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 “Copper Sheets and Washers”:“Annabel, So sorry you have been sick for so long. It sounds depressing. Glad you…” read »
on “Look Mom No Chainmaille”:“
…” read »
on “Crystal Dragon”:“Thanks, everyone! Shaggy loops is a very easy chain to learn. Here is a free tutorial.…” read »
on “Crystal Dragon”:“Wow piece, indeed! I agree how the chain lets the dragon piece be the star…” read »
- on “Pineing for Green”:
“another piece that I like to the moon and back! This would be good with…” read »
on “Crystal Dragon”:“Wow!!!!…” read »
on “Crystal Dragon”:“Really a beautiful piece, I agree with sue done well.…” read »
on “Pineing for Green”:“Lovely piece. Love the color, the materials, and the construction!…” read »
- on “Crystal Dragon”:
“Well, obviously, what you did is just remarkable! Great clasp, and you've given it a fabulous…” read »
on “Dragon's Cave”:“The Nunn design necklaces I love too. I love doing resin and love all of Nunn…” read »
- on “Dragon's Cave”:
“Just wanted to say that fantastic little Czech bead I was talking about was a matte…” read »
- on “Dragon's Cave”:
“Moogie is right. The sparkly grey beads are druzy. The bead that looks blue was a…” read »
- on “Copper Sheets and Washers”:
“Annabel, not only is your etching so nice, but your explanation of your process was supper.…” read »
- on “Send in the Clowns..”:
“I love them! They are so beautiful and creative. I really like how copper looks dipped…” read »
- on “Cool Waters”:
“Wow, I love Aquamarine! I love your choice of beads to highlight the Aquamarine. So BEAUTIFUL!…” read »
on “Cool Waters”:“Yummy is right! Those are some higher quality aquamarine beads & your other bead choices are…” read »
- on “Send in the Clowns..”:
“Wow, these are super cute & creative! You just keep doodling around because the outcome is…” read »
- on “Copper Sheets and Washers”:
“Hey Annabel, your work is so awesome! Thanks for all the info on etching. I’ll have…” read »
- on “Dragon's Cave”:
“Donna, I’m dying here! I just love your necklaces. The dragon is my fav. How creative…” read »
- on “Leather lessons...”:
“These came out really neat Lynda! I love how you colored the button too. Don’t you…” read »
- on “Turtle medicine”:
“I really love your stylish turtles! This is a wonderfully earthy necklace & the perfect length…” read »
- on “Sea Stones - Tide Pool”:
“I love all these different blues together. I appreciate the times you took to wire wrap…” read »
on “Send in the Clowns..”:“Thank you! I had another pair of earrings I had made, but for some reason, I forgot…” read »
- on “Copper Sheets and Washers”:
“Thank you! The bleh spiral was basically from the flu, which I had been battling for around…” read »
- on “Cool Waters”:
“I can see why you were inspired by the aquamarine discs. They are so yummy. Wonderful…” read »
- on “Send in the Clowns..”:
“Beautiful beautiful! Love the color combos.
…” read » - on “Copper Sheets and Washers”:
“I'm so sorry to hear about your bleh spiral. I hope you're feeling much better. Your…” read »
on “Pink Peacock”:“Beautiful, pink is always lovely.…” read »
- on “Cool Waters”:
“Your design sense is still there! This is beautiful!…” read »
- on “Send in the Clowns..”:
“I'd be very happy to wear these earrings!…” read »
- on “Copper Sheets and Washers”:
“The earrings are beautiful! The design on the long ones is wonderful. The last…” read »
- on “Dragon's Cave”:
“Really like your collection, what is the bead that is sparkling? The one on your dragon…” read »
- on “Cool Waters”:
“Smart design colors are just right, you have good eye appeal. Anna…” read »
- on “Cool Waters”:
“This is a lovely, wearable piece that I would definitely wear!…” read »
- on “Cool Waters”:
“I love the aquamarine discs. This is lovely!…” read »
on “New Kumihimo”:“Such pretty color and texture! I get impatient when doing Kumi, hence I don't do it…” read »
- on “Look Mom No Chainmaille”:
“Lovely! And great advice from Moogie. I've never thought of adding a crimp here and there…” read »
- on “Pink Peacock”:
“Beautiful! I always have a hard time designing anything pink.This is fantastic!…” read »
- on “Send in the Clowns..”:
“Very nice! I'd love to wear these!…” 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 |
Brass Sectioned Gear 19mm
BACK IN 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.