Getting to know amber. Amber jewelry master class

Amber is one of the most unusual natural stones, with an interesting history of origin and healing properties. Despite the beauty and warm color of amber stones, jewelry work with them is considered difficult, since due to their fragility the raw material can be easily crumbled or damaged. Taking into account all these nuances, ready-made jewelry and products are expensive, so many fans of the mineral create crafts from amber on their own, resorting to simple methods and available materials. At home, you can create a beautiful pendant, necklace, or even a whole picture from amber chips, if you have patience and natural raw materials.

How to make imitation amber

Exquisite pendants, sun necklaces and beautiful decorative elements are just a small list of what can be made from amber at home. The only thing you need for this is pieces of natural stone. However, the search for natural, high-quality raw materials most often causes difficulties for people trying to create some unusual thing.

If you can’t stock up on real stone, don’t be upset. You can make an imitation of amber yourself by purchasing the following materials:

• polyester resin;
• hardener;
• soft molds;
• clean water at room temperature.

Preparation method:

1. 90% resin and 10% hardener in a container and mix thoroughly with a wooden stick.
2. If desired, you can add a few drops of water to the resulting mixture to form a pattern and bubbles inside the stone, dye or wood chips for greater beauty. This will give the finished simulation realism.
3. The thick resinous mass is poured into molds pre-lubricated with vegetable oil. Leave for exactly 24 hours to harden.
4. A day later, the resulting “amber stones” are carefully removed from the molds, wiped off any remaining oil and polished with sandpaper.

This method is good for preparing material used for small decorations and paintings from amber chips.

If you plan to use a large piece of amber as a decorative item or as a large stone for a pendant, you can build an imitation with a frozen insect inside. This method is more labor-intensive and requires the purchase of the following materials:

• pieces of plywood;
• composition for the preparation of polyester resin;
• dye of the desired shade;
• MDF block;
• protective gloves;
• composition for preparing silicone;
• scotch;
• dried insect, such as a butterfly or mosquito;
• cling film;
• sandpaper;
• sharpened tools for shaping stone.

Sequencing:

1. First, a mold for the future stone is prepared. Take an MDF block of the required size. A box is constructed from pieces of plywood, the walls of which are firmly fixed with tape. MDF is placed inside the box, glued for reliability. To prevent the silicone from sticking to the wood, the block is wrapped in cling film.
2. After this, prepare the silicone according to the instructions and pour the resulting mixture into the box. The product is left for 24 hours until completely dry.
3. Using a measuring cup, measure the volume of the mold to calculate the required amount of polyester resin. The resin is prepared according to the manufacturer's instructions, and a dye is added.
4. The resulting resin mass is divided into two equal parts. The first part is carefully poured into the mold to prevent bubbles from forming inside the stone.
5. The resin is left alone for an hour to thicken, then the pre-dried insect is sent into it. The second part of the resin mass is poured into the mold from above and the workpiece is left until completely dry.
6. The hard and dried workpiece is removed from the box and shaped using sharp tools, then sanded with sandpaper. After finishing with grinding, the finished stone is polished.

When using homemade amber stones, you should remember that they do not have healing or magical properties, and can also cause an allergic reaction with prolonged contact with sensitive skin.

Tools and materials for work

To make amber beads with your own hands, you need to prepare:

• epoxy resin (preferably imported);
• organic glass about 1.5 - 2 mm thick to create a shape;
• hardener;
• glycerol;
• fine sandpaper;
• GOI paste.

Reference! Epoxy resin can be purchased at a hardware store or construction market.

To make the desired shape, you need to select a metal object of a suitable shape, press it into the plexiglass and wait until the shape hardens. Then the mold must be lubricated from the inside with glycerin so that the epoxy resin does not stick to it later.

The resin must be thoroughly mixed with the hardener in a ratio of 9:1. Then you should pour the mixture into the mold, add 2-3 drops of water into it and mix with a thin stick, performing circular movements. This will provide the visual effect of amber.

The product must be allowed to harden, then holes must be drilled in the resulting beads. Now you can make jewelry from them to your liking.

Creativity lessons for beginners

Admiring the beautiful products and jewelry made of amber displayed in the windows of jewelry stores, many people do not even suspect that such beauty can be made on their own at home. To create delightful brooches, beads and even roses you will need artificial or real amber, some available materials and, of course, the desire to create.

Lucky necklace

A necklace is a stylish piece of jewelry in the form of a hoop or chain that emphasizes the length of the neck and draws attention to the chest. A homemade accessory made from real or artificial amber will give confidence to any girl and will be an excellent gift for a loved one. To make amber jewelry you will need the following materials:

• pieces of unprocessed amber of various shapes with holes inside;
• pins;
• memory wire;
• flexible silicone cable, hollow inside;
• extension chain;
• clasp;
• decorative metal beads;
• rings.

