skip to main |
skip to sidebar
One day I was looking at all the beads that were accumulating in my craft room and noticed that I had ALOT of lime green beads. I originally bought them for this project, but never really sold enough of the item to justify having as many green beads as I (optimistically) purchased! Looking at my massive supply, I got an idea for a bracelet that would not only look fun, but also help me use up the daunting supply of beads!
The result: my Green with Envy Cluster Bracelet. Though I was happy with the end product, I was even more happy with it's reception! The item sold right away, and soon thereafter people were asking me to post it again! I was hesitant at first since it took me 2 full nights to make the cluster bracelet, but, seeing how many of these beads I still had laying around, I caved and listed it again. And again. And again. This time around, I figured it would be a good opportunity to show the steps behind the bracelet, since I think it looks more complicated than it really it! Hopefully this can inspire you to make something new with materials laying around your craft space, too!
First I had to empty out my Beadsmith design board (it's amazing how I allow stray beads to accumulate on this thing!). I really like this extra long felted workspace as it allows me to see all my supplies for any given project while keeping them organized. It also works as a tape measure and ruler, which I will admit I don't use as often as I just eye things :) I bought all these green beads from a variety of sources, including a flea market in Beijing, Michael's, Beadnicks, and Ritual Adornments in Santa Monica... 5 types of seed beads, several shell beads, glass beads, and even some green pearl beads. I wired each bead on bright silver Beadalion stringing wire. All each of these tools (crimp tool, nose pliers, cutting pliers, bent chain nose pliers, flat nose pliers) came in handy, too, as you will see below!
I first cut a 7" piece of Beadalion wire. To secure its end, I put a 2mm crimp bead (image 1) on one end and looped in through itself (image 2). Then I took my crimp pliers (image 3) and flattened the crimp bead until it was secure and tight on the wire. The loop will later serve as a means to connect the strand to the ending clasp.
(sorry about the blurry images - I was working on my ottoman in my poorly-lit living room!)
Next was the most tedious part - beading (image 5) 15 of these strands! Thankfully my husband was close at hand to help me pick up many of the beads I accidentally dropped - those little seed beeds can be frisky! I ended each strand the same way I started them with a loop and a crimp bead (image 6).
Next I needed to create a means to hold all the strands together. Since I was going to use a long bead cap at the end, I couldn't just end with a standard jump ring. I therefore decided to make my own jump ring with some 22 gauge silver wire. I started by taking my nose pliers and clasping the wire toward the bottom of the head.
Next I turned the pliers 360 degrees until I had a bit of a circle at the end of the wire.
Nice, smooth end - but I needed to even the remaining wire out.
I took the same pliers and forced the remaining wire to turn 90 degrees. The result: a perfect eyepin (these things can sell for $.25 each - how much more fun to just make them yourself!
Next I took the 15 strands of green assorted beads and strategically (in terms of texture and color) ordered and strung them on the headpin.
I took my nose pliers and smushed the end of the eye pin together so the strands can't go anywhere. Stay put, little guys!
After repeating the process on the other end, I was ready to attach the bead caps and toggle clasp.
I got these filigree bead caps at Michael's for $.50 each.
Bead Caps are great for covering up ugly finishings and ends!
I cut off the extra wire I didn't need, leaving about 3/4 an inch of wire in which I would create my end loop.
My nose pliers finished the eye loop.
After making the eye loop, I opened it up with my flat nose pliers in order to get the toggle clasp on.
I used the same flat nose pliers to smush both sides of the eye loop back together and thus secure the toggle clasp.
Repeat on the other end.
Viola! The super fun finished product! I might just have to wear it for the day before I send it to it's buyer, my buddy Nilsa! (Thanks again for your patience with this product, friend, you're the best!)
I LOVE the month of MAY. I love it because it has always been a month of beginnings and ends -- end of spring, end of school, end of non-baseball season, etc. It may also mean the end of my sanity this month, as we have my parents coming to visit for a month in a few weeks and also a trip to Baltimore to see my brother and then Chicago to visit the husband's brother.
May is also the beginning of wedding season! I LOVE WEDDINGS and 
especially love making jewelry for them :) I am currently working on a wedding necklace for one of my own bridesmaid's, Kelly. Though her dress is still TBA, her bridesmaids will be wearing this "cornflower blue" dress. I am thinking of making the bridesmaids some 
Swarovski crystal necklaces in that blue, and also add some pearls since Kelly is also using a white color in her theme. I hope to use illusion cord and beading glue to have the crystals look like they are floating on the ladies' necks. I did a similar technique for my own wedding bracelet, but didn't like how the crimp beads got in the way of the simplicity I had hoped to attain. I think I am going to start with these crystal and pearl materials and see what happens.
I also plan to make Kelly a similar, yet 
distinct, 
necklace to go with her own dress. I think I might wire wrap 3 layers of pearls and crystals (maybe in the blue or another kind depending on her dress) and made a layered, yet dainty, necklace for her. Or maybe go with this sketch I drew - hand wrapping a few dozen pearls to make a 35" lanyard to have her wrap around her neck and tie softly in the front. She literally told me to go with it and do whatever I wanted, which is both liberating yet a bit nerve wracking! Thankfully Kelly is much more easy going than I am, so I have a feeling that she will like whatever I make, even if I don't like it!
