Making Glass Cabochons From Nail Stamping Supplies

I've been enjoying making necklaces and rings to match my nails, or using them as swatches to try different combinations before I do my nails. It's a weirdly picky but relaxing craft for a weird time.

These are fun to play with.

You can turn them into super magnets by adding a coin magnet, decorate a personalized treasure box, or glue them to hair clips or ring blanks. They're also a good shape to work with my web wire wrap instructions. https://www.instructables.com/Web-Wire-Wrap/

Supplies

-glass pebbles (flat backed glass drops are often found in the floral department of craft stores)

-nail stamping supplies (nail polish, stamping polish, stamping plate, stamper and scraper)

-acetone for clean up

-OPTIONAL-but a really g

-OPTIONAL- Diamond Glaze or some sort of clear sealant coat

-something to decorate! magnets, clips, ring blanks, wire, craft boxes...

Step 1: Stamp the Back of the Gem

Since nail polish is so hard to get off most surfaces, I'd suggest putting paper towels where you plan to work!

Gather supplies and stamp onto the flat back of the glass gem.

*warning* since the nail stamps are made to be put on top of nails and we're using them behind glass, the design will be reversed.

I tend to have a 'good enough' approach to nail stamping at times, but since these will be permanent I'd say take a few tries to get it as perfect as you can. Or make a few, see which are your favorites, and clean off the rest with acetone for a future try.

Step 2: Background Painting

If you're going to be using nail polish for the background, add a coat of smudge free water based polish.

*Acrylic craft paint works perfectly fine as a background and doesn't require the smudge free coat.

Let dry and paint a background coat. I like using a high contrast color since the designs are so small.

Once the background coat is dry you can hold it up to the light and see if it appears even or needs another coat or two. The slightly rough back of the glass often needs a few coats to get an even appearance.

Step 3: Sealing

Optional, I just like doing this since over time most nail polish gets a kind of frosty looking bloom and the texture really bothers me.

I put the thinnest layer of diamond glaze I can manage to completely cover the back. Start by tracing the entire painted perimeter with a line of the glaze, then gently drawing it in towards the center with the tip of the nozzle. Add a little to the center if you don't get enough for a full coat.

More drying! Be patient, this stuff takes time. If some drips down the sides, don't worry, you can scrape it off the glass with an exacto or utility knife.