Keepsake Crafts - Sharing the Love of Crafting and Sewing

Chain Tassel Earrings Video Tutorial

Aug 272012

I kinda love the look of the chain tassels in these earrings.

Don’t they dress up the beads wonderfully?

The key, as I mention in the video, is to make the wire loops large enough to accommodate all the chains.

I can totally see these in just about any color, but I’m liking the white and gold look.

Happy creating!

Materials:

two ear wires
two eye pins
two glass beads
two small spacer beads
ten 1-inch pieces of chain (12-13 links per inch)
round nose pliers
chain nose pliers
wire cutters

Instructions:

Slide spacer bead onto eye pin; then slide on glass bead. Use round nose and chain nose pliers to make the beginning of a loop. (Make loop slightly larger than normal, about 3/8-inch from tips of round nose pliers.)
Slide end link of each of five 1-inch lengths of chain onto loop. Close loop and make one or two wraps. Cut off excess wire, tucking in end with pliers as necessary.
Open eye of ear wire and slide on top loop of eye pin. Close ear wire. Repeat for second earring.

Chain and Bead Earrings Video Tutorial

Aug 242012

These simple, yet classic earrings are a snap to make. They’re sure to be a wardrobe staple.

Like I mention in the video, I chose to use all metal components so these earring would go with just about any outfit.

Materials:

two metal beads
two 1-inch lengths of chain
two ear wires
two head pins
chain nose pliers
round nose pliers
wire cutters

Instructions:

Slide a bead onto a head pin. Use chain nose and round nose pliers to start a loop. Slide one end of 1-inch length of chain onto loop. Complete loop with one or two wraps, tucking in end as necessary.
Open ear wire. Slide other end of chain into ear wire. Close ear wire. Repeat for second earring.

Happy creating!

To my regular readers, sorry I’ve been missing for the past week. I’m working on climbing out of my own personal black hole at the moment, so keeping the projects quick and easy. Hope you enjoy. :-)

Frosted Teardrop Bead Earrings – Beginner Jewelry Tutorial

Aug 182012

Got a minute? Then you can make these earrings!

I fell in love with this strand of frosted glass beads and decided to let them be the stars in this design.

Seriously, it will probably take you longer to assemble your materials that it will to put these together. It doesn’t get much easier.

The teardrop shaped beads are what give these earrings interest. I love that the three different colors of beads all came on one strand.

Materials:

two ear wires
two decorative head pins
12 top-drilled teardrop-shaped beads
chain nose pliers
round nose pliers
wire cutters

Instructions:

Thread six teardrop beads onto a head pin. Push narrow ends of beads close together so they nest. Use chain nose and round nose pliers to make a loop at top of head pin. Cut off excess head pin with wire cutters.
Open hanging loop of ear wires and attach beaded dangle. Repeat to make second earring.

Happy Beading!

Charm and Bead Dangle Necklace Video Tutorial

Aug 162012

I purchased a dangly beaded pendant a while back, and liked it so much I decided to copy it in different colors. I showed how I made it into a necklace in this video tutorial.

Here’s the new one.

And here’s the original. Now I can’t decide which I like best.

Bummer that I can only wear one at a time, lol.

Anyhow, enjoy the video and make one for YOU in your favorite colors.

Materials:

closed metal ring, approx. 1 inch to 1 ½ inches in diameter
five lengths of chain: 2 inches, 2 3/8 inches, 1 1/8 inches, 1 1/2 inches and 26 inches
seven beads for dangles
two charms
seven decorative head pins
five 10mm jump rings
three 8mm jump rings
lobster clasp
chain nose pliers
round nose pliers
wire cutters

Instructions:

For bead dangles, thread a bead onto each head pin. Use chain nose and round nose pliers to make a loop at the top of each head pin. Cut off excess head pin with wire cutters.
Attach lobster clasp to one end of 26-inch chain with an 8mm jump ring. Set aside.
Attach bead dangles to four remaining pieces of chain in a pleasing arrangement. Use 8mm jump rings to attach charms to two of these pieces of chain.
Use a 10mm jump ring to attach the top of each of these four pieces of chain to the closed metal ring.
Attach final 10mm jump ring to metal ring and thread 26-inch chain through to complete necklace.

Happy Creating!

