To encompass the trend of boho, we have pulled our wonderful stock of silk ribbon and ribbon mixes to show you how to use silk ribbon in jewelry. We will show you how to make an easy wrap memory wire bracelet with silk ribbon and silk ribbon tassel earrings.

Boho Silk Memory Wire Bracelet 

This bracelet is perfect to wear on a beautiful summer day. We used the Hand Dyed Ribbon Mix, which has eight 2 yards of ribbon, yarn and fabric mix. When wrapped around memory wire, the colors and various fibers has a boho charm. You can finish off your bracelet with a tassel attached at the memory wire loop end or add charms scattered around the bracelet with jump rings. This memory wire ribbon wrap bracelet is easy to make and to pair with your everyday outfit. Just follow our easy instructions or DOWNLOAD our pdf tutorial.

What you will need are:

• Memory Wire
• Hand Dyed Ribbon Mix
• 26 Gauge Wire
• Glue
• Tools: Memory Wire Cutter and Memory Wire Finishing Pliers

Items used in bracelet: WR00121, A017686 , AW00097, Z003429, 

Silky Tassels

Use silk ribbon to make a trendy pair of tassel earrings.  Make some fun pair of earrings like what we have made here. OR create a longer tassel to use in a statement necklace.

Items used in earrings: A021370 , WR00033, A021484, Z001480, A008998

Ribbon Necklace

Center a porcelain pendant to these mix ribbon and make knots on both sides. Then make another knot next to those knots and added seashell and starfish charms with copper jump rings in between each knots. This necklace takes you to the beach without even being there!

• (1) A017683 – Peacock Color Hand Dyed Ribbon Mix
• (1) A007869 – 47.5x22mm Ocean Mist Shells Handmade Porcelain
• (1) TC01179 – 24mm Antique Copper Spindle Shell Charm
• (1) TC00582 – 20mm Antique Copper Starfish Charm
• (2) Z012870 – 9mm Antique Copper Jump Ring

It is official! Spring is just around the corner for 2016! Soon the snow will be melting and spring will be knocking at our doors. It’s the perfect time to rummage through your beads and do some spring cleaning: to make way for MORE beads, of course. Here are three different ways to use your leftover beads, findings and chains.

As a beader, you know that you always have extra beads from previous projects lying around. We, at GoodyBeads, are guilty about that! There is a whole shelf dedicated to leftover items of miscellaneous beads, findings, chains, cords, tools, crystals and the list goes on and on. It was hard to not open a fresh pack of new beads or a full length of cut chain or a string of gemstones. But with our wall of STUFF, there were enough items for this spring cleaning project!

An Array of Colorful Beads for a Wrap Bracelet

A perfect way to use your extra beads is to make a quick and easy wrap bracelet. Check out our previous blog, How to Make Wrap Bracelets, for a tutorial.

For this particular bracelet, we gathered similar round 8mm of gemstones and Czech glass beads. Using our used roll of Waxed Cotton Cord and Superlon Brown Thread, we made a wrap bracelet that wraps 4 times. Even check out our button piece. Instead of grabbing a new button, we used a Bali spacer (A021466) and made knots to act as a button piece. Love this idea! What a way to think outside of the box, eh?

If you need supplies, head over to our Gemstone and Czech section. If you are looking for a particular size or shape, we have that option on the left hand navigation under “Size Range” or “Shape.” Or you can even check our selection of Bead Set and Mixes for a quick mix.

Chain Chain Chain

Do you have various length of chain bunched together waiting to be used for bracelet extenders pieces or necklace additions? Make CHAIN the main piece of your jewelry!

What we made here is a multi-chain bracelet. Randomly select a few chain pieces, then measure each chain to your bracelet length. Using a 7mm jump ring to combine each piece of chain end. Do the same to the other end. Use another 7mm jump ring and attach to each end with a magnetic clasp. We have to be honest here and say that we cheated. We did have to get a magnetic clasp from GoodyBeads inventory. You can go ahead and cheat too. We won’t tell if you don’t either!

Another idea is to make a statement necklace with miscellaneous chain braided together. What’d you think?

Linking Bead Dangles

We love our selection of glass beads. The vibrant colors and designs are BEA-U-TIFUL! One way to weed through your stash of beads is to find a HERO bead and play off on the colors and shapes. Grab some eyepins and start making simple loop dangles of the beads you’ve chose. By linking them, you can make a bunch of different jewelry pieces.

Our hero bead was this blue and amber glass bead (A013249). We pulled beads with hues of blue, light blue, and amber as well as some bronze Czech fire polish beads. Using gold eyepins, make a simple loop with the glass and Czech beads. We made enough eyepin dangles until we ran out of the bronze Czech fire polish beads. Plus, we made a handful of Black Diamond Chinese crystal dangles.

Start linking them up to make a necklace, bracelet or earrings. Play with the sequence of the beaded dangles and add chain and different findings. Using up every last beaded dangle and with the help of gold plated findings and chain, we made two necklaces, earrings and a bracelet.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea because it gives you the chance to use up beads that you can’t find anymore. Even some of these beads we used are styles that we no longer have. It makes it more unique don’t you think?

Now that you’ve used your beads up, there’s room to buy more!

Rose Quartz and Serenity are Pantone’s color of the year winners. And for the first time they debuted a duo-color that blurs the line of femininity and masculinity.

We will show how we used these colors to inspire our Color of the Year Jewelry.

Link Earrings

Made with blue foil tint beads and a hint of pink, these earrings pairs the two colors harmoniously.

Necklace

Rose Quartz
Draped with a shiny tassel and beaded chain, this Rose Quartz necklace is the perfect statement piece to wear this spring. Can you imagine wearing it with your sweet summer dress and suede floppy hat?

Serenity
This dream catcher necklace has the right Serenity hues for 2016. Made with handmade silk ribbon, Czech glass chip beads and feather charms, you can pair this with your trending flannel outfit and skinny jeans.

Bracelets

Wire Wrap
This wire wrap bracelet combines a darker shade of Serenity and square pink crystals. Accented with silver bali beads, string these colors onto memory wire for a three-loop bracelet with a simple loop on each end. This fun and easy Color of the Year-inspired memory wire bracelet is ready to flaunt.

Leather cord
When it comes to transcending gender barriers, leather is best to use to create an accessory that both men and women can casually wear. Using the same darker Serenity color as in the bracelet above, we used red aventurine beads on 1mm leather cords. We cut the 1mm cords into three equal strands. Taking the three strands, crimp one end with a revolving crimp tubes. Insert a bead on your top two strands and then the next bead will be on your bottom two strands. Repeat until desired length. Cut the three strand ends straight and crimp them with another revolving crimp tube. Add your choice of clasp and it is ready to wear.

How will you wear this year’s colors of the year?

Link Earrings

• (2) Z007149 – 30mm Antique Silver Hammered Round Pewter Link
• (1) A008998 – Silver Base Metal French Wire Earrings
• (2) A002413 – 4mm Silver Plated Jump Ring
• (2) A001493 – 2 Inch Silver Plated Headpins
• (2) A003564 – 6mm Bali Spacer
• (2) Z014750 – 17mm Light Blue and Silver Foil Rectangle
• (2) GS00215 – 4mm Round Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz Necklace

• (1) GS00221 – Oval Rose Quartz
• (1) Z007727 – 2.5 Inch Rhodium Plated Tassel
• (1) A001529 – 6mm Silver Plated Jump Ring
• (2) CH00004 – 4mm Silver-Plated Link Fire Polished Pink Bead Chain
• (1) A019633 – 3 Inch Eyepin

Serenity Necklace

• (1) A017782 – Moody Blues Hand Dyed Silk Ribbon
• (1) Z006771 – 26mm Antique Silver Filigree Washer Pewter Link
• (3) A019629 – 1 Inch Silver Plated Eyepin
• (3) A020394 – Matte Blue Mix Czech Glass Chip
• (1) TC00040 – 29mm Feather Charm
• (2) TC00041 – 23mm Feather Charm

Wire Wrap Bracelet

• WR00120 – Large Silver Memory Wire
• A016464 – 6mm Faceted Cube Pink Glass
• GS00517 – 8mm Blueberry Quartz Gemstone
• A003563 – 6mm Bali Spacer
• A021452 – 18mm Silver Plated Bali Ornate Oval Tube
• A021434 – 12mm Silver Plated Bali Deep Fluted Round

Leather Bracelet

• (1) A020113 – 1mm Red Brown Leather
• (1) A003578 – 8mm Simple Round Toggle Clasp
• (2) A014995 – 4mm Antique Revolving Crimp tubes
• (2) A002413 – 4mm Jump Rings
• (2) A021435 – 8mm Bali Fancy Fluted Rondelle
• (6) GS00505 – 8mm Red Aventurine Gemstone Round Large Hole
• (6) GS00517 – 8mm Blueberry Quartz Gemstone

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

1. Open eye pin and insert tassel. Close eye pin.
2. String onto eyepin: bead cap, rondelle, spacer, rondelle, spacer, rondelle, bead cap and create a small loop at the top of the eye pin.
3. Open earwire loop and add eye pin. Close loop and trim tassel to desired length.
4. Repeat for the other earring.
5. 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

1. Open jump ring, insert tassel and close jumpring.
2. Cut a piece of beading wire 12 inches long, add a beadstopper to one end.
3. String on silver spacer, black spacer, silver spacer, rondelle.
4. Repeat Step #3 nine more times.
5. Add black spacer, tassel jumpring, black spacer, rondelle and repeat Step #3 ten more times.
6. Slide a crimp tube into the wire, add the toggle and pass the wire back through the crimp tube.
7. 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.
8. Place the crimp in the first notch of the pliers so the taco is standing up.
9. Squeeze the pliers until the crimp is fully squished. Give the wire a gentle tug to make sure the wire is secured.
10. Trim the wire using your wire cutter so the wire is flush with the crimp tube.
11. 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.
12. Repeat crimping the other bracelet end attaching the toggle bar using two jumprings.
13. Repeat Step #11 on the other bracelet end.
14. Trim tassel to your liking.

A hot trend this summer are tassels. We have three fun inspirational tassel jewelry projects for you to enjoy at your next music festival or relaxing under the shade by the beach.

Mala Meditate Necklace

Mala is a strand of counting beads used in Hindu or Buddhist practice for praying or reciting a mantra to aid concentration during meditation. A typical mala is made with 108 beads that are strung with a knot tied in between each bead. Depending on the type of chant, counts of strung beads may vary. It is said that with each knot, people recite a mantra to bless the beads. The strand is also accompanied with a larger bead named the “Guru” bead and a tassel.

For our Mala necklace, we used 8mm round gemstone beads for a 42” necklace. Using a sturdy Super-Lon bead cord, cut a piece of cord about 150″ and make a knot 6″ in. This will help stop the end bead from falling off. String on your first bead and make a knot (using a pliers or tweezers if needed) flush to the bead to keep it in place. Repeat until you’ve strung and knotted all 108 beads.

Now take both cord ends and tie together. At these two ends, you will string on your Guru bead and tassel.

We made our tassel portion by using a large rust suede leather tassel. Insert a 3” eyepin from the middle-bottom of the tassel up. Slip on a 10mm tulip end cap to cover the top of the tassel. Wrap the headpin and your tassel is ready. (see images below)

Now take the two tied ends, string on the 12mm wood bead and place the tired ends through the tassel wire loop. Bring the strings back through the bottom of the wood bead and make a knot or two. Secure it with some clear adhesive like GS Hypo Cement. Cut the ends and you are ready to meditate or wear your Mala as a fashion accessory.

Beaded Tassel Earrings

For these Beaded Tassel Earrings, we used our brand new Tassel Maker from Beadalon®. You can find a tutorial of how to make tassels HERE. We took Super-Lon bead cord and made 25 loops to make the tassel. Attach an eyepin to the top of the tassel and slip on a cone bead cap and a 4mm round bead. Make a simple wire loop and attach to earring hooks.

If you find that some of your tassel ends have kinks, twists or curls, dampen with water, twist and pull them straight. After a few seconds when dried, you will find them straightened out. Taking about a third or half of the tassel ends, string 10 beads to each strand and knot the end. We recommend using an already-mixed, size 8 seed bead for a fun colorful look. Cut the remaining, unstrung tassel ends at a variety of shorter lengths to blend into the rest of the beaded tassels. Now you are ready to rock these earrings at your next music festival!

Wood Tassel Bracelets

One of our easier projects is our Wood Tassel Bracelets. Make these quick and easy bracelets to show your love of tassels. For each bracelets, we used different round wood beads in a sequential design along with a tassel, strung on elastic. Make sure to stretch the elastic string lightly to loosen the elasticity before stringing on beads. Also, after knotting the elastic, use GS Hypo Cement to secure your knot.

Malas Meditate Necklace

• A012991 – Super-lon Cord (Maroon color)
• (4 strands) FJR8RD-8 – 8mm Fossil Coral Round Bead
• (1) NBWB0003 – 16mm Wood Bead
• (1) A018886 – Tulip End
• (1) A003255 – 3 Inch Eyepin
• (1) Z008825 – Large Rust Suede Leather Tassel
• Tool: A007224 – GS Hypo Cement
• Optional Tool: A013730 – Bent Chain Nose Pliers

Beaded Tassel Earring

• SB01054 – Size 8 Honey Butter Mix Seed Bead
• A012991 – Super-lon Cord (Maroon color)
• (2) A021484 – Bali Etched Cone
• (2) Z001480 – Antique Gold-Plated Round Bead
• (1 pair) A008998 – French Wire Earrings
• (2) A001495 – 2 Inch Eyepin
• Tool: TL00230 – Tassel Maker Tool

Wood Tassel Bracelet

• (1) Z002653 – Red Tassel
• (1) Z003429 – Brown Tassel
• (3) NBWB0003 – 16mm Wood Bead
• (8) A002425 – Rondelle Wood Bead
• (26) Z004978 – Red, Black, and Brown Round Wood Bead
• (14) Z002802 – Ivory Round Wood Bead
• (4) A004268 – Dot Design Wood Bead
• A002290 – .7mm Stretch Elastic Cord
• Tool: A007224 – GS Hypo Cement

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