Thursday, February 10, 2011

Altered Chess Charm

Angelic wanted to see a chess piece turned into a charm.  For some reason I knew I could do this quite easily.  Now, I'm using plastic chess pieces.  I think you could do this with other types of chess pieces if you had the correct drill bit for the material.  Anyway, I think it turned out pretty cool...

First I drilled  a hole down through the center of the charm.  I am drilling a pawn in the photo but I also made one from the Queen (which you will see below); rook; and the knight.  They all worked great. 

Chess Charm 001

(optional) To spice my chess piece up a bit I drilled 4 holes around the bottom rim.  I wanted to be able to add several "hangy down parts" but this is not necessary.

Chess Charm 002

To make the hanger and add a dangle coming out of the bottom of the chess piece I constructed this segmented charm/finding.  It's an eye pin which I will push up through the center and make the hanging loop at the top.  Next is a piece of chain which will be in the body of the chess piece.  Finally I have a second eye pin that I strung vintage faux pearls (from an old necklace I tore apart) with a charm added to the bottom. 

Chess Charm 004

I then made 4 pearl dangles which will be added to the rim along with bits of black chain.

Chess Charm 005

Chess Charm 006

And here is how the rim turned out....

Chess Charm 008

I added the center dangle, made the hanging loop and added a few more pearls and faux gem stones for a little bling to finish the charm off.

Chess Charm 015

Chess Charm 016

I know this is a bit over the top for some people but after all...she is a queen ;) 
I think it will be pretty cool with a few more royal charms added on each side.

What do you think?

You could go in virtually any direction with these charms.  You could add color to the chess piece prior to adding the goodies. 

15 comments:

  1. OMG Roni! I love, love, love how this turned out! Pure genius girl! I think it would look awesome as the centerpiece to a necklace also. GORGEOUS!

    Elaine Allen

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  2. Fantastic!!!! You really are amazing!

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  3. That is by far one of the coolest things I have ever seen!!!!

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  4. absolutely gorgeous, you are something else. I want to get my hands on some cheese pieces straight away.

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  5. I meant chess pieces, how come it never picks up the wrong word in spell check. I got the chuckles now imaging working with pieces of cheese.

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  6. Love the charm and thank you for showing us how to create charms.

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  7. Great idea....it almost looks like a chandelier with the draping beads/chains

    I noticed you are a wooden stamp block as a base for drilling. (Great idea!!) What is that black piece that appears to be used as anti-skid?

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  8. Very neat! I guess I'm going to have to get out my Dremel tool!

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  9. Every time I think I know what charm I'm making you jump start my imagination again. hehehehe

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  10. OMG!! This is devine! Nothing less would befit the Queen!

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  11. Love, love, love it! That's a genius idea... just one more of those projects that makes me glad I already own a dremel tool!

    --Mina

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Thanks for your thoughts and comments!