Nov 2025 >> Episode 14

In this episode of ASK ANNA, I'm talking all about torch firing. I'll show you what torch I use and how to fill it properly. I'll explain the process of torch firing and give you some of my top tips to successful torch firing. And, I show you how to test your gemstones by firing them before you set them into your clay, ready for torch firing in position.

Timeline - 25 minutes

Oct 2025 >> Episode 13

As we step into the 2nd year of ASK ANNA, in this 13th episode, I answer more of your enamelling questions and let you into some of my enamelling secrets. I show you my latest new instagram project, the Little Fishes, which has been filmed and you can see on my instagram page @silvernutshell I'm excited because I've bought some new Rolling Mill Resources laser texture papers, which are just brilliant to use. And,  I chat about my brand new series of Instagram Guides for jewellers, who are looking to power boost their instagram account. Oh, and I also chat about Botanical Guides. There's always plenty to say and not enough time!

CLICK THIS LINK FOR INSTAGRAM GUIDES

Timeline - 25 minutes

Sept 2025 >> Episode 12

In this episode of ASK ANNA, I'll be taking you on a tour of my gemstone collection, talking about birthstones and how to measure them, either with my special tool or with cards or rules, so that you can set your gemstones straight into silver metal clay.

I've been sharing a lot about gemstone recently in my Instagram posts.

Here's a list of the monthly BIRTHSTONES colours that I use.

+ JANUARY - deep red
+ FEBRUARY - lavender
+ MARCH - turquoise
+ APRIL - white
+ MAY - green
+ JUNE - light lilac
+ JULY - ruby red
+ AUGUST - pale green
+ SEPTEMBER - deep blue
+ OCTOBER - rose pink
+ NOVEMBER - yellow
+ DECEMBER - blue

Some of you have asked where I buy gemstones from so here are the suppliers that I use. I buy cubic zirconia gemstones from Metal Clay Ltd, Kernowcraft and Cooksongold here in the UK.

STOCKISTS LINKS PAGES >> I have added stockists links for the UK and USA below. Visit these pages to see many of the products and tools that I use.

CLICK HERE FOR UK STOCKISTS

CLICK HERE FOR USA STOCKISTS

If you want to learn how to make rings with gemstone bezels, click the link below.

STACKABLE RINGMAKING MASTERCLASS

 Timeline - 23 minutes

SPECIAL SUMMER TREAT!
August 2025 >> FREE BUTTERFLIES & GEMSTONES COURSE

If you've not watched one of my online video courses before, there are 27 videos to enjoy in this FREE COURSE.

HOW TO GAIN ACCESS TO YOUR FREE COURSE >> You should receive an email and access information for the FREE COURSE. If you don't, please contact me and I will send you an email to reset your password. Any problems at all, please get in touch. I'm always happy to help.

All the best, Anna x

ps if you're already a member, I've now added this free course to your membership area.

AUGUST UPDATE FOR STOCKISTS LINKS PAGES >> I have added stockists links for the UK and USA at the end of the free course. Visit these pages to see many of the products and tools that I use. You will also find links to these stockists pages on the homepage.

July 2025 >> Episode 10

It's a this time of year that we want to wear our jewellery on our holidays, on the beach and when we're away from home. Clean it before you go! I'll show you the best way to clean your jewellery, how to size gemstones and ring bands, and how to drill dry clay to flush set gemstones.

Do you think that ringmaking should be fun? Let's enjoy making stackable, gemstone flower rings together. In this new course, I'll give you the confidence to make beautiful rings to feel proud of. Click the link below

STACKABLE RINGMAKING MASTERCLASS

 Timeline - 28 mins 54 secs

June 2025 >> Episode 9

Want to take a first look at the new ring collection? Here's a sneak peek behind the scenes of my new RINGMAKING COURSE 2. I've set up my camera to show you what I've been working on for the last 3 weeks. In this month's episode, I'll show you the techniques I'm using, the teeny, tiny moulds, how to shape open ended rings, and give you an insight into my next course - released in early June.

Want to make beautiful silver metal clay rings? GET 60% OFF my RINGMAKING MASTERCLASS, series 1. Click the link below

RINGMAKING MASTERCLASS

 Timeline - 18 mins 30 secs

May 2025 >> Episode 8

I love the idea that you can create a piece of botanical leaf jewellery that is truly unique, and no one in the world with have the same piece. You can do this too! In episode 8, I give you all the information that you will need to collect leaves, make moulds and use them to create silver metal clay jewellery. And, all using a hand held torch!

And, that's not all. I'll pop a link in the caption, for any of you who'd like to get 35% OFF the Botanical Guide Bundle!

CLICK THIS LINK TO GET 35% OFF MY BOTANICAL BUNDLE

Timeline - 24 minutes

April 2025 >> Episode 7 in Parts 1 and 2

In this video, I'm going to talk about a technique that I'm obsessed about in 2025 - enamelling. I will show you what tools and equipment that I use for torch firing enamels, and talk through the different types of enamels that I use, and various techniques included in my new online video course. I recorded this Q&A in February when I was recovering from the flu, so apologies for my dull voice! The good news is that I'm better and you can now buy my NEW ENAMELLING MADE EASY Course, which has 60% OFF + 2 bonus courses included. I'll pop a link in the caption, for any of you who'd like to see what's inside this wonderful new course.

