Personalized Glass Tile Charms

by Kristal Wick
Customized purse charms and accessories have been on trend for many moons and for good reason! They’re darling reminders of what we carry near and dear to our hearts from kitties to cupcakes. Designs are all up to your own imagination and creativity.

Nylah Glass Tiles

Here at GoodyBeads, we love our kids and pets (they’re kind of the same thing to many of us) so we’ve come up with some super easy instructions for making your own personalized glass tile charms for purse charms, pendants and rings, with the cutest models Nylah, Sparkle and Bling (we realize we’re slightly biased but you have to admit, they are adorable)! Embellish a chain with Swarovski pearls, TierraCast® charms and other “Goodys” and you’ve created a masterpiece.

Bling and Sparkle Glass Tiles

Nylah is Carlee’s — our Graphics Designers’ – four-year-old daughter. Sparkle and Bling are my rescue pups who pose for treats any time — day or night! Whether you’re making these customized glass tiles for yourself, grandma or a BFF, let your creative juices flow when in design mode. They make great custom holiday and birthday gifts, wedding party jewelry and school picture memorabilia pieces – for just a few ideas.

Nylah, Sparkle and Bling Tiles

(1) A013854 – 35mm Large Circle Glass Tile (Nylah tile)

(1) A013863 – 35mm Large Square Glass Tile (Sparkle and Bling tile)

(1) A013850 – 23mm Small Square Glass Tile (Nylah tile and Bling ring)

(1) A013856 – 23mm Oval Dome Cabochon Glass Tile (Nylah ring tile)

(1) Z010105 – 20mm Adjustable Silver-Plated Flat Ring with Glue Pad (Nylah ring)

(1) A015180 – 12mm Adjustable Silver-Plated Ring with Glue Pad (Nylah ring)

(1) A013610 – 2 oz Diamond Glaze

(1) A011455 – E-6000

Paint Brush
Scissors
Sharpie Oil-Based Metallic Markers

Assorted images printed on an ink jet printer

Steps for a Custom Glass Tile

1. Size and print out your images on a laser printer (the ink from ink jet printers tends to run).
2. Cut out your image(s) to fit a specific glass tile, making sure the image is a tad smaller than the tile itself.
3. Using a soft paint brush, apply a light coat of Diamond Glaze to the back of a tile.
4. Carefully press the colored side of the image to the Diamond Glaze and press out any bubbles or air pockets.
5. When dry, color the edges of the tile with a metallic oil-based Sharpie maker (we used silver and gold in our samples). Let dry.

For a Pendant

6. Attach the pendant finding to the back of the pendant using E6000 and let dry.

For a Ring

6. Color the back of the tile with the Sharpie pen and let dry. Then attach to ring back using E6000 and let dry.

Terrific Tassels

By Kristal Wick

We love everything about a good tassel here at Goodybeads. You can create the simplest of jewelry designs, add a tassel and violà you’ve got instant glam! Traditionally, tassels were popular for embellishing home goods (Aunt Gertrude’s curtains, pillows, lampshades and even chandeliers), but they’ve “trended” their way into our jewelry and DIY projects — thank goodness! “Tassel” originated from “tassau”, a Latin term referring to a clasp at the neck of a garment that was originally worn by military officers and priests as talismans to ward off evil spirits. Also known as “passementerie” in France, “passamanaria” in Italy and “aziamentos” in Spain, the simple tassel can be traced back to the ancient tombs of the pharaohs in Egypt.

The Chinese incorporated tassels into their woven silks. But it was those trendsetting French folks that turned tassels into some serious ornamentation. In the 16th century, the first Guild of the Passementiers was founded and passementiers had to complete a seven year apprenticeship in order to become a Master in one of the many guilds. Each tassel was made from highly valued materials like silk or metallic gold-and-silver threads, so they became a symbol of wealth, power and prestige. With at least 300 threads per tassel, it is no wonder that the passementiers took such great pride in their work (and you thought seed beading took a lot of time to perfect)!

Tassel Earrings

You can actually make your own tassel (perhaps not quite as elaborate as the passementiers’ version) or you can use ready-to-wear tassels such as these in our earring and bracelet projects. They come in some very popular colors so you can customize to your liking. Earrings can also become dangle purse charms, or make a necklace using a single tassel. Here’s the #411 on how to make these terrific tassel beauties:

Tassel Earrings

(2) Z007553 – 8cm Small Black Suede Leather Tassel

(2) A016387 – 2 Inch Hematite Enameled Copper 20 Gauge Eyepins

(2) TC01903 – Silver Filled French Hoop Wire Earrings by Tierracast

(4) TC00030 – 4mm Antique Silver Quad Heishi Spacer by TierraCast

(4) TC00252 – 5mm Antique Silver Beaded Cap by TierraCast

(1) GS00530 – 8mm Apple Jasper Faceted Rondelle Gemstone Beads from Dakota Stones

