Crafts for the Masses Part 2 - Glass Tile Pendant Necklaces

Who doesn't love jewelry?  Glass tile pendant necklaces was one of the favorite crafts we did last year.  They are amazingly easy to make and look great.  Here are pictures of some of the necklaces.

On the top left is "mom" in simplified Chinese, the neckace under
it is "faithful."  The first character represents a person standing by
their word, the second character represents the heart.

Here is what we used to make them:

1.  7/8” clear glass tiles
2.  Medium silver plated aanraku bails
3.  E6000 adhesive
4.  Diamond Glaze
5.  Silk ribbon necklaces
6.  Paper designs
7.  Cotton swabs
8.  Emery board/nail file

Instructions:

1.   Using a cotton swab, lightly cover the back (rough side) of the glass tile with Diamond Glaze.

2.   Attach the paper with the print side facing the rough side of the glass tile.  Lightly tap the back of the paper a few times to minimize air bubbles and let dry.

3.   Place a drop of E6000 on the aanraku bail and carefully attach to the back of the glass tile (which is now covered with your paper design).  Be sure to center it.  Allow to dry (minimum 5 minutes, overnight is best).

4.  Use an emery board to file away any excess paper on the sides of the pendant.

5.   Cover the entire back of the pendant with another light coat of diamond glaze to seal the paper to the pendant.

6.  When dry, string necklace through the charm and enjoy!

The cheap generic cotton swabs (i.e. not Q-Tip brand) work best for this application because they are less absorbent and don't unravel when wet.

We obtained the glass tiles, aanraku bails and Diamond Glaze on EBay. Our source was http://stores.ebay.com/Those-Sweet-Sensations?_rdc=1. (If you are making just a few, the website for Diamond Glaze offers a free sample at http://www.diamondglaze.com/sample.html.) E6000 adhesive is available at most craft stores, including Michael’s. (Some websites and sellers offer super-glue instead of E6000, but I would not recommend super-glue. Super-glue gets brittle when it dries and would easily just snap off. E6000 when it dries is more elastic and will work better for jewelry applications.) We obtained the silk ribbon necklaces on EBay as well. There are many different sources for the silk ribbon necklaces available on EBay. They can be found by searching “silk ribbon necklaces.” Most ship from China, so be aware of shipping costs and times. In addition, for the necklaces we purchased, we had to re-crimp the ends to keep the ribbons from separating from the metal ends. In retrospect, we should also have added a drop of E6000 adhesive to the crimp ends of the necklaces for extra hold.

There are sources on Etsy.com and EBay for pre-made paper designs.  We made our own with nice scrapbooking paper and a laser printer.  We printed mom in many different languages.  We also printed designs with words like love, faith, hope, believe, smile, laugh, and live.  If you use an ink-jet printer, then you may want to prevent the ink from smearing with something called Micro-Glaze (made by the same company as Diamond Glaze).  It is a somewhat waxy coating that will help set the ink.  You can purchase a paper punch (also available from the same E-Bay source listed above) which will punch 7/8 inch squares, or you can use scissors to cut out your paper.

Waste Not -- Reuse For the Sake of the Environment and Your Wallet

During my post-partum  hospital stays, the hospital gave me certain standard hospital supplies to use: a plastic wash basin, a pitcher for water, and a squirt bottle for rinsing "down there."  If I had not taken these items home with me upon discharge, they would have been discarded by the hospital.  By re-using these items, I am benefitting the environment and saving money. 

The plastic wash basin came in handy to soak the inevitable baby diaper blow-outs.  Before you have a baby, you have no idea how often this can happen.  Strangely, it seems to happen most frequently just as you are about to attempt to go out somewhere with the baby.  The plastic wash basin is the perfect size to fill with water, detergent and the dirty clothes to soak.  Other ways you can use the wash basin: 1) for your own hand washables; 2) pour in some corn meal and throw a few small toys inside and you have an instant indoor mini sandbox when you need some new entertainment for those rainy days inside; 3) during summer, take it outside and fill with a little water and a few toys and you have a mini water table for babies or toddlers; 4) as a storage bin for small toys or blocks.

The water pitcher, in addition to its obvious use as a pitcher, is perfect for use in the bath.  Just remove the top cover and it is perfect for washing your child's hair. It can also be used as a sand play toy.

I have used the squirt bottle to water my plants.  I also keep one in the trunk of my car to rinse dirty hands, feet or shoes before the kids get into the car after playing at a playground.  It is especially useful when they have been playing in a sandbox, or they have somehow found mud to play in (if there is mud to be found somewhere at a playground, they will find it).  It's also handy for rinsing dirt from scraped knees or elbows before you apply neosporin and bandages. 

I am sure if you think about it, you can come up with other ways to reuse these or similar items that would otherwise be part of the hospital trash.  Save the environment and save money too.