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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

Beadalon Bracelet Jig Stretch Bracelet Part II

April 15, 2015 By candiecooper 4 Comments

Greetings Day Fivers!

Where has the time gone? So in the last post, I showed you Beadalon’s new bracelet jig tool. Now let’s turn that piece into a bracelet topper.
When you pull the piece from the bracelet jig, you’ll have something like this. Finish the ends with wrapped loops.For the back end of the bracelet, I strung a section of topaz colored glass beads with brass spacer beads (easy!) in an alternating order. By the way, I’m using Beadalon’s 1mm Elasticity, because I like the thickness, but they do have a smaller size just in case.
Don’t forget to pull and stretch your elastic to break it in a bit.
Knot one end of the Elasticity to the bracelet topper. I really love using the same color of Elasticity as the wire–blends right in! Trim the Elasticity from the spool, leaving a couple inches to tie the other side.
Trim the extra Elasticity away, leaving about an 1/8th inch and dot the knot with nail polish.
The loops from the bracelet jig make a perfect place to connect bead dangles and charms if you like. For me, I enjoyed the simplicity of this and the dainty flowers.

Speaking of, these acrylic flower beads are popping up everywhere at Bead Fest Spring. Hello spring, we’re glad you’re here!!

Filed Under: Bead Love, Tutorials, Uncategorized

Easy Necklace Making

April 7, 2015 By candiecooper 1 Comment

This post brought to you by Beadalon!Day 3 of ~~Spring~~ Beadalon Break and I wanna here a heck yeah if you love easy jewelry making!

Picture me “raising the roof”…
Or playing a tambourine?

Don’t ask.

But, I know you’re curious…

My mom and I share a creative space in which she has a small music studio and sometimes when she’s not there, I use her instruments as props. That’s all.

Ok, let’s get to it!
Recently Beadalon sent a spool of their .024 diameter 49 strand gold beading wire for me to try out and let me tell you—I’m in LOVE! It’s so thick and glorious. It looks amazing all by itself!It comes in different colors too!

Can I get another heck yeah?It only takes a few ingredients to make this simple necklace. Other than the .024 Beadalon wire, the key item is a donut pendant. Do you have a pile laying around like me? Let’s use em’ up! You’ll also want some #3 crimp tubes for the thicker wire, your basic jewelry making tools set, some beads and a clasp.String the donut bead onto the heavy wire and determine how long you want your necklace. Trim the end from the spool and slide a crimp bead over both ends of the wire.

Flat crimp the crimp tube with chain nose pliers by smooshing the crimp bead.

Smoosh it. Smoosh it good.String the beads onto one side of the wire and separate each bead with two crimp beads. Use a tool of some sort to help create equal distance between each crimp bead–I’m using a tiny ruler.

Flat crimp again.Then slide your first bead against the crimp bead. Crimp the next tube so it keeps the bead in place along the wire. Use your measuring tool again and flat crimp the next crimp tube.

Repeat, completing both sides of the wire.To finish the ends with a toggle clasp, we will use the traditional crimping method. Slide a crimp tube onto the beading wire followed by one half of the clasp. Thread the tail of the wire back through the crimp bead, snugging the tube up against the clasp, but not so much that your clasp cannot move freely.Put the crimp tube in the “U” shape opening on the crimping pliers and crimp.Turn the crimp tube 90 degrees and place in the outside opening to roll the crimp bead into a tight C or shut.I created this necklace to match this unique chain. Here’s another version with a handmade glass donut bead. With a focal piece like this, it’s nice to highlight the beauty of it with minimal stringing work around it.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Being Brave and Loving Life

January 21, 2015 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

“Success is Loving Life and Daring to Live It”

I’ve worn this bracelet a ton since I made it in June. This picture was taken in the fall and it has made me pause and think tonight—kind of like reading an old journal entry. I remember loving that my shoes matched my turquoise mocs. Surface, I know. Deeper, I think about why that bracelet resonated/resonates with me. As someone who has dealt with her share of anxiety, I’m no stranger to making a decision based on fear or worrying myself sick. This is not success. Not at all. I find when you’re going through transitions, sometimes it helps to put a bracelet on that reminds you to grab the bull by the horns. Be brave. It works for me. I want to live life fully. Sometimes I get too caught up in my own head and looking at this quote snaps me out of it. Just another one of the many things I love about jewelry…

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Accessory Ideas

October 3, 2014 By candiecooper Leave a Comment

Time for another Beadalon Pinterest fashion board round up! Last month’s was all about geometry. This month we’re all about the leopard print!

I’m still hooked on those druzy beads. Big time. I’ve been wearing this faux tiger tooth piece a lot lately–see all the gold druzy beads peppered through out? Just can’t get enough! I hung the tooth and dangles from Beadalon’s stamped antique brass colored chain. Also cannot get enough of that colored chain!

Then I made some earrings with some of Beadalon’s sassy Aluminum Fabric. See you on the dance floor!

The last is a piece I made earlier that uses Jesse James leopard print bead strands strung on Beadalon champagne colored beading wire. Rawr. Suspended from satin ribbon…double RAWR!

Visit the Pinterest link above for more leopard love!

Filed Under: Beads, Uncategorized

A Little Retreat

September 18, 2014 By candiecooper 1 Comment

Good morning! The days are whipping by and if it were up to me, I would hit pause on life and soak up as much of fall as I possibly could. I returned home from a work trip in Philly at 12:30 AM Tuesday night only to turn around and pack up for a mini retreat to celebrate my love’s birthday. Oh it is delightful to wake up on the water! Wednesday afternoon, I whipped up this banana cream pie (it’s his favorite), some breakfast and lunch wraps, fruit salad, and a cooler full of his favorite snacks and drinks. The cable guy came to hook up the internet and such and we took off by 8:30pm. We love a little adventure.

By the way on a completely random note–I’m trying to cut out some bad foods I’ve been eating lately (refined sugars, fats, etc…). My breakfast wrap had an egg white, spinach and sweet potato in it and it was awesome. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make them the day before and then microwave it for 1 minute. I’ll be doing more of this in 2015! Is it too early to plan?

Another completely random note–I missed having internet for a week and a half, but I don’t think I missed the television. I got more stuff done without it and had more time to make art for art’s sake. Hubs HAS to have cable because he loves sports (which I support), but I definitely need to keep embracing the “create everyday” lifestyle and not get sucked into too much tv watching.

Here’s another stone layering necklace like the one from last week’s tutorial. I’m not sure I’m loving the round link chain with the geometric stones, but I had to try it. Here’s a link to the layering necklace jewelry making tutorial.