Jewelry Skills

Making A Simples Necklace

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 06:18:00 +0000

Materials:

2 jump rings (metal rings used in making jewelry)
Ribbon, cut into two pieces, 10 inches each
Jewelry wire, cut into two pieces, 8 inches and 10 inches
Two types of beads, one large and one small, in colors and shapes that coordinate
Crimp beads
Small jewelry pliers (or crimping pliers)
Scissors

Instructions:
1. Take the 8-inch piece of jewelry wire and insert a crimp bead onto one end. Insert the wire through the jump ring and back through the crimp bead (see inset 1).

2. Using pliers or crimping pliers, crimp the bead to secure the wire to the jump bead (see inset 2).

3. Insert a crimp bead onto the same wire and secure approximately 11/2 inches from the previous crimp bead.

4. Insert a bead and then another crimp bead. Secure the crimp bead using the pliers as close to the bead as possible (see inset 3).

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4, placing each bead approximately 11/2 inches apart. Insert a total of five beads.

6. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to finish the strand.

7. Repeat the same steps for the 10-inch wire. Increase the total number of beads by 1 and the width by 13/4 inches.

8. Attach one piece of ribbon to each pair of jump rings (see inset 4). To wear, simply tie ribbon into a bow around neck.

Source: http://rrstar.com

Hemp Jewelry - Making of Hemp Necklace

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 14:39:00 +0000

Hemp necklaces are really easy to make. This hemp necklace is approximately 16 inches long, so you could make it shorter or longer to suit your needs. I like to safety pin the end of my necklace to my pants while I'm tying the knots. It makes it easier, but you could also tape it down to any surface.

What you'll need for this hemp neclace:

Hemp -8 yards
Beads -This pattern uses 6 beads, 4 of one color and 2 of another color.
Tape or safety pin

Instructions to make Hemp Necklace

1. Cut two pieces of hemp. One 5 1/2 yards long and one 2 1/2 yards long. Fold them in half and make a closure loop. To make a closure loop, tie all cords together with an overhand knot, leaving a loop just large enough for a bead to go through. You'll begin tying the knots just below the overhand knot. You'll also tie the outer, longer threads around the inner two shorter cords.

2. Tie 2 1/2 inches of square knots.

To make a square knot, take the left cord over the center cords and under the right cord. Then take the right cord under the center cords and over the left cord. Tighten, then do the same thing again but alternate what cord goes over the center cords. Tighten again.

3. Tie 3 inches of half knot-twists.

To make half knot-twists, take the left cord over the center cords and under the right cord. Then take the right cord under the center cords and over the left cord. Tighten. Then do the exact same thing over and over. Do not alternate which side goes over the center cords.

4. Tie 3 whole square knots.

5. Slide a bead (color 1) on the center cords, and then tie 2 whole square knots.

6. Slide another bead (color 2) on the center cords, and then tie 2 whole square knots.

7. Tie 1/2 inch of half knot-twists, and then add another bead (color 1).

8. Repeat the mirrored design on the other side.

9. Then add a closure bead.

To make a closure bead, slide all four cords through a bead (color 1). If all the cords don't fit, then tie the last knot really tight and cut one of two of the inner cords. After threading the bead on, tie an overhand knot to hold the bead on tightly against the knots. Cut the cords off about 1/2 inch after the knot and leave as fringe.

Enjoy!!!

Snowflakes with Swarovski Pearl Necklace

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 14:45:00 +0000

Snowflakes with Swarovski Pearl Necklace

Things & Tools you'll need:

Clasp - silver toggle
Beading wire
2 silver crimp beads
42 - 10mm Swarovski glass pearls; night blue
18 - 6mm vitrial druk rounds
3 - silver snowflake charms - one lager than the other two
3 split rings
Crimping plyers
Bent nose or chain nose plyers

Step 1
Place the snowflake charms on the split rings. Cut beading wire to 26 inches.

Step 2
Attach one end of the beading wire to the clasp with a crimp bead. Bead on 3 vitrial druk beads.

Step 3
Bead: 5 glass pearls, one vitrial druk bead. Repeat two more times.

Step 4
Bead: 3 glass pearls, one vitrial bead, split ring with small snowflake charm, one vitrial bead, 3 glass pearls, one vitrial bead, split ring with large snowflake charm, one vitrial bead, 3 glass pearls, one vitrial bead, split ring with small snowflake charm, one vitrial bead and 3 glass pearls.

Step 5
Bead: one vitrial druk bead, 5 glass pearls. Repeat two more times.

