by Kristal Wick

What’s better than family-and friend-filled holiday feasts? An embellished holiday feast! We bling up our jewelry, why not our dining utensils! Seriously, I think most DIY-ers are so busy making jewelry for gift-giving, they completely forget the forks and spoons! How cute is a red-and-green canape knife? Or a serving set for your salad or turkey with all the fixins. The best part is, you can remove the large hole interchangeable beads and use them in your jewelry the next day. Mix and match customized dinnerware in your fave colors and shapes for added entertaining elegance.

Salad Serving Set

Our salad serving set is ideal for serving salads, I’ve found embellished forks and spoons perfect for mashed potatoes and dressing as well!

The handles on each service piece unscrew so you can load up about 2.5 inches of beady deliciousness. Slide on the O-Rings to secure the beads from scooting around on the stem. Once you’re pleased with your line up, simply screw the ball onto the top of the stem and you’re ready to munch!

Canape Knife

Use these darling canape knives for all your hors d’œuvres, spreading butter, pate, jellies or jams. They look festive and are easy to clean once your guests depart. Keep a few favorite color schemes when entertaining other times of the year, such as birthdays and fourth of July picnics.

Salad Serving Set

(1) A003251 – Stainless Steel Salad Serving Set

Spoon

(2) A018030 – 6mm Rubber O-Ring for Bead Pens

(1) A006069 – 12mm Light Siam Czech Crystal Sterling Silver – Large Hole Bead

(2) A002833 – 10mm Beaded Large Hole Spacer – Rhodium Plated

(1) A004848 – 13mm Green with White Dots Large Metal Hole Glass Beads

(1) A012630 – 9mm Red Enamel Drum Large Hole Bead – Rhodium Plated

(2) A003864 – 11mm Emerald Rhinestone Large Hole Spacer Bead – Rhodium Plated

(1) A005438 – 13mm Red with White Pattern Rondelle Large Metal Hole Glass Beads

(1) A012631 – 9mm Lime Enamel Drum Large Hole Bead – Rhodium Plated

Fork

(2) A018030 – 6mm Rubber O-Ring for Bead Pens

(2) A002858 – 8mm Crystal Flower Square Large Hole Bead – Rhodium Plated

(2) A005951 – 9mm Garnet Rhinestones Large Hole Bead – Rhodium Plated

(2) A005437 – 13mm Green with Green Swirl Rondelle Large Metal Hole Glass Beads

(1) A004849 – 13mm Red with White Dots Large Metal Hole Glass Beads

Canape Knife

(1) A003252 – 5 Inch Canape Knife – Add a Bead

(1) A018030 – 6mm Rubber O-Ring for Bead Pens

(3) A013373 – 12mm Light Siam with Clear and Jet Dots Preciosa Crystal – Large Hole Bead

(2) A004892 – 12mm Emerald Green Foil Lined Large Hole Beads

by Kristal Wick

Nothing says celebrate like darling, dangling ear candy, am I right beady peeps? And since this is the time of year for pulling out all the stops on festivities, here are five new Merrily Bright Holiday Earring Kits for your DIY pleasure!

Frosty the Snowman and Penguin Santa Swarovski® Earring Kits

Everyone needs a little whimsy now and then, don’t you think? These little snowmen and penguins are just the ticket. Whether you’re gift giving to a youngster or a young-at-heart-ster, these are sure to bring a smile—not to mention they’re simple and quick!

Mini Snow Globe Swarovski® Earring KitNostalgic Nana on your nice list? These darling mini snow globe kits have the daintiest, detailed Santas just waiting to delight all ages (mostly yours). They’re very lightweight and wearable, perfect for the office.

Star Bright Swarovski® Earring Kits

Need a cup of classy cheer? Our Star Bright earring kits made with Swarovski® Artemis crystals are excellent for those holiday parties and events where you need a more elegant look. There’s nothing better than Swarovski® to deliver stylish chic. Make a red pair and a green pair, keep one earring of each and gift the other set to your BFF so you’ll have a matching “unmatched” set of earrings for the holidays. Remember our  Merrily Bright Holiday Earring Kits make great necklaces as well. Just add a chain,  leather or suede cord to your earring loop and you have an instant pair of matching necklaces! Or gift a kit to one of your “jewelry-making-wannabee” friends and guide her through the first kit. We’ve given you everything you need (you provide the tools) to ensure success and convert another pal to the wonderful world of jewelry-making!

With the holiday season quickly approaching, it’s time to get serious about our bling and what better way than to adorn with red and green Holiday Swarovski® Cha-Cha jewelry? Expandable bracelets and rings are perfect for every shape and size of gal pal, and who can resist some blingy baubles for your lovely lobes.

Holiday Swarovski® Cha-Cha Bracelet

Why red and green for the holidays? This tradition dates back thousands of years when folks used holly, ivy and mistletoe to beautify and brighten up their homes during the long dark winter. This was also a vital reminder that winter would NOT last forever and spring would definitely come blooming around the corner! The Romans exchanged evergreen branches in January and the Egyptians used palm branches to symbolize good luck. Red represented the color of fire and keeping warm. White symbolized peace and purity in the western cultures.

Items used in Bracelet: A005639, A019691 (2), SW00167 (33), SW00133 (33), SW00105 (33)

Directions:

1. Slide a bicone onto a headpin and make a simple loop. NOTE: Be sure the loop is large enough to freely swing from the bracelet loops.
2. Repeat Step #1 for all the bicones.
3. Open bicone dangle and hook it through a bracelet loop, close loop. Complete bottom row with the following pattern: clear bicone, red bicone, clear bicone, green bicone.
4. Complete top row using the same pattern and add another round of bicones around this row so you end up with two bicone dangles per bracelet loop.

