Scrabble Tile Pendant Tutorial
I’m excited to share this tutorial for Scrabble Tile Pendants from Mark and Stefani at HomeStudio. They’ve so graciously provided this how-to for making these lovely pendants to all of us crafters. These pendants are great for necklaces, charms, and gifts to give. To purchase these pendants with HomeStudio’s one of a kind designs, please visit their Etsy shop.
Scrabble Tile Pendant Tutorial
Supplies needed: · Paper · Scrabble Tiles · Scissors · Craft Glue · Metal File · Mod Podge · Small Paint Brushes · Utility Knife · Diamond Glaze · Super Glue · Small Aanraku Jewelry Bails in Silver
Step 1:
Choose your paper wisely! I use a template card, a little template on an index card with a hole the size of a scrabble tile. That way when I shop for paper, I can see if the pattern will fit the tile. You can use almost
any paper you find; scrapbook paper, card stock, Japanese Washi paper, origami paper, gift wrap, even lightweight recycled greeting cards. Everything will become a possibility, so experiment. Using a light box (or holding your paper to the window), use your template card and trace the pattern for your tile. Trim the paper about a 3/4” to 1/2” around your outline. Allow enough excess paper so you can hold the paper while spreading the glue.
Step 2:
Using a paint brush and your light box, “paint” a thin layer of glue (I use Tacky Glue) onto the back of your paper. Place your tile in the box, being sure to notice which way is up so your letter isn’t upside down when you’re finished. I like using a thin glue.
Step 3:
After about 10-20 minutes your glue should be dry. Using a utility knife, carefully trim around the outside of the tile being careful not to cut the tile in the process. The wood is pretty soft.
Step 4:
Gently file the edges of the paper to be smooth and flush with the side of the tile. Since the wood is soft, be careful not to file too hard. You may want to experiment with different types of metal files in order to find the one you like best. The one I use is a medium grit file.
Step 5:
Now you need to seal the paper. Use a paint brush to apply a thin layer of Mod Podge. I like to seal the top and all sides. Let that dry for 10-20 minutes. I like to lay my tiles on wax paper so the glue doesn’t stick to my work surface. A cookie sheet lined with wax paper works perfectly!
Step 6:
Once the Mod Podge is dry, it is time to apply the Diamond Glaze. Do NOT shake the glaze. First, I like to make a little dot on my wax paper. The first dot usually has a bubble & I’d rather have it on the wax paper than on my tile. Holding the bottle at an angle, apply the glaze around the edges and then fill in the middle. Be sure to get close to the edges. The glaze shouldn’t roll off the edge, but in case it does, just file it off when the whole thing is dry. If you get a bubble, which will happen, just use your fingernail to pull it off the tile. You can use a needle, but I find that is harder to do. Diamond Glaze is water soluble, so it just washes off with soap and water. Now let your tile dry for a minimum of 4 hours. Dry your tile in a cool place where it won’t get bumped by anyone.
UPDATED:
I let mine to fully cure 3 days before packaging it. The glaze manufacturers may suggest less time but to be safe, plan on 3 days.
Step 7:
Now attach the silver bail. Hold the bail with your fingers, put a drop or two of glue and hold the tile in place. I like to use Super Glue because then it’s stuck “forever”! The only down side, is that if the bail isn’t exactly centered, it’s tricky to remove. In seconds, it’s attached and ready to go!
Step 8:
Now to clean up any rough edges. Get your metal file again and smooth down any rough edges and excess glue. Now you’re finished! Enjoy your pendant.
© 2008, HomeStudio. All rights reserved. Use of designs, images, or content without permission is prohibited. Please contact homestudio111{at}gmail.com for permission of use. Please feel free to use this tutorial for personal use and have fun crafting!
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this is just a darling idea. thank you for posting a tutorial!
I’m heading to Michael’s now to pick up the supplies I don’t have so I can try this out. thanks for sharing!!
Oh, one question, do you buy the scrabble tiles somewhere or just use them from an old game?
Katie – From my experience, I know people who’ve purchased a new game set and then had tons of necklaces to make. I’ve also heard of people looking at thrift stores or garage sales for the Scrabble game. I actually wonder if anyone is still playing the game or just making fun crafts!
Thanks for the great idea. I just used it tonight as a craft activity for the MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) group I lead and it’s an understatement to say it was a HUGE hit!
As a side note, I was not able to easily find Diamond Glaze, but a found another product called “Triple Thick” at Joann which seemed to work well as a substitute.
As an answer to the question about the tiles, I was able to order them from Hasbro. Search around on the website for replacement tiles. There were also several postings on Ebay.
I’m new to your website and absolutely love it – thank you!
You can order just the tiles from Hasbro.
They are fairly cheap.
Like 5-6 bucks for a bag of them.
They have wood & onyx ones. :o)
http://www.hasbro.com/default.cfm?page=cs_parts
Wonderful tutorial can’t wait to try it be a great gift.
hugs ginger
The paper you used is gorgeous! Where do you find it? I have several stacks and none of it is as cute and vibrant as yours. My favorite is the pink one with two owls :)
Thanks!
As a paper and scrabble lover. This post rocks. I will be adding a little flair to my scrabble board.
When using the Diamond Glaze, how much should we use? I checked to see if the tile had dried a day after I put the glaze on, and it looks dry but makes dents on the glaze if I poke it. Any suggestions?
Nina Jay – It’s hard to answer how much glaze to use. But let me tell you how I put it on… I go around the edges first and then fill in the center. Then I add another squeeze in the middle. I let my pendants dry for 2 days before I send them out – 3 if it’s humid. Even now, if I push my fingernail into the glaze, it’ll leave a dent. Even pendants I made a few weeks ago will still leave a dent from my nail.
If there is a dip in the center of the pendant when it’s dry, then try using more glaze. If it’s milky in the center, try using a little less.
Hope this helps. :) Please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions.
