How to Make Sioux Indian Designs in Jewelry

Print this articleSioux Indians celebrate animal spirits and nature through jewelry designs. They use hairpipe bones, beads and antlers to make patterns that symbolize their spirituality and tribes. The decorative designs are used to tell stories. Some of the jewelry pieces like the chokers were also used to protect the jugular vein and neck during battles. The tribe believes that the spirit of the animal the bone is taken from offers protection from various illnesses. Some of the animal designs carved in the Sioux jewelry include buffalo, bear and eagle. The tribes made chokers and bracelets using bones, beads and sinew strands.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedCraft knifeShell button4 sinew strandsAwlSpacer beadsPony beadsHairpipe bonesSuggest Edits1

Determine and find the design you will use on the piece of jewelry. Check Native American history books or websites for ideas. Use a craft knife to carve a primitive buffalo, eagle or bear into the shell button.

2

Tie an overhand knot in the sinew strands. The knots should be about 9 inches from the end of each sinew strand.

3

Use an awl to make a hole in all the spacers. The sinew strand will be passed through these holes.

4

Place a spacer bead in each sinew strand.

5

Put four pony beads in each sinew strand. Use different bead colors to get a variety of looks. Add a hairpipe bone and three more beads on every strand. The beads should be placed close to one another.

6

Tie another overhand knot at the end of the sinew strands.

7

Use an awl to make a hole in your eagle, bear or buffalo carving. This hole will be used to pass the sinew strands.

8

Pass the carved design through the four sinew strands.

9

Put another four pony beads in each sinew strand. Repat the color patern from the other side. Add a hairpipe bone and three more beads on every strand. Place all beads close together. Make an overhand knot at the end of each strand.

10

Pass all the four sinew strands on the right side through a large bead and make an overhand knot. Repeat this process for the strands on the left side. Passing the strands through the large bead secures them in place. The large bead can also be used to secure the piece of jewelry around your neck or wrist.

Tips & Warnings

The number of sinew strands used on the jewelry pieces can vary. A chocker or bracelet can have up to eight sinew strands.

Exercise extreme caution when using teh awl. Do not let young children attempt this craft without adult supervision.

Suggest item

Related SearchesReferencesIndian Village Mall: Handmade Bone ChokersFine Art America: The History of Native American Bone ChokersLady Hawke: Native American ChokerRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article

How to Clean Jewelry With Alka-Seltzer

Keep your jewelry sparkling by cleaning it with Alka-Seltzer.

Flag this photo

Over time, jewelry tends to lose its shine. Engagement rings and gem stone studded necklaces go from glittery to dingy with wear and exposure to the elements. Rather than sending beloved pieces of jewelry away to be cleaned and polished or purchasing expensive cleaners, household items found in a medicine cabinet, such as Alka-Seltzer, help erase a layer of grime and make your bling look shiny again.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll Need1 Glass6 to 8 ounces of water2 Alka Seltzer tabletsClothSuggest Edits1

Fill a small drinking glass with 6 to 8 ounces of cool tap water. Make sure there is about an inch of room between the top of the water and the top of the glass because the Alka-Seltzer will make the water fizz and overflow if there is not enough space.

2

Open up a packet of two regular Alka-Seltzer tablets. Drop the tablets into the glass of water.

3

Immediately add the jewelry into the fizzing glass of water and Alka-Seltzer. After the tablets have dissolved, let jewelry soak for an additional 10 minutes.

4

Take your jewelry out of the Alka-Seltzer solution. Use a cloth to wipe excess moisture away.

Tips & Warnings

Do not use flavored Alka-Seltzer or other varieties of the medicine because they may have artificial colors and dyes, which will not effectively clean the jewelry.

Suggest item

Related SearchesReferencesReader's Digest: 12 Home Products for Cleaning JewelryReader's Digest: Clean Your Home With Alka-SeltzerResourcesSavvy Brown: Alka Seltzer Jewelry CleanerPhoto Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article

How to Clean Silver Jewelry That Has Turned Brown

Engraved or etched jewelry requires detailed polishing or submerging.