Holiday Swarovski® Cha-Cha Earrings

When creating our DIY Holiday Cha-Cha projects, we suggest making all the bicone simple loop dangles first. Get comfy on the couch and watch your fave movie or TV series marathon while you’re cranking these babies out. Practice makes perfect in the world of simple loop making! So why not perfect your talents while you’re on a roll and make them all at once?

Whether you believe the deeper meaning of these colors or simply just like how they look, nothing feels quite as festive as sparkly Swarovski® crystal holiday jewelry for your parties, the office or gifts. Of course put yourself first on that gift list, and while you’re beading away remember: one for you, one for your BFF, mom, sister, etc. Well, you get the picture. Now, get going and happy beading!

Items used in earrings: A010233, A019691, SW00167 (14), SW00133 (14), SW00105 (14)

Directions:

1. Slide a bicone onto a headpin and make a simple loop. NOTE: Be sure the loop is large enough to freely swing from the earring loops.
2. Repeat Step #1 for all the bicones.
3. Open bicone dangle and hook it through an earring loop, close loop. Add three bicone dangles per earring loop (one of each color).
4. Repeat Step #3 until all earrings loops have three dangles.

Prepping costumes, buying candy, carving pumpkins, setting up ghoulish decorations and all your yearly routines of getting Halloween-ready, you can sure make some time to whip up some easy Halloween jewelry pieces. We have three fun and easy jewelry pieces to complement this spooky holiday.

#BOO Necklace

One of Goody Beads’ New Goodys for September month are these dainty, cute letters that you can string onto even daintier chain. For the love of Halloween, we choose “#boo” letters to showcase one Halloween’s signature statements, while throwing in a social media reference of course! We cut the 1mm rolo chain at 16 inches and attached a silver crimp with loop to the ends of the dainty chain by folding the crimps. We selected an easy lobster claw to one end and a closed jump ring to the other. You are ready to trend up your outfit with this #boo necklace!

Spider Web Necklace

We started out by choosing one of our many beaded link chains, in our chain section. The CH00281 is perfect in size and theme. We had measured it to a length of 3 feet and used a small jump ring to link the ends together. With another jump ring, we attached a spider and web charm to the chain. And you are done with this easy necklace that you can slip on and off with your wicked costume outfit.

Candy Corn Earrings

Halloween isn’t Halloween without mentioning candy corn. Who doesn’t love candy corn? It’s pure sugar! We dedicate this portion to the love of candy corn by making a pair of cute earrings! Using gunmetal headpins, we threaded on seed beads and iconic candy corn and finished it off with a simple loop. Hooked them onto some gunmetal lever back earrings and you are set to celebrate Halloween!

#BOO Necklace

(2) CH00707 – 1mm Silver Plated Rolo Chain

(2) A021707 – Antique Silver Crimp with Loop Chain Ends

(1) A021625 – Hashtag Beads

(1) A021598 – Lowercase B – Alphabet Initial Bead

(2) A021611 – Lowercase O – Alphabet Initial Bead

(2) A002413 – 4mm Jump Ring

(1) A004272 – 7mm Closed Jump Ring

(1) A014106 – 7mm Lobster Claw

Spider Web Necklace

(3) CH00281 – 3mm Jet Beaded Link Chain

(2) A002413 – 4mm Jump Ring

(1) Z003988 – Spider and Web Pewter Charm

Candy Corn Earrings

(2) A022043 – Glass Candy Corn

(4) SB00066 – Size 8 Opaque Black Seed Bead

(4) SB02042 – Jet Amber Czech Glass O Beads

(2) A019655 – 2 Inch Gunmetal Headpin

(1 pair) A002409 – Gunmetal Leverback Earrings

Are you thinking about Christmas in July? We are. We want to give you a heads up about the gift of handmade this upcoming Christmas. And what better way to jump start your jewelry projects by learning the basic skill of how to make a headpin wire loop.

Make sure to have lots of headpins on hand. Plated headpins are inexpensive and a great starter for wire looping. Don’t be discouraged if your first or second or tenth loop doesn’t turn out the way you want it. Practice. Practice. Practice. Just remember to grip your tools loose but firm and as cliché as it may sound, it’s all in the wrist.

The tools you will need:
Round Nose Pliers
Needle Nose Pliers
Side Cutter

Supplies you will need:
Beads
A LOT of headpins (for practicing)

Tutorial:

Tip:
When clipping, be safe and hold headpin end so that the end doesn’t shoot away. You can also face the headpin end away from you – towards your jewelry mat – to avoid excess from flying off.

Get your holiday gifts done and ready with this essential skill. You can make multiple bead dangles for a chunky beaded bauble bracelet, a statement pendant for a necklace or simple holiday dangle earrings. For a fun and easy idea to test your skill, pick up one of our many earring kits. The necessary beads, headpins, and ear wire are included to make a charming pair of earrings.

Happy Holiday and Happy Beading!

Tools and Supplies used in images:

Tools:

• A001400 – Super Fine Side Cutter
• FTTL0002 – Super Fine Chain Nose Pliers
• FTTL0004 – Super Fine Round Nose Pliers

Supplies:

• A006236 – Peridot Swarovski Christmas Tree Earring Kit
• A006547 – Garnet Swarovski Holiday Light Bulb Earring Kit
• A019505 – Holiday Tree and Swarovski Earring Kit
• A002428 – Natural Gift Box
• A001493 – 2 Inch Headpins