Stef & Mark
Thank you so much! FYI…I picked up Scrabble today at the Goodwill for $1.99. I can’t wait to get to work on making these as holiday gifts!
thanks so much! i’ve designed graphics for pendants and have been wanting to try making pendants too! this is just what i needed! :)
I just finished making a couple of pendants and they are still sitting there wet but looking really good so far.
I went to and/or called three different large art/craft store and was unable to lay my hands on diamond glaze…no one had ever even heard of it. Not wanting to order it on the net and have to wait I used a clear bar-coat type material that dries to a very hard glass-like finish. It’s the stuff they use on bar tops to make it smooth and shiny. It’s by Enviro-tex and it’s a two part mix so it’s a pain to clean up the tools afterward but it’s nice and thick so you can push it right to the edge of the tile without it glopping over.
Also a couple of other tips I found. I used index cards as my “drop cloth”, one for each scrabble pendant, and stuck the scrabble tile to it with REMOVABLE double sided tape (make sure you don’t use the “permanent”). then I drew a little arrow indicating which side of the tile was up since I couldn’t see the letter side anymore. If you get a good stick with the tape it gives you AWESOME leverage for maneuvering the tile and being able to pick it up easily without getting your fingers in the mod podge or in the resin. Also I used a pen to write down on it when i put on the resin so I will know how long it’s been on there without having to remember! :) The index cards also make a good solid white backdrop if you want to draw a design for you pendant or use stickers.
Another thing I came up with is if you have to mix your own resin, use a dropper (i found mine in the cake decorating isle at Hobby Lobby) to squeeze the mix onto the tile. This gives you the same control that you get from that pointy tip on the Diamond Glaze bottle, and it wasn’t as hard to clean out as I thought it would be. Make sure not to be shy about pushing the resin or whatever all the way to corners of the tiles, i can already see that I didn’t make QUITE to the edge of the corner on one of mine…no one else in the whole wide world would ever notice it, but i see it and it’s starting to bug me lol. As long as you are using a thick compound and being careful, you won’t push it over the side.
Those are darling. They remind me of the charms that have fun poetry and old fashioned pictures on them. They sell them, along with the really long key chain metal necklaces at boutique shops. They also have initials in fun fonts on the tiles. I don’t think you will ever run out of ideas for your blog; my clever daughter-in-law!! :)
This is great! Thanks so much. Not sure I’ll have the patience, but deft. going to visit her Etsy shop! :) Thanks again.
AWESOME tut! I was wondering what type of paper you use? Do you use anything special? If I am printing images from my computer would regular computer paper work?
These are clever and cute! I have so many scrabble tiles to actually do this with! Thanks for posting.
Thank you so much for this! I have been eyeing these necklaces for a while now. I love how graphic they are! These will make great gifts because they are homemade, but don’t look very homemade.
I just love those scabble tile pendants. I am going to try my hand on those and give them to my nieces… Great job!!!
This is a GREAT tutorial. I can also speak from experience that Home Studio’s pendants are beautiful and very well done. I recently bought 3 of them, 1 for myself and 2 for gifts, and I’m going to go back and probably buy some more later!
Corinna http://www.myscrapbooklife.com
I have a collection and passion for necklaces. this is fantastic.I have 3 little daughters that I want to make these for. plud great teacher gifts…if I don’t make them I have to buy them!!thanks so much for the tutorial I am a wee bit crafty but some in blog land are incrediable that I feel a bit untalented!
Great tutorial! I am a visual learner and really appreciate all your photos and step-by-step instructions. Thanks!
Thanks SO much for the tutorial! Now my daughter can make personalized gifts for ALL her friends this Christmas without breaking the budget!!
Hi
I love these pieces. I have a few questions.
1. Do you leave the letter for the back?
2. I can’t find Diamond Glaze or Triple Thick.. not at Michaels or Jo Anns.. is there anything else? I looked at everything and it nothing seemed right to me.
3. I cannot find the bails you show here at either store. I assume they are silver. Where do you get yours?
THanks
I can’t wait to make some!
why not put the paper over the letter side, so the back is just plain wood?
You won’t find the bails in any stores you would have to order it online i got mines on ebay, it’s quite expensive. You can find triple thick at hobby lobby, it’s like 3 bucks for the small one and 5 for the big one. I just started doing this and it’s super easy! I find that if you are handy with a exacto you can just mod prodge the tile to your paper and cut around the edges! I didn’t use special mod prodge i just used the regular one.
These make excellent rings!
You can get diamond glaze online too… it’s like 6 bucks. (ebay)
I’m having a Bloggy Open House tomorrow and I was wondering if I could use this post for a Make and Take. I would link back to you.
Has anyone ever used fabric instead of paper? I have some gorgeous scrap fabrics that I would like to use but I was unsure if this would work with the Diamond Glaze.
Thanks in advance!
Do your images ever go blurry? I read somewhere to use clear nail polish to seal it first. Does anyone know if it will yellow? When I use Mod Podge I was getting some bleeding or a blurry effect after a few days. Any pointers?
Thanks!
Hi there!
I made a ton of scrabble tiles last night and woke up this morning to see that the paper had lifted from the sides of the tiles (on every one!). I used everything listed above for materials but replaced the Diamond Glaze with Ranger’s Glossy Accents. I had used it before with other tiles but for some reason this did not happen then. Please advise — how do I get the paper to stick to the tile without lifting?
Thank you so much for the help that anyone can provide!!! :)
Hi again everyone,
For those who have used Envirotex Lite, does that bubble???
Thanks,
Monica
This is a wonderful idea! I was so excited, so I instantly put a wanted request on freecycle and within a few days I received a broken box and board with tiles from someone who was going to throw it away! Off to go purchase the other items and get started on this amazing idea! I think this will be a great teacher gift, gift for distant friends that you never know what to get them and a small gift for someone you want to get something but never know what!!! :)
Thanks for the idea! I love your blog! Creative people are so inspiring!!!
Hi everyone! We are thrilled that you are all having so much fun making pendants. Are you all ready to come help us during the Christmas rush??!! :)
We’ve had a few questions that I’d like to answer here.
Q: Where do you find the glaze?
A: There are several places online that carry Diamond Glaze. http://www.ornamentea.com has some good prices or http://www.joann.com usually has it in stock.
Q: Lifting corners?
A: I place heavy cutting board or even a stapler on the back of the tile as the glue is drying. Just be careful that the tile doesn’t shift as you place your heavy object on it…otherwise the image won’t be centered. Sometimes a tile will be old and slick from wear. That will sometimes effect the glue & make it difficult to stick. I like using newer tiles – just my preference.
Q: Where do you find the bails?
A: There are several sellers on Etsy who sell Aanraku bails. Just type “Aanraku bails” into the search bar of Etsy.com and be sure to search under supplies.
It’s fun to personalize the pendants with the letter on the back. Just know that the bail sometimes hides a lot of the letter.
Hope that helps out some. Please let me know if you have other questions. Thank you!!
I love this tutorial too!! I just “stole” 5 tiles from our family Scrabble game (don’t tell hubby!) to try it out and I love the results. I also used Triple Thick from Michaels and it worked fine. I used a different kind of bail that I bought at Michaels…I reshaped it to fit on the tile correctly. They were a whole lot cheaper than the nicer ones sold on ebay etc. I did have a lot of problem getting the super glue to hold it on, though. I have heard E6000 works better…anyone tried it?
Thanks again for a great tute!
Nicole
I too was wondering about the great paper that you guys have. Where did you get it at because I’m not able to find that neat of paper at the scrapbook store. Thanks!
I love this idea and what a great find just in time for the holidays. I am going to gather all the supplies and make some of these as well but do have one question…
Has anyone tried to personalize these with creative lettering after the paper is applied to the tile and if so what is the best way to do that?
Any help or ideas that anyone has would be great. Thanks!
Just an FYI for ya….I was at Michaels today and found a whole pack of scrabble letters for $4.00. There are probably 50 or so in the pack. I also got some cute round ones with a letter on the back. The round ones have an adhesive backing, so they are cute as magnets too (these were near the woodworking isle).
Also, I could not find the Diamond Glaze, but found one made by Aleene’s called “paper glaze” for $4.00 (2 oz). I just put it on to some tiles I made yesterday, so hopefully I will know in the morning how they turn out. So far it looks like the right stuff.
Michaels also had some “silver” bails, 10-pack for $3.00. They are really cute with some black detail on them too. What fun!
Make sure to check out comment #34 for a few answers to questions. They come from Stefani the creator of the tutorial.
I checked Joann.com and they sell bails online only for $1.49 each. There are 2 different sizes available in silver color and 1 size available in gold color.
I just checked JoAnn.com again today (Friday, 11/29) and the bails are down to $1.04 each and they are offering free shipping, no minimum purchase until 12/06 with code SCD001.
Does anyone else have a problem with their ink bleeding? I printed some clip art on both matte photo paper and regular white paper. It bled a lot more with the white paper. I’m using an inkjet printer. Do you think it might be that?
Love the tutorial, by the way!
Debbie –
Yes, the ink is bleeding because of the inkjet printer. I would suggest using laser print paper, and then setting the ink with an iron. You don’t actually iron the paper, just run the paper with printed side up over an iron so that the heat from it sets the ink.
Laser ink does not bleed because it is set this way.
The photo paper binds the ink more because people don’t want photos to bleed either, so they but chemicals on the paper to make it stay longer.
in response to baileytwinsmom:
I have personalized them, I used the paper and on top of that I use a sticker initial in the middle, I also put lil colored rhinestones on them. I suggest putting the sticker letter on before Mod Podge. If you are going to put rhinestones, decide where you want them 1st then use the mod Podge then immediately put the rhinestones on, so they stick.
I made the mistake of putting mod Podge 1st then the sticker, then I had to go back and put mod podge to get the rhinestones on. It was tedious.
But the end result was great! I wish I could post pics on here.
I have also had the problem of leaving dents in the finish even after it is “dry”. Is there any way to remedy this? Thanks for any help.
In no way asking where you find your photos for the tiles. But, how or where do I go about finding ones? I am at a loss.
Angelia – The designs for the tiles on this tutorial are from Home Studio, the creators of this tutorial. Go to http://www.homestudio.etsy.com
I just blogged about this awesome idea!
http://michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com/2008/12/handmade-gift-wood-pendant-necklace.html
I used round discs and bails I found at Michaels ( I was too impatient to wait for the ones to ship from online!)
I ended up purchasing a scrabble game at Toys r us on sale for 7.99 (which is what it would have been with shipping had I bought them online)
Does anyone know what the best software to use is for digital photos for these tiles. I know people are selling the collage on etsy. I would like something that allows me to set the parameters of the photo size so I can load the pics and it does the work for me. Instead I am having to waste paper and ink to keep adjusting and I never get it right.
I decided not to fudge around with my inkjet printer anymore, so I purchased a Samsung laser. But I’m having problems with the lines on the art not being very crisp. I didn’t have this problem with my inkjet. Any advice, suggestions, etc . . . ? Thanks much in advance.
@Debbie: My suggestion is to make sure you are using a print resolution of 300dpi for the best image quality.
But if you aren’t familiar with print resolution keep in mind that when you change something over to 300dpi it’s going to print much smaller so you will want to start with a bigger graphic. I don’t fully understand all the ins and outs but you will get the idea if you play around with printing the same image at different resolutions.
@Joni: I use the Gimp for all graphic stuff. It’s free and it’s plenty feature rich for something like this.
Thanks Melbell. I do use clip art at a resolution of 300dpi. I returned the laser and am sticking with my inkjet as I get better results. I’m still dealing with bleeding.
Melissa, thanks for the suggestion about printing on laser paper and setting the ink using an iron. I did that the other day and it seemed to work! Then I did it again with a different color clip art and the colors ran after applying the Mod Podge. They don’t run much, but enough that I don’t like it.
Oh well, back to the drawing board.
@ Debbie…hmmm I wouldn’t think the laser printer would still bleed. I don’t have a printer so I just go to Kinkos when I need something printed and whatever they print with doesn’t bleed at all on me. i wonder if it has to do with the paper or something.
Thank you! I’ve had this in my idea book for a long time, but now I have a firm grasp of what to do. Plus I’ve got great ideas for all the “tweens” on my gift list this year!
I’ve been experimenting with these as well. I have had some luck with pre-spraying printed images with Krylon spray. If I spray both sides before I mod podge them to the tile, the image is staying quite a bit clearer. I let each side dry for about 15 minutes before working with it.
I have also been using my dremmel to drill little holes in the tops and using the little nickel eye screws to hang them.
Have any of you guys had any problems with the Mod Podge causing the paper to sort of wrinkle up at the edges? I don’t have any problems if I use card stock paper because it doesn’t give into the moisture in the mod podge as much.
I suspect that they aren’t drying fast enough because my house is so stinking cold this time of year. It’s not a big deal to use the card stock but it won’t work if I find a really cool origami paper or something of that weight to use.
I need to do some experiments with just putting like a heavy book down on them so they dry flat but I’m quickly running low on scrabble tiles and resin!! :)
I just went back and read some of the posts that I missed before.
@Monica in post number 32 (if you are still tuned into this program): I use Envirotex Lite for my pendants. It DOES bubble. But carbon dioxide cleans those bubbles right up.
**WARNING** What I am about to say is not safe in any way, shape, or form…but it’s what I do lol. But there’s my disclaimer.
I let the envirotex sit for about 5 minutes, this is when most of the bubbles surface. Then take a drinking straw, aim it at the tile, and exhale…not really blow…but more like just sorta breathe through the straw onto the tiles. Remember, it’s not the rushing air that pops the bubbles, it’s the carbon dioxide. Then I breathe on it again after 30 more minutes, and then a third time after another hour to make sure. The packaging recommends doing this by passing a lit flame close the the surface but harsh chemicals plus fire sounds like a big insurance claim to me :)
If you do decide to go against all our better judgment and use the straw, just remember NEVER to inhale through the straw…that’s probably the fastest way to get those horrible fumes channeled directly to your brain cells short of drinking the stuff right out of the cup…please be careful. This stuff is awesome but it is a potent chemical compound and must be handled as such.
That being said, I have taken to just using disposable tools and just throwing them away after each batch of tiles. I found some paper measuring cups on ebay, a popsicle stick to stir, and a $1 eye dropper type thing for dispensing.
@NCJill in post 38: The first thing I bought was the Aileene’s Paper Glaze because I figured it sounded like the perfect thing. But I just couldn’t get it to dry. I let it sit on the tile for more than 24 hours and in a coat that thick it was still WET to the touch…so I gave up on it. I hope you had better luck.
Also to everyone using Diamond Glaze, I can’t directly speak to this because I passed on trying it out. But I have read some people who use it say that it completely fails if exposed to even the tiniest amount of water, like rain. Has anyone using Diamond Glaze experienced this problem? I guess the theory is that since it’s water soluble, exposure to water can sort of erode it away.
Just another hint to help people deal with bubbles in their glaze. When a pin seems too thin to be of any help or when you just aren’t in the mood to chase those little bubbles around, try using an eye pin. Not the straight end. Use the circle of the little eye to lasso and grab the bubbles to pull them to the edge. If you are careful and don’t move around too quickly, you can easily do it without running the glaze over the edge.
..and just a footnote to post 61. Yes, last night, I experienced my first water spot problem with my diamond glaze. Just a single drop of moisture on a cured tile caused a dull spot to form even with an almost instant attempt to blot it up (without even wiping)
I guess resin is the way to go but not having used it before, it seems like it would be such a mess to work with. And it’s so easy to just pick up the bottle of diamond glaze and squirt and direct the flow. After mixing a batch of resin, can it also be poured into a similar type of bottle for application to a tile? Would that bottle then have to be thrown out or can it be stored for any amount of time? It just seems like there is potential for a lot of waste using resin and possibly mixing too much at a time.
Can somebody help out a resin rookie here?
What a fun project! I think I will invited some friends and try it out. THanks
Thanks for the tutorial. I made a bunch of these, using resin – some pictures up at flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/tamdoll/sets/72157603900798500/.
I ran into some trouble with the resin the 2nd time around, found online tips for how to do it better next time. Now all I need is a great source for unique teeny tiny images & I’ll keep making them!
@ Quelyn in post 63:
I will probably never use anything other than the resins now. It is a bit of waste, but to me the superb results make up for it. And clean up is easy if you just allow yourself to throw the tools away. You CAN clean the stuff up. For example, the Envirotex can be cleaned up while still wet using rubbing alcohol. But honestly if you try to do this, you won’t want to use the resin because it’s a pain and to me the fumes from the alcohol are worse than the ones from the resin. I use a marked paper mixing cup to measure into, a popsicle stick to stir for a full two minutes (vigorously), and then I just use an eyedropper from the cookie decorating aisle at the craft store to suck it up and dispense it right onto the pendants. I end up throwing away the cup, stick, and eyedropper but actually with patience, a pipe cleaner, and a crap-load of rubbing alcohol the eye dropper isn’t really that hard to clean up and reuse. But you will know the next day if you didn’t get it all off because it will be tacky or gluey feeling to touch.
I have found this method to be pretty reasonable and at like 15 bucks for 50 cups, and $1 per eyedropper, it’s really not that expensive…unless of course you are only doing one pendant at a time. If you are only doing one at a time you will want to find a way to measure out much less of the resin (Envirotex is just a one-to-one resin to hardener so I’m pretty sure you can mix as little as you want) and you won’t want to blow $1 per pendant on the eyedropper. If I was going to do a huge batch like maybe 50 pendants I would actually buy a squeeze bottle with a fine tip for that size of project and then just throw that away.
