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

Monday, January 5, 2015

Foiled Turquoise Glass and Silver: Earrings and Pendant


BMB Turq and Silver Earrings

My favorite repeat “customer”, College Boy, placed another order with me for some jewelry. This time for a birthday present for one of his besties.  Based on the colors he told me she likes, I chose this turquoise and silver color combo from my Design Team stash of Blue Moon Beads.
  • 7 inch glass bead strand (8MM foiled turquoise beads)
  • 12 inch metal spacer strand ( silver beads)
  • 14 inch metal connector strand
  • Silver chain, clasp
  • Jump rings
BMB Turq and Silver

For the earrings, I strung the glass beads onto head pins, and made wire wrapped loops to close. For each of the earring bead clusters, I made one longer piece using the silver spacer beads in addition to the glass beads. You’ll end up with 5 pieces per earring. One silver / glass combo piece and four other glass bead only pieces. I attached these to two large chain links using jump rings.

BMB Turq and Silver Earrings
Using another jump ring, attach your ear wire.
For the pendant, I used a portion of the metal connector strand along with another glass and silver bead combo on a head pin. SImilar to the earrings, I doubled large links and attached the pendant with jump rings and added some leftover metal chain:

BMB Turq and Silver Pendant

I made two more double wrapped loop pieces using the turquoise beads which I used to join two different types of chain to complete the necklace.

BMB Turq and Silver Earrings

While these supplies were provided to me as part of my participation in the Blue Moon Bead design team, project ideas are my own. Blue Moon beads can be found at JoAnn stores nationwide along with other craft retailers.


Sharing At: 


Monday, July 28, 2014

DIY Upscale Men's Leather Bracelets

Men's Leather Bracelets

I’ve mentioned before how happy I am to have guys in my life who don't complain about trips to bead stores and even ask me to make jewelry for them! OK maybe not those times when  they pick out stuff more expensive than I was thinking but overall…yep…still happy!

Mr. Chocolate and I were having a daycation one weekend and we were near a store I’ve long wanted to go to in Seattle : Fusion Beads. DANGER!! This place is amazing, especially if you are looking for something extra special.

I’ve seen some really nice leather and metal bracelets in stores but ca-ching. Out of my price range. Fortunately, Fusion Beads carries some gorgeous leathers and best of all the big bold findings that go with the leather. We had fun picking out the components for each and I'm really happy with the  results.

Men's Peace Bracelet

Mr. C and I decided we liked this aged brown Regaliz 10MM flat leather for both him and College Boy. Priced at $.37 per inch, the total per bracelet for the leather was $2.96.

Leather Slider Bracelet

The closures are magnetic and you simply glue each end to the end of the leather after adding whatever slider beads you want.  The beads range in price from $1 up and the clasps were about $6. Total cost to make each bracelet was about $12. A far FAR cry from this one below by David Yurman  (whose designs I love but... ) @ $595.
Modern Cable ID Bracelet


Sharing At: 




Monday, May 19, 2014

Retirement In Style (Not Me...I Wish!)

Enjoy Retirement Card

A friend and colleague of mine is retiring and I wanted to do a little something for her. I’ve had some pieces of fused glass in my stash that I bought at an arts fair. Those things that you pick up but want to save for a special occasion. This qualified!

Black and Bronze Pendant

I made this piece of copper and black glass into a pendant by gluing a flat bail to the back. I strung a bronze crystal bead onto  a silver head pin and added a silver bead cap and added to the pendant. Used a jump ring to attach the pendant to a strand of woven antique silver and copper chain.

Black and Bronze Pendant 1

Used the same bronze beads and silver bead caps to make a matching pair of earrings.

Black and Bronze Earrings

And of course I had to make a card! I’ve been having some fun lately re-discovering what’s in my stash ( Shhhhh Mr. Chocolate…do not need to hear about this thank you very much XXOO). I used some paper from a Basic Grey stack (Scarlet’s Letter) and my Graphically Speaking Cricut cartridge (jumbled ENJOY)  and Expression for the card.

Retirement Card

Finished off with some  paper flowers and rhinestone swirls.

Sharing At: 




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.



Sharing At:



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.



Sharing At: 

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!

Sharing At: