Caro has a terrific post up on how to make a zine, complete with free downloadable template for a quarter page zine.

In addition to making a zine for its own sake, you could use the instructions to make a little booklet that shows your process, tells the story of your jewelry, or how to care for it.

http://carolinesyrup.com/2014/09/how-to-make-a-zine

What would you make a zine about?  Would it be free with a special purchase?  Or a giveaway marketing item?  As always, the comments are open!

http://youtu.be/GCFn-ET_sRc

http://carolholaday.wordpress.com/2013/02/14/electro-etching-continued

and here:

http://carolholaday.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/the-larger-etching-tank

The most comprehensive source on the web with free information on safer printmaking is Non-toxic Print, here’s the link to their extensive tutorial on electro-etching, which covers etching multiple types of metal:

http://www.nontoxicprint.com/electroetching.htm

And Carol has a virtual studio tour over on her main website!

http://carolholaday.com/htmlpages/studiotourpage.htm

LED Bracelet by Elaine Luther

I took a workshop in etextiles at the Maker Lab at the Chicago Public Library and made this super fun LED bracelet.  The on/off switch is the metal magnetic clasp, which completes the circuit.

This is a terrific intro to soft circuits for adults and kids with an attention snap long enough to do the sewing.

The library has a terrific tutorial and an animation, which you can see here:

https://sites.google.com/site/cplmakerlab/digital-toolbox/etextiles/led-bracelet

Most of the items you can find at the craft store plus Radio Shack (they have the LEDs) but you’ll still need the conductive thread, which is what’s acting as the wiring in this project.

You’ll have to order that online from adafruit or SparkFun.

Another tutorial can be seen here, at SciGirls Connect.

http://scigirlsconnect.org/page/high-tech-fashion

and click on Download the Activity.

For those who don’t know, SciGirls is a terrific show where real girls in junior high and high school choose a real world problem to tackle, with the assistance of a mentor who’s an adult woman scientist or engineer.  Great show, check your local PBS station or watch episodes online.

Back to the bracelet, it’s not the most successful piece in the world as jewelry, I’ll admit that, but it’s terrific for a first project in learning to make a circuit with conductive thread as the “wire” and working with LEDs.

To make it better, I’d use 100% wool felt, such as the great stuff from Magic Cabin or ____________ .  I could also have sewn some cut bits of felt for more decorative touches.

Inside Out Beads by Rebekah Payne

I love the look of this flower impressed bead that has the impression on both the inside and the outside.  It’s in polymer, but you could easily adapt it to metal clay.

Picture it in copper clay, with a green patina, or in fine silver!

http://artjewelryelements.blogspot.com/2013/08/how-to-inside-outside-pressed-flower.html

The post is by Rebekah Payne.

Scroll down past all the bits about the wood to get to it.

http://www.lowes.com/creative-ideas/build-and-remodel/copper-flashing-wall/project

Tips for Successful Burn Outs With Hollow Beads Made with Cork or Wood

http://pmccblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/tips-for-successful-burn-outs-with.html

http://angelacrispin.canalblog.com/archives/2014/04/18/29688783.html

Here’s a video from Andrew Berry on melting scrap and then hammering it up. Quick and easy. Looks fun!

He’s using sterling silver scraps, but fine silver would work just fine.

This is this week’s Techniques selection!

I’m delighted to have a guest post up today at Alyson B. Stanfield’s Art Biz Blog!

It’s about how you can use iPhoto as your art inventory software (plus more!)

Please check it out, here:

http://www.artbizblog.com/2014/03/iphoto-contact-page.html