An introduction to making memorial jewellery by Nikki Kamminga. Learn how to work with cremation ashes, locks of hair and fur plus a variety of other elements. Learn the differences between glass and resin, epoxy and UV.
Advanced Memorial Jewellery Course
This Advanced Memorial Jewellery Course is going to include some techniques not previously shared before and provide you with the knowledge to create a successful cremation ashes, hair and fur jewellery business. Everyone is welcome, whether you’ve previously made resin items or jewellery or not.
Thank you so much to everyone for your patience and can’t wait to hear what you think. You may have taken the basic course already as a warm-up for this extensive Advanced Memorial Jewellery Course, and may find some of that content duplicate. I used the basic course as building blocks for the advanced course! Each module and lesson I write are so exciting and the hardest thing for me is not getting carried away, but I hope you can understand why I’ve saved the best stuff for the advanced course.
At the end of all the modules, upon completion, you’ll receive a digital certificate and one will be sent to you in the post with a wax seal of authenticity and signed in person by me, Nikki Kamminga
You will find more than enough for anyone to get started with their new business, even if it’s beginning as a hobby or craft, or to DIY. If that’s you, don’t worry, I definitely think you have a place here. There’s always a seat at this table for everyone, no matter your background or experience. From the experienced jeweller whose best friend wants you to add ashes to a custom design, to someone who lost their pet and made a ring with fur as a DIY kit and now wants a business from it. You could be someone like me, barely keeping their head above water as a stay at home parent, perhaps in a financially abusive relationship, and desperate for a small business that will make enough profit to buy some food. You might just want to cover a childminder a few hours a week – I don’t think anyone reading this will judge those parents who need some time to themselves. I genuinely think this is the best possible business for us unfulfilled new parents; it has fair profit margins so time away from your baby can quickly translate into money you can spend on groceries. At the same time, you’re absolutely helping people to remember a special time in their lives that passes so quickly. You might not really care too much about profit and be doing this for your community, in which case I’d advise you to still charge the going rate, then as soon as you can, employ someone to help you create pieces that you can mentor.
Offer pro-bono wherever you want to – for me that’s to the families whose babies were born sleeping, parents who miscarried and children who passed too soon. For you it could be someone who has gone through the same life experiences as you, or even others who have the same fur (or not so furry) babies. “Common sense” says not to undervalue yourself but giving away pieces or just asking someone to cover your costs can be a great way to gain experience and some 5* reviews. We’ll cover more of this at the end of the course and I’ll show you some ways to make sure your ball starts rolling
Please note, this course does not contain a recipe for our breastmilk preservation powder, nor will my Advanced Breastmilk Jewellery Course!
Supplies
You’ll need the following supplies as a minimum to complete the course and create a breastmilk jewellery business. The ones in bold are included in the Basic Memorial Jewellery Supplies bundle here or you can purchase one of our business startup kits here which contain more supplies with a bigger discount. If you’ve already purchased many of the supplies it’s not too bad. You can print out the list when you get to the second lesson in the course where each of the supplies is explained.
- PPE (respirator mask, safety goggles, vinyl gloves)
- small and large sealable bags
- Sharpies
- label backing paper or baking parchment
- pestle and mortar
- Some ring sizers
- resin – UV and a UV lamp, or epoxy
- UV top coat
- silicone moulds – beads, spheres and cabochons (round, oval, heart and teardrop are the most popular)
- pigmented resin sparkle mixes and breastmilk pearly sparkle mixes but you can make do with old powder eyeshadow!
- opalescent flakes and eco glitter (recommended)
- various precious metal leaf colours
- cocktail sticks
- hairdressing scissors
- tiny measuring spoon
- jump ring opener
- clear PVA glue (also known as Elmer’s or school glue)
- tweezers (use your own and treat yourself to a new pair if you use them)
- curved burnisher or a teaspoon
- a plier set (honestly the cheapest you can get and second hand are the best!)
- ring sizing stick
- rotary tool or a pendant drill (I got one second hand on Ebay)
- silver polishing cloth
- bead cores in stock ready to use when ordered
- a small variety of necklace settings and chains
- some rings in popular sizes (UK sizes M, O and Q, US sizes 6, 7, 8) and adjustable
If you need any help getting hold of the supplies you can get in touch with us. Let us know if you have any questions about the course before purchasing!
Nikki Kamminga
Please note, some of the links in these lessons are affiliate links meaning we may receive a small amount of commission based on your purchases at no extra cost to you.
Modules
Types of Memorial Jewellery
Learn about glass and resin, epoxy and UV and creating other types of jewellery in addition to ashes and hair
Lessons
- Resin or Glass For Keepsake Jewellery?
- UV or Epoxy For Keepsake Jewellery?
- Working With Epoxy
- How To Avoid Yellowing
- Working With Ashes
- Working With Locks of Hair
- Fur and Horse Hair Jewellery
- Baby Memorial Jewellery
- Adding Other Elements Like Fabric
- Offering Breastmilk Jewellery
- Types of Precious Metal For Settings
Advanced Working With Ashes and Hair
Advanced information about cremation ashes, locks of hair and fur including a little history. Learn about of resin jewellery and how to work with bereaved clients.
Lessons
Advanced Memorial Jewellery Additions
Learn how to add the most highly requested additions to breastmilk jewellery. Also called “inclusions” or “elements”, you will find out how to create pieces with hair, cord, colour and other kinds of sparkles. From baby’s first curl or lock of hair, to umbilical cord stump or dried placenta powder, to mica, precious stones and gold leaf.
