Boho Jacket Pin – DIY Jewelry

Fall is here.  Let’s make a pin about it.  Bust out your leather scraps….(way more fun than raking leaves). Today we are making a Boho Jacket Pin – DIY Jewelry.

Full disclosure: I work with Sizzix on creative projects like this. All opinions shared in this post are mine.
img_7340I’ve got charms, ribbons, chains and more coming out my ears.  These things are my love language.  It only made sense to add them to this leather pin I created with Sizzix’s Jewelry Studio Tool (see source list at the end of this post).

You can make your pin out of felt, paper and more… This one is layers of leather conchos cut with this die and riveted together with a rivet from Tandy Leather.

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This and That: DIY Scrappy Multi-strand Leather Bracelets

This post brought to you by LeatherCord USA.com–all opinions are my own.  Thanks, LCUSA for helping me keep the lights on here at CC.com.DIY Jewelry with LeatherCord USA: Multi Strand Leather Bracelet Idea with Charms6Yum. Yum. Leather.  Wow!

Like I’ve mentioned before, I had the best time on my visit to ArtBeads.com with my sponsor LeatherCordUSA.com.  We filmed several videos and these bracelets are definitely one of my favorite projects from the filming.  I love mixing and matching all the different textures and types of leather. DIY Jewelry with LeatherCord USA: Multi Strand Leather Bracelet Idea with Charms4Cynthia at Artbeads sent me a fun selection of charms to use with the cords from LeatherCord USA.  I used Tierra Cast bails to hold everything together.  The large holes on the bails make it EASY to connect bits and baubles.  DIY Jewelry with LeatherCord USA: Multi Strand Leather Bracelet Idea with Charms5The beauty is that you can add lots of charms and dangles or keep it simple and just let the leather love shine like this one!  LeatherCord USA’s “royal blue” is one of my favorite colors and I used various leathers like: flat braid, printed/stitched, and round.DIY Jewelry with LeatherCord USA: Multi Strand Leather Bracelet Idea with Charms1The DIY leather jewelry clasps are all from LCUSA too.  OR  ArtBeads has a fun selection.  Just use the Loctite gel to glue them into the clasp finding.  Man, I need a case of that stuff it’s so goo!

LeatherCord USA has the most delicious mix of cords with all kinds of textures!  Check them out on LeatherCordUSA.com or ArtBeads to get some ideas.

Here’s the video where sweet Cynthia and I make these bracelets!

Ride ‘Em Cowgirl! Make an Inlaid Leather Cuff Bracelet

This post is sponsored by leathercord USA–all thoughts and opinions are mine.DIY Leather Jewelry Making: How to make a cuff bracelet with inlaid leather on Candie Coopers blog1Saddle up, cowgirls and boys because I’ve got a saucy DIY leather cuff bracelet I think you’re going to love.  It uses leathercord USA’s braid, round and bolo leathers which are set down in a silver cuff.  It doesn’t take too long to make, but you do need a touch of patience because super glue dries fast and there are a lot of cords to keep organized.

Ok?  That’s your warning.DIY Leather Jewelry Making: How to make a cuff bracelet with inlaid leather on Candie Coopers blog12Meet the natural dyed leather look from leathercord USA.  It is my very favorite because the dye is more transparent.  I always love using earthy brights in my jewelry and these leather cords fit the bill.  When you visit the lcusa website, look for the word “natural” in front of the color.DIY Leather Jewelry Making: How to make a cuff bracelet with inlaid leather on Candie Coopers blog11Select a couple round cords (1 to 1.5 diameter), bolo cord (3mm), and flat braid (3 strand-2mm) in colors that make your heart sing.  The cuff blank you can get from me–two sizes large and small. Email or comment for details!  To prep the cuff, I used my chain nose pliers to open up the little ridge of metal so I could push the cords down in.DIY Leather Jewelry Making: How to make a cuff bracelet with inlaid leather on Candie Coopers blog10You can lay out your leather cording or you can wing it like I did.  I actually think I got very lucky how well these fit down in the recessed silver cuff area.  Use your trusty Loctite Gel Adhesive to secure the leather jewelry cords to the silver cuff blank.DIY Leather Jewelry Making: How to make a cuff bracelet with inlaid leather on Candie Coopers blog9Press and hold the cords down a bit in between–this is where you need the patience because sometimes the glue oozes out and you have to be quick!DIY Leather Jewelry Making: How to make a cuff bracelet with inlaid leather on Candie Coopers blog8Trim the cords and put some glue down in, behind the silver flap, and tuck them in.

It was at this point where I thought to myself, I think I was a little inspired by my skirt!  Haha. And that I have a pink problem–it’s a go to color as of late. This was a super fun project loaded with instant gratification.

Be sure to visit leathercord USA to check out the natural dyed leather lines and style for all your jewelry making needs. leathercord USA to check out the natural dyed leather lines and style for all your jewelry making needs. DIY Leather Jewelry Making: How to make a cuff bracelet with inlaid leather on Candie Coopers blog7DIY Leather Jewelry Making: How to make a cuff bracelet with inlaid leather on Candie Coopers blog3DIY Leather Jewelry Making: How to make a cuff bracelet with inlaid leather on Candie Coopers blog4DIY Leather Jewelry Making: How to make a cuff bracelet with inlaid leather on Candie Coopers blog2DIY Leather Jewelry Making: How to make a cuff bracelet with inlaid leather on Candie Coopers blog5

Eden: Gemstone Necklace with Round Braided Leather

This post brought to you by LeatherCordUSA.comDIY multi-strand gemstone necklace with LeatherCordUSA.com thick braided leather elementIt’s raining here today.  This doesn’t bother me in the slightest when I have the joy of staying inside and making jewelry.