WOYWW – Polymer Clay Wearable Scrapbooks

Aug 152012

Happy Wednesday, ya’ll! (Check out the link to find out just why I’m posting a photo of my workdesk. I’m not the only one doing it!)

Today’s desk shows I’m still working with polymer clay, but this week I’m trying to finish up fiddly details for a new concept I have.

If I get it right, these will be wearable scrapbooks. The photos are index prints, the albums are about 1.5 inches square. Cute, no?

The details I’m working on are how to get the clasp to look good, but also operate nicely, just how to fasten the clasp and how to make the hinges. Lot of ideas are floating around, but each has to be tested out. Sadly, most do not work out in reality as well as they do in my head.

Those little plastic baggies on the lower left are full of neodymium magnets that I got in several sizes to test out closures. Some of them are only 1/32 of an inch thick. You would not believe how powerful they are. A. May. Zing. And fun. I could play with them all day long, lol.

I’m also going to experiment with the metallic rub-ons, as Perfect Pearls don’t play the way I want them to with Sculpey Glaze.

So now ’tis time to get off the computer and head to the testing grounds.

Happy creating!

P.S. Be watching tomorrow for another jewelry video. This one is one of my favorites yet. :-)

Silk Ribbon Charm Dangle Necklace – Video Tutorial

Aug 102012

I love that the combination of glass beads, silk ribbon, metal chain and charm dangles make this necklace a study in contrasts.

I purchased the pendant, but then added a cute bird’s nest charm and threaded in silk ribbon to soften the look.

The supply list is below the video, and it’s shorter than you might think!

Materials:

purchased necklace pendant with chain dangles
purchased charm of choice
25 inches chain
lobster clasp
1-3 jump rings
30 inches silk ribbon
scissors
two pair chain nose pliers

Instructions:

Use a jump ring and chain nose pliers to attach additional charm to chain dangle of purchased pendant to customize.
Attach a lobster clasp to one end of 25-inch chain, using jump ring if necessary.
Weave silk ribbon through a link of the 25-inch chain every 2 to 3 inches. Tie off with knots at ends and trim at angles. Be sure to leave some slack in ribbon for a graceful appearance.
Use a jump ring to attach customized pendant to ribbon/chain length. Attach a jump ring to end of chain opposite lobster clasp if necessary.

WOYWW – Polymer Clay Blue-Eyed White Tigers

Aug 082012

This week’s desk shows I’m back to polymer clay creating.

Click on the photo to see all the messy details close up. I really do need a bigger table.

In anticipation of the fourth book in the Tiger’s Curse series I’ve been making blue-eyed white tiger jewelry. I’ve also been memorizing William Blake’s poem “The Tiger,” just cuz I like it. :-)

These are all prototypes; some may go in my Etsy shop soon, but right now I’m just trying to develop a good pendant design. I think the rectangular one is my favorite, but it still needs something. Any preferences? Thoughts? Ideas?

The flower was made just for kicks, I bought the mold weeks ago and have been wanting to try it. Playing with Skinner blends is fun.

I’ve also been considering using photo transfers to make custom photo jewelry. You could have pics of children, grandchildren, family pets or special places. What do you think?

Of course, I still need to work up a nice base design. Off to go create…

Happy What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday!

P.S. Btw, the other books are Tiger’s Quest (Book 2), Tiger’s Voyage (Book 3) and Tiger’s Destiny (Book 4, out on September 4th.) You can also go for it, save a little money and get all four in a set - The Tiger’s Curse Saga. Happy reading!

Earthy Leather Cord Wooden Bead Bracelet – Video Tutorial

Aug 072012

This super quick and easy bracelet of wooden beads has a great, earthy vibe. Using leather cord to string the beads means you don’t even need any jewelry making tools!

I love the lightweight feel of these wooden beads; you hardly notice it on your wrist. Sometimes in the summer, a bunch of heavy glass beads can be quite uncomfortable.

If you’ve never made your own jewelry before, this is a great project to start with. Find just three focal beads and six accent beads that you love and have fun creating!

