Create an Art Nouveau-Inspired Shrink-Art Pendant!

Susan Beal, contributor

10 users recommend

This pendant project uses some of my favorite supplies: shrink plastic, rhinestones, chain, and vintage beads and charms.

Susan Beal

Here's what I used to make this shrink-art pendant!

Susan Beal

The pendant hangs on a handmade beaded chain that's totally adjustable, so you can wear it as a choker or a longer necklace.

Susan Beal

This pendant project uses some of my favorite supplies: shrink plastic, rhinestones, chain, and vintage beads and charms.

Photo: Susan Beal

Add Comment
Print

Pick up some sheets of shrink plastic at your local craft store or online and use it to create a vintage-inspired pendant piece! I traced a romantic, swirly pattern onto white plastic and used it as the basis for a red-and-black pendant on a beaded chain. The sky is the limit with shrink art, so you can freehand or use specific designs for inspiration. Adding sparkly faceted beads along both sides of the adjustable chain, and as a decorative dangle at the clasped end, is a fun way to embellish the overall design.

These are the materials I used for my pendant project.

What you'll need:

• White shrink plastic
• Medium- and fine-tip markers (I used black Sharpies)
• Sharp scissors
• Hole punch
• Pliers (flat-nose, round-nose, and wire cutters)
• Craft glue
• 24-gauge silver wire
• Medium-weight silver chain
• Medium-sized sparkly beads (I used eight)
• Small sparkly beads (I used five)
• Seed beads in a coordinating color
• Medium jump rings
• One large jump ring
• Teardrop or other focal charm
• Clasp

1. First, you’ll create your central pendant design on shrink plastic. I drew mine with Sharpie markers, and based it loosely on a copyright-free design in 305 Authentic Art Nouveau Jewelry Designs by Maurice Dufrene. You can use the one pictured here or improvise your own. Remember, the final design will shrink to about 40% of the original size, so plan accordingly.

Here is the hand-drawn design for my pendant.

2. Cut out your Art Nouveau design and punch two symmetrical holes in the pendant piece, near the top edges on each side. These large holes will shrink down to the perfect size to incorporate jump rings.

Cut out your design and punch two holes into it, one on each side horizontally.

3. Following the package instructions, shrink your plastic piece to the desired size. Let it cool. Now use craft glue to embellish it with rhinestones, and let the glue dry completely. Choose a teardrop or other style of charm to complement the pendant piece—I chose a black curving teardrop to echo the black design I drew. Set these centerpiece elements aside.

Choose a focal charm that works nicely with the finished-size pendant piece.

View 1 member project gallery

Virgenes en madera...
ana999

Add Comment Print

How to Create a Community (a final tutorial)  

Back to List

Maker Faire Returns to the Bay Area This Weekend

Comments (6)

jay_lee77 writes: Really beautiful!
Posted: 1:11 am on January 17th

craftlover writes: Realy neat! I wil HAVE to try this! Great work!






Posted: 8:15 am on September 20th

trusk4u writes: It's beautiful and I never would have guessed it was shrink plastic. I haven't used that stuff since my kids were small!
(about 20 years, yikes!)
Posted: 11:32 am on August 4th

KraftyGirl writes: Thanks Susan, you've always been one of my favorite bloggers and I look forward to seeing your great work elsewhere!
Posted: 10:35 pm on June 3rd

LizOlsen writes: i love this project it's so cool and relatively easy to do. i love how you were inspired by art nouveau architecture.
Posted: 4:06 pm on May 31st

Maureclaire writes:
Absolutely gorgeous !!!
Posted: 8:25 am on May 31st

You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.