Step 6
Bead: 3 vitrial druk beads. Attach the other end of the clasp. Enjoy!

Snowflakes with Swarovski Pearl Necklace

Tips for Making Pearl Cluster Earrings

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:45:00 +0000

Pearl Cluster Earrings

As we all know, pearl earrings are famous for their beautiful characteristic and charming pearl cluster. Here are a few tips you might have in mind in order to make pearl cluster earrings. It is not a tutorials but just a tips for you to explore the skills.

• You need to have basic tools for beading works to make the pearl earrings.

• Choose a few colors of headpins and hooks such as gold and silver and of course the pearl materials.

• On each headpin, put a pearl and add more small pearls or bead to it according to the pattern you have selected beforehand. Complete that with the tools you have bought.

• Holding the stop end of the headpin; place the tip of the needle nose pliers on them. Roll the pliers to the side, bending the headpin to a 90 degree angle. Make a small loop with the pliers.

• Correct the small places where are not suitable to your ears, and perfect the loops with the pliers.

With these steps, you can make pearl cluster earrings for yourself according to your own imagination. Keep the tips of making pearl cluster earrings in your mind, and enjoy the masterpiece of yourself with delight.

Pearl Cluster Earrings

Making Seashell Bracelet

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 07:35:00 +0000

Seashell Bracelets

Step 1

Ready the work area, for example a table and cover it with protective material such as old newspaper ore plastic rubbish bag.

Step 2

Prepare the seashells. If the seashells was brought straightly from the beach, clean it first. Visit HERE for cleaning of seashells. If they're from the crafts store, ready with a small driller because we need to make a small holes on the seashells. Visit HERE for drilling of seashells. You also can do painting work on your seashells to make-up them and then spray all of the shells with the clear gloss for extra shine. Visit HERE for painting of seashells.

Step 3

After all the make-up work finish and the gloss is dry, select the seashells with the appropriate number of beads and ocean charms depending on the person's size and whether the bracelet is for an adult or child.

Step 4

Cut the right length of yarn, twine or ribbon with several extra inches. Depending on which material you use, either tie a knot on one end of the yarn or ribbon or secure the first part of the jewelry clasp to the twine.

Step 5

Thread the shells, beads and ocean charms in the order you want them to appear. Once you're done, tie the bracelet ends together and trim the extra ribbon or yarn, or fasten the other piece of the clasp to the opposite end of the twine.

Seashell Bracelets

A Tutorial For Making of Hemp Necklace

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:38:00 +0000

Hemp Necklace / Bracelet

Below is a tutorial on how to make a hemp necklaces or bracelets in a matter of minutes. It is suitable to make a great gift for a friend or for ourself. Eventhough we also can make a profit by selling the crafts.

Step 1

First thing to start creating your hemp necklace is to cut strings of hemp to the lengths you need. Cut the first string to a length of twice the size you want your necklace to be plus a few extra inches. Cut the second string to around 10 times the length you want your necklace to be. Fold each of these strings in half. Put the two strings together at the spot where the fold meets and tie a knot similar to the one in the picture to the left. Now tape down the end like in the picture.

Step 2

Simply take the two longer strings and pull them to the outside, one on each side. While keeping the two shorter ones in the center and together.

Step 3

Then we start to make the first knot. In this step you take the string on the left and make a loop over the to middle strings.

Step 4

For this step, take the string on the right, feed it over the first string, under the middle two and through the loop we created in the previous step. A trick to speed up the process of going through the loop is to bunch up the end of each string so we can feed it through at a quicker rate.

Step 5

The last step is to pull the ends of the two strings together so that we form the first knot. Be sure to make this a tight fit. To continue finishing the necklace simply repeat the process over and over until you have gone down the length of the middle strings. To create the twirl we do the exact same process over and over. To create a flat necklace do the same process but in reverse each time. Meaning make the loop on the right side this time instead of the left. To end our necklace just throw a bead on and tie it off.

Finish. Don't forget to give a try...

Hemp Necklace / Bracelet

Making Velvet Christmas Bracelet

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:05:00 +0000

Here's how to make your own Velvet Christmas bracelet.

What you'll need to get started:

A tape measure
Wide velvet ribbon
A needle and thread
A silk Christmas flower of your choice
Velcro
A hot glue gun
Scissors

Start by measuring the distance around your wrist using the measuring tape. This can be tricky since you only get to use one hand, but be as accurate as possible. Add 1.5" on to your measurement and cut a piece of velvet ribbon to that length. Fold the ends of the ribbon under 1/2" on each side and whip stitch them into place to make the edges of your bracelet look nice. If you prefer not to sew you can just leave the cut edges of the ribbon exposed or tack them under using a hot glue gun.

