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 “A Bunch Of Earrings”:“Your earrings are a bunch of fun. Something for everyone in this great collection. I think…” read »
on “New year”:“Just the thing to wear to an art opening, or lunch out with favorite girlfriends!…” read »
on “New year”:“Thank you all. Such nice compliments.…” read »
on “A Bunch Of Earrings”:“All of these are great! I always enjoy seeing your ideas for earrings & wonderful…” read »
on “A Bunch Of Earrings”:“Beautiful earrings sweetjane. I love them all but the spikey ones are calling out to me.…” read »
- on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Wow. I'm overwhelmed. Thank you very much. My daughter didn't know I was really making it…” read »
on “A Bunch Of Earrings”:“here is the red tin and Black Onyx …” read »
on “A Bunch Of Earrings”:“Cute!…” read »
on “A Bunch Of Earrings”:“Very nice, especially the red flwrs and the green lily pads.…” read »
- on “Stranger's Earrings”:
“Beautiful, excellant arrangement and color selection. Also, welcome back.…” read »
on “New year”:“When I heard about the pantone colors i wondered how they could work together !! You…” read »
- on “Follow The Directions”:
“So pretty and cheerful ....that focal just makes me smile…” read »
- on “Stranger's Earrings”:
“welcome back K !! Love the earrings and the backstory ...I went to college in NYC…” read »
- on “A Bunch Of Earrings”:
“Love them all !! Super creative !!…” read »
- on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“How cute is this !!! What a wonderful idea , so pretty too…” read »
- on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Oh my goodness !! This is too cute for words !! so creative and so beautiful!!!…” read »
- on “Window sun catcher curtain”:
“Beady !!! Yes !! Thats how I felt .....we all love our beautiful beads so why…” read »
- on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Many years ago I had a friend who made bracelets that had tiny scenes on them…” read »
on “New year”:“Wow! I love this. Artsy and chunky. Love…” read »
on “A Bunch Of Earrings”:“cute earrings!…” read »
- on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“This is such a wonderful lariat!!!!! It is incredible and so frickin' cute! You…” read »
- on “A Bunch Of Earrings”:
“The red tin/ Black Onyx earrings didn't show up.…” read »
- on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“So many different kinds of owls, and the branches!!! Fantastic. Lucky daughter:)…” read »
on “Sari Silk Gift Wrap”:“really cute!…” read »
- on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Thanks for the great comments. This is a peyote stitch so each row only adds 1/2…” read »
- on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“That is really awesome!…” read »
on “Night Owls Lariat”:“The black background for this piece really makes the vivid owls really pop! Thanks for all…” read »
- on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“Yes, thanks for sharing, Phoenix! They are very protective of their food sources, aren’t they?…” read »
- on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Beady--Pure artistry!! This is wonderfully playful & would be so enjoyable to wear! I…” read »
- on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“I watched the video--precious! Adding red glass beads would definitely draw them. Thanks Phoenix…” read »
- on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“Thanks for the info Phoenix. That was fun to watch.…” read »
- on “Night Owls Lariat”:
“Thank you all so much for your sweet comments. KR - I designed the owls using a…” read »
- on “Follow The Directions”:
“So pretty! Love the colors.…” read »
on “Hummingbird Swing”:“Check out the bird supply store: Duncraft.com to watch a video of hummers using a…” read »
- on “Follow The Directions”:
“Thanks so much for all the comments!! I'm happy with this necklace and that I was…” read »
- on “Stranger's Earrings”:
“Such pretty nifty wirework!…” read »
on “Night Owls Lariat”:“How amazing is this. I always wonder how in the world someone puts something like this…” read »
- on “Hummingbird Swing”:
“I've never heard of a hummingbird swing. It's so sweet. Will they use it? Even if…” read »
- on “New year”:
“Your bracelet is wonderful. Yellow and grey. Who knew they could be so beautiful together? I'd…” read »
- on “Follow The Directions”:
“Lovely blue necklace!…” 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
We only have 1 item to show you on this page!
| Piece | $0.30 |
We only have 1 item to show you on this page!
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.