Tool: A013734 – EUROnomic 2K German Side Cutter

Tool: A013728 – Classic Wubbers Round Nose Pliers

Tool: A013727 – Classic Wubbers Chain Nose Pliers

Steps

Open eye pin and insert tassel. Close eye pin.
String onto eyepin: bead cap, rondelle, spacer, rondelle, spacer, rondelle, bead cap and create a small loop at the top of the eye pin.
Open earwire loop and add eye pin. Close loop and trim tassel to desired length.
Repeat for the other earring.
Trim tassels to your liking.

Tassel Bracelet

Tassel Bracelet

(2) Z007553 – 8cm Small Black Suede Leather Tassel

(2) A021663 – Small Bead Stoppers

(1) FTBW0002 – Soft Flex MEDIUM Gauge 0.019 Inch Diameter Beading Wire

(1) A012857 – 2mm Crimp Tube Assortment Pack

(2) TC01899 – 3mm Silver Crimp Cover by TierraCast

(1) TC00439 – 17mm Silver Oval Pewter Toggle Clasp by Tierracast

(3) Z011515 – 5mm Silver Plated Round Jump Rings

(1) GS00537 – 8mm Black Silver Leaf Jasper Gemstone Faceted Rondelle Beads from Dakota Stones (20)

(40) TC00030 – 4mm Antique Silver Quad Heishi Spacer by TierraCast

(22) TC01132 – 4mm Black Kenyan Heishi Spacer by TierraCast

Tool: A013734 – EUROnomic 2K German Side Cutter

Tool: A013728– Classic Wubbers Round Nose Pliers

Tool: A013727– Classic Wubbers Chain Nose Pliers

Tool: FTTL0003– Crimping Pliers

Steps

Open jump ring, insert tassel and close jumpring.
Cut a piece of beading wire 12 inches long, add a beadstopper to one end.
String on silver spacer, black spacer, silver spacer, rondelle.
Repeat Step #3 nine more times.
Add black spacer, tassel jumpring, black spacer, rondelle and repeat Step #3 ten more times.
Slide a crimp tube into the wire, add the toggle and pass the wire back through the crimp tube.
Place the crimp tube into the crimping pliers’ notch closest to the handle and squeeze the pliers until you feel the crimp tube squish into a little taco shape.
Place the crimp in the first notch of the pliers so the taco is standing up.
Squeeze the pliers until the crimp is fully squished. Give the wire a gentle tug to make sure the wire is secured.
Trim the wire using your wire cutter so the wire is flush with the crimp tube.
Add a crimp cover over the crimp end and place in the 1^st notch of the crimping pliers. Gently squeeze until the crimp tube is completely surrounding the crimp forming a round bead shape.
Repeat crimping the other bracelet end attaching the toggle bar using two jumprings.
Repeat Step #11 on the other bracelet end.
Trim tassel to your liking.

TierraCast Cord Ends

TierraCast Cord Ends have proven to be easy to use, with so much possibility for variation in materials and styles! The projects included here were designed by Tracy Gonzales, TierraCast’s Jewelry Designer and Product Educator. All designs were inspired by the current tassel trend and Goody Beads’ fabulous selection of fun fibers and threads.

Tassel and Chain Earrings

The Tassel & Chain earrings are a simple technique. We made the tassel ends and then used an additional piece of thread to attach a few short strands of chain at the top. After applying some E6000 adhesive inside a 6mm cord end, we tucked the tassel and chain inside. Added a jump ring and ear wire at the top, and Voila!

Seed Bead Loop Earrings

The Seed Bead Loop earrings involved stringing up several bead strands in varying lengths and making them into loops and secured with crimp tubes. We then layered 3 beaded loops with loops of fine, metallic-finish embellishment fibers. We secured both ends together at the top with E6000 adhesive and finished them up with jump rings and ear wires.

Multi-Strand Fiber Bracelet

The Multi-Strand Fiber bracelet uses cord ends that have a hole at the top, instead of a loop, so the finishing technique is wire wrapping instead of gluing. Start by threading four strands of Czech beads and TierraCast spacers with beading wire. Crimp each end to hold beads in place and cut leaving an excess of 1/4-1/2 inch. Take different fiber strands and cut them at equal lengths of the beaded wires. Next, make a slip knot with the strand ends, tying close enough to the crimp ends. Glue with Hypo Cement to secure the knot.