CLICK THIS LINK TO READ ABOUT ENAMELLING MADE EASY

Timeline - 24 minutes 6 seconds

Note - I've been experimenting with my settings so this should be the last video that I've had to split over two videos! The videos have just been too long to upload because I talk so much ;-) Anna x

March 2025 >> Episode 6 in Parts 1 and 2

Timeline - 25 minutes 26 seconds
+ Show and tell the larger Redesign with Prima moulds
+ Crowns, butterflies and faces
+ CoolSlip release agent
+ Estimate how much silver metal clay you will need for a mould
+ Shrinkage rates for different brands of silver metal clay
+ Adding tiny cubic zirconia gemstones
+ An essential piece of my toolkit
+ How to create apertures within a piece
+ Add embellishments to rings
+ Add jump rings for hanging
+ The process of making a decorative clock pendant using Prima moulds
+ Show and tell Rings from the Ringmaking Masterclass
+ What torch do you use?
+ How to fill a hand held torch
+ How to use a burnisher
+ How to use a brass brush to polish

February 2025 >> Episode 5

Timeline - 24 minutes 49 seconds
+ Talking about butterflies and bugs
+ Reveal of some of my pieces
+ Using moulds
+ Cool Tools Finishing Touches Moulds and how to use them
+ Do you need release agent?
+ Get the Finishing Touches Guide!
+ The Cool Tools jump rings mould and butterflies moulds, dragonflies and bumble bees
+ Decorating a cylindrical bead using butterflies and bugs
+ Instagram (the numbers have increased since I recorded this episode!) and my viral reel
+ Using a poppy seed head to make a mould and a silver metal clay butterfly
+ Get the Butterfly and Gemstone Online Course
+ Gemstone bezels
+ What to do to stop a gemstone dropping out of a bezel
+ How to dry you pieces at home
+ How to fix a bezel if the gemstone drops out, using silver clay syringe!
+ My favourite moulds
+ How much clay do I need to fill a mould?
+ Making pieces to sell
+ Using jewellers scales to weigh your silver metal clay pieces
+ Review of Redesign with Prima Butterfly and Bugs moulds
+ Get the Soldering Guide!
+ Using liquid release agent
+ What are the eyelets that you can add as jump rings, and how to choose which one is best?
+ Get the Jump Rings Guide!

BONUS Technique Video February 2025

Here's another BONUS TECHNIQUE VIDEO! >> Want to make a beautiful silver metal clay crown? I'll show you how to make a stunning silver metal clay crown using a Redesign with Prima mould

Timeline - 11 minutes 54 seconds

January 2025 >> Episode 4

Timeline - 24 minutes 56 seconds
+ Showing you the different types of clays that I use
+ Art Clay Silver & Phoenix Torch Fireable Clays revealed!
+ What are their shrinkage rates
+ Opening the packs to look at the clay
+ How to store the leftover bits of clay
+ Art Clay Silver Syringe explained
+ How to stop syringe from drying out
+ Mending a broken ring using syringe
+ How to use the syringe
+ Silver Syringe Nozzles explained
+ How to make a perfect straight line of syringe clay
+ Top Tip for practising making lines of clay
+ What's inside my tool box?
+ An explanation of the tools that I use
+ The difference between silver clay syringe and soldering syringe
+ A hand held torch explained (see below for a short video on how to fill with gas)
+ Botanical Leaf Project Guide
+ Showcasing rings from my Ringmaking Masterclass

BONUS Technique Video January 2025

This BONUS TECHNIQUE VIDEO is live >> Come on a journey with me in this first BONUS video where I chat about using CoolTools textures and moulds to make ring bands.

Timeline - 11 minutes 31 seconds

Discover what the textures look like once they're turned into silver metal clay rings. I show you what the measuring spacers are used for, and how they differ from using playing cards to get the thickness that you want. See a demonstration of how to use the texture tiles to roll out a piece of silver metal clay to make a ring band. I use Art Clay Silver in this demo, but you can use any metal clay.

December 2024 >> Episode 3

Timeline - 23 minutes 23 seconds
+ Which moulding compound to buy and how to use it
+ Showcase an acorn 3D mould
+ Jump rings explained
+ Round jump rings v straight-sided jump rings
+ How to make jump rings using tiny circle cutters and CoolTools moulds
+ Equipment you will need for soldering on jump rings
+ Jump rings sizes
+ Where to buy finished chains
+ Adding a patina to your jewellery
+ Essential equipment of a 3rd hand
+ Pickling for soldering
+ Making no-join rings
+ Sizing no-join rings
+ How to cut out your silver metal clay from templates
+ Using a ring multi-sizer

November 2024 >> Episode 2

Timeline - 24 minutes 40 seconds
+ Ring mandrel set explained
+ How to size a ring with shrinkage rates
+ How to use textured papers and release agents
+ Make a freestyle Art Clay Syringe ring with gemstones
+ Cubic Zirconia gemstones and how to test them for torch firing
+ Do gemstones change colour and what are faceted gemstones?
+ How to stop stones dropping out of a flush setting
+ CoolTools textures for ringmaking
+ Showcase rings from the RINGMAKING MASTERCLASS
+ What is a hand drill, how to use it and drill bits explained
+ Torch firing rings
+ Polishing explained, using 3M and Cousins own brand radial discs and my Proxxon drill

*correction to video, I got carried away talking ;-) the hole for setting the gemstone should be 1.5mm not 0.5mm

Summer 2024 Launch >> Episode 1

Timeline - 17 minutes 15 seconds
+ What do I use to stop the silver metal clay sticking inside a mould?
+ Explaining how to use CoolSlip
+ Have I ever worked with Sterling Silver 950 Metal Clay?
+ Which clays I use for torch firing
+ Explaining how to attach handmade silver metal clay jump rings
+ Which gemstones are fireable and how to test them for torch firing?
+ Do I leave a hole in the back of a gemstone setting?
+ Where did you buy the set of circle cutters?
+ How to decide on the thickness of the clay for a gemstone setting
+ Should I leave the clay in the CoolTools Finishing Touches moulds to dry?
+ What is the blue teal powder that you're using?
+ Explaining what's inside the MEGACOURSE