Flag this photo

You open your jewelry box and instead of seeing your favorite silver necklace, you find a browned chain. Tarnish occurs when silver is exposed to hydrogen compounds which are found naturally in the air and other materials such as latex, wool and rubber bands. Corrosive salts, oils on your skin and in certain foods, also create tarnish. While tarnished silver appears initially gray or dull, an accumulation of tarnish turns silver yellowish-brown and eventually, brown or even black. Removing tarnish from your silver jewelry isn't difficult, but does require specific steps to ensure complete and thorough restoration of your sparkling silver.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedCotton swabsNitrate glovesClean spongeCotton ballsMicrofiber towelSuggest Edits1

Put on your nitrate gloves. Unlike latex or rubber, handling silver with nitrate gloves won't add additional tarnish.

2

Rinse your silver jewelry under cool running water to remove any surface contaminants, such as dust, grit, hairspray. Removing these substances beforehand lets the polish focus on dissolving the tarnish instead of the surface contaminants.

3

Dry your silver jewelry with a clean microfiber cloth. Unlike terrycloth, rags or paper towels, microfiber won't scratch or irritate the surface of your jewelry.

4

Pour a dime-sized amount of silver polish on your clean, dry sponge and rub an inch of the jewelry using back and forth motions. For every 15 seconds of polishing, stop, rinse and wring the sponge. Apply new polish and repeat until no tarnish remains in the 1-inch section. Washing and rinsing your sponge prevents you from rubbing tarnish-causing substances back into the jewelry as you polish. Repeat Step 4 over the entire piece of jewelry.

5

Flatten the head of a cotton swab by squeezing the cotton between your fingers. Apply a few drops of polish and clean the etched or engraved areas using the same back and forth motions. Replace the cotton swab every 15 seconds as in Step 4.

6

Remove any remaining polish from your jewelry by wiping down the entire piece using a warm, damp cotton ball. Pat the jewelry dry with a clean area of the microfiber towel.

Tips & Warnings

Prevent future tarnish buildup after polishing by storing your silver jewelry in a leather pouch or zip-seal plastic bag.

It takes perseverance to remove brown tarnish, don't be discouraged if you need 45 minutes and an entire bag of cotton swabs.

Never soak or submerge your silver in any substance unless you're a professional jeweler.

Never use household items in place of a professional polish. Common cleaners like baking soda, dish soap and toothpaste are too abrasive for silver jewelry.

Suggest item

Related SearchesReferencesKai Jewels: Silver Tarnish and Removing Tarnish from Silver JewelrySociety of American Silversmiths: Silver CarePhoto Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty ImagesRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article

How to Do a Casting of a Real Leaf for Jewelry

Leaves are natural beauties that come in many shapes and sizes, and they can be shaped into organic, element jewelry that is sure to attract attention and compliments. There are a number of ways to transform leaves into jewelry, ranging from an electromagnetic process, which causes a metal such as copper to cling to the leaf itself, to sealing the leaf in a blob of clear resin. Plaster can also be used to cast real leaves to create jewelry. The lost wax method can create casts that are then filled with metal, or the plaster casts themselves can be turned into pendants.

Other People Are Reading

View the Original article

The Type of Metal to Use in Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry is beautiful and inexpensive.

Flag this photo

Unlike fine jewelry, costume jewelry is made from nonprecious metals called base metals. Most of these are both beautiful and relatively benign. However, nickel can cause an allergic reaction, while the lead found in some alloys has been linked to far more serious conditions and is highly regulated.

Related Searches: Base Metal

Base metal is a jewelry industry term for nonprecious metals used in costume jewelry, including copper, aluminum, brass, nickel silver, pewter and white metal, also called pot metal. Nickel silver is a silvery-white alloy resembling silver made from nickel, zinc, copper, iron, manganese and sometimes lead. Pot metal and white metal are catchall terms for any alloy with an unspecified content that may include tin, zinc, copper, lead, bismuth or antimony.

