Beads

Resin is an alternative material that is gaining popularity with jewelry and mixed media artists. There are many different brands of resin available for artists and crafters to experiment with.The bas

(MJW238 cuff bangle silver plated jewelry)

The hottest falljewelry trends include a mix of acrylic and resin pieces with jolts of color and plenty of reflective crystal stones. Make no mistake; the jewelry trends for fall 2010 are less about “bling” and more about creative style and edgy design.

Resin and Crystal Bracelets
Resin is a gorgeous material that can be used to make incredibly inspirational, fun and funky jewelry pieces that will really make an outfit pop. Bangle and cuff bracelets are by far the most popular style of bracelet for the fall season.

Resin and crystal bracelet jewelry trends for fall include:

•Kenneth Jay Lane lapis resin cabochon wide bracelet
•Pono Solid Resin Bangle
•Kara by Kara Ross Coral Resin Cuff
•Anthropologie Rock Climbing Cuff
Resin and crystal bracelets will compliment any style. Look for colorful pieces that can be mixed and matched for a stunning fashion statement. Wear with a pair of boyfriend jeans, graphic t-shirt and military inspired jacket or with a pencil skirt, fitted blouse and zippered heels.

Bib Style Necklaces
While the name may sound infantile the necklace is far from it. Bib necklaces are simply gorgeous pieces of art that complete an outfit. In fact, instead of wearing jewelry to match the outfit, try wearing an outfit to match the jewelry.

Look for bib necklaces with plenty of large gemstone inspired baubles. Resin and acrylic baubles can be transparent, clear or incredibly colorful; however, the bib necklace should be the focus of the outfit.

Bib style necklace jewelry trends for fall include:

Read on
Four Hot Fall Fashion Trends 2010
Four Hot Summer Fashion Trends 2010
Celebrity Inspired Summer Jewelry Fashion Trends
•Charlotte Russe Lucite Bib Necklace
•Argento Vivo Layered Disc Bib
•Juicy Couture Entangled Enchantment Twisted Bib Necklace
•Stone Drop Goldtone Bib Necklace
When wearing a bib necklace the rest of the outfit should be minimal. For example, wear a bib necklace with a one piece fitted dress or with a pair of tweed trousers, simple cut sleeveless top and fitted jacket.

Retro Inspired Crystal Rings
Crystal rings are one of the hottest trends for fall. Not only do they look great but they are affordable and fun as well. Try wearing a retro inspired crystal ring on your index finger or thumb as it will simply stand out and gain plenty of attention when sipping on a latte or typing on a laptop.

Crystal ring jewelry trends for fall include:

•Betsey Johnson 'Iconic' Crystal Statement Ring
•Judith Jack Marcasite & Crystal Ring
•Karen Millen White Metal, Brass And Crystal Mix Beaded Ring
•Ollipop Crystal Tier Ring
Crystal rings can be in an eye popping color or made with transparent baubles. Wear with ornate earrings and mismatched bangle bracelets. Also, crystal rings can be worn with other rings including gold and silver bands, simple baubles and other unique designs.

Ornate Earrings
Ornate earrings are all the rage this fall fashion season. Look for medium and large size earrings that have plenty of design detail. Ornate embellishments with plenty of textured appeal will draw attention to the face. Make a grand entrance anywhere at any time when wearing stunning ornate earrings.

Ornate earring trends for fall include:

•Deborah Grivas Designs Crystal Donut Ring Earrings
•Alicia Marilyn Designs Gold Bubble Earrings
•Ippolita Open Oval Cascade Earrings
•Misha of New York Blue Topaz and Smoky Quartz Earrings
Ornate earrings are often created in timeless designs that will last years to come. Don’t be afraid to mix and match ornate and decorative earrings with other jewelry trends.

This fall fashion season the hottest jewelry trends are resin and crystal bracelets, bib style necklaces, retro inspired rings and ornate earrings. Invest in several outstanding jewelry pieces to add dimension to any style or trend being worn.

(MJW238 cuff bangle silver plated jewelry)

Just about any body jewelry store you visit, online or off, you are going to find body jewelry made of different kinds of glass and plastics. It’s important for you to know, though, that not all glass is equal and not all plastics are alike. And not all are suitable for use in body jewelry or they may only be appropriate for short-term wear. Determining which is which can be difficult, which is why starting with a trustworthy retailer is your first responsibility. Choosing your jewelry is the next, so here is some information about glass and plastic body jewelry.
GLASS
Glass jewelry is available under popular trademarks such as Pyrex and Kimax or can also be referred to as borosilicate glass. There are many other types of glass, but these are the only types suitable for body jewelry. They are tempered, medical-grade, non-porous and lead-free. Some suppliers also make jewelry under the names of Millicane or Dichroic glass – these terms refer to the colors inside the glass. These colors are created sometimes with metal alloys and other non-safe materials, so body jewelry made with these materials should be encased in a layer of Pyrex or Kimax glass to prevent exposure to unsafe elements.

Glass jewelry, although non-toxic and basically bio-compatible, should not be used for a fresh piercing or during stretching, but only on well-healed piercings. Also, keep in mind that glass is heavy, so the larger the piece of jewelry, the more strain it will cause on your piercing. Very large plugs or talons can cause involuntary stretching and then create healing problems.

PLASTICS
Plastics come in many forms and under many different names – Acrylic, Nylon, Teflon (PTFE), Silicone, Polymer, Lucite, Resin, Polyamide and Polyester.