Next, cut a small piece of the self-stick Velcro. Attach one side of the Velcro to the bottom side of one of the ends of the bracelet, and the other side of the Velcro to the top side of the other side of the bracelet so that when it is wrapped around your wrist the Velcro can connect and close the bracelet. One of the nice things about using Velcro to close the bracelet is that it makes it easy to put on and take off yourself if no one is around to help you.

If you would prefer, rather than using Velcro to close the bracelet you can buy a pretty clasp and sew the ribbon to the clasp. Just be sure to take into account the width of the clasp when measuring your ribbon so that your bracelet is not too large for your wrist.

Take your silk flower and cut off the extra foliage and stem. Attach it to the center of your bracelet using hot glue. If you would like you can add silk leaves or additional flowers as you see fit. That's it! Now you have a pretty velvet Christmas bracelet that can make any outfit look festive and it only took a few minutes to make. Try wearing it with a basic black dress for an effect that is almost like wearing a pretty wrist corsage, or wear it with a pretty white shirt and jeans to dress up a casual outfit.

How To Make A Button Bracelet

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Themed Button Bracelet Using A Stretch Cord

In making stretchy themed button bracelet all you need are your chosen themed buttons and Stretch Magic Bead/Jewelry Cord. There are wide assortments of themed buttons available at your local bead stores. You can be creative and include some handmade glass beads if you want to.

Just use buttons and make a spiral design; however this will require you a lot of buttons and it doesn’t show off smaller buttons well. You can use an alternative like placing a spacer or beads to separate and show off your buttons.

Pick your desired buttons and beads and start to lay out your pattern. You can explore and play with other designs and styles.

You can now cut a piece of stretchy cord six inches longer that your wrist measurement, this is for adjustment or extension if necessary. On one end, you have to put a paper clip.

After that, you can now start with your stringing. If in case you aren’t satisfied with the way the pieces mesh, just simply restring it. When you are now satisfied with your design and you have now a correct length of bracelet your are creating, finish it by simply line up the two loose ends side by side and then tie an overhand knot.

Button Bracelet Using Memory Wire

For this project you will need some vintage buttons to put at the center of your bracelet, and coordinated stones and beads for the rest. Prepare also a bracelet memory wire, some jewelry making tools such as round tipped needle nose pliers for looping each end and holding the beads and small materials in place, and a wire cutter. If you wish to finish the end of your bracelet, you can also use glue on an end cap.

Start laying out your desired design. Get your memory wire, cut a piece of it two inches longer than your wrist’s measurement.

You also have to put a clip at one end.

String one half of your design starting at the center button.

Before continuing the rest of your stringing, check the fit first. This way you can easily adjust the length if it’s not half of your wrist’s measurement. After that, switch the clip to the other end and start stringing with the other half.

In making the end loops. Just grip the loose end of memory wire using needle nose pliers.

Wrap the wire around the pliers to shape the loop; you have to position the pliers for you have the size of loop you want. Tightly grasp the pliers; push the wire away from you and around the tip of the pliers until you have finished the complete loop. Make sure you have lots of wire when doing this project.

Lastly, clip off the other end and cut away any excess wire and repeat the looping process.

That is just the beginning you can learn other jewelry making techniques in adding more colors to metal or working with polymer clay jewelry. It is all up to you as to how far and how detailed you want to get. The only thing that limits a jeweler is their imagination, so imagine, dream and create

How To Make Disney Italian Charms Bracelets

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:20:00 +0000

Disney Italian charms are made widely available to the demanding public and with good reason. These stylish and interesting charms come in a wide variety of styles and themes, all of which depict some sort of Disney related theme. And because practically all little girls love charm bracelets, giving someone such a bracelet created from Disney Italian charms is sure to put a satisfied smile on their face.

It is true that charms are collected and purchased for various reasons. However, among the most common and highly popular of such reasons are the ability to use them for charm bracelets. Charm bracelets serve as splendid accessories and are affordable enough to obtain for all of your outfits.Millions of people have already entered into the thrilling and addicting world of charm collecting. Numerous reasons could be attributed to the overall success of charms and charm accessories. Among such reasons could perhaps be the utter inexpensiveness of charms. In fact, they are so affordable, that they would never break your pockets, even as an addicting hobby. And speaking of addicting, charm bracelet making as well as simple charm collecting is highly addictive and entertaining. But of course, being inexpensive is only one of numerous positive qualities of charms.

