell glasses for most of my life. I have a pair on…” read »
- on “Classic Acrylic Chain Necklace”:
“Tortoise shell acrylic has been a long-time love object of mine, too. Love this necklace, and…” read »
on “Skinny Stackers”:“I can see these skinny, colorful pieces being popular to wear alone of stacked up! …” read »
- on “Turquoise moon mix”:
“Love wrist candy! Your bracelet accomplishes a stylish mix of leather, color, sparkle. Appreciate…” read »
- on “Terrace Dragonfly Necklace”:
“I've always looked at this gorgeous dragonfly pendant on LB, but never knew what to do…” read »
on “Some Earrings”:“Good luck with Etsy, you have nice offerings! My best tip is to take excellent photos…” read »
- on “Skinny Stackers”:
“I love the look of alcohol ink on just about anything. Looks wonderful on PC. I…” read »
- on “Skinny Stackers”:
“Love the rich color you get with this process. Great idea using leather too. Wonderful stackable…” read »
- on “Granite Donut With Agate & Jasper Sprinkles”:
“Beautiful…” read »
- on “Skinny Stackers”:
“Gorgeous and what fun!…” read »
- on “Skinny Stackers”:
“Fun bracelets with a rainbow of color! Nice work ☺…” read »
- on “Skinny Stackers”:
“These are beautiful and very impressive! They would look great stacked and perfect for the…” read »
on “Skinny Stackers”:“These are very cute! They would look great stacked. Perfect for fall.…” read »
- on “Radiance”:
“Finally,I see really lovely piece! It was beautifull with a chain, but came out nice in the…” read »
- on “Fiber Sparkle Dangle Bangle”:
“I like the bracelet but I would rather use thin leather to connect the two bangles.I…” read »
Hidden Treasures
About this design:
I just love these vintage looking lockets, and I'm in a real gunmetal phase right now, so when I started experimenting with Gilders Paste, I thought I'd see what it would do to gunmetal. This was one of my first projects with the Gilders Paste, and I'm really happy with the results. I liked the idea of old and crusty meets something amazing like the tiny seed pearls.
Buy the supplies:
The products in this design are listed below.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
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Step 1: You're going to want to prep all of your pieces. I added color to two Stampt gears for the inside of the locket as well as the locket itself, you may want to layer gears inside the locket, so decide how many you want and scratch the surfaces up with some fine to medium grit sand paper or a foam sanding block. The block is my favorite, as you can really get into crevices and corners with it. Scratch the surface as little or as much as you like. The more texture you give it, the better the paste will color the metal. For the outside of the locket, I was very gentle with it. You can easily remove all of the coating. I just highlighted some of the raised part on the filigree by gently brushing them with the foam block, but the back I textured more heavily. |
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Step 2: There are many ways to apply Gilders Paste. For the chunky look I attained on the gears, I put it on really thick with a stiff-bristled cheap paint brush - then brushed some off and left it in places I wanted it. I let it dry for about 12 hours and then rubbed it with a soft cloth to even out the texture and give it the finished look. For the locket, I started with the Rich Gold Gilders Paste and a soft cloth and gently highlighted both the front and back of the piece. If you use a small amount on a cloth, you can intensify the color with layers or by going over it again. Since I knew I wanted the gunmetal to still show through - I was conservative on this step. |
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Step 3: Before the locket was cured, I went over the Rich Gold with a very small amount of Coral Red. The good thing about using the soft cloth is you can polish as you go and see just what the final look will be. You should still let the piece cure for 12 hours, as the paste can rub off - but you can achieve the look you want almost instantly! |
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Step 4: Arrange the gears and seed pearls in a way that appeals to your eye. These little guys can get away from you, I found a head pin or toothpick helpful when arranging everything. |
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Step 5: Prepare your Lima Studios resin by carefully mixing equal parts of the resin and hardener. Using a clean stir stick, pour small amounts of the resin into the locket well. Be VERY CAREFUL not to get any resin in the mechanism that releases the locket. I may or may not have learned this tip by experience. . . At this point you will want to move any stray pearls back into their place, make sure the gears are just where you want them, and pop any obvious bubbles with your pin or toothpick. |
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Step 6: After 24 hours your treasure should be ready to string. I thought this one came out so nicely, I didn't want to take away from it with beads. I have it strung on our 1" old ivory velvet ribbon with no ends so I can just tie it in a bow behind my neck or change it out for a gunmetal chain if I choose to. |
Buy Products from this Design
You are viewing all 3 items.
| 1 oz (30ml) | $8.90 | OUT OF STOCK |
| Piece | $0.30 |
You are viewing all 3 items.
On Jun 05, 2011 at 12:50 pm #
Orchid Betty says:Love the effect you gave to the gunmetal, it transformed it into a risher look!
On Jun 05, 2011 at 7:54 pm #
trinkets says:A beautiful job Rebecca!
I love the seed pearls with the gears, so different ~
On Jun 08, 2011 at 9:18 pm #
F Selinger says:FranMade is handmade. Custom designed jewelry just for you. The tropical you. The bling-bling you. The casual, yet elegant you.
On Jun 08, 2011 at 9:20 pm #
F Selinger says:Oops. I thought I was posting in my profile. Sorry to blast retail at you.
Yes, I’m new here. The work you put into this piece was well worth it.
On Jun 15, 2011 at 9:56 pm #
Reet says:Cool! Thanks for step-by -step instruction.
On Mar 09, 2012 at 10:33 pm #
Butterfly girl says:beauty is defnatly in the eye of the beholder an me to i really love this i am new at the jewlrey makeing scene I have a incurabel deseae Behcets an cant do alot of my crafts i used to so trying to find something that might be easier on my hands an the step by step instruction absoltly help thank you keep up the beauyiful work.
On Mar 15, 2012 at 11:13 pm #
S Rubino says:This piece totally inspires me. I have been wanting to try something new and your step by step instructions make me think I can really create something unique. Thank you!
On Dec 06, 2012 at 10:50 am #
Altered Artist says:This is totally a beautiful piece and I love that you share the products that go into it. I was wondering where I might purchase the actual locket.
On Jan 10, 2013 at 2:15 am #
doggiedoodoo says:I am a BIG fan of contrasts, old/new, shiny/patina, pearl/metal, I never would have thought of filling a locket with resin and “treasures” cuz I’m also a big fan of family photos LOL BUT what an idea for a bezel pendant hanging within a frame.
On May 15, 2013 at 8:56 pm #
SilverCords aka Judy says:Stunning piece! Classic and simple!
On Sep 19, 2013 at 8:48 pm #
Mustard Seed Beads says:Beautiful…..thanks for sharing.
On Apr 21, 2015 at 2:07 pm #
Carlareid4 says:Gorgeous!:)
On Jul 01, 2016 at 11:46 am #
C Wathen says:Likw your designs and having the directions are nice.