Copper Goodness

Well, I have never really done anything with copper strips or bezels before but I took this wonderful class from Jane Salley at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in February.  Pictured below are just a few of the beginnings of some of the bezels.   It was in the evening and I was just tired and already knew about the Ice Resin part of it so I did not finish them then but hopefully will soon.   I picked up a lot of tips about starting with copper strips and making bezels and also using a strip of copper around the bezel to hold the jump ring.   This is just way too cool and not hard to do at all.   The next three pictures below show different views of an opened copper bezel with the strip of copper formed around it to hold a jump ring.   In one of the views you will see that you can decorate it with a design before putting it on the bezel.

In the picture below, I made this oval bezel out of a strip of copper and joined it with a rivet.  Then I layed the bezel on a piece of decorative paper and put a clear glue around the outside of it so it would stay for when I finish it off with the items and the Ice Resin. 

Then one day while I was out shopping at my local thrift stores, I spotted a piece of 1/4 inch copper tubing and it just hit me that perhaps I could cut it into copper beads.  Perhaps this isn't something new to you but I had never seen it done before.   So off I went to Ace Hardware and asked the gentlemen if there was a tool that cut copper tubing.........well of course there was so I bought it and came home and got to work cutting it up.   So you know, I am looking for pieces of copper tubing now.   You, of course, can buy it new but why would I do that for so much more money than the thrift store kind.   Here is a picture of the tool, tubing and beads.

So here are some more projects for me to finish up.   I just need to organize my time better so I can get more done.  

Hope you have a great day.