Quick Tip Tuesday: Ways To Use Cup Chain Remnants

Belle Epoch Necklace

Incorporating cup chain remnants in new and unexpected ways is a great way to experiment with left over pieces you may have lying around from other projects.

There are many fun ways of using short segments of cup chain in your jewelry. One way is by adding a row of it around a cabochon. Just take your cup chain segment and, with a thin line of E6000 glue, press it into place. A beautiful example of this method can be seen in Julie's Belle Epoch necklace which uses SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS gun metal plated rhinestone cup chain in black diamond. Other examples of this technique can be seen in the Duchess Cocktail ring. By incorporating just a small amount of cup chain around your focal, you can add a little extra glamor to your piece.

Duchess Cocktail Ring

Adding cup chain onto your French barrette hair clips using glue, as seen in these rhinestone barrettes, is another super easy project. You can also cut your cup chain into separate links and place into resin or crystal clay, for a fun, sparkly look. This method can be helpful if you only have a few rhinestone links of cup chain left. Just press into place and that's it!

Using leftover cup chain remnants is an easy, affordable way to jazz up your jewelry. Take a look through all of our many cup chain projects and get some ideas!

-Karlin

Give Handmade Gifts this Holiday Season!

As hard as it is to believe, the holidays are almost here! Halloween candy has been on the shelves for over a month now at the supermarket, and warehouse stores already have Christmas decorations for sale.  Despite the deluge of commercial goods available,  I think we all are feeling cost-conscious this year, so why not make some gifts instead of buying them!

Jewelry is an excellent gift to give and one which is always appreciated.  It can be worn year-round which also adds to its attractiveness as a gift.  It can also be extra personal if you incorporate a photo or a particularly poignant quote into the piece.

Besides, making the jewelry, alone or with others, is just as fun as giving it.  You can create lasting memories with your children by having them help with some of the designing and simpler steps (under adult supervision of course).

Here are a few great gift ideas and some videos to help you get started:

How to Make a Bezel Bracelet with Epoxy Stickers:

Make A Name Stamped Necklace:

Make Easy Swarovski Crystal Earrings:

We have also just created a Gift Center on the Beadaholique website. From Quick & Easy Crafts to Under $20 Projects, from Fun & Funky to  Easy & Elegant Jewelry - there are great ideas for everyone on your list and to fit every budget.  Check back often to our Gift Center as we are constantly adding new projects, ideas, and videos!

Remember to let all your friends and family know that you handmade their gift - they will treasure it even more!

- Julie

Labor Day Weekend=Crafting Time!

Take a break from barbecuing, covering up the swimming pool, and putting away the boat this weekend.  Instead, use this opportunity to finally get around to making some of those jewelry projects you've been putting off.  Beadaholique offers you these fun projects for your enjoyment:

How To Make A Wire Bird's Nest Charm or Pendant

How To Make Chain Tassel Earrings

How To Make A Bracelet

Happy Labor Day!


Your friends at Beadaholique

How Did The Bail Get Its Name?

Slider Bail

As jewelry artists, we all know what a bail is, it's a handy finding which allows you to attach a pendant or object to the rest of the piece of jewelry. Usually it has some sort of hoop or ring which is used as a connector. Bails come in a variety of shapes, finishes, and sizes. They can be very simple so that the pendant is the focus or quite elaborate so that the bail itself is a decorative element in the design. There are pinch, snap, tube/slider, and glue-on bails. 

Pinch Bail

My question is: why is it called a bail? If you type "bail" into a search engine, what comes up are references to bail bonds, getting out of jail, escaping, property, a bucket, sinking ships  etc... After reviewing 20 pages of search results, still there was no mention of a jewelry bail or anything similar. So I still didn't know why bails are called bails, and not, say, 'hangers' or 'suspendors.' 

Glue-on Bail

I could see that I needed to dig deeper. Finally, on an etymology site, and in Webster's New College Dictionary, I found that the Middle English word 'beyl,' from the Old Norse 'beygla,' translates to 'a bend, ring, or hoop.'   Interesting!   It seems pretty likely that our jewelry bail's name developed straight from the Middle English source, as most bails are hoops or rings which connect an object to a piece of jewelry.

- Julie 

Precious Metal Clay Class at Beadaholique

We are excited to share all the fun we had at the Level 1 certification Precious Metal Clay (PMC) class taught by the very talented Lora Hart. 

Right here in our Beadaholique offices in Glendale, California we rolled up our sleeves, spread out our tools, and listened raptly to the expert teachings of Lora. Joining in on the 2-day intensive class were myself (Julie), Andrea, Jason, and 4 other very talented PMC artists from across the country. 

If you are not familiar with Precious Metal Clay (PMC) it is truly moldable clay made of fine silver particles and a binding agent. When fired in a kiln or with a torch, the binder melts away and what results is a piece of solid metal which can be treated the same as any other fine silver item (soldered, polished, sanded, etc.). You literally end up with a beautiful piece of fine silver which you shaped with your own hands - amazing! 

