Jewelrymking: Galentine's Gifts

 

Best laid plans...I was supposed to have an annual Galentine's lunch with friends but work got in the way for one so we had to postpone. Nonetheless, I'll have their gifts ready for when we meet! Used up more of the two strands of Hildie and Jo Silver Beads from the earrings and bracelet I made for myself and enjoyed making things for friends that coordinate us all!anding 

Supplies:

• Hildie and Jo Silver Heart Beads (JoAnn)
• Black Czech Crystal Beads (Stash)
• Bead Landing "Fish Hook" Ear Wires
• Jump Rings and Head Pins
• Black Cardstock
• Black Organza Bags

Strung a small black bead on the headpin, a silver heart, then the larger black bead and closed the loop. Then using a jump ring, attached the fish hook. 

The process is the same for all earrings. As Makers, gift presentation is important, right? Using my Cricut Design Space subscription and my Cricut Explore Air, I cut out Earring Cards for the earrings. 

I like using 110lb cardstock for these since it doesn't bend easily.

TIP: To keep the earrings in place on the card use a piece of washi tape on the back to hold them in place. 

I wasn't quite finished! My go-tos for packaging jewelry gifts are Organza Bags. You can find them at craft or jewelry supply stores and sometimes, at Dollar Tree. 

All ready to go! 

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Jewelry Making: Spooky Season Jewelry

 

I recently made some birthday gifts for fellow September babies and since Spooky Season would soon follow their birthdays, made them each a coordinating pair of earrings and a bracelet. 

Supplies: 

• Hildie and Jo Witch and "Jack" Beads (JoAnn)
• Bead Landing Coordinating Beads (Michaels)
• Fish Hook Ear Wires (Michaels)
• Jump Rings, Head Pins (Michaels)
• Stretch Jewelry Cord (Michaels)
• Jewelry or Super Glue (Walmart)

I found the Halloween-themed beads at JoAnn over the Summer and got them in the off-season. The other beads are ones I keep stocked in my stash. I hit the Michaels and JoAnn sales or use coupons! It's what we do, right? 

The process is the same for each set. 

For the earrings, string desired beads onto a head pin, then make a wrapped loop. There are a ton of tutorials on You Tube that can show you better than I can. I've linked one here but I find that I have to look for tutorials that make sense to my brain so watch a few different ones.  You will need a pair of small round nose pliers like the ones shown here which are available in jewelry sections of craft stores, bead stores, or online. 

Once you've completed your loops, attach to the ear wire using a jump ring (and here's another video on how to open and close jump rings) and you're done!

For the bracelets, cut a length of stretchy jewelry making cord longer than you need. Some people measure precisely. I don't. I cut about 12 inches for a bracelet because I like having the ends longer for knot tying. Use a clamp (they sell specific ones for jewelry...I use a binder clip or a cheap plastic clamp I found at Dollar Tree). String beads in whatever pattern you like. I just string, do a checkpoint aroung my wrist for size and when I'm good, tie a tight basic knot and add a tiny dab of jewelry glue or I like the gel formula super glue. 

This stuff is great and you really only need a tiny bit. I always make another knot with another dab. Give the glue a minute to dry then trim as close to the knot as possible with wire cutters or sharp scissors. 

I used extra beads and related charms to add a little dangle to my bracelets. String the bead on the head pin as shown for the earrings, close the loop, use a jump ring to attach to the bracelet. Same with the charm. 

Happy Haunting! 

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Hammered Silver Earrings...Thanks Michaels

 

When you make jewelry, you set yourself up for "Really? You needed another pair of earrings?" Yes. I do so there. In my defense, I went to Michaels because I really did need new trimmer blades for my paper trimmer. But what kind of Maker would I be if I went in and didn't walk around the store? I'm no poser! And "see, what happened was"...I was in the Bead and Jewelry section and a bunch of these earring components said rescue me like when the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz calls out for his oil can. It couldn't be helped! These were just my style since I love big, bold, earrings. 

As you can tell, more earrings will follow but since I'm also preparing to move, maybe not right away. 

Supplies: 

• Bead Landing Silver Earring Components
• Silver Beads
• Head Pins
• Jump Rings
• Jewelry Pliers
• Clip Backs or Ear Wires
• Loctite Gel Glue

Since I bought um "several" , the hardest part was deciding which package to play with first but I chose the hammered silver ones. I had some silver beads in my stash along with my clip earring backs ( for pierced ears use ear wires) and I love the Loctite Super Glue Gel.

Since the main component had three holes I decided to make three beaded dangles using three beads for the middle and two beads for either side. String onto a Head Pin (these are the ones with flat ends vs Eye Pins which come with a pre-formed loop) and then finish with a wrapped loop. 

For clip wearers like me, glue the clip backing to the piece to a flat back pendant shown in the supplies. 

Attach the beaded dangles to the Hammered Silver component using jump rings. See How To Open and Close A Jump Ring here.  Follow the same process to attach to the earring base or ear wire. And then you're done and you have another pair of earrings easy peasey! 

Maybe I'll call them my Moving Earrings. Ha! 

DIY Jewelry: GROGU (The Mandalorian) Inspired Bracelet

 

I have watched both seasons of The Mandalorian on Disney Plus, and like so many others, am totally smitten by the character named GROGU aka "The Child" aka "Baby Yoda" . If you're not familiar he's the same type of being as Yoda ( whom I also love ) but is not in fact the baby version of him. 

While going through my bead stash, I remembered I had some Kiwi Jasper beads that were PERFECT for a GROGU inspired project.  This is an easy bracelet to make using stretch cord. 

