BTW: Making Handcrafted Resin Headpins

Last Wednesday, I was excited to share a simple project this week, one using only resin & glitter yet one certain to sparkle up your winter jewelry making: glimmerpins -- handcrafted sparkling headpins.

Looking for ways to include elements of blue opal in a bead soup gift, I first discovered resin headpins at "Jelly Pins" on Etsy, a shop specializing in unique findings. 

Rainbow Assorted Sampler by JellyPins on Etsy

Several months later, Tina Holden of Beadcomber shared her tip for using up the last drops of resin in the cup. She simply rolled headpins in the resin, along with coloring and/ or glitter, taped them to a shelf to dry  -- and ta-da! Fancy headpins made to order. (You'll find photos & instructions on her blog under free tutorials.) 

"Good To the Last Drop" Making Headpins with resin by Tina Holden, Beadcomber

And from my experience, Lisa Pavelka Magic Gloss resin works great for creating beautiful translucent shimmering headpins. Making bejeweled beauties like "midnight opal moon" and "sugar fairy" is as easy as mixing pretty colors of glitter and adding to resin. 

Toltec Jewels is an author by day, jewelry maker by night. Her literary work is housed by the San Fransisco MOMA and is published internationally in popular magazines, literary quarterlies, and university publications. She has won a number of awards for literary and jewelry arts. She is happiest making handcrafted jewelry with her entire family, snuggling with her doggies and grandkids, sewing, singing, reading, and learning jewelry techniques. She is the host of Jewel School Friends, a community of expert and emerging artisans taking inspiration from each other and Jewel School. Join her on Facebook for networking, fundraising for Beads of Courage, jewelry making challenges, contests, give-a-ways and of course, cool beads and jewelry!