Sunday, October 27, 2013

Skull Duggery

Recently, I have been trying to incorporate different elements into my jewelry designs. Yes, steampunk but also a Goth touch. So I've been researching skull and bone jewelry on the web. Not beads made from bones, but the bones themselves.

We've had this bird skull sitting on the windowsill for years and years. I decided to resin it onto a pendant piece and make a statement necklace out of it.


The scrolled backing is a Tim Holtz design. First, I cut out an oval from a page of an old book and attached it with resin to the back. I am using Lisa Pavelka's Magic-Glos. I love this product because it dries super clear, but, it is a) expensive and b) HAS to be cured in sunlight or under a black light. If you are doing a larger item it would make more sense to invest in an ICE Resin set up.

The resin will cure s-l-o-w-l-y under a fluorescent lamp and since the day I started it was overcast and really cool I put it directly under my Ott lamp to cure overnight. I suspended the piece over a small plastic box so it got plenty of air circulation and wouldn't get attached to anything it was laying on. I know some folks use packing tape but I guess I'm not doing it correctly since I've never had success with that technique. I checked it several times to make sure the first layer wasn't 'bowing' out.

Then resin a very thin layer on the front, THEN add your decoration. If I was doing this again I would fill the cranium of the skull with resin before setting it in the frame. Int his photo you can see into the eye socket and see the interior - the skull it pretty thin so the resin would support it well.


I tried to drip some into the cranium a bit at a time so I'll see if it was enough when the piece breaks or doesn't break!

I'll try and post a photo of the end result.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Check out this totally cool accessories from Author (and Blogger) Gail Carriger and her blog Retro Rack. Great idea for those of us who luv conventions!

Steampunk DYI Pocket Belt


I am just starting her new book "Etiquette & Espionage", which I'm sure I will enjoy as much as the Parasol Protectorate.

Thanks, Gail!!