Friday, January 6, 2012

Warmer weather = Ankle bracelet time

Since making my 3 string bracelet for Sarah I have found that it is not best to do that many strings on one jump ring. I have since fixed that bracelet, which I will post next, by using a 3 ring closure. Much like the one I use to make this ankle bracelet of vibrant colors.



Supplies:*Fushia beads
*Purple beads
*Bright Teal beads
*bead wire (.45mm in silver)
*3 ring closer set (front and back)
*clamp beads (6)
*needle nose pliers
*clamp pliers
*wire cutters


*Tip 1- Plan It Out* As with all jewelry designs I laid out the design on my bead board before I started doing anything. Had to try out different style gem stones to see which one matched best, as I did not buy any of the beads at the same time.
* Tip 2 - Measure* Always measure for each project to make sure the lengths that fit best are correct. This is important when making items for other people. Once you have done them enough times you will know the required lengths and can skip this step.

Steps:

- Measure out the length of bead wire you will need to fit around your ankle (and no this will not likely be the same as your wrist) and then give yourself about 2 inches to loop back through at the ends. Use wire cutters to cut correct length.

- Take a clamp and thread it on the bead wire; then slide the bead wire through first ring of the 3 ring closure. Loop the bead wire back through the clamp bead and then use the clamp pliers to clamp it the bead in place. This should allow for a loop to hold the one end in place.

*Tip 3- Tight Loops* Try and keep the loop as tight as possible to keep from having a big gap. This can be done by holding one end of the bead wire with a needle nose pliers and then taking the other end of the wire and pulling it tighter.

-Thread on the beads in the order of the design you picked ahead of time. (see *Tip 1*) In my case it was just solid color for each string.

-Continue this until you have the length you determined earlier. (see *Tip 2*)

-Once you have finished your design for the length, slide on a clamp and use the clamp pliers to secure it in place. (see *Suggestion 1* and *Tip 4*)

*Suggestion 1* Doing one clamp bead at the end to make sure everything stays tight and then another to create the loop is NOT required. You can choose to use only one clamp bead, just be sure to keep the beads together tightly enough to not end up with large gaps when you wear it. I do it for both ease and strength. Beginners can do this until they get better at rethreading the closure clamp.

*Tip 4 - Consider Material and Purpose* You must always be aware of the type of give and strength your supplies have or you could end up with breaks, scrapping, and no flexibility. The heavier the wire the less bend and flexibility it has. String the beads too tightly together and some will rub together and break. String them too tightly and the beads will bunch and not bend well around your wrist. Some times you need to allow for "give room" with bracelets in order to get the bracelet to wrap.

-Take another clamp bead and thread it on first follow it by threading the wire through the first loop on the 3 ring closure, then thread the wire back through the clamp. Now tighten the wire until you have a small loop. Use the clamp pliers to close the clamp when you have the loop the size you want. (see *Tip 3*)

-Take a wire cutters and clip off the extra wire as close as possible to the last clamp bead. If the wire is bend-able enough and the bead holes are big enough you can thread the extra wire back through the beads instead of cutting it.

-Repeat the second step till the sixth one and complete the other two strands.

-The 3 hole closure has length of chain already attached, so no need to attach one.

That will finish off the bracelet.


Lost Treasures

Around the middle of December I was doing some indepth cleaning and organizing and I discovered a bunch of pendants. They either didn't have chains or I simply forgot about them. Even found one I thought I had lost a long time ago. There was about 5 or 6, so I thought it would be a good way to use up the small beads I have.

I don't use seed beads for much of anything, but for some reason I always end up with a bunch. These necklesses wiped out about one tube for each neckless.



I have a pink cross and now I have a neckless that fits it.



I got a Chinese fish pendant from my mother  a few years back and never had a gold chain, so I made one that fits the colors in the pendant.


I had a two sided stone pendant that was on a leather strip, but it broke, so I thought this might be better.



This Chinese lucky pendant was actually part of a package that is for using on cards and scrapbooking, but I wanted to do something different. 


Forgot about my music pic pendant compeletly. Glad I have a neckless for it now.



I didn't have any more beads that I thought would look good with this clover pendant, so I just made a new chain.



From one little discovery I now have several new necklesses!

Feeling like Spring... jewelry wise



Supplies:
*Painted flower beads
*Red gem stones
*bead wire (.45mm in silver)
*lobster clasp
*jump rings (2)
*clamp beads (3)
*chain (2 inch length)
*needle nose pliers
*clamp pliers
*round nose pliers
*wire cutters
*Measuring tape

*Tip 1- Plan It Out* As with all jewelry designs I laid out the design on my bead board before I started doing anything. Had to try out different style gem stones to see which one matched best, as I did not buy any of the beads at the same time.

*Tip 2 - Measure* Always measure for each project to make sure the lengths that fit best are correct. This is important when making items for other people.  Once you have done them enough times you will know the required lengths and can skip this step.

