Design using these new Abalone Shell Gemstones from Dakota Stones. We have 3 stunning DIY earring designs highlighting the glow of the Abalone Shell Gemstones.

Abalone

As a foodie, Abalone is a delicacy in seafood cuisine. Take away the meat of the shellfish and you have the iridescent sheen of its hard outer shell.

‘Abalone Shell is strong and is made of stacked calcium carbonate tiles. When the abalone shell is struck, the tiles slide instead of shattering absorbing the energy of the blow. The inner layer of the shell is composed of nacre (mother-of-pearl), which in many species is highly iridescent, which make the shells attractive as decorative objects, jewelry, and as a source of colorful mother-of-pearl.’ (Dakota Stones)

There are also healing properties for Abalone. As it holds the richness of the ocean, it gives the wearer strength, stability and life like the ever-moving, powerful waves of ocean.

DIY Earrings with Abalone Shell

We love a good pair of earring and have 3 pair of earrings highlighting the loveliness of Abalone Shell Gemstones along with tutorials.

Items used in earrings: Y003787 (2), Z003795 (2), Y003798 (2), TCZ0077, A008799, A019647 & ABA8CN-FL.

Directions:

1. On a headpin, slide on an abalone bead and make a wrapped loop, making sure to slide on small connector before finishing off wrap. (You can also make a simple loop and connecting loop to small connector.)
2. Open jump ring and slide on other hole of small connector and through a hole of medium connector. Close jump ring.
3. Open another jump ring and slide on other hole of medium connector and through a hole of large connector. Close jump ring.
4. Open earwire loop and slide through other hole of large connector. Close loop.
5. Repeat all steps for other earring.

Items in earrings: Z012031, A019647, CH01048 & ABA10RD.

Directions:

1. Cut chain to consist of 4 linked beaded chain.
2. Slide an abalone bead on a headpin and make a wrapped loop, making sure to loop through chain end before finishing wrap. (You can also make a simple loop and connecting it to beaded chain.)
3. Open earwire loop and slide on other end of beaded chain. Close loop.
4. Repeat other steps for other earring.

Items used in earrings: Z016761, A019685 & ABA18CN-FL.

Directions:

1. Slide an abalone bead onto a headpin and make a simple loop.
2. Open loop and slide on earring hole. Close loop.
3. Repeat all steps for other earring.

Today, we have this cute pair of DIY Skipping Heartbeat Earrings for Valentine’s Day. Get dolled up with this pair of heart stopping earrings!

What you’ll need:

• Heart Frame (A008677)
• 15mm Tear Drop Red Miracle Bead (A014922)
• 8mm Silver Plated Post Earrings (Z001829)
• 11mm Silver Plated Bali Style Round Beads (A002231)
• 2 – Swarovski® 4mm Bicone Crystal Beads Light Siam (SW00133)
• 1.5 Inch Silver Plated Headpins (A019647)
• 1.5 Inch Silver Plated Headpins with ball (A019688)

Directions:

1. On a headpin with ball, slide on a miracle bead and make a simple loop.
2. Slide a headpin through the heart frame from the inside outwards (bottom heart side). Slide on metal bead and make a simple or wrapped loop.
3. Open loop of miracle bead dangle from step 1, slide through you made in step 2 and close loop.
4. On a headpin, slide on 4mm bicone bead and slide headpin through the heart frame from the inside outwards (top heart side). Make a simple loop.
5. Open loop you made in Step 4, slide onto post earring hole and close loop.
6. Repeat all steps for other earring.

This week’s tutorial from ImpressArt is a simple tutorial on dapping. Turn flat ImpressArt stamping blanks into beautifully domed pieces of jewelry!

Here is what you’ll need to start dapping:

• Dapping Block Set (TL00351): This tool is what you will need to create the curved/domed shape.
• Round Metal Blanks

Dapping Tutorial

Tutorial also uses the texturing skill used in last week’s ImpressArt Tutorial.

This week’s tutorial from ImpressArt is all about metal stamp texturing. Texturing adds an extra dimension of design to your metal blanks. It also adds an organic look for your metal stamping needs. Here are some product you may need to get you started on texturing:

• Texture Stamper Hammer (TL00266): This innovative tool creates unique, one of a kind textures using your metal stamps as texture heads. You can also interchange the stamping head with this hammer.

