So my husband says to me yesterday, “Why the heck are you showing everybody how to make your cases?” “It’s your wealth!’. So before we get started– let’s straighten a few things out.
Number 1: It’s not my wealth. We all know as Etsy artisans that $22/$24 cases will not be your wealth, nor was it ever meant to be. The wealth is in the enjoyment of making them (hokey I know but 100% true!), owning my own shop, keeping my brain occupied, seeing designers use them as their own and meeting so many cool people. Truly.
Number 2: If you think about it by the time you buy the $200 disc cutter, tools and a myriad of other supplies, it’s just way easier and cheaper to buy it from me!
Number 3: I have CADD (Crafters Attention Deficit Disorder). Like everything I make, I will get tired of it and move on to something new. I love the challenge and I love to try new techniques, use new tools, buy more stuff! So if for some reason everyone goes out tomorrow and makes these exact cases and sells them, then I will move on to something else.
So now that that’s out-of-the-way, let’s move on to the tutorial–ish (ha! I had to do it)
![IMG_0005-1](https://sarjeantandco.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/img_0005-1.jpg?w=500&h=375)
Watch tin lid and Medal
It’s time to drill the holes in the lid and the medal. The best thing, (sorry forgot to take pics) is to drill one hole, put your rivet in then drill the others. Otherwise everything moves around and you will never get it centered again. But, of course, I am impatient and pre-drilled the top holes. So this pic is actually with 2 rivets already in, but we can pretend we just have one hole. You are an artist–you pretend all the time!
![IMG_0010](https://sarjeantandco.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/img_0010.jpg?w=500&h=375)
Marking the rivet
Now, make sure your tubing and your hole are a tight fit. No wiggle room, or it just won’t work. Once you get your rivet holes the right size, stick the tube in and use the skinny sharpie and mark. The width of the sharpie is the perfect ‘extra space’ you need for your rivet!
![IMG_0014](https://sarjeantandco.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/img_0014.jpg?w=500&h=375)
Cutting the tubing
Cut the tube at the line. This handy-dandy tube cutting tool from Rio is the best!
![IMG_0015](https://sarjeantandco.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/img_0015.jpg?w=500&h=375)
Next pop an acrylic circle in the top. I epoxy it in, I could rivet it. But for the price I am selling them for, it is just too much work and the epoxy holds nicely. The disc has the paper still on it.
![IMG_0016-1](https://sarjeantandco.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/img_0016-11.jpg?w=500&h=468)
Reliquary Case from vintage watch tin and masonic medal
Here ya go! Sealed with renaissance wax and ready for sale. I think this one is already spoken for , it not you will see it in my store Sarjeant & Co. I hope it wasn’t too confusing. Until next time!