Another reason which could perhaps be attributed to the overall success of charms such as Disney Italian charm, Disney 14k gold charms, and their accessories could be the overall simplicity that is involved in charm collecting and bracelet making. Actually, charm bracelet making is so simple and easy, that even the youngest child could do it. Imagine having a thrilling, affordable hobby that is simple enough for the entire family to sufficiently participate in. Regardless of age, anyone can find enjoyment in this fulfilling hobby.

Now, the first task that must be performed in order to sufficiently begin the charm bracelet making process is to acquire all of the necessary bracelet making supplies. Fortunately, because charms and charm accessories are in such high and constant demand, they are made widely available in numerous locations. All throughout the world, there are charm retailers which offer wide varieties of charms and supplies for the ever so demanding consumers. And because of the wide variety of charms available, finding the perfect Disney Italian charms to create your bracelet should be simple and hassle free.

The materials that you will need to create your charm bracelets are simple and affordable. Such supplies include the Disney Italian charms and the elastic string. Or, if you have decided to make a link charm bracelet, all you will need are the charms because they will link together to form the bracelet with no use of string. The amount of charms you purchase should vary depending on the size of your wrist or if the bracelet is to be a gift, the size of the recipient’s wrist.

Once you have acquired all of the necessary charm bracelet making supplies, you are ready to begin the easy, yet exciting process of actually making your bracelet out of Disney Italian charms. To do so, simply arrange the charms in the order that you would like them to appear onto the string. Once you have enough charms lined up, either tie a tight knot at the end, or use a clasp to close the bracelet. And voila, in a matter of a few short minutes, you have successfully created your very own, personalized charm bracelet.

Friendship Necklace Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Choose three different colors embroidery thread and cut them into five foot long pieces.
Hold the three strings together at one end and tie the strings together using a knot. Then, tape the knot down on your table or workspace.
Hold two of the threads in your left and the remaining thread in your right hand.
Take the string in your right hand and make a loop around two strings in your left hand.
Then, pull thread through the loop to make a knot, pulling the knot snug to the top of the necklace. Repeat this eight times.
Then, twist the single thread around the two threads once. You have probably noticed that your necklace is starting to twist. This is good. The single thread twist will help your necklace twist even more. Make seven more knots.
Now, switch one of the colors from your left hand into your right hand and put the color that you have been knotting in your left hand. Make eight knots, take a twist and make seven more knots.
Put the third color thread into your right hand and take the “knotting” tread into your left. Eight knots, a twist and seven knots and you are done with this color for now.
Keep repeating with colors
Keep on repeating until your necklace is complete.

Variation:

- Use six threads
- Put two threads in your right hand, two threads in your left hand and leave two threads in the center, laying on your table or workspace.
- Take left hand strings and go under the center strands and over the top to form a loop. Pull the left hand strands through the loop to form a knot. Pull tight to the top of the necklace.
- Take the right hand strings and go underneath the center threads to form a loop. Pull the right hand strings through the loop to form a knot.
- Remember that you are only using the center strings as the “core” of your necklace. They won’t be making any knots. In addition, your right strings will always stay on the right after finishing a knot, as will the left threads. The threads will never switch sides.
- Repeat until your necklace is finished

How to Decorate Pots With Seashells

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:58:00 +0000

These will become very interesting and unusual plant pots. They are mainly for indoor use. They make wonderful gifts. First you must collect seashells or buy them from your local craft store. Some shells can remain in their natural state and others can be spray painted in gold and silver. Just place the shells on some newspaper in the garage or outdoors if it's sunny and warm. With your gold or silver start spraying the shells. You can create a few in all gold, all silver and a combination of gold and silver. It's also a good idea to have small beads on hand for filling spaces between the shells. Make sure you have a prepared work space. I use tile adhesive for this project. Usually tile adhesive is applied with a thin layer, however after much experimenting I found a method that works really well. You apply a thick layer of tile adhesive and squish the seashells into the adhesive. The excess adhesive will ooze out of the seams and corners; now you can press beads into these areas. This method eliminates grouting.

Materials:

Terra Cotta Pots in an assortment of sizes
Seashells in an assortment of sizes and shapes
Gold and silver spray paint
Tile adhesive
Spatula
Rubber gloves or surgical gloves
Silver, gold, and pearl beads

Basic Method:

Spray paint your seashells in a variety of gold and silver, let dry. With a spatula apply a think ¾ inch layer of tile adhesive covering your entire pot. Make sure the top edge of your pot is always clean and rounded off. Carefully start pressing the seashells into the pot. You can place them randomly or follow a design that you may have created yourself.

