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!

How to repair a broken necklace

A year ago, my friend and I went to a restaurant to celebrate my Birthday. My friend was wearing a pretty chain and bead necklace she purchased at the department store. Suddenly, the necklace broke into 2 parts and all the beads went to the floor! My friend was so upset. I told her I have a friend who could repair this, or possibly, make a new one from what's usable. We spend 10 minutes gathering the beads and chains. I put them in my purse and that was the end of unfortunate event that day.

During one of our craft gatherings with Albina Manning (albinasjewelry) I showed her the pieces. So we thought of what we could possibly do with these. We played with the chains and beads a little, added some new pieces and voila, and we made a pair of earrings and one great tear shaped necklace. A lovely set to wear for a New Years Eve!

If you will ever need to repair or remake yours, here is Albina's notes on how she repaired the one we had. Make the necessary adjustments while creating your piece!

"I opened all jump rings to separate the beads and "curvy" pins. I decided to use already made loops that beads had.  

 Check out all the loops - if the loop was not closed properly, just close the loop with round nose pliers.

To make the earrings, I used 12 beads, 2 double looped pins, 4 jump rings, and a pair of ear wires.

Slide 6 beads and a pin onto a jump ring. Close a ring. Take another jump ring and attach the second pin's end and an ear wire; close a jump ring. 

Repeat these steps to make the 2nd earring.

Pendant: 12 beads, 1 double looped pin, 2 jump rings, chain with a clasp.

Slide 6 beads and a pin onto a jump ring. Close a ring. Take another jump ring and attach 6 beads, the second pin's end, place a chain into a jump ring; close a jump ring.

IMPORTANT: close all the jump rings properly, if there is a gap, you will loose the beads. "

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!

Dressed up vintage wooden hair stick/ shawl pin with dangles DIY

I found this hair pin at an estate sale. I actually thought it's a shawl pin but later on Albina (albinasjewelry) recognized it as a hair pin so I am still in doubt. 

Anyway, during our last get-together we gave it a new life so it became a fancy universal accessory.

It already had 3 loops so we practically just embellished it.

Here is how to make it:

Materials:

• hair stick with 3 loops
• 3 headpins
• 3 cones
• 3 beads
• chain - 3 pieces 1" each

1. Cut a chain into three 1” pieces. 

2. Slide a bead and a cone  into a head pin. 

3. Start making a loop on a top of the cone. Slide a link of the chain into the loop.

 4. Make a wrapped loop looking a chain with a cone. 

 5. Make two more chained cones.

6. Using  your chain nose pliers, open a loop on a hair stick. Slide a last link of the chain. Close a loop. 

7. Attach the rest of the cones.

A great quick project and a very pretty result!