It’s February, and snow and ice are covering every surface… which means I’d really like to fly away to someplace warm for the winter.
Wire wrapped bird nest bracelet with freshwater pearl beads and Vintaj bird charms.
But I don’t have wings, so the next best thing is having Kayla explain how she makes these adorable wire bird’s nests. Continue Reading…
I have been more and more drawn to Lariat style necklaces lately, and seeing lots of them pinned on pinterest. This inspired me to create several lariat necklace tutorials for the Rings & Things jewelry design gallery and to look to our other designer’s past contributions to this jewelry style.
What is a lariat necklace? It is an open-ended necklace with no clasp. It is fastened by threading one end of the necklace through the other. Lariat necklaces frequently have beads or tassels at the end, and are typically worn with the ends in front.
Foliage Lariat Necklace
The assymetrical Foliage necklace design is similar. Clusters of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS xilion crystal bicones are spaced along the curb chain, and again the chain goes through one of the charms to lock the second charm in place, however, the spacing of the bead clusters limits the adjustment to the final length that can be done by the wearer.
Tour de Belgium lariat
The Tour de Belgium long lariat design is designed to be worn doubled. A large fluted bead locks the charm dangles in place. Some adjustment to the final length can be made by varying the length of the doubled section of drawn flattened cable chain.
Giddy Up Suede Lariat
The Giddyup lariat is made on suede lace with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS. The ring is tied just off center of the length of leather, and the crystal briolette dangles slip through the ring. The metal components of this true lariat style necklace are plated, to economize.
The Ladylike lariat design is also made with suede lace. This luxe necklace pairs sterling findings with freshwater pearls and sparkly glass. While the components are minimal, the design has impact.
The Corralled Pearls necklace has no findings, and no metal. Thin leather cord, usually not strong enough for stringing, can transform into a bold design when many strands are gathered together. The use of a battery operated bead reamer allows the hole on these freshwater pearls to be made larger for stringing. Simple overhand knots create the loop (clasp) and also hold the pearls in place.
I hope you like this roundup of lariat designs. All of the components to make each of these designs are available right here at Rings & Things. Remember to check our design gallery for a variety of jewelry styles and jewelry design inspiration!
~ Rita
Charm Bracelet
Create a beautiful, heirloom-quality charm bracelet using freshwater keishi pearls, Swarovski faceted crystal beads, and unique sterling silver bead caps, charms, and findings.
A four-piece jewelry making tool set and basic assembly techniques are all you need to create this stunning bracelet. I recommend using the Chain Stā tool which suspends the bracelet horizontally making it easier to see where you are placing charms.
Create Eight Styles of Charms
For this design, charms were arranged in the following pattern:
Ethereal Pearl Charm
Create 7 Ethereal Pearl Charms using: Center-Drilled Freshwater Keishi Pearl 2″ Ball End Head Pins 4mm Round Jump Rings
Oopsy Daisy Charm
Falling Leaf Charm
Delicate Sprout Charm
Budding Flower Charm
Cherry Blossom Charm
Have fun making the bracelet!
Personalized jewelry is very popular, and quite simple to create! A four-piece jewelry making tool set and basic assembly techniques are all you need to create custom necklaces.
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It is easy to personalize jewelry using birthstone-color gemstones and Swarovski crystal, along with a sterling silver charm or two. Rings & Things sells a huge selection of lightweight budget-friendly sterling charms and necklace chains.
Chains are easily adorned with add-a-dangle, or add-a-gemstone charms. To create these assorted dangles, you just need a selection of small beads from your stash and some sterling ball-end head pins.
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These colorful dangles allow you to add several birthstones to a custom piece, or accessorize it according the whimsy of the wearer. A mixture of natural stones, freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals is very popular. Making oversized loops on the dangles makes it easy to slide them onto nearly any chain without adding a jump ring.
If you sell custom necklaces, consider displaying the basics in a fun display (along with a few completed samples):
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This jewelry also makes great gifts and mementos for friends, family and other loved ones. Have fun making these darling necklaces!