Apply beads in all the nooks and small areas where the shells couldn't fit. Make sure the bottom of your pot also has clean edges. Create a few of these pots in an assortment of sizes. Places in a safe place and let dry for a few days. These are indoor pots only.

Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Is is also a venue for artists to display and sell their art . Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited. Please visit the website at http://www.labedzki-art.com

Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=A._Labedzki

Making Turquoise and Crystal Bead Bracelet

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Tue, 26 May 2009 02:55:00 +0000

Things you'll needs:

3 large oval turquoise beads

3 Swarovski crystal 8mm cube beads in Indicolite color (dark aqua)

6 Swarovski crystal 8mm round beads, in Aquamarine color (light aqua)

Sterling silver wire, half hard in gauge that fits through bead holes (I used 24G)

2 short lengths of flexible beading wire like Soft Flex or Beadalon. Enough for 2 lengths of bracelet plus a few extra inches to work with.

4 crimp beads

1 headpin for attaching cube charm

1 decorative sterling silver toggle clasp

Optional - 2 crimp bead covers

STEP 1

Wire wrap the turquoise and crystal cubes

Use the "making a wire wrapped chain" technique and your sterling silver half-hard wire to attach a chain of beads together in this order:

a - 1 turquoise oval bead
b - 1 crystal cube bead
c - 1 turquoise oval bead
d - 1 crystal cube bead
e - 1 turquoise oval bead

STEP 2

String round crystals, crimp ends and attach the clasp

We will be attaching a length of flexible beading wire to either end of our beaded chain, stringing three round crystals on each side, and on each of the ends we will attach our clasp using crimp beads.

First attach the beading wire to the one end of the beaded chain using a crimp bead. Next, slide three crystal beads onto the wire, then attach that end to one side of the clasp using a crimp bead. Repeat on the other side. Here are detailed instructions for how to do the crimps:

Slide a crimp bead onto the wire, feed the wire through the clasp loop, then back through the crimp bead. Pull the wire snug, and crimp the bead closed. Follow the How to Use Crimp Beads instructions if you are not familiar with this technique. Repeat on other side, making sure you pull the wire tight to beads before crimping.

TIPS

Because this is a toggle clasp, you will want to leave a little "play" in the wire so the clasp is easy to put on, so leave a little room where the loop of wire attaches to the clasp. Cut off remaining tails of wire with flush cutters.
As an option, try the new crimp bead covers to hide crimps for an even more finished look.

STEP 3

Attach cube charm bead

I always like to add a little detail to my bracelets, and in this design we will attach one cube bead charm as a way to balance the color and complete the design with that added touch.

Slide the last cube crystal onto a headpin and make a loop at the top with your round nose pliers. Loop this through the end loop on the toggle clasp and close the loop.

For more Tutorials about Jewelry Making, visit http://www.making-jewelry.com

Crystal Seashell with Sodalite for Positive Energy

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Sun, 24 May 2009 22:55:00 +0000

The Crystal Seashell with Sodalite for Positive Energy is perfect for enhancing your life. Crystals are famed as effective Qi (pronounced 'chee')enhancers, therefore are able to disperse stale, negative Qi from a premise to encourage the infusion of fresh, positive energy into one's home.

This item is made up of a shell with a 'pearl' within - this is made up entirely of crystal. This item is accompanied by small tumbled sodalite crystal chips to be scattered under the shell, or used on its own as an addition to your Wealth Pot or even poured into the shell, nestling the pearl.

To enhance your overall life potential with this crystal piece, place it in convergence areas such as the living room, lounge, dining room or even the kitchen (at a space where it cannot be swiped by sticky little fingers).

Source : www.dragon-gate.com

Seashell Bathroom Decor (Seashell Jewelry Making)

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:42:00 +0000

Seashell Jewelry Making

Seashell bathroom decor takes the colors found in the natural setting at the beach. Using shells to accessorize a bathroom is one of the classic bathroom themes. Because of this, there are a plethora of sources to find bathroom items with the seashell motif. The seashell theme is successful for several reasons. Some of these are:

• Natural elements are used to create a calming influence. Actual shells can be cleaned and used for display purposes. A shell can even be used as a soap dish. Sand in a jar may also add to the authenticity of the theme.
• Colors that are seen at seashore settings are usually utilized in the seashell-decorated bathroom. While other colors may be present, faded hues of blue, cream, white, yellow, gray and peach are typical colors used. These gentle tones create a peaceful sanctuary.
• The theme of water is appropriate for a bathroom setting. Using elements of the beach in the area where you bathe is a nice way to bring the natural world into the home.

