Swarovski Crystal Prism Necklace

July 7, 2015

I recently discovered these Swarovski prisms! We have carried them at Rings & Things for years, but somehow I overlooked them. They are leaded glass crystal, so they are very sparkly and pick up all the colors of the rainbow! And, they are safe to wear in jewelry. This necklace combines 3 sizes of Swarovski prism spears on long antique brass chain. While it is a very simple project to recreate, the final result is anything but simple! It is quite fancy indeed! See how to make this project below! —

Long Chandelier Tassel Chain Earrings

July 2, 2015

I like chandelier earrings. I like tassel earrings. So of course, I love combining these two styles into some dramatic long chain tassel chandelier earrings! And because I always have to have a little “bling” (do people still say that?), I added some sparkly Swarovski crystals to them to finish the look! They are quite easy to create. Learn how below! —

DIY Etched Bullet Necklaces

June 23, 2015

I have noticed bullet casing jewelry trending for awhile now. And I love it! It has a rustic, masculine feel. I also love etching metal with ferric chloride acid, something I have been doing for the last couple of years.  Etching bullet casings seemed like the next logical step. I thought they would be a great gift for Dad (or Mom, depending on how you make them)! So round up your bullet casings and let me show you how to make these awesome necklaces! —

DIY: Greek Leather and Jump Ring Sparkly Necklace Project

June 18, 2015

Jump rings are designed to connect things. Connect chain to clasp. Pendants to chain. Charms to bracelets. But what you may not realize is that jump rings also make great spacers! I like to use them on leather cording to space sparkly beads or pearls. This project is really easy, fast, and great to do with beginners, as the skills required are pretty basic.  And while the skills are basic, the end result certainly is not.  These necklaces make a real statement and are great solo or layered! —

Swarovski and Sterling Silver Rainbow Chandelier Earrings

June 5, 2015

Swarovski never ceases to amaze me with the pretty products they put out! While lovely Swarovski Navette crystals aren’t new, they are new to me and I love them! These beautiful marquise-shaped crystals are set in a silver colored setting.  When I saw them, I knew I needed to create a project that used multiple colors in the same piece! They are just such vibrant colors. I decided to pair them with some lovely sterling silver chandelier findings! The result is beautiful! See how to make these lovely earrings below! —

Vintaj Flying Sparrow and Czech Glass "Put a Bird on It" Necklace

May 26, 2015

Living in the Pacific Northwest, I quickly became a fan of the show Portlandia. It is a comedy sketch show on IFC (the Independent Film Channel), and all the characters are representative of the eccentric people that live in Portland, Oregon. In the first season, there was a famous sketch called, “Put a Bird on It” where two characters go around putting birds on everything and selling it as art. It is one of my favorite sketches! So when I made this necklace, I used that episode as inspiration!
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Gold Filled Tassel and Hoop Earrings featuring Swarovski Edelweiss Pendants

May 14, 2015

Every year I anticipate the new Swarovski launch! I get so excited to see what new shapes and colors they will unveil! The newest launch featured Swarovski pendants in the shape of the beautiful Edelweiss flower. I just adore them! I decided I needed to make a pair that combined the aquamarine color with gold filled hoops and gold-filled chain. I love the way that these turned out! See how to make them below. —

Vintaj BIGkick Jewelry Making Tutorial

May 10, 2015

Vintaj Special Edition BIGkick Machine by Sizzix (out of production, and replaced/upgraded by the Big Shot Jewelry Studio) is the perfect tool for adding detailed patterns to metal.  Unlike a rolling mill, the BIGkick machine is affordable, compact, and doesn’t require a lot of strength to use.  It comes with the main machine body, a solo platform and shim, and a pair of cutting pads.  There are dozens of DecoEmboss and DecoEtch dies in a variety of popular themes; these are sold separately so you can select the designs you like best and add to your collection over time.  Finally the embossed and etched blanks can be polished to a high shine, or colored with Vintaj patina inks.   Continue Reading…

Stamp your own Longitude & Latitude Bracelets

May 5, 2015

For years, longitude and latitude coordinates have been growing in popularity when it comes to fashion. They have been popping up in tattoos, jewelry and clothing. I decided I wanted to make my own longitude latitude project, with coordinates from one of my favorite places on earth, Tulum, Mexico! You can easily do this project with any location on Earth! Simply enter your desired location plus “longitude and latitude” into any search engine, and the coordinates will come up for you! —

Beaded Infinity Knot Bracelet Project

April 30, 2015

I am not typically a “stringer” when it comes to making jewelry.  I don’t usually like to work with beads that are less than 4mm in size. But I have had the image of this bracelet in my head for days, so I decided to conquer my fear of seed beads, and try to create it! I love how it turned out! Learn how easy it is to recreate it below! —