Meanwhile, a gal from my church is going to her senior prom and has asked me to make her a 
"simple yet classy and bold" bracelet and "funky chunky" ring to match her Nordstrom's dress. To be honest, I have never made a ring before. Instead of buying a ring itself, I ordered some 16 gauge wire in hopes of making my own ring and then adding some crystals on top. Courtney and I talked though what kind of materials she liked and what would go with her dress. Though details on the halter (which warrant staying away from wearing a necklace) are clear beads, Courtney wanted to accessorize with mostly blacks and reds. Together we decided on a bunch of funky and random cuts of Swarovski crystals and seed beads. I plan to make a 2-3 string bracelet, wrapping the crystals in randomly in between some black roundelle and gray/white seed beads. I will also wrap a random number of these beads around the ring and hope it comes out the way I am picturing it! (I bought all the beads from ArtBeads.com)
And to add to the fun, my maid of honor is appearing in a body building show in a few week
s and asked me to make her a set of earrings to wear during the bikini portion of the competition. She is wearing this bathing suit from Victoria's Secret, which features brown shell details and a turquoise bottom (I don't know how to tactfully "zoom in" on the detail work considering its location, as just posting the image makes me feel like I support playboy or something!).
She agreed to let me make her jewelry with the following supplies, mocha and copper crystals along with reconstructed turquoise beads:
Apparently I love crystals as much as I love the month of May! But I think they are appropriate for these three project as they demand attention and shine in the spotlight ;) More pictures to follow, of course!
What do you think? How would you approach these projects?
My friend Roni and I both spend our days working desk jobs, so naturally we chat it up on Facebook chat when we get the chance. A few months ago she asked me to make a bracelet for her to wear in her wedding. Not only was I thrilled, but equally excited about the artistic freedom Roni allowed me in the process.
First Roni sent me a picture of her wedding dress and informed me that it had Swarovski crystals in the detail work. Furthermore, her bridesmaids were going to wear Tiffany Blue dresses with white orchids as the main flower.
Roni next sent me a picture of a necklace her fiance gave her which she hoped could match with the bracelet.
I'll admit, I at first didn't know where to go with this necklace. But then I found these s at Auntie Beads:
When Roni said "YES, please!," I next copied and pasted the image on the old-school "PAINT" PC program to give Roni an idea of what it could look like with her wedding colors, Tiffany blue and cream:
Roni loved it. So I ordered the supplies (in addition to some 5mm freshwater pearls and 2mm Swarovski crystal bicones in Aqua blue) and went to work, sending her this picture of my first draft of the components:
After throwing around some additional ideas, Roni and I had decided on a final design, and I sent her pictures of my progress along the way to make sure we were on the same page:
Roni was thrilled, so I went to work, using sterling silver beading wire, sterling silver crimp beads, and a beautiful antique sterling silver round filigree clasp to top it off. I was so thrilled with the result, I had my friend Alison model it for me:
I had a fun time dressing the bracelet up in a super nice box and ribbon - you know I sent this one insured!
Now all that is left is Roni's wedding - pictures to come!
First I had to empty out my Beadsmith design board (it's amazing how I allow stray beads to accumulate on this thing!). I really like this extra long felted workspace as it allows me to see all my supplies for any given project while keeping them organized. It also works as a tape measure and ruler, which I will admit I don't use as often as I just eye things :) I bought all these green beads from a variety of sources, including a flea market in Beijing, Michael's, Beadnicks, and Ritual Adornments in Santa Monica... 5 types of seed beads, several shell beads, glass beads, and even some green pearl beads. I wired each bead on bright silver Beadalion stringing wire. All each of these tools (crimp tool, nose pliers, cutting pliers, bent chain nose pliers, flat nose pliers) came in handy, too, as you will see below!
I first cut a 7" piece of Beadalion wire. To secure its end, I put a 2mm crimp bead (image 1) on one end and looped in through itself (image 2). Then I took my crimp pliers (image 3) and flattened the crimp bead until it was secure and tight on the wire. The loop will later serve as a means to connect the strand to the ending clasp.
(sorry about the blurry images - I was working on my ottoman in my poorly-lit living room!)
Next was the most tedious part - beading (image 5) 15 of these strands! Thankfully my husband was close at hand to help me pick up many of the beads I accidentally dropped - those little seed beeds can be frisky! I ended each strand the same way I started them with a loop and a crimp bead (image 6).
Next I needed to create a means to hold all the strands together. Since I was going to use a long bead cap at the end, I couldn't just end with a standard jump ring. I therefore decided to make my own jump ring with some 22 gauge silver wire. I started by taking my nose pliers and clasping the wire toward the bottom of the head.
Next I turned the pliers 360 degrees until I had a bit of a circle at the end of the wire.
Nice, smooth end - but I needed to even the remaining wire out.
I took the same pliers and forced the remaining wire to turn 90 degrees. The result: a perfect eyepin (these things can sell for $.25 each - how much more fun to just make them yourself!
Next I took the 15 strands of green assorted beads and strategically (in terms of texture and color) ordered and strung them on the headpin.
I took my nose pliers and smushed the end of the eye pin together so the strands can't go anywhere. Stay put, little guys!
After repeating the process on the other end, I was ready to attach the bead caps and toggle clasp.
I got these filigree bead caps at Michael's for $.50 each.
Bead Caps are great for covering up ugly finishings and ends!
I cut off the extra wire I didn't need, leaving about 3/4 an inch of wire in which I would create my end loop.
My nose pliers finished the eye loop.
After making the eye loop, I opened it up with my flat nose pliers in order to get the toggle clasp on.
I used the same flat nose pliers to smush both sides of the eye loop back together and thus secure the toggle clasp.
Repeat on the other end.
Viola! The super fun finished product! I might just have to wear it for the day before I send it to it's buyer, my buddy Nilsa! (Thanks again for your patience with this product, friend, you're the best!)
