Inspired by the many different versions of DIY wrap bracelets that are making the rounds, I set out to make my own with leftover chain and natural leather for an interesting contrast.  How easy was this project?  My DIY wrap bracelet took me about 10 minutes to make from start to finish!

Leftover chain from the blue suede bracelet (instructions to come) was used in the natural leather wrap bracelet.

Supplies needed:  (See note at the end for easy customization tips that might alter your supply list)

• 2 yards Natural Leather Cord
• 11 inches of large-link chain (I used a length of leftover Silver Plated Steel Twist Chain Necklace from the blue suede bracelet)

For this easy DIY bracelet, you need just 2 different supplies--and NO additional tools!

Instructions:

First, fold the leather cording in half to find its midpoint. Pull the midpoint up through the back of the first link on your chain to give you a leather loop to use as half of your bracelet closure.

This project goes so quickly that I forgot to take a picture of the first loop as I made it. Oops!

 Now you’re ready to start “braiding” your leather cord through the chain links.  (While not technically a braid, the weaving pattern results in a braided look.)  Make sure that you use the thumb of your other hand to hold the leather loop against the top of the first link, so it doesn’t get pulled tight.  You should only have to do this for the first link or two, then you can release it.  The braiding happens in 2 easy steps:

Step 1

Step 1:  The cord on on the right comes around and is threaded down through the front of the next link, then pulled tight.

Step 2

Step 2:  The cord on the left comes around and is threaded down through the front of the next link. Make sure it goes to the right of the cord that you just threaded.

Another view of Step 2, with the cord pulled tighter to show how they should overlap

Continue to weave the leather in this way until you reach the end of the chain.  If you notice some loose or tight areas, you should be able to easily work the leather cord along its length to adjust–just like you would a shoelace.

Try to keep the leather pulled evenly taut as you go for a uniform look.

After you finish through the last link, tie a simple double knot.  The nice thing about using natural leather or suede is that knots tend to hold fairly well as long as they are initially pulled very tight.

A very quick and simple end knot keeps your weaving from unraveling

Now wrap the bracelet around your wrist at least twice–I did a third wrap, because I liked the combination of braided bracelet and straight cord that gave me–and use the loop to tie the bracelet on so that it’s comfortable.  A simple double knot (unlike the ending double knot, this one shouldn’t be too tight) works perfectly here.

My finished bracelet wraps around 3 times total--1-1/2 wraps of braided chain and 1-1/2 wraps of natural leather cording. I like the half/half look above, but slightly turning the bracelet on my wrist shows a full two rows of braided chain instead.

Once you’re sure that your bracelet is sized to fit your taste, cut off the extra cording, leaving at least an inch past the knot to make sure that you have enough to retie it later.  I actually left almost two inches so I have the option to wear it loose and slouchy if I want to.  When I wear it fitted, the longer ends also tuck under the rest of the bracelet nicely.

And… that’s it!  A quick, stylish, unique bracelet, finished in mere minutes!

———————————————————————————————————

Note:  This wrap bracelet is very simple, and very easy to customize.  Need some ideas to make this bracelet better fit your taste?  Here are just a few.

• Switch out the natural leather with colored leather or suede.  You could even use thick yarn, felt strips or ribbon. (Note: You might want to add a drop of adhesive to the final knot, depending on your material choice.)
• Dangle a few beads from the chain for a chic, feminine look.  Pearls or turquoise would look fantastic with the natural leather and bright silver chain.
• Weave the leather cording through every other link, instead of all of them, for a looser braid.
• Separate the chain into multiple sections, and knot the leather cording in between braided sections.
• Don’t like knotted clasps?  Use a longer length of chain so that it wraps exactly twice around your wrist. Eliminate the loop at the beginning by pulling the midpoint snug against the top of the second link as you begin, and cut the leather cording after the final knot. Add a lobster clasp to the last link on the knotted end, and use the first link of the bracelet as the hook–or add a split ring to the first link, if you prefer.

Polymer Clay Focal Pendant by Jenny Barnett Rohrs of CraftTestDummies.com

Transform a focal pendant with a trendy ombre effect! Polymer clay makes it easy and the color choices are amazing.

Supplies:                                                                                                       

• Jill MacKay Swirl Pendant with Rhinestones
• 7mm Nickel Plated Jump Ring 
• 2 Blocks of Sculpey Polymer Clay - One in White or Pearl and the Other in Orange (or any other color of your choice) 
• Studio 71 Polymer Clay Press
• Polymer Clay Blade or Sharp Knife Dedicated to Polymer Clay
• Pin or Small Awl

Slice ½ inch chunks from your blocks of clay.  Condition the clay individually by kneading with your hands or running through the clay press 10-15 times.

Using the clay press, roll your clays individually into sheets about 4 inches by 5 inches.  Cut each at an angle as shown in the picture below.

Gently “smoosh” together the pieces, then fold the clay from the bottom edge to kiss the top edge.  The most important thing to remember is that light stays on light, and dark stays on dark.

Using the clay press, again, run it through the rollers.  Always feed it into the clay press at the fold.  Then, folding bottom to top, repeat another 5 times.

Keep folding bottom to top and running it through the machine until the colors blend and you get a smooth gradient.  Make sure your finished clay sheet is at least 1/8” thick.

Remove the jump ring from the pendant and discard.  Lay your pendant on top of the clay sheet, and trim all the way around using a craft knife or tissue blade.

Using a pin, poke a hole through the place where the jump ring attaches and go through the clay.  Place your pendant on a tile or scrap piece of white cardstock and bake according to manufacturer’s directions.  (HINT: Tent the piece with foil to avoid scorching.)  Remove from oven and let cool completely.  Add a 7mm jump ring and your piece is ready to wear on your favorite chain!

Crystal Pearl Prayer Bracelet by Jenny Barnett Rohrs of CraftTestDummies.com

First Communion and Confirmation are very special events, and you can make this lovely bracelet for your girl to keep as a memento forever!

Supplies:

• 26 Gauge Beading Wire 
• Beadalon Crimp Beads 
• Silver Lobster Clasps 
• 6mm White SWAROVSKI™ ELEMENTS Crystal Pearls  
• 6mm Crystal  SWAROVSKI™ ELEMENTS Rondelle Spacers 
• 4mm Crystal AB SWAROVSKI™ ELEMENTS Bicone Beads 
• Prayer Box Charm
• Sterling Silver Plated Toggle Clasp
• 4mm Nickel Plated Jump Rings 
• 6mm Nickel Plated Double Split Rings 
• Beadalon EZ Crimping Pliers
• Wire Cutters

Lay out your design on a beading mat in the following order:  bicone, pearl, rondelle, pearl, rondelle, pearl. (Use extra or fewer beads at the two ends to accommodate your recipient’s wrist size.)

Thread your beading wire into the toggle clasp, leaving a 2” tail. Thread both ends of the wire through the crimp bead. Slide the crimp bead up to the clasp and, using the crimping pliers, secure the crimp. Then string your beads in order. Add a split ring at the end of your design–you’ll attach your prayer box to this later.

Add your second crimp bead, and then thread on the second part of the clasp. Run the beading wire back through the last 4-5 beads, drawing the string snugly. Then crimp the bead and, using the the wire cutters, cut the leftover beading wire off. Now attach the lobster claw clasp to the prayer box using a jump ring. Attach it to the split ring on your bracelet.

By Jenny Barnett Rohrs of CraftTestDummies.com

Multistrand Disc Bead Necklace and Earrings by Vicki O’Dell…The Creative Goddess at  vickiodell.com

 Supplies:

• 19 Strand Beadalon® Wire in Satin Silver
• 2 Strands of Turquoise Shell Twister Beads
• 5 Strands of  Brown Shell Disc Beads
• ½ inch End Cones – Plain Silver Plated
• 18mm Lobster Clasp
• Antique Silver Jump Ring
• Silver Crimp Beads 
• Double Jump Rings
• Head Pins  
• Silver Spacer Beads
• Precision Pliers Set
• Micro Crimp Tool
• Bead Stoppers  
• Earring Wires

Cut 5 lengths of Beadalon wire to 32 inches, bead as shown. The middle of each strand features 28 brown disc beads, each separated by a turquoise shell bead.  At each end are 20 turquoise beads. Make sure to use bead stops to keep your beads from falling off as you bead. 