• Ball Pen Texture Stamper Head (TL00313): This hammer head creates an organic, hammered texture look to your metal blanks. It is to be used with the Stamper Hammer.

Texture Bracelet Tutorial

Using last week’s tutorial on Bracelet Bending, texturize the bracelet blank first before bending the blanks to create a bracelet.

Let’s celebrate and toast to 2019 and welcome 2020! We have the perfect pair of earrings to celebrate the glam with this DIY Golden Fringe Earrings. Designed with ball chain and end tubes, you can whip up this pair of easy earrings before the ball drops!

What you’ll need:

• 2 – 16mm Gold Tube End (Z011022) / Silver (Z009110)
• 4 feet – 1.5mm Gold Plated Ball Chain (CH00723) / Silver (CH00722)
• Gold Earring Finding  (Used in example Z016754) / Silver (Z016753)
• 4mm Gold Jump Ring (A011517) / Silver (Z011500)

Directions:

1. Cut chain with the following ball counts: 17, 23, 25, 31, and 35. Cut a quantity fo two each.
2. Slide the following chain into the tube by hooking one ball inside the tube: 17, 23, 25, 31, 35, 35, 31, 25, 23, 17.
3. Close the other side of the end tube with a flat nose.
4. Open jump ring and slide on loop of earwire and loop of end tube. Close jump ring.
5. Repeat all steps for other earring.

This week’s tutorial from ImpressArt is a simple tutorial on bracelet bending.  See how easy it is to make a bracelet by using the bracelet bending tool.

Here are some tool you’ll need:

• Bracelet Guides (Z021583) – This will help to keep your lettering straight when writing names or a simple phrase.
• Bracelet Bending Pliers (TL00350) – This tool will give you the curve your bracelet will need to obtain a curved shape.
• Bracelet Bending Bar Kit (TL00352) – This tool is very useful in bending the ends of your bar. Plus, this kit includes (4) 1/4 inch and (4) 38 inch Aluminum Bracelet Blanks.
• Other Tools: Letters Stamping Set, Enamel Marker, Hammer & Steel Block.

Bracelet Bending Tutorial

Beadalon instant pendants are easy to use! You simply unscrew the bottom cap and slide your beads one the mandrel and screw back on your cap. Another way to vamp up your instant pendant design is with a peyote stitched tube. Here is a simple even count peyote tube you can add to these nifty instant pendants.
What you’ll need:

• Beadalon Instant Pendants
• 11/0 Delica Seed Beads
• Beading Thread and Needle
  AND
• PDF Tutorial

What you’ll need to know:

• Basic Knowledge on Even Count Peyote Stitch 
• OTHER Even Count Tube Bead Examples

Peyote Tube Pendant

Make multiple tubes with fun designs using Miyuki Delica beads. Plus, the Instant Pendants makes it easy to slide on each tube or even swap them out for a versatile design option!

Items used in examples: SB02339, SB00223, A006585, A015211, Z016436 & TCZ0078

Directions

1. Start with 4 feet of beading thread.
2. Make a stopper bead at the end of your beading thread, leaving a 4-5 inch tail. (I like using a different color Delica to differentiate the beads.)
   
3. Sew on 28 delica beads.
4. Pick up a delica bead and sew back through the second to last delica, going the opposite way. Pick up another delica bead, skip a bead and sew through the next delica bead. Repeat going all the way back towards to stopper
5. Once you’ve sewn through the first delica bead, you’ve finished your second row of your peyote stitch pattern. Pick up another delica bead and sew back the other way skipping the first bead and sewing through the second. Repeat again down the row.
6. Repeat your peyote stitch going back and forth until you’ve added 12 rows.
7. Wrap the sides together to create a tube and peyote stitch the first row to zip up the peyote tube. Gently pull your thread tight to even out thread and loop through a few beads and cut off excess thread. Pull off stopper bead and sew thread end through a few beads and cut off excess.
8. Repeat all steps to make another tube. Add tube to instant pendant and attach pendants to earwires for easy DIY earrings!

CLICK HERE for PDF downloadable version for tutorial.

This PDF also has a blank template so you can create your own designs!

