How to make a leather cord necklace with amethyst druzy pendant

An amethyst druzy stalactite slices are so popular these days for jewelry making. You can buy them as a raw crystal or with the plated edge and ready to wear. They are large, flat and have a free shape bottom what makes each necklaces an OOAK.  

Crystals are pretty and fun to wear but not every chain or cord will work with them. Each time I am putting pieces together I am going through dozens of these. For this large druzy Albina (aroundbeads) and I decided to use a leather cord.

It is not hard to do and it will work with so many other pendants. Here is how to make it:

Materials and tools:

Leather cord, 2mm thick

Cord ends - 2

Jump rings -2

Lobster clasp – 1

Chain nose pliers

1. Measure and cut a piece of a leather cord for your necklace (desired length).

2. Flatten the end of the cord with your chain nose pliers.

3. Place a flattened end  into the slot of a cord end and fold the edge down over the cord. Fold one edge at a time.

4. Using a jump ring, attach a clasp and a cord.

5. Slide a bare cord end into the pendant’s loop(s).

6. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for another cord end. Attach a jump ring.

 

It is ready to wear!

A swallow steampunk necklace project

Here is another project we made with Albina Manning recently, a steampunk style necklace. We used some natural stone beads, copper and antique finish finds, and a vintage copper swallow charm as a focal point.

I think it turned out   great. Use your finds and imagination and you will make a great necklace for yourself.

Here is what we use to make ours:

Tools: Wire cutters, round nose pliers, chain nose pliers (2 pairs)

Materials: beads, charm (bird), chain, clasp, jump rings, 20 ga wire.

Here is how to make this:

Lay out your beads, charms and chains to see how you want your future necklace to looks like.

Using 20 ga wire and your tools, make wrapped loops on the both sides of beads.

Using jump rings, attach beads and pieces of chain in the order you would like.

Attach the clasp with jump rings.

Happy making!

Celtic Wig Jig Earrings fo St. Patricks Day

These Celtic copper & green beads wig jig earrings are gorgeous. Albina (aroundbeads) made it during our last craft party and just posted it on her blog.

If you'd like to see how to make these, simply watch her video and follow the instructions. The earrings  are lightweight, very pretty and great to wear for St. Patricks Day or any time you want. Such a universal design.

 If you'll make these or similar please share your photos with us!

Crochet wire & bead bracelet tutorial

Here is a crochet wire and bead bracelet tutorial from OlgaUryvskaya's book, as I promised.

To make a stylish bracelet like this you will need a 0.3 mm thick black jewelry wire, a steel crochet hook 1.25 (US 8), a variety of beads in different shapes and a bracelet buckle closure.

Choose your beads and mix them all together. The more unique your mix is, the better!

String all of your beads onto the wire. You can arrange them in a pattern or randomly.

Measure the width of your bracelet buckle closure side to decide how wide your bracelet should be. In our project it requires a chain of 5.

Measure your wrist to decide what bracelet length you want. Remember to make it longer to be able to open and close your bracelet comfortable. Use your watch band as a guide.

Bracelet pattern:

Stitches used (US crochet terms)

ch - chain

st - stitches

dc - double crochet

Ch 7 loosely.

Row 1. 1 dc into the 3rd chain from the hook, 1 dc into each chain till end. Ch 2, turn

Row 2. 1 dc into each st to end (slide a bead up and catch it in your next st, on every stitch). Ch 2, turn

Repeat round 2 until your bracelet is the desired length.

Work loosely to achieve a lace effect and smooth your work with your hands while working.

Finish off (leave approximately 6" length of wire).

Attach your bracelet buckle using the 6" wire tail. Make sure you have no sharp wire end.

Put it through the holes of beads to hide and your bracelet is ready!

If you'd like to smooth your work, place it in between of 2 towels and carefully roll on top with a roller.

Enjoy!

How to make a boho style feather earrings jewelry tutorial

This summer is as hot as always here in the Valley so you are trying to wear the lightest clothing possible. Same applies to a jewelry. You want it to be light, pretty and preferably inexpensive. With this thought in mind Albina (albinasjewelry) and I made these boho style feather earrings during our last craft party in April.

We were trying to gather the materials in colors that would go together and are natural. Start with the feathers and determine, what other materials will best suit your very own earrings.

So here is what you need and how we made them:

Materials:
Feathers
Wooden beads
Linen thread

Yarn thread in golden metallic color

Thin lace trim
Copper wire 20 ga
Ear wires, 1 pair
All purpose glue

1. Attach wooden beads to the hemp cord. String a bead, leaving about 2" tail, pass the cord back through the bead, and tighten.

Attach the next 2 beads 1/2 inch apart from each other. Place a dot of white glue inside a bead hole to prevent the bead from sliding. Let the glue dry.

2. Cut the pieces of linen thread cord and laces 4" long . The amount of pieces depends on your design. We used 10 of them. 

 

3. Cut  6" of wire. Leaving 3/8" tail, make a loop using round nose pliers as shown. 

4. Put all laces, linen thread, beads and feather together. Place the wire inside of this bunch so the loop is on top of the bunch. 

5. Tightly wrap the bunch with long wire end. 

Tack the wire end inside the laces. 

6. Cut the laces and cords if necessary, so they are the same length. We used the feather is a guide.

7. Attach the ear wires to the top loop.

 

This project was real fun to make and there is so much space for creativity here. I hope you will enjoy it, too!

An Easter Egg charms necklace, a 5 minute project

Here is a simple and fun spring project we decided to make for my blog together with Albina (albinasjewelry). It will literally take you 5 minutes to make. Just gather the materials, prepare your tools and let's make this simple but very pretty necklace for a coming Easter!

We used sterling silver supplies and pastel colored Swarovski crystals for this project but you can use any other materials of course.

Here is what you need :

*Easter egg charm ( or any one of your favorite charms)

*Head pins - 3

*6 mm Swarovski bicone crystals  - 3

* Jump ring, 6-7mm - 1

* Chain

 

1- Slide a crystal on a head pin and make a simple loop. Repeat with the

other 2 crystals.

2 - Open a jump ring. Slide 3 crystals, a charm, and a chain on it.

3 - Close a jump ring.

 

That's it, it is ready to be worn! Enjoy your new necklace!