Create custom pendants by setting crystal chatons in metal stamping blanks! This fun, easy, inexpensive project works well for small gatherings (bridal parties, crafternoons, solstice celebrations, baby showers, wine with friends…) Just a few supplies & three simple steps…
Here is a project that can add a personal touch to your special day, whether it be a wedding or an anniversary. Turning vintage coins into cuff links with a little Swarovski sparkle is an easy afternoon project–even if you are making a pair for each groomsman. And best of all, the supplies and tool list is short and sweet–and available at Rings & Things. Continue Reading…
I’m not saying I choose my vacation destinations based solely on the locations of souvenir penny machines, but I am kind of hooked on these inexpensive keepsakes. And yes, I have the Penny Collector app on my iPhone, making the location of penny-pressing machines around the world readily available. But what is not to love–you basically get a keepsake charm (jewelry-making supply!) for less than a dollar. Swoon!
Using a small corked glass dome, create a custom mini terrarium necklace! DIY wearable cloche planters are very simple to make by following the steps in this tutorial. This tiny fairy garden is made of moss, crystal points, and Swarovski crystal blossoms. Personalize your wearable planter with anything you choose, as the basic assembly techniques will likely be similar.
It may not come as a surprise that the BIGkick tool is one of my favorite jewelry-making tools. And what is not to love? It is compact, affordable, and effortless to use–and the results are almost always perfection. So when I saw the new embossable, 30-gauge aluminum blanks on the “NEW shelf” I was ready to try them; finally, an affordable silver-toned alternative to sterling silver.
Ready-made bezel ring settings will allow you to create great combinations of crystal color, metal color, and setting style to make fashionable, sparkly rings in a snap, without ever touching glue. Continue Reading…
The popularity of bracelets just keeps increasing, and having fallen in love with some similar styles, I decided to tackle copper soldering and hand formed wire bracelet making in the same project.
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Ever wonder how to fill your wrists with deliciously colorful and fun stackable bracelets? Well here’s a super trendy DIY bracelet design you can make in about 5 minutes! Best yet, you can customize each bracelet with charms that match your interests — or the interests of friends, family, and customers. This design works great for making Awareness jewelry and seasonal themes too. Since I made these in November, I was ready for some Christmas Cheer. Continue Reading…
People use Mala necklaces for both spirituality and fashion, and making a Mala tassel necklace with prayer beads can be easy and fun! The use of Malas or “meditation garlands” in prayer dates back 3,000 years. Traditional Malas consist of 108 prayer beads, including “marker” beads, plus a larger “summit” or “guru” bead. During meditation, a mantra or prayer is recited 108 times — once per bead. The marker beads serve as a point to re-focus, if necessary, and the summit bead is a beginning and ending point. When you make your own DIY Mala necklace, you can incorporate gemstone beads with properties that benefit you (or your family, friends, and customers). You can also use charms with symbols of your choice and colors with special meanings. Read on for full instructions.
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Part of the joy of the holiday season comes from creating special memories. Decorating your home for gatherings with friends and family adds to the joy, especially if you include handmade decor! You can make these beaded napkin rings with CzechMates™ two-hole beads, or you can make a simpler single-strand version using an endless choice of beads. Read on to make your handmade holiday joy! Continue Reading…