In the class we completed a total of 5 projects:

• Slide pendant with fold over bail, set with a faceted cubic zirconia and dichroic glass cabochon
• Filigree earrings or pendant made entirely with the syringe form of metal clay
• Hollow bead or vessel made with many layers of the slip/paste form of metal clay
• Classic band ring
• Half lentil pendant with split bail made using dry construction and carving techniques

Lora imparted many tips and excellent instructions to help each one of us succeed. And guess what? We all passed and are now certified! 

Here is a gallery of the Beadaholique crew's creations:

Andrea: "I really, really enjoyed every single part of the certification process, but the project I think I was most excited about was the ring. As a beader rather than a metalsmith, one is limited when it comes to ring-making. Creating the PMC band was so satisfying for me, and being able to cut my little "blades of grass" design by hand out of the PMC paper was just too much fun. I can't wait to make more!"

Julie: "I LOVED making the hollow vessel with slip, the entire process was very soothing to me. The details you see on my vessel were created using PMC paper and paper punches - a process I am still in awe over. I had such fun planning out my design and I really liked the old Italian feel that resulted."

Jason: "My favorite part of the class was using new techniques I was not completely familiar with. I enjoyed trying the new ideas and thinking about how I can use them moving forward with future PMC projects. Also, I made the best ring ever."

For more on Lora Hart, her jewelry, and her teachings, please visit her website: http://www.lorahart.com/#home and blog: http://lorahartjewels.blogspot.com/. We highly recommend her!

Would you like to see more classes held at Beadaholique? What are some you would like to see? 


- Julie

Find Out Friday: Steampunk Ring

For this Find Out Friday we have combined two of our favorite things - buttons and Steampunk. We are going to make this great ring: 

Let's begin!

Here is what you will need: 

1 adjustable glue-on ring

1 Steampunk button 

E6000 adhesive

Gilders Paste in silver

Clear acrylic sealer

Tools:

Diamond File

Heavy duty wire cutters

The first step is to cut off the shank on the back of the button. DO NOT use your good jewelry making cutters for this. Use a pair of household or utility wire cutters, the strength of the metal will permanently damage fine jewelry making cutters. 

Next, take a diamond file and file down any rough edges where you cut the shank off. You want to get it so the area where the shank was, is now flush with the back of the button and completely smooth. 

Turn the button over, and using your finger, lightly apply silver Gilders Paste to the raised details on the button. You will see that they now "pop". 

If you end up with too much silver, simply wipe off any excess with a paper towel. Let dry for 30 minutes. Take outside and spray 3 light coats of clear matte finish acrylic sealer over the button. Let each coat dry thoroughly before applying the next coat. 

Take your adjustable ring band and apply a "glob" (such technical terms we jewelry makers use) of E6000 adhesive onto the glue on pad. 

Press the glue-on pad of the ring onto the backside of the button. Center it to cover the area where you removed the shank. Let dry. 

You're all done! This same technique can be used for any button with a metal or plastic shank. Enjoy!

- Julie 

Find Out Friday: Guest Designer Charlene Sevier's Bead Cap Chandelier Earrings

We have a very special Find Out Friday to share with you this week. We are pleased to feature talented jewelry designer Charlene Sevier who has created a lovely pair of chandelier earrings with the primary ingredient being bead caps. These are so clever and ornate looking that we just had to share her tutorial with all of Beadaholique's fans. Thank you Charlene! We can't wait to see what you come up with next. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 18 bead caps with holes along the bottom. They need to have an even number of holes. These bead caps  have eight holes along the bottom.
• 18 3mm or 4mm beads for your accent beads. Mine are bright orange wood beads.
• 18 E-beads or 3mm beads to put inside the bead caps. Without them, the bead caps flop around. I chose some luster E-beads in a color that complemented the design but let the orange beads take center stage.
• 18 head pins
• Pair of ear wires

INSTRUCTIONS:

Take a head pin and add an inside bead, bead cap and accent bead. All of the head pins will be strung in this manner. Make a plain or wrapped loop. This component is the top of the earring.

Take a second head pin and add the beads and bead cap. Make a loop that goes into one of the holes of the first bead cap. Then take another head pin and add the beads and bead cap. Looking at the first bead cap carefully, count the holes along the bottom. These bead caps have eight holes. The first head pin on the second row is in one hole. Skip over three holes and add another head pin into the fourth hole. This puts one head pin on either side of the top component with three holes in between them on both sides. If you don’t count correctly, your earrings will not lay flat.

The next step is the trickiest step of the whole deal – and it’s not that hard. Thread a head pin and make a loop that goes through one hole in the bottom of both of the two components you just added.

Counting the holes the same way you did earlier, add components for the third row into the outer edges of the bead caps above them. You now have a row of three components.

To create the fourth row, take a head pin with beads and bead cap and join the left hand and center bead cap of the third row together. Then, counting spaces again, add another head pin to join the center and right hand bead caps of the third row together. This completes the fourth row which has two bead caps. A final head pin joins them together. Add an ear wire, repeat for the second earring and done - you can see the finished product in the photo at the top of this blog.

Charlene graciously gave us permission to use these photos and her instructions. To learn more about Charlene Sevier, check out her blog: The Bead Dreamer's Blog. You can also purchase some of her beautiful work from her Etsy Store. 