Color choice is an important issue when you are outfitting your bathroom with seashell decor. Consider the overall effect as you choose accessories. There are many hues that would be appropriate to use with seashells.

Seashell Jewelry Making

Decorate Your Home With Seashells

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Tue, 12 May 2009 14:33:00 +0000

Seashell jewelry Making

Bathroom Mirror
A seaside theme is quite common for a bathroom and the shells can be stuck to the corners and the base of the mirror to give an enhanced look. Blue acrylic paint can be used to add a ‘sea wave effect’ to the mirror.

Photo Frame
A plain photo frame can be beautified by sticking a variety of shells and making a simple design along the borders. The design can be further embellished with beads and glitter.

Toothpicks
Toothpicks for cocktail snacks can be decorated with small sea shells. The sea shells can be painted in different colours with acrylic paint and left to dry. Once dried, one sea shell can be affixed onto the head of each toothpick.

Potted Plants
The larger shells can be placed on the mud inside potted plants. These need not be removed while watering the plants and can be kept there permanently.

Wall Hanging Picture
Shells can be used as a part of a collage and made into a wall hanging. This is a good activity for kids as it will enhance their creative abilities and keep them occupied on a rainy day.

Seashell Table Arrangements
A variety of sea shells can be used in floral table arrangements. These can be painted in different colours, left natural or enhanced with glitter to give a festive party look.

Seashell jewelry Making

Slideshow Tutorials - Seashell Necklaces

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:17:00 +0000

Seashell Jewelry Making

Slideshow Tutorials - Seashell Necklaces

Tips on Cleaning and Preparing Seashells for Crafting

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:34:00 +0000

What to Do with Those Seashells After You've Found Them

Who doesn’t go to the beach and come back with seashells? Most everyone manages to find one or two seashells; some people find hundreds. Whether you’ve found your own seashells this year, or purchased a bagful from the local craft store, you can make lots of beautiful gifts and decor items from seashells. If the shells are straight from the beach, though, you’ll have to do some cleaning and preparing.

Seashells are beautiful in their natural form but look even more gorgeous after they’re cleaned and polished. The first step in doing so is to soak the shells in bleach water - half and half. Soaking for a couple of days is usually the norm but some shells have stubborn stains that need extra time. The bleach water will not harm the shells so soak away. The bleach also kills bacteria making them safer to handle.

When the shells appear smooth it’s time to remove them from the bleach water. There are still usually some rough areas on most shells, so use one of several methods to polish the shells smooth. One way is to use a toothbrush with a cleaner such as Lime-Away. You can use other stiff brushes as well. Other cleaning items include scrapers, tweezers or dental picks. Use sandpaper or a small buffer to further finish the shells. Shells will look much more lustrous if you rub mineral oil on them. They must be completely clean and dry before oiling. Instead of oil you can also use clear nail polish.

If you intend to dye the shells do not rub with oil first. Instead, boil the shells for ten to fifteen minutes. Rinse with distilled water that includes a teaspoon of vinegar and a pinch of salt for each cup of water.

Mix the dye according to package directions then let the solution boil with the shells immersed for another 10 minutes. If you’d like the dye to be very dark, lessen the water slightly and boil an additional 5 minutes. Drain water and allow shells to dry on paper towels, but never newspaper. Newspaper ink can transfer onto the shells, ruining the dye job.

Making Seashell Candles

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:16:00 +0000

This article will described an easy steps how to make seashell candles craft.

Things that you’ll need:

Bar of paraffin
Wicks
Metal wick holders
Double boiler with a pouring lip
Seashells
Stubs of colored candles

Most of these items can be found at your local craft store. If you can't find metal wick holders, remove the wicks inexpensive tealights. Use stubs from colored candles to make candles in various shades.

Method:

1. Clean shells in a 10% bleach solution. Rinse with cool water and let dry.

2. Cut up the paraffin block into smaller chunks with a sharp knife. Melt them in the top of the double boiler by heating the water below to a slow simmer. Use the paraffin as is, or you may wish to add bits of colored wax for different color combinations. This is a great way to use up your old candle stubs. Experiment with color blends, but remember that the wax will be a shade darker when it dries.

3. Cover a steady surface with plastic or newspapers. Balance one of the shells on a small cup and slowly pour in the melted wax. Immediately place the wick and wick holder in the center of the shell. Leave wax to cool for at least 30 minutes so all the wax will harden fully.

