The marbles have a network of shattered glass inside them.These are ordinary marbles that are heated to make the glass expand.The inside of the glass expands as it cools, which causes the outside to shrink.
Step 1: You can choose your marbles.
Any clear, mono-color marbles can be used with a cat's eye pattern.When marbles are cracked, they will just crack in half.To make sure you like the effect, start with five or six marbles."flat marbles" and other decorative glass pieces have a higher chance of breaking than other pieces.
Step 2: The marbles should be placed in an oven.
Place the marbles on a tray with raised edges.Don't use a pan with a non-kosher surface.
Step 3: For 20 minutes, bake at 180oC.
Set the oven to 350o if it uses Fahrenheit.Some people like heating as high as 260oC (500oF).
Step 4: Put the ice water in a bowl.
To keep it chilled, fill a bowl with cold water and ice.
Step 5: The marbles should be put in the ice water.
Carefully remove the marbles from the oven.If you don't want to touch the hot glass, place them in the bowl of water with a spoon or other utensil.The hot glass could explode on contact with the water.If you want to wear safety glasses, do not put your face over the bowl.
Step 6: Wait for the marbles to crack.
When the marbles enter the water, you should hear a hissing or crackling noise.The inside of the marbles will crack within a minute or so.
Step 7: Take a look at the marbles.
You can take them out by hand once the marbles cool down.Some of the marbles may have cracked apart, but most will be smooth on the outside.If some of the marbles have small cracks, you can dry them off and repeat the process to get more cracks.
Step 8: A cracked marble necklace can be made.
Glue a bell cap onto a marble using E6000 glue or another high strength glue.Wait until it dries completely, then push a jump ring onto the bell cap.You can put a necklace chain on the jump ring.Needle-nose pliers can be used for more control.If you want to rock the split jump ring back and forth, you'll need two pairs of pliers.There is a glue tube with a long nozzle.
Step 9: Paint marbles with nailpolish.
When the polish reflects through the cracks in the glass, it adds a more colorful sparkle.Before using in rings or other jewelry, simply coat the flat side of the marble with nail polish and let it dry.Depending on the amount of nailpolish you use, you may need two or three coats.
Step 10: Flat marbles should be turned into rings.
E6000 glue can be used to glue cracked marbles onto a ring base.Wrap two wires around a ring mandrel or object the same size as your finger to make your own ring base.Wrap them around the ring setting and then spiral the rings around each other to create a flat surface for marble to rest on.Wrap the wires around the ring.
Step 11: Wrap jewelry in wire.
It's easy to make a wire cage.Wrap the ends of a piece of wire tightly around the three or four wire loops you made.Push the marble into the center of the cage, then use pliers and wire cutters to make adjustments and loop the wire around jump rings or other jewelry components.There are many techniques you can learn if you enjoy this look.Try this pattern.It is easy to manipulate aluminum wire.For more jewelry projects, 20- or 22-gauge wire is a good choice.