Platings

Many pieces of costume jewelry are covered in a thin coat of metal called plating. Gold plating resembles 14-karat gold and consists of a thin coat of yellow color or even real gold. Yellow plating resembles gold but is brassier and longer lasting than gold plate. Silver plate resembles sterling silver and is made from a thin layer of silver color or real silver. Copper plating consists of a thin sheet of copper. Copper plating is typically placed over metal that is harder than copper. Pieces made with copper plating are generally stronger than pure copper. White plating is a silver-colored plating that is slightly grayer than silver-plating. Gunmetal plating ranges in color from dark gray to black. Plating described as "antiqued" has been darkened for a "distressed" look designed to seem vintage.

Nickel Allergies

Nickel is found in a variety of objects including eyeglass frames, watchbands, coins, necklace clasps and earrings. Frequent contact with nickel can cause a nickel allergy. Nickel allergies are a frequent cause of allergic contact dermatitis, a form of itchy rash caused by touching otherwise innocuous materials. Although nickel allergies are treatable, once someone develops the allergy she will remain sensitive to nickel and should avoid it. Symptoms include itching, bumps or rash, redness, and dry patches of skin. Some alternative metals to nickel include sterling silver, karat gold and niobium.

Lead Warnings

Lead was traditionally used in alloys such as pewter so that they would be softer and melt at lower temperatures. Lead has been linked to a variety of health problems including infertility, nerve disorders, joint pain, muscle pain, high blood pressure, memory and concentration problems, and irritability. Children exposed to high levels of lead are at risk for brain damage, stomach problems, anemia and muscle problems. Under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, in effect since 2009, products for children that include accessible components containing more than 300 parts per million of lead are illegal hazardous products. In addition, California state law applies lead limits to jewelry intended for adults. Anyone who sells jewelry in California must comply with California law.

Related SearchesReferencesRings and Things: About Jewelry-Making MetalsMaenad's Gems: Jewellry TermsMake It From: Nickel SilverMayoClinic.com: Nickel AllergyMedlinePlus: Lead PoisoningRings and Things: CPSIA Federal Lead Law for Children's ProductsCalifornia Department of Toxic Substances Control: Lead in JewelryPhoto Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article

How to Clean Vintage Jewelry Rock Crystals With Tarnish

Heirloom jewelry must be cared for correctly.

Flag this photo

Vintage costume jewelry is usually made from inexpensive materials, such as gold plating, rhinestones and mirrored foil. These items look fantastic when they are new, but they do show age more than fine jewelry, so caring for them correctly will ensure that any cleaning you need to do will be infrequent and small. If your pieces have already begun to tarnish, they may require a few additional pick-me-ups.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately ChallengingInstructions Things You'll NeedSoft clothCotton swabsRubbing alcoholToothpicksWindow cleanerLint-free paper towelsSuggest Edits1

Rub over the surface of the piece of jewelry with a soft cloth, such as a microfiber cloth used for cleaning eyeglasses. The cloth will remove most smudges and some of the residual oils on the jewelry pieces. Do not polish hard enough to bend any metal structures on the piece.

2

Dip an end of a cotton swab into the rubbing alcohol and pat the swab onto a paper towel to remove most of the alcohol from the swab. Moisture is costume jewelry's enemy, as it can degrade the foil backing and cause tarnishing. Therefore, the cleaning process must be as dry as possible. Use the cotton swab to remove any remaining oils or hand creams, and use it to reach any dirt lurking between the stones. For this sort of cleaning, alcohol is ideal, as it dries rapidly and leaves no residue.

3

Pull a bit of cotton from one end of the cotton swab and twirl it around the tip of a toothpick to create a miniature cotton swab. Use it dampened slightly with alcohol for cleaning in tight crevices in the jewelry.

