Homemade Charms

My first attempt at collage charms, and learning to solder. These I made recently in a stamping class. These are microscope slides that have been cut in half, small paper collages are put inside two pieces of glass, then copper tape is used to secure the glass together. The copper is then covered with solder. The writing is from a dictionary purchased at a 99 cent store (a nice source for collage materials). The ocean images are actual photographs I took at Sunset Cliffs. I experimented with different sizes of copper tape on which to solder, so this was all just a learning process. I was really surprised that I preferred the wavy tape--one I didn't think I would like. I thought I was going to prefer the wide tape, and I didn't like it at all. Hence why one needs to try all methods.

Here's the back side.

I obviously need to practice my soldering, but not bad for a first go round. The rainbow here is a real photograph I took while driving (!) down highway 52 (a freeway) one afternoon. I am planning others to make soon, and will use them to embellish a small quilt I'm entering in a contest. More later....