Blog - Candie Cooper

Purse Revamp with LeatherCord USA

September 10, 2015 By candiecooper 1 Comment

This post sponsored by LeathercordUSA.com.Once upon a time there was a purse put on the clearance rack when spring came for $12 because, well it was time for spring colored accesories.

I rescued her and this is her story.
When I visited LeatherCord USA headquarters, I got to pick out parts and pieces for future projects. I’ve been so smitten with these vintage looking leather flowers and thought they would be perfect to jazz up this old girl of a purse.But first! I added two strips of the metallic Kansa colored leather strap using Loctite Gel.Remember that post where I talked about forming leather flowers? That’s exactly what you do here. Then I bought some small rivets and used the Loctite to glue everything together. Piece of cake. Great excuse to sit in front of the tv and work.
Use the same Loctite glue to attach them to the purse in a random fashion.

Filed Under: Crafting

Beadalon Tent Sale and Classes

September 10, 2015 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

Join me Pennsylvania friends at the Beadalon fest tent show and classes! I’m teaching this class that features Beadalon‘s tassel maker and findings on Sept. 19th at 2pm in Westchester, PA. Want to sign up?

Email salesATbeadalonDOTcom to sign up. Cost is $25 (amazing right?!?).

You’ll learn how to make fantastic tassels and basic stringing techniques and leave with a layered necklace and matching bracelet featuring Jesse James Beads!

It’s going to be a ton of fun as I am joined by Katie Hacker, Wyatt White, Sandra Lupo and Sarah Ellis. Let’s get this party started!!

I can’t wait. Here’s the skinny on the rest of the sale:

Filed Under: Bead Love

Bead Crochet GIVEAWAY!

August 28, 2015 By candiecooper 13 Comments

You know what I’m excited about?!

MY NEW VIDEOS WITH INTERWEAVE!!! I did four of them, but the one that I’m celebrating today is “Bead Crochet!” This is one of my most very favorite techniques that I just happened upon doodling around one day in the studio (and Universe, it would be great if these moments could come a little more often).In this video I show you how to make a necklace and earrings with super stretchy beading elastic, Elasticity.The cool thing about it is the necklace can convert easily into a bracelet like this. I’ve taught this class multiple times at Bead Fest and each time it sells out. Now you can enjoy it in your lazy-girl chair and pjs right at home.

To celebrate this video release, my friends at Clover Needlecrafts, JesseJamesBeads.com, and Interweave are kicking in everything you need to create your own bead crochet necklace. Thanks guys! See below for how to enter and lots of luck to you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

CONGRATS TO KAREN G-R!! Happy crocheting!!

Filed Under: Beads, Crafting, Tutorials

DIY Leather Jewelry

August 14, 2015 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by LeatherCord USA.Let the good times roll for it is THE weekend!

High fives! WE made it!

How about another quickie project featuring LeatherCord USA Leather Strap and Bolo cord?Leather strap is the main part of this project and LeatherCord USA makes it in a ton of colors. That’s one of the reasons I love these guys. For this project I played with the metallic “Kansa” color. It’s a stiffer leather and softens the more you wear it (like all leather).

These are the basic materials. Pretty simple:

Leather Strap in Kansa

4mm Bolo Cord in Kansa

Chunky wood chain (or any large link chain)

Adhesive

Somewhere in my excitement I forgot to put the bolo cord into the shot. I used round cord and the Glue and Go clasp pictured for the pink bracelet variation.This is so easy. I think I’m in love. The first thing you do is cut the chain with heavy duty wire snips to the desired length. Then figure out how long you want the strap, add a couple inches and cut.

Thread the strap through one end of the chain and fold it over one inch.Add a drop or two of glue and use clothespins to hold it together while the glue sets up (like in the previous photo).Wrap a few inches of bolo cord around the connection area to add a little something. You know! Use the same glue and clips to hold it in place while it dries. Trim any excess bolo cord after it dries.Just for fun, you can make a bracelet with pretty much this same technique. I used the round cord to create a spiral knot instead of wrapping it with bolo cord. Here’s a link to a spiral knot tutorial from LeatherCord USA. If you love that clasp–there’s a link to it up in the materials.

Happy weekending y’all!

