DIY Earring Ideas with Jesse James Beads

DIY Earring Ideas with Candie CooperToday on the show I wanted to share with you some DIY Earring Ideas using Jesse James Beads. *Jesse James Beads sponsored the show, all opinions are my own*

I made three pairs of earrings today, two that were simple and one that was a chandelier pair. You can see the full video below of how I made each of these pairs.

To start us off I pulled out some chandelier findings, which you can find at Jesse James Beads or in my Etsy shop. I went for a true boho style on this earring and had fun playing with the turquoise and purple colors.

One of the cool things about using chandelier findings is that you can use them as earrings or alone as a necklace pendant. The first thing that I suggest doing is counting the number of spaces you have to see where the true middle is. This allows you to figure out how you want the piece to cascade down. If you have a chandelier finding like the one that I used that has a lot of loops, you can use chain to connect them to lighten the look.

When starting your design think about what you want in the middle, this is the center of the whole piece. When making earrings, any earrings, make sure you count your beads out. MakDIY Earring Ideas with Candie Coopere sure that you have enough to make both sides match. For this project I wanted to use jump rings and the wrapped loop to give it some interest. I also like to mix and match the head pins that I use. I like some that are flat and some that are more decorative, like the ball head pin.

As we worked through the design there were some beads that I wanted to be a little lower. A way to accomplish this is to make the loop larger when doing a wrapped loop or to use multiple jump rings to make the bead hang lower. You can also use jump rings as spacers when you don’t want too many beads close together. I did this on the top ring of the chandelier earrings with the micro tassels.

If I were to sell this pair of chandelier earrings I would make sure to put a little bit of white school glue on the tassels to make sure that they don’t come apart. It will dry clear and you won’t even see it, but you will know it is more secure. A tip when working with multiple colors is to separate the colors with mental findings. This could be with using a metal bead or using the jump rings as I did in this piece.

DIY Earring Ideas with Candie CooperAfter making the chandelier earrings I went with two more that were a little more simple to give you some other DIY earring ideas. For the blue pair I used the Lapis connectors from Jesse Jame Beads and cage beads. This was a quick pair of earrings that look super expensive. They are just a great go to pair of earrings.

For the third pair I used some of the drop beads that I had been wanting to use and paired them with the Green Agate Stone Connectors. Again another simple pair that look expensive. All I used was the connector and some head pins.

 

Bead  mixes shown in the video:

Shanghi Nights

Mini Mixes-Midnight Dreamscape

Chinese Dragon Design Mix

Kung Pao Design Mix

Materials List for DIY Earring Ideas:

Beads of choice

Ball Head Pins

Flat Head Pins

Jump rings

Ear Wires

Into the Woods Tassel Necklace

In To The Woods Tassel Necklace by Candie CoooperIn this Facebook Live Video I showed you how to make the Into the Woods Tassel Necklace.
This video was sponsored by Jesse James Beads and Beadalon, all opinions are my own.

In the video I show you how to layer a pendant with a tassel and how to do some basic wire wrapping. Tassels have been a hot trend for a while and something that I love to add into my jewelry. Tassels can be made from a lot of different materials but today I will be showing you a chain tassel.

This necklace features Jesse James Beads’ new collection, Into the Woods. This is a beautiful earthy collection that you could use in so many ways. This necklace could be made with any beads but the Into the Woods collection really gives the piece a unique edge.

Keep reading to see where you can purchase the other supplies for this project.

When you make this project you can select any color pallet that you like. You can try to mix different pallets to get a different look each time with the same technique. If you make this project head over to my Facebook page and post a picture so we can all be inspired! While you are there be sure to turn on the notifications to see the LIVE Facebook videos. There is a new video almost every weekday at 2:30pm EST.

Supplies:

We already talked about the beads needed for this tassel necklace but there are a few other items you will need to finish the project.

You can find wire and chain for this project on Beadalon’s website. If you need a bail making plies to complete the project you can pick up the bail making plier with your Jesse James Beads order or you can see the full selection of jewelry making pilers on Beadalon’s website.

 

How to open and close jump rings-for DIY jewelry

Here is a quick project to show you the ins and outs of using a jump ring.