Add two small silver beads and a crimp bead to the end of each strand, thread the wire through a double jump ring and back through the crimp bead and two silver beads. Crimp the ends. NOTE: work all of the strands on one end of the necklace – either right or left – at once before moving on to the second side.

Attach eye pin to double jump ring and put silver end cone over it, followed by another silver bead.

Attach the antique jump ring to one side of the necklace by using the end of the head pin to make a wrapped loop.  Attach the lobster clasp to the second side of the necklace by using the end of the head pin to make a wrapped loop.

You can either wear the necklace with the strands all lying nice and flat or give the necklace a bit of a twist before putting it around your neck.

Bonus Project: Matching Earrings  

Bead a turquoise bead, a shell disc and a turquoise bead onto the head pin. Thread the head pin through the loop on your earring wires. Use pliers to form a simple loop (for a video on how to make simple loops, click HERE), and wrap any excess head pin wire back around.

By Vicki O’Dell…The Creative Goddess at  vickiodell.com

Memory Wire Bracelet and Earrings by Vicki O’Dell…The Creative Goddess at  http://www.vickiodell.com/ 

Supplies for the bracelet:

• 4-coil Memory Wire Bracelet  
• 4mm Iridescent Aqua Beads - 2 Packs
• Aqua Mix Bicone Crystal Beads – 2 Packs
• 6 mm Round Corrugated Sterling Silver Plated Beads 
• Round Nose Pliers 
• Memory Wire Shears   

Cut the memory wire to desired length, or leave whole.  Curl one end of the wire as shown, making sure that the ends are closed so that the bracelet won’t snag clothing.

Place beads on the wire in a random fashion (as shown below), then curl the remaining end under to close the bracelet.

Supplies for the earrings:

• 4mm Iridescent Aqua Beads 
• Aqua Mix Bicone Crystal Beads 
• 6mm Round Corrugated Sterling Silver Plated Beads 
• Earring Wires 
•  http://www.consumercrafts.com/store/details/catalog/jewelry-findings-pins/1990-36
• Silver Plated Steel Cable Chain   
• Precision Pliers Set  

Cut off 7-10 (depending on desired earring length) links of the flat chain.  Repeat for second earring.  Attach the chain to the earring wires. 

Add a silver corrugated bead to a head pin, make a simple loop and add to the bottom of the chain. Repeat for the second earring.  For a video on how to make simple loops, click HERE.

Add beads to the head pins and continue making simple loops and attaching beads to the chain until the links are full or until you are satisfied with the look.  Two beads will fit on each link. 

What a beautiful pair!

Rolled Fabric Roses Bib Necklace by Jenny Barnett Rohrs of CraftTestDummies.com

Bold is IN- and you’ll make a statement with this stunning bib! I used black stones, but you could use any color that matches your outfit.

You will need:

• (6) Scraps of Silk (each 1 ½ x 18 inches)
• (2) 6 x 9 inch Pieces of Felt
• Cuttlebug Embossing Machine and Nestabilities Dies (optional)
• Large Black Oval Faceted Sliders
• Medium Black Oval Faceted Slider Beads 
• Black Rectangle Faceted Slider Beads
• Black Diamond Shaped Faceted Slider Beads 
• 12 inches of 5/8 inch Black Ribbon
• Signed Sealed and Remembered™ Black Chain Necklace
• 7.25mm Black Chain Maille Jump Rings 
• Darice Dual Temp Hot Glue Gun 
• Glue Sticks 
• Needle and thread
• Scissors
• Darice 3-in-1 Jewelry Pliers 

Start by making 4-6 fabric roses (click here to see the original flower tutorial):

I don’t like to cut with scissors, so I start by ripping strips of fabric- plus, i like the raw, thready edges. But you could use scissors, a rotary cutter, or even pinking shears to get different looks. Experiment! Then cut some circles (or flower shapes) from your felt. I made a number of 2-4 inch shapes with my Cuttlebug because it’s so fast and easy, and the Nestabilities cut the stiffened felt beautifully. I like the stiff felt because it makes such a nice base for your flowers!

Start by gluing your jewel or rhinestone into the center of your felt circle. (I think these ones by Darice are amazing!) Next, trim the end of your fabric strip at an angle.

