Why not try something new this weekend with some fun Apoxie sculpt. Apoxie sculpting clay from Aves Clay, is a versatile clay that air dries naturally in 24 hours. Check out our previous blog on Apoxie Sculpt 101 and Blending Colors.

Today’s blog is creating a simple pendant using our black Apoxie mix. Try out other colors we have and the Blending Colors blog in creating different colors!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Black Apoxie – Z018273
  Make sure to try other colors!
• 20 gauge Eyepin – A019612
• Chain or Adjustable Necklace
• Vintaj Patinas or thick paint.
  We used Martha Stewart Metallic Gold Paint in our sample.
• Other tools: gloves, Ziploc bag, round nose pliers

Painted Pendant

You can also to the same tutorial by adding eyepin loops to both ends of your cylinder and shape the clay in a curve, like our other example. Add your choice of chain or Adjustable Necklace chain for a super simple necklace idea!

Featured in our Trends We Love on Acetate Components, make this pair of Acetate and Chain Tassel Earrings today!

What you’ll need:

• 18mm Grey Acetate Small Diamond Shape Pendant – Z020413
• 6mm Gold Jump Ring – Z011522
• 1.7 Inch Gold Plated Tassel – A013211
• Gold Plated French Wire Earrings – A014108

Directions:

1. Open jump ring, slide on tassel loop and through one hole of acetate connector. Close jump ring.
2. Open another jump ring, slide on other hole of acetate connector and through ear wire loop. Close jump ring.
3. Repeat all steps for other earring.

We’ve got TWO easy projects using March’s Swarovski Psychology of Color: Amethyst. Design jewelry with this passionate hue!

Amethyst Wrap Bracelet

Items used in bracelet: SB00422, SW02206 (30), SW00084 (20), SW00081 (20), WR00127 & A014097

Directions:

1. Make a simple loop to the end of your memory wire with Memory Wire Finishing Pliers.
2. Slide on the following bead sections onto the memory wire:
   Seed bead, silver curve tube, seed bead, light amethyst crystal, seed bead, amethyst crystal, seed bead, 3 amethyst shimmer crystals, seed bead, amethyst crystal, seed bead and light amethyst crystal.
3. Repeat this sequence 9 more times. Then end with a seed bead.
4. Cut memory wire end leaving a 1/4″ end and make a simple loop.

Ombré Amethyst Earrings

Items used in earrings: SW00198 (4), SW00195 (4), SW00105 (4), SB00422, A019656 & TCZ0077

Directions:

1. On a headpin, slide on the following and make a simple or wrapped loop:
   Amethyst bicone, seed bead, amethyst bicone, seed bead, light amethyst, seed bead, light amethyst, seed bead, clear crystal, seed bead, clear crystal and seed bead.
2. Open earwire loop and slide on crystal dangle. Close loop.
3. Repeat all steps for other earring.

For March, Swarovski’s Psychology of Colors pick is Amethyst. Check out how calming this hue is!

Amethyst is a rich purple hue for a creative and soothing design! Here are some Swarovski colors to matches this hue:

• Light Amethyst
• Amethyst Shimmer
• Lavender DeLite
• Paradise Shine
• Elderberry
• Vitrail
• Tanzanite
• Iris
• Iridescent Red
• Iridescent Purple
• Cyclamen

Amethyst Jewelry

Make sure you stop over to our other blog post for jewelry designed with Amethyst.

Our tutorial today features some trendy tassel earrings made with seed beads. You may recall our previous blog post on Beaded Tassel Tutorial. Today’s project will use that tutorial along with multiple colors of seed beads and beautiful TierraCast pieces.

What you’ll need:

• Size 11/0 seed beads. We used 3 different colors in our sample:
  • SB00423, which will pair with the gold TierraCast finding. You can also use SB00422 and silver TierraCast finding.
  • Cream color: SB00444
  • Color seed bead: SB00447 You can also swap this color!

• TierraCast Hammertone Cone – TC02824/TC02823
• Eyepin or 20 Gauge Wire – A019632/A019633 or AW00004/AW00007
• 4mm round bead, we’ve used a 4mm Swarovski pearl bead – SW01053 (2)
• Earwire – TCZ0139/TCZ0077
• Size AA Beading Thread – Black or White
• Needle – A015211

Directions (Refer to Beaded Tassel Tutorial for example visuals):

1. Make a wrapped loop to a 3 inch piece of wire. OR if you’re using an eyepin, coil the eyepin loop.
2. Starting with 4 feet of thread, create a stopper bead on your thread leaving a 4-6 inch tail.
3. Sew through the wire loop.
4. Pick up the following bead sequence
   1. 20 cream seed bead
   2. Wine bead, cream bead, 2 wine bead, cream bead, 3 wine bead, cream bead
   3. 10 wine bead
   4. gold bead, wine bead, 2 gold bead, wine bead, 3 gold bead, wine bead
   5. 8 gold bead.
5. Skip the last bead and sew back up through all the beads you’ve sewn and through wire loop. Don’t pull to hard, you want your fringe to hang loose.
6. Repeat step 4 and 5 another 7 more times for a total of 8 tassel fringes.
7. Tie thread ends together, securing it with a small dot of Super New Glue.
8. Slide wire through cone and pick up 4mm round bead (pearl) and cream seed bead. Make a simple or wrapped loop.
9. Open earwire and add tassel dangle.
10. Repeat all steps for other earring.