Filed Under: Jewelry, Leather, Tutorials

DIY Team Spirit Bracelets

July 31, 2015 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by Leathercord USA.Kids are heading back to school this week where I live. Admittedly, I’m sad for them and their parents. We didn’t start school until the third week in August when I was little. But! I try to focus on the positive so with school starting, that means football season is upon us too. Let’s make some team spirit bracelets!We will be using Leathercord USA printed leather round cord. It’s good stuff and you can buy it in 2 meter packs. Pick your colors. You’ll also need some round end findings.
The clasp end findings are made in the USA. Go team! Adults can do the gluing while kids can string the beads. Use this glue for leather and metal connections.
I had two helpers making these bracelets with me. I found the large hole pony beads at the craft store.When you’re finished stringing, glue the opposite end in the finding.
That orange and black one is for my momma. She works in the school here and every Friday they wear orange and black. Apache pride! That leads me to think these would be a good teacher gift idea.
Sending you good thoughts for a smooth reentry to school!

🙂 Candie

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Locomotive No. 765

July 31, 2015 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

Locomotive no. 765 came through town a couple weeks ago. It’s a passenger train. My mom was having a fit I was standing so close to the tracks taking pictures. I turned to get out of the way and then she was the one standing too close. Ok kettle. The whistle was exactly how you want a “choo-choo” train to sound. It rained tiny crumbs of coal. The passengers waved. We waved back. Drones flew overhead. Pennies were smashed. Needless to say, times have changed…but not.

There were people from all over th midwest to see this train pass through town. Remarkable.

The dog days of summer are here and things have slowed down as much as they will with travel. We are living on sweet corn and tomatoes (and a little ice cream…ok a lot says the girl who had a diet coke float for lunch).

Follow “candiecooper” on Instagram for day to day peeks.

I’m off to get ready for our yard sale!

Filed Under: fabulous, Uncategorized

Simple Bead Stringing

July 31, 2015 By candiecooper 2 Comments

This post brought to you by JesseJamesBeads.com I’ve been coveting these teal beads from JesseJamesBeads.com for a long time. This is one of my very most favorite colors. It makes me think of the ocean. I feel calm just looking at it. After all, if we can’t be at the beach, we might as well be beading.
Supply list:

#2 Crimp Tubes

Acrylic flower bead

7″ Bead Strand in your fave color

Clasp

Beading Wire

Crimping pliers

Wire cutters
String those beads. You know, like we do! I used the order they came on the strand, but you can shake it up and make your own. Jesse James Beads has a garden of acrylic flower beads right now. Pick one (or a few because they are so dang sweet).
Sparkle is something that almost all JJB strands have a touch of and that’s perfectly ok with me. I support sparkle.
Check the fit. You could use a ruler for sizing, but who knows where it is! I blame my husband.
Secure the loop end of the toggle to the beading wire with a crimp bead.
Place the crimp bead in the “U” shape notch first on the crimping pliers and then turn it 90 degrees and place it into the “eye” shape. Smoosh it down, rolling the crimp over.
Slide all the beads next to the finished end of the bracelet… P.S. That’s a pastel drawing of oranges my great great gram did. It’s one of my most favorite possessions.
and crimp the toggle to the wire.
Perfectly simple.
Thirsty for more? Check out my “Seed Bead Bracelets” tutorial on the JesseJamesBeads.com blog. It’s another one of my fave projects over there.

Filed Under: Get Crafty, Jewelry, Tutorials

Easy Leather Jewelry

July 30, 2015 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by LeatherCord USA.What’s a girl to do with a pile of delicious flat leather braid that she brought back from her visit to LeatherCord USA headquarters? Make hot bracelets. That’s what.
In this post we are climbing on the gray and gold fashion jewerly train to make this slick bracelet. Like it? You’re really going to like it when you see how easy it goes together.
Here are the basic supplies needed: razor blade, gold Glue and Go magnetic clasp, 9 strand braid in natural gray, and Locktite adhesive. LeathercordUSA.com is a one stop shop for the supplies (sans blade). This is the 9 and 5 strand flat braid. You can use this clasp with the 5 strand braid. If you’re shopping the LCUSA site, look at the bottom of the page for the product dimensions to help with matching clasps and cords.
The bracelet is so easy to make, I feel guilty! Grab your Locktite adhesive for leather and metal joining. Put a bead of glue along the backside edge of the leather braid.
Slide it in one side of the metal clasp. The braid and clasp are off in size by 1mm, but it doesn’t matter because the braid can “smoosh” a little to fit.
I stuck this shot in for a detail of the clasp. It’s pretty. Not too shiny and just the right amount of texture for a great designer look.Check the fit of the bracelet and then cut with a fresh razor blade. Do not use the one that has scraped windows with a lot of paint on them during a rennovation project just because it’s near by. Stop. Get up. And go get a fresh blade. I might be talking to myself here.

