Silicone Polishers for Rotary Tool
I’m really enjoying these silicone polishers! I’ve had them for a little while, but I’m just getting into using them. This is a prong setting for a free form statement stone. In this pic, I’ve just sawn around the shape of the stone and prongs and now I’m sanding down/polishing the edges to make it…
Brass Bristle Brush Burnishing
When you’re working with sterling silver (92.5% silver) or fine silver (99.9% silver), including silver precious metal clay (pmc), you’ll need to burnish your silver in order to finish your piece. Whenever you heat your piece, it will turn colors. If heated in a kiln, it will turn white. After soldering, you’ll need to pickle…
Guitar Pick Shape Template
One of the most popular designs in my shop is my guitar pick shaped fingerprint piece. It’s been a great gift for many gentlemen, as well as ladies, who are music lovers! The pull to music runs very deep in my family, so this piece- this shape brings up beautiful memories for me, which make…
Mini Vice Tool
What stops many new jewelers from becoming full-time jewelers is the cost of tools! Let’s face it, it can get expensive fast! BUT when you’re just beginning, it doesn’t have to be so expensive, if you’re willing to try to hunt up some good deals, and wait until your skills have developed to purchase the…
Ring Shank Template
Working in PMC and dying to create some substantial rings? This is little ditty is the fix you’ve been looking for! I have a few that I keep handy, but this one is a really nice template – a core tool. It’s super simple to use! 1. Simply roll out your clay, make it a…
How to Create an Arrow Ring – Preview
While I’m working on the newest tutorial for members, I wanted share a peek with you! You can watch a few of the steps that I use to create this Rustic Arrow Ring in Sterling Silver in the video below. I’m putting the finishing touches on the full tutorial, with full instructions and lists and…
Tumble Polish Your Silver
When you’d like to give your precious metal clay charms and pieces a beautiful shine, but you may not have a lot of time, use a tumbler! In this video I show you how I tumble polish my silver charms with steel shot, and with just a few quick swishes, you can already start to…
Top 5 Jewelry Bench Tools
What are your favorite jewelry making tools?? Looking at my bench now I have many scattered about, but there really are 5 tools that I use all. the. time. 1. torch-butane While you can spend hundreds on some really awesome torch systems (like the smith little torch) created specifically for jewelers, just starting out, if…
How to Create a Rainbow Patina
Learn how to create a gorgeous rainbow patina on your metal clay piece! Check out this quick vid I shot today! Creating a rainbow patina is easy to do, and fun to experiment with! Give it a try and see how many color combos you can come up with on your PMC pieces! In this…
How to Stamp Fired PMC with Jett Sett
You can use metal stamps to create designs and lettering on fired pmc pieces. BUT if you find yourself with a fired piece that you don’t want to mess up the front design of the piece, but still want to stamp something on the back of the piece, you will find this tool very helpful!…
Create a Ring from Sterling Silver Scrap
Have some scrap pieces of sterling silver sheet laying around, and you’re not quite sure what to do with it? You could melt it down into decorative silver balls and blobs, you could send it in to a metal seller in exchange for cash or store credit, OR you could do what I just did!…
Make Dangle Bar Earrings with Brass & Sterling Silver Wire – Tutorial
All you need for today’s tutorial is a couple inches of brass square wire and 4-6 inches of round sterling silver wire and you’re on your way to a fantastic set of earrings that can be multi-functional! Check out more… In today’s vid I mention a few tools… if you don’t have them yet, here…
Putting a Vintage Tool to New Use
This week, I received a very special vintage tool! My brother, who has been so supportive since even before the beginning of my jewelry career, sent me an amazing cast iron vise! I LOVE all of the new techniques I’m discovering with this vintage find! Polishing, filing, sanding, setting stones, shaping silver plates, and so…
How to Mold Antique Buttons for Jewelry Components
A beautiful way to create unique components for your jewelry is to mold designs from antique buttons! Thanks to my husband’s mother and grandmother, I now have a stash of fabulous old buttons – some dating back to the early 1900’s! Lately I’ve been obsessed with making rings, earrings, and pendants by using the designs…
Create a Unique Dimpled Design in a Silver Ring
Want to spice up your stacking rings? This technique is simple, easy to do, and cheap to accomplish (which is always a plus!) In today’s vid, I go over how to drill little dimples and divots into a basic 8mm sterling silver stacking ring. [content_box_paper_white width=”80%”] [/content_box_paper_white] A dremel is a pretty inexpensive tool to…
How to Set a Stone Cabochon with a Bezel Roller
Working on setting some fabulous stone cabochons in sterling and fine silver! In this video I’m using my bezel roller (technically it’s called a bezel roller but I’ve been calling it a bezel pusher in this video haha) to help me set this beautiful rhodochrosite cabochon in a fine silver bezel with sterling silver wire…
New Jewelry Making Supplies
I just got in a new shipment of jewelry making supplies today! I love opening up a new box of supplies that I practically tackle the poor postman when he comes to my door ;) Check out what I’m so excited to open today… If you don’t have a ring mandrel, I suggest you get…
10 Tools You Need to Solder Sterling Silver
The Top 10 Tools You Need to Solder Sterling Silver! (updated) Soldering sterling silver is so much fun! Plus you’ll find you can create much more unique jewelry, which will make your handcrafted pieces stand out from the others! 1. Soldering Board Setting up for soldering requires a heat-safe surface. Safety is key… make sure…
Download “Silver Soldering: Tools + Supplies for the Beginner”
JOIN The Apprenticeship
