Ho! 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.
Online Jewelry Making Class
1920s Themed Charm Bracelet
Do 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.
This 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.
Here 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.
DIY Elastic Skull Bracelets
Do 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!
Halloween Treat Box Idea
Thanks Laura Kelly for inviting me to this fun blog hop that shows ideas for using vintage popcorn boxes in your Halloween crafts! I kept my project simple, using what I had on hand to make a little treat for my sister and nephew.
The first thing I did was dry brush the popcorn box with black paint. I like seeing the original surfaces of stuff like this so I kept it light! Also, if you like this little rat check out this video with lots of Halloween ideas.
This box was tall and skinny which equals top-heavy when you load it up. Fill it with something heavy–like Snickers!
I have little things like this pin I made coming out my ears. I stuck it to the front because I know my sister would like having it for her jean jacket this fall. You can make your own super easy! Check out my Mod Podge Video on how to make these fabric flowers!
Fill it up with fun treats and that’s all there is to it!
No, wait…there’s more!
Enter here to win a $100 to Disney so you can load up on movies!
See the rest of the hop ideas here!
and
Happy Halloween!
Charm Bracelet Tour
Into the Woods Charm Bracelet by Candie Cooper
I love making charm bracelets. Make your own from whatever you have laying around–mismatched earrings, keys, charms and beads. Hands down-my very favorite thing to make.
Components from:
Handmade Flower Clasp: Metalworking 101 for Beaders
Hammered Key: Remixed Media Video
Metalworking 101 for Beaders GiveAway!
Hello, lovely people! In honor of my guest curator spot on Crescendoh, next week is Bead and Button, my birthday was May 21, I'm teaching two metalworking classes next week, and I'm filming 2 segments for Beads, Baubles and Jewels at the end of the month…..
I AM GIVING AWAY A COPY OF MY BOOK METALWORKING 101 FOR BEADERS!
OK?
This is terrifying to me because what if nobody comments? So here goes, I'm counting on you, folks. Leave a comment answering "what is good about your life right now…"
Did you water the flowers this AM? Your kid graduated from H.S.! You paid off your credit card bill! I want to hear. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors! Entries are over this Sunday–June 5th at midnight EST. Until then, tell me what's great… please! 🙂
Journal project…
This is a project I designed for the John Bead Corp to be shown on Beads, Baubles and Jewels. It's one of my favorite things. I'm a little anxious about writing in it, but I will because life's too short to worry about scribbling on a page and burning pretty candles for that matter. You can find the instructions here. I'm not sure if Hobby Lobby still has the leather journals, but any journal loves flat back crystals. Promise.
Check here for your local TV listings to see when Beads, Baubles and Jewels is on in your area.
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! 
