Summertime bracelets

I am not normally a wearer of bracelets, but when I found this diy, I loved the bright, summery colors used in the bracelets.

So, I made myself two: one with silver fixtures and light blue and coral string.  And the other with gold fixtures and orange and pink string.  What's additionally fun about this diy is the color options are endless!

My two DIY summertime bracelets

Learn how to make for yourself, here.

In Pursuit of Suede String & Tassels

As you can see by what I post on this blog, I've recently been making jewelry with tassels.

When I found this picture of suede tassel earrings, the colors appealed to me: thin turquoise suede, ruby red beads and gold fixtures.

Anthropologie faceted fringe drops

As I tried to find materials to make these earrings, I found that the thinness of the suede is a large part of the effect these earrings hold.

So, my first move was to try to cut my thicker strings of suede in half.

I first used an X-Acto knife.. it was very difficult to cut evenly through the suede string with it.

Then I tried using sewing scissor, the sharpest scissors I could imagine.  With much fear for my fingers, I was able to cut the suede string thinner.

...But then the suede string fell apart.

Rather than waste more of the suede string, I just went to the art supplies store and bought thinner suede string.  AND, I also got some thin leather cord - and made two pairs of earrings!

My DIY Earrings.

What you need:

- The thinnest suede or leather cord you can find.

- Very thin wire.

- 2 of the same glass bead.

- 2 head pins with rounded top.

- A pair of earring hooks.

- Round-nose pliers and a wire cutter.

What to do:

1. Place each bead on a separate head pin.

2. Use the round nose pliers to close the head pin into a loop.  Make the loop a bit larger than normal - the suede string needs to go through it.

(The loop you made is pointing downwards)

3. With pliers, add an earring hook to the top of each head pin.

4. Determine the desired length of the tassels for your earrings.  The black pair above are about an inch and a half.  For the tan pair, they are over two inches.

5. Double the length you decide on and cut 3 to 4 pieces.

6. Fold the cut pieces in half and put one end through the loop at the bottom of the bead.

7. Start slowly and tightly wrapping the thin wire around the top of the folded suede.

8. Once you wrap the wire to desired thickness around the suede, cut with the wire cutters, and fold the raw edge in with the pliers.

9. Trim the ends so they are even.

That's all!

Tri-Color Tassels

Some more tassel earrings! Hurray!

These are super simple DIY earrings made from string and 3 colors of seed beads.

my DIY earrings

What you need:
-2 earring hooks
-2 bead tips
-nylon string (preferably in the color of the lowest color bead, in this case, brown)
-3 colors of seed beads (or more if you'd like).
-needle
-scissors
-pliers

First, cut 10 pieces of nylon string, about 4 to 5 inches each, depending on how long you want the tassle.
Then, string one bead of the last color onto one end of a cut nylon string.  Pull bead to middle and fold in half.
After folding the string in half, you can put a the two string-ends through a needle to make your life easier.  String all the following beads onto the needle so the first bead is stuck at the bottom (and no knot is needed at end to keep the beads on!).
Put as many beads of each color as you like.  Lots of freedom here!
Leave yourself plenty of room at the top.
Make 10 of these beaded strings.
With 5 beaded strings, slip the remaining string through the bead tip.  Knot the tops of the strings well so they cannot slip through the bead tip.  Cut the excess string.  Use the pliers to close the bead tip.
Repeat with the second set of 5 strings.
Use the pliers to open the bottoms of the earring hooks and slip on the bead tips.  Use pliers to close earring hooks.
All done!                   
                                          Wearing my DIY creation:

The most time consuming part of this DIY is definitely stringing all of the seed beads!

From Hemp to Suede...

In continuation of my crafting with suede string, I made this bracelet over the weekend:

When I showed my friends the bracelet, most were immediately reminded of the hemp bracelets popular at summer camps.

There's a reason for this recollection... it's the same stitch!  I believe it is called the square knot..

Materials:

- 4 pieces suede string (2 long and 2 bracelet length)

- 2 end closing pieces

- 32 jump rings, plus a few extra for bracelet closure

- clasp

- pliers

The Square Knot Stitch

Enclose the 4 pieces of string in one of the closing pieces.  Use pliers to tightly close the end piece around the 4 strings.

Begin the square knot (as shown in picture above).  I did 12 or so square knots before I started adding the rings, and the bracelet is a little large on me, but I also have slim wrists.

Add 1 ring to each outer string, and tie the knot.  Tie a second knot after that.  For the third knot, put the strings back through the rings and add another ring on top.  Tie a knot.  Repeat the steps.  I used 16 rings on each side (a total of 32).

After, do the same amount of knots that the bracelet started with, before the rings were added.

Close off the end with another end piece and pliers - make sure it is very tight.  Add the additional rings and the clasp.  

        

I'm thinking of making this with gold fixtures next.. and maybe black suede?

The First Post in a New Place: Suede Tassle Earrings

I'm back!

After 3 months settling into this new place, I have returned to my crafting ways.

With a holiday gift exchange tomorrow - it gave me the perfect excuse to visit the local craft store.  Of course, I bought much more than needed in anticipation of other crafting projects!

