Mini Garden Pendants in Epoxy Clay

New Medium - Epoxy Clay!  

Custom Mini Rose Garden Pendant

 

I've started playing with a new medium - epoxy clay! It's also called jewelry clay or crystal clay and it's a 2-part clay that feels like polymer clay but has epoxy glue/binder in it.

 Epoxy clay - comes in 2 parts.  This is the pack I used from Fire Mountain Gems.

 Also available at Michaels Craft Stores and many online bead/jewelry venues in small amounts.

So what's this strange clay good for?  Many fun and creative endeavors, including making your own rhinestone jewelry or beads, decorating high heels, adding a little something to picture frames....and probably several others .  I chose to make mini-gardens using glass beads and bezel settings!

 A close-up of my Mini Rose Garden Pendant in red.

I'm thinking of and planning more uses for epoxy clay...  If you are like me and want to test out these fun new products, then pick some up and try it!  This is an easy one to use as you don't need any special tools - just the clay, whatever you want to embed, and whatever you want to decorate!  You can use polymer clay tools with this, but I'm not sure if you have to worry about cross-contamination with polymer clay.  This is a little stickier since an adhesive is involved.  If you do use any tools, make sure you clean them well when you are done - the epoxy will make the clay stick very well to just about everything!

Mini Rose Garden Pendant - Coral Rose, Glass Leaves

This clay air dries in 24 hours and has a work time of about an hour.  Fingers work great for forming it if you don't have tools on hand, but remember to be safe - work in a ventilated area and wear gloves.  I suggest vinyl because they are affordable and easy to find (I can find them at most grocery stores in the cleaning aisle).  Nitrile will also work, but some epoxy reacts with latex.

  Mini Flower Garden Pendant - in Blue and Yellow

If you are going to make jewelry, start with the smallest amount you can buy - a very little bit goes a long way.  I only needed a pea-sized amount for these pendants!  If you are interested in larger projects, buy in bulk as it will save you $$$.  Here's some more info and bulk sales:  Epoxy Clay.

Mini Garden Pendant - Leaves in Coral and Cream

 

These mini garden pendants are now available in my Etsy Shop, PZ Designs, here: Mini Garden Pendants.

I'm working on a variety of styles, with more coming soon....and I LOVE taking custom requests!  I also love sharing knowledge and learning from others, so don't be shy with questions, either!

Happy Creating!
PZ

Jewelry Magazines - Comprehensive List, Anyone?

I keep finding new jewelry making magazines, and was wondering how many were out there.  I've found the following, and have seen/read most of the ones from the U.S.  The Belle Armoire Jewelry is completely new to me, and the Bead Design magazine is the newest one that I've gotten to read through.  BeadStyle and Beadwork are still favorites, but it's fun to change it up sometimes!  I'm really interested in the international magazines that have been suggested.....

From Kalmbach Publishing Company:

BeadStyle Magazine
(also Special Issues such as Everyday Gemstones, Pearls)

Bead and Button Magazine
(also Special Issues such as Beading Basics: Peyote Stitch, RAW)

Art Jewelry Magazine

     Yearlies from Kalmbach:

Wirework Magazine

(sold as a Special Issue)

From Interweave Press:

Step by Step Wire Jewelry Magazine
(also a yearly Best of Step by Step Wire)

Beadwork Magazine

Jewelry Stringing Magazine

Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist Magazine

    

More Yearlies from Interweave:

Easy Wire Jewelry 


Handcrafted Jewelry 


Tucson Show Guide

From Stampington and Company:

Jewelry Affaire Magazine

Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine

From All American Crafts:

Bead Design Magazine

From Northridge Publishing:

Bead Trends Magazine

From Scott Publications:

Polymer Cafe Magazine

From Brysella Publishing:

Metal Clay Artist Magazine

Creative Fire Magazine (coming Winter 2013)

From Canadian Beading Magazine:

Canadian Beading Magazine

(the only FREE magazine I've found - available online)

From Aceville Publications Ltd.:

Make Jewellery Magazine (from U.K.)

From The Guild of Master Craftsman Publications:

Making Jewelry Magazine (from U.K.)

From Ashdown Ltd.:

 Bead Magazine (from U.K.)

From Traplet Publications:

 

Beads and Beyond (from U.K.)

From Universal Magazines:

Australian Beading Magazine

From Woodland Publishing:

Creative Beading (from Australia)

From Digital Beading Magazine:

Digital Beading Australia Magazine

From Beader's Best:

Perlen Poesie (from Germany, available in English)

From Fantasy Craft Srl:

Bijoux che PASSIONE! (from Italy - no translation available)

From Boutique Co.:

Beads Friend (from Japan)

(publisher's page - in Japanese)

Unknown Publisher:

Bead Art Magazine (from Japan - Yearly)

Showcase from the Yokohama Bead Art Show

From Glass Line:

Glass Line Magazine

From Rock and Gem Magazine:

Rock and Gem Magazine

 (if you are interested in more Lapidary magazines, check out this list: Inland Lapidary)

DISCONTINUED - Some jewelry making magazines that are no longer in print.  Many still have back issues available:

• Simply Beads
• Jewelry Crafts
• Wire Jeweler
• Bead Unique
• Easy Metal Clay
• Creative Jewelry
• Step by Step Jewelry

So what jewelry magazines have I missed?  I'm sure there are others out there - please leave a comment so I can add to this list!  It would be awesome to have a comprehensive list!


Happy Reading!
PZ

EDIT:  I will add the mags I've missed here:

From Valu-Publishing:

 Bead-It Today 

From Amos Press, Inc.:

Crafts and Things 

From Ashdown Inc.:

Bead Me (Digital Magazine)