Conversation Starters

by Judy Larson
Setting unusual fossils and stones into jewelry or zipper pulls is a great way to get people to comment and discuss. Since my grandchildren will be attending new schools next year and have to make new friends, I pulled fossil pieces out to make into zipper pulls and to hang on backpack D-Rings. Someone may notice a piece and ask what they are, and a conversation will start.
Most children I know LOVE dinosaurs and can talk about them or read about them for hours. There are fossil "DIG" kits for these young scientists.

It just so happens that for years I have been collecting fossils to set in jewelry pieces. (The only piece missing from each set is a dinosaur bone cabochon because I can't yet find anything that has a good story behind it.) I'm sharing these with my grandchildren so they can share the stories with their friends and new classmates.
Judy Larson's Conversation Starters - , Inspiration, , fossil
Judy Larson's Conversation Starters - , Inspiration, , fossil
Judy Larson's Conversation Starters - , Inspiration, , fossil
Other Ideas
Children love coins, especially those from other countries. Make holes in collected coins and attach them to swivel clasps.

Use Scrabble tiles for a child's initials. To hold them together, glue them to a paint stick, and then cut away the excess. Glue-on bails work great for this.

Rummage sales are a great source for old games. Game pieces would be great used as zipper pulls.

Is someone you know getting their driver's license soon? Make a personalized key-fob with a chunk of their birthstone in rough form.
What was used to make each Conversation Starter
Note: The textures and/or the embellishments on the back of each piece relate to the front in some way.

Trilobite: 24 gauge sand textured sheet, water casting pieces, silicone mold of trilobite, metal clay trilobite and large sea flora

Ammonite: 16 gauge twisted square wire, 28 gauge fine silver bezel wire, 24 gauge textured sheet, metal clay snail shell on the back

Petoskey Stone: Balled bits of wire, 16 g auge round wire, 28 gauge fine silver bezel wire, 24 gauge textured sheet, metal clay coral end on the back

Septarian: Balled bits of wire, 18 gauge jump ring, two 22 gauge wires tightly twisted, 28 gauge fine silver bezel wire, 24 gauge textured sheet with bubble "spokes"

Blue Amber nugget-yes there is such a thing as blue amber. It glows blue in UV light.: Since amber scratches easily, I decided it would be best not made into a drop, but be one of those things pulled out of a pocket and talked about.

Larsonite: Balled bits of wire, 8 gauge jump ring, small flames brass bezel wire, 28 gauge fine silver bezel wire, 24 gauge sheet textured with tree rings texture sheet

Judy Larson's Conversation Starters - What was used to make each Conversation Starter, Inspiration, , bezel set fossil
Judy Larson's Conversation Starters - What was used to make each Conversation Starter, Inspiration, , bezel set fossil
Judy Larson's Conversation Starters - What was used to make each Conversation Starter, Inspiration, , bezel set fossil
Judy Larson's Conversation Starters - What was used to make each Conversation Starter, Inspiration, , bezel set stone
Judy Larson's Conversation Starters - What was used to make each Conversation Starter, Inspiration, , stone
Judy Larson's Conversation Starters - What was used to make each Conversation Starter, Inspiration, , bezel set stone
The bottom loop of this swivel clasp is not soldered on one side, so it easily opens to attach to finished pieces.
Judy Larson's Conversation Starters - , Inspiration, , swivel clasp

Materials

Sterling Silver Swivel Lobster 8x22mm - Pack of 1
K3-148
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.60
  • Gold Club Price: $8.70
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  • Category: Inspiration
  • Technique(s): General Education