Use a riveting tool to make easy, clean looking rivets on metal. In this tutorial you will make copper patina earrings that have two contrasting pieces riveted together. You will patinate the copper with patina paints (Vintaj patina or similar product for metals). We are using the CraftedFindings riveting tool that both makes the hole […]
Electroforming is the electrochemical deposition of metal (in this case, copper) onto an object. A layer of copper is formed using an electrolytic bath, it is essentially transported from solid copper to an object using electricity. The layer of copper forms slowly over many hours of time. An anode (copper) and a cathode (object) are […]
How do you create patina on copper? I am talking about the natural way, without harsh chemicals or fake paints. You may have seen natural patina on statues and other copper elements that are exposed to the elements outdoors. You can accelerate this natural reaction by exposing copper to fumes of ammonia and salt or […]
Basics of Flame Painting Copper Feel free to skip this section if you remember all the basics. Copper flame painting can be done with just a small butane torch (kitchen torch) or with a fancier jeweler’s torch. You can also flame paint bronze in a similar fashion. use clean copper with scratches buffed/sanded out don’t […]
Ever wanted to try if you can cut gemstones with a Dremel? It’s actually easier than you would think. Depending on the hardness of your gemstone it can take a while, but you don’t have to invest in expensive lapidary equipment. You probably won’t want to do this all the time, but when you have […]
Make a rustic copper wire ring with fused Sterling Silver enhancement. This ring will always end up different depending on how the silver melts onto the copper. And no soldering required! Easy to make and copper wire is cheap to practice with even if you are not a master jewelry maker. WHAT YOU NEED Copper […]
The question of ear wires commonly comes up in my craft shows or online. There is a lot of information out there and some of it not accurate – you have many options when it comes to choosing ear wire material. And, surprisingly many of them will work for most people, contradictory to many articles […]
Flame painting copper is a real art form, but you can get nice results even as a beginner. It is a great way to create something beautiful in a very short time and get a feeling of accomplishment. Clean Your Copper Start your experiment with clean copper. You will get better color results on “new” […]
Cutting your own copper shapes can be easier than you think. For higher gauges (meaning thinner copper) you can easily do it with standard hardware store metal snips. They look like big scissors and work the same way. For thicker copper sheet you would want to use a jewelry saw, it’s a bit slower, but […]
Clasps can be expensive to buy, especially if they are pure metal (not plated). I like to use pure copper clasps in my copper based necklaces and bracelets, it just seems like the right thing to do. Here’s the simplest hook clasp tutorial, I use these all the time. Fast to make, and pure copper […]