We are seeing these Tila stretch bracelets circulating online and cannot fathom how cute and easy they are! Check out these bracelets from Anthropologie we adore:

(image from Anthropologie)

Made with Miyuki Tila two-hole beads, you can make some of your own. Plus, with our usual Tila and Half Tilas, we have newly added Quarter Tilas to our store. The variation in sizes makes for combining and mixing up different colors fun!

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own Tila Stretch Bracelets:

• Miyuki Tila
• Miyuki Half Tila
• Miyuki Quarter Tila
• 0.5mm Beadalon Elasticity – A021633
  • TUTORIAL on tying Surgeon’s Knot

Items used in bracelet: A021633, SB03744, SB01934 & SB00870.

Directions:

1. Cut two pieces of elastic at about 9 inches.
2. Stretch out one cord to loosen the elasticity.
3. Slide on your beads.Mix up the sequence of beads or not, this design is up to you!
4. Make sure to add enough beads to wrap around your wrist comfortably.
5. Make a surgeon’s knot to your cord ends. (Optional, you can add a small dot of glue)
6. Cut off excess elastic.
7. Take other elastic and stretch out to loosen the elasticity.
8. Starting from the same beads from where you started, slide elastic through the second hole of each bead, all the way around.
9. Make a surgeon’s knot and cut off excess elastic.
10. You’re done! Now you can make more!

Mix up the sequence of beads or not, you can make a whole lot of these bracelets in no time!

Need some DIY gift ideas for your naturalist friend? He/She most likely love neutral colors, leather and gemstones. Here are some gorgeous DIY jewelry for the naturalist friend this holiday season!

1. Black Gold Amazonite Tassel Necklace
2. Crystal Quartz Drop Earrings
3. DIY Diffuser Necklace with Lava Beads
4. Leather & Tube Bead Necklace
5. Easy Leather Hook Bracelet
6. Stone Ripple Leather Bracelet
7. Gemstone Donut Bails
8. Gemstone Post Earrings with Cabochons

Here are some great DIY jewelry gift ideas for our trendy friend. Our Trendsetter is always wearing the latest fashion and jewelry. She not only wears it, but also influences others to join in on the fad. So try out some of these DIY jewelry with some of our newest products like wood and resin pendant charms, Acetate, Enamel, post earrings, lariat necklaces, adjustable bracelets with sliding clasps and DIY kits are trendy. It will surely be a eyeopener for your Trendsetter friend!

1. Wood and Resin Pendant Necklace
2. Golden Halo Earrings with Swarovski Crystals
3. DIY Jewelry using Enamel Component
4. Tory’s Acetate & Silver Drop Earrings
5. Acetate Fringe Earrings
6. Lariat Gemstones and Tassel Necklace
7. Diakonos Kits

Know someone who needs a fun holiday gift that brings sparkle, glam and bling to their outfit? These gift ideas uses the sparkle of Swarovski® crystals and pearls. Gift some exciting DIY jewelry that’ll make her shine! Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Swarovski Aquarmarine
2. Swarovski Raindrop Pendant
3. Memory Wire Wrap Bracelets with Swarovski Fine Rocks Beads
4. Classic Crystal Hoop Earrings
5. Adjustable Bracelets with Swarovski Crystals
6. Rhinestone Chain Bracelet
7. Pearl Jewelry, a Classic Trend
8. How to Use Pinch Bails with Swarovski Pendants

These Holiday DIY gift ideas are for the Boho Beauty in your life.She seeks a relaxing vibe and a moment of zen. She loves natural and earthy tone, so make sure you design with fibers like Ribbon, Tassels, Leather and Straw, as well as some Gemstone. Here are some great DIY projects for the Boho Beauty!

1. Straw & Leather Macrame
2. Fishtail Cuff
3. Fabric Tassel Jewelry
4. Fan Tassels
5. Macrame Leather Bracelet
6. Boho Feather Earrings
7. Silk Ribbon in Jewelry
8. Long Tassels

These gift ideas are for the Modern Minimalistic stylist in your life. They love the simplistic, clean lines like a single chain necklace and dramatic shapes like a large pair of hoop earrings or a triangular pendant. They like the monochromatic of silver and the bold shine of gold or even feel gorgeous with the rose gold color! There’s minimal colors in their jewelry palette and LOVE the many ways they can layer up their pieces!