I found suede string in a multitude of colors, and for a little less than fifty cents a piece.  Most things are more expensive here; it is always exciting when I come across cheap finds.  So, I bought a bunch of strings, a variety of other trinkets (clasps, earring hooks, elastic, jump rings,...), and set to work.

Materials:

- suede string (cut into 12 pieces, about 2 inches each)

- 2 cylinder cones

- 2 Earring loops

- Industrial strength glue

- pliers

- scissors

Once the suede string is cut into 12 pieces, separate 6 and 6 for each earring.

Gather the bunch of 6 pieces.  Squeeze the glue into one cylinder cone.  Then, push the bunch of suede string into the cylinder cone.  Repeat for the second earring.  Let them sit for a few minutes.

Use the pliers to attach the earring loops to the top of the cylinder cones.

Trim the ends of the suede so they are all the same length.

That's all!

I ended up making 2 pairs - now which color do I keep and which do I give?!

Reminiscent of a Dreamcatcher..

While crafting with my mom in our 'crafting room' (we took over the family room!), we realized we didn't have enough jewelry in neutral colors.  As I love color, I tend to drift towards colorful beads/ribbons/chains...  Recently, I've been obsessed with a dark teal green color.

I spotted the earrings on the right awhile ago and have been meaning to make them for some time now.  Figuring this was my chance to apply my need for neutrals, I made a pair for myself in silver and black!

  My DIY:                                                                          Inspiration:

from Modern Vintage Boutique, $22

I used larger seed beads in my DIY than shown in the original.  Also, I did not make them as long... the original pair are 6 inches! Despite being shorter, I think they still have a nice effect and my younger sister called them 'party earrings'!

Supplies:

-2 earring hoops

-small silver seed beads

-small black seed beads

-30 silver crimp beads

-30 12inch pieces of black string

-needle

-pliers

-scissors

Like most projects, the most time consuming part was stringing all the beads.

On the hoop, I initially slid on 3 silver seed beads.

Before putting the needle on the string, I slid one black bead onto one string.  Then I folded the string in half (so the one bead was at the bottom) and put it through the needle.  I then strung 24 more black beads (25 total).  Since this is the first string, I add 6 silver beads, then the crimp bead.

Position the string on the hoop, swing the needle through so that it is attached to the hoop, and back through the crimp bead and all the way down to the black beads.

Used the pliers to crimp the crimp bead.  Make sure the crimp bead is secure and the string cannot slip through it whatsoever.

Repeat this process.  Here is an image to better show the number of beads I used:

             
I only had time to draw out half the earring.  But, the silver beads increase and then decrease in (from left to right) as follows:
6 --> 7 --> 8 --> 9 --> 10 --> 11 --> 12 --> 13 --> 12 --> 11 --> 10 --> 9 --> 8 --> 7 --> 6

The black beads remain at a constant 25.

Once all 15 strands are on and the crimp beads are pressed tightly, add 3 silver beads to the end, like at the beginning.

Cut the remaining string close to the bead so that it cannot be seen.

That's all!

I made 3 more pairs of earrings this week, but posts for those will have to wait until after vacation.
Now, off to Vancouver!

Who Doesn't Like Braids?

I've seen this braided bead necklace on tons of Pinterest boards!
Of course, I had to make it!

The DIY Inspiration

The most time consuming aspect of this necklace was stringing 6 strands of beads (2 for each piece of the braid).

Supplies:

- a lot of 1 bead type

- string

- 6 crimping clasps (also called bead tips?)

- 2 jump rings

- chain

- closing clasp

-pliers

For photo instructions, check out this image.

I went to ACMoore and bought a pack of reddish coral beads for this.  I cut 6 pieces of string, and tied them 2, 2, and 2 (so three strands).  Once I beaded to the desired length, I closed the knots of each 3 strands to separate crimping clasps, on each side (so 6 clasps total). Close the crimping clasps.  Then, braid!!
Once the beads are neatly braided, I combined the 3 closing clasps on the left onto one jump ring, and the 3 clasps on the right onto a second jump ring.
Then, attach the chain to the jump rings on each side.  Open the chain at the top to put on a closing clasp.  All done!

I made a second one in white with gold chain for my mom.  But, it looked great on my sister, so we gave it to her!

In honor of the Olympics...

Rings necklaces have been all over Pinterest this summer!  The multiple rings linked together, sometimes in various sizes, remind me of the 5 overlapping Olympic rings.  Incidentally, I've been crafting lots while watching the Olympics.

Here are a few of the necklaces I have spotted:
                  

I found some large silver rings at home and the small pieces to attach the rings together.  Technically, the rings could also be attached using very small jump rings. 

I set up the rings in the pattern I wanted for the necklace.  Carefully, I attached the rings to each other.

While abroad, I bought a bundle of suede strings in a bunch of colors for dirt cheap!  I used the taupe/grey colored suede string to turn the linked together rings into a necklace.  I looped the suede string through a few of the smaller rings and then using the same small attaching pieces to connect it to the top of the larger rings.  Ta da! My very own ring necklace!

Better pictures to come soon!