Make a Modern Statement Ring

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Make a modern statement ring

So last night I was doing a little research online. I wanted to make a cool statement ring and I have seen a lot online, but none that totally caught my eye. When I sat down to create, I thought I would do a ring with a modern looking pinwheel or bow. I quickly realized that wasn’t going to happen with the materials at hand and I just began to play with some of my beads and findings on a little wooden disk. Then it happened…inspiration struck! I laid out my findings and started to create a little collage and my statement ring started to materialize in front of my eyes. It’s such a fun thing when you are in a groove and the moment and make a discovery. So, I wanted to share my discovery with you!

Make a Modern Statement Ring

Supplies:
– 1.5″ wooden disk
– Various findings, rhinestones, washers, beads, spacers, etc. (color doesn’t matter)
– Liquid Fusion glue
– toothpick
– white matte spray paint
– ring blank
– Matte spray sealer
– paper plate
– newspaper or cardboard surface
– tweezers
– camera phone or digital camera

Instructions:
1. On a flat surface lay out your wooden disk and various findings. Play around with shapes and combinations until desired collage look is achieved. At this point, I took a picture so that I could go back to this arrangement later.

make your ring arrangement

2. Lay out your various findings and disk onto cardboard. Prepare area outside or in well ventilated area for spray painting. Following spray paint directions, apply several coats, letting dry in between each application. Make sure to also flip and paint other side as well. Don’t overspray…this may cause puddling on your surfaces.

spray painting

3. Review your composition on your camera and start reconstructing your arrangement. I applied a little dab of glue to the backs of each finding and placed it onto my wood blank. Depending on how picky you are, you may want to use a toothpick to apply Liquid Fusion or arrange your findings using tweezers. Let dry thoroughly.

Applying glue

4. At this point, I actually sprayed another coat or two of spray all over the piece. I then coated it with a flat matte sealer.

5. Using glue, apply ring blank to back of wood circle and let dry.

6. Yay! You are finished! If you don’t want to make a ring (or if this is just a bit too big and too annoying), you can add a pendant bail or pin back instead!

Here’s a closer look at the finished project:

DSC_1556

Hope you enjoyed this fun and easy project. And the cool thing? It used leftover materials I had around! I was actually surprised at how great it turned out. I think you will too!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa

Short and Sweet Sunday

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Hello all. Not much new in the world of Swell. I did accomplish some much needed errands today (oil change and car wash, two necessary evils). I also went to Joann’s where I made a few purchases:

today's purchases

I didn’t know Jennifer’s book was sold there and when I saw it, I had to take advantage of my 40% off coupon. I can’t believe I actually had on me (so many times I forget them at home or they expire before I can use them!). Back to the book, I like a lot of the techniques and step by steps and I’m sure I will find a lot of inspiration! I also picked up the BH&G “Do it Yourself” mag. There are so many amazing ideas in there! I love BH&G special publications. They always have the best projects and prettiest photos! While I was there, I tried to see if there were any Halloween pubs out yet, but I’m thinking they will be out in the next few weeks or so. The Halloween stuff is already in stores and it’s making me really excited. I have been wanting to get a head start on my crafting and I’m debating on opening a little Halloween Etsy shop since it is my favorite holiday and I think where I do my best crafting. Anyway, I’ll have to get on it if that happens. I did start on some Halloween button rings. See? Not quite done. I’m going to seek out some buttons on Etsy as well. I had a hard time finding unique Halloween-colored ones for my rings.

halloween rings

I also went today to see Funny People. I love Judd Apatow films. They are funny (and incredibly crude), but also have a realness to them that pull at your heartstrings. For me, it’s a nice balance I totally recommend it.

Well, going to settle in for the night…read a bit in my “Saved by the Bell” People magazine, and focus on the day ahead!

Until next time Swellions!

Original ideas are hard to come by

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ready for their ring blanks

So last night, I enjoyed myself quite thoroughly while watching the CMT awards (a repeat) and making these little button ring stacks. I have yet to glue them onto their bases, but I plan on doing them this week. Don’t they look like visual candy? I think so.

So, the problem is concerning this project…I have the desire to sell these rings. Why do most people purchase materials to make things anyway? Well, I’m sure there are those people who have rooms and rooms of their creations that they can’t part with, but for the rest of us it is our desire to part ways with our creations and hopefully make some money in the process.

And while I truly love these rings in their color and uniqueness (in my mind), it still kinda bothers me to know that if I do sell them, online in particular, they will more than likely go unnoticed or sit in my shop waiting to be purchased. I know there is something to be said about marketing your work, hyping it up, etc., etc. But I don’t have that much time to devote to that (I’m sure some of you can relate to this as well). I want to put them online and for them to be appreciated and perhaps purchased. The problem is this: there is nothing totally “unique” about them to make them stand out from the Etsy crowd. It is soooooo hard to have an original idea these days, unlike 20 years ago, when something like this would have been purchased immediately for its uniqueness. Is this just me or do you other crafters out there who sale your wares know what I mean? With materials and supplies being so readily available on the internet and stores, and with ideas being so abundant, a basic craft project can be knocked off in no time. It’s so hard to stand out from the rest.

Yes, I could prob. really sit down and hard and think of an idea that would be purchased, but it’s kinda a crap shoot. An item I think is wonderful might not be that way for the next person. And a really good project that is totally original would require a process or style that couldn’t easily be copied. As a lot of you know, once you put it out into the web universe, it is no longer your “exclusive design” becomes something a handful of people or thousands of people want to copy.

Does anyone else know where I’m coming from with this? I’m not meaning to sound all Debbie Downer or anything, it’s just a frustration of mine that I’ve felt for a while.

OK, lunch is over…back to work!

Until next time Swellions!

Alexa