DIY Blue-Blue Straw Earrings with Deerskin Leather Lace

We’re ending the year with one of our favorites from 2020, straw earrings. We’ve paired our colored straw components with LeatherCord USA deerskin leather lace, a soft leather that can easily bend and shape.

Items used in earrings:

  • Z010962 – 3mm Saddle Deerskin Leather Lace
  • Z016790 – Turquoise Handmade Woven Rattan Straw
  • TC02360 – 11mm Brass Oxide Jardin Crimp End Cap by TierraCast®
  • Z002858 – Antique Brass Fishhook with 2mm Ball Earwires

GoodyBeads.com Blog | DIY Blue-Blue Straw Earrings with Deerskin Leather Lace FREE Tutorial

Directions:

  1. Cut two pieces of leather at 5 inches.
  2. Fold one piece of leather and make a lark’s head knot through the straw component. Make sure the leather is laid next to each other and the front of the leather is faced the same way. (Refer to our earrings tutorial to see step 1 and 2 on making a lark’s head knot with leather lace.)
  3. Repeat step 2 for other leather piece and straw.
  4. Determine the length you want your leather to be. You can cut a 1/4″ off the end of your leather. Make sure it is a flush cut.
  5. Cap your leather ends with the TierraCast end cap. Using nylon pliers, crimp the end cap to secure the leather ends. Repeat for other leather and end cap. (As an option, you can add a small dot of E-6000 inside the end cap. Use a toothpick to spread it around. Do not use Super New Glue, it may discolor the leather where it is inserted.)
  6. Open earwire loop, slide on end cap loop and close earwire loop. Repeat for other earring.



Design Simple Layers with Memory Wire Wrap Bracelets

Memory Wire Wrap Bracelets are an easy beginner level to jewelry making. Of course, it’s an easy and fun DIY for all levels. We’ll show you how to make a wrap bracelet with three layers and designing each layer differently.

When designing each layer for your wrap bracelet, you want to give off the look as if you’re wearing multiple bracelets. Since layering is the trend these days, it’s fitting for memory wire bracelets.

For our beginner bracelet, we’re only using three beads:

With our sample below, you can see that with only three types of beads, you can switch up the layers with different bead combinations. While our main stars are the gemstone and wood beads, using seed beads are a good option for spacing and sectioning grouping of beads. Plus, if you’re concern with your beads rubbing such as glass beads or crystals, a seed bead will help alleviate the rubbing so your beads don’t get chipped while wearing your creation!

Our first layer is our main star, the 6mm gemstone bead. We’ve spaced them out with a seed bead in between to make them pop. The second layer is our second star: wood beads. Since it would be too similar to our first layer to added a seed bead in between, we’ve added a seed bead between each grouping of 5 wood beads. I always find that odd numbers of grouping is pleasing to the eye. And lastly, we’ve incorporated both of our stars and added groupings of wood beads to sandwich between the gemstone beads.

There are a bunch of bead combinations to try out, give it a try!

GoodyBeads.com Blog | Design Simple Layers with Memory Wire Wrap Bracelets FREE Tutorial

Items used in bracelet: WR00109, PDA6RD, WD-WH6RL & SB00106.

Instructions:

  1. Make a simple loop to one end of the memory wire with Memory Wire Finishing Pliers.
  2. Slide on a seed bead and gemstone bead. Repeat until you’ve added 25 gemstones beads. End this row with a seed bead.
  3. Slide on 5 wood beads and a seed bead. Repeat until you’ve added 10 groupings.
  4. Slide on a gemstone, seed bead, 3 wood beads and seed bead. Repeat 9 more times.
  5. Cut memory wire end with Memory Wire Cutters, leaving a 1/4″ or 3/8″ tail. Make a simple loop.

Check out our other Memory Wire Wrap Bracelet with different layer options:

Make these with your friends during your next virtual get-together and see all the combinations there are!



Pantone 2021 Color of the Year: Ultimate Gray & Illuminating

Pantone has produced their color pick for 2021. Or should we say picks! With 2020 being a rough year for everyone around the world, Pantone’s color picks Ultimate Gray and Illuminating challenges a ‘forward’ thinking for the future. We will dive into Pantone’s meaning for their color picks for 2021 and we’ll give you a fun DIY jewelry to embrace this color combination!

2016 was the year Pantone debuted a first-time, duo-color that blurs the line of femininity and masculinity; Rose Quartz and Serenity. With the current event of 2020, it is no wonder their pick for 2021 doesn’t blur the line of colors but complement two opposite colors that works “together to support one another.” While Ultimate Gray is justly a neutral gray color, Illuminating is a bright yellow, it is “a marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting.“

Pantone states, ” Emboldening the spirit, the pairing of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 [Illuminating] highlights our innate need to be seen, to be visible, to be recognized, to have our voices heard. A combination of color whose ties to insight, innovation and intuition, and respect for wisdom, experience, and intelligence inspires regeneration, pressing us forward toward new ways of thinking and concepts.”

How do you feel about Pantone’s picks for 2021?

DIY Beaded Silvery Yellow Diamond Color Block Earrings

We love the color combination and the emboldening message it represents. Here is a fun design using the two colors in our pair of DIY earrings. We’ve made a simple colorblock diamond earrings using Delica beads in a brick stitch.

FOLLOW the FREE Pattern Tutorial for these earrings HERE!

Items used in earrings: SB00290, SB00141, TCZ0078, A006585, A002413 & A006767



Holiday Gift Guide for Last-Minute Easy DIYs

Christmas is fast approaching, so here are some last-minute easy DIYs you can whip up in no time and with just a few components. Our ideas consists of Easy Bracelets, Easy Hoop Earrings, DIYs for the Table and DIY Kits.

