Summer Gyspy Earrings-Dangle Boho Jewelry Tutorial

Jul 112017
 

summer gypsy earrings cover

The bright, cheerful colors of these earrings put me in mind of steamy summer days playing in the dazzling sunshine. And those endless swingy dangles seem like they need to be paired with a long, swishy broomstick skirt in bright clashing shades.

Can you tell that summer is my favorite season?

As I mention in the video these earrings are were inspired by a photo I saw on Pinterest. It was of a pair of earrings that are no longer in the Boho Style Me Etsy shop. You should check out her shop! I absolutely Love everything in it. There’s not a thing I saw that I would not personally wear.

In the video I show you some ways of looking at your supplies with new eyes so that you can use things in interesting and unusual ways, rather than always having to run out and purchase a specific thing you think you need. I found it very satisfying to find a way to use bead cones as chandelier earring findings!

Tools and Materials:

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

You can watch the Summer Gyspy Earrings-Dangle Boho Jewelry Tutorial at YouTube.

Feathered Fringe Boho Gypsy Earrings Jewelry Tutorial

Jun 132017
 

feathered fringe earrings cover

Although I have an Evernote folder called “Jewelry Video Inspiration” full of nearly 300 ideas,  sometimes it’s just more fun to pull out my supplies and see what happens.

Today’s earrings are actually a combination of an inspiration photo and searching through my stash for interesting things.

The feather charms on these earrings come attached to chain from the craft store, complete with jump rings, yay. Today I use them as is, but it would also be fun to color them with alcohol inks, embossing powders, Gilders pastes or the like. The same holds true for my hammered oval rings, although I used them just the way they came they could be also colored in a multitude of ways.

I really like the little hints of color that the mini dagger beads add. If you want to add more of these types of beads to your earrings one way to do it would be to add several more jump rings with the beads to the links of chain.

As I mentioned in the video, if this type of earring is not your style, a single unit of this design would make a great necklace pendant.

I hope you have fun adapting this design to your own supplies and taste.

Tools and Materials:

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

Watch the Feathered Fringe Boho Gypsy Earrings Jewelry Tutorial video at YouTube.

Beaded Fan Earrings-Jewelry Beading With Superduos Tutorial

Dec 202016
 

beaded fan earrings cover

Since Christmas is so close I figured we all could use a very simple, short and sweet project. These earrings may look complex but as I mention in the video I was able to put together one of them in 15 minutes. So a pair would only take you half an hour after assembling the materials.

Make sure to pick up some very fine bead weaving thread, like the Wildfire I show in the video, as each of the beads gets at least two passes and you need a fine thread to be able to do that through the small 15/0 beads.

In the interest of full disclosure I figured out how to make these earrings after first seeing this design from Linda’s Crafty inspirations on Pinterest. If you like bead weaving you’ll love her site! The original design is by Beth Clark and she has a free pdf of the design at her website. (Along with lots of other great designs!)

Tools and Materials:

Enjoy the video, happy creating and Merry Christmas!

Watch the Beaded Fan Earrings-Jewelry Beading With Superduos Tutorial at YouTube.

Zinc Yellow Earrings Video Tutorial

May 302016
 

yellow zinc earrings

Who says you can only find jewelry making supplies at the craft or bead store? I often have fun poking around in my local hardware store, seeing what there is that I can find alternate uses for.

I went looking for copper washers and was told they didn’t have any. My husband, who spends a LOT more time at the Depot than I do, assures me they do… in the plumbing section, not hardware. So that will be a video for another day. 😀

In case you don’t have a hardware store or Home Depot right down the street, I’ve provided a link for you below.

Tools & Materials:

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

Watch the Zinc Yellow Earrings Video Tutorial at YouTube.

Ocean Waves Earrings Video Tutorial

May 022016
 

ocean waves earrings

I’ve had these turquoise hollow oval glass beads for over a year. They’re absolutely gorgeous and I wanted to do something special with them, but also felt it needed to be simple. No complicated designs they might get lost in.

These asymmetrical earrings with gold filled stardust beads and Swarovski crystal accents fit the bill perfectly. And, bonus, they go together super quick!

The hollow glass beads I used are no longer available, but Goody Beads has lots of really pretty blown glass beads to choose from.

Tools and Materials:

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

Watch the Ocean Waves Earrings Video Tutorial on YouTube.

Olive Jade Teardrop Earrings Video Tutorial

Apr 252016
 

olive jade earrings

I just noticed that the shape of these earrings is sort of reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower. Totally unintentional, but I like the look.

The two-holed half tila beads give the structure and the olive jade teardrops add some interest at the end. If you aren’t familiar with tila beads, check out my Tila Beads video. They’re fun to create with.

This design goes together quickly, but crimping the two crimp beads at the top can be tricky. Next time I might string a few more seed beads above the last tila just to leave a bit more space.

Tools & Materials:

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

Watch the Olive Jade Teardrop Earrings Video Tutorial 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.

Bead on a Wire Earrings Video Tutorial

Dec 282015
 

beads on a wire earrings

Finding new and different ways to use supplies is what keeps jewelry making interesting for me. I love how just some simple bead stringing wire gives these earrings their dangle. Crimps hold everything in place and crimp covers keep it all looking pretty.