Next, place a dab of hot glue next to the jewel and press the point of the fabric strip into it. Let it cool and set up a bit. When it’s secure, start twisting the strip. Add a dab of glue every quarter inch or so, and press the twisted fabric into the glue.

 Continue until the felt is completely covered. To secure the ends, just flip the flower over, trim the excess, and glue the ends down on the back:

When the flowers are finished, arrange them on your second piece of felt in a teardrop shape, as shown:

Hot glue your roses down onto the felt, and add extra marquise gems to fill in some of the gaps, if desired. When it is cool, use your scissors to cut the shape out.  Then hot glue the ribbon to the underside of the pointy end of the teardrop. 

To prepare that black chain to attach, cut it apart as shown:

Sew the shorter length of chain to the top of the roses portion using needle and thread. Sew the longer part of the chain to the lower portion of the bib, leaving a 4-link “dangle.” Use a coordinating 7.25 mm jump ring to attach both loose pieces of chain in the back, and re-attach the lobster claw clasp before closing the jump ring

To finish it off, open a jump ring and slide on the extender that was left over from the chain. Now, put on your piece and determine how you’d like it to hang on your body.  (I just tried it on and pinched the ribbon where I determined that it was the right length.) Fold the ribbon over, slide on the jump ring, and use a few stitches to secure. You’ll still have some flexibility with the extender to accommodate different necklines.

And there you have it – a unique, bold and beautiful statement piece!

I often wear V-neck sweaters with scoop-neck tees, so I made this freeform necklace to fill in the space AND add some quirky style.

1. Custom Jewelry is Uniquely Perfect

In the immortal words of Mark Twain:  “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.“  Mr. Twain is known more for his devotion to books than bling, but these words could apply just as easily to jewelry!

When you start to make your own jewelry, you never have to settle for a necklace that is just a little too long to look good with your wedding dress, or a pair of earrings that would be perfect if only they weren’t pink. Everything you wear will be totally you, and totally unique.

My orphaned semiprecious stone earring, stripped of its earring hardware (lower right) will become a necklace. The shell bracelet was the source of my beads for the necklaces in this post.

2.  Fixing It:  Stay Green… and Design Smart!

Simply put:  When you know how to make jewelry, you know how to fix broken jewelry, too.  When you can fix broken clasps and reattach pendants with jump rings, you no longer need to throw away, ignore or replace the jewelry you have already bought.

As a bonus, upcycling broken jewelry components is also design smart.  If you’re holding on to a pretty earring that lost its mate somewhere along the way, chances are that you really like its design.  Give that earring new life as a pendant or component in some other piece of jewelry is not only green and money-wise, it’s design smart, too!

My minimalist take on the horizontal band trend seen in pieces like this and this.

3.  Get the Look for Less

At some point, you may have looked at a piece of jewelry in the store and decided that you could make it more cheaply than you could buy it–and tailor it to your own personal taste at the same time. While you should never directly copy someone else’s design, it’s perfectly acceptable to be inspired by someone else’s work… and yes, you can often recreate and adapt a look at home for much less.

So, what’s holding you back?  If you’re like many people, it’s the nuts-and-bolts basics of jewelry making:  Knowing your jewelry findings, selecting the right beads and embellishments, and developing the skills to put it all together beautifully. If you’re nodding your head right now, you will definitely want to keep tabs on our upcoming series:  Crafts Unleashed Jewelry Basics!

Which jewelry making techniques, tools, or findings in particular do YOU want to learn more about?  Leave a comment below and let us know!

In case you haven’t noticed by now, I like using items from very different craft “departments” for many of my projects.

Who’s to say that an ornament can’t include a wooden spool, crystal star, beads, embroidery thread, ink, paper or buttons and ribbon? Not me!

Supplies:

• Craft Thread – Assorted Value Pack
• Wood Spool 1 3/16 x 7/8 inch – 50 count
• Swarovski Crystal Bead Star – AB 40MM
• Ribbon of your choice
• Shell Ring – Bead Strand
• Button of choice
• Eye Pin – Sterling Silver 2 inch
• Fire Polished Czech Glass Beads – Light Green
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink Stamp Pad – Brushed Corduroy
• Cotton balls, cotton swabs or cotton cloth
• Hot glue gun

Stain the spool with the Brushed Corduroy ink by dabbing the ink on with either the cotton ball, swab or cloth. Let dry.