Easy DIY Bracelets

Here are some easy DIYs for simple bracelets!

DIY Hook Earrings

Here are some easy DIYs to make trendy hoop earrings:

DIYs for the Table

Here are some easy DIYs to make for the dinner table, beading table or even your work table:

DIY Kits

Need more ideas? Get some DIY kits so you can get started!



Spend the Holidays with Swarovski® – New Year

We’re celebrating the festive spirit with our friends at Swarovski: Create Your Style and celebrating with New Years Eve colors! Plus, we have a fun DIY project to get you hyped up for the new year.

Here are our selection of Swarovski crystals to embrace the festive and classic colors of New Years:

  • White/Clear – Crystal Clear, Crystal AB, Crystal 2XAB & Iridescent Dove Grey Pearl.
  • Gold/Bronze – Metallic Sunshine, Golden Shadow, Light Gold, Bright Gold, Crystal Light Silk, Metallic Light Gold, Light Topaz & Light Colorado Topaz
  • Silver/Grey – Light Grey, Dark Grey, Silver Night, Silver Shade, Greige, Light Grey Opal

Captivating Crystal Cuff

GoodyBeads.com Blog | Spend the Holidays with Swarovski® – New Year with FREE DIY and tutorial

GoodyBeads.com Blog | Spend the Holidays with Swarovski® – New Year with FREE DIY and tutorial

Items used in cuff: WR00127, SW02445, SW02444 (2), SW002442 (2), SW02437, SW02436 (2), SW02435 (2), Z008287 & SB00106.

Directions:

  1. Set the crystal in its setting and gently bend the prongs down to secure the crystal. (Check out Light Topaz blog post on how to press down the prongs.) Repeat to all 5 crystals and settings.
  2. Cut two pieces of memory wire at a coil and a quarter.
  3. Roll and make a simple loop to each end of the memory wire with memory wire finishing pliers.
  4. Slide on a seed bead on each memory wire. Slide each square bead hole through each memory wire. Repeat this process 7 more times. End this portion with a seed bead to each memory wire.
  5. Slide on small setting you made in Step 1, slide each memory wire through the two-hole setting. Slide on a seed bead to each memory. Repeat adding a medium setting, seed bead, large setting, seed bead, medium setting, seed bead and small setting.
  6. Repeat Step 4.
  7. Cut excess wire with memory wire cutters, leaving about a 3/4 inch end and make a simple loop.



DIY Snowflake Ornament with Lightbulb Glass Beads

The holidays are a fun time for decorating around the house. Why not make some snowflake ornaments using these snowflake forms and various beads you may have around the house. This project is also perfect for kids to design and adults finishing it off.

Wire Snowflake Ornament Forms

The Wire Snowflake forms comes in FOUR different sizes. Depending on the amount of beads you want on each peg will determine which ornament form to buy.

Ornament with Lampwork Beads

GoodyBeads.comg Blog | DIY Snowflake Ornament with Lightbulb Lampwork Glass Beads FREE tutorial

Items used in ornament: A006240, A022201, Z004872, Z004845, Z004885, SB00423 & Z013345.

Directions:

  1. On one spoke, slide on two seed beads, Czech bead, spacer bead, lightbulb bead, spacer bead, Czech bead and seed bead.
  2. Make a simple loop with a memory wire finishing plier. Then use a crimping plier or flat nose pliers to close the loop. (Check out previous blog post on a visual step-by-step look on making the loop.)
  3. Skip a spoke and repeat step 2 & 3 with a different lightbulb color bead.
  4. Skip another spoke repeat step 2 & 3 with a different lightbulb color bead.
  5. Then with the other spokes, repeat steps 2 & 3 with a lightbulb color bead that is different from the spoke on either sides of it.

You can also see Tory making this during a Facebook LIVE episode HERE.

Need more inspiration on making Snowflake Ornaments? Check out these designs on our Blog!



Holiday Gift Guide for Seed Beaders and Bead Stitchers

Here is a simple gift guide for seed beaders during the holidays! Or need an easy DIY seed beading project to make for a holiday gift? We got some ideas for you.

Seed Beader Tools

Tools are the essential part of any jewelry-making adventure. Here are some ideas to gift a seed beader friend or yourself:

  • Extra Beading Tools
    • Heat Cord Cutter to burn your ends so they don’t fray.
    • Thread Clipper for an instant flush cut.
    • Bead Mat to keep all your beads from sliding around.
    • Kumihimo – a fun alternative to bead stitching with Kumihimo braiding.

OR, simply gift the Seed Beader Beginner Kit, which includes beading needles and beading thread, along with some simple tools such as beading mats, thread clipper, bead scoop and bead stoppers.

Seed Beads and More Beads

Bead stitching uses a lot of Japanese seed beads, like Miyuki round beads, Delica, and Tilas. Try out some fun Mixes also, like Tila mixes, Delica mixes and more.

You can also use other shapes, especially some 2-hole Czech Beads like SuperDuos, DiamonDuos, Czech Bars, Ginkgos and more.

Easy Seed Bead DIY Ideas

Beginner DIYs:

Intermediate Or with More Patience:

Other Seed Beading Ideas:

Check out the blog for more Seed Bead ideas.

Seed Beading DIY Kits

Not sure where to to start? Why not pick up a Seed Beading DIY kit. Each kit includes all the materials needed to make each jewelry item. Here are some of our recent favorites: