ScrapHappy April 2022

Remember this? Reusing old nails and champagne corks for setting tools?

Well. I’ve found an even less effortful and scraphappy adapation*. This time I just sawed the end off an old toothbrsh – one of the flexible and soft plastic ones favoured by #MrG

I already reuse them for cleaning of awkward areas / scrubbing of veggies, but this made me ridiculously happy.

It has a bit of a grippy tip, so less slippage when pushing a bezel wall over, and on the occasion it did slip, there was no gouging or scratching or shattering of the stone (both this mookite and iolite, are risky stones in that they are reasonably soft or fragile) nor did I lose a chunk of flesh from my holding hand. Result in all ways

And it took me about 5 minutes. I simply sawed off the end, smoothed it with my cheap as chips and bitey file that I keep for non-jewellery related work, and gave it a spot of sanding using an old nail file.

No WiP pics this month as it’s such a basic adaptation, but you can see it in the left hand photo – the toothbrush is white and purple.

I used it on this mookite pendant and this prototype ring.

*No credit to me, I follow a number of fellow smiths over on Instagram, and this was on MetalSmithSociety’s page. If you are keen on jeweller tips, this is the place to hang out!

As you know, ScrapHappy is organised by the always awesome Kate and Gun.

There are a number of us posting at this time of the month, so if you like your scraps fabric, yarn, jewellery or electronic and junk based (Jon, I’m applauding you!) give the blogs below a visit

ScrapHappy is open to anyone using up scraps of anything – no new materials.

It can be a quilt block, pincushion, bag or hat, socks or a sculpture. Anything made of genuine scraps is eligible. If your scrap collection is out of control and you’d like to turn them into something beautiful or useful instead of leaving them to collect dust in the cupboard, why not join us on the 15th of each month?

Email Kate at the address on her Contact Me page. You can also contact Gun via her blog to join.

Here are the links for everyone who joins ScrapHappy on occasion.

Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy,  Tracy, 
Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Jon, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera, Edith
 Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti, Debbierose, Nóilin, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa, Lynn, Tierney and Hannah

We also have a special one-time guest appearance by Kym’s blog, The Byrd and the Bees, featuring creative scrappy recycling by her husband, The Engineer. You’ll find it here, so do pay a visit.

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