by Mark Montano
HERE’S HOW
1 Cut a piece of aluminum flashing about 10 inches by 10 inches. Using the patterns below, trace and cut out your shapes in the flashing. Be careful because it can be sharp. If you have cotton gloves, wear them!
2 With your hammer and nail, tap a hole in the top and bottom of the square, in the sides and bottom center of the crescent shape, and tap one hole near the edge of the circle. Do this on a piece of scrap wood to protect your countertop or work surface.
3 Flip your pieces over and tap down any sharp edges.
4 Spray-paint your pieces a base color (I chose red).
5 Lightly spray other colors on top of the red, layering them and letting them splatter to get the effect you want.
6 Crunch up a newspaper or magazine page into a ball. Spray some paint on another magazine page and dab the ball into the paint, then dab it onto your pieces to add more texture.
7 Let your pieces dry and repeat the dabbing technique on the back of the tin pieces.
8 Spray all the pieces thoroughly in Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic and let dry.
9 Attach your pieces together with jump rings.
10 Cut your chain in two 6-inch pieces. Attach them to the ends of the crescent shape with jump rings.
11 Attach jump rings and a lobster claw for the closure.
FOR THE NECKLACE
YOU’LL NEED
All items needed for the necklace above (except chain and lobster claw)
4 gold-tone jump rings
2 gold-tone earring wires
HERE’S HOW
1 Using the patterns below and following the instructions for the necklace, cut out four circles in two different sizes (two in each size) from aluminum flashing.
2 Following the instructions for the necklace, paint the pieces and let dry.
3 Tap two holes in the larger circles on opposite ends.
4 Tap one hole near an edge in the smaller circles.
5 Attach both sets of different-size circles together with a jump ring.
6 Attach an earring wire with another jump ring and dangle away.
EMBOSSED BUTTERFLIES
These pieces are so light and airy, they might actually just flutter away. Be careful, or they’ll take you along with them! You can use any rubber stamp and any color combination you want for this project. I’d love to see what you come up with!
YOU’LL NEED
Aluminum flashing
Tin shears or heavy-duty scissors with serrated blades
Rubber stamps
Stamp pad
Hammer and nail
Scrap wood
Flat black Krylon spray paint
Gold embossing powder and embossing pad
Embossing heat gun or hot hairdryer
2 gold-tone earring wires (for the earrings)
2 gold-tone jump rings
Needle-nose pliers
FOR THE NECKLACE
All the above (except earring fittings) plus:
1 large bead
1 gold-tone flathead pin
32 inches of small gold-tone chain
Wirecutters if the pliers don’t have them
6 gold-tone jump rings
1 gold-tone lobster claw closure
HERE’S HOW
1 Cut a rectangle 6 inches by 8 inches from the aluminum flashing with tin shears or heavy-duty serrated scissors. Make a stamp of the image you want to use on the flashing. Don’t worry if the stamp isn’t perfect; you just need to know the exact size to cut your tin pieces.
2 Cut out your stamped images from the flashing, adding a small border (less than 1/4 inch) all the way around.
3 Tap a hole on the ends where you will be placing either your chains or your earring wires using the hammer and nail. Use scrap wood to protect your countertop or work surface. Flip the pieces over to tap the holes again and make sure there are no sharp edges around the hole.
4 Spray-paint both sides of the tin pieces with flat black and let dry.
5 Using the embossing pad, stamp your image again on the black tin piece, and while it’s still wet, sprinkle embossing powder on top so it sticks to the image. Shake or lightly blow off the excess.
6 Emboss your image with the heat gun or a very hot hairdryer.
7 For the earrings, fit jump rings through the holes and attach earring wires.
8 For the necklace, place the bead on a flathead pin, cut off the excess, and make a loop at the top of the pin.
9 Cut two 16-inch pieces of chain. Join a double strand of chain to each side of the main butterfly (or stamped image) with a jump ring.
10 Add jump rings at the ends of the chains and a lobster claw for the closure.
11 Hang another stamped piece below that, then the large bead below that.
ALL OVAL THE PLACE
I’ve said it a thousand times. I love a lady in big jewelry. Big jewelry means big fun, and I’m never wrong about this! You can make this piece any size you want, but I had to go all out. And the next time you’re at a party, look for the lady with the big jewelry and hang out with her. She’ll be the most fun.
YOU’LL NEED
Aluminum flashing
Tin shears or heavy-duty scissors with serrated blades
Hammer and nail
Scrap wood
Krylon Glitter Blast in Silver Flash
8 inches of silver-tone chain
1 silver-tone lobster claw closure
15 large silver-tone jump rings
Needle-nose pliers (and wirecutters if the pliers don’t have them)
HERE’S HOW
1 Using tin shears or heavy-duty serrated scissors, cut out a piece of aluminimum flashing 10 inches by 10 inches. Trace ovals and circles from the patterns below onto the flashing and cut them out.