Yesterday was gorgeous.  Today it’s overcast and drizzly.  Yin and Yang.

So with this gray day, I’m presenting a piece that is lush in gems and texture.Round braided leather comes in a ton of finishes and sizes from LeatherCordUSA.comIt started with a pile of this unique round braided bolo leather from LeatherCordUSA.com.  I can’t tell you how much I’m intrigued with this stuff.  It comes in different finishes and diameters.  Really really amazing quality.Round braided leather from LeatherCordUSA.comI opted for the natural finish for this piece.  It’s thick and perfect to support the weight of the gem section in the front.  Speaking of gems…DIY multi-strand gemstone necklace with LeatherCordUSA.com unique braided leather element--Beadalon 15 strand beading wireI’ve had these hanks of gemstones hanging in my studio for two years.  They were inexpensive so I bought a lot.  The time had come to use them and as is because the odd bead shapes together made my eyes happy. The only thing was I felt it needed a tiny bit of contrast yet something to unify the group so I added tiny copper colored rondelles to each strand.Beading tip from CandieCooper.comI used Beadalon gold 15 strand beading wire so it blended with the stone colors, then crimped them to a wrapped wire loop with #1 crimp beads.DIY multi-strand gemstone necklace with LeatherCordUSA.com unique braided leather element, good for layeringThen I strung the large bead cone onto the wire with a few beads and finished with a wrapped loop.  Nice and tidy.DIY Jewelry Making Gemstone necklace with LeatherCordUSA.com leather elementNothing but colorful goodness.DIY Jewelry Making--use a toggle clasp ring for a connection.Once you have the gemstone section secured, cut the leather to the desired size and glue end caps to the Glue and Go findings.  I removed the clasp that came with the end findings and connected it to toggle rings which were then connected to the bead cones to create a decorative element.Eden necklace with gemstones and LeatheCordUSA round braid tutorial from Candie CooperDIY multi-strand gemstone necklace with LeatherCordUSA.com unique braided leatherDIY multi-strand gemstone necklace with LeatherCordUSA.com thick braided leather elementMy plan is to wear this as a layering necklace.  I will create some shorter chain and pendant pieces to go with it.

Visit LeatherCord USA for more inspiring leather jewelry ideas.

DIY Bolo Leather Layering Necklace

This post brought to you by LEATHERCORDUSA.com.DIY Leather Bolo Necklace from LeatherCordUSA.comFall leaf inspirationThe leaves are turning fast around here.  We’ve had some amazing weather too.  70s and sunny?!

Be jealous, California.

The weather guy said there was 8″ of snow on the ground back in 64′!

I’ve been painting our floors with oil based paint and it’s been a blessing to be able to work outside at our picnic table.  Not to mention inspiring!  Fresh air is good on so many levels.  Why do I forget that so easily?  Oh I know, because there are piles of things to do inside.  LOLLeatherCordUSA.com bolo cordThis is a necklace I’ve had on my mind for a long time.  It uses beautiful bolo braided cord from LeatherCordUSA.com.  The cord comes in all different finishes from metallic to matte and natural.  Another bonus is that you’ll find it in many diameters–from 3.0 to 13.0mm!Leather Jewelry Making DIY Leathercordusa.com bolo necklaceYou know I love layering bits and pieces together and the leather is no different.  Bolo cord bundles with two strands of metallic kansa 1.0mm round leather does my heart good.

Looking at this photo, I think the next paint job needs to be on our cellar doors!Leather jewelry making assistantMy dog, Rock likes the round kansa leather cord too!  I was working it through the beads and wondered why it wasn’t moving.  It was caught up on Rocky’s paw.   The funny thing is that he didn’t move.  I pulled his paw went up and then down, up and down.  This is just another day in Rocker’s world.   He does what he can around here.  Thanks, good dog.Large hole beads keep multi-strand leather pieces togetherThe large holed silver beads are from Tierra Cast.  I got the baby tassels in Tucson–I think they are made in Taiwan.  They are so sweet on anything! The crystals have been a bit of an obsession the past year or so.  I have a little stash of them.  Needless to say, mixing and matching all these surfaces makes me happy.  I think I’ll wear this necklace today.
Leather findings from LeatherCordUSA.comI finished the ends with these stunning Glue and Go findings also from LeatherCordUSA.com.  They matched the beads perfectly, so it was a no-brainer.  These findings were actually a touch too big for the bolo cord so it worked out well to add the extra kansa green cords to fill up the space.

Use this glue to adhere leather and metal together.LeatherCord USA necklaceFollow me on Instagram @candiecooper to see behind the scenes action when making pieces like this!

Happy day!

Sari Silk Wrapped Leather Bracelet

Candie Cooper Leather Cuff

Candie Cooper Leather Cuff with Silk

Candie Cooper Leather and Metal CuffsThis is one of my go-to bracelets I made last fall.  Hard to believe it’s been a year since I made it!  It’s comfy, it’s big, and it’s got a touch of sparkle.  I dress it up and dress it down.  It’s simply a leather cuff wrapped in different sari silks and embellished with a concho.

Last night I got home from a week of travel.  It occurred to me that I worked two weeks without a day off and today I find myself absolutely zonked.  Let down.  My guest appearance on Jewelry Television for Beadalon went great!  Thanks to everyone that tuned in.  Bead Fest in Philly was amazing!  I loved it all and will fill you  in more later.  Today I faced the music on chores and taking as many naps as I wanted.  Hubs moved all the furniture and tore the carpet out from the library and dining room while I was gone too.  Needless to say there is much to be done on work and the ranch, but for now I am putting my feet up and that is all.