Monarch Wing Necklace

Candie Cooper cocoonLook what I found putting up the Christmas lights?!  It was such an unexpected gift to remind me of a book I read a long time ago.  It started out where she was walking and found a cocoon that she took back to her yard and watched through the winter until the butterfly emerged.  It was an analogy of change and life (and so many things).  I was going through a really hard break-up at the time.  This reminder was much needed because my life is happy now.  Completely different.  I’m about 5 hours away from my bookshelf and memory of the title is failing me!  I’ll find it when I go home.

I’m always self analyzing and thinking.  Do you do that?  Like the cocoon and the changes I make in this life, I go through my ugly phase, a little awkward, praying to God I come out better or more “beautiful.”  Sorry to get all deep after starting a post about Christmas decorating.  I just wanted to acknowledge this gift.

Monarch Necklace By Candie Cooper 1Here’s a necklace I made with a butterfly wing after finding that cocoon.  It’s symbolic.   I made the necklace for a mini jewelry class video for Plaid Crafts with their bead and jewelry products to show how to string a necklace of beads.  I love this pendant.  I love the polka dot beads.  I love the sparkle.  And I love teaching other people how to make jewelry.

Monarch wing necklace by Candie CooperThe awesome thing about jewelry with symbolism is that  you can design it to wear as a gentle reminder of whatever you are working on or striving for (between you and God).  It can be a celebration statement.  In my case:  Change is possible.

Keep the Faith–

Candie

DIY Sparkle Ribbon Necklace

Candie Cooper Sparkle NecklaceThis necklace has three of my favorite things:  sparkle, large holed beads and ribbon.  I started with the sparkle beads because I liked their rusty, smoky, hazy color way.  I was on a roll with those ends in “Y” descriptors, huh?  Anyone can make this as it’s just a few beads strung onto ribbon and tied in a bow.  Easy is good.Candie Cooper sparkle necklace 2

The big pave sparkle beads are from Jesse James Beads and copper large holed spacer beads are from Tierra Cast.

DIY Earring Making Bar

Candie Cooper Earring Bar   Are you looking for a fun party activity over the holidays?  Or any day for that matter?  This is it!  Your guests get to design their own earrings.  You would think men might snooze at the sound of it, but I’ve seen guys get in on the fun too, designing pairs for their lady friends as well as dads and daughters making them for momma bear.  It’s a lot of fun!  All you need are a few supplies and a little earring making know-how.  Here are some tips and ideas for your DIY Earring Bar:  Candie Cooper Earring Bar 1Keep it simple by leaving small amounts of supplies sorted in pretty champagne glasses, vintage coasters and plates.  Too many choices can be overwhelming.Candie Cooper Earring Bar 4Cut up vintage necklaces for beads (or you can purchase beads from your local craft store).  This bar had vintage Swarovski crystals.  Oo la la!  No one can resist the sparkle.  Candie Cooper Earring Bar 5Offer up two colors of metal–silver and gold findings are tried and true. This applies to spacer beads as well.  My favorite are the tiny ones with crystals like these balls from Ornamentea.com or these.  Make sure you get lots of those!  They are the glitter of jewelry making.Candie Cooper Earring 3Once people are happy with their stack of beads on the head pin, it’s your turn to finish the loop at the end and attach the ear wire.  I had a great time chatting with people while they picked through the bead bowls and helping with their designs.Candie Cooper Earring Bar 2Here’s a trusty check list of supplies for earring making.  I should also add that it’s nice to have a small jewelry pouch or bag to put finished earrings in so they aren’t easily lost into the bottom of purse abysses (that would be my purse btw).Candie Cooper Earring Bar 6I’m doing a trunk show this Friday night at Lux Boutique in Kokomo, IN where I’ll have another earring bar set up!  This time I’ll add a few different beads and findings to keep it fresh.  Party on with your sparkly self!

