Repurposed Wooden Necklace

We've all wondered how to reuse things that we have laying around the house.  Smaller items can be turned into unique handmade jewelry designs, like this Repurposed Wooden necklace from designer Cindi Bisson, made from wooden stamps and leftover clay.


 

Materials:

• Small alphabet stamp set (the mounts on this set were ¼” square x 1” long
• Drill with small (1/8”) bit, clamp, scrap wood to drill over
• RIT Liquid Dye – Apply Green
• Water
• Microwave
• Craft gloves
• Disposable bowl
• Spoon
• Measuring cup
• Makin’s Clay – Red, Ivory and Plum from Vinyard Tones, Makin’s Clay Floral Push Mold
• Common pins
• Creative Hot Marks Tool
• Judikins Diamond Glaze
• Jewelry wire
• Closure findings
• Clear glass bugle beads

Instructions:

1. Remove rubber and cushion from wood mounts. These peeled off simply, if that doesn’t work try microwaving for approximately 15 seconds then peel off.
    
2. Wearing craft gloves, mix 1 tsp Apple Green RIT Liquid Dye with 1/3 cup water in disposable bowl. Microwave on high approximately 1 minute. Place wood mounts into hot dye and let set approximately 20 minutes. Remove and let dry.  Dispose of dye.
   
   
   
   
    
3. On scrap wood, use clamp to hold one wood mount, drill hole through mount approximately ¼” from top. Repeat on 2nd wood mount. On third mount, drill hole approximately ½” down from top.
   
   
    
4. Following manufacturer instructions, heat Creative Hot Marks tool and burn vine image into front and back faces of dyed, drilled mounts.
   
   
    
5. To make Makin’s Clay beads, mix 3 parts ivory (approximately 1” size ball), with approximately ¼” size ball of plum clay and ½” of red clay. Continue adding plum and red until desired color is achieved. Press into flower mold. Remove from mold and set aside for approximately 5 minutes. Repeat until 4 flowers are complete. Before clay has completely dried (after about 5 minutes) gently push common pin through each flower to create bead. Let dry completely (approximately 24 hours). For round beads, roll clay into small spheres, let set approximately 5 minutes then gently push common pins through and let dry completely.
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
6. Cut jewelry wire to desired length. Begin adding beads in pattern shown. The single wooden bead with the hole drilled ½” from the top is your center bead.
    
7. On either side of clay & wood beads, string clear glass bugle beads. Add closure finding.
   
   
    
8. Coat clay beads and wooden beads with Judikins Diamond Glaze for added shine and protective seal.