Rings Around It Bracelet Video Tutorial

Mar 212016
 

rings around it bracelet

It’s always fun to go through your supplies and discover new ways to combine things. I’ve had these hammered stainless steel links for quite a while and thought they could use some dressing up.

You could make this same design but turn it sideways with just 2 or 3 links and have a pair of earrings. Or connect more links together for a necklace.

So many ideas, so little time!

Tools & Materials:

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

Watch the Rings Around It Bracelet Video Tutorial over at YouTube.

Friday Findings-Studio Tour Part 4-Tool Storage Organizer

Mar 182016
 

ff studio tour tool storage

Today in part 4 of my studio tour I show how I organize most of my tools & supplies for working with polymer clay. I’ve been really pleased with this organizer as it keeps everything I use most often within quick reach.

You can find the foam core in white or in black if you’d like to make something similar for your tools.

Here are some of the tools & supplies I use frequently:

By the way, if you’d like to see the whole series, watch the Studio Tour Playlist.

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

Watch the Friday Findings-Studio Tour Part 4-Tool Storage video over at YouTube.

Springtime Birdies Earrings-Polymer Clay Video Tutorial

Mar 162016
 

springtime birdies earrings 1

In today’s video I show you how to use a push mold to make a pair of earrings that look like far more work than they actually are.

Push molds may have started out as toys for children, but nowadays there are a lot of really gorgeous designs to be found.

The push mold that I used has long since been discontinued (it was made in 1997) but I did find a couple on eBay if you want the exact same one. (It’s called “Birds” by Judi Maddigan and was made by Amaco.) Otherwise you will find a lot of really nice push molds on Amazon.

The top two on this list are ones I show in the video, plus a few more that you might like.

Don’t be afraid to further manipulate your little sculpture after molding. You can stretch it, pull it, change features, add features, add texture and do all sorts of other things to make it entirely your own.

Materials:

Tools:

Enjoy the video and happy creating!


Watch the Springtime Birdies Earrings-Polymer Clay Video Tutorial over at YouTube.

Turquoise Tassel Necklace Video Tutorial

Mar 142016
 

turquoise tassel necklace

Tassels are fun to wear and there are so many different ways to make them! I love the ones made from beads, like in these Crystal Tassel Earrings, but you can also make them out of leather or chain, or any kind of fiber you can think of.

Today’s necklace combines a tassel focal with a beaded asymmetrical chain. I tried to find a link to the chain I used but couldn’t. I did find a few interesting looking chains that would work:

Materials & Tools:

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

Watch the Turquoise Tassel Necklace Video Tutorial over at YouTube.

Friday Findings-Studio Tour Pt. 3-Bead Storage & Organizing

Mar 112016
 

ff studio tour bead storage

Everybody’s always looking for organizing tips so in today’s video I share with you how I keep my bead stash under control.

Most of my beads are sorted by color in ArtBin Slim Super Satchels . The four smaller organizers in the cabinet are Deluxe Bead Organizers by Darice.

A wonderful free source of trays and organizers for beads are the lids and bottoms of chocolate boxes.

beads in chocolate trays

Also, you can use the inserts that divide the candies to sort your more precious beads, like I do with my glass lampwork beads. What a shame that someone has to eat all that chocolate first. 😀

Enjoy the video and happy creating! (And organizing… and chocolate eating.)

You can watch the Friday Findings-Studio Tour Pt. 3-Bead Storage & Organizing video over at YouTube.

Dragon’s Blood Jasper Bracelet-Polymer Clay & Jewelry Tutorial

Mar 092016
 

dragon's blood bracelet

Since our bracelets always seem to twist themselves clasp side up, let’s turn that into a positive by creating our own gorgeous focal toggle clasp out of polymer clay and wire. Then it will be beautiful no matter which way it’s facing.

Although the list of tools and supplies is long, none of the processes is complicated. And all the tools are basic to a polymer clay/jewelry making tool kit.

