Asilomar Art and Soul Workshops

Richard Salley
9:00 - 4:30
Tuesday

A121 - The $35 Billion Jewelry Project

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Last year Americans spent $35 Billion on gift cards. Gift cards are available at every major retail outlet and many have stunning graphic designs that call out to be repurposed into some kind of art project. In this class participants will learn how to recycle gift cards into beautiful jewelry. Along the way we will explore how to make a super easy bezel that requires only a minimum of soldering. The bezels will serve to capture the gift card pieces before being sealed with protective resin. Students will have the opportunity to make pendants, necklaces and/or bracelets. So, keep those gift cards out of the landfill and give them a new life as a piece of jewelry.

Supply List:

• Several plastic gift cards – the examples are Starbucks gift cards, but any will do.
• Quick-set (5 minute) 2-part epoxy– sold in 1 oz. tubes and available at most home improvement/hardware stores and online.
•  24 or 26 gauge copper or nickel silver sheet approx 6 inches x 6 inches. (should be at least 6 inches on one side).

Tool List

• Round nose and flat nose pliers,
• Scissors,
• Metal shears or tin snips suitable for cutting 26 gauge sheet metal,
• Wire cutters – flush cutters preferred but not essential
• Tweezers
• Dividers (like a compass but without a pencil…just two pointed ends)
• Small butane torch for soldering (crème Brule variety will work nicely)
• Soldering pad or firebrick for soldering on
• 2 Small plastic containers to hold water for quenching and pickle solution
• Files, fine sandpaper, sanding block or Scoth-brite type pad for cleaning and polishing
• Small inexpensive brush for applying flux
• Jeweler’s saw and #2 blades for cutting jump rings
• Bench Pin
• Bench Block or anvil

All other materials will be provided by the instructor.

Resources: supplies and tools can be found at the following
www.monsterslayer.com 
www.riogrande.com
www.sfjssantafe.com
www.contenti.com