Materials Used
Gold-Plated
“Gold-plated” refers to the method in which a thin layer of gold is added on top of the surface of another metal (usually copper, brass, or nickel).
“14k/18k/24k” refers to how much gold alloy is added to a mixture used and the measure of the gold’s purity. 14k gold contains a mixture of 58.3% pure gold and 41.7% of another metal (usually zinc, copper, or silver). The more karats there are, the more gold has been added.
Colors of Gold
Yellow gold is a mixture of pure gold and other alloys. However, the yellow color is pure gold’s natural color.
Pink gold or “rose gold” is a mixture of yellow gold and copper and/or silver. The rose hue is dependent on how much copper is added to create the intensity.
White gold is a mixture of yellow gold and silver, nickel, or palladium.
Brass
Brass has been used for millennia in jewelry making. While not as trendy or valuable as silver or gold, brass is a sturdy, long-lasting option as it’s been found in architectural digs for hundreds of years. Societies such as the Vikings, Picts, and Normans all used brass as a base for earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings, etc. Brass is made up of two metals, copper and zinc.
Silver-Plated
Similar to the process used for gold-plating, “silver-plating” layers the silver on top of a base metal (usually copper or brass).
“925” refers to the purity of the silver used with a mixture of another metal. 92.5% silver is mixed with 7.5% of another alloy (usually copper). The 925 stamp is used to identify sterling silver jewelry.
Polymer Clay
Excerpted from What Is Polymer Clay and How Is It Used? – Sculpey
Polymer clay is a synthetic modeling clay made from a plastic polymer base called polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Before polymer clay is cured, it’s a highly malleable plastic that can be shaped and reshaped numerous times without deteriorating.
Unlike ceramic and other clays, polymer clay doesn’t have to be fired in a high-temperature kiln, nor does it dry out in a room temperature setting. You can conveniently cure polymer clay from your conventional oven or toaster oven.
Stainless-Steel
“Stainless-steel” refers to an alloy of iron that does not rust or corrode over time. Stainless-steel is used for many applications besides jewelry.
Wool
Wool used comes from many different sources, such as sheep, lamb, camel, rabbit, alpaca, etc. It also comes in many forms and depending on the application you need to create your artwork those forms come in handy. I primarily use pre-felt, felt sheets, wool batting, and wool roving. Wool can be dyed to any color, however, I currently do not do my own hand-dying.