As for storing, it will set up hard in the cup overnight, so I would say don’t leave it for more than 15-20 minutes or I think it would start to gel up and you would lose not only pourability but also finish quality. I don’t know for sure because I have never let it sit out for a while.
But one thing, if you go the disposable cup or bottle method, do not throw it away while the resin is still liquid. For one if it pours out in the trash and leaks out of the bag you will be in a world of mess, and also as it’s setting it puts off heat and it needs to be able to dissipate. I let mine sit in the cup on my table overnight and throw it away the next day.
My honest recommendation would be to find the smallest size of Envirotex Lite that they sell and a cup or something that you don’t mind throwing away and just trying a few pendants. If you don’t like it or if it doesn’t turn out well you will be out a few bucks, but then you will know if it’s a workable solution for you.
To me the Diamond Glaze is not an option because even just washing your hands could cause water to splash up or if it’s raining or anything…say goodbye to your beautiful pendant.
Also, I ran out of Envirotex Lite and the next one I bought to try is the Easy Cast clear casting epoxy. It will probably be quite similar to the Envirotex but I will definitely post once I get a chance to use it.
I gave pendants tonight to all the girls at work for Christmas presents and already two of them have commissioned me to make them for their daughters for Christmas. So within a couple of days I will be making some more pendants. :)
This is a great tutorial. Thank you for sharing. I have made quite a few of these and have run into some problems with the ink bleeding really bad. I have an inkjet printer. I’ve tried setting my clipart images with an iron and I still get a lot of bleeding. Can anyone tell me the best paper to use? Can the creators of this tutorial tell me if they use a laser or inkjet printer? Your artwork is so crisp and very clear. Any help is appreciated.
Hi there! Looks like everyone is having fun making these pendants.
I see there are a few questions on the ink bleeding. If you use an ink jet printer, the ink will bleed. What you can do is spray your images after they dry with a sealer. In the past, we have used a (non-water based) furniture sealer. It’s pretty toxic, so watch the fumes. After that dries, you’ll want to use a THIN layer of Mod Podge to set the image. I haven’t tried the iron technique – good idea!
If you use a laser printer, the bleeding won’t be an issue. We use a high quality laser printer. We have also found that thicker paper (cover stock and card stock) work better than regular printer paper if you are printing your own images.
Hope that helps. Have fun creating cute pendants!
For Ink Bleeding inquiries, please read comment #68 from Stefani, the owner of this Scrabble Tile Tutorial. Thanks Stef!!
For Diamond Glaze users – what about spraying the pendant with a spray varnish after the diamond glaze is dry? (Something like Krylon or Kamar) I wonder if that might make it resistant to water?
I have my supplies ordered, can’t wait to try these!
I am interested in getting started with these, but has anyone figured out how to put hole through tile to insert pin, rather than glueing on a bail?
Re: inkjet prints bleeding, I just tested mine with Mod Podge and NO bleeding whatsoever…I’m using REALLY good paper though – Arches Infinity (a museum quality archival watercolor inkjet paper) so differences in paper might be the issue. It’s the same paper I use for my art prints…I’m shrinking down some of my artwork for pendants.
I’ve been using the diamond glaze and have also tried Triple Thick. The problem I’m having is that even when the glaze sets for days, it still seems to get marked up easily. I tried wrapping some for gifts, but having tissue or cotton pressed up against the glazed tile, marks up the pendant and they look awful. :( Anyone else noticed this problem? I just can’t figure out how to remedy this and I’m sick over it because I’ve made tons for x-mas gifts. Now I don’t know what to do to wrap them without them getting marked up.
Please allow your glazes to cure for 3 days before wrapping them. Even though the manufacturers suggest less time, we’ve learned longer is better. We will make this update to the tutorial.
Thanks,
Mark+Stef
My pendants that were getting marked up, had set for well over a week. So, I don’t think the drying time is the problem. I was using that cotton stuff that comes in jewelry boxes as a buffer between the pendant and the box, but even this light cotton left marks on the pendant. Per suggestion by HomeStudio, I’m going to try using a clear coat of nailpolish over the glaze after several days of setting or try using glue dots to adhere my pendant to the box so I don’t have to have any cotton/tissue rubbing up against the pendant. I’m still concerned about the delicate nature of the glaze. Seems like even if I find a way around the packing issue, the person wearing the necklace isn’t always going to be so careful. They could set it down on something and it will easily scuff.
Well…I made a new batch. This time with the Easy Cast clear casting epoxy. I made 34 pendants and it seems about 15 of them aren’t ruined. It took me too long using my eyedropper and the stuff started to gel up on me from sitting for so long. I think it was about 20 minutes. I will have to remember to only do small batches of 10 or so at a time or do get a squeeze bottle which should make it go much faster.
After it got gooey it was a little tougher to get dispensed onto the pendant because it didn’t flow as well, but the real problem was that the consistency of it kept the bubbles from degassing themselves and they just set in the pendants. *sigh* Lesson learned the hard way.
The Easy Cast and Envirotex Lite are made by the same company and work in the same exact way, but the Easy Cast seemed less…fume-y. Less toxic maybe? I don’t know. I will probably just go with whatever costs less because either way the tools have to be thrown away after because I’m too lazy to try and clean them all up.
One thing I did notice to make a difference. Definitely heed the curing temperature recommendations. I usually do mine on a table in the basement next to my computer desk but my basement is really cold this time of year. So I didn’t them on the kitchen counter this time and they seemed to set a lot faster. They are still curing but they were actually soft set within several hours (overnight basically).
I bought some Triple Thick to see how it did but I saw all those bubbles and thought, “man…what a pain to pop all those.” Does anyone know of an easy way to debubble the Triple Thick and also how does it hold up to water splashing? Does it hate water like the Diamond Glaze? I’m guess that anything that says “non-toxic” is not going to hold up as well as an actual resin but I really don’t know.