Inspired by Charlene, I decided to try out her design in silver with some different bead caps and beads. Here is what I came up with --->  

I used the bright silver plated open point crown 8.5mm bead cap for all the bead caps and then the pretty light green beads are misty green opal glass faceted 4mm rounds. 


Thank you again Charlene! 

Quick Tip Tuesday: More Secure Crimp Beads

Tip: When crimping beads, do not cut off the beading wire right after the crimp bead, instead thread the wire back through 1/4" - 1/2" of strung beads. 

This will create a more professional look, prevent a scratchy end from sticking out, and cause the crimp to be more secure. 

For a more polished look, cover your crimped bead with a crimp bead cover. 

Have a quick tip to share? We would love to hear it and post on this blog and facebook. If we choose your tip to share, we will send you a $20 gift certificate for Beadaholique. In cases of a duplicate tips being sent in, the one which arrives first will get the certificate. 

- Julie 

Inspiration Monday: Julie's Favorite Jewelry Design Books

One of the benefits to being a designer here at Beadaholique is that a lot of books cross my work table and I am always so excited to open them up and see what treasures lay inside. To me, a good book not only has wonderful photos of projects which feed the imagination but it also teaches techniques in a clear understandable way. Most especially, a good book needs to bring something "new" to the proverbial table. 

The 4 books listed below are my personal drool-worthy favorites. I hope you enjoy!

 
Semiprecious Salvage by Stephanie Lee

Why I love: so, so, so many techniques featured in this book in clear step by step photos and accompanying text. Most importantly to me, the techniques are very unusual. I think we have all gone to the book store and flipped through at least 10 books which all show how to do the same thing which you already probably knew how to do. Not so with Semiprecious Salvage, it talks about creating your own bezels, using etching solution, creating with found objects, casting, and so much more.  The author does use a large number of tools (some of them more advanced) but her ideas are still fantastic and many of the projects you can still do without a trip to Home Depot. For someone looking to tackle a new aspect of jewelry making, this is the book. 

 


Enchanted Adornments by Cynthia Thornton

Why I love: This book is candy for the eye and music for the soul. It is so lush to look at, like a field journal by an enchanted fairy. There are fanciful drawings and sweet stories mixed in with some great techniques. A number of the projects in this book involve polymer clay, resin, precious metal clay, and other mixed media supplies. The back of the book proclaims: "transform your ideas into art jewelry" and that is exactly what this book shows you how to do.

 
French Inspired Jewelry by Kaari Meng

Why I love: If you are not into found objects, mixed media, or resins and clays but adore "beads, buttons, and baubles" then this book is a must! The photos in it are amazing and the color palettes are absolutely scrumptious. The way the images have been compiled with vintage graphics and ribbons in the background further feeds the imagination. Some really wonderful and easy to understand beading techniques are highlighted making this an excellent book for both the beginner beader and the more advanced. 

Explore, Create, Resinate by Jen Cushman

Why I love: If you have been following some of my projects and videos, you know that I am a big fan of resin. This book covers all aspects of using resin, from basic pouring into bezels to applying to paper and using molds. There are also tons of amazing photos with inspiring projects. I feel like this book encourages one to think outside the box and really let the imagination flow, which is what jewelry designing is all about. There are also quick tips spread throughout the book which are extremely helpful in making your resin projects come out right. 

Happy Reading!

Julie 

Find Out Friday: How to use Gilders Paste

Welcome to the very first installment of our new semi-regular feature, "Find Out Friday"! We get a lot of emails about how to use various products, or how to do certain techniques.  So now we will be making our blog (in addition to our free project instructions and our YouTube video tutorials) a resource to learn tips and tricks of the trade, as well as fun DIY crafts with step-by-step photos. Today we'll play with Gilders Paste, and learn how to use it on a filigree stamping.

An assortment of stampings treated with various colors of Gilders Paste

Gilders Paste is a wax based medium used to highlight and color metal, wood, clay, and more.   It is best known for coming in a multitude of metallic finishes, but it's also great for applying colorful effects to metal, such as verdigris, purple, blue iris, and many others.  It comes in the form of a thick paste, stored in a small tin.   It can dry out, so you want to make sure to keep the lids on your tins of Gilders Paste while not in use. 


For this project you will need:
-a tin of Gilders paste in the "patina" color
-a silver-plated filigree stamping
-a can of acrylic spray sealer (we used Mod Podge matte sealer)
-some paper towels

Using either the paper towel, or your finger (we just dug right in with our fingers, it's more fun that way) scoop a small amount of the Gilders Paste out of the tin.

Spread the paste across the entire surface of your filigree stamping, making sure to get it into all of the recesses.

Gently wipe off as much of the paste as you'd like from the surface of the stamping with a clean paper towel.

Set the stamping aside to dry for at least twenty four hours.  You can then give it several coats of the spray sealer, allowing for each coat to dry before adding the next.

There you have it.  This product is so versatile, the possibilities are endless!  You can try it on all different types of beads and findings, mix colors, thin it out with turpentine... What are you going to create with it?  We hope you enjoy experimenting with it as much as we have!