Showing posts with label Jewelry Making. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jewelry Making. Show all posts

Monday, May 12, 2014

Multi Strand Snake Chain Necklace

Multi Strand Snake Chain Necklace

“Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes? “ So said Indiana Jones and I quite agree! My most recent batch of goodies as part of the Blue Moon Beads design team was full of all kinds of chain including a type I’ve never used before: snake chain. Disclosure: Supplies were provided to me ; design and opinions are mine. 

 Like Indy, I hate snakes but couldn’t wait to play with this unfortunately named chain.

Snake Chains

Here are three different sizes of snake chain ( the lower right is a woven chain) so named I assume because it's kinda tubey like a snake?  To use this chain you need to attach specific end caps ( they come w/ the packages of the chain) and just need a little jewelry glue to attach.

I cut each type of chain to about 16 inches, attached the end caps and then grouped the chains together using jump rings. This is a really simple project. The depth and texture comes from the variety of chains used.

Snake Chain Necklace BMB

I didn’t intentionally twist the chains. I just kind of let them do their thing and wasn’t trying to make them lay flat. I like the way they just do what they do and you can see in the first picture how they hang.

Snake Chain Choker

I used a toggle clasp to finish and voila!

Supplies Needed:
  • BMB 1MM, 3MM and 6MM Snake Chain
  • BMB 5MM Silver Woven Chain
  • BMB Silver Toggle Clasp
  • Silver Jump Rings
  • Jewelry Glue
You can find BMB supplies at your local JoAnns.



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Monday, March 24, 2014

My First Contribution to Live Creatively Inspired : Double Stacked Ring Woven Bracelet

Double Stacked Woven Bracelet

Happy Monday . I'm excited to be sharing this woven bracelet over at Live Creatively Inspired where I'm now a monthly contributor. Hope you'll come over for a visit and check out the blog. The contributors are a talented group of ladies and I'm honored to be among them!


Double Stack Woven Bracelet 1


Tuesday, March 11, 2014

I Have My Own Castle: The Story of My "VIntage Romance" Necklace

Fit For A Queen Necklace

This necklace all started with a charm. A very special charm, from a very special person. It was my birthday present back in September from College Boy.

Castle Charm

There are so many things about this charm that just made my heart soar. The fact that it was from my son away at school who has a crazy busy schedule and took the time to pick out something with meaning. The fact that he found it at a little shop that specializes in creative and handmade things , and  that he knew that would mean a lot to me. But the part of it that brought me to tears was what he wrote in the card :
“I found it fitting that on this day, and each day after, a queen should have a castle as a reminder of the challenges you conquer”
The past couple of years have had some challenges.  Lots of changes, some planned, some not, and some right on top of each other. Not a lot of time for breath catching shall we say?  So when I read what he wrote in the card and saw this charm ( after melting into tears and slobbering all over myself) I knew I had to wait until the right idea popped into my head. One worthy of his gift.

Vintage Romance Pendant

I was poking around Michaels after Christmas and found this pendant and string of beads from the “Vintage Romance” line by Debby Anderson. My eyes landed on the pendant and it was the perfect backdrop for the charm.
Vintage Romance Necklace

I randomly strung some of the beds on wire and joined them in the middle of silver chain. I added another strand of beaded chain to the bottom portion of the necklace that joins the pendant.

I may never be queen of any country, but it’s more than enough for me that my son think’s I’m queen enough to deserve my own castle that now hangs from the end of the Vintage Romance pendant.



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Monday, January 13, 2014

Wood Beads and Silver: Man Friendly Jewelry

Wood Beads and Silver

Man crafting remains my nemesis. Fortunately I have a husband and son who do wear some jewelry. College boy even has a Professor who liked an earlier bracelet I made and hinted how much he’d like one. Done!

These are so easy it’s criminal to even post this as a project.

You need:
  • Wood beads ( I used a Darice ValuPack)
  • Silver spacer beads (Blue Moon)
  • Focal bead ( I used an onyx bead)
  • Stretchy cord
  • Super glue
Light Wood and Silver Bracelet

Here’s how things work in my house. I made one each of the light and medium wood bracelets, let College Boy choose which color he wanted and which to give away so I would know which color I’d be making for Mr. Chocolate. I make something for College Boy, I hear “I want one” . That’s how we roll.