I just purchased a used Spanish version of Scrabble at a thrift store and got 102 scrabble tiles for just 99 cents plus tax….. what a deal…. before moving here from Calif., I found a couple games at the thrift stores for 99 cents as well….. $2 or $3 for a used game is great considering how many tiles you get. The Spanish version just had some extra letters that you don’t get in the English version, such as the N with the squiggly on top and the double R’s…..
These make great keychains as well or even zipper pulls for the kids’ backpacks and coats………
Thank you for the tutorial, I was having a time of it with my puzzle pieces but this will make me feel better about tackling the tiles!!
We personally don’t do Resin but thought this might help those who want to try it. Here is a good video tutorial about using Resin by John W. Golden
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAEKnv0OU08
For questions about Resin, watch the video suggested by Home Studio on comment #78!
I do NOT recommend Aileene’s Paper Glaze or the Triple Thick brush on. I haven’t tried any of the other Triple Thick products but the brush on finished with a far inferior finish than the resin or than the pictures I have seen of the Diamond Glaze (still haven’t actually tried the Diamond Glaze myself).
The Aileene’s Paper Glaze, which I think is meant for much thinner layers than these pendants require, didn’t dry clear in a thicker layer. It was clear around the edges but where the dome in the middle was it dried white and cracked kinda like what you would expect from just plain white glue. Not pretty.
Has anyone had any issues with their Diamond Glaze cracking? I just checked the Judi Kins website and they said there is a batch sold that is having this problem, but I’m pretty sure I don’t have the glaze from that batch.
I’m bummed — lots of work ruined. :(
Yes, my Diamond Glaze is cracking too! I am going to return mine to the store I got it from and order a new bottle from someone. I too, have ruined work. It sucks. Good luck!
hey where can i buy the silver bail?
See paper-source.com which is where I ordered papers for my DIY wedding invitations. I have not made these tiles yet, so I don’t know if the papers are the correct type, but they have great decorative and specialty papers over there that would be lovely on a pendant.
Also, I am a photographer, and I wonder how photos would “stick” to/under these products/adhesives…or perhaps a photocopy must be made first-?
There is a small and wonderful jewelers’ supply shop near me in Morganville, NJ. thebirdsandthebeads.com I believe they sell Diamond Glaze there (?)
I think I have died and gone to heaven. A friend referred me to your website and I love the scrabble tiles. I never dreamed a crafter like you was out there with take and make ideas….thank you, thank you , thank you…..and please keep them coming.
I love these pendants. I created a couple and wanted to take a photo of them to show my friends. I have not been able to focus on the picture under the gloss. how do you create the perfect picture of this item?
Awesome site and great pendants. I am a photographer and boy am I going to have fun.
Thank you so much for the know how!! :)
ok, so I am an idiot. i made my pendants just now it that envirotex lite stuff, and didnt wear gloves. now my hands are soooooo sticky and i cant get the sticky off. can anyone help me?
btw, my tiles turned out beautifully! lol
To clean up envirotex use rubbing alcohol.
For other who use this I have found using the #2 sized plastic cups sold at party stores (think plastic versions of ketchup cups from Wendys) work better than paper for mixing. I also use plastic spoons for measuring when making small batches (1 spoon of each bottle) and then I use a finger cot over my pointer finger to apply vs using droppers. Much more cost efficient for smaller batches and no clean up. FYI I blow torch the bubbles out of mine and it works great.
Hello I have the same question Joni does. Does anyone know what the best software to use is for digital photos for these tiles. I know people are selling the collage on etsy. I would like something that allows me to set the parameters of the photo size so I can load the pics and it does the work for me. Instead I am having to waste paper and ink to keep adjusting and I never get it right.
I have just made some of the pendants for the first time and something’s not right. I used mod podge to glue on the paper, let it dry, and then coated the tile with mod podge again. I let this dry and then gave it an additional coat of easy craft. Some of the drill holes have dark rings and there are also a few dark spots randomly placed around the tiles. The tiles looked fine before I used the easy craft. It seems maybe the easy craft leaked into and under the paper? How do you stop this?
My tips:
I only use mod podge, 1 coat to apply design and 2 coats to seal the design, including the edges of the tile.
I apply mod podge with an angle tipped foam brush (keep warm water and a paper towel near by to prevent drying of mod podge, if it dries on the brush it will create streaks!)
I don’t use bails because I bought a set of pendants and wore them for about 3 days then bails fell off. If you live in a hot (TX) or humid state beware!!
I use eye-screws, they are just like eye-pins but are screws. I dip the screw end into the mod podge and screw it into the tile for extra stability.
To use the eye-screws I bought a hand drill, looks like an eye-glass kit almost, to pre-drill a little hole for the screw.
If you feel like adding more dazzle to your tile and you have 1/18 drill bit and can master a power drill (or patient enough to hand drill through the tile), drill all the way throught the tile from top to bottom and place an eye-pin or head pin through the tile and decorate with beads and crystals at the top or bottom, this also creates stability since the top connector link is all the way through the tile.
All the products I listed were bought from hobby lobby, none of them cost over $4.00
Here is a picture of 3 pendants I’ve made:
@N04/3227434657/" rel="nofollow">http://www.flickr.com/photos/26709378@N04/3227434657/
If you would like to get your creative hands on some scrabble tiles without the commitment to a huge amount of tiles, I have them for sale in my etsy shop. Also, I can set you up with Photoshop files in the exact size of the scrabble tile so that you can design your own personal pendants! http://www.cutesiecrafts.etsy.com
I do apologize if this post shows up twice, I tried to post and it reset my comment section to a blank page.
Joni & Christine,
Most people swear that the scrabble tile is .75 by .75 IT’S NOT!