Online Jewelry Making Class

Candie Cooper Jewelry Online ClassHo! Ho! Ho!  Give the gift of craftiness this year to someone you love!  Craftsy has a ton of fun classes (some even FREE!). They also got me to teach a class on Beading with Wire, Chain, and Leather.  I had a ton of fun filming this class out in Colorado this past year.  The students in the class are incredible too.  They share pictures of their projects, questions, and comments all on the class platform.  It’s fun to be in the Craftsy community for sure.  I read this year in The Happiness Project that learning something new can contribute to your happiness.  Believe it or not I found this to be true after taking golf lessons (which I stink at, but still!).  Learning something new helps to get you out of that day to day, routine thinking rut that I can slip in so easily.  Thanks Craftsy for having a fun site where all of us can learn something new.

1920s Themed Charm Bracelet

Candie Cooper 20s Charm Bracelet 2Do you ever make jewelry for fundraisers or auctions?  That’s how this piece came to be.  For the last 4 years I’ve had a small group of lovely and super generous ladies sponsor me to make a unique piece of jewelry to benefit our hospital.  These ladies have all been dear friends for years.  I love that about them.  And boy are they fun!  You would like them, I’m positive.Candie Cooper 20s Charm Bracelet 3This year’s hospital gala theme was full of Great Gatsby charm so I decided to go with it.  This is the first time I’ve made a set to go with the theme and it was a fun challenge.  It doesn’t hurt that charm bracelets are absolutely one of my favorite things in the whole wide world to make.  Can you tell?  The more stuff I can cram on a chain the better!  More. Is. More.Candie Cooper 20s Charm Bracelet 2AHere are a few elements with their manufacturer’s called out.  Vintaj, Tierra Cast, and Plaid components were spread between vintage brooches, cut up vintage Swarovski necklaces and little recycled cameo earrings.  This might be the first time I’ve ever used two different colors of metal for the chain and clasp.  Rebel without matching components at your service.  It worked.  My guardian angels made that happen.  I went to finish up the ends and thought, dear God, I don’t have a clasp to match this chain.  Oh Lord, please don’t make me drive 30 minutes (back) to the craft store.  Then the lights shined down on my Tierra Cast findings box and away I went.  It was just another moment where the Universe showed me that I have everything I need.Candie Cooper 20s Charm Bracelet 1

 

DIY Elastic Skull Bracelets

Candie Cooper Fancy Skull BraceletDo you ever have an idea that rolls around in your head for a year, but you can never find that extra hour you need to make it? Probably because it was jewelry solely for me.  Anyway, that’s exactly what happened with this stack of bracelets.  It all started with some gum-ball head skull beads.  I wanted to make some Halloween jewelry without it really looking like Halloween jewelry.  Know what I mean?  No orange and black.  No dangling skull charms.  Very sneaky.  This fancy design worked.  People did double takes!  My mother said, “Candice, are those skull beads?”  “Why yes Mother, they are.”  So fun to wear!  Make one.  Make eight!  Don’t over-think the bead order–just string them!  I made mine with hefty 1mm diameter beading elastic and Jesse James focal beads between the skulls.  Tie the ends of the elastic in a surgeons knot and touch the knot with clear nail polish.  Let it dry and go on with your bad self!

NYC Craft Attitude Cuff

Craft attitude bracelet
Leather cuff

This is my favorite shade of green!  Chartreuse.  Mmmm.  Love it!  You can find cuff blanks like this at Hobby Lobby.  I jazzed this one up with a picture I took in Times Square printed on Craft Attitude.  Tip:  For darker colored surfaces like this, paint the surface where the photo will sit with white Folk Art acrylic paint.  I adhered the image with an Elmer’s permanent glue stick and added gems with Mod Podge.

The studio is getting an over haul this week.  It was a mess of bags and bobbles.  EVERYWHERE.  Just know, if you have stashes of stuff that you’re embarassed about, YOU are not alone!  I will say that if you want to address it, find a good friend that you can chat and clean with.  It makes the time go faster.  When I clean by myself, I think things like I should have done this…or that…. then I wouldn’t be in this mess.  But, that’s negative energy that can’t creep into your brain as easily if you have a buddy.  Brick by brick, things are getting organized.  We can do this!