2 With your hammer and nail, tap holes into each of the pieces according to the patterns. Use a piece of scrap wood to protect your countertop and work surface.
3 After you tap your holes, flip each piece over and flatten the hole with your hammer by gently tapping the edges. This will eliminate any sharp edges.
4 Lay your pieces out on newspaper and spray them with Silver Flash Glitter Blast and let dry.
5 Flip the pieces over and paint the backs.
6 Using the finished photo as a guide, link your metal pieces together with jump rings.
7 Cut two 4-inch pieces of chain and connect them to each end of your necklace with a jump ring and finish the ends with jump rings and a lobster claw for the closure.
WHAT TO WEAR!
These pieces are a shout-out to my days as a fashion designer. Nothing was off-limits when I was creating for collections, and whatever I could dream up ended up walking down the runway. It was a joyous time of my life that I will always think about with a huge smile on my face.
SIMPLE BUTTON CUFF LINKS
Nothing says chic like cuff links. They make any man or woman look polished and smart. If you ever see expensive buttons that you just have to buy but you’re not sure what to do with them, this is a terrific project to use them for. You only have to buy two, so don’t feel guilty about spending too much!
YOU’LL NEED
2 inches of medium chain in a metal tone that matches your buttons
2 pairs of needle-nose pliers (and wirecutters if the pliers don’t have them)
2 small shank buttons (the ones with loops on the back) that fit through a shirt buttonhole
2 larger shank buttons
HERE’S HOW
1 Cut a section of about 4 links of chain, or about 1/2 inch.
2 Carefully open the end link using both pairs of your needle-nose pliers and close it around the shank of one of your buttons. I like to start with the smaller buttons first; it’s easier.
3 Carefully open the link at the other end of the small piece of chain and close it around the shank of the larger button.
4 That’s it!
A SHOULDER ABOVE THE REST
I thought this was a great way to add inter
est to a simple jacket, giving it a couture look without going over the top (so to speak). Most of us have something in our closet that could use some spark. I’ll bet you have a few pieces of junk jewelry that could use a coat of spray paint, too. It’s time to rework your wardrobe with some things you probably already have. Get to it!
YOU’LL NEED
Blazer or jacket that needs some love
5 inexpensive brooches
42 inches of medium chain
Wirecutters
Krylon gray primer
Krylon black Fusion for Plastic
HERE’S HOW
1 Clean your brooches and make sure they are free of dirt and dust.
2 Spray them with the gray primer and let dry.
3 Spray-paint them black and let dry. (But why not spray them a different color like bright red or coral? Just a thought.)
4 Cut 42 inches of chain and loop the ends on the pin backs of two of the brooches, then pin them on your jacket so that the chain drapes between them. I like one on the lapel and one near the shoulder.
5 Pin the other brooches around the first two in a pattern you like.
Suggestion:
Instead of black, try using your favorite color of spray paint for this project.
ANTIQUE PEARL AND CHAIN NECKTIE
The perfect alternative to a necklace, I say. I wanted to come up with something that might inspire you to use a collar from an old shirt, and perhaps create a piece of antique fancy that might look good with a suit jacket and conservative blouse. So, with this project, you get two pieces for the price of one!
YOU’LL NEED
63 inches of small to medium gold-tone chain
Old blouse that you can cut apart
Scissors
Needle-nose pliers (and wirecutters if the pliers don’t have them)
35 to 40 pearl beads (I chose purple and pink)
35 to 40 gold-tone flathead pins
3 gold-tone jump rings
2-inch-wide antique brass stamped filigree oval (check out www.vintagejewelrysupply.com)
E-6000 glue
Pin back
HERE’S HOW
1 Carefully cut the collar (with the collar band) off your blouse with your scissors. Make sure to remove all the extra threads.
2 Cut the chain into seven pieces ranging between 7 and 9 inches.
3 Place a pearl bead on a flathead pin and cut off the excess, leaving about 3/8 inch, then loop it around a link of chain.
4 Continue until your chains are filled with pearls, making sure to add a pearl at the bottom of each chain. This will give it a more finished look.
5 Attach three pearled chains to a jump ring and attach the jump ring in the center of your filigree oval at the bottom.
6 Attach two pearled chains to a jump ring, then attach them to the right and left of the center chains.
7 Bead a pearl on a flathead pin, thread it through the center of the oval, and make a loop at the back of the oval to secure it in place.
8 Glue the pin on the back with E-6000 and let dry.
BEAUTIFUL NO-SEW-BOW SHOE CLIPS
Any pair of basic black pumps can look formal and amazing with beautiful bow shoe clips. No need for a sewing machine. It’s just a little hot-glue magic!