If you’re planning to staying home this weekend but still looking for an adventure, why not curl up to a book! We have this wicked DIY idea taking metal bracelet blanks and making them into bookmarks! Plus, you can customize it with your own metal stamping design or verbiage and top it off with embellishments like leather, tassels, links and more!

What you’ll need:

• 6 Inch Stamping Bracelet Blanks:
  • Silver in widths of 1/4″ (A018033), 3/8″ (A021496) or 5/8″ (A021497)
  • Brass in widths of 1/4″ (Z001850) or 3/8″ (Z001851)
  • Copper in widths of 1/4″ (Z001852) or 3/8″ (Z001854)
  • You can also try other short rectangular blanks.
• Hole Punch – A011781
  • Or Metal Punch – A018983
• Letter Metal Stamps
• Bench Block (A011605/A014415) and Hammer (TL00277/TL00235)
• Enamel Marker (Black/Gold/Green/Brown)

Bookmark Tutorial

Bookmark Examples

‘Bead a Book’ Brass bookmark: Z001851, A022076, WAF8RDLH-M-8, TL00191

For this bracelet, we used 12″ of leather cord and slid the leather cord through the hole. Center leather and make an overhand knot or Sliding Knot (Use this Tutorial). Add a large-hole gemstone to each leather end with knots.

Maya Angelou, Silver bookmark: Z018033, A008128, A001529, Z008860, Z004947, TC01253.

We wanted to add a fun quote and used “Still I Rise” a poem title by the famous Maya Angelou. to embellish, we attached a 3 inch piece of chain with a jump ring. Open eyepin, and attach other end of chain and close. Add Czech bead and make a simple loop. Open loop and add tassel.

Czech Ginko Duos and Cymbal components are fairly new in the beading market; they’re less than a year old. And we’ve got two amazing bead-stitching project using Ginko beads and NEW Cymbal components for Ginkos.

Ginko Waves Bracelet

Items used in bracelet: Z012556, Z012665, SB00402, SB00107, SB03688, SB03698, Z009471, Z006124, A006587 & A015211.

Make sure to download the FREE PDF tutorial for the Ginko Waves Bracelet.

We’ve use two different Ginko colors for this bracelet. You can certainly make one color or even multiple colors!

Ginko Dagger Earrings

Items used in earrings: Z011731, SB00423, Z011869, A006587 & A015211.

Make sure to download the FREE PDF tutorial for the Ginko Dagger Earrings.

Some of our newest products are Cymbal Components, which pairs with Chevron Duo and Ginko beads. We have two awesome patterns using Czech Chevron Duos and the Cymbal Koutalas.

Chevron Spike Bracelet

Items used in bracelet: Z013806, SB00422, Z010306, SW01711 (3), Z011500, X003062, A021633, Z001124, TC01897 (4).

Make sure to follow our LINK to download the FREE tutorial for this bracelet.

This bracelet used stretch cord, which makes it to easy make and wear. It also uses some blingy Swarovski Hexagon, two-hole spike crystal beads, which breaks up the chevrons and adds a focal section!

Chevron Spike Earrings

Items used in earrings: Z013812, SB00423, Z010306, TC02816 (2), A014108, A006585 & A015211.

Still using the same Cymbal ending, we’ve made a this pair of earrings with Chevron beads and TierraCast dagger bead from the Hammertone Collection, all using gold findings.

Get FREE PDF tutorial HERE to make your own pair of earrings!

We love mixing up different components in this DIY necklace. We have leather crescents mixed with acetate and silver findings, tied together with soft leather lace.

What you’ll need for necklace:

• 34mm Burgundy Leather Crescent Connector Charm – Y017383
  Try out other colors in Black (Y017382) or Light Brown (Y017384)
• 18mm Acetate Coin Charm – Z007238
• 50mm Antique .999 Fine Silver Plated Large Open Frame Hoop by Nunn Designs – Z008376
• 5.5mm Silver Plated Round Jump Rings – X003062
• 7mm Silver Plated Round Jump Rings – A008807
• Black Deerskin Lace – Z010954

Directions

1. Open 5.5mm jump ring, slide on acetate charm and concave-side hole of leather crescent. Close jump ring.
2. Open another 5.5mm jump ring, slide through other hole of leather crescent. Close jump ring.
3. Open 7mm jump ring, slide through jump ring from Step 2 and close jump ring.
4. Cut deerskin leather lace to 36 inches.
5. Fold leather in half, slide looped end through Large Open Frame Hoop and 7mm jump ring from Step 3. Make a lark’s head knot.
6. Make an overhand knot to both ends of leather together.