DIY jewelry (October 2020)

Recently, costume jewelry has become popular among fashionistas. And these are not factory-stamped plastic products, but jewelry made by the hands of a master. Many women try to make them with their own hands and master making accessories for themselves, but not everyone succeeds. Like every business, the process requires certain knowledge, skills and experience. Those who have mastered the technology move into the professional class; their jewelry is not only for themselves and their friends, but can be successfully sold for good money. About, We will tell you how to make jewelry with your own hands using the example of two technologies - lempwork and baking polymer clay. They are both available in handmade format .

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Where to start making jewelry with your own hands

Lempwork is a technology that describes the making of glass beads, which allows you to make objects with your own hands that are unlike anything before. They are created by heating glass in a flame. Under the influence of high temperature, the material heats up and can be shaped into the desired shape.

It’s worth noting right away that making handmade jewelry like this is not easy and can be unsafe for human health. However, if you take all precautions and stock up on quality tools, you can organize the making of jewelry with your own hands even in your own apartment.

A novice craftsman will need material. Glass blanks for leafwork are multi-colored sticks. The main technical characteristic, which shows its expansion coefficient when heated, is COE. It is better not to combine glass with different indicators, as the integrity of the product will not be achieved.

The main tool in this technology is a gas burner. A simple propane burner is quite suitable for a beginner. Another important device is the mandrel. It is a metal stick with which you can make a bead with your own hands. Auxiliary tools for this stage of the process are hooks and spatulas. To remove a product from a metal knitting needle, a clay-based separator (or separator) is used.

Protective devices for work include glasses that protect the master’s eyes from possible glass fragments and bright flames. It is also recommended to melt glass with your own hands while wearing a respirator. A powerful hood must be installed in the room. Through it, harmful substances that are formed when the material is heated will evaporate.

Range

The assortment is based on your jewelry, but if desired, the product line can be expanded. You can negotiate with another master and sell his works, which complement yours, but are not direct competitors. For example, he makes hairpins, and you make earrings and beads. In the same way, this master can offer your products to his clients.

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In addition to jewelry, you can offer accessories - scarves and handbags, hats and even some interior items like figurines. Thanks to this, you will expand your circle of customers: people will know that you can find not only jewelry, but gifts for all occasions.

DIY jewelry making technology

Handmade technology looks something like this. The glass rod heats up under the influence of temperature and envelops the metal rod. The knitting needle is constantly turned so that the layer of glass is uniform on all sides. The product is shaped using special spatulas. It’s amazing to watch how new jewelry is born from fire, and the process can be compared to magic.

The process is completed by adding other shades or inclusions of metal to the main color. The workpiece is fired in a kiln, treated with chemicals and sandblasted. After this, the bead is ready to become part of the finished product. Jewelry can be assembled from random patterns and colors. But usually the design of the jewelry is thought out in advance, then the beads are made for a specific product.

Another way to make beautiful, and most importantly, in demand, jewelry with your own hands is to use

The material used is polymer clay. Its composition resembles plasticine and is easy to process. To fix the products, they are baked in a conventional oven. In this technology, it is not so much the process itself that is important, but the correct choice of polymer clay (plastic). It differs in:

Plasticity;
ductility;
Stickiness;
Appearance.

At first glance, you can distinguish between glossy and matte surfaces. As for physical and chemical properties, experts advise choosing clay from imported manufacturers. Domestic samples are suitable only for beginning craftsmen and amateurs. From them you can start making flowers, leaves and other elements with your own hands. An American company today launched a plastic on the market that, after hardening, turns into an eraser for erasing a pencil, but that’s a side note. Handmade jewelry requires only material that hardens after baking.

Making jewelry goes something like this. The plastic is kneaded well, then a blank of several colors is formed. Using a sharp knife, it is cut into any geometric shapes: squares, circles, rhombuses. The resulting parts can be beads for a necklace or handmade earrings. You definitely need to make holes in them for fastenings. With their help, jewelry will be assembled into a finished product.

Polymer clay and glass are quite fertile materials for realizing any design ideas. With their help, it is possible to make any jewelry with your own hands, from classic to fashionable and avant-garde. Having mastered these technologies, the entrepreneur will be able to offer his customers truly exclusive and competitive products made in the fashionable hand-made direction.

