Lucky cat

Create Helen Cant’s pretty oriental set using decorative washi papers and cute lucky cat beads

Helen Cant, MJ Designer

Don’t be tempted to apply the resin to the paper before adding all the coats of pva glue and allowing to fully dry, otherwise it will soak in and spoil the appearance.

The Neko or lucky cat is a traditional Japanese good luck symbol. This project features adorable bead versions of the cat each promising their own different fortunes. Apply decorative washi papers to wooden blanks and glaze with resin to make your own complementary Oriental themed charms, then combine with a selection of red and gold beads to complete the look.

Bracelet

1. Apply two coats of gold acrylic paint to one side and the edges of three 25mm circular wooden shapes. Also paint two coats to the very edge of the other side of the circle and allow to dry between each application. Once fully dry, place each disc over a different piece of washi paper and trace round it with a pencil. If this leaves any pencil marks on the edge of the wooden circle, remove them using an eraser.
2. Coat the back of each paper with PVA glue then adhere to a circle before leaving to dry. Seal the paper on each disc with four coats of PVA glue, allowing each application to dry before applying the next. Once the last coat is fully dry and free of any moisture, prepare 15ml of resin according to the manufacturer’s instructions (this will be enough for all the items in this project). Using a lolly stick, carefully apply a small amount of resin to the centre of each circle then spread it out to the edges. Air bubbles may be removed by gently warming with a heat gun for a few seconds, however most will disappear without any assistance. Leave to fully dry away from sources of fluff and dust for at least 24 hours.
3. Once the resin has fully set, drill a small hole through the top of each shape. Create two beaded head pins with two 4mm gold-plated beads and a lucky cat bead for each. Make up another head pin using two 3mm goldplated beads and a 14mm acrylic red bead, plus one more with two 3mm goldplated beads and a white cloisonné heart. Secure the washi circles to a bracelet blank using 9mm jump rings and the beaded head pins using 7mm jump rings.

Earrings

1. Apply two coats of gold acrylic paint to a 25mm wooden circle as before. Cut washi paper to fit, glue in place and seal with four coats of PVA glue. Once fully dry, apply resin then leave for at least 24 hours to set. Afterwards, drill two small holes through the top and bottom of the circle.
2. Make up a head pin with a lucky cat bead and two 4mm gold-plated beads. Open two 9mm jump rings and thread one through each of the holes in the washi disc. Attach the cat head pin to the bottom jump ring, and a 5mm jump ring and earwire at the top. Repeat to make a pair.

Brooch

1. Apply gold acrylic paint to a 25mm wooden disc as before. Cut washi paper to fit as for the bracelet. Glue in place then seal with four coats of PVA glue, leaving to dry between each application. Once fully dry, apply resin then leave to fully dry for at least 24 hours as before. Once the resin is fully set, drill a small hole through the top of the wooden circle.
2. Thread a 3mm gold-plated bead, a 10mm red acrylic bead and another 3mm gold bead onto a head pin, trim the excess then form a loop with round-nosed pliers. Repeat using a single 10mm white pearl. Make up another head pin using a lucky cat bead and two 4mm gold-plated beads, plus an eye pin with two 3mm gold-plated beads and a 6mm goldplated bead.
3. Secure the beaded head pins and eye pin to the loops of a blank kilt pin as shown using 7mm jump rings. Cut 2cm of small link gold-plated chain and attach to the remaining loop of the kilt pin using a 7mm jump ring. Make up a head pin using two 3mm gold-plated beads and a peach cloisonné heart then secure to the end of the chain. To finish, attach the washi paper disc to the end of the beaded eye pin with a 9mm jump ring.