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Hi Everyone, This is my very first post. Phew! I have been using this site to get ideas for some time, but never participated until now. I am not sure if this is the right place for my post, so I am sorry if I am not doing this correctly. I need help in figuring out how to fix some shrink plastic necklaces I have made. Since shrink plastic is so light, the pendants tend to flip. So when I wear one, the back side of the pendant tends to flip to the front. I need to come up with something to weight them down a bit. Maybe a small piece of metal on the backside???? I am at a loss. Does anyone have an idea? I don't know how to post a photo here to show you what I am talking about. The pendants are about 1" to 1 1/2" wide and
1 1/4" to 1 3/4" long.
Thank you in advance.
What sort of jewellery fitting are you using on the pieces? ( You won't be able to add a photo until you've made several posts).
I'm not sure that it's just the lightness of the shrink plastic, I have some necklaces, even quite heavy pendants, that also tend to flip over, and I think what makes the biggest difference is the way they hang on the chain or cord, not the weight.
Not sure what you mean by "fitting". Could be a terminology difference between our countries. I have the pendants strung on Beadsmith Flex-rite wire 24.6# 49 Strand. The opening on the pendants are much larger in diameter, but I wanted to string beads of various sizes in-between the various pendants (multi pendants on one necklace). What do you advise?
(I do not have tons of experience with beading.)
Hello, welcome to Splitcoast as a joiner-inner rather than a lurker!
I think Sabrina is asking about what you might call "findings" or maybe "bails". Unless you have a hole in your pendant piece that the wire is going straight through, you presumably have some kind of loop or eye stuck to the plastic somehow?
As Sabrina says, you need to make a few posts before you can add a picture (I think it's 10) - gallery comments count though so if you have a few minutes spare you could leave some love for people in the gallery and then come back and show us the pieces so we might have better ideas of how to help.
Hi Catie, love your necklace. Nice design with the bird charms between each pendant. I presume the pendants are flipping up. Is it a tight fit between the beads and pendants? That could be causing the problem. If it's that and you're not willing to restring, you could try adhering a metal washer on the back of each pendant. They're thin and of multiple weights. Maybe try with some double stick tape so you can remove them if they don't work.
Thanks Carla. No, it is not strung tightly. I like your idea of washers. Last night I thought about using flat metal disc beads. I guess I never realized washers come in different sizes. Where would I buy the washers? (Home Depot type washers?)
Thanks Carla. No, it is not strung tightly. I like your idea of washers. Last night I thought about using flat metal disc beads. Where would I buy the washers? (Home Depot type washers?)
Just bought some metal heishi beads on etsy. Hope they will work.
Yes, I was thinking hardware style washers. The metal heishi beads are intriguing. I've got a stash of jewelry supplies that hasn't been touched in at least two years. I don't dare buy anything new :rolleyes:
Oh, that’s lovely! Do you shape the top of the pendant pieces round a skewer or something while warm so you form a sort of channel at the top?
On to the problem you have - I like Carla’s idea of the metal washers, ones from the hardware store should be pretty inexpensive and trying a temporary stick-on first is a great idea.
I wonder whether a further “dangle” might help. If you were to punch a hole at the lowest point of the piece before shrinking and then add a bead (I’d thread it onto a head pin then form a loop to go through the hole in the pendant). It wouldn’t help with ones you’ve already made as it’s very difficult to make a hole in the plastic once it’s shrunk but it might be worth playing with the idea if you’re making more.
Thanks Carla for the tip on where to post my necklace. I was so pleased in how they turned out (except for the flipping), I thought perhaps I could sell them. But I am new to selling. I create all sorts of art for my own pleasure and gifts for friends. Since I am retired now, I thought if I could sell my art, it would help pay for art supplies. But I have so much to learn on the business side.
You’ll find various discussions here on SCS about selling - there’s a big thread here in the Techniques forum: Craft Sale Best Sellers - Ideas and Discussion - Splitcoaststampers I haven’t read it for quite some time but you might find some helpful information there. Etsy is a popular place to sell handmade items online if you’re thinking of that route rather than turning up at fairs. I don’t think any of us are likely to get rich by selling our art but if your aim is to make a bit to buy new toys you might get lucky!
I have several sizes/thicknesses of metal washers that I use as embellishments on my cards. The smallest are about 1cm in diameter (or maybe a bit smaller in US measurement). I'm pretty sure that will help with your situation, unless you can see through the plastic pieces. If that's the case, you may want to add a dab of clear-drying glue to the sides of each piece right where it meets the chain to keep it from flipping. Or, you could also try threading a short piece of thin wire through the hole of the piece th keep it firmly in place. I love you necklace! You are an amazing artist.
Need help with a shrink plastic necklace