Business ideas for making jewelry and accessories

Assembling jewelry, thematic or by style. Elements of national costumes (especially in tourist and resort towns), original products in modernist themes and eclecticism are always relevant. The ability to intricately combine tradition with revolutionary futuristic accents guarantees incredible success. Such original, exclusive jewelry is authentic and spectacular. There are no problems with its sales. Thematically leading are wedding and evening fashion, vintage trends and everyday non-trivial compositions.
Interior decorations. Decors for certain types of rooms - kitchens, living rooms, children's rooms, bathrooms. Or accessories, touches that highlight room designs. Such products fit organically into Japanese themes, the style of Provence, Mediterranean motifs, rusticism, art deco, and baroque studies.
Products made from natural precious and semi-precious bases. They can even compete with jewelry products if the idea is thought out, the execution is neat and flawless, and the materials are of the highest quality. Works made from ornamental and semi-precious stones, valuable wood species in combination with leather, precious metals (silver, copper, bronze), all kinds of combinations of traditional bases with modern additions and inserts are considered popular. Acrylic, plastic, eco-leather and Alcantara.
Exterior finishing and decoration of facades - stucco molding made of polystyrene foam, PU, and other similar bases. You need a separate bright room in the house or a converted closet or storage room. Part of the garage, converted into a workshop, would also be suitable. Quite a popular product.

How much can you earn

Earnings from making jewelry with your own hands will directly depend on the amount of goods sold daily. The average cost of one product is in the range of 450 – 1000 rubles. Even if you sell 10 items a day, you get an income of 4,500 - 1,000 rubles. On weekends and holidays, cash receipts can reach tens of thousands of rubles. Thus, the minimum monthly income is from 150,000 rubles. The profitability of this area of activity can reach 150 and even 200%. The most important thing is to keep up with the times and produce models of costume jewelry that are in demand by consumers.

Sales point

Where and how to organize a point of sale

If you don’t know where to sell handmade jewelry, it’s better to opt for a large shopping center. Almost every shopping mall has a number of shops with a similar theme on the first or second floor.

If you sell cheap but cute little things, you can only sell your goods at fairs. Lots of teenagers with a couple of hundred in their pockets roam the festival circuit in search of interesting earrings or rings.

When you have developed yourself well, you can rent a full-fledged store in the center of your city, next to clothing sales outlets.

Display rules that stimulate sales

Learn to display products conveniently and logically. Should not be placed on very high shelves. Place rings next to rings and earrings close to them. The buyer does not have to search for the product throughout the store.

Place the most expensive and popular products at eye and chest level. What is bought less often can be placed a little higher or lower. For example, gold jewelry can be placed on the middle shelves, and silver jewelry on the lower shelves.

Remember that in the area of the first six steps - near the entrance - the payback is minimal. It is better to place the most profitable product in the middle.

Advice for budding masters and businessmen!

To build a profitable home business from scratch in the field of designer jewelry, listen to the advice of experienced craftsmen:

Don't copy anyone. Learn only techniques from masters, do not adopt the style of their work. A copy can never be better than the original. You must have something original of your own, because that’s what the author’s style is for.
Don’t just chase profit, hone your skills! For things to be in demand, they must be of high quality. Therefore, it is not recommended to immediately put up your very first works for sale; it is better to give them as a gift to someone. Let them appreciate your skill. Usually all craftswomen start this way, first for their inner circle, and then only for sale. When putting something up for sale, you need to be confident in your work.
Beautiful photos are required for sale! This type of business sells with your eyes, so make a good investment in hiring a professional photographer for your portfolio.
Write a description for the products that will be consistent with your category of customers. For romantic collections, draw airy, graceful, gentle images. For ethno-amulets, it is desirable to have definitions such as: mystery, mystery, reliability, security, etc.
You can start exhibiting designer jewelry at fairs, thematic forums on the Internet, for example, sites like www.livemaster.ru are very popular, then you can create your own online store, a group on social media. networks, start a blog where you talk about your work, thereby popularizing your work.
Be prepared for increased demand on holidays like March 8, New Year. Try to always be in touch to quickly answer customer questions. After all, customer service is also very important; people buy better from those who are more attentive and prompt in their feedback.
The most important advice of all craftsmen is to love your product, put your soul into it. This way the jewelry finds its owner faster!