In this tutorial I will show you how to use the Concho dies for the Sizzix Jewelry Studio Tool. We will make a trendy concho pendant necklace with a tassel.
Metal Hammered Fringe with Beadalon Flat Artistic Wire
April 19, 2017 By 2 Comments
You all know that I love my tassels on many projects and today I am putting a twist on that concept. Rather than using fabric or beads to make a tassel I will be using Beadalon Flat Artistic Wire to create fringe on an enameled pendant by Anne Gardanne. Take a look at the supplies list and lets make a hammered fringe necklace with Beadalon Flat Artistic Wire.
Cue the Coachella Playlist and Make these Earrings
May 17, 2016 By 3 Comments
This post is sponsored by LeatherCord USA. Thanks LCUSA for making awesome leather and sponsoring this post! All opinions shared here are my own.
I’m still sad I missed Coachella. But there’s always next year!
And there’s also more music events to go to this summer. After this post, I’m officially locked and loaded on summer style earrings made with LeatherCord USA round leather.
For these earrings, I’m using 1 to 2mm diameter leather in pretty metallics. 
Here’s what else I had nearby so I could whip these up. End findings for leather where the inside diameter matched the diameter, Loctite Gel adhesive, ear wires, head pins, extra beads and charms, wire cutters, chain nose pliers, and round nose pliers.
First, determine how big you want the teardrop leather shape. Cut two pieces the exact same length.
String some beads–these are large holed spacers from Tierra Cast.
Glue the end finding on the end of the leather. 
Connect the two ends together with a jump ring, adding the ear wire before closing up the ring.
Seriously.
How long did that take?
Five minutes?
It looks cute to add beaded dangles like this for a variation…
I love the hammered silver beads with the silver metallic jewelry making leather.
I’m wearing another pair that I added a beaded dangle plus a feather charm on the bottom.
Visit LeatherCordUSA.com to get the goods!
See me make these earrings in this video, but first, you need to know I filmed this video live which means I interact with comments as they come in on my Facebook page. You know, just in case I was talking to my imaginary friend. If you’re watching the replay you can always fast forward to the 8-minute mark where I start to make the leather earrings!
Catch more live videos on my Candie Cooper Facebook page!
This and That: DIY Scrappy Multi-strand Leather Bracelets
April 29, 2016 By 2 Comments
This post brought to you by LeatherCord USA.com–all opinions are my own. Thanks, LCUSA for helping me keep the lights on here at CC.com.
Yum. Yum. Leather. Wow!
Like I’ve mentioned before, I had the best time on my visit to ArtBeads.com with my sponsor LeatherCordUSA.com. We filmed several videos and these bracelets are definitely one of my favorite projects from the filming. I love mixing and matching all the different textures and types of leather. 
Cynthia at Artbeads sent me a fun selection of charms to use with the cords from LeatherCord USA. I used Tierra Cast bails to hold everything together. The large holes on the bails make it EASY to connect bits and baubles. 
The beauty is that you can add lots of charms and dangles or keep it simple and just let the leather love shine like this one! LeatherCord USA’s “royal blue” is one of my favorite colors and I used various leathers like: flat braid, printed/stitched, and round.
The DIY leather jewelry clasps are all from LCUSA too. OR ArtBeads has a fun selection. Just use the Loctite gel to glue them into the clasp finding. Man, I need a case of that stuff it’s so goo!
LeatherCord USA has the most delicious mix of cords with all kinds of textures! Check them out on LeatherCordUSA.com or ArtBeads to get some ideas.
Here’s the video where sweet Cynthia and I make these bracelets!
Ride ‘Em Cowgirl! Make an Inlaid Leather Cuff Bracelet
April 19, 2016 By 6 Comments
This post is sponsored by leathercord USA–all thoughts and opinions are mine.
Saddle up, cowgirls and boys because I’ve got a saucy DIY leather cuff bracelet I think you’re going to love. It uses leathercord USA’s braid, round and bolo leathers which are set down in a silver cuff. It doesn’t take too long to make, but you do need a touch of patience because super glue dries fast and there are a lot of cords to keep organized.
Ok? That’s your warning.
Meet the natural dyed leather look from leathercord USA. It is my very favorite because the dye is more transparent. I always love using earthy brights in my jewelry and these leather cords fit the bill. When you visit the lcusa website, look for the word “natural” in front of the color.