Manufacturing process:

1. Each piece of amber is strung onto a pin, the free edge of the pin is clamped with a tool and a small loop is made. Nibble off the free edge of the pin with pliers so that you end up with a pebble with a loop at the top. Do the same with each piece.
2. All prepared amber beads are strung on the wire, threading the wire through the loops. The result should be a dense rope of amber.
3. The ends of the amber rope are fixed by stringing a large metal bead on each edge.
4. The flexible cable is cut into two parts, each of which is equal to the length of the free edge of the wire. The tubes are placed on the ends of the wire.
5. String one small bead along the edges of the necklace, bite off the excess edge of the wire and wrap it, forming a circle. A lock is attached to the first edge, and a chain to the second. The amber necklace is ready.

Beads made of stone

Amber beads are in no way inferior in beauty to other jewelry, but their production takes less time and effort. To create amber beads you will need:

• pieces of real or artificial amber;
• strong thread;
• carbine;
• double ring.

Manufacturing process:

1. Beads should be strung on a double thread, fitting them tightly to each other.
2. A ring is attached to one end of the thread using a knot, and a lock to the other.
3. Homemade amber beads are ready.

You can diversify plain beads by adding large beads of different shades or decorative beads, alternating them with amber ones. In addition, you can take unprocessed amber - the stone looks original and has healing properties.

Weaving jewelry from stones

There are many ways to make amber jewelry at home, but the simplest and most accessible is thread weaving. To work, you only need strong hemp rope and amber pebbles with holes inside. How to weave an original amber product with your own hands:

• One bead is strung on a rope and a “tie” knot is tied. A smaller bead is placed on one end and two knots are tightened underneath it. It is important that the knots fit tightly to the beads, as if fixing them in one place.
• The next pebble is strung on both ends of the rope and again tightened with a knot. Do the same with all amber beads, alternating them in size and color. At the end, a fastener is attached to the edges of the thread.

You can weave an original piece of jewelry at home not only from amber, but also from any other natural stones, combining them with different materials, for example, leather beads, beads or miniature pendants.

Sun stone - amber

Amber stone is the petrified resin of ancient coniferous trees. Since ancient times, it has been used to make a variety of jewelry and household items. This stone is also often called “tears of the sea” and “gift of the sun.”

Reference! Amber has officially confirmed healing properties (this is especially true for raw amber). Amber beads can help cope with asthma attacks, help improve the functioning of the thyroid gland, prevent the onset of a cold, and also get rid of headaches and depression (provided that the stones are in direct contact with the skin).

There are many different shades of this stone, from light yellow to almost black. The most popular is amber, which has a waxy color, transparent and red with a yellowish tint. The rarest and most expensive is blue amber from the Dominican Republic.

How to make a painting from amber with your own hands

Amber is an amazing stone from which not only jewelry is created, but also charming interior items: boxes, figurines and paintings. If during the process of making jewelry several amber pieces remain unclaimed, you should not throw them away. You can create a wonderful picture using amber chips. This will require patience, accuracy and the following materials:

• PVA glue;
• tempera paints;
• amber crumb;
• the base is canvas, fiberboard or a section of a tree trunk.

How to create a picture from amber with your own hands:

1. On the base, using a thin pencil, you should make a rough sketch of the picture, drawing out small details. It is advisable to choose a landscape where warm shades of amber would be appropriate: autumn forest, sunset, image of a deer. If you lack confidence in your abilities, you can buy a ready-made painting and add amber to it.
2. Then they begin to draw the picture itself, applying paint to the surface. Once finished, you should let the work dry.
3. After the paints have dried, they begin laying out the amber. Having outlined individual areas, glue is applied to them, and then amber chips are applied. You can’t smear the whole picture with glue and sprinkle stones on top - the work will turn out sloppy. First lay out the large pieces, and then the small ones.
4. Having finished with the layout, you should carefully examine the picture for gaps and defects and correct them. If the work is done on a piece of wood, additional varnishing at the end and sanding before painting will be required.

Pearl beads

Pearl products have always occupied a leadership position among other jewelry. They give their owners a touch of charm, luxury and aristocracy. To make them you will need:

• pearl beads (50 pcs);
• silk threads;
• needle;
• clasp.

We thread the prepared threads into a needle and secure it at the end of the fastener using a double knot. Before stringing the beads, we make another knot so that the outermost pearl does not rub off on the clasp.

Beads are strung on a thread, 1 piece at a time, after tying a knot for reliability and preservation of appearance. At the end, we fasten the thread to the clasp, not forgetting the double knot. The proposed instructions on how to make beads can be supplemented with any unusual ideas. Everything is according to taste preferences.

How to cut a rose

Amber is a mysterious and amazing mineral that has a special warmth and enchanting magic. Having touched this stone once, you want to touch it again and again, which is why crafts made from amber are especially popular. Craftsmen and craftsmen carve real works of art from the solar mineral, among which amber roses stand out.

Amber is fragile, so creating an amber figurative product is complex and painstaking work.

However, even novice craftsmen can cut out a neat and beautiful rosebud. To create a stone flower, you will need the following materials:

• large piece of amber;
• abrasive wheel;
• felt circle-lens;
• various attachments for the engraver;
• hand engraver;
• sandpaper;
• polishing paste.