It would be fun to make a whole bunch of these wire components and put them together into a very fluffy necklace, bracelet or pair of earrings.

Just make sure you pick up some pretty colored wire to use as it will be exposed in the design.

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

You can watch the Bead on a Wire Earrings Video Tutorial over at YouTube.

Materials:

Tools:

  • chain nose pliers
  • crimping pliers
  • wire cutters
  • One Step Crimper (optional, but useful!)

Directions:

  1. Slide a crimp onto a piece of bead stringing wire. Use crimping pliers or One Step Crimper to flatten one-half inch from one end of wire. Use crimping pliers to cover flattened crimp with a crimp cover.
  2. Slide on 6mm bead, 2mm x 4mm saucer spacer, 12mm pearl bead, 2mm x 4mm saucer spacer, 6mm bead and a crimp.
  3. Use crimping pliers or One Step Crimper to flatten crimp. Use crimping pliers to cover flattened crimp with a crimp cover.
  4. Make a bend in the wire one inch from crimp cover just added. Slide a crimp onto the wire and slide past the bend. Then slide the wire back through the crimp and slide crimp up so a 1/4-inch loop of wire remains. Repeat step 3.
  5. Slide another crimp on wire and position where you’d like the top of your second section of beads to be. Repeat step 3.
  6. Add a 6mm bead, 8mm bicone, 6mm bead and a crimp. Repeat step 3.
  7. Use wire cutters to either trim the wire to one-half inch below crimp cover or trim off both wires completely.
  8. Repeat to make second earring.

Pink Sparkles Earrings Video Tutorial

Jul 202015
 

pink sparkles earrings

We often use these large hole beads in bracelets and sometimes in necklaces but not very often in earrings. This is a fun way to display just a couple of pretty sparkly large hole beads.

Choosing large enough spacers to snugly fit into those large holes and then careful wire wrapping holds everything in place. Little bits of  chain makes them dangle nicely.

Enjoy the video and happy creating!

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

Materials:

  • 2 4-inch pieces 20 gauge wire
  • 2 3-inch pieces fine chain
  • 4 6mm spacer beads
  • 2 13mm large hole beads
  • 2 ear wires

Tools:

  • round nose pliers
  • two pairs chain nose pliers
  • wire cutters

Directions:

  1. Use chain nose pliers to grasp wire 1 1/2 inches from one end.  Bend wire at 90° angle.
  2. Grasp bend with round nose pliers and wrap wire around pliers as far as possible to start to make a loop.  Reposition pliers to finish loop.  Slightly twist loop open and insert end link of one of the pieces of chain. Close loop and hold with chain nose pliers. Use another pair of chain nose to make 2-3 wraps with wire around wire below 90° bend. Use wire cutters to trim, if necessary. Use chain nose pliers to tuck in end.
  3. Slide onto wire a spacer bead, large hole bead and a spacer bead. Grasp wire with chain nose pliers and make a 90° bend 1/8-inch from spacer bead.
  4. Repeat step 2 to make another wrapped loop, inserting other end link of chain into loop before wrapping. Final wraps should sit snugly against spacer bead, holding spacers in place in holes of large hole bead.
  5. If you like, gently curve up ends of wrapped loops.
  6. Find center link of fine chain and insert loop of ear wire. If needed use chain nose pliers to twist loop of ear wire so earring faces front.
  7. Repeat to make second earring.

WOYWW-Eastern Charm Dangle Earrings – and Chocolates!

Mar 112015
 

Happy What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday once again!

A special note to J.M. if you’re reading this: Happy 49th Birthday! Yup, you’re still older than me. 🙂 I think of you and pray for you & yours often.

2015 03 11 woyww eastern charm dangle earrings (1).JPG

I hope you all aren’t tired of seeing me working through Abby Hook’s Wire Jewelry Masterclass. Honestly, it’s the only thing I’ve been creating lately that I can show to the world.

chocolates class collage.jpg

However, now there’s one new thing I CAN show you. My Polymer Clay Chocolates class is live over at CraftArtEdu! You can learn how to make seven different miniature chocolates – in polymer clay.

Click on the photo for a free class preview. There’s a 20% discount if you sign up by Saturday, March 14.

2015 03 11 woyww eastern charm dangle earrings 2.JPG

Today’s project from Wire Jewelry Masterclass is the Eastern Charm Dangle Earrings. They are a variation of the Mermaid’s Purse Earrings that I did last week. This time around I’m using sterling silver wire, rather than the copper. Aren’t those purple Swarovski briolettes gorgeous? Can’t wait to wear these sparkly, dangly pretties.

2015 03 11 woyww eastern charm dangle earrings 3.JPG

This pile is a bunch of beads I just ordered from ArtBeads.com. Be looking for them in upcoming weeks. Those blue ones are going to be part of a ring and that fire opal cabochon will be wire wrapped.

The little dish on the right is holding the rest of the beads for the other earring, as well as all my wire snippets. The theory being once I’ve finished the earrings, all that will be left is my silver to recycle.

If you’re wondering why I’m sharing photos of my desk, well, it’s What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday, the day we all get together at Julia’s and take a peek at each other’s creative goings on. It’s always fun and often inspiring. Join us if you have a the time.

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