Materials:

three 1-inch wooden beads
six 3/8-inch wooden beads
15 inches 1mm leather cord
one lobster clasp
1½ inches chain
scissors

Instructions:

Trim ends of leather cord at an angle. Slide on one 3/8-inch bead, one 1-inch bead, and another 3/8-inch bead. Make knots in cord at either side of 3/8-inch beads.
Make another knot in cord ½ inch away from previous knot. Slide on one 3/8-inch bead, one 1-inch bead, and another 3/8-inch bead. Make another knot in cord after second 3/8-inch bead. Repeat to use final three beads.
Tie lobster clasp to one side and chain to other side of remaining cord. Make several knots along cord if desired. Trim ends at an angle.

Put A Bird On It – August Tag Of 2012

Aug 052012

The August 2012 Tim Holtz tag is a fun one, with some great techniques. It has a nice, classy look and a very vintage feel.

The first step is to stamp a Tag with a frame using Clear Embossing Ink and then heat emboss with Black Embossing Powder. My frame is from Tim’s Urban Grunge stamp set. Then you stamp an image inside the frame with Jet Blac k Archival Ink. My bird is from the Inkadinkado Birds Galore Clear Stamp set.

Next is dry embossing with the Postcard Embossing Folder and a machine like Sizzix Big Shot.

To create a resist on the raised part of the embossing, on a Craft Sheet mix some Folk Art Acrylic Paint, Teal with Folk Art Acrylic Paint, Wicker White and apply lightly with a piece of Cut-N-Dry Foam. (I didn’t apply paint to the area inside my frame.)

Cut the bottom of the tag with the On The Edge Brackets Die. Tim left his tag shaped on the bottom, but I thought mine didn’t look right proportionally, so I added a piece of patterned paper. Now you can ink the area inside the frame with Antique Linen Distress ink. Add Vintage Photo outside of the frame and Walnut Stain around the outside edges of the tag.

Once the inking is done, lightly wipe over the tag with a damp towel. This removes the ink from the painted area, very cool!

Follow Tim’s directions to make paper flowers with the Tattered Pine Cone die. I love his tip about using the Sanding Grip to sand the edges while the paper is still flat.

Once they were done, I inked my flowers with Wild Honey, Broken China and Worn Lipstick Distress inks. The leaves and branches were inked with Iced Spruce and Evergreen Bough Distress inks.

The pearl centers are from some old, broken jewelry and are glued in with Glossy Accents.

I made my own pearl mist with Perfect Pearls Heirloom Gold mixed with water in a Mini Mister. After I sprayed the tag and flowers, all the colors seemed way too muted, so I went back over the bird with a black Zig Marker to make it stand out.

To finish the top of the tag, color a piece of Lavish Trimmings with Spun Sugar Distress Stain. Add some pearl dangles, (from yet more broken jewelry) Tim Holtz Idea-ology Trinket Pins, Tim Holtz Facets and/or whatever other charms and doo-dads you may have around.

Would you believe this tag was made with only supplies I had on hand? That may be a testament to too much time shopping in my local craft store, lol.

Happy creating!

Tangerine Tango Triple Strand Necklace Video Tutorial

Aug 042012

I’m not actually a big fan of orange, but it’s growing on me. Since Tangerine Tango IS this year’s color, it seemed a good idea to give it a try.

There something about the lush look of all these beads clusters that I love.

It’s full and rich and funky. Yet, having the other two chain strands, empty, seems to balance it out and keep it elegant.

All the bead wire wrapping is time consuming, but other than that it’s not a complicate necklace to make. (Hooray for messy wraps!)

Materials:

18-inch length chain
16-inch length chain
13-inch length chain
two 4-inch lengths chain
two 8mm split rings or small soldered rings
two jump rings
lobster clasp
~25 3-inch head pins
~50 assorted beads
two pair chain nose pliers
round nose pliers
wire cutters
bead design board

tangerine-tango-triple-chain-necklace-still-2

Instructions:

Use heads pins, beads, chain nose pliers, and round nose pliers to make approximately 30 bead dangles. Dangles can consist of one, two, three, or four beads. Attach dangles to center 5 inches of 13-inch piece of chain.
Open end links of each of the 18-, 16- and 13-inch pieces of chain and attach to 8mm split rings.
Attach one end of each 4-inch chain to a split ring. Attach a jump ring to one remaining end of chain. To last end of chain, attach a lobster clasp with a jump ring.

Happy creating!

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