I\'m Summer, a mouthy, sarcastic bitch. I\'m passionate about natural birth, long term breastfeeding, and living naturally. I curse too much, love tattoos, and will some day be crushed to death by my book collection. I homeschool, dream of gardening, and swing to the left. 
Pretty pretties
I’ve really been on a jewelry kick lately. I’ve found that I actually really like beading and making jewelry. For the girl who hates wearing it it seems a bit odd. But I’m having fun anyway!
I made a green and yellow glass bead necklace a couple weeks ago. I’ve been hesitant to do anything with it. So far it just hangs in my bathroom being admired daily. I really should sell it or give it away to someone who will wear it, it’s too beautiful to be hidden away.
My latest pretty is a necklace and earring set for Dearest’s sister. It really is too easy to make, but looks so pretty. All you need is some Tigertail wire, a clasp, beads, and crimp beads for the bracelet. The earrings just need earhooks, pins, and more beads. Oh, and you’ll want needle nose pliers for manipulating the metal and scrunching the crimp beads. You can get all of that for relatively low cost on ebay.com.
Making the bracelet is simple. Cut off a good length of the Tigertail. I measure how long I want the bracelet to be then add 3 inches just in case. Take one end and thread it through a crimp bead then through one of the clasps, fold down and back through the crimp bead. Tighten it all up tight at the end and use the pliers to smash the crimp bead down. Then just bead the bracelet however you want. When you get done do the same thing on the other end. Thread through crimp bead, through other side of clasp, and back through the crimp bead. It’s good to have a bit of extra wire on each side that you can thread down through several of the beads before cutting it off. That helps it hold better. This has some photos of making a necklace. It’s basically the same as a bracelet, only longer.
For your earrings you just need a pair of earring pins. They are straight needles with a small flat part on the end to hold the beads on. You just add your beads until you have it the way you want it. You’ll want to leave quite a bit extra at the top, and here’s why. Hold the pin just above the top bead with the pliers. Then curl the wire above that around to make a loop. This will be the loop that connects this to your earhooks. It will take some fidgeting to make it look like a good loop, but with practice you’ll get better. Any extra pin after the loop can be wrapped around the base to make it stronger or cut off for a neater finish. Then just attach to your earhooks and you’re done. Here are some instructions with step by step pictures for visual aid.
And there is is, a pretty bracelet and set of earrings. Minus earhooks, I’m still waiting for my supplies to come in the mail.
[tags]crafts, jewelry, jewelry making, beads[/tags]
Check you out … all crankin’ out the jewelry!!
I really liked your bit on jewelry making today! I don’t wear much jewelry either, but that may change if I could make exactly what I wanted. Your description seemed really easy to follow! Maybe I’ll give it a try! Thanks for the inspiration.
Sherry
You’re gonna turn into a firemountain ho like Danny and me if you don’t watch it! LOL