Mr. Chocolate surprised me with one of the animated toys as one of my Christmas gifts. They were almost impossible to find but he did and he is so cute. Our dog loves it when I activate him and just cocks her head at all of his movements and sounds.  I gathered up the supplies I thought I'd use and I ended up not using the white beads. No worries. They'll get put to good use! 

Supplies: 

• Stretch Magic Bead & Jewelry Cord 1mm ( Michaels)
• 10mm Kiwi Sesame Jasper (Shipwreck Beads...no longer on their site but Etsy, Amazon have)
• 10mm Matte Black Glass Beads (Michaels)
• 10mm Silver Beads (Michaels) 
• Bead Landing Rhinestone Dangles ( Michaels)
• Charm Along Metal Tags (Michaels)
• Loctite Gel Control Glue
• Head Pins and Jump Rings

Since I tend to make bolder jewelry, I like the thickness of the 1mm Stretch Magic cord. If you're using smaller beads you can use thinner versions. 

I like to spread the beads I'm working with out so I can easily grab them and a piece of felt works great to keep them from rolling away. 

Cut a length of the Stretch Magic a few inches longer than the finished bracelet size. Some people try to measure exactly which maximizes your cord, but I like ends long enough to not cause me to swear when I'm trying to tie the knot and things go wrong and beads go everywhere, which may or may not have happened one too many times. 

I bought these clamps at Dollar Tree forever ago and they work great for clamping one end so you don't have beads to chase. 

Measure your bracelet once you have your beads on. I know from experience 7.5 is the right length for me. Tie with a basic knot. Dab a little Loctite or jewelry glue onto the knot, then tie another knot and trim. 

I usually add a little dangle on my bracelets, especially when I'm giving as a gift, and especially since I found some cute charms that say things like "Made With Love" "Handmade" etc. I also love these little rhinestone dangles to add just a touch of bling. 

To create the bead dangle, thread one of the jasper beads and one of the silver beads onto a head pin and close with a wrapped loop. 

Then, attach your tag, rhinestone, and bead dangle onto your bracelet using jump rings. 

I love how the jasper represents GROGU, the black beads his eyes, and the silver is for Beskar, the elite armor worn by worthy Mandalorians. Geek Alert! 

This is the way !

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Halloween: Don't Forget To Decorate Yourself...Skull Earrings and Bracelet

 

Not that I'm going many places these days, and I know a lot of people are barely wearing clothes, but I do go out once or twice a week to run errands, and despite the fact that it's still triple digits here in the desert, and I'm still wearing shorts and tanks, that doesn't mean I can't get into the season right? Right! 

So I made myself some seasonal earrings and a matching bracelet. 

Michaels continues to expand their jewelry making supplies and there's not a trip that I make without a few things sneaking their way into my cart. 

Supplies: 

• Skull Charms ( I found mine on clearance at Michaels but they have some other similar beads)
• Silver Connector Links 
• White Marble Beads 
• Filigree Bead Caps
• Rhinestone Dangle Charms
• Small Silver Spacer Beads
• Jump Rings
• Misc Charms
• Jewelry Making Pliers

All of my supplies except for the little star charms, small silver spacer beads, and the swirly flat bead shown at the top of the earring are from Michaels Bead Landing / Charmalong lines).  

I found these on clearance when I wasn't even looking for them. They were up by the register, on clearance, so naturally I bought two sets! 

Step 1: 

If you're a novice jewelry maker, there are tons of great tutorials on You Tube. Here are some on "How to Open and Close Jump Rings") 

Open a jump ring, then use it to attach the skull bead and silver connector link. Sorry this is blurry! One handed photography while trying to hold up pliers with your non-dominant hand is tricky! 

I used the same process to attach the little star charm to the other end. 

Step 2: 

If like it seems 95% of people, you have pierced ears, you'll use the same process to attach an earwire. I'm in the ( I made up this stat) 5% of people who doesn't have pierced ears. Can't. Apparently I'm missing the connective tissue that prevents them from ripping so....it's me and your grandmas and people deathly afraid of needles. 

For us "clippies" the good news is Michaels has us covered. 

Problem Solved!

I use Loctite Gel Glue to adhere these to whatever misc flat backed findings I have. And then you're done! 

Bracelet

I do a lot of my bracelets on stretch cord which is how I did this one. 

Supplies: 

• Stretch Magic Jewelry Cord ( Michaels)
• White Marble Beads
• Filigree Bead Caps 
• Skull Charm
• Dangle Charm 

I always cut off more stretchy cord than I need because I've found it makes it easier to knot and I learned the hard way of trying to be very specific in my measuring only to find out I couldn't quite tie the knot. 

Clamp one end ( you can use an official bead clamp which they sell in the jewelry supplies or I've used clothespins, binder clips, or clamps I found in the hardware section of the Dollar Tree). 

Starting w/ a bead cap string as follows: bead cap, white bead, bead cap, spacer. Lather, rinse repeat until your bracelet fits your wrist. For reference, I have what are considered small wrists and I used 10 of the marble beads. Once you're satisfied w/ the sizing, close your bracelet with a knot. Dab a dot of Loctite Glue and then knot again dot of glue, knot again and trim the ends. 

Open another jump ring and attach your skull charm and rhinestone bead dangle and you're done!

And since it's 2020, my accessories wouldn't be complete with out a mask right? 

I already had this fabric in my stash so it was a no brainer! I've been using a pattern from Sweet Red Poppy to make my masks. 

I hope you've found some inspiration!