Steps:

- Measure out the length of bead wire you will need to fit around your wrist and then give yourself about 2 inches to loop back through at the ends. Use wire cutters to cut correct length.

-Take a pair of need nose pliers and open a jump ring. Slide the jump ring onto the end of the lobster clip and close the jump ring.

- Take a clamp and thread it on the bead wire; then slide the bead wire through the jump ring attached to the lobster clip. Loop the bead wire back through the clamp bead and then use the clamp pliers to clamp it the bead in place. This should allow for a loop to hold the one end in place.

*Tip 3- Tight Loops* Try and keep the loop as tight as possible to keep from having a big gap. This can be done by holding one end of the bead wire with a needle nose pliers and then taking the other end of the wire and pulling it tighter.

-Thread on the beads and gems in the order of the design you picked ahead of time (see *Tip 1*)

-Continue this until you have the length you determined earlier. (see *Tip 2*)

-Once you have finished your design for the length, slide on a clamp and use the clamp pliers to secure it in place. (see *Suggestion 1* and *Tip 4*) (I skipped this step for this project due to tightness. )

*Suggestion 1* Doing one clamp bead at the end to make sure everything stays tight and then another to create the loop is NOT required. You can choose to use only one clamp bead, just be sure to keep the beads together tightly enough to not end up with large gaps when you wear it. I do it for both ease and strength. Beginners can do this until they get better at rethreading the closure clamp.

*Tip 4 - Consider Material and Purpose* You must always be aware of the type of give and strength your supplies have or you could end up with breaks, scrapping, and no flexibility. The heavier the wire the less bend and flexibility it has. String the beads too tightly together and some will rub together and break. String them too tightly and the beads will bunch and not bend well around your wrist. Some times you need to allow for "give room" with bracelets in order to get the bracelet to wrap.

-Take another clamp bead and thread it on first, then slide on the other jump ring, then thread the wire back through the clamp. Now tighten the wire until you have a small loop. Be sure that the jump ring stays in the loop you create. Use the clamp pliers to close the clamp when you have the loop the size you want. (see *Tip 3*)

-Take a wire cutters and clip off the extra wire as close as possible to the last clamp bead. If the wire is bend-able enough and the bead holes are big enough you can thread the extra wire back through the beads instead of cutting it.

-Take a needle nose pliers and open the jump ring on the end you just finished and slide in the length of chain and close the jump ring with the needle nose pliers. This will allow for different tightness around the wrist. This can be very helpful if you didn't follow *Tip 2* and its not long enough to go all the way around the wrist.

That will finish off the bracelet.

Slightly bigger OOPS ...

Turns out I was SERIOUSLY slacking lately. I forgot to take pictures of several projects! I am majorily annoyed with myself. I'm hoping that the people I gave the projects to will do me a favor and take a picture of the items for me. I can't believe I did this. *smacks myself*

 As it stands right now I am missing pictures of the finished baby blanket I was doing for my friend Sarah, the two scarves I knitted up in a week, the pearl bracelet I made for my friend Jennifer and the canvas bag I made for her, along with the bracelet/earring set I made for a girl I work with. Thats 7 projects where I missing the steps and the pictures. *smacks myself twice*

Seems that I am seriously behind on projects as it is. I haven't started my knitting blocks afghan, all of my Christmas fabric flowers *knocks forehead on table*, and about 7 neckless sets. I haven't finished my key bookmark cross stitch, my leaf cross stitch, or my quilt.

Luckily I have a VERY light work schedule this coming weekend/week. I have plans tomorrow to spend time with Mom before I work (ironically we are going shopping for craft items), but after work I am free to try and finish some projects. I have the following two days off, so that will be crunch time for me. I need to work on the things that I know I can finish in a day. Hopefully once they are all done I should be able to start on the other projects that will take more time and piecing together, i.e. the knitting block afghan.

Yay I got Sarah to take pictures of the blanket I made for River, so woohoo for that. Got Jen's voicemail... but she tends to check it pretty quickly.

Well then I best be posting what I actually have pictures to go with.


Thursday, January 5, 2012

Out with the old, in with the New Year!

I have been slacking hardcore and I'm sorry for it. Work and life just gets far too hectic during the holidays. Especially when you work for the biggest retail company around.

The next few entries will be catching up on the things I did before the New Year, as well as my new ideas. Believe me there are sooo many new ideas! Go to get started right away!

My friends have been telling me over and over again that I should really think about selling my stuff... so that might be a new stage for me. *Any and all advice is MOST welcome and appreciated!*

Give you an idea of previous projects that will be featured shortly:
  • Did two knitting projects in less than a week and only a week apart from one another.
  • I found some thing that makes a great, simple, but practical gift. One that anyone can do!
  • Ever changing wicker wreath design.
  • Bookmarks ahead!
  • Patch work knitting idea.
I'm looking forward to getting back on track with my posts and my projects. Time to get organized.. in more ways than one.

Till tomorrow!

Awe moment...

Stue helping me make the bed.