Here are some DIY projects to gift to your Modern Minimalistic friend:

Silver Jewelry

1. Heidi’s Geometric Jewelry
2. Metal Fringe Earrings
3. Lariat Beading Chain
4. Chevron Chain Necklace

Gold Jewelry

1. Pearl Hoop Earrings
2. Silk Cord Jewelry
3. DIY Beadable
4. Enamel Point Earrings

Who doesn’t LOVE a fun pair of festive, holiday wreath earrings? This pair is designed using our Beadable Ring Pendant (Z011336) and 11/0 Delica Seed Beads. Design with classic red and green colors or mix it up!

What you’ll need:

• Beadable Ring Pendant – Z011336 (2)
• 11/0 Delica Seed Beads – We used SB03540 & SB03545
  • Other Green-color Delicas
  • Other Red-color Delicas
• Beading Thread and Needle
• Earring Findings – We used TC02297

Directions:

1. Using a 3 feet piece of beading thread, add a stopper bead to the end of your beading thread, leaving 4-5 inch tail. (To add a stopper bead, pick up a bead and slide towards to end of your thread end, leaving 4-5 inch tail. Sew through the bead, looping two times through the seed bead.)
   
2. Sew through an outer hole of your beadable pendant.
3. Pick up 7 beads (do variation of reds and green, using more green than reds).
4. Sew down the hole across the channel. (The beads wont be sitting in the channel.)
5. Sew up through the next hole and repeat steps 3 and 4.
6. You will repeat this process, zigzagging through the pendant until you have gone all the way around.
7. While on the backside of your pendant, sew up the next hole and through the first seed bead. Pick up 4 seed beads, sew across the channel, down the last delica bead and through the hole.
8. Repeat step 7 as you sew back through the beadable pendant again.
9. Once you’ve finished, tie off your thread ends and cut off excess.
10. Open your earring loop and slide your beadable wreath on.
11. Repeat all steps for other earring.

We’ve got FOUR easy projects using November’s Swarovski Psychology of Color: Emerald. Design lovely jewelry with this hue!

Emerald and Pearl Stretch Bracelet

Items used in bracelet: SW00062 (11), SW00665(11), Z001355 & A021634

Directions

1. Cut 9 inches of stretch cord. Pull on elastic to loosen the elasticity.
2. Slide on the stretch cord emerald crystal, gold disc, pearl and gold disc.
   1. Repeat sequence another ten more times.
3. Make a surgeon’s knot with the elastic.
4. Optional: Add a dot of glue.
5. Cut off excess elastic.

Emerald & Pearl Drop Earrings

Items used in earrings: SW00061 (2), SW00666 (2), CH00724, X001505, A021657, Z012031, A015821 & Z002570

Directions

1. Cut two pieces of beading chain at 1 and 3/4 inches. (You can cut it shorter or longer for your length preference.)
2. Glue a memory wire end to one end of the beading chain. Repeat again for other beading chain. Let it dry for a few minutes.
3. Slide on the beading chain: pearl, silver disc and emerald crystal. Repeat again for other beading chain.
4. Slide end cap on beading chain and using your fine nose pliers, crimp the end cap. Repeat again for other end cap and beading chain.
5. Open earwire loop, slide on end cap loop and close loop. Repeat again for other dangle.

Emerald Teardrop Earrings

Items used in earrings: A008182 (or CH01090), SW01994 (2), A008799, Z07856 & Z003694.

Directions

1. Cut two chain pieces at 1 inch. Make sure both chain has the same amount of links and has an even number.
2. Open oval jump ring, slide through one end of your chain and emerald pendant
3. Open small jump ring, slide through other end of chain and through earwire loop.
4. Repeat Steps 2 & 3 for other earring.

Emerald & Acetate Earrings

Items used in earrings: Z013607, Z010571, Z011522, A019600, SW00167 (2) & Z001831

Directions

1. Open jump ring, slide through acetate hole and disc hole. Close jump ring.
2. Open eyepin loop, slide through other hole of gold disc, close loop.
3. Slide an emerald bicone crystal on the eyepin and make a simple loop.
4. Open loop you just made, slide through ear wire loop and close loop.
5. Repeat all steps for other earring.