Sunday, December 29, 2013

Rosary Chain Jewellery Repair

Every girl has a special relationship with her hairdresser and I'm no exception. Mine has been doing my hair for 20+ years and in that time our relationship has become way more than that of  hairdresser/client - each salon visit is like visiting an old friend. Her work wardrobe consists of a lot of black - black shirts and blouses, black pants, black skirts, black dresses - it's mandatory workwear in the salon. But the one place she can add her own style is in her jewellery and accessories. When I visited her this week she told me she had somehow managed to get one of her newest necklaces wrapped around the handle of her shopping trolly and with one almight tug, it broke into about 20 pieces. She was devastated because it was one that many clients had commented on. I told her not to fret and that it was something I could easily fix for her. So she bundled it all into a ziplock bag and I brought it home with me. Luckily, the rosary chain loops in this piece are...
Friday, December 27, 2013

DIY Metallic Leather and Crystal Christmas Tree Earrings

If you love all the glitter and tinsel of Christmas then these Sparkle Tree Christmas Tree earrings will be right up your alley! This holiday earring design combines metallic gold Realeather with Swarovski Crystals for lots of shimmer and sparkle. Here's what you'll need to make them: Sizzix Leather trim piece, Metallic Gold Approximately 50 3-4mm Swarovski flatback crystals in assorted colours 2 embossed 11mm silver star beads 6 4mm silver bicones 2 3mm silver spacer beads 2 4mm silver daisy spacers 2 6x9mm silver cone bead caps with a flattened top 2 60mm silver head pins 2 silver earring wires Fiebings Leathercraft Adhesive G-S Hypo Cement Embellie Gellie Tool or fine tweezers Gold fine tip permanent marker Chain nose pliers, round nose pliers, flat nose pliers, flush cutters, rotary hand sewing leather punch, scissors Circle punches and a piece of scrap card stock - 10mm (3/8"), 16mm (5/8") and 20mm (3/4") Punch each of the ci...
Tuesday, December 24, 2013

DIY Chain of Lights Earrings - How to Messy Wire Wrap Beads

Are you running short of creative time this Christmas? Then you need some QUICK AND EASY earrings to make - a garland of festive lights to dangle from your ears. Here's what you'll need to make these: 6 6x4mm Ruby Red Czech Glass Teardrop Beads 2 8x4mm red Czech glass top drilled teardrops 6 silver twisted curved connectors 8 4mm silver jump rings 1.6m (approximately 64") 28-Gauge Tarnish Resistant Silver Wire 2 silver earring wires round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, flush cutters Cut the wire in half and set one piece aside for the second earring. Cut the remaining wire into 4 20cm (8") lengths. Insert one into a 6x4mm teardrop leaving a tail of 3cm (1 3/16"). Bend the wires so that they cross over each other above the point of the bead. Use your nail to bend the long wire vertically.  Wrap the short tail twice around the neck just created on the long wire. Trim away the excess wire on the short tail. Create a loop with the roun...