YOU’LL NEED
9 inches of 2-inch grosgrain (ribbed) ribbon
Scissors
Iron
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Feathers of your choice
2 clip-on earring blanks
E-6000 glue
Large flat-back crystal gem
HERE’S HOW
1 Cut a 3-inch piece of ribbon and iron it in thirds to make a thin strip. This will be the center of the bow.
2 Cut a 6-inch piece of ribbon and hot-glue the ends to the center of the first ribbon as shown below. This is the bow.
3 Pinch the bow and use tiny dabs of hot glue to keep it in place.
4 Carefully wrap the ironed piece around the pinched bow and secure it in the back. Fold the end over so it’s neat and tidy.
5 Glue feathers on the front of your bow and then a crystal over the feathers with E-6000 and let dry.
6 Hot-glue the clip-on earring to the back of the bow, making sure to glue on the part with the hole in it, not the flat disk part. (It’s flipped around so it will work as a shoe clip. The flat disk will clip under your shoe and should lie comfortably against your foot.)
SHIMMERY SLANTED DAGGERS SKIRT
This easy technique can take a simple black skirt from plain to absolutely amazing with just a little time and a whole lotta safety pins. Pair this with a simple knit top and some amazing shoes and you’ll look like you just walked off the pages of Vogue.
YOU’LL NEED
Black skirt
600 large (no. 3) safety pins
Tailor’s chalk
HERE’S HOW
1 Decide how you would like the design on your skirt to look. I chose slanted daggers. Lay your skirt flat on a table and play with the safety pins until you get a design you like. Don’t worry too much—they’re just pinned in and you can always change it.
2 Mark out your design with the chalk. It will come off, but still, mark your skirt lightly.
3 Starting at the waistband and keeping all of your safety pins at an angle, work your way across. Make sure to keep all of the pins uniform and about the same distance apart.
4 Continue down the skirt at a slant, keeping the daggers wider at the top and working down to one pin at the hem.
CRYSTAL SLIDER BROOCH BELT
Ever wonder what to do with those slider belt buckles that keep piling up in your belt drawer? Consolidate the belts, since they all fit on the same changeable buckle, and use the rest of the buckles for a project like this!
YOU’LL NEED
2 yards of 2-inch grosgrain (ribbed) ribbon
Scissors
2 yards of crystal chain
Needle-nose pliers (and wirecutters if the pliers don’t have them)
1 slider buckle
Gem brooch that fits over your buckle
E-6000 glue
Optional: Sewing machine
HERE’S HOW
1 Figure out your waist measurement and add about 8 inches to the measurement for your belt. Cut the ribbon that length. If you feel like your ribbon isn’t thick enough, you can sew two pieces together to make your belt and that usually does the trick. I like to sew two layers together.
2 Figure out exactly how tight you want your belt. (Once you glue on your crystal chain, it won’t be able to slip through the slider part of the belt.) For example, if your waist is exactly 28 inches, then you need two lengths of crystal chain, each 26 inches long. Cut the crystal chain to the length you need.
3 Using a very thin line of E-6000, glue your crystal chain to the ribbon, starting at the end that is attached to your slider buckle under the teeth (not the end you pull through the buckle).
4 Remove the pin back from the brooch with your needle-nose pliers or wirecutters.
5 Glue the brooch on top of the buckle with E-6000.
BOW AND BROOCH BELT
I must have at least ten ribbon belts with slider belt buckles that I don’t wear, and even if I did wear them, I only need one belt buckle for all of them, because they are all the same size. I needed to figure out something to do with all of these buckles since they were just itching for a project. And voilà! Here’s what I came up with!
YOU’LL NEED
3 yards of 2-inch grosgrain (ribbed) ribbon
Scissors
2 yards of crystal chain
Wirecutters
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
1 slider buckle
Gem brooch
E-6000 glue
Optional: Sewing machine
HERE’S HOW
1 Figure out your waist measurement and add about 8 inches to the measurement for your belt. Cut the ribbon that length. If you feel like your ribbon isn’t thick enough, y
ou can sew two pieces together to make your belt and that usually does the trick. I like to sew two layers together.
2 Figure out exactly how tight you want your belt. (Once you glue on your crystal chain, it won’t be able to slip through the slider part of the belt.) For example, if your waist is exactly 28 inches, you need two lengths of crystal chain, each 26 inches long.
3 Using a very thin line of E-6000, attach your crystal chain to the ribbon, starting at the end that is attached to the slider buckle under the teeth (not the end you pull through the buckle).
4 Cut your ribbon into four 8-inch pieces.
5 Create the bow by hot-gluing the ends of each piece to the center.
6 Glue the four pieces in a crisscross with more hot glue.
7 Remove the pin back from the brooch with the wirecutters,
8 Glue the brooch on top of the bow with E-6000.
9 Glue the bow and brooch centerpiece on top of the slider buckle with a generous amount of E-6000.
BOW AND BROOCH CLUTCH
I know you must have at least three wallets in your closet that need some love and attention. You don’t want to toss them, because you just know that one day you’ll use them again, right? Well, with a little glitter blast and some ribbon, you will use them again. I promise!