Here’s the really really hard tutorial:
String in a pattern you like; knot, dab glue DONE.

Medium Wood and Silver Bracelet

I just decided to use one color of the wood bead for each bracelet but they come in a mixed pack of light , medium and dark.

Wood Bead and Silver Bracelets

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Winged Hearts Hammered Metal Necklace Giveaway

Blue Moon Beads Silver Pink and Gold

Being a member of the Blue Moon Beads design team , I am always excited when I receive supplies to play with. The timing was perfect on my most recent goodies which included some pink stone beads. I knew immediately that I wanted to make something in recognition of “Pinktober” being Breast Cancer Awareness month.


I don’t know anyone whose life hasn’t been touched in some way by this disease. Whether as a survivor, family member of a survivor, friend, colleague, neighbor, I really cannot think of anyone I know who hasn’t known someone. This month marks four years since we lost one of our closest friends to this disease and we miss her every day.

Blue Moon Hammered Metals

I did what I always do with a jewelry project. Laid out a bunch of things I might use and just kind of went from there. I knew for sure that in addition to the pink stone beads and silver chain, I wanted to use the gold and silver hammered metal connectors. All supplies used in this project are from Blue Moon Beads and were provided to me as part of the design team.  Project idea is mine.

Blue Moon Winged Pendant

They went perfectly with a gold and silvered “Winged Heart” pendant from my Blue Moon stash.

Blue Moon Metal Chain

I laid out sections of the chain and metal connectors and then wire wrapped some of the pink beads using gold bead caps and silver spacer beads.

Blue Moon Pink

Connected those to the lengths of chain using silver jump rings, and added some to the pendant as shown above, along with a rectangular rhinestone pendant and some lengths of chain.

Blue Moon Metal and Stone

The clasp is really two oversize lobster claw heart clasps. I wanted to tie the idea of hearts and wings together to match the pendant. We think of our friend soaring above us, and we carry her in our hearts.

Winged Heart Necklace

Our sweet friend was one of the most giving people we’ve ever known. So I thought it would be appropriate to give away this necklace in her memory. It just seems right. Here’s how to enter:


Giveaway will run through next Wednesday and the winner announced at next week's BFF Open House. 

Monday, October 7, 2013

Batty-Licious Halloween Earrings

Bat Charm Earrings

Just a reminder that today is the last day to enter to win my giveaway from Oriental Trading Company. Go here to enter.


I posted last week about some of the items I received from the. Included were some soldered Halloween themed charms. Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Post by Oriental Trading Company. Project Idea and opinions are my own. 

Oriental Trading Company 1

They have an image on one side and text on the other. I thought they’d make fun earrings to wear throughout October. The earrings are  big and bold but not as heavy as they look.

I grabbed some findings and beads from my stash and played around, stringing a fire polished black crystal bead, some metal spacer beads, and the soldered charms on beading wire. Attached to a square pendant piece and adhered a clip earring back with jewelry glue.

Batty Earrings

People may think I’m batty, but I’m loving my batty-licious earrings!

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Monday, June 17, 2013

Graduation Gift: Silver Softball Themed Necklace and Bracelet

Silver Softball Necklace and Bracelet

Sharing a graduation gift I made for the daughter of one of my besties. We have been friends forever (7th grade) and now her baby has now graduated from college!

My “niece” is a lifelong softball player and earned a scholarship to play softball in college. I knew I wanted to incorporate softball into her necklace but now that she’s a college graduate, also wanted something grown up that she could wear. I found this enameled softball charm that was neutral in color and designed things around it.

I used a combination of silver chains and a rhinestone chain I picked up at Michaels and deconstructed.

Softball Graduation Necklace

I didn’t take a lot of pictures while I was making it but basically just laid out the chain the way I wanted it, added a couple of the rhinestone links along the way, and then used one as the base for a pendant, attaching the softball charm, another silver charm, and a silver pearl attached using a head pin.
Silver Bead Bracelet

The bracelet (this pic came out a bit blurry) is a mix of silver crystal beads, silver pieces, and another link from the rhinestone chain.

