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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Jewelrymaking: Filigree Silver Heart Valentine's Earrings

 

I often buy supplies for my stash without having a specific project in mine. In this case, JoAnn was having a great sale on beads when I bought the silver heart beads I used in this project. Something like 70% off during one of their sales last year. So when I decided I wanted some Valentine's themed earrings...into my stash I went!

Supplies:

• Silver Heart Beads (JoAnn or Bead Stores)
• Head Pins and Jump Rings
• Black Crystal Beads 
• Hammered Links (Bead Landing,Michaels)
• Floral Charms and Earring Backs for Clips
• Jewelry or Strong Bond Glue 

Since these beads were such a great deal on sale, of course I bought two sets! I chose the filigree design for my earrings. Since I wear clip-on earrings, I chose some floral charms (Shipwreck Beads) big enough to accommodate my clip earring backs. 

I like the Loctite Gel Superglue. It's low odor and holds as strong as jewelry glue. Put a little dab on the earring back and then position on the back of the floral charm. If you have pieced ears, skip this step and use a fish hook ear wire. 

I love these little clamps I found at Dollar Tree which are the perfect size for small projects. I always clamp my glued earring backs to ensure the strongest bond.

Next, I grabbed a couple of pins from my supplies, along with some black Czech glass beads. I strung the black and heart beads on the pins and made a closed loop.

To put things all together, I used some hammered silver links and jump rings I had on hand to connect the earring clips and the heart pins.

Connect the jump ring to the link and then using regular jump rings, attach the heart pins and floral sections.

The best part is, these don't scream Valentine's Day to me so I can wear them whenever but they also work for V-Day!  Come back to see what  I did with the remaining beads! 

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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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DIY Jewelry: But First Coffee Earrings

 

As a Seattle girl originally, I am an "OG" Starbucks customer. I'm talking from the days when there wasn't one on every street corner, in every mall or grocery store or Target. And my drink has always been a Mocha. Hot, usually iced, always a Mocha. While I make my iced Mochas every morning at home and most evenings as well, Mr. Chocolate knows that if we're out...there's a stop involved. I live for the mobile app which has been my lifeline during this pandemic! So when I found some coffee themed charms at JoAnn, it was a no brainer that I was getting them! 

These instructions are the same for clip earrings or pierced with the only change being using an earwire instead of the clip bases. 

Supplies: 

• hildie & jo charms (JoAnn)
• Clip earring backs ( Michaels
• Clip earring "base" (eg something to cover the backs... had these in my stash)
• Jump rings (Michaels and Jo Ann)
• Connector Links 
• Jewelry Pliers
• Glue ( I use Loctite Gel Control Super Glue)

If you're making clips, the first step is to glue the clip back to the base with a good drop of the Loctite Glue. I like this because it's thicker and doesn't run. Use clamps or clothespins to secure and let dry while you assemble the other pieces. If you're making pierced earrings, see below for when to attach the earwire. 

I chose to go with these two charms and make a par of asymmetrical earrings. The bolder jump rings on the right (also hildie & jo) I had in my stash and used to connect the larger connector links shown at the bottom. I used three connector links for each earring. 

To connect the connector links, open one of the jump rings, thread all three onto it, close. Repeat for the other earring. Add another jump ring to each set of now joined links. 

Repeat the same process to attach the charms. 

If you're making pierced, at this point use one more jump ring to attach an earwire. For clip earrings, attach a jump ring to your completed clip base and use one more to attach the body of your earring. 

This is an easy process to whip up a pair of earrings that can be worn with anything! 

and Iced Mochas too ! 

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DIY Jewelry: Hildie and Jo Leather and Silver Earrings

 

Faux leather earrings are everywhere and I have made some and love them, but nothing beats the real thing! It can get expensive to buy leather though so naturally if you see real leather that's already pre-cut and designed for earrings you buy it right? Especially when it's 60% off which was the case with the Hildie and Jo Leather shapes I got from JoAnn. Hildie and Jo is JoAnn's in house brand of jewelry making supplies and if you're a new or experienced jewelry maker they're a great resource. I loved the simplicity of these shapes but me being me, couldnn't just leave them alone! 

Supplies: 

• Hildie and Jo Leather Shapes (JoAnn)
• Hildie and Jo Jump Rings ( JoAnn)
• Misc. Charms and Metal Beads ( Stash )
• Head Pins ( Stash )
• Jewelry Pliers

NOTE: I won't go into basic jewelry making how tos in this post but You Tube is filled with them for the following: 

How to open and close jump rings

How to make a wrapped loop on a head pin

I had the heart charms in my stash and thought they'd be perfect with the silver leather and just in time for Valentine's season but also universal enough to wear all year round. Since I don't have pierced ears, the earrings I make for myself ( or my mom ) are clips. I used to stress about not having enough different pieces to adhere the clip backs to thinking "they'll all look the same". Then it dawned on me that for pierced ears, ear wires all look the same so I got over it. 

The construction of these is pretty simple. Thread Heart Charm and two small silver beads on head pin and close with a wrapped loop. Replace the jump ring that came with the leather shape and use matching jump rings to attach the the threaded head pin. 

Use jump rings to attach base to earring clip. DONE!

The same process was used for the black earrings. The leather on this was more natural since it's not painted so the edges were a little rougher as you'll see in these pics but when I was all done I just went around the edges with my scissors to trim up. 

Using the same process as with the heart charms, thread the beads on the head pins and close with a wire wrapped loop. Attach to leather with jump rings and attach earring clips. 

And I still have one more pair of leather pieces to play with! 

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