4. Light up and enjoy your beautiful sea shell candles!

Spruce up your Mirror or Photo Frame with Seashells

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:17:00 +0000

Seashells, naturally. Why not turn one of your old mirrors or pictures frames into a beautiful reminder of your warm weather days. There's nothing better to lift your spirits than the thoughts of fun in the sun.

Here's what you'll need:A framed mirror
Craft glue or a hot glue gun
A paint brush
White paint
Seashells of various kinds and sizes, make sure you have enough for the project.

Here's how:

Paint the frame white and then let it dry.
Place the larger shells on the frame first, then fill in with the smaller ones. Apply the shells with a hot glue gun, or the craft glue. Hint: Applying the craft glue to the shells with a paintbrush makes it easier to be precise on uneven contours.
Let it dry.

You can hang the mirror using a basic picture hook or lean it on top of a dresser, on a table in a hallway, or anywhere else you would like to see a seascape.

Source

How to Make a Seashell Wreath (Seashell Jewelry Making)

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:31:00 +0000

Seashell Jewelry Making

Summer is here, and combing the beach for prized seashells can make for a wonderful family outing. When you get your seashells home, instead letting them collect dust, you can make a seashell wreath to display the most attractive and most liked seashells your family has found.

Instructions

Step 1
Sort the seashells by size. You should have piles of large, medium and small seashells. If it helps, you can sketch how you would like for the wreath to look when you are finished before you begin gluing anything onto the wreath.

Step 2
Begin by gluing the largest seashells onto the wreath. Spread the large seashells out and cover the wreath from top to bottom, leaving space for the other decorations. Be sure to use enough glue to completely glue the seashells down. You may begin by placing glue on the edges of the seashell and then add extra glue if they come off of the wreath too easily.

Step 3
Glue the medium seashells on the wreath following the pattern of your large ones. Keep in mind as you place the seashells on the wreath, that you will want to cluster some of the seashells in certain spots, like the top and bottom, in order to make a uniform decoration.

Step 4
Check the wreath for gaps often as you make your seashell wreath. If gaps appear between the medium and large seashells, you can cover them with your smallest seashells.

Step 5
Use your different sized ribbons loosely at first before you affix them to the wreath permanently. You can weave small ribbons around the shells themselves, or you can use larger ribbon to make a prominent bow on the bottom or side of the wreath. Your options are endless.

Step 6
Affix the ribbon to the wreath using hot glue where it seems needed. If you have droopy ribbon in places, it is a good idea to add a bit more glue to these areas.

Step 7
Arrange dried flowers, sand dollars or dried starfish to the wreath to add some flare. These can be added to the areas with bows or ribbons, and can also be glued on with the hot glue gun. Be sure to let the wreath completely dry before you try to handle it and hang it up.

Source : www.eHow.com

Seashell Jewelry Making

How to Make a Seashell Anklet (Seashell Jewelry Making)

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:16:00 +0000

Seashell Jewelry Making

If you have a seashell collection, you can use the smaller shells from the collection. Some craft stores will carry shells just for crafting and jewelry making purposes. The anklet is made from cowrie shells and pearls. Let's get started on making the anklet...

Things You’ll Need:

beading thread
one lobster claw or spring jewelry clasp, gold or silver plated
two 1 cm jump rings
small pearls
small silver plated or gold plated beads, the same size as the pearls
seashells, either cowrie, or scallops, or other small shells
sewing scissors
jewelry pliers and tweezers
clear nail polish

Instructions

Drill a small hole at one end of each shell. The hole should be located at the top of the shell. Thread a beading needle with the beading thread and measure out 28”. Fold in half, with the needle at one end, and make a knot in the thread at the bottom. Thread one gold bead onto the needle, slide down all the way to the bottom. The knot will hold the bead in place and keep it from falling off of the thread.

Next, thread five small pearls onto the needle, and slide down. For the cowrie shells, insert the needle from underneath the shell to the top, slide on a pearl, then re-insert the needle back down through the same hole. The pearl will anchor the shell in position so the top surface of the shell will be facing outwards. Slide on five more small pearls, then one gold or silver bead. Repeat the pattern with the pearls and shells until you reach a total of nine inches. Cut off the needle from the threads with the scissors and make a knot at the end of the thread. Start to move to the beads and shells to the center of the thread so that you will have enough thread at both ends to tie to the jewelry findings.

