To make high-quality good photos of jewelry you will need a mannequin. Then any decoration will be presented in a favorable light. Such a bust can be bought at the store. But it is better to make a mannequin for jewelry with your own hands. You can make it to your own taste, so that the background blends perfectly with the stand in the photo.
Classic jewelry bust
To make the mannequin more attractive, it can be dragged with a cloth or pasted over with textured paper. Next, you need to bend the template in the right places and make small holes in the lower corners. An elastic is stretched through the holes, thanks to which the edges of the bust are fixed with each other and the mannequin can be installed on any surface.
Having made a simple mannequin for jewelry with your own hands, you can move on to more complex masterpieces. Another version of the stand will require much more effort to manufacture, but the result will be appropriate.
The next step is to select the material for each part. The bed and the base will take on the bulk of the weight and load, which means that the material from which they will be made should be quite durable. In addition, screws will be needed to fix the elements, which should also be considered when choosing a material. As practice shows, the best option will be wood, drywall and other similar characteristics.
Selection of materials and joining of load-bearing elements
For the neck, you can use plastic, hardboard, or several layers of cardboard glued together. As for the main part, it should be durable, but at the same time maintain flexibility. It is best to make it from elastic plastic or from several layers of cardboard.
In addition to the elements drawn on the pattern, to create a mannequin you will need a small circle for the neck and a substrate under the base, which can be made of two layers of cardboard.
The next stage is the choice of material for finishing the base and bed. Of course, the simplest option is painting, but practice proves that it is best to decorate these elements with fabric, artificial or genuine leather. Particular attention should be paid to the choice of glue, namely, drying time and elastic properties.
Now, the elements can be interconnected. To do this, strictly in the center of the base, it is necessary to draw a line along which the screws will twist into the bed. So that the locking elements do not protrude above the surface, you can make small recesses for them.
When the base is securely connected to the bed, proceed with finishing. The material chosen in advance is glued to the side parts and ends of the bed, as well as the upper part of the base.
Assembly and decoration of the main part
The next step is the assembly of the main part. In advance glued to each other layers of cardboard or elastic plastic, a slightly curved shape is given that repeats the bend of the end face of the bed. A vertical line is drawn in the center of the workpiece, along the edges and in the center of which small indentations are made for the screw caps. Now the main part can be screwed to the bed.
On this, the difficult part of the work is almost complete, but the mannequin still lacks a neck. To create it, you will need a small tube, 5-6 cm high. It can be made of cardboard yourself, or you can take the core from tape or toilet paper. Using glue, the tube is fixed to the main part. It should be located in a central line 2.5 cm from the top. From above the tube is closed with a previously prepared circle of hardboard or plastic. To fix these elements, you can use any quick-drying adhesive.
When transferring the pattern to the fabric, it is recommended to add about 1.5 cm to each allowance on each side. When everything is ready, the back seam can be sewn, after which it should be ironed and stitched carefully.
Before you begin to pull the fabric, allowances, the edges of the neck of the mannequin, as well as the bottom of the main part, are smeared with glue. After that, you can start the tensioning process. The back seam is primarily centered. It should be positioned clearly in the center, and only then pull the rest of the fabric evenly.
You can decorate the upper part of the neck using foam rubber, plastic or other material, which is also pasted over with the chosen fabric. The main part on the back is easily decorated with cardboard. It will allow not only to give the mannequin a finished look, but also make the edges of the finishing fabric invisible. Similarly, you can close the base.
Detailed manufacturing approach
Making a stand
The steps described in detail will give you the opportunity to make your own stand.
To do this, you need :
- graph paper for a pattern (pattern);
- cardboard;
- Chipboard or drywall;
- screws;
- fabric or leather for decoration;
- PVA glue or super glue;
- ruler;
- scissors;
- needle.
Pattern of a dummy for jewelry
First, patterns are made of all the details you need. It is recommended to do this on graph paper. If you do not want to draw them yourself, you can find ready-made ones and print them.
Cutting parts
The main load of the mannequin falls on the bed and base, it is on them that everything is held. Therefore, the material from which you are going to make them must be dense, at least a centimeter thick. For example, you can take chipboard or drywall. In the material that you choose, you have to screw in the screws or nails that it must withstand. It is worth noting that to remove the screws, if you mistakenly place them, unscrew it much faster and easier than to get the nails. For the neck fit plastic. It can be replaced with thick cardboard glued in 5 layers.
Cutting out the main part.
As already noted, several layers of cardboard should be glued together for it. Choose not only cardboard with a high density, but also quite elastic so that you can bend it, but not break it. Just cut out the base for the pattern.
Trimming the base and bed
Of course, it’s easiest to just paint the details. But if the material from which they are made is constantly crumbling, you should replace the paint with cloth or leather. Do not use glue with a water base, cardboard can distort from it and the time for creating a dummy will increase.
Picking up the bed
The bed should be screwed to the base using several screws. You need to do this in the midline. Thick screws can damage the bed and it will begin to crumble. At the same time, they should be long, then the design will be solid. The bed is glued on the sides. It is worth leaving only the lower part of the base and the area of its connection with the base. These areas should be open.
Assembly of the main part
The first base layer should be curved. You can give a similar shape using the edge of the table. In this form, the first layer is glued to the end of the bed. Repeat the process layer by layer. You can first assemble the base, and only then stick it. When the base is ready, screw it to the bed with a few screws. Clean all irregularities with emery cloth.
Duct construction
The required height of the product is 5 cm. In order to build a tube just take a long strip of cardboard. Attach the finished product to the base of the mannequin, 2.5 cm back from the top edge. Continue to do everything along the midline. A circle of hardboard is fixed to the top of the tube.
Tight Parts
It is also recommended to pre-make patterns. To fit a mannequin, tight knitwear, leather or leatherette will do, but they must be thin. Start cutting the necessary parts from the selected material. Do not forget to make an allowance of a few centimeters. Sew the back seam on a sewing machine. Please note that when using the skin for it requires a special needle. After the seam, iron and stitch.
Dummy Tightening
Apply glue to the left allowances and begin to pull the material onto the product. The seam running along the back of the head should be firmly fixed on all sides. Check that it is exactly in the middle. Glue the material in some areas and start pulling up. Do this until the surface is completely smooth and even, wrinkles, etc. should be absent. Before starting this procedure, be sure to ensure that there are no specks or dust on the dummy itself.
Neck and base
Take a circle, which will subsequently serve as a neck and glue to it, on the one hand, the material of your choice. Better if it is thin. Cover with the selected material on top and glue the edges from the inside out. Use glue to fix the circle on the neck of the product. You can also paste over the substrate for the foundation with the selected material, but you can not do this at your own discretion. Connect this part to the mannequin. If necessary, close the end face of the base with a strip of selected material.
Now you have your own mannequin. It is quite simple to build, although it will take enough time. A DIY mannequin for jewelry is made using many materials and details. Therefore, make sure in advance that everything you need is at your fingertips before starting work.
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