I’ve measured myself and created a template (photoshop) that fits with no overlap (unless you cut crooked like I always do..lol)
If you have photoshop and want the template (white and transparent), I can provide it to you along with tips on how to resize pictures and what easy to use program I resize all my pictures with, all for 1.50
Just convo me on my etsy site http://www.cutesiecrafts.etsy.com
Additon to previous post, the tiles I’ve created with Mod Podge has stood up to Texas & Louisiana weather and have been through and move and through heck and back and still look great with no peeling. Also, I use the MATTE finish only, the gloss doesn’t like to dry or set nice.
This is an awesome idea! I went shopping at hobby lobby, so i wasnt able to find jewelry bails, or diamond glaze!
I have learned that if you go to ebay.com you can buy the jewelry bails, and scrabble tiles, you can buy them really really cheap! I got 180 tiles for 10$! i have also learned that you cant find diamond glaze at our hobby lobby! i used tripple thick instead! it works really good!!!!!
a really good idea to do, is paint the edges of your scrabble tile with a paint pen! it looks adorable!!!
thanks for the ideas!
How cute!..the fumes are so killer for that stuff for me ^_^
Now, I use a inkjet printer and it bleeds with I apply sealer. If I were to get the images printed professionally (say a kodak machine or something like that) would those fade? Would they be usable? Thanks for any input!
Hi! I’ve been experimenting with different techniques for making these pendants using my photography, with varying levels of success.
When I first started, I had a few issues. I couldn’t find Scrabble tiles anywhere, not even the game, so I checked at Michael’s and found unfinished 1.25″ x 1″ wood tiles, ovals, and large circles. I first tried using ModPodge to adhere and seal my images, but because my photos are printed on an inkjet, the colors ran.
So on the second try, I sealed my photo in clear packing tape and then trimmed the tape to fit the wood tile. As long as I kept the tape seal intact, the colors didn’t run. The downside was that even though I used a burnisher, it was very tricky to seal the tape with no air pockets or wrinkles forming. I have tried using ModPodge on top of the taped image, but I am finding it impossible to get a smooth finish without brushstrokes.
I was concerned about using Diamond Glaze because I needed the pendants to be waterproof. I just didn’t see the point in making jewelry that couldn’t be worn when it was raining. So I used the EnviroTex Lite epoxy instead. The first pieces I did came out with some bubbles despite using the straw technique that has been mentioned. They also set unevenly because the drying surface wasn’t absolutely level.
I didn’t have access to the right kind of bail, so I chose to drill a hole straight through the top of the pendant and put a jump ring through it. The technique worked, but the hole has to be drilled ahead of time, not at the end, to avoid cracking or flaking of the hardened epoxy. And the hole has to stay open while the expoxy is drying, otherwise you have to re-drill it anyway. I use toothpicks that are turned frequently to keep them from getting stuck.
The Michael’s tiles are lighter weight raw wood, unlike the more solid feeling Scrabble tiles that are already coated. The natural wood color looked odd next to my photos, so I used black Sharpie to color the edges, and it has stayed surprisingly waterproof. I’m thinking about taking the time to epoxy the edges one by one, so the piece looks more finished. I have chosen to “distress” several of my pieces to camouflage execution flaws, and people seem to respond well to the look.
This time around, I used real Scrabble tiles, and find they are easier to work with than the unfinished type. I printed my images on glossy photo paper and used Martha Stewart decoupage glue to glue the photo to the tile. I didn’t seal the photo with tape or anything else. I applied the epoxy directly to the image, and the photo didn’t run at all. The epoxy did pick up a little black marker, creating a shadow effect at the top of one image.
I mixed the epoxy using one capful of each part and mixing it in a Dixie cup with a popsicle stick. I used the popsicle stick to drizzle epoxy onto the photo and push it to the edges. I would breathe on the tiles, not blowing, not inhaling, but open mouthed like I was trying to steam up a window or clean my glasses. It helped, but there were still little bubbles trapped inside this morning. I wonder if it would have helped if I had kept them somewhere warmer?
The jump ring attachment has been okay, but I don’t like that it interferes with the artwork and can be messy. So this time, I tried drilling holes in the top of the pendants, cutting the tops off of eyelet headpins then Super Gluing them inside the holes. I really like the look, and the drilling can be done before or after the front epoxy.
I’ve experimented with using the Enviro-Tek with other projects, like using it as a suspension for small plastic items inside a metal ring, or sealing fabric and paper to an open glass square to make a magnet design.
I have put up a new page on my website with examples of my pendant experiments, so that you can check them out for yourself if you want to see them.
http://www.annearchist.com-a.googlepages.com/scrabbletilestyle
I have a question….have looked for the jewelry bails and cannot find them at Michaels or Hobby Lobby….where can I get them??
The bails you can only get online. Try the Esty sites. And the ink jet images are easy to get printed. I convert a document full of these images to a pdf file with a pdf creator. The perfect size for a scrabble tile is .75 X .83. Then I email the pdf to staples and give the directions on how I want it printed. It is under a dollar for a whole sheet of images.
I was wondering if you could paste the paper on the side with the letter on the Scrabble tile. Does anyone know if it changes anything?
I suppose you could use the letter side, but them you would have to worry about an indented image. The letters are not simply painted on, they are indented in the wood. It may seems weird using a scrabble tile, but that is one of the beautiful parts, you are sort of recycling. For a more clean square you can purchase just wooden thin squares from craft store as well a s online. Jo~anns also has circles that work nicely.
Thank you so much for these instructions. I always wondered how to make them. Can’t wait for the weekend so I can go shopping!
Here’s some info on Diamond Glaze, including how to get a free sample.
I was wondering what size bails are used. I went onto Ebay and under the Aanraku bails they have 3 different sizes small, medium or large. Does it matter what size I purchase for the scrabble tile?
As for bails, we use the small size. Aanraku has recently introduced the medium but we have not tried them. The large look out of scale with the scrabble tile but that’s just our opinion. Of course using the small size will limit what size chain/ribbon will go through the hole. You might want to try all three and see what works best for you.
