Now we’re getting into more of my territory.
I am a jewelry maker by heart — and have been for decades.
Oh, the countless hours in craft stores searching for the perfect beads, or perfect findings, to make my pieces pop.
(Note: Some affiliated links included)
All before I could even drive. Thanks, ma!
Fast forward to present day, and a quick scroll through Etsy usually meets all of my designing needs — in excess.
(Seriously, my Etsy wishlist is extensive.)
That’s not to say I don’t enjoy a leisurely stroll through the craft store or local bead shops but —for an introvert— what a time to be alive!
So, this project developed organically from pieces I have seen somewhere between the Pinterest + Etsy apps that are (9 time out of 10) running concurrently on my phone.
Read on for super easy tutorial that even a novice jewelry maker could master!
Step One: Gather Supplies
- Blank Metal Cuff
- E6000 Glue
- Piece of Pyrite (“Fools Gold”)
- Mortar + Pestle
- Safety Glasses
- Safety Mask
Step Two: Crush Pyrite
You will need the mortar + pestle, mask, and safety glasses for this step.
Keep an eye on the size of your pyrite pieces as you’re crushing.
I knew that I wanted some substantial chunks as well as dust, so, keeping the surface space of the bracelet in mind, I crushed accordingly.
Step Three: Glue
Run the glue across the surface area of the bracelet.
After, I leveled the glue out my with a toothpick, and rubbed any excess off with a paper towel.
Step Four: Press Into Pyrite
Press the glue into the pyrite mix and teeter back & forth until most of the surface is covered.
Then sprinkle the dust mixture onto the top to fill in any gaps.
Step Five: Dry + Wear
E6000 dries within 5 minutes but isn’t fully cured until 24 to 72 hours later.
That said, I am an impatient being and I wore mine the very next day.
I loved how this turned out so much that I immediately ordered more cuffs for Christmas gifts and I am stoked to get crafting.
If you plan on recreating this, let me know in the comments!
Check out my other tutorials like the DIY Agate Wind Chime or Suncatcher for some DIY holiday gift ideas!
great so post
Can you use any sealer on top, to protect the pyrite from falling out?
Good question!
A frequently used sealant for jewelry making is Renaissance wax or other wax based sealants.
However, because the base of this bracelet is metal, I would even try Rust-Oleum clear acrylic spray. Keep in mind that this will give the bracelet a more gloss finish, though.
The link to the pyrite isn’t active… any suggestions where to find it?
There are several places to find pyrite but I personally shop at http://www.sunstarcrystals.com!
😁
Where did you get the metal cuff bracelet?
Hey Melissa!
I purchased it here: http://etsy.me/1isdPRt
Hope this helps. 🙂
Thanks for sharing! Ive seen this look with raw birthstone crystals but can’t find them anywhere. If you know where to get them, please post!
Thank you for this tutorial! I’ve recently purchased quite a bit of beautiful pyrite and was wondering where to start. I wasn’t able to pin this though so please check your links. Thanks again!