20 Aug
DIY Jewelry {week 9}
At my church I’m the leader in charge of all the girls ages 12-18 in our congregation. Our annual summer girls camp starts tomorrow so this weekend was spend frantically making sure all their health and permission forms were in and that we had enough rides and gear for all of them. I’ll be so relived with this week is over and done with :)
*Note – this picture is from a family camping trip from earlier this summer. The girls will be staying in cabins for the week. So not fair.*
We’re down to the top 3 this week. That means that no matter what, these three ladies will be going home with a fantastic prize package from our sponsors. Yay!!
As a reminder the top three are:
ChiWei @ One Dog Woof
Erin @ Erin’s Creative Energy
Chrissy @ There are UFO’s under my stairs
This week’s theme is one that we’ve never done before, but had a few requests for. And it’s a fun one. So enjoy DIY Jewelry that’s been linked up this week!
Remember the poll is in the sidebar and will be open until Thursday night.
Craft #1 - Embroidered Initial Necklace - Chrissy @ There are UFO’s under my stairs
I saw this idea in a magazine last Christmas and I really liked it, but I couldn’t figure out three things.
1) Why would anyone spend $75 on something that they could make for less than $5?
2) How had they mounted the embroidered piece into the frame?
3) How could you protect the embroidery from getting dirty or damaged?
It’s an idea that’s been floating around the back of my brain for months now, and this seemed like a good time to try it out.
I started out by tracing the size of the bezel finding I was going to cover, and then free handing an initial onto a scrap of linen. I embroidered the piece, cut it to fit and used the Glossy Accents to attach the fabric into the bezel. I covered it with another layer of the Glossy Accents and let it dry overnight, periodically checking for air bubbles and popping them as the medium dried.
I added beads and a jump ring to create each pendant, then cut a chain to length and added a lobster clap to finish the necklace.
You could make these as simple or ornate as you wanted to fit the personality of the intended recipient. It’s fun and simple way to create a truly one of a kind piece of handmade jewelry.
Craft #2 - Crocheted Bead Friendship Bracelet - ChiWei @ One Dog Woof
I was a bit intimidated by this week’s theme. I don’t wear a lot of jewelry, and I really never make my own. I figured that the stuff I’d like would require a lot of expensive supplies and specialized tools – pliers, crimpers, precious metal, semi-precious stones. Then, I saw this, and I fell in love. But there was no tutorial. After fiddling around with yarn, embroidery floss and the internet for a couple of days, I figured out the process for myself! I love that this bracelet requires very few, inexpensive supplies, and that there is infinite potential!
Instead of having to buy a bunch of specialized tools, all I needed for this project is 1 skein of embroidery floss, some beads, and a teeny tiny crochet hook. I found a bead store near my house (uh oh!) and went a little cuckoo picking out bead colors, so I didn’t end up with just “some beads”, I acquired a whole collection. So much for inexpensive!
The trick to this whole thing is to crochet in nothing but slip stitches, and then crochet on the beads one stitch at a time. There are two 4-way braids on either end, knotted with additional beads at the very ends. The two ends are held together with a macrame square knot, so the entire bracelet is adjustable.
Oh, can you imagine the possibilities? There is a veritable rainbow of embroidery floss choices, and the bead choices are also endless. I may go blind working in such tiny stitches, but I’ll look good doing it!
Craft #3 – Hand Turned Wood Bracelet - Erin @ Erin’s Creative Energy
As a child I gathered up all my sisters’ bangle bracelets
and wore them around the house. Nothing was more stylish in the 80’s than an
arm full of bangles, well… maybe big hair…
and wore them around the house. Nothing was more stylish in the 80’s than an
arm full of bangles, well… maybe big hair…
By now you can guess that I loved bracelets as a child and
still do. When it comes to making my own jewelry, it’s almost always a
bracelet. I hand turned a light colored wood bracelet with vibrant green inlay.
I’ve worn it since completion and love it!
still do. When it comes to making my own jewelry, it’s almost always a
bracelet. I hand turned a light colored wood bracelet with vibrant green inlay.
I’ve worn it since completion and love it!
If you’ve never heard of wood turning, or never tried it, I
highly recommend you go take a class. It is SO much fun, and quickly becomes
addicting. My husband and I spent a date night in a class, it was fantastic;
and the beginning of our addition to all things turning.
highly recommend you go take a class. It is SO much fun, and quickly becomes
addicting. My husband and I spent a date night in a class, it was fantastic;
and the beginning of our addition to all things turning.
The bracelet started out as a block of avodire wood. I
mounted it onto my midi-lathe and started turning. Once turned to size, I cut
two grooves in the bracelet. The grooves provided a place for the Inlace Inlay.
The kit is called Lacey, and the end
result is two crushed green stone stripes within the body of the bracelet. The truly
amazing thing about the inlay is that it can be sanded, polished and finished
that same as the wood.
mounted it onto my midi-lathe and started turning. Once turned to size, I cut
two grooves in the bracelet. The grooves provided a place for the Inlace Inlay.
The kit is called Lacey, and the end
result is two crushed green stone stripes within the body of the bracelet. The truly
amazing thing about the inlay is that it can be sanded, polished and finished
that same as the wood.
Throughout my life, I created bracelets out of beads, leather,
fabric, metalsmithing, even used my husband’s military paracord, but this was
my first time turning a bracelet. I see
many more of these in the future. After all, I could bring back rocking an arm
full of bracelets… maybe… OKAY,
probably not. But maybe the big hair?
fabric, metalsmithing, even used my husband’s military paracord, but this was
my first time turning a bracelet. I see
many more of these in the future. After all, I could bring back rocking an arm
full of bracelets… maybe… OKAY,
probably not. But maybe the big hair?
Kidding, kidding!
Hi! I'm Missy and I'll be your host. “So You Think You’re Crafty” is a head-to-head crafting competition - the first “reality” blog. Every 10 weeks a new group of crafters is selected. Each week the crafters are given a theme and YOU vote for your favorite. 
I am really looking forward to seeing the tutorial of the wooden bracelet!! Sounds interesting and it could be something I could make together with my boyfriend!
Cecilia from Italy
As a jewelry designer I loved all three projects – so different and beautiful – congrats to the three participants. Very hard to chose one.