Simple Circle Laser Cut Jewelry

I've seen many pieces of amazing laser cut jewelry, so I decided to take a stab at it.  This is pretty basic, but still fun!

I made this at Techshop in SF!

Step 1: Supplies

You are going to need to cut out your shapes and a few other supplies to put your jewelry together.

Supplies:

• Cut out Acrylic Circles (files in next step)
• Jump Rings
• A Clasp
• Chain
• Earrings
• Needle Nose Pliers

Step 2: Design

I wanted to do something simple for my first piece of jewelry.  Many earrings I had seen were simple shapes, so I decided to start there.  I like how things overlap, like in a celtic knot, so I started with that idea and came up with the files show in Photos 1 and 2.  Then I knew I wanted a necklace to go with it, and finally decided to connect circles to other circles with jump rings.

The first time I printed this, the circles were under an inch in diameter and the holes I put it that would eventually connect to jump rings, cut the circles in half.  I messed around with the design more and was able to get it to work by making the cut holes smaller and then making the overall circle bigger.

Then when I went to cut it for the final time, I saw I had all this extra room.  With that in mind, I threw in some more circles in the circles, because wasting is bad.  This ended up working well because I used the small circles with the big circles in the necklace and then came up with another very simple earring design.  The third picture shows what I eventually cut out.

Step 3: Assemble

In the end I had one necklace and two sets of earrings to go with it.  Here is how to assemble everything.

Necklace:

1. Need: chain, pliers, jump rings, a clasp, 3 big circles and 4 small circles
2. Using Jump rings, connect the circles starting with a small and alternating.  You will end with a small circle.
3. Take your chain and cut it (or disconnect circles) so you have two chains of the same length.  Mine are each about 6.5 inches.
4. Using a jump ring, attach a chain to each small circle on each end. 
5. Attach a clasp to the other end of one chain and either leave the other end or put a jump ring on the end of the other chain.
6. Done

Earring 1:

1. You will need your entwined circles, 2 jump rings, and 2 earrings
2. Using the jump rings, attach the earrings to the holes you put in the top of the entwined circles.
3. Done

Earring 2:

1. Need: 6 or 8 small circles, 4 - 8 jump rings, 2 earrings
2. Attach the small circles together using the jump rings (I used a total of 4 jump rings, using 3 circles for each earring.
3. With the remaining 2 jump rings, connect the circle chain you have made to the earring.  (I just opened the loop at the bottom of the earring and attached that directly to the hole in the top of the circle chain.)
4. Done

Now you have an awesome, modern looking necklace and two choices of earrings to wear with it :)

Step 4: Wear it!

This is just some pictures of me wearing it!  I'm also wearing them to work today :)

I apologize for the quality of the pictures.  I'm not good at taking pictures of myself or just being in pictures in general.

Comments

[Satrek]

Your work looks great! As an idea, I think you could also use O-ring seals instead of laser-cut rings. It would make a low-budget-version, or something to upcycle some old o-rings gathering dust.

also, it makes me wish once again to have a TechShop within reach...

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Oh, I think using o-rings would be perfect! That's a great idea :)

[lmnopeas]

Really fun! Might have to check out TechShop one of these days. I don't have access to any of their toys!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

They have so many fun things to play with! I really think you should :D

[canucksgirl]

I love those! I've seen a few similar ones online and you did a fabulous job. ;-)

(Oh, how I need a laser cutter, a 3D printer, a Silhouette Cameo... *sigh*)

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Thanks and Agreed! I'm working on a bracelet idea right now. Need to cut it out and assemble it and then I'll hopefully have it up tonight!

[canucksgirl]

I can't wait! Send me a link when you have it done. ;-)

[Penolopy Bulnick]

It's done!!!  And turned out splendid, if I do say so myself :)