I absolutely adore these Dragon’s Blood Jasper beads, although I have to admit I like them nearly as much for the name as for their appearance! 😀

Save yourself some aggravation and make sure all your chosen beads will fit onto the waxed linen twine before starting the project.

Tools & Materials:

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

For complete instructions watch the Dragon’s Blood Jasper Bracelet-Polymer Clay Jewelry Tutorial over at YouTube.

Spring Sparkles Earrings Video Tutorial

Mar 072016
 

spring sparkles earrings

These earrings are reminiscent of fuchsia flowers, with their purple & pink crystals and the loops hanging down.

As I’m writing this it’s still winter here in New England and a touch of spring is quite welcome!

This is such a simple design you could change the look and feel easily by choosing different styles of beads. Metallic beads in the loops and stone chips in the dangles would give you a more earthy pair of earrings. Clear crystals in the loops and pearly dangles would by fit for a bride.

Have fun making this design your own.

Materials:

Tools:

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

You can watch the Spring Sparkles Earrings Video Tutorial over at YouTube.

Friday Findings-Studio Tour Part 2-Bookcase

Mar 042016
 

ff studio tour bookcase

Oh, how much I love this bookcase! When I first took this room for my sewing space I covered this large wall with white flannel. It was an awesome design wall for quilting.

But as time went by I starting doing less and less quilting and gathered other kinds of supplies. After a while there were stacks and piles of boxes and tools heaped at the base of the wall. That was when it became apparent that it was time to let the design wall go and get some sort of bookcase.

I started shopping for bookcases, but hubby said he’d build me one. It took a while, but was well worth the wait. 🙂

In this video I’ll show you how I organize my supplies on this bookcase. It’s my goal that not only can I easily access all my tools, but that everything look beautiful as well!

Here are links to a few of the products I mention in the video:

Let me know if there is anything else you’d like to see more closely.

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

You can watch the Friday Findings-Studio Tour Part 2-Bookcase over at YouTube.

Emerald Isles Beads & Bracelet Video Polymer Clay Tutorial

Mar 022016
 

emerald isles bracelet

Sure it’s fun to make your own jewelry, but how much better to make even the beads!  In this video I’ll how you a simple technique for adding sparkle and color to translucent polymer clay.

Although I’m quite pleased with how this project came out, it wasn’t my intent to make a green bracelet. The plan was to make beads in blues, purples and greens, but the blue turned more green and the purples were a weird muddy pink.

However, the greens are rather nice, so all’s well that ends well. 🙂

That’s one tricky thing about using translucent polymer clay: what you see before baking is not necessarily what you get afterwards. Since now I know the Premo Translucent clay has a bit of a yellowing effect, next time I’ll make it work for me and try using autumnal shades instead.

Also, I need to get some Pardo Transparent Clay to experiment with, as it’s clarity & transparency is highly regarded among other polymer clay artists.

Tools & Materials:

Enjoy and happy creating!

You can watch the Emerald Isles Beads & Bracelet Video Polymer Clay Tutorial over at YouTube.

Fuchsia Florals Bracelet Video Tutorial

Feb 292016
 

fuchsia florals bracelet

This bracelet design started with the beads. I bought these overlapping lentils a while ago and have just never found the right design for them.

But then I pulled out all my “pending” strands of beads and saw them next to these floral metal slider components with similar colors and said, “Score!”

Sometimes inspiration comes by putting together things you never expected to combine. 🙂

Because the beads do all the work this bracelet goes together very quickly. Rather than fiddling with clasps and such I just strung everything onto two strands of jewelry elastic.

I apologize that I wasn’t able to find links to any of the elements I used except for the Stretch Magic elastic cord and the Super Glue Gel.

Instead of being frustrated, use it as an opportunity to make your own unique combinations!

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

You can watch the Fuchsia Florals Bracelet Video Tutorial over at YouTube.

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