Designer Inspired Super Easy White Agate Stretch Bracelet

I mentioned in my previous post that I was seeing a couple of friends this week and like to bring them something on our all too rare get togethers. One friend is an uber fashionista .Simple but high end style.

I love the Simon Sebbag stretch bracelets I’ve seen at Nordstrom. If you’re not familiar with them :

which remind me of her so I decided to do my own version. The original uses all of the same stone bead with one or two accent beads.

Got my supplies out. For this you will need:

• Stretchy Cord
• Stone Beads ( I used white agate)
• Focal Bead ( I originally planned to use this stainless mesh bead but it didn’t look right so you’ll see what I switched to after I took the picture)
• Small silver beads

Measure a length of your stretchy cord. I generally do about 9-10 inches.

String your beads on. This is THE perfect project for anyone who wants to make jewelry but doesn’t want to invest in tools. You can use what you have on hand. Ruler, binder clips, scissors.

You can see here what I swapped out for the stainless bead. A bronzite bead with two small silver beads.
Once you’re satisfied that you have the right length to go around your wrist ( you want it to fit comfortably, not too tight) then you can tie off your ends and I always add a dab of super glue to the knot then tie once more.

Even using real stone and silver beads my materials were a fraction of the cost of my inspiration bracelets.

Whipperberry Friday Flair

Gardening Lover's Necklace

I’m catching up with a couple of girlfriends later this week and always like to bring them a little something. One is an avid gardener so I knew when I saw this little green garden boot charm on sale at Michaels I had to get it for her. There was also a beaded chain in the same section so I picked that up too.  Both are by Bead Landing from their “Derby Chic” collection.

I had some complementary colored seed beeds in my Blue Moon Beads design team supplies, along with a very cool silver bail and bell charm.

I attached the boot and the charm to the bail along with some silver charms I had in my stash.

I took the beaded chain apart at the middle , ran a small length of plain chain through the bail and then attached the beaded chain to either side.

Using the seed beads, I strung two sections and attached oval jump rings to each end. Attached these to more plain chain .

I don't think she'll be wearing it while she gardens but I hope it captures her passion. 

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Ten Minute Black and Gold Necklace

It's not as if I needed another necklace but what's that got to do with anything? I decided at the last minute before we were going to see a movie yesterday that I wanted a new necklace to wear.  I did this so fast, I barely took any pics. I remembered this black and gold chain that was in my Blue Moon Beads design team stash and decided to make it the focal of my necklace. 

Grabbed some gold chain, antique silver chain,  and a multi-strand waxed linen necklace, all by BMB. I took the clasp ends off of the waxed linen necklace, measured the three chains the same length, and attached them to one end of the waxed linen necklace. Attached one half of a  hammered gold toggle clasp to the other end of the waxed linen necklace and then the chains to the bar end of the clasp and done. 

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Double Strand Hammered Metal Connector Necklace

So apparently I really have lost my mind because I had this ready to post in DECEMBER and thought I had. That’s the sound of my palm hitting my head.

I made this necklace ( shown here doubled) with Blue Moon Beads and Bead Landing chain. The lightbulb went off yesterday when I was wearing it and someone asked me if I made it. That made me start thinking about when I made it and I realized I never posted it!

Whenever I’m making jewelry, I gather up what I think I’m going to use so here are the things I started with. The blue grey beads came in a pack of 23 coordinating pieces as shown on the card.

I cut different lengths of chain and made varying sections of beads and then randomly put them together with jump rings and hammered silver connectors:

I made it really long so I could either wear it that way or double it. It’s hard to get a good photograph of it the long way but I’ve mostly worn it doubled anyway.

A mind is a terrible thing to lose!

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Easy Filigree Metal Bead Bracelet

Fighting off some sort of bug today so wasn’t up for tackling anything too hard. Sometimes though, the easiest things turn out to be those you love the most.

I fell in love with this Mud Pie bead mix from Blue Moon Beads the second I saw it. My colors and style 1000%.  This is one of the mixes that’s available exclusively at JoAnn’s.

It’s a mixture of filigreed metal, wire mesh wrapped, and metallic colored beads. I decided the beads were so awesome they needed to be used simply. What’s simpler than stretchy cord? I keep seeing fun stretchy bracelets at places like Nordstrom for $50 and up. If you can tie a knot, you can make enough of your own bracelets to match your entire wardrobe for the price of one.

I started stringing with no patter in mind. Just grabbed beads from the tin until it was the right size.  I don’t pre-cut my cord, but leave it on the spool and string my beads on until I’m happy with the size.

I had these smoky grey faceted charms in my supplies and decided they’d go great on this bracelet. I added these after the bracelet was complete and put them on using silver jump rings. Again, just kind of eyeballed the spacing.

While I was provided the beads for this project as a member of the Blue Moon Beads design team, the pricing is such that these are an affordable way to achieve a high fashion look.

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Frosty Blue Wire and Bead Crocheted Bracelet

Do you ever finally get around to trying something and then kick yourself for not doing it sooner because you thought it must be much harder than it actually was?  Raise your hand and fess up.

I have wanted to try: 1.) Crocheting with beads and 2.) Crocheting with wire (and beads) but thought “Oh no. It has to be really really REALLY hard”. I was wrong.

I found a video on You Tube. Most people go to YT for laughs or clips of things they missed. I go for craft tutes!

I used a thinner silver beading wire ( 26 guage) and this bead mix called “PB&J” from Blue Moon Beads. I thought this color combo was perfect for jeans and sweaters and Winter.

Following the tutorial, I went to work and made this in about well I don’t know exactly how long but it was less than an hour!

I was worried about it being too small so I actually ended up making it a little bigger than I needed but I overlapped the ends and secured them with a lobster claw clasp. Problem solved.

I may even branch out of my usual neutral wardrobe colors and look for a frosty blue sweater to match my new bracelet!

Design Team Member

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As a member of the Blue Moon Beads Design Team, these products were provided for my use. All opinions are mine. 

Softball Charm Necklace

I recently got together with one of my besties for a belated birthday celebration. We’ve been friends since seventh grade, and our birthdays are 9 days apart. We’ve celebrated them together for um, let’s just say ever!

Her daughter is a college softball player so when I saw these baseball / softball charms, I knew what her gift was going to be.

I made this just like the two ribbon necklaces I’ve previously shared. I put extra large jump rings on the necklace, then decided where to add the charms. I used three: one on each end and one in the middle.

Then I played around in my stash to decide what to put with them and decided on two large faceted crystal beads, Trinkettes beads, and some silver patterned charms.

Stay tuned to see the amazing thing she made me!