4

Give the stones a bit of extra sparkle by spraying a paper towel once with glass cleaner. Remove the excess moisture by folding and unfolding the paper towel, then run it lightly over the piece's surface. This should remove any remaining outer tarnish, leaving the stones sparkly.

Tips & Warnings

If the foil backing on your jewelry's rhinestones has turned black, take the afflicted pieces to a costume jewelry specialist to have the foil replaced. Unfortunately, this portion cannot be accomplished at home.

If any of the stones fall out, do not replace them with hot glue or super glue. These substances will leave the gems cloudy. Instead, invest in Gem Tac or Mirror Glue, which will provide the stones with a shine comparable to their original finish.

Apply all perfumes and hairsprays before wearing your vintage jewelry again. Such liquids contain chemicals that degrade the foil of rhinestones, making it turn black and, eventually, tarnish the stones.

Store your vintage jewelry individually in soft, breathable pouches. This will prevent the jewels from becoming coated in dust, which can destroy the luster of the stones. Additionally, it will prevent the pieces from scratching each other, keeping the stones in good condition.

Suggest item

Related SearchesReferencesVintage Costume Jewels: How to Clean Rhinestone JewelryVintage Jewelry Lane: How to Clean and Care for Vintage and Antique JewelryThe Clothing Dictionary: How to Care For and Clean Rhinestone JewelryGems for Good: How to Clean Your Vintage Rhinestone JewelryPhoto Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article

What Constitutes Real Navajo Jewelry?

Turquoise is native to the Southwest and is found in deserts.

Flag this photo

The Navajo originated in the southwestern part of what is now the United States, and were well-known for their craftsmanship when it came to jewelry. Specifically, the Navajo worked with sterling silver and turquoise, but incorporated other precious stones and metals into their art. If you are studying Navajo jewelry or are interested in purchasing some, familiarize yourself with the characteristics that constitute real Navajo jewelry so that you are not fooled by imitations or fakes.

Related Searches: Hallmark

Navajos used hallmarks, or symbols, to identify their jewelry after they made it. Hallmarks are like tags that authenticate the jewelry, but they are unique to the individual artist. Each Navajo jeweler had his own hallmark that he would stamp into sterling silver. If you locate a piece of Navajo jewelry, inspect the item for a hallmark, such as a symbol, initial or picture that lets you know who the artist is.

Scratch Test

The Navajo did not use imitation turquoise or other fake stones in their jewelry. Rather, real Navajo jewelry is characterized by jewelry that contains all authentic stones. One way to check if turquoise is genuine or fake is to scratch the surface of the stone with a fingernail. If you can scrape off the turquoise color, revealing white underneath it, the stone is a fake. Genuine turquoise maintains its color all the way through the stone.

Style

The jewelry of the Navajo people had a particular style that made the jewelry pieces identifiable. Squash blossom necklaces embody this style. A squash blossom necklace is a large, ornate necklace that combines silver with turquoise, and has a center pendant that takes on a crescent shape, like a squash blossom. Another Navajo jewelry tradition is metal stamping, a technique in which sterling silver or copper was stamped with a template shape and a hammer-like tool to indent the metal, creating an image or symbol. Metal stamping is different from hallmarks, as metal stamping is decorative and is often used to create patterns, such as zigzags or braided shapes. Hallmarks, on the other hand, stand alone and are not part of a pattern.

File Decoration

The Navajo created and decorated metal jewelry using a file decoration technique in which the metal was chiseled with small, intricate tools to make fine details in the jewelry. It was also common for each piece of Navajo jewelry to look a little different from the next. Each item was crafted individually, so the file decoration for each would not look identical.

Related SearchesReferencesMeredith College: Navajo JewelryResourcesHallmarks of the Southwest; Barton WrightPhoto Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty ImagesRead Next:

Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollow

View the Original article