At one end of the thread, cut off the knot, then make a square knot, making sure the knot sets right next to the last bead at one end. Take one of the jump rings and tie two double knots securely around it, looping the thread through the ring twice, for extra strength. Repeat the same procedure at the other end of the thread, but this time, attaching the jump ring to the lobster claw or spring clasp before tying the thread to the jump ring. Make the same kind of knot you made at the other end, the double square knot. Dab a tiny bit of clear nail polish onto the knotted ends to keep them from coming apart. Once the polish is dry, your anklet is ready for wearing.

The finish product...

Article source: www.eHow.com

Seashells And Handcrafts

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:05:00 +0000

There are so many different kinds of seashells that are all different shapes and sizes in the ocean. You can put them in your bathroom, kitchen, living room, and your bedroom. You can make so many things out of them. It can be beautiful or different. People make dolls out of them, put them into a hanging plant holder, put them on a picture frame, or put them up on your walls.

Did you know that some people in Hawaii actually make their rings out of seashells? Well, they do, and the rings are so beautiful. You just have to have one! When you pick up a seashell, you need to clean it with soap and water and then put them on a towel to dry. You must be very, very careful with them. You can get a boat and throw a net into the water to catch more of them. It is fast and easy.

You can put them into your fish tank at home to make it look better and to give the fishes more places to hide. Seashells are great for necklaces, bracelets, and ankle bracelets. They make you look cool, and it fits with all your clothes and your styles. You can do just about anything with seashells. You just have to get creative, or you can do a family project together.

Pictures of Crafts Made by Seashells

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:19:00 +0000

Seashells - Round Mirror

Seashells -Jewelry Box

Seashells - Half Moon Purse

Seashells Ring

Paint Seashells Permanently (Seashells Jewelry Making)

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 02:47:00 +0000

Seashells Jewelry Making

In making of seashells jewelry, the last part in order to complete and get a beautiful result is to paint the seashells permanently.

Seashells are porous so they hold the paint well. It's not necessary to bleach, just to soak in water and let them dry in the sun. You can bleach them though; it won't hurt and will clean them and remove any dirt and bacteria. Recommend that we should using acrylic paints, these are permanent, and come in every color, and are easy to find in any craft store.

If we want a softer look of the paint to our seashells, dilute the Acrylic paints with some water, so we would paint the entire seashells a base white before applying other colors. Then let the painted seashells dry in the sun. Next and most important, as we don't want our seashell's paint to scrape off or get scratched, purchase a clear coat sealer, these are inexpensive and we will be able to get a lot of use out of one can. Also, if we want a little shine to our seashells, get a gloss or semi gloss, but they also come in flat matte. This final step is what will preserve the painting, and protect it from easily coming off. We might also like to try using the Acrylic Glossies paints, which can be baked in the oven and will give a hard ceramic like finish after they are baked. It might be interesting to try a few!

Seashells also might be more shining look if we polish them. We need to get them really clean first, put them on an ant nest with a cover to keep off the sun which can fade the colours. After a week, remove them. We can use the toothpaste idea, but some collectors do not polish their seashells.

Seashells Jewelry Making

Cleaning of Seashells (Seashells Jewelry)

noreply@blogger.com (Red Myvi) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:26:00 +0000

Seashells Jewelry

Before to start painting of seashells that we collected at the beach, first thing we should do is cleaning the seashells. There are several known methods for cleaning your live seashell specimens.

Burying: This is easiest way to clean the Seashells but will take about two months. Dig a hole somewhere in around your home or yard and bury the seashells about 18 inches (deep enough so animals will not dig them up). It shall need to remain buried until insects, larvae, worms, and bacteria remove all the tissue. The longer you leave them the better.
Freezing: Use a Ziplock bag and cover it with full of water, zip it and then place in the freezer. When you are ready to clean them, let the bag thaw at room temperature until completely defrosted.
Boiling: Boil the seashells in the pot with some of water for a few minutes (more seashells need longer). Use tongs to remove one shell at a time. So you don't burn yourself, grasp shell with gloves or a towel and gently pull out the animal tissue inside.
Heating: As long as you don't mind the smell in your microwave, this is an easy method. The time it takes to cook your seashells can really vary by microwave, so just try it until you figure out how long for each seashell. Grasp cooked seashell with gloves or a towel and gently pull out the animal tissue inside.

After that, the last step that we should do is bleaching the seashells. When no tissue remains, soak the seashells in a 50-50 solution of bleach and water. The length of time depends on the type of seashells and the quantity of seashells being cleaned. We must remove them after the "periostracum" is gone. The periostracum is the flaky, leathery covering that covers most live seashells. To make your seashells a nice finish and more shining, you can wipe them with mineral or baby oil.

Seashells Jewelry