Creating Cameo Jewelry: Guide For Handcrafters

An interesting and exciting project for many handcrafters today is creating cameo jewelry. Since the Medieval period, elegant cameo pendants have been used by royalty and noblemen. In their early days, cameo pendants contained carved profiles of a scene or a person, which was attached on a base with a gold or silver frame. Nowadays, cameo pendants and other jewelry items such as earrings and bracelets make a great accessory for special occasions and parties.

Handcrafters like you can create cameo jewelry by using self-portraits, vintage photos, or scrapbook paper patterns in place of the traditional carved mount. It is very easy to make a cameo jewelry. A lot of ideas abound the Internet; you can also get some inspiration from arts and supplies store in your area or from classic films.

You do not have to worry about where to find the materials needed for making cameo jewelry because they are readily available in any local or online craft shop. The following are the materials you have to gather for your cameo jewelry project:

* Sharp puncher tool or a pair of scissors
* Cameo frames in various sizes and designs
* Items for decorating the piece (e.g. a rhinestone or gem, a vintage photo, little trinkets, polymer rose, etc.)
* Diamond glaze adhesive
* Jeweler’s glue to secure the mount in place on the base
* Light brush

If you are going to use photographs to decorate your cameo jewelry, make sure it is not water soluble. Otherwise, the print will be damaged when you apply the diamond glaze for the finishing.

When you have all the materials ready, you can start making your own cameo jewelry! Here are the four simple steps to follow:

1. Cut out your photo or artwork of choice using the puncher tool or scissors. Follow the shape of the frame’s base onto which it is going to be mounted. See to it that the photo or artwork fits the flat base just right.

2. Wipe a little jeweler’s glue onto the base. Be careful not to put too much glue because the excess glue might overflow when you place the image onto the base. Then place the image directly onto the base using the tip of tweezers or scissors. Put a little pressure on it so that it remains firmly in place. Let the jeweler’s glue dry for around 30 to 50 minutes.

3. Decorate your cameo jewelry with gems, trinkets, or anything you want to add to it. Use gluey tacks to secure them in place.

4. Put the diamond glaze adhesive directly onto the image, and fill in the whole shape of the frame until the image is totally covered. When the adhesive completely dried up, it will create a see-through glass effect for an attractive and neat finish. If bubbles appear, you can get rid of them by popping them with light brush bristles.
Creating cameo jewelry is a simple yet fun and worthwhile activity if you are into handcrafting as a hobby. Now, are you ready to do it?