This post is brought to you by Beadalon–thanks Beadalon for sponsoring my blog posts and supporting my love of DIY jewelry.Jump Ring Assortment

One of the very first things I show people how to do when making jewelry is how to open and close a jump ring.  It’s such a simple act and you can make so many things by knowing this technique for making connections in DIY jewelry.  That’s how I made this sweet moth necklace.
Moth Pendants connected with jump ringsThe jump rings at the tip of the wings connect the moth to the chain.  In about 5 minutes, you can have yourself an over the head layering necklace (and a really good time).  Check out the tutorial and video at the end of this post for details on opening and closing a jump ring.
Opening jump ring with pliersIt’s helpful to use two pairs of chain nose pliers (see materials list at the end of this post) when opening and closing rings.  Some people like to use a bent chain nose pliers to help hold their jump ring as well. Beadalon also has a super helpful jump ring tool to make opening jump rings much easier. You will still use your pliers to close the ring when you are finished.

Place the ring’s opening at “12 o’clock” and twist the ring open with the two pairs of pliers.  Don’t open it so the ring looks like a “C” because it’s super hard to get the ring to go back into a perfect circle after this.
Twist open of jump ringConnect your clasp, chain, moth, etc… and twist the jump ring closed.

This is a super quick project with beautiful results. You can use any pendant that has two holes as the top to complete this project, let your imagination take over.

Supply List:

Beadalon Ergo Pliers

Beadalon Jump Rings

Jesse James Bead’s Moth Pendant

DIY Layering Bracelets with Bracelet Boutique

DIY Layering Bracelets with Bracelet Boutique components at Joann FabricsIt’s so exciting to finally share a project I’ve been working on with Jesse James Beads called Bracelet Boutique.  We started collaborating on it a year ago and I’m thrilled to say it’s available in Joann Fabrics stores now (direct links at the bottom of this post).Bracelet Boutique available at Joann Fabrics storesBasically, this is a 1 + 1 program where you can make a bracelet that suits your style in seconds.  Great for beginners, girls night out activities, and seasoned makers can use the components in different applications such as links, earrings, macrame’ focals and so on.

There are 42 focal pieces with 10 different bracelet options which makes for 420 combinations.

Picture me doing the Roger Rabbit dance move.DIY Jewelry Making with Bracelet Boutique from Joann FabricsFor Easter, hubs and I picked out some bracelet pieces to make our moms.  This is the first one I’ll show you.  It’s a bird image with tiny crystals set in the resin.  DIY Jewelry Making with Bracelet Boutique from Joann FabricsAll you have to do is open the jump ring and attach the bracelet sides.  Everything you need to make the bracelet is included.DIY Layering Bracelets  Bracelet Boutique at Joann FabricsYou can leave it like this or….DIY Jewelry Making Clasp embellishmentattach a dangle to the extender for a little clasp embellishment.
Bird Bracelet component from Bracelet Boutique and @jessejamesbeadsIt’s that easy!  You can make bracelets to match your other handmade jewelry in a snap.

Bracelet Boutique is on a skinny tower in Joann Stores now.  Look for the blue cards!  DIY Layering Bracelets using Bracelet Boutique at Joann FabricsThe paisley with brown cord bracelet is also part of the Bracelet Boutique collection.  Happy day!

MATERIALS:

Bird Link

Bracelet Links

Making Halloween Jewelry Crafts with Kids

Halloween Jewelry Making with KidsFor First Friday at the Wabash White House (our little gallery in town), we host children’s creative make and takes and activities.  One of the things we did this month is an easy kids halloween craft making skull necklaces.  I thought you might want to make your own!
Quick DIY Skull Necklace from CandieCooper.comYou’ll need some skull beads, 20g. Artistic Wire, Jesse James Beads, pre-made ribbon necklaces or cord, a hammer and steel block, and some basic jewelry making pliers.
Jewelry making stationWhen working with kids, I like to keep things pretty tidy and organzied so it’s easy to see what we are doing.  Is it me, or are these beads, good enough to eat?!
Skull beadsI buy skull beads at bead markets/festivals, but you can find them in Etsy shops and sometimes in the craft stores.
Hammering wire for jewelry makingUse round nose pliers to twirl the end of the wire around in a spiral.  Hammer the spiral so it stays nice and rigid.
Easy Jewelry Making for Halloween!String your beads!
Jewelry Making Wire wrapped loopFinish the end of the wire with a wrapped loop, attaching it to the ribbon before closing up the loop.  Pipe cleaners would also work for necklace making.  That could be really fun!
Jewelry Making Halloween Kids Craft Idea!Here’s a closer peek at the tools I used.  Top: wire cutters.  Middle: round nose pliers.  Bottom:  Chain nose pliers.

