My friend Deana always wears big agate jewelry and it looks amazing on her. She reminds me of a New York gallery owner who is always decked out in the most daring fashion. When I started experimenting with some real agate slices, I realized that the finished pieces were extremely heavy. Probably too heavy unless you're Iris Apfel! That's when I got to work and designed a process to give the agate/geode look that weighed about 1/5 as much! Plus, this is so much more fun than buying expensive slices of agate and gluing them on jewelry findings. Hey, I'm a DIY'er and I live to make things! Remember to experiment, find alternatives and always Make Your Mark!
Julie "rocking" my new agate jewelry
The bigger the better and light as a feather!
Nothing like a big, chunky ring!
Watch how to make them here!
STUFF I USED
Glitter and white glue
HERE'S HOW
1. Print out the agates and seal both sides of the paper with the acrylic clear coat and let dry
2. & 3. Carefully cut each agate, edge with glue and add black glitter
4. Add crystal glitter in the center if you want
*I find the glitter gives it dimension and makes it look more real
5. & 6. Mix the Glaze Coat and pour about 1/8" into each mold
7. Submerge the glitterized agate print and cover with a bit more Glaze Coat
*Aim for a little less than 1/4"
8. & 9. Pop the bubbles with a small torch or long arm lighter (or heat gun), cover and let cure for about 6 to 8 hours
10. While the pieces are still a little "bendy" cut around the agate shapes with some heavy duty scissors
*If you let them cure too much you will have to cut them with a craft knife and break off pieces. This is much easier!
11. Add the foiling glue to the edges of each agate and when dry, press the gold foil paper to the glue
12. Glue the finished agate on metal bangles, ring findings or drill and hang on a chain
Pile them on!
Wow, these are awesome they look so real!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the agate photos and all the great instructions!