Hi, I found that the Mod Podge leaves streaks on the image when I apply it as a sealer. Do these streaks disappear after applying the Diamond Glaze?
Hi everyone! I have made about 75 of these and am using them to raise money for the Avon Walk for Breast cancer that i will be walking in June 6 -7. I have done really well with that. Since I have pretty much exhausted my sales on them, I am wanting to make pins out of them. Does anyone know where I can get pins (the ones with a backing like earring backs)?
Hi there, appreciate the tutorial as well. I have another problem however – bought a bunch of these Scrabble pendants and some necklaces separate, but found the ‘clasp’ can’t put through the silver bail. Is this a common problem? I have always assumed the bail should be big enough for us to swap different necklaces to wear with?.
I’m trying to put photo paper on bamboo tiles. I glue the photo paper to the tile, then coat with mod podge and cover with crystal lacquer (similar to diamond glaze). And I get tons of bubbles! Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!
I’m having a few problems with my glass scrabble tile pendants. Sometimes, even though I put 3 coats of diamond glaze on the back, the E6000 eats through and leaves a bail shaped mark on the picture
Also, I was wondering if anyone has tried marine varnish for sealing the pictures and making them more waterproof?
do you now what kind of pen you could use if you want to add an initial.
Boy, do I feel behind the times – here it is 4/22/09 and I’m just now finding this tutorial and series of Q&As! In my first attempt, I divided my tiles into 3 groups of 10 tiles each to see what would would best and had some mixed results.
First I found that Zip Dry Paper Glue (by Beacon Adhesives) worked the best to adhere my paper to the scrabble tiles.
All tiles using scrapbook paper turned out great; but had mixed results printing my own floral images onto photo paper using an ink jet printer . . . and this is the weird part, some bled and others didn’t but there didn’t appear to be any rhyme or reason as to why. This I need to investigate further – hummmmm . . . .
Mod Podge worked well as a sealer no matter what glue I used to affix the paper to the tile in the first step.
I finished all tiles with DG3 Art Gel (by BeadSmith) which dries to a clear, hard, durable finish – although I haven’t done a water test, and am a bit hesitant to do so. My word of caution here is that you should work from the tile edges into the center so you don’t use too much gel. On the first tile I went from the center outward and ended with a “hump” in the middle of the tile – ugly!
To finish my tiles, I’m using a variety of techniques to provide buyers with more options: earring posts, stick-on pin backs, magnets, glue to hair clips and do a simple wire wrapping to create my own bail (basically 1 short wire with 2 simple loops turned at 45 degree angles to allow for gluing to the tile and allowing for a chain to run through for a necklace).
Tomorrow I will try the spray Krylon some folks have suggested to prevent the apparently random bleeding . . . I’ll let you know my results.
My thanks to everyone who published, commented and contributed to all of our successes!!
I am off to the store to buy all of these items. I noticed that some of the pictures used in the examples that everyone was asking about are available on the Microsoft Word Clip Art Gallery online. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/default.aspx
You would have to put them into Microsoft Word and resize them. But then you could print them out in color on white cardstock and trim them as needed. I am going to try it tonight. But there are some GREAT images on there. You can search for “flowers” or “bird” or whatever you want.
THANK YOU for this fabulous tutorial. My daughter and I jumped in with both feet and blindfolds on, and have been discouraged by all the mistakes we’re making! But we’ve invested in the supplies, so we’re going to make it work, and MANY thanks to you. My question; is there anything wrong with going ahead and cutting the paper to the size of the tile, rather than using the utility knife to cut the paper after it is glued on? My experience (having taken many art classes) is that it’s very easy to slip with the utility knife and cut into the paper, or have a “messy” edge. Please let me know your thoughts on this, thank you! Also… any tutorials on making a light box? : )
Can you use the same materials on ceramic tile that you use on a scrabble tile?
I don’t have a light box so I hold the template and paper up to the computer screen and centre my pictures that way. Take care not to press too hard! Its not great with very thick paper but just about ok.
Just wondering if anyone has figured out how to make these tiles and use Diamond Glaze without an indentation in the centers of each tile after they dry. I recently made about 12 of them, all using the diamond glaze working from the outer edges of the tile in and though it looks level when wet, after drying the edges are higher than the inside of the tile which dries with the indentaiton. It’s very frustrating.
I have an idea for the bubble problem. I work in an orthodontic office and we have a little vibrating desktop gadget that we hold impressions on to vibrate all the bubbles out of the impression material. I’m wondering if its possible to vibrate the bubbles out of the epoxy somehow?
Tania, the indention is a sign that you are using too much glaze. Hey check out this cute site, she has her own line of Scrabble replacement tiles called Scrabble-Dabble Doo!!! Tiles. I bought the tutorial and it was awesome! She is also my source for inexpensive high quality beautiful chains as well!
Here’s the link: http://www.scrabbledabbledoo.etsy.com/
I have the same problem as Julie. I use DG3 for scrabble tile pendants. I leave the DG3 to dry 5-6 days and then I put them in organza bags, ready to be sent.
My problem : they get stuck on the bag and you can see some marks of the bag on the tile. the same happens if I put 2 tiles together : the DG3 acts like a glue and they get stuck.
Why ??????
Alvin, Diamond Glaze is NOT a reliable product. It has had major issues for nearly a year, Judy Kins released a lot of bad batches of glaze into the market, as you may have heard. The best glaze that I have used is from Sun and Moon, everyone seems to be using it. Give this a try, it’s all that I use now, here’s where you’ll find it http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25523491
Fun tutorial! I have heard these are kind of tricky to make. This tutorial seems very exhaustive! Thanks!
I was wondering what type of mod podge you used. I’m rounding up the supplies to do this, because I’m now in love with the idea, but I’m stuck on the mod podge. What finish should I get? Matte? Satin? Outdoor?
Thanks!
Thanks so much for this idea….I’ve made about 6 of these necklaces as gifts, and people love them!
Thanks. I always wondered how to do this. I might actually try this at home :)