Check out these cute examples that some of our guests made that night!

Easy Halloween Jewelry Making with Kidsphoto 2-3

Stone Fringe Necklace

This post brought to you by Jesse James Beads.DIY Stone and Leather Statement Necklace from @CandieCooper #JewelryMakingPurple Rain….sing it with me, people!

No doubt, I am hooked on these fringe focal bead pieces from Jesse James Beads.  They come in a variety of colors and stone types, ready to string into statement necklaces and I’m going to show you an idea for how to use them in your jewelry making.Autumn leavesBut before we get going, I have to show you this leaf blizzard happening in our front yard.  I’m not complaining because I love wading through leaves.  Hopefully the mailman feels the same.

Really, the colors of fall are so inspiring, aren’t they?  That’s where I found the inspiration for the color pallet in this necklace.  Ambers, plum, sparkly orange and rust, it all works together.  Take a peek.Stone beads from JesseJamesBeads.comYou can find all of these magical beads in a kit ready to make right here from JesseJamesBeads.com!Beading materialsYou will also need: crimping pliers, wire cutters, Beadalon beading wire (19 strand, .018 diameter), perhaps some bead stoppers, #1 crimp beads, a piece of leather (8″) and that should do it.  You can find these fine tools and supplies also on JJB.com.How to make a beaded loopString your focal beads separated by hematite beads (I used 3).

String 2 crimp beads, 1 hematite bead,  2 small round beads, 3 hematite beads, round bead, 3 hematite beads, round bead, hematite beads, 2 round beads, hematite beads, round bead, hematite beads, round bead, hematite beads, and round bead onto the wire.  Thread the wire through the first round bead, hematite bead and crimp beads.  Cinch up the loop and  crimp.How to make a statement necklace wtih @JesseJamesBeadsSlide the beads to the finished end and repeat, making a second beaded loop.Jewelry Making tutorial with @jessejamesbeadsSecure a new wire to the middle of the beaded loop by crimping and string the sides in desired order.@JesseJamesBeads necklace tutorial from @candiecooper

Make a loop at the end of the beading wireFinish the ends with small loops, just big enough for the leather to fit through.Leather clasp idea for jewelry makingThis is a nifty closure that I’m also hooked on.  I don’t know why I don’t get the leaves raked?  Thread the leather through both loops and tie in a bow.  How about that easy and unique clasp solution!Jewelry Making Necklace tutorial from Candie Cooper

DIY Stone statement necklace

Stone necklace from Candie Cooper and Jesse James Beads #jewelrymaking

#jewelrymaking tutorial via @candiecooperDon’t stop here–You can attach leather, chain or ribbon to the sides of this focal front piece too!

We’re watching The Voice tonight so if there are typos or errors in this post, please direct complaints to Pharell and Blake Shelton.  Ok?  Ok.

DIY Halloween Party Jewelry

DIY Jewelry Making  Halloween Style on Candie Cooper's blogIt’s officially October people, so I’m kicking off the month with a quick Halloween Jewelry project!  I love October.  My husband and I got up super early to go to the store for a few things, including some pumpkins.  We found some with long stems.   Is it me, or is a pumpkin without a stem a little bit sad looking?
Halloween Jewelry Idea from Candie CooperFor this necklace, I used JesseJamesBeads.com bead mix in strands and funky singles along with that sassy black chain.  The “bones” of the necklaces are connected with black Beadalon wire and gunmetal crimps.  Take a peek!
Halloween Beads from Jesse James BeadsBlack acrylic chain from JesseJamesBeads.comBlack beading wire from BeadalonHalloween Party Jewelry from Candie CooperUse this tutorial if you’re new to stringing beads on wire.  It will show you how to crimp, connecting the wire to the chain.

Lately, I seem to be stuck on making slip-over-the-head necklaces and I made them two different lengths so I could wear them together.  This striped bead in the next picture is one of my very favorites.
Halloween Jewelry Idea with Jesse James Beads from Candie CooperHalloween Party JewelryHalloween Jewelry Idea from Candie CooperSo, I’ve got a pretty big to-do list that’s calling my name.  Top secret projects await.  Don’t you hate teasers?  😉  You’re going to love this surprise though!  October 3rd at the White House

On another note:  Tomorrow our children’s gallery, the Wabash White House (I know, I still need to post about this special little place!) is open from 5 to 8 pm for First Friday in Wabash.  If you’re local, come get in the Halloween spirit with us!