Want something new to wear tonight?  Or maybe in the next 15 minutes?  Gotcha covered.  This really is the one of the quickest pieces I’ve ever made.  Don’t look away while I’m explaining this because you might miss it.  And you would be sad.  If you do look away (not because my nails look nasty or anything…) you can scroll to the beginning and start over.  But you won’t need to.

Project by Laura

Materials List:

Beaded Chain (what, you thought I made this chain?!?!?)
5 Strand Box Clasp (I love this pretty scrolly design in antique brass finish but you can choose whatever you want)
Chain Nose Pliers

Step 1:  Measure your wrist to figure out the length you want for your new bracelet.

Step 2:  Measure out your five lengths of beaded chain factoring in the amount of space your clasp will take up.

Step 3:  Take your Chain Nose pliers and open the end link of your first length of chain.

I’m holding the camera in one hand and the opened link in the other.  Wish I could show you a picture of me deftly opening the link with my pliers, but God created me human, not octopus.  So… there you go.

Step 4: Connect your open link to one of the links on your clasp and promptly close the loop.

Repeat for the remaining four strands.

Step 4:  Wear and graciously accept all compliments while letting them believe you spent all day on it.

This is where I blow on the ends of my pliers and reholster them.

Beaded chain (with czech glass) comes in all in different sizes and colors so you have all sorts of possible combinations.  And hey, why limit yourself to bracelets? What about a necklace or instant chandelier earrings?  I’m telling you, creating your own masterpieces has never been easier!

We’ve been having fun playing with a newcomer on the beading scene, Wireknitz.  This soft and flexible stuff comes in a rainbow of yummy colors and pretty much does what you tell it to.  I’m a big fan of compliant things.  Keeps half-finished projects out of my “Someday-when-I’m-less-frustrated-I’ll-get-back-to-this” bin.  This puppy was done and on my neck in about 45 minutes. Even better, I dug through our jar of orphan beads and used up some stuff that was just taking up space.  Resourceful?  Yes, thank you, I am.

Project by Kristi

Materials List:
WireKnitz 1000 series (one box in your choice of color ~ I liked Fuchsia)
Variety of beads (bigger, odder shapes make a more interesting finished product)
Pendant
2 fold over crimp ends in your choice of metal finishes
2 jump rings
Clasp

Select your favorite #1000 series WireKnitz.

Mmmm, so many delicious colors to choose from.

I feel a pink mood coming on…

See how the WireKnitz comes in a tube shape?  This is what allows us to put beads of all shapes and sizes inside.  This is a great use for stones/shells/random objects that don’t have a hole.  Plus it stretches a lot so don’t be afraid to try some crazy stuff.

Now, because I want a pendant in the center I’m going to “roll” the mesh together between my hands so I have an end which will fit cleanly through my pendant loop.  Remember how you used to make a rope out of your playdough?  Same technique. Then, once I get my pendant centered, I’m going to  to make sure it stays where I want it to by twisting the wireknitz just above the pendant a few times.

Time to start adding your beads to each side. Twist the mesh a few times where you want your first bead to stop.  Feed it through the wireknitz tube.  After your bead reaches the stopping point, twist the wireknitz again above the bead to cage it in.  Repeat the twist where you want your next bead to stop, feed your bead in,  and twist above it to create the cage.  Repeat until you’re done.

Here’s a valuable hint you won’t want to ignore:  Be sure to keep twisting in the same direction so you don’t undo the previous twist.  Also, I liked the look of a little “bubble” to space my beads so I simply left a small amount of wireknitz in between the twists then pulled the sides out to create that shape.  Bubbles make me happy.
I “playdough-rolled” the rest of the wireknitz beyond my last bead then finished the ends with fold over crimps and attached my clasp with jump rings.  I left it asymetrical because I’m a little crazy that way and I was going for a more funky look.  Gotta love a project that doesn’t have any chance of ending up in the “unfinished” pile!

I have a fascinating family with a crazy history.  I also have some fantastic photos of these wonderful people.  When I saw these glass tiles, my family photos came to mind as the perfect focus for a project.  (Wow, that’s a lot of “f” sounds.  Alliteration is obviously my friend.)  This technique is a great way to show off images of your favorite things ~ your best fuzzy friend, places you’ve visited, your adorable kidlings, or even the kidlings’ fridge art.