Acrylic is probably the most well-known plastic, and there is a lot of acrylic body jewelry or accessories available. It’s inexpensive, versatile, lightweight and comes in a variety of colors. The problem with acrylic is that it’s not autoclavable, which is the only truly safe way to sterilize body jewelry of any kind. It also degrades if it comes in contact with alcohol, so keeping a piece of acrylic jewelry clean is a challenge. It also shatters under pressure, so things like biting down on your tongue barbell can be a real problem if you’ve got an acrylic ball on the end. Acrylic jewelry can suffocate a piercing that needs to breathe, and the end result can be redness, soreness, seeping and a bad odor. Although widely available, acrylic really is not recommended for piercings. If you must wear it, it should only be worn short-term and only in a well-healed piercing.

A couple of things that should be noted:

The FDA has approved some grades of acrylic, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are 100% safe for long-term use or are completely innocuous. Use common sense when dealing with any new piece of body jewelry – if it starts giving you problems, take it out.
Glow-in-the-dark acrylic is a plastic that has a naturally occurring glow that is caused by carcinogens. This type of acrylic is not deemed safe for any kind of body jewelry. However, UV-reflective and blacklight-reactive acrylic jewelry is considered safe as they do not contain any harmful chemicals.
Lucite, Polymer, Monofilament Polyamide and Resin are all similar materials to acrylic and carry the same risks. A lot of retainer jewelry is created with these products, which are generally for short-term wear anyway.
Nylon & Teflon
Monofilament Nylon and Teflon (PTFE) are favored over acrylic because they are autoclavable and flexible. These plastics are sometimes an option for someone with a severe sensitivity to all metal jewelry, and have also been successful for surface piercings and implants with lower rejection rates. However, not all piercers are experienced in using these materials since they are more challenging when it comes to inserting and threading. You would need to discuss the availability and options of using Nylon or PTFE for a new piercing with your piercer, but replacement jewelry and accessories are widely available.

Rubber & Silicone
Rubber and silicone are very similar products in that they are basically a plastic that is pliable and stretchable. They are acceptable for accessories, but not highly recommended for piercings, especially unhealed ones. There are now flesh tunnels available in silicone and while the material is bio-compatible, it comes with another set of risks. One is that silicone has the ability to auto-stretch, which can potentially cause tearing or over-stretching of the hole. Another is that because of the pliability of the material, it tends to cause a seal against the skin and could allow a build-up of seepage which could eventually lead to severe infection. If you use any of these products, it’s imperative that you keep the area clean and dry at all times.

The next page of this article discusses organic materials.
 

Alternatives to Acrylic Resin

Making molds and creating objects out of acrylic resin is a lot of fun. You can create costume jewelry, toys, paper weights and a myriad of other items. Acrylic resin is very commonly used because it sets up quick, is easy to mix and is not difficult to work with. It's also a little more forgiving than other casting agents. There are alternatives to acrylic resin when you're making objects with molds. These alternatives may be slightly cheaper, but the processes involved can be much more complicated, not to mention toxic and dangerous. The article that follows will list several of the alternatives to acrylic resin.

Plaster, Alabaster and Concrete
Each of the alternatives to acrylic resin are slightly the same and the process to cast them is relatively the same. They are all mixed with water in equal parts and then poured into a prepared mold. Once they have cured the mold is removed and you are left with a hard statue. Alabaster is used as a means to mass produce statues and figurines. Concrete is primarily used to cast larger items that are meant to be used outside. Plaster is the weaker of the three and possibly the most difficult to work with.

Slush Latex
Slush or foam latex is used almost exclusively in the special effects world and specifically to make Halloween masks. Casts are made from people's heads using plaster and a wide array of other materials. Once the plaster cast is made the slush latex is mixed and then poured into the mold. When dry the mask can be removed and painted. This material can also be used to make soft figures and statues. It is a fairly expensive way to cast products and is also toxic due to a high amount of ammonia in liquid latex.

Plastic
This very well may be the most widely used of materials to make products out of. Everything from silverware to toys to car bodies can be made using plastic. The most basic method is to use injection molding. Plastic sheets are warmed until pliable and then a vacuum pulls the plastic to a mold until the plastic hardens. This process is used to make plates, bowls and costume pieces. Liquid plastic can also be poured into molds, set and released to create solid products.

Metal
The process of melting metal ore down is called smelting. A master mold is made from metal and sprayed with a releasing agent. The metal ore is placed inside a container that is then either placed in a very hot oven or over a fire. The metal ore becomes liquid and you then pour into the mold. The ore does not take very long to solidify and a hammer is used to dislodge the item. Flash is then removed from the edges and the item is polished. This technique takes time to master, is messy and can be very dangerous.
 

Flat acrylic jewelry is a popular type of project among costumers and crafters alike. For crafters, acrylic jewelry most often manifests as pendants or beads, though costumers use acrylic resin to create many different types of costume jewelry, large and small. Acrylic resin is usually chosen for costume jewelry due to its versatility; the material can be left clear, chemically colored or painted over and can be cast in any shape imaginable. The simplest project for an acrylic resin casting beginner is the flat pendant, which can be worn for costume or everyday.

Make the Flat Acrylic Jewelry Mold:

1.         Sculpt your flat-backed pendant out of water-based clay, creating the exact shape and size you want the finished product to have. Spray the pendant with a clear sealer spray like Krylon Crystal Clear and let it dry.

2.         Set up a well-ventilated area or work outdoors for the latex molding and resin casting. Cover all surfaces with plastic or newspaper. If you use newspaper, coat the pieces under your work surface with cooking spray.

3.         Lay the sculpted pendant, flat side down, on top of your work surface. Take the paintbrush you have coated with soap. Stipple the pendant and 1 inch of the surrounding work surface with the molding latex.

4.         Let the latex dry completely. Add another layer of latex, then let that layer dry. Repeat this process 10 times, until you have a thick mold.

5.         Peel the mold away from the work surface and remove the clay pendant from the inside. Clean out any remaining clay with another soapy paintbrush.