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!

How to Make a Crystal Layering Necklace

This post is brought to you by Beadalon.com.  All opinions are yours truly.DIY Jewelry Making  Crystal Quartz Layering Necklace from Candie CooperHave you been to a bead show lately?  I have and I can tell you there are so many stunning strands of quartz crystals and druzy beads.  It’s not good for the pocket book.  Take a peek at some of the ones I brought home from Bead Fest Philly Summer.Quartz and Geode Necklace Beads

Quartz and Geode Necklace Beads

Geode Crystal Beads

Orange Crystal Necklace BeadsI am especially smitten with, well all of them.  Well.  Except maybe the blue ones.  I don’t know what happens to me when I’ve been around beads too long (it also happens when I’m in Walmart too long), but I inevitably end up with something that I just. don’t. know. why. I. bought.  Sigh.  It’s cool, but is it jewelry worthy?  The verdict is still out and may be for a very very long time.  It’s over indulging I think.  Eating dessert when you’ve already had a slice of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.  Just too much of a good thing!Jewelry Making Quartz Layering Necklace Tutorial from Candie Cooper with Beadalon Champagne colored beading wireThe main materials are Beadalon‘s Champagne colored beading wire in 49 strand, .024″, brass stamped chain, #2 or 3 crimp tubes will work and some crimping pliers and wire cutters.

I also worked in some added strands from Dakota Stones–more purplish quartz chips and gold hematite squares.

These colors are all over the Fall look books so I know this necklace is going to get a workout in the next couple of months.String the quartz onto Champagne colored Beadalon WireI was so happy to find I still had 10″ of my very favorite colored Beadalon wire to use for this.  I love champagne anything!  However, Beadalon makes beading wire in pretty much every color in the rainbow!

Note! These stones are heavy and have rough edges that can potentially saw through thinner beading wires.  That happened to me once (love learning those lessons the hard way!) so take it from me, get the good stuff!  Beadalon, .024″ 49 strand is the way to go because it’s super embarrassing to say you “make jewelry” and then have gems and beads scattering all over the floor.  Even more humiliating to be on your hands and knees picking them up at a party.  None the less, when using stones like this, it’s always a good idea to take a peek at how the wire is doing and holding up.How to use crimp beadsString the tail of your wire through a crimp bead, the last link of chain and back through the crimp bead.  Grab your crimping pliers!How to Crimp wire to chain in jewelry makingPlace the crimp bead in the opening closest to the handles and smoosh down like so.How to Crimp beads to wire step 2Turn the crimp bead 90 degrees, place in the next opening away from the handles and fold it on over like this:Crimping wire to chain layering necklace tutorialSee how it folds the crimp bead over?How to open a link of chainThis necklace does not have a clasp.  I simply determined how long I wanted the necklace to be so I could slip it on and off, opened a link of chain from side to side and removed the extra which will be used for a rainy day.Layering Necklace TutorialSlide all the beads to the finished end, string a crimp onto the wire and through the last link of chain and crimp again.  Trim the excess wire.Autumn Layering Necklace TutorialBlissfully simple!
Layering Necklace Tutorial from CandieCooper.comMeet your new favorite necklace!  She can roll solo or party with a few necklaces.