After it has dried, cut about 5 inches of Artistic wire and loop it under and in between the knot halfway. You should have two 2.5 inches of wire ends that you will feed through the cord end. Here, you can add more hypo cement in the cord end to secure the thread ends. Make a wire wrap loop with the Artistic Wire and repeat to the other bracelet end. Add a jump ring and clasp and you are done!

Our friends at TierraCast have an informative YouTube video on how to use Cord Ends. Check it out to guide you in the fun projects shown above and for more inspirational techniques.

Tassel and Chain Earrings

(2) TC01831 – 10mm Tin Oxide Cord End
(1) TC01903 – Silver Filled Hoop Wire Earrings
(2) A002814 – 10mm Jump Rings
(1) CH00094 – 2.2mm Blue Enamel Chain
(1) A011455 – E-6000
(1) A010412 – Precious Metal Embellishment Cord

Seed Bead Loop Earrings

(1) 11/0 Miyuki Delicas
(1) A014109 – Gold Plated Ear Wire
(1) TC01839 – Gold Taj Cord End
(1) A016245 – Gold Metallic Thread
(1) FTBW0001 – Fine 0.014 Inch Beading Wire
(6) TC01896 – 2mm Crimp Tube
(1) A011455 – E-6000
(2) Z011514 – 5mm Gold Jump Ring

Multi-strand Fiber Bracelet

(1) TC01017 – Copper Leaf Clasp
(2) TC01858 – Copper Cord Ends
(52) TC00552 – 4mm Copper Heishi Spacer
(60) TC00020 – 3mm Copper Faceted Spacer
(78) Z017489 – 3mm Amber Czech Bead
(46) A003332 – 3mm Opaque Rose Gold Topaz Czech
(1) A010405 – Sedona Sunset Embellishment
(8) TC00002 – 2mm Crimp Tube
(2) TC00001 – 6mm Oval Copper Jump Ring
(1) AW00052 – 24 Gauge Natural Artistic Wire
(1) FTBW0001 – Fine 0.014 Inch Beading Wire
(1) A007224 – Hypo Cement

Using Charms in Jewelry

Making charm jewelry is fun, versatile and easy! There are literally hundreds of charms to choose from, giving you numerous options for creating a customized piece you’ll love. Here are a few of our favorite charm projects to be inspired by. Which will you make next?

Sweet Handbag Charm Accessory

Charms come in a variety of material, including resin for a colorful 3D effect. For this project, we made an on-trend handbag charm with yummy dessert theme resin charms. Stagger the resin charms attached to jump rings along a 2.5” chain link. Attach the large clasp to the top of the chain and the tassel at the bottom. This handbag charm is sure to get your mouth watering for some tasty sweets every time you go out.

Items used: CH00533, A019700 , A011299, A003854, A001528, A002413, Resin Mix and Choice of Resin Charms

Charm Expandable bracelet

A popular trend is expandable bracelets. They are easy to complete and fun to wear. Choose an expandable bracelet and customize it with different charms to personalize your style. Our Calm Bracelet features gold-tone metal charms to relax the mind and soul. Perfect for your next yoga or Pilates class. Our Coastal Bracelet is pulled together with one of our ready-made charm sets. Make sure to wear this bracelet to your next beach outing or cruise getaway.

Feathered Earrings

For this charmed earring project, we show two different ways to use the same feather charm. Our first pair of earrings is simple and easy: just attach the feather charms to ear wires. To express more personality, our second pair of earrings consists of an inch of chain link and a bead component using an eyepin and Czech beads. Linking it all together with the feather charms, you get a cute boho-inspired pair of earrings ready to wear with your loose tee and bellbottoms. A popular modern trend is to wear asymmetrical earrings; one long and one short.

Supplies

Charm Expandable Bracelet

Calm Bracelet:

(1) Z009775 – Gold Expandable Bracelet
(1) Z005612 – Gold Flower Charm
(1) TC01993 – Lotus Flower
(1) TC02001 – Yin Yang Charm
(2) TC00428 – Gold Round Drop
(1) TC01997 – Om Charm
(9) Z011514 – 5mm Gold Jump Rings

Coastal Bracelet:

(1) TC01907 – Sealife Charm Mix
(1) A021134 – Silver Wire Expandable Bracelet
(5) A001528 – 5mm Jump Rings

Feathered Earrings

(Version 1)

(2) A010839 – Feather Charm
(1 pair) – A008998 –Base Metal Wire Earrings

(Version 2)

(2) A010839 – Feather Charm
(1 pair) – A008998 – Base Metal Wire Earrings
(2) A019595 – Silver Eyepin
(1) CH00341 – 2.1mm Chain Link
(2) A014363 – Turquoise Czech Bead
(2) A014364 – Butter Pecan Czech Bead