Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
Congratulations Erin S.!
You have won a $20 credit from Something To Do Beads.
Please send Claire an email with your information.
Welcome to the Humblebeads studio this week. Grab a cup of cocoa and put on some holiday music, it’s going to look a lot like Christmas here today!
A few weeks ago I launched my holiday line of beads inspired by cozy cabins, handmade goodness, sweet woodland animals and other wintery woodland inspirations. These adorable cabin beads have been on my bead table just waiting to became holiday jewelry. I knew I wanted to keep it simple and let the beads shine bright. But sometimes keeping it understated can be a challenge too, every part has to be just so.
So to kick off the holiday season here is the project, sweet and simple – you can became a little elf and whip up whole village.
Supply List:
House bead
8mm faceted rock crystal
4 or 5mm accent bead (use crystal, Czech glass or a faceted stone)
4mm copper spacer
15mm jump ring
26″ copper chain
6″ 19 gauge steel wire
1 2″ copper ball headpin
2 4mm copper jump rings
1 6mm copper jump ring
12 mm copper bead cap (snowflake charm)
I didn’t have snowflake charm on hand, so I created one by hammering a six-sided bead cap flat. When hammering bead caps, go very slow and gently to avoid breaking the cap which can happen on items that are plated.
Directions:
1. Add 6mm jump ring to the flattened bead cap.
2. Create a loop 1 1/2″ from the bottom of the wire, open loop, slide on snowflake, close loop, wrap wire to create a wrapped looped.
3. String on crystal, copper spacer, house bead. Create wrapped loop on top of house bead.
4. Add a crystal to the headpin, create a wrapped loop.
5. Attach 4mm jump rings to the ends of the chain. Add house pendant, crystal dangle and both ends of chain to the 15mm jump ring.
Resoucres: House beads: Humblebeads. Crystals, headpins, jump rings: Hobby Lobby. Chain: Yadana Beads. Stones: Rings & Things. Bead caps: Gift Bearer Supply (I found mine at a local bead shop)
So my question for you today – what is a clever way you have used a finding? (Like my bead caps becoming snowflakes.) One random winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to my Humblebeads Etsy Shop. Can’t wait to read your clever responses!