To wrap the embroidery thread around the spool secure the end of the thread with a tiny bead of hot glue and wrap around the spool until it is covered to your liking. Secure the end with another tiny dab of glue.

Attach a green bead to one of the head pins, on the other end make a LARGE simple loop, attach the star crystal and close the loop (You can see my video; How to Make Simple Loops if you need help).

On another head pin place one of the Shell Ring Beads and attach it to the head pin you just created with the star and bead.

Attach another head pin to the sections you already made and then run the headpin through the spool; top with a button or bit of paper cut to the proper size. Form another simple loop. (This one will be kind of tricky to make because there isn’t as much wire to work with but YOU can do it)

For the final section; a green glass bead and a Shell Ring bead with a green bead in the center and finish with another simple loop. Attach this to the other three sections you made and thread a bit of ribbon through the top loop.

Of course there are lots of different crafty goodies you could add to this ornament instead of or with the items I used. I also think this would be a great add on to a small gift and could be incorporated into the gift tag. So many ideas!

Using one of their available screens, you apply an emulsion sheet with water and let it dry in one of the housing spaces within the YUDU. To speed up the drying process, there is a fan inside the machine.

Once dry, you expose the light sensitive emulsion screen to any design you choose and “burn” the image into the screen. Once you rinse away the unexposed parts of the screen and dry it off, you’re ready to screen print.

Using any of the inks – which can be mixed to achieve different custom colors – you print right onto any object that fits under the screen. Fabrics, paper, anything up to about a 2 ½ inch thickness.

The YUDU inks are water soluble so if you’re not happy with your first print out, you can wash the ink off and go at it again. The screens can be cleaned free of any emulsion with the available emulsion remover and be reused, or you can save your screen with the design for printing at another time. When you’re all done you can put up to two screens in the machine for easy accessible storage.

Make sure you check out ConsumerCrafts.com for a full selection of Yudu Accessories, too!

Wire Crochet Necklace with Crystal pendant

If you know how to crochet, and you like to make jewelry, then this is a fabulous technique to incorporate into your jewelry-making repertoire.  The technique is a simple chain stitch with beads added.  If you do not know how do a chain stitch there are directions below.

When choosing your beads you will want to pick beads that are similar in size.  I used all 6mm beads and I would not go much bigger than that.  Also, long tube beads do not work very well.  If you want to have a multi-strand necklace use more wire and add additional beads.

Materials:

One spool of silver ming 28 gauge wire

Jewelery Designer Glass Beads Spectra Multi 6mm -40 for a single strand choker, 20 for single strand bracelet. ( 100 for multi-strand necklace and 50 for a multi-strand bracelet.)

Crochet hook, size G.

Wire cutters and needle-nose pliers

Findings:

Jill MacKay Collection Sterling Plated Magnet Clasp

Genevieve Gail Novelty Crystal Dangle

Silver Jump Rings

Directions to make crochet necklace

1.    String your beads onto the wire, leaving it attached to the spool. Push them along down the wire toward the spool.

   

   Basic Slip Knot

   
   

2.   Form a slip-knot with your wire. 
Now, put your crochet hook through that slip knot, and tighten, while leaving a little space for movement.

3.     
 Chain three. *** Chain Stitch***Take the end of your wire that’s still attached to the spool, and wrap it over your hook. Wrap from the back of the hook to the front.  Pull it through the slip knot.

Add a second bead and continue chain stitch.

4.   Slide a bead up along the wire, all the way to the hook.  Reach hook in front of the bead, and wrap the wire over it as in a chain stitch. Catch the wire in your hook, and pull it through. Continue until no loose beads remain.

5.  Finish your strand with three more chain stitches.  Cut the wire free of the spool, leaving about a 3″ tail of wire at both ends. 

6.  Take the loose tail of wire and wrap it through that end loop a few times to anchor your stitching. Cut the loose end of the wire close to that loop. Repeat for other end.

7.    Attach your jump rings clasp and finding to complete your necklace.

8.  Take the loose tail of wire and wrap it through that end loop a few times to anchor your stitching. Cut the loose end of the wire close to that loop. Repeat for other end.

9.   Attach your jump rings clasp and finding to complete your necklace.