Select a couple round cords (1 to 1.5 diameter), bolo cord (3mm), and flat braid (3 strand-2mm) in colors that make your heart sing. The cuff blank you can get from me–two sizes large and small. Email or comment for details! To prep the cuff, I used my chain nose pliers to open up the little ridge of metal so I could push the cords down in.
You can lay out your leather cording or you can wing it like I did. I actually think I got very lucky how well these fit down in the recessed silver cuff area. Use your trusty Loctite Gel Adhesive to secure the leather jewelry cords to the silver cuff blank.
Press and hold the cords down a bit in between–this is where you need the patience because sometimes the glue oozes out and you have to be quick!
Trim the cords and put some glue down in, behind the silver flap, and tuck them in.
It was at this point where I thought to myself, I think I was a little inspired by my skirt! Haha. And that I have a pink problem–it’s a go to color as of late. This was a super fun project loaded with instant gratification.
Be sure to visit leathercord USA to check out the natural dyed leather lines and style for all your jewelry making needs. leathercord USA to check out the natural dyed leather lines and style for all your jewelry making needs. 
Make it Manly: DIY Men’s Leather Jewelry
March 18, 2016 By 4 Comments
This post is sponsored by LeatherCord USA.
Make it manly–You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to have a DIY men’s finding line called that! Haha.
I had a chance at the end of last year to make manly leather bracelets with Leathercord USA leathers and findings for Art Beads Cafe and it was SO fun. Michelle from Leathercord and I made a huge collection of bracelets for the shoot. Here are a few of my faves:
The various leathercord USA leathers make creating men’s jewelry super easy. If you want to get the look, check out the:
There are tons of Glue and Go findings that will suit the look you want too. See them all right here.
Here’s a video of me showing Cynthia at ArtBeads how to “make it manly” with leathercord USA leathers. We had so much fun filming this video. I hope it makes you smile.
Honestly, the possibilities are endless. This is just your basic DIY macrame’ bracelet with leather. Two sizes of round leather cord were used too–1mm brown and 2mm natural blue. This makes it a little more special. Use a bead or don’t and it will look great!
And bless my husband for letting me boss him around so I could take a couple photos. Secretly, I wanted to layer the you know what out of these bracelets on his wrist, but that was/is NEVER going to happen.
I’m the extra fancy one around here. Yin and yang.
Not that Aaron doesn’t have swagger because I truly believe the man has a shopping problem when I look in his closet. Haha. BUT! That’s a story for another day…
*Thanks again to Leathercord USA for sponsoring this post.
Pretty In Pink: DIY Rose Gold Druzy Necklace
March 8, 2016 By 2 Comments
This post brought to you by LeatherCord USA.
Rose gold. Do you find it as refreshing as I do? It’s popping up everywhere. I’m especially in love with the rose gold plated druzy quartz pieces like the one in this DIY Leather Necklace.
This pendant is faux druzy, but none the less, I love it.
Accompanying this druzy is some fab pink and natural colored round leather cords from LeatherCord USA. Two of the pieces are 1 mm diameter and the last, 1.5. This adds a little interest visually to your necklace while adding some weight. I’m especially smitten with the metallic pink and it’s velvety surface.
If you follow me on social media, you know I teach a lot of kids how to make jewelry. This is a DIY Necklace project teens will love.
First cut your cords to the approximate necklace length and add a couple inches.
Optionally you can add a delicate piece of chain to the leather strands with a few wraps of wire and a crimp bead. Here’s a close up look:
The crimp bead (size 4) flattened holds the chain up while the wire keeps the cords bundled.
Connect the pendant to the cords with a jump ring.
Sometimes finishing the ends of leather can be so tricky due to lack of parts or findings. This is a fool-proof way to get consistent loops at the end of leather cording. I’m using 20 g. wire to bind the ends together, remove the pen and you have a perfect loop. Repeat and you’ve got a second perfect loop the same as the first.
Use jump rings to attach a clasp. This one is magnetic and great for this light-weight DIY necklace.
Pretty in pink.
Sophia Loren likes it (special thanks to Flow magazine for this great photo background).Find all kinds of round leather cords for DIY leather necklaces at LeatherCord USA.
Hi, I’m Candie. I design jewelry and crafts, author books, teach classes and host television programs. I thrive on simple ideas that anyone can achieve. I also love projects made from unexpected materials that stand the test of time. Join me as I lead a creative life! 