A note of safety: Carefully dispose of razor blades or store in a safe place…for obvious reasons.
Put a line of glue on the back edge of the leather and slide it into the other side of the magnetic clasp. Guess what?
We’re done.
Now do you see why I feel guilty?

Let the adhesive sit up according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Chic in gray and gold or brown and silver…
Are you making Christmas gifts this year? Need an idea for how to make some extra cash? This is it.

LeatherCord USA for the goods

Filed Under: Jewelry, Tutorials, Uncategorized

Geode Necklace Tutorial

July 29, 2015 By candiecooper 9 Comments

This post brought to you by Beadalon.The dog days of summer are here. Barefoot, I walked outside this evening to get something out of my car and the pavement was still plenty warm. Visits to the farmer’s market and dinners of garden veggies. Yes, this is summer.

Poking around on the internet, I’m still seeing plenty of boho style. That’s what I do–look at fall fashions, dreaming of scarves with fringe and ankle boots. In reality it’s so hot you want to sit around in your underpants. I like to layer clothing and the sweltering summer temps don’t care.
Today I’m serving up some boho pendants using agate slices. These go together in seconds. Let’s celebrate Beadalon’s new 21 g. flat Artistic wire.
Beadalon also has a new small hole punch tool (on the left). Hole punches make my heart flutter if you can’t tell from this last post.
You can eyeball the length you want your wire or you can measure. Either way this flat wire cuts easily with wire cutters.
Use a file to knock off the corners so it’s not sharp.
Hammer the wire piece on a steel block and the round end of the hammer to add a planished texture.
This is a cool jump ring mandrel. Use it for forming jump rings (not just a clever name), ear wires, wire wrapping or to bend this bail piece.
Punch a hole with the metal hole punch (psst…you can use it on leather too!). Again, I’m eye-balling all of this. Don’t tell my boss.
Use a micro bolt to hold the agate slice in the bail.
Twist the nut onto the bolt.
This is obviously too long so cut it, leaving about 1mm above the nut.
CAREFULLY hammer the cut end to create a rivet head so the nut can’t come off. Take care to protect your eyes should you accidently hit the agate slice. That would be bad. Real bad.
String it onto a leather strap. String it on a chain. With beads. Without beads.

Treats:

Artistic wire for bail

Hole punch tool

Jump ring mandrel

Filed Under: Crafting, Jewelry, Uncategorized

Forming Leather Part II

May 31, 2015 By candiecooper 2 Comments

This post brought to you by Leather Cord USA.Did you happen to catch the last Leather Cord USA post? It was all about forming and altering flowers with water and scissors. In this installment, I’ll show you a few more fun ideas that play with these cute little leather flowers to make more embellishments.
Bust out those hole punches! You can leave the flowers flat or form them first with water as seen in the last post. Most of these are hole punches that you can use for paper except for the one on the far left. That one is made for leather tooling and I got it at Harbor Freight. It’s great because it can make multiple hole sizes.
SO easy! I like to have multiple size hole punch tools to add variety and interest to the individual flowers.
This tool is especially great when tube riveting because you can make the hole the exact same size as the rivet.
Another idea is trimming the edge with pinking shears. This changes the hole look of the flower in seconds. These would be so sweet to use in millinery crafting.
OK, time to put it all together. These are special stick pins with a glue pad. You can string your stack of flower pieces and what not onto the pin.
Just like this! I love mixing in other elements like metal flowers and beads.
Be sure to use a multi-purpose epoxy to glue the elements onto the pad part of the pin.
Wouldn’t be a blog post without a jean jacket appearance!Do you remember that post on painted tassels? I applied the same paint with a stiff brush in white on a flower to add a little texture. Glued all the pieces up at the top and voila….
A sweet stick pin! The thing I love the most about these flowers is each piece is 24 cents, so you can build these little pins for less than a dollar in most cases!!
Check out all the flower options at Leather Cord USA!