Graduation was yesterday and I am really honored that she chose to wear these for her graduation. Wishing you all the best Ro!

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Jewelry Makeover: Clearance Earrings Into An Easy Necklace

Teardrop Metal Necklace 3

I’ve shared before that since I don’t have pierced ears I often buy pierced earrings and convert them to clips. This time, I found some on sale that I couldn’t see myself wearing as clips, but the parts intrigued me and the price ($4.99) was too good to pass up.

This is the before pic. Aren’t they ginormous? Each earring was made from 16 metal teardrop pieces.

Drop Earrings Before Pic

The teardrop metal pieces were attached with jump rings so I disassembled each earring and ended up with a pile of parts:

Earring Parts

I had some dark pewter metal chain in my stash, measured out 18 inches and then attached a clasp.

Gunmetal Chain

Teardrop Metal Necklace Clasp

Then I attached three of the metal pieces ( saved the jump rings I’d removed) to a 7 links of the chain.

Teardrop Metal Necklace

I ended up using 21 of the 32 tear drops so I have some left over to play with. In deconstructing the earrings, I also ended up with another pile o parts that sparked some more ideas. Stay tuned!

P6140043

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Jewelry Making With Plaid and Martha Stewart. I'm In Love!

Martha Stewart Rhinestone  Necklace
This post is sponsored by Plaid , Martha Stewart Crafts, and The Blueprint Social. Projects and opinions are my own.


When I heard that Plaid was launching a Martha Stewart Jewelry line, I was excited. When I had the opportunity to get to play with products from this new line, there was no living with me. I camped out at the front door waiting for Mr. FedEx man. Martha and jewelry? This could only be phenomenal.  The only thing missing was chocolate.

Martha Stewart Jewelry Supplies

Let’s start with the amazing variety and choices in this new line. Whether you’re a new jewelry maker or an experienced one, there’s something for you. Findings, chains, beads, charms, rhinestones, bails, bezels, tools. Two of the most exciting new products are the jewelry glazes and enamel paints.

You can make your own very elegant enamel charms in a variety of colors.  There are also  epoxy clays and silicone molds to make even more components. I had to start somewhere (this was the hardest part!) so I decided to play with the jewelry glaze.

Martha Stewart Glazed Charms

I covered two of the silver charms with  Ivory jewelry glaze. To apply it, squeeze a little glaze onto the silicone mat then stipple it onto the charm. This little silicone mat is genius! Works with the jewelry glaze and the enamel paints and cleans up easily.

Martha Stewart Pearl Glaze

I wanted a vintage look so I wiped a bit of the Ivory glaze off with a clean dry rag but if you want a more contemporary opaque look, just don't wipe away the glaze. After about an hour’s drying time , I went over the Ivory with a coat of the Light Gold glaze.

While my glaze was drying, I played with a couple different sizes of the rhinestones and settings, using the Martha Stewart jewelry glue to secure the rhinestones.There are two different kinds of settings; pronged and glue in. I used the 3MM and 6MM hematite colored rhinestones and settings .  I've mentioned before that I'm really sensitive to strong fumes and smells. The jewelry glue didn't bother me at all.

Martha Stewart 3MM Rhinestones

Martha Stewart Gold Glaze

I used two types of silver chain that came in my supplies, connecting the rhinestone components with jump rings to sections of one of the chain and using the other chain in its entirety. I made a pendant out of one of the glazed charms and rhinestones and used the other glazed charm (with chain I had on hand) to make a matching bracelet.
Martha Stewart Glazed Pendant Project

Martha Stewart Jewelry Glazed Necklace

The rhinestones come in a variety of colors and sizes and coordinate with other beads in the line. 

Martha Stewart Jewelry Glaze Bracelet

There are endless possibilities with these products, limited only by your imagination. You can check out the full line of products (available exclusively at Michaels) and get some other ideas here: 

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspiredByPlaid
  • Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlaidCrafts
  • Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/plaidcrafts


And be on the lookout because other creative bloggers will be sharing their Martha Stewart Jewelry creations too.


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