When you hear the word “margarita,” you probably don’t think of Christmas trees … unless you’re a fan of Swarovski crystal margarita beads! Christmas tree earrings made from these sparkling beauties are one of the most popular Christmas jewelry projects around. Plus, these crystal charm designs are super easy to make! So, grab a tasty beverage and a friend or two and have a good time making margarita trees all evening. Continue Reading…
It doesn’t matter if you’re a rhinestone cowgirl or an urban fashionista – dressing up belt buckles and other jewelry blanks with sparkling crystal chatons is just plain fun!
Use the steps below to either recreate the Zen Yin belt buckle by Jan or to embed you own designs in a wide range of jewelry components including bezel cups, buckle blanks, cuff links, and more.
1. Gather your supplies.
Supplies:
To make the exact belt buckle pictured in this blog, see the “Zen Yin” belt buckle full parts list in our Design Gallery.
A jewel setting tool makes it easy to set chatons in your jewelry clay.
Tip: A jewel setter makes it much easier to set small objects into the clay! While bare fingers can hinder your field of vision and upset other elements of the design, jewel setters provide a wax tip to lightly pick up and place small objects in just the right spot.
2. Plan your layout.
Plan your layout before you unwrap the clay. This allows you to tinker with design options without the clay drying prematurely. This is especially important on large objects like a belt buckle.
3. Measure equal amounts of clay.
Wear thin gloves to protect your hands. Measure equal amounts of “A” and “B” types of clay, and form each material into a separate ball. If the clay sticks, apply a thin coat of vegetable oil.
4. Combine.
Combine the two balls together until they are well blended and uniform in color.
5. Press clay into jewelry blank.
Press the clay into your jewelry blank. You can smooth it out by adding a little vegetable oil on top. If it gets too sticky, dust it lightly with baby powder.
6. Place large objects & focals first.
Place larger objects and focal points into your clay first. Tip: To save time, you can leave strung beads on the string, rather than placing them individually in the clay. Trim excess string once the beads are in place.
7. Fill in remaining clay with crystal chatons.
Next, fill in the remaining exposed clay with sparkling crystal chatons. As mentioned above, a jewel setter can make this task quicker and easier. When you are placing your chatons into the clay, be sure not to press or tap them in to deeply. The clay will rise up a little bit around them particularly when it is very wet.
8. Allow clay to dry and you’re done!
Set aside your design in a safe spot and allow the clay to thoroughly dry, based on the manufacturer’s instructions. EnviroTex Jewelry Clay fully cures in 24 hours to a hard, durable, and shock resistant substance with a smooth, porcelain like surface. It does not shrink as it cures!
Below, check out more fun designs Jan made with EnviroTex Clay and crystal chatons.
These chunky donut beads are held fast in the crystal clay,
demonstrating how strong EnviroTex clay is!
Homer Simpson wouldn’t be able to resist this whimsical bit of bling! It’s made with donut beads, aurora borealis crystals, and a square bezel-cup pendant blank.
EnviroTex Jewelry Clay is durable enough for heavily-used objects
like key rings. Add heart to designs with heart bezel cups.
Heart-shaped bezel cups add an extra bit of love to jewelry designs.
Go nautical with embedded scallop shell beads and freshwater pearls.
Rectangle bezel-cups provide a great shape for custom pendants with a touch of bling. The design pictured above is adorned with shell beads and freshwater pearls surrounded by blue zircon and aquamarine crystal chatons.
Adorn your hands with bezel cup ring blanks!
Bezel cup ring blanks come in several colors and shapes. Some styles are exclusive to Rings & Things, and all styles are adjustable to fit any ring size. They’re perfect for making blingy costume jewelry.
You don’t have to use crystals.
This polar bear ring has seed beads embedded in the jewelry clay.
Embed seed beads and other objects in the crystal clay to see what other effects you can achieve! This winter-themed ring has a polar bear bead and a “Snow Ball” seed bead mix embedded in the clay. Let your imagination be your guide as you have fun making mosaic jewelry and a whole lot more! 🙂
Make A Metal Box
A small metal box was turned into a framed reliquary, containing an antiqued frozen Charlotte doll. Create your own metal box that can be transformed into memory jewelry, a tiny shrine or used for some other whimsical (or practical) purpose.
To make a metal box, first decide on the type of metal, and the size of the box you want to create. I recommend using 20 gauge sheet metal for strength and durability. Copper or brass sheet metal are nice choices as they are inexpensive and they antique nicely.
Anneal the metal before cutting so that it can be manipulated more easily. Heat it with a torch until it is glowing red, let it cool naturally and clean thoroughly.
Cut the metal to size. This box was 1-1/2″ long and 3/4″ wide. It is 3/8″ deep. Draw lines of box using a Sharpie pen.
Cut one line of each corner to the point where it intersects with another line. Using wide flat nose pliers, bend the ends in, and the sides up, to create the box shape. Carefully fold each end of the box into place, making the corners square and secure. File if needed to remove any uneven edges.
Antique and colorize all parts you intend to assemble.
Fill back of frame with two-part epoxy. Center box over ornate brass frame and press into epoxy to place.
Using a two-part epoxy, UV resin, jeweler’s grade resin or other strong, clear glue, embed your treasures into your framed metal reliquary. Small toys, souvenirs, images layered in resin and tiny mementos are all used in creating custom memory jewelry.
Use epoxy to attach a magnet, let it cure and you are done! (Note: You could also attach a pin back or changeable bail in the same manner for a DIY jewelry brooch or pendant).
Questions? Please post them below!
“Shining Stars Lashed Earrings” are created with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS; bicone beads and rivoli stones add sparkle.
Learn this simple wire-wrapping technique and how to use pinch-style rivoli settings with this free wire-lashing jewelry-making tutorial from Rings & Things. Continue Reading…
If you haven’t yet jumped on the ear cuff bandwagon, now’s your chance! Some ear cuff designs include an earring post to hold the design in place, but many of today’s styles work for both pierced and non-pierced ears, making them as versatile as they are trendy.
Customer service rep Tracy and Gallery guru Amy made the following Five Ear Cuffs to showcase some of the styles popping up.
Lightweight plastic spike bead assortments give this ear cuff pizzazz and drama!
“Music Lover Necklace” by Valorie Nygaard-Pouzar features SuperClear Resin, a Piddix image, and an Amate heart-shaped bezel.
Resin jewelry is a great way to encapsulate an image; you can seal a Piddix image or even a photocopy of a cherished family photo under SuperClear resin. To get started just follow these step-by-step instructions.
Why we love SuperClear Resin:
Step 1: Gather the tools and supplies necessary to make your SuperClear Resin pendant.
You will need these tools and supplies:
Step 2: Cut out the image to match the size of the bezel’s interior opening.
Step 3: Place the image into the bezel; it should fit snugly. If desired, you can glue the image in place with a water-based adhesive such as “The Ultimate!” glue; the same glue can be used to seal the image by painting a thin layer over the image. Allow to dry thoroughly.
Step 4: Use the calibrated cups to measure the resin and hardener according to the manufacturer’s instructions: mix 2 parts of resin (part A) to 1 part of hardener (part B).
Step 5: Gradually combine the hardener and resin in a disposable plastic cup.
Step 6: Mix by “folding” the resin and hardener together for two minutes; scrape the sides of the cup as you mix.
Step 7: Let the mixed resin “rest” for five minutes.
Step 8: Pour the resin slowly into your prepared bezel. Add resin until the bezel is full and is gently domed. Working on a small elevated work surface makes it easy to pivot and move the piece.
Step 9: To aid in the dissipation of air bubbles, carefully hold a lit lighter above the surface of the resin; bubbles will quickly rise to the surface and burst. Once the resin is clear, set the pendant aside on a level surface and cover with an inverted container to prevent dust from settling on the resin. Allow to dry for approximately eight hours at room temperature.
If you would like to make the “Music Lover” Necklace, a list of the exact parts used can be found in the Rings & Things Design Gallery. For other resin jewelry tutorials, check out the Jewelry Design Gallery.
Make things!
Mollie
