Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Beer-rings

 I've got several new pieces up.  All earrings.  These above have folded and hammered Guinness bottlecaps as connectors.  Is there an easy way to get that plastic lining off from the underside?  I couldn't believe how difficult that was.  Remember in the 80s how they'd peel right off like a dream?  There used to be instant winning-game numbers and stuff under them.  Things have changed.
 In Kansas I purchased some brass sheet metal at Ace Hardware.  I wish the Ace near here had the same amazing selection of wire and metals.
 Metal, wee vintage glass, and nice amethyst chunks...
Some gold leaf-painted 'n filed plastic beads, pyrite in rings...

Say, has anyone ever used air dry clay?  I took a chance on buying some with some coupons at Michael's.  There was very little information on the box, but I opened it a little and it smelled like real pottery clay, so I thought it would be worth a shot.  I made about a dozen beads and let them air dry in front of my dehumidifier for 5 days and they are as hard as rocks.  But the surface is pretty chalky, so they need some kind of sealant.  I tried painting with acrylic and using Mod Podge, but I was able to peel the whole thing off in one piece like a skin.  My experience with spray sealants is that they become gummy over time.  Any ideas?  My next idea is to cover them in liquid polymer clay and cure them.
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7 comments:

  1. AliceOctober 17, 2012 at 4:18 AM

    I love your beer bottle cap earrings! I've got a bunch of caps but have never used them. I've heard that using some sort of heat can get the liners out but I've never tried it.

    Beautiful earrings!!!

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    1. richelleOctober 17, 2012 at 3:27 PM

      Thanks!
      Heat might work--I wonder if sticking them in the oven would soften them up for peeling. My instinct is to scrape with a razor blade but the unflat surface doesn't allow.

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  2. BeatnheartOctober 17, 2012 at 8:51 AM

    Busy lady... I have my share of Guiness caps over here... Love your new work and endless supply of creatively... Best of everything ...

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    1. richelleOctober 17, 2012 at 3:24 PM

      Thanks! The Guinness caps oxidized nicely, others not as well. I've been anti-bottlecap until now. But it was pretty fun and I like the results. I've got jar after jarfuls...

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  3. PipnMollyOctober 17, 2012 at 9:43 AM

    Beautiful work as always !!
    Some hardware store stock brass contains lead.

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    1. richelleOctober 17, 2012 at 3:23 PM

      Thanks, Miss look-who's-talking! And congratulations on your cover--that is so exciting.

      Do you think it's the more industrial, large sheets that contain lead? This stuff was a pretty small sheet, I'm guessing about 6x9, in a sealed bag--it's similar to the craft sheets I've seen at Hobby Lobby. I just looked it up at the Ace site and I couldn't find the exact product, but the ones they do list specifically say they are for crafting.

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  4. PipnMollyOctober 18, 2012 at 6:25 AM

    It's hard to tell. I bought some brass rod from Micromark that didn't specify but when it arrived it had a warning sticker attached to the tube so I returned it. That's the same rod they sell unwrapped at hardware stores. Yours didn't have a sticker on it so probably ok. They don't always have the integrity to tell you these things... There's lead in brass doorknobs etc. we touch everyday too. It's a minute amount but still...

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