So here is today’s Technique Tuesday:

Materials List
23mm Glass Square Tiles
Picture(s) sized to match tile
3D Crystal Lacquer or Diamond Glaze
Paint Brush
Glue-on bail
PearlEx Powders (optional)

Project by Laura

If you are in need of a place to start, here at the store we carry all sort of  collage sheets that are perfect for this type of project.  I chose the “Japanese” collection.  It’s really nice to use these pre-printed, pre-sized pictures.  Less brain cells wasted on decision-making.  The picture shows my materials: I have my glass tile, an image cut from the collage sheet,  and the 3D Crystal Lacquer.  (Diamond Glaze works well also.  Both are water based -so don’t go swimming while wearing this pendant. The only difference I can tell is that the 3D has fewer bubbles.)  Oh, don’t forget a glue-on bail.  Fickle girl alert: I changed my mind on the metal finish of the glue on bail after I took the picture…. big surprise.

Squeeze a small amount of the glue on the flat side of the glass tile.  See how the glue is a milky white? It will dry clear so don’t you go worrying.

Place your image (cut to the size of the glass) face down into the glue and press it onto the glass, pressing firmly from the center out.  Spread the glue that squeezes out over the back and around the edges.  You really don’t want to have a lot of glue just sitting between your image and the glass (as I learned) because the glue will seep into the ink and start to blur it.

And here you go.

Now that the front looks great, you want to make sure the back is finished off nicely, too.  For this purpose, someone clever created a very lovely Velour Paper (that I carry for your convenience, of course). This paper comes in sheets that you can cut to size and glue to the back of your glass tile to create a very professional look.

But, of course, I don’t do things that way.  I have to do things my own way. Prepare to be impressed.

The (Crystal 3-D and Diamond Glaze) glue is mixable so you have the option of adding color to it.  I added that color with PearlEx powders.  On a small piece of scrap paper,  place a bit of glue and, with your paintbrush, mix in your color choice of PearlEx, then “paint” the glue onto the back of your image.  While it’s still wet,  place your bail on your project (making sure your bail is where you want it).

Let dry. This won’t take long, but to be safe, let it sit for 4-5 hours to make sure everything’s nice and tight.

Bam! Don’t you agree that the copper bail is better than the silver I originally chose?  A cream silk cord finishes the necklace beautifully.

Remember my fascinating family? I love this! From left to right: My Aunt Kay in 1926 (apparently, I come by my sassiness genetically), my grandmother and grandfather on their honeymoon, and my mom’s big sister, Beth.  And my very colorful backing to match my colorful relatives…

So maybe you had a bad day.  Maybe you need to hit something.  Maybe you have some leftover wire and a yen to create an interesting centerpiece for your next project.  Here is one fun way to work out some aggression and turn that wire into a unique component for earrings, a pendant or maybe even a new bracelet…and don’t new accessories always make us happy?

Design by Kristi (our resident metal manipulator)

(With thanks to Lynda for reminding me that I love to make these)

 Materials list:
16ga Copper wire (or whatever finish you choose)
Wire Cutter
Round Nose Plier
Chasing Hammer
Bench Block

  Cut a 3″ piece of 16ga wire.  We chose to use copper since a piece that size costs about ten cents and we’re cheap.   Thicker wire such as 14gauge in Silver plated, Silver Filled (new product) or Sterling Silver wire also works great.

Place one end of your wire in your round nose pliers making sure it is flush and not sticking out beyond the pliers.

 Now, hold the wire tight and roll the pliers all the way around until the tail touches the “stem”. Then flip the wire to the other side and repeat. Both loops should roll inward toward the center of your wire.

 Ta Da!

Making sure the loops are facing to the outside, bend the wire around something round or oval.  We used a mandrel but you could also use a large Sharpie or mascara tube or whatever else you have lying around.

Now for the fun part: The therapeutic pounding!  Lay your wire piece on the bench block and using the flat side of your chasing hammer, flatten your wire.  Be careful not to flatten too much ~ you still want a little roundness to the edges.  Then flip your hammer over to the smaller head (the ball peen) and pound lightly to create a more “beaten” look.

Yay!  You have now forgotten about your bad day and are on your way to a new piece of jewelry.  Here’s how we used it to create a pendant by hanging a bunch of leftover beads on it.

The addition of chain makes a fabulous pair of earrings~  Have fun!

Midnight Bead Madness
is back and here to stay
come ‘n go as you want
and just come and play!

Projects just started
Or jewelry not done
bring your challenges
for extra help and lots of fun!

The night is free
to just come and be
we’d love to see you
on this night of Glee…

When:  December 3rd, Saturday
Time:    5 pm – Midnight
Cost:    Free!

Can you believe we are only a few weeks from December? Where did the year go! Our December calendar is up and sign ups are ready to go. A few classes are waiting for information from the teachers then they will be ready to go as well. Just think of them as teasers.

It is time again for our Midnight Bead Madness. Come play from 5pm – Midnight on December 3rd and it is FREE!

We will also be having a new class with Jeannette Cook and Laureen King. I am waiting for samples to take pictures of but as soon as I do you will be the first to know. We will also be having a Wire KnitZ free demo class on December 10th. More information to come….