What if there was a way to turn your gel prints into durable paper jewelry that’s waterproof, strong, and has a little shine to it? And do all that in one step? There is thanks to Powertex’s Universal Medium. Oh, and it’s non-toxic! Plus, it’s a very forgiving process!

DIY jewelry means you can customize it to exactly what size or color you want. At the end of the video, you’ll see three other necklaces I’ve made using smaller circles to give you even more ideas!

The Paper

Cut your papers into strips. My strips were about 2 inches wide.

When choosing gel prints, you can go for similar prints, contrasting prints (like what I did) or any other combination of papers that call to you! If you want to know more about gel printing, I’ve got all sorts of resources here.

The gel print with the words on it was created using one of my Random Thoughts stencils from StencilGirlProducts. and they were printed on a light weight card stock but this works with copy paper weight papers as well.

Universal Medium

The stuff that makes it happen is Powertex’s Universal Medium. The strips of paper are covered with this – check out the video for exactly how that’s done. It’s a simple process, and so much easier to quickly understand when you see it in action.

It will harden and seal the paper, and it can harden, seal, and make waterproof any absorbent natural material such as textiles, cardboard, leather, even fiberglass.

It comes in all sorts of colors, but I’m using the transparent because I want to be able to see the color and pattern of the gel prints. In the video, you see me using the 1000gr size and they also have a 500gr size available.

Once the paper strips are dry, then you can punch the circles. This was a 1 1/2 inch size circle punch and naturally you can use any size circle or shape you want.

Sewing

Then you sew the circles into a garland. Just a simple straight stitch and as you’re feeding the circles to the needle, the only thing to watch out for is making sure they don’t overlap. Some of these have more space between them simply based on how fast you put the next circle on there. That won’t be a big deal, this is a very forgiving process.

Then add a chain and clasp and you’ve got your own custom necklace! Because the paper has been hardened with the Powertex Universal Medium, it means you can safely punch a small hole in the ends to attach the jump rings and chain.

Since this paper has been hardened and sealed, it can hold up to being worn. The paper won’t get that beaten and battered look, even if you wear it on a hot sweaty summer day!

The possibilities are endless – play around with different color palettes, sizes of circles, number of garlands in a necklace, or any other variable that calls to you!

If you’d like to see more ways I’ve played with gel prints and Universal Medium, check my pool noodle necklace.

Supplies:

Here are the supplies used. Some of these links may be affiliate links which means I may get a small percentage and it doesn’t cost you anything extra! And you get a really good feeling knowing that you are helping keep the free tutorials coming!

Powertex Universal Medium Transparent comes in multiple sizes. The size I used in the video is the 1000gr.

The circle punches were 1 1/8″ and 1 1/2″

You can use just about any chain and clasp you like. I bought the black chain, jump rings, and lobster claw clasp at Michaels in their jewelry department. When choosing a jump ring, go for a big one so that it’s not too tight on there with multiple garlands.

Pool noodles are for more than just fun in the pool. They’re great for making necklaces with gel prints! The necklace will be glued, sealed with a glossy finish, waterproof, and hardened all thanks to transparent Universal Medium by Powertex. On top of one supply doing all that, it’s also very forgiving. That’s important for an imperfect person like me.

If you’re new to Universal Medium it’s water based and environmentally friendly and sticks to just about anything other than plastic. That’s why my counter is covered in a piece of a plastic drop cloth in the video.

When choosing your paper there are two important things to keep in mind.

1. While experimenting around, I found that a slightly heavier paper, a light weight cardstock or heavier, works best. Thinner papers can do it, but I don’t have the patience for them.
2. I’ve found prints with a variety of colors in them, bold or subtle, make the best necklaces. The gel print I’m using in the video was created using a technique from one of the bonus lessons inside the workshop, Gel Printing with PanPastels.

Creating the base

Slice off a piece of pool noodle. Mine are about 1/4″ thick, but no need for precision, this is very forgiving. Make it as thin or wide as you want.

The utility knife I’m using to cut was not meant to be used this way. So why did I use it? It was what I had nearby. So I’m doing it gently.

The blade is made up of sections that are scored so you when the tip is dull, you can break it off and have a fresh, sharp edge. But I needed a long blade to cut smoothly through so I extended the blade fully. This means it’s weaker and prone to snapping if I use too much force. Good thing it’s a pool noodle because very little force is needed to slice through it.

Cut your gel print into skinny triangles. It takes about a fourth of sheet of paper to make one necklace.

To adhere the paper to the pool noodle slice, coat the paper fully in transparent Universal Medium. Then wrap the triangular pieces around the pool noodle until it’s covered.

Universal Medium is a harder that will also seal the paper and give it a glossy finish.

***Universal Medium comes in colors as well as transparent. If you want to see the paper, then be sure to use the translucent Universal Medium. ***

Drying Times

Once the pool noodle is completely covered, set it on a plastic surface to dry. I have a piece of plastic drop cloth from the hardware store protecting my counter so I just set it on there to dry overnight.

BUT I DIDN’T ALWAYS WAIT OVERNIGHT…so this happened to another one I made. The top was dry to the touch so I pulled it off the plastic. But the bottom wasn’t dry yet, so bits of the paper tore. If I’d waited overnight this wouldn’t have happened.

It’s an easy fix! I can just add another layer of triangular papers covered in transparent Universal Medium over it. This is also handy if there are ever any papers you don’t love the positioning of or if some of the pool noodle is still visible. And yes, I’ve done both of those.

Curing vs. Drying

As the Universal Medium dries, you can pick it up or add more layers to it. But it will take a couple of weeks for it to fully harden or cure. So for these necklaces, that means they can have the cord on it, worn and enjoyed before they fully harden. After a day, they’ll feel a bit squishy on the inside from the pool noodle but after a few weeks, they will be completely hard.

Here’s the paper that was used to make the OOPS necklace above.

Use any kind of cord, rope, yarn, string, you like to finish off your necklace. Or turn it into whatever else calls to you!

I’m just getting to know Universal Medium and there are so many possibilities. If you’d like to stay in the know when I’ve got a new video out, get signed up for my newsletter. Not only do you get weekly creative encouragement but there’s also a free download in there too!