Amber carving

To carve a stone rose from an ordinary piece of amber, you need accuracy, perseverance and a little inspiration. Armed with the tools and mentally drawing a beautiful carved flower in your brain, you should proceed to action:

1. To make it you will need a large unprocessed amber stone. It can be of any shape, since it must be cut later.
2. An even circle is drawn on the amber stone so that a rounded piece can be cut out of it.
3. Using tools, remove excess parts and use a cutting disc to round the stone.
4. If there are small amber pieces left after work, you should not throw them away - they will be useful for creating beads or paintings with amber crumbs.
5. On a round shape, draw an even circle, which is divided into 4 equal parts.
6. Then draw 4 segments outside the circle, drawing a curved line from the center to the tip of the lines forming a cross.
7. Using a tool, four deep cuts are made in the amber stone - the future edges of the petals.
8. Using the tool, continue to work on the petals - cut one groove above the petal and two below. After this, a circle and four lines arranged in a fan are drawn on the surface of the amber stone.
9. According to the borders, cut out the remaining four petals from above. Each of them should start with a small depression, gradually intensifying towards the center.
10. Having finished with the second row of petals, you should proceed to the third, proceeding in a similar way.
11. The finished amber rose is ground and polished using a hand engraver.

Tatting schemes

Tatting is a type of lace that is made using a special shuttle and a hook/needle with a blunt end.

Beads, beads, pearls, and natural stones can be used as additional materials in necklaces made using the tatting technique. The technique is difficult to master and will require perseverance and patience from the beginning needlewoman. You need to start getting acquainted with tatting with simple knots and patterns, gradually complicating the task.

Patterns for creating handmade necklaces can be found in large quantities on the Internet, on specialized websites and forums. Printed publications will also tell you in detail and step by step all the stages of the process on which weaving a necklace is based. Below, as an example, are diagrams of a tatting necklace with a description. But this information will only be understandable to experienced lace makers.

It is better for beginners to master the basics of technology with the help of video master classes or special literature.

By creating necklaces using this technique, you will always be irresistible!

Cheap replica or amber: how to determine

Real amber is not only incredibly beautiful, but also has healing properties, which affects its cost. Jewelry and crafts made from natural minerals are expensive, which has become the reason for making imitation stones. Sometimes unscrupulous sellers shamelessly take advantage of this, trying to sell the buyer a cheap fake at a high price.

To avoid becoming the owner of artificial amber, you should know the characteristics and basic properties of a real stone, by which it can be distinguished from a fake one:

• Hardness. If you scratch amber with your fingernail, small particles will separate from it. Such an action will not cause harm to an imitation.
• Electrostatic charge. If you vigorously rub a real mineral on wool or silk, small pieces of paper will be attracted to the stone.
• When exposed to ultraviolet rays, amber exhibits luminescent properties. A fake stone does not have this feature.
• Smell. If you heat natural amber, a pleasant pine aroma will emanate from it. The imitation has no smell.
• Reaction to alcohol. The surface of amber moistened with alcohol becomes sticky and rough. The fake stone is resistant to medical alcohols.

Jewelry and products made from amber have many fans due to the warmth that the stone emits, as well as its external beauty and healing abilities. Given the high cost of jewelry, some people choose to make their own solar mineral jewelry, creating original creations. When working with stone, you must remember that amber is fragile and requires careful handling and accuracy.

BUSINESS IDEA

Making artificial amber is a marginal option for organizing a profitable business.

What can be made from amber

Amber is a very beautiful stone with different types of colors: pale yellow, lemon yellow, red-brown, blue, even black or green.

The structure of natural stone is heterogeneous: with various bubbles, inclusions, transparency and translucency.

Amber is used to create all kinds of bracelets, pendants, rings, pendants, boxes, paintings or figurines.

Amber

A striking example of interior decoration is the Amber Room, decorated with mosaic boards and wall mosaic panels made of solar stone.

Decorating premises with natural stone is expensive, so you should pay attention to artificial material.

Amber raw materials for the production of jewelry cost from 20 thousand rubles per 1 kg.

Types of imitations

There are several types of real amber, the properties of which are almost identical.

The most popular is Baltic succinite. Also known are species such as Sicilian simetite and Burmese burmite.

Among imitations of solid amber, pressed amber (the so-called “ambroid”, made from amber flour) is popular. It is worth noting polyburn with faturan - created from waste from amber mining with the addition of epoxy and other resins.

Some materials are disguised as amber. For example, polyester, a type of plastic, is disguised as resin or acrylic and painted “amber.”

Baltic succinite

Fashionable jewelry made from natural stones

This summer, massive bracelets made of natural stones are still popular. Such accessories are versatile, as they can be worn with a business suit, a cocktail dress or jeans and a T-shirt.

In addition to large sizes, fashionable jewelry should be summer, warm colors: golden, yellow, orange, sand. As for the shape of bracelets, there are no restrictions: the most unimaginable, original shapes, animalistic images, “sharp” accessories with spikes or Shambhala bracelets.