Kintsugi a heart-shaped pendant

KINTSUGI HEART SHAPE

DIFFICULTY: medium TIME: 2 hours (until dry)

YOU WILL NEED ♥ heart-shaped template of your choice ♥ ceramic pieces to fit inside template ♥ gold powder (available at most craft shops) ♥ two-part epoxy adhesive ♥ wooden plank to work on ♥ wooden stick (we used a small kebab skewer)

TIP: When applying the gold epoxy mixture to the edge be quite generous as you want a visible 'gold' seam, so the gold should bulge out slightly but not so much that it drips.

PAPER PLATE COLLECTION

Start by photographing a variety of heirloom side and dinner plates. Choose different colours and sizes, and look for plates with interesting rims. The next step is to choose a favourite family photo and then to have all your photos printed onto white computer paper (80gsm). Ask the printer to enlarge the family photo to A3 size. Cut out the plate pictures and group them into a roughly rectangular shape on a flat surface. Apply spray glue to the back of the family photo and stick it over the collection of plate pictures. Cut out the plates again from the family photo. Arrange the plates into their rectangle again and use any adhesive of your choice to stick them onto the wall. This is a fun (and safe) way to put your heirlooms on display!

1

Start by washing and drying the broken ceramic pieces. Use fine sandpaper to smooth any rough edges. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

TIP It's a good idea to plan your pendant at this stage by arranging the ceramic pieces inside your heart template (see step 4).

3

Once the epoxy is well mixed, add the gold powder little by little until you are happy with the intensity of the gold colour.

2

Mix equal parts of your two-part epoxy adhesive together on the wooden work surface with the flat end of a kebab skewer. The adhesive dries quickly so only mix enough to glue together a few pieces at a time. Mix more as needed.

4

Start sticking the ceramic pieces together with the gold epoxy mixture. To do this, apply a bit of the epoxy to one side of a piece and then press it onto the edge of another piece. Hold in place until dry. It should dry quickly but keep in mind that this is a practice of patience and rushing the process will create a mess. Continue until your pendant is complete. Set it aside for a few hours so that it dries properly.