Lessons
Advanced Memorial Jewellery Techniques
Nikki teaches you the difference between direct pour and using silicone moulds to create memorial jewellery with the pros and cons of each. Covering the direct pour technique, and the three main types of silicone moulds: cabochon stones, sphere moulds and bead moulds. For each technique, Nikki covers adding cremation ashes, hair and fur and additions like sparkles and precious stones, birthstones and methods to get swirls and shapes.
Lessons
Advanced Direct Pour Memorial Jewellery
Direct Pour Breastmilk Jewellery, using breastmilk in resin to fill a setting directly, adding extras and doming
Lessons
Using Moulds To Make Memorial Jewellery
This module covers how to use silicone moulds to create cabochons or stones, orbs and spheres, beads and more. Learn the difference between different types of silicone moulds for jewellery and which works for each kind of resin. Buy, store and even learn to make your own moulds.
Lessons
Making Memorial Cabochons and Stones
Advanced cabochon stone making with ashes and hair in resin. Learn to work in layers to create stunning flatback stones with lots of depth, ideal for making ashes or hair rings, necklaces and earrings. Nikki shows you techniques to add fur, other elements and sparkles to the memorial cabochons
Lessons
- Benefits of Using A Mould Over Direct Pour
- How To Make Ashes Stones
- Adding Hair to Memorial Stones
- Adding Fur to Memorial Stones
- Adding Sparkles to Keepsake Stones
- Adding Birthstones to Memorial Stones
- How To Top Coat Cabochons and Stones
- Troubleshoot Cabochon Stones
- Setting Cabochon Stones in Precious Metal
Making Memorial Orbs and Spheres
Advanced orb, sphere or pearl making with ashes and hair in resin. Learn to work with a sphere mould to create beautiful orbs, ideal for making memorial necklaces, earrings and keyrings. Nikki shows you techniques to add fur, other elements and sparkles to the memorial orbs, how to drill and then finish them with precious metal findings.
Lessons
Advanced Making Memorial Beads
Learn how to make memorial beads, using ashes and hair in resin to fill a mould. European large hole style charm beads to fit bracelets. You can add extras such as birthstones and sparkles.
Lessons
Making Memorial Ornaments and Other Items
Use moulds to create larger pieces with epoxy resin for clients who don’t wear jewellery and want to remember their loved ones. Learn about cremation ashes art and furniture too.
Lessons
Silversmithing and Making Memorial Rings
This module covers some metalsmithing, silversmithing and goldsmithing including how to make ring shanks and solder on a bezel cup for direct pour and cabochon stone memorial jewellery. Nikki will tell you some ways to find a teacher to begin your silversmithing. Learn how to commission designs using CAD or use wax to have designs cast.
Lessons
Selling Memorial DIY Kits
How to make up DIY memorial jewellery kits to sell to your clients and even wholesale. Instruction templates and kit ideas
Lessons
How To Market and Sell Memorial Jewellery
How To Sell Memorial Jewellery in person and online, including social media like Facebook and TikTok, free and paid for sales channels such as Etsy, Wix and WooCommerce. Some advanced cremation ashes and hair and fur jewellery SEO tips to get your website or sales channels to rank on search engines such as Google.
Lessons
- Introduction to Selling Memorial Jewellery
- How to Talk To The Bereaved
- International Spelling
- Naming A Keepsake Jewellery Business
- Finding Your Keepsake Inspiration
- Creating Logos and Branding
- Taking Payments from Clients
- Advanced Memorial Jewellery Photography
- Lifestyle Jewellery Photography
- Memorial Jewellery Photo Editing
- Creating Social Media
- Social Hashtags and Trending Sounds
Memorial Jewellery Selling Platforms
Selling platforms like social media, Etsy, Shopify and WooCommerce websites for memorial jewellery
Lessons
- Selling Platforms for Keepsake Jewellery
- Does Etsy Allow Memorial Jewellery?
- WordPress, WooCommerce and Websites
- Memorial Jewellery SEO
- Going Viral and Getting Media Coverage
- Influencer Agreements
- The Art of Sales
- Upselling and Linkselling Memorial Jewellery
- Memorial Mystery Pieces and Testers
- Packaging and Shipping Keepsake Jewellery
- Resin Jewellery Care Instructions
- Precious Metal Care Instructions
- How To Navigate Complaints and Refunds
Starting Your Memorial Jewellery Business
A guide to making friends and contacts within the industry, Facebook support and further learning. At the end of this you’ll be ready to start making and selling your own memorial jewellery pieces with a great community to support you.
Lessons
- Things To Remember Before You Start
- Keepsake Jewellery Sending Kits
- Organising Your Workspace
- Dropped Beads and Lost Orders
- Supplier List Sample
- Purchasing Business Supplies
- Wholesale Purchasing Supplies
- Costing and Pricing Memorial Jewellery
- Pro Bono Memorial Jewellery
- International Selling Laws
- Writing Your Terms and Conditions
- Importing Cremation Ashes and The Law
- Tax and Accountants
Supporting Yourself and Family
Some ways to balance work and family life, support yourself with your income and work from home with the hours you choose
Lessons
- How To Turn A Craft Into Income
- Expanding Your Memorial Jewellery Business
- Prioritising Tasks To Get More Done
- Juggling Childcare When You’re Working
- Going Part to Full Time
- A Day in the Life of a Memorial Jeweller
- Working From Home or a Workshop?
- Mental Health and Wellness
- Keeping Your Home Address Private
- Imposter Syndrome
- Taking on Extra Help
- Who To Talk With About Memorial Jewellery
Course Conclusion
A few words of wisdom from Nikki and the chance to ask questions