Just thought it would be fun to find out what is the most unsual thing that you have used to make jewelry.

This came from my racking my brain try to figure out something to use to make marquis shapes for earrings. Now, I've heard that Lego's work good but I haven't tried that yet.

I use highlighters for ear wires. I bought a jig but used it for a few days but found I like the handcrafted ear wires better. I've used rulers, empty thread and wire spools too. Poverty is the necessity of invention. lol

Once, in an antique store I found a piece of chain maille, about four inches square, that was made with 10 mm spring ring type iron links. It is one of the best soldering supports one could ever have, along with various pieces of broken ceramic braze board and an odd assortment of steel and old files for set-up jigs. All I have to do is drape scrunch and poke the chain maille to shape for supporting virtually any project.

Well, since it seems that I have claimed a lot of stuff for my craft room (small food processor, grater, spoons, forks, knifes, pasta machine, toaster oven, rooling pen, candy molds, cookie cutters.... I think that you get the picture)  not much is safe!

I mainly work in polymer clay so I see almost everything in terms of texture, shape and "gee, I could use that to..."

My co-workers laugh at me when I start hording the cornstrach packing peanuts!  Oh, and small reuseable zip-lock bags.  It is amazing what you can do with them.

Helen

www.justbarrettes.com

Im like my pal Helen, nothing is safe when it comes to polymer clay, and my "studio" looks more like a kitchen than my kitchen does.  I think p.c.er's are really just confused chefs!  The most unusual thing Ive used would have to be the bottom of my sons shoe.  He stepped on a piece of clay I had dropped and left a fantastic impression.  I put clay through the pasta machine and made him step on it. The first attempt was a failure as I forgot to put something between the floor and the clay. That brings me to the most useful tool, an old tissue blade!

Well... I tend to use things for "off" purposes all the time! The 3 top items I use on a regular basis are:

1) Retractable antenna from an old cordless phone: I use it to make coils for jumprings, it has several sizes, and is portable!

2) A variety of PVC couplings: I use these for shaping wire and sheet - the 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 sizes are great for shaping bracelets. You can use a rawhide mallet, but don't use a hammer on them.

3) The pins from a turkey lacing kit: for many things... I always need a good pointy pin that doesn't bend!
 

Randi
 

I did an Egyptian card weaving with embroidery floss, dipped it in "Stiffy"(the high school students always got a laugh when I talked about using "Stiffy"), wrapped it around a glass and made a bangle bracelet out of it. Still have it. It has worn well. When I was a kid I used acorns and pearls to make bracelets. (Don't still have those.)

I like this thread! Dax58 what a clever idea to use a retractable antenna! i have to try that. Like Justbarrete and Littleclaydude i work with polymer clay and i´m always trying to find the secret polymer use of everyday´s objects, wich is so funny! maybe between all the accesorizes that we clayers use to have my prefered is acrilic paint, so versatil and easy to use. And about the most unusual thing i have used: smashed glass for inclusions. It was the worst of the times sanding those beads! Here you have a link to them if you have curiosity: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7201667@N03/475136368/

Meri,

Those are great beads.  More for me to play with!

Helen

www.justbarrettes.com

 I wanted something with a broad-ish flat platform for Egyptian Spirals.  The teeth on the pliers are bighty so I wrapped both jaws in scads of masking tape.  My prof commented that he did not think they would hold up well.  Of the many hairbraned things he has watched me do, the channel locks are a success.  I find I use them for much more than just Egyptian Spiral.  Anytime I have to hold a piece to forge or form it, I reach for the channel locks first.  I hardly use either my third-hand or my bench vise.

When the mask gets ratty; rip it off and re-wrap!

WBF 8)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wbfgr
 

 

I´m a beginner at Polyclay so I haven´t tried so may things yet, but my absolute favorite is one of my husbands empty cartridges! I use it to make holes in donut beads, to roll out small claypieces with and to make patterns with. I think I will beg for another cartridge of a different caliber so I can make various sizes of holes...

 you mean a bullet cartridge? that's interesting!

Extactly; a bullet cartridge for a hunting rifle! English isn´t my mothers tounge so I didn´t know that the word "cartridge" could be used for other objects

 I've used twirly pasta as a base to paint Art Clay onto (makes an interesting "twig").

 Melt broken beads in the kiln to make cabochons for metal and polymer clay.

 I really like using a wheel from a toy truck to make impressions in polymer clay - it looks like a flower! Legos are good too, as is the end of a highlighter cap. So sad, have not done anything in polymer for a couple of months... no time...

I do silversmithing so I am always on the lookout for used files and punches. One of the things I like to buy is use drift punches as they have the same taper as ring mandrels. I have drift punches that start in diameter from 1/8" to 3/4". The taper is about the same as a ring mandrel and the nice thing is I can usually get them for $0.25 to $0.50 and with about fifteen minuets of sanding I have a new mandrel. The other thing I like to get is when Harbor Freight has them on sale is the cheap flat nose pliers. These are easy to modify for just about any special purpose you can think of and they are $0.99 when on sale.

 I've received a request from Julie Erickson for more information regarding setting up a community paint recycling center such as been done by the Green Project of New Orleans.  However, I was unable t contact her via her given address.  This wonderful facility not only recycles paint, but building materials (from gears and washers to fireplace mantles, fabrics, wood recycled from houses that needed demolition after Katrina and the levee breaks due to faulty construction by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.  It is truly a steam punkers paradise.  To contact them, their home page is www.the green project.org.  Their phone number is 504.945.0240, and the managing director is Angie Green, 504-578. 0180.  It is worth a trip to the big easy just to explore the extent to which recycling can exceed and also to buy beautiful used and often antique items of any kind. Their paint recycling has been a godsend, not only to the ecology of our city but as a way to maintain our unique architectural heritage.  I cant tell you how many steam punk items I've picked up there for about 20 to 30 cents a pound.

Julie, thanks for the inquiry. I hope this response finds you. Every community should start a center like this--the benefits to the community and the earth are enourmous!!