Friday, April 09, 2010

Coiled Dragonfly Necklace


This lovely necklace was created by Janet Hoffman. The design features an Elaine Ray ceramic bezel accented with a mirror and a coiled dragonfly. The dragonfly appears about to take flight over a reflective pond. Janet is a talented craft person; she is the type who no matter what craft you mention she will say 'oh, I have done that!' We had a Staff Challenge recently to use naked brass bugs in designs and this necklace was a hands-down favorite.

Ingredients:
18" antique brass Medium Knurled Round Chain
18" antique brass Most Excellent Cable Chain
1 Elaine Ray round bead, 6mm
1 Elaine Ray square bezel setting with 2 holes
3 raw brass dragonfly charms
3 antique brass jump rings, 3mmx4mm
2 antique brass Posie Danglin' charms
1 round mirror,18mm
1 raw brass Curling Dragonfly,33mm x 33mm
1 antique brass spring ring clasp,12mm
22g gold graft wire,6"
Diamond Glaze Dimensional Adhesive

Tools:
2 chain nose pliers
round nose pliers
wire cutters
clamps or close pins( to hold dragonfly while glue dries)
metal file or emery board ( to smooth flowers after cutting off loop and to give metal some tooth before gluing)

1.Using your wire cutters nip the ends of both of the flower charms. Place a 4 mm drop of Diamond Glaze in the recess of the bezel. Carefully place the mirror on the wet resin and press down. Place a 2 mm drop of Diamond Glaze on the rim of one of the holes in the ceramic bezel. Press a flower charm into the hole. Use a second 2 mm drop to glue the second flower charm.

2.Using your chain nose pliers and your hands, bend the curling dragonfly to fit the face of the ceramic bezel. Bend the wings down so that they will come in close contact with the surface. When the dragonfly fits the surface nicely, place a 2 mm drop of resin on the tip of each wing and place the dragonfly on the surface of the pendant. Allow pendant to dry for 24 hours before proceeding.

3.Using your wire cutters trim Most Excellent Cable Chain into 6 sections ranging from 2.5-3.5 inches. Select three chain sections of differing lengths. With your chain nose pliers attach a small brass dragonfly to a chain section with an oval jump ring. Repeat for each of the selected sections. Using the 22 gauge wire, attach the chain sections to the bottom hole of the pendant with a wrapped loop including the 6 mm ceramic bead.

4. Remove one link from the section of medium Round Knurled Chain. Set aside. With your chain nose pliers open the ring at the base of the spring ring clasp. Thread this clasp onto the end of the length of chain. Close ring securely. Locate the center of the chain. With remaining chain link, attach the ceramic bezel to the center of the chain.

See additional pictures of this tutorial and find all the supplies at Ornamentea.com. Thanks Janet, for sharing your design!


5 comments:

  1. What a grea summer-y necklace!
    Bead Happy!
    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous10:39 PM

    lovely necklace!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful! I love the way the dragonfly's tail coils around the mirror.
    Pattyjo

    ReplyDelete
  4. That's a lovely necklace, thanks for posting!

    ReplyDelete
  5. BBQ Queen4:57 PM

    Way to go...Your tutorial made Craft Gossip! Y'all Rock!

    ReplyDelete

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