If you are looking to make colorful things, here are two products sure to please: “Mirage Beads” and “Mermaid Scales”. Both come in bold bright colors and the possible design combinations are (almost) endless. I chose to make dangly earrings using my favorite Mirage bee beads and bright purple Mermaid scales. Read on for instructions and inspiration…what will you make?
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It is March, and we are all ready to transition into Spring. For me, part of that transition is the jewelry I wear–the heavier, darker jewelry makes way for lighter and brighter accessories. With this in mind, here is a fun and colorful take on the traditional bolo tie, but made with dyed silk ribbons and flat-back cameo cabochons. The project assembles pretty quickly, so you too can be ready to welcome Spring!
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The “TierraCast Hammertone Stitch-in Link” is designed for use as a stitched-in end for seed-bead work, but I think it works equally well as a chandelier-style connector. In this project, I combined swags of cable jewelry chains to make long chandelier earrings. They are simple and yet dramatic. In celebration of the start of Autumn, I made antiqued copper earrings, but don’t feel limited–supplies are available in four different plated finishes: silver, gold, antiqued brass, and antiqued copper. So you might want to make more than one pair.
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I am not a fantastic metal stamper, and sadly, practice doesn’t always make perfect. I am the queen of stamped four-letter words, and even those are crooked. But actually, what I need is a process that camouflages my imperfections as rustic charm and offers the opportunity for do-overs. If this sounds too good to be true, it’s not–read on to learn how in this step-by-step tutorial.
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If you have metal allergies, chances are your jewelry box has one or more pairs of abandoned earrings due to the ear wires causing an allergic reaction. Fortunately, this is easily remedied simply by changing out the ear wires–a task you can do yourself. Read on to learn about the supplies you will want, the tools you will need, and the instructions to turn those old abandoned earrings into your new favorites.
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The bolo tie is a truly American piece of jewelry. Appealing to diverse groups of people, bolo ties have gone in and out of fashion over the years. They recently became popular again when Prada introduced a bolo tie (that’s right, I just used “Prada” and “bolo tie” in the same sentence). But before you consider spending $300 on a Prada bolo tie, why not craft your own? Bolos can be made out of so many objects, such as vintage pins, bottle caps, old coins, buttons, or a gemstone donut. And whether you are Mid-Century Western, 1980’s New Wave, or 21st-Century Pop Culture–a bolo tie is the perfect statement piece!
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Rings & Things has carried the BeadSmith Micro Engraver for about five years, and can you believe I have never tried it? I always discredited it for not being what I consider a “real” tool. Isn’t this something you would see engraving names on carnival trinket necklaces? But it turns out the Micro Engraver is actually a pretty cool tool. It is fun and easy to use, and the results are surprisingly pleasing.
If you like to draw or doodle, you will instantly love the Micro Engraver. But even if you can’t draw, you can still make pretty things that look great–just follow my step-by-step instructions.
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Lots of time at home has had me investing more time in my backyard, trying to create some beauty around me by pulling weeds and planting seeds (in fact I planted broccoli and dahlias right before I started this project), and I figured that creating a garden with Ceralun clay would also be a rewarding and fun project for a Friday.
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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and what bead could be more perfect for Valentine’s jewelry than Swarovski’s heart-shaped “LOVE” Bead? I dangled a pair of LOVE Beads from the end of ear threads and in just minutes I made a pair of earrings that are flashy, yet elegant. And I must add, perfect for